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Hello my “Walking with Jesus” friends on this Friday in July. I often like to start with a question, so here it is for today. . . on a scale of 1 – 10, with 10 being totally content, peaceful, even joyful; and 1 being terrified, where are you today as you consider the state of our world and your personal life?
Communication which comes to us from deep in the dungeons of prisons or torture chambers, is often very important and challenging to us. So listen to this, written from deep within a prison, from a man who’d been beaten, not because he was a criminal, but because he refused to stop talking about Jesus Christ. “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.” (Phil. 4:12,13)
This was Paul, writing from a Roman prison to a group of Christians in a town called Philippi. But what’s amazing is that years before, his first visit to Philippi was a disaster! Paul had been arrested, beaten and thrown in a dungeon in that city, along with Silas his missionary partner. You’ll find that story in Acts 16. When is the last time you were mistreated, persecuted for doing good things, for being helpful, for bringing hope to people in despair? How did you feel?
Paul & Silas had every right to be angry for the mistreatment, the beating, they’d received. Listen to this description of what had happened to them: “The magistrates ordered them to be stripped and beaten. After Paul and Silas were severely flogged, they were thrown into prison…into the inner cell with their feet fastened in stocks. After midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God and the other prisoners were listening to them. Suddenly there was such a violent earthquake that the foundations of the prison were shaken. At once all the prison doors flew open, and all the prisoner’s chains fell loose. The jailer woke up and when he saw the prison doors open he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, because he thought the prisoners had all escaped. But Paul shouted, ‘Don’t harm yourself, we are all here! The Jailer called for lights, rushed in and fell trembling before Paul and Silas, ‘Sirs, what must I do to be saved.” (Acts 16:23-30)
What was happening here my friends? This was a great clash between the kingdom of darkness, that’s Satan’s kingdom of evil, and the kingdom of Jesus! Darkness wanted to eliminate Paul and Silas, or at least silence them, humiliate them, maybe so badly hurt them that they would renounce Jesus and turn away from Him. But Jesus wanted the Gospel to come to the city of Philippi so hundreds of people there could be rescued from their sin and life of enslavement to the evil of darkness. Do you see the battle? Is it happening in your town, your city? How are you involved in this battle for the souls of the people of your town, my friends?
Do you see how important the attitudes, the words and behavior of Paul & Silas were in this? The jailor expected they would be angry at their beating, but instead they prayed and actually sang worship songs! The jailor expected they would run, taking the other prisoners with them, in this unexpected earthquake. But instead, with the prison gates standing wide open, all the chains with which they had been bound laying broken on the floor… Paul & Silas saved the jailor’s life by not allowing him to kill himself but by urging him to bring a light and see they were all still there in the dark dungeon. And in that horrible place of torture, the jailor met the love, the courage of Jesus and trusted his life to Jesus! Now think about that my friends and apply it to our day when Christians world-wide are being mistreated, abused, persecuted, even killed. How could Paul & Silas do that? How could they be content, even joyful, while bleeding?
Look at what Paul wrote to the people in that town who had come to Jesus because of his attitudes, his love for Jesus even in his pain. “Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again, Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, 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.” (Phil. 4:4-7) What do you see here my friends, as several keys to the miraculous contentment which guarded Paul’s heart and mind? Do you see a determination to ALWAYS Praise God, ALWAYS? Not artificially but authentically! Do you see TRUSTING God enough to give Him praise, even when your life is confusing or painful? Do you see how important “gentleness” is, especially in times of conflict and aggression like right now, in so many parts of the world.
Do you see these four little words “The Lord is near”? Paul & Silas were convinced that even in the pitch black of that dungeon, God was there with them! Remember Moses saying to God, “If Your Presence does not go with us, do not send us up from here. What else will distinguish us from all other peoples on earth.” (Exodus 33:15) Do remember Jesus promising He would not abandon His friends, but He would be with them forever, through the Presence of the Holy Spirit of God living within us! (John 14) So, honestly now, what is your sense of the Presence of God with you Today, last night, the last time you were in a difficult, ugly, painful situation? That Presence of God with you is WHY you can rejoice in all situations. That is why you can NOT be anxious.
Do you see the importance of bringing everything that’s going on in our lives to God, with thanksgiving and as you present the ‘stuff’ of your life to God, then you can be fully confident He knows all about it, and is Sovereign in His authority over it, and can do anything He chooses to do IN IT, for His glory!
Now one more thing..do you see what Paul urges us to think about, especially in chaotic, difficult times like these in which we are living? Look at Phil. 4:8,9 “Finally brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy – think about these things. And the God of peace will be with you!” Honestly now, what percentage of your day is spent thinking like this, and how much of your day is caught up in the craziness of our world right now? Can you turn off the TV? Can you gracefully end a complaining, critical conversation? Can you turn your mind, and then your heart to focus on these wonderful things Paul speaks of? Can you live IMMERSED in the outrageous love of God that sent Jesus to the cross for you?
Can you live CONTENT in your relationship with Resurrected King Jesus regardless of how difficult, the broken the road you’ve walked has been? Can you be content with Jesus, even if there is yet more broken road ahead for you, in this badly broken world…as long as you know Jesus is walking with you, and His arms will uphold you when life gets really, really painful?
I’ve found a great song to help you worship as you reflect and pray . . . here’s the link:
Bible images provided with attribution to www.LumoProject.com.
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Pastor Doug Anderson 262.441.8785
“Let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, with our eyes fixed on Jesus…” (Heb. 12:1,2)
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