What Steals the Lost's Contentment

Scripture: Philippians 4:10-12

But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.

Insights: Before we move into the portions of the text on which I really want to focus, let me mention the theme of the book again.  In verse ten Paul tells these believers in Philippi one more time to have joy.  Notice with me, Paul wrote, “I rejoiced in the Lord.” Paul found their assistance a cause for joyous celebration in the Lord.  I am going to make this next point from the opposite side from Paul’s.  Paul wrote that he had learned to be content whether he was in poverty or prosperity.  I contend that the lost world, which is consumed with either poverty or prosperity, is incapable of experiencing contentment.  Let me give a couple of definitions to support my conclusion.  The Holmon Bible Dictionary defines contentment as the “Internal satisfaction which does not demand changes in external circumstances.”  The Easton Bible Dictionary defines contentment as “A state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be.  It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the rectitude of benignity of divine providence.”  Both of these definitions point to the internal satisfaction or disposition.  I state now this internal source which causes contentment is Christ Jesus our Lord and Savior.  It is for this reason that the lost world, those who have not received the free gift of eternal life in Jesus, cannot know contentment.  Humanities depraved nature fixates on things.  If one is poor enough all they can think about is from where their next meal is coming.  Paul himself had been in such situations in his life, but because of Christ Jesus, Paul was content.  Probably worse than poverty is prosperity, because these people think they have it all already.  But if you were to ask them how much more do they need to be satisfied, they would always tell you a little bit more.  There is no contentment in their wealth.  Paul had also experience great prosperity and he remained content.  It was because of the Lord Jesus who dwelt within Paul that he knew such contentment.  The lost just don’t have that attribute.

Questions:

1. Have you entered into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ?
2. Is your life characterized as one of contentment?

Prayer: Father, thank You for the contentment You give to me.  Help my heart to continue to learn the joy of being content in You.  Amen. 

And Turn Your Thoughts to the Things Above and Experience Peace, Part 2

Scripture: Philippians 4:7-9

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Insights: I mentioned throughout this week the need for reading Scripture contextually.  As I have stated there is nothing wrong with expressing peace that is beyond understanding because that is a true biblical axiom.  In this context, however, this incomprehensible peace is a result of God doing a miraculous work in the midst of conflict.  Also when conflict occurs our hearts become vulnerable.  Verse seven informs us that Christ Jesus Himself is going to guard our hearts and minds as He gives to us peace.  Paul has told us previously to follow his example.  Here, again, in verse nine, Paul stated again to practice the things they have observed him doing.  Remember, Paul did not have such a fun time while he was in Philippi.  He and Silas were arrested, stripped naked, beaten and thrown into jail.  If anyone had a reason to hold a grudge regarding conflict, it was Paul.  Yet, Paul, chose to dwell on whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, whatever is excellence and anything worthy of praise.  Because Paul thought on those things, he was able to experience the peace of God.  Beloved, when we live our lives in this same fashion we also will experience peace.  So, this week’s Thoughts by Scott’s titles make a sentence.  It reads: Conflicts and disagreements WILL occur in the church, therefore, rejoice in them because they will provide opportunity for the advancement of the gospel and turn your thoughts to the things above and experience peace.  One last thought.  When we receive peace from God, guess what else we will experience?  To answer that question we have to go back to verse one which mentions the theme of the book of Philippians.  The theme and the answer to the question are one and the same—JOY!  Beloved, when we receive the peace of Jesus we also receive His joy.  Strive for reconciliation and harmony with those with whom you are in conflict and you will experience peace and joy by God’s grace.

Questions:

1. Are you experiencing peace with God?
2. Are you experiencing peace with other people?

Prayer: Father, You are my peace.  May You grant peace to my relationships and as You bring that about may it be a witness to the lost world around me that needs You.  Amen. 

And Turn Your Thoughts to the Things Above and Experience Peace, Part 1

Scripture: Philippians 4:7-9

And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.

Insights: I will write about verses seven and nine tomorrow.  Today, I want to focus on verse eight.  Once again the verses above are often taken out of context.  In regards to our verse today people will quote this verse in terms of thinking positively about situations and things in life and yes that axiom is a valid point.  Context, however, tells us these verses are still dealing with the conflict between Euodia and Syntyche.  In that context, Paul is telling us to think about whatever is true about the person with whom we are in conflict.  Specifically, relating to these two ladies, the truth we know is they are both born again because their names are written in the book of life.  What is honorable about the person with whom you are in conflict?  In regards to these two ladies we know they are both actively involved in the advancement of the gospel.  I personally think that is a pretty honorable task.  The next task in this list is often a hard one to perform.  When there is conflict, often times, both parties have points that are right.  Because of our defense mechanisms and desire for justification, we often dismiss the right points of the other person.  Contextually, what is the person with whom you are in conflict saying to you that is right?  Is there same action or attitude you need to be changing or altering because the person is correct?  I think you are getting the point of this exercise in regards to purity, loveliness, good reputation, and excellence.  Let me; therefore, address the last subject in this list: anything praise worthy.  It may be possible, doubtful, but possible for you not to think of one positive thing in the previously mentioned list regarding the person with whom you are in conflict.  Is there, however, anything praise worthy about that person?  If there is, and there always is, then Paul’s point is you are not beyond the possibility for reconciliation.  Beloved, start there and be reconciled.

Questions:

1. What is one good thing about the person with whom you are in conflict?
2. Are you willing to start there and begin working on reconciliation?

Prayer: Father, every creation is valuable for the mere fact that You created them.  Help me to see with Your eyes the worth of those with whom I am having conflict.  Change my heart to see as You see them and begin to have peace in the relationship.  Amen. 

Therefore, Rejoice in Them because They will Provide Opportunity for the Advancement of the Gospel, Part 2

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-6

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Insights: Yesterday we learned that our conflicts within the church can have an evangelistic outcome if handled correctly.  Now, please, do not take this last sentence to mean that we as the body of Christ should seek to have conflicts in order to be evangelistic.  Rather, a harmonious church is far greater at evangelism than a conflicted church.  What I meant by the evangelistic possibility is that if we in the church strive and seek after restoration and healing, then the lost world will see how we handled the conflict and realize their need for what we Christ-followers already have—A relationship with Jesus.  Well, what tool did God provide us with regarding this harmonious restoration?  The answer is prayer.  Verse six tells us to not worry about the conflict.  The reality is if we are not seeking the Lord, we have private conversations with the “villains” in our life.  These conflicts affect our sleep patterns.  They affect the way we work and relate to our family.  Yet, Paul, under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit wrote for us not to worry about anything.  Rather, we are to take our concerns to the Father in prayer and supplications with thanksgiving in our heart.  The prayer is for God to do a redemptive work in our hearts and change our love for the person with which we are in conflict.  The supplication is for that person to have a change of heart regarding us.  The thanksgiving part is the act of faith in regards to God’s answering of our prayers.  In other words, we are thankful because we trust the Lord to work the situation out for His glory.  Beloved, if we are willing to pray for those with which we are in conflict, guess whose heart changes first?  That is right, our own heart changes first.  So, Beloved, begin now, right this minute, praying for the person with whom you are in conflict.  Ask for God to be glorified in the restoration of the relationship.  Seek His will and allow that gentle spirit from verse five to permeate your life; and then, let’s watch the lost world be amazed at our heart change for one another.  And may God then take those astonished lost people and bring them into His family.

Questions:

1. Are you praying for the person with whom you are in conflict?
2. Are you allowing the Lord to soften your heart towards that person?

Prayer: Father, I pray You bring about restoration and harmony between those with whom I am presently in conflict.  I am dependent on Your grace and mercy to change my heart and their heart to be one with You and each other.  Amen. 

Therefore, Rejoice in Them because They will Provide Opportunity for the Advancement of the Gospel, Part 1

Scripture: Philippians 4:4-6

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentle spirit be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Insights: Verse four and six are taken out of context more than most verses in the Bible.  We sing songs about rejoicing in the Lord straight from this verse and there is nothing theologically wrong with rejoicing in the Lord.  We also pray about all kinds of situations and tell others we ought not to worry but to present our requests to God.  Again, there is nothing wrong theologically with that statement.  The reason I am overstating these concepts is because when we read the Bible, we need to do so in the context of the passage.  We can’t just take verses out of there context and make them apply to whatever whim or fancy we have.  Verse four through six come right after the verses we looked at yesterday regarding the conflict in the church of Philippi.  Paul told these Believers to rejoice in the Lord always.  In other words, even in the midst of conflict.  Verse five gives us the answer as to why Paul would have told these Believers such a truth.  The answer is because the way we handle conflict can be evangelistic in nature.  As we learned yesterday, conflict and disagreements are going to happen in the church.  We, however, do not deal with our conflicts in the same way the lost world does.  This past week we saw the deplorably tragic murdering of elementary school children and that picture is the way the lost world deals with conflict.  All one has to do is turn on the news and every other story is about some kind of violence.  Yet, Paul told these Believers to let their gentle spirit be known to ALL men.  Here is what ought to happen: The lost world is going to know about the churches struggles and difficulties because people talk.  It is just human nature and lost people are going to find out when there is a problem.  If the Believers are, by God’s grace, able to reconcile and be brought back to that harmonious relationship with which Paul wrote about in verse one through three, then the lost world says, “Hey, I need whatever it is they have!  Because my fights don’t end up like that.”  Our conflicts and disagreements become evangelistic if we will surrender ourselves to Jesus.  If we do, then we have reason to rejoice!

Questions:

1. Are you able to rejoice in the Lord during times of conflict?
2. Are you displaying the gentle spirit of the Lord in your life during the conflict?

Prayer: Father, the lost world is watching Your children.  May we display that gentle spirit and proclaim the gospel of Jesus to those who are observing the way we handle our disputes.  Amen. 

Conflicts and Disagreements WILL Occur in the Church

Scripture: Philippians 4:1-3

Therefore, my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm in the Lord, my beloved. I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Insights: Remember that the theme of the book of Philippians is JOY.  In chapter one we got the theoretical applications for joy.  In chapter two we got the application examples of joy found in Jesus, Paul, Timothy and Epaphroditus.  In chapter three we observed the religiously lost Judaizers trying to steal the joy from these believers at Philippi.  As we turn to this fourth and final chapter we once again observe Paul reiterating the theme of this book in the first verse.  He was in prison in Rome and desired to be with these dear believers.  He was the one who first shared the gospel with them and he called them his joy and crown.  This statement was a reminder to these believers of the importance of joyful relationships found within the body of Christ.  Verses two and three tell us the reason for this reminder.  Eudia and Syntyche, two ladies in leadership, were at odds with each other and as a result the church was becoming divided.  Some of the believers were supporting Eudia and others were supporting Syntyche.  This internal conflict had the possible effect of stealing the joy of these dear Christians at Philippi.  Paul was dead set against this possible outcome.  So, he urged these ladies to live in harmony with each other, but notice the way Paul worded it.  He literally wrote, “live in harmony in the Lord.”  Paul knew that the only way for restoration and harmony to exist between these two ladies was because of the healing work of Jesus Christ.  Paul also encouraged the other believers to help these ladies work on reconciliation.  Beloved these statements are true today as well.  Satan hates the church and he will do whatever he can to cause conflict and disagreements to rise up within the church.  This reality has been true from the very first and will remain true until we reach eternity.  Yet, Beloved, we ought to seek harmony in the Lord just as Paul encouraged these two ladies.  Beloved, seek peace!

Questions:

1. Are you presently in conflict with anyone?
2. Are you willing to work on reconciliation and harmonious living with this individual?

Prayer: Lord, as a flawed individual there is no way for me to bring about restoration in damaged relationships.  You, however, are able to heal the broken hearted and by Your grace bring joyful reunion to the body of Christ.  Do such a work in my life and those in my life with whom conflict is evident.  Amen. 

A Review of Where We Have Been

Scripture: Philippians 3:17-21

Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us. For many walk, of whom I often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ, whose end is destruction, whose god is their appetite, and whose glory is in their shame, who set their minds on earthly things. For our citizenship is in heaven, from which also we eagerly wait for a Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ; who will transform the body of our humble state into conformity with the body of His glory, by the exertion of the power that He has even to subject all things to Himself.

Insights: These verses are in many ways a review of all Paul has previously written.  It also functions like a verbal pause before he enters into the very serious information with which he is about to write the church of Philippi.  Paul is writing a review of things, but there are times in which it is helpful for us to review our life choices and make certain we are still walking a path that leads toward Christ Jesus.  Paul knew how easily it was for people to get tripped up in their pursuit of Christ.  It was why he gave this review in the first place.  He was helping the Philippians to stay focused on their citizenship and not get caught up in the things of this world.  Beloved, I would encourage you to take some time, especially during this Christmas season, when life is so busy, and reflect on your relationship with the Savior, Jesus.  Ask Him whether your life is bringing glory to His name or if your life is hindering others from coming to His saving grace.  Pray David’s prayer, “Search me, O God, and know my heart, try me and know my anxious thoughts; and see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way (Psalm 139:23-24).”  After praying this prayer, obey the Spirit in whatever answer He gives to you.  Then, hopefully, we can say with Paul, follow my example to others and help bring glory, honor and praise to our Lord!

Questions:

1. How often do you review or reflect on where God is leading you?
2. Are there any course corrections you need to make in order to press on toward call of God on your life?

Prayer: Lord, Paul told us to forget what lies behind so that it would not distract us from our destination.  Healthy reviews, however, that help aid us in that forward progress are good.  May my review this day of my life choices help stir me in the proper pursuit of Your glory.  Amen.