November 22 2015 Maintaining Thanksgiving Joy

MAINTAINING THANKSGIVING JOY

Philippians 3:1 – Finally my brothers, rejoice in the Lord.

Six Ways To Maintain Thanksgiving Joy

1.  Stop dwelling on past failures.

Philippians 3:13 b - One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Forget what happened in the past and don’t dwell on the events from long ago because I’m going to do something new.

2. Let go of anxieties about the future.

Philippians 4:6 - Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.

3. Embrace God’s plan for our life.

Philippians 1:21 - For me to live is Christ.

2 Timothy 1:3 - My only purpose in life is to please Him.

Romans 6:13 - Give yourself completely to God, every part of you to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purpose.

4. Dwell on the positive facts.

Philippians 4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

5.  Give our lives away to others.

Philippians 4:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and I long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward of my work.

Philippians 3:21-24 - For me, living means opportunity for Christ, and dying, well, that’s better yet!  But, if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die, sometimes I want to live and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ.  How much happier for me then living here, but the fact is, that I can be of more help to you by staying.

6. Learn to be untroubled by circumstances.

Philippians 4:11 - I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.

2 Corinthians 11:23 - I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again.

June 2 2013 How To Succeed In Life

How To Succeed In Life
Philippians 3:12-21
Verse 17 - Join with others in following my example, and take note of those who live according to the pattern we gave you.

4 Keys To Successful Living

I.  Evaluation.

Verses 12-13 - Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already been made perfect, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it.

Proverbs 28:13 - You will never succeed in life if you try to hide your sins.  Confess them and give them up, then God will show mercy to you.

Question: Where do I need to change?

II.  Elimination.

Verse 13 b - But this one thing I do, forgetting what is behind.

Isaiah 43:18 - Forget the former things, do not dwell on the past, see I am doing a new thing (says the Lord.)

WHAT TO FORGET
* Our failures.
* Our successes. 

Luke 9:62 - Jesus said, anyone who starts to plow and then looks back is of no use for the Kingdom of God

Questions: What memory do I need to let go of?

III.  Concentration.

Verse 13c - But this one thing I do, straining toward what is ahead I press on toward the goal.

I Corinthians 9:24 - Do you know that in a race, all the runners run, but only one gets the prize?  Run in such a way as to win the prize.

WHAT IS THE GOAL?

II Corinthians 5:9 - so we make our goal to please Him.

Question: What am I living for, what’s my focus?

IV.  Determination.

Verses 12-13 - I press on, straining, I press on to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.
Acts 20:24 - But I reckon my own life to be worth nothing to me, in order that I may complete my mission and finish the work that the Lord Jesus gave me to do, which is to declare the good news of the grace of God.
II Timothy 4:7-8- I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.  Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness which the Lord will award to me on that day.

3 SUGGESTIONS (Verses 15-16)

*  Don’t become complacent.

*  Be teachable.

*  Be persistent.

May 5 2013 How To Replace Discouragement With Joy

How To Replace Discouragement With Joy
Psalm 43:4 - I will go to God, the source of all my joy.

6 Ways To Conquer Discouragement

1.  Set aside all regrets.
Philippians 3:13 b - One thing I do is to forget what is behind me and do my best to reach what is ahead.

Isaiah 43:18-19 - Forget what happened in the past and don’t dwell on the events from long ago because I’m going to do something new.

2.  Stop all worries about the future.
Philippians 4:6 - Don’t worry about anything, instead pray about everything.  Tell God what you need and thank Him for all He has done.

3.  Surrender yourself to God’s purpose.
Philippians 1:21 - For me to live is Christ.

2 Timothy 1:3 - My only purpose in life is to please Him.

Romans 6:13 - Give yourself completely to God, every part of you to be tools in the hands of God to be used for His good purpose.

4.  Focus on what’s good.
Philippians4:8 - Fix your thoughts on what is true, honorable and right.  Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable.  Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

5.  Use your life to help others.
Philippians 4:1 - Dear brothers and sisters, I love you and I long to see you, for you are my joy and the reward of my work.

Philippians 3:21-24 - For me, living means opportunity for Christ, and dying, well, that’s better yet!  But, if living will give me more opportunities to win people to Christ, then I really don’t know which is better, to live or die, sometimes I want to live and at other times I don’t, for I long to go and be with Christ.  How much happier for me then living here, but the fact is, that I can be of more help to you by staying.

6.  Learn to be content.
Philippians 4:11 - I have learned to be content, whatever the circumstances.

2 Corinthians 11:23 - I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely and been exposed to death again and again.