PURSUING GOD’S PURSUING GOD’S PRESENCEPRESENCE

Philippians 3 v15-Philippians 3 v15-Chapter 4v9.Chapter 4v9.

Paul’s relationship with the Paul’s relationship with the ChurchChurch

A soft spot A soft spot for them.for them.

Great love.Great love. Affection.Affection. This is how This is how

you should you should stand firm. stand firm.

Beware the enemies of Beware the enemies of the Church.the Church.

Enemies of the CROSS 3.v18.Enemies of the CROSS 3.v18. Mind on earthly things. 3.v 19.Mind on earthly things. 3.v 19. Confidence in “the flesh” 3v3 Confidence in “the flesh” 3v3 Disunity 4.2.Disunity 4.2. Losing JOY 4v4.Losing JOY 4v4. Becoming angry. 4.5.Becoming angry. 4.5. Anxiety 4.6.Anxiety 4.6. Prayerlessness 4.6.Prayerlessness 4.6. Negative thinking. 4v8.Negative thinking. 4v8. Inaction. 4.9.Inaction. 4.9.

Pursue the Pattern.3v17Pursue the Pattern.3v17

Our citizenship is in HEAVEN 3v 20Our citizenship is in HEAVEN 3v 20 We Eagerly await a Saviour. 3.20We Eagerly await a Saviour. 3.20 He has the power to control 3.21He has the power to control 3.21 He will transform our lowly bodies He will transform our lowly bodies

so that we will be like His glorious so that we will be like His glorious body. 3.21.body. 3.21.

STAND FIRM :Pursue His STAND FIRM :Pursue His presencepresence

In the face of all onslaughts In the face of all onslaughts against our spirituality.against our spirituality.

I press on to take hold of that for I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of which Christ Jesus took hold of me.me.

I press on towards the goal to I press on towards the goal to win the prize. 3.14.win the prize. 3.14.

1. Stand firm in the 1. Stand firm in the LORD.4.1.LORD.4.1.

Key to confidence building.Key to confidence building. Psalm 27. The Lord is my Light.Psalm 27. The Lord is my Light. Be fully in Christ. Ephesians Ch.1.Be fully in Christ. Ephesians Ch.1. Every Spiritual blessing is IN Every Spiritual blessing is IN

CHRIST v3CHRIST v3 Holy and blameless and chosen Holy and blameless and chosen

IN CHRIST v 4.IN CHRIST v 4.

HOW do we STAND?HOW do we STAND?

Recognize the opposing strategy.Recognize the opposing strategy. World. Flesh. Devil.World. Flesh. Devil. Repent. Be prepared to Change.Repent. Be prepared to Change. Trust in the LORDTrust in the LORD Baptism. Live the Baptized life.Go on Baptism. Live the Baptized life.Go on

being Filled with the Holy Spirit.being Filled with the Holy Spirit.

2. Stand Firm in 2. Stand Firm in Agreement.Agreement.

Tensions in the fellowship.Tensions in the fellowship. What are the root causes of What are the root causes of

leadership tension?leadership tension? Jealousy ,Pride, Control, Territorial Jealousy ,Pride, Control, Territorial

issues.issues. Bringing the Church into disrepute.Bringing the Church into disrepute. Re-visit Matt 18 15-20Re-visit Matt 18 15-20 Agreement is so powerful it Agreement is so powerful it

activates the Father in Heaven.activates the Father in Heaven.

3.Stand Firm in 3.Stand Firm in CELEBRATION.CELEBRATION.

Rejoice in the LORD always I will say it Rejoice in the LORD always I will say it again :REJOICE.again :REJOICE.

Circumstances ,tensions, disharmony Circumstances ,tensions, disharmony and dysfunction are hardly causes for and dysfunction are hardly causes for JOY.JOY.

The Joy of the LORD is our strength. The Joy of the LORD is our strength. Neh.8.10Neh.8.10

His promise is to be with US.His promise is to be with US. Joy is flowing like a river.Joy is flowing like a river.

4. Stand firm in 4. Stand firm in GENTLENESS v5.GENTLENESS v5.

Let your gentleness be evident to all.Let your gentleness be evident to all. One of the fruit of the SPIRIT.One of the fruit of the SPIRIT. The challenge of living in an The challenge of living in an

aggressive ,competitive society.aggressive ,competitive society. Loud voices grab the attention.Loud voices grab the attention. Stand against bullying.Stand against bullying. James 1.20.Man’s anger does not bring James 1.20.Man’s anger does not bring

about the righteous life God desiresabout the righteous life God desires Our inspiration is JESUS.Our inspiration is JESUS.

5 Stand Firm in 5 Stand Firm in ConfidenceConfidence

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything. V 5.about anything. V 5.

I can do anything through Him who I can do anything through Him who strengthens me. strengthens me.

Paul confronts fear, worry and Paul confronts fear, worry and anxiety which rob us of the sense of. anxiety which rob us of the sense of. the presence of the LORD the presence of the LORD

Perfect love casts out fear. 1 Perfect love casts out fear. 1 John.4.18.John.4.18.

6. Stand firm in PRAYER. V 6. Stand firm in PRAYER. V 66

Prayer. Petition Thanksgiving. Prayer. Petition Thanksgiving. Requests.Requests.

The key to building confidence is a The key to building confidence is a real relationship.real relationship.

Two way communication.Two way communication. Who are you talking to? Is it the top Who are you talking to? Is it the top

man ?man ?

7. Stand Firm in PEACE.7. Stand Firm in PEACE.

The Peace of God which transcends The Peace of God which transcends all understanding will guard your all understanding will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.v7.hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.v7.

Peace is the security guard on the Peace is the security guard on the door of our lives.door of our lives.

Jesus is the PRINCE .Jesus is the PRINCE . My Peace I give you.My Peace I give you.

8 Stand firm in 8 Stand firm in Assurance.Assurance.

Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine.Blessed assurance, Jesus is mine. Receive Him as Receive Him as

Saviour,Healer,Mentor,Guide and Saviour,Healer,Mentor,Guide and Leader even through death to life.Leader even through death to life.

1.John.5.11-12 And this is the 1.John.5.11-12 And this is the testimony, God has given us eternal testimony, God has given us eternal life and this life is in His son, He life and this life is in His son, He who has the Son has life.who has the Son has life.

9. Stand firm in a positive 9. Stand firm in a positive attitude. V 8.attitude. V 8.

Whatever is Whatever is true,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirabltrue,noble,right,pure,lovely,admirable,excellent,praiseworthy.. THINK e,excellent,praiseworthy.. THINK about such things.about such things.

NOT negatives, lies, squalid impure NOT negatives, lies, squalid impure ugly,despicable,failures, Blameugly,despicable,failures, Blame

Phil.2.5. Your attitude should be the Phil.2.5. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.same as that of Christ Jesus.

YES!YES!

10. Stand firm in action.10. Stand firm in action.

Put it into practice.Put it into practice. Be practitioners rather than Be practitioners rather than

spectators.spectators. Be active rather than passive.Be active rather than passive. Be intentional rather than inert.Be intentional rather than inert.

The Pattern of Pursuing The Pattern of Pursuing God.God.

Stand Firm in the LORDStand Firm in the LORD Stand Firm in agreementStand Firm in agreement Stand firm in Celebration and JOYStand firm in Celebration and JOY Stand firm in GentlenessStand firm in Gentleness Stand firm in Confidence. Stand firm in Confidence. Stand firm in prayerStand firm in prayer Stand firm in PeaceStand firm in Peace Stand firm in AssuranceStand firm in Assurance Stand firm in a Positive AttitudeStand firm in a Positive Attitude Stand firm in Action.Stand firm in Action.