Positive Thinking

Phil 4:2-9

What makes Christians different from those in the world? It should be the joy that is in us. This inner joy comes from knowing what God has done for us and flows unstoppably from our hearts. In our worship, daily lives, play and work, we need to rejoice in the goodness of God. We can do this rejoicing even during difficult times of life.

The robin is one of the few birds that sings as cheerfully in the dreary shower of rain as it does in the brilliant sunshine. When other birds are silent, its joyous notes can still be heard. We need to be like the robin. We know where our song comes from! A glum believer is completely out of character, and he's a poor example to the world.

PRAYER

I. Remember, You’re On The Same Side

A. No petty disagreements

1. Lisa and I have a friendly disagreement. If our personalities were different, it is something that could greatly affect our ability to work together. You see I am an organized kind of guy. My books are arranged in a certain order depending on theme. My files are arranged so I know where to find anything I have filed. I like organization. However, a couple of inches of dust on those books don’t bother me in the least. Lisa is …. a little less organized than I am, but she can’t stand dust. So every now and then I go and harass her about not being able to find anything in her office and she comes in and writes messages in the dust on my book cases.

2. Now we could get nasty with each other about our idiosyncrasies, but we don’t. We tease each other, but respect each other.

3. Paul opens this last part of his letter talking to the church about 2 of the ladies who worshipped there.

a) These were influential respected members.

b) They were dedicated Christians.

c) They didn’t get along.

B. Agree in the Lord

1. Paul reminds them and the church the importance of agreeing in the Lord.

a) Paul didn’t say which woman was right and which was wrong. That wasn’t the focus of what he wanted from them.

b) Paul tells these two women to adjust their attitudes.

c) Do what God would want you to and get along!

2. Can you imagine how church politics would change if every member of every congregation actually put this verse into action instead of ignoring it?

II. Characteristics of Christianity

A. Rejoice in the Lord

1. We often talk about how you can tell if a person is a Christian by the fruit they show.

a) Even Jesus indicated that.

b) Paul does the same thing here.

2. A Christian needs to be a person of rejoicing

a) God has come in to our lives and saved our souls.

b) That needs to profoundly affect our outlook on life.

c) Christians need to be criticized for looking at the world through rose colored glasses.

d) More realistic, looking at the world through blood colored glasses.

e) If we are saved, nothing around us can destroy that relationship we have with God.

B. Gentleness

1. Not only should we be people of rejoicing, but we need to be gentle people.

2. In doing some word study on the word used here for gentleness, it was interesting to note that there was no agreement as to what exactly the word means. Several translations used several definitions; all of which are worthy of our consideration.

a) American Standard - forbearance

b) English Standard - reasonableness

c) King James - Moderation

d) New Living - considerate

e) Maybe the best translation is all these words together!

3. That gentleness needs to be evident to everyone!

4. Far too often the concept of gentleness is lost to Christians.

5. We need to stand for the truth, but need to do it in gentleness.

C. Don’t worry

1. Christians shouldn’t worry about things.

2. We need to trust in God that he will bring about what is best for our spiritual needs.

3. Bring our concerns to God in prayer and know that he will take care of them for us.

4. Our lives should be ones of freedom not beaten down with the worries of life.

D. Peace of God

1. When we live as Christians are to live, God gives us a reward.

2. Peace.

a) This isn’t an earthly peace that changes with the winds of time.

b) It’s a peace that is so deep that it transcends all understanding.

c) No matter what happens here on earth, we know that God is taking care of our souls.

d) When things are great, we have joy and peace.

e) When things aren’t so great, we should still have joy and peace.

III. Think about these things

A. Dwell on the greater things

1. Are you mired in the world?

2. A recent study came out saying the average Christian teenage watches 20-30 hours of TV a week and goes to church 2 hours a week. Which do you think will have a greater impact on how they think?

3. We need to get not only our teens, but all of us dwelling on the higher things in life not the baser things.

4. If we spend our time seeking God’s wisdom rather than our own desires, we will be tempted to sin a lot less than before.

B. Put it into practice

1. Paul reminds the Philippians that just hearing what he had to say wasn’t enough.

2. I don’t know where we get the idea that if we go to church and hear a sermon, we’re doing what God wants.

3. We need to put into practice what we hear and read.

4. As we study and learn what God wants of us, we need to put it into our daily lives.

5. That’s exactly what Paul is telling them in vs. 9

C. Invitation

1. You’ve heard how a Christian should live.

2. We need to live a life of joy and gentleness.

3. When we do, we will have the peace of God in our lives.

4. Don’t just dwell on Godly aspects, put them into practice in your lives.

5. And when you do, God will be with you to help you get through life and into paradise.