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November 4-5, 2001 THANKFUL IN TROUBLED TIMES Philippians 4:4-8 HOW TO
BE THANKFUL IN TOUGH TIMES! N GOD CALLS US TO NOT ONLY SURVIVE IN TOUGH
TIMES, BUT TO
THRIVE IN TOUGH TIMES! *** Philip. 4:4 “Be full of joy in the Lord
always. I will say again, be full of joy.” [New Century Version] HOW
CAN WE BE THANKFUL IN TOUGH TIMES? *** Philippians 4:4-8 “Be full of joy in the
Lord always. I will say again, be full of joy. Let everyone see that you are
gentle and kind. The Lord is coming soon. Do not worry about anything, but pray
and ask God for everything you need, always giving thanks. And God's peace,
which is so great we cannot understand it, will keep your hearts and minds in
Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, think about the things that are good and
worthy of praise. Think about the things that are true and honorable and right
and pure and beautiful and respected.”
[NCV] 1. BY WORRYING
ABOUT NOTHING! *** Phil. 4:6 “Do not be anxious about
anything. Do not fret or have any
anxiety.” [The Amplified Bible] ·
40% OF YOUR WORRIES NEVER HAPPEN! ·
30% OF YOUR
WORRIES CONCERN THE PAST! ·
12% OF YOUR WORRIES ARE FUTURE HEALTH ISSUES! ·
10% OF YOUR WORRIES ARE OVER INSIGNIFICANT ISSUES! ·
8% OF YOUR WORRIES ARE LEGITIMATE CONCERNS! *** Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about
tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of
its own.” [New
International Version] 2. BY PRAYING
ABOUT EVERYTHING! *** Philip. 4:6 “Do not be anxious about
anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present
your requests to God.” [NIV] *** Psalm 62:8 “Trust in him at all times, O
people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.” [NIV] N GOD
HAS NO PROBLEM HANDLING THE DETAILS OF YOUR LIFE! *** 1
Peter 5:7 “Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about what
happens to you.” [New Living Translation] N IF
YOU DON’T TALK IT OUT TO GOD YOU’LL TAKE IT OUT OF YOURSELF! 3. BY THANKING
GOD AT ALL TIMES! *** Philip. 4:6 “Don't worry about anything,
but in all your prayers ask God for what you need, always asking him with a
thankful heart.” [Today’s
English Version] N THE HEALTHIEST HUMAN EMOTION IS GRATITUDE! *** 1 Thes. 5:18 “Whatever happens, keep
thanking God because of Jesus Christ. This is what God wants you to do.”
[Contemporary English Version] N WHATEVER HAPPENS I CAN BE
THANKFUL FOR I KNOW: ·
GOD HAS A
PURPOSE BIGGER THAN THE PROBLEM! ·
GOD WILL GIVE ME
THE POWER TO ENDURE WHATEVER HAPPENS! ·
GOD WILL GROW
ME THROUGH WHATEVER HAPPENS! 4. BY THINKING
ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS! *** Philip. 4:8 “And now, dear brothers and
sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on
what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and
lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of
praise.” [NLT] ·
WHAT YOU PUT
INTO YOUR MIND IS WHAT YOU THINK! ·
WHAT YOU THINK
ABOUT IS HOW YOU FEEL! ·
HOW YOU FEEL
DETERMINES HOW YOU ACT ! *** Proverbs 23:7 “For as he thinks in his
heart, so is he.” [New King James Version] THE
RESULT! *** Philip. 4:7 “Then God's peace, which goes
beyond anything we can imagine, will guard your thoughts and emotions through
Christ Jesus.” [God’s Word to the Nations] WHEN
I’M IN JESUS CHRIST AND WORRY ABOUT NOTHING AND PRAY ABOUT EVERYTHING AND THANK
GOD AT ALL TIMES AND THINK ABOUT THE RIGHT THINGS THEN I CAN BE THANKFUL IN TOUGH TIMES! |