WEBVTT 00:00:06.133 --> 00:00:14.300 My prayer for each of us this morning has been that we would come expecting to hear from the Lord today. 00:00:14.865 --> 00:00:19.132 I don't know that we always come with that expectation and hope. 00:00:19.132 --> 00:00:28.199 That's been my prayer that you would be anticipating to hear a word from him for you in your life today. 00:00:28.199 --> 00:00:30.332 He does still speak. 00:00:30.332 --> 00:00:32.865 He will speak to you specifically. 00:00:32.865 --> 00:00:35.232 We have to be open to hearing that. 00:00:35.232 --> 00:00:41.265 So I've been praying for soft hearts, tender hearts that are open to hearing from him. 00:00:41.265 --> 00:00:43.600 And we do that by opening His word. 00:00:43.600 --> 00:00:49.500 That is the main way he speaks to us, not just from some mystical maybe feeling or sound. 00:00:49.500 --> 00:00:50.466 And that does happen. 00:00:50.466 --> 00:00:53.033 But his word is the main way we hear from him. 00:00:53.033 --> 00:00:55.399 And so we come to His Word expecting to hear from him. 00:00:55.399 --> 00:00:57.200 We've been in the book of Philippians. 00:00:57.200 --> 00:00:59.765 We're just one more week in the book of Philippians. 00:00:59.765 --> 00:01:15.700 We've spent the fall working through Philippians, and the last couple of weeks we've really slowed down and just taken it in a couple of chunks, a few verses at a time because of how important these sections are, we looked at the issue of anxiety. 00:01:15.766 --> 00:01:19.799 Our civilization, our world, our age is riddled with anxiety. 00:01:19.799 --> 00:01:21.299 How do you deal with anxiety? 00:01:21.299 --> 00:01:22.733 We looked at that. 00:01:22.733 --> 00:01:23.865 Colby walked us through. 00:01:23.865 --> 00:01:25.933 How do you deal with the thoughts that come out to you? 00:01:25.933 --> 00:01:27.200 How do you renew your mind? 00:01:27.200 --> 00:01:28.766 How do you take every thought captive? 00:01:28.766 --> 00:01:30.465 How do you bring those thoughts before the Lord? 00:01:30.465 --> 00:01:37.266 And of course, we review those verses this morning and make sure to dwell on the right things. 00:01:37.266 --> 00:01:43.865 Now, today we want to look at a couple of verses that I think give us an even more foundational approach to how we approach life. 00:01:45.933 --> 00:01:52.365 If you've seen any of the videos of a racecar driver, there's a bunch of different versions of this. Often. 00:01:52.365 --> 00:01:58.865 Maybe it's an F1 race car driver, and somehow he ends up in a situation with his spouse, with him in the car and I say him. 00:01:58.865 --> 00:02:01.599 I'm sure there are female drivers as well. Just go with it. 00:02:01.599 --> 00:02:04.000 He's in the car, she's with him. 00:02:04.000 --> 00:02:12.133 They're in a nice, fancy sports car on a race track, so he's not in a full blown race car, but she knows we're here for you to drive fast. 00:02:12.133 --> 00:02:27.099 We're here together, and it's interesting to observe the different reactions both of them have to that experience because he is used to driving the car fast and so he remains calm, cool, collected, focused. 00:02:27.099 --> 00:02:27.866 No big deal. 00:02:27.866 --> 00:02:29.599 I'm not even driving as fast as I normally would. 00:02:30.699 --> 00:02:36.099 She is a nervous wreck, flipping out screaming stop! Slow down! What are you about to do? 00:02:36.099 --> 00:02:36.765 You're about to kill me. 00:02:36.765 --> 00:02:41.466 Even though she knows he's a professional car driver, he loves me. 00:02:41.466 --> 00:02:44.466 I think right now I can trust him. 00:02:44.466 --> 00:02:49.066 Even with all that is true, she's flipping out. 00:02:49.066 --> 00:02:51.665 You got the same situation. 00:02:51.665 --> 00:02:54.665 Two very different reactions. 00:02:56.032 --> 00:03:00.332 Part of it is one person is prepared and one person is not. 00:03:00.332 --> 00:03:08.432 One person has extensive training and experience and millions of hours doing the very thing the other person has not. 00:03:08.566 --> 00:03:12.165 And I think the word we want to look at today is one person is ready. 00:03:12.165 --> 00:03:16.233 In fact, I would use the word resilient, prepared. 00:03:16.233 --> 00:03:21.099 They're ready to take what comes out and be able to bounce back, face it and be ready to move on. 00:03:22.466 --> 00:03:23.866 How do we develop? 00:03:23.866 --> 00:03:25.466 And that's the word I want to unpack today. 00:03:25.466 --> 00:03:30.866 I think that's the word we want to grasp that becomes more foundational than dealing with what's already in our life. 00:03:30.866 --> 00:03:40.366 How do we become resilient so that when new things come, we're ready, we want to become-- the phrase I've heard is antifragile. 00:03:40.432 --> 00:03:43.966 So many are so fragile emotionally, the smallest thing hits us. 00:03:43.966 --> 00:03:47.432 And by the way, there's days that I'm quite fragile emotionally. 00:03:47.432 --> 00:03:50.665 You know, the coffee order is wrong and oh, the whole day is unraveled. 00:03:50.665 --> 00:03:52.199 We don't want to be fragile like that. 00:03:52.199 --> 00:03:58.400 We want to be able to handle the thing that comes at us and be able to weather the storm and bounce back quickly and move on. 00:03:58.400 --> 00:04:00.532 We want to be known as resilient people. 00:04:01.932 --> 00:04:09.765 So Philippians chapter four, I think Paul gives us three ways to grow the resilient life, to develop the resilient life. 00:04:09.765 --> 00:04:11.765 Turn your Bibles to Philippians chapter four. 00:04:11.765 --> 00:04:14.332 If you don't have a Bible, we have those out in the lobby. 00:04:14.332 --> 00:04:17.266 We'd love to put those in your hand so you can follow along. 00:04:17.266 --> 00:04:21.600 As I read, you can be in God's Word, turning there, reading His Word on your own. 00:04:21.600 --> 00:04:23.300 You can take that home with you. 00:04:23.300 --> 00:04:25.500 That's free for you. 00:04:25.500 --> 00:04:26.432 Philippians chapter four. 00:04:26.432 --> 00:04:27.833 We're going to start with verse ten. 00:04:27.833 --> 00:04:28.966 That's going to give us the first way. 00:04:28.966 --> 00:04:34.233 I'm going to read the verse, and then we'll talk about what that first aspect is of developing the resilient life. 00:04:34.233 --> 00:04:36.899 Verse ten. 00:04:36.899 --> 00:04:37.932 This is Paul speaking. 00:04:37.932 --> 00:04:45.966 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:04:46.100 --> 00:04:51.000 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:04:52.300 --> 00:05:05.899 The key idea here that we're going to see unpacked with this verse, and that has already shown up prior to this, is if you want to develop a resilient life, one step is to make sure you're growing in generosity. 00:05:06.000 --> 00:05:09.000 You want to be growing in generosity. 00:05:11.100 --> 00:05:16.500 And by the way, the notes I think that we have up there might be from a previous week. 00:05:16.500 --> 00:05:23.033 So let's just maybe not put them up and I'll just try to deliver the content out as we go. 00:05:23.033 --> 00:05:24.665 Grow a heart of generosity. 00:05:24.665 --> 00:05:28.899 If you have a copy of the notes that word generosity will be the blank for you there to fill out. 00:05:30.266 --> 00:05:33.565 Paul is very generous- generous here with them. 00:05:33.565 --> 00:05:36.466 He's generous with his gratitude. 00:05:36.466 --> 00:05:43.466 And by the way, if you go back to chapter one, verse three, he starts that way very at the very beginning of the book of Philippians. 00:05:43.466 --> 00:05:45.233 He's saying how grateful he is for them. 00:05:45.233 --> 00:05:50.365 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer, making prayers for you all the time. 00:05:50.365 --> 00:05:52.132 We have a partnership in the gospel. 00:05:52.132 --> 00:05:59.865 He starts the book just be overflowing with gratitude for them, generous in his praise of them. 00:06:00.865 --> 00:06:03.199 And of course, we know the reason the book was written. 00:06:03.199 --> 00:06:12.766 Likely the occasion that caused Paul to write was the fact that the Philippians had sent a gift to him through Epaphroditus. who delivered it to him. 00:06:12.766 --> 00:06:18.600 He says, I know at first you were concerned about me in verse ten, but you weren't able to help out at first. 00:06:18.600 --> 00:06:23.165 But now they have been able to they have been able to send a gift and be generous. 00:06:24.699 --> 00:06:29.533 And so there's generosity happening both directions. 00:06:29.932 --> 00:06:40.300 And there's something about generosity, I think, that acts kind of like of a, an immune system against the temptations of this world. 00:06:40.800 --> 00:06:43.899 If you're a generous person, well, let's look at it the opposite. 00:06:43.899 --> 00:07:02.865 If you're not, if money is everything to you, if that is your main means of security, your main means of significance, if one level you can say if it is your God, it's going to be really hard to ever let go of it. 00:07:02.865 --> 00:07:09.533 To ever share that with anyone else, that you'll be too full of fear to do that. 00:07:09.665 --> 00:07:25.199 But instead, if it's not, if money is just a means of living life, of accomplishing things, if it's just one aspect of life, if it's just a tool, if you see it in its proper perspective, it won't control you. 00:07:25.199 --> 00:07:31.632 In fact, you'll take great delight in being able to share it with others and being generous with others. 00:07:31.632 --> 00:07:33.132 But it's not just about money. 00:07:33.132 --> 00:07:34.565 It's true of your possessions. 00:07:34.565 --> 00:07:36.565 It's true of your personhood. 00:07:36.565 --> 00:07:40.833 Being generous and in spirit, being generous in praise, building up others. 00:07:40.833 --> 00:07:47.466 We in fact, I think the main idea is we want to be known as generous, gracious people. 00:07:48.565 --> 00:08:01.065 Valley View, I want Valley View to be known, and I think we are very generous financially, possessions wise, personality wise. 00:08:01.565 --> 00:08:04.266 Giving of time. 00:08:04.266 --> 00:08:08.665 We want to be known as a church that's like that. 00:08:08.665 --> 00:08:16.800 That acts as a bit of a barrier against the temptation to be fragile. 00:08:16.800 --> 00:08:21.132 It gives us resilience because here's why. 00:08:21.932 --> 00:08:31.132 If you're in a state of need and you've been generous and you've been a part of helping others in their time of need, you already know that God can do that. 00:08:31.132 --> 00:08:32.566 He used you to do that. 00:08:33.765 --> 00:08:35.966 And in the same way he used you to help others. 00:08:35.966 --> 00:08:39.365 You know he's going to raise up others to help you. 00:08:39.365 --> 00:08:40.899 You don't have to worry. 00:08:40.899 --> 00:08:42.600 You don't have to become anxious. 00:08:42.600 --> 00:08:43.799 You don't have to flip out. 00:08:43.799 --> 00:08:49.966 You've been a part of the solution before, and you know he can use others to do the same for you. 00:08:50.865 --> 00:08:52.932 That's a shield against anxiety. 00:08:52.932 --> 00:08:58.533 The fact that you've been generous yourself. 00:08:58.533 --> 00:09:03.633 Also, there's, I tell you, one of the more powerful things about being generous. 00:09:03.633 --> 00:09:09.765 There's something about that that just get your focus off yourself and the times you're most fragile. 00:09:09.765 --> 00:09:23.799 The the times you're least resilient is the times you're most inwardly focused, most worried about me, most worried about what's going to happen to me, most self-absorbed, generosity acts as a shield. 00:09:24.166 --> 00:09:29.566 It's a factor in how we become resilient and able to withstand what comes our way. 00:09:29.566 --> 00:09:33.299 So that's the first area I think he addresses here in verse ten. 00:09:33.299 --> 00:09:39.033 But now look at how he starts to tell us another layer of how we become resilient. 00:09:39.033 --> 00:09:42.033 Look at verse 12. 00:09:42.166 --> 00:09:44.432 I know, I'm sorry. 00:09:44.432 --> 00:09:45.799 Verse 11. 00:09:45.799 --> 00:09:54.200 Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:09:54.633 --> 00:10:03.765 So the second way you develop resilience and the big word here is cultivate an attitude of contentment. 00:10:04.966 --> 00:10:10.265 Grow, develop, cultivate an attitude of contentment. 00:10:10.265 --> 00:10:12.000 We want to grow in contentment. 00:10:12.000 --> 00:10:16.299 Now the the hard part of this verse is the way he starts out. 00:10:16.299 --> 00:10:23.100 Not that I'm speaking of being in need, so it seems a little bit like, so are you grateful or not Paul? 00:10:23.100 --> 00:10:30.265 I mean, if someone gives you a gift and you go, look, I don't really need it, but thanks, but that doesn't seem like they're really grateful, does it? 00:10:30.265 --> 00:10:34.466 And he's saying, look, I'm, I'm not saying I was in need, but thanks for the gift anyway. 00:10:34.466 --> 00:10:38.566 Now it's hard to know a couple of things here. 00:10:38.566 --> 00:10:41.633 First of all, he's already expressed a lot of gratitude up to this point. 00:10:41.633 --> 00:10:45.633 So this isn't the first time he's saying, thanks for your gift in the book. 00:10:45.633 --> 00:10:52.966 But also, it's hard to put yourself back in a context in in the culture and know what were some of their social conventions or obligations or how did they approach something. 00:10:52.966 --> 00:10:57.200 There may have been this kind of you got to act ungrateful to really be grateful. 00:10:57.200 --> 00:10:59.332 We can't really know what that was like. 00:10:59.332 --> 00:11:01.832 It's important to be aware of those kind of things. 00:11:01.832 --> 00:11:04.765 If you go into a new culture or you can offend someone. 00:11:06.200 --> 00:11:15.100 When we lived in the South Pacific, we, one of the guys we ministered there with, he was a ministry leader in that area, well-respected. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:18.200 He had been the prime minister of the country at one point. 00:11:18.200 --> 00:11:20.033 He had been a successful rugby player. 00:11:20.033 --> 00:11:24.700 That was the sport of choice there, successful rugby player in his youth. 00:11:24.700 --> 00:11:28.265 He's in his 70s now and we show up to the country. 00:11:28.265 --> 00:11:29.133 We're getting to know them. 00:11:29.133 --> 00:11:30.533 We're going to partner together in ministry. 00:11:30.533 --> 00:11:34.566 We go out to eat to this nice restaurant and we're out enjoying the meal together. 00:11:34.566 --> 00:11:35.566 And I look at his name was Pete. 00:11:35.566 --> 00:11:39.200 I look over to Pete in us and it said, Peter up, I really like your shirt. 00:11:39.200 --> 00:11:40.533 That is a great looking shirt. 00:11:40.533 --> 00:11:42.899 And of course, you know, it had more of the tribal look. 00:11:42.899 --> 00:11:47.166 Lots of colors, very, very patterned. 00:11:47.166 --> 00:11:55.066 And soon as I said that, he immediately starts to unbutton it and he's looking at me right in the eyes and he's unbuttoning his shirt all the way down, and I'm getting nervous. 00:11:55.066 --> 00:11:57.799 I don't know what's going on. 00:11:57.799 --> 00:12:01.265 Right away, though, his wife starts scolding him in their in their tribal language. 00:12:01.265 --> 00:12:22.966 I couldn't understand a word of it, but there was lots of yelling, lots of back and forth, aggressive language and finally he calms down and starts button and his shirt back up, and she looks at me and she goes, just so you know, you need to be aware in our culture, if you compliment somebody's shirt or tie or hat, they are obligated to then give it to you. 00:12:24.166 --> 00:12:25.700 And I said, look, I didn't want his shirt. 00:12:25.700 --> 00:12:27.700 I just thought it looked nice. 00:12:27.700 --> 00:12:31.066 She said, let me tell you how many meals I've sat through with him shirtless because of this. 00:12:32.566 --> 00:12:34.033 I said, I don't want to do that again. 00:12:34.033 --> 00:12:34.799 And he didn't know. 00:12:34.799 --> 00:12:38.899 And he looked at me and he said, John, I'm letting you off this time. 00:12:38.899 --> 00:12:41.365 But next time. 00:12:41.365 --> 00:12:44.033 And I laughed when he said that and he was not laughing. 00:12:44.033 --> 00:12:46.000 Deadly serious. 00:12:46.000 --> 00:12:46.865 Don't tempt me. 00:12:46.865 --> 00:12:49.166 Don't test me again, okay? 00:12:49.166 --> 00:12:55.265 If you don't know those social obligations and we have those weird things in our culture too, right? 00:12:55.265 --> 00:12:57.033 Never return a casserole dish empty. 00:12:57.033 --> 00:12:59.033 And how does that ever end if you keep doing that? 00:12:59.033 --> 00:13:04.865 By the way, this Baptist casserole culture, there's these different obligations that, you know, if we do this, this has to happen. 00:13:04.865 --> 00:13:06.700 I've got to respond back this way. 00:13:06.700 --> 00:13:08.200 Something maybe that's what's going on here. 00:13:08.200 --> 00:13:09.500 Maybe that's what Paul is doing. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:18.100 I think his main point is just saying to them, helping them see contentment doesn't come through financial gifts. 00:13:18.100 --> 00:13:22.732 I wasn't dependent on that for contentment. 00:13:23.500 --> 00:13:25.100 And Scripture backs this up by the way. 00:13:25.100 --> 00:13:28.066 There's some other verses to look at and I've got these listed in your notes. 00:13:28.066 --> 00:13:30.432 We're going to turn over to first Timothy six. 00:13:30.432 --> 00:13:33.299 Just a few pages over from Philippians. 00:13:33.299 --> 00:13:35.100 These some of these are going to be well known. 00:13:35.100 --> 00:13:37.365 You're going to remember some of these verses. 00:13:37.365 --> 00:13:40.133 First Timothy six. 00:13:40.133 --> 00:13:42.799 All the t books are together in the New Testament by the way. 00:13:42.799 --> 00:13:46.600 If you ever run across one of them, they're all there lumped together. 00:13:46.600 --> 00:13:49.600 First Timothy six. 00:13:50.865 --> 00:13:56.832 This is important because I think in our culture, the word content is a bad word. 00:13:56.832 --> 00:13:57.500 That's a dirty word. 00:13:57.500 --> 00:14:00.899 If you call someone content, you rarely mean it positively. 00:14:00.899 --> 00:14:02.700 People are often they mean you're. 00:14:02.700 --> 00:14:05.232 They basically mean that person's lazy. 00:14:05.232 --> 00:14:06.432 They've grown content. 00:14:06.432 --> 00:14:07.765 They're no longer striving. 00:14:07.765 --> 00:14:09.765 They're no longer trying to get better. 00:14:09.765 --> 00:14:15.566 In American culture, there's almost no worse word to use to describe someone, but that's not what Scripture means here. 00:14:15.566 --> 00:14:17.166 That may be how we think about it. 00:14:17.166 --> 00:14:18.600 That's not what it means. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:22.265 In fact, I would often use the word godly contentment. Christian contentment. 00:14:24.432 --> 00:14:30.265 First Timothy six tells us a little bit more about what true godly contentment looks like. 00:14:30.566 --> 00:14:33.299 Godliness with contentment is great gain. 00:14:33.299 --> 00:14:37.600 So the combination, the connection is made between the two godliness and contentment. 00:14:37.600 --> 00:14:42.600 There is a godly contentment, not a sinful, lazy contentment. 00:14:42.765 --> 00:14:47.466 For we brought nothing into the world and we cannot take anything out of the world. 00:14:47.466 --> 00:14:48.865 Some of you parents like to quote that one. 00:14:48.865 --> 00:14:54.432 I know you like that one place yourself kind of in that situation, we brought nothing into the world. 00:14:54.432 --> 00:15:00.466 We can’t take anything out, but if we have food and clothing with these we will be content. 00:15:00.466 --> 00:15:03.466 Now take note of that. 00:15:03.765 --> 00:15:05.432 What is the base layer of contentment? 00:15:05.432 --> 00:15:07.000 Food and clothing. 00:15:07.000 --> 00:15:13.966 If my basic necessities are met, that's the starting place for contentment. 00:15:14.232 --> 00:15:18.200 And how many things do we let derail us? 00:15:18.600 --> 00:15:23.066 How many things do we let leave us feeling like we don't have enough? 00:15:23.066 --> 00:15:26.432 My phone is six months old and it won't update as fast as I thought. 00:15:26.432 --> 00:15:29.365 Oh no, life is terrible. 00:15:29.365 --> 00:15:31.566 It's falling apart. 00:15:31.566 --> 00:15:33.633 Hmm. 00:15:33.633 --> 00:15:36.700 Food and clothing should bring contentment. 00:15:36.700 --> 00:15:39.432 That's our baseline starting point. 00:15:39.432 --> 00:15:47.600 But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction. 00:15:47.600 --> 00:15:54.700 It's not wrong to want to have enough to both provide and care for yourself, and have stability, and to be able to pour into others and to provide. 00:15:54.700 --> 00:16:02.600 But if being rich becomes a god, that's a snare to your soul, and it has led many away. 00:16:02.600 --> 00:16:07.000 In fact, it says in verse ten, for the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. 00:16:07.000 --> 00:16:13.500 It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs. 00:16:14.700 --> 00:16:17.432 Jesus said, it's hard for a rich man to enter the kingdom of heaven. 00:16:17.432 --> 00:16:22.200 Doesn't mean it's impossible, but it's hard because it's a lot easier to think I've got this covered. 00:16:22.200 --> 00:16:23.432 I don't need anything else. 00:16:23.432 --> 00:16:24.399 I'm self-sufficient. 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:27.399 When you have more money than you need. 00:16:29.633 --> 00:16:33.566 But contentment starts with I have enough. Starting there. 00:16:33.566 --> 00:16:34.732 Look also at Hebrews. 00:16:34.732 --> 00:16:35.865 Hebrews chapter 13. 00:16:35.865 --> 00:16:40.666 Flip over a few more verses, a few more pages. 00:16:41.566 --> 00:16:42.633 5. 00:16:42.633 --> 00:16:49.232 Keep your life free from the love of money, and be content with what you have. 00:16:49.232 --> 00:16:53.399 For he has said, I will never leave you nor forsake you. 00:16:54.000 --> 00:17:00.000 You see, what he's saying here is your contentment is rooted, not in your circumstances. 00:17:00.700 --> 00:17:03.100 Contentment is never rooted in your circumstances. 00:17:03.100 --> 00:17:06.032 Paul is in prison, probably in Rome. 00:17:06.032 --> 00:17:10.432 He was beaten and put in prison when he came to Philippi to begin with. 00:17:12.700 --> 00:17:19.133 But his contentment is not in his circumstances. 00:17:19.133 --> 00:17:24.066 In fact, Paul, if you turn over to Second Corinthians. 00:17:24.799 --> 00:17:28.732 He made this clear for them. 00:17:30.232 --> 00:17:33.232 Second Corinthians 12. 00:17:38.432 --> 00:17:41.432 Or 11. 00:17:47.799 --> 00:17:55.266 He's going to share with them the fact that you can't let your circumstances dictate your joy, dictate your contentment. 00:17:55.266 --> 00:18:01.333 And we know that Paul was a man of great faith who put himself in difficult situations. 00:18:01.333 --> 00:18:02.333 Look at verse 23. 00:18:05.566 --> 00:18:10.232 Make sure you're in Second Corinthians, not first Corinthians. 00:18:13.665 --> 00:18:16.700 Verse 23, are they servants of Christ? 00:18:16.700 --> 00:18:18.333 I am a better one. 00:18:18.333 --> 00:18:22.200 I'm talking like a madman, meaning it's crazy for me to say I'm better than someone else. 00:18:22.200 --> 00:18:24.799 But he also wants people to see, look, I've been through a lot. 00:18:24.799 --> 00:18:28.566 Let me just list out some of what I've been through. 00:18:28.566 --> 00:18:32.732 Far greater labors, far more imprisonments, countless beatings, often near death. 00:18:32.732 --> 00:18:36.465 Five times I received at the hands of the Jews, 40 lashes less one. 00:18:36.465 --> 00:18:38.633 Three times I was beaten with rods. 00:18:38.633 --> 00:18:48.333 Once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked a night and a day I was adrift at sea on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers. 00:18:48.333 --> 00:18:49.965 Danger from my own people. 00:18:49.965 --> 00:18:51.432 Danger from the Gentiles. 00:18:51.432 --> 00:18:52.465 Danger in the city. 00:18:52.465 --> 00:18:54.465 Danger in the wilderness, danger at sea. 00:18:54.465 --> 00:19:00.266 Danger from false brothers and toil and hardship through many a sleepless night. 00:19:00.266 --> 00:19:07.900 In hunger and thirst, often without food and cold and exposure. 00:19:07.965 --> 00:19:12.700 He goes on and on, listing out a wide variety of reasons why. 00:19:14.566 --> 00:19:21.232 He faced hardship and yet verse ten, I rejoice. 00:19:21.232 --> 00:19:26.099 Philippians is known as the most joy filled book of the New Testament, full of joy. 00:19:26.099 --> 00:19:31.365 Each chapter has an emphasis on joy, joy, joy, joy. 00:19:31.365 --> 00:19:34.365 It's not your circumstances. 00:19:35.865 --> 00:19:40.099 In fact, I say this to parents of young kids all the time. 00:19:40.099 --> 00:19:42.566 Don't look past these years. 00:19:42.566 --> 00:19:46.200 Don't just wish for the next season to get past this. And it's hard. 00:19:46.200 --> 00:19:46.766 It is hard. 00:19:46.766 --> 00:19:47.333 There's no doubt. 00:19:47.333 --> 00:19:49.965 I'm not trying to minimize how challenging it is. 00:19:49.965 --> 00:19:53.599 You kind of want to go back to, when could I read a book on my own and not be interrupted? 00:19:53.599 --> 00:19:56.000 When could we finish a sentence? 00:19:56.000 --> 00:19:58.566 No matter what it was about, just finish one sentence. 00:19:58.566 --> 00:19:59.732 Could it ever happen again? 00:19:59.732 --> 00:20:00.566 I can't imagine. 00:20:02.599 --> 00:20:05.299 Don't look past those years. 00:20:05.299 --> 00:20:06.833 They’re so important. 00:20:06.833 --> 00:20:09.165 Be content in this season. 00:20:09.165 --> 00:20:13.965 Whatever season you're in, there's no guarantee the next season will be easier. 00:20:14.566 --> 00:20:21.333 I remember hearing a story the ministry we worked in, marriage and family ministry, we would have a weekly staff meeting and someone would give a devotional. 00:20:21.333 --> 00:20:24.465 One of the guys, Greg, got up to share the story and he had young kids at home. 00:20:24.465 --> 00:20:26.500 And he said, I got to tell you, I'm so frustrated. 00:20:26.500 --> 00:20:30.165 My kids keep leaving their wet, sweaty glasses on top of the TV cabinet. 00:20:30.165 --> 00:20:36.165 Back in the days where TVs weren't on walls, they were inside a wood cabinet and I come home and there's this wet wood ring. 00:20:36.165 --> 00:20:38.500 It's ruined on top of the TV cabinet. 00:20:38.500 --> 00:20:42.532 And so I'm so frustrated with my daughter and we're all kind of feeling it. 00:20:42.532 --> 00:20:44.432 Yeah, I feel that is frustrating. 00:20:44.432 --> 00:20:55.365 And one of the older guys in the room, well respected distinguished gentleman Harry, he speaks up and he goes, Greg, just wait till they start wrecking your cars. 00:20:56.500 --> 00:21:00.432 And everybody and Greg just hung his head and go, man, what am I doing? 00:21:00.432 --> 00:21:07.365 You know, we all focus in our season and and look that there are challenges. 00:21:08.266 --> 00:21:10.766 How do you pursue contentment? 00:21:10.766 --> 00:21:13.066 Here's what Paul says. 00:21:13.066 --> 00:21:13.965 Look at what he says. 00:21:13.965 --> 00:21:21.066 Here's how you gain contentment in fact, he use the word I have learned contentment. 00:21:21.066 --> 00:21:26.932 I have learned in whatever situation I am in to be content, meaning it has to be learned. 00:21:26.932 --> 00:21:28.665 It doesn't come naturally. 00:21:28.665 --> 00:21:32.465 We're born naturally discontented, never having enough, never happy enough. 00:21:34.099 --> 00:21:35.266 How do we learn it? 00:21:35.266 --> 00:21:36.032 Look at verse 12. 00:21:36.032 --> 00:21:37.799 Here's what he says. 00:21:37.799 --> 00:21:38.633 Here's how he learned it. 00:21:38.633 --> 00:21:41.633 I know how to be brought low. 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:46.365 I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. 00:21:46.365 --> 00:21:52.000 I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:21:53.133 --> 00:21:54.700 It's interesting that phrase there. 00:21:54.700 --> 00:22:05.700 I have learned the secret of facing seven words or translating one word in the original language, and it really meant something more like I have been initiated. 00:22:06.333 --> 00:22:09.732 So imagine if you've ever gone through an initiation process to join something. 00:22:09.732 --> 00:22:13.432 Maybe it's a club, maybe it's a fraternity, maybe it's to be an apprentice. 00:22:13.432 --> 00:22:16.599 Maybe it's just to try to get feels like get your driver's license or whatever. 00:22:16.599 --> 00:22:22.599 A long, drawn out process to get something, to join into something, to be a part of it. 00:22:22.599 --> 00:22:24.865 You've been initiated into it. 00:22:24.865 --> 00:22:30.833 And Paul said, the initiation process for me had two sides. 00:22:30.833 --> 00:22:31.400 One side. 00:22:31.400 --> 00:22:34.032 He said, I know how to be brought low. 00:22:34.032 --> 00:22:35.799 We already saw that. 00:22:35.799 --> 00:22:37.465 I know how to go through the hard times. 00:22:37.465 --> 00:22:39.365 I know how to be hungry. 00:22:39.365 --> 00:22:42.365 I know how to face need. 00:22:43.266 --> 00:22:48.333 That's how you partly develop contentment as you go through those things. 00:22:48.333 --> 00:22:49.766 You know how to get through them. 00:22:49.766 --> 00:22:52.566 You learn how to endure them. 00:22:52.566 --> 00:22:57.165 It's really interesting, though, that Paul doesn't only talk about the hard times. 00:22:57.165 --> 00:22:58.932 This is fascinating. 00:22:58.932 --> 00:23:01.400 Yeah, I developed contentment because of the hard times. 00:23:01.400 --> 00:23:04.665 But he also said, I know how to be brought low. 00:23:04.665 --> 00:23:07.066 I know how to abound. 00:23:07.066 --> 00:23:09.465 I know how to face hunger. 00:23:09.465 --> 00:23:13.833 I know how to face plenty. 00:23:13.833 --> 00:23:14.633 I think some of us go. 00:23:14.633 --> 00:23:16.266 I'd like to try to face some plenty. 00:23:16.266 --> 00:23:17.932 I think that would be all right. 00:23:17.932 --> 00:23:21.500 Lord, if you want to test me with that, I'm up for that prayer right there. 00:23:23.932 --> 00:23:26.932 Are you? 00:23:28.400 --> 00:23:30.900 The statistics don't bode very well. 00:23:30.900 --> 00:23:33.532 Just look at the lottery. 00:23:33.532 --> 00:23:38.633 Most people aren't really ready to face abundance. 00:23:38.833 --> 00:23:40.465 How would you handle it? 00:23:40.465 --> 00:23:46.232 Would you be like the watch the family million dollar lottery ticket in in it unraveled them. It ruined them. 00:23:46.232 --> 00:23:49.965 It was the worst thing that could ever happen to them. 00:23:49.965 --> 00:24:01.965 And yet I've got a friend who's a successful businessman and all he does, and he just filters that money right back out to ministries to missionaries, over and over, dozens and dozens and dozens. 00:24:01.965 --> 00:24:04.500 Who knows, maybe even hundreds of missionaries. 00:24:04.500 --> 00:24:07.766 They're a part of sending all over the world. 00:24:08.833 --> 00:24:11.799 They're trustworthy. 00:24:11.799 --> 00:24:16.665 Paul realizes the challenges come in the hard things, but also the good things can be a challenge, too. 00:24:16.665 --> 00:24:33.665 I got to be able to endure and face both and know that whether in plenty-- In fact, what we have them still say at the wedding, whether in sickness or in health. 00:24:33.665 --> 00:24:36.465 Whether rich or poor. 00:24:36.465 --> 00:24:38.932 Some of them got to choke that one out. 00:24:38.932 --> 00:24:40.900 Really? I got to say that. Yes. 00:24:40.900 --> 00:24:41.266 Yeah. 00:24:41.266 --> 00:24:43.165 Because your promise and future love. 00:24:43.165 --> 00:24:43.700 It's great. 00:24:43.700 --> 00:24:45.665 It's easy to say I love you right now. 00:24:45.665 --> 00:24:48.732 We're looking ahead to the day you don't feel like it. 00:24:48.732 --> 00:24:51.732 In richer and in poorer. 00:24:51.732 --> 00:24:53.732 I'm going to be there. 00:24:53.732 --> 00:24:54.266 Why? 00:24:54.266 --> 00:24:57.465 Back in Hebrews he said that I will never leave you or forsake you. 00:24:57.465 --> 00:25:00.465 He is there for you. 00:25:02.566 --> 00:25:04.599 This is how we pursue contentment. 00:25:04.599 --> 00:25:12.266 We develop contentment, and we recognize happiness isn't rooted in our circumstances. 00:25:13.365 --> 00:25:14.766 This is how we become resilient. 00:25:14.766 --> 00:25:17.766 And then lastly, look here. 00:25:17.766 --> 00:25:23.232 The last way we develop resilience in this passage is to focus on the source of our strength. 00:25:25.000 --> 00:25:28.465 You know, it's really interesting that word. 00:25:29.333 --> 00:25:31.432 For contentment was a word. 00:25:31.432 --> 00:25:37.165 It's only used this one time in all of the New Testament, just this one time here alone. 00:25:37.165 --> 00:25:40.965 But it was a very popular word in Greek culture. 00:25:40.965 --> 00:25:43.365 In fact, it was a word commonly used of the Stoics. 00:25:43.365 --> 00:25:44.333 You've probably heard of them. 00:25:44.333 --> 00:25:52.932 Ancient group of philosophy, of an approach to life that was all about when you face hard things, how do you get through them? 00:25:52.932 --> 00:26:00.133 Their idea was to be content, which was often translated as self-sufficient. 00:26:00.133 --> 00:26:07.232 You need to look inward, find the strength within yourself to be able to get through it, to roll through it, to not let it derail you. 00:26:07.232 --> 00:26:11.000 But and this is number three in your notes, what we want to become is not self-sufficient. 00:26:11.000 --> 00:26:13.266 We want to become Christ sufficient. 00:26:15.665 --> 00:26:21.532 Verse 13 he says this, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:26:21.532 --> 00:26:24.299 Some translations I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:26:24.299 --> 00:26:25.665 It's implied with him. 00:26:25.665 --> 00:26:27.232 Christ is all over the passage. 00:26:27.232 --> 00:26:32.400 The passage in chapter ten or verse ten begins with, I rejoice in the Lord. 00:26:32.400 --> 00:26:35.932 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:26:35.932 --> 00:26:38.266 So it's not self-sufficiency. 00:26:38.266 --> 00:26:43.665 I'm not leaning more on myself to find my strength. 00:26:44.099 --> 00:26:50.200 In fact, if you need strength, you have to lean on something stronger than you. 00:26:51.066 --> 00:26:55.965 And when I turn inward and look inward, I don't see things that are stronger. 00:26:56.566 --> 00:26:57.833 That's who Christ is. 00:26:57.833 --> 00:26:59.200 That's why we turn to him. 00:26:59.200 --> 00:27:00.566 We lean on him. 00:27:00.566 --> 00:27:03.566 He's the source of our strength. 00:27:04.700 --> 00:27:06.099 Look, this is so critical. 00:27:06.099 --> 00:27:07.665 I can't emphasize this enough. 00:27:09.732 --> 00:27:13.266 He's got to be the one you turn to. 00:27:13.299 --> 00:27:16.599 He didn't come and save you to make you just. 00:27:16.599 --> 00:27:17.700 John 2.0. 00:27:17.700 --> 00:27:20.133 A little bit better version of you. 00:27:20.133 --> 00:27:21.932 Let me just give you a little bit. 00:27:21.932 --> 00:27:25.266 Well, we'll gold plate you here to make you look a little better to the world. 00:27:25.266 --> 00:27:26.165 That's all you really needed. 00:27:29.066 --> 00:27:32.066 No, he came to transform you. 00:27:33.400 --> 00:27:38.799 All the passages in the New Testament that talk about our state before Christ are not pretty. 00:27:38.799 --> 00:27:42.833 You were dead in your trespasses and sins, alienated from the covenant of God. 00:27:42.833 --> 00:27:47.200 Pursuing the prince of the power of the air, rejecting God. 00:27:47.200 --> 00:27:48.465 Leave me alone. 00:27:48.465 --> 00:27:51.465 Don't tell me what to do. 00:27:51.465 --> 00:27:52.965 That's not just a slight improvement. 00:27:52.965 --> 00:27:55.865 You need a transformed. 00:27:55.865 --> 00:27:56.799 And he came in. 00:27:58.032 --> 00:27:59.865 And if you know him, you know what I'm talking about. 00:27:59.865 --> 00:28:04.066 You look back at yourself and you go, I don't even recognize that person. 00:28:04.066 --> 00:28:09.000 He made me someone new. In him I'm a new creation. 00:28:09.000 --> 00:28:10.566 He did something I never could do. 00:28:10.566 --> 00:28:11.965 I tried, I couldn't do it myself. 00:28:11.965 --> 00:28:14.965 He did it. 00:28:17.133 --> 00:28:18.833 Listen, Jesus loves you. 00:28:18.833 --> 00:28:25.365 He wants you to follow him and live your life of joy and significance and fulfillment in him. 00:28:25.365 --> 00:28:27.333 Come to him. 00:28:27.333 --> 00:28:27.599 First 00:28:27.599 --> 00:28:29.333 9 says confess your sins. 00:28:29.333 --> 00:28:37.232 If you confess your sins, he is faithful and just to forgive you of your sins and cleanse you from all unrighteousness. 00:28:37.865 --> 00:28:40.865 That's available to everyone. 00:28:42.400 --> 00:28:46.365 Don't spend another day trying to do things in your own strength. 00:28:46.365 --> 00:28:53.000 Instead, we want Christ centered resilience that helps us to face anything that comes our way. Let's pray. 00:28:55.833 --> 00:28:59.732 Jesus, we thank you for today. 00:29:02.099 --> 00:29:05.732 We thank you that you speak to us through your word. 00:29:07.000 --> 00:29:17.333 Thank you that in you we can find contentment in whatever situation we're in, whether we're literally in prison, like Paul was. 00:29:17.432 --> 00:29:21.400 Or whether we're facing hardships at home. 00:29:21.566 --> 00:29:22.732 Or at work. 00:29:22.732 --> 00:29:24.465 Or at school. 00:29:24.465 --> 00:29:31.766 We can look to you and see you at work in that shaping us, growing us. 00:29:33.465 --> 00:29:42.299 I pray right now that each of us would sense your presence, and we would find true, godly contentment in you. 00:29:44.200 --> 00:29:48.299 I also pray that we would sense your power. 00:29:50.032 --> 00:29:59.965 Through you, through your power, we can do all things, especially the things that Paul faced of bringing the gospel to the world. 00:30:00.833 --> 00:30:01.900 We sing it all the time. 00:30:01.900 --> 00:30:03.032 Your name is power. 00:30:04.333 --> 00:30:06.633 Your name is healing. 00:30:06.633 --> 00:30:08.865 Your name is life. 00:30:08.865 --> 00:30:10.633 Will we walk in that power today? 00:30:10.633 --> 00:30:15.532 God give us the ability to walk in that power today. We love you. 00:30:15.532 --> 00:30:18.566 We ask all of these things in your powerful name. Amen.