How to Thrive… Not Just Survive…

Philippians 4:4-8

Phil 4:4-8Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! 5 Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. 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 comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.

• Some days are better than others– Often all we want to do is just survive

• Let’s Thrive; Not Just Survive– Jesus came to give us an abundant life (John

10:10)• He gives abundant forgiveness for our sins and

failures• He gives abundant power for a great future

– Five disciplines to enable us to thrive

John 10:10"The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.

Rise Thankfully• “In everything by prayer and supplication with

thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God”

• Start each day, giving thanks (Ps. 92:1-2)• Give thanks for things you used to take for

granted– You are alive and have a roof over your head– You have food to eat and clothes to wear (1st Tim 6:6-

8)• Give thanks for salvation (Ps. 103:1-6)• Rising thankful helps us to focus on the positives

(Phil. 1:3)

Phil 1:3I thank my God in all my remembrance of you

Ps 92:1-2It is good to give thanks to the LORD And to sing praises to Your name, O Most High; 2 To declare Your lovingkindness in the morning And Your faithfulness by night,

1 Tim 6:6-8But godliness actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. 7 For we have brought nothing into the world, so we cannot take anything out of it either. 8 If we have food and covering, with these we shall be content

Ps 103:1-5Bless the LORD, O my soul, And all that is within me, bless His holy name. 2 Bless the LORD, O my soul, And forget none of His benefits; 3 Who pardons all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases; 4 Who redeems your life from the pit, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and compassion; 5 Who satisfies your years with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle.

Pray Expectantly

• “Be anxious for nothing”

• Pray about everything, expecting answers– We can pray and believe and receive (Matt.

21:22)– We can pray and doubt and go without

(James 1:6-8)

• God is able to answer prayers (Jer. 33:3)

Matt 21:22"And all things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."

James 1:6-8But he must ask in faith without any doubting, for the one who doubts is like the surf of the sea, driven and tossed by the wind. 7 For that man ought not to expect that he will receive anything from the Lord, 8 being a double-minded man, unstable in all his waysJer 33:3Call to Me and I will answer you, and I will tell you great and mighty things, which you do not know.'

Speak Kindly • “If anything worthy of praise”• What we say reveals what we have on our

minds• Paul gives us a cure for cross and critical

tongues– Think positively about people– Focus on virtue (trait valued as being good) and

praise• Refuse to focus on the faults of others• Speaking kindly to people, doesn’t mean that

they will always speak kindly back. (1st Cor 4:12-13)

1 Cor 4:12-13We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; 13 when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world

Forgive Quickly (Col 3:12-13)

• Forgiveness is a call to Christian love– Love is commanded by God (John 13:34)

• Forgive as Christ forgave us– The key to true forgiveness

• Do it quickly, and do it out of love!

Col 3:12-13So, as those who have been chosen of God, holy and beloved, put on a heart of compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience; 13 bearing with one another, and forgiving each other, whoever has a complaint against anyone; just as the Lord forgave you, so also should you

John 13:34"A new command I give you: Love one another . As I have loved you, so you must love one another

Work Worshipfully(Col 3:17)

• Bring every area of life into the arena of worship– Don’t just “go to church”– But “be the church”

• Make no separation between the so called “sacred” and the “secular”

• Do everything in the name of Christ

Col 3:17Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks through Him to God

the Father.

• Let’s all do more than “just survive”– Let’s thrive

• When someone says “Give Me Five..”

• Share the five requirements to thrive!

Rise Thankfully

Pray E

xpectantly

Speak K

indly

Forgive Q

uickly

Work W

orshipfully