Philipians 4:10-20, June 5, 2022

Introduction

Gratitude

It’s profound the capacity that Paul has for joy. He writes this letter from prison. He has quite a few reasons to complain because of persistent persecution. And yet his response to what’s happening right now is gratitude. We talked a little bit last week about how because Paul was focused on the mission and mindset of Christ he had great capacity for joy no matter what the situation. He had the power to be consistently rejoicing because of what gave him and gave his life meaning.

Today we're going to take this passage in kind of two chunks not necessarily working straight through it but kind of thinking thematically about what's happening here. And the first thing that we see happening here is Paul expressing gratitude for how the church responded to his incarceration.

Paul’s Gratitude

Philippians 4:10 ESV

10 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.

Philippians 4:14–18 ESV

14 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 15 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. 16 Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 18 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 know it's easy for us to think about the ministry of Paul being a sure thing period it's easy for us to in retrospect see Paul having this worldwide ministry and traveling effortlessly. But as he mentions here he was able to do what he did because of the support of the church. And as he mentions here especially in verse 15 there was a time when no church partnered with him except for the church in philippi.

Not only were they willing to partner with him there persistent in partnering with him.

We need to remember that today as much as in Paul's day ministry and missions take persistent partnerships.

We give to missions to equip people to walk in the footsteps of Paul in sharing the Gospel hope of Jesus.

We give to missions to invest in Heaven.

Philippians 4:17 ESV

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

When we are faithful investing Armani in things that honor God and contribute to the growth of his Kingdom God will reward us for what we have done. We are investing in things that last. And sometimes the reward will be in heaven.

We give to missions to please God.

Philippians 4:18 ESV

18 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.

What we can learn from Paul’s contentment.

Philippians 4:11–13 ESV

11 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 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. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

We know that Paul was shipwrecked multiple times he was stoned to death or nearly so several times he was sick so much that he almost died multiple times he was rejected by town after town and he threw away the wealth and power of his former life to pursue following Christ. And yet he knew how to be content no matter what the circumstance. He was content and at peace. What was his secret?

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

For Paul the secret to contentment was a persistent dependence on his savior.

So what does that mean for us? How do we pursue contentment in every situation through the strength of our savior?

Let's take a look at another passage where Paul wrestles with a problem in his own life.

2 Corinthians 12:7–10 ESV

7 So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. 8 Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me. 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

so Paul had a thorn in the flesh. A lot of people think it was a physical ailment like bad eyesight or bad legs and he pleaded with God for freedom. And this was in a time and age where many people were experiencing miraculous healings. And yet God chose to leave this thorn in the flesh with Paul and God told Paul that his strength is perfected in weakness. The more that he suffered weaknesses and leaned on Jesus the more he experienced the strength of Christ. The power of Christ. Because of this he found contentment in any situation. And his contentment was not based on his capacity to control his situation. His contentment was based on the realization that even when he felt weak and out of control that was the point that he was depending on Jesus the most. And oddly he found strength in weakness.

Where in your life today do you feel weak and need to depend on God? Where in your life do you feel a thorn in the flesh bugging you and slowing you down that you've asked God to take away from you time and time again? It may be in your point of weakness that God has given you the opportunity to experience his strength.

But sometimes even when you're trying your best to be content. Sometimes even when you are trying your best to depend on the power of God he can feel quite far away. know that you are not alone and others have written about these feelings as well. Read the book of psalms.

The Psalm writers write both the Peace of

Psalm 23:1 ESV

1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

and many psalms struggling with faith in God.

I love how the Old Testament prophet Habakkuk puts it:

Habakkuk 3:17–19 ESV

17 Though the fig tree should not blossom, nor fruit be on the vines, the produce of the olive fail and the fields yield no food, the flock be cut off from the fold and there be no herd in the stalls, 18 yet I will rejoice in the Lord; I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 19 God, the Lord, is my strength; he makes my feet like the deer’s; he makes me tread on my high places. To the choirmaster: with stringed instruments.

We don't need to have the faith of giants as we face uncertain or uncomfortable situations. But we can always make the choice to find our strength in our God. And in that is the secret of contentment. It's choosing to look to God for hope and peace. Not comfort, not money, not power, not health, it's trust in God.

Paul’s Confidence

Philippians 4:19 ESV

19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

Sometimes this verse is misunderstood and people feel like God is not keeping his promises when they see more bills then dollars. Sometimes they feel like God's not keeping his promises when they face huge problems that don't seem to go away. This verse isn't saying that we will never experience need or want. It tells us that God will supply our needs. Sometimes he does this by meeting the need. Sometimes he supplies our needs by giving us the strength we need to face the need.

Philippians 4:13 ESV

13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.

David wrote about this strength

Psalm 18:29 ESV

29 For by you I can run against a troop, and by my God I can leap over a wall.

Opening Up Philippians Paul Expresses an Assurance (v. 19)

We prefer always to leap over the wall of need, leaving it behind. But we should not despise the other possibility—that is, God enabling us to run against or go through a troop.

Think about the famous story of David and Goliath. God could have easily giving Goliath a heart attack or food poisoning so he couldn't fight. He could have vaporized Goliath in a moment and gotten rid of that pesky problem of the giant challenging the armies of God. And yet he chose to give David the strength to face Goliath.

Sometimes in our lives God will supply our need by taking care of the need so we don't feel it anymore. And sometimes God will supply our need by giving us the strength to face the need. The strength to do the work period the strength to fight the long term sickness. The strength to handle the relationship over the long haul. Sometimes God helps us and supplies our need one day at a time giving us strength to face our need.

Opening Up Philippians Paul Expresses an Assurance (v. 19)

Needs that simply get vaporized may seem more glamorous, but strength to face and meet needs is just as much from God.

Paul’s Prayer, a Crucial Reminder

Philippians 4:20 ESV

20 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

God is worthy of glory and honor forever. His worthy of glory and honor because he is God he sits in throned in majesty on high and will rule forever. God also worthy of glory and honor because he is God the father. He is the father of all who come to him by grace. He sees you and I as his children and he loves us and watches out for us. He cares for us and he watches out for our needs. He is worthy of worship and praise and glory and adoration.

When Paul concludes with the word Amen he is saying let it be. He is saying let God's will be. Living a life of contentment and joy means a life where we are also trusting God and saying with Paul, let it be.

A conclusion with grace

Philippians 4:21–23 ESV

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

A conclusion to this sermon :)

Live with gratitude.

Invest in the Lord’s work.

Choose Contentment by trusting God with your life.