Shift Secret

Reactions to hardship

Reactions to success

What's the secret Of navigating life Without getting angry Or bitter or falling apart?

In Jesus, You have all that you need To face all that will happen As you go through all of life

Betrayed Left without Forgotten

Facing death In constant pain Maligned by "Fellow Believers" (Persecutor becomes preacher…)

Paul is under house-arrest On trumped-up charges That will cost him his life Paying for food and rent Through help and donations

Almost everyone leaves Crescens, Demas and Titus Only Luke is with me… - 2 Tim. 4

And then the church Betrays him, deserts him Refuses to stand with him

At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me - 2 Tim. 4:16

Writing to Philippians, who had Stopped supporting him But now have sent a gift

I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me

You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity

Not that I am speaking of being in need…

Prison House Arrest Jews Plotting his Death Hungry and No Food

Pain from Beatings/Stonings Facing Death Penalty Shunned by Fellow Believers Maligned

Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content

"I'll be fine as soon as…" "I don't know how much more of this I can take"

I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content Now. As it is…

Content: autarkes Self-contained, without need from outside, independent of external circumstances and the opinions of others

The word “content” actually means “contained.” It is a description of the man whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on substitutes without- Wiersbe

In Jesus, You have all that you need To face all that will happen As you go through all of life

I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need

I have learned the secret...[of being] content: I can do all things through him who strengthens me - Philippians 4

The secret of contentment is NOT Changing your circumstances But facing your circumstances With faith When they don't change

I can do all things through him who strengthens me - Not a sports motto - Not a promise of prosperity - Not a relational claim

I can survive and eventually thrive: - When the team doesn't win - I don't get the job/promotion - The marriage fails

Unreality? Under house arrest Deserted In constant pain Threat of death

Rejoice in the Lord always! I'll say it again, rejoice! "Celebrate God all day every day. I mean revel in him!"- Msg

How? Is Paul delusional?

I can do all things through him who strengthens me

The secret of contentment Is not that I can endure But that Christ will Strengthen me As I trust him alone

In Jesus, You have all that you need To face all that will happen As you go through all of life

When Jesus says "No…" When the cancer spreads If he/she doesn't change

Is Jesus enough…

King Asa trusted God And won against a Vastly superior army

Then he got threatened again

King Asa decided to rob God And make a pact with An evil King

Were not the Cushites and Libyans a mighty army with great numbers of chariots and horsemen?

Yet when you relied on the Lord, he delivered them into your hand

For the eyes of the Lord range throughout the earth to strengthen those whose hearts are fully committed to him - 2 Chron. 16:9

Contentment is the key Regardless of the circumstances

Instead of saying, "I'll be OK as soon as things change…" We gotta know that in Christ We'll have strength if they don't

Could it be… That we miss the blessings Of experiencing Christ's strength When we refuse to find contentment in trusting Jesus alone?

The secret is knowing You can do all things Through Christ who supplies Great strength

In Jesus, You have all that you need To face all that will happen As you go through all of life

Pray, ask, seek But determine that no matter what, you'll serve Jesus And trust him alone

Where do you need To surrender And stop complaining And looking for a way out And instead trust Jesus?

Next Sunday Back-to-School Blessing of the children Cookout after Church

Saturday, Sept. 6 Carowinds Youth Trip Able to Walk Around Without Constant Supervision