2021-09-12 – Philippians 4:10-23 – Thank You!
2021-09-12 – Philippians 4:10-23 – Thank You!
Good morning everyone. It is so nice to be able to spend some time with you all in fellowship with the Lord. Thank you and God bless you for being with us today.
We are truly a blessed people, amen? In that I agree, however I stumbled upon an article this week by Joshua Charles that was entitled, “Discontent in Prosperous America”, It was all about how Americans have more now then they ever have before, but they are generally more discontented with life than ever before as well. From a financial and material stand-point, we live in the best time in all history, but yet we are the least contented in all history as well. According to the article, “The income of the average American has risen drastically in real terms in the last 40 years. The average American home is 1,000 square feet bigger than it used to be 40 years ago (despite the fact that our families are smaller). The average American diet is 500 more calories per person than it was 40 years ago.” And our “Life expectancy has gone up over a decade in the last 40 years”. “And yet [he says], look how dissatisfied everyone is.” He asks “Have we ever seen a people so entirely accustomed to complaining and making excuses for everything under the sun? Have we ever been this utterly spoiled before? Have we ever seen a society so well off, but at the same time so full of people claiming the fact that they don’t have even more as a matter of “justice”?”
We live in a world today where so many folks never seem to be satisfied about anything, and that is truly a sad place to be. Conversely, in our verses today, the apostle Paul is going show that despite the hardships he was undertaking, he still could find contentment and joy. Despite the difficulties he faced, Paul still considered himself blessed. And with that introduction, would you
Please turn with me now to Philippians 4:10, page 1042 in your pew Bibles, which we call God’s Inspired, Infallible and Living Word. Prayer..
This is the last of our sermon readings from this letter-book of Philippians. To set the scene this morning, you should know that Paul wrote this letter to the church he started in Philippi of Macedonia some ten years prior. The church family there loved Paul, and they sent him some care-packages and funds while Paul was imprisoned and in chains someplace around city of Rome. In this closing part of his letter, Paul now expresses back to church family his gratitude and thanks. This section in our pew bibles is entitled ‘Appreciation of Support’. Starting at verse 10, Paul writes:
10 I rejoiced in the Lord greatly because once again you renewed your care for me. You were, in fact, concerned about me but lacked the opportunity to show it. 11 I don’t say this out of need, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself. 12 I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. [SLIDE] In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need. 13 I am able to do all things through him who strengthens me. 14 Still, you did well by partnering with me in my hardship.
There are three principles we can see in these verses, that if we took hold of for ourselves, it could improve our fellowship and faith-walk immensely. Those three things are, 1) be connected, 2) be content, and 3) be confident.
In these first verses today, you can see that Paul and the believers in Philippi were well connected. They were diligent at maintaining their connection with one another through the years and through the miles. Keep in mind this was way before anyone had the luxury of the postal system, or any other type of communication technology. That meant they had to go out of their way to send messages back and forth to each other. It is obvious though, that they found joy in their ability to stay connected and in helping each other out. There is an old Chinese proverb that says, if you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. If you want happiness for a day, go fishing, if you want happiness for a year, go inherit a fortune, but if you want happiness for a lifetime, go help someone. Again, the Philippian believers found joy in helping Paul, and we likewise should endeavor to stay connected and help each other and others out as the Holy Spirit leads us. And in that, we too might find true and lasting joy.
In our church family too, we can find ample opportunities to step-in and help each other. In fact, I have even witnessed some discontent when several members overwhelming wanted to step-in to provide an abundance of relief in certain situations, but could not. That’s a good problem. What a blessing that is to be a part of an active and loving church family like ours is. Besides helping each other, we also are blessed to assist several other ongoing associated ministries, and even some strangers as the Holy Spirit leads.
As a church, it brings us much joy when we get to witness the positive impact we can make on others. That is what Paul and the Philippian believers were engaged in. For it brings joy, to bring joy, Amen.
In these first verses, Paul also demonstrates well the contentment he felt in his heart due to the relationship he had with God and with the Philippi church family. When you have that strong of a foundational constitution, then it gives you the confidence that you need, so you can take on what ever the evils of the world and satan might have to throw at you. I remember a few years ago, when I was working full time for John Deere and traveling the world, and at the same time I was endeavoring to lead the church as Pastor from afar. Under those dynamics, if you can imagine, sometimes it seemed that arrows were being shot at me from many different directions. However, because I had a strong family foundation that held me up and fill in the gaps, I was still able to maintain my confidence, be effective, and remain content all at the same time. That’s what Paul is attempting to convey in this letter. Brothers and sisters, this faith journey we are on together is real, and it is strong, and it is an amazing blessing to witness.
There is another great example written about this support dynamic in Exodus 17 that really hits home. Moses was getting ready to go into battle. Verse 8 reads:
8 The Amalekites came and attacked the Israelites at Rephidim. 9 Moses said to Joshua, “Pick out some men to go and fight the Amalekites tomorrow.
I will stand on top of the hill holding the stick that God told me to carry.” 10 Joshua did as Moses commanded him and went out to fight the Amalekites, while Moses, Aaron, and Hur went up to the top of the hill.
11 As long as Moses held up his arms, the Israelites won, but when he put his arms down, the Amalekites started winning. 12 When Moses’ arms grew tired, Aaron and Hur brought a stone for him to sit on, while they stood beside him and held up his arms, holding them steady until the sun went down. 13 In this way Joshua totally defeated the Amalekites.
Isn’t that a great piece of His-Story! They held up Moses’s arms and therefore they won the battle. Make no mistake, we too are in a battle, maybe not a physical battle but spiritual battle. And likewise, I need you dear church family to hold me up, as I hold you up, as we step forward together for the causes of Christ. Amen? Paul continues that thought now at verse 15. Where he wrote:
15 And you Philippians know that in the early days of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except you alone. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent gifts for my need several times. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the profit that is increasing to your account. 18 But I have received everything in full, and I have an abundance. [SLIDE] I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided—a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Again, in these writings you can clearly see that Paul was 1) connected, 2) content, and 3) confident. And that is despite his dire circumstances. Paul was imprisoned, in chains, and he undoubtably knew that the end was near. Death was all about him. Death was at his door, but he remained confident. What all of these verses convey to me is that our security and our contentment and our confidence doesn’t come from what we have but from whom we have. “The Lord is my Shephard I shall not want”, The Lord said “I will never leave you nor forsake you”. Paul knew that even if the church believers didn’t provide for him, that the Lord would provide what he needed. He totally trusted in the Lord.
Many people these days think their wealth and their well being comes from the things they have. Let me tell you that is a bad mental and spiritual place to be. So many instances in the Bible tells us that everything we have can be taken away in an instant. I remember hearing stories of the market crash of the 1920’s which lead to the Great Depression. Many people lost their fortunes in a single day, and from what I understand, some executives even jumped out of their office windows to their deaths because they felt they lost it all. You see that is satan’s deception or illusion. Satan wants you to think that your worth and contentment comes from the amount of money or stuff that you have. I am here to tell you that is a lie. Last year Americans spent nearly a hundred Billion dollars on Lottery Tickets, thinking that that would give them the joy and contentment that they needed. Sadly, we know that that is not the case. There have been many studies that show that frequently the opposite actually occurs. When people base their contentment on things and money, they frequently are disappointed. As written in Luke 12:15 Jesus said, “Watch out and be on guard against all greed, because one’s life is not in the abundance of his possessions.”
Make no mistake, contentment is a learned characteristic that we have to choose to make part of our lives. Look what Paul said himself, “I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I find myself”. That is so encouraging to me, because I am still learning. I am still work-in-progress. Like Paul, I am learning to be more content as well. There is a monastery in Spain, where the new monks have to take a vow of silence. But at the end of every two years, they are allowed to say two words. So this young man joined up and for two years he didn’t say a word. But at the end of the second year he said, “food, terrible”. Two years more pass by and he says to the head monk, “bed, lumpy”. So he apparently has had a rough four years. So he stays for another two years, but at the end of that time, he said, “I, quit”. The head monk then said, I am not in the least surprised, because all’s you done since you’ve arrived is complain, complain, complain, lol.
Have you noticed how easy it is to complain in life? Complaining or grumbling comes as second nature to us because it’s so easy to do. If you ever get on social media, you can see so much complaining about most everything in life. However, Complaining is the antithesis of Contentment. Again, as Paul suggests to us here ladies and gentlemen, contentment is learned. So I though it might be beneficial to give you a few tips that I got from Pastor Skip Heitzig on the matter. [SLIDE]
First, is to put the first things first and Develop your Convictions. What truths do you hold on to? What truths do you stand on? As Christians, your contentment in life is directly proportional to whether or not you believe that God is God and that He is control. From the mouth of Job 1:21, after losing all his children and possessions and his health, he said, “Naked I came from my mother’s womb, and naked I will return. The LORD gave, and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD.” Do you truly trust that God is? And that He is in control?
Second, we should Avoid Comparisons, because comparisons rob you of contentment. 2 Corinthians 10:12 says, “For we don’t dare classify or compare ourselves with some who commend themselves. But in measuring themselves by themselves and comparing themselves to themselves, they lack understanding.” So you see we should avoid such comparisons.
Third, Lower Your Expectations. 1 Timothy 6:6 says, “godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it”. I remember the first time I went to India, I took many photos of all the shocking things I saw. But the second time I went, my pastor friend counseled me and said, this time, look for the beauty. And you know what, I found it. I missed seeing the beauty before because I was looking with the wrong set of eyeglasses. I felt a little humiliated to be honest. So again, we should lower our expectations and see the beauty that God has to offer.
Forth, Be Flexible and go with the flow. The happiest people in the world are those that learn to adjust to the dynamics of life. Just look at Paul’s life in our verses today. Paul said, “I know how to make do with little, and I know how to make do with a lot. In any and all circumstances I have learned the secret of being content—whether well fed or hungry, whether in abundance or in need”.
In the Marine Corps there is a popular saying, “Semper Gumby”, which means Always Flexible. If there is anything positive that could come from this current Corona Virus Pandemic we are now in, it is that we had to learn to be flexible.
So Develop your Convictions, Avoid Comparisons, Lower Your Expectations, and Be Flexible. Those are all good tips for us to learn to be more content in this life.
Paul concludes now this letter-book of Philippians with what is called his “Final Greetings”. He wrote:
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. 22 All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. 23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
In my opinion, this whole last chapter could be called a Thank-You letter from Paul to the church members in Philippi. When somebody sends you a gift, or when they provide you some help support, it is appropriate to send them a Thank-You note, to let them know how much you appreciate what they did. In our text today Paul referred to what the Philippians gave to him as “a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God”. When we help others out, God is well pleased. In the spirit of the three goals I mentioned at the start, 1) be connected, 2) be content, and 3) be confident. I must say I am so blessed by your continued love and support to this church ministry and to me through the years. Like Paul, I Thank-You, from the bottom of my heart. And I look forward to see what God has yet in store for our wonderful church family in the years ahead.
Would you please stand now and let us close together in prayer.