Sermon Tone Analysis

Introduction and Overview

The text for today is .

The theme of this passage is really twofold, it’s about Paul’s (and by way of application, us) contentment and God’s provision or providence.

Those terms might be somewhat unfamiliar and we will define them.

Read the Text

Just a quick reminder that Paul is imprisoned in Rome.

That will help us get a better idea of Paul’s contentment.

He is literally in chains as he writes this.

Again Paul rejoices and again he expresses his love and affection for the Philippians.

What at first might seem like a rebuke for their lack of concern previously he qualifies that they had no opportunity.

Getting a gift from Philippi to Rome wasn’t as simple as sending money is for us today.

We have Venmo and many other means to transfer funds instantly.

In the 1st century sending a financial gift required someone to personally deliver it.

The distance from Philippi to Rome is just under 800 miles.

Think of walking that distance particularly with the terrain and also the Adriatic Sea.

Understanding what the trip would require you’d think no wonder Epaphroditus got so sick.

My estimate is probably a 2 to 2.5 month trip depending on the time of year.

So this was a big commitment, not only the financial commitment, but the time commitment.

Quick reminder:

The Philippians weren’t a wealthy congregation.

Their giving here was truly sacrificial.

That’s a very tender and special portrait of the church at Philippi.

What is Paul talking about?

What was their revived concern?

And what does he mean they had no opportunity?

—Quick Sidenote--

The word used here for concern is a verb has to do with thinking and the mind.

Paul thus far has focused greatly on the mind.

Concern to Paul begins in the mind but doesn’t end in the mind, it grows legs.

It’s the working out what God is working in (2:12-13).

It’s the net effect of Christ-like thinking.

Their concern is shown or expressed through financial gifts (Verse 18).

And we will see later how this sacrificial giving is ultimately an act of worship.

Paul then moves in 4:11-13 to express his contentment.

These verses are really parenthetical to his main point.

He speaks here of his contentment which really serves to emphasize the graciousness of the Philippians gift.

We will come back and focus more on the Christians contentment and how that relates to God’s providence.

What is the “secret” of Paul’s contentment (V.12).

Verse 14 kind of echoes what Paul stated in 1:4-5

Their partnership in the gospel and the ministry both in Philippi and Rome included their generosity and financial contributions.

Paul implies in verse 10 (at last) that he was expecting their gift yet not for his personal gain or selfish benefit but as the fruit of their faith (17).

Paul communicates his needs are met and again expresses his contentment, thus encouraging the Philippians (18).

He also reminds them that this act of worship is pleasing to the Lord.

He reminds them

We could really do a whole study on worship as serving the Lord.

Serving God is our act of worship.

This goes well beyond our 11 o'clock service.

Lastly, Paul provides them with a benediction, or a good saying, which is the blessing of God on them.

Providence and Our God

a. Definitions

prov·i·dence

noun: providence

the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.

Similar:

divine intervention

Google disappoints us here and we want to have more biblical definition.

**Caution**

The word providence isn’t in the Bible.

Neither is trinity, or sovereignty.

All words that are used quite frequently in Christian speech.

So we don’t have a specific text that defines a word that comes to us from outside the Bible, but what’s important it does the Bible support the definition we have for a word that we are using to describe God.

Is the idea a biblical one.

Definition

God’s providence is God’s wisdom, purpose, power, and authority acted out and fulfilled.

God’s providence manifests itself in many ways.

If we were to say “its providential that we met here today” we would be acknowledging not only God’s power to bring this event together but it would include God’s good purpose and wisdom in bringing it to pass.

The opposite would be to set “hey we met by chance” or “good luck”.

Luck is an imaginary concept that suggests there is not a personal God governing all things.

A recognition of God’s providence includes seeing all things as from God, or at least an understanding that God is ultimately the Lord of everything.

noun

noun: providence

the protective care of God or of nature as a spiritual power.

"they found their trust in divine providence to be a source of comfort"

h

Similar:

fate

destiny

nemesis

kismet

God's will

divine intervention

In the word providence we can easily see “provide”.

The latin word whereby we get the word provide can mean to “see to”.

Like your parent’s might say “see to it that your room is clean”.

Pro: Means before Vide: before (from Videre).

From the Heidelberg Catetchism

📷

Question: What do you understand by the providence of God?

late Middle English (also in the sense ‘prepare to do, get ready’): from Latin providere ‘foresee, attend to’, from pro- ‘before’ + videre ‘to see’.

Answer: The almighty, everywhere present power of God, whereby, as it were, by his hand, he still upholds heaven and earth with all creatures and so governs them that herbs and grass, rain and drought, fruitful and barren years, meat and drink, health and sickness, riches and poverty, indeed, all things come not by chance, but by his fatherly hand.

Now do we see this in the Bible?

That verse is really amazing to think about.

I think for the most part we are thrilled by the fact that all things are working together for our good.

It’s the good that we are excited about but think a little deeper about that verse.

It includes God’s working (or God’s providence) for every single second of our lives.

God managing, governing, ruling, providing everything.

God is orchestrating, again by His wisdom and supreme purpose, everything in your life.

Oh, how we fail to recognize God’s goodness and providence as we should.

And it’s important to note that we don’t always know how God is using our current circumstances to accomplish His will and purpose.

Do we see God’s providence in the rain?

Think of how the whole of creation is blessed by God’s provision of water.