How to Stand When They Want You to Fall - Part B

If you bow before God. You can stand before anyone you bow before God. You can stand before anyone remember Jesus said don't fear people feel fear man kill the body, fear God, who can cast both body and soul into hell.

If you have a healthy fear of the Lord. A healthy respect for God valve a forum that will give you the power the ability the strength to stand Christians all over the world are persecuted for their faith many places. It's illegal to share the gospel of the Bible and teach your kids about Jesus. There are many brave believers still risk imprisonment and even death look boldly for Christ. Connect with Skip Heitzig today as he encourages you how to stand strong in your faith in the face of opposition before we begin, we invite you to Skip Sunday message live online at nine and 11 AM. Just visit live.Calvary NM.church. That's nine and 11 AM at live.Calgary NM.church. Now we want to let you know about a resource that helps you dive deeper and deeper into God's truths times you hear a sermon really speaks to you. It's almost as if the pastor knows what you personally going through and he teaches a message like you're the only one listening. Well it's not that the pastor knows you personally that God knows you personally here.

Skip I think in nearly 40 years of expository teaching. I still love hearing that one of my messages focus on one person that earned them on to know God better or become more like but that's not because of me that's just the power of the word of God doing the work of God in the hearts of the people get to know the God who knows you pastor Skip next, a collection of some of pastor skip's most memorable teachings, including the rapture. Real and overcoming an anxious mind this for DVD collection is our thanks for your gift of $25 or more to help keep this ministry connecting more people to Jesus. Call now to request for copy of pastor Skip next. 800-922-1888.

Get online securely connectwithskip.com/offer okay in Philippians chapter 1, Skip hike to get to today's message to go back to the fourth century and get Augustine of hippo north Africa who spiritualize so many text of the Scripture them in the room and sit next to him. The 10th century. Bernard of Clairvaux and for fun, let's add the 16th-century reformer John Calvin next to him and then to really spice things up, go to the 18th century will get John Wesley, Charles Wesley and George Whitfield disposed three and of themselves would be fireworks.

Then it started the ninth century and put in Charles Haddon Spurgeon and the L Moody guard of the 20th century will put CS Lewis in that room, and Billy Graham the 21st century put the likes of NT Wright in their I'm gonna tell you something.

There is not going to be unanimity on every single point it will be up very very lively discussion, but at the end of the day what you will have is unity when it comes to the essential historic Christian gospel were not much different than an athletic team.

You've all heard of teams every season season starts out with his bickering between some of the individual players on the team to cut it out for their own glory out for themselves. But as the season moves on, and they near the playoff. They know they need to act together because victory is in sight if they made the playoffs they better give their best parts of who they are to the team so they can win the battle so unity then doesn't mean uniformity or unanimity.

It does however mean harmony. It needs harmony means we choose to work together. We choose to cooperate over the essentials.

The essentials of always love that little axiom from the Reformation.

You've heard it in essentials unity and nonessentials liberty in all things, charity was Jesus passion.

He prayed for unity and his high priestly prayer of John 17 Jesus prayed that they all may be one that they also may be one in us that the world may believe that you sent me.

Dr. Martin Lloyd Jones Dean Martin Lloyd Jones was a medical doctor who became a pastor very interesting story on a personal level. He was a medical doctor, became an assistant pastor to Dr. G. Campbell Morgan of Westminster Chapel. When Morgan died, the church was given to as the pastor Dean Martin Lloyd Jones and one of the stories that Jones told is that before the Spanish Civil War in the great cities of Spain like Barcelona and Madrid that the psychological clinics treated large numbers of people for what he called little issues, personal problems, personal anxieties, but then the Civil War broke out, and when it did one of the most striking of facts the Civil War had on the Spanish population is it virtually emptied the medical clinics overnight. They were suddenly all cured by a greater anxiety no longer are they worried about little personal problems. Now the worried about what my husband be alive because of this war will my son come home from the battlefield and says Martin Lloyd Jones greater anxieties get rid of lesser anxieties why my sharing that with you because just in case you're the type of person who likes to bicker and banter in metal and gossip and divide.

Let me just say get into the real battle quit using your sword against other Christians and realize there's this huge demonic onslaught and world that wants you to fall so the team needs to get together.

We need as soon play.

All we need to work together and strive together unity unity will help you stand consistency followed by unity. There's 1/3 leg on that stool bravery. Now watch Paul again. Paul's a prisoner facing Caesar narrow NEP practice would embrace verse 28, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries.

Which is to then approve a prediction but to you of salvation, and that from God. The new living translation renders it this way. Don't be intimidated by your enemies. Or let's put it this way. Don't let unbelievers scare you. Don't let unbelievers scare you now look at that word terrified. In verse 28 that's a word that refers to horses who easily get spooked and throw the writers off, you know, sometimes a horse will become afraid or terrified by meaningless things like a little rabbit jumps out of a person gets to close and they get all nervous and they shoot up and they block the writers of and so when that happened, when a horse became terrified what they would say in antiquity as the horses battle side.

Don't take the source and about his battle shot. Paul is saying don't be a battle shy believer will be a battle site.

Don't be afraid of unbelievers, but nobody wants to fight unless you're insane. Nobody looks for a fight. Nobody wants to rush in the battle but when the battle comes from the unbelieving world. Paul is saying don't be afraid to face the enemy and you love that slogan to be seen at no fear been around a while no fear that I first saw that I said hey that's our slogan belongs to the church. We can be motivated by fear. Why, because fear controls people.

It cripples people fearful people can be manipulated easily they can be shut down easily. I told you stories about some of my college professors who want to make me a public example because I was the stupid little Christian guy who believed Jesus and and they would go out of their way to threaten or ridicule or intimidate now the Philippians they had some good reasons to be scared because believing in Jesus and Philippi. This colony of Rome always saw what happened to Paul.

There he got thrown into jail he got beaten up that could happen to them. They could be executed there Artie been ostracized by family members and by society. But here's what Paul says, here's the gold in this verse.

When that happens when opposition comes your way. For the sake of Christ. It's a sign from God.

Look at verse 20 which is to them of proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

That's just a way of saying when that happens, it shows you which side you're on which side their own. If you're getting hassled by unbelievers for the sake of Christ. When that happens, it shows you it's darkness, against light it pro so I am it's a badge of honor. It's a sign from God so can I encourage you be a brave, nonconformist, I like nonconformists. I am 1B, a brave nonconformists when you are you will stand out like a diamond against the dark backdrop of this world in a world that has rejected God for you to step forward and bravely announce your allegiance to Christ, you will be a refreshing exception and you make a difference memo they tried to arrest Jesus will they get arrested, but they came to the guard soldiers well-equipped like swords and shields and they come the garden of Gethsemane and Jesus said who are you looking for is a Jesus of Nazareth, he stood up and said I am key they all fell backward. He didn't shrink away. Go now all he stood up he presented himself or about Stephen when he is surrounded by hostile people who want to kill him, and they eventually did and he says he can keep his mouth shut, his look I see the heavens opened, and Jesus standing at the right hand of the father or have a Peter that he was a little skittish. He denied Christ three times to a servant chick in the garden of the high priest he couldn't even give a testimony to a woman who said aren't you one of the guys of followed him on, but then we see them filled with the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost after an encounter with the resurrected Christ and he boldly bravely preaches so it says the audience was cut to the heart.

That's bravery. That's bravery and courage. Verse 28 proves your saved if you don't have it. Ask God for step out and try don't shrink from your world stand up to it.

One person can make a difference and actually change history. Have you heard the story of telemarketers. Some of you have around 480 will you know was happening in Rome in 400 A.D. the Coliseum was filled with spectators watching bloodsport they would sit there there entertainment was watching people kill other people or animals kill other people is not unlike what we like to watch and violent television but they decide in real life, and they were they were entertained by one day a Syrian monk by the name of telemarketers.

This little Syrian monk was in the crowd saw what was happening was repulsed by it. And so the soul Syrian monk runs down, jumps over the balustrade goes out into the arena floor waves his little monk arms and says in the name of Christ forbear stop. This is his senselessness is nonsense because he interrupted their entertainment like somebody switch the channel. They ordered him to be thrust through with the sword and killed some accounts that he was stoned to death. Others say he was cut with a blade, but he died his blood filled the arena floor and he died that day.

But something happened over the next few months the flow of people to be entertained by that bloodsport diminished in a few months later it ended altogether because one person stood bravely and said that's not right.

So here's the point if you bow before God. You can stand before anyone you bow before God.

You can stand before anyone remember Jesus said don't fear people don't feel fear man who can kill the body, fear God, who can cast both body and soul into healthier him. If you have a healthy fear of the Lord, a healthy respect for God and you bow before him that a give you the power the ability the strength to stand. So we have three legs on this four-legged stool. We have consistency, unity, and we have bravery, let's finish it off and make it even more stable, and I can like this one. Agony agony verse 29. It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake.

I know your same old boy having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now here is in now. Look at how he phrases that it is been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe, but to suffer. There's two parts of that and the first part always guarantees the second part. If you believe in him.

That's the first part then you suffer for him.

That's a second part. Paul said all those finish out this verse with me all those who live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution. You know, we never mentioned that doing to new believers new converts probably rightfully so, but but I think sometimes we give the impression to younger believers or brand-new converts in the faith that a you you made this decision. Now the birds are just gonna sing louder than ever before. The skies and to be blower and all your problems are going to go away all your struggles are going to go away. It's true that the biggest battle has been one, but you have now invited a whole host of new battles because Jesus said in this world you shall have tribulation. Jesus said they have hated me. Don't be surprised when they hate you because you align yourself with me but please look at how Paul writes. He says it's been granted to you been given you the privilege he saying God's doing you a favor go good. What is it is and let you suffer. You can can I not have a favorite place.

Could God like in that gift to somebody else but not me. I like God's other guess I was.

I wish you health and wealth preachers would study these verses more carefully because Paul sees suffering far differently than Americans who suffer think just the evil of all evils to suffer anything Paul says if you suffer well and you suffer for the right reason. It's a privilege. In fact, the word he uses granted comes from the word grace, just as God has given you the grace to believe God is giving you the grace to suffer the grace to suffer. Listen, I know you don't see it as a gift, but I'll tell you this gift will do more to build up your life and make you strong and bless you than just about anything else. Well my challenge is that you become like popcorn. What I mean is, you know most grains when you heat them up shrivel up and get hard. Not so with popcorn right you put 400°F to that kernel of popcorn in the gases emitted on the inside of that kernel that pushes out that hard exterior and cracks it and it becomes enlarged in the becomes a blessing, a delight to people you know suffering will do that for you it will enlarge your life. It'll make you a delight to other people as you are tempered by that suffering and you become more valuable by that experience. If you do it well and you do it for the right reason.

In fact, in Philippians chapter 3. If by God's grace we ever get there and we will. Here's Paul's prayer. Listen to this that I may know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his suffering and even be shaped by death at this for I want to fellowship with the sufferings of Christ, so that when I suffer for the reason that I might attune to and following Christ.

I'm entering into a certain kind of fellowship I've done many studies on the value of suffering them to shoot out a few little truths when you suffer on earth. It makes you long for heaven, the decimeter, a citizen of heaven.

So the more you suffer because of Christ on this earth, you think, and I can't wait to get home and get a reward for this looks pretty good.

Second, when you suffer on this earth.

It produces patience in you. Very productive. It's like the young preacher limited the old preacher and he said the old man could you pray for me. I'm an impatient young man ever had that problem. Your patient, this guy's a pray for patients of the old preacher said I'd like to. He bowed his head and he prayed father get this young man, tribulation and suffering. The young guys as well.

Preacher I didn't ask for that I want patients and the old man quoted to him the Scripture tribulation worketh patience. This is how you get patients, you don't get it from reading the latest Christian book on Uganda from going through the suffering that produces so it'll orient you toward heaven.

It'll give you patience on the earth, and the third thing. Suffering will do is make you sensitive to other believers who are suffering, at least about two do you know the right now over in the Middle East. There is a genocide going on of Christians who have been crucified, who have been beheaded or been ostracized. Thousands of millions of brothers and sisters for the cause of Christ. Our suffering here.

People laugh at our bumper sticker are get mad that we are a bold Christian is nothing compared to the sacrifice that they have.

So what that does is it orients us to heaven. It brings us patients here, but it also gives us a sensitivity toward others who are suffering. However, as I already mentioned. Make sure when you suffer that you suffer for the right reason.

Look at the words look at how Paul writes he doesn't do it by accident. It is been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for his sake. When you suffer should be on his behalf for his sake. Isn't that exactly what our Lord said blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness sake, you know, Jesus never said blessed are the persecuted is not a blessing to be persecuted.

If you're just being persecuted for no good reason because some people did persecuted because they're weird. They're just weird person obnoxious their personality invites persecution, Jesus said, make sure that when you get persecuted you get persecuted for righteousness sake. I know people who try to represent the Lord in such a caustic manner. Listen if you yell at a group of unbelievers you uncircumcised Philistine, hot as hell sound, you probably won't win their hearts, and you probably will get persecuted. It will not be for righteousness sake, it would just be because you're weird. Jesus said in the world. We need to be wise as serpents and harmless as doves. Why have some of us turn that around. Some of us are as wise as does which aren't too bright and harmless as serpents which are deadly. I think when it comes or witness for the world that God is looking for sharpshooters, not machine gunners when you launch the arrow of truth when you speak that truth when you pull that trigger of gospel truth. Make sure it's well-placed and well-timed. As Paul said let your speech always be filled with grace. Season with salt, so these four qualities are like the forelegs on a chair or stool.

They will add step validity to your life. When the world wants you to fall and they do for my encouragement used on fall stand. Stand tall stand strong stand together even if it hurts you member those poison of the stomach and buddies to be like this vinyl doll that was weighted at the bottom. You know it had a like a face painted on it and no matter what you do.

That always comes up upright because it's weighted to even punch it it'll fall down and Rebecca kick it, come, Rebecca. You do repeatedly keeps coming back up. I picture Paul like that lock him up in prison.

Okay outbreaks of the guards comes back up. Okay. Did about a prison account of his of the Philippian church encouragement as backup okay will kill him okay, but before you do, let me tell you about Jesus. He's like that all the keeps coming back up to God make us like that stand stand together.

Stand strong for his glory.

That includes heights.

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