”Contentment~Philippians 4:10-23”

The Kingdom Corner with Matt Geib

CONTENTMENT ~ Philippians 4:10-23….09/24/21

THEME: Christ our Strength

10 But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[c] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. 11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12 I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [g]have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. 19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. 22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.

23 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with [h]you all. Amen.

VS.10) But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your[c] care for me has flourished again; though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity

Has Flourished… This Greek phrase was taken from this OT. Verse…(EZE. 17:24 All the trees of the forest will know that I the Lord bring down the tall tree and make the low tree grow tall. I dry up the green tree and make the dry tree flourish….I the LORD hath spoken & I will do it)

Meaning to sprout or blossom again…”Ye have caused your thinking on Me to Bloom anew, ye revived your thought for me”~ Vincent…”Ye budded forth again in caring for my interest”~Alford…In other words the Philippian allowed their care & concern for Paul come to fruition ONCE AGAIN. POINT HERE: This is in regard to the Gift the Philippians had sent to Paul via Epaphroditus (Phil. 1:3-5,4:11,15-19)

This was a delicate situation, that though Paul was touched by it & cared very much about responding to them in thankfulness he had to be careful as a general rule he did not receive ‘monetary support’ so as to look like false teachers who constantly fleeced the people.

Lacked opportunity most likely due to Epaphroditus becoming sick enroute to see Paul

LUKE 6:38 Give, and it shall be given unto you; good measure, pressed down, and shaken together, and running over, shall men give into your bosom. For with the same measure that ye mete withal it shall be measured to you again.

11 Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content:

I have learned The Greek language conveys the idea of entering into a NEW CONDITION…meaning for Paul coming from a place of being raised by Rich Jewish parents had learned or was in process of learning what it meant to be content

CONTENT this word was used by Greek Stoics to show that men should all be’ sufficient unto themselves’ in all circumstances ( good or bad) it speaks of self –sufficiency & competency…HOWEVER Paul’s sufficiency was NOT This…But ‘CHRIST-SUFFICIENCY’ Paul lived independent of circumstances because He depended on CHRIST

II Cor. 3:5 Not that we are competent in ourselves to claim anything for ourselves, but our competence comes from God.

I Cor. 6:6-8 6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7 For we brought nothing into the world, and we can take nothing out of it. 8 But if we have food and clothing, we will be content with that.

Hebrews 13:5 Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said,

“Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.”[a]

12 I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me.

Abased To be humbled, brought low, depress, make level reduce in Rank…a state of humiliation….here Paul uses the word to show HOW he was able to live FRUGALY as a Minister (Phil. 2:8,3:21)

II Cr. 4:7-10 7 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 8 We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed. 10 We always carry around in our body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be revealed in our body.

II Cr. 6:9-10 9 known, yet regarded as unknown; dying, and yet we live on; beaten, and yet not killed; 10 sorrowful, yet always rejoicing; poor, yet making many rich; having nothing, and yet possessing everything.

II Cr. 11:23-31 Paul’s ‘abasement resume’

12 I know how to [d]be abased, and I know how to [e]abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. 13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me.

Abound abundance, overflow, superfluity ,exceeding….

Eph. 3:16-21 16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17 so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18 may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19 and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.

20 Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21 to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

I have learned/I’ve Been Instructed like an initiation into ‘a mystery’ (Eph. 3:8,9)

13 I can do all things through [f]Christ who strengthens me.

“I am strong for all things in the ONE who constantly infuses strength in Me”~Wuest

I find that the strength of Christ’s explosive power infuses me to conquer every difficulty~ TPT

I have strength for all things in Christ Who empowers me [I am ready for anything and equal to anything through Him Who [a]infuses inner strength into me; I am [b]self-sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency].~ AMPC

Eph. 3:16 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being,

Eph. 6:10 Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

II Tim. 2:1 You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus.

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [g]have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

Vs. 14. You have Done Well”=“You have done a beautiful thing” ( Greek)… you shared in my distress =”You made yourselves fellow partakers with my Tribulation”

14 Nevertheless you have done well that you shared in my distress. 15 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. 16 For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. 17 Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. 18 Indeed I [g]have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God.

So powerful…in that the Philippians took on Paul’s Burden for ministry both in $$ & intercession & a companionship of LOVE…more so than other churches…(vs. 15… no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only.) The Philippian church became fellow-partakers & co-workers spreading the Gospel.

Vs. 15) Giving & receiving …the Philippians & Paul Had a ‘Give & Take’ relationship like credit/debit…He brought them salvation, Giftings…they would forever be indebted to Him in LOVE…so they co-labored with Him in the Gospel

Vs.16) you sent aid once and again (Lk. 6:38,James 2:16)

Ecc. 11:1,2 Cast your bread on the surface of the waters, [be diligently active, make thoughtful decisions], for you will [a]find it after many days. 2 Give a portion to seven, or even [divide it] to eight, for you do not know what misfortune may occur on the earth.

He Giveth More Grace

His love has no limit, His grace has no measure, His power no boundary known unto men, For out of His infinite riches in Jesus, He giveth and giveth and giveth again.

When we have exhausted our store of endurance, When our strength has failed ere the day is half-done, When we reach the end of our hoarded resources, Our Father’s full giving is only begun.

Vs. 17) I seek the fruit that abounds to your account.

JN. 15:16 Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.

VS.18) a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God

EPH. 5:2And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.

19 And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus.

Supply literally ‘I Am Full’, meaning filled to the full….In other words God will give in the same measure to the Philippians that they gave to Paul

II Cor. 9:8 And God is able to make all grace [every favor and earthly blessing] come in abundance to you, so that you may always [under all circumstances, regardless of the need] have complete sufficiency in everything [being completely self-sufficient in Him], and have an abundance for every good work and act of charity.

Eph. 3:20 Now to Him who is able to do above and beyond all that we ask or think according to the power that works in us—

GLORY = the element in which God supplies our needs

Glory/goodness….Ps. 23:6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

Ps. 27:13 I had fainted, unless I had believed to see the goodness of the LORD in the land of the living.

Ps. 31:19 Oh how great is thy goodness, which thou hast laid up for them that fear thee; which thou hast wrought for them that trust in thee before the sons of men!

VERSES 21-23 CONCLUSION

“Caesars Household” The Roman Soldiers converted thru Paul’s Ministry