Cooperation and Contentment

Grace to you and peace from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. It is a great privilege to share the Word of God with the saints of White Sulphur Baptist Church this morning and I pray for blessings through Pastor CJ with the saints of Durbin Memorial Baptist Church as well.

PRAY

Despite having the same last name, even spelled the same weird way, Pastor CJ and I are not related, at least not in any close way. My Pearce’s come from New York, about as far from his Californian roots as you can get in the continental US. So while we may not be related by blood, I have been able to connect with Pastor CJ through our partnership with the Central Kentucky Network of Baptists. Throughout the various meetings, events, and trainings, we have struck up a good friendship. But beyond friendship, I am glad to say that Pastor CJ is my Brother in Christ. We may not share a bloodline, but we have been washed by the same blood of Jesus!

There is no closer bond between people than being united in body of Christ. I have met a few of you all in the past, and more of you this morning, we may not know each other very well, but I assure you that if we share the same Savior, we have more in common than with any other people group on the planet. That is one of the most amazing truth of Scripture that I like to highlight at my own church consistently. If you know Christ as Lord, you share more in common with the faithful believer in the middle of Timbuktu, than you do with your next door neighbor who looks like you, talks like you, or goes to the same sporting events as you. You share eternal hope, life, joy, and love! Here in the house of God there is no Greek or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free, but Christ is all and in all. So when we have Christ in us then we certainly have a shared foundation! A greater bond than any other type of relationship.

That is one reason why it is a great joy to spend this morning with you. It is always a joy to gather together with those who share faith in Jesus Christ. But more directly in line with the sermon series that Pastor CJ has been walking through with you all, it is a joy to be here so that I can share my appreciation for the good things I have heard you all have been doing for the glory of the Lord. I know that you all have been walking through Philippians for many weeks now, and we will continue that study today. But if you remember back to the very beginning of the book, Paul writes to the the church in Philippi and says

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

3 I give thanks to my God for every remembrance of you, 4 always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Now, Paul certainly had a more direct relationship with the church at Philippi than I personally have with White Sulphur Baptist Church, but in a similar way to Paul, I sincerely give thanks to God for the good, God-honoring things I have heard coming from this church that I have heard through my conversations with Pastor CJ. I get fired up with joy when I hear about your innovative approach to Kids Camp. Equipping the next generation with new professional skills and the truth of the gospel. I am overjoyed to hear of the ordination of a faithful pastor like Pastor Luke Maynard. I’ve heard of ongoing discipleship efforts, dinner and devotions, White Sulphur 101 classes. All of these wonderful things going on for the good of the church and glory of God and I give thanks to God! I pray for you all in these efforts and everything else that I may not know about, and I do so with great joy.

There may come a time in the future when our churches, White Sulphur and Durbin Memorial partner directly on ministry activities, but even before that happens, your church and myself have already been partnering together in the gospel, whether you knew that or not. Not only have you all been an encouragement to me as I have heard about the good things going on from a far, but because of your support and cooperation with the Central Kentucky Network of Baptists you all support me as an Ambassador of the Network. I personally am able to connect churches with ministry opportunities, coordinate pastoral training, and participate in compassion ministries across Central Kentucky because of the support from White Sulphur Baptist Church and other faithful congregations across our association.

I say all that to say, I thank God for every remembrance of you, White Sulphur Baptist Church, always praying with joy for all of you in my every prayer, because of your partnership in the gospel.

With that in mind, would you turn if you have not already to Philippians chapter 4. Today we will be walking through verse 10 through 16. As you are turning there, allow me to refresh us on where we are picking up. This letter from Paul to the church at Philippi exudes joy and thanksgiving. He is specifically thanking them for their gifts and support while he has been imprisoned. He highlights the exceeding worth of following Christ as Lord and the grace of God in salvation. He shows that church and us today that it is GOOD to strive for holiness knowing that the believer’s citizenship is not of this world, but in heaven. And as you read last week, the resurrection we share in Christ through faith affects how we treat one another and is the central focus of our hearts and mind.

Let’s now read together through our passage this morning:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.

The sermon this morning has been entitled Cooperation and Contentment. Through these word of Paul to the church of Philippi, I hope to show everyone this morning that by the grace of God we can be content in this life even in desperate situations, and while that is true, God also uses our cooperation for our good now and His eternal glory.

We will see this in a four point outline. First we see:

1. Cooperation is good!

Read verse 10 with me again:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.

For the third time in this short letter to the Philippians, Paul uses the phrase “Rejoice in the Lord”. I don’t know about you all, but I love to rejoice! In the spectrum of emotions that we all experience, I prefer JOY! Now there are certainly times for tears, lament, sorrow, but I am always going to prefer joy! We are designed for joy! In fact, if you know the Lord, I hope you prefer joy as well! When Jesus returns He will wipe away every tear, death will be no more, grief, crying, and pain will be no more! Those things pass away! What will remain love and JOY in the Lord! I can promise you this, there won’t be no grumps in glory!

I hope that you rejoice, that you are exuding joy, in the gathering this morning, in the singing of praise, in the reading of the Word, in the reminder that Christ is King and we are gathering to worship Him. We rejoice, we are overjoyed by good things.

It is good to rejoice in the Lord.

In our text this morning, Paul is rejoicing. Why? Because of the Christ-centered cooperation between the Philippian church and himself. Paul’s history with the Philippian church runs long. He was there when the fledgling church began with Lydia’s heart being opened to the gospel by the Lord. In his time there, Paul was imprisoned, but in his imprisonment he was not deject, instead God used that time to convert the jailer! Since that time, the Philippian church had supported Paul in his ministry. In verse 10 of our text this morning we see that the church cared for Paul. They did that by sending Epaphroditus, a leader in the church, to go to Paul, bring him gifts, and care for him. If you remember back to chapter 2, Epaphroditus turns ill, but still accomplishes the task of going to bringing the gift to the apostle. You’ll likely be hearing more about Epaphroditus next week.

The overall point here in verse 10 is that cooperation is good! It is good for churches to look after missionaries. It is good for churches to share their resources together and support other churches. It is a joyous event to observe churches that buy into kingdom mentality and work with others for the glory of God.

While I don’t know everything that was going on in the Philippian church at this time, I am certain that like all churches, they had their own problems. Paul had just addressed an interpersonal issue within the church that arose between two women just a few verses before our text this morning. When we look to the Jerusalem church in Acts 4 or the Ephesian church described in 1 Timothy, we know that the churches were heavily involved in care for widows. There were certainly a variety of compassion type ministries that the church of Philippi was involved in. It is good for a church to take care of its members and reach out the community around them. But it is even better when the church does those things AND connects with the greater body of Christ through ministry cooperation!

There are times in which ministry cooperation is not feasible. We read that here in verse 10, “You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it.” Whatever the reason was, prior to sending Epaphroditus to Paul, the church lacked the means to show physical care to the apostle. But we should all note, there lack of physical support didn’t mean they had turned insular and forgotten about the greater context of the Kingdom!

We all have to operate within the means God has given us. I don’t know the status of the budget here at White Sulphur, nor do I know the missional relationships you all have, but I can tell you that even if you do not have the financial means to completely support a missionary across the world, you can be “concerned” for the Kingdom by praying for other churches and missionaries. You can send letters of encouragement. Recently in the CKNB we had a church planter from Cincinnati come in and tell us that one of the best ways we could partner with him would be to send someone to fill the pulpit for him for a week so that he could have a rest. You all can care about the kingdom by sending Pastor CJ to preach in other places while one of the saints here at White Sulphur preaches here. Just like this morning, this isn’t a guise for sneaking off to candidate somewhere, it is intentional, missional cooperation for the benefit of God’s Kingdom!

There are many ways that White Sulphur Baptist Church can cooperate for the Kingdom of God. These are just a few. The key idea, though, is to be concerned for the Kingdom, and not focussed solely on ourselves out of fear or selfish self-preservation. The Kingdom of God greatly extends beyond White Sulphur and Durbin Memorial, we are to be amazed and rejoice that God is working in our midsts AND across the world.

But sometimes, we struggle with an inward focus. Look with me to verses 11 and 12:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need.

At the time of writing this letter, Paul had a lot of negative outside forces in his life. Paul was writing to them from Roman prison. In chapter 2 we see that he doesn’t even know if he’s going to make it out of this alive.

I do not know many of you on a personal level. I do not know the daily struggles that you are going through. I do know that we live in a fallen world and the results of the fall all around us bring pain, suffering, and difficulty. Some of you have recently lost a loved one. Some of you are caring for an elderly family member. Some of you have debilitating illnesses.

So while you may not relate to the exact circumstances of Paul’s imprisonment, you can relate to being in a difficult situation.

This applies to churches as an organization as well. The statistics show that 80% of SBC churches have plateaued or are in active decline. There are a variety of reasons that can happen. Some have dealt with scandal. Some are sitting in location where the culture has changed around them. Some have had long standing, faithful saints go on to glory and find themselves in a financial bind. Whatever the case may be, many churches find themselves in a difficult situation where hope seems bleak.

My second point this morning is this:

2. Contentment Thrives Independently of Cooperation

This might sound like I am undercutting the rest of what we have discussed this morning so far, but we need to understand that we CAN be content, content as a church, content as an individuals independent from cooperation.

In our text this morning, Paul says that he has learned to be content in whatever circumstances he finds himself in. When there is little he makes do, when there is a lot, he makes do. Whether fed or hungry, whether in abundance or need, he can be content.

In a moment we will see why he can be content, but before we get there, we need to note the big truth given to us in these verses! Church, you can be content! Dear saint walking in the valley of the shadow of death, you can be content!

Church, this is hope! No matter what you are going through as an organization or as an individual, I promise you, you can be content!

This doesn’t mean that it wont be hard. I don’t want to minimize the struggles that any of us are going through, but there is quite literally light at the end of the tunnel!

Notice once more what Paul said in verse 10. The apostle Paul, the guy wrote half of the New Testament, one of the most familiar names in all the New Testament outside of Jesus Christ, says I HAVE LEARNED to be content. It didn’t happen overnight. He didn’t just slap a Christian Bandaid on his problems and they magically went away. Elsewhere in the New Testament Paul talks about a thorn in his side, some malady that caused him much discomfort. He says he prayed to God 3 times to have the problem removed. But God didn’t take it away! Instead, Paul learned that God’s power is strong in Paul’s weakness!

This is a great encouragement to me. I look to God’s Word and see the super-apostle Paul having to LEARN contentment. That means there’s hope for me! I don’t always feel content when the tragedies of this life bear down on me, but I can learn to be content. And you can too!

Back in August of this past year, I was the happiest guy in the world. My wife had told me that she was pregnant with our second child. I was overjoyed! I love my little boy and now I get the honor of having another child! We start looking at baby stuff. We tell our families. We’re fired up! There is so much joy and angst all tied together.

So then we finally go to the first ultrasound, at around 10 weeks pregnant. We go back in the room. I’m holding my wife’s hand. We’re excitedly looking to the screen where the image is live. Then all of a sudden, we see the technician’s face and can tell something is wrong. We begin looking closer at the screen, this is our second go around so we know what to look for. We see the uterus tissue, we see the gestational sac. But it’s what we don’t see that shatters our hearts. There is no fetus. There is no baby.

We were devastated. All we could do was go home, crawl in bed and cry in one another’s arm. We found ourselves in the most difficult circumstance we’d ever been in. We’d been brought low.

How could we possibly ever be content again?

Read verse 13 with me.

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me.

Through trying times, we learn contentment that comes not from within ourselves, not from being able to pull up our bootstraps, but a grounded faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.

In my personal case, going through the loss of our pre-born child, God used that to push me through teaching on suffering and the glory of God. One of the biggest lessons I learned through working through a difficult situation going to the Word and with the help of my church is that “This life is our only opportunity to glorify God through suffering. This life is our only opportunity to exercise faith in Christ.”

In trying situations we can be content because we have Christ.

That is our Third Point this morning:

3. Contentment is in Christ

I can be abased and I can abound, I can have plenty and I can live in need, I can look joyously at my living son and shed tears with my wife in the face of loss, through Christ who gives me strength.

Suffering is never easy. It’s never fun. The curse of the fall is truly a curse. But when you know Jesus as your Savior, you can press on!

Contentment in Christ comes by understanding the TRUTH of Christ supersedes the sting of emotions in negative circumstances.

Two weeks ago, we celebrated Resurrection Sunday. When everything else in the world seems to be changing around us, there is one fact that remains. Jesus Christ rise from the grave. That tomb is empty. It is a historical fact that Jesus Christ rose from the grave. When you look through the gospels, there is no other explanation for the existence of the church today other than Christ arose! When Christ died on the cross, his disciples were scared and hiding. Bumbling around like fools. Why then would they galvinize, write the gospels, and form the early church? Because Christ Arose!

The Resurrection is the exclamation point on the promises of God! Because He lives, I can face tomorrow! Because He lives all fear is gone! Because Christ arose, I can trust the whole of God’s Word when my emotions want me to waiver! One Bible Study put it like this, “In pain, emotions can often sound louder than truth. Emotions are not bad…they’re just not always reliable.

I may feel like God is unconcerned. But the truth is, He is concerned for me as my loving Father and nothing happens to me apart from God - even the hairs of my head are numbered (Matt. 7:11; 10:30). Conditions may change, but God is unchanging.

I may feel like God is not there and my situation is out of control - or if He is there, He’s cruel to let it happen. But the truth is that for the child of God, every situation in life is in some way the unfolding manifestation of God’s love and goodness. I may not understand all of His ways, but all things work together for good (Rom. 8:28).

I may feel like this will never end. But the truth is that whatever my conditions may be right now, they are only temporary. This too shall pass and nothing can rob me of the joy and hope that ultimately await me with Christ.”

When we understand that Christ lived, and died, and rose again to pay the cost of our sins and assure of eternity in glory, we can live through the good and bad situations with contentment. This moment may not be enjoyable, but my God loves me!

Those of you hearing this message today, it is my sincere hope that you have this same confidence in Christ. I hope that you joyfully hold onto the truth of Christ.

That same Risen Christ preached, “If anyone is thirst, let him come to me and drink. The one who believes in me, as the Scripture has said, will have streams of living water flow from deep within him” (Jn 7:37-38).

In your situation this morning, what are you thirsty for? For recognition or honor? Comfort? Companionship? Health? Rest? Relief? Peace? Whatever your thirst, Jesus declares, if we come to Him, see Him for who He truly is, if we trust Him we will not only drink and be satisfied, we will also find streams of living waters flowing from within us!

We find our contentment in Christ. I have one more point from our passage I’m going to get to before we conclude, but I just want to say right now, that if you are searching for contentment, but don’t know how to find it, I would love to show you how it is found in Christ. Pastor Luke, Pastor CJ, the faithful saints of this church would love to tell you about the sufficiency of Christ in any of our circumstances. When we have a hymn of response in a few moments, you can come talk to me. if you don’t want to do that, find someone you trust knows the Lord and ask them about Christ. Do it before you leave here today. We can all have contentment in Christ, whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting, abundant life.

Contentment is in Christ.

It is a grace of God that we can not only have contentment in good and bad times, but also that He uses people to help one another and enjoy relief from challenges. Read with me verses 14-16

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 4

14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.

15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times.

The final point I have for us this morning is quick and a reiteration of the first point:

4. Cooperation is good!

Paul was absolutely content in Christ. If he had little or had much, he was okay because He had Christ. At the same time, it was GOOD to have cooperation. Verses 15 and 16 lay out the specifics of how the church at Philippi supported his ministry.

Church, if you were the only believers in Jesus Christ in the whole world, you could still be content in knowing that you are saved, sealed, and sent to do the work of God in this world. But still, we do well by partnering with one another in abundance and hardship. From the perspective of the church as a whole., It is for our good and God’s glory when we connect with churches in a nearby county to share the gospel with unbelievers. It is for our good and for God’s glory when we go on mission trips together. It is for our good and God’s glory when we provide financial assistance to missionaries across the world.

On an individual level, you can be content in Christ, but it is good to extend and receive love and grace from other believers. When I was dealing with the loss of our preborn child, your pastor, Pastor CJ reached out to me to listen and pray. I am forever grateful to the countless saints who loved and supported me, sharing the love of Christ with me.

Sure we can in theory go about this life with nothing but Christ, living on our own little islands, but God designed us to be a people of community. We do well to partner with others in their hardship.

As we conclude this morning, I want to encourage you not to live this life alone, we experience the fullness of what God has designed us to be when we see Christ as King and enjoy the company of the saints in His kingdom.

Be rooted, be content in Christ. Then cooperate with faithful believers doing good unto them and receiving blessings from them.

If you want to know more about any of this, come find me in the hymn of response.

Let’s Pray.

Benediction:

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 2

If, then, there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy, 2 make my joy complete by thinking the same way, having the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. 3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves. 4 Everyone should look not to his own interests, but rather to the interests of others.

Go in faith this morning. Thank you for joining us and allowing me to share with you. To God be the glory.