We often hear "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". A popular verse in this final sermon in our series on Philippians. A popular understanding of this verse might lead you to believe that if you succeed in an endeavor it must be God's will. But to think that this is what Paul meant as he writes this letter from prison is an obvious mistake. If you look at the letter as a whole, it's about un-circumstantial faith. Paul closes his letter with a thought on "contentment" and it's the real meaning behind this often misunderstood passage in scripture.

Once we were at war with God, but now we have peace with God. How do we live in this world and age of anxiety and experience that peace? Usually we try to remove things that destroy our peace or numb ourselves to our anxiety with medicine. But the only way to experience the peace of God is to "Stand firm in the Lord". And how you "Stand firm in the Lord" is what this sermon on Philippians 4 is all about.

Paul was an elite in his culture he was born in the right country. He was born to an affluent family. He had power and influence. And here in this passage Paul makes one of the most offensive statements in the word of God. Paul says that all these things are worthless in comparison to knowing God.

Paul encourages a weary and discouraged church to continue in faith, love and obedience. God is at work in us as we work out our salvation with fear and trembling under the weight of Christs Love for you!

A literal translation of this passage is "do nothing out of a hunger for glory". He pushing hard against the Roman culture of self exaltation. That same spirit is hard at work today in our culture. But the upside down gospel of Jesus says that if we seek humility then Christ will exalt us! He will lift us up!!! So wake up. Jesus is calling you to die to yourself and follow him. Will you answer?

We naturally live a very circumstantial life. We see the world and even Christ through the lens of circumstance. How would our lives change if we could learn to see circumstance through the lens of Christ? Like Paul we might be able to say in truth "To live is Christ, to die is gain"

It's a strange wisdom from Paul to say "This will turn out for my deliverance by life or by death" It seems wrong to think of our deliverance via death but there's a lot more going on in this story than we might think. Is he foolish? How is this even a question for Paul?? Paul sees a different world than we do. O Lord may we see the world like Paul. May we be fools for you. Spiritual people with a mind like Christ.

How does Paul speak of an uncircumstantial joy while locked in a Roman in prison? It's because of how the gospel has taught him to see his circumstances and trust that God put him there. Paul's joy was not tethered to his comfort. Rather then asking God "why is this happening to me?", he learned to ask, "How can I be a part of what God is doing here?" So if you want joy that isn't tied to your circumstances, then we must learn to say: "Lord use me today, my life is at your disposal."

Paul writes to a struggling church and encourages them that God is at work in them in the midst of their hardship. He urges them to see beyond circumstances, to move towards one another, and trust that God is going to finish what he started.

Jesus is the Vine. We are the branches. The Cross is the trellis. We can only find life if we are in the vine. What does it mean to abide in Christ the vine and bear fruit? What does that fruit look like?

There's a volume war going on. The "Thief" is trying to fill your ears with voices that will steal, kill, and destroy. Do you know the voice of the "Good Shepherd"? Can you tell the difference? Listen closely, Jesus is calling.

Paul’s letter to Philemon tells a great story with a greater message. And It's all about reconciliation. Like Paul, we are called ministers of reconciliation. So how do we reconcile ourselves to those who have wronged us? And who do we need to reconcile with?

So.... Easter was awesome! We brought our best, and felt really great, but here we are a week after easter and we find ourselves still tethered to this broken world. So what happens now? What should life look like after resurrection? It's a risen life! You were "Raised With Him" so set your eyes on on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of the father and live!

We were made for the eternal rest of God, but what exactly is the rest of God? The author of Hebrews encourages us to enter that rest and to strive to do so. In this Easter sermon we learn how the finished work of Christ opens up the eternal rest of God for those who strive to enter it by faith.

We can only rest when we enter into the mission of God. What is the mission of God? Isaiah 58 describes it as a fast that looses bonds of wickedness and frees the oppressed. And sharing bread with the hungry and bringing the homeless/poor into your house. Jesus says what you have done to the least of these you have done unto me.

What if we struggle to rest because of unforgiveness? The Bible teaches us that if we want to experience the rest of God, we need to release those who have sinned against us. In the same way that Christ forgave us and released us from our bondage, we are called to do the same for others. So who do you need to forgive?

Luke tells us about Jesus in a very unique way. It's all through the lens of "sabbath". Jesus defines, and begins his own ministry in terms of sabbath. Our God is committed to giving rest. If that is what Jesus was doing then.... Isn't that what Jesus would be doing now?

The blessings for following God's law apply to the sabbath! But so do the curses! Find your rest entering into Christ's sabbath, and be blessed.

So God is calling us to rest. And He's calling us to bring rest to our house. So we're resting together? What does that look like in real life?

Sabbath is war against anything that would take God's place in your life. In the Ten Commandments, the Sabbath command comes immediately after the commands about God’s place in our lives. In Sabbath rest, we are remembering who God is and we are being like him and giving rest to others.