SERMON OUTLINE:
The Secret of True Contentment (vs 10-13).
The Value of the Gift (vs 14-20).
The Appreciation of Christian Friends (vs 21-23).
SERMON BODY:
Ill:
• A man walked by a table in a hotel;
• And noticed three men and a dog playing cards.
• Amazingly the dog appeared to be winning.
• "That must be a very smart dog," the man commented.
• "He aint so smart," said one of the players.
• "Every time he gets a good-hand he wags his tail!"
• TRANSITION: Dogs of course wag their tails when they are happy & joyful.
• This letter that we are concluding today has been called:
• ‘The letter of joy”
• Because joy is a central theme in the book of Philippians.
• In fact, there are 15 explicit references;
• To some form of either the noun “joy” (chara in Greek),
• Or the verb “rejoice” (chairo) in this short letter.
• <References given 12 lines further down in the sermon>.
• Remember that the apostle’s Paul’s joy was not at all dependent on his circumstances.
• When he wrote this letter,
• He has been imprisoned for almost four years (chapter 1 verses 12-18),
The apostle makes it clear where his source of joy was to be found:
• In fact, if you read through his short letter;
• Underline in your Bibles or write down in a notebook each mention of the word joy,
• And you will find fifteen ways the apostle experienced joy.
• To summarise those fifteen reasons,
• He found joy in Christ;
• He found joy in his ministry, his service for God.
• He found joy in Christians, in the people of God.
1) Paul prays for the Philippian believers with joy (chara) because of their partnership with him in the gospel. (1:4-5)
2) He rejoices (chairo) that Christ is proclaimed – even when Christ is proclaimed with impure motives. (1:18)
3) He rejoices (chairo) that his current hardship will turn out for his deliverance, through the prayers of the believers and the help of the Spirit. (1:18-1:19)
4) Paul is convinced that the continuation of his ministry to the Philippians will contribute to their “progress and joy (chara) in the faith”. (1:25)
5) Paul has joy (chara) when the believers are unified and single-minded. (2:2)
6) Paul would be glad (chairo) in his sacrifice for the sake of their faith, so that his ministry was not in vain. (2:17)
7) Paul would rejoice with (synchairo) the believers in his sacrifice for the sake of their faith, so that his ministry was not in vain (2:17)
8) Paul encourages the Philippian believers to also be glad (chairete) in his life being poured out for them. (2:18)
9) Paul encourages the Philippian believers to also rejoice with (synchairete) him in his life being poured out for them. (2:18)
10) Paul is eager to send Epaphroditus back to them, so that they can rejoice (chairo) in seeing him again and be less anxious about his health. (2:28)
11) Paul encourages the Philippian church to receive Epaphroditus back with joy (chara), since he risked his life for the work of Christ. (2:29)
12) Paul has no problem with frequently repeating the reminder to “rejoice (chairo) in the Lord,” because he knows how important it is. (3:1)
13) Paul encourages the Philippians to “rejoice (chairo) in the Lord always.” (4:4)
14) For added emphasis, Paul again commands the Philippian believers to rejoice (chairo). (4:4)
15) The Philippians’ renewed ability to support his ministry caused Paul to rejoice (chairo) in the Lord greatly. (4:10)
• In this closing section of the letter:
The apostle Paul leaves us with three pieces of advice or instruction;
• Three attitudes that when applied will give you joy;
• Or if neglected or ignored will take your joy away.
(1). The Secret of True Contentment (vs 10-13).
“I rejoiced greatly in the Lord that at last you renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it. 11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
Ill:
• In a cemetery is a grave marker with the inscription;
• “She died from want of things”
• Next to it is another marker that reads;
• “He died trying to give it to her”
• TRANSITION: We all want to be contented, to be satisfied in life
• But for many of us contentment is like;
• A ship-wrecked sailor drinking saltwater to survive,
• The more saltwater a person drinks, the thirstier they become.
• Because sea- water contains 7 times more salt than the human body can safely ingest.
• It brings death while promising life!
• We all want to be contented, to be satisfied in life
• But for many of us contentment is hard to constantly experience it.
Quote: Jason Lehman poem.
• Jason Lehman wrote it when he was 14 years old.
• His relatively young age is even more amazing when you read the poem,
• And consider his perspective.
It was spring,
but it was summer I wanted,
The warm days,
and the great outdoors.
It was summer,
but it was fall I wanted,
The colourful leaves,
and the cool, dry air.
It was autumn (fall),
but it was winter I wanted,
The beautiful snow,
and the joy of the holiday season.
It was winter,
but it was spring I wanted,
The warmth
and the blossoming of nature.
I was a child,
but it was adulthood I wanted,
The freedom
and respect.
I was 20,
but it was 30 I wanted,
To be mature,
and sophisticated.
I was middle-aged,
but it was 20 I wanted,
The youth
and the free spirit.
I was retired,
but it was middle-age I wanted,
The presence of mind
without limitations.
My life was over,
and I never got what I wanted.
• TRANSITION: What a sad way to live,
• What a sad way to die,
• Never being contented or satisfied!
• The apostle Paul is not saying being money or possessions are wrong;
• But as Christians we need to have the right attitude to wealth and possessions.
Quote: Benjamin Franklin.
"Content makes poor men rich; discontent makes rich men poor."
Contentment is one of the most difficult virtues/qualities to attain.
• Almost four hundred years ago,
• Jeremiah Burroughs (the Puritan preacher);
• Referred to the “rare jewel” of Christian contentment.
• It seems to me that contentment is no more common in our day,
• Then in the days of Burroughs’.
Ill:
• We live in a world that breeds discontent.
• We are bombarded with the message on TV and in magazines;
• That tell us to be happy we need more stuff!
• We need more things, less wrinkles, better holidays, and fewer troubles
• Every time we see an advert it is telling us to be discontented.
• From owning the latest car, tablet or phone.
• Even adverts for washing up liquid or loo rolls,
• Are reinforcing the message what you have is not good enough!
• You deserve something softer, better, more expensive;
• “Because you are worth it!”
• TRANSITION; and too often you and I fall for it;
• We buy it and a few weeks later we are looking for an upgrade or something new.
• Contentment is indeed a “rare jewel.”
Note what the apostle Paul says in these few verses:
• Twice in this passage, Paul says that he has “learned” to be content.
• (Verses 11&12) – the verb used means “learned by experience”
• Contentment does not come naturally to the corrupt/sinful human heart.
• We need God’s help to inform, teach, strengthen us and to change our hearts.
• But we also have the responsibility to learn contentment.
• It requires effort.
The fact that the Apostle Paul refers to the “secret,” or “mystery,” of contentment:
• Tells me, that contentment does not come naturally,
• Contentment has to be learned,
• You will not find that secret instantly by listening to a sermon or by reading a book,
• They might start the ball rolling, but it will require effort from you!
• Because finding contentment means;
• Thinking and living differently to those around you,
• It is contrary to human ways of thinking.
Ill:
• Most people think that to achieve peace in your life,
• You have to get out of difficult situations that cause you hardship,
• Or are not personally fulfilling.
• But notice the apostle Paul clearly indicates that he has learned to be content,
• Both in good situations and in bad,
• (including prison, which is where he was when he wrote this letter.)
It seems to me there are two attitudes ‘in our world’ to being content:
• The “more is better” mentality teaches us that to be satisfied in life,
• We need this product or that gadget.
• There is also the “less is better” mentality, the “simple living” mentality,
• That says satisfaction comes by getting rid of stuff and living with less.
• But notice what the apostle Paul says;
• “He has learned to be content in both plenty and hunger, in abundance and need.”
• While there is some biblical truth to the thinking,
• That we should not pursue earthly goods continually,
• A simple lifestyle alone does not guarantee a contented heart.
Note:
• Contentment actually means ‘containment’.
• We know what a container is, we use or see them every day:
• i.e. We put our sugar in a sugar-bowl to prevent it spilling (a container),
• i.e. To stop our biscuits going soft, we put them in a sealed container.
• i.e. Factories send their goods by ships and by lorries, in a container,
• TRANSTION: Contentment actually means ‘containment’.
• It carries the idea of someone who is self-contained.
• The apostle Paul’s resources were on the inside;
• And not dependent from substitutes from the outside.
• He was satisfied and strengthened by his faith in Christ;
• This allowed him to handle those situations on the outside.
• Instead of being victim of circumstances he became victor of circumstances.
• e.g. To paraphrase his words in verse 11, “I can ACCEPT all things”.
• Quote verse 11: “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
• e.g. To paraphrase his words in verse 13, “I can DO all things”.
• Quote verse 13 “I can do all this through him who gives me strength” (vs 13)
• e.g. To paraphrase his words in verse 18, “I HAVE all things”.
• Quote verse 18 “I am amply supplied” - “I am full” KJV. (vs 13)
Ill:
• The Bible teacher, pastor, and preacher Warren Wiersbe,
• Who recently died (May 2nd 2019 at age 89),
• Points out in one of his books, ‘Be Joyful’ commentary on Philippians;
• Three resources that allowed the apostle Paul to be content;
• Verse 10: He knew the overruling providence of God.
• Verses 11-13: He knew the unfailing power of God.
• Verses 14-20: He knew the unchanging promise of God.
(2). The Value of the Gift (vs 14-20).
“Yet it was good of you to share in my troubles. 15 Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only; 16 for even when I was in Thessalonica, you sent me aid more than once when I was in need. 17 Not that I desire your gifts; what I desire is that more be credited to your account. 18 I have received full payment and have more than enough. I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. 19 And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.
20 To our God and Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen.”
Ill:
• I went to the funeral this week of a man called Les Hardwick,
• His son John Hardwick interviewed his dad and produced a DVD of his dad’s life,
• It is in the DVD rack if you want to watch it.
• Les worked all his life on building sites and was actively involved in his local Church,
• And a well-known preacher in the Black Country and the Midlands.
• He was described at his funeral;
• “As the best evangelist who did not go into full-time ministry”
• Poor expression that, Les was in full-time ministry, as every Christian is!
• I remember him telling this story/sermon illustration;
• He parked his blue car in a 30minute parking place,
• Then popped in the shop to buy something,
• When he returned ten minutes later there was a traffic warden issuing his car a ticket.
• So, he politely asked the traffic warden what he was doing,
• The traffic warden said this car has been here for 40 minutes,
• And so, it was getting a ticket.
• Les argued his case, insisting that he had not been there forty minutes,
• And so, a heated argument took place.
• After a while the traffic warden relented,
• And did not give him a ticket and walked away.
• Les, then placed his key in the lock of the car door and it would not turn,
• He looked in through the window and realised this was not his car,
• His car was two cars down, same make, same colour, same condition!
• So, Les, did what many of might not do,
• He went and found the traffic warden, explained what had happened and apologised.
• TRANSITION: Les thought the car belonged to him,
• But it actually belonged to someone else!
• When it comes to our money, I think we make the same mistake!
• We think it is ours! But actually, if you are a Christian it belongs to God.
• We are only stewards of our money, our possessions, our gifts and our time!
• Everything we have belongs to him!
• Our creator, our King, our Lord, our saviour and our master.
• Now God entrusts us with money, possessions, gifts and our time!
• To enjoy and to use to enjoy life, to bless others and to build his kingdom.
This section (verses 14-20) is about giving to Christian mission:
• One of the things we should all do as Christians.
• Some people give to direct the Church;
• And let the Church leaders distribute that money to Christian missionaries,
• And to mission organisations etc.
• e.g. As a Church, whenever we have a missionary (full-time worker);
• Like we had Solomon Nathaniel reporting here last week (and recently Liz New).
• We pass on a financial gift to him (and to her).
• e.g. When we feature an organisation in the mission spot.
• As a Church, we pass on a financial gift to that organisation or work.
• TRANSITION: That is exactly what is happening in these verses.
• This Church had financially supported the apostle Paul 10 years before.
• Then according to verse 16, they had supported him on a number of occasions.
• But somehow, they seemed to have lost touch with him.
• (No Facebook or Instagram, no mobile phones etc.)
• But somehow, they received news that he is in a Roman jail for his faith in Christ.
• And once again they send him a financial gift,
• The choose a man by the name of Epaphroditus,
• And send him on an 800-mile journey, from Philippi to Rome.
• Epaphroditus took a gift of money to help the apostle Paul,
• And he returned with the original manuscript of the letter to the Philippians.
• To its original recipients, the church in Philippi.
Application:
• First of all, one of the reasons generosity is good is that it turns people into partners.
• Now hear me. It turns people into partners.
• Cast your minds back to Chapter 1,
• When Paul begins this letter, he says (vs 3-6).
“I thank my God every time I remember you. 4 In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy 5 because of your PARTNERSHIP in the gospel from the first day until now, 6 being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus“
Then look at verse 14:
• “Yet it was good of you to SHARE in my troubles.”
• Another translation says, "SHARED in my distress."
And then again in verse 15:
Moreover, as you Philippians know, in the early days of your acquaintance with the gospel, when I set out from Macedonia, not one church SHARED with me in the matter of giving and receiving, except you only;
• Twice in these two verses the apostle Paul uses the word, “Shared”.
• And it means to be a partner together in something.
• So, what Paul loves more than the present that they gave to him was the partnership.
• And if a Church or a Christian, gives,
• You can normally guarantee they will also pray,
• Giving Christians are praying Christians.
• We're partners together.
• And that's the way it is in church work, in mission work, in God's work.
• Some are goers. Others are senders. But all are partners.
Ill:
• William Carey (1761 – 1834) was an English Baptist missionary;
• He is often called "father of modern missions”.
• On one occasion in a meeting he heard about the spiritual needs of India,
• The secretary of the meeting remarked:
• "There is a gold mine in India, but it seems almost as deep as the centre of the earth.
• Who will venture to explore it?"
• Carey said:
• "I will venture to go down, but remember that you must hold the ropes."
• TRANSITION: We're partners together.
• And that's the way it is in church work, in mission work, in God's work.
• Some are goers. Others are senders. But all are partners.
(3). The Appreciation of Christian Friends (vs 21-23).
“Greet all God’s people in Christ Jesus. The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings. 22 All God’s people here send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.
23 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.”
Ill:
• A man accidently dialled a wrong number;
• And got the following answering machine message.
• “I am not available right now, but I thank you for caring enough to call.
• I am making some changes in my life.
• Please leave a message after the beep.
• If I do not return your call, you are one of the changes.”
• TRANSITION: It is nice to know who your friends are!
• The apostle Paul certainly had friends.
• He rounds off this letter with a series of greetings.
• There are three groups of people he refers to.
FIRST (vs 26b): “The brothers and sisters who are with me send greetings.”
• From the book of Acts those brothers and sisters would have possibly included;
• His travelling companions;
• Dr Luke, Epaphroditus, Aristarchus, Tychicus and Epaphraus.
SECOND (vs 27a): “All God’s people here send you greetings”
• These folks are probably the ones the apostle Paul names;
• At the end of his letter to the Romans (chapter 16)
• People unknown to us but known to those in Philippi.
THIRD (vs 27b): “…especially those who belong to Caesar’s household.”
• This group of people always cause the most interest;
• Because we don’t know to whom he is referring.
• e.g. Is he referring to converted slaves who served in the palace.
• e.g. Tradition says it was the emperor Nero’s wife and children.
When you look at those names you see how the gospel infiltrated all levels of society.
• My favourite travelling companion of the apostle Paul is a man called, Secundus
• We read about him in Acts chapter 20 verse 4.
• Secundus is the Latin word for "second."
• In Bible times you did not name your slaves, “Kunta Kinte” or “Chicken George”
• (As portrayed in the novel and TV series Roots.)
• You named your slaves, “One”, “Two”, “Three” etc.
• And so, from the bottom of society’s rung to the top (“Caesar’s household”).
• The gospel was spreading!
• In fact, it has invaded the very citadel of unbelief!
• It is literally right under the emperor’s nose!
• And the most powerful man on planet earth is unable to stop it!
And then the letter concludes with a short benediction:
“The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen”
• Grace may well have been the apostle Paul’s favourite doctrine.
• Before his conversion as a Jew and as a Pharisee,
• He was a slave to the Law.
• But one day he discovered that ‘grace and truth’ came through Jesus Christ,
• He did not have to earn this grace, because it was a gift.
• He (like all Christians) was saved by grace (Ephesians chapter 2 verse 8),
• He (like all Christians) stood or rather stands in grace (Romans chapter 5 verse 2).
• He (like all Christians) and he was sustained by grace
• (2 Corinthians chapter 12 verse 9)
• And what he discovered for himself he wanted others to revel in as well!
And finally:
Quote: Sam Gordon:
“Paul had nothing more to say. He rolls up the scroll and gives it to his fried Epaphroditus. They pray together. Paul bids him a fond farewell as he knows their paths will never cross again this side of heaven. He journed home to Philippi with the letter stuffed in his back pocket.
When he arrived, he gathered the Church together and they heard what Paul had to say for the first time. They read it again, and again, and again.
They got the massage! Have you?”
SERMON AUDIO:
https://surf.pxwave.com/wl/?id=uCt4LoFV2sLSvTy6vWIhpxUKV8e2pszz
