OPEN
If I did a poll, you could probably
all “list” the things it takes to get healthy…
·
Soda
·
Diet – balanced
·
Veggies, fruit, lean meats
·
Stop McD and BW3 three to five X a
week
·
Stop eating dessert with every meal
·
Stay active
·
Exercise 3+ X a week
·
Get up from your desk and walk
around
·
Stop watching TV every night
·
Get 7-9 hrs. of sleep
Why don’t we “Obey” these rules?
·
Betting my list didn’t INSPIRE to
obedience
·
Or did it?
·
Squats
RECAP
INSPIRED to dive deep
into the Bible… into Philippians
Gospel Glasses
·
Identity, destiny and
especially relationship
·
Should inspire us to
read, pray, interact in a fresh way
Hope this has been
fun/encouraging for all of you
Hope you have some new tools
to interact with Bible
Hope you are loving
Jesus more through your Bible study
TODAY
We are going to tackle
what I feel is the biggest leap for many of us.
What does it mean for us
to be Inspired to Obey
what we read?
PRAYER
PHILIPPIANS
4
Has
a whole list of “rules” for us to obey… have you read this thing? (Read 4:1-9
ESV)
4 Therefore, my brothers, whom I love
and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm thus in the Lord, my beloved. 2 I
entreat Euodia and I entreat Syntyche to agree in the Lord. 3 Yes, I ask you
also, true companion, help these women, who have labored side by side with me
in the gospel together with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose
names are in the book of life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again, I
will say, rejoice. 5 Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is
at hand; 6 do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and
supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 7 And
the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true,
whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything
worthy of praise, think about these things. 9 What you have learned and
received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace
will be with you.
There’s
a lot there if you’re looking for something to obey! Here’s an oversimplified
list of those 9 verses:
·
Stand firm (4:1)
·
Solve quarrels (2)
·
Rejoice (4)
·
Be reasonable (5)
·
Don’t worry (6)
·
Pray all the time (6)
·
Think only good thoughts (8)
·
Act like Paul all the time (9)
And
that doesn’t include 4:10-23… Fourteen more verses in this one chapter!
Are
you Inspired to Obey Philippians yet?
This is quite the
list… but really anyone who’s been in relationship with Jesus for a year or two
should know this list, right?!
·
Be nice
·
Don’t worry
·
Think good thoughts
Seems like common
sense for those who follow Jesus.
So
why don’t we obey these lists of rules?
We have a sign in our kitchen that says: “we do grace… hugs… 2nd
chances.”
Deuteronomy – write them everywhere… doorposts… boxes on your heads
If you put up the 10 commandments, does it work?
Helpful? Sometimes
Inspiring? Not likely
How many of us have ripped off a “Do Not Remove” label?
Didn’t the words inspire you to obey?
How many have approached the
Bible this way? …I know I tried
YOU
KNOW WHO NEVER DID
My basketball coaches
· Rules = yes …Things to follow through on = yes
· Things to learn = yes …Plans = yes
· Things to obey = absolutely
Here’s the thing… LISTS
don’t Inspire you to Obery… RELATIONSHIP does.
My coaches didn’t write things down… they inspired through relationship
· Hours of time together
· Practice together
· Meals together
· Vision for the team (identity)
· Things to accomplish (destiny)
LET’S
LOOK AT PAUL
We’ve been given tools
to use on this…
·
Friend, planter, pastor
·
In prison – real, raw
words
·
His examples
·
Encouraging his friends
Imagine if your friend
or sg leader asked you to work out a quarrel (4:2-3)
Imagine if your friend
at church or pastor asked you to “put into practice” (4:9)
Philippians weren’t receiving a List
of Do’s and Don’t’s
They were receiving a very PERSONAL
Email from a friend.
His LISTS didn’t Inspire
them to Obey… his RELATIONSHIP with them did.
YOU
AND ME
We know that this was
written TO the Philippians
We know that some is FOR us (be nice, don’t
worry, think good thoughts)
As you read, pray and interact with
Jesus, remember (relationship & identity):
·
He loves us
·
He wants what’s best for us
·
He cares about our worries and our
lives
As you read Philippians, remember:
·
Paul believes those things about
himself (loved,
cared for, best)
·
His hope is in Jesus and not his
circumstances (prison)
Let’s re-read just a portion of the
text (Phil. 4:4-7 TPT)
“Be cheerful with joyous celebration in every season of life. Let joy
overflow, for you are united with the Anointed One! Let gentleness be seen in every relationship,
for our Lord is ever near.
“Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be
saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests
before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then
God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the
answers known to you through Jesus Christ”
Take
some time and personally MODEL how I would approach
my reading.
How would I approach/read
this section?
Remind the audience that
the LIST isn’t important.
The important part of
this is my connection to Jesus… my relationship INSPIRES me.
A
WAY THAT YOU CAN DO THIS?
a) Come Holy Spirit
b) Who are you God? (remember my relationship)
c) Who am I God? (remember my identity)
d) Then Read
the text
e) What can we do together? (destiny)
You all can do this!
·
But it starts with
friendship with Jesus… and partnership with Holy Spirit
·
We can’t just read the
book.
·
REMEMBER: LISTS
don’t Inspire you to Obery… RELATIONSHIP does.
·
That’s why connection
with the WORD is just as important as the written WORD.
Here are a couple of
texts that even acknowledge that truth:
John 5:39-40 “You are busy analyzing the
Scriptures, frantically poring over them in hopes of gaining eternal life.
Everything you read points to me, yet you still refuse to come to me so I can
give you the life you’re looking for—eternal life!”
John 14:21 “Those who truly love me are those who obey my commands.
Whoever passionately loves me will be passionately loved by my Father. And I
will passionately love you in return and will manifest my life within you.”
IMAGINE
Let me encourage you
today…
·
Put into practice the steps I’ve
taught you (Phil 4:9)
·
Take time to invite God into your
reading
·
Be settled in truth before you
approach the truth
·
Maybe start Colossians this week J
