Be Content through Everything

Intro

I’m pastor Keenan, next gen pastor here at first

During November we are going to go through Philippians 4

It’s the anti-anxiety chapter

Today we are going to be talking about another aspect of what affects our thoughts and worries

So let’s get into our Scripture and pray

Philippians 4:10–14 CSB

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.

Pray

God gives strength to handle all circumstances

Explain

Let’s take a look here at verses 10-13

Paul just finished talking about how what we can do to have peace from God when times are tough

Now Paul is talking about how when he was in jail in Rome the Philippians tried to help him out but couldn’t

So when he had no help and was alone he was able to persevere through his hard time because of something

And says that he’s found the secret to being content in all of the circumstances he’s been in whether good or bad.

That he’s found out how to be content even though put in prison and beat and shipwrecked and left stranded.

He knows how to be content

Meaning he’s not mad, or angry, or anxious.

But that he feels like he has everything he needs because of God

He says that he relies on God’s strength to give him what he needs in times where it’s hard.

POINT: God Gives Strength to Handle all Circumstances

Apply

Philippians 4:13 is one of the verses that everyone and their mom uses

Usually we see it when athletes post when they have a game and they get a touchdown or have a good game and they’re like God strengthened me for these things that give glory to myself

Or people tattooed on them and they’re lifiting in the gym and are like yeah I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me

If you have had this idea of what this verse means then I’m glad you’re here because this verse is not referencing your sports game, your touchdown, your new PR at the gym, but it’s talking about how Paul found out how to be content when times are really hard.

So for you, when are the times where you find it the hardest to be content with where you are, the situation you’re going through, or what you have?

What do you think being strengthened by God looks like?

When was a time that you were strengthened by God and you were be able to be content?

It’s good to help those in need

Explain

Paul says that the Philippians weren’t able to help him and was able to still be content through God strengthening him.

But then he finishes this and says that the philippians did good in partnering with Paul in his hardship

Since they wanted to physically help paul but couldn’t this probably meant that they were trying to get word to him to encourage him and were praying for him

Since he found out that they tried to help him but couldn’t.

The Philippians still tried to help Paul in need.

God will give us the strength that we need to be content in the hard situations we are in

But we can learn from how the Philippians trying to help Paul

POINT: God gives strength but it’s still good to help those in need

Application

For the last few weeks and even before that, we have been sharing what our biggest struggles are in our lives

Whether it be physical issues, mental, emotional, spiritual.

We all have some kind of problems.

Since we have shared about our troubles that we’ve had,

Have you done anything to help your friends here in youth?

If you haven’t done anything to physically help them,

Do you pray for them and their struggles regularly like the Philippians did for Paul?

So when we go into our groups, I want you to each have one person that you are going to make a plan for to check up on each other, to do something nice for them, to encourage them with your words this week, or to actually do something to help them, and to pray for them in their struggle.

We aren’t in the same situation as Paul and the Philippian church.

We all have phones and live in a 30 min radius of each other and can help each other.

Not tonight when they share but this week during the week.

We learn this kind of love and we are strengthened by God.

Tonight if you are not saved and you don’t have a relationship with God

And you want to be content in the situations that you’re in

If you want to be strengthened by God

If you want to have the bond with your Christian friends that you can only get through Jesus

I want to tell you that there’s good news for you tonight

That you can be saved

You can have a relationship with God

In order to do that the Bible says we have to recognize that we are all sinners, who have done bad things,

That sin deserves us death and separation from God

And that we can do nothing to be saved

So God sent his one and only son Jesus

Who is fully God and fully man

Lived out a perfect life that we can’t live

He was sinless and because of that was able to be the perfect sacrifice for our sins

So he died on the cross and was resurrected three days later

For our sins and conquering them and death

So that whoever believes in him will be saved and have eternal life

But that word believe is not just believe he existed

But that he is God, that He really did die on the cross, and was resurrected, and that you are trusting him before anything else that you would follow

like your feelings, people, yourself and your sins.

So today if you want to be saved, if you want to have a relationship with God, to know that God will strengthen you in hard times, I will help lead you through a prayer in a moment where you can talk to God and ask him to save you.

So let’s pray.