Finding Contentment
Notes
Transcript
Prisoner of the Lord
Prisoner of the Lord
Prisoner of Rome
Prisoner of Rome
Paul writes this letter to the Philippians from a Roman prison.
He had been in prison in Philippi. The church there knew that. This is the place where Paul and Silas sang songs and where the Philippian jailor trusted Jesus and was saved along with his household.
Its possible this was written while Paul was under house arrest. His freedom of movement would be restricted. The churches he wanted to visit would have to wait.
16 And when we came into Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who guarded him.
30 He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him,
31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.
Prisoner of Jesus
Prisoner of Jesus
He was in prison because he followed Jesus.
2 Timothy 1:8 (ESV)
8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord, nor of me his prisoner, but share in suffering for the gospel by the power of God,
We also can be imprisoned by our circumstances. We feel “boxed in…” We say that we have no choice in a decision we need to make. We will say that we feel trapped. And often we have no real choice when faced with negative circumstances.
In the midst of these negative circumstances, Paul was content as a prisoner of His Lord.
Contentment
Contentment
11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
Contentment is a learned behavior
I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.
What ruins contentment?
What ruins contentment?
Humiliated (brought low)
Success that makes us want more (abound, plenty, abundance)
Hunger
Paul learned how to deal with the highs and lows. In his case they were extreme.
Peter said:
19 For this is a gracious thing, when, mindful of God, one endures sorrows while suffering unjustly.
Enduring sorrows is difficult.
What did Paul learn?
Contentment comes from Christ
Contentment comes from Christ
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
Paul found out that whatever negative or positive situation came his way, that Christ gave him the strength to deal with it.
Hunger…can live with that….
Humiliation….Christ’s approval overrides man’s opinion…
Poor…still alive with enough food to eat, water to drink and a place to sleep.
Blessed… very thankful
3 For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of himself more highly than he ought to think, but to think with sober judgment, each according to the measure of faith that God has assigned.
Sober judgment indicates the ability to act sensibly and not over or under evaluate one’s situation.
Some Christians say, “I am just a poor sinner.” The Bible says that you are not considered a sinner, but a saint of God, a child of God through faith in Jesus. Such were some of you…Paul says… but now…
Other Christians say with great pride, “I would never do the things that other people do. I don’t know why they do it and I don’t want anything to do with them.” A sober-minded person would point to the fact that while they were still sinners, Christ died for them. So that person would seek, not to condemn those who don’t measure up, but to minister in grace to help save those who are trapped by the deceitfulness of sin.
Christ will give you the strength to bear up under whatever comes you way whether positive or negative.
We used to sing the song, “He is all I need, he is all I need. Jesus is all I need…”
Paul was content because God gave strength. He was also content because of his
Contentment frees us to focus on Ministry
Contentment frees us to focus on Ministry
In prison he is writing letters to encourage others.
In prison he responds to the ministry of others.
2 Corinthians 5:14–15 (ESV)
14 For the love of Christ controls us, because we have concluded this: that one has died for all, therefore all have died;
15 and he died for all, that those who live might no longer live for themselves but for him who for their sake died and was raised.
We are saved to serve. Contentment frees us to move from self-centered to serving the Lord.
Interesting situation here.
Paul makes it clear he doesn’t need support. He is content in all situations.
But he does take help from others.
Why? Because they were involved in ministry and he wanted to encourage ministry, not discourage it.l
Philippians 4:14–16 (ESV)
14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.
15 And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.
16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.
Rejecting help is hurting others.
Philippians 4:17 (ESV)
17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.
Accepting their help would increase fruit to their credit. Rejecting their help would cause them to lose fruit.
This is the purpose of the book of Philippians.
Philippians 1:9–11 (ESV)
9 And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment,
10 so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,
11 filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.
He wanted them to be filled with the fruit of righteousness. This is why he received help that wasn’t absolutely necessary. He didn’t want the givers to miss out on the fruit of righteousness.
What if we keep denying help from others? They stop offering. If they stop offering, they stop producing the fruit that God wants them to produce.
And what if you don’t get help? Are you still content or are you angry at others and complaining? A negative attitude towards another person becomes a wall to ministering to them effectively. Man’s anger does not work the righteousness of God, James says.
When Jesus comes into our lives he lifts us to a higher ground, a higher plain.
God wants you to learn contentment. You learn contentment when you trust Jesus to help you endure your circumstances.
But with the contentment, God also is looking for you to minister.
This is one of the purposes for Jesus’ death.
If that is your desire, the you will strive with the help of the Holy Spirit to seek contentment in the midst of your circumstances, both positive and negative, to the glory of God.
And in your contentment you will seek to serve the Lord who died for your sake and rose again.
And in your contentment, you will not look at just your own needs, but how you can help others produce spiritual fruit.
All for the glory and praise of God.