How To Live, Whatever Happens

<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0><tr> <td valign="top" colspan=2 height=50 BGCOLOR="#333366" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>How To Live, Whatever Happens</B></div> <div> </div> </td> </tr><tr> <td valign="top" width=165 BGCOLOR="#CCCC99" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B> <TABLE BORDER="0" CELLPADDING="2" CELLSPACING="1" WIDTH="132" BORDERCOLORLIGHT="#C0C0C0" BORDERCOLORDARK="#808080" FRAME="VOID" RULES="NONE" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" > <tR> <tD VALIGN=TOP HEIGHT= 35 ><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id615.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Living Above Your Circumstances"><U><B><IMG SRC="007151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <A HREF="id619.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Standing Firm and Pressing On"><U><B><IMG SRC="008151d0.gif" border=0 width="21" height="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></U></A></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP WIDTH="20"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="35" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="20" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="13"></div> </NOBR></tD> <tD VALIGN=TOP><NOBR><div> <IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="29" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" WIDTH="27"></div> </NOBR></tD> </tR> </TABLE></B></div> <div> Previous/Next Sermon</div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="www.stanbaker.org"><U><B>Home</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id2.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Biblical and Theological Studies"><U><B>Biblical and Theological Studies</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id3.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Church Ministry"><U><B>Church Ministry</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id15.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Sermon Notes"><U>Sermon Notes</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id4.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Links"><U><B>Links</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id5.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="Personal"><U><B>Personal</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> <bR> </td> <td valign="top" height=430 BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <B>"How to Live, Whatever Happens," </B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Phillipians 1:27-2:18&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Phillipans 1:27-2:18</B></U></A></div> <div> <B>Berean Bible Church, June 18, 2006</B></div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.stanbaker.org/audio/Sermon-2006-06-18-Stan_Baker.mp3" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.stanbaker.org/audio/Sermon-20"><U><B>audio</B></U></A></div> <bR> <div>      "After years of stop-and-go planning, Ouray County in Colorado is ready to join the rest of the nation idling in front of a red light. The 3,500 resident county in southwestern Colorado plans to get its first stoplight ever. The signal will be placed at the junction of two highways. Some 6000 vehicles a day pass through the intersection originally controlled with stop signs. 'It's the passing of an era,' said town manager Don Batchelder. 'Some people are excited, and some are saying that as soon as the light goes up, they're out of here.'" (“Change”, Have a Good Day, Jan 2000). Wouldn't it be nice (but sad) if that is all the change we had to deal with?</div> <div>      There has been a lot of change and uncertainty in our church lately, and that is just one piece of all of our lives. Life itself is uncertain, but there are some things that are to remain certain and sure, regardless of what changes about our circumstances.</div> <div>      Ernesto Cortes, Jr, said, "We organize people not just around issues, but around their values. The issues fade, and people lose interest in them. But what they really care about remains: family, dignity, justice, and hope. We need power to protect what we value" (<I>Fast Company</I>, issue 30, p. 294).</div> <div>      Regardless of what happens in our futures, there are some key habits and values we must hold on to in midst of change. Please turn <A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Phillipians 1:27-2:18&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U>Philippians 1:27-2:18</U></A>.</div> <div>      Last week, we saw how Paul had joy and peace and thanksgiving, even though he was suffering imprisonment and a trial because of his faith in Christ. Frank Thielman wrote, “Every major feature of [Paul's] life at the time when he wrote this letter – his physical confort, the opinions others have about him, his position with respect to the secular authorities, and the question of whether he lives or dies – are molded by his commitment to the advancement of the gospel” (NIV Application Commentary: <I>Philippians</I>, p. 80).</div> <div>      Paul challenges us with 2 habits to hold on to, especially in changing times.</div> <bR> <div> <B>I. Live a life worthy of the gospel by being united with other Christians (</B><B> <A NAME="dde_link1"><IMG BORDER="0" SRC="1x1.gif" HEIGHT="1" ALIGN="bottom" WIDTH="1" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0" ></A></B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Phillipians 1:27-2:11&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Phillipians 1:27-2:11</B></U></A><B>).</B></div> <div>      What does it mean to live a life worthy of the gospel? It means to conduct your life in such a way that your lifestyle is <I>consistent</I> with the message of Jesus and with his sacrifice for us. What we <I>proclaim</I> and what <I>practice</I> should be the same. It is <I>applied</I> by what follows.</div> <div> A.<B> </B>Stand united against outside challenges  (vss. 28-31).</div> <div>      Outside challenges include direct persecution, being ridiculed for your beliefs, or being marginalized from society. When you are citizen of the kingdom of heaven, it puts you at odds with the values of the societies of this world. Expect that you are going to feel like something of an outsider among those who do not believe. Therefore, <I>stand together</I>, united<I> </I>with those who also believe, so you have the support of a team.</div> <div> B. Stand united against dissension from inside (vss. 2:1-11).</div> <div>      We tend towards selfish ambition, which has been described by Frank Thielman as “... a greedy attempt to gain the upper hand through underhanded tactics” (p.97). Instead of selfish ambition, be of the same mind with one another.</div> <div>      What does it mean to be of the same mind? Do we have to agree on everything? Frank Thielman writes, “Paul does not ... imagine that the church is a group of automatons, walking in lockstep with one another. Instead, he sees it as a group of individuals who, despite their differences, are willing to show love for one another through putting the well-being of others first. This will always mean speaking the truth and acting on the truth, but doing so in love. It will also mean having the humility to admit when we have spoken or acted amiss and then to mend our ways. As each believer lovingly looks out for the interests of fellow believers, all will move forward toward the 'attitude ... of Christ Jesus' (2:5) and will begin to approximate what Paul means when he speaks of 'thinking one thing'” (<I>Phillipians</I>, p.103).</div> <div>      The first step to putting the needs of others ahead of your own is to <I>listen</I> to their needs. Listen <I>first</I> to others and what they have to say, instead of pressing to let others know what <I>you</I> think. Slow down and really hear others, and seek a full understanding of their perspective. Husbands and fathers, you will immediately improve your family life if you and your family practice this, and we will improve this church if we all practice this. Don't be afraid to ask, “am I hearing you correctly?”</div> <div>      Then, before you speak, think twice or three times about you are about to say. Calvin said to Hobbes, “Sometimes when I'm talking, my words can't keep up with my thoughts. I wonder why we can think faster than we can speak?” Hobbes pondered and said, “Probably so we can think twice” (Calvin and Hobbes, 3-18-95).</div> <div>      Then, when you finally speak, speak with grace, kindness and respect. Always.</div> <div>      Paul isn't asking us to do anything Jesus himself hasn't done. Follow his example: he in humility served us by dying on the cross (vss. 5-11).</div> <bR> <div> <B>II. </B><I><B>Everyone</B></I><B> must give the utmost attention and respect to God's will, and live it out with God's help (</B><A HREF="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch.php?passage_request=Phillipians 2:12-18&tniv=yes" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.tniv.info/bible/passagesearch"><U><B>Phillipians 2:12-18</B></U></A><B>).</B></div> <div>      If we are going to live as a united group of followers of Jesus Christ, it means individually we must put into practice the laws and commands of Christ, using his help. He is at work to help us to desire and to put into practice his will for our lives. To be unified in the church does not mean that we let each other alone to disobey Christ, it means that we work together to follow Christ with great fear, respect, and even trembling.</div> <div>      This includes our moral behavior, our attitudes toward one another and toward life (vs. 14), and our faithfulness to the word of God (vs. 16). As a result, we will stand apart in a world filled with sin and wickedness. For the Philippians, it meant Paul's efforts to develop them in Christ will have paid off. He invested his very life in them, and the expected result was that they would stand firm in the faith as followers of Jesus Christ. I pray the same for you.</div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> copyright, 2006, Stanley Baker</div> <div> www.stanbaker.org</div> </td> </tr></table></body>