Trust in God: Complaints to Comfort

Pastor Tony Pladies

The Challenge

Finding our way from the
Cavity of Complaints

to the

Comfort of Christ

Psalm 56

English Standard Version (ESV)

In God I Trust

To the choirmaster: according to The Dove on Far-off Terebinths. A Miktam of David, when the Philistines seized him in Gath.

56 Be gracious to me, O God, for man tramples on me;
    all day long an attacker oppresses me;
² my enemies trample on me all day long,
    for many attack me proudly.
³ When I am afraid,
    I put my trust in you.
⁴ In God, whose word I praise,
    in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can flesh do to me?

⁵ All day long they injure my cause;
    all their thoughts are against me for evil.
⁶ They stir up strife, they lurk;
    they watch my steps,
    as they have waited for my life.
⁷ For their crime will they escape?
    In wrath cast down the peoples, O God!

⁸ You have kept count of my tossings;
    put my tears in your bottle.
    Are they not in your book?
⁹ Then my enemies will turn back
    in the day when I call.
    This I know, that God is for me.
¹⁰ In God, whose word I praise,
    in the Lord, whose word I praise,
¹¹ in God I trust; I shall not be afraid.
    What can man do to me?

¹² I must perform my vows to you, O God;
    I will render thank offerings to you.
¹³ For you have delivered my soul from death,
    yes, my feet from falling,
that I may walk before God
    in the light of life.

Matthew 7:1-2

English Standard Version (ESV)

Judging Others

7 “Judge not, that you be not judged. ² For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.

Jeremiah 10:12

English Standard Version (ESV)

¹² It is he who made the earth by his power,
    who established the world by his wisdom,
    and by his understanding stretched out the heavens.

John 14:6

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁶ Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

Matthew 19:26

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁶ But Jesus looked at them and said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”

Working Out - God's Way!

Both the message above and the commentary shown below
Are inspired by God and delivered by Pastor Tom Jones

The book of Philippians is not simply about the way God puts the believer's life in order, but what comes out of that order. Ultimately it is thinking and acting like Christ.

If you possess a mind set on doing, thinking and being like Christ, that mindset strengthens you.

Philippians 2:12-16

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹² So then, my beloved, just as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling; ¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing; ¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

1 Timothy 4:7-16 gives us an excellent understanding of how to look at today's passage of scripture. He goes on to remind Timothy that using your gifts requires an effort so that others may see your progress.

1 Timothy 4:7-16

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

⁷ But have nothing to do with worldly fables fit only for old women. On the other hand, discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness; ⁸ for bodily discipline is only of little profit, but godliness is profitable for all things, since it holds promise for the present life and also for the life to come. ⁹ It is a trustworthy statement deserving full acceptance.¹⁰ For it is for this we labor and strive, because we have fixed our hope on the living God, who is the Savior of all men, especially of believers.
¹¹ Prescribe and teach these things. ¹² Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe. ¹³ Until I come, give attention to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation and teaching. ¹⁴ Do not neglect the spiritual gift within you, which was bestowed on you through prophetic utterance with the laying on of hands by the presbytery. ¹⁵ Take pains with these things; be absorbed in them, so that your progress will be evident to all. ¹⁶ Pay close attention to yourself and to your teaching; persevere in these things, for as you do this you will ensure salvation both for yourself and for those who hear you.

Today's passage from Phlippians 2:2-16 presents us with this theme:

The proof of God's work in our salvation.

God's work affects our will and motivation and moves us toward an obedient live.

Verse 13:

Philippians 2:13

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹³ for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.

1 Corinthians 1:30 is maybe my favorite verse among the salvation scriptures in the Bible.

1 Corinthians 1:30

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

³⁰ But by His doing you are in Christ Jesus, who became to us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification, and redemption.

Our humility, our character and attitude toward others are the proof that his salvation works.

We validate his work in us by being blameless and innocent children in this world.

Verses 15 & 16:

Philippians 2:15-16

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹⁵ so that you will prove yourselves to be blameless and innocent, children of God above reproach in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you appear as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

"Blameless" is the state of not having sinned against others.

(hamartia)

"Innocent" is living life reduced to simplicity...not complex.

Our obedience stands in stark contrast to the behavior of the world.

The perverse world in which we live stands directly opposed to the way the world is supposed to operate.

Jesus said,

"If someone wants you to go with him one mile, go with him
____________"
(click here for the answer)

Jesus said, 

"Don't forgive your brother seven times, forgive him
____________"

(click here for the answer)

Jesus said,

"When you did it to the least of these, my brothers,
____________"

(click here for the answer)

1 Peter 1:13-19

New American Standard Bible (NASB)

¹³ Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. ¹⁴ As obedient children, do not be conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, ¹⁵ but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your behavior; ¹⁶ because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

¹⁷ If you address as Father the One who impartially judges according to each one’s work, conduct yourselves in fear during the time of your stay on earth; ¹⁸ knowing that you were not redeemed with perishable things like silver or gold from your futile way of life inherited from your forefathers, ¹⁹ but with precious blood, as of a lamb unblemished and spotless, the blood of Christ.

message from

Fair Park Community Church at 8858 W Schlinger Avenue in Milwaukee, WI 53214

We're located just west of Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin

(414) 778-1706

Services are at 10:15 every Sunday, so stop on by!

Abound: Humbled and Exalted

Philippians 2:5-11

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Romans 12:3-8

English Standard Version (ESV)

Gifts of Grace

³ For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned. ⁴ For as in one body we have many members, and the members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so we, though many, are one body in Christ, and individually members one of another. ⁶ Having gifts that differ according to the grace given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, in proportion to our faith; ⁷ if service, in our serving; the one who teaches, in his teaching; ⁸ the one who exhorts, in his exhortation; the one who contributes, in generosity; the one who leads, with zeal; the one who does acts of mercy, with cheerfulness.

message from
Fair Park Community Church
8858 W Schlinger Ave
just west of Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 778-1706
services are at 10:15 every Sunday, so stop on by!

Like Minded, Like Christ

Pastor Tom Jones

Philippians 1:27-2:11

English Standard Version (ESV)

²⁷ Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, ²⁸ and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.²⁹ For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, ³⁰ engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Christ's Example of Humility

2 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, ² complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. ⁵ Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

Colossians 2:9-16

English Standard Version (ESV)

⁹ For in him the whole fullness of deity dwells bodily, ¹⁰ and you have been filled in him, who is the head of all rule and authority. ¹¹ In him also you were circumcised with a circumcision made without hands, by putting off the body of the flesh, by the circumcision of Christ, ¹² having been buried with him in baptism, in which you were also raised with him through faith in the powerful working of God, who raised him from the dead. ¹³ And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, ¹⁴ by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. ¹⁵ He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him.

message from
Fair Park Community Church
8858 W Schlinger Ave
just west of Wisconsin State Fair Park in West Allis, Wisconsin
Milwaukee, WI 53214
(414) 778-1706