1. Dennis De Hann says, During the first part of the construction of the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, no safety devices were used, and 23 men fell to their deaths. For the last part of the project, however, a large net which cost $100,000 was employed. At least 10 men fell into it and were saved. But an interesting fact is that 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety!

2. Introduction I am here today to assure you that as a believer in Jesus Christ you can be assured 100% that God is concerned about your safety in this world. This world is filled with many dangers that can cause us to fall to our deaths. If your a believer Satan is not happy with the plan that God has for you and so we are always going to run into dangers. Today we are going to look at Philippians 1: 3-6 and within this passage the Apostle Paul has some words of hope for us all. First we`ll look at the background and history of this text in Philippians.

3. The Background and History of Text Philippi was a small town where the Apostle Paul established his first church and Philippians is the name of the letter that Paul writes to them while in prison. Chapter 1 Verses 3-6 is part of the Thanksgiving and Prayer section of the letter.

4. Background Cont. Paul is in essence saying, Even though I`m in prison I want to write and encourage you that everything is going to be ok. The work that God started in you (as a church-as believers) will continue to go on, so keep doing what your doing and don`t look back.

5. Background Cont. Even though Paul was in prison he still had the ability to encourage these believers. What's our excuse? Are we encouraging others with the same type of love or are we just concerned about our own problems?

6. Are We Staying Focused? This is a good question to ask ourselves. If we dont ask ourselves these types of question (from time to time) its easy to lose focus. Let`s go to that passage now and see what we can uncover that will give us some hope for today.

7. Philippians 1:3-6 I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

8. I Thank My God! I love the words Paul uses in this letter. I thank my God every time I remember you. Can you imagine if someone came up to you and said that to your face. Those words are so encouraging and filled with hope for the future. He also says, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion. More encouraging words. This reminds of the power that we carry in our words. We can either encourage those around us with our words, or we can destroy others with our words.

9. The Power of Words James 3: 7-9 All kinds of animals, birds, reptiles and sea creatures are being tamed and have been tamed by mankind, but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil, full of deadly poison. With the tongue we praise our Lord and Father, and with it we curse human beings, who have been made in Gods likeness.

10. The Power to Praise and Curse We as believers, even though we are followers of Jesus Christ, still have the power to praise God with our words or curse others with our words. Now I`m not going to get into the whole area of curses, because we don`t have time for that today, but we do have the ability to either say things that will encourage others and give them hope, or to say things that will make them feel bad about themselves. Paul uses words that encourage. Lets follow his example.

11. Cont. Now I`m not going to get into the whole area of curses, because we don`t have time for that today, but we do have the ability to either say things that will encourage others and give them hope, or to say things that will make them feel bad about themselves. Paul uses words that encourage. Lets follow his example.

12. God Has Not Forgotten You Im here to say that God has started a work in you wherever you are and that that he wants to finish it. God has not forgotten you. He has not forsaken you. Just like Paul was in partnership with the readers of this letter; who have you been in partnership with? I want to encourage you that God wants to finish what he started in you and he wants you to partner up with someone to do that.

13. Some Insight into this passage In reference to the work of our salvation Roger Ellsworth says, "God does not begin it and then abandon it somewhere along the way. He does not pull his people from the flames of destruction only to allow them to slip back and be consumed. God completes the work of salvation."

14. You Dont Have To Fall God is not going to let you fall to your death if you will let God do in you what he wants to do. We can allow ourselves to fall if we try to do it on our own, but it doesn`t have to be that way. There`s no where in the Bible that says you have to say yes to sinto rebellion.

15. You Can Do Better! If your saved you have the ability to truly love your family the way they deserve to be loved. God wants to finish what he started with you. Will you let God finish the work that he wants to finish?

16. Question: How does God complete this work? Answer: God always takes the initiative Here`s Example # 1 In Exodus 3 God tells Moses that he has heard the cry of the Israelites and has come down to deliver them and bring them out of their situation and bring them to the promised land.

17. God Has Heard God has heard your cry (wherever you are) and he wants to come down and deliver you. He wants to bring you out of your situation whatever it may be. Are you separated from your wife or husband through divorce. God wants to deliver you. Are you separated from your children through the court system. God wants to deliver you. God wants to bring you to your own promised land.

18. Example # 2 from scripture In Psalms 40 the Psalmist talks about how God heard his cry and lifted him out of the slimy pit-out of the mire and clay. He put a new song in his mouth.

19. Are You Stuck? Are you stuck in the mud and miry and clay? Do you want a new song put in your heart? Are you tired of running from God? God loves you and is waiting for you. When you realize that it's God who takes the first move, it will change the way you view God and the way you view God's plan for your life.

20. Theres a Great Song that reminds us of that

21. I Was Sinking I was sinking deep in sin, Far from the peaceful shore, Very deeply stained within, Sinking to rise no more; But the Master of the sea Heard my despairing cry, From the waters lifted me, Now safe am I. Love lifted me! Love lifted me! When nothing else could help, Love lifted me. (public domain)

22. God Wants To Finish What He Started! Can you sing this song with confidence? You need to realize that even before we've cried out to God that he has already been working things out. He wants to finish what he started.

23. Remember This!! Don't under- estimate what God can and will do in you.

24. Back to the Golden Gate Bridge Story 25 percent more work was accomplished when the men were assured of their safety! The Apostle Paul is encouraging you not to give up and lose hope, because God is not finished with you and he wants to keep you safe. Will you let God finish what he started?

25. Heres a Summary God wants to finish what he started and will not let you fall, because hes the one who takes the initiative and chases after us. Let God finish what he has started in you. You will not regret it.