One Thing Leads To Another

Text:

Philippians 4:1-9:

1 Therefore, my brethren dearly beloved and longed for, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, my dearly beloved.

2 I beseech Euodias, and beseech Syntyche, that they be of the same mind in the Lord.

3 And I intreat thee also, true yokefellow, help those women which laboured with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and with other my fellowlabourers, whose names are in the book of life.

4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.

5 Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.

6 Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.

7 And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

8 Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

9 Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

 

Theme:

One Thing Leads To Another

 

Introduction:

Epistle to the Philippians was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome, probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61. The church at Philippi, of Macedonia, was the first-fruits of European Christianity.

• • Therefore, Paul was close to the church in Philippi, as he frequently writes, and the church in Philippi was close to him.
  • Although a typically poor community, the church at Philippi alone of all the churches helped him by their contributions, which he gratefully acknowledges.
    • The least giving the most
    • The fewest giving the greatest
    • There’s always the faithful few!
  • Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church as a point of encouragement to a well-established congregation.
    • Walking the path of Truth and Righteousness can be a toilsome journey and leave you weak.
    • We need the Word of God to revive us!!
• In our text of Philippians chapter 9, Paul is exhorting the Philippian church to STAND FAST, and equips them to do so by giving them spiritual direction to embrace the good times and withstand the hard times.
• Focusing on verse 7 of this chapter, Paul addresses specifically the HARD TIMES à Being Kept!!!
  • God “KEEPS” our hearts and minds
    • A KEPT Heart à 1Kings 8:61, “Let your heart therefore be perfect with the LORD our God, to walk in his statutes, and to keep his commandments, as at this day.”
    • A KEPT Mind à Isaiah 26:3, “Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.”
  • We are kept “THROUGH Christ Jesus”
    • Jesus is our connection to God who does the “keeping” à Romans 5:1, “Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:”
    • When we accept Jesus…ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER…and we have PEACE!
      • We used to get mad, but now we don’t.
      • We used to cuss ‘em out, but now we won’t.
      • We used to stress out, but now we don’t.
    • Hence, our theme for this study!! When moving through this Christian life…ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER!
      • Accept Jesus as your Lord and Saviour and HAVE PEACE!!!!
      • Simply put….ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER!
        • In summary
          • 1)accepting Jesus the Christ LEADS TO God
          • 2)God LEADS TO Peace
          • Then, finally…
            • 3)Peace LEADS TO understanding!!
            • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

Body:

• Let us focus on the last of the three steps mentioned à Peace LEADS TO understanding
  • First of all, let’s make it clear that the scripture does not say that peace SURPASSES all understanding…as our tradition has often misquoted. Peace PASSES or LEADS TO understanding!
  • We as believers must know that if you have PEACE you will have UNDERSTANDING
    • Proverbs 17:28, “Even a fool, when he holdeth his peace, is counted wise: and he that shutteth his lips is esteemed a man of understanding.”
    • Proverbs 11:12, “He that is void of wisdom despiseth his neighbour: but a man of understanding holdeth his peace.”
    • Confusion is akin to chaos…Understanding is a by-product of peace!
      • If you want understanding, find PEACE!!!
      • Why can’t I get understanding? Cause I have no peace!
• Our text has shown us that in God è ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
  • 1)accepting Jesus the Christ LEADS TO God
  • 2)God LEADS TO Peace
  • 3)Peace LEADS TO understanding!!
  • This is consistent with other principles of Christianity…LEADS TO
    • 4)The Love of God LEADS TO Knowledge
      • Ephesians 3:19, “And to know the love of Christ, which passeth knowledge, that ye might be filled with all the fulness of God.”
  • Then we have Romans 5:3-4, “And not only so, but we glory in tribulations also: knowing that tribulation worketh patience; And patience, experience; and experience, hope:” that teaches us that…
    • 5)Tribulation LEADS TO Patience
      • 1Peter 4:19, “Wherefore let them that suffer according to the will of God commit the keeping of their souls to him in well doing, as unto a faithful Creator.”
    • 6)Patience LEADS TO Experience
      • Hebrews 12:1, “Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us,”
    • 7)Experience LEADS TO Hope
      • Romans 8:17, “And if children, then heirs; heirs of God, and joint-heirs with Christ; if so be that we suffer with him, that we may be also glorified together.”
  • Then there is 2Corinthians 7:10, “For godly sorrow worketh repentance to salvation not to be repented of: but the sorrow of the world worketh death.”
    • 8)Godly Sorrow LEADS TO Repentance
      • Psalms 51:1-2, “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy lovingkindness: according unto the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my transgressions. Wash me throughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.”
    • 9)Sorrow of the World LEADS TO Death
      • Revelation 21:4, “And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.”
    • Yes, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

Conclusion:

• But, one thing has not been covered…HOW?

How does ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER?

• The natural flow from one state to another…from one condition to another…from one characteristic to another…is fueled by the process of CONVERSION.
  • The process of Conversion is authorized and initiated by Salvation
    • Romans 10:17 says, “So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God.”
      • Upon salvation (“So then”), the process of conversion begins
        • Conversion = turning around, change
      • Once God has cleaned you, He then goes about perfecting or sanctifying you – sanctification = make holy = set apart
    • The process of conversion has milestones
      • First à I am SAVED
      • Sanctified
      • Filled with the Holy Ghost
      • Commissioned
      • Finally à I am changed in the twinkling of an eye!
    • But along the way of this process of conversion, ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER!
  • Finally we must arrive at one last “LEAD TO”
    • Verse 9 of our text à “Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you”
      • Being RIGHT with God LEADS TO God BEING WITH YOU!
        • James 4:8, “Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you….”
          • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
            • Love right…and God will be with you
          • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
            • Live right…and God will be with you
          • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
            • Give right…and God will be with you
          • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
            • Walk right…and God will be with you
          • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER
            • Talk right…and God will be with you
          • I thank God that…
            • ONE THING LEADS TO ANOTHER

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