Total Satisfaction 7 – How to stay calm in a crisis – Philippians 4:2-9

Date
20th November 2011
Speaker
Barry Unwin
Topic
Disputes
Series
Total Satisfaction
Book
Philippians

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Setting the Scene

Paul is in prison, awaiting possible execution, yet claims: “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every circumstance” (Philippian 4:12)

The secret of contentment so far, rests in, having a relationship with Jesus Christ and allowing Jesus to reshape the rest of your live around his good purposes.

Today we’re thinking about how unresolved conflict, and anxiety can mess all that up.

The ______ of God’s people matters more than the pride and privacy of stubborn people.

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord. 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.” (Phil.4:2-3)

1) ______ there’s a problem.

Our disputes bring _______ to the name of Jesus.

2) Take the initiative.

“I plead with Euodia and I plead with Syntyche to agree with each other in the Lord.” (Phil.4:2)

Who do you need to apologise or make amends to?
If you have been wronged, what efforts have you made to resolve the situation?

3) Get an intermediary

Leaders can only intervene to help, if they know about the problem!

4) Handle anxiety by focussing on ______

“Rejoice in the Lord, always. I will say it again: Rejoice!” (Phil.4:4)”

______ is meant to be our joy, our satisfaction, our hope. Trouble comes when he isn’t.

What are you focused on? Something to try later at home.

Make a diary of your day – hour by hour – what were you doing? What were the big decisions?
Prayerfully review your day – thanking God for the good things, and asking his wisdom on how better to handle the other things.

Write down a “Jesus-honouring” way of doing the “the other things”, and commit to doing it tomorrow.

“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.4:6-7)

5) Handle anxiety by turning it into _______ prayer.

We experience peace from God, when we choose to stop ___________ and bring our anxieties to God, with thanksgiving.

6) Handle anxiety by being ___________ privately and publicly.

PRIVATELY:

“Whatever is true, noble, right, pure, lovely admirable, excellent, praiseworthy – think about such things.” (Phil.4:8)

What we fill our _______ with, shows up in our actions.

PUBLICLY:

“Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice.” (Phil.4:9)

When Paul was insulted, beaten, lied about, he didn’t respond with anger, but love.

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