Sunday: Framework for Praise
The great Russian writer Fyodor Dostoevsky had been sentenced to death, only to have the sentence commuted at the last moment. He spent years in prison instead. Talking about his prison experience, he wrote: “Believe to the end, even if all men go astray and you are left the only one faithful; bring your offering even then and praise God in your loneliness.”
In these lessons we already have seen how Paul endured incredible opposition and persecution. But now he is sitting in a Roman prison. And yet he is not depressed; instead, he is eagerly writing to encourage the believers in Philippi!
Read Philippians 4:4-7. How do you think Paul could have written such things when he himself was sitting in a prison? In this passage, what are the keys to gaining the “peace of God”?
Image © Krieg Barrie at Goodsalt.com
It is one thing to rejoice when everything is going well. But Paul exhorts us to rejoice always. That may sound strange. If we take what Paul writes literally, there are two critical implications for us.
First, if we are to rejoice always, it must mean that we should be rejoicing even when circumstances do not appear to give any grounds for rejoicing. Second, if we are to rejoice always, it must also mean that we are going to have to learn to rejoice at times when we do not feel like it.
Paul is calling us to praise God even though many times it may seem quite unnatural to us. It may even seem unreasonable. But as we will see, it is precisely because there are times when it appears unreasonable that we are called to rejoice. In other words, praise is an act of faith. Just as faith is based not on our circumstances but rather on the truth about God, so praise is something we do not because we feel good but because of the truth of who God is and what He has promised us. And amazingly, it is such faith that begins to shape our thoughts, feelings, and circumstances.
| What is the truth about God that Paul identifies in today’s passage — truth that enables him to rejoice, even in prison? Write down a short list of what you know to be the truth about God. Go through the list and praise God for each item. How does this change the way that you feel about and view your circumstances? |
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I own a Troopy, A Toyota Landcruiser that has been designed for really tough conditions. They are the vehicle that Australian outback organisations buy for ambulance, police, firefighting, mining, aboriginal affairs, and so for use on unmade roads, unbridged rivers and steep inclines. They are not built for comfort, but if you have got to get somewhere difficult, they are the vehicle of choice.
One of my first trips was to Cape York on the northern tip of Australia along a road known as the Telegraph Track. The road was largely unmade, had several creek crossings, and you were a long way from anywhere if you broke down. The worst roads were actually the mining roads used by the Bauxite dump trucks near Weipa. The road had huge corrugations that tested the suspension of any vehicle. Some of our travelling companions in their "street" 4-wheel-drives had their suspensions literally fall apart. It was tough driving, and there was over 1000km of it.
We actually enjoyed the trip. It was a challenge or overcome and I managed to photograph wild Palm Cockatoos. I didn't actually sing praises through the rough patches, but I did rejoice in the fact that I had a vehicle that was built to withstand the conditions and had been tested in those conditions for a long period of time.
While on this trip I met a person travelling with his family in the same area. He had one of the street 4-wheel drives. He was a reckless driver, he had drowned his car in one of the river crossings, and he was attempting one of the longest sections (500km) in a vehicle that was unreliable, and with no other companion vehicles. He was also an American tourist and his knowledge of the areas he was entering was minimal. I was very apprehensive about him. I told him that before attempting to visit the areas he was planning to visit, his vehicle should be in top condition, he should have companion vehicles with him, and he should have done his research on road conditions, weather forecasts and so on, and he should not take unnecessary risks (and he should know what the insurance policy says)
Today's lesson is "Framework for Praise" and in our spiritual lives, the same advice that I gave to the American driver for a good outcome in Australian outback driving applies.
1) Prepare well
2) Choose good travelling companions
3) Do your homework and know what lies ahead as much as possible.
4) Don't live recklessly.
5) Read God's insurance policy.
That provides a framework!
Maurice, when you wrote, "I didn't actually sing praises through the rough patches, but I did rejoice in the fact that I had a vehicle that was built to withstand the conditions and had been tested in those conditions for a long period of time." It made me think that our faith can be like your troopy - grown to withstand the trials and tested through difficulties fir s long time."
If we want to have strong faith when the worst trials come, we need to exercise faith now by stepping out in faith whenever Gid provides opportunities.
Today's lesson rightly states
This statement hilights that faith and praise go hand-in-hand. Though I would go so far as to say they are essentially one-in-the-same thing. In the most tying of crucible experiences, the expression of praise is the expression of faith. I believe this is why, for example, we read of martyrs singing hymns at the point of their death.
As Ephesians 5:15-20 notes when referring to paying attention to how you 'walk', living a life of faith and praise is a way of (or orientation to) life and living. Though the lessons tend towards exploring lesson topics from an individual person focus, and while it is true to how we walk through life is ultimately up to our choice, the ability to develop a walk of faith and praise is greatly assisted when doing so within the giving and receiving of support within safe community (Ecclesiastes 4:12; Genesis 2:18; Hebrews 10:24-25). As Maurice has noted, travel with good travelling companions.
We have the strongest weapons to help us rejoice!
2 Corinthians 10:4-6
Phil. 4:7 ” ….. and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.” Yes, indeed, how is this possible under all these various circumstances? How is our heart and mind guarded through Christ Jesus? Is it because we live our life by faith in His Words and the example He lived for us to emulate? Does the Holy Spirit give us the help in time of need to remember the Truth that we are never alone?
Paul did not say maybe it will happen, or that it should so happen if ..., or if you have the right religious thinking and affiliations. No, Paul declares that anyone who has faith in our heavenly Father and His Son's Will and Way benefits from this blessing of peace in all circumstances!
I agree with everything the lesson writer brought to our attention – starting with that praise is an act of faith, that faith is not based on our circumstances but rather on the truth we know about God and our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and what they have promised us; and last but not least, the Truth that God is all that He declares Himself to be and more, so much more which we can not see or comprehend. But we have to experience it to become the personal truth which we can live by and share with others when need arrises.
To love Him with all our being, in all aspects of our experience of life, to be able to come to Him and presenting our case to Him - this is His special peace within our heart; as we love Him and have trust and faith in Him, we fulfill our side of the covenant. We who believe Him unreservedly are truly in God’s capable hands!
I remember one time in Acts 16 Paul and Silas sang praises in prison and there was an earthquake and they were freed.
They sang before the earthquake. Powerful!
If we praise the Lord when times are going good, we will have a much easier time praising Him when times are difficult. Let's get into it now, building character to carry us through the rough times.