Phlippians 4: The River of Contentment
2023-10-22
Charles Billingsley
Philippians 4:1-23
1 Therefore, my beloved and longed-for brethren, my joy and crown, so stand fast in the Lord, beloved.
2 I implore Euodia and I implore Syntyche to be of the same mind in the Lord. 3 And I urge you also, true companion, help these women who labored with me in the gospel, with Clement also, and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the Book of Life.
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
5 Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, 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. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.
Greeting and Blessing
21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.
The River of Contentment
1. Rock of Location – Contentment is not determined by where you are
Adam and Eve – Paradise – Genesis 2 – they still wanted more. Gen. 3:6
Paul and Silas – Prison – Acts 17
2. Rock of Stuff – Contentment is not determined by what you have
Appetite for stuff
The gap between more and enough never closes.
David and Bathsheba – 2 Samuel 11
Widow’s mite – Mark 12
Proverbs 30:8-10 NKJV
Give me neither poverty nor riches— Feed me with the food allotted to me; Lest I be full and deny You, And say, “Who is the LORD?” Or lest I be poor and steal, And profane the name of my God.
Contentment is not determined by what you have.
3. Rock of Comparison – Contentment is not determined by what you do
Luke 10:38 Now it happened as they went that He entered a certain village; and a certain woman named Martha welcomed Him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who also sat at Jesus’ feet and heard His word. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving, and she approached Him and said, “Lord, do You not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Therefore tell her to help me.”
41 And Jesus answered and said to her, “Martha, Martha, you are worried and troubled about many things. 42 But one thing is needed, and Mary has chosen that good part, which will not be taken away from her.”
Contentment is not determined by what you do.
So if our contentment doesn’t come from Where we are, What we have, or what we do…then how do we truly live content?
1. Contentment is a learned behavior
4:11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content
12 I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
And wow…..did he ever?!
2 Corinthians 11:24 From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. 25 Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 in journeys often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness— 28 besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for all the churches.
IF we want to be content, then we must learn contentment in the circumstances that bring us discontent.
Joni Eareckson Tada
“Contentment … has an internal quietness of heart that gladly submits to God in all circumstances.”
“He has chosen not to heal me, but to hold me. The more intense the pain, the closer His embrace.”
2. Contentment has a Secret Formula
The River of Contentment is fed by three things :
A. A well-spring of Gratitude
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God
“Count your blessings! Name them one by one. Count your many blessings see what God has done.”
The River of Contentment is fed by the well-spring of Gratitude!
It is also fed by:
B. The tributary of Joy
4 Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice!
Joy is mentioned 16 times in this letter!
What is Joy? –
So how do you obtain and keep Joy?
By Walking with Jesus
By Worshiping Jesus
The river of contentment is also fed by one more thing:
C. The tributary of Peace
6 Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; 7 and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.
8 Finally, 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. 9 The things which you learned and received and heard and saw in me, these do, and the God of peace will be with you.
So this River of Contentment is fed by the
wellspring of Gratitude
the tributary of Joy
and the tributary of Peace.
And it is learned when we have this state of mind in no matter what situation or circumstance we find ourselves :
Yes….
13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.
19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.