Philippians For Times Like These

1. Philippians For Times Like These #5 – Dark CloudsSilver Linings

2. When life gives you lemons…. • Every cloud…. • A smile is a frown… • You’ve got to turn your negatives into…. Best Of A Bad Situation

3. It takes strong faith to look for the good in bad situations. • Paul illustrates this point well in Philippians 1:12-18 • Though his personal situation is dire, he continues to rejoice in the Lord.

4. Philippians 1:12-13 --Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, Rejoicing In Bad situations

5. Acts 28:16, 30-31 – “When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him…. And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.” What was paul’s circumstance?

6. Acts 28:23-24 --When they had set a day for Paul, they came to him at his lodging in large numbers; and he was explaining to them by solemnly testifying about the kingdom of God and trying to persuade them concerning Jesus, from both the Law of Moses and from the Prophets, from morning until evening. Some were being persuaded by the things spoken, but others would not believe. Preaching in imprisonment

7. Phil. 1:14 -- …and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment… Joy Over greater trust

8. For we do not want you to be unaware, brethren, of our affliction which came to us in Asia, that we were burdened excessively, beyond our strength, so that we despaired even of life; indeed, we had the sentence of death within ourselves so that we would not trust in ourselves, but in God who raises the dead; who delivered us from so great a peril of death, and will deliver us, He on whom we have set our hope. And He will yet deliver us…. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10

9. Phil. 1:14b -- …have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear….. Joy Because Of Greater Courage

10. 2 Cor. 3:12-13 -- Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech, and are not like Moses, who used to put a veil over his face so that the sons of Israel would not look intently at the end of what was fading away. Courage Based on hope

11. Phil. 1:15 – Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will…. • Not everyone was preaching for the right reasons. Rejoicing in persecution

12. 1 Timothy 1:20 --Among these are Hymenaeus and Alexander, whom I have handed over to Satan, so that they will be taught not to blaspheme. • 2 Timothy 2:18 -- …Among them are Hymenaeus and Philetus, men who have gone astray from the truth…and upset the faith of some. Some preached to hurt paul

13. Phil. 1:16-17 – …the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.” Love or selfish ambition?

14. Vs. 18 – What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Paul still rejoices!

15. When preached in pretense – the gospel is still preached! And when the gospel is preached the world is changed. • When preached in truth, the gospel is still preached regardless of the messenger’s motivation. • Rejoice when the gospel is preached! Why rejoice?