Content Anyway
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Every good story has an ending.
Some endings leave you hanging.
Some endings tie up every loose end.
And some endings leave you with one sentence that summarizes everything you've just experienced.
That's what Paul does at the end of Philippians.
We've spent the whole summer talking about joy.
Joy in suffering.
Joy in serving.
Joy in unity.
Joy in humility.
Joy in knowing Christ.
Joy in anxiety.
Joy in contentment.
And now Paul writes his final words.
If you knew you only had one sentence left to encourage people you loved, what would you say?
Paul doesn't give them another command.
He doesn't give them another challenge.
He gives them a blessing.
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
That isn't just the ending of Philippians.
It's the summary of Philippians.
Because if the grace of Jesus is with you, then you really can have joy anyway.
Let's watch how Paul gets us there.
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. I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 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. I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
Philippians 4:13 is one of the most miss applied, and taken out of context verses in all of scripture. and its a shame because by taking the verse out of context and treating it like “I can do all things through him who gives me strength” means God is going to help me score a touchdown, or God will help my business succeed. Is to take the meaning of this passage and cheapen it.
Paul isn’t talking about temporary success here, he is talking about true and lasting contentment. Other translations translate the word for do as endure.
He is saying because I have learned to be content in any circumstance I am able to endure because Jesus strengthens me in every circumstance.
Contentment is one of those qualities that we all want. No one desires to be discontent. I know for me personally when I look back at times in my life when I was the most discontent so many other negative things spiraled out of that. I was anxious all the time, I was always looking to the future and missing what was happening right in front of me, I was becoming more envious of people, and for the only time in my life experienced a taste of depression. But what I realized later is that it all was because I had never learned what Paul learned. How to be content, and thats because I wasn’t really trusting in Jesus I was trusting in my circumstance.
1. Trust Jesus in Every Circumstance
1. Trust Jesus in Every Circumstance
First thing we got to see is that Paul didn’t start out content. He had to learn in. Some things you get right away when you give your life to Christ. You immediately get salvation from the punishment of your sins, You immediately get the Holy Spirit to live inside you to lead and equip you with spiritual gifts, you are immediately accepted into the family of God. But you are not automatically a mature finished product. Just like we don’t expect a two week old baby to drive and hold down a job we don’t expect a new Christian to immediately look like Jesus. We expect them to have sincerity and enthusiam, but not the maturity that comes with following Jesus for years. because some things have to be learned through experience.
Even Paul who started his Christian walk with such a head start having already been trained professionally in the scriptures. is saying here I had to learn to be content.
What does it even mean to be content? Is it just lowering your standards and convincing yourself that your present circumstance is the best you could hope for so you tell yourself your content and quit looking for more no. my favorite definition is from Brent Crowe “Contentment isn’t about being satisfied with your situations or stuff; rather, it is all about being satisfied with Jesus in all of your circumstances”.
Being satisfied with Jesus in all of your circumstances. That is not something that happens overnight but it can happen as our trust in God grows. Paul had learned to be content because he had learned to trust. Paul learned to trust because he learned that God is trustworthy. No circumstance could ever arise which would be too much for Paul’s God. He learned that. He knew that. Do you?
Contentment is the mark of a mature believer. Mature content believers do not act like the world is falling when their circumstances don’t go the way they want because their contentment was never tied to the circumstances it was tied to Jesus.
Paul didn't learn it sitting in a classroom. He learned it one circumstance at a time. One test after another. Every hardship became another opportunity to discover that God was faithful.
And that's really how God has always worked.
Throughout Scripture, God often grows our faith not by removing difficult circumstances but by leading us into them. Why? Because every trial becomes an opportunity to trust Him more deeply.
But here's the danger: if we're not careful, instead of allowing God to test us, we'll start testing Him.
That's exactly what happened in Exodus 17.
Israel had just watched God split the Red Sea. They had seen Him destroy Pharaoh's army. He had provided manna from heaven every morning. But now they run out of water.
They had two choices.
They could take their need to God...
Or they could complain and question whether He could really be trusted.
They chose the second.
He named the place Massah and Meribah because the Israelites complained, and because they tested the Lord, saying, “Is the Lord among us or not?”
Listen to what they're really asking:
"Is the Lord among us or not?"
Think about that question.
After everything God had already done, they weren't just asking for water. They were questioning God's character. They were putting Him on trial.
But years later, God gives us His perspective on that same moment in Psalm 81:7
You called out in distress, and I rescued you;
I answered you from the thundercloud.
I tested you at the Waters of Meribah.
Selah
Did you catch the difference?
Israel thought they were testing God.
But God says, "No...I was testing you."
The lack of water wasn't an accident.
It wasn't God forgetting about His people.
It was God giving His people an opportunity to grow their trust in Him.
And here's what's amazing:
God still provided the water.
But they missed the greater miracle.
They got water...
but they missed the chance for their faith to grow.
That's exactly what Paul had learned.
Every prison.
Every beating.
Every season of abundance.
Every season of need.
God wasn't abandoning him.
God was teaching him.
That's why Paul could say, "I have learned to be content."
He had learned, circumstance after circumstance, that Jesus really is enough.
Contentment can’t be learned overnight but it can be learned. You can learn it by choosing to take every test for what it is an opportunity to trust God more and see him as trustworthy in every circumstance. You can endure anything because of who it is that you can trust for strength. you can learn to find contentment in the one true God and after you do, you are going to realize that there is no other god, relationship or luxury that can satisfy your soul.
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. For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Paul goes back to talking about how he started this section the generosity of the Philippians. The generosity of the Philippians was a blessing to Paul and factor in why he was so close to them.
2. Reflect Jesus Through Generosity
2. Reflect Jesus Through Generosity
Joy Flows through generosity
The joy that Paul has been writing about, the joy he knew the Philippians shared. showed itself in them being generous toward each other. and as a result this was the church that it seems Paul had the closest personal connection with.
the word Closer is going to be a big focal point of our church moving forward. we want to be a group of believers who help people grow closer to God, each other, and our community.
As Paul shows one of the best ways to grow closer to each other as the church is to be generous towards each other.
I have to make a confession. I am not a naturally generous person. Many of you in here are, and I have felt it and grown closer to you through it. for me it isn’t natural God has had to work on me with that, and he’s still working on me with that. Alysa far more generous than me and she inspires me to choose to be generous. as I have grown more content, more trusting, more joyful. Being generous has started to become more natural for me. especially towards fellow believers.
Because I believe God uses generous Christians to help needy Christians. I believe there is no greater use of our money than for it to be used as a tool in God’s hand to remind believers that God is trustworthy, and to equip the church to take the Gospel to the lost.
I actually have a personal conviction that may be controversial. Not saying this has to be your conviction it is just one I live by. I don’t donate to nonChristian organizations. That doesn’t mean I don’t believe there aren’t good causes or they aren’t important, or its wrong for anyone to do it. but the way I look at it nonChristians will donate to those things, but you know what they wont donate to, people needing money to go on a mission trip, church planting, or our local church. The only people who are going to give to Christian causes are Christians.
As Christians we have been called to know Jesus and make him known. and everything we have is a tool in God’s hand to accomplish that. and I wont to make sure the money God has trusted me with is getting put to work to accomplish that goal.
Being generous isn’t natural for me it may not be for you. but what changes that isn’t a bigger bank account. It is a heart that is filled with the joy of Jesus that Paul has been telling us about. a heart that has learned to be content, and trust God fully. When your heart is full of joy, contentment and trust you realize there is no greater use of your money than using it to grow closer to other Christians, help Christians grow closer to God, and to help our community see the what Jesus can do for them.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Paul began this letter Philippians 1:2 by praying for grace on the church
Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
and now he ends it the same way.
in between those two statements we have learned a lot about the Philippians. the duties, dangers, and divisons among them, but also the love they share for each other and for Paul. Paul has shown them and us a clearer picture of Jesus, who he is, what he has done. and at the end it is the same Lord and the same grace that he prays over them.
He is praying that they and us would
3. Rest in the Grace of Jesus
3. Rest in the Grace of Jesus
It is because of the grace of Jesus that all he is and what he has done has been revealed to us. It is because of Jesus’ grace that we know we can have Joy Anyway. It is because of his grace that we know we can be content with just Him, it is all because of grace. That is why he ends the book with verses 21-22 talking about the people who have recieved the grace of the Lord Jesus and ends with verse 23 which describes the Lord from whom the grace flows.
Paul has spent this entire letter showing us that everything comes back to Jesus. Because of Jesus, even death loses its sting—"to die is gain." Because of Jesus, we have a Savior who is coming again. Because of Jesus, God is still at work in us and will finish what He started. Because of Jesus, we strive to live holy lives, not to earn God's favor, but because we're preparing to meet the King.
As Paul looks back, he sees Jesus on the cross providing the righteousness he could never earn. As he looks up, he sees Jesus reigning as Lord over all. As he looks ahead, he sees Jesus returning to make all things new. And as he looks within, he realizes that knowing Jesus is worth more than anything this world can offer.
Yet even after all Paul has experienced, he knows there is still more of Jesus to know, more of His grace to receive, more of His likeness to reflect, and more joy to be found in Him.
That's why Philippians ends the way it does. After all the commands, all the encouragements, all the theology, and all the calls to rejoice, Paul doesn't leave them with a list of things to do. He leaves them with the one thing they need most:
"The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit."
In other words, the Christian life begins with grace, grows by grace, is sustained by grace, and one day will be completed by grace. And that's why, no matter what comes our way, we can have joy anyway. Because the same grace that saved us will carry us all the way home.
So now at the end of the series at the end of of the summer you’re still asking yourself how can I have Joy anyway? after spending over 80 hours preparing these sermons this summer and trying find clear ways to communicate the truths of this book you know what I have found. Paul answered it for us in the last verse. So if there is one sentence that summarizes this series, it is this: Joy anyway—because the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is with you.
But that sounds so simple, Thats because it is. It was always meant to be. But that sounds too small compared to my circumstances. It’s not. God’s grace is big enough to save your life from the consequences of your sin and make you a son or daughter of the king. Do you really think it’s not enough to allow you to have joy anyway in face of things Jesus has already defeated?
Jesus is enough, His grace is enough. His Joy is enough anyway.
So here's my challenge as we close this series. Don’t leave Philippians in your Bible leave it in your heart.
This week, whatever circumstance you walk into, don't ask, "How am I going to get through this?"
Instead ask, "How can I trust Jesus in this?"
When anxiety comes...trust His grace.
When disappointment comes...trust His grace.
When success comes...trust His grace.
When suffering comes...trust His grace.
Because the same grace that saved you is the grace that will sustain you.
Church, let's leave this summer determined to live what we've been studying.
Let's have joy anyway—not because life is easy, but because the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ is with our spirit.
