Press into the Pushback with Confidence
LISTEN:
Press into the Pushback with Confidence
Philippians 1:1-11
July 7th 2024
Ephesians 6:11-13 (NIV) 11 Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. 12 For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 13 Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.
Spiritual pushback requires Spiritual pressing in!
America’s culturally decisions have zero bearing on the strength and advancement of the Kingdom of God.
Philippian Church Takeaways
Paul and Silas did not disconnect their personal hardship with Kingdom advancement.
God’s living presence grabs the attention of dying people.
A person with a salvation experience is never at the mercy of a person with a religious argument.
Encouraging News
A whole city/county/state/nation doesn’t have to turn to God in order to validate the power of Gospel and for God’s Kingdom to advance! We don’t need a super majority in America to turn the spiritual tide of a nation – we do need people who believe in the power of Christ and will testify to the saving grace of Jesus Christ with abandon!
Philippians 4:1 (NIV) Therefore, my brothers and sisters, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, stand firm in the Lord in this way, dear friends! STAND FIRM
Standing firm isn’t a passive posture – it is a ready, prepared, leaning in posture prepared for push back, determined not to lose ground.
Philippians 1:1-11 (NIV) Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all God’s holy people in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 3 I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
Christianity is a major disrupter. This is why “it” isn’t left alone and neither are His followers. The Kingdom Way of life is counter every other way of life. The Kingdom Way is always a threat to existing power structures - whether they be religious, social, economic or political.
Power structures are created to control – Jesus came to bring freedom. We as followers of Christ and the Church aren’t freedom fighters – our freedom has been won through the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ – we are freedom testimonies, freedom followers, freedom proclaimers and freedom ambassadors. We are to stand firm in the freedom we have in order to keep the message of freedom flowing.
Philippians 1:6 (NIV) 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
For the follower of Christ, what God started in each of you is a powerful miracle – your life could have easily gone the other way and yet God did a good work in you and His work in you is an ongoing good work.
It is not common to grasp that spiritual growth, development and maturity in Christ is also by faith and grace alone. We don’t grow and mature our faith through effort but through cooperation (obedience) with the Holy Spirit. God directs, prompts and positions – we move.
Paul always keeps the end in mind when he is the middle of something hard!
Philippians 1:7-11 (NIV) 7 It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart and, whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me. 8 God can testify how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus. 9 And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, 10 so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, 11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.
Paul’s prayer for us is to have a …
Growing Love
Growing Discernment
Growing Fruit
What kept the early church pressing into the pushback?
They knew that Jesus was the hope of the world.
They personally experienced growing faith and courage each day that they didn’t quit.
The personally witnessed the expansion of the Kingdom of God with each day that they stood firm.
They knew that victory had already been secured in Jesus. He had overcome the world.
Satan’s #1 priority is to get you to give up on God and to give up on what God is doing in you and through you. Stand Firm – Press In! Galatians 6:9 (NIV) 9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. Don’t give up – Press in!