WEBVTT 00:00:00.440 --> 00:00:06.190 Philippians chapter four is a is a wonderful ending to the book of Philippians for us as a people. 00:00:06.900 --> 00:00:10.560 Because Paul Paul writes a book about joy in the broken. 00:00:10.580 --> 00:00:17.760 This whole book he's writing from prison talking about rejoicing in the Lord, which is exactly the opposite of what I would talk about. 00:00:18.240 --> 00:00:21.060 I would talk about poor me, right? 00:00:21.480 --> 00:00:28.870 It's like a sad song I would be singing and have a great country music song ending the book of Philippians with Paul circumstance. 00:00:30.020 --> 00:00:37.180 And in that circumstance, Paul, despite what's happening around him being in prison, finds reason to rejoice and find joy in 00:00:37.180 --> 00:00:37.660 the Lord. 00:00:38.060 --> 00:00:45.380 There's something about his walk with God where he finds, particular strength in his life to endure all 00:00:45.380 --> 00:00:46.100 circumstances. 00:00:47.860 --> 00:00:54.960 Like I tell you around the holiday season, I think the way that Philippians chapter four ends is wonderful for us because during the holiday seasons, from 00:00:54.960 --> 00:01:00.820 Thanksgiving to Christmas, statistics says some of the most depressing times for people. 00:01:01.480 --> 00:01:05.800 It's the times where a lot of us, if we feel lonely, we feel even more lonely, and we struggle. 00:01:07.080 --> 00:01:12.380 And during that season of life and but Christmas for us is about to. 00:01:12.600 --> 00:01:15.820 It should be the opposite of that struggle. 00:01:16.440 --> 00:01:22.620 The reason I say that is because when Jesus came in Isaiah chapter nine and verse six, it says to us that he is the Prince of Peace. 00:01:26.580 --> 00:01:28.160 God reconciled us to him. 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:31.740 God brought peace for us. 00:01:33.480 --> 00:01:37.480 God brought contentment that we can enjoy in him. 00:01:39.820 --> 00:01:47.060 And Paul concludes the book of Philippians about joy in the broken, just revealing the secret to how he finds 00:01:47.660 --> 00:01:49.220 contentment regardless of his circumstance. 00:01:51.740 --> 00:01:52.190 In our lives. 00:01:52.240 --> 00:01:58.360 We encounter things that cause us stress, that cause us worry, that bring us anxiety, anxiety to our circumstances. 00:01:59.840 --> 00:02:05.780 But Paul finishes his book by saying he's not the victim of circumstance, but rather the victor over circumstance. 00:02:07.400 --> 00:02:13.780 And so he says in verse 11, I can do all things, and in verse 13, or excuse me in verse 11, he says, I can accept all things. 00:02:13.780 --> 00:02:15.300 Verse 13, I can do all things. 00:02:15.300 --> 00:02:17.780 In verse 18 I have all things. 00:02:19.540 --> 00:02:20.140 Learning to be content. 00:02:22.860 --> 00:02:25.310 Contentment doesn't have to be complacency. 00:02:25.780 --> 00:02:26.780 In fact, contentment isn't complacency. 00:02:28.520 --> 00:02:32.480 Contentment doesn't mean all of a sudden you've developed this super ability to not care because you've hardened your heart. 00:02:34.180 --> 00:02:35.480 Or containment doesn't mean this. 00:02:35.680 --> 00:02:37.300 This will for willful ignorance. 00:02:37.340 --> 00:02:40.420 When everything around you is just burning, you're like dee dee dee dee dee dee, just walking through your day. 00:02:41.920 --> 00:02:43.520 That's not what contentment is. 00:02:43.520 --> 00:02:47.180 But Paul begins to reveal this idea of contentment and how to find that. 00:02:47.220 --> 00:02:54.480 But before he starts talking about the contentment that he finds in his life and his circumstances, he says in verse six and seven, 00:02:54.780 --> 00:02:56.040 all of us struggle with it. 00:02:57.900 --> 00:02:59.240 In fact, that's why he starts verse six. 00:03:00.800 --> 00:03:01.520 Be anxious for nothing. 00:03:03.380 --> 00:03:07.880 But in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. 00:03:09.420 --> 00:03:11.580 And the peace of God. 00:03:11.600 --> 00:03:16.470 Which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:03:19.380 --> 00:03:20.700 We struggle with contentment. 00:03:23.120 --> 00:03:26.320 And if you're like me and things in life don't go your way. 00:03:27.840 --> 00:03:29.260 Maybe your heart is one that gets anxious. 00:03:31.560 --> 00:03:32.020 That's people. 00:03:32.020 --> 00:03:33.660 We like to control our circumstance. 00:03:35.840 --> 00:03:36.620 But in reality. 00:03:37.900 --> 00:03:39.700 We don't have control of anything outside of ourselves. 00:03:41.200 --> 00:03:44.360 And in truthfulness, we even struggle with ourselves. 00:03:46.900 --> 00:03:49.060 Paul said in Romans chapter seven. 00:03:50.760 --> 00:03:51.500 He wrestled with it. 00:03:52.740 --> 00:03:58.920 He wrestled with even himself, and he concludes seven by saying, O wretched man that I am, who will save me from this body of sin and death? 00:04:02.180 --> 00:04:09.200 We wrestle in our lives to control our circumstances and recognizing that really outside of ourselves, we can't dictate anything that happens. 00:04:11.540 --> 00:04:13.300 If you don't believe me, try Black Friday shopping. 00:04:15.660 --> 00:04:20.240 Right before you get through the front door, you've met three people you'd like to punch, right? 00:04:23.500 --> 00:04:26.600 We're not in charge of those things and we can't control. 00:04:27.040 --> 00:04:29.460 But our desire is to be in control. 00:04:29.660 --> 00:04:36.700 And when we recognize that we may be out of control, we get anxious and we start looking and reeling within our lives for things to trust in. 00:04:38.900 --> 00:04:41.110 And that's how the American dream works for us. 00:04:42.440 --> 00:04:46.060 And we think that the definition I'll define the real way of thinking about this at the end. 00:04:46.060 --> 00:04:48.980 But we think the definition of life is just about being happy. 00:04:50.000 --> 00:04:54.200 And so we look for the thing that we can fill ourselves with to make us happy until we get discontent with it. 00:04:54.240 --> 00:04:57.480 And then we look for the next thing to fill ourselves with what can make us happy. 00:04:57.480 --> 00:05:03.060 Just reeling and trying to trust in anything, in circumstances that we face, the calm, the anxiety, and to bring us peace and joy. 00:05:05.720 --> 00:05:08.140 And I love what Paul says in Philippians chapter four. 00:05:10.040 --> 00:05:15.940 In Christ, we find the place where there's not a need to be anxious, because even though we may not control our circumstance, God does. 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:19.000 There's the truth of the matter. 00:05:21.600 --> 00:05:24.960 Trusting outside of ourselves is what God desires for us to do. 00:05:25.260 --> 00:05:26.080 Not in other things. 00:05:27.700 --> 00:05:28.200 But in him. 00:05:30.240 --> 00:05:31.210 Within our lives. 00:05:31.540 --> 00:05:37.980 We're not always equipped to want to just lean into something else, because what we learn to trust in as people is ourselves. 00:05:38.180 --> 00:05:42.700 Because we look around us and other relationships, we know they have disappointed us. 00:05:42.720 --> 00:05:48.520 And so we sometimes develop these scars where the only thing that we think we can trust in is God or excuse me, us. 00:05:51.880 --> 00:05:53.400 What Paul is about to say in verse 11. 00:05:54.960 --> 00:05:58.310 Is that even him and his walk with God, he struggled with trust. 00:06:00.020 --> 00:06:01.520 Here's what we rest assured knowing. 00:06:03.400 --> 00:06:04.660 That not only is God in charge. 00:06:06.280 --> 00:06:07.060 God is also good. 00:06:09.820 --> 00:06:13.450 And God supplies and can provide for you far better than you could ever do for yourself. 00:06:15.080 --> 00:06:16.480 In fact, he created you for that reason. 00:06:18.360 --> 00:06:20.120 To never find contentment within you. 00:06:21.580 --> 00:06:23.910 The purpose of life is never found within you. 00:06:25.340 --> 00:06:26.180 Rather it's found in him. 00:06:28.260 --> 00:06:29.150 And God is good. 00:06:30.480 --> 00:06:34.060 And Romans eight tells us all things work together for good to those who trust in God. 00:06:34.080 --> 00:06:40.950 So be anxious for nothing, but in everything in prayer and supplication with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God and all the things you could trust in. 00:06:41.160 --> 00:06:41.740 In this world. 00:06:41.740 --> 00:06:47.840 The one thing you were built to trust in is in the Lord and in trusting in him. 00:06:47.900 --> 00:06:51.440 There is this assuredness and this promise that you can rest in as a person. 00:06:51.580 --> 00:06:54.780 And knowing that God is good and cares for his people. 00:06:56.780 --> 00:06:57.460 So he says in verse seven. 00:06:58.820 --> 00:07:00.040 And the peace of God. 00:07:00.980 --> 00:07:04.530 Which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 00:07:06.380 --> 00:07:07.720 I like what Paul says in verse seven. 00:07:09.660 --> 00:07:11.280 Sometimes I think we treat God like this. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:14.240 My circumstance isn't the way that I want it to be. 00:07:15.520 --> 00:07:17.600 And so I'm going to pray to God and God's going to change my circumstance. 00:07:19.660 --> 00:07:20.640 And Paul says that's not how it works. 00:07:22.780 --> 00:07:27.960 In fact, if God changes your circumstance, there's no guarantee that your next circumstance is going to be any better. 00:07:30.240 --> 00:07:36.980 Well, Paul says in verse seven, is what God desires to do in the circumstances rather than change the circumstance. 00:07:36.980 --> 00:07:41.320 Because we live in a fallen and broken world, it needs Christ's healing. 00:07:41.320 --> 00:07:48.440 Rather than change your circumstance, what God desires to do is work on your heart and mind in that circumstance to strengthen you in that moment so that 00:07:48.440 --> 00:07:52.780 regardless of what circumstance you might face, you have the peace of God resting in your life. 00:07:54.980 --> 00:08:00.560 And so Paul says, the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. 00:08:02.340 --> 00:08:03.420 Here's what happens when I get anxious. 00:08:04.460 --> 00:08:05.410 There's something I worry about. 00:08:05.520 --> 00:08:06.100 Like, I don't know. 00:08:06.100 --> 00:08:08.720 We bought this building with not enough money to buy this building. 00:08:10.000 --> 00:08:12.380 Then you get a little bit of heartburn sometimes when things like that happen. 00:08:13.440 --> 00:08:13.980 And. 00:08:16.360 --> 00:08:19.880 God in those moments supplies the strength that you need. 00:08:21.860 --> 00:08:28.880 A lot of times we get anxious about not knowing what the circumstance has, or we look at somebody else going through a difficult circumstance and think, how in the world am I ever 00:08:28.880 --> 00:08:29.840 going to get through that circumstance? 00:08:30.520 --> 00:08:37.020 And God says in those moments when you need me, in that circumstance, regardless of the circumstance, changes or not, I meet you. 00:08:37.020 --> 00:08:42.260 I minister to both your heart and your mind because when I get anxious, this is what I do apart from the Lord. 00:08:42.539 --> 00:08:46.820 I start worrying in my heart about how things are going to be taken care of, not trusting the one who takes care of those. 00:08:46.820 --> 00:08:51.360 As I follow him, I'll start worrying in my mind and start believing things are of God. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:56.110 And God would rather in those moments. 00:08:57.700 --> 00:08:59.640 Teach me how to trust in him. 00:09:01.120 --> 00:09:08.380 That regardless of the circumstance, my faith rests true in the one who provides, because I was created 00:09:08.380 --> 00:09:10.680 in him to find his provision in me. 00:09:12.940 --> 00:09:20.080 And so Paul says in chapter four and verse 11, not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in 00:09:20.080 --> 00:09:22.100 whatever circumstances I am. 00:09:23.320 --> 00:09:24.460 Let me say what Paul is saying. 00:09:24.460 --> 00:09:27.540 This passage is not that he's super special, better Christian than anyone else. 00:09:27.960 --> 00:09:34.360 This word learned is that is this Greek word that carries the idea of learning through experience. 00:09:36.920 --> 00:09:41.900 And what Paul is saying is when you go through anxious moments of your life, this is what's happened to him. 00:09:42.640 --> 00:09:48.200 He went through these anxious moments and all of a sudden he hit this no duh moment where he thought, and all of this. 00:09:49.880 --> 00:09:50.920 I never trusted in God. 00:09:52.780 --> 00:09:59.520 Have you ever been there where you're so stressed out about things that you start looking for all the solutions within yourself, and then and then about 7 or 8 options later, you realize. 00:10:01.160 --> 00:10:02.580 Why don't I just take this to God to begin with? 00:10:05.520 --> 00:10:09.360 And Paul says in verse 11, this is something I had to learn. 00:10:11.360 --> 00:10:11.880 Maybe. 00:10:12.960 --> 00:10:14.760 Maybe he'd been burned by a bunch of people. 00:10:17.100 --> 00:10:24.690 It's sad within our lives when we allow people to have the authority over our circumstance, to control our reaction to things. 00:10:26.040 --> 00:10:27.100 But maybe that's how it happened with Paul. 00:10:28.980 --> 00:10:31.700 Maybe he saw enough things in this world not to trust in that. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:34.940 He didn't want to allow his trust to go without him outside of himself. 00:10:38.000 --> 00:10:42.600 But the thing that causes us to trust in the King who provides is the goodness of who he is. 00:10:45.920 --> 00:10:49.320 And this is something I learned, Paul says, for I have learned to be content. 00:10:51.000 --> 00:10:53.470 This word content means contained. 00:10:54.720 --> 00:10:56.310 It also carries the idea of being self-sufficient. 00:10:56.900 --> 00:10:57.800 Let me explain what I mean. 00:10:59.420 --> 00:11:01.940 When things aren't going the way that you desire them to go. 00:11:03.540 --> 00:11:08.110 Sometimes we change who we are and the character of who we are and the ideals that we hold to and the things that we value. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:11.620 Just so that one circumstance can be, can be provided for. 00:11:13.080 --> 00:11:17.600 What I mean is you get so desperate in some situations that you become someone that you should have never been. 00:11:19.560 --> 00:11:21.060 Rather than trusting in godless moments. 00:11:23.060 --> 00:11:24.060 I see it happen in relationships. 00:11:24.860 --> 00:11:26.430 I see it happen in financial struggles. 00:11:27.280 --> 00:11:31.340 I see it happen in all kinds of circumstances. 00:11:32.120 --> 00:11:39.220 And Paul says in this passage that rather than trust outside of myself and my anxiety to depend on something that I was never created to depend upon, I 00:11:39.300 --> 00:11:40.110 choose to be content. 00:11:40.360 --> 00:11:41.150 I choose to be contained. 00:11:41.540 --> 00:11:44.760 And what Paul is recognizing here is the way that you and I are created as people. 00:11:47.620 --> 00:11:49.400 When God created all of creation. 00:11:49.400 --> 00:11:52.800 The Bible says it was good and all things reveal his goodness and glory. 00:11:53.340 --> 00:11:55.320 But when God created you, he said it was very good. 00:11:55.400 --> 00:12:02.600 And the reason he described us as being created very good is that he placed His Spirit within us, that we could be a being that responds in connection to him being made in 00:12:02.660 --> 00:12:03.140 his image. 00:12:03.140 --> 00:12:04.700 We connect to our creator. 00:12:06.560 --> 00:12:10.800 The Bible tells us the minute that you put your faith in Christ, the Spirit of God dwells within you. 00:12:12.160 --> 00:12:16.460 That God created you, that His Spirit might be with you, that you may know him for all of eternity. 00:12:18.360 --> 00:12:23.880 And Paul is saying, regardless of the circumstances around me, this one thing that I have learned, I've learned to be contained. 00:12:23.960 --> 00:12:29.620 I've learned that what God desires for me to do is trust in Him as He rests in me. 00:12:33.190 --> 00:12:34.440 Because he's the one. 00:12:35.500 --> 00:12:36.930 That controls the future. 00:12:38.200 --> 00:12:40.240 He's the one who is good. 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:47.500 So Paul talks about the anxiety that we face as individuals and seeking peace. 00:12:47.580 --> 00:12:51.700 Then he discovers for us in verse 11 this way to contentment. 00:12:51.700 --> 00:12:54.770 And he tells us it's not something that comes easy, it's not something that comes naturally. 00:12:54.940 --> 00:12:56.140 It's something that he's learned. 00:12:56.140 --> 00:13:00.000 And the answer has nothing to do with the circumstances around him. 00:13:01.180 --> 00:13:04.120 But rather in Christ who dwells within him. 00:13:06.260 --> 00:13:13.360 So what Paul does from verse ten into verses 20 is described for us three things that help us learn 00:13:13.360 --> 00:13:14.080 contentment. 00:13:15.640 --> 00:13:22.780 The first thing that he describes for us, and in verse ten of chapter four is that he learns contentment through the providence of 00:13:22.780 --> 00:13:23.220 God. 00:13:23.220 --> 00:13:29.140 Listen to this, he says, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me. 00:13:29.160 --> 00:13:32.420 He's talking about the church of Philippi being concerned for him in jail. 00:13:32.900 --> 00:13:39.900 Indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity in verse 19, talking about God's providence again, my 00:13:39.900 --> 00:13:46.920 God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus, God supplying for his needs. 00:13:49.340 --> 00:13:50.420 God's providence. 00:13:52.040 --> 00:13:52.940 God cares. 00:13:54.440 --> 00:13:56.000 God meets our needs. 00:13:58.020 --> 00:14:01.880 When God created the earth, he created it to reveal his glory. 00:14:01.880 --> 00:14:04.860 Psalm eight and Psalm 19 talk about the goodness of creation. 00:14:06.000 --> 00:14:13.460 When we look at the beauty of what creation is, it should require or cause our soul just to sing praise to the glory of God. 00:14:13.800 --> 00:14:18.460 I love looking at the canyons and the oceans and the mountains and never get tired of that stuff. 00:14:19.360 --> 00:14:21.950 You know what's interesting about all of that is it's still fallen. 00:14:23.320 --> 00:14:30.360 Even as glorious as it is, we still live in a broken world, and even in the tops of the mountains, you can see death and decay and the effects of 00:14:30.360 --> 00:14:30.960 sin. 00:14:32.300 --> 00:14:34.820 But God's glory is made known in those things. 00:14:34.840 --> 00:14:39.760 But do you can I tell you all the things that God created, the thing that God created, that most reflects his glory? 00:14:41.380 --> 00:14:43.440 As people. 00:14:43.940 --> 00:14:47.620 God created you and I in his image with His Spirit. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:49.300 After he created creation. 00:14:49.300 --> 00:14:51.010 He said it was good when he created you. 00:14:51.020 --> 00:14:52.340 He said, it's very good. 00:14:54.640 --> 00:15:01.040 And so sometimes we're looking for God to supply, or maybe more times than just sometimes we're looking for God to supply. 00:15:01.240 --> 00:15:04.900 The way that God chooses to work is within his people by moving upon their hearts. 00:15:07.060 --> 00:15:14.180 And so that's why in verse ten, when Paul talks about the providence of God and rejoicing in what God's doing, he doesn't necessarily think the people, though he's happy 00:15:14.180 --> 00:15:14.740 for the people. 00:15:14.740 --> 00:15:20.180 What he does is rejoices in the Lord in these moments, because he understands that we are created in God's image and God works through his people. 00:15:23.080 --> 00:15:30.080 He learns to be content by seeing the hand of God moving in the world in the way that he's seeing the hand of God move is through the evidence of his 00:15:30.080 --> 00:15:31.840 hand being made known in the lives of others. 00:15:34.040 --> 00:15:37.610 And I'll say all that to say this, but don't put your trust in people. 00:15:39.740 --> 00:15:46.480 Rather that people and creation both serve and point to the same purpose, which is to ultimately point us to Christ. 00:15:48.700 --> 00:15:50.500 It's about God's glory being made known. 00:15:52.460 --> 00:15:59.940 It's not about seeing the resources of people as being the ends to the means that we need, but rather seeing 00:15:59.940 --> 00:16:06.840 God as the one who works through the lives of individuals to help meet needs, that the Lord will receive the glory and praise. 00:16:08.720 --> 00:16:10.880 The second thing. 00:16:10.880 --> 00:16:11.920 Excuse me, let me move on. 00:16:11.940 --> 00:16:19.260 In verse 11 and 13, Paul goes on from there and he says, not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances 00:16:19.260 --> 00:16:19.880 I am. 00:16:20.180 --> 00:16:23.780 I know how to get along with humble means and also know how to live in prosperity. 00:16:24.680 --> 00:16:26.760 And any and every circumstance. 00:16:26.760 --> 00:16:31.700 I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. 00:16:32.100 --> 00:16:34.480 I can do all things through him who gives me strength. 00:16:36.480 --> 00:16:40.700 The second thing that Paul trusts in is the unfailing power of God. 00:16:42.640 --> 00:16:49.640 And what Paul lists in this passage of Scripture are things in life that we as people may trust in to 00:16:49.640 --> 00:16:52.720 supply ourselves with what we need to be content and find peace. 00:16:55.100 --> 00:16:56.920 Some people choose to live like monks. 00:16:58.340 --> 00:17:04.740 Get rid of all their earthly possessions, get rid of all of their wealth as if having nothing will be. 00:17:05.119 --> 00:17:05.819 Bring contentment. 00:17:07.260 --> 00:17:11.319 As Americans, I think sometimes we say that I got too much junk, like we're going to get rid of it, but we're not. 00:17:11.780 --> 00:17:13.839 You know, if I just simplify it would bring me contentment. 00:17:15.200 --> 00:17:15.859 Or how about this? 00:17:15.859 --> 00:17:22.119 Sometimes when you recognize the lack of funds, if I just had a little bit more money, that would make me happy. 00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:27.349 Well, there's plenty of people without and plenty of people with that. 00:17:27.440 --> 00:17:33.220 Both cases, they aren't happy for us to recognize that contentment isn't found in wealth. 00:17:35.660 --> 00:17:39.300 Contentment isn't found in hunger or being full. 00:17:40.600 --> 00:17:45.570 I'll tell you on Thanksgiving, I'm content for like, everything I'm eating until like five minutes after. 00:17:45.720 --> 00:17:48.900 But the contentment doesn't sustain. 00:17:51.620 --> 00:17:58.670 Paul says in his circumstances, he knows he's looked at the external things that people might say brings contentment, whether it's full, whether it's possessions, 00:17:59.160 --> 00:18:00.600 whether whether it's wealth. 00:18:01.900 --> 00:18:02.760 But contentment isn't there. 00:18:04.660 --> 00:18:06.180 And so he says this in verse 12. 00:18:07.820 --> 00:18:10.200 I know how to get along with humble means and also know how to live in prosperity. 00:18:11.660 --> 00:18:16.360 And in every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry. 00:18:18.440 --> 00:18:22.980 This word secret was one that was used from by pagan religions. 00:18:23.120 --> 00:18:29.600 It means like this inner secret religions like to use this as a hook, and they got one hook to get you to buy into their system, right? 00:18:30.400 --> 00:18:30.620 Don't. 00:18:30.640 --> 00:18:32.480 Don't ask questions about all the things that don't make sense. 00:18:33.540 --> 00:18:35.090 Just know that we have the one secret. 00:18:36.420 --> 00:18:40.080 The one way to find out how to get where you need to get right. 00:18:41.360 --> 00:18:42.140 This one thing. 00:18:42.220 --> 00:18:47.270 If you do this one thing in our religion because we're true, then that will do it for you. 00:18:48.220 --> 00:18:54.130 And then you try it and you find out, ah, I just bought into another tool that for a little bit maybe seemed like it satisfied. 00:18:54.600 --> 00:18:56.280 But in the end it's not right. 00:18:59.900 --> 00:19:01.300 Paul says in this passage. 00:19:03.500 --> 00:19:06.100 If you want to know that secret that all the religions claim to have. 00:19:07.220 --> 00:19:07.900 I found it. 00:19:09.540 --> 00:19:11.380 And I found my contentment in that. 00:19:11.380 --> 00:19:18.400 And I found my peace in that regardless of the circumstance I'm going through, that the Lord ministers 00:19:18.400 --> 00:19:20.640 to both my heart and my mind. 00:19:22.300 --> 00:19:29.320 In fact, in Romans, excuse me, Philippians chapter three and verse five and six, Paul even told us in this main part of his personal life he 00:19:29.320 --> 00:19:35.550 shares how much of a religious individual he was circumcised the eighth day born of the tribe of Benjamin. 00:19:35.880 --> 00:19:38.320 He was the Hebrew of Hebrews, the Jews, right? 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.740 He lived the law to its fullest. 00:19:42.240 --> 00:19:42.600 And yet. 00:19:44.080 --> 00:19:44.820 Paul gave all that up. 00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:52.520 That secret religion of like, Chris Farley there didn't work. 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:57.020 But Paul says he's found the secret. 00:19:59.220 --> 00:20:02.560 In verse 13 I can do all things. 00:20:04.220 --> 00:20:06.420 Through him who gives me strength. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:11.080 The Greek gives us thought or idea. 00:20:12.520 --> 00:20:18.660 I can do all things resting in the power of the one who supplies for my needs. 00:20:21.560 --> 00:20:25.170 This is sort of like maybe if we did it in medical terms, say like a blood transfusion. 00:20:27.980 --> 00:20:35.300 And people that get sick sometimes need that transfusion to meet particular needs within their lives, and so they set in those moments 00:20:35.420 --> 00:20:37.860 and allow themselves to be transfused by that power. 00:20:40.700 --> 00:20:41.540 And so it is with Christ. 00:20:43.840 --> 00:20:45.100 That's what you were created for. 00:20:46.860 --> 00:20:48.860 That's where you find purpose and meaning. 00:20:48.860 --> 00:20:52.700 It's not in what you do or what you've done, but it's not even what. 00:20:52.940 --> 00:20:54.480 It's who you're connected to. 00:20:57.460 --> 00:20:59.040 Working out in the Christmas tree lot. 00:20:59.200 --> 00:21:02.740 I got to tell you, it's beautiful to work out there and see the nice green trees. 00:21:03.020 --> 00:21:04.120 But this is what I found out. 00:21:04.200 --> 00:21:05.580 I'm going to let you in on a little secret here. 00:21:06.920 --> 00:21:08.340 Not every Christmas tree is perfect. 00:21:09.820 --> 00:21:11.540 In fact, before they cut him and bring him down. 00:21:11.580 --> 00:21:16.080 Some of them are in a little bit of a unhealthy state, so we have to discount them and sell them for really cheap, right? 00:21:18.120 --> 00:21:19.580 But this is what I know about Christmas trees. 00:21:21.080 --> 00:21:24.360 Christmas trees of this took a lot of rocket science to figure out. 00:21:26.060 --> 00:21:26.600 Christmas trees. 00:21:27.760 --> 00:21:29.100 Need roots to survive. 00:21:31.500 --> 00:21:33.020 Their time is limited. 00:21:35.340 --> 00:21:36.400 As soon as you cut it off. 00:21:37.980 --> 00:21:43.730 It's just a matter of time before it becomes useless unless you have a bonfire. 00:21:46.720 --> 00:21:49.020 The most important thing on any tree. 00:21:50.540 --> 00:21:51.120 Is the root system. 00:21:53.040 --> 00:22:00.140 The thing that allows a tree to sustain life, to weather storms, to endure difficulties and droughts. 00:22:01.560 --> 00:22:02.020 As the root system. 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:05.360 The part of the tree that you don't see. 00:22:06.980 --> 00:22:07.580 The root system. 00:22:09.640 --> 00:22:10.520 You know, we're the same way. 00:22:12.860 --> 00:22:14.000 The most important part of you. 00:22:15.540 --> 00:22:16.880 The part we don't physically see. 00:22:18.980 --> 00:22:21.260 It's the spiritual part that's intended to be connected to God. 00:22:23.160 --> 00:22:24.060 And the strength of that. 00:22:25.320 --> 00:22:27.420 That's found in how well you connect to him. 00:22:30.400 --> 00:22:31.420 God's created you. 00:22:32.920 --> 00:22:33.780 To rest in his presence. 00:22:35.560 --> 00:22:41.780 To find contentment in who he is, to discover who you are in light of him. 00:22:42.920 --> 00:22:49.940 That regardless of the circumstance, because we live in a fallen and broken world, that he may come in those moments and strengthen both your heart and your mind. 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:56.580 And so Paul, he Paul says to us, it's the unfailing power of God. 00:22:58.260 --> 00:23:05.320 If you were to ask Paul, Paul, how do you endure all of this torture for Jesus and these circumstances that you perpetually allow yourself to be in as 00:23:05.320 --> 00:23:06.680 you serve for the Lord? 00:23:08.120 --> 00:23:13.840 And his answer is wrapped up in chapter four and verse 13, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:23:13.840 --> 00:23:15.380 That is, God has led my life. 00:23:15.600 --> 00:23:17.120 I have trusted in him. 00:23:17.160 --> 00:23:24.500 And though I could have been anxious about the moment that I knew was waiting for me, Jesus met me in those moments as I looked to 00:23:24.500 --> 00:23:29.590 him and he gave me the strength that I needed, regardless of the circumstance. 00:23:31.820 --> 00:23:39.040 I didn't allow people or stress to change who I was intended to be in Christ, and 00:23:39.080 --> 00:23:40.220 so I trust in him. 00:23:41.780 --> 00:23:45.940 Last thing that Paul just recognizes is this the unchanging promises of God. 00:23:46.220 --> 00:23:48.140 Let me just read a few of these verses in verse ten. 00:23:48.340 --> 00:23:52.820 He says, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me. 00:23:52.860 --> 00:23:56.730 And indeed you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. 00:23:58.000 --> 00:23:59.340 He says in verse ten, he is revived. 00:23:59.960 --> 00:24:07.080 It's this description of a of a tree that's budding and flowering and looking beautiful in the spring, saying, God used 00:24:07.080 --> 00:24:13.520 you in that circumstance to minister to me, that I could see his promises ringing true as he as he cares for me. 00:24:13.540 --> 00:24:15.580 And it just brought life to my life. 00:24:17.100 --> 00:24:17.630 And so I'm flourishing. 00:24:19.400 --> 00:24:23.520 In verse 16, for even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 00:24:24.800 --> 00:24:30.750 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 00:24:33.140 --> 00:24:40.320 Holes, recognizing that when we do things for the Lord, it's an investment that if you do things trusting and anything else in this life that it 00:24:40.320 --> 00:24:42.530 ends in an discontentment. 00:24:42.720 --> 00:24:49.920 But when you, when you, when you or even a waste, but when you trust in the Lord and the things that you do, it's an investment saying there's 00:24:49.920 --> 00:24:54.780 nothing you do out of a genuine heart for the Lord that will ever be a waste. 00:24:57.280 --> 00:24:58.720 I love the way that Jim Elliott said it. 00:24:58.800 --> 00:25:03.490 We quoted a few weeks ago, he is no fool to lose what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose. 00:25:05.960 --> 00:25:10.880 And so in verse 18 he says, but I have received everything in full and have an abundance. 00:25:11.880 --> 00:25:18.580 I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 00:25:20.720 --> 00:25:24.000 This fragrant aroma that Paul is mentioning in this passage alludes to the Jewish temple. 00:25:26.300 --> 00:25:29.540 Inside of the temple was the Holy Place and the Holy of Holies, the holy place. 00:25:29.660 --> 00:25:33.280 The priests went in every day, and they would swap out the bread on the table of bread. 00:25:33.720 --> 00:25:36.080 They would put more oil in the lampstands. 00:25:36.600 --> 00:25:43.700 And then there was this altar of incense that stood next to the curtain, that separated the Holy place from the Holy of 00:25:43.700 --> 00:25:44.060 Holies. 00:25:45.080 --> 00:25:49.700 And in the Holy of Holies was the Mercy seat, the Ark of the covenant, where Israel would go in once a year. 00:25:49.700 --> 00:25:57.300 The high Priest would walk in and he would sprinkle the blood of the sacrifice onto the altar for the remission of sins for the people of Israel, which was a foreshadowing 00:25:57.300 --> 00:25:58.960 of everything that Christ would do. 00:26:00.840 --> 00:26:07.840 Known as the Bible tells us when Christ came, offered his sacrifice that the veil was torn into meaning, God's presence was no longer 00:26:07.840 --> 00:26:10.060 there, but rather now God's presence was in his people. 00:26:12.400 --> 00:26:18.630 And what God is saying or what Paul is saying in this passage of Scripture is that when you when you give your life before the Lord, it's a fragrant aroma. 00:26:18.860 --> 00:26:24.020 It's that altar of incense that stands before the curtain, which is right in front of the mercy seat. 00:26:27.140 --> 00:26:33.820 This incenses it would burn was to symbolize the prayer of the saints coming up before God, a pleasing aroma before his nostrils. 00:26:33.820 --> 00:26:36.400 And so he's saying of you in verse 18. 00:26:37.900 --> 00:26:40.000 That not only were you created to give your life to God. 00:26:41.340 --> 00:26:42.040 But when you do. 00:26:43.760 --> 00:26:45.560 It is a beautiful aroma before the Lord. 00:26:47.380 --> 00:26:48.180 That he sees it. 00:26:49.260 --> 00:26:50.520 He takes pleasure in it. 00:26:51.900 --> 00:26:53.280 He rejoices over you through it. 00:26:54.880 --> 00:26:56.620 That as you come before his mercy seat. 00:26:57.980 --> 00:27:02.170 In prayer or in sacrifice and giving, as it says in this verse. 00:27:04.140 --> 00:27:04.740 Jesus sees that. 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:09.000 And Jesus rejoices in that. 00:27:10.820 --> 00:27:18.360 The unchanging promises of God remind us of the goodness of the Lord as he looks to us, as we bring ourselves before him, and he provides 00:27:18.360 --> 00:27:20.840 for us both strengthening our heart and our mind. 00:27:23.720 --> 00:27:28.300 Bible tells us in Philippians four and verse 19 that God supplies according to your needs. 00:27:30.160 --> 00:27:31.040 Not according to your greeds. 00:27:32.940 --> 00:27:32.940 Reading. 00:27:34.980 --> 00:27:37.160 As people, we always want to change our circumstance. 00:27:39.740 --> 00:27:40.860 But more important than that. 00:27:42.360 --> 00:27:45.560 What God desires to do is for you to come to know him. 00:27:47.940 --> 00:27:51.310 That regardless of the circumstance, he meets you in your time of need and he strengthens. 00:27:51.660 --> 00:27:54.960 Strengthens you for whatever he has called you to in this world. 00:27:55.720 --> 00:28:02.780 Rather than change your circumstance, which is no guarantee of your satisfaction, he ministers to your heart and your minds, because you can do 00:28:02.780 --> 00:28:05.250 all things through Christ who strengthens you. 00:28:06.200 --> 00:28:11.980 Rather than change your circumstance, God would desire to use the challenge to show you how to find contentment in him. 00:28:13.400 --> 00:28:20.520 The truth is, it's not until we're discontent that we start to look for something that supplies our contentment and rather than fill 00:28:20.520 --> 00:28:27.520 it with something idolatrous, the prayer and the hope, as Paul says here, is that it would rest in Christ to 00:28:27.520 --> 00:28:30.620 give everything up, that you may come to him. 00:28:32.720 --> 00:28:35.670 But coming to Christ isn't something we do naturally. 00:28:37.200 --> 00:28:43.960 Paul tells us even himself, he's learned it and the actions of his life. 00:28:46.700 --> 00:28:49.400 Can I tell you as we close this morning? 00:28:51.800 --> 00:28:52.600 The truth is. 00:28:54.200 --> 00:28:57.180 You're a way better person to be around when you're happy. 00:28:58.080 --> 00:28:58.220 All right. 00:28:59.920 --> 00:29:00.610 When you've got joy. 00:29:02.300 --> 00:29:05.720 People enjoy your company when your life has happiness and joy. 00:29:08.500 --> 00:29:10.210 But I just want us to know this morning. 00:29:12.060 --> 00:29:18.560 That if your pursuit for happiness and joy is to start by looking for things that just make you happy and joyful. 00:29:20.240 --> 00:29:20.940 You'll never find contentment. 00:29:23.100 --> 00:29:25.940 Because that's not the way God designed you to find joy. 00:29:28.280 --> 00:29:30.240 Rather the way that God has designed you to find joy. 00:29:30.300 --> 00:29:32.310 And I believe that God desires for you to be joyful. 00:29:32.620 --> 00:29:36.040 He, in fact, he tells us that in John 15 that my joy may be in you, and your joy be made complete. 00:29:38.020 --> 00:29:38.840 The way that you were created. 00:29:39.080 --> 00:29:43.560 To find joy is to not start by looking for something that just makes you happy outside of yourself. 00:29:43.560 --> 00:29:51.120 The way that God desires for you to discover joy is to look to the one who created you for his purpose and reasons that 00:29:51.120 --> 00:29:54.960 as the tree develops roots so you might develop roots in Christ. 00:29:56.400 --> 00:30:03.780 Because the first thing that God has called you to before he's ever called you to find joy is to your relationship with him that will endure for all eternity. 00:30:05.300 --> 00:30:06.480 And in that. 00:30:08.060 --> 00:30:09.040 In that there is joy. 00:30:11.040 --> 00:30:13.640 Because in Christ he is joy. 00:30:16.560 --> 00:30:17.840 Which is why I would tell you this morning. 00:30:19.180 --> 00:30:23.300 As Paul concludes in chapter four, the thoughts of contentment in Christ. 00:30:24.560 --> 00:30:27.580 The only reason he concludes that way and can conclude that way. 00:30:28.680 --> 00:30:31.620 It's because of what he said in verses and the verses in chapter three. 00:30:33.780 --> 00:30:35.200 Beginning of chapter three. 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:37.080 He tells us everything that he gives up. 00:30:38.620 --> 00:30:39.900 For one pursuit in his life. 00:30:42.040 --> 00:30:49.200 And so I would say this, the whole book of the theme of Philippians and the whole ability that we have to rejoice in Christ, is wrapped up in just one 00:30:49.200 --> 00:30:49.540 idea. 00:30:51.920 --> 00:30:52.640 I want to know Christ. 00:30:56.020 --> 00:30:57.820 When your circumstances don't go your way. 00:30:59.960 --> 00:31:02.240 I would tell you, as Paul had to learn. 00:31:03.760 --> 00:31:05.720 Don't immediately look to jump to change your circumstance. 00:31:09.080 --> 00:31:09.680 Look to Jesus. 00:31:12.560 --> 00:31:19.220 Paul said, in all these things and all these trials and all this imprisonment and all this religious talk and all these secret things that people think. 00:31:21.140 --> 00:31:21.820 Solutions. 00:31:21.820 --> 00:31:22.500 Been there the whole time. 00:31:25.300 --> 00:31:27.200 Contentment was never found outside of me. 00:31:29.320 --> 00:31:30.780 Rather it's found the one who created me. 00:31:33.140 --> 00:31:35.940 And if the goal of my life would just be about knowing him. 00:31:37.820 --> 00:31:40.040 Jesus reshapes the purpose of all of my living. 00:31:41.400 --> 00:31:45.290 And Jesus brings the peace that I need, regardless of my circumstance. 00:31:46.560 --> 00:31:51.740 That the goal of my life be so simplistic that it just simply be about knowing him and in him. 00:31:51.820 --> 00:31:58.060 Regardless of my circumstance, there are always reasons to rejoice because Christ has supplied for my need.