THE STORMS OF LIFE

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THE STORMS OF LIFE
Natural Disasters
Stock Market
War
Business
Greed Money
Personal Stress
Oil Crisis
Marriage
Housing Market
Sickness
Savings Retirement
Aging
Mental Emotional Illness
Wall Street
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Troubled!
Depressed!
Fearful!
Upset!
Anxious!
Worried!
Perplexed!
Unhappy!
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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF HARD TIMES
PHILIPPIANS
Pauls letter to the Philippians was written to
the first church in Europe. Philippi was an
important Roman city.
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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF HARD TIMES
PHILIPPIANS
The first members of that church were
Lydia An Asian woman who sold crimson dye. She
was a God-fearer who met at a designated
Prayer-Place by the river. A Slave Girl A
popular fortune teller who was making money for
her handlers. Paul healed her and angered the
businessmen and the community. The Philippian
Jailer and his family He was converted in a
midnight earthquake.
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PHILIPPIANS
The letter was written by Paul while he was in
prison in Rome.
One commentator calls the letter a triumphant
little document.
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PHILIPPIANS
Chains are clanking on the writers wrists and
ankles, but he makes them sound like bells of
heaven! In the very first paragraph he speaks
of grace, peace, joy, love, glory,
praise!
And the bells ring right through all four
chapters until they give a triumphant final peal
in the last paragraph But my God shall supply
all your needs according to His riches in glory
by Christ Jesus.
Paul concludes the letter with a doxology in
420 Now unto our God and Father be glory unto
the ages of the ages. Amen.
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A BIBLICAL PERSPECTIVE OF HARD TIMES
PHILIPPIANS
The Most Important Lesson to Learn in Hard Times
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Contentment Happy with ones lot satisfied
blessed at peace.
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Philippians 411-12
learned
content
For I have learned to be content whatever the
circumstances. I know what it is to be in need,
and I know what it is to have plenty. I have
learned the secret of being content in any and
every situation, whether well fed or hungry,
whether living in plenty or in want.
circumstances
learned
content
situation
ALL
Contentment in ALL Circumstances or Situations!
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Contentment in ALL Circumstances
Well fed
Hungry
Plenty
Want
Life
Death
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How?
WHEEL OF
CONTENTMENT
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Keep on rejoicing!
REJOICING is not first of all a feeling! It is an
ATTITUDE!
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Philippians 14 Philippians 118 Philippians
125 Philippians 216 Philippians
217 Philippians 218 Philippians
228 Philippians 31 Philippians 33 Philippians
41 Philippians 44
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
REJOICE
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Contentment doesnt happen out there in the
circumstances but in the mind . . . in my
thinking and attitude of life.
Have Christs selfless attitude of humility,
obedience and submission. Phil. 25-11.
Be like-minded with others. Phil. 21-4.
Practice good thinking. Phil. 48.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Personally Intimately!
Philippians 38 I consider everything a loss
compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing
Christ Jesus my Lord.
Philippians 310a That I may know Him . . .
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Philippians 129 For it has been granted to
you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on
him, but also to suffer for him.
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A False/Incomplete Theology of Suffering!
If you have enough faith you will not suffer or
face hardship!
Stickney 2008
Kathryn 1972
Believe
Trust
Philippians 310 The fellowship of His
suffering.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
How was Christ in His death?
Face death!
Philippians 310 Becoming like Him in His
death.
like Him
He did not blame. He was not bitter. He trusted
the Father. He was not filled with pity. He
forgave those responsible. He saw His death as
redemptive.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
As a Citizen of Heaven 320-21
HEAVEN
But our citizenship is in heaven.
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly
await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ,
who, by the power that enables him to bring
everything under his control, will transform our
lowly bodies so that they will be like his
glorious body.
EARTH
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The Model Prayer
Matthew 611 Our Father in heaven, hallowed be
your name, your kingdom come, your will be done
on earth as it is in heaven.
on earth
in heaven
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Thank You!
Give me!
Philippians 46-7
Help me!
Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything
by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your
requests to God. And the
peace of God, which transcends all
understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
Hello!
but in everything by prayer and petition, with
thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Philippians 37-8 But whatever was to my
profit I now consider loss for the sake of
Christ. What is more I consider everything a
loss compared to the surpassing greatness of
knowing Christ Jesus my Lord for whose sake I
have lost all things. I consider them rubbish,
that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not
having a righteousness of my own that comes
from the law, but that which is through faith in
Christ . . . the righteousness that comes from
God and is by faith.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
1 Timothy 66 But godliness with contentment is
great gain. For we brought nothing into the
world, and we can take nothing out of
it. Hebrews 135 Keep your lives free from
the love of money and be content with what you
have, because God has said, Never will I leave
you never will I forsake
you. So we say with
confidence, The Lord is my
helper I will not be
afraid. What can man
do to me?
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
I can invest in things that result in pain
instead of gain.
I can invest in my own goodness. I can invest in
material things. I can invest in knowledge. I
can invest in pleasure. I can invest in
religion. I can invest in power.
Or, I can invest in Christ! For to me, to live
is Christ and to die is gain. Philippians 121
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Philippians 312-16 But one thing I do
Forgetting what is behind and straining toward
what is ahead,
I press on toward the goal to win the prize for
which God has called me heavenward in Christ
Jesus.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
Philippians 413 I can do everything through
him who gives me strength.
Gives me strength is in the present tense,
indicating a continuing inward replenishment
moment by moment and hour by hour, unseen by
human eyes but sustaining in the secret
consciousness of the believer.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
ACTIVATE Gods Power strength!
Philippians 213 For it is God who works in
you to will and to act according to His good
purpose.
Philippians 310 The power of His
resurrection.
Philippians 419 My God will meet all your
needs, according to his glorious riches in
Christ Jesus.
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THE HOW OF CONTENTMENT
13 Every time 14 All my prayers 14 I always
pray 17 All of you 18 Long for all of
you 19 Abound more and more 113 The whole
palace guard 113 And to everyone else 114 Most
of the brothers 118 In every way 120 Will in
no way be ashamed 126 Joy will
overflow 212 Always obeyed 214 Do everything
Paul uses superlatives! God is superabundant More
than enough!
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CONTENT IN SPITE OF CIRCUMSTANCES
221 For everyone looks out 226 Longs for all of
you 36 Surpassing greatness 37 Lost all
things 321 Everything under His
control 44 Rejoice always 46 Do not be anxious
about anything 46 But in everything 47 Transce
nds all understanding 410 I rejoice
greatly 412 In any and every situation 413 I
can do everything 419 All your needs 419 His
glorious riches
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How?
WHEEL OF
CONTENTMENT
CONTENTMENT
CONTENTMENT
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1. Are you content in all circumstances? Why?
Why not? 2. With which part of the wheel do you
need help?