Easter 2015 Gospel Confidence Challenge

Conquering Negativity With the Good News!

This week will be a week of devotions from Philippians 2, challenging us to live confidently in the gospel by replacing negativity with the good news.  Next Sunday, April 12^th, we will be challenged from this passage to embark on a three-day negativity fast during that week.  More specific direction for this challenge will be provided next week.  

Day 1 – Read Philippians 2:1-18, Pray Psalm 19:14

Philippians 2:5-11 is the well-known passage about Jesus, God, emptying Himself in becoming a servant-man, dying on the cross, and being raised and exalted to the highest place.   That’s the gospel (i.e. Romans 8:34)!  These verses are part of a context, a flow of thought.    The gospel, specifically Christ’s humbling Himself and being exalted, is the foundation for a lifestyle challenge.  Read vs. 1-4 and 14-16 to see what that lifestyle is.  We are going to be focusing our gospel confidence challenge specifically on verses 14-15.   Start immediately!  Whenever you find your thoughts or words becoming complaining, disputing, critical thoughts, or some other negative thought or speech patterns,  turn from the negative to the good news, the gospel, review the gospel to yourself and go from negativity to gratitude. 

Note the importance of gratitude in the gospel lifestyle:

Colossians 1:11-14; 2:6-7; 3:12-17; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

Trying to conquer negativity by focusing on negativity does not work.  It keeps us stuck in negativity!  It is not the New Testament prescription for transformation.  The New Testament pattern is to replace negativity with gratitude, crowd out the characteristics of the old self with the transforming power of gospel gratitude.  This is called the “Put off, put on” principle, taught in Colossians 3:1-17, part of which we just read, as well as Ephesians 4.  Try it in a variety of life circumstances. 

Day 2 – Read Philippians 2:1-18, Pray Psalm 19:14

What is the power of God that works in believers (v. 13)? The answer is the Holy Spirit.  How does this relate to the exaltation of Christ in vs. 9-11, how is this part of the gospel?  The answer is that Jesus Christ, God the Son,  came to earth (vs.5-8), died on the cross for our sin (v. 8),  was raised from the dead, ascended into heaven, reigns at the Father’s right hand (vs, 9-11), and sent the Holy Spirit to work God’s work in us (v. 13).  What are the first specific gospel lifestyle issues that we are challenged to work out with fear and trembling and God’s working in us?  The answer is verse 14.  Why might grumbling and disputing be issues we take on with fear and trembling and the work of God? 

² But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, ²³ gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law. 

How does the fruit of the Spirit relate to Philippians 2:14?  If there is any question, read Galatians 5:13-16, especially 13.  The growth of the fruit of the Spirit is the Christian way to end things like grumbling and disputing.  This is how God works in us to will and to work for His good pleasure (Philippians 2:13). 

A key part of the Holy Spirit’s work in us is replacing grumbling with gratitude, discouragement with encouragement, harshness with gentleness, disputing with peace, etc…

Continue to be conscious of negativity and replace it with gospel gratitude.