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Three Challenges To Living Above Your Circumstances
Philippians 1:12-18
INTRODUCTION:
A- Opening questions:
1.
If you had the power to change your circumstances, would you?
2. If you could change any of your circumstances, what would you change?
B- Biblical background:
1- Paul’s negative circumstances:
a- in prison for the cause of Christ.
b- Paul had negative circumstances but never got under them.
C- Probing question:
1.
On what am I to focus when enduring negative circumstances?
TS: Notice three challenges that will enable you to live above your circumstances.
I– The first challenge is to focus on Christ and not your circumstance.
(Philippians 1:18).
A- What the answer is not:
1- Escape
2- Complain
3- Blame
B- What the answer is:
1- Focus your attention upon Christ instead of the negative circumstance.
a- Paul’s circumstances were very negative.
· Riot at Jerusalem
· imprisonment in Jerusalem
· imprisoned in Caesarea for 2 years
· threats on his life
· perilous trip to Rome
· house arrest and restricted freedom
· impending trial before Caesar
b- in spite of this, Paul rejoiced in his circumstances.
(Verse 18 b).
C- When you focus on Christ:
1- He lifts the veil and you see circumstances differently.
a. Negative circumstances are seen as opportunity.
b. negative circumstances are seen as a privilege rather than a burden.
II- The second challenge is to focus upon the sovereignty and power of God and not the will of man.
(Philippians 1:15 – 18).
A- Often times, the will of man seems to be in control of our circumstances.
1- It seemed that it was because of man’s will that Paul was injuring his hardships.
a- The Pharisees and Sadducees had incited a riot in the temple, resulting in Paul’s imprisonment there.
b- The Jewish leaders desire for Paul’s death caused to Caesarea and imprisonment and the need to appeal to Caesar; and thus, his Roman imprisonment.
c- Paul’s opponents were preaching the gospel in order to make it rough on him (vs.
15 – 16).
B- Only that which is under the control of God can touch the believer.
(Philippians 1:17).
1- Circumstances Our in our lives either by the permissive will or the perfect will of our sovereign, Almighty Lord.
a- Paul’s situation was both:
· It was God’s perfect will – God had set Paul where he was for the purpose of defending the gospel of Christ (Philippians 1:17).
· it was God’s permissive will –God had allowed the preaching of the gospel out of improper motives by Paul’s enemies.
o All of this was still under God’s permissive will (Romans 8:28).
III- The Third challenge is to focus on the positive results of the circumstance and not the personal pain.
(Philippians 1:12 – 14).
A- Promotion of the gospel (Philippians 1:12).
1- When the child of God keeps the proper focus and lives above the circumstances, it results in a growth in the testimony of the power of the gospel.
a- As Paul lived day by day, rejoicing and then testifying of the risen Christ, it got people’s attention.
· This likely resulted in a number of them getting saved (Philippians 4:22).
B- Positively impacting lives that would otherwise be impossible to touch (Philippians 1:13).
1- Paul’s circumstances placed him in the middle of the praetorian guard – elite soldiers who guarded Caesar.
if he had not been placed in his circumstances, he could never have been able to reach those men.
2- The big question: who is life or lives are you in a unique position to reach because of your circumstances?
C- Encouraging other believers (Philippians 1:14).
1- Fellow believers are encouraged by a brother or sister who is living above their circumstance.
a- Paul’s fellow believers were encouraged to boldly stand and witness of Christ because of Paul’s handling of his circumstances.
D- The name of Jesus is lifted up (Philippians 1:15 – 18).
1- Christ was exalted and lifted up in preaching by brothers and sisters in Christ.
2- Jesus is always honored as we show the world that he makes a difference in our lives.
Conclusion:
A- Whatever your circumstances are, the challenge is to:
1- Focus on Christ and not your circumstance.
2- Focus on the sovereignty of God and not the will of man.
3- Focus on the positive results and not the personal pain.
B- Whatever your circumstance, it is your choice to live above them or beneath them.
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