HAVE HOPE IN JESUS CHRIST WHETHER IN PAIN OR JOY

Hello Ladies and Gentlemen of steemchurch, we @sc-g sends you greetings

Many are those that always complain of things beyond their control. Things happen for it is bound to. Parishioners what you always need is to have hope.

Philippians 1:20-21 (NIV)

"I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

This is from Apostle Paul a letter to the Philippines, a new Christians fellowship which has been just created. It happened when Apostle Paul was imprisoned, but his love for Jesus Christ was very great that the pain he was enduring could not even stopped him from mentioning Jesus's name. He was encouraging and admonishing the church of Philippians to hold unto their faith in Jesus Christ and also to keep their loves for one another in spite of all the challenges they were facing. Looking at the various treatments the unbelievers were given to them Paul has to encourage the congregation of the Philippians.

One would think that how can someone who is in dilemma of pain, who is in captivity and anguish would have that mindset to write a letter urging his Christian fellowship to be steadfast in their worship. Apostle Paul was considering the work of Jesus Christ not the pain, death or the torture he was enduring. He thought all things to be vanity except Jesus Christ who was his redeemer. He said, as I continuous to live, it is because of Christ, so if I die or live I am for Jesus Christ and nothing else, since it is the Christ Jesus who saves.

He thought that if his body dies, his soul would be saved in order to get salvation. He remembered what Jesus Christ has done for him, sometime ago when he was blind on the truth of the word of God, that he thought his knowledge of the law could save him. But, when he met Jesus Christ his life and perception was transformed. Paul as an Apostle, his whole life was dedicated to Jesus Christ to spread the gospel for those whose soul are lost to also get salvation.

Today, Paul is leaving us with many encouragement as Christian fellowship as he left the same encouragement with the Philippians when he was imprisoned. He said, what can separate us from the love of Jesus Christ; is it pain or trouble or weapon, nothing can separate us if we only have the hope and faith in him. Let's not allow the pain or trouble separate us from the love we have for Jesus Christ, otherwise our toil will be in vain. Jesus Christ even love us more than as we do, but if we suffer a little, our suffering would be exchange for joy.

Paul said, I let my hope in Jesus Christ be greater than the pains I am even enduring, since if I die today because of Christ Jesus who I have entrusted in him, I would be crowned. Beloved, do you have the same thought as Apostle Paul had, or you let your troubles become precious for you than considering Jesus Christ as your ultimate priority in life?

The pain will come, the anguish may occur, the troubles may compound in our homes, societies, churches, work place and the country, but if we have Jesus Christ in our lives, we will consider them to be nothing. With Jesus Christ, we have life and salvation when the flesh is ruin or eradicated from the surface of the earth. Let's learn the steps took by Apostle Paul. Thanks to everyone for your attention.