Standing Firm: Embracing Heavenly Citizenship and Right Thinking
Summary
In this sermon, I was reminded of the importance of focusing on our heavenly citizenship while still navigating our earthly lives. The speaker referenced Philippians chapter 4, verses 1 through 9, emphasizing the need to stand firm in the Lord. He highlighted the affection Paul had for the believers in Philippi, and how their steadfastness in faith was a source of joy for him. The speaker also stressed the importance of standing firm in our faith, despite the world's attempts to discourage us or lead us astray.
The sermon also emphasized the importance of right thinking, which leads to right living. The speaker referenced verse 8 of Philippians chapter 4, urging us to think about things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. He stressed the importance of feeding our minds with the right things, as this will impact how we live our lives. The speaker also highlighted the importance of putting into practice what we learn from the scriptures.
Key takeaways:
- Standing firm in our faith is crucial, despite the world's attempts to discourage us or lead us astray. (#!!09:30!!#)
- Right thinking leads to right living. We need to be careful about what we feed our minds, as it will impact how we live our lives. (#!!31:23!!#)
- We need to put into practice what we learn from the scriptures. (#!!34:01!!#)
- We should bring all things, big and small, to God in prayer. This is the only way to achieve the peace of God that surpasses all understanding. (#!!27:31!!#)
- We should give our worries to God in prayer and leave them with Him, trusting in His perfect will. (#!!29:36!!#)
Study Guide
Takeaways from the sermon:
1. Right thinking leads to right living. It is crucial to be mindful of what we feed our minds as it impacts how we live our lives. We should focus on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. ([31:23])
2. Living in agreement with others is essential for the health of the church. Disagreements can cause division and hinder the advancement of the Gospel. We should strive to be in agreement on the essentials of our faith. ([14:24])
3. The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, is obtained when we take everything to God in prayer. This peace will guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. ([30:46])
Bible Reading:
1. Philippians 4:1-9
2. Psalm 119:11
3. Romans 12:1-2
Observation Questions:
1. What are the things that Paul encourages the Philippians to think about in Philippians 4:8?
2. What does Psalm 119:11 say about the importance of God's word in our lives?
3. How does Romans 12:1-2 relate to the concept of right thinking leading to right living?
Interpretation Questions:
1. How can focusing on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy impact our daily lives?
2. What does it mean to hide God's word in our hearts and how can this help us to avoid sin?
3. How does the renewing of our minds, as mentioned in Romans 12:1-2, relate to the peace of God mentioned in Philippians 4:7?
Application Questions:
1. What are some practical ways you can focus your thoughts on things that are true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy this week?
2. How can you make it a habit to hide God's word in your heart? What specific steps will you take to do this?
3. Can you share a time when you experienced the peace of God in a difficult situation after taking it to Him in prayer?
4. How can you promote unity and agreement within your community or church this week?
5. What is one area in your life where you need to renew your mind? How can you apply God's word to this area?
Devotional
Day 1: Right Thinking Leads to Right Living
Our thoughts shape our actions. If we want to live righteously, we must first think righteously. This means focusing on what is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy. The content we consume and the thoughts we entertain will inevitably impact our actions. Therefore, we must guard our minds and feed it with God's word and truth. [31:23]
Proverbs 4:23 - "Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it."
Reflection: Reflect on the thoughts you've entertained today. Were they true, honorable, just, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, and praiseworthy?
Day 2: Saying Yes to Jesus
Saying yes to Jesus is the first step in a life-changing relationship with Him. This commitment is not a one-time event but a daily decision to follow His teachings and live according to His will. This decision brings about a clean heart and a fresh start. [38:38]
Ezekiel 36:26 - "I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh."
Reflection: Reflect on your daily decisions. Are they reflective of your commitment to Jesus?
Day 3: Pray About Everything
Prayer is our direct line to God. It's not just for the big things, but also for the small things. When we bring everything to God in prayer, we receive His peace that surpasses all understanding. This peace guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. [27:31]
Philippians 4:6-7 - "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."
Reflection: Reflect on your prayer life. Are you bringing everything to God in prayer?
Day 4: God's Grace
God's grace is a gift that we don't deserve but receive anyway. It's His unmerited favor that saves us, restores us, and gives us hope. His grace meets us where we are but refuses to leave us there. [00:30]
Ephesians 2:8-9 - "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast."
Reflection: Reflect on God's grace in your life. How has it transformed you?
Day 5: Put What We Learn into Practice
Learning God's word is not enough; we must also put it into practice. This means living out the teachings of Jesus in our daily lives. It's not just about knowing the word, but doing the word. [34:01]
James 1:22 - "Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says."
Reflection: Reflect on your actions. Are they reflective of what you've learned from God's word?
Quotes
1. "Right thinking leads to right living. What you allow to continue to come into your minds and that you see and that you listen to is going to impact how we live our lives." - 31:23
2. "Stand firm in the Lord. You and I have a better chance of standing firm when we're standing firm in the Lord. This world will do everything in its power to try to make sure you don't. They want to discourage you, this world wants you to blame God for things that are not his fault." - 09:30
3. "Let your reasonableness, your gentleness be known to everyone. When others see this, they are going to see our testimony even without us saying a word." - 24:07
4. "Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. If it's big enough to worry about, it's big enough to pray about." - 25:26
5. "I'm grateful for your grace, Lord. I don't even want to begin to think where any of us would be without your Amazing Grace. I'm grateful that you stepped into our lives, God, that you are willing to meet us where we were and yet God you loved us enough to refuse to leave us there." - 00:30
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