Larry Lilly's Journal Finding Meaning in Life's Struggles Vol 19 Issue 11
Larry & Joyce Lilly
Discover Meaning and live with Christ’s Purpose.
From a prison cell in Rome the Apostle Paul shared these words with the saintly people in the church at Philippi:
Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (NKJV).
The Apostle knew that his meaning in life involved sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in all circumstances of life. This core knowledge screams from the page as he gives his testimony of how the negative things that happened to him, were turned to positives as those painful happenings turned into a way to share the gospel. He shouts this truth from verse 12, with, “these things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” Not only was Paul an effective witness to prisoners, but also, according to verse 13, to the Praetorium Guard, the elite of the Roman Army. You will recall from Acts 16 that a prison guard was converted to Christ in Philippi while Paul and Silas were imprisoned there.
Paul emphasizes that his conduct while in chains was so consistent with his preaching that the guards and “all the rest” that it was evident to all concerned that his chains were “in Christ.” He was a true prisoner of Christ. The metaphorical application being simply that when life really gets tough, it’s time to be real and that what Paul was doing, so much so that the others who watched his life became bolder in speaking about Jesus Christ without fear.
The chained Apostle points out that some were not genuine, but mouthed the truths preached by Paul for greedy gain. Envy and strife, but some out of goodwill, true hearted. Those who preached from envy and strife, selfish ambition, not sincerely, in the hopes of inducing the guards to add more severe punishment to Paul.
Paul didn’t waste much time on the false, but emphasizes the genuine when he writes, “But the latter out of love, knowing that Paul was appointed by God for the defense of the gospel.”
The “meaning” that kept Paul going was the knowledge that the humiliation of prison, was nothing compared to the glorious opportunity of giving the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to everyone as much as possible. “Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached and in this I rejoice, yes and will rejoice.”
Paul and many others could endure torment, and even death because they understood that living for Jesus Christ, suffering for Him, was engaging in something that mattered, not only in this earthly expression of life, but also, especially on the eternal. To endure the unendurable, the sufferer must be pointed toward something that matters.
The Nihilist posits, “Nothing Matters,” while the believer in Christ knows “Everything Matters!”
For many years my life has been impacted by a book I read several years prior to my conversion to Jesus Christ. The book, Man’s Search for Meaning, was written by Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist imprisoned in Hitler’s Auschwitz Concentration Camp during the Holocaust of WWII. While there Frankl’s wife was murdered in the ovens of Auschwitz. Frankl and others learned to survive by helping others in the same condition, giving away the starvation size pieces of bread, and sharing a flea invested blanket with a starving to death, freezing fellow prisoner. You should read the book.
Concerning life, and the painful struggles thereof, Viktor Frankl wrote:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
The phrase, “To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances” is a thought that I have kept at the front of my mind. Frankl was encapsulating the essence of Paul’s teaching in Philippians about the secret of discovering “meaning” in even the most horrible circumstances.
The happiest people on earth are those who are “by love serving one another,” again from Paul in Galatians 5:13b.
God has not left us Christians to our own resources to find “meaning” in life, but has made it plain, that true meaning is learning from Jesus to trust His Spirit and through that love be of some help to others, often to others who do not deserve it!
Here’s the closing note to help you along the path:
Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (NKJV).
1Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Because Christ is Risen, we must “always” be on course, by emphasizing the truth of Jesus Christ in in our life in spite of dangers that that threaten to overwhelm us. Corrie ten Boom and many others demonstrated this principle during there enslavement in Hitler’s Camps.
We must trust God and understand that even though we do not understand the “why” of current situations, God is using them for a particular purpose. The Spirit of Christ in you, causes your courage to impact others for His glory and the conversion of the persecutors! LML
From a prison cell in Rome the Apostle Paul shared these words with the saintly people in the church at Philippi:
Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. (NKJV).
The Apostle knew that his meaning in life involved sharing the Good News of Jesus Christ in all circumstances of life. This core knowledge screams from the page as he gives his testimony of how the negative things that happened to him, were turned to positives as those painful happenings turned into a way to share the gospel. He shouts this truth from verse 12, with, “these things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” Not only was Paul an effective witness to prisoners, but also, according to verse 13, to the Praetorium Guard, the elite of the Roman Army. You will recall from Acts 16 that a prison guard was converted to Christ in Philippi while Paul and Silas were imprisoned there.
Paul emphasizes that his conduct while in chains was so consistent with his preaching that the guards and “all the rest” that it was evident to all concerned that his chains were “in Christ.” He was a true prisoner of Christ. The metaphorical application being simply that when life really gets tough, it’s time to be real and that what Paul was doing, so much so that the others who watched his life became bolder in speaking about Jesus Christ without fear.
The chained Apostle points out that some were not genuine, but mouthed the truths preached by Paul for greedy gain. Envy and strife, but some out of goodwill, true hearted. Those who preached from envy and strife, selfish ambition, not sincerely, in the hopes of inducing the guards to add more severe punishment to Paul.
Paul didn’t waste much time on the false, but emphasizes the genuine when he writes, “But the latter out of love, knowing that Paul was appointed by God for the defense of the gospel.”
The “meaning” that kept Paul going was the knowledge that the humiliation of prison, was nothing compared to the glorious opportunity of giving the message of salvation through Jesus Christ to everyone as much as possible. “Whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached and in this I rejoice, yes and will rejoice.”
Paul and many others could endure torment, and even death because they understood that living for Jesus Christ, suffering for Him, was engaging in something that mattered, not only in this earthly expression of life, but also, especially on the eternal. To endure the unendurable, the sufferer must be pointed toward something that matters.
The Nihilist posits, “Nothing Matters,” while the believer in Christ knows “Everything Matters!”
For many years my life has been impacted by a book I read several years prior to my conversion to Jesus Christ. The book, Man’s Search for Meaning, was written by Viktor Frankl, a psychiatrist imprisoned in Hitler’s Auschwitz Concentration Camp during the Holocaust of WWII. While there Frankl’s wife was murdered in the ovens of Auschwitz. Frankl and others learned to survive by helping others in the same condition, giving away the starvation size pieces of bread, and sharing a flea invested blanket with a starving to death, freezing fellow prisoner. You should read the book.
Concerning life, and the painful struggles thereof, Viktor Frankl wrote:
“Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way.”
The phrase, “To choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances” is a thought that I have kept at the front of my mind. Frankl was encapsulating the essence of Paul’s teaching in Philippians about the secret of discovering “meaning” in even the most horrible circumstances.
The happiest people on earth are those who are “by love serving one another,” again from Paul in Galatians 5:13b.
God has not left us Christians to our own resources to find “meaning” in life, but has made it plain, that true meaning is learning from Jesus to trust His Spirit and through that love be of some help to others, often to others who do not deserve it!
Here’s the closing note to help you along the path:
Philippians 1:29 “For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,” (NKJV).
1Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
Because Christ is Risen, we must “always” be on course, by emphasizing the truth of Jesus Christ in in our life in spite of dangers that that threaten to overwhelm us. Corrie ten Boom and many others demonstrated this principle during there enslavement in Hitler’s Camps.
We must trust God and understand that even though we do not understand the “why” of current situations, God is using them for a particular purpose. The Spirit of Christ in you, causes your courage to impact others for His glory and the conversion of the persecutors! LML
The Book Worm'sCorner Comments from Helpful Books Joyce Lilly
Joyce Lilly TgB
How to Handle Adversity. Charles Stanley. Oliver Nelson Nashville, TN 15 chap, 191 pgs.
Job wrote, “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Dr. Stanley acknowledges this truth and teaches how to keep on going in spite of the adversities of life.
The dust cover states: “Babies die, children run away, parents get cancer, houses catch fire, employees get fired. Why did it happen? If I could only understand why…”
Dr. Stanley points out; “As difficult as it may be to grasp, the Bible depicts God as the instigator of some adversity.” But God is not the only source of adversity. “Often adversity comes as a result of our own doing.”
Dr. Stanley leads his readers through the shock and bewilderment of seemingly unexplainable pain and tragedy as he analyzes some tough questions. What in the world is God up to when you are hurting and need to hear from Him So Desperately? What are you to do in the meantime?
What does adversity have to do with your weakness and God’s strength? How can your weakness be changed into great strength? How do your goals and perspective on life determine your response to adversity?
How does your response to adversity determine its spiritual value in your life?
Dr. Stanley uses examples from scripture and his personal and pastoral experience to make God’s truth clear. Many are befuddled as to the why of life.
Get and read this book soon! It is a true page turner. Joyce Lilly TgB.
Job wrote, “Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward.” Dr. Stanley acknowledges this truth and teaches how to keep on going in spite of the adversities of life.
The dust cover states: “Babies die, children run away, parents get cancer, houses catch fire, employees get fired. Why did it happen? If I could only understand why…”
Dr. Stanley points out; “As difficult as it may be to grasp, the Bible depicts God as the instigator of some adversity.” But God is not the only source of adversity. “Often adversity comes as a result of our own doing.”
Dr. Stanley leads his readers through the shock and bewilderment of seemingly unexplainable pain and tragedy as he analyzes some tough questions. What in the world is God up to when you are hurting and need to hear from Him So Desperately? What are you to do in the meantime?
What does adversity have to do with your weakness and God’s strength? How can your weakness be changed into great strength? How do your goals and perspective on life determine your response to adversity?
How does your response to adversity determine its spiritual value in your life?
Dr. Stanley uses examples from scripture and his personal and pastoral experience to make God’s truth clear. Many are befuddled as to the why of life.
Get and read this book soon! It is a true page turner. Joyce Lilly TgB.
Letters & Comments.
Brother Lilly,
Love and prayers to you all. Hope the church is doing well. All is ok to a point-life’s problem just hovers over us, but God is there to lean on.
My test results for Hepatitis C not good. Dr. Said he can do nothing. I told him my God can and does a lot. 300 Billion is my count. Tried medication and had a bad reaction to it and had to quit. I added blueberries and dried cherries to my diet. I have to get vitamins from Dr. that he recommended for Hep C. I say the Lord can remove it if He wishes, so just keep me in your prayers. Going to cemetery to fix my brother’s flowers and pray. H.W.
Editor’s Note: This faithful saint, prayer warrior and longtime supporter of the work the Lord has entrusted to me contracted Hep C via a blood transfusion back in the eighties at a hospital in her town. Please pray for her. LML.
Dear Dr. Lilly,
I have enjoyed your Journal these few years. Because I can’t support your work, I’m asking you to remove my name from your mailing list.
In Christ…
Editor’s Note: I wrote to this dear Pastor Brother and assured him that the Journal is sent free, especially to those who are struggling financially. I hope he opts to stay on board as an honest person’s prayers are purest gold. LML.
Dear Brother Lilly & The Great Blonde,
Everyone that came to our Shining Light Ministries program here at the prison did not expect the blessing they received! Even the guards were moved and couldn’t believe the quality and how professional this production was. We also did a performance on Sunday. All the performances were packed! There was such a powerful anointing, we know this was touching so many by the grace of God. Because the 70 hours we put into it in rehearsal etc. was not really enough time to get it right in our own strength. What was the greatest blessing of all, was the looking out into the audience and Muslims, Nation of Islam, Jews, Native Americans and those who do not belong to any group! Men who have never set foot in the chapel, along with Christians enjoying this presentation of God’s grace. They heard the gospel! C.W.
Editor’s Note: C.W. is serving many years and is the Chapel Clerk in a serious prison. God is moving in that prison in mighty ways. The structure is along the lines of the now famous prison in Angola where Warden Burl Cain has had enormous impact on the prison system and others around the world. Please pray for C.W. the prisoner and for the institution employees and do what they can to make Christ known within the walls. LML.
***
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here it to observe, to learn, to grow, to love...and then we return home.” Australian Aboriginal Proverb.
Love and prayers to you all. Hope the church is doing well. All is ok to a point-life’s problem just hovers over us, but God is there to lean on.
My test results for Hepatitis C not good. Dr. Said he can do nothing. I told him my God can and does a lot. 300 Billion is my count. Tried medication and had a bad reaction to it and had to quit. I added blueberries and dried cherries to my diet. I have to get vitamins from Dr. that he recommended for Hep C. I say the Lord can remove it if He wishes, so just keep me in your prayers. Going to cemetery to fix my brother’s flowers and pray. H.W.
Editor’s Note: This faithful saint, prayer warrior and longtime supporter of the work the Lord has entrusted to me contracted Hep C via a blood transfusion back in the eighties at a hospital in her town. Please pray for her. LML.
Dear Dr. Lilly,
I have enjoyed your Journal these few years. Because I can’t support your work, I’m asking you to remove my name from your mailing list.
In Christ…
Editor’s Note: I wrote to this dear Pastor Brother and assured him that the Journal is sent free, especially to those who are struggling financially. I hope he opts to stay on board as an honest person’s prayers are purest gold. LML.
Dear Brother Lilly & The Great Blonde,
Everyone that came to our Shining Light Ministries program here at the prison did not expect the blessing they received! Even the guards were moved and couldn’t believe the quality and how professional this production was. We also did a performance on Sunday. All the performances were packed! There was such a powerful anointing, we know this was touching so many by the grace of God. Because the 70 hours we put into it in rehearsal etc. was not really enough time to get it right in our own strength. What was the greatest blessing of all, was the looking out into the audience and Muslims, Nation of Islam, Jews, Native Americans and those who do not belong to any group! Men who have never set foot in the chapel, along with Christians enjoying this presentation of God’s grace. They heard the gospel! C.W.
Editor’s Note: C.W. is serving many years and is the Chapel Clerk in a serious prison. God is moving in that prison in mighty ways. The structure is along the lines of the now famous prison in Angola where Warden Burl Cain has had enormous impact on the prison system and others around the world. Please pray for C.W. the prisoner and for the institution employees and do what they can to make Christ known within the walls. LML.
***
“We are all visitors to this time, this place. We are just passing through. Our purpose here it to observe, to learn, to grow, to love...and then we return home.” Australian Aboriginal Proverb.
Page Four David Thomas Lesson from the Feeding of the Five Thousand!
A Modern Lesson from the Feeding of the Five Thousand! David Thomas, Asst. Pastor Berean Baptist
“When the people therefore saw that Jesus was not there, nor His disciples, they also got into boats and came to Capernaum, seeking Jesus.
And when they found Him on the other side of the sea, they said to Him, "Rabbi, when did You come here?
Jesus answered them and said, "Most assuredly, I say to you, you seek Me, not because you saw the signs, but because you ate of the loaves and were filled. John 6:24-26.” NKJV.
We who have spent our years as believers learn how often the Lord hears us pray for what we want, and He responds by giving us what we need. The people who had sought Him out that day in Capernaum wanted to know when He had arrived there. They were genuinely perplexed, thinking they had come before Him, and would be waiting for His arrival, and finding Him already there.
I see no response to what they wanted to hear, but an excellent response to what they needed to hear. Jesus was now in His third year of public ministry, and there was hardly a soul in the land who did not know something of Jesus, who had not begun to form some opinion about Him. He would drive them to make their choices, and His statements were to be dramatic, and personal.
That they had seen miracles was beyond question. They had seen Him healing the sick (Matt. 14:14; Luke 9:11; John 6:2), and at the end of all that, the great miracle which had been so satisfying to their bellies. So dramatic was it that all four of the gospels have recorded it (Matt. 14:15; Mark 6:35; Luke 9:12; John 6:5).
Jesus charges them directly that their interest in Him has nothing to do with what they have seen in Him, nor in whatever interests He might have, but only because He had filled their bellies with bread. And over the years, I, along with multitudes of pastors everywhere in our world, have been greatly grieved by the questions we have heard from people who come to inquire about our respective ministries. The collective question runs something like this; as they fix an intense stare into our eyes: "We would like to know what your church can do for us, pastor!"
I have prepared a list of answers I should have been brave enough to give in years gone by to some of the questions I've heard.
Q: "Do you have a youth ministry?"
A: "We would have if the two of you would be willing to drop out of your Wed. night bowling league."
Q: "Do you have a visitation ministry for shut-ins?"
A: "I could show you exactly what to do to get one started in our church."
Q: "Do you have a bus ministry?"
A: "We would have if you sold your 14-foot bass boat and used the money to buy a bus, and the Saturdays you now spend on the lake could be spent rounding up the kids to ride on Sundays."
The series I just made up above are the modern parallel to vs. 26. A great crowd of people roam from church to church, not to find a way to serve Christ, but to get a "free loaf." Pastor Dave.
Editor's Note: As you may have gathered, David is right on target biblically and fails to have even a spot of fear as to offending with the truth! He is one of the most faithful men I have ever worked with in over 55 years. LML
Thought from the Box:
Friendly Reminder:
If this ministry has blessed you, consider supporting our work online and in prisons. Thank you for your prayers and gifts! Together, we are making a difference for the work of Jesus Christ to the hurting people in this world.
You may send your offering to the address to the left of this block.
The Journal ministries are a work of faith and we trust the Lord each month to supply the financial needs as He moves His people to help. LML
Send Comments/offering to
Comments:
larrylilly@larrylilly.net
Offerings
Larry Lilly Live
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805
Friendly Reminder:
If this ministry has blessed you, consider supporting our work online and in prisons. Thank you for your prayers and gifts! Together, we are making a difference for the work of Jesus Christ to the hurting people in this world.
You may send your offering to the address to the left of this block.
The Journal ministries are a work of faith and we trust the Lord each month to supply the financial needs as He moves His people to help. LML
Send Comments/offering to
Comments:
larrylilly@larrylilly.net
Offerings
Larry Lilly Live
P.O. Box 5212
Terre Haute, IN 47805