Encounter Church
Sunday Morning 08.23.26
      • Bible Trivia
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      • 1 John 5:14-15NKJV

  • Let It Fall
  • Let Praises Rise
  • Lion
  • Goodness Of God
  • worship medley
  • The Name of Jesus
  • The Blood Will Never Lose Its Power

      • Matthew 26:26–28NIV2011

      • Proverbs 11:24-25NIV2011

  • Sing Wherever I Go

  • Scripture

    Philippians 4:1–9 NKJV
    1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved. 2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life. 4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.
    Philippians 4:1–9 NKJV
    9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
    Joy is a Spirit produces state that exists in Good times or bad.
    Background: Paul is writing to the church at Philippi from prison. In spite of it all Paul still has joy.
    Situations change but Christ is constant. The fruit produces the character of Christ. It is rooted in love
    Anxiety will mute our Joy , but Prayer (worship and Praise of God) Supplication (make an urgent request) will amplify joy. True worship takes the focus off us and places it on God. Supplication releases the burdens of our situations to the throne of God. The “weight” fo the matter has shifted.
    ****************

    Sermon Title: “Joy That Sustains Me”

    Text: Philippians 4:4–9 Central truth: The joy that comes from God sustains us because it redirects our attention, releases our anxiety, and regulates our thinking.
    Philippians 4:4–9 NKJV
    4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. 6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.

    Introduction: Joy From a Prison Cell

    Paul is confined, yet he speaks about joy. His circumstances are restricted, but his spirit is not imprisoned.
    As we start this morning, we see Paul encouraging the church while he himself is in prison. Although his body is imprisoned, this morning we hear from a many that is very free. Most would say; “I don’t envision prison as free.” That’s because life is often viewed but outside circumstances rather than inward condition. But as we mentioned last week the fruit of the spirit is produced from the Spirit which lives inside us. Therefore, the believer should evaluate freedom from the inside out. Not the outside in. This means our circumstances should not be the reason that joy is realized in our lives.
    Notice Paul is neither denying his situation or using it for an occasion to fall into the cracks of life.
    He does not say:
    Rejoice because everything feels good.
    Rejoice only when life makes sense.
    Paul says, “Rejoice in the Lord.”
    Whatever you place as your source will determine your stability.
    The consistency of our joy depends on what we have placed our joy in
    Power Principle:
    Circumstances change; Jesus stays the same
    When we view the sovereignty of God and his ability to control the universe, we can have joy in Him know that ultimately we are in his hands.

    I. Fortify Your Focus to Flourish in Joy

    “Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!” — Philippians 4:4
    Paul reemphasizes the rejoicing by repeating the command to do so. He is emphasizing where our joy should have its source. Paul calls us to remember, respond and rejoice in the goodness of God.
    SOMETIMES YOU HAVE TO BE REMINDED TO REJOICE!
    Life sometimes has a way of taking your focus off what really matters and we need to be reminded rejoice.
    Releasing the joy of the Lord in our life needs to be intentional.
    Biblical joy does not deny the presence of trouble. It acknowledges that God is present—and His presence is greater than our trouble.
    What happens when we rejoice:
    We are reminded of who God is.
    We rehearse what God has done.
    Our confidence in God’s ability is renewed.
    We are to turn our hearts toward God. Let our perspective in His presence influence our perception.
    Supporting Scriptures:
    Habakkuk 3:17–18 
    Habakkuk 3:17–18 NKJV
    17 Though the fig tree may not blossom, Nor fruit be on the vines; Though the labor of the olive may fail, And the fields yield no food; Though the flock may be cut off from the fold, And there be no herd in the stalls— 18 Yet I will rejoice in the Lord, I will joy in the God of my salvation.
    Psalm 16:11 
    Psalm 16:11 NKJV
    11 You will show me the path of life; In Your presence is fullness of joy; At Your right hand are pleasures forevermore.
    Psalm 34:1–3 
    Psalm 34:1–3 NKJV
    1 I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul shall make its boast in the Lord; The humble shall hear of it and be glad. 3 Oh, magnify the Lord with me, And let us exalt His name together.
    John 15:11 
    John 15:11 NKJV
    11 “These things I have spoken to you, that My joy may remain in you, and that your joy may be full.
    Nehemiah 8:10 
    Nehemiah 8:10 NKJV
    10 Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat, drink the sweet, and send portions to those for whom nothing is prepared; for this day is holy to our Lord. Do not sorrow, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”

    II. Allow Prayer to AMPLIFY your Joy

    Philippians 4:6 “6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer (WORSHIP) and supplication (PLEADING), with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God;”
    Joy comes from the Spirit. Anxiety comes from the flesh. They are both fighting for control of your heart. They will not co-exist with one another.
    Paul gives us a spiritual exchange:
    Anxiety is traded for prayer.
    Fear is traded for trust.
    Inner pressure is traded for God’s peace.
    IN EVERYTHING
    Paul says, “In everything.” Nothing is too large for God’s power or too small for His concern.
    Thanksgiving is especially important. It reminds us that the God we are asking for help is the same God who has already helped us. Gratitude turns prayer from desperation alone into confident dependence.
    Then comes the promise:
    “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” — Philippians 4:7
    “Guard” is a military term. God’s peace stands watch over the believer’s inner life. The situation may not change immediately, but something changes within us while we wait.
    Supporting Scriptures:
    — Cast every care upon Him because He cares for you.1 Peter 5:7 
    — Cast your burden on the Lord, and He will sustain you.Psalm 55:22 
    — In Christ we have peace even while experiencing tribulation.John 16:33 
    — God keeps in perfect peace the mind stayed on Him.Isaiah 26:3 
    — God fills believers with joy and peace as they trust Him.Romans 15:13 
    Preaching statement: Prayer does not always remove the pressure immediately, but it prevents the pressure from possessing us.

    III. How to Protect your JOY

    “Whatever things are true…noble…just…pure…lovely…of good report…meditate on these things.” — Philippians 4:8
    Joy is connected to what occupies our minds. We cannot continually feed our thoughts with fear, offense, negativity, and hopelessness and expect to experience spiritual joy.
    Paul does not teach denial. He teaches discernment. He tells us to evaluate what we permit to remain in our minds.
    Ask:
    Is it based in truth or trepidations
    Is it pure, or is it poisoning my spirit?
    Is it feeding my faith or nurturing my anxiety?
    Does this thought agree with what is revealed in Scripture?
    The word translated “meditate” carries the idea of carefully considering, calculating, or taking something into account. Paul calls believers to develop a disciplined thought life governed by truth.

    Conclusion: Sustained by Supernatural Joy

    Paul gives us a pathway:
    Things may be going wrong around me, but God is still here with me.
    Closing declaration: The joy that comes from God sustains me. It gives me strength to endure, peace while I wait, courage to continue, and hope to believe that God is not finished.
    Invitation question: What has been occupying your attention, carrying your anxiety, or controlling your thoughts—and are you ready to surrender it to Christ?

      • Philippians 4:1–9NIV2011

      • Philippians 4:1–9NIV2011

      • Philippians 4:4–9NIV2011

      • Habakkuk 3:17–18NIV2011

      • Psalm 16:11NIV2011

      • Psalm 34:1–3NIV2011

      • John 15:11NIV2011

      • Nehemiah 8:10NIV2011

Encounter Church
http://www.encounter360.org
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