Philippians 4:10-23
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Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
Scripture Reading: Matthew 6:25-34
A man was reading a letter from his wife…
Who was away for a couple weeks to visit her sister
But instead of sitting down & reading the whole letter…
From beginning to end…
He decided to skim it & focus only on what stood out to him
Some of the phrases that immediately stood out to him were:
“I’m actually glad to be so far away from you”
“Every time I think about you, I feel sick”
“I plan on staying here”
“My sister said I should tell you to take a hike”
This had the man terribly worried
He thought their marriage was stronger than ever
But based on what he had just read…
It seemed like his wife didn’t feel the same
In a panic, he called her to see if he could fix whatever had gone wrong
But when she answered the phone…
She sounded just like her loving self
So he asked her about the letter…
And why she’d said all those horrible things
She laughed hysterically & then asked:
“Did you read the whole letter?”
He admitted that he hadn’t
So he picked the letter back up & saw that:
She was happy to be far away from him…
Because her love & appreciation for him…
Was growing in his absence
She felt sick every time she thought of him…
Because she was missing him so much
She planned on staying with her sister…
Because she was inviting him to come stay with them as well
Her sister wanted her to tell him to take a hike…
Because she had a forest beside her house…
With beautiful hiking trails
Suddenly, everything makes sense
And context made all the difference
The truth is, we would never read a personal letter that way
But that’s exactly how some people read the Bible
They take one sentence…
And remove it from its context…
And interpret it in a way the author never intended
Philippians 4:10-23
Philippians 4:10-23
This will be my final lesson in our series on Philippians
I hope you’ve enjoyed this series as much as I have
I hope you’ve learned & gained as much as I have
I love teaching through entire books
One of the reasons I love it…
Is because it protects us from the temptation…
To pull verses, characters, stories out of their context
When you walk verse by verse through a book…
You’re forced to see:
Who is speaking
Who they are speaking to
What situation they are addressing
How each paragraph fits into the larger message of the book
When you cherry-pick verses…
You make the Bible say whatever you want it to say
When you study an entire book in its context…
You let the Bible speak for itself
The reason I’m saying all this is because…
Our text this morning contains one of the most cherry-picked…
And misinterpreted verses in the whole Bible:
13 I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
You see it on:
The eye-black of football players
The shoes of basketball players
Posters & coffee mugs
When cherry-picked from its context…
It’s usually understood to mean:
“With Jesus, I can accomplish any goal I set my mind to.”
But when it is read within its context…
You realize that isn’t what Paul is saying at all
He isn’t talking about achieving great things.
He’s talking about enduring hard things.
And in a series focused on having a joy that overflows…
There’s hardly a more important lesson to learn that:
Contentment
Joy comes from finding contentment…
Regardless of your life circumstances
10 I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it.
One thing we know about the Philippian Christians…
Is that they were extremely generous
Paul brags on them to the Corinthians:
1 Now we make known to you, brothers and sisters, the grace of God given to the churches of Macedonia, 2 that during a severe ordeal of suffering, their abundant joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in the wealth of their generosity. 3 For I testify, they gave according to their means and beyond their means. They did so voluntarily,4 begging us with great earnestness for the blessing and fellowship of helping the saints. 5 And they did this not just as we had hoped, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and to us by the will of God.
The Philippians were extremely generous…
Toward the needy Christians in Jerusalem…
And on multiple occasions toward Paul when he was in need
The word “renew” is a very appropriate word for this time of year
It carries the idea of a blossoming flower or budding tree
It is renewed/revived
The Philippians, as we will see later in the text…
Had helped Paul on multiple occasions
But for some reason, they hadn’t been able to lately
Paul knew that He was always on their minds…
And that they wanted to be a constant help to him…
But something was hindering them from being able to do so
But now they are able to send him aid once again
And he is over the moon about it
He praises Lord Jesus for the help they have sent him…
Knowing that their desire to give…
Comes, first & foremost from their love & faithfulness to Him
11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 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. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.
Paul wants them to know that he isn’t greatly rejoicing…
Because he was in dire need to financial help
He isn’t sitting in his jail cell complaining about his life
He isn’t pacing the floor wracked with anxiety
He’s extremely grateful for their gift…
But he isn’t dependent upon it
Because with or without…
Paul has learned to be content
Have you ever been in a secret club?
(If you raised your hand, your club is no longer secret)
(For those that didn’t raise your hands, good job)
The reason I ask is because…
Paul used a word that was often used to refer to…
A person being initiated into a mystery cult religion
He “learned the secret” of being content
Is being content in all circumstances a secret?
How many truly content people do you know?
Probably not many
So, yeah, I guess it’s a pretty well-kept secret
This information isn’t available to everyone
It’s only available to those who are in the club
And it isn’t something that happens automatically…
Upon entrance into the club
Contentment must be learned
What does it mean to be “content”
To have enough; to be satisfied
Also, to be self-sufficient; independent
Greek philosophers mashed these 2 ideas together:
“To have enough within one’s own self”
“To be independently satisfied”
“No need for anything or anyone else”
In Stoic philosophy, it referred to the one who:
“Becomes an independent man sufficient to himself and in need of none else.”
The goal for a Stoic was that:
“A man should be sufficient unto himself for all things, and able, by the power of his own will, to resist the force of circumstances.”
But is that what Paul is saying?
That he has learned to be content, to have enough, to be satisfied…
Through his own power, strength of will, & independence?
“I am enough & I don’t need anyone or anything else.”
No, Paul hasn’t found contentment within himself
He has found contentment in Jesus
It isn’t about self-sufficiency
It’s about Christ-sufficiency
“I’m content, not because I’m enough.”
“I’m content because Jesus is enough.”
“It isn’t my own strength/power…”
“That allows me to be content in any circumstance”
“It is the strength/power of Jesus.”
When one is initiated into the secret club of Jesus…
They learns that Jesus is enough:
Whether they are barely getting by…
Or are living in abundance
Whether they are satisfied & full…
Or experiencing the pains of hunger
Whether they have all they need…
Or are lacking what they need
In Christ, contentment is possible:
Joy & happiness do not depend on circumstances
Anxiety & worry over desires & needs is unnecessary
The peace of God guards our hearts & minds
“Because Christ strengthens me…”
“I can endure poverty”
“I can endure hunger”
“I can endure suffering”
“I can also endure a full belly & abundance”
That last part probably catches us a little off guard
Who struggles to be content…
When they have everything they want/need?
The answer:
Nearly every single one of us
A philosopher & historian named Plutarch said it well:
“The owner of five couches goes looking for ten, and the owner of ten tables buys up as many again, and though he has lands and money in plenty is not satisfied but bent on more, losing sleep and never sated with any amount.”
The thought is that more will bring:
Happiness
Joy
Peace
Contentment
But money & possessions don’t have that kind of power
In reality, more often brings:
Greed
Covetousness
Anxiety
Worry
Fear of losing what has been gained
But in Jesus, joy & contentment can be had…
Whether we have little or much
Less doesn’t cause us to lose faith or hope
More doesn’t cause us to become arrogant or trusting in riches
In Jesus, we have been given the strength…
To live in joy, peace, & hope…
Regardless of our circumstances
In Him, we are content
In Him, we have enough
What He’s done, is doing, & will do for us…
Is enough to keep us satisfied
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.
Though Paul has learned to be content in Jesus in all circumstances…
He appreciates their partnership & sharing with him
They have been true friends to Paul…
And have been since the very start
They have shown consistent generosity to him
And he wants them to know…
That he remembers & appreciates that
17 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen.
Not only are they helping Paul with their generosity…
They are also helping themselves
Paul tells us 3 important truths about generosity…
That I believe is important for us to know:
Generosity increases what is in our account
I don’t believe Paul is referring to our bank accounts
But the principle that can be inferred from Paul’s words is:
When we are generous & share with others…
God will bless us for it
He will cause “fruit to increase to our account”
What all does that mean?
Does it refer to our reward in the age to come?
Does it refer to blessings & help in this age?
Does it refer to God causing us to grow in our fruit?
All the above?
We aren’t told the specifics
But we do know that fruit will increase to our account…
When we are generous
Generosity is a holy sacrifice to God
Paul calls it:
A fragrant aroma
(Like at OT burnt offering to God)
An acceptable sacrifice that pleases God
This is temple-worship language
The author of Hebrews tells us the same thing:
16 And do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for God is pleased with such sacrifices.
Generosity is worship
Sharing with others exalts & blesses God
Generosity leads to our needs being met
When we take care of the needs of others…
God will in turn take care of our needs
Generosity that is done out of love for others & faith in God…
Ends up blessing the giver just as much as the receiver
Didn’t Jesus say something about that?
“It’s more blessed to _____ than to _______”
Paul ends his letter of joy with these words:
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
What a way to end a letter to a persecuted church in a Roman colony:
“I may be in prison & you may be being persecuted for your faith…”
“But the Gospel has infiltrated the heart of the empire”
This sends a message to the Christians in Philippi
The greatest empire in the world cannot stop the Gospel
The most powerful man in the world…
Who demands the allegiance of millions…
Cannot even stop his own household…
From swearing allegiance to a crucified Jew named Jesus
One last reason to rejoice…
As their letter from Paul comes to an end
Application
Application
As we close out Paul’s letter to the Philippians…
There’s a few things to remember:
Contentment must be learned
Having enough & being satisfied in life…
Is not about the circumstances we find ourselves in
It’s about Who we choose to put our trust in…
As we live in those circumstances
Jesus is enough to keep us satisfied
It takes walking with Him through the ups & downs…
To learn that lesson
Generosity is worship
When we are kind & generous to others…
It isn’t just a blessing to them
It is a blessing to God
It makes Him happy
It brings Him joy
It exalts & magnifies His name
It is how we worship Him
And God always returns blessing for blessing
Our little sacrifices equal out…
To God providing for our needs in this life
And to eternal life & blessings in the age to come
The Gospel is powerful
It began with a small group of nobodies
And it gradually transformed the hearts of more & more people
And then it began creeping into places of power…
Until entire nations were filled with its good news
It has brought contentment to millions over the years:
It caused Paul to sing songs of praise…
While sitting in a prison cell in a city called Philippi
It brought joy to persecuted Christians
It inspired courage & hope in countless people…
Who were told to deny Jesus or be brutally tortured & killed
And it still has that same effect of people who hear it today
Because, in the end, the secret is this:
If we have Jesus…
We truly have enough
