WEBVTT

1
00:00:01.520 --> 00:00:05.759
<v Speaker 1>This is Pastor Rick's Daily Hope, the audio broadcast ministry

2
00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.560
<v Speaker 1>of Pastor Rick Warren. Today we continue in our series

3
00:00:09.599 --> 00:00:14.560
<v Speaker 1>called Strategies for Stressful Times. In these lessons, Rick SHARE's

4
00:00:14.599 --> 00:00:19.120
<v Speaker 1>biblical wisdom for navigating difficult and stressful times so that

5
00:00:19.239 --> 00:00:24.600
<v Speaker 1>you can experience God's peace and thrive in any situation. Now,

6
00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:26.760
<v Speaker 1>in just a bit, we're going to tell you how

7
00:00:26.800 --> 00:00:29.960
<v Speaker 1>you can get a very special copy of Pastor Rick's

8
00:00:30.039 --> 00:00:33.399
<v Speaker 1>number one selling book, The Purpose Driven Life, with a

9
00:00:33.479 --> 00:00:37.640
<v Speaker 1>classic leather cover. As you journey through this book, you'll

10
00:00:37.640 --> 00:00:41.719
<v Speaker 1>discover the purposes you were created for and begin living

11
00:00:41.759 --> 00:00:44.920
<v Speaker 1>the life of significance you were meant to live. This

12
00:00:45.119 --> 00:00:48.359
<v Speaker 1>is a limited time offer, so go to Pastorick dot

13
00:00:48.399 --> 00:00:51.560
<v Speaker 1>com right now to find out more, or text the

14
00:00:51.560 --> 00:00:56.000
<v Speaker 1>word Hope to eight hundred, six hundred five thousand and four.

15
00:00:56.560 --> 00:00:59.640
<v Speaker 1>Now here's Pastor Rick Warren with part one of a

16
00:00:59.640 --> 00:01:03.479
<v Speaker 1>message called how to Be Happy no matter what happens.

17
00:01:04.519 --> 00:01:06.760
<v Speaker 2>Anytime you want to study what God has to say

18
00:01:06.760 --> 00:01:10.519
<v Speaker 2>about happiness, you go to the Book of Philippians here

19
00:01:10.560 --> 00:01:13.319
<v Speaker 2>in the Bible. It's the most positive happy book in

20
00:01:13.319 --> 00:01:15.920
<v Speaker 2>God's Word. In spite of the fact that Paul wrote

21
00:01:15.920 --> 00:01:18.760
<v Speaker 2>it while he was a prisoner in a dark Roman

22
00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:21.280
<v Speaker 2>prison dungeon, and he was chained to a twenty four

23
00:01:21.319 --> 00:01:25.040
<v Speaker 2>hour guard. But Paul knew how to be happy no

24
00:01:25.159 --> 00:01:29.040
<v Speaker 2>matter what happens now. One of the key verses is

25
00:01:29.079 --> 00:01:32.560
<v Speaker 2>Philippians one, Chapter one, verse twenty seven. It's at the

26
00:01:32.560 --> 00:01:36.760
<v Speaker 2>top of the message outlined. Philippians Won twenty seven says this,

27
00:01:38.200 --> 00:01:43.640
<v Speaker 2>whatever happens, whatever happens, conduct yourself in a manner worthy

28
00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:47.319
<v Speaker 2>of the good news of Christ. Have you ever held

29
00:01:47.359 --> 00:01:51.400
<v Speaker 2>a pity party for yourself? It's quite easy to throw

30
00:01:51.400 --> 00:01:54.120
<v Speaker 2>a pity party. All you have to do is think

31
00:01:54.239 --> 00:01:57.879
<v Speaker 2>up a list of everything negative in your life and

32
00:01:57.959 --> 00:01:59.879
<v Speaker 2>then think about it over and over and over, and

33
00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:04.480
<v Speaker 2>then feel sorry for yourself. Last Tuesday, I gave myself

34
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.039
<v Speaker 2>a pity party. It was a good one. And first

35
00:02:08.080 --> 00:02:11.039
<v Speaker 2>I thought of the chronic pain that I'd been feeling

36
00:02:11.039 --> 00:02:14.400
<v Speaker 2>for three weeks that was sapping all my energy. And

37
00:02:14.439 --> 00:02:16.360
<v Speaker 2>then next I thought of all the things that I

38
00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:19.360
<v Speaker 2>wasn't getting done and the pressure that I felt from

39
00:02:19.400 --> 00:02:22.680
<v Speaker 2>those deadlines because I hadn't been feeling good, so I

40
00:02:22.719 --> 00:02:24.879
<v Speaker 2>had pain and pressure. Then I thought of the people

41
00:02:25.159 --> 00:02:27.599
<v Speaker 2>who needed my help, and I thought of some other

42
00:02:27.639 --> 00:02:31.280
<v Speaker 2>people who were upset with me. And finally, in case

43
00:02:31.319 --> 00:02:33.840
<v Speaker 2>that wasn't enough, I thought of all the problems in

44
00:02:33.879 --> 00:02:36.879
<v Speaker 2>the world that we just keep hearing about. So you

45
00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:41.319
<v Speaker 2>got pain, pressure, people, and problems. These are the foremost

46
00:02:41.360 --> 00:02:46.400
<v Speaker 2>common sources of unhappiness. They're what I call the kill joys,

47
00:02:46.479 --> 00:02:49.240
<v Speaker 2>the common kill joys of life, and I know you're

48
00:02:49.319 --> 00:02:52.599
<v Speaker 2>very familiar with them too. Now today we're going to

49
00:02:52.680 --> 00:02:56.080
<v Speaker 2>see how Paul handled all four of these kill joys

50
00:02:56.479 --> 00:03:01.000
<v Speaker 2>in the first chapter of Philippians. Anyway, I started holding

51
00:03:01.000 --> 00:03:03.800
<v Speaker 2>this pity party for myself, and at one point I

52
00:03:03.879 --> 00:03:07.599
<v Speaker 2>actually thought the words, you know, I don't like any

53
00:03:07.639 --> 00:03:12.039
<v Speaker 2>of this, and I'm really, really, really not happy right now.

54
00:03:13.280 --> 00:03:17.000
<v Speaker 2>Have you ever felt that way? Maybe this week too? Well?

55
00:03:17.039 --> 00:03:18.840
<v Speaker 2>You know what, I try to live each moment in

56
00:03:18.879 --> 00:03:22.159
<v Speaker 2>my life in constant conversation with God throughout my day.

57
00:03:22.199 --> 00:03:25.319
<v Speaker 2>The Bible says to pray continually, pray without ceasing, and

58
00:03:25.360 --> 00:03:28.719
<v Speaker 2>that means keep a running, ongoing conversation with God in

59
00:03:28.759 --> 00:03:31.719
<v Speaker 2>your head. So as soon as I thought the idea

60
00:03:31.879 --> 00:03:35.560
<v Speaker 2>I'm not happy right now, I also heard this little

61
00:03:35.639 --> 00:03:38.000
<v Speaker 2>question in my mind from the Holy Spirit that said,

62
00:03:38.719 --> 00:03:41.800
<v Speaker 2>do you want to stay unhappy? Do you want to

63
00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:45.719
<v Speaker 2>stay unhappy? And I immediately answered no, No, I don't

64
00:03:45.719 --> 00:03:50.039
<v Speaker 2>want to stay unhappy. You see, friends, God says that

65
00:03:50.199 --> 00:03:54.919
<v Speaker 2>happiness is a choice. It's not based on circumstances. It's

66
00:03:54.960 --> 00:04:00.000
<v Speaker 2>based on choices. You must choose happiness now. Happiness is

67
00:04:00.000 --> 00:04:03.919
<v Speaker 2>it's not something you look for. That's what many people mistake.

68
00:04:04.280 --> 00:04:06.159
<v Speaker 2>It's not something you look for. If you look for it,

69
00:04:06.159 --> 00:04:09.199
<v Speaker 2>you're not going to find it. Happiness is something you create.

70
00:04:09.919 --> 00:04:13.840
<v Speaker 2>Happiness is something you choose. The truth is, regardless of

71
00:04:13.879 --> 00:04:16.839
<v Speaker 2>your circumstances, no matter what's going on in your life

72
00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:19.839
<v Speaker 2>right now, no matter what happening in your life, you

73
00:04:20.240 --> 00:04:24.240
<v Speaker 2>are as happy as you choose to be. You are

74
00:04:24.279 --> 00:04:26.040
<v Speaker 2>as happy as you choose to be. You can't blame

75
00:04:26.120 --> 00:04:30.319
<v Speaker 2>anybody else or your unhappiness. And regardless of the pain,

76
00:04:30.920 --> 00:04:35.079
<v Speaker 2>regardless of pressure, regardless of other people, and regardless of

77
00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:38.959
<v Speaker 2>problems in your life, you are as happy as you

78
00:04:39.319 --> 00:04:43.959
<v Speaker 2>choose to be. One of the most common mistakes we

79
00:04:44.079 --> 00:04:47.519
<v Speaker 2>make in life is what I call when and then thinking,

80
00:04:48.000 --> 00:04:52.399
<v Speaker 2>when I get this, then I'll be happy. When something

81
00:04:52.519 --> 00:04:55.360
<v Speaker 2>happens the way I want it to happen, Then I'll

82
00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:57.920
<v Speaker 2>be happy when I get out of school, then I'll

83
00:04:57.920 --> 00:05:00.000
<v Speaker 2>be happy when I get a man in my life

84
00:05:00.079 --> 00:05:02.680
<v Speaker 2>life or a woman. Then I'll be happy when I

85
00:05:02.720 --> 00:05:06.120
<v Speaker 2>get a job or a promotion when I retire. But

86
00:05:06.439 --> 00:05:08.800
<v Speaker 2>you could fill it in with a million things when

87
00:05:08.879 --> 00:05:11.519
<v Speaker 2>and then, thinking in Paul's case, it could have been

88
00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.000
<v Speaker 2>when I get out of prison, then I'll be happy.

89
00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:19.040
<v Speaker 2>But the truth is this, if you don't know how

90
00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:21.759
<v Speaker 2>to choose happiness right now in spite of your circumstances,

91
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:25.680
<v Speaker 2>there's going to be pains and pressures and people and

92
00:05:25.759 --> 00:05:28.360
<v Speaker 2>problems to blame for your unhappiness for the rest of

93
00:05:28.399 --> 00:05:31.800
<v Speaker 2>your life, and you're never really going to be happy

94
00:05:32.040 --> 00:05:36.600
<v Speaker 2>long term. Now, let me explain the background of today's text,

95
00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:41.720
<v Speaker 2>which is Philippians Chapter one. In the previous four years

96
00:05:41.839 --> 00:05:44.319
<v Speaker 2>of Paul's life before he wrote this chapter we're gonna

97
00:05:44.319 --> 00:05:47.120
<v Speaker 2>look at today, in the last four years, Paul had

98
00:05:47.160 --> 00:05:51.680
<v Speaker 2>spent two years in jail in Cesarea on false charges,

99
00:05:52.040 --> 00:05:55.959
<v Speaker 2>false charges. Two years in jail, then he was shipwrecked

100
00:05:56.160 --> 00:05:59.680
<v Speaker 2>while he was sailing to Rome for another trial under Nero,

101
00:05:59.759 --> 00:06:04.360
<v Speaker 2>who was the Caesar at that time. Then in that shipwreck,

102
00:06:04.399 --> 00:06:07.199
<v Speaker 2>he was stranded on a desert island for a while

103
00:06:07.240 --> 00:06:11.079
<v Speaker 2>and actually got bitten by a poisonous snake. And then

104
00:06:11.519 --> 00:06:13.879
<v Speaker 2>when he finally got to Rome, he was imprisoned again

105
00:06:14.040 --> 00:06:17.279
<v Speaker 2>in Rome for two years in a deep, dank, dark

106
00:06:17.720 --> 00:06:23.000
<v Speaker 2>dungeon with a twenty four hour guard chained to him.

107
00:06:23.199 --> 00:06:26.199
<v Speaker 2>Paul had every reason to be unhappy, every reason to

108
00:06:26.199 --> 00:06:29.879
<v Speaker 2>be bitter, every reason to be resentful or fearful or depressed.

109
00:06:30.439 --> 00:06:33.639
<v Speaker 2>He had the right to hold a pity party, but instead,

110
00:06:33.720 --> 00:06:37.040
<v Speaker 2>in that dark, dank prison, Paul wrote the most positive

111
00:06:37.040 --> 00:06:37.920
<v Speaker 2>book in the Bible.

112
00:06:38.279 --> 00:06:46.120
<v Speaker 1>Philippians, you're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. Rick will

113
00:06:46.160 --> 00:06:48.199
<v Speaker 1>be back in just a moment with the rest of

114
00:06:48.240 --> 00:06:51.720
<v Speaker 1>today's lesson. If you've missed any part of today's teaching,

115
00:06:52.000 --> 00:06:56.600
<v Speaker 1>you can listen online anytime at pastorick dot com. That's

116
00:06:56.680 --> 00:06:58.240
<v Speaker 1>pastorick dot com.

117
00:06:58.480 --> 00:07:01.519
<v Speaker 3>Do you ever wonder if your life really matters? Or

118
00:07:01.600 --> 00:07:04.240
<v Speaker 3>what on earth are you here for? Astor Rick says

119
00:07:04.560 --> 00:07:07.439
<v Speaker 3>God has a good plan and purpose for your life,

120
00:07:07.600 --> 00:07:10.639
<v Speaker 3>and in his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life,

121
00:07:10.720 --> 00:07:13.399
<v Speaker 3>he lays out an easy to follow roadmap for your

122
00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:17.680
<v Speaker 3>spiritual journey, a journey that will transform your life. As

123
00:07:17.720 --> 00:07:20.839
<v Speaker 3>you go through this book, you'll discover that real meaning

124
00:07:20.920 --> 00:07:25.319
<v Speaker 3>and significance come from understanding and fulfilling God's purpose for

125
00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:28.360
<v Speaker 3>you here on earth, and how living out the purpose

126
00:07:28.439 --> 00:07:32.040
<v Speaker 3>you are created for moves you beyond mere survival and

127
00:07:32.120 --> 00:07:35.920
<v Speaker 3>success to a life of significance, the life that you

128
00:07:36.000 --> 00:07:38.720
<v Speaker 3>were meant to live. For a limited time, we are

129
00:07:38.759 --> 00:07:42.839
<v Speaker 3>offering this timeless classic and a special leather edition featuring

130
00:07:42.879 --> 00:07:46.439
<v Speaker 3>gold foiled cover art and gilded pages. It's a great

131
00:07:46.439 --> 00:07:49.600
<v Speaker 3>addition to your personal library and it also makes a

132
00:07:49.639 --> 00:07:53.759
<v Speaker 3>wonderful gift with eternal benefits. Get your special edition of

133
00:07:53.800 --> 00:07:57.040
<v Speaker 3>The Purpose Driven Life with a beautiful leather cover today

134
00:07:57.279 --> 00:07:59.279
<v Speaker 3>as a thank you for your gift to help take

135
00:07:59.360 --> 00:08:02.519
<v Speaker 3>the hope of Jesus to people around the world through

136
00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:06.759
<v Speaker 3>Daily Hope. Quantities are very limited, so act quickly. Go

137
00:08:06.839 --> 00:08:09.839
<v Speaker 3>to Pastorrick dot com right now to get your copy.

138
00:08:10.199 --> 00:08:12.959
<v Speaker 3>That's pastor Rick dot com or you can call it

139
00:08:12.959 --> 00:08:16.439
<v Speaker 3>eight hundred six hundred five zero zero four. That's eight

140
00:08:16.519 --> 00:08:20.160
<v Speaker 3>hundred six hundred five zero zero four. Thank you so

141
00:08:20.279 --> 00:08:22.720
<v Speaker 3>much for your support, and don't forget to tell us

142
00:08:22.759 --> 00:08:29.399
<v Speaker 3>that you listen to Daily Hope on the radio.

143
00:08:30.120 --> 00:08:34.440
<v Speaker 1>Now back to more from God's Word with Pastor Rick Warren.

144
00:08:34.600 --> 00:08:40.240
<v Speaker 2>In Philippians chapter one, verses twelve to thirty. Paul, who's

145
00:08:40.279 --> 00:08:46.559
<v Speaker 2>writing from prison, models four principles for being happy no

146
00:08:46.600 --> 00:08:49.399
<v Speaker 2>matter what happens in your life. This is a very

147
00:08:49.440 --> 00:08:52.120
<v Speaker 2>practical message. I hope you'll take notes on this. I

148
00:08:52.200 --> 00:08:54.679
<v Speaker 2>want you to see the four choices that Paul made

149
00:08:54.840 --> 00:08:58.559
<v Speaker 2>so you can make these same choices too. Again, you're

150
00:08:58.559 --> 00:09:01.840
<v Speaker 2>as happy as you choose to be, all right, So

151
00:09:01.879 --> 00:09:04.559
<v Speaker 2>here's here are the four principles, the four choices. First,

152
00:09:05.120 --> 00:09:08.559
<v Speaker 2>I can be happy no matter what happens in my life.

153
00:09:08.679 --> 00:09:13.279
<v Speaker 2>If I choose to write this down, remember God can

154
00:09:13.320 --> 00:09:17.159
<v Speaker 2>bring good out of anything. That's the first choice. I

155
00:09:17.279 --> 00:09:22.679
<v Speaker 2>choose to remember that God can bring good out of anything. Now,

156
00:09:22.679 --> 00:09:25.679
<v Speaker 2>of course, Romans eight twenty eight, that famous versus scripture

157
00:09:25.720 --> 00:09:28.960
<v Speaker 2>in the Bible, says this, we know not we guess.

158
00:09:29.320 --> 00:09:34.519
<v Speaker 2>We know that in all that happens, all that happens,

159
00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:36.519
<v Speaker 2>that's the good, the bad, and the ugly. We know

160
00:09:36.639 --> 00:09:40.639
<v Speaker 2>that all in all that happens, God works for the

161
00:09:40.679 --> 00:09:44.039
<v Speaker 2>good of those who love Him and are called according

162
00:09:44.039 --> 00:09:46.720
<v Speaker 2>to His purpose. Now that verse does not say all

163
00:09:46.799 --> 00:09:49.639
<v Speaker 2>things that happen are good, because they're not. There's a

164
00:09:49.679 --> 00:09:51.639
<v Speaker 2>lot of bad. There's a lot of evil in the world.

165
00:09:52.159 --> 00:09:55.080
<v Speaker 2>But it says in all things that happen, God works

166
00:09:55.120 --> 00:09:58.639
<v Speaker 2>for the good. God works for the good. The good

167
00:09:58.720 --> 00:10:02.039
<v Speaker 2>is not what happens. The good is what God does

168
00:10:02.240 --> 00:10:05.000
<v Speaker 2>with even the bad in our lives. God can bring

169
00:10:05.080 --> 00:10:10.000
<v Speaker 2>good out of bad. Now, we get frustrated and we

170
00:10:10.039 --> 00:10:15.679
<v Speaker 2>get unhappy when we don't see what God sees, when

171
00:10:15.679 --> 00:10:18.720
<v Speaker 2>we don't have his perspective. The truth is God is

172
00:10:18.799 --> 00:10:22.039
<v Speaker 2>working out a plan for your life. And even when

173
00:10:22.080 --> 00:10:24.639
<v Speaker 2>all the circumstances, the people, and the pressures, and the

174
00:10:24.679 --> 00:10:27.879
<v Speaker 2>problem and the pain are not good, God is still

175
00:10:27.919 --> 00:10:32.360
<v Speaker 2>working for good in your life. Now. Knowing this truth

176
00:10:32.960 --> 00:10:37.039
<v Speaker 2>is for instance, why King David years earlier was able

177
00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:40.039
<v Speaker 2>to say in Psalm thirty four, verse one, I will

178
00:10:40.120 --> 00:10:45.480
<v Speaker 2>praise the Lord no matter what happens. I'll praise the Lord,

179
00:10:45.840 --> 00:10:48.960
<v Speaker 2>no matter what happens. Can you say that you see

180
00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:53.000
<v Speaker 2>circle the word will. I will will means a decision,

181
00:10:53.159 --> 00:10:56.080
<v Speaker 2>will means a choice, will means you had an option.

182
00:10:56.600 --> 00:11:00.679
<v Speaker 2>It's not it's I can decide. It's a decis I

183
00:11:00.799 --> 00:11:04.000
<v Speaker 2>will praise the Lord no matter what happens. David made

184
00:11:04.039 --> 00:11:07.240
<v Speaker 2>a choice. It was a decision. Now, how do you

185
00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:11.639
<v Speaker 2>do that? How do you consistently make that decision to

186
00:11:11.919 --> 00:11:16.720
<v Speaker 2>praise God even in bad circumstances, by learning to look

187
00:11:17.360 --> 00:11:21.799
<v Speaker 2>at everything from God's perspective, not your own. Let me

188
00:11:21.840 --> 00:11:24.879
<v Speaker 2>say that again. The way you make this first choice

189
00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:27.320
<v Speaker 2>is by learning to look at everything in your life

190
00:11:27.519 --> 00:11:31.919
<v Speaker 2>from God's viewpoint, God's perspective, not my own. It's a

191
00:11:32.039 --> 00:11:34.639
<v Speaker 2>life skill you're going to have to learn if you

192
00:11:34.679 --> 00:11:37.240
<v Speaker 2>want to be happy no matter what happens in your life.

193
00:11:37.440 --> 00:11:44.000
<v Speaker 2>Now listen closely. You must choose to look at every

194
00:11:44.080 --> 00:11:50.000
<v Speaker 2>situation in your life from God's viewpoint. That's called wisdom.

195
00:11:51.120 --> 00:11:56.799
<v Speaker 2>Happy people have a larger perspective. Happy people see a

196
00:11:56.960 --> 00:12:01.120
<v Speaker 2>bigger picture. They look past the pain, the people, the problems,

197
00:12:01.120 --> 00:12:03.879
<v Speaker 2>and the pressure, and they see a bigger picture. What

198
00:12:04.000 --> 00:12:06.320
<v Speaker 2>is the bigger picture? Roman's eight twenty eight That we

199
00:12:06.440 --> 00:12:09.200
<v Speaker 2>know that no matter what happens, God is working for

200
00:12:09.320 --> 00:12:13.200
<v Speaker 2>good in our lives. Let me show you Paul's example

201
00:12:13.679 --> 00:12:16.840
<v Speaker 2>of this principle. It's verse twelve of Philippians, Chapter one.

202
00:12:17.720 --> 00:12:20.720
<v Speaker 2>Paul says this, I want you to know, dear brothers

203
00:12:20.720 --> 00:12:25.320
<v Speaker 2>and sisters, that everything circle that word everything, all what

204
00:12:25.399 --> 00:12:27.159
<v Speaker 2>had happened in the past four years. That I told

205
00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:31.159
<v Speaker 2>you about everything that has happened to me has helped

206
00:12:31.600 --> 00:12:35.679
<v Speaker 2>to spread the good news. That's a whole different perspective

207
00:12:35.759 --> 00:12:38.240
<v Speaker 2>rather than the pity party, say God is using this

208
00:12:38.399 --> 00:12:42.279
<v Speaker 2>for good. Let me explain you. See, Paul had dreamed

209
00:12:42.279 --> 00:12:46.559
<v Speaker 2>for many, many years of sharing Christ in the center

210
00:12:47.000 --> 00:12:50.080
<v Speaker 2>of the empire. At that time that Rome was the empire.

211
00:12:50.120 --> 00:12:53.159
<v Speaker 2>It was the Roman Empire. And I'm sure his idea was,

212
00:12:53.399 --> 00:12:57.840
<v Speaker 2>let's go to Rome, rent the Colosseum, have a harvest

213
00:12:57.840 --> 00:13:03.480
<v Speaker 2>crusade every night with Paul preaching. That was his idea.

214
00:13:03.679 --> 00:13:05.919
<v Speaker 2>I've taken the message and getting it spread all through

215
00:13:05.960 --> 00:13:08.919
<v Speaker 2>the Roman Empire. God's idea was to make him a

216
00:13:09.000 --> 00:13:15.600
<v Speaker 2>royal prisoner of Nero. Nero was the emperor at that time. Now,

217
00:13:16.080 --> 00:13:20.200
<v Speaker 2>as a royal prisoner, he had an opportunity to share

218
00:13:20.279 --> 00:13:25.639
<v Speaker 2>Christ with many key people that even other prisoners wouldn't

219
00:13:25.639 --> 00:13:28.000
<v Speaker 2>be able to do. He's chained. He's not only in

220
00:13:28.000 --> 00:13:30.679
<v Speaker 2>a Roman prison, He's chained twenty four hours a day

221
00:13:30.720 --> 00:13:34.000
<v Speaker 2>to a palace guard. What's the palace guard? They were

222
00:13:34.039 --> 00:13:41.759
<v Speaker 2>the elite, handpicked security agents of Caesar and they guarded

223
00:13:42.360 --> 00:13:46.960
<v Speaker 2>prisoners in four hour shifts. Now follow me on the

224
00:13:47.000 --> 00:13:49.320
<v Speaker 2>math of this. Paul was in prison in Rome for

225
00:13:49.360 --> 00:13:54.360
<v Speaker 2>over two years. He's chained to an elite, handpicked crack

226
00:13:54.519 --> 00:13:58.360
<v Speaker 2>agent guard every four hours. That means over two years,

227
00:13:58.559 --> 00:14:00.559
<v Speaker 2>there would be four thousand and three, one hundred and

228
00:14:00.600 --> 00:14:05.399
<v Speaker 2>eighty different guards who would be attached to him. What's

229
00:14:05.440 --> 00:14:08.720
<v Speaker 2>going on here? He's dealing with people of influence and

230
00:14:08.759 --> 00:14:13.360
<v Speaker 2>he's got a captive audience, no pun intended. You know,

231
00:14:13.399 --> 00:14:15.799
<v Speaker 2>when I think about this, He's chained to these guards,

232
00:14:16.039 --> 00:14:20.360
<v Speaker 2>nearly five thousand and over four thousand guards. Who's the

233
00:14:20.399 --> 00:14:26.159
<v Speaker 2>real prisoner here? You're chained to Paul, and you are

234
00:14:26.200 --> 00:14:29.440
<v Speaker 2>a captive audience, and he talks to every one of

235
00:14:29.480 --> 00:14:32.159
<v Speaker 2>these guys about the Lord. The Bible tells us that

236
00:14:32.200 --> 00:14:35.360
<v Speaker 2>there were two results of this. In chapter four of Philippiings,

237
00:14:35.360 --> 00:14:39.919
<v Speaker 2>it tells us that some of Nero's own family had

238
00:14:39.919 --> 00:14:43.720
<v Speaker 2>come to christ. Did you know that some of Nero's

239
00:14:43.720 --> 00:14:47.879
<v Speaker 2>own family had become Christians? Because Paul is witnessing to

240
00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:50.960
<v Speaker 2>the prison or the royal guards. You might call that

241
00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:56.080
<v Speaker 2>a chain reaction because he's chained to these guards Paul

242
00:14:56.399 --> 00:14:59.840
<v Speaker 2>is for That's the first benefit. Second benefit is this

243
00:15:00.240 --> 00:15:02.679
<v Speaker 2>instead of Paul going out and preaching in the coliseum,

244
00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:06.639
<v Speaker 2>Paul was forced to sit still in his prison cell.

245
00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:08.440
<v Speaker 2>And you know what he did during all that two

246
00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:14.000
<v Speaker 2>years He wrote the New Testament, over half the New

247
00:15:14.039 --> 00:15:17.639
<v Speaker 2>Testament or letters of Paul to different churches, including this one,

248
00:15:17.679 --> 00:15:21.000
<v Speaker 2>to the people in Philippi. And so he's writing the

249
00:15:21.000 --> 00:15:26.919
<v Speaker 2>New Testament and the expenses are paid by Nero. Now

250
00:15:26.879 --> 00:15:34.080
<v Speaker 2>I write this down. Face every situation with faith, not fear.

251
00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:38.480
<v Speaker 2>If I want to be happy, I must face every situation,

252
00:15:38.519 --> 00:15:43.519
<v Speaker 2>whether it's people, pain, problems, or pressures. Face every situation

253
00:15:44.080 --> 00:15:50.480
<v Speaker 2>with faith, not fear. Get the bigger perspective. Learn to

254
00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:53.480
<v Speaker 2>see your problems, your pains, your pressures, the people in

255
00:15:53.519 --> 00:15:56.960
<v Speaker 2>your life from God's point of view, not just your own. Now,

256
00:15:56.960 --> 00:15:59.559
<v Speaker 2>before we go to the second principle, I want to

257
00:15:59.600 --> 00:16:01.440
<v Speaker 2>practice this first one. So I want you to bow

258
00:16:01.440 --> 00:16:03.600
<v Speaker 2>your head right now. Okay, you can pull over to

259
00:16:03.600 --> 00:16:05.519
<v Speaker 2>the side of the road if you're driving. Don't bow

260
00:16:05.519 --> 00:16:08.120
<v Speaker 2>your head while you're driving. Pull over the side of

261
00:16:08.120 --> 00:16:10.320
<v Speaker 2>the road. And here's the first thing I want you

262
00:16:10.360 --> 00:16:13.159
<v Speaker 2>to do. Think of a situation that you're facing right

263
00:16:13.200 --> 00:16:18.879
<v Speaker 2>now that is either scaring you or it's causing you unhappiness.

264
00:16:19.480 --> 00:16:21.960
<v Speaker 2>Think of a situation in your life that's either scaring

265
00:16:22.000 --> 00:16:27.120
<v Speaker 2>you or it's causing unhappiness. Now, I want you to

266
00:16:27.159 --> 00:16:30.600
<v Speaker 2>say this in a prayer to God. Say God, just

267
00:16:30.639 --> 00:16:34.840
<v Speaker 2>say that, God, help me, help me to see this

268
00:16:34.919 --> 00:16:39.440
<v Speaker 2>from your perspective. Help me to see this from your

269
00:16:39.519 --> 00:16:44.000
<v Speaker 2>perspective this situation. Help me to face this problem with

270
00:16:44.200 --> 00:16:53.519
<v Speaker 2>faith not fear. Amen. Amen, Now what you just did

271
00:16:53.919 --> 00:16:58.080
<v Speaker 2>is the first step to perpetual happiness anytime, by the way,

272
00:16:58.120 --> 00:17:01.480
<v Speaker 2>you face a situation in faith rather than in fear,

273
00:17:02.320 --> 00:17:05.000
<v Speaker 2>and you trust that God knows what he's doing, and

274
00:17:05.079 --> 00:17:09.039
<v Speaker 2>you remember that he's working out his plan. Two things

275
00:17:09.079 --> 00:17:12.599
<v Speaker 2>happen when you face your problems with faith not fear. First,

276
00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:16.759
<v Speaker 2>it's a witness to unbelievers every time you have faith

277
00:17:16.799 --> 00:17:20.680
<v Speaker 2>instead of fear. Verse thirteen Philippians, Chapter one says this,

278
00:17:20.759 --> 00:17:23.759
<v Speaker 2>Paul says for everybody here he's talking about in the prison.

279
00:17:24.279 --> 00:17:28.279
<v Speaker 2>Everyone here, including all the soldiers in the palace guard

280
00:17:29.000 --> 00:17:33.839
<v Speaker 2>knows that I'm in chains because of Christ. Okay. So

281
00:17:34.759 --> 00:17:37.839
<v Speaker 2>it's a witness to unbelievers. When you act in faith

282
00:17:37.880 --> 00:17:40.880
<v Speaker 2>towards your problems rather than in fear, it's a witness

283
00:17:40.880 --> 00:17:45.039
<v Speaker 2>to unbelievers. It's also number two and encouragement to other believers.

284
00:17:45.559 --> 00:17:48.839
<v Speaker 2>It's an encouragement to believers. Verse fourteen. He says this,

285
00:17:49.400 --> 00:17:53.519
<v Speaker 2>and by the way, because of my imprisonment, many of

286
00:17:53.559 --> 00:17:58.400
<v Speaker 2>the Christians here, the believers here, have gained confidence. They

287
00:17:58.519 --> 00:18:02.640
<v Speaker 2>become bolder, and they've become more bold in telling others

288
00:18:03.119 --> 00:18:08.319
<v Speaker 2>about Christ. Any time you react to the pain, pressures, problems,

289
00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:12.039
<v Speaker 2>are people in your life from god'spective than your own,

290
00:18:12.799 --> 00:18:15.359
<v Speaker 2>it's going to be a witness to unbelievers, and it's

291
00:18:15.359 --> 00:18:21.920
<v Speaker 2>going to be an encouragement to believers. You know, when

292
00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:28.039
<v Speaker 2>our youngest child, Matthew died and took his life during

293
00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:31.920
<v Speaker 2>a period of great mental illness, Kay and I noticed

294
00:18:31.920 --> 00:18:35.400
<v Speaker 2>that both of these things happened with us because we

295
00:18:35.519 --> 00:18:40.400
<v Speaker 2>saw God's perspective and we faced this horrible crisis in

296
00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:45.039
<v Speaker 2>our lives with faith not fear, and as a result,

297
00:18:45.359 --> 00:18:51.000
<v Speaker 2>we were able to witness to millions of unbelievers. For instance,

298
00:18:51.039 --> 00:18:53.559
<v Speaker 2>being on the cover of People magazine and doing a

299
00:18:53.559 --> 00:18:56.319
<v Speaker 2>one hour interview on CNN and a lot of other things.

300
00:18:56.519 --> 00:18:58.920
<v Speaker 2>We were able to witness to millions of unbelievers, and

301
00:18:58.960 --> 00:19:02.039
<v Speaker 2>we were able to courage and even still today encouraging

302
00:19:02.359 --> 00:19:06.920
<v Speaker 2>many believers who are struggling with mental health issues in

303
00:19:06.960 --> 00:19:12.319
<v Speaker 2>their family or personally, or thoughts of suicide. So the

304
00:19:12.359 --> 00:19:15.880
<v Speaker 2>first thing I do if I want to always be happy,

305
00:19:15.920 --> 00:19:19.559
<v Speaker 2>regardless of the circumstances, how to be happy in spite

306
00:19:19.640 --> 00:19:23.559
<v Speaker 2>of whatever happens. I remember that God can bring good

307
00:19:23.559 --> 00:19:27.119
<v Speaker 2>out of bed. Here's the second thing. I can be

308
00:19:27.319 --> 00:19:31.160
<v Speaker 2>happy no matter what happens in my life if I

309
00:19:31.240 --> 00:19:36.400
<v Speaker 2>choose to do this. Number two, never let others control

310
00:19:36.480 --> 00:19:41.319
<v Speaker 2>my attitude. Never let others, either by their words or

311
00:19:41.359 --> 00:19:47.799
<v Speaker 2>by their actions, control my attitude. They can't control you

312
00:19:48.359 --> 00:19:52.119
<v Speaker 2>unless you allow them to control you by their words

313
00:19:52.480 --> 00:19:56.160
<v Speaker 2>or by their actions. Now, while Paul was in prison,

314
00:19:57.119 --> 00:20:03.359
<v Speaker 2>there were people who criticized his ministry. While he's down,

315
00:20:03.400 --> 00:20:06.000
<v Speaker 2>they're kicking him all he's down. They slandered Paul, they

316
00:20:06.119 --> 00:20:09.119
<v Speaker 2>judged Paul, they criticized me. There were those who were

317
00:20:09.119 --> 00:20:12.559
<v Speaker 2>his friends, who supported his ministry, they were companions and friends.

318
00:20:13.160 --> 00:20:16.160
<v Speaker 2>There were those who competed with his ministry while he's

319
00:20:16.200 --> 00:20:20.119
<v Speaker 2>in prison, taking advantage that he's off out of circulation.

320
00:20:20.720 --> 00:20:24.039
<v Speaker 2>And there were those who undermined his ministry. They actually

321
00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:26.599
<v Speaker 2>attacked him and tried to destroy him while he was

322
00:20:26.640 --> 00:20:30.400
<v Speaker 2>in prison. And if Philippians Chapter one, the next couple

323
00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:34.480
<v Speaker 2>of verses, Verses fifteen sixteen to seventeen, Paul describes four

324
00:20:34.599 --> 00:20:37.319
<v Speaker 2>kinds of people. Three of these four kinds of people

325
00:20:37.359 --> 00:20:39.480
<v Speaker 2>are killed, joyce, and guess what. You're going to have

326
00:20:39.880 --> 00:20:42.319
<v Speaker 2>all four of these hope in your life. Hopefully're gonna

327
00:20:42.319 --> 00:20:46.160
<v Speaker 2>have companions. But there are critics, there are companions, there

328
00:20:46.160 --> 00:20:50.160
<v Speaker 2>are competitors, and there are challengers. You're going to have

329
00:20:50.279 --> 00:20:52.119
<v Speaker 2>all four of these in your life, and if you

330
00:20:52.200 --> 00:20:54.640
<v Speaker 2>don't know how to deal with them, you're not going

331
00:20:54.720 --> 00:20:57.039
<v Speaker 2>to be happy much of your life. Verse and verse

332
00:20:57.079 --> 00:21:01.680
<v Speaker 2>fifteen Paul had critics, and he said, it's true that

333
00:21:01.839 --> 00:21:06.480
<v Speaker 2>some people preach Christ because they're jealous of us, and

334
00:21:06.519 --> 00:21:10.240
<v Speaker 2>they like to argue. They're jealous of us. They like

335
00:21:10.279 --> 00:21:12.920
<v Speaker 2>to argue. You know the word they're eras in Greek

336
00:21:12.960 --> 00:21:16.440
<v Speaker 2>means they love to argue. They love conflict, They enjoy

337
00:21:16.559 --> 00:21:21.000
<v Speaker 2>creating controversy. These people hang out on social media. They're contentious,

338
00:21:21.039 --> 00:21:25.039
<v Speaker 2>they're divisive, they're critical, they love conflict. They they love

339
00:21:25.119 --> 00:21:29.359
<v Speaker 2>debate people in the controversy. They're on social media all

340
00:21:29.400 --> 00:21:32.160
<v Speaker 2>the time. They've ever heard a preacher on the radio

341
00:21:32.599 --> 00:21:36.240
<v Speaker 2>or the television like that, He bates everybody by being

342
00:21:36.279 --> 00:21:40.119
<v Speaker 2>provocative and being critical of somebody else. Ever read a

343
00:21:40.160 --> 00:21:42.799
<v Speaker 2>blogger or someone in social media like that.

344
00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:49.000
<v Speaker 1>You're listening to Pastor Rick's Daily Hope. If you've missed

345
00:21:49.039 --> 00:21:51.640
<v Speaker 1>any part of this message, or you'd like to find

346
00:21:51.680 --> 00:21:55.279
<v Speaker 1>out more about Pastor Rick Warren in this ministry, just

347
00:21:55.519 --> 00:22:00.200
<v Speaker 1>visit Pastororick dot com where you can listen online anytime.

348
00:22:00.359 --> 00:22:03.319
<v Speaker 1>That's pastorick dot com, and be sure to sign up

349
00:22:03.359 --> 00:22:07.240
<v Speaker 1>for Rick's free daily email devotional. While you're there. Rick

350
00:22:07.319 --> 00:22:10.480
<v Speaker 1>will be back to close out our time today. But first,

351
00:22:10.920 --> 00:22:14.160
<v Speaker 1>do you ever wonder if your life really matters? Or

352
00:22:14.160 --> 00:22:17.319
<v Speaker 1>what on earth am I here for? Pastor Rick says

353
00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:20.599
<v Speaker 1>God has a good plan and purpose for your life,

354
00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:24.359
<v Speaker 1>and in his best selling book, The Purpose Driven Life,

355
00:22:24.480 --> 00:22:27.519
<v Speaker 1>he lays out an easy to follow roadmap for your

356
00:22:27.559 --> 00:22:32.240
<v Speaker 1>spiritual journey, a journey that will transform your life. Here's

357
00:22:32.359 --> 00:22:33.960
<v Speaker 1>Pastor Rick to tell you more.

358
00:22:34.519 --> 00:22:36.839
<v Speaker 2>One of the things that I've discovered is that everybody

359
00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:40.599
<v Speaker 2>eventually asks the questions of significance. Why am I here?

360
00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:43.759
<v Speaker 2>And what is my purpose? What on earth am I

361
00:22:43.880 --> 00:22:46.759
<v Speaker 2>here for? That's why I wrote the book Purpose Driven Life,

362
00:22:47.240 --> 00:22:50.039
<v Speaker 2>because I wanted to help people like you understand how

363
00:22:50.119 --> 00:22:55.279
<v Speaker 2>God created us for five eternal purposes. The Bible says

364
00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.640
<v Speaker 2>that long before we heard of Christ, he had his

365
00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:01.440
<v Speaker 2>eye on us, had his designs on us for glorious living.

366
00:23:01.720 --> 00:23:04.240
<v Speaker 2>That it was part of his overall purpose that he's

367
00:23:04.279 --> 00:23:08.640
<v Speaker 2>working out in everything and everyone. God has never made

368
00:23:08.680 --> 00:23:12.319
<v Speaker 2>a person that he doesn't have a purpose for. You know,

369
00:23:12.359 --> 00:23:15.680
<v Speaker 2>that simple message needs to be shared with a whole

370
00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:19.599
<v Speaker 2>new generation. A young girl who was twelve years old

371
00:23:19.680 --> 00:23:22.680
<v Speaker 2>when I wrote Purpose Driven Life is now twenty two,

372
00:23:23.519 --> 00:23:26.640
<v Speaker 2>and she needs to hear this essential message that God

373
00:23:26.720 --> 00:23:29.240
<v Speaker 2>has a plan, has a purpose, and has a reason

374
00:23:29.480 --> 00:23:32.880
<v Speaker 2>for everything that happens in our lives. So I've updated

375
00:23:32.880 --> 00:23:35.480
<v Speaker 2>the Purpose Driven Life. And what I did is, after

376
00:23:35.519 --> 00:23:39.799
<v Speaker 2>reading hundreds of thousands of comments that have come into

377
00:23:39.839 --> 00:23:42.960
<v Speaker 2>me over the past decade, I've added two new chapters

378
00:23:43.200 --> 00:23:46.440
<v Speaker 2>that'll help you handle the two most common problems and

379
00:23:46.559 --> 00:23:49.799
<v Speaker 2>barriers to living a life of purpose. Now I want

380
00:23:49.839 --> 00:23:53.400
<v Speaker 2>you to have this newly revised, expanded copy of Purpose

381
00:23:53.480 --> 00:23:56.839
<v Speaker 2>Driven Life. I think you'll find that it's a fresh reminder

382
00:23:57.359 --> 00:24:00.279
<v Speaker 2>of things that you may have forgotten when you first

383
00:24:00.319 --> 00:24:01.920
<v Speaker 2>read it. Or you might want to give the book

384
00:24:01.920 --> 00:24:04.400
<v Speaker 2>to somebody who has never read and is struggling to

385
00:24:04.440 --> 00:24:05.519
<v Speaker 2>find their purpose.

386
00:24:06.079 --> 00:24:09.440
<v Speaker 1>Get your special edition of The Purpose Driven Life with

387
00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:13.079
<v Speaker 1>a beautiful leather cover today as a thank you for

388
00:24:13.240 --> 00:24:16.000
<v Speaker 1>your gift to help take the hope of Jesus to

389
00:24:16.160 --> 00:24:20.640
<v Speaker 1>people around the world through Daily Hope. Quantities are very limited,

390
00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:24.599
<v Speaker 1>so act quickly. Go to pastorick dot com right now

391
00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:28.960
<v Speaker 1>to get your copy. That's pastorick dot com, or you

392
00:24:29.000 --> 00:24:32.559
<v Speaker 1>can call eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four.

393
00:24:32.920 --> 00:24:37.079
<v Speaker 1>That's eight hundred six hundred five thousand and four. Thank

394
00:24:37.119 --> 00:24:39.960
<v Speaker 1>you so much for your support, and don't forget to

395
00:24:40.039 --> 00:24:42.960
<v Speaker 1>tell us you listen to Daily Hope on the radio.

396
00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:46.279
<v Speaker 1>Be sure to join us next time as we look

397
00:24:46.319 --> 00:24:50.759
<v Speaker 1>into God's word for our daily hope. This program is

398
00:24:50.799 --> 00:24:59.440
<v Speaker 1>sponsored by Pastor Rick's Daily Hope and your generous financial support.