WEBVTT 00:00:00.320 --> 00:00:01.199 Morning, Church. 00:00:02.080 --> 00:00:04.160 Word from the book of Philippians. 00:00:04.639 --> 00:00:09.359 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly now that at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:00:09.519 --> 00:00:13.199 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:00:13.519 --> 00:00:19.359 Now that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever circ situation I am to be content. 00:00:19.600 --> 00:00:22.559 I know how to be brought low, I know how to abound. 00:00:22.800 --> 00:00:28.800 In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:00:29.039 --> 00:00:31.760 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:00:31.920 --> 00:00:34.240 Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 00:00:34.399 --> 00:00:44.240 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. 00:00:44.560 --> 00:00:48.240 Even in Thessalonica, you sent help for my needs once again. 00:00:48.479 --> 00:00:53.759 Now that I seek not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:00:53.920 --> 00:00:56.000 I have received full payment and more. 00:00:56.240 --> 00:01:04.959 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:01:05.200 --> 00:01:10.159 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 00:01:10.319 --> 00:01:13.359 To our God and Father be glory and ever, forever and ever. 00:01:13.599 --> 00:01:14.239 Amen. 00:01:14.640 --> 00:01:16.319 This is the word of the Lord. 00:01:19.840 --> 00:01:20.640 Good morning. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:23.760 Thanks for joining us this morning. 00:01:23.840 --> 00:01:24.959 My name is James Rathman. 00:01:25.120 --> 00:01:27.280 I'm the pastor here at Redemption Church. 00:01:27.439 --> 00:01:29.920 It's uh wonderful to be back with you. 00:01:30.079 --> 00:01:36.719 I haven't been preaching since the beginning of um August when we had our third little boy. 00:01:36.959 --> 00:01:38.239 Um Yeah. 00:01:40.799 --> 00:01:47.280 Um my I was I nudged my wife while we were worshiping, and I was like, I cannot believe we made it in this morning. 00:01:47.519 --> 00:01:49.680 It was by the skin of our teeth. 00:01:49.760 --> 00:02:04.640 We were locked in in intense negotiations with my two-year-old daughter, and she almost had us, but we held strong, and there was she knew that there was not enough time to go through a full disciplined regiment. 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:06.239 She knew. 00:02:06.560 --> 00:02:11.199 So she had our backs against the ropes, and we had nothing to but but we made it. 00:02:11.360 --> 00:02:12.080 We made it all. 00:02:12.400 --> 00:02:13.199 We're all here. 00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:19.280 Um I I I know um that's many of your experiences this morning as well. 00:02:19.360 --> 00:02:20.879 So so thanks for being here. 00:02:21.039 --> 00:02:22.159 Thanks for joining us. 00:02:22.319 --> 00:02:29.759 Um we are coming to the end of our series called Christ Is Enough, and we uh it's it's very dark in here. 00:02:30.000 --> 00:02:33.280 Can we uh change, make it light? 00:02:34.479 --> 00:02:37.520 I have uh I have a thing about that. 00:02:37.919 --> 00:02:42.479 Um uh if not, don't be distracted by the darkness. 00:02:43.439 --> 00:02:45.919 Now that I have drawn your attention to it. 00:02:46.159 --> 00:02:48.000 Um look at that. 00:02:48.479 --> 00:02:50.319 Ask, seek, knock. 00:02:52.800 --> 00:03:08.400 We're coming to the end of the of this series, uh, which has been our summer series called Christ is enough, and we're practicing at sort of three different levels of our lives, these three different practices, which are generosity, sabbath, and uh what's the other one? 00:03:09.360 --> 00:03:10.159 Thanks. 00:03:11.360 --> 00:03:20.800 And uh we are uh moving through those at the levels of church, um uh personally, your family, and and participation in the church as well. 00:03:20.960 --> 00:03:21.599 Wow. 00:03:22.080 --> 00:03:24.319 Gotta break get the cobwebs off. 00:03:24.960 --> 00:03:34.000 And uh today we are looking at generosity at the church level, but we're we're looking at a couple of different things, because there's a couple of different things in this passage. 00:03:34.080 --> 00:03:41.599 We're looking at what this means from the person who gives, which is the Philippian church, how they come together to give. 00:03:41.759 --> 00:03:48.080 But we also look at the the unique way in which Paul receives the gift from the Philippian church. 00:03:48.240 --> 00:03:51.599 And we see described just sort of this different economy. 00:03:51.919 --> 00:03:58.800 The Christian economy of giving and receiving is different than the ordinary economy of giving and receiving. 00:03:59.039 --> 00:04:01.919 And we are uh going to explore that this morning. 00:04:02.000 --> 00:04:18.639 And it and it rests in uh this almost absurd principle that Paul is able to operate in, which is total contentment in what Paul says, any and every circumstance. 00:04:19.040 --> 00:04:24.399 He can be brought high, he can be made low, and Paul is content. 00:04:24.800 --> 00:04:28.079 Now, what does giving mean in a situation like that? 00:04:28.399 --> 00:04:38.000 This is um uh looking at Paul's heart this morning, it's holding something up that is that is almost so high, it can just be like an intimidating. 00:04:38.160 --> 00:04:48.399 You know, the the this sort of superstar Christian might have access to that, but this is ours in Christ, the contentment that is offered to, uh that Paul demonstrates is offered to us in Christ. 00:04:48.560 --> 00:04:54.800 So let's look at that this morning through the lens of church generosity, and then we will uh, but let's pray first. 00:04:55.839 --> 00:04:58.639 Holy Father, thank you for bringing us here this morning. 00:04:58.879 --> 00:05:11.519 Thank you for your loving kindness towards our church and the promise that you give to us that you will supply all of our needs according to your riches and glory in Christ Jesus. 00:05:12.800 --> 00:05:15.839 Lord, that you perfectly provide for us. 00:05:16.560 --> 00:05:25.680 Perfectly provide for us the time that we need to accomplish the things that you've called us to, the resources that we need, the capacity within ourselves. 00:05:26.399 --> 00:05:31.279 Lord, all that you ask of us, you freely give to us. 00:05:32.079 --> 00:05:47.759 I pray that we might recognize the truth of this principle in Scripture, and that we might learn to receive it and practice the sufficiency that we have in you, in Christ Jesus our Lord. 00:05:47.920 --> 00:05:49.360 We'll have this up in Jesus' name. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:50.160 Amen. 00:05:51.600 --> 00:05:56.480 Now, this section of Philippians is at the very end of the letter, and it's really just a thank you note. 00:05:56.639 --> 00:06:02.959 Paul is writing thanks to the Philippian Church for the generosity that they've shown to him. 00:06:03.279 --> 00:06:20.319 This uh most recent occasion when he is in jail writing this, uh, they have provided to him through Epaphroditus, but he lists that there are multiple occasions throughout Paul's ministry in which the Philippian Church has been uniquely generous to Paul. 00:06:20.560 --> 00:06:24.319 And Paul greatly rejoices at their generosity. 00:06:24.560 --> 00:06:47.360 Now, this was actually uh a well-timed sermon because this is kind of an exciting thing to share for our church to be preaching on a thank you note, because uh as we uh uh uh ran the numbers, you know, accounted, uh for our church's giving for last month, which was July. 00:06:48.000 --> 00:06:57.839 July is this is the first time in our church's history that in the summer we've been in the black. 00:06:59.120 --> 00:07:00.879 That's that's great. 00:07:02.160 --> 00:07:13.120 So the way the churches work is you're in the red, you're in the red, you're in the red, and then at the end of the year, uh there's big gifts, and then you you hold your breath and you say, Do we get to keep doing this? 00:07:13.439 --> 00:07:15.920 And uh we have gotten to keep doing this. 00:07:16.000 --> 00:07:25.839 But there's also been sort of like several, you know, uh, you guys remember 2020 when like ever all the presidents were like, here's money. 00:07:26.319 --> 00:07:27.600 That was helpful. 00:07:27.759 --> 00:07:30.879 Um and so that faded us for a little while. 00:07:31.040 --> 00:07:42.319 But we uh uh the the shape of the the giving right now, there's no there's no big whales, there's no huge gifts. 00:07:42.480 --> 00:07:49.360 Now, I if you have one, I don't want you to think we don't appreciate those. 00:07:49.519 --> 00:07:50.160 We we do. 00:07:50.319 --> 00:07:52.399 But that's that hasn't been that's not the shape. 00:07:52.639 --> 00:07:58.879 It's it's a lot of people uh giving month month over month. 00:07:59.040 --> 00:08:01.279 That's a that's very healthy. 00:08:01.600 --> 00:08:04.399 And it's a very exciting thing to see for our church. 00:08:04.560 --> 00:08:22.720 So um just for the story of our church, to get to preach on a thank you note uh this uh Sunday is a is a joyful thing to do, and and uh thank you uh for your commitment to our church that uh that allows us to continue. 00:08:23.199 --> 00:08:29.120 So uh I just wanted to begin there, but we're going to look at these three things in the text. 00:08:29.199 --> 00:08:40.480 This uh the Philippians' generosity, we're going to look at Paul's contentment, and then we're going to look at the promise of Christ that undergirds this whole economy of giving. 00:08:41.440 --> 00:08:42.960 Paul begins in verse 10. 00:08:43.120 --> 00:08:49.919 He says, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:08:50.240 --> 00:08:55.039 You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:08:56.639 --> 00:09:11.120 Paul had just come off this section where he was talking about uh uh making your anxieties known to the Lord, and then he says, Whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is good, whatever is just, think about these things. 00:09:11.600 --> 00:09:19.759 And he says that right before this, and it's almost like you can imagine Paul in his letter, he's thinking about things that are good and true and honorable and just. 00:09:19.919 --> 00:09:29.360 And he's like, you know what, I should thank the Philippians because their generosity to me throughout my ministry is so good. 00:09:29.840 --> 00:09:36.159 And I I want them to understand the goodness of their generosity towards me. 00:09:36.320 --> 00:09:51.600 And so he describes that just their his receiving the most recent gift that he received from the Philippians, he says, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now you have at length you have revived your concern for me. 00:09:52.000 --> 00:09:56.639 He says, You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. 00:09:57.600 --> 00:10:05.279 So Paul at this point is in prison, and it's it's debated where he is in prison, but it's likely Rome. 00:10:05.840 --> 00:10:17.039 And the way that these uh the way that this would work is that um all that he needed would need to be provided for him from external sources. 00:10:17.279 --> 00:10:25.200 So that's food and clothing and anything extra that um he might need to survive would need to come from outside. 00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:29.039 And so Paul is in this place of radical dependence. 00:10:29.279 --> 00:10:40.320 And the Philippian church sees this as not just a not something like an inconvenience for Paul, or you know, they may be thinking like, Paul, he's that missionary that we funded. 00:10:40.480 --> 00:10:41.519 What's he up to now? 00:10:41.679 --> 00:10:43.360 That's right, he's just in jail. 00:10:44.080 --> 00:10:45.519 That's not much work for the gospel. 00:10:45.600 --> 00:10:49.120 We're here to multiply uh the fruit of the gospel in the world. 00:10:49.200 --> 00:10:54.240 We like guys who aren't in jail, you know, makes it easier for them to move around. 00:10:54.480 --> 00:10:58.720 Uh no, they have a concern for Paul. 00:10:59.279 --> 00:11:15.200 They love him, they love what he has meant to them in his care for them at in their church, and and they love the shape of ministry that God has called him to, and they desire to be partnered with him as a person. 00:11:15.279 --> 00:11:23.039 And so this um uh, you know, it it inconveniences, of course, an understatement. 00:11:23.120 --> 00:11:26.879 This this imprisonment uh is an opportunity. 00:11:27.600 --> 00:11:35.519 The opportunity is Paul's need, but it's also matched with this man Epaphroditus, who has the ability to go and visit them. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:40.960 Their deep love and concern for Paul is shown in this opportunity. 00:11:41.600 --> 00:11:47.919 Paul continues on later, I'll skip around as we're focusing on the Philippians now, verses 14 through 16. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:52.320 He says, Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. 00:11:53.200 --> 00:12:05.519 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. 00:12:06.240 --> 00:12:11.679 Even in Thessalonica, you sent me help for my needs once and again. 00:12:13.200 --> 00:12:20.000 The way that Paul describes the Philippians giving is that they share in his trouble. 00:12:20.879 --> 00:12:24.960 This is the nature of a Christian's generosity. 00:12:25.360 --> 00:12:36.720 That is, that they uh we look into the lives of one another, and we see where is the trouble and how can I bear some of that? 00:12:37.840 --> 00:12:41.120 And the Philippians did this with Paul repeatedly. 00:12:41.360 --> 00:12:49.919 At the very beginning of the gospel, when things were untested, they offer this generosity to Paul and they look at his trouble. 00:12:50.000 --> 00:12:56.879 And what's the trouble for a missionary who's setting out across uh the known world to share the gospel? 00:12:57.120 --> 00:13:04.879 It's all kinds of trouble, but part of that is material, and other churches have material needs as well that Paul can act as a bridge to. 00:13:05.279 --> 00:13:09.039 And so they participate in the trouble that they see. 00:13:09.279 --> 00:13:16.720 This is not an inconvenience for them, this is the very opportunity to demonstrate their love and concern. 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:27.519 The Philippians, Paul wants them to know that the way that they shared in his trouble was unique among all the churches. 00:13:27.840 --> 00:13:34.000 No other church was willing to share it with Paul in this trouble in the way that the Philippians were. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:38.080 And he says, even when I was in, it's like he he just wants them to get the story. 00:13:38.240 --> 00:14:01.200 Even when I was in Thessalonica, you know, I I don't know the particulars of what Paul's need was while he was in Thessalonica, but he he feels compelled to bring it up in a way that's almost like saying, like, look, it, you know, even perhaps when you could have thought he doesn't need our help here, you continued to provide again and again. 00:14:02.240 --> 00:14:33.279 The Philippian church is a beacon for how a church should be, and for a church that has been so transformed by the gospel that we develop deep concerns for one another and for the going out of the gospel, that we see the problems of the ministers that we want to support and the problems of others as our own problems. 00:14:34.399 --> 00:14:38.639 We see those as troubles that we want to take on ourselves. 00:14:38.799 --> 00:14:43.840 That way, in our love, we might demonstrate our our concern for one another. 00:14:44.080 --> 00:14:52.159 You know, Megan and I, since we've had our third, have basically not cooked a meal. 00:14:52.639 --> 00:14:54.720 And that's because of you. 00:14:55.279 --> 00:15:01.440 You know, you with this meal train and Krista's meal train af you know uh expertise. 00:15:02.559 --> 00:15:21.279 Uh and there's this sense in which we've just gotten to participate in this simple generosity of having meals delivered, the kindness uh of when you show up, the way that they're packaged, with little notes on how to heating directions and instructions and things. 00:15:21.440 --> 00:15:23.679 There's such care and love in that. 00:15:23.919 --> 00:15:29.200 Cooking meals, you we have to do it all the time, you know, because of eating. 00:15:29.759 --> 00:15:36.799 And um, I I know uh how squeezed your lives are. 00:15:37.759 --> 00:15:50.320 And to have one night where you make not one dinner but two, uh, is is a deep labor of love that is that has been extremely just well appreciated. 00:15:50.480 --> 00:15:53.279 We felt so cared for throughout the season. 00:15:53.440 --> 00:16:06.639 Now that's just a picture of looking out, seeing one another's troubles, and taking some of them on yourself. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:08.879 You can't take them all. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:14.799 Some of them just don't belong to you, and they they will be, they will belong to the person that you're seeking to help. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:19.200 Uh, but you can demonstrate your concern. 00:16:20.639 --> 00:16:24.080 Paul is in jail, he's in deep need. 00:16:25.360 --> 00:16:31.440 And it is described as an opportunity to demonstrate concern. 00:16:31.759 --> 00:16:34.799 Look at what the Lord brings together in all of this. 00:16:35.519 --> 00:16:39.919 He brings together the the love of the Philippians for Paul. 00:16:40.720 --> 00:16:47.200 And in that that love, he he allows them a chance to really put flesh on it. 00:16:47.759 --> 00:16:49.840 Now, think what that might do for Paul. 00:16:50.000 --> 00:16:52.000 No other church supported me. 00:16:52.159 --> 00:16:54.559 Is this endeavor worth supporting? 00:16:54.720 --> 00:17:04.559 If Paul didn't have that need, then there would not have been an opportunity for the Philippians to demonstrate their true love and concern. 00:17:04.720 --> 00:17:09.839 Now, Paul is able to say, they really do love me. 00:17:10.480 --> 00:17:13.759 They really are in this with me. 00:17:13.920 --> 00:17:22.079 While Paul is sitting in prison in Rome, he cannot think to himself, like Elijah thought, there is no other prophet in the world. 00:17:22.240 --> 00:17:24.240 This project is doomed to failure. 00:17:24.559 --> 00:17:40.400 But instead, because of his need and the love that is able to be demonstrated there, he can have uh a assureness that the Lord is with him, that the Lord will provide for him through his church. 00:17:43.680 --> 00:17:54.559 The needs of one another are the medium, they're the roads through which we get to demonstrate our true love for one another. 00:17:54.960 --> 00:17:57.920 This is the shape of giving in the church. 00:17:59.279 --> 00:18:02.160 Now we need to look at how Paul receives this. 00:18:04.559 --> 00:18:16.480 Because the way that Paul receives this gift is it's different than we think of giving and receiving. 00:18:17.920 --> 00:18:22.799 His heart is different. 00:18:24.400 --> 00:18:25.839 I'll put it like this. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:32.400 Paul rejoices greatly, but it's not a rejoicing of like a kid who gets a new toy. 00:18:33.119 --> 00:18:42.079 It's not even the rejoicing of a parent who is relieved from some great stressor. 00:18:44.079 --> 00:18:53.119 Paul cares way more about the gift than a kid who receives a new toy. 00:18:54.640 --> 00:19:07.920 But he cares way less about the gift than even the stoic, who is detached from all sense of anxiety and need. 00:19:10.480 --> 00:19:12.400 Let's see how he does that. 00:19:14.400 --> 00:19:20.480 In Philippians 4, 11, right after saying he rejoiced greatly at receiving the gift, Paul says this. 00:19:30.880 --> 00:19:33.200 Now, this is a weird thing. 00:19:34.079 --> 00:19:42.000 Imagine that you are uh Well, I guess we'll just use this exact circumstance. 00:19:42.079 --> 00:19:50.000 You're gonna you're giving to a missionary who's in jail and is in is in dire need for people to provide for him. 00:19:51.039 --> 00:19:55.200 And then you do provide for him, and he says, I'm so glad I got this. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:57.039 Not that I needed it. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:03.839 And you're like, Well you did need it though. 00:20:05.039 --> 00:20:10.240 You did need, you needed all all that we uh provided for you. 00:20:12.079 --> 00:20:13.759 But he's so careful. 00:20:15.839 --> 00:20:24.559 Paul throughout his ministry is is accused of just trying to siphon money from people or or being in the gospel ministry for for the money. 00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:36.160 And so he's so careful when he describes this that he he wants the Philippians to understand that he had absolute confidence in the Lord to provide. 00:20:36.319 --> 00:20:43.119 And that in whatever situation he was in, even if they hadn't have provided, he would have been fine. 00:20:43.519 --> 00:20:56.799 The Lord would have found a way to provide him with his needs, and the Lord would have drawn close to him, and by the strength of Jesus Christ, he would have been absolutely sustained in this situation. 00:20:56.960 --> 00:20:58.640 And so here's what he doesn't want them to think. 00:20:58.720 --> 00:21:06.319 He he doesn't want them to think, oh, it's so good that you came through because otherwise Jesus would not have come through for me. 00:21:06.960 --> 00:21:13.359 I I was up against a wall, and if it weren't for you showing up, there would have been no way out. 00:21:13.599 --> 00:21:48.160 No, Paul so lives within the reality of a God who saves, and with such a clear expectation that this God who saves will save me, he will be with me, he will provide all that I need in order to accomplish all that he has required of me, that he doesn't even want the the means that God is using to provide for him, to be confused, that he might have had it had any fear that the Lord wouldn't provide. 00:21:48.880 --> 00:21:59.759 He wants the Philippians and himself to be so living in the reality that God saves and provides, that even amidst the gift, he doesn't want his eyes. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:01.359 Taken off of that. 00:22:02.079 --> 00:22:07.680 He says, I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 00:22:09.599 --> 00:22:17.200 Now, to say that, we do think, okay, Paul is just different, you know. 00:22:19.519 --> 00:22:21.839 Some people are just unshakable. 00:22:23.440 --> 00:22:25.920 Nothing really gets to them. 00:22:26.720 --> 00:22:33.359 Plus, you know, Paul, single guy, it's not like he's worried about his family. 00:22:33.839 --> 00:22:36.880 He's traveling around Rome, there's no mortgage. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:48.720 You know, if my life were structured as adventurously and light as Paul, perhaps I wouldn't have the same anxieties that I do, or don't have the same shape of anxieties that I do. 00:22:50.319 --> 00:23:08.000 Paul describes himself in 2 Corinthians among the list of uh persecutions and beatings and humiliations that he's experienced, the thing that Paul bears day to day. 00:23:08.160 --> 00:23:17.200 He also describes the daily pressure of his anxiety, his words, anxiety for all the churches. 00:23:17.359 --> 00:23:26.720 That's the that's sort of the crowning thing that he says that he lives with daily as something that's almost impossible for him to bear. 00:23:27.279 --> 00:23:30.799 The daily pressure of his anxiety for all the churches. 00:23:31.039 --> 00:23:37.039 He finishes it and he says, Who is weak and I am not weak? 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:49.680 Look, if you want to, Paul's saying, if you want to see somebody who is weak, who cannot bear all the responsibility that he has been given, then look at me. 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:53.920 I know many of you are feeling this. 00:23:54.000 --> 00:23:55.759 I'm in over my head. 00:23:55.839 --> 00:23:59.039 I cannot bear all of the responsibility that I've been given. 00:23:59.119 --> 00:24:01.279 There is not enough me to go around. 00:24:01.440 --> 00:24:03.680 I am spread too thin. 00:24:03.839 --> 00:24:07.680 Well, you are in the company of Paul in this regard. 00:24:09.759 --> 00:24:22.240 And yet, this same man is the one who says, I have learned in any situation to be content. 00:24:23.440 --> 00:24:28.240 We're being brought, he goes on, let him expound it a bit more. 00:24:28.400 --> 00:24:34.480 In verse 12, I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. 00:24:35.359 --> 00:24:46.160 In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 00:24:47.200 --> 00:24:51.279 Paul knows how to live in all of those, but here's the paradox. 00:24:51.440 --> 00:24:55.119 Here's the man who says, I am too weak. 00:24:55.359 --> 00:25:01.680 I am the weakest when it comes to bearing all that has been given to me. 00:25:02.079 --> 00:25:03.920 I am not sufficient. 00:25:04.160 --> 00:25:06.400 You know, you want to find somebody who's weak. 00:25:07.039 --> 00:25:08.160 It's the way that he says it. 00:25:08.559 --> 00:25:11.039 Who is weak and I am not weak? 00:25:11.680 --> 00:25:16.319 The daily pressure, the anxiety for all of the churches, that's enough. 00:25:16.480 --> 00:25:23.839 Remember, Paul also says in 2 Corinthians, where he describes desiring to send to the Thessalonians. 00:25:26.000 --> 00:25:35.599 Uh I can't remember if it's Titus or Timothy, sorry, to the Thessalonians, and he says, I finally could not bear it any longer, not knowing how you were doing. 00:25:35.680 --> 00:25:37.279 And so I had to send someone. 00:25:37.440 --> 00:25:44.160 It's like it was, it was dangerous and maybe even perhaps a little foolish, but he he he couldn't bear it any longer in his heart. 00:25:44.240 --> 00:25:52.240 He needed relief from his nerves for how things were going in the churches, the responsibility that he had been given. 00:25:52.559 --> 00:25:57.839 Look, here's the paradox that I want us to see in Paul's life. 00:25:58.400 --> 00:26:00.640 He is completely weak. 00:26:00.960 --> 00:26:04.640 He is insufficient for the task that he has been given. 00:26:05.200 --> 00:26:11.519 There is no circumstance in which he is not content. 00:26:14.960 --> 00:26:17.920 That's a bizarre paradox. 00:26:18.400 --> 00:26:20.480 How do you reconcile that? 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:25.200 And our question to try and reconcile something like that is what type of a man is Paul? 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:27.200 What type of man is Paul? 00:26:28.559 --> 00:26:30.079 That's not the answer. 00:26:31.119 --> 00:26:39.119 You know, the answer is given to us in that that next verse, Philippians 4.13. 00:26:39.279 --> 00:26:40.559 What is the secret? 00:26:40.960 --> 00:26:49.440 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:58.880 Why can the can the weakest one continue in the mission that is too big for him? 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:04.160 Because Christ is with him and can see him through. 00:27:04.960 --> 00:27:11.359 How is it that in dire need he can be content? 00:27:12.720 --> 00:27:16.480 Because Christ is his strength. 00:27:16.720 --> 00:27:18.720 Christ is the one who will see him through. 00:27:18.799 --> 00:27:23.119 This is the paradox of Christian contentment. 00:27:23.279 --> 00:27:38.240 And unless we're able to grasp this paradox of Christian contentment, then we will not be generous to one another because we will be too gripped by what we have in terms of our abundance or by what we don't have in terms of our need. 00:27:38.400 --> 00:27:42.720 We won't know how to abound and we won't know how to go low. 00:27:42.880 --> 00:27:57.279 We will instead be owned by trying to become strong enough within ourselves to meet what God has called us to, or trying to become avoidant enough of what God has called us to so we don't have to have our weakness exposed. 00:28:01.680 --> 00:28:07.519 In his book, The Rare Jewel of Christian Contentment, Jeremiah Burroughs describes this paradox. 00:28:09.759 --> 00:28:24.240 He says, This a man that has learned the art of contentment is the most contented with any low condition that he has in the world. 00:28:25.440 --> 00:28:32.799 And yet he cannot be satisfied with the enjoyment of all the world. 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.519 So the sentence structure is strange. 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:45.039 So let's visit this again. 00:28:45.200 --> 00:28:51.759 He any low condition that he has in the world, he cannot be made discontent. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:56.160 He's content with the lowest of conditions. 00:28:56.480 --> 00:29:09.920 But if you were to give him the whole world and say, I offer you all the kingdoms, all the glory, all the things that you want in the world, and say, it wouldn't be enough to satisfy me. 00:29:32.400 --> 00:29:44.079 Yet, if God should give unto him the kingdoms and empires, all the world to rule for his portion, he would not be satisfied with that. 00:29:51.839 --> 00:29:58.079 The Christians' contentment is in Jesus. 00:30:01.200 --> 00:30:03.519 It's the only way that question is answered. 00:30:03.680 --> 00:30:06.640 It's the only way the paradox is rectified. 00:30:07.119 --> 00:30:12.880 You do not have the strength in yourself for what God has called you to. 00:30:13.279 --> 00:30:17.759 Paul makes this grand discovery. 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:28.160 It turns out the shape of the gospel is such that when I am weak, then I am strong. 00:30:28.559 --> 00:30:43.759 Because in my weakness, I am beginning to depend completely more and more on the all-sufficiency of Jesus, and Jesus comes through 100% of the time. 00:30:44.319 --> 00:30:47.680 So I don't even talk about my strengths anymore. 00:30:48.000 --> 00:30:50.799 I just talk about my weaknesses. 00:30:51.039 --> 00:30:53.200 These are the things that I boast in. 00:30:53.680 --> 00:31:02.880 Because think of this, Philippians, what was the opportunity that you had to demonstrate your love for me? 00:31:03.039 --> 00:31:05.279 It was my being in jail. 00:31:06.079 --> 00:31:12.240 Well, what is the opportunity that Christ has to demonstrate his love towards us? 00:31:12.400 --> 00:31:14.079 It is your weakness. 00:31:15.440 --> 00:31:16.799 He moves through it. 00:31:21.680 --> 00:31:23.440 Is your weakness? 00:31:24.960 --> 00:31:26.319 So are you weak? 00:31:26.480 --> 00:31:28.640 Who is weak and you are not weak? 00:31:29.599 --> 00:31:31.599 Is there anything you can't bear? 00:31:31.839 --> 00:31:33.759 There is nothing you can't bear. 00:31:36.799 --> 00:31:40.400 Is there any situation that you cannot be seen through? 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:43.119 There is no such situation. 00:31:44.000 --> 00:31:45.599 Can you handle anything on your own? 00:31:45.759 --> 00:31:46.960 You can handle nothing on your own. 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:48.480 Is there anything you're afraid of? 00:31:48.799 --> 00:31:49.119 No. 00:31:49.839 --> 00:31:51.759 Do you see the paradox? 00:31:53.519 --> 00:32:00.960 It's only possible through that little verse which we don't understand, Philippians 4.13. 00:32:01.359 --> 00:32:05.440 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:12.960 When you're about to take a test, you think to yourself, why will I pass this test? 00:32:13.200 --> 00:32:15.119 Because I have that promise. 00:32:16.880 --> 00:32:18.880 Philippians 4.13. 00:32:19.279 --> 00:32:24.240 You know, have any of you watched the University of Florida documentary on Netflix yet? 00:32:24.880 --> 00:32:30.160 I haven't watched it yet, but Tim Tebow, you know, had Philippians 4.13 under his. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:33.119 I was there for the jump shot pass, just saying. 00:32:33.359 --> 00:32:35.200 Against Tennessee, I was there. 00:32:35.759 --> 00:32:38.880 It's one of the most epic moments in all of college sports when I was there. 00:32:39.279 --> 00:32:40.720 So anyway. 00:32:43.359 --> 00:32:45.039 Let's take communion. 00:32:50.079 --> 00:32:55.119 You're about to take the test, and you say, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:32:55.839 --> 00:32:58.319 That's how I know I'll pass the test. 00:32:58.640 --> 00:33:00.400 That's not what the verse is for. 00:33:03.200 --> 00:33:06.240 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:33:07.200 --> 00:33:10.559 If I pass the test, I'll make it. 00:33:11.039 --> 00:33:14.319 If I fail the test, I'll make it. 00:33:15.680 --> 00:33:17.119 That's what it means. 00:33:20.079 --> 00:33:22.000 I can be brought low. 00:33:23.839 --> 00:33:26.319 I can do all things through him who strengthens me. 00:33:26.400 --> 00:33:29.279 I'll I'll attempt what God is calling me to. 00:33:30.559 --> 00:33:34.720 If I succeed, I'll be okay. 00:33:36.000 --> 00:33:39.680 If I fail, I'll be okay. 00:33:44.960 --> 00:33:46.079 Many of you. 00:33:54.319 --> 00:33:56.079 Well, let me get to this first. 00:33:59.759 --> 00:34:03.839 I I just wanna I just want to reference this before I close out this section. 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:07.519 In verses 17 through 18, how Paul understands the gift. 00:34:07.759 --> 00:34:14.159 He says, Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:34:14.559 --> 00:34:18.400 Paul is in an economy of the Lord's giving. 00:34:18.719 --> 00:34:26.239 The Lord gives to the Philippians, that the Philippians might give to him, and he receives as though it is just from the Lord. 00:34:26.880 --> 00:34:31.039 See, he says, I have received full payment and more. 00:34:31.599 --> 00:34:41.440 I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God. 00:34:41.679 --> 00:34:50.880 You can't hear it here in English because it's just sort of neutered, but uh in Greek, Paul is being funny here. 00:34:51.519 --> 00:35:02.159 He's literally saying, like when he says, I've received full payment and more, he's used these technical accounting terms throughout this thing. 00:35:02.320 --> 00:35:05.199 And he's literally saying here, I'm rich. 00:35:06.239 --> 00:35:10.480 He's like, I'm I'm loaded now after your gift. 00:35:10.639 --> 00:35:13.920 Now remember, Roman prison. 00:35:15.280 --> 00:35:18.159 Okay, he's not, he's not rich. 00:35:19.199 --> 00:35:33.440 But to Paul, he's expressing this just gratitude and his understanding of this, he's like, look, since Epaphroditus came, I've got full payment, I got no debts, I got money in the bank, I am rolling. 00:35:37.280 --> 00:35:46.639 Paul is doing just fine as he sits in as he sits in jail from the gift of his of his friends. 00:35:48.719 --> 00:36:03.679 Look at the way God uses the need and the generosity of the church, that we can participate in the giving and receiving that God does for us in Jesus. 00:36:05.119 --> 00:36:08.960 Jesus freely gives to us in our need. 00:36:12.079 --> 00:36:24.880 And that allows us to, in all circumstances, even when we are the ones in need, to be content and then to look in order to participate in his generosity. 00:36:30.800 --> 00:36:34.960 Now, many of you in here do not have need. 00:36:38.559 --> 00:36:42.320 So how do you be brought high? 00:36:44.480 --> 00:36:52.719 Well, one way is to consider that all that you have is a gift from the Lord. 00:36:54.400 --> 00:37:12.719 And then as you consider that, to look out into your church, into the community of people that you live and share your life with, and say, Where is there an opportunity to demonstrate my care? 00:37:14.639 --> 00:37:24.559 Paul, in writing to the Corinthians, he's talking about them, he tells them about the Macedonians, and he's he's asking for a gift from the Corinthian church in 2 Corinthians. 00:37:24.719 --> 00:37:33.280 And he says, I know that you have intended and that you have this intention in your heart to demonstrate your care for the churches. 00:37:33.440 --> 00:37:39.199 When I send these people to collect this, now is your opportunity to demonstrate this care. 00:37:39.360 --> 00:37:40.480 And he tells this little story. 00:37:40.559 --> 00:37:43.039 He says, you know, it's kind of like the Macedonians. 00:37:43.280 --> 00:37:52.079 The Macedonians, out of their great poverty, have abounded in their generosity. 00:37:54.719 --> 00:38:01.760 Now he's using that as a way of saying to the Corinthians, hey, imagine how you could abound. 00:38:08.079 --> 00:38:19.760 You see, this is a practice of generosity that allows you to participate in the very giving and generosity of our Lord. 00:38:20.239 --> 00:38:23.760 Now, others of you are low. 00:38:27.760 --> 00:38:38.239 This is a calling to practice this type of contentment that Paul is describing. 00:38:38.880 --> 00:38:48.320 You have this unique opportunity to practice a deep contentment with the Lord. 00:38:49.760 --> 00:38:55.119 To show this trust, the Lord will provide. 00:38:56.400 --> 00:38:58.960 I will be taken care of. 00:38:59.360 --> 00:39:11.119 You know, there's something with being brought low, you almost have this sort of this sort of superpower for the world, especially with an acknowledgement of it, of, of like, yeah, look at all look at all these things I just can't have. 00:39:11.840 --> 00:39:18.960 That's like a superpower out here, because our world is just designed to cultivate desire in you. 00:39:19.679 --> 00:39:24.400 And if you are just able to walk through and recognize, like, yeah, I can't have those things. 00:39:24.880 --> 00:39:27.360 Oh, wow, that's a pretty strong person. 00:39:27.920 --> 00:39:30.880 That's a unique opportunity that you have. 00:39:32.079 --> 00:39:42.159 Something that the people who can have whatever they desire, oh man, they can be much more easily tossed around by the things of the world. 00:39:42.639 --> 00:39:46.880 You've got a uh a real grace to you. 00:39:47.519 --> 00:39:50.400 And then you've got to learn how to receive. 00:39:50.559 --> 00:40:02.719 What we're doing is we're learning how to how to receive precisely what God has given to each of us and recognizing that it is for our good. 00:40:04.559 --> 00:40:10.800 Why did Paul, Paul might have thought, how did I end up in prison again with this need? 00:40:11.199 --> 00:40:14.559 Why, when will God just provide for me? 00:40:14.719 --> 00:40:16.320 But what did it become? 00:40:16.639 --> 00:40:23.440 The opportunity for him to become encouraged and loved and to receive the partnership of the Philippian church. 00:40:23.599 --> 00:40:31.280 Paul, his experience of ministry is like perpetual abandonment over and over again. 00:40:31.599 --> 00:40:35.599 But because of this need, he knows the Philippians haven't abandoned him. 00:40:36.480 --> 00:40:39.760 And listened to him overflow with joy in this. 00:40:40.239 --> 00:41:00.400 If God had given him more, you know, if he had ended up, if he got ushered into the prison cell right after the uh, I don't know, Bernie madoff of Rome, some rich prisoner was just out there, and it's like, hey, this thing actually came pre-stocked with everything that I needed, then there wouldn't have been this opportunity. 00:41:00.480 --> 00:41:02.320 It was perfectly attuned to him. 00:41:02.480 --> 00:41:06.320 Here's what you can know in your need. 00:41:06.400 --> 00:41:08.480 And I want to add this other category too. 00:41:09.760 --> 00:41:14.880 Many of you're you're you're not high, or at least you don't think of yourself as high. 00:41:14.960 --> 00:41:19.039 And you're not low, you don't think of yourself as low, but you're squeezed. 00:41:20.000 --> 00:41:21.760 Raise your hand if you're squeezed. 00:41:22.000 --> 00:41:22.400 Yeah. 00:41:22.559 --> 00:41:26.320 This is the this is the way we think of ourselves. 00:41:26.800 --> 00:41:27.760 Squeezed. 00:41:30.480 --> 00:41:35.360 It is perfectly attuned to you, what you have. 00:41:38.079 --> 00:41:43.920 You right now are in the perfect place for the generosity that God requires of you. 00:41:46.559 --> 00:41:49.119 He is working in your heart. 00:41:49.280 --> 00:41:51.840 Here's what you can know about the things that God gives you. 00:41:52.000 --> 00:41:56.880 You can know that they're freely given, that all that you have is from the Lord. 00:41:57.119 --> 00:41:58.320 Here's a good thing to do. 00:41:58.400 --> 00:42:17.920 Just when you go back home today, I want you to look around and look around at your spouse, your your kids, your the things that you have in your house, that the house itself, and think, how many of these did I make happen versus how many of these is the only real explanation that the Lord did this? 00:42:20.000 --> 00:42:26.800 Jeremiah Burroughs says, if you will walk around, if you look around your your room, it's probably three to one. 00:42:27.920 --> 00:42:31.519 And then he says, and then if you're honest, it's probably ten to one. 00:42:33.599 --> 00:42:40.239 You know, let's get a realistic picture of the things that you have are the provision of the Lord. 00:42:40.559 --> 00:42:42.880 Those things are given to you freely. 00:42:43.199 --> 00:42:53.679 He's not coming to collect on them out of his love for you and perfectly attuned to you. 00:42:53.840 --> 00:42:57.119 They're given to you such that they wouldn't take over your heart. 00:42:58.159 --> 00:43:08.960 They're given to you, attuned to the mission and calling that God has for you, that they might be sanctified in the giving of them and in the sharing of them. 00:43:10.880 --> 00:43:14.079 You know, this is the type of contentment that Paul has. 00:43:14.239 --> 00:43:15.920 Your circumstances may change. 00:43:16.159 --> 00:43:18.159 This will still be true. 00:43:18.800 --> 00:43:23.280 The change of those circumstances, whether for greater or for lesser, is for you. 00:43:23.440 --> 00:43:26.960 It's a goodness that God is giving to you. 00:43:28.719 --> 00:43:34.480 Now, living in that way, being able to live in that generosity, is only possible when you understand this final verse. 00:43:34.639 --> 00:43:37.039 This is the benediction that Paul has for this letter. 00:43:37.280 --> 00:43:39.039 And it is verses 19 through 20. 00:43:39.119 --> 00:43:49.360 It says, And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 00:43:49.599 --> 00:43:53.039 To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. 00:43:53.440 --> 00:43:54.079 Amen. 00:43:55.519 --> 00:43:59.280 Every need of yours will be supplied. 00:44:00.000 --> 00:44:16.239 By your Father in heaven, according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus, perfectly attuned for what he has called you to, perfectly sanctified for the generosity that he calls you to. 00:44:19.280 --> 00:44:27.920 Understanding that allows us to participate in this economy of radical generosity amidst perfect contentment. 00:44:33.119 --> 00:44:34.960 Okay, I think let's wrap there. 00:44:35.280 --> 00:44:36.880