SF593 - THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT (Philippians 4 10-23)
SF593
THE SECRET TO CONTENTMENT
Philippians 4:10-23
INTRODUCTION
Are you content? - If not, why not?
If you had the power, what would you change about your life?
How do you see God at work in your life?
What changes do you see God making?
The great theme of the book of Philippians is how to be a happy, productive, fulfilled person
I do not believe you can ever be a truly happy person unless you learn what it is to be a contented person
(1 Timothy 6:6) "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
Benjamin Franklin said: "Contentment makes a poor man rich and discontentment makes a rich man poor."
In verse 12 he says "I have learned the secret." The word was used to describe initiation into some of the secret societies of those days.
Paul teaches us three Important Lesson about How to be Content...
1A. LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN GOD’S PROVISION
1B. God Knows what You Need
God is Almighty, Omniscient God
(Matthew 6:32) "For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them."
2B. God Knows How to Meet Your Need (10; 14-18)
“Renewed” = a tree blossoming in springtime.
Often God will use other believers
(Galatians 6:10) "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."
Sometimes He meets our needs miraculously
Elijah feed by the ravens
3B.. Be Thankful for God’s Provision (12)
Poverty
Prosperity
2A. LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN GOD’S PURPOSE
“Content...” = self‑complacent, i.e. contented:‑‑content.
(1 Timothy 6:8) "But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that."
(Hebrews 13:5) "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.""
Do not allow your circumstances to control you..
1B. Not Self-Satisfaction
You ought not to just be satisfied with mediocrity in your life.
You ought never to be satisfied to be a mediocre Christian
(Philippians 3:14) "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus."
2B. Not Self-Sufficiency
“I don’t need anyone else...”
3B. It Means to be Self-Contained
It was a word sometimes used to describe a city that had no need of imports. It had everything within the boundaries of the city that it needed and it never had to go outside for any imports.
In Christ you have all you need! (19)
(Acts 17:28) "'For in him we live and move and have our being.'
3A. LEARN TO LIVE WITHIN GOD’S POWER (13)
“Strength” = to empower:‑‑enable, (increase in) strength (‑en), be (make) strong.
1B. Not the Language of the Pessimist
The pessimist says I can't do it. The optimist says I think I can do it. The Christian says, Praise God, I just did it.
2B. Not the Language of Presumption
Notice he didn't say I can do all things.
He said I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength.
3B. It is the Language of Power
"through Christ." The word strengthens really means who puts the power down on the inside
APPLICATION
God wants you to be Content.
He has provided everything you need to live a contented and victorious Life...
The Poor Farmer...
I heard about a man on a farm who barely eked out a meager existence. When the man died they discovered oil on his property. He spent a lifetime eking out a meager existence when all the time he was sitting on top of unbelievable wealth.
Are you like that Farmer...
There are a lot of Christians just eking out a meager Christian life, just barely getting by. All the time you are right in the midst of a gold mine, right in the midst of an oil well of power and satisfaction and strength and love and joy.
Don't be satisfied until you have learned the secret of contentment.
You will never know true contentment until you know Christ as you Lord and Savior!