MESSAGE FOR SUNDAY NIGHT, MARCH 21, 2010

CHRISTIAN HOPE CHURCH OF CHRIST, PLYMOUTH, NORTH CAROLINA

by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister

3 SECRETS TO A GREAT LIFE

Philippians 4: 10-13

INTRODUCTION

Just for fun........lets pretend you are a contestant on the GAME SHOW
This Is My Life. And you have to pick just one of the following four
song titles as the THEME SONG of your life. Which would you
choose?

- “Gloom, Despair and Agony on Me”

- “Make the World Go Away”

- “I’m Sittin on Top, Top of the World”

- “I Can’t Get No Satisfaction”

Now I’m not going to make you raise your hand and reveal which of those
four songs best describes how you feel about your life.............But I would
say the one theme song that best describes how many people feel about their
life is........”I Can’t Get No Satisfaction.”

Unfortunately...........a lot of people are simply NOT SATISFIED with their

life.

-They either want things they don’t have.

-Or they want more than they have
-Or they feel slighted, mistreated or victimized.
Everybody wants a life of happiness and contentment don’t they?
But sadly, many people look for happiness and contentment in all the
wrong places.

Here in V E R S E S 10-13 of Philippians chapter 4............The Apostle

Paul reveals to us the TRUE SECRET to living a GREAT LIFE.

As with all BIBLICAL TRUTHS.............these things will only help you

if you are willing to put them into practice in your daily life..........And
only
you can make that choice!

----------------

Well let’s look at ................

I. SECRET #1: Don’t Allow Your Possessions

To Define You vs. 11, 12a

1. Illustration----One of my dearest friends where I grew up back

back in Indiana was Terry Dickerson. Terry’s dad was one of
the wealthiest farmers in our community. And because of his
father’s success Terry grew up having a lot of nice things.

Well, a couple of years after Terry graduated from High

School, he married a dear, sweet girl named, Wendi Grevue.

As soon as they were married, Terry and Wendi bought a

great big farm house near where Terry had grown up.
Soon Terry was spending money like there was no tomorrow.

He bought a brand new truck..........a brand new Suzuki 750

motorcycle.............A brand new Allis-Chalmers Tractor.
 Terry was making the tragic mistake so many young couples
make when they first get married.........and that is believing
“the more you have” the happier you’ll be.

But, while Terry was spending and spending and spending......

......his relationship with Wendi was deteriorating. While
he was investing in “things” he was failing to invest in his
marriage..............And within two years of when they said,
“I Do”.......Terry and Wendi’s marriage was on the brink
of destruction.

Thank God, Terry finally came to his senses and realized

all the possessions in the world couldn’t guarantee him a
happy life........And I’m thankful to say Terry and Wendi are
still married today.

2. In Luke 12 , Jesus tells us The Parable of the Rich Fool

who tore down his barns to build bigger ones. He lived
for the moment...........but made no preparations for
his eternal future.

Here was a man who DEFINED HIS LIFE BY HIS

POSSESSIONS.........In this case, BIG BARNS.

Jesus called this man a FOOL and then gave the

reason why..........

LUKE 12: 15 “Watch out! Be on your guard against

all kinds of greed; a man’s life does not
consist in the abundance of his possessions.”

3. The Bible doesn’t teach us it is wrong to have things or even

to have nice things...........But the dangerous trap so many
fall into is crossing the line from OWNING NICE THINGS
to BEING OWNED BY NICE THINGS.
 4. Why do we look at people who have lots of money and lots of
nice things and automatically think they are happier.

-Would you truly be happier if you had more possessions

than you have right now?

-Would you truly be happier if you lived in a bigger house

or drove a nicer vehicle or wore nicer clothes?

5. As Christians we need to understand this very important truth

and that is..........WHAT BELONGS TO US DOESN’T MATTER
NEARLY AS MUCH AS WHO WE BELONG TO.

6. The Apostle Paul said in I TIMOTHY 6: 6-8.......

I TIMOTHY 6: 6-8 “But godliness with contentment is

great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and
we can take nothing out of it. But if we have food and
clothing we will be content with that.”

7. So the FIRST SECRET to living a great life is:

DON’T ALLOW YOUR POSSESSIONS TO DEFINE YOU.

------------------------

II. SECRET #2: Don’t Allow Your Circumstances

To Confine You vs. 12

1. If ever there was someone familiar with difficult circumstances

it was the apostle Paul.

Remember that familiar passage in II Corinthians 11

where Paul gives a lengthy list of all the difficult
circumstances he had endured while preaching the
gospel?
Beginning with VERSE 23 Paul writes………….

“I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently,

been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again
and again.

-Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus
one.

-Three times I was beaten with rods.

-I was stoned.

-Three times I was shipwrecked. I spent night and day in

the open sea.

-I have been constantly on the move.

-I have been in danger from rivers……in danger from bandits

…….in danger from my own countrymen…..in danger from
Gentiles…..in danger in the city……in danger in the country
…..in danger at sea…….in danger from false brothers.

- I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep;

-I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without
food.

-I have been cold and naked.

And yet this is the same man who said, “I have learned the secret
of being content in any and every situation.”

Its pretty humbling isn’t it?

 2. How did Paul do it? Paul knew that wherever he was and
whatever circumstance he was in, he was still in the will of
GOD.

-He believed whether he was in prison or a free man,

he was in God’s will.

-Whether he had food or didn’t have food, he was in God’s

will.

-Whether he was clothed or naked, he was in God’s will.

Paul understood this important truth: GOD IS STILL GOD

IN GOOD CIRCUMSTANCES AND BAD. Paul’s contentment
was not based upon his circumstances but upon his knowledge
that he was in God’s will.

3. Sadly many of us have yet to reach this level of maturity in our

walk with Christ.

How many of us base our happiness and contentment in

life on our circumstances?

*I can’t be happy until I lose weight.

*I can’t be happy until I pay off all my debts.
*I can’t be happy until I get a different job.
*I can’t be happy until I move into a bigger house.
*I can’t be happy until I retire.
*I can’t be happy until I take that dream vacation.
*I can’t be happy until spring gets here.

4. If you and I put our happiness on hold until all our

circumstances are perfect we will never be happy.

5. Yes the second secret to a great life is: DON’T ALLOW

YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES CONFINE YOU.

************
Secret #1: Don’t Allow Your Possessions to Define
You.

Secret #2: Don’t Allow Your Circumstances to Confine

You.
---------------------

III. SECRET #3: Don’t Allow Your Limitations

To Bind You vs. 13
Philippians 4: 13 “I can do everything through Him who gives me
the strength.”

1. Here in this one little verse, we see three powerful truths!

TRUTH #1: “I Can!”

Illustration: When I was in grade school I had a very godly

third grade teacher. Her name was Mrs. Olive Canada.

Mrs. Canada always used to tell us, “Never say I can’t,

always say I CAN! Strike the word CAN’T from your
vocabulary!

When you look at the life of Paul you see a man who
was convinced he could do absolutely anything the
Lord enabled him to do. The word “can’t” wasn’t
even in Paul’s vocabulary!
 How many of us live with an “I CAN’T” mentality
rather than “I CAN!”

-I CAN’T TEACH A SUNDAY SCHOOL CLASS

-I CAN’T WORK WITH THE YOUNG PEOPLE.
-I CAN’T SING IN THE CHOIR.
-I CAN’T SING A SPECIAL
-I CAN’T PRAY IN PUBLIC
-I CAN’T CONTROL MY TEMPER
-I CAN’T READ MY BIBLE EVERY DAY
-I CAN’T STOP SWEARING
-I CAN’T STOP GOSSIPING
-I CAN’T STOP TELLING LIES

And that list of “I can’ts” just goes on and on, doesn’t it?
And how many of us allow our own human weaknesses
to bind us and limit our potential?

TRUTH #2: I CAN DO ALL THINGS.

Paul doesn’t say, “I can do some things.”

Or……“I can do a few things.”
Or even….”I can do most things.”

Paul says, “ I can do ALL THINGS…….ALL THINGS!!!!

This truth applies to you and me as well!!!

You and I can do ANYTHING and EVERYTHING that is

within the WILL OF GOD for us to do.

-We can do ALL THINGS the Lord commands us to do.

- We can do ALL THINGS the Lord calls us to do.
-We can do ALL THINGS the Lord desires for us to do.

TRUTH #3: I CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST

WHO STRENGTHENS ME.

CHRIST gives us the strength to endure all circumstances

we must face in this life. And CHRIST gives us the strength
to accomplish any task God calls us to do in this life.
CONCLUSION

In answer to the question, "Where is happiness?" Clarence Macartney said, "It's not found
in pleasure--Lord Byron lived such a life if anyone did. He wrote, "The worm, the canker,
and the grief are mine alone." Happiness is not found in money--Jay Gould, the American
millionaire, had plenty of that. When dying, he said, "I suppose I am the most miserable
man on earth." It's not found in position and fame--Lord Beaconsfield enjoyed more than
his share of both. He wrote, "Youth is a mistake, manhood a struggle, and old age a
regret." It's not found in military glory--Alexander the Great conquered the known world
in his day. Having done so, he wept in his tent because, he said, "There are no more
worlds to conquer.""
Clarence Macartney.

If true happiness is not found in pleasure or

money or position or fame or power, then where
can true happiness be found?

Only in Jesus Christ!

To have everything in this world but Christ is to have

nothing. To have nothing in this world but Christ is to
have everything!

When you and I build our lives upon Christ the

solid rock……..

Our possessions no longer define us.

Our circumstances no longer confine us.
And our limitations no longer bind us.

JESUS CHRIST is the secret to a GREAT LIFE!!!