Pacific Hope

Philippians 4:11-13 Learning to be Content in All Things

Paul has:

A DEFINITE CALM:

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

I have learned:

• Learned of v. 11 is as of a disciple…matheteo

The active tense of this verb indicates that this was action taken by Paul.

• Isaiah 1:16-17

16 Wash yourselves … cease to do evil, learn to do good;

• [For I have learned] I am so satisfied with the wise providence and goodness of God, that I know whatever He determines is the best; and therefore I am perfectly contented that he should govern the world in that way which seems best to his godly wisdom. How true is the proverb, A contented mind is a continual feast! What do we get by murmuring and complaining? –Adam Clarke

To be content:

• “I have learned to be sufficient in myself—yet not in myself as myself, but as indwelt by Christ.” – John MacArthur

• 2 Corinthians 3:5

5 Not that we are sufficient in ourselves to claim anything as coming from us, but our sufficiency is from God,

• 2 Corinthians 9:8-9

8 And God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you may abound in every good work.

• Matthew 6.24-34

• 1 Timothy 6:6-8

6 Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment, 7 for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world. 8 But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.

• Hebrews 13:5

5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for He has said, "I will never leave you nor forsake you."

as a result of:

A DISCIPLINED EFFORT:

12 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 know:

How to….

• be brought low:

• abound:

I am instructed:

I have learned = I am instructed …

Instructed by:

I. Trials, suffering:

• Psalm 119:71

71 It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes.

• 2 Corinthians 6:4-10

4 but as servants of God we commend ourselves in every way: by great endurance, in afflictions, hardships, calamities, 5 beatings, imprisonments, riots, labors, sleepless nights, hunger; 6 by purity, knowledge, patience, kindness, the Holy Spirit, genuine love; 7 by truthful speech, and the power of God; with the weapons of righteousness for the right hand and for the left; 8 through honor and dishonor, through slander and praise. We are treated as impostors, and yet are true; 9 as unknown, and yet well known; as dying, and behold, we live; as punished, and yet not killed; 10 as sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; as poor, yet making many rich;

 

….and having been through all of that, how does Paul view his situation? ….

as having nothing, yet possessing everything.

II. The Lord Himself:

• Matthew 11:29-30

9 Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."

• John 6:45-46

45 It is written in the Prophets, 'And they will all be taught by God.' Everyone who has heard and learned from the Father comes to me—

all birthed from:

A DECLARED UNION:

13 I can do all things through Him (Christ) who strengthens me.

“We may observe a beautiful gradation in the expressions, I have learned; I know; I am instructed; I can.” –John Wesley

• Galatians 2:20

20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me.

• 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

• Isaiah 41:10

'Do not fear, for I am with you;

Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.

I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,

Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.'

NASU

• Isaiah 45:24

24 "They will say of Me, 'Only in the Lord are righteousness and strength.'

Men will come to Him,

And all who were angry at Him will be put to shame.

NASU

• Ephesians 6:10-11

10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might.

“A Christian finds satisfaction in every circumstance by getting strength from another, by going out of himself to Jesus Christ, by his faith acting upon Christ, and bringing the strength of Jesus Christ into his own soul, he is thereby enabled to bear whatever God lays on him, by the strength that he finds from Jesus Christ… there is strength in Christ not only to sanctify and save us, but strength to support us under all our burdens and afflictions, and Christ expects that when we are under any burden, we should act our faith upon Him to draw virtue & strength from Him.”

–Jeremiah Burrows

HOW?

1.Pursue a study of God, get to know God.

Philippians 3:8-11

2. Patiently wait on the Lord.

Isaiah 40:29-31

3. Put off the idea that you deserve anything.

Philippians 2:3-8

4. Practice the Christian life:.

Philippians 4.4-9

“The secret of power is to discover and to learn from the New Testament what is possible for us in Christ. What I have to do is to go to Christ. I must spend my time with Him. I must meditate upon Him, I must get to know Him. That was Paul’s ambition- “that I might know Him”. I must maintain my contact and communion with Christ and I must concentrate on knowing Him.

What else? I must do exactly what He tells me. I must avoid things that would hamper. If in the midst of persecution we want to feel as Paul felt, we must live as Paul lived. I must do what He tells me, both to do & not to do. I must read the Bible, I must exercise, I must practice the Christian life, I must live the Christian life in all its fullness.”

–D. Martin Lloyd Jones