Philippians

Overcoming Anxiety and Finding Peace 1. Substitute anxiety for prayer  God’s peace is supernatural

2. Choose what I feed my head 3. Do what I know is right

I rejoice greatly in the Lord that at last you have renewed your concern for me. Indeed, you have been concerned, but you had no opportunity to show it- vs. 10

 The Philippian Christians had every reason not to send a financial gift to Paul  BToL- Good intentions are meaningless if not backed by Spirit-led action

 The things that take faith will always involve looking beyond circumstances to obedience to Jesus  Why does Paul rejoice greatly “in the Lord”?

2 Types of God’s Work in His Creation:  Miracles- supernatural intervention into the natural affairs of this world  Providence- God working through natural events of this world to accomplish his purposes

 Providence trusts that God’s ways and God’s timing are always right, even when they allow for suffering and pain

 How can understanding and trusting in God’s providence change our reactions to the circumstances of life?

 When the support suddenly stopped, Paul’s boat wasn’t rocked

 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances- vs. 11  Content= autarkies- self-contained, without need from outside, independent of external circumstances and the opinions of other people

 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  Whom have I in heaven but Thee? And besides Thee, I desire nothing on earth. My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever- Asaph

 I am not saying this because I am in need...  Locked-up  Sometimes lonely yet constantly chained to a guard  Continual pain from beatings, stonings, etc.  Hungry  In danger of the death penalty

 But...I don’t have the right color shoes to go with this new outfit!  But, my old stereo won’t even connect to my new iPod...life’s just so hard!

 I’m not popular at school!  People laugh at the old car I drive...

 If we are going to be content, where should our sense of worth come from? How is that counter-cultural to our world today?

 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- vs. 12  in need- Humbled, humiliated, seen as deficient, seen as lacking....

It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry...supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains- 1:15,17  It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry...supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains- 1:15,17  I appeal to you—I, Paul, who am "timid" when face to face with you, but "bold" when away!- 2 Corinthians 10:1

 Was Paul actually saying he was content with being in jail and going hungry? How could he be content with that?

 How can contentment keep us safe when we have “plenty”?

 Complacency vs. Contentment- I should never be complacent in my relationship with Christ (Phil. 3:13-14), but I should always be content in the circumstances because of who God is in my life

 “I have learned”- Not a spiritual gift, but a lesson learned in the school of life  What am I learning right now in my trials and hard times?

 It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation. If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by the beautiful and interesting things about me…- Fanny Crosby (All the Way My Savior Leads Me)

 I am glad that I am blind, for "when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"

 BToL- If I’m not satisfied in Christ, I’ll never be satisfied with anything

 I have learned the secret of being content...I can do everything through him who gives me strength- vs. 13  How is this misquoted today?

 The secret of contentment- I can make it through:  every situation  every circumstance  every trial  every relationship difficulty  in the strength Christ provides

 I can do anything God asks me to do, be anywhere God wants me to be, go through anything God allows me to go through, through Christ who continually, supernaturally strengthens me

 “Air and water are two entirely different elements or spheres, and it is impossible to have a vessel filled with air and water at the same time. One that is filled with air must have the air displaced in order to be filled with water. Similarly, if a man’s life is given over to the pursuit of material things, that life cannot then be filled with Jesus Christ. Until that love for material things is displaced, that life cannot and will not be filled with Jesus Christ…”

 “When a man gives himself to the pursuit of all that is involved in this world and makes its position and its material things his goal and his standard and the center of his life, he will not find the satisfaction that comes from making Jesus Christ the center of his life. To be content is the opposite of to be covetous, to be greedy, to be worldly, to be materialistic...”

 “To be content is the opposite of to be covetous, to be greedy, to be worldly, to be materialistic. The reason material things can never make a man content is that a man is never able to get enough of them to satisfy him” – Dwight J. Pentecost