WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:03.040 Thanks for checking out this podcast from Cardiff Christian Church. 00:00:03.120 --> 00:00:04.160 We're so glad you're here. 00:00:04.320 --> 00:00:09.679 Our hope is that through these messages you'll grow deeper in your faith and experience the life-changing hope of Jesus. 00:00:09.839 --> 00:00:12.320 Now let's jump into this week's teaching. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:19.600 I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:00:19.760 --> 00:00:23.120 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:28.960 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:00:29.199 --> 00:00:32.240 I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. 00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:38.479 In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:00:38.640 --> 00:00:41.439 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:00:41.840 --> 00:00:53.280 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. 00:00:53.600 --> 00:00:58.159 Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my need once and again. 00:00:58.479 --> 00:01:02.240 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:01:02.399 --> 00:01:04.319 I have received full payment and more. 00:01:04.480 --> 00:01:11.680 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gift you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:01:11.840 --> 00:01:16.879 And my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches, and glory in Jesus Christ. 00:01:17.120 --> 00:01:19.519 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:01:19.920 --> 00:01:20.560 Amen. 00:01:20.879 --> 00:01:22.560 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. 00:01:22.640 --> 00:01:24.239 The brothers who are with me greet you. 00:01:24.400 --> 00:01:27.120 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. 00:01:27.359 --> 00:01:29.920 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:31.439 You can have a seat. 00:01:40.000 --> 00:01:42.799 Several fun things happening for us as a church this morning. 00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:44.719 First, it's promotion Sunday. 00:01:44.959 --> 00:01:46.640 Probably saw that as you dropped kids off. 00:01:46.719 --> 00:01:51.439 There's donuts out there, littered out there for all the all the kids moving up to the next class. 00:01:52.079 --> 00:02:00.159 What a joy it is for us to be able to see the growth happen in the next generation and see them continue in their faith and their walk with the Lord. 00:02:00.239 --> 00:02:06.079 And just to get to help to help guide them in that walk is a privilege that we don't take for granted. 00:02:06.319 --> 00:02:07.920 It's also uh important day. 00:02:08.000 --> 00:02:14.400 There's a there's a group of like 60 plus junior high students heading out to Camp Sawakomo this afternoon. 00:02:14.479 --> 00:02:19.599 Uh awesome opportunity for them to connect in community and connect with the Lord and continue to grow in their faith. 00:02:19.759 --> 00:02:33.599 Man, would you cont would you pray over all of the adult leaders, all the sponsors over Jordan and Danny, our youth ministers, as they lead that trip this weekend or this week over the next over the next five days, uh with 60 plus junior hires. 00:02:33.680 --> 00:02:36.879 Uh again, just an awesome opportunity for them to grow in the Lord. 00:02:36.960 --> 00:02:42.719 And then as Dave already already mentioned, this is this is us wrapping up our Philippians series today. 00:02:42.879 --> 00:02:47.439 What a what a joy it's been just to be able to study this uh this letter. 00:02:47.520 --> 00:03:01.840 Uh, I hope you've been reading along with us as we've gone through this, and uh maybe you've maybe you've taken a few weeks uh or maybe every week you've you've taken that that reading challenge and just sat down and read the book of Philippians through uh in one in one sitting. 00:03:02.000 --> 00:03:07.680 Man, I hope it's been a joy and a blessing to you just to let those words just kind of wash over you. 00:03:07.840 --> 00:03:09.599 We've seen this throughout this whole series. 00:03:09.759 --> 00:03:17.439 We've seen that Paul, this this guy who's writing this letter, his life was radically changed, radically changed by the gospel of Jesus. 00:03:17.520 --> 00:03:25.680 And and the gospel has become central to him, not just the like this optional add-on to his life, but literally everything, the foundation for his life. 00:03:25.840 --> 00:03:30.800 And so as a result, it impacts his perspective and his goals and his attitude and his message. 00:03:30.960 --> 00:03:36.560 And so he points to the example of Jesus and says, we need to have the same attitude as him. 00:03:36.719 --> 00:03:44.479 We need to follow his example in humility, and we need to continue to grow in him, and we need to follow other examples who are who are pursuing him faithfully. 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:48.879 And he tells us that, hey, nothing compares to what we have in Christ. 00:03:49.039 --> 00:03:51.039 So we press on to make it our own. 00:03:51.120 --> 00:03:55.759 And as we do this, we are continuing to be shaped into people of peace. 00:03:55.919 --> 00:03:58.879 And this is all possible because of the gospel. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:13.919 This is all possible because our God left his place, left his throne on high and put on flesh and came and walked among us, dwelt among us, and died in our place, and rose again on the third day, and our lives are radically changed. 00:04:14.080 --> 00:04:16.240 If we're if we are in Christ, we are radically changed. 00:04:16.319 --> 00:04:17.680 We are not the same. 00:04:17.920 --> 00:04:29.519 And as we've as we've gone through this letter, what we what we talked about early on was hey, a lot of times we know the book of Philippians by just like the coffee cup verses, is what we said, right? 00:04:29.759 --> 00:04:35.839 Like sometimes we sometimes we just we just know them by these famous little quips, you know, that that Paul has. 00:04:36.000 --> 00:04:41.439 And there's a lot of them in the book of Philippians, this joyful letter, and there's a lot of one-liners. 00:04:41.519 --> 00:04:46.160 I'm I'm just gonna be honest with you, probably the most popular one-liner is in our text today. 00:04:46.240 --> 00:04:49.360 I don't know if you heard it as Dave was reading Philippians chapter 4, 13. 00:04:49.439 --> 00:04:50.480 I guarantee you know it. 00:04:50.560 --> 00:04:54.240 It's this I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:04:54.399 --> 00:04:56.720 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:04:56.879 --> 00:05:05.680 And this is, I mean, like everybody, everybody who's gone to church, I'm I'm assuming, has it has some kind of familiarity with this with this passage. 00:05:05.759 --> 00:05:11.199 Even if you've just lived in the Bible belt for long enough, you have familiarity with this passage, right? 00:05:11.360 --> 00:05:17.759 It's on somebody's Facebook post or on somebody's t-shirt or on somebody's coffee cup somewhere, or somebody's bumper sticker somewhere, right? 00:05:17.839 --> 00:05:19.279 Like it's it's all around us. 00:05:19.360 --> 00:05:30.480 One scholar said this verse might be one of the most beloved and tattooed verses in all of scripture, but also simultaneously one of the most misinterpreted and misused passages in all of scripture. 00:05:30.720 --> 00:05:33.680 And so let me be let me just be very honest and very clear. 00:05:33.839 --> 00:05:45.199 I I want to throw my name in the hat of those who have misused this scripture, who have who have used it in ways that it is not intended to be used, and tried to find application on it that's not meant to be used. 00:05:45.279 --> 00:05:54.399 But but just so we're all on the same page, Philippians chapter 4, verse 13 is not some magical equation to make all of your wildest dreams come true. 00:05:54.639 --> 00:05:56.079 Let me let me clarify. 00:05:56.319 --> 00:06:00.399 Like Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean you can ask her out and she's gonna say yes. 00:06:00.560 --> 00:06:02.800 You know, you haven't been wearing deodorant for weeks, man. 00:06:02.879 --> 00:06:03.920 It's not gonna happen. 00:06:04.639 --> 00:06:10.639 Philippians 14, 4.13 doesn't mean you're gonna get the promotion when you haven't shown up to work on time in years, you know. 00:06:10.879 --> 00:06:14.639 Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean you're gonna drop 40 points in your next next basketball game. 00:06:14.720 --> 00:06:15.920 You're four feet tall, okay? 00:06:16.000 --> 00:06:16.879 It's not gonna happen. 00:06:17.040 --> 00:06:22.399 Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean you're gonna ace the test if you haven't studied or paid attention in class at all. 00:06:22.560 --> 00:06:28.000 Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean you could pay all your bills when you just spent your last$20 on Chipotle, you know? 00:06:28.160 --> 00:06:29.120 It's just not gonna happen. 00:06:29.279 --> 00:06:34.399 And Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean your team's gonna win the Western Conference Finals, even though I tried, okay? 00:06:34.560 --> 00:06:37.040 I tried praying that for the thunder last night. 00:06:37.120 --> 00:06:38.319 It just didn't happen, you know? 00:06:38.480 --> 00:06:42.399 But Philippians 4.13 doesn't mean your your team's gonna win the state championship either. 00:06:42.560 --> 00:06:45.600 The other team said the same thing in the other locker room, you know? 00:06:45.680 --> 00:06:47.199 Like it's not how this works. 00:06:47.439 --> 00:06:55.600 I was talking to my wife about this this passage last week, and I told her I was preaching on Philippians 4.13, and she said, You're never gonna guess what I did in high school. 00:06:55.680 --> 00:07:00.800 And my wife played basketball all through school and was, I mean, way better at basketball than I was. 00:07:00.879 --> 00:07:08.319 And and she said every time she would go to the free throw line in high school, she would recite Philippians 4.13 as she's getting ready to shoot a bat shooter free throws. 00:07:08.560 --> 00:07:10.560 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me, right? 00:07:10.639 --> 00:07:13.920 And let's be clear, there are worse things to say at the free throw line, you know? 00:07:14.000 --> 00:07:20.079 Like there's worse things you can say, but I don't know if if the Lord's really interested in your free throw percentage. 00:07:20.240 --> 00:07:24.079 You know, maybe he was, maybe that's why she's a better free throw shooter than I am. 00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:26.240 I I maybe I could have taken a note from that. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:29.680 I was shooting 27% from the free throw line as a freshman at Ozark. 00:07:29.759 --> 00:07:31.120 Okay, I probably should have said that. 00:07:31.199 --> 00:07:32.399 Maybe it would have helped a little bit. 00:07:32.560 --> 00:07:33.920 But here's my point. 00:07:34.639 --> 00:07:46.399 Like just saying I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me doesn't mean that everything in your life will automatically happen how you want it and how you expect it to happen. 00:07:46.959 --> 00:07:53.360 And so if this isn't a magical equation to get what you want, then what is Philippians 4.13 really all about? 00:07:53.759 --> 00:07:56.800 And I really, if I could sum it up, I would say this. 00:07:56.879 --> 00:07:59.600 I think Philippians 4.13 is about a secret. 00:08:00.000 --> 00:08:13.120 A secret that you and I are looking for, are longing for, that you and I desperately need, that you and I are constantly on the look for, a secret that we're striving to acquire, a secret of contentment. 00:08:13.360 --> 00:08:14.720 That's what we're striving for. 00:08:14.879 --> 00:08:16.079 You and I know about this word. 00:08:16.160 --> 00:08:24.959 The definition of contentment, according to Webster's dictionaries, is simply this the quality of being or feeling satisfied with one's possession, status, or situation. 00:08:25.199 --> 00:08:33.200 So we ask this question, like what's, and maybe not out loud, but the way we live our lives, we ask this question: what's gonna satisfy me? 00:08:33.440 --> 00:08:35.120 Like, what really is gonna satisfy me? 00:08:35.200 --> 00:08:37.279 Is that relationship gonna satisfy me? 00:08:37.600 --> 00:08:40.159 Is that that job gonna satisfy me? 00:08:40.320 --> 00:08:42.399 Is this house going to satisfy me? 00:08:42.720 --> 00:08:44.799 Are these things going to satisfy me? 00:08:44.960 --> 00:08:46.799 Is this this vacation or this trip? 00:08:46.960 --> 00:08:49.039 Is this this whatever, fill in the blank? 00:08:49.120 --> 00:08:54.960 All of us are looking for this in some way in our lives, what ultimately is going to satisfy us? 00:08:55.200 --> 00:09:07.519 And I think as we dive into Paul's words in Philippians chapter 4, we're gonna see a couple important ingredients to what this, where this contentment is found, how it's acquired, and what it looks like practically for us. 00:09:07.679 --> 00:09:11.120 So read with me again in Philippians chapter 4, verses 10 through 13. 00:09:11.200 --> 00:09:12.320 This is what Paul says. 00:09:12.559 --> 00:09:18.159 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:09:18.240 --> 00:09:21.039 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:09:21.279 --> 00:09:26.639 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:09:26.879 --> 00:09:29.840 I know how to be brought low, I know how to abound. 00:09:30.000 --> 00:09:35.759 In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:09:35.840 --> 00:09:39.440 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:09:39.840 --> 00:09:46.879 So the first thing I think we need to look at here in Paul's Paul's uh words here is just like, where can where can contentment be found? 00:09:47.039 --> 00:09:48.159 Where can we find this contentment? 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:50.399 And contentment is found in Christ. 00:09:50.639 --> 00:09:55.360 I'm sure you don't expect to hear anything different at a at a church service this morning, right? 00:09:55.600 --> 00:10:00.559 Um this is what Philippians 4.13 is really talking about in the larger context of this chapter. 00:10:00.639 --> 00:10:07.519 It's talking about this contentment that we now have, no matter the circumstances, because we have Christ. 00:10:07.840 --> 00:10:12.799 But there is a deeper level to this in the original language that Paul's that Paul's writing in. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:18.720 The Greek word that he uses for that word content is the Greek word autarkis. 00:10:18.879 --> 00:10:21.440 It means like to be entirely self-sufficient. 00:10:21.600 --> 00:10:22.960 This is this is what he's getting at. 00:10:23.120 --> 00:10:28.799 This word was a popular, like philosophical term that really meant like, hey, I'm gonna be just fine. 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:30.320 Like I will be fine. 00:10:30.480 --> 00:10:47.360 And what's interesting is that like the thinkers of Philippi, the philosophers, the stoics that were that were present in Philippi, they would have been chasing this as their chief end to reach this this state of autar case where they could be completely self-sufficient and self-rule. 00:10:47.440 --> 00:10:49.200 It was their chief end to get to this place. 00:10:49.279 --> 00:10:57.919 And they believed that this was like a state of mind, a state of mind in which a man was absolutely absolutely independent of all things and of all people. 00:10:58.240 --> 00:11:02.399 So what they did was they started emptying themselves of things. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:05.919 That was that was how they achieved this state of contentment. 00:11:06.080 --> 00:11:08.240 They would empty themselves of all desire. 00:11:08.480 --> 00:11:15.679 It was this famous saying, like, if you want, if you want to make a man happy, add not to his possessions, but take away from his desires. 00:11:15.759 --> 00:11:16.559 That's what they believed. 00:11:16.720 --> 00:11:17.919 Like, don't just add more stuff. 00:11:18.000 --> 00:11:19.200 That's not how you make a man happy. 00:11:19.279 --> 00:11:23.440 You take away from his desires, and that's how you can make him more content. 00:11:23.679 --> 00:11:27.679 So eliminate all desire, but then also eliminate all emotion. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:32.559 Like, like the words I don't care would have been, would have been a phrase that they would say all the time. 00:11:32.720 --> 00:11:39.120 I don't care what happens to me, I don't care what happens to the people around me, I don't care what happens to my things or my stuff. 00:11:39.360 --> 00:11:50.639 Like they would literally try to empty themselves of all desire, of all emotion, of all care, and and in doing so, they would just make themselves kind of like this empty shell of themselves. 00:11:50.879 --> 00:11:58.720 And they said, Hey, this is this is the way, this is how you achieve autarkase, true contentment, is by just emptying yourself in this way. 00:11:59.039 --> 00:12:05.039 And the only way you get there is by hard work, determination, the human will and effort. 00:12:05.360 --> 00:12:14.480 And when Paul is saying he's learned this secret of what they're looking for, what he's what he's doing is actually flipping it on its head completely. 00:12:14.720 --> 00:12:18.559 No, the secret is not like completely emptying myself of everything. 00:12:18.720 --> 00:12:22.320 The the secret is filling myself completely with Christ. 00:12:22.559 --> 00:12:23.759 That's the secret here. 00:12:23.919 --> 00:12:31.120 This is not about what I have done or what I do, but it is what has been done for me in Christ in the finished work on the cross. 00:12:31.279 --> 00:12:34.080 This is all about all rooted and established in him. 00:12:34.399 --> 00:12:43.279 According to Paul, like true autarkes, true contentment is not found in being self-sufficient, but rather being Christ-sufficient. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:45.679 Like being so reliant on him. 00:12:46.080 --> 00:12:51.279 It becomes from being totally and completely dependent on Christ who strengthens me in the highs and lows. 00:12:51.360 --> 00:12:56.639 Like I'm not putting my faith in my circumstances, but in the sovereign king of my circumstances. 00:12:56.799 --> 00:12:59.679 And as a result, contentment follows. 00:13:00.000 --> 00:13:08.480 There was a helpful and challenging uh exercise that Michael DeFazio uh presented that you should do. 00:13:08.639 --> 00:13:10.240 I think I would encourage you to do this this week. 00:13:10.320 --> 00:13:14.480 How many of you guys have ever made a list of goals and dreams? 00:13:14.639 --> 00:13:19.519 You have financial goals, you have family goals, you have like goals for trips and experiences you want to do. 00:13:19.600 --> 00:13:20.480 Maybe you have a bucket list. 00:13:20.639 --> 00:13:21.840 Anybody ever done a bucket list before? 00:13:21.919 --> 00:13:23.200 Raise your hand really high if you've done it. 00:13:23.279 --> 00:13:23.679 Okay, right? 00:13:23.840 --> 00:13:24.559 Some of you have done that. 00:13:24.639 --> 00:13:26.159 I would encourage you to do that this week. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:30.960 Make a list this week and think about all the all your goals and dreams, all your desires. 00:13:31.120 --> 00:13:31.840 Let me be honest. 00:13:32.000 --> 00:13:40.480 Philippians 4.13 is not, hey, make a list and then everything will happen how you want it to, because you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you. 00:13:40.720 --> 00:13:46.240 No, Philippians 4.13 is, hey, make the list and then go through it once at a time. 00:13:46.720 --> 00:13:49.200 That would be great if that happened to me. 00:13:49.519 --> 00:13:51.440 But if it doesn't, I'm fine. 00:13:52.080 --> 00:13:53.600 Because I have Christ. 00:13:54.240 --> 00:13:57.039 Like that would be great if I was able to experience that. 00:13:57.200 --> 00:14:01.600 But if it if I'm not able to, man, I'm okay because I have Christ. 00:14:01.840 --> 00:14:06.639 Like it would be great if I was able to meet somebody and start a family with them. 00:14:06.720 --> 00:14:10.000 But if not, I'm okay because I have Christ. 00:14:10.320 --> 00:14:16.240 Man, it would be great if I got a healing from this diagnosis that is just weighing over me. 00:14:16.399 --> 00:14:20.639 But man, if not, I'm okay because I have Christ. 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:28.799 It would be great if I could see that, like if I could, if we could afford that house and we could move into that neighborhood, if we could be a part of that community. 00:14:28.960 --> 00:14:30.879 But man, if not, we're we're okay. 00:14:30.960 --> 00:14:32.080 We've got Christ. 00:14:32.399 --> 00:14:43.200 It would be awesome, you know, like if I was able to experience those things or be able to go on that trip or be able to like have that kind of lifestyle, but if not, I'm I'm okay. 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:45.120 Like I have Christ. 00:14:45.759 --> 00:14:53.519 And I I wonder, I wonder if this would reveal some things that we're trusting in a little bit too much. 00:14:54.000 --> 00:15:04.159 If you listed out your goals and your dreams and your wishes and your desires, and you're able to look at each of them and say, if not, I'm okay. 00:15:04.720 --> 00:15:06.240 Like if like that's great. 00:15:06.320 --> 00:15:09.919 I I I want to strive for that, but if not, like I'm I'm okay. 00:15:10.159 --> 00:15:11.919 I'm content with Christ. 00:15:12.159 --> 00:15:16.000 Like I have I have found him and he is enough for me. 00:15:16.399 --> 00:15:27.120 One author said it this way Philippians 4.13 is the testimony of those who have Christ and have found him supremely valuable, joyous, satisfying. 00:15:27.519 --> 00:15:29.039 May this be true of us. 00:15:29.279 --> 00:15:32.639 No matter the circumstance, may it be true of us. 00:15:32.960 --> 00:15:40.639 And maybe, maybe you hear this and you're you're like me, and you're like, well, that's great, but I don't know if I could say that about myself right now, and I don't know if I'm gonna get there. 00:15:40.799 --> 00:15:43.440 Like I don't know if I'm gonna be able to feel that way anytime soon. 00:15:43.519 --> 00:15:45.759 Like, there seems like no hope that I can feel that way. 00:15:46.000 --> 00:15:47.759 I would I would tell you, keep reading. 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:55.759 Keep reading, because I think Paul, I think Paul tells us not just where contentment can be found, but how it can be acquired. 00:15:56.000 --> 00:15:57.120 This is how it's acquired. 00:15:57.200 --> 00:15:59.120 Contentment is it's learned over time. 00:15:59.279 --> 00:16:00.960 Do you see that in the text? 00:16:01.200 --> 00:16:04.639 Two different times that Paul says that in those first four verses. 00:16:04.879 --> 00:16:06.000 I have learned. 00:16:06.159 --> 00:16:07.919 This is what he says in verse 11. 00:16:08.080 --> 00:16:11.039 I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:16:11.200 --> 00:16:16.720 In verse 12, he says, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:16:16.960 --> 00:16:22.080 Like Paul is saying, contentment in Christ is learned over time, and it makes sense, doesn't it? 00:16:22.320 --> 00:16:22.960 It makes sense. 00:16:23.120 --> 00:16:26.480 Contentment in our world isn't a natural response. 00:16:26.720 --> 00:16:34.000 Like we live in this world where there is more to keep us entertained than there ever has been in human history. 00:16:34.240 --> 00:16:38.799 Like there's more things to do, more places to go, there's an easier means to get there. 00:16:39.039 --> 00:16:44.639 One scholar said it this way we are simultaneously the most entertained world that humanity has ever experienced. 00:16:44.799 --> 00:16:48.799 And yet, most of us are bored out of our minds and frustrated. 00:16:49.120 --> 00:16:53.039 Like, discontentment is actually what you and I are born into. 00:16:53.279 --> 00:16:54.320 Like, think about it. 00:16:54.480 --> 00:16:59.039 That's that's a a newborn baby as they emerge from the womb, right? 00:16:59.120 --> 00:17:00.639 They're immediately discontent. 00:17:00.799 --> 00:17:01.919 Like there's something wrong. 00:17:02.080 --> 00:17:03.200 They need something. 00:17:03.360 --> 00:17:07.200 Like that they, I don't know if they they need to be held and snuggled. 00:17:07.279 --> 00:17:10.559 I don't know if they need food or they they need sleep or whatever it is. 00:17:10.720 --> 00:17:11.599 They're discontent. 00:17:11.680 --> 00:17:14.480 I don't know if you've met an elementary school student. 00:17:14.559 --> 00:17:18.160 You know, I don't know if you've have one of those running around in your house, all right? 00:17:18.240 --> 00:17:22.960 But I don't know if I've ever met a third or fourth grader who is completely content with everything that they have. 00:17:23.200 --> 00:17:29.440 You know, I don't know if I've ever met that, you know, like I my I've never been met at the door after a after a long day of work. 00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:35.279 I've never been met at the door by my third grader who says, who opens the door for me and says, hey dad, why don't you just take a load off? 00:17:35.359 --> 00:17:37.759 You know, I'm totally fine with where I'm at. 00:17:37.839 --> 00:17:39.519 I've played plenty today. 00:17:39.680 --> 00:17:41.279 I don't need your attention right now. 00:17:41.440 --> 00:17:42.079 And you know what? 00:17:42.240 --> 00:17:46.319 The last snack I had will is more than sufficient to get me to dinner. 00:17:46.400 --> 00:17:47.599 I'm totally fine. 00:17:47.839 --> 00:17:50.240 No, like my kids are saying, what's for lunch? 00:17:50.400 --> 00:17:52.240 When we're eating breakfast, you know? 00:17:52.400 --> 00:17:54.799 Like they're they're constantly saying what's next. 00:17:55.200 --> 00:18:02.640 I read a story about a family that went to a theme park and the crowd was like so low that there were like no lines at any of the rides. 00:18:02.799 --> 00:18:03.920 Like, picture perfect day. 00:18:04.000 --> 00:18:08.160 None of the rides were closed, they were able to walk straight to whatever they wanted to. 00:18:08.319 --> 00:18:15.039 If their kids liked the ride, they could literally just stay buckled in and ride it again, you know, because there was nobody waiting to take their spot. 00:18:15.119 --> 00:18:17.200 Like it was that that low, you know. 00:18:17.359 --> 00:18:26.319 And this this dad talked about like how they just they just for hours just kept going and just like nobody, nobody stopping them from doing whatever they wanted to in this steam park. 00:18:26.480 --> 00:18:30.000 And then his six-year-old daughter got off the most recent ride. 00:18:30.160 --> 00:18:39.440 She'd already done the log ride and the and the little kid roller coaster and the swings and the teacups and everything like that, and she gets off the ride and comes over to him with like this angst in her voice. 00:18:39.599 --> 00:18:40.240 What's next? 00:18:40.319 --> 00:18:41.440 Is what she said. 00:18:42.240 --> 00:18:46.880 And he said at that point he realized what our culture suffers from. 00:18:47.119 --> 00:18:53.440 And what he said is he said it, it was, we sunk, we suffer from more hungriness. 00:18:54.400 --> 00:18:58.880 We have like, we we all have the same condition, and it's more hunger. 00:18:59.839 --> 00:19:00.400 John D. 00:19:00.480 --> 00:19:02.559 Rockefeller was once the wealthiest man alive. 00:19:02.720 --> 00:19:05.759 He was asked, Hey, how much money do you need to be content? 00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:09.839 And his response was, just a little more. 00:19:12.000 --> 00:19:13.519 This is our struggle. 00:19:14.240 --> 00:19:15.519 We need just a little more. 00:19:15.759 --> 00:19:18.880 Then we're gonna be happy, then we're gonna be satisfied, then we're gonna be content. 00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:26.480 But Paul has come to this real to this realization that nothing he could gain will ultimately satisfy him like Christ can. 00:19:26.880 --> 00:19:28.400 He has learned this. 00:19:28.640 --> 00:19:35.920 Like that, even surrounded by a culture that's always looking for bigger and better, for newer and nicer, for the next thing, what's next? 00:19:36.240 --> 00:19:37.599 Just a little bit more. 00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:42.480 He has learned that that Christ is ultimately the thing that will satisfy him. 00:19:42.720 --> 00:19:44.960 The question is, like, how has he come to learn this? 00:19:45.200 --> 00:19:46.480 It's important for us to know. 00:19:46.640 --> 00:19:47.839 Like, how has he come to learn this? 00:19:47.920 --> 00:19:51.119 And I think there's a couple, couple reasonable answers to that. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:55.759 I think first I would think I would think Paul has come come to know this from the word. 00:19:56.240 --> 00:20:02.559 Like, we know this about Paul's that he was trained in the word, that he would have been well versed in scripture and the law and the prophets. 00:20:02.640 --> 00:20:09.759 So he would have known verses like Psalm 63, because your steadfast love is better than life, my lips will praise you. 00:20:10.000 --> 00:20:17.200 He would have known Psalm chapter 4, you have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and their wine abound. 00:20:17.440 --> 00:20:33.519 He would have known the prophet Habakkuk who says this, 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 herds in the stalls, yet I will rejoice in the Lord. 00:20:33.759 --> 00:20:36.160 I will take joy in the God of my salvation. 00:20:36.400 --> 00:20:38.480 God, the Lord is my strength. 00:20:38.799 --> 00:20:43.599 He makes my feet like the deers, he makes me tread on my high places. 00:20:44.000 --> 00:20:54.000 Paul has come to learn through his study of Scripture that the Lord is not someone who just makes life better, but he himself is better than life. 00:20:54.319 --> 00:20:55.839 Like he's come to realize this. 00:20:55.920 --> 00:20:57.759 He has joy that comes from the gospel. 00:20:57.920 --> 00:21:03.279 Remember, we've we've been talking about this the whole time, and this is how we've defined joy in this series. 00:21:03.440 --> 00:21:11.599 Joy is this lasting emotion of gladness that grows from delighting in God and resting in his promises. 00:21:12.000 --> 00:21:14.960 And Paul does this by his study of scripture. 00:21:15.119 --> 00:21:18.000 He does this by being well acquainted with the word of God. 00:21:18.240 --> 00:21:19.759 He does this by by knowing it. 00:21:19.839 --> 00:21:23.279 And here's the thing you can learn contentment the same way. 00:21:23.920 --> 00:21:30.400 You can learn this contentment the same way by delighting in God and resting in his promises, even more so than Paul. 00:21:30.640 --> 00:21:33.599 Because you have it printed in your hands. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:36.799 You have it accessible anywhere you go on your smart device. 00:21:36.960 --> 00:21:41.839 Like you can be, you can find contentment in God through scripture. 00:21:42.079 --> 00:21:44.960 And you can see that front to back, this is about a God. 00:21:45.119 --> 00:21:54.000 This this word is about a God who loves you and who is for you and who is faithful to you and who keeps his promises and who is enough for you. 00:21:54.559 --> 00:21:55.519 That's what you're gonna see. 00:21:57.039 --> 00:21:59.759 But I think Paul also realizes like he, yes, he comes to delight. 00:22:00.160 --> 00:22:11.279 In the Lord and rest in his promises through a study of scripture, but he also doesn't just like know this in an intellectual sense, but he knows this in like a very real experiential sense, too. 00:22:11.519 --> 00:22:14.400 Like we know Paul has come to experience this. 00:22:14.559 --> 00:22:17.440 And we can look, we could spend hours talking about Paul's experience. 00:22:17.519 --> 00:22:23.039 There's a lot of it in the book of Acts, but I want to just talk about his experience in Philippi specifically. 00:22:23.200 --> 00:22:23.920 Do you remember this? 00:22:24.000 --> 00:22:25.839 We talked about it the first week of this series. 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:43.359 We talked about how how he goes to Philippi, and the first people he meets are actually some women worshiping on the riverside, and it's Lydia, like this upper middle class, like this pretty wealthy, wealthy woman who's like a dealer in purple cloth, and she becomes their host the whole time while they're there. 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:46.720 Like, no doubt she would have taken really good care of them. 00:22:46.880 --> 00:22:53.839 Like she would have like fed them well, made sure they were they were well cared for, made sure they had a nice bed to sleep in, all that, all that kind of stuff. 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.519 And then you know the other interactions. 00:22:55.599 --> 00:22:57.519 You know where Paul goes right after that. 00:22:57.759 --> 00:23:04.720 Like what Acts chapter 16 tells us is that Paul right after that goes and exercises a demon from a slave girl. 00:23:04.880 --> 00:23:11.759 He's thrown into prison, but before he's thrown into prison, he's beaten with rods and he's thrown into shackles. 00:23:11.920 --> 00:23:12.240 Right? 00:23:12.319 --> 00:23:15.680 You we we can see the highs and lows of what Paul has experienced. 00:23:15.839 --> 00:23:23.119 It puts his words in Philippians chapter 4, it gives it way more weight in Philippians chapter 4 when he says this. 00:23:23.359 --> 00:23:29.519 Not that I'm speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:32.559 I know how to be brought low, I know how to abound. 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:39.759 In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret, listen, of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:23:40.240 --> 00:23:43.440 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:23:44.559 --> 00:23:47.680 I mean, it can be easy for us on either side of this. 00:23:48.240 --> 00:23:54.000 In the highs, it can be easy for us to lose sight of Christ because our eyes are on all the things that He's provided. 00:23:55.680 --> 00:24:03.920 And at the same time, it can be easy for us to lose sight of Christ in the lows because our eyes are just on the situation that's around us. 00:24:05.519 --> 00:24:22.720 Listen, sometimes we get into these situations, the extreme highs and lows of this life, and we begin to rely in the gifts over the giver, or we begin to despair when we look at the situation around us. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:31.599 And my guess is that you're gonna find yourself in one of those two places in the very near future if you're not currently finding yourself in one of those two places. 00:24:32.000 --> 00:24:33.920 You're gonna, this is how life works. 00:24:34.079 --> 00:24:38.000 You're gonna go through through the peaks and the valleys at some point. 00:24:38.880 --> 00:24:45.519 And when you do, I hope you can say what Paul says when he says, I've learned the secret of contentment. 00:24:46.000 --> 00:25:01.759 I have come to know what it's like to live with plenty and abundance, to live on the mountaintop, and to see God's hand working and moving, and to see all the all the great things that come with it, but not like give in to it as my God. 00:25:02.720 --> 00:25:08.240 Like I'm not sold out to the things that He's provided instead of trusting in Him. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:15.200 And then I've also known learned how to live in the lowest of lows and not give in to despair. 00:25:16.000 --> 00:25:31.759 I've been able to live and walk through the deepest, darkest valleys when it felt like everybody else had abandoned me, when it felt like everybody else was fighting against me, and I haven't lost hope in the one who is with me all the time, the one who's sustaining me throughout the whole thing the whole time. 00:25:32.240 --> 00:25:34.400 It makes me think of this famous quote from St. 00:25:34.559 --> 00:25:35.519 Augustine. 00:25:36.000 --> 00:25:40.640 He says, the soul will not find rest until it rests in God. 00:25:42.079 --> 00:25:45.440 And what we see in Paul is a soul that is resting in God. 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:47.759 And may that be true of us as well. 00:25:48.720 --> 00:26:01.279 This contentment is found in Christ and it's learned, it's learned over time of studying and reflecting on his word and living life with him in a real and meaningful experiential way. 00:26:01.920 --> 00:26:05.519 But I think we're left with this like, how do we go about learning it? 00:26:05.680 --> 00:26:06.640 Like, practically. 00:26:14.000 --> 00:26:18.720 And this it's this contentment is practiced, it's practiced through generosity. 00:26:18.960 --> 00:26:21.839 This is what he says in verses 14 through 20. 00:26:22.319 --> 00:26:25.200 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 00:26:25.519 --> 00:26:34.240 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. 00:26:35.039 --> 00:26:38.880 Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. 00:26:39.039 --> 00:26:43.759 Not that I seek the gift, but listen, I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:26:44.079 --> 00:26:50.400 I have received full payment and more, I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. 00:26:50.720 --> 00:26:55.200 A fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:26:55.440 --> 00:27:01.920 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:27:02.160 --> 00:27:05.200 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:27:05.519 --> 00:27:06.160 Amen. 00:27:07.119 --> 00:27:11.839 See the greater context of Philippians chapter 4, this ending is like this is a letter. 00:27:12.000 --> 00:27:15.119 This is a personal letter that Paul's sending to the Philippian church. 00:27:15.200 --> 00:27:17.839 And so he's writing a personal thank you to them. 00:27:18.160 --> 00:27:29.200 He gets caught up in what what this world might be might be tempted to find contentment in, but he's really coming down to, hey, I want to say thank you for your gift. 00:27:29.440 --> 00:27:31.200 But I need you to understand something. 00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:40.240 What he does here is that Paul re-emphasizes, hey, I don't need your gift, but I am eager for you to receive the fruit that increases from your giving. 00:27:40.640 --> 00:27:47.440 Like I know what's what's on the other side of you being faithful and generous, living faithful and generous lives in this way. 00:27:47.680 --> 00:27:50.319 You see the words that he uses to describe their gift? 00:27:50.559 --> 00:27:56.160 He says this was a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 00:27:56.400 --> 00:27:59.279 Like this is Old Testament sacrifice language here. 00:27:59.519 --> 00:28:09.680 Paul's saying, like, your gift to me is actually a gift to the Lord, an act of worship of the only one who is really worthy, the only one who's worthy of our lives at all. 00:28:09.839 --> 00:28:14.400 Like you're worshiping him by giving faithfully to me and to the ministry that I am doing. 00:28:14.559 --> 00:28:23.599 And here's what I've come to learn like there is a direct correlation between generosity and finding true contentment in Christ. 00:28:24.079 --> 00:28:26.480 There is a direct correlation. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:33.440 Like we cannot simultaneously cling to the things of this world and also to Christ. 00:28:34.079 --> 00:28:35.680 You can't do both. 00:28:36.000 --> 00:28:38.240 You're selling yourself short on both. 00:28:38.480 --> 00:28:39.920 Like you're you're missing out. 00:28:40.000 --> 00:28:43.359 Either, honestly, I don't know if you're gonna have a preacher tell you this. 00:28:43.519 --> 00:28:45.519 Either go all in with the world. 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:47.599 I promise you're gonna be left empty. 00:28:47.759 --> 00:28:50.079 I promise you're gonna be left wanting more. 00:28:50.160 --> 00:28:52.319 You're never gonna be satisfied, but go all in. 00:28:52.400 --> 00:28:54.720 Don't try to do this half, half and half stuff. 00:28:54.880 --> 00:28:57.279 Like either go all in with the world and just and stay there. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:29:00.559 I promise, I promise you're gonna be left wanting more. 00:29:00.640 --> 00:29:02.079 You're not gonna be satisfied. 00:29:02.319 --> 00:29:04.319 It's gonna leave you wanting more. 00:29:05.519 --> 00:29:09.519 Or maybe somebody today needs to go all in. 00:29:09.920 --> 00:29:26.640 Go all in and not just say it, not just show up to church when you're in town, but like actually go all in with Christ, be all in on his mission, be all in with his kingdom, like be all in with your with your resources that he has freely provided and and freely given. 00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:28.720 He's the one who owns it all, anyways. 00:29:28.960 --> 00:29:30.480 Like be all in with him. 00:29:30.960 --> 00:29:32.880 Man, this is where satisfaction is found. 00:29:32.960 --> 00:29:46.480 This is how contentment is is practiced because we are actively by by opening our hands up and giving back to God what is rightfully his, what we're doing, is we're releasing our grip on the things that might hold us captive. 00:29:47.039 --> 00:29:52.480 We're releasing our grip on these things that are just rubbish, after all, is what Paul says. 00:29:52.720 --> 00:29:55.519 Like none of these things really really compare. 00:29:56.000 --> 00:30:03.920 Like generosity is is God is the God-given gift for to free you from this more hungriness that we suffer from. 00:30:04.079 --> 00:30:06.480 Like just a little bit more and I'll be satisfied. 00:30:06.640 --> 00:30:09.920 Just a little bit more that I can grab onto and I'll I'll have enough. 00:30:10.160 --> 00:30:11.519 I'll be content. 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:18.559 Like it focuses us when we live generously, it focuses us on what's of ultimate value. 00:30:19.519 --> 00:30:31.440 It focuses us, it helps us release us from the things that may have taken too high of priority in our lives, and it makes us flex this muscle of trust in our God who is trustworthy. 00:30:31.839 --> 00:30:41.279 The one who will not fail us, the one who hasn't abandoned us, the one who's continued to be faithful over and over and over again, and who will be faithful to the end. 00:30:42.720 --> 00:30:44.319 Love how Chad Ragsdale said it. 00:30:44.400 --> 00:30:50.240 He said this don't see your money as an object of worship, rather see it as an opportunity to worship. 00:30:52.160 --> 00:30:56.400 Maybe that's a cause for self-reflection this morning. 00:30:56.559 --> 00:30:58.720 Is my money an object of my worship? 00:30:59.039 --> 00:31:03.920 Are my things an object of my worship, or is it an opportunity for me to worship? 00:31:04.720 --> 00:31:10.319 Do I realize that this is something God has given me so that I can glorify Him? 00:31:11.920 --> 00:31:21.440 See, our money can either be the chief distraction to us, or it can be the means by which we learn true contentment in Christ. 00:31:21.920 --> 00:31:36.640 Are we gonna trust in the stuff of this world or in the promise of Paul from Philippians chapter 4 when he says, and my God will supply your every need according to the riches of glory in Christ Jesus? 00:31:37.359 --> 00:31:45.119 Like contentment is found in Christ, it's learned over time, it's practiced in real life through living generously. 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:50.960 And we started this series by asking this question like, can you imagine the kind of impact? 00:31:51.200 --> 00:32:03.920 Can you imagine the kind of impact the joy of the gospel could have on our church, like on our on our community, on our families, like on this place on Carterville, Missouri? 00:32:04.000 --> 00:32:08.160 Can you imagine if we were changed like Paul was? 00:32:08.880 --> 00:32:13.599 If we were radically different because of the gospel, can you imagine what would happen? 00:32:13.920 --> 00:32:18.240 And we started this prayer commitment as a church over the last two months. 00:32:18.480 --> 00:32:25.759 Man, I would encourage you if you haven't for a few weeks, man, go stop by the map out there on your way out and just keep praying. 00:32:25.920 --> 00:32:30.079 We're gonna keep that map up for the next few weeks just so we can keep that in front of us. 00:32:30.319 --> 00:32:33.440 Just so we can remember, like ultimately, this is this is what we're about. 00:32:33.519 --> 00:32:35.359 We're not we're not stuck inside these walls. 00:32:35.440 --> 00:32:37.279 We don't need to be stuck inside these walls. 00:32:37.599 --> 00:32:40.160 We have to go with the truth of this gospel. 00:32:40.720 --> 00:32:44.240 And there's there's a community right here who needs it. 00:32:44.720 --> 00:32:50.160 Right up the street, right up the outer road, right up gravel road, right up gum road. 00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:53.279 It's right here, and they need the truth of the gospel. 00:32:54.480 --> 00:33:06.079 Here's what I think Philippians 4 is telling us like the world needs to see believers of Jesus who are genuinely satisfied in Him above all else. 00:33:07.680 --> 00:33:12.319 Are you genuinely satisfied in the Lord above all else? 00:33:13.759 --> 00:33:27.279 Believers who have this perspective no matter the circumstances they're facing, believers who live in humility in their relationships with one another, believers who count everything else as a loss for the sake of knowing Christ and gaining Him. 00:33:27.519 --> 00:33:36.559 Believers who don't just sprinkle a little bit of Jesus on top of their lives, but believers who are genuinely satisfied in Him. 00:33:36.880 --> 00:33:38.799 Church, may that be true of us. 00:33:39.119 --> 00:33:40.319 Let's pray. 00:33:42.000 --> 00:33:46.960 Lord, we love you, and we're so thankful for all that you have provided. 00:33:48.079 --> 00:33:51.839 Lord, you have shown yourself faithful again and again. 00:33:53.359 --> 00:33:59.039 And so Lord, I this morning I pray that we would trust in you. 00:34:02.400 --> 00:34:06.799 Not just say it, but we would come to know it. 00:34:07.920 --> 00:34:14.880 We would come to practice that trust in you by living our lives generously. 00:34:15.440 --> 00:34:22.559 Or for things that that will never fade, investing in a kingdom that will not will not pass away. 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:29.199 Lord, I pray that that this church would be a church that's ultimately just satisfied in you. 00:34:29.760 --> 00:34:32.559 We have found you to be enough for us. 00:34:32.880 --> 00:34:35.599 And so we don't need anything else that this world has to offer. 00:34:40.320 --> 00:34:47.119 So we can cling and embrace you fully and live the full life that you have for us. 00:34:47.599 --> 00:34:53.599 We love you and we ask that you would just be glorified in this time as we respond and singing praises to you. 00:34:53.760 --> 00:34:55.440 It's in your powerful name we pray. 00:34:55.599 --> 00:34:56.239 Amen. 00:34:57.599 --> 00:35:00.880 Thanks again for listening to the Carterville Christian Church Podcast. 00:35:01.039 --> 00:35:05.440 Our prayer is that today's message has encouraged you and drawn you closer to Jesus. 00:35:05.599 --> 00:35:10.159 To learn more or get connected with our church family, visit Carterville Christian.com. 00:35:10.320 --> 00:35:13.280 We'd love to walk alongside you in your journey of faith.