Philippians

1
Philippians

• Lesson 7
• The Contented Disciple
• Php 410-23

2
The Peace of God

1. Stand firm in the Lord
2. Help others to be at peace
3. Rejoice in the Lord
4. Be gentle
5. Be prayerful and thankful
6. Peace of God will guard you
7. Dwell on and practice all things of the gospel

3
Introduction

• Theme of the book again, Rejoice in the Lord
• Rejoicing based on commitment to the Lord not on
  being satisfied with earthly circumstances
• When we lose our commitment to the Lord, we lose
  ability to rejoice

4
Introduction

• Paul gives thanks for their past and present
  support of him in the gospel
• As he rejoiced for their gift and concern, Paul
  says he had learned to be content in all
  conditions
• We need to learn the secret of how to be content,
  no matter what

5
Introduction

• Society promotes discontentment rotted in
  covetousness, ingratitude, bitterness and
  complaining
• Discontentment causes broken marriages, divided
  local churches and Christians who crave things
  more than Christ
• Discontentment causes us to be ungrateful to God
  and bitter if things do not go our way

6
The Contented Disciple

1. Paul learned to be content in all circumstances
   Php 410-13
2. Praise for and significance of their gift Php
   414-19
3. Greetings from Rome even from Caesars household
   Php 420-23

7
Paul Learned To Be Content In All Circumstances

• Php 410 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.
• Php 411 Not that I speak from want, for I have
  learned to be content in whatever circumstances I
  am.

8
Paul Learned To Be Content In All Circumstances

• Php 412 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.
• Php 413 I can do all things through Him who
  strengthens me.

9
What Does Content Mean?

• 1) sufficient for ones self, strong enough or
  processing enough to need no aid or support
• 2) independent of external circumstances
• 3) contented with ones lot, with ones means,
  though the slenderest
• Thayers Greek Lexicon

10
Paul Learned To Be Content In All Circumstances

• Paul rejoices for their past and present support
  for him in the gospel
• Over time, Paul had learned to be content whether
  he had much or little in physical things
• Contentment produced through Christ strengthening
  him in many trials not from his current physical
  circumstances
• How does Christ strengthen us?

11
Christ Strengthens Us Through The Gospel

• Eph 316 that He would grant you, according to
  the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with
  power through His Spirit in the inner man,
• Eph 317 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts
  through faith and that you, being rooted and
  grounded in love,
• Eph 318 may be able to comprehend with all the
  saints what is the breadth and length and height
  and depth,

12
Christ Strengthens Us Through The Gospel

• Eph 319 and to know the love of Christ which
  surpasses knowledge, that you may be filled up to
  all the fullness of God.
• Eph 320 Now to Him who is able to do far more
  abundantly beyond all that we ask or think,
  according to the power that works within us,
• Eph 321 to Him be the glory in the church and
  in Christ Jesus to all generations forever and
  ever. Amen.

13
Christ Strengthens Us Through The Gospel

• Joh 663 "It is the Spirit who gives life the
  flesh profits nothing the words that I have
  spoken to you are spirit and are life.
• Col 316 Let the word of Christ richly dwell
  within you, with all wisdom teaching and
  admonishing one another with psalms and hymns and
  spiritual songs, singing with thankfulness in
  your hearts to God.

14
Christ Strengthens Us Through His Providence and
Answered Prayers

• Rom 828 And we know that God causes all things
  to work together for good to those who love God,
  to those who are called according to His purpose.
  
• Php 112 Now I want you to know, brethren, that
  my circumstances have turned out for the greater
  progress of the gospel,

15
Christ Strengthens Us Through His Providence and
Answered Prayers

• Php 46 Be anxious for nothing, but in
  everything by prayer and supplication with
  thanksgiving let your requests be made known to
  God.

16
Christ Strengthens Us Through Changing Our
Purpose, Desires

• Php 121 For to me, to live is Christ and to die
  is gain.
• Php 122 But if I am to live on in the flesh,
  this will mean fruitful labor for me and I do
  not know which to choose.
• Php 123 But I am hard-pressed from both
  directions, having the desire to depart and be
  with Christ, for that is very much better
• Php 124 yet to remain on in the flesh is more
  necessary for your sake.

17
Christ Strengthens Us Through Changing Our
Purpose, Desires

• 1Ti 66 But godliness actually is a means of
  great gain when accompanied by contentment.
• 1Ti 67 For we have brought nothing into the
  world, so we cannot take anything out of it
  either.
• 1Ti 68 If we have food and covering, with these
  we shall be content.

18
Praise For And Significance Of Their Gift

• Php 414 Nevertheless, you have done well to
  share with me in my affliction.
• Php 415 You yourselves also know, Philippians,
  that at the first preaching of the gospel, after
  I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the
  matter of giving and receiving but you alone
• Php 416 for even in Thessalonica you sent a
  gift more than once for my needs.

19
Connection of Fellowship and Financially
Supporting Preachers of The Gospel

• Based on common faith and salvation, Christians
  are partners with God and one another in all
  authorized spiritual works
• Therefore, financially supporting evangelists not
  a carnal transaction but sharing together in the
  work of spreading the gospel
• From the beginning of the church there, they had
  actively shared with Paul in preaching the gospel

20
Connection of Fellowship and Activities We Share
In Together

• Act 242 They were continually devoting
  themselves to the apostles' teaching and to
  fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to
  prayer.
• 1Jn 17 but if we walk in the Light as He
  Himself is in the Light, we have fellowship with
  one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son
  cleanses us from all sin.

21
Connection of Fellowship and Activities We Share
In Together

• Php 15 in view of your participation in the
  gospel from the first day until now.
• 2Co 84 begging us with much urging for the
  favor of participation in the support of the
  saints,
• 2Co 85 and this, not as we had expected, but
  they first gave themselves to the Lord and to us
  by the will of God.

22
Connection of Fellowship and Activities We Share
In Together

• 1Co 1016 Is not the cup of blessing which we
  bless a sharing in the blood of Christ? Is not
  the bread which we break a sharing in the body of
  Christ?
• 1Co 1017 Since there is one bread, we who are
  many are one body for we all partake of the one
  bread.

23
Significance of Their Gift To Gods Glory

• Php 417 Not that I seek the gift itself, but I
  seek for the profit which increases to your
  account.
• Php 418 But I have received everything in full
  and have an abundance I am amply supplied,
  having received from Epaphroditus what you have
  sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice,
  well-pleasing to God.

24
Significance of Their Gift To Gods Glory

• Php 419 And my God will supply all your needs
  according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

25
Significance of Their Gift To Gods Glory

• Mat 632 "For the Gentiles eagerly seek all
  these things for your heavenly Father knows that
  you need all these things.
• Mat 633 "But seek first His kingdom and His
  righteousness, and all these things will be added
  to you.

26
Greetings From Rome Even From Caesars Household

• Php 420 Now to our God and Father be the glory
  forever and ever. Amen.
• Php 421 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The
  brethren who are with me greet you.
• Php 422 All the saints greet you, especially
  those of Caesar's household.
• Php 423 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be
  with your spirit.

27
Rejoice Always Serving Christ and God Will Work
Out All For Good

• Php 44 Rejoice in the Lord always again I will
  say, rejoice!
• Php 121 For to me, to live is Christ and to die
  is gain.

28
Rejoice Always Serving Christ and God Will Work
Out All For Good

• Php 112 Now I want you to know, brethren, that
  my circumstances have turned out for the greater
  progress of the gospel,
• Php 113 so that my imprisonment in the cause of
  Christ has become well known throughout the whole
  praetorian guard and to everyone else,

29
Rejoice Always Serving Christ and God Will Work
Out All For Good

• Php 114 and that most of the brethren, trusting
  in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far
  more courage to speak the word of God without
  fear.

30
The Contented Disciple

1. Paul learned to be content in all circumstances
   Php 410-13
2. Praise for and significance of their gift Php
   414-19
3. Greetings from Rome even from Caesars household
   Php 420-23