Elder Ben Wishall finishes off our eight week Philippians series with Philippians 4:10-23. Ben teaches that through our generosity God will bring forth growth and contentment to us through the strength of Christ.
KEY POINTS:
- Contentment is available regardless of circumstance (v 11-12)
- Enhancing our life by changing our circumstances will not bring lasting contentment; you will always be chasing something
- Contentment takes work (v 11-13)
- Paul says Christ gives him the strength, not the contentment directly, to be content
- We have an active role to play, we must harness the strength Christ provides
- Contentment is a fruit of generosity (v 14-19)
- The promise that we have is when we obey the Lord with a generous lifestyle, God will grow the fruit of contentment in us and moves our heart towards Jesus
- When we walk in obedience, there is fruit; maturity and growth follows obedience; through our obedience God shapes and forms and matures us
- 2 Corinthians 9:6-8
- True contentment is found in our heavenly citizenship (v 19)
- The riches of God are found in his glory, in the eternal, because God is after our soul, not comforts in this life
- He wants to provide us with what we need the most: Jesus
- Jesus is where we find lasting contentment, where our soul can be truly satisfied
- 2 Corinthians 1:20
ADDITIONAL SCRIPTURE REFERENCES:
COMMUNITY GROUP DISCUSSION:
- Prior to this sermon, how would you describe the secret of contentment? How might your answer differ after this exhortation from Philippians 4?
- Which of these four tenets of contentment in Christ resonates the most with you? Which one do you wrestle with the most or find the hardest to grasp?
- How might God be calling you to live generously today?