Here is a principle I want you to focus on this morning; “What you focus on expands.”

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Philippians 4:8-9 King James Version (KJV)

⁸Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. ⁹Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.

A lot of Christians save only the big things to pray to God.

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Philippians 4:4-7King James Version (KJV)

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

A widow woman with a son ends up letting go what little faith she has and the rest is history; all because she learned to let go and trust when everything was against her.

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1 Kings 17:10 King James Version (KJV)

So he arose and went to Zarephath. And when he came to the gate of the city, behold, the widow woman was there gathering of sticks: and he called to her, and said, Fetch me, I pray thee, a little water in a vessel, that I may drink.

Rejoice in the Lord always is easier said than done. Today, I want to look at and examine what God is teaching us here and how we can rejoice in everything.

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Philippians 4:4-7 King James Version (KJV)

⁴Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. ⁵Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. ⁶Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. ⁷And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

The most important lesson for us today is all our actions should be regulated by the word of God.

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2 Samuel 5:17-19 King James Version (KJV)

¹⁷But when the Philistines heard that they had anointed David king over Israel, all the Philistines came up to seek David; and David heard of it, and went down to the hold. ¹⁸The Philistines also came and spread themselves in the valley of Rephaim. ¹⁹And David inquired of the Lord, saying, Shall I go up to the Philistines? wilt thou deliver them into mine hand? And the Lord said unto David, Go up: for I will doubtless deliver the Philistines into thine hand.

"Man was willing to use God’s gifts, but he was not willing to worship and praise God for His gifts. The result was an empty mind and a darkened heart." -Warren Wiersbe

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Romans 1:21 King James Version (KJV)

Because that, when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, neither were thankful; but became vain in their imaginations, and their foolish heart was darkened.

If you work hard at understanding the chastening of the Lord and testing of our faith, the end result will be a more productive life with God.

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Hebrews 12:11 King James Version (KJV)

Now no chastening seems to be joyful for the present, but painful; nevertheless, afterward it yields the peaceable fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

Today we celebrate not just Christ who died on the cross for us, but we also celebrate a risen Savior.

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1 Corinthians 15:50-54 King James Version (KJV)

⁵⁰Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. ⁵¹Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed. ⁵²In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. ⁵³For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. ⁵⁴So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”

Even though Christ being on the cross dying as a man—feeling the same things we would feel if we were up on that cross—still had time to pray for the people there and His mother as well as the thief.

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Luke 23:39-43 King James Version (KJV)

³⁹And one of the malefactors, which were hanged railed on him, saying, “If thou be Christ, save thyself and us.” ⁴⁰But the other answering rebuked him, saying, “Dost not thou fear God, seeing thou art in the same condemnation? ⁴¹And we indeed justly; for we receive the due reward of our deeds: but this man hath done nothing amiss.” ⁴²And he said unto Jesus, “Lord, remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom.” ⁴³And Jesus said unto him, “Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”

Let us not forget as close as Paul was to God, he went through a lot of hardships during his life.

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2 Corinthians 11:23-27 King James Version (KJV)

²³Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. ₂₄Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. ²⁵Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; ²⁶In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; ²⁷In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.