I Can Do All This through Him who Gives Me Strength

“I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances,” writes Paul, inspired by God the HS. Intriguing, isn’t it? What does contentment look like to you?

Some people count the days to retirement. I’ll get my 25 y in; I can retire and be content. People in Philippi could relate. Their town was a retirement spot for soldiers. After 25 y in the legion, retired soldiers got a plot of land. Retirement is nothing but peace and contentment, right?

A plot of land was appealing to legionnaires 2000 y ago. I’ve talked to people dreaming of a place in the country: to farm or homestead or a few acres to have a dog and raise kids.

Others think contentment is all about “chilling on a beach”. You hear it in the Zach Brown Band’s song:

Knee deep in the water somewhere

Got the blue sky breeze and it don't seem fair

Only worry in the world is the tide gonna reach my chair

Is that what contentment looks like to you?

Those aren’t Paul’s pictures of contentment. He sailed all over the Mediterranean, but the only time I hear about Paul on a beach was the prayer meeting when he landed in Tyre (Acts 21).

Paul learned that contentment is not in escaping the hard stuff:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.

Philippians 4:12 (NIV)

Paul has experienced hard circumstances. Later in the NT, in his 2nd letter to Chr. in Corinth, Paul lists hardships he faced:

I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely,

and been exposed to death again and again.

Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods, (incl. in Philippi, before God busted Paul and Silas out of prison)

once I was pelted with stones,

three times I was shipwrecked,

I spent a night and a day in the open sea,

I have been constantly on the move.

I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my fellow Jews, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false believers.

I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep;

I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food;

I have been cold and naked.

Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches. II Corinthians 11:23–28(NIV)

After this list, Paul describes what he’s learned from God:

He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. II Corinthians 12:9–10 (NIV)

I don’t know if Paul always delighted in insults and persecutions or if he wrote these letters on a good day, when he could see things from a healthy perspective.

True story: I find it challenging to keep weakness, hardships, and difficulties in perspective. Maybe you do to. With the HS’s help we try to keep in mind the secret of contentment Paul describes. It's found in Paul’s letter to the Philippians:

I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)

What’s the secret of contentment?

It is complete reliance on God who gives his people strength.

Paul is talking about God’s grace. Grace is unmerited favour. Grace is receiving something you don’t deserve.

God told Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you.” I’ve lavished plenty of things on you that you don’t deserve. At the top of the list is salvation and life with God through Jesus.

Grace is at the heart of the sacrament of baptism. Standing at the baptismal font, we admit that we and our children are sinful by nature. We don’t live up to God’s standard of holiness – I don’t; I’ll let you judge your righteousness for yourself.

Paul admits his shortcomings earlier in this letter to the Philippians. He lists all the things that make him a good Pharisee, ending with the bold claim: “As for righteousness based on the law, faultless.” But in light of the gospel, Paul realizes it’s all worthless.

I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.

Philippians 3:8b–9 (NIV)

Paul testifies that if we are left to our own devices, we would be eternally cut off from God, the only true source of love and life and everything good.

God is holy and just and punishes sin. Nothing we do can save us. We can’t rescue our children either. We can only say “yes and thank-you” for God’s grace.

God’s rescue plan comes down to grace. In his mercy and in his love, God the Father grants us forgiveness, cleansing, and righteousness that we don’t deserve. Instead of having us die for our sins, Jesus – God the Son – entered his creation: truly God and truly human. At the cross, God the Father put the punishment for sin on Jesus.

The water of baptism is a sign and seal that all our guilt, all our shame, gets washed away. In fact, Jesus’ blood, shed on the cross, covers our sin and shortcomings. When Jesus rose from the grave, everyone who puts their faith in Jesus rise to life with him and are clothed in his righteousness.

We can’t force our kids to believe, but God extends his grace to families and households. Parents and guardians have the privilege of saying yes and thank-you to God’s gracious promises to their children. That’s what André & Karena did for Carson last Sunday and Tammy did for Haven today. God has adopted these children, with us, into his forever family!

Since God came into the world to rescue us from death and damnation, do you really think he’s going to abandon us now?

No! A thousand times no!

He loves his people and cares for them. That’s the comfort Paul offers all who read this letter:

The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Philippians 4:5b–6 (NIV)

If you followed Crosspoint’s daily readings this week, you’ll recall the amazing scenarios in which God’s people experienced his nearness and gracious care:

In OT book of Genesis, Hagar meets God in the oasis. She’s amazed to realize that God sees her! Not just her; God makes promises to her unborn child.

In the OT book of II Chronicles, both King Jehoshaphat and King Hezekiah lead their whole nation in crying out to God when hostile armies are marching to attack Jerusalem. In response to their prayers, God rescues Jerusalem and Judea.

In the NT, Jesus’ disciple Matthew describes in the gospel how Peter was invited to walk on the lake with Jesus. Peter gets distracted by the wind and starts to sink. Jesus reaches out and helps him back to the surface.

In the NT book the Acts of the Apostles, Peter is in prison, expecting to be put to death as happened to the Apostle James, when an angel busts him out, surprising the believers gathered to pray for his release.

You have the same privilege of praying to God. In fact, the HS intercedes for you, making the desires of your heart known to God.

Here’s the point:

God did not create people to live without him. He created humankind to live in relationship with him.

When humanity let go of God’s hand and wandered off to live by themselves, God went looking for them. He brought us back into relationship with him, through Jesus, sending the HS so we never face anything alone. Our heavenly Father is always near to guide you by the hand.

As a dearly loved child of God’s, you’re invited to take this as your motto:

I can do all this through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:12–13 (NIV)

Look to God each day, each hour, to give you strength. That’s the secret to contentment.