Highlands Community Church is an amazing place. I love being a part of this crazy community that we call a church. I like it because it doesn't seem that anyone is trying to pretend that they have it all together.

That's quite refreshing for someone who has spent quite a bit of time in church. We aren't amazing because of the pretty masks we've attached to our lives, we are amazing because we are who God made us to be.

That said I think that there is more for us. It is good to be who we are but it is better to do what we are to called to do...

It's easy to sit back and go with the flow, it's hard to step up and make a difference in the world. Our world offers so many opportunities to just sit back and slide by with the minimum. Our world also offers so many opportunities to get involved in the kind of actions that make us tired but get us nowhere.

As we become more and more determined to hear and do God's plan for our lives we can see so much more happening around us. The people around us all have wonderful stories. They are incredibly interesting!
And as we look at people with the purposes of God in mind we must realize that God is incredibly interested in them as well. He wants to make our lives and their lives incredibly full. The end of Numbers 14:21 says this, "...the glory of the LORD fills the whole earth."

So here's the challenge. We need to resolve to be ourselves, to let the glory of the Lord fill us, and to help people see the glory of the Lord all around them.

Our job as a church is to serve God joyfully by opening the eyes of our hearts and the eyes of the people around us to the glory of God. No one is exempt, and there are so many ways to do this. Will we serve? Will we be a church that spreads God's glory?

The time is now, will you respond?

 

1.      Resolve to pursue like-mindedness 4:2-3

a.      3:20 But our citizenship is in heaven. And

b.      we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, 21 who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body.

c.      4:1 Therefore, my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends! 2 I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 3 Yes, and I ask you, loyal yokefellow, help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the gospel, along with Clement and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

2.      Resolve Always to rejoice in the Lord 4:4 - Rejoicing is not an experience; it is a choice to embrace a transforming lifestyle.

a.      “Rejoice... always.” Resolving to rejoice is a transforming decision to let Christ determine our attitudes!

b.      “…In the Lord…” What would it look like for you to put God before other things that are first in your life? 

c.       “I will say it again: Rejoice!”

3.      Resolve to be known for Gentleness 4:5 Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. WHY IS GENTLENESS SO IMPORTANT!?!

a.      The Subversive Nature of Gentleness.

i.        We live is a coarse world.  Selfishness and rudeness seem to be the rule.  The nature of this world is self-centered.

1.      From birth on we are trapped within our own perspectives.

2.      We experience life from within our senses.

3.      Which of these two things do you notice first?

a.      When someone offends you, or

b.      When you offend someone else?

b.      Let your gentleness be evident to all.

i.         The call of this resolution for the church is for believers to not be preoccupied with their own interests and to get the church to resolve to reach out with a winsome and gentle attitude to the non-believers around us.

1.      Our lives should be lives of evident influence in positive ways.

2.      We are not to be focused inward, our love should be shown to all those around us.

c.       The Lord is Near!  There are two senses to this:

i.        That the Lord is near to us spatially, he is all around us, and His return is imminent.

ii.      The Lord is near us as we live.  We are called to live in the Kingdom of God, empowered by His Spirit. 

4.      Resolve not to be anxious about Anything, but learn instead to pray 4:6-7

a.      Do not be anxious about anything,

i.        There are lots of definitions for being human, but in today’s world people make huge livings off the reality that we live with anxiety.  WE WORRY! 

ii.      And when we worry we look for little loopholes to allow us to justify our worries.

iii.    Paul's admonition in verse 6 leaves no wiggle room. 

1.      In the English it's obvious, In the Greek it’s just in your face. We use 6 words to get across what Paul does in two!

2.      I could simplify it, STOP WORRYING! The sense is both imperative and emphatic! STOP WORRYING about anything.

3.      Do you realize how many psychologists and psychiatrists would be put out of work if we actually listened to Paul?

b.      but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

i.        We aren't to worry about anything!  But in everything, focus on a total change in the way we view the world and our lives!

1.      Change that tells us:

a.      To focus our attention and dependence upon God.

b.      To replace anxiety and worry with Thanksgiving.

c.       And to stop fighting anxiously for control of lives that we don't really have control of in the first place.  To give control to God.

c.       4:7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

i.        Do you see the upside to living life this way? 

ii.      This is truly living in your right mind!

5.      Resolve to Think Holy Thoughts 4:8-9

a.      8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, true, truthful, honest; real, genuine 

b.      whatever is noble, serious; of good character, honorable, worthy, respectable

c.       whatever is right, conforming to the standard, will, or character of God; upright, righteous, good; just, right; proper; in a right relationship with God;  fair, honest; innocent  

d.      whatever is pure, pure, holy; chaste; innocent

e.      whatever is lovely, pleasing, lovely

f.       whatever is admirable—worthy of praise 

g.       if anything is excellent moral excellence, goodness; redemptive acts, power (of God)

h.      or praiseworthy— that word carries the meaning.

i.        …think about such things. Is this what we spend our time thinking about?  Do you wonder why we have such bad attitudes all the time?

6.      Resolve to learn the secret of contentment 4:10-13 10 I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. 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. 13 I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

a.      Real contentment comes in putting our faith into practice! It’s in putting our faith into practice that we find real peace in this life!

b.      So what have you put into practice?  We’ve been doing Highlands Community Church at various places around this community. 

c.       And what “Everything” is God calling you to do through his strength?

i.        This does bring me to a place of “divine discontent” in the way our church works…

ii.      As a follower of Christ I know what it is that I am supposed to do… and even in a general sense what you are all supposed to be doing.

iii.    But as a Pastor, I’m trying to figure out how to get each of you to respond to God’s call on your life, to get each of us at this church to actually put our faith into practice in a way that is most pleasing to God.

1.      I know that won’t happen by me laying down a new set of laws and playing resident policeman.

2.      I know it won’t happen by me just doing everything myself, sure that makes me look good… but not really.

3.      I know that it has something to do with opening people’s ears and hearts to listen to and apply the lessons that the Spirit of God is laying on each of your hearts.

4.      Yeah, I think that last one might be it, but I’d like to see it in action on a widespread scale.

iv.    It means stepping up with your everything! Money, time, attitudes…

1.      I’ve been talking about a budget for your church… I suppose getting realistic about it has kept me from doing it…

2.      I start out with us being about $20,000 in debt right now…

3.      And then dream about giving away a whole bunch of money…

4.      I think I’m crazy and need some help!  I need us to seek true contentment as a church: putting our faith into practice! It’s in putting our faith into practice that we find real peace in this life!

7.      Resolve to Grow in the Grace of Christian Gratitude and Courtesy 4:14-23

Let’s be like this church in Philippi… Read the rest of the chapter.