"Content and Well Supplied" - Philippians 4:10-23

Mat Carter leads us through the final passage in Philippians 

Transcript

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The text that will preach, turn in your Bibles with me to Philippians 4, verses 10 through 23. This is the text that Matt will be preaching out of. I will read it and out of honor and reverence for the Word of God, would you please stand if you are able? And follow along as we read the Word of God. It's also going to be on the screen behind me as well. It is very important that you see that this is the word, that it's not just what the elders have come up with, but that each of us sees this is the Word of God, and we strive to stick to this. So Philippians 4, 10 through 23 says, But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means. I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction. You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first preaching of the gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance. I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father, be the glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. You may be seated in that. Would you please come and lead us in the preaching of his word?

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Lord, thank you for being a great and glorious, gracious and merciful God and revealing yourself to us through your word. Lord, may we stand steadfast on it. May we see your glory in it. May we be able to apply it to life. And Lord, we lift all this up. I ask that you would guide me in all that I say, that it may be honoring to you, that it may proclaim truth. We lift this up in Jesus' name. Amen. Contentment. What does it mean? The dictionary calls it a state of mental satisfaction and inner peace, happy and accepting of your current life. The word contentment might conjure up different thoughts and images for each one of us. Is it an old cow chewing her cud laying in the shade next to her calf on a sunny afternoon? A creek running by with a slight breeze rustling the leaves of a quake and aspen tree. Maybe that wasn't the first thing you thought about. You might have thought of being alongside that same creek with your best fishing buddy, lying in the water, with nothing but the sounds of nature around you in the afternoon ahead of you. Maybe curled up on the couch with a book, a blanket, and a warm fire in the stove. Or just hanging out with some good friends and family, eating your favorite snacks and relaxing. Maybe it's being at peace with the world around you without feeling any big pressures. Minute by minute, day to day, we may feel content or discontent, depending on our circumstances. There are many things in life for each one of us, no matter if we're four years old or 84 years old, that can cause us to be discontent. Some things that might make you discontent is your job isn't quite what you like. There's tension and struggle in an important relationship. It's hard to make ends meet. Someone in the family is sick with a terminal illness. The weather of the last few months has me concerned. We make our living off the land, and this historic drought we're in is the real deal. I was working on this earlier this week before the gully washer we had a couple days ago, so uh. Anyway, we've been hauling stockwater since May. We're hardly going to put up any hay in our hay meadows because they're so short. And God only knows what kind of fire season lays ahead of us. It could be one for the books. As we look into this passage, keep in mind the things that you're struggling with and see how they compare with Paul's situation and how he's coping with it. One of the main themes of the book, excuse me, Philippians was a letter Paul wrote to the church at Philippi while he was imprisoned in Rome, awaiting a trial. And not just a trial, but a trial for his own life before the infamous Emperor Nero, who was a persecutor of Christians and responsible for the deaths of many of them. One of the main themes in the book of Philippians is joy and rejoicing, mentioned more than a dozen times. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice, Paul writes in chapter 4, verse 4. And here in verse 11, he claims to be content. How can Paul be content? I listed a definition of contentment from the Bible or from the dictionary, but biblical contentment is completely different. Biblical contentment is a virtue that isn't in our natural makeup and must be learned. Biblical contentment contrasts with worldly contentment and is defined as a peaceful inward satisfaction that relies on God's grace and provision rather than external circumstances. I'll say that again. It's defined as a peaceful inward satisfaction that relies on God's grace and provision rather than external circumstances. It's a trust in God and His sovereign province, come what may. Many people in the world try to find contentment in money, power, possessions, their job, or freedom from difficult circumstances. But those are shallow things that don't give answer to a deeper need. Paul is a great biblical model for contentment. Look back a page to Philippians 3.17. Brothers, join in imitating me, and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. He's laying himself out as an example. He says, follow me. In 2 Corinthians 12.10, Paul wrote that he's well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties for Christ's sake. He lays all those things out, but he said he's content. Seems hard to imagine. He wrote in 1 Timothy 6.6 that the godliness produced by the trials of life actually is a means of great gain when accompanied by contentment. He wrote this letter to the Philippians as a prisoner in Rome, under house arrest, where basic needs of food and covering weren't provided by the government. He was unable to work to support himself, and was therefore dependent upon the help from generous friends. As we look at verse 10, we see that it appears to have been quite some time since the Philippian church has given any means of support. It says, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. About ten years had passed since Paul had founded the church in Philippi. We can look ahead in this passage to verses 15 through 18 and see that they had supported him and his missionary work several times after he left Philippi. And now Epaphroditus has delivered a generous gift to support him in his time of need. I'll read 15 through 18. And you, Philippians, yourselves, know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only. Even in Thessalonica you sent me help for my needs once and again. Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. I have received full payment and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice, acceptable and pleasing to God. They had been concerned about Paul through the years, but just haven't had the opportunities to support him. It isn't clear whether they lost touch with him or some other reason left them without a chance to help out. He's happy for the gift and the support, but more than that, their love and care for him that was evidenced by their sacrificial gift was what gave him joy. But Paul didn't want the Philippians to think that he was in need of their gift of support. He had learned to be content with whatever circumstances he was in. It didn't matter that he was shackled to a Roman soldier, probably hungry a lot of the time, and unable to freely minister wherever he wanted. He had unwavering trust in the sovereign Lord of creation. Several years earlier, he had written the book of Romans and was living out right now Romans 8.28. And we know that for those who love God, all things work together for good for those who are called according to his purpose. Come heat, hard freeze, or high water. Paul was ready. He also knew how to get along in lean times and times of prosperity and abundance. God had provided all he needed. He was well supplied. One phrase that is in both verse 11 and 12 is, I have learned. Paul has learned this. He went through many trials and unique suffering throughout his ministry that helped conform him into the faithful, God-fearing man he was. Imprisonments, beaten many times, often in danger of death, stoned, shipwrecked three times, and many other types of danger. He had learned through experience to trust that the difficulties in life weren't just bad luck. There is no such thing. They were a part of God's plan to conform him more to the image of Christ. James 1, 2 and 3 says, Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness. This is an important lesson for all of us to learn, because so often it is the hard times and trials in life that lead to us being discontent. These can be the times when we might cry out, Lord, where are you now? Well, he's right there beside us, carrying us along. One of the keys to being able to withstand, to get through, and even grow during these trying circumstances is to continually lean on the Lord. Paul claims in verse 13, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. This may be the Bible verse used and taken out of context more than any other. You see it on coffee cups, t-shirts, and signs on the wall. Yes, the verse is true, but the proper interpretation is taken from the original context here. Paul can do all things. He can learn to be content in lean times and seasons of abundance. He can do all things. He can get by in whatever circumstance or trial he was in, but only through him who strengthens me. This verse and all others should be weighed and interpreted through the immediate and original context and through the lens of all of Scripture. This verse doesn't mean that you can make the crippled walk, the blind man see, heal the sick, or raise the dead. And it is not mental toughness, resolve, or showing up with grit teeth that will get this done. When Jesus taught his disciples to pray with the Lord's Prayer, it says, Your will be done. When Jesus prayed in the Garden of Gethsemane before his crucifixion, he prayed to the Father, not my will, but yours be done. Paul was saying in this verse that when he'd reached the end of his endurance, patience, or physical strength, as he leaned on the Lord, he'd be empowered with the strength of Christ, but all according to the perfect will of God. Isaiah 40, 29 through 31 says, He gives power to the faint, and to him who has no might, he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted. But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength. They shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. As we wait on the Lord, trust in his plan and trust in his power to strengthen us. Contentment will be the fruit in our lives. Paul was content at the time he wrote this letter, but not just because he had his own needs met. Verses 14 through 19 detail how the Philippian church had generously, even sacrificially, supported him in his missionary work throughout the Mediterranean region. Paul's contentment was also rooted in his concern for others. Receiving the gift that Epaphroditus brought was a great blessing in and of itself. But the greater blessing in Paul's mind is the benefit that their sacrificial offering gained them. Verse 17 says, Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. Many places throughout Scripture the principle is clear. Those who give generously will be blessed. Jesus said in Luke 6, 38, give, and it will be given to you. Good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over will be put into your lap. For the measure you use, it will be measured back to you. Paul has received payment in full and more. But the credit to the account of the generous givers at Philippi was greater than that. But not necessarily in a physical sense, but to their spiritual benefit. Verse 19 gives testimony to that when Paul writes, and my God will supply every need of yours, according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. Paul describes their gift using Old Testament sacrificial language, calling it a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. The old covenant required animal sacrifices, but new covenant believers are not required to do that. Instead, Christians are called to make spiritual sacrifices, as Paul described in Romans 12, 1. I appeal to you, therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship. Hebrews thirteen, fifteen and sixteen. Through him, then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God. That is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name. Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God. And no one can outgive God. Paul says here that God will supply every need of theirs, referring to physical needs, in addition to the spiritual blessings here and into eternity. What a picture of the grace and love of Christ. These needs will be met not out of the riches of Christ, but according to them. The eternal riches of Christ are beyond comprehension, as described in Ephesians 1 3. Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places. As he pinned his closing remarks of the letter to the Philippians, Paul indirectly reminds them who they are when he sends greetings from all the Christians in Rome. Greetings to the saints, from the saints. The word saint literally means set apart one or holy one. All who have made a personal decision to trust Christ as Savior are defined as saints in the New Testament. Paul reminds them they are in Christ Jesus. And all Christians can declare with Paul as he does in Galatians 2.20. I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh, I live by faith in the Son of God. Of God who loved me and gave himself for me. Oh, what a glorious truth. To him be the glory forever and ever. That is the fitting response to this passage, to this book, and to all of life as blood-bought adopted sons and daughters of the Lord. Paul ends this letter the same way he started it, by wishing them grace. The grace or unmerited favor of Christ is a great truth of Scripture and an overarching theme of the whole Christian life. Believers are not only saved by grace, but sustained by grace, strengthened and sanctified by grace and kept by grace. May we never lose sight or take this truth for granted. Does this resonate with you today? How does this hit you? I'm going to say you're in one of two camps. The camp on the left and the camp on the right. And this has nothing to do with politics. This is way more important than that. And there is no middle ground or compromise. I'm going to call the camp on the right the camp in the right, in a right relationship with God. If you're in the camp on the left at the moment, you are lost. If you have never made a personal decision to trust Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior, and you think you are content, I will be so bold as to say you are being deceived. The enemy, the devil, the father of lies, has blinders on you so that you can't see the truth of the gospel and the glory and blessings of being in a right and saving relationship with Christ. May the Almighty God, holy and ever-present, reveal Himself clearly to you this morning and draw you into a saving knowledge of Him. The God of all creation is holy, and we as members of the human race are not. Our sin separates us from a right relationship with God. But Christ and His atoning sacrifice on the cross paid the sin debt we owed and offered salvation to all who had repent and believe. If you are in this camp, run. Run to the Lord, because the fires of hell and eternal separation from the loving God of the universe is a real thing. If you are in a camp on the right, the camp in the right, praise God. I hope you are content and well supplied like Paul. But I expect you're not quite there. Contentment is not just sitting around the fire because you're in the right camp. Oh no. God kindled the fire and drew you into a saving relationship with Him. But it can burn down into just a lukewarm bed of coals. May that fire burn hot as you feed it with the right kind of fuel. The fuel we can read about in the scripture. As we do, we will fall more in love with Christ, more sanctified in our walk, and more obedient to his call on our lives. Contentment is not just resting in our salvation because we have our so-called fire insurance, our get out of hell free card. Look back a page at Philippians 3.12 and see what Paul says about this. Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus has made me his own. He presses on. Contentment is not being okay with how we are, with how our besetting sin issues that plague us over and over. May we never say, that's just the way God made me, and be resigned to just drifting through life that way and not taking every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. May we work hard at killing that sin every time it rears its ugly head. There's a biblical pattern to all aspects of life. May we feed that fire as we study and grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as we do, we will be well supplied. No matter the circumstances in our life. God has it under control. But this isn't heaven. In this sin-cursed world, there will be pain and suffering, heartache, and trials. We just must keep our eyes and our hearts fixed on the things above. And we will reap the contentment of our souls as our faith in the Lord grows. Would you pray with me? Lord, we thank you for your word that is true. That we can see you more clearly. That we can draw close to you. And Lord, thank you for this time together. Thank you for this time of worship. And may you continue to guide us and guard our hearts and our minds. We lift all this up in Jesus' precious name. Amen.