We have been told over and over......and in many different
ways that we should be fulfilled and content in Christ.
A. Too often, this fulfillment and contentment is not
defined and directions to achieve this goal are
lacking.
My questions is this: Are we all content, fulfilled, and at
peace in Christ, Jesus?
A. I cannot read hearts or minds, but I can note
actions and attitudes.
1. When I see those in the Body of Christ
seeking after and desiring the same things
that the world pursues......I have to think that
many in the Church are not content with
being in Christ.
2. When I see the problems and the worry and
frustration which is connected with those
problems.......I cannot think that Christ is
a real presence in these Christians lives.
3. When I see the attitudes of the world creeping
into the Church....I have to think that
somehow....many are overlooking Christ, in
their lives.
I still believe that a person can become fulfilled, content,
and at peace in the Lord.
A. I do also think, however, that for this to happen,
Christians must follow certain guidelines that are
laid out in the fourth chapter of Philippians.
I. We need to rejoice, in the Lord...Phil. 4:4-5
Phil. 4:4-5 - 4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say,
rejoice! 5Let your gentleness be known to all men. The
Lord is at hand.
A. In verse five, the Greek can be translated, “Let
the fact that you have yielded yourselves to God,
be made known to all men.”
1. It’s the world that has nothing to rejoice in.....
no hope......no real happiness......no genuine
fulfillment.
a. Our rejoicing tells the world that we have
yielded ourselves to God and we have
reaped a reason for rejoicing.
B. People just naturally dwell on all their woes, cares,
and troubles.
EXAMPLE: Shake hands with a certain individual. I say
“Good morning”.....this individual......without
fail, will say, “What’s so good about it?”
** I know that this person is kidding.....
but I also think that this thought is just
naturally not far away from everyone’s
thoughts.
1. The natural man has much that is bad.....to
dwell on.
a. The car is not running well.
b. The kids are getting bad grades in school.
c. I have a toothache.
d. How in the world am I going to make
the car payment and the rent....seeing as
I had to take Joe to the doctor’s.
e. On top of all this....my back is in agony,
my neck is sore, and I have a splitting
headache.
“GOOD MORNING!”
C. How does God or mankind expect me to rejoice
when I am faced with 101 different problems.
1. “I believe that God will understand if I can’t
find it in me to rejoice”.
D. The word that is used, in the Greek, is in the
imperative mode.....in other words, it is not
optional.....it is a command of God.
1. But what can I rejoice in.......being as I am
so burdened down with cares, worries, and
problems.
** Let me see if there might be anything to rejoice in.
a. We were all headed on a flaming crash
course set on hell and destruction.
1.) Long before we even knew our own
danger, Jesus saved us.
b. Through nothing that we have done to
earn this distinction and honor......we
have been made children of God.
1.) As if that weren’t enough, we have
been made to inherit
EVERYTHING THAT CHRIST
HAS INHERITED!!!! (think
about this......just for a few
moments).
c. In the death that was once all that we
could look forward to........we have now
a promise of everlasting life.
d. Even in this present physical world.....
God has wondrously made each and
every one of us....in His image and
after His likeness.
1.) He has also created everything
for our enjoyment.
a.) The planets, stars, sun and
moon.
b.) The sunsets and the moon-
rise.
c.) Sunny days, rain, snow, etc.
d.) The mountains and the
plains.
e.) Oceans, rivers, lakes, etc.
f.) The smell of a fireplace on
a cold evening.
Psalm 8:4 - What is man that You are mindful of him,
And the son of man that You visit him?
** We have so much to rejoice about, we SHOULD BE
DIFFERENT!!!!
1. Yes.....we certainly can and must rejoice in the
Lord.
a. We must rejoice and give God the glory for all
the rich blessings that we share in Christ,
Jesus.
1.) To do any less is an affront to our loving
God who has done, is doing, and even
yet will do.......so very much for every
one of us.
E. Every day in the life of a Christian should be a
day of rejoicing.
Psalm 118:24 - 24 This is the day the Lord has made; We
will rejoice and be glad in it.
1. This isn’t to say that we don’t have our share
of problems and trials......just as the world
does..........but we are different from the
world.......we have a hope and a joy that the
world cannot have......IF THIS IS TRUE....
SHOW IT!
II. The second way for a Christian to find fulfillment and
peace is found in Phil. 4:6-7......Quit worrying.
Phil. 4:6-7 - 6Be anxious for nothing, but in everything
by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your
requests be made known to God; 7and the peace of God,
which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts
and minds through Christ Jesus.
A. Again, this is something that the “natural man”
cannot do.
1. Only by our faith and trust in God can we
attain to this lofty level.
a. This is not to say that we are not to take
any note of the dangers that may beset
us, and make adjustments in our lives.
1.) This is to say that we must not let
these dangers and problems
consume us and be the motivation
for our decisions.
B. We know, believe, and hopefully understand one
very important point.....GOD LOVES US AS
NO OTHER BEING....HE LOVES US
ENOUGH TO DIE FOR US....HE KNOWS ALL
THE DANGERS THAT WE FACE AND HE
GOES THROUGH THOSE DANGERS WITH
US.
1. This perfect love that Christ shows to us
should elevate us above the level of fear.
I John 4:17-19 - 17Love has been perfected among us in
this: that we may have boldness in the day of judgment;
because as He is, so are we in this world. 18There is no fear
in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear
involves torment. But he who fears has not been made
perfect in love. 19We love Him because He first loved us.
Psalm 23 - 1 The Lord is my shepherd;
I shall not want.
2 He makes me to lie down in green pastures;
He leads me beside the still waters.
3 He restores my soul;
He leads me in the paths of righteousness
For His name’s sake.
4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the
shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence
of my enemies;
You anoint my head with oil;
My cup runs over.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me
All the days of my life;
And I will dwell in the house of the Lord
Forever.
a. This is, indeed, the idea behind these
verses.
1.) Christ, the Good Shepherd, will
never leave us or forsake us......He
loved us enough to die on the
cross.........His love will keep Him
always with His righteous children.
C. This peace that we should obtain by our faith and
trust in Christ and His love......should guard our
hearts and minds.
1. It should be deeply embedded within us.
a. It should be exercised by us in times
when the world around us would panic
and despair.
D. It is this courage to face the known and the
unknown which marks us as followers of Christ.
1. This is one of the things that the world cannot
offer.....even though it greatly desires it.
a. Eventually those in the world will be
let down by the things of the world.
1.) Let your light so shine that when
the world is ready to seek the
answer, it can find that answer in
your faith and trust of the Lord......
in YOUR example.
III. The third means by which we can find fulfillment,
peace, and love while passing through this campground
called, “Earth”....is found in Phil. 4:8
Phil. 4:8-9 - 8Finally, brethren, whatever things are true,
whatever things are noble, whatever things are just,
whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely,
whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue
and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these
things. 9The things which you learned and received and
heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will
be with you.
A. It takes no effort to think about the vile and the
impure.........the wicked and the ugly......but when
all is said and done, those who set their minds on
these things are unfulfilled and empty.
1. They are lacking in happiness, fulfillment, and
peace.......AND THEY DON’T EVEN KNOW
WHY!!!
B. Those who fix their minds on things that are true....
things that are pure and pleasant....will only lift
their minds and hearts to a level with God.
1. We have been told that we are presently
sitting in heavenly places......wouldn’t it be
only fitting to think of things that God’s
children would think of?
Eph. 2:4-6 - 4But God, who is rich in mercy, because of
His great love with which He loved us, 5even when we
were dead in trespasses, made us alive together with Christ
(by grace you have been saved), 6and raised us up together,
and made us sit together in the heavenly places in Christ
Jesus.
C. In this whole concept, where is room for the
bad language (heard or spoken).....where is the
indecent (seen, spoken of, or practiced).....where
are the lies and deceptions?
1. A Christian’s life should be centered around
.............and based on these principles.
a. Nothing that a Christians says or does
should violate the idea put forth in
Phil. 4:8.
1.) We should place everything
within the litmus test of:
a.) Is it true?
b.) Is it honorable (good and
right)?
c.) Is it just...fair by God’s
standards?
d.) Is it pure...clean...bringing
no rightful shame?
e.) Is it a product of love?
f.) Do the people around me
think that it is right....or am I
an offense?
** All virtue and praise come from a Christian
incorporating these standards into his life.
CONCLUSION:
Is your life fulfilled...are you at peace...do you praise your
God by your actions and your life?
A. Those outside of Christ can be made to thirst for
what we have............only if we are fulfilled and
at peace in Christ.
We cannot be acting like the world...living like the world...
thinking like the world...worrying like the world...and
talking like the world.
A. Our greatest witness can come in our faith,
contentment and peace with our lot in life.
1. Paul tells us to rejoice.....all the time!
a. I know that we have things to grumble
and complain about, but we also have
much more to rejoice in.
1.) Let the world know the goodness
that God has shown us and is
willing to also show them....by our
spirit of rejoicing in His love.
2. We are also told to stop worrying.
a. A God who has done so much for us and
who has displayed His love in so many
ways, could not possibly abandon us.
1.) Our trust in God.....in the face of
all that could cause us anxiety....
this too is a witness to the world
around us.
a.) Our faith and trust not only
blesses us, but it can also be
a blessing to those around us.
3. As we are, physically, what we eat....so also
are we spiritually what we say and do.
a. As Christians, we should stand out as
those who will only speak the truth,
act honorably, serve justice, remain
pure, show love in everything, and
not be offensive in our own selves.
1.) We know that people will be
offended because of Christ and
His word......they should not be
offended by us, outside of the
gospel.
Our witness is greatly affected and our Christian walk can
either be a blessing or a curse, by how we translate Phil.
4:4-8 to our lives.
A. Are you fulfilled and at peace in Christ?
