So create an
environment of stability and do not fracture that, for its causes negative
attitudes, bad spirits, unforgiven, lack of love.
TEXT: PHILIPPIANS 4:4
SUBJECT: CHRISTIAN STEADFASTNESS,
Spiritual steadfastness
vs. instability is our theme in this lessons.
1A THE SECULAR SOCIETY PERSPECTIVE
Our whole society
struggles with stability. We live in an very unstable world, we live in the
midst of unstable people. People filled with anxiety and unable to cope with their
circumstances of life. And there a myriad of solutions that don't
work.
IB SECULAR PSYCHOLOGY LIES
What's the solution that
our society gives to the myriad of problems that our society has? The world believes
that man can solve his deepest problems with secular psychology principles with certain
introspective inner self-adjustments, or minor
medical doses.
These lies are
diversion. While pursing the wrong things in to the wrong areas and coming up with
the wrong answers and thus missing the right answers.
Dr. Robert Coles, social
Psychologist from Harvard Medical School. He states: "A befuddled mixed up
slob with no tuffness is a Psychiatrist." When he was ask, "Can
psychologist help a person's mental health?" Cole said this; "We should'nt use
words like mental health, the question is not what is mental health, or do you
have mental health, the question is what do you do with your life." Something,
right!!!
2A THE CHRISTIANS PERSPECTIVE (should be)
To those Christians who
have not bought into the lie, then how do Christians find steadfastness, and
stability in life? Where do you go to learn to cope? Where do you go to learn to deal with
anxiety? and circumstances that
debilitate you?
"I JUST NEED TO GET
MY LIFE TOGETHER?" We live in a sea of people who are emotional unstable.
Where do we go for help?
IB PSALMS ONE: The foundational Psalms of
life:
1C The Stability
Life: vs. 1-3 2C The Instability
Life: vs. 4-6
2B The person who walks with God is
characterized by stability and steadfastness,
and productivity, but the one who rejects Him flounders in meaningless existence. What would you rather be?
1C
Delighting in the Lord, having a right relationship with God. 2C
Meditating in His Word, so that life is viewed from a divine perspective.
PHILIPPIANS 4:1-9 KEYS TO SPIRITUAL STEADFASTNESS
1A CULTIVATE HARMONY THROUGH LOVE: vs.
2-3
2A MAINTAIN A SPIRIT OF JOY (REJOICING)
ALWAYS. VS. 4
Here is the command:
"Rejoice, I say again rejoice."
You say how can I
rejoice in my circumstances? The command is not saying that. How can I rejoice
even in,imy spiritual accomplishments? You can't.
Then what is the command
saying. Rejoice in the LORD. The Lord is the only person that we can rejoice over.
He never fails us.
IB PRINCIPLE TO APPLY IN LIFE FOR STEADFASTNESS:
"What a person's thinking is about God
is tied into how he is about to maintain a
steady life."
2B THINKING ABOUT THE
LORD BRINGS JOY. Why? One: He is sovereign over all things, and God is in charge, He's
in control, and its for my good. And the more I know Him the great the depth of my joy.
YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE TO TEACH THESE
PRINCIPLE/TRUTH TO YOUR CHILDREN AND MAKE APPLICATION IN YOUR DAILY LIVING.
