Series: Philippians
Sermon: “The Secret”
Philippians 4:10-13
Pastor John Bright
Philippians 4 “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.”
If you use a streaming service, like Netflix, you may have seen the ad for a movie – “The Secret.” This is the sequel to a 2006 film and book by the same name. These were done by Rhonda Byrne and they made her a boat load of money! In “The Secret”, she offers to mere mortals the wisdom lost of thousands of years – the law of attraction.
Basically, she has repacked what everyone I know that did Amway in the old days did – putting pictures of your goals on the refrigerator. Actually, she claims that our thoughts actually create our reality. Let me share an example from her – “Rhonda Byrne talked about the weight she gained after her pregnancies. But once she applied “The Law of Attraction,” she realized her error: “Food is not responsible for putting on weight. It is your thought that food is responsible for putting on weight that actually has food put on weight.”
Is this the same thing we heard from Dr. Norman Vincent Peale when he offered God’s Word as “thought conditioners”? No – he taught that when we memorize scripture and replaced our negative thinking with God’s Word it would act like the air conditioner that changes the temperature in the room.
It this the same as speaking positive affirmations? No – many people have been plagued with abusive family and friends that left them with lots of negative thoughts and emotions. Many therapists have helped folks with lists of positive affirmations. I have shared with you before the list “Who I Am In Christ” from the Freedom Class (Neil Anderson, 2017). It helps the Believer discover who they truly are when they accept Christ as Savior and Lord.
Is “The Secret” harmless? NO!!!!! It is a form of New Age teaching that tries to deceive folks into believing that each and every person is divine and has a power within themselves to change and make a new reality exist… health, wealth, prosperity, eternal youth. Because of these goals, it was embraced by many in the church that preach the Prosperity Gospel – especially those who teach “Name it, Claim it.” This idea is that if the Believer speaks a promise of God it MUST come to pass.
I bring all this up because there are two verses in Philippians Chapter 4 that consistently get used by the Prosperity Gospel crowd:
“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.”
Paul begins this part of the letter writing about what the Philippian Believers have GIVEN … not received.
Paul gives thanks for their generosity – v.10
“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.”
At the end of Chapter 2, we looked at Paul’s message about Epaphroditus. He was the one bringing a gift of money to Paul. I told you back then that this is necessary for prisoners in that day because without support from outside, all the prisoner gets is bread and water. They slowly starve to death. When I hear a TV preacher comparing their “need” for a bigger house or private jet to Paul’s needs – it makes me laugh and cry.
When Paul was traveling, he earned a living by working with leather and cloth – Acts 18:1-3 “After these things Paul departed from Athens and went to Corinth. 2 And he found a certain Jew named Aquila, born in Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla (because Claudius had commanded all the Jews to depart from Rome); and he came to them. 3 So, because he was of the same trade, he stayed with them and worked; for by occupation they were tentmakers.”
Later, he is collecting for the needs of the Jerusalem Church and that’s where we get the concept of apportionments. We read of this in Romans 15:25-27 “25 But now I am going to Jerusalem to minister to the saints. 26 For it pleased those from Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor among the saints who are in Jerusalem. 27 It pleased them indeed, and they are their debtors. For if the Gentiles have been partakers of their spiritual things, their duty is also to minister to them in material things.”
So, when Paul had a personal need – he could tell the Gentile Believers and they would respond. Here we also see Paul letting them know that he can be content with whatever he receives.
Paul is content – v. 11-12
“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.”
Paul is telling them that he is content – that he has learned to be content. Not an easy thing when you are incarcerated. I want to share another translation of those two verses.
Amplified Bible – “11 Not that I speak from [any personal] need, for I have learned to be content [and self-sufficient through Christ, satisfied to the point where I am not disturbed or uneasy] regardless of my circumstances. 12 I know how to get along and live humbly [in difficult times], and I also know how to enjoy abundance and live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance I have learned the secret [of facing life], whether well-fed or going hungry, whether having an abundance or being in need.”
Paul is expressing his thanks for the gift and letting them know that he is feeling blessed – no matter what!
Can we say that? Back in 2008, I had just moved to a new appointment in Richmond. As time went on, it was clear that the US and Global economies were declining at an alarming rate. It was the beginning of what would later be called “The Great Recession.” I told the congregation that I was concerned for the Body of Christ. We would have a hard time being content with less because we had not learned to be content with much. It was not a prophetic word… just a clear reading of these verses from Paul.
What do we have a chance to do today? Have we watched the same thing happen in 2020?
This is a chance to learn THE (REAL) SECRET – contentment. The Amplified Version, as well as other translations, use the word “secret” in verse 11. “I have learned the secret [of facing life],…” Ok – actually, it’s no secret – our grandparents knew it. Look back through time and folks learned to get by with very little and be content – be happy – be joyful.
How is that possible? Can you be happy without internet access and a smarty-pants phone? Could we be happy without every latest gizmo on our cars? Is there any joy to be had in cooking a simple meal at home and having everyone gathered around the table?
Every generation of the Church needs to ask these questions and tell again about The Secret of Contentment… especially in a season of social distancing and wearing masks to worship God in the sanctuary.
John Wesley instituted a Covenant Renewal Service in 1755. It is often used by modern Wesleyans on New Years Eve. The heart of the service is a long prayer. A shorter version is used at other times. Listen to this prayer and hear the echoes of Philippians Chapter 4:
The Wesley Covenant Prayer
I am no longer my own, but thine.
Put me to what thou wilt, rank me with whom thou wilt.
Put me to doing, put me to suffering.
Let me be employed for thee or laid aside for thee,
exalted for thee or brought low for thee.
Let me be full, let me be empty.
Let me have all things, let me have nothing.
I freely and heartily yield all things to thy pleasure and disposal.
And now, O glorious and blessed God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit,
thou art mine, and I am thine.
So be it.
And the covenant which I have made on earth,
let it be ratified in heaven.
Amen.
The Secret of Contentment is that God is still in control – He is still on the Thone – God has a plan and a purpose that includes you and me. I don’t need to know the fullness of that plan, just trust Him for today. Can we learn to be content with today and let tomorrow come when it comes?
Yes, I can because God can make it so! – v. 13
“13 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Paul wrote these words some 2000 years ago (give or take a few decades) and they have been a source of comfort and strength when the storms of life have battered Believers. I don’t want to take away from anyone the experience of seeing God work in your life through this verse! At the same time, if we choose to treat this verse as just another self-help mantra for Believers and non-believers to, yet again, pull themselves up by their own boot-straps… then I HAVE TO SAY A FEW THINGS!
The word that Paul uses in the Greek for “content” can also mean “self-sufficient.” The Amplified Version picks up on this – “and self-sufficient through Christ”. They stick to the context of the verse with the addition of “through Christ.” Verse 13 is not found in the context of “I can do anything I set my mind to doing.” That would be a positive affirmation from a life coach at the best and could be the kind of language we get in teaching on the “power of attraction.”
That’s why I want us to put this verse in the context of the whole Bible – of the New Testament – of the writings of Paul – of the book of Philippians – of Chapter 4. That context is “I can make it through anything with the supernatural strength that comes from Christ.”
That’s the awesome promise that helps me to walk day after day in The Secret of Holy Contentment! You have heard of God giving strength to His people over and over. Let me close today with a greatly loved passage. It comes from the ONLY BOOK you need to understand how to make it through this life. John Wesley wrote that he wanted to be a man of one book (Let me be homo unius libri). May we regain that desire in this day when too many in the Church have “itchy ears” and go chasing after every false teacher that takes a Bible verse out of context and offers false hope to a world in need.
Hear what MY GOD SAYS in Isaiah 40:
“29He gives power to the weak,
And to those who have no might He increases strength.
30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary,
And the young men shall utterly fall,
31 But those who wait on the Lord
Shall renew their strength;
They shall mount up with wings like eagles,
They shall run and not be weary,
They shall walk and not faint.” AMEN!!!!!!
