Part 1: Growing in LOVE
" Recession is when a neighbour loses his job, depression is when you lose yourself"
last month 600000 families lost their job.
M'sia haven got the full efect of recession yet.
Book of Philippians
*There is a need for cultivating a joyfull life in the midst of a global recession
*Pray God to use series to bring lasting change to everyday life.
*Experience for yourself, power of change found in this letter (Philippians)
Proverbs 23:4-5 Be wise enough not to wear yourself out trying to get rich. Your money can be gone in a fash, as if it had grown wings and flown away like an eagle.
Father said this in his diary
" Went fishing with son- a day wasted"
Son said this in his diary
" Went fishing with dad- it was the most wonderful time spent"
Different type of investment
* God in his own way is mysterious & powerful
* It is a test for our faith- reexamine our family budget
*Faithfulness of people that will rise up-donate to church inspite of recession
Acts 16 tells the background of the church in Phillipi
*Supposed that Paul is in Rome, where he found himself under house arrest
*Does the church have nothing to do with business people? NO!
The wrong perception.
*Not only business man converted but a demon possessed slave as well!
Philippians 1:3-6 teaches us to be thankful
" I thank my God for you every time I think of you; and every time I pray for you all, I pray with joy because of the way in which you have helped me in the work of the gospel from the very first day until now. And so I am sure that God, who began this good work in you, will carry it on until it is finished on the Day of Christ Jesus.
* As Paul sat, uder confinement, he never let it stop him from praying, thanking God for these dear friends in Philippi
* Tough & Difficult especially in times of trial.
*We could be ungrateful because we loose our job but not others especially the unfaithful ones.
Do we questioned that to God?
He (Paul) could have spend time being with God.
Instead he chose to give thanks to God for all the great things he had done in and through them.
*Don't worry so much, instead thanked him
2.Be patient towards others.
Be gracious.
Philippians 1:7-8 You are always in my heart! And so it is only right fr me to feel as I do about you. For you have all shared with me in this privilege that God has given me, both now that I am in prison and also while I was free to defend the gospel and establish it firmly. God is my witness that I am telling the truth when I say that my deep feeling for you all comes from the heart of Christ Jesus himself.
* The Philippians were very gracious to Paul by sharing God's grace with him when he was confined.
Philippians 1:9-11 I pray that your love will keep on growing more and more, together with true knowlefge and perfect judgement, so that you will be able to choose what is best. Then you will be free from all impurity and blame on the Day of Christ. Your lives will be filled with the truly good qualities which only Jesus Christ can produce, for the glory and praise of God.
*discernment is very important
*decisions to make
*seek the Lord for discernment
*Paul did not pray that they would be happy
*the key thing- Paul prayed is to do Whats BEST
*various solutions, opinions
*We are called not to be gracious of people in need but to be meeting thier needs
3. Cultivate agape love.
Agape- describe the kind of love that God has for us.
It is a type of love that Paul describes in 1 Cor 13.
*Agape love through one another
*What is Love?
*Hold holiness & Love together is NOT EASY
*demonstrating- giving love
" Love will be guided by ever-lasting knowledge & depth of insight and they would know discenment of what is best."
*knowing God's word
*It is not a romantic & wishing love but a hardworking love
* We have choice to hear the word OR obey it
* We have choice to have love for YOURSELF Or OTHERS
* Cultivating lives & have a life blameless to God
We must embrace changes
such as ..
fed-x + ups = fedup (hehe)
Conclusion
Which three keys to become a joyfull person do you need to apply in your life
*perhaps you need to make some sort of changes in your life?
*perhaps you need to learn to budget wisely?
*perhaps we should list our your blessings?
*perhaps we should show agape love to others?
*perhaps we should cut down on eat outs? instead help the needy?spend wisely? put our $ in best use?
Now is not a time to be selfish, but a time of self giving
**Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path**
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