Sermon Tone Analysis

Ez. 20:40-44

Prayer

Prayer

Introduction

This sermon is brought to you by the letter “C”.

As we are approaching the end of Paul’s letter to the Philippians, we will notice that Paul is wrapping things up and getting kinda personal.

Paul has corrected, encouraged and rebuked the Philippians, and now he has a few last things to say.

He wants to show his appreciation to the Philippians.

So, let’s turn to the Scripture.

Scripture

Our passage this morning is .

If you are able, please stand for the reading of God’s Word.

We do this to show appreciation to God for His Word and in realization that these are among the most important words we could hope to hear today.

says,

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.

You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound.

In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble.

And you Philippians yourselves know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only.

Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again.

Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.

I have received full payment, and more.

I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.”

You may be seated.

Sermon

Paul begins by telling the Philippians how he rejoiced in the Lord for their concern for him.

I want to take a second an explain a little bit about what is going on here so that we can better understand Paul’s statement.

A little background on the relationship between Paul and the Philippians.

First of all, Paul had brought the Gospel to the Philippians during his second missionary journey – you can read the story in – and visited again on his third missionary journey.

While on his second missionary journey, the Philippians provided for Paul financially as Paul continued carrying the Gospel to other places like Thessalonica and Corinth.

So, there is a history of the Philippians showing their appreciation to Paul for his Gospel ministry to them through supporting him and his ministry.

Now, as Paul has been incarcerated, the Philippians have had the opportunity to support him once again.

This time, they sent their love and monetary support with one of their church leaders, Epaphroditus.

You may remember that Epaphroditus became ill on the journey and nearly died, which caused a great deal of worry for the Philippians which Paul addressed earlier in the letter, reassuring them that Epaphroditus is well.

All that background information is important so that we can better grasp what is going on here.

We have to read between the lines just a little bit, but it seems that something had happened such that the Philippians were unable to support Paul financially for a little while.

It wasn’t that the Philippians stopped caring about Paul, simply that something in their or his circumstances prevented them from providing for him.

That’s what Paul is getting at when he says that they “now at length revived their concern.”

He goes on to clarify that they always were concerned, they just didn’t have the opportunity to show it in the same ways as before, and even as now.

There are two, quick points I want us to notice before we move on.

First, Paul rejoices in the Lord.

Paul rightly understands that the gift from the Philippians is ultimately a gift from God – more on that in a little bit.

The second quick thing I want us to notice is that how deeply connected the Philippians were with Paul.

They were basically co-laborers with him in the Gospel.

Paul has a deep love and concern for the Philippians which has been expressed throughout the letter, and the Philippians have a deep love and concern for Paul which has been expressed through obeying his teaching and supporting his ministry.

There is a deep, mutual concern for one another.

We see Paul’s concern for the Philippians in that he wants to make sure that they do not feel bad or guilty for not being able to support him for a season.

That’s what is happening in verse 11. “I appreciate your gift, but even when you couldn’t send it, I was fine because I was content in Christ.”

Paul has learned how to be content in every situation.

He knows how to be brought low and how to abound.

Listen to what Paul says, he has learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need.

Two questions come to mind when I read that.

How do I learn the secret to contentedness?

What is that secret?

And, why does Paul need to be content in abundance?

Let’s deal with the last question first.

Why does Paul need to be content in plenty?

I get the need to be content in need and hunger and when brought low, but isn’t it natural to be content when you have everything you need?

The short answer is no.

Because of our fallen, sinful nature, we do not tend to be content when we have plenty.

We always want more.

Let’s look at a few verses that bear that out: says,

“He who loves money will not be satisfied with money, nor he who loves wealth with his income; this also is vanity.

When goods increase, they increase who eat them, and what advantage has their owner but to see them with his eyes?

Sweet is the sleep of a laborer, whether he eats little or much, but the full stomach of the rich will not let him sleep.”

Or let’s look to , which says,

“For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils.

It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy.”

Having plenty does not guarantee contentedness and lacking money does not make one more virtuous.

The problem is our sinful hearts.

Our sinful hearts are prone to misuse poverty and riches unless we learn the secret to being content.

So back to that question, What is the secret to being content in lack and abundance?

Paul’s secret is that he knew what was truly valuable and focused on that thing.

That thing is Christ who strengthens Paul.

I love this verse, but so often we rip it out of context and start talking about how we can win football games because Christ strengthens us.

That is so far removed from Paul’s point that it is almost funny.

In fact, I saw a meme not that long ago that poked fun at this very tendency we have.

It says, I can do all things through a verse taken out of context.

It’s almost funny, but it really is sad because we miss the importance of what Paul is saying here.

Paul’s big secret is that he has learned to focus on Christ.

It is Christ who strengthens him in both lacking and abundance – not wealth!

Listen, when we realize and embrace the infinite and awesome value of Jesus Christ – when we are enraptured by the beauty and majesty of Christ Jesus our Lord, everything else is just trinkets.

When I was a kid I used to love to go to the dollar store and buy toys because I could get so many toys with just a couple dollars.

As I got a little older, I realized that those toys I got at the dollar store were not very high quality, they broke very quickly and didn’t last.

In reality, they were just junk.

When we learn and recognize how valuable – how priceless – Jesus is, everything else just seems like dollar-store trinkets.

They don’t last and they don’t give real strength.

Contentedness comes through focusing on Christ and valuing Him above all else.

Paul wasn’t in need because he already had everything he needed – he had Christ.

So Paul was content.

This section of Paul’s letter really does go back and forth a lot.

I rejoiced that you finally renewed your concern for me, but I know that you always had concern for me.

I didn’t really need the gift, but it was kind of you to share my trouble.

That’s where we are now, On your outline in the bulletin, we are to “Charity”.

Paul while adamant that he is satisfied in Christ , wants the Philippians to know how much the gift means to him.

But we should notice how Paul frames it.