Contentment in Christ

Intro

Verses:

7 But whatever gain I had, I counted as loss for the sake of Christ. 8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ 9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith— 10 that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, 11 that by any means possible I may attain the resurrection from the dead.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton: Standard Bible Society.

Talk about being content. Three major things I want in life, Xbox One X, Big Blue Dodge Cummins, Dodge Daemon! What are somethings that you all want in life?

Christ is enough because life before wasn’t!

Paul’s life before coming to Christ.

1. Paul’s life before coming to Christ.

There is an added emphasis each time Paul speaks of loss

He eventually calls it skubla, literally trash that is to be thrown out.

Who was Paul?

A zealous member of the Pharisee party, born in Tarsus a Roman Citizen, educated by Gamaliel, persecutor by a young age, member of the Sanhedrin council, big deal!!

What happen to Paul?

Road to Damascus, we talked about last week

Saul was radically saved and transformed, making his way from a Jesus-hating legalist to a faithful, courageous Jesus-follower known as Paul. Initially, the Lord said he would “show him [Paul] how much he must suffer” for the name of Christ (v.16).

Saul was radically saved and transformed, making his way from a Jesus-hating

legalist to a faithful, courageous Jesus-follower known as Paul. Initially, the Lord

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi when he was in prison, a fact that makes his theme of joyfulness throughout the book even more pertinent. “Of all Paul's epistles, Philippians is the most consistently positive and personal. It reflects a joyful spirit. One popular exposition of Philippians stresses the importance of living joyfully in spite of his circumstances. Paul did not rebuke this church sharply, nor did he refer to any major problems in it. His warnings are of a precautionary nature. His occupation with Jesus Christ also stands out. In a total of 104 verses, there are 51 references to the Lord Jesus by name”

said he would “show him [Paul] how much he must suffer” for the name of Christ

Paul wrote this letter to the church in Philippi when he was in prison, a fact that

Paul could say that he considered all things a loss to know Christ better (vv. 7-8). God will go to great lengths to free us from all idolatry, even the idolatry of discontentment. To uncover any hidden idols in our hearts, we must ask ourselves this question: “Is there anything about which I could possibly say, ‘I’ll only be happy when _________’?” Whatever fills in that blank is an idol, trying to take the place in our hearts that only Christ can fill.

makes his theme of joyfulness throughout the book even more pertinent. “Of all

Paul could say that he considered all things a loss to know Christ better (vv. 7-8).

Paul's epistles, Philippians is the most consistently positive and personal. It

God will go to great lengths to free us from all idolatry, even the idolatry of

Comparison is an enemy of contentment and joy. Where are we most tempted to compare ourselves to others? Social media feeds the comparison monster. If we find ourselves trying to measure up to another person’s feed, maybe we should take a break or delete the application altogether.

reflects a joyful spirit. One popular exposition of Philippians stresses the

Comparison is an enemy of contentment and joy. Where are we most tempted to

discontentment. To uncover any hidden idols in our hearts, we must ask

importance of living joyfully in spite of his circumstances. Paul did not rebuke this

(v.16).

compare ourselves to others? Social media feeds the comparison monster. If we

ourselves this question: “Is there anything about which I could possibly say, ‘I’ll

church sharply, nor did he refer to any major problems in it. His warnings are of a

find ourselves trying to measure up to another person’s feed, maybe we should

only be happy when _____________’?” Whatever fills in that blank is an idol,

precautionary nature. His occupation with Jesus Christ also stands out. In a total

take a break or delete the application altogether.

trying to take the place in our hearts that only Christ can fill.

of 104 verses, there are 51 references to the Lord Jesus by name”

The New American Commentary: Philippians, Colossians, Philemon Evaluation of Paul’s Former Life (3:7–8)

No one can choose Christ who does not reach a similarly negative conclusion about his own efforts

There is an added emphasis each time Paul speaks of loss v.7-8

He eventually calls it skubla, literally trash that is to be thrown out or even better dung!

No one can choose Christ who does not reach a similarly negative conclusion about his own efforts

Paul could say that he considered all things a loss to know Christ better (v. 7-8) God will go to great lengths to free us from all idolatry, even the idolatry of discontentment. To uncover any hidden idols in our hearts, we must ask ourselves this question: “Is there anything about which I could possibly say, ‘I’ll only be happy when _________’?” Whatever fills in that blank is an idol, trying to take the place in our hearts that only Christ can fill.

Comparison is an enemy of contentment and joy. Where are we most tempted to compare ourselves to others? Social media feeds the comparison monster. If we find ourselves trying to measure up to another person’s feed, maybe we should take a break or delete the application altogether.

Christ is enough because of the Cross! v.9-11

Being found in Christ mean to be clothed in His Rightesnouss.

Paul isn’t talking about morals here! He is talking about an evaluation of the heart. If the Judge was to judge you which He will what does he say?

Paul has tried to obtain righteousness on his own but there is only one way and that is imputed righteousness.

Paul is pointing us to an imputed righteousness that comes only from Christ.

Paul could say that he considered all things a loss to know Christ better (vv. 7-8). God will go to great lengths to free us from all idolatry, even the idolatry of discontentment. To uncover any hidden idols in our hearts, we must ask ourselves this question: “Is there anything about which I could possibly say, ‘I’ll only be happy when _________’?” Whatever fills in that blank is an idol, trying to take the place in our hearts that only Christ can fill.

The passage further contrasts Christ and the law. Paul never spoke against the law. Rather, he spoke about the individual’s inability to keep it. In this text he contrasted two means of coming to God: by works and by grace. If one chooses works, the law sets the standards and determines the success of that endeavor. Paul had tried that and found it unacceptable. If one chooses grace, Christ’s life and death become the hope. Paul found grace and faith to be the only way to have fellowship with God. Grace means that persons cast themselves on the mercy of God, trusting that what Jesus did will be applied to them. Grace freed Paul from self-effort to gain salvation and enabled him to devote himself to the things that follow salvation.

Comparison is an enemy of contentment and joy. Where are we most tempted to compare ourselves to others? Social media feeds the comparison monster. If we find ourselves trying to measure up to another person’s feed, maybe we should take a break or delete the application altogether.

Verse 10 to know Christ

Further defines to be found in Him v.9 if your found in Him then you will be like Him.

Daily choosing to follow Him.

The passage further contrasts Christ and the law. Paul never spoke against the law. Rather, he spoke about the individual’s inability to keep it. In this text he contrasted two means of coming to God: by works and by grace. If one chooses works, the law sets the standards and determines the success of that endeavor. Paul had tried that and found it unacceptable. If one chooses grace, Christ’s life and death become the hope. Paul found grace and faith to be the only way to have fellowship with God. Grace means that persons cast themselves on the mercy of God, trusting that what Jesus did will be applied to them. Grace freed Paul from self-effort to gain salvation and enabled him to devote himself to the things that follow salvation.

Comparison is an enemy of contentment and joy. Where are we most tempted to compare ourselves to others? Social media feeds the comparison monster. If we find ourselves trying to measure up to another person’s feed, maybe we should take a break or delete the application altogether.

Verse 10b and 11 power of resurrection

What is the power of the resurrection?

Power to change lives?

Power to heal the blind and cause the lame to walk!

Power to raise the dead!

Power to raise us from the dead!

Spiritual resurrection

glorification

Transformation

Both Paul and Pastor Yang Hua have a bigger perspective of who God is in their circumstances and what God is doing in the big picture: spreading his Kingdom and reaching people with the Gospel.

Both Paul and Pastor Yang Hua have a bigger perspective of who God is in their

circumstances and what God is doing in the big picture: spreading his Kingdom

and reaching people with the Gospel. Have a response time at the end of your

“In this day and age, we are so used to surrounding ourselves with things and stuff and all these needs that we have and kind of filling our lives and everybody tends to be busy…There’s always things going on, and I think as believers, we need to remind ourselves again that ultimately, underneath everything, that we need to sort of separate ourselves from this stuff and all these things in our lives and come back to that place of Christ being the center and our all and him being enough”

message this week where you have group pray and ask God to show them what

he is doing in and around them.

6. “In this day and age, we are so used to surrounding ourselves with things and

stuff and all these needs that we have and kind of filling our lives and everybody

tends to be busy…There’s always things going on, and I think as believers, we

need to remind ourselves again that ultimately, underneath everything, that we

need to sort of separate ourselves from this stuff and all these things in our lives

and come back to that place of Christ being the center and our all and him being

enough” (Reuben Morgan, author of Hillsong Worship’s song “Christ Is Enough,”

The passage further contrasts Christ and the law. Paul never spoke against the law. Rather, he spoke about the individual’s inability to keep it. In this text he contrasted two means of coming to God: by works and by grace. If one chooses works, the law sets the standards and determines the success of that endeavor. Paul had tried that and found it unacceptable. If one chooses grace, Christ’s life and death become the hope. Paul found grace and faith to be the only way to have fellowship with God. Grace means that persons cast themselves on the mercy of God, trusting that what Jesus did will be applied to them. Grace freed Paul from self-effort to gain salvation and enabled him to devote himself to the things that follow salvation. The problem with the false teachers Paul countered was that they had not learned what Paul had learned

Closing

Talk about making it through The Grind of life we have to know that Christ is enough. We see Paul tried it the other way, I have tried it, I am sure you have tried it but we all seem to come up empty handed.