A Disciples Decision in an Angry World
September 19, 2021Our world has become very angry. (The Afghanistan pullout, McDonalds, the number of items people take through the quick lane, Politics, race, schools, masks, vaccines, shutdowns)
June 14, 2015 in Lake Eland, South Africa a cyclist spotted huge dead Python. Cut open the python open and found inside it a large porcupine. The snake had eaten a porcupine! The undigested quills punctured internal organs.
Many Christians are being stabbed by anger and hate because we swallow the same worldview as the lost. If we take anger into our inner being, it will kill us.
ILLU: Paul terrible situation. Not angry = Eyes Jesus/Gospel.
Decision #1: (Look for what God is doing here.)
Philippians 1:12-13
Decision #2: . (He chose an attitude of rejoicing.)
Philippians 1:14-28
Decision #3: . (He trusted the Lord with his future)
Philippians 1:19-20
Decision #4: . (He encouraged others to suffer for Christ)
Philippians 1:27-29)
Could have been tempting to stir their anger. But instead, he challenged them to live for the Gospel.
He told them that it is a privilege to suffer for Christ, just as it is a privilege to have faith in Christ.
Decision #5: . (He released all rights on himself)
Philippians 1:21-23
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.” – Jim Elliot.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” –Paul