Summer Of Joy
Unstoppable - Conquering hindrances with determination
This summer we are taking the time to read the book of Phillipians, also known as the book “The Book Of Joy”. Philippians was written by the apostle Paul from a prison cell which is kind of ironic because he's trying to show us that you can be in the middle of what seems like a prison but joy doesn't have anything to do with what's going on around you. Joy starts in you and you can find joy and peace and confidence in the Lord no matter what's going on around you.
Links
Series
Speakers
Marcus Avalos
Lead Pastor
PHIL 1:12-14
12 I WANT YOU TO KNOW, DEAR ONES, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME HAS NOT HINDERED, BUT HELPED MY MINISTRY TO ADVANCE THE GOSPEL, CAUSING IT TO EXPAND AND SPREAD TO MANY PEOPLE. 13 FOR NOW THE ELITE ROMAN GUARDS AND GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS OVERSEEING MY IMPRISONMENT HAVE PLAINLY RECOGNIZED THAT I AM HERE BECAUSE OF MY LOVE FOR THE ANOINTED ONE. 14 AND WHAT I’M GOING THROUGH HAS ACTUALLY CAUSED MANY BELIEVERS TO BECOME EVEN MORE COURAGEOUS IN THE LORD AND TO BE BOLD AND PASSIONATE TO PREACH THE WORD OF GOD, ALL BECAUSE OF MY CHAINS.
TRUTH: 3 TYPES OF PEOPLE:
- PEOPLE WHO CRY
- Always complain about hindrances.
- PEOPLE WHO TRY
- Always trying to remove their hindrances.
- PEOPLE WHO TRUST
- Always leverage their hindrance for the gospel.
PEOPLE WHO CRY AND TRY HAVE ONE OF THESE CONDITIONS:
INHERITED FAITH
- Faith transmitted from people you love and respect...(mom, dad); SECON-HAND FAITH
SHALLOW FAITH
- Faith barely alive. ONE STORM away from drifting Back to your former lifestyle!
CONDITIONAL FAITH
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Rather than TRUST GOD during your surrounding; you FIGHT to control your surroundings.
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CONDITIONAL FAITH is faith on your terms not Gods.
THOUGHTS OF AN OVERCOMING MINDSET:
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“My current situation is not my destination
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“This challenge in life is inevitable but allowing it to defeat me is optional.” — Roger Crawford
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“What lies behind me and what lies before me are small matters compared to what lies within me.”
1 John 4:4
Greater is He who is within you than he who is in the world.
WHAT HAPPENED? “...what has happened to me has not hindered, but helped my ministry
- Chained in prison for proclaiming the gospel.
- Acts 16 — The Macedonian Call. Lydia — Prison — Jailer — Boldness
PAUL MINDSET TO OPPOSITION IS REFRAMED:
Philippians 1:29
For God has graciously given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him.
1 John 5:4
For whatever is born of God overcomes the world. And this is the victory that has overcome the world—our faith.
Phil 2:12
Work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.
REFRAMING ADVERSITY:
- C.S. LEWIS - “Many of our prayers are misguided...Many of our prayers would short-circuit God’s plans and purposes for our lives if He answered them. Maybe we should stop asking God to get us out of difficult circumstances and start asking Him what He wants us to get out of those difficult circumstances.”
God has always cared MORE about my long-term POTENTIAL than my short-term COMFORT.
HOW DOES PAULS HINDRANCE HELP THE GOSPEL?
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BREEDS CURIOSITY a. ELITE GUARD (high influence leaders) ACKNOWLEDGE it.
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BREEDS COURAGE a. BROTHERS CAUGHT it. Became Courageous.
BOTTOM LINE:
REFRAME YOUR TRIAL BEFORE IT REDEFINES YOU
TAKE HOME:
- What does your current faith reveal?
a. INHERITED. SHALLOW, CONDITIONAL, or GENUINE FAITH?
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Don’t pray for a LIGHTER load; Pray for a STRONGER back! (Lord, strengthen my faith in You.)
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REMEMBER JESUS WORDS TO PETER: “Simon, Simon, Satan has asked to sift all of you as wheat. 32 But I have prayed for you, Simon, that your FAITH MAY NOT FAIL. And when you have turned back, STRENGTHEN your brothers.” Luke 22:31-32
Summer Of Joy | Week 3 | Unstoppable - Conquering hindrances with determination
TALK IT OVER NOTES
SUMMARY
Paul is writing letters to the church of Phillippi while he is in prison. Because of his circumstances, he could have chosen to be negative, but instead he wrote to us to encourage us, to be “Faith Framers”. Paul is the perfect example of a faith framer, he never allowed what was wrong in his life to keep him from worshiping what was right about God.
Philippians 1:12-14
3 Types of People
PEOPLE WHO CRY
- Always complain about hindrances.
PEOPLE WHO TRY
- Always trying to remove their hindrances.
PEOPLE WHO TRUST
- Always leverage their hindrance for the gospel.
Q1: What type of person would you say you are?
3 Types of “Fragile” Faith
Inherited Faith
- Faith that has been transmitted to you… second hand faith.
God will always try to weed us off of this faith because he wants us to have a personal connection with us… first hand faith.
Shallow Faith
- Faith that is circumstantial, it is not buried in a firm foundation.
God is our firm foundation that we need to bury ourselves in so we don't float away. He is the anchor that holds us steadfast.
Conditional “emotional” Faith
- Faith that changes depending on the conditions. If the condition is good, we are joyful and happy, but if the condition is bad, we change.
We NEED to let God work and do something with our lives. We need to have faith on His terms, not our terms.
Q2: What does your current faith reveal? Inherited, shallow or conditional faith?
GENUINE FAITH
- Strong faith. People with this faith fight FROM a place of victory, not a place FOR victory.
If God is with me, what can be against me!
Thoughts of a “Faith Framer”:
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“This current situation is not my destination
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“This challenge in life is inevitable but allowing it to defeat me is optional.”
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“What lies behind me and what lies before me are small matters compared to what lies within me.”
1 John 4:4
With whatever hard times we are going through. Ask God, what do you want me to get out of this situation? We may not see it now, but it is all just preparation for a bigger trial in the future.
Q3: Think about a trial that you are currently going through. How can you “Reframe” it to prepare you for the future
When people can start to see the reflection of our Heavenly Father in us, that is when we become a Faith Framer and we become an influencer for the gospel.
Philippians 1:29
1 John 5:4
Phil 2:12
“Many of our prayers are misguided...Many of our prayers would short-circuit God’s plans and purposes for our lives if He answered them. Maybe we should stop asking God to get us out of difficult circumstances and start asking Him what He wants us to get out of those difficult circumstances.” -- C.S. LEWIS
Adversity is the seedbed for opportunity
Reframe your trial before it redefines you
PRAY IT OUT
Lord, I just thank you for everything that You do and everything that You will continue to do. I pray for wisdom as we allow our minds to reframe all of the trials that we are going through and that we can use it to spread Your word and reflect You just as Paul did. Father, I just ask that you give us strength as we put our faith on Your terms and not our own. And that as we continue to walk on the path that You have created for us, that we feel Your guiding hand God. Thank You again for all You do, we pray this in Your name, Amen.