HOPE

信息題目

要選擇喜樂

講員

姜禮振牧師

引用經文

腓立比書 1:12–18

講道大綱

1. 因為有希望就有喜樂（腓 1:12–14）
   1. 正確的選擇——遭遇的事（林後 12:10）
   2. 信心更堅定——道不被捆綁（提後 2:9）
   3. 看見更高的目的——福音被傳開（羅 15:13; 徒 8:1–4）
2. 要選擇美善就有喜樂（腓 1:15–17）
   1. 好意與惡意（提後 2:13）
   2. 愛心與結黨（林前 3:1–4）
   3. 真心與舆假意（賽 55:8–9）
3. 要選擇信靠主耶稣就有希望（腓 1:17–18）
   1. 無所懼怕——主的同在（提後 2:11–12）
   2. 寬廣的心胸——主掌權（羅 9:16–18）
   3. 必要完成——主的計劃（腓 1:6）

信息總結

Not everything in life is smooth, but joy is a choice. For Christians, we choose joy because we know that God is in control. From today’s scripture, we read that Paul was put in a prison and those around him had various intentions. But he said “what does it matter” (1:18) as long as Christ is preached. Here, Paul demonstrated what is said in Proverbs 23:7, “for he is the kind of man that is always thinking …”; we become how we think. In a similar way, Dr. James Allen, a professor at Fuller, contended that how a man would become is determined by how he thinks. Proverbs 17:22 says: “A cheerful heat is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” Paul rejoiced while in prison because he chose so, and in the same way, he would encourage the Philippian church.

Many years ago, I was shocked when my pastor shared that not everyone in a church can be considered “good.” But the amazing part about the gospel is that the Holy Spirit turns us around so that we no longer would need to speculate on others’ intents and would approach events from different perspectives. Joseph, the famous Old Testament figure, could have chosen to be miserable, but instead, he chose to trust in God and led a healthy life, because for him there was hope. The most sought after NBA player in the last week, Jeremy Lin, continued to prepare himself while he was put on the bench, rather than blaming others for what he had to go through. It is a gift for Christians to pierce through what is happening around us and see the purpose of things. Although Paul was in a prison, he understood clearly that the gospel would never be chained (2 Tm 2:9). Furthermore, many epistles of Paul were written while he was jailed. Terry Anderson, an American journalist kidnapped by criminals in Lebanon, was in custody of his captors for an extended period of time. During the course, he acquired a bible and read it 50 times, which caused him to realize that it was God’s will for what he went through and, for this, he stopped hating the Muslims. For Christians, if what happens to us spreads the gospel even further, it is all the more reason for us to be joyful.

Many things in life are difficult to fathom, but we can be joyous because we choose to embrace the parts that are beautiful. For those around Paul, some were of false motives, some were true. But Paul would choose the parts that were good and beautiful. Similarly, many in today’s churches serve with different motives, but let us learn from Paul and do not be discouraged by the negative side of human nature. While driving on the freeway, we would be annoyed by those reckless drivers. Why would our emotion be affected by others’ behaviors? Do most of the drivers follow traffic rules, or don’t? Likewise, do most of the brothers and sisters love the Lord, or don’t? Is it not an amazing fact that a church can be a place where many believers with accomplishment in life can gather together to accomplish works for the kingdom of God? In today’s scripture, Paul referred to some in church that seemed to form small groups to stir up things. Forming small parties is related to loving one another, but it is rather a narrow minded interpretation of love. Christians should be able to gel together but not stir up things, contributing in constructive suggestions rather than destructive criticism. Also, the will of God is far superior to ours (Is 55:8–9), and although many circumstances may not seem positive, He is still in control. In Acts, Paul and Barnabas separated because of John Mark. At that point, one would be puzzled as to what that would leave the work of spreading the gospel. Later we know that Mark wrote the gospel of Mark, and God’s wonderful will for him was manifested.

Choosing joy, choosing trust, because God is the source of our strength. We need not to have fear because He is with us and He can keep us. When we turn our eyes upon Him in our distress, our world expands, for He is sovereign and His plan will surely be fulfilled.

Once a tourist group from Taiwan visited Switzerland. While staying at a hotel, they heard a loud thunder in the dark of night. Thinking that it might be an earthquake, they panicked and inquired with the hotel attendant worriedly, “Did something bad just happen?” Answered the clerk, “As the morning sun casts the first light on the snow, it melts and rolls downhill. And when we hear this sound every morning, we know it is the beginning of a new day. Oh no, Sir, this is not anything bad, this is a new dawn.”

Brothers and sisters, what is the sound you just heard?