13 Sunday after Pentecost 8/25/07 Philippians 4 Title: I wish I could Quit: Discovering peace and contentment. Sermon 4 of the series
13th Sunday after Pentecost
8/25/2007
Philippians 4
Title: I Wish I Could Quit: Discovering Peace and Contentment
For the past 3 weeks we have been studying Philippians, so that we could learn how to live an unhurried life. We learned in chapter one that, as Christians, we are slaves to God. That is a good thing because we are either slaves to God, the world, or our sinful self.
We learned in chapter 2 that God has given us our purpose and that that purpose is to serve others as Christ served others not considering himself to be above anyone.
In chapter 3 we learned that we have to stay focused on the goal God gave us so that we can reach it. We also learned, and I think this is something that we often forget, that it is God who is working in us and through us. We also learned that the world considers real is not worth anything in the end, while the things that the world considers not real are worth everything.
When you truly believe that it is God who is using you to do what he wants done you are free to serve without bitterness, or feeling like you are not appreciated are or being taken advantage of. It is only then that you can be all that God wants you to be.
For many people life has become chaotic, at the very least, their life is so hectic and hurried that they would just like to step off life’s treadmill, and take a break.
You don’t have to quit. And you do not need to just survive. God has another plan for you, and that plan involves peace and contentment. That’s what we are going to focus on today and the coming week as we study what God has to say about giving us help for our hurried lives.
Now, if there was anyone who had a reason to quit, it was St. Paul. If you remember he is writing this letter to the church in Philippi from jail. That’s right jail—a cold dark Roman jail, chained to his guards. From there he writes in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” And just in case the listeners were busy multi-tasking and not paying close attention, he repeats it in verse 12, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Instead of a jail, you would think Paul was sitting in a nice living room with his feet up as he dictated his letter, actually, God’s letter to his secretary.
How many of here today, could honestly join Saint Paul in saying, “In every situation I have learned to be content”? Not many, if any of us, for we all I am afraid too many times have lost sight of the goal that God has given us which gives us our purpose in life and thus we do not have contentment or peace.
Circumstances do not bring contentment. We need to learn this one. One reason people are hurried is that they are discontent. They are not happy with what God has given them, even though he has promised to give us what we need each day.
So we are not content with life. We seek satisfaction through changed circumstances. We hurry ourselves, if only I could get this done, make this happen, then I would be content. That doesn’t work. A change in circumstances will not bring contentment.
Discontented people live “if only” lives. Grade school child wish, “If only I was a teenager.” Teenagers say, “If only I was an adult.” Adults sometimes find themselves saying, “If only I was married.” Or spouses say, “If only we had children.” Parents of young, energetic children say, “If only the children could grow up.” Then, when they do, parents say, “If only the children would visit.” And then when we are retired we say, “If only I was a child and had that energy.” Since we aren’t satisfied, we rush around believing that if we can change our circumstances we can find satisfaction. Don’t let circumstances control you. Contentment is independent of circumstances.
Let me read you a couple of verses from chapter 4 of Philippians to show you what I mean. Paul wrote in verse 11, “Whatever the circumstances,” and in verse 12, “in any and every situation”, that he was content.
It did not make any difference whether Paul was unjustly imprisoned, spent a day and a half on a boat in the midst of a ferocious storm, was shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, lied about, hungry, cold, or naked. Paul had contentment. Now that does not mean that Paul walked around laughing and ignoring his circumstances. The things that happened to him were painful. But because he knew God was in control and that in the end everything would work out as God had set to work out, he was content.
Possessions don’t bring contentment either. We read in verse 12, “whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” Paul is content. Maybe you are quick to say, “I’m willing to try out the well-fed and plenty part and let’s see how I do.” It might bring temporary happiness but it won’t bring lasting contentment. It cannot, for it is of the world and not of God.
Do you need to work that second job? Do you need to buy the bigger house and all the furnishings that go into it? Those are often the decisions that lead to hurried lives—running around trying to maintain a certain lifestyle.
I remember my mom and dad. There is no doubt that my mom and dad knew their purpose, their goal, for they could have lived in a bigger home, drove a nicer car, gone on trips, but they chose to support the congregation they belonged to in doing its ministry. But they did not stop there, for they contributed to charities they thought would do the most good.
They lived on little and were generous with much, for they knew as Saint Paul did, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And in doing so they were content.
On thing that you need to remember is that having contentment in your life is not being complacent. Complacency is self-satisfaction. It is the belief that somehow through all your effort you have arrived. Complacency is about pleasing yourself, not about pleasing God. Complacency leads to inactivity. The aim of life is not comfort and convenience, but contentment with what God has given you.
You need to realize that contentment is not a goal, it is a gift. Paul didn’t seek contentment, he learned it. I want to read parts of verse 12 and 14 again in case you missed it. “I have learned to be content whatever the situation or circumstances.” You see Paul learned that contentment comes from the presence of Christ. Contentment is gift from the God of peace. He can replace your hurriedness and dissatisfaction with His peace.
Listen to Paul as he writes in three different verses in chapter 4.
In verse 7, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In verse 9, “The God of peace will be with you.”
In verse 23, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
You see, it is not what you own that brings contentment, it is who owns you. It is not your situation that brings contentment, it is your Savior. Paul doesn’t say, “whoopee I’m in prison.” But he does say in verse 4 and 5, “Rejoice in the Lord always…the Lord is near”.
Paul experienced God’s peace. God reached into Paul’s life and he reaches into yours with Jesus Christ. He brings forgiveness and it’s free. He brings his love, no matter what is happening in your life. And He will meet all your needs. Even when you believe that your life is is out of control, you can trust God, for he ultimately is in control. God is at work even in the midst of your most difficult situations.
God’s Word then becomes your strength. When you’ve said, “I just can’t do this anymore,” you’re right, you can’t. God will give you the strength to either do it, or the courage to stop doing what you shouldn’t be doing.
We are told that in one of the most misunderstood and misquoted verses in the Bible. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This verse is so taken out of context that it is made to apply to any and everything. You can’t do everything. You’re likely not the world’s greatest mechanic. You likely can’t dunk a basketball. What it saying is that Christ is able to work in any situation, no matter the trouble or difficulty, Christ has the strength you need. We are not alone, He is there with us.
I do not know about you but that gives me something real, for the peace of God is real. The experience of God’s peace drives away doubts and fears. It frees us from fear’s grip.
We have finished this series on “Help for the hurried life.” We have found the answer to living an unhurried life, but the question remains, “What are you going to do with the information? Are you going to put it on the shelf with all those other self-help books or are you going to use the information, the information that God has given you?
I hope you use it, for it is the only way to live an unhurried life, the life God wants you to live. Philippians 9 tells us, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”
What did Paul want the readers of his letter to learn? He wanted them to learn and receive God’s peace in Jesus Christ. He wanted them to face their hardships confident of God’s presence and power. When you are overwhelmed with life the tendency is to think about yourself. The tendency is to think about “poor me.” “I’ve got to do this. How will I get this all done. Instead God wants you to think about Him. Think about this God who guards your heart and your mind. Think about this God who answers prayer. Think about this God who meets all your needs.
And he wanted them to put it into practice. This is just not some pie in sky promise. God keeps His promises. When you learn His promises, then practice living in them. Don’t be satisfied with just knowing the information, put into practice that which you have learned.
What are you putting into practice? Whatever it is, the God of peace who has made you His in Jesus Christ is with you. Admit your failure to completely trust in God. Learn to look outside yourself for help. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished” it was and is finished. God’s “to do” list is done. Rejoice and be glad in it. Amen
8/25/2007
Philippians 4
Title: I Wish I Could Quit: Discovering Peace and Contentment
For the past 3 weeks we have been studying Philippians, so that we could learn how to live an unhurried life. We learned in chapter one that, as Christians, we are slaves to God. That is a good thing because we are either slaves to God, the world, or our sinful self.
We learned in chapter 2 that God has given us our purpose and that that purpose is to serve others as Christ served others not considering himself to be above anyone.
In chapter 3 we learned that we have to stay focused on the goal God gave us so that we can reach it. We also learned, and I think this is something that we often forget, that it is God who is working in us and through us. We also learned that the world considers real is not worth anything in the end, while the things that the world considers not real are worth everything.
When you truly believe that it is God who is using you to do what he wants done you are free to serve without bitterness, or feeling like you are not appreciated are or being taken advantage of. It is only then that you can be all that God wants you to be.
For many people life has become chaotic, at the very least, their life is so hectic and hurried that they would just like to step off life’s treadmill, and take a break.
You don’t have to quit. And you do not need to just survive. God has another plan for you, and that plan involves peace and contentment. That’s what we are going to focus on today and the coming week as we study what God has to say about giving us help for our hurried lives.
Now, if there was anyone who had a reason to quit, it was St. Paul. If you remember he is writing this letter to the church in Philippi from jail. That’s right jail—a cold dark Roman jail, chained to his guards. From there he writes in Philippians 4:11, “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.” And just in case the listeners were busy multi-tasking and not paying close attention, he repeats it in verse 12, “I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.” Instead of a jail, you would think Paul was sitting in a nice living room with his feet up as he dictated his letter, actually, God’s letter to his secretary.
How many of here today, could honestly join Saint Paul in saying, “In every situation I have learned to be content”? Not many, if any of us, for we all I am afraid too many times have lost sight of the goal that God has given us which gives us our purpose in life and thus we do not have contentment or peace.
Circumstances do not bring contentment. We need to learn this one. One reason people are hurried is that they are discontent. They are not happy with what God has given them, even though he has promised to give us what we need each day.
So we are not content with life. We seek satisfaction through changed circumstances. We hurry ourselves, if only I could get this done, make this happen, then I would be content. That doesn’t work. A change in circumstances will not bring contentment.
Discontented people live “if only” lives. Grade school child wish, “If only I was a teenager.” Teenagers say, “If only I was an adult.” Adults sometimes find themselves saying, “If only I was married.” Or spouses say, “If only we had children.” Parents of young, energetic children say, “If only the children could grow up.” Then, when they do, parents say, “If only the children would visit.” And then when we are retired we say, “If only I was a child and had that energy.” Since we aren’t satisfied, we rush around believing that if we can change our circumstances we can find satisfaction. Don’t let circumstances control you. Contentment is independent of circumstances.
Let me read you a couple of verses from chapter 4 of Philippians to show you what I mean. Paul wrote in verse 11, “Whatever the circumstances,” and in verse 12, “in any and every situation”, that he was content.
It did not make any difference whether Paul was unjustly imprisoned, spent a day and a half on a boat in the midst of a ferocious storm, was shipwrecked, bitten by a snake, lied about, hungry, cold, or naked. Paul had contentment. Now that does not mean that Paul walked around laughing and ignoring his circumstances. The things that happened to him were painful. But because he knew God was in control and that in the end everything would work out as God had set to work out, he was content.
Possessions don’t bring contentment either. We read in verse 12, “whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” Paul is content. Maybe you are quick to say, “I’m willing to try out the well-fed and plenty part and let’s see how I do.” It might bring temporary happiness but it won’t bring lasting contentment. It cannot, for it is of the world and not of God.
Do you need to work that second job? Do you need to buy the bigger house and all the furnishings that go into it? Those are often the decisions that lead to hurried lives—running around trying to maintain a certain lifestyle.
I remember my mom and dad. There is no doubt that my mom and dad knew their purpose, their goal, for they could have lived in a bigger home, drove a nicer car, gone on trips, but they chose to support the congregation they belonged to in doing its ministry. But they did not stop there, for they contributed to charities they thought would do the most good.
They lived on little and were generous with much, for they knew as Saint Paul did, “My God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19). And in doing so they were content.
On thing that you need to remember is that having contentment in your life is not being complacent. Complacency is self-satisfaction. It is the belief that somehow through all your effort you have arrived. Complacency is about pleasing yourself, not about pleasing God. Complacency leads to inactivity. The aim of life is not comfort and convenience, but contentment with what God has given you.
You need to realize that contentment is not a goal, it is a gift. Paul didn’t seek contentment, he learned it. I want to read parts of verse 12 and 14 again in case you missed it. “I have learned to be content whatever the situation or circumstances.” You see Paul learned that contentment comes from the presence of Christ. Contentment is gift from the God of peace. He can replace your hurriedness and dissatisfaction with His peace.
Listen to Paul as he writes in three different verses in chapter 4.
In verse 7, “The peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
In verse 9, “The God of peace will be with you.”
In verse 23, “The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”
You see, it is not what you own that brings contentment, it is who owns you. It is not your situation that brings contentment, it is your Savior. Paul doesn’t say, “whoopee I’m in prison.” But he does say in verse 4 and 5, “Rejoice in the Lord always…the Lord is near”.
Paul experienced God’s peace. God reached into Paul’s life and he reaches into yours with Jesus Christ. He brings forgiveness and it’s free. He brings his love, no matter what is happening in your life. And He will meet all your needs. Even when you believe that your life is is out of control, you can trust God, for he ultimately is in control. God is at work even in the midst of your most difficult situations.
God’s Word then becomes your strength. When you’ve said, “I just can’t do this anymore,” you’re right, you can’t. God will give you the strength to either do it, or the courage to stop doing what you shouldn’t be doing.
We are told that in one of the most misunderstood and misquoted verses in the Bible. “I can do everything through him who gives me strength.” This verse is so taken out of context that it is made to apply to any and everything. You can’t do everything. You’re likely not the world’s greatest mechanic. You likely can’t dunk a basketball. What it saying is that Christ is able to work in any situation, no matter the trouble or difficulty, Christ has the strength you need. We are not alone, He is there with us.
I do not know about you but that gives me something real, for the peace of God is real. The experience of God’s peace drives away doubts and fears. It frees us from fear’s grip.
We have finished this series on “Help for the hurried life.” We have found the answer to living an unhurried life, but the question remains, “What are you going to do with the information? Are you going to put it on the shelf with all those other self-help books or are you going to use the information, the information that God has given you?
I hope you use it, for it is the only way to live an unhurried life, the life God wants you to live. Philippians 9 tells us, “Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me, put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you”
What did Paul want the readers of his letter to learn? He wanted them to learn and receive God’s peace in Jesus Christ. He wanted them to face their hardships confident of God’s presence and power. When you are overwhelmed with life the tendency is to think about yourself. The tendency is to think about “poor me.” “I’ve got to do this. How will I get this all done. Instead God wants you to think about Him. Think about this God who guards your heart and your mind. Think about this God who answers prayer. Think about this God who meets all your needs.
And he wanted them to put it into practice. This is just not some pie in sky promise. God keeps His promises. When you learn His promises, then practice living in them. Don’t be satisfied with just knowing the information, put into practice that which you have learned.
What are you putting into practice? Whatever it is, the God of peace who has made you His in Jesus Christ is with you. Admit your failure to completely trust in God. Learn to look outside yourself for help. When Jesus said on the cross, “It is finished” it was and is finished. God’s “to do” list is done. Rejoice and be glad in it. Amen
posted by Pastor Rhoads | 3:47 PM
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