Sermon Tone Analysis

*TEXT:*                                       PHILIPPIANS 4:6-9

*PRAYER*

*TITLE:*                          STAYING POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE WORLD

*INTRODUCTION*

*ILLUSTRATION: *ARE YOU UNDER OR ABOVE YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES

v      Make no mistake about it, you and I live in a NEGATIVE world and the circumstances we encounter lead to being either positive or negative.

Ø       This should NOT take any of us by surprise.

Jesus gave us a “heads up” long ago.

Listen to John 16:33.

/These things I have spoken unto you, that *in me ye might have peace*.

In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.

/

Ø       Two valuable truths surface instantly in this verse.

§         First, peace can be found BUT it is found only in Jesus.

§         Second, the only thing you can be sure the world will give you is tribulation and problems.

Ø       It is a sad fact that you and I live in a negative world and that means you and I are in a world with many problems.

§         We are confronted with the evidence of this daily!

Ø       That also means you and I are affected by the world’s troubles.

§         Violence, war and crime.

§         Alcohol, abortion and the breakup of homes.

§         Hospitals, cemeteries, prisons.

v      We are NOT to be negative people.

Ø       There is nothing worse in this world than a negative Christian!

Ø       In fact, Paul says we are to be a rejoicing people.

Listen to what he wrote in Philippians 3:1.

/Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord.

To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe./

Ø       The process of becoming a rejoicing people and the process of becoming a positive influence in our world means we focus on positive thoughts and praise.

§         We need to focus on things that are true, honest and just.

§         We are to focus on the things that are pure, lovely and of good report.

§         We are to focus only on those things that have virtue and are worthy of praise.

Ø       Sadly I must report that NOT all Christians positive.

§         Today you don’t have to go far to find negative Christians.

§         You don’t have to go far to find believers that grumble and complain.

§         For some strange reason there is nothing anyone can do to make them happy.

Ø       OK.

So how do we keep ourselves from becoming negative?

How is it we can stay positive in this negative world?

*BODY*

*1.       **FIRST, IF YOU WANT TO BE POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE WORLD YOU MUST RESPOND TO GOD’S LOVE*

A.      God’s love for us is seen in the blessings He bestows and the blessings He bestows should get a response from those blessed!

*ILLUSTRATION:* GOD’S BLESSINGS

B.      Look at our text in Philippians 4:6-7.

/Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

/

C.      Now many of us think that this verse is solely about prayer.

D.      Well, it is certainly that but it is so much more because in this verse we can see many of the things that reveal God’s love to us.

i.

You see, we see God’s love for us in spite of the circumstances.

1).

You see, God sticks with us through adversity even when friends flee.

ii.

We see God’s love for us in creation.

1).

All that God has made in creation was made specifically to sustain your life and make you happy.

2).

Why is it so many are not happy?

They have failed to recognize that the cards they have been dealt have been dealt by God and He makes NO mistakes!

iii.

We see God’s love for us in pages of the Bible.

1).

Time after time and verse after verse God has given instructions that will help us be the best we can be.

2).

Listen to Romans 15:4.

/For whatsoever things were written aforetime were written for our learning, that we through patience and comfort of the scriptures might have hope./

iv.

But the place where we see God’s love the clearest is in the ugliest place of al.

1).

You see, God’s love shown the brightest at Calvary!

2).

Hard to imagine that God would use the ugliest man had to offer to demonstrate the best He had to offer but He did!

v.        We also see and experience God’s love through answered prayer.

1).

If God didn’t love why would he want us to pray?

2).

If God didn’t love why would He answer those prayers?

*APPLICATION:* TAKE A GOOD LOOK AT GOD’S LOVE BY LOOKING AT THE BLESSINGS HE BESTOWS AND IT WILL LIFT YOU OUT OF THE PIT OF BEING NEGATIVE AND PLACE YOU SECURELY ON THE ROCK OF POSITIVENSS!

*2.       **SECOND, IF YOU WANT TO BE POSITIVE IN A NEGATIVE WORLD YOU MUST REPROGRAM YOUR WAY OF THINKING*

A.      Thinking is not something most are noted for anymore.

Thinking fits in along glass blowing, it is a forgotten art.

i.

It has been said that if you are a thinker you are a minority.

ii.

You see, 5% think that they think and 85% would rather die than think.

That leaves only 10% who are real thinkers.

B.      But verse 8 not only encourages us to think but helps us to know what we should think.

Look at verse 8 in Philippians 4.

/Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things./

C.      We are constantly bombarded with negative messages.

D.      We brag about “real time” in this age of instant communications but there is a significant downside to being in “real time”.

i.

It means we are instantly and constantly aware of the world’s problems.

ii.

It means all of the violent acts of our world are instantly reported.

1).

This week alone we witnessed many horrible acts in the news media.

E.      There is documented evidence of the psychological dangers of being exposed to constant negative input.

i.

If you ever had to work around a negative person for a while you will know exactly what I mean.

ii.

Imagine going through life with a perpetual cloud of negativity hanging over your head every day!

F.      But by the same token there is tremendous significance and influence to things that are positive.

i.

For instance, to be around people on a daily basis who are positive always makes the day better even when circumstances do not cooperate!

ii.

To be around those who are positive almost always ensures that you will have a day that is more productive.

iii.

To be around those who are positive means we come home and interact in a more positive nature in family relationships.

G.

But the road to being positive is built with the bricks of having things in your life that build your faith.

i.         Developing a devotional life.