Philippians 4:10-14

Good morning. This is truth in love. Wow Even I like this program that I'm using so much better Than anything

I've used before But after you press start, there's still like 10 seconds that you should have been saying something getting started and You kind of don't know when and where to start but it's okay

It's a it's a good thing that God gives us these these tools to Reach out and be with each other and and share the gospel

So thankful for it. This is truth and love and we get truth and love from Ephesians chapter 4 verse 15

But speaking the truth in love We're to grow up in all aspects into him who is the head even

Christ? So good Saturday morning to you. I don't know when you may see the video but For me, it's

Saturday morning and It's a calm Saturday morning calm cool Saturday morning, we're at the beginning of December and Lots of things going on If I can pray for you,

I'm sorry about my voice this morning if I can pray for you Just let me know. I'd love to be able to do that I'll pray at the end and all you have to do is type me.

Let me turn on the comments here all you have to do is type me and And I'll see it and I'll be glad to pray for you.

And I would ask in return if you would do me a favor and pray for me and my family

We would really really really appreciate your prayers at this time Good morning,

Steve. Good morning to you. I hope you're doing well Yeah, absolutely if if you're watching please comment let me know that you're watching

If you have any questions or comments if you would About the Bible if you have any questions about the

Bible if you have any questions about Church you want to talk about church you want to talk about things going on on in the world from a

Christian perspective The floor is always yours This is this is not a controlled time

This is a time where you can come on here and spend time. We can spend time together and we can discuss

God's Word we can talk about Things from a

Christian perspective. Thank you, Steve. I really appreciate it Thank you so much.

Um So yeah, the floor is always yours feel free I hope I hope that you won't be scared to to come on live with me and and Post your comments or questions and and we can have a good discussion about things.

So don't ever be afraid to do that Thank you for locking arms with me as we reach our community for Jesus Christ and Get the truth of his word out there

You know there I know there's so many other people Online as well, but you know, you you can never you can never have enough

Prayer you can never have enough study of God's Word his truth going out into the community

You know, we're all called to be ministers. We're all called to be doing it together and individually so we just want to do our part and We want to speak

God's truth and we want to speak it in love and we want other people to know Jesus the

Jesus that we know That's the Jesus that saves the God of the universe that has everything in the palm of his hand has everything in control and That's that's the only place our safety and security is and when everything else is falling apart

Or what's in our eyes seem to be falling apart? we know that in everything is in his hands and It is in no way falling apart or will ever fall apart

He is in control and will cause all things to work out so Just just holler at me if you want to talk about anything

Paul is ending. We're gonna continue in Philippians and We're not gonna finish the book this morning.

We're just gonna look at a few verses Paul is wrapping up the book of Philippians we're in chapter 4 we're gonna look at verses 10 through 14 and This as I read this and as I looked at it, it seems to be

Simply fitting for the for the moment that that we're in currently During this video,

I'm not trying to be figurative or metaphoric or anything about any other circumstance, but but right now

Saturday morning The the beginning of the day the calm of the day

Maybe when others are still sleeping The tone it seems to me as I read this

Of course, you know Paul is running from prison and this is not a calm coffee drinking

Saturday morning for Paul by no means but I Think that's the point.

I think that's the point because of because of Christ in his heart it is and I think that's the perspective that he would have us to To glean from this to learn from this

Because you remember in chapter 4 verse 9 the last verse that we looked at last time Paul says these things you have learned and received

And heard and seen in me so you've heard it taught And you received it

But you've also heard it and seen it in me he said practice these things and The God of peace shall be with you

So Paul is Paul is saying that no matter the circumstance that I'm in The the

God of peace is with me And so and we know that he is in prison and we're gonna learn one more thing this morning about his circumstance

Above and beyond being in prison. There's other things

Paul is dealing with But as he says in verse 9 as you've learned and received and heard and seen in me

So Paul is practicing what he's preaching and and though he be in prison

The the peace of God is is with him. So He probably would wouldn't describe in in this way this is just you know how we or how

I You know Receive it or how how

I think about it in my mind as I as I look at these verses, but I'm talking about having a you know, calm

Saturday Morning drinking a cup of coffee you know, there could be there could be a tornado going by my house, but Here in this room.

I can't see past these walls. I Don't know what's going on. So so for me, it's a calm

Saturday morning a calm coffee drinking Saturday morning for me But we can't see what's going on around Outside the walls and we know what's going on a lot of times

I mean, there's some things that we don't know but a lot of times we know what's going on And we know how difficult our circumstances are and how difficult the world is and Paul surely knew

It was he lived in reality that he was in prison he was in chains and and the the actual location where he was in chains was a

Was difficult for him But yet in his heart in his heart there was that that peace

That we often may associate with it early Saturday coffee drinking morning where?

Though the world may be in chaos and even our world may be in chaos if we practice these things that we

Have heard and seen from him and also have seen him Watched him practice himself.

The peace of God will be with us and You know those things

I know you've experienced this too. I'm sure you have It's one of those things where it's easy for someone to say this is what the

Bible says This is how the Bible says you should handle that circumstance But until you go through that circumstance and then truly rely on God It's hard to It's hard to speak those truths and especially understand those truths, of course

Paul is speaking from experience we know But but in our own personal lives, you know, it's hard to understand

Until you've been there that those truths are real and so But we want to believe and trust in in Christ And it's a blessing it's a blessing if the

Lord allows you to have a life where You don't have to suffer suffer many things some people do and We're gonna we're gonna speak to in verse 14

We're gonna speak to that relationship with one another in that suffering. So let's go ahead and get started and just A sip our coffee and look and Read along with Paul as he is closing this letter

After he speaks to them about following his example and how to have the peace peace of God With him through throughout the certain any circumstance

And Then verse 10 Paul says but I rejoiced and that that theme this seems to be a thing for Paul in Philippians He were he uses the word rejoice.

He tells them to rejoice and he rejoices Over and over and over again.

So this is a theme in Philippians for Paul in his address to the

Philippians I don't know You know, you don't know when when somebody is using a word over and over again

You don't know if Paul is Paul knows that in that church the Saints in that church.

They were With what we do know at one point They struggle with anxiety and and he addressed that in in chapter 4 be anxious for nothing

But in everything in prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving let your requests be known be made known to God so And he tells them in verse 4 to rejoice in the

Lord always again I will say rejoice he knew that they had a continuous problem with anxiety

So there were you know, there was a reminder to to leave that aside and rejoice

So it may have been you know for them. It may have been partly for Paul or a reminder for him. I Need to The the place where I live spiritually needs to be a place where I'm reminding myself to rejoice

To rejoice in in all things to rejoice and in a matter of whatever circumstance I'm in Whatever the case is

What is certainly true is that Rejoicing is a theme for Paul in Philippians and I think that needs to be recognized because he uses that word so often in so many circumstances in different applications here

In other places, you know Paul speaks of rejoicing despite the circumstances when they may be difficult

Here Paul is rejoicing in how we would commonly understand

The circumstance to rejoice in When since something good happens happens to us when we're blessed

We would want to rejoice and give thanks and here You know, this is that circumstance for Paul, but I but I rejoice in the

Lord greatly he says That now at last you have revived your concern for me

Indeed you were concerned before but you liked opportunity When you see the word revived there

Don't think of it in the idea of their their concern for him had flatlined and so They had to have

CPR Spiritually and so now they're they're concerned for him has been revived

They they're breathing now again, and their heart has started Don't don't think about it in those terms the the word

Actually gives the picture of blossoming So think about their their concern for him their their spiritual awareness for him as as like a tree

You know we we have trees that Blossom and produce fruit certain times of the year and then certain times of the year that either lose their leaves or they

They they are not in bloom and we wait for those precious times where they begin to to bloom and they become with they're full of color and they

And we love to look at those trees and those times of years So this is the this is more of the picture of what's going on with their with their concern and their awareness

With Paul, it's more of a blooming Season That he has in mind when he's when he's picturing their

Their their concern for him again, so at one point they they bloomed with concern for Paul and then there was there was a stretch there where they

Weren't weren't allowed to or they had didn't have the opportunity to Put put hands and feet to that to that concern

But now they were able to there to bloom again in that concern and and they were able to put hands and feet on that concern so it

Within all three of those periods Paula saying that I know that there was never lack of concern

You know, you were you were a tree that blooms and produce produces apples, but then during that stretch you didn't you didn't change to become a different kind of tree or a

Tree that doesn't produce fruit. You were always an apple tree And you produced you produced blooms and and fruit here and there was a period where you did, you know you didn't but you were still an apple tree and you were still in the process of Working towards that time when you were going to bloom and produce apples again.

So that's kind of the kind of the idea The best way that I could understand it

Instead of thinking of Revived as where they had flatlined spiritually and and now they've been they've received

CPR and they've been revived it's kind of more of a Blooming situation

And they and they never they never changed or lost who they are Or who they were

They just didn't have the opportunity to express it to Paul and he he is rejoicing

He is so thankful his heart his heart is full because They now had this opportunity to bless him

To send to send to him to give to him to share with him and he's so thankful and of course even in even in Paul's He's probably in a section here where he's doing less teaching and more personal

You know personal communication Still yet in verse 9, you know, he said you you've seen me

Practice these things you you've heard and seen me practice these things. So those things that he's taught, you know

This is this is this area where he begins to practice those things that he teaches the

Philippians and I think we can learn from watching and Hearing Paul communicate with his brothers and sisters in Christ.

And so he's he's thankful for Their sharing their gift their their concern for him and You know, we can see more of that and how deeply deeply that that passion deeply that gratitude

We can see how deep that love is that they had for one another when you go back to chapter 2 verses 19 through 30

The when the section they're concerning Timothy Epaphroditus the the church at Philippi and Paul himself and just how

Deep their concern and love was for each other it's such an amazing thing and What such an amazing example for us?

verse 11 Let's see Roger I was just reading some

Paul He gives much wise instruction very much moved by the Spirit anointed by Christ Good morning, brother.

Thank you. Thank you for those words. I really appreciate it. I hope you're doing well Verse 11 not that I speak from won't for I have learned to be content in Whatever circumstances

I am in So he's an he's in a circumstance where he is

You know, he's in prison and he is He wants to he wants to communicate, you know, the circumstances his spiritual circumstance with him his mindset his attitude where he is

So he wants them to understand that He appreciates He appreciates what what they've done what they're doing.

They're concerned for him. But also He wants them to realize where he is

Spiritually and his character and there's a reason for that It's it's kind of a strange thing to to go from where he is in 10 to where he is in 11 12 and 13

And he doesn't and he also doesn't want them to Misunderstand what he means in 11 12 and 13 when we read verse 14

So we're gonna try to unpack that just a little bit, but it's an interesting thing that he he he goes from Being grateful and rejoicing for their concern and their gift for him

Or their concern for him that and the gifts they provide for him but then he is he is reminding them or You know, despite despite the fact that you're you're meeting my needs you're giving the gifts to me and you're helping me out

I want you to know church that I'm not speaking from from won't Like like I appreciate the gift, but I don't really need it and It's kind of what he's saying

And and that's that's a weird thing. But let me tell you why I believe that he's saying it.

I Believe that he's saying it because and this is the other circumstance that I was speaking of earlier, you know, he's he's

In prison, he's been in prison, you know Paul's has a

Lot of opportunity to spend in prison for the sake of Christ But on top of that, you know, we he had to deal with the false teachers and the false teaching

He also had to deal with something else there were folks from other churches that were

Accusing Paul falsely of something terrible and What they were accusing him of was using the gospel

For livelihood to make money off the gospel to make his living off the gospel

And so he is he is expressing to this church Don't listen to the rumors don't listen to the stories

Excuse me, don't listen to the falsehood This is not who I am.

I want you to know that I appreciate I receive and accept and I'm thankful for Your partnership your gifts your you taking care of me

But I want you to know that I'm not speaking from from Walt He He is he says for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance

I am in so he is not he is expressing that he is not a greedy person and that he is not he does not have the character to use the gospel to manipulate these churches

So that they will send him money and and he can become rich off the gospel He you know he becomes this this great leader where where people love him and follow him and listen to his teaching and and churches are you know grow and spiritually and in growing numbers because of Paul and how

God uses Paul but he wants to And I can I understand where Paul is coming from Even though Pete some people are not gonna believe him and they're not gonna believe you and they're not gonna believe me

Some people are just so persuasive about their lies That it doesn't matter what you say

They're not gonna believe you but Paul Paul wants to I'm sure because of his

Deep love for his brothers and sisters in the church He wants them to know that this is not him.

This is not his character He is not using the gospel for personal gain and for greed

And so he says I do not speak for malt for I have learned to be content in in whatever circumstance

I'm in so, you know if he was greedy and if he was using the gospel for for gain

You know, he would he would despise being in prison or or maybe even

Figure out how to use that as a tool, you know to to To get sympathy so that they

You know that maybe that's what he's doing here with him. You know, I'm I'm in prison. What was me? Send help send money

You could be using it that way But he's saying that that is not Him that's not who he is

Um those times When you didn't have opportunity to send a

Paphroditus to send those gifts to help me. I was okay, I Was okay.

I was I was not fretting because of the money or because I was

I Didn't have the things that I had before he said

I was okay. I Was okay, that's not who I am In verse 12 he says

I know how to get along with humble means and He's just Continuing to express what we've just discussed.

I know how to get along with humble means and I know how to live in prosperity And we know that because that's kind of his background where he grew up.

He he had He had wealth he come from a family. That was well to do with wealth he lived in a city that was well to do and You know, he went to the best schools

He got all these degrees and so Paul Paul knew what it was like to live in prosperity

And here we know that Paul knows what it's like to live in Humble means as well, and he says in in any in every circumstance.

I have learned the secret of Being filled and going hungry both of having abundance and suffering so in other words he

He's learned this the secret that um that it is hidden But it has been revealed to him and And I believe that he is speaking spiritually here when he is when he says

The secret of being filled and going hungry So what why would you want why would you want to know the secret?

To know how to go hungry. That doesn't make sense. Or why would you want to know the secret of?

Suffering how what's what's your secret? I want to I want to suffer more. What's your secret or what's your secret?

You know, I've got way too much to eat. I want to be hungry all the time. What's your secret? I don't think that he's speaking in those terms and in physical terms.

I Think he's speaking in spiritual terms where where God has has taught him and revealed revealed to him the secret of being filled so when there is he's speaking of I know what it's like to To get along in humble means and also to know what it's how to get along and live in prosperity

How do you do that you do it you do it spiritually so the secret when when

I'm going through times of humble means Then I know the secret of being filled right, does that make sense and so or When I'm going through those times and living in prosperity.

I Know how to I know the secret of going hungry and and what does that remind you of?

Him saying that I know the secret of going hungry it reminds me of Philippians chapter 2 when he is speaking of Teaching them to empty themselves just as Christ emptied himself

So when when we're when God is blessing materially We want to know the secret of emptying ourselves

Not holding on to the material world not holding on to material things we want to know that secret of emptying ourselves, but holding on to Christ and Then when when we're in won't

Physically when we don't have anything We want to know the secret of being filled holding on to Christ Spiritually we want to know those secrets, and that's the secret.

I believe that he's talking about I could be wrong I always can be wrong if you have a better interpretation

I'd love to hear it if you want to correct me and help me out there. Help me understand it That would be great too

That's that's kind of how I'm seeing it here. He said both of having both of having abundance and suffering need

I've learned a secret of being filled and going hungry both of having abundance and suffering need

He speaks of both circumstances, and he's been in both circumstances And Christ has revealed that secret of being satisfied in Christ Despite his circumstances and then he says

The famous verse from Philippians I can do all things through Christ or through him who strengthens me and so many people use this this verse out of context

They'll they'll use this verse as their theme verse for for athletics or sporting event for the that they can you know they can run the race or they can win in this boxing match or whatever it may be or You know a football game

Philippians 413 I can do all things and and that is taking it completely out of context

Paul is not speaking of athletic matches or or whatever whatever thing, you know, we can we can think of Materially or whatever he is speaking of his his time of You know persecution trials and tribulations that no matter the circumstances or whatever he's going through He can he can do that Maybe a better rendering to to help us understand it better is um,

I Have the I have the strength to to go through all things

Because of the ones one who strengthens me or because of him who strengthens me. I have the strength to to go through this circumstance

Because of him who strengthens me. I think that's a rendering that can help us to understand the sentiment

Behind what he means by flip in Philippians chapter 4 verse 13 So one last thing

When we first started verse 11, I mentioned that You know

Paul Paul in verse 10 is speaking to them giving thanks and rejoicing because of their gift because of their

Renewed concern for him and the and the opportunity that they had to to give and to to share with him but then he he transitions to a

Place where he is he's saying I appreciate this gift, but but it's not that but I Don't want you to think that I'm After you for it for for inappropriate purposes or Because I have a flawed character

I'm not I'm not thinking the best way to say this right now

But they you know, they could they could have taken that the wrong way because And In verse 11 when he says not that I speak from won't for I've learned to be content the word

Paul uses there is a Word that they would have understand in the from the pagan world of being self -sufficient independent of so think about think about you know a

Child learning to ride their bike and they have their their training wheels on their bike and then they

Eventually take the training wheels off and so they they become self -sufficient and independent of the training wheels when it comes to riding their bike and so That's what it means to be content to be independent of something

You don't have You don't have this This need you don't have to have something in your life.

You you've let go of it You've emptied yourself of it. You you are independent of it

So that you have no need for it And you are independent of it.

You are Self -sufficient and that's that's how they would have understood it in the pagan communities being

Self -sufficient Not needing whatever it is that they're talking about Allowing them to be independent and so It could come across that way in his address to the

Philippian church, yes, you know, thanks for the gift But you know, I'm self -sufficient.

I'm independent. I don't need it really but you know, thank you for the sentiment

Thank you for the gift, but but I'm independent. I'm self -sufficient. I don't you know, I don't need the gifts

I don't I don't need the help really. I'm self -sufficient and Because because of where the the term comes from and how it was understood in the pagan world

I Don't think Paul wanted them to to receive it that way Because that's not how he intended it

He did not intend it in a way that the pagans would have understood it where they were self -sufficient and independent

He says in verse 14 nevertheless so Even though I said all these things that I've learned contentment and I've learned how to be filled

When everything's empty around me and I learned how to be empty when everything's full around me nevertheless, despite all that You have done well and He's he's saying that it in in words that are expressing to them beauty.

You have done a beautiful thing So he he's trying to take away that that idea of It's just words

I'm just going through the motions Yeah, I say, yeah, you know, I appreciate your gift, but you know,

I really need it, you know my heart I don't appreciate it. But with my words

I do He doesn't want that sentiment To come across to them that way

He wants to express to them that that he really does appreciate In fact

Paul's independence That he's speaking of when he's using the word being content it's those it's that idea of I Don't let the circumstances around me control

Who I am and I don't let the material things of this world control

Who I am. I don't I don't need these things to to make me satisfied

If I have them it's okay if I don't have them it's okay, it doesn't matter because my sufficiency

Of course is not in myself But it is in Christ and because my sufficiency is in Christ I can be independent of all these things of the world and part of being satisfied in Christ is

Sharing this Experience sharing this journey with your brothers and sisters in Christ that's part of finding sufficiency in Christ letting him satisfy you is

Relying on your brothers and sisters in Christ And I think that's the message that he would he would want to send to them and for us to understand

Is that I'm not saying that I I don't appreciate You and your gift by what

I just said, that's not what I'm saying What I'm saying is because of my satisfaction is in Christ That's why

I can appreciate you and and appreciate your gift and appreciate

Who you are and what you've done for me what he's saying in verse 14 And beyond that is these folks at the church at Philippi they have resigned to take responsibility for Paul that's kind of the

The sentiment here That's that's where they have placed their self That's where their heart is that they have they have taken it upon their self to become responsible for Paul and meeting his needs so And and I'm I'm sure and I and I think we kind of We read that and felt that earlier in Philippians where they they wanted to Meet his needs they wanted to share with him.

They wanted to be with him They wanted him to be with them But there was as Paul mentions there was this time where they were just unable to do it

They lacked opportunity, but that's where their heart was their heart was Paul and meeting his needs and and being responsible for him

Because they loved him and then he says you've you've done well, you've done a beautiful thing to share with me my affliction and Basically what he's saying there is because you have because you have chosen this this attitude towards me

You've also chosen to join in the suffering that goes along with me

Think about it like this you you have folks from these other churches who are bashing

Paul and accusing him falsely of things and and then you have you know, the

Romans who Who put him in prison and Paul is saying because you have chosen to associate yourself with me

All these things also fall on your lap and you know, the same is true for for us

We we associate ourself with Christ. We also associate ourself with suffering in this world

But we also associate with Learning how to be content

No matter the circumstance and we also learn and receive this association with Christ and in being filled and being satisfied and having brothers and sisters in Christ that Come alongside us and do that with us as well

That's what the Lord has provided for us and what a blessing Brothers and sisters in Christ are

When we go through circumstances We go through difficult times We can have this peace.

We can have the peace of God and and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and guard your minds and if you

Practice these things the God of peace shall be with you And we can experience that together despite the circumstances

But know know what it comes with it comes with suffering it comes with false accusations.

It comes with all these things but it also comes with a greater reward

Eternally greater reward so that's where we want to live in our hearts is remembering that Jesus is the greater reward and It's he is forever.

He lives forever So that was encouraging for you. If I can pray for you, please.

Let me know that I can I can do that I'd love to be able to do it we I would ask that you do us a favor and continue to pray for our family and And our our walk with Christ As we seek to please him in what we do

If you do not know Christ as your personal Lord and Savior Would you trust in him today the reason we have to trust in him is because We are sinners and I know that's offensive

But sinning is going against God and his law and his commandments Not doing what

God says and turning aside from him and hating him with with our heart and our mind and our actions

And we have all broken God's law The Bible says that there's no one good. No, not one.

We've all missed the mark. We are all in that same circumstance No one is better than anyone else.

We are all Rotten to the core because of our sin. That's just who we are

But God sent a rescuer to save us and it was his son Jesus to live a sinless life and down the cross

He was raised from the dead Sent it into heaven where he sits at the right hand of the

Father place of authority Interceding for those who would come to him but to come to him.

We've got to Turn from something else empty ourself release release our dependence on Ourselves our idolatry and our sin apologize and turn from our sin and turn to Jesus Christ Putting our faith and trust in him and scripture says it promises that God will save us

He will bring us from death to life Give us eternal life and give us the peace that passes all understanding and our reward

Will we will have a reward that will never never fade away or go away and we can never lose this reward called

Christ And we want to give him glory for what he did on the cross

We want to worship him for what he did on the cross and who he is So, please turn from your sin and trust in Jesus Christ today

And I'm gonna go ahead and pray. No one has requested prayer this morning so We will see you later if anybody

Gives us a notification I'm planning to go live one more time today

I was invited to participate in an event this evening there's a prayer event going on in another community close by to me and I'm gonna be talking with the folks that are kind of in charge of that event and we're just gonna be discussing scripture and what

God has to say and and how the Lord is working and moving and Yeah, I think it's gonna be really really good and I'm looking forward to it and I think they are too and anytime that folks have a passion a concern for prayer and for God's glory and their community

You have a good thing. So Looking forward to speaking with those guys tonight Let's pray together.

Father. We thank you for the time that you've given us this morning to spend together Despite what's going on in the world around us

Help us to Listen to Paul learn from Paul and Apply father we can't do it.

We we need your Holy Spirit to apply

Trusting in you despite the circumstances finding peace in you despite the circumstances

Help us to empty ourselves and be filled with you father.

I pray that you would receive the glory and That you will be worshiped through what we do and in our communities and We give you praise and we thank you for all things in Jesus name.

Amen All right, I hope you have a wonderful day Remember that Jesus is

King Go live in that victory and let's continue to get out there and share the gospel.