The Commitments of the Satisfied Soul

Key Elements

In Philippians 4:1-3, the Apostle Paul called the believers in Philippi to two commitments: standing firm in their relationship with Jesus Christ and living in unity with other believers.

Main Idea: A satisfied soul is rooted in two unshakeable commitments: standing firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ and standing together in gospel-centered relationships with others.

I want my audience to commit their lives to a growing relationship with Jesus Christ and a unified relationship with other Christ followers.

Intro

Well, we have finally gotten to what I consider my most favorite time of the year. We have finally turned the corner and we have entered into November moving towards Thanksgiving and rapidly approaching Christmas. And some of us have already put up our Christmas trees because we just can’t wait to get to that time of year, and I’ll be transparent this morning and say that my family and I fall into that camp. And some of us are waiting until the end of the month to do that. And a lot of you are in that camp as well. No matter where you land on that issue, something we all have in common is that in a few weeks we will gather with our families around a table on Thanksgiving Day and we will celebrate being thankful together. And some of us will go all out. Our tables will be beautifully decorated covered in a beautiful table cloth with an amazing center piece and the fancy dishes and silverware that only comes out at this time of year. The table will be filled with food like turkey and dressing, all kinds of sides, and over to the side there will be a table full of desserts. And we’ll eat till we absolutely can’t eat anymore and we’ll laugh and we’ll share stories that we’ve heard a thousand times with family members. And on the surface, everything will be perfect. But for some, Thanksgiving might look a little different. The table won’t be decorated as beautifully, and the food will be served on paper plates instead of fancy dishes. The food will still be good, maybe someone might forget the cranberry sauce or the rolls might get left in the oven a little too long. But the room will still be filled with family and stories will still be shared and heartfelt gratitude will be given to God, not just for the food but for each other and for the fact that He has provided for us another year. Both of these Thanksgiving scenes may look different, but they both have something in common-genuine gratitude to God and genuine connection with one another.

You see, we live in an interesting time that creates a fascinating paradox. We have more material abundance than any generation in human history, yet we’re experiencing an epidemic of dissatisfaction. We’re the most connected generation technologically, but we’re the loneliest. We’re the most affluent, but we’re the most anxious. We’re the most informed, but we’re the most uncertain. We’re the most entertained, but we’re the most empty and unfulfilled. And I would say, that even sometimes our Thanksgiving celebrations miss the mark because we gather around tables that are loaded with food and family but our souls are still unsatisfied. We express gratitude for things, but we’re starving for something deeper-true satisfaction that doesn’t leave when the leftovers run out.

And here’s the problem: some of us are connected in a relationship with God yet we are isolated from meaningful gospel-centered relationships with others. And some of us are connected to gospel-centered relationships with others but we have no relationship with God or a neglected relationship with Him at best. And for our souls to truly be satisfied as God intended. For us to really find true contentment, we have to be committed to both relationships. We have to first be grounded in a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and also be connected to other followers of Jesus in gospel-centered relationships.

And as we continue our Thanksgiving series entitled The Satisfied Soul walking through Philippians 4, that’s what we are going to see emphasized today. As the Apostle Paul begins to conclude this letter, he does so by calling the believers in Philippi to two vital commitments. And these are the same two vital commitments that we, as followers of Jesus, must seek as well. It’s the commitment of standing firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ and the commitment of living in unity with other believers.

Message

Context: So, again, let’s be reminded of the setting of this letter that the Apostle Paul is writing. The Apostle Paul is in prison as he writes to the believers in Philippi. He’s not surrounded by abundance and comfort, he’s chained to a Roman guard. His future is pretty uncertain and execution is a real possibility. And even in the midst of this, his letter overflows with joy, gratitude, and deep satisfaction. This isn’t him thinking positively or living in denial, it’s a man who has discovered something that rises above his circumstances. Like we talked about last week, he’s found the secret to the satisfied soul and he wants so badly for the Philippians to discover it as well.

So what does Paul have that we seem to be missing in our lives sometimes? What does he know about satisfaction that seems to elude us in a time where abundance abounds? Paul knows that true satisfaction deep down in our souls, the kind that survives prison cells, is rooted in these two unshakeable commitments: standing firm in our relationship with Jesus Christ and standing together in gospel-centered relationships with others.

And today, in Philippians 4:1-3, the Apostle Paul defines for us those two commitments and shows us how those two commitments are vital for us as followers of Jesus to find true contentment and live as the satisfied people God has called us to be. The first unshakeable commitment is...

1. Our commitment to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. (vs. 1)

And this is where it all begins. This is THE foundation on which all other relationships in our lives must be built. The truth is that all other relationships in our lives will never function at their fullest potential if a relationship with God through Jesus Christ is not pursued first. And you may be thinking “I know plenty of people who are not pursuing an active relationship with Jesus and their relationships with others seem to be doing fine.” And that may be the case on the surface. But, all relationships not based and grounded in a relationship with Jesus first are being built on a shaky foundation and that foundation inevitably and eventually will crumble. Why? Because it is a foundation that is built on things that won’t fully satisfy. It’s built on relationships that won’t bring true contentment. And the Apostle Paul knows this. He knows this about himself and he knows this about the members of the church in Philippi. And in a desperate attempt to write some final words in this letter to a church and a people that he loved so much, Paul takes them directly to the source, he points them directly to the only relationship that won’t fail that is not built on a shaky foundation and that is a relationship with God through Jesus Christ and he says, “this is the first commitment that has to be made. This is the relationship that has to be the foundation for all other relationships. If you start here in a relationship with Jesus, pursuing that first commitment will ensure a satisfaction that thrives in the midst of the most difficult times in life.”

What’s interesting here is that Paul doesn’t begin with a command. All throughout the previous chapters, Paul has commanded the members of the Philippian church to do various things; but here as he closes out this letter, he chooses to begin with affection. Before he tells them what to do and gives them final instructions, he reminds them of who they are. And not only is this important for these believers in Philippi to grasp but it is important for us to grasp as well. Because the first commitment of the satisfied soul flows directly from our relationship with Jesus Christ.

So, he begins in vs. 1, he says...

It really doesn’t seem like much when you first read it but when we dive a little deeper into what Paul is saying, we get the full picture. It’s actually a connecting point from all the instruction for the believers in Philippi that we find in the first three chapters to what he is about to say in the final words of this letter in chapter four. That it’s our relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ that gives us worth in this life and it’s the reason we matter. And that relationship is the only one that brings full and complete satisfaction and contentment in this life. It’s why commitment to a relationship with God is so important. Because it’s...

a. A relationship that defines us. (vs. 1a) loved, brothers and sisters, joy and crown.

When you think about it, there are so many relationships that we have a connection to in this life that we make the mistake of finding our identity in, that we allow to define us. We find our identity in who we are dating, we find our identity in who we are married to, we find our identity in the social relationships we have. We commit ourselves to these human relationships and we put all of who we are in them, so much so, that eventually we lose ourselves and who God created us to be. And don’t hear me saying that we shouldn’t be committed to a person we are dating or our spouse or to deep friendships that we have; but our identity and who we are is not found, first and foremost, in those relationships; our identity and who we are is, first and foremost, found in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Because it’s our relationship with God that defines us.

Look at the intentional words Paul used to describe the Philippian believers. He calls them “dearly loved and longed for brothers and sisters” (they are part of the family of the church but also they belong to the family of God); they are deeply cherished by Paul and there is a significant relationship and partnership that exists between them; and he calls them “his joy and crown” (meaning that their spiritual growth was something that brought him great satisfaction). There’s no question that Paul loved this church and was so overjoyed at how God was using them to advance the gospel in their community and beyond. Paul’s affection for the believers in Philippi reveals their identity as he saw them but also their identity in Christ as well. Paul, from the very beginning of this last chapter, wants these believers in Philippi to know that he loves and cherishes them that they are special to him; but more important than that, he wants them to know that they are loved and cherished by God and their identity is found and defined by that relationship.

And today, all of us need to hear the same thing. That the relationship that defines us, the number one place we find our identity is in our relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Our value doesn’t come from what we do but who Jesus says we are and has created us to be. We are God’s “joy and crown” and that truth alone brings the ultimate satisfaction and contentment. A satisfied soul begins with knowing we are loved and cherished by God and we are defined, first and foremost, by our relationship with Him. It’s a relationship that defines us, and it’s...

b. A relationship that grounds us. (vs. 1b) stand firm

He continues in vs. 1 and he says...

Literally, Paul is saying “stick with it, endure, never give up.” This is military language, it’s soldiers standing side by side in battle regardless of the size and the strength of the enemy they are facing. And the only way this is possible is through a relationship with God. Because, think about it, all other relationships, human relationships, are going to fail us at some point. No matter how devoted we are to one another, because we are sinful people, at some point we are going to let one another down. But Jesus will never do that. It’s a relationship that grounds us, that anchors us, through everything we walk through in this life. We can stand firm, as Paul says, because our relationship with God is one that grounds us. And here’s the reason why-it’s not a relationship that’s based on our stability but on God’s stability. It’s a stability that is based on His unchanging nature not our ever changing nature. We are secure in our relationship with God as we stand firm on the unchanging nature of God.

And this produces satisfaction and contentment in our lives as followers of Jesus because this relationship never changes. Circumstances will change but our relationship with God won’t because it is grounded in Him. People will fail us but God never will. Our commitment, first and foremost, to a relationship with God is vital because it’s in His commitment to us that we realize we are anchored in Jesus.

So, first and foremost, are you pursuing a relationship with God through Jesus Christ? Or are you allowing the other relationships in your life to define who you are? Are you looking for stability in your life in other relationships instead of the only relationship that will never change? If you’ve never surrendered your heart and life to Jesus as Savior and Lord, today you can find peace, you can find stability, and you can find identity in the only One who will never fail you. God loves you and cherishes you and desires to use your life for His glory. And if you’re already a Christ follower, stand firm in that relationship. Daily, seek the Lord and rest in the security you have in your relationship with Him, that He has filled you with His Holy Spirit, He is standing beside you in every circumstance, and your soul can find the ultimate satisfaction in the security that brings.

The first unshakeable commitment is our commitment to a relationship with God through Jesus Christ. Which leads us to a second vital commitment. It’s...

2. Our commitment to relationships with other Christ followers. (vs. 2-3)

You see, just as we are called to stand firm in our relationship with God; we are also called to stand together in our relationship with other followers of Jesus. If Paul had stopped at verse 1, then we might think “Stand firm in our relationship with God. That’s the key to satisfaction.” And then, we would pursue our relationship with God, all the while isolating ourselves from other followers of Jesus. We’d live convinced that a strong relationship with God is all that we need. But here’s what Paul knows-a vertical relationship with God that doesn’t overflow into horizontal relationships with other Christ followers is incomplete.

And it’s interesting how he addresses this with the believers in Philippi. Look at vs. 2-3...

He doesn’t pull any punches but he immediately addresses relationships among people in the church at Philippi by bringing to light a conflict that between two ladies there. Now, this is not surprising, right? Because if you’ve been around church long enough you know that conflict is going to happen. In fact, I find it a little comforting that Paul mentions this because it shows us that when we deal with conflict in this day and time, it’s not anything new. So, why would Paul go from emphasizing our commitment to a relationship with God directly into calling out two people by name for a disagreement? It’s because he knows something that’s crucial in the life of a follower of Jesus: a satisfied soul cannot exist in isolation. We have to pursue a commitment to relationships with other Christ followers. And sometimes that’s going to be difficult. Sometimes that’s going to be more complicated than others. And what Paul really shows us here is that sometimes the most loving thing we can do is address conflict that exists between us and other Christ followers. Because, again, if we are committed to pursuing a relationship with God first, then we are going to be committed to pursuing relationships with other Christ followers. And these relationships are so vital, why? Because they are...

a. Relationships that thrive in unity. (vs. 2)

And that’s the overarching theme here. It’s unity in our relationship with God and unity in our relationship with others. Look at what he says in vs. 2...

There’s a problem between these two ladies. We have no idea what it is. Obviously, these two ladies were in some kind of leadership positions in the church at Philippi and for whatever reason, they had gotten sideways with each other. It doesn’t seem to be a theological issue according to how Paul addresses it but it was large enough that it needed to be addressed. And Paul says “here’s the solution, agree in the Lord.” Simple, right? You would think. But most of the time it’s not that easy. In fact, Paul says “I urge you....” He’s begging them for the sake of the unity of the church to be “like minded.” Paul is telling them to get on the same page, to have the right attitudes towards one another so that they can serve together faithfully for the sake of the gospel. And if they will do that, then the unity of the church will be preserved and the gospel will continue to be advanced.

Relationships among Christ followers thrive when unity is present. Now, that doesn’t mean we have to agree on everything. And he’s definitely not talking about doctrinal issues here. Those are non negotiable. What is in view here is the laying aside of preferences and being unified in the pursuit of the mission and the vision God has given the church. And when we are willing to follow the example set for us by Jesus and get on the same page in pursuit of Jesus, then that will elevate our commitment in our relationships with other followers of Jesus because all of our energy will be focused on what He has called us to do as a church instead of battling each other. We’ll be unified in that mission and vision. And that’s vital for us as a church. It’s also vital because they are...

b. Relationships that elevate the gospel. (vs. 3a) contended for the gospel

That’s why unity is so important among followers of Jesus because relationships that thrive in unity are relationships that elevate the gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at vs. 3....

These two ladies evidently had a history of faithfully serving with Paul as he worked on mission to advance the gospel. They evidently had a vital role in being used by God in the church at Philippi. And Paul tells them to get on the same page, ultimately, for the sake of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

And what an incredible reminder this is for us as members of Stone Ridge and followers of Jesus existing in relationship with one another. We are called to thrive in unity to accomplish the mission God has given us and at the center of that mission is the gospel of Jesus Christ. When we are pursuing committed relationships with other followers of Jesus what we are showing the culture around us is that Jesus can change and transform lives. But the opposite is true as well, when we are not existing in unified relationships with other followers of Jesus, the gospel is hindered. It’s so important for us to remember that at the center of our relationships with one another is the advancement of the gospel that we as the church represent. The ultimate goal of unified relationships among followers of Jesus is to elevate the gospel of Jesus Christ above all.

So, are you pursuing committed relationships with other followers of Jesus? Or are you trying to go it alone? Have you taken the next step in your relationship with God and surrounded yourself with a group of people who are walking alongside you? We say this all the time, coming to worship service here is a good thing but it’s only the first step. To fully grow as a disciple of Jesus Christ, you have to take the next step of getting into a life group and surrounding yourself with other followers of Jesus who will do life with you. Isolation from others breeds discontent but community with other followers of Jesus cultivates contentment. We were never meant to do this life alone. God created us for community. And as we pursue a relationship with God and pursue relationships with other followers of Jesus, we experience the satisfaction God created us for.

Finally, we see...

3. Our essential pursuit of both commitments. (vs. 3b)

Why is the pursuit of these two commitments vital to find true contentment and to live as the satisfied people God has called us to be? It’s essential for two reasons....

a. Essential for the reflection of the gospel. (vs. 3b)

Look at the last part of vs. 3b...

These people were believers, they were an essential part of the church. Paul says their names are in the book of life. And this means their relationship with one another reflected their relationship with God and the gospel that had changed them.

And this is something we can’t miss-Our relationships with other believers are a reflection of the gospel transformation in our lives. The vertical relationship we have with God provides the grace for our relationships with other believers. And a commitment to both relationships reflects the gospel of Jesus Christ to others.

It’s also...

b. Essential for the protection of our unity.

God’s love for us empowers us to love others and causes us to seek unity with others even in the midst of difficult circumstances. And unity with other followers of Jesus proves to the culture around us the reality of the faith we have in Jesus Christ.

Closing

Three legged table illustration-1. us; 2. our relationship with God; 3. our relationship with other Christ followers.

The table can’t function properly if it’s missing a leg. For us to have the contentment and satisfaction in Jesus we are called to have, both relationships have to be in place.

Are you pursuing a committed relationship with God? Are you pursuing a committed relationship with other Christ followers? Will you commit to both?

These are the commitments of the satisfied soul.