INTRODUCTION
A. This past week has been confusing to say the least.
1. Heart – not THIS week!
2. Here I am – needing to prepare 2 sermons – and this!
a. How do you prepare for Saturday when you don’t know the response
b. How do you prepare for Sunday for same reason
3. Then the Question: How do I(we) take Saturday’s blooper?
a. We gave it our all – honestly don’t believe there is anything else to give.
b. Event was a success – But response was not (from what we see)
Colossians 2:19 (MSG)
19 … Christ, who puts us together in one piece, whose very breath and blood flow through us. He is the Head and we are the body. We can grow up healthy in God only as he nourishes us.
c. It’s for GOD to decide how we grow – but we must continue to give it our best.
4. While I had not intended to be in Phil, (Acts 2), I glanced last night and wow! It fits!
B. Closing Philippians – Let’s Review
1. Setup
a. Begins wi Epaphroditus bringing a financial gift & report of church
b. Paul under house arrest & needs to pay all his expenses
c. Letter thanks for the gift and responds to the report
2. Situation
a. Ch 1 – Paul describes his situation and encourages church to stand up to the persecutions and gossip they were facing b/cause of his situation.
- We found that some we trying to stir up trouble in the church and Paul’s letter was to remind them to not be destracted.
b. Ch 2 - Paul describes several examples:
1-5 – Reminds them of benefits of being united with Christ
6-11 – The example of Christ
12-18 – His example
19-30 - Example of Timothy & Epaphroditus
c. Ch. 3 – Repeats the situation (little more detail) and challenges church to press on – to move on toward the goal – the finish line
d. Ch. 4 – Pleads for unity and shows the danger of allowing struggles, differences, and selfishness
4-8 – Shows how to have victory in those situations along with giving a guide for victory in our prayers and not defeat
10-20 - Thanks for their gift
3. More to the Thank You than meets the eye!
b. Are YOU content?
Here at NHBC?
With Me? With Others?
With Life?
a. What does it mean to be content?
- Paul shows that a Christian’s contentment is different from the world’s contentment
- A secret that only Christians possess
- So do you have it? Are you Content in Your circumstance?
- Are WE content in our circumstance here at NHBC?
I. CLOSE OF PHILIPPIANS
Paul begins by thanking the church for showing their concern for his situation.
10 - 12
‘content’ – (11,12)
Lit., ‘self-sufficient’ - that man should be sufficient to himself for all things; able, by the power of his own will, to resist the shock of circumstance.
But follow Paul’s thought:
1. Paul is self-sufficient through the power of the new self: not he, but Christ in him through the power of the holy spirit living within him.
a secret (12) to the Christian life—that he could get along in content with whatever he had, whether much or little.
—not a natural human response. But only in Christ alone, who provides strength & peace to cope with all circumstances
2. To have real contentment, we must remember that everything belongs to God and what we have is a gift from him.
1 Tim. 6.6 ‘but godliness with contentment is great gain’
At the time, Paul probably had very little to live on. Paul also knew how to live with everything.
‘plenty’ (12) - Lit. the Greek word is “to overflow.”
This might refer to Paul’s pre-Christian days as a fairly wealthy and influential Pharisee.
1 Cor. 4:11-13 ‘to this very hour…’
2 Cor. 6:4-10
Whether Paul had plenty or little, he could keep life on an even keel because of contentment.
The literal writing is ‘I have learned the secret, both to be filled and to hunger’
What a lesson for all believers to learn! No wonder Paul called it a secret.
APPLICATION - So what am I saying?
1. I would love to grow and exceed our wildest expectations. But we must learn to be self-sufficient – satisfied – content in what Christ has given us.
2. Do we quit trying to grow the kingdom one at a time? Absolutely not. But understand that in God’s time our hard work will pay off.
13
Paul’s contentment was not gained through self-discipline. Instead, it was through Christ alone. The word “everything” refers to vs. 11-12.
In every possible circumstance, Paul could truly be content because he did not let outward circumstances determine his attitude.
Christ was giving him the strength to continue with his ministry and the work of spreading the gospel whether he had plenty or was in need. Paul had complete confidence that, no matter what the circumstance, Christ would give him the strength and the needs to meet it.
So how about us? Do we have the strength? Do we have the confidence?
14-16
He thanks that they had been willing to share in his present difficulty refers to having taken care of him and his team. Remember, he stayed in Lydia’s house and the jailors family also supplied him plenty of his needs.
Only the Phil. church had been ready to help financially and in support while he was ministering to them. Paul never asked but through God’s prompting, they responded to the opportunity to be used of God.
APPLICATION:
1. You do this also. You have been so wonderful this week in your phone calls, and concern and care given to me and my family. It shows your love and concern for your pastor.
2. You have done that with so many families regardless of the time of the year and regardless of your current situation.
3. How can we not be content with that?
17-18a
“I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent’
Don’t miss this! He was amply supplied from their support. If all of God’s people would give SOMETHING all of our needs would be met (Vs. 13). And as you give something and are able to see how God uses your gift, He will bless you and allow you to give more. Brothers & sisters, we can’t outgive God!
Notice the last part
18b
Paul described the Philippians’ gift as a sweet-smelling sacrifice. Their gifts were acts of worship, and God was the true recipient. They had given in faith, not so much to Paul as to God.
That should be the ultimate goal of every act of love, care, concern, and charity—to help, but also to please God
Heb. 13.16 ‘and do not forget to do good and to share with others, for with such sacrifices God is pleased.’
The same God who had taken care of Paul would supply ALL their needs. YOU CAN NOT OUT GIVE GOD!
19
Notice that while Paul was content in his circumstance, he was still asking for pray to be restored.
We also must continue to seek God, while content in our circumstance and while we continue working our best, we must continue to pray and ask God’s blessing.
SUMMARY
So many lessons from the church of Philippi that I don’t really know how to close!
But I think Paul’s close is best: ARE WE CONTENT IN OUR CALL TO BE A CHURCH?
1. I began this sermon talking about my feeling over yesterday’s – what seemed to be a flop. BUT THAT’S NOT TRUE!
2. Did you see all the love that went in to yesterday’s event? The love – the dedication – the commitment of so many – the joy of serving the Lord!
3. READ 1.27
READ ACTS 2:42-47
20
What a close!
What a book!
What a Testimony to Every Church, Every believer!
