The Contented Life
Phil 4:4-11, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: <and> again I say, Rejoice. {5} Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord <is> at hand. {6} Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. {8} Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things <are> honest, whatsoever things <are> just, whatsoever things <are> pure, whatsoever things <are> lovely, whatsoever things <are> of good report; if <there be> any virtue, and if <there be> any praise, think on these things. {9} Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. {10} But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. {11} Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, <therewith> to be content."
Introduction:
A. One of the Greatest Blessings that you can experience in this life is a life of Perfect Contentment.
1. This was an experience that the Apostle Paul knew in full measure.
2. Phil 4:11-12, "Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, <therewith> to be content. {12} I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need."
In health or in sickness --- In affluence or in poverty --- In strength or in weakness --- When abased or when abounding --- When full or when hunry ...
3. When Paul wrote these words he was In Chains In Nero's Prison In Rome.
B. Paul had enjoyed a Cultured Upbringing and had been raised in the Lap of Luxury.
1. Now, he was deprived of many of the Barest Necessities of life.
2. Yet, he could say, "I'm Content, Satisfied and Radiantly Happy!"
C. Not many of us can say the same --- too often we:
1. Are discontented,
2. We grumble,
3. We are ungrateful, and covetous ...
D. Israel's Greatest Sin, in the wilderness, was that of "Murmuring".
E. Wouldn't it be wonderful to be content, Fully Satisfied, Always Happy and at Peace with God, with Ourselves and with the World?
1. 1 Tim 6:6, "But godliness with contentment is great gain."
2. What is the Secret of this contentment?
3. Paul said, "I have Learned ..... to be content."
a. We are not contented by nature.
b. It is something we have to learn.
c. It must be cultivated.
F. Our lesson text gives us Seven Reasons why the true Child of God should be content:
I. The Purpose of God.
A. Phil 4:3, "... whose names <are> in the book of life."
B. This reminds us that Our Salvation is the result of God's Eternal Purpose in Christ.
1. Rom 8:28-30, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to <his> purpose. {29} For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate <to be> conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. {30} Moreover whom he did predestinate, them he also called: and whom he called, them he also justified: and whom he justified, them he also glorified."
2. Eph 1:4-6, "According as he hath chosen us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and without blame before him in love: {5} Having predestinated us unto the adoption of children by Jesus Christ to himself, according to the good pleasure of his will, {6} To the praise of the glory of his grace, wherein he hath made us accepted in the beloved."
C. Are you Tempted To Be Discontented with your lot in life?
1. Then, Meditate upon the Fact that your name is written in the Lamb's Book of Life.
2. Luke 10:20, "Notwithstanding in this rejoice not, that the spirits are subject unto you; but rather rejoice, because your names are written in heaven."
II. The Presence of God.
A. As we Develop these Characteristics of God, we will Experience more of the Presence of God.
Philippians 4:8, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things <are> honest, whatsoever things <are> just, whatsoever things <are> pure, whatsoever things <are> lovely, whatsoever things <are> of good report; if <there be> any virtue, and if <there be> any praise, Think On These Things."
B. In verse 8 Six Traits of the Christian character are mentioned:
1. TRUTH --- That is, absolute honesty.
Eph 4:25, "Wherefore putting away lying, speak every man truth with his neighbour: for we are members one of another."
2. HONEST --- Honour --- That is, noble, worthy.
2 Cor 8:21, "Providing for honest things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men."
3. JUST --- Justice --- That is, fair play, sincerity.
Deu 16:20, "That which is altogether just shalt thou follow, that thou mayest live, and inherit the land which the LORD thy God giveth thee."
4. PURE --- Purity --- That is, inwardly clean.
Psa 51:6, "Behold, thou desirest truth in the inward parts: and in the hidden <part> thou shalt make me to know wisdom."
5. LOVELY --- Loveliness --- That is, like Jesus.
Song of Solomon 5:16, "His mouth <is> most sweet: yea, he <is> altogether lovely. This <is> my beloved, and this <is> my friend, O daughters of Jerusalem."
6. GOOD REPORT --- That is, a character above reproach.
John 19:6, "When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify <him>, crucify <him>. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify <him>: for I find no fault in him."
C. Then he adds "If There Be Any Virtue" or "Any Praise"
1 Corinthians 4:5, "Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall [every man] have [praise] of [God]."
D. In Verse 8 we are told, "... Think on these things." --- In Verse 9 we are told, "... Those things, ..... Do: and the God of Peace Shall Be With You."
1. That is, we shall Consciously Enjoy The Presence of The Lord.
2. Heb 13:5-6, "<Let your> conversation <be> without covetousness; <and be> content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. {6} So that we may boldly say, The Lord <is> my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me."
III. The People of God.
A. Phil 4:10, "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity." --- V. 14, "Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction."
B. Paul was Surrounded By Loving Friends who prayed for him, and for whom he prayed.
1. Paul found the Fellowship of The Saints a cause for great Rejoicing and Contentment.
2. Next time you are discouraged or discountented, Remember Your Christian Friends.
C. Paul refers to his friends in Verse 1 and in Verse 2 and again in Verse 3.
IV. The Peace of God.
A. Phil 4:6-7, "Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. {7} And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus."
B. Mark 4:35-41, "And the same day, when the even was come, he saith unto them, Let us pass over unto the other side. {36} And when they had sent away the multitude, they took him even as he was in the ship. And there were also with him other little ships. {37} And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full. {38} And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish? {39} And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace , be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. {40} And he said unto them, Why are ye so fearful? how is it that ye have no faith? {41} And they feared exceedingly, and said one to another, What manner of man is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?"
C. The Lord has Not promised to Remove The Storm.
1. He does Not give us Any Hope of Freedom From Trials and Testings.
2. However, He does offer perfect peace In The Midst of the storm.
D. Isa 26:3, "Thou wilt keep <him> in perfect peace, <whose> mind <is> stayed <on thee>: because he trusteth in thee."
V. The Power of God.
A. Phil 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
B. The Secret of Paul's Ability to be Content At All Times --- Jesus Christ living His life through Paul.
C. Through the Indwelling of The Holy spirit you and I can:
1. Be Victorious over restlessness --- grumbling --- and coveteousness.
2. We can be Radiantly Happy and Contented.
VI. The Provision of God.
A. Phil 4:19, "But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus."
B. Moody spoke of this verse as being "God's Blank Cheque."
1. The FIRM --- "My God ..."
The Firm can never go bankrupt.
2. The PROMISE --- "shall supply ..."
The Promise is absolutely certain.
3. The AMOUNT --- "all your needs ..."
The Amount is always sufficient.
4. The CAPITAL --- "according to His riches ..."
The Capital is limitless.
5. The BANK --- "in glory ..."
The Bank can never be robbed.
6. The SIGNATURE --- "by Christ Jesus."
The Signature is already on every cheque.
C. However, the cheque Does Require An Endorsement.
John 14:14, "If ye shall ask (endorse my promises) any thing in my name, I will do <it>."
John 16:24, "Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full."
VII. The Coming Presence of God.
A. Look back to --- Phil 3:20-21, "For our conversation is in heaven; from whence also we look for the Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ: {21} Who shall change our vile body, that it may be fashioned like unto his glorious body, according to the working whereby he is able even to subdue all things unto himself."
B. Is it not appropriate --- when we are Tempted To Be Discontented --- to Remind ourselves that the Lord Is Coming.
2 Pet 1:10-14, "Wherefore the rather, brethren, give diligence to make your calling and election sure: for if ye do these things, ye shall never fall: {11} For so an entrance shall be ministered unto you abundantly into the everlasting kingdom of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. {12} Wherefore I will not be negligent to put you always in remembrance of these things, though ye know <them>, and be established in the present truth. {13} Yea, I think it meet, as long as I am in this tabernacle, to stir you up by putting <you> in remembrance; {14} Knowing that shortly I must put off <this> my tabernacle, even as our Lord Jesus Christ hath showed me."
A Search For The Truth
