Contentment Devo (2)

Title: Being Content

Text: Philippians 4:10-20

Introduction: Have you learned how to be content?

It’s the end of the month, means those support letters are due to receive your support checks!! Some of us have learned how to budget to the end of the month. Some are scrapping pennies to buy some ramin and vieanna sausage to make it till tomorrow.

School can be a great place to learn how to be content and survive on a budget.

Many of you in here are fixing to start a new work preaching the Gospel somewhere. Some of you preachers’ wife’s, some servants in the Lords Kingdom.

First years as well, you are going to blink, and you will be walking across that stage. Then talking resume over with elders, then bam right into your ministry.

WHILE IT IS EXCITING STARTING A NEW WORK. There will come discourage as well at times!

Many will go into work and see the brethren prospering!

It is really easy to be tempted to go buy a new car just because you’re tired of your other one.

Tempting to get the new toy or go on vacation.

It is easy to get into dept really fast. A Christian must be wise in their financial decisions.

We live in a whole new generation where everyone is working, and it because we tend to get into so much dept that we all have to work.

Not only that but we have to work overtime to pay for all our toys, hobbies, and everything else. Paul teaches us how we are to be content in Philippians 4:10-20.

The letter to the Philippians is one of the most joyful of all Paul’s letters,

3:20 He talks about our citizenship is in Heaven.

4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always.

Rejoicing found 9 times in this letter!!!

Paul 3 I am’s in Phil 4

First, we will see Paul say’s I am Content (Philippians 4:10-11).

Second, We will see Paul say’s I am instructed (Philippians 4:12-13).

Finally, we will see Paul say’s I am full (Philippians 4:14-20).

Thesis: This world teaches us the more you have in life the more blessed you are the Bible teaches us we are to be content with the things we do have, so we can survive the storms of life.

I. I am Content (Philippians 4:10-11).

a. Paul rejoiced greatly because of the love and care they showed him (Philippians 4:14,18) provided for him in has affliction. Providing so he was full.

b. “ye lacked opportunity.”

i. Apparently, there was a time where the church could not provide for Him.

ii. But, Now their able to care and provide for Paul again.

c. Vs. 11 I have learned to be content.

i. Paul was not wanting.

ii. Paul says he has learned.

1. Paul is writing this letter in prison!

a. He is content in all situations.

b. Paul went through many tough times in life.

c. He was stoned, he was afflicted.

d. He was not rich.

iii. Paul Learned from his past on how to be content and happy with the things he had.

d. Application: As Christians (Gospel Preachers), we must also learn to be content!

e. We all come from different stages in life, some have just moved out of parent’s home, some have been out on your own for a while and still learning, some waited to be age of Moses to start ministry but have learned a little more on what being content really is!

II. I am instructed (Philippians 4:12-13).

a. Vs. 12

i. We see he knows how-to live-in time of poverty and times of prosperity.

ii. There were were times he did not have a lot to eat

iii. Times where he did not have good transportation, sometimes he was shipwrecked.

iv. Sometimes he would be treated good by the people and other times he would be beaten and stoned.

b. Vs. 12B “I am instructed to both be full and to be hungry.”

i. Some translations say “I have learned the secret”!

ii. The I am instructed, or the secret is: Paul learned from the past to be content!

iii. No matter what situation,

iv. He learned to be happy when he had a lot to eat and when he had not much.

c. Vs 13 “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

i. Paul’s Famous quote, see it on billboards, bumper stickers, shirts, etc.

ii. Paul was not saying he would be an Olympic gold medalist, bench 500 lbs., swim across the Atlantic Ocean; he was saying through the difficult times in life like suffering, he drew all his strength from Christ.

iii. In vs 11 Paul was independent of the circumstances

iv. because he was dependent on Christ in vs 13.

v. He was not worried about the present situation because he knew the end reward.

d. Application: As (Preachers) Christians we need to be independent on the present circumstances by drawing our strength on the One where our dependance needs to be and that is through Christ.

e. We should not be asking the questions: If only I had a better Job? If only I had a better marriage? If only I had better transportation?

f. The true answer to all these questions is God!

g. If we would put the Father’s business above our own then he will take care of us.

h. But, when we are always wanting more for ourselves, we are being (selfish), and not about God.

i. We will sometimes not have much and must learn to be happy content with what we do have!

j. Paul learned the secret: “how to be full” this is how to be satisfied.

III. I am full (Philippians 4:14-20).

a. Vs. 14 “ye did communicate with my affliction.”

i. Thy contributed to him!

b. Vs. 15 “no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.”

i. From the first convert in Acts 16:9-40 where Paul baptized Lydia and then the Philippian Jailer after being thrown in prison.

ii. However, when Paul left the country of Macedonia, no church supported him but Philippi only.

c. Vs 17 Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.

i. Paul did not desire gifts, he desired to preach the Gospel and be fruitful in the Kingdom. He was evangelizing.

ii. Abound to your account- He was not worried about his own finances, but he desired that their spiritual bank accounts were full from their generosity.

iii. Matt 6:20- True example of laying your treasure is Heaven!

iv. When someone supports someone to preach the Gospel, the fruit of the labors goes into their spiritual bank account as well in Heaven!!!!

d. Vs 18 “I am full”

i. Because of their support, Paul is not lacking. He is full. His cup flowing over.

ii. They were not just sending funds, but gifts which are a sacrifice acceptable to God.

e. Vs. 19 “my God shall supply all your need s”

i. They had met Paul’s needs, now God will take care of all their needs.

ii. Perfect example of sowing and reaping good.

f. Application: Matt 6:33!!!!

Conclusion: We see Paul learned from experience on how to be content.

He gives us the blueprint on how we should be thankful and content with all we have.

The devil wants us to be in dept, because the more we worry, and the more we have to work extra overtime at work; these are all distractions in our lives to keep us away from Personal Bible study. Preparing lessons.

If we learn to be content, and are centering our lives around God, He will take care of our needs. When we are suffering, we need to be dependent on Christ.

Then We to can do all things through Christ who strengths us.

First, we saw Paul say’s I am Content.

Second, we saw Paul say’s I am instructed.

Finally, we saw Paul say’s I am full.

Are you content with your current life? If not, why not?