MESSAGE TEXT
Philippians 4:10-13
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OPENING
Today we look at one of the most quoted, embroidered, calligraphied, needlepointed, painted, posted, magnetized, scrapbooked verses in all the Bible. Philippians 4:13.
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CONTEXTUALIZATION
Paul had been imprisoned, beaten, rejected, shipwrecked, and misunderstood. Paul had been taken prisoner because he had been faithful in the proclamation of the gospel. He had been ridiculed and slandered not only by enemies but by other believers. He was chained to a Roman soldier under house arrest - a total lack of privacy and freedom. And in these times, the prisoner paid the rent on the house – so one could incur many expenses. And it was in the midst of that kind of situation that Paul writes his most joyous letter and talks about his contentment. Paul didn’t – and we don’t have an exemption from hardship as followers of Jesus.
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It’s with all of this in mind that I want to invite you into the school of contentment. Christ teaches us contentment in every classroom of life. Paul saw life as a series of assignments from Christ. God assigns us to different classrooms in the school of contentment. Prison... Success... Illness... Retirement... Marriage… Parenting... Loss... Prosperity... Each assignment teaches another lesson in contentment. Paul discovered that every assignment became another classroom where Christ taught him contentment. Prison was a classroom. Hunger was a classroom. Prosperity was a classroom. Loneliness was a classroom. Every assignment became another lesson. And in every lesson, Christ supplied the strength. That's Philippians 4:13.
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PROPOSITION
Philippians 4:13 is a powerful life verse—not because it promises unlimited success, but because it promises Christ's sustaining strength in every season. Christ gives me strength to remain faithful and content in every circumstance He calls me to face. Believers can live contentedly in every circumstance because Christ supplies the strength to faithfully endure every assignment He gives.
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OUTLINE
How do we become more content and less dissatisfied?
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In Philippians 4:10-13, we have FOUR ACTIONS that will increase your contentment.
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Accept where you are / accept your classroom (v.10)
whatever the circumstances (v.11); content in any and every situation (v.12)
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Appreciate what you have / appreciate today’s lesson (v.11)
I am not saying this because I am in need (v.11) or loose paraphrase "Because I want to ask for more..."
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Apply what you learn / apply it to every life area (v.12)
I have learned the secret (v.12)
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Abandon all to Christ / abandon yourself to the Teacher (v.13)
Through Him (v.13)
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CONCLUSION
How can Christ ask us to surrender everything? Because He surrendered everything first. Before Paul ever learned contentment, Jesus left heaven. Before Paul ever experienced hunger, Jesus fasted forty days. Before Paul was imprisoned, Jesus willingly submitted Himself to arrest. Before Paul suffered injustice, Jesus suffered infinitely greater injustice. Before Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ," Christ had already endured the cross for Paul. Christ is the contentment we seek.