Introduction

• Philippians 1:3 – Paul in prison at Rome. This, no doubt, put a lot of stress on Paul, yet he writes to encourage others!
  • Acts 16:19 – Paul started the church in Philippi, and it started in the midst of persecution and difficulty.

Paul had stress from at least four areas:

• A former life of persecuting the church – I Timothy 1:13; Philippians 3:6
• The persecutors who followed him from place to place, as he preached the gospel – Philippians 3:2, 18; 1:15-17, 23
• Responsibility to preach the gospel – I Corinthians 9:16; James 3:1
• Concern for all the churches – II Corinthians 11:28

We want to learn from Paul’s example and go from stress to success in God’s eyes.

• Paul says to think about others instead of self – Philippians 2:1-8; 1:23-24, 3-11
• Paul says to forget – Philippians 3:4-15
• Set the proper goal – Philippians 3:14-15; 1:20; Colossians 3:1-2; I Corinthians 9:24-27; 10:31
  • The goal is not the same thing as the prize. Don’t get them confused!
• Paul says to rejoice – Philippians 4:4, 10; 2:17-18; 3:1; 1:18; Psalms 32:11; 33:1
• Paul says to pray – Philippians 4:5-6; James 1:5-8; 4:2-3; I John 5:14-15
  • Pray with thanksgiving
• Paul says to think (about proper things) – Philippians 4:8
• Paul says to do – Philippians 4:9; 2:12-16; James 2:19-20
• Paul says to have the peace of God – Philippians 4:7; I John 4:18; Hebrews 13:3-6; Philippians 4:9
• Paul says to be satisfied – Philippians 4:11-12; 2:14
• The success of Paul is “in Christ” – Philippians 4:13; 3:3, 14, 17-21; Ephesians 1:3

Conclusion

• Will you turn stress into success as Paul did or will stress be your spiritual downfall?
  • I Corinthians 11:1; II Timothy 4:6-8

Introduction

• Acts 2

All of us have become guilty of sin.

• Acts 2:22-23, 36-37
• Romans 3:23
• Romans 8:1
• Romans 1:20, 29
• Romans 2:1-3, 17-20 – Beware of hypocrisy. No matter who you are, a sin is a sin!
• If you know better, but don’t do better, it is sin.
• Romans 1:18

Jesus Christ died so we can be forgiven!

• Luke 23:33-38, 44-49
• Luke 24:1-9 – Jesus rose from the dead!
• Luke 24:44-53 – Jesus ascended to heaven.
• Acts 2:1-4, 14-17 – The Holy Spirit gave the apostles the message to speak, as was prophesied.
• Acts 2:38-42 – The first people react to the gospel.

I need to do something!

• Acts 2:41
• We need to recognize our shortcomings and be prepared to deal with them.

Develop a heart that’s ready to learn and submit to God’s truth.

Develop a faith based on God’s word.

• Acts 2:42
• Acts 17:2, 11

Identify the sins in my life and repent.

• Acts 2:38
• Acts 17:30

Put my faith into action.

• Acts 26:19-20
• Romans 10:9-10

Be baptized into Christ.

• Acts 2:38 – Baptism is for forgiveness of sins.
• Romans 6:3-4
• I Corinthians 12:13
• I Peter 3:21
• Galatians 3:27

Continually learn and grow and repent when necessary.

Introduction

• Galatians 5:13-24
• Flesh vs. spirit
  • Romans 6:11-13
  • Whose slave will I be?

Sexual immorality; impurity; indecent behavior (Galatians 5:19)

• II Corinthians 12:21
• Porneia – sexual immorality, fornication, immorality
  • I Corinthians 5:1
  • Mark 7:14-23 – The body is involved, but the sin starts in the mind.
• Akatharsia – impurity, uncleanness, moral impurity
  • Matthew 23:27
  • Ephesians 5:1-6
• Aselgeia – sensuality, lasciviousness, licentiousness, depravity, promiscuity, debauchery
  • Lack of restraint
  • Romans 13:13-14 – Make no provision for the flesh.
  • Ephesians 4:17-19
  • Pornography works like a drug addiction – more and more is needed to get the same effect.

Show others how to persevere through heartache

• Ruth 1:1-3 – Naomi endured famine and the loss of her husband.
• Ruth 1:4-5 – Naomi lost her two sons.
• Ruth 1:6-13 – Naomi felt that God’s hand was against her.
• Job 19:6, 19
• Ruth 1:19-21 – Don’t call me “pleasant.” Call me “bitter.”
• Ruth 2:19-20 – Naomi’s attitude toward the Lord begins to change.
• I Timothy 5:5-6

Advise and teach the next generation

• Ruth 1:8-9 – Despite her hesitation, Naomi dealt kindly with her daughters-in-law.
• Ruth 1:14
• Ruth 2:2, 19, 20; 3:1-5, 16 – Naomi advises Ruth.
• Ruth 4:16-17
• Titus 2:3
• Luke 2:36-38 – God had an important job for Anna the prophetess!

Glorify God with what you have

• Ruth 1:21, 16-17 – Naomi was not empty. She still had blessings in her life (Ruth).
• Ruth 4:13-17
• Ruth 2:10
• The key to being productive in later years is attitude.

• Hebrews 10:26-39
• Hebrews 10:26 – One may get the idea from this verse that after we have knowledge of the truth and sin, we can never be forgiven. That is not what this verse is saying. It is simply saying that you cannot be forgiven while you are willfully sinning.
• Hebrews 10:27-31 – Those who had heard the gospel and turned back to the Law of Moses had no way to be forgiven of their sin.
  • Hebrews 10:29 – The “spirit of grace” here could refer to the Holy Spirit, but it may also refer to the disposition of grace, which would apply to God the Father and Jesus also.
  • Hebrews 10:31 – For Christians, it will be a wonderful thing to fall into the hands of God.
• Hebrews 10:32-36 – This passage refutes the idea of “once saved, always saved.”
  • Hebrews 10:36 – “What a great admonition for all of us! This passage would make no sense if “once saved, always saved” was a true doctrine. This verse appears to be the bookend of the section started in Hebrews 10:19, referring to our confidence as Christians.
• Hebrews 10:37-39 – This is referring to Jesus coming in judgment (possibly on Jerusalem since the time is indicated as being near). This is a quote from Habakkuk 2:3-4.