The secret of living with joy and peace in every situation

by San No Thuan

Introduction:

When Paul writes the letter to Philippians, he encouraged them by saying, “Always be full of joy in the Lord. I say it again – rejoice!” At that time he was imprisoned in Rome but he was filled with joy and peace. The main reason why he could live with joy and peace at any time and any circumstances is because he know how to live. Then, what is the secret of living that Paul has learned. In other word, what is the difference between Paul and us?

Four differences of Paul from mere Christians

1. His Purpose: What is the purpose of life? Living is for Christ (Phil. 1:21)

·      Unbelievers: they try to magnify or live for themselves. It is natural for them to strive for money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige.

·      Our first priority and purpose of life is not for money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige.

·      Then, what is it?

o   Phil. 1:21 – “for to me, living means living for Christ”

o   The true purpose of human life is “to live for Christ.” In other word, the purpose of life is to bring glory to Christ.

o   Living for Christ” means to magnify or glorify only for Jesus Christ.

o   Are you living for God’s pleasure or your pleasure?

·      Can we magnify Christ in our lives?

o   A Telescope brings distant things like stars and moon to be closer to human beings.

o   Microscope makes tiny things look big.

o   Believers must be like telescope and microscope that brings others to see Jesus and believe in him.

·      For unbelievers, Jesus Christ is very small. Other things are far more important.

·      To this unbelieving world, the purpose of Christians must be to bring Jesus Christ closer and bigger to their lives. How can we do that. We can do that through our lifestyle or patter of our life.    

2. His Pattern (Phil 2:5)

·      What is the Pattern of your attitude or lifestyle?

·      Human life is developed by the examples of their environment that they see and experience every day.

·      “Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus” (Phil. 2:5).

·      Pattern of Jesus:

1.     serving others with humility

2.     resisting every evil structure or ways of life out of love.

§  Cleansing the temple.

3. His Prize (Phil. 3:14)

·      “I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus” (Phi. 3:14)

·      the secret of success is to expect nothing form human beings but only from God alone.

·      Put your hope and expectation only from God.

·      Live not to please human beings but God alone.

·      Gal 1:10 - “Obviously, I'm not trying to win the approval of people, but of God. If pleasing people were my goal, I would not be Christ's servant”

4. Power (Phil. 4:13)

·      Phil. 4:13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

·      E.g. Jesus heals a lame man by a pool of Bethesda (John 5)

o   When there is the end of human power and ability to live like Jesus,  remember there is the power of God who can turn the water in wine.

o   “Stand up, pick up your mat, and walk” (Jon 5:8)

Conclusion

Paul’s secret of living with joy and peace in every situation can be learned in four Ps.  Those differences can give us a great impact in our daily life.

1.     For your purpose: is your purpose to serve the Lord instead of serving for your own pleasure?

2.     For your pattern of life: is your pattern of life to follow the likeness of Christ.

3.     For your prize: is your expectation of the prize for your hard work only from the Lord?

4.     For your power: is the power of God is your main energy and power?

_____________________

San No Thuan

Chin-Mizo Fellowship Sermon

Oct 26, 2014