Philippians 1:19-26
WHAT TO DO WHEN THINGS DON’T LOOK SO GOOD
AND AREN’T DOING SO GOOD
***Things were not going so well for Paul – he is in jail and 2 Cor 11:22-33
***Paul shares some Bible principles about what to do when things are not going so well…….
(1.) DO NOT THROW AWAY YOUR CONFIDENCE IN THE GOODNESS OF GOD – Philippians 1:12,26
This refers to 2 items:
(1.) This refers to the character of God
-Paul could rejoice in the Lord because of His character
-the character of God is who He is and it never changes
-we tend to think the Lord has changed when things aren’t going to well
and life gets uncomfortable
***JESUS IS UP TO SOMETHING FAR MORE IMPORTANT THAN OUR COMFORT*** —- it is becoming more like Jesus…
DANGER
There is a danger that we will connect comfort with God’s character…..
***Do not allow problems to dictate what you are going to believe about the Lord
(2.) REALIZE GOOD THINGS COME OUT OF BAD THINGS
-Jesus and the Cross and the Apostle Paul in prison
-there are always good things among the bad things that happen to us
An example is Joseph — Genesis 50:19-20
***Remember: We will not always see the good in what is going on at first or see the point at all, but eventually we will….
(2.) PRAY – vs 3-4, 19
-Prayer will get us through anything and everything
-There is tremendous power in a mind that is made up spiritually
When we pray, a supply of the Holy Spirit comes upon us…..and as we continue to pray and increase in the supply of the Holy Spirit comes…
Supply – means a generous and lavish portion……huge…enormous..
a. it is the Spirit of Jesus Christ – this speaks of Jesus giving the Spirit and the Holy Spirit pointing to Jesus
b. John 14:15-18 – the parakletos- a 7 fold supply of the Holy Spirit
Helper…Comforter…Advocate & Intercessor…Counselor…
***THE SUPPLY OF THE HOLY SPIRIT CRUSHES ALL OF OUR ENEMIES
-as we pray, the supply of the Holy Spirit comes upon us which is the anointing of the Holy Spirit, the manifest presence of the Lord and the glory of God…….this mans the weight of His presence……
-the spiritual weight of the supply of the Holy Spirit will crush all of our enemies – anxiety…fear…worry…
-Luke 4:18-19
(3.) GLORIFY THE LORD – v30
—–John 12:27-30
-Lord be glorified and exalted in every situation
-we will not always be released from difficulties
-we will not always be rescued from hard situations
-there is a purpose in everything that happens to us or affects us
-the key is for the Lord to be glorified