Skip to content The Secret of Contentment | Philippians Part 10 | Rev Paul Jeyachandran Jul 14 · 50 min ...more
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Rev. Paul Jeyachandran leads the Intentional Disciple Making Church (IDMC) Movement, which is all about calling churches back to its disciplemaking roots. Visit us at idmcmovement.com
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0:00 We're thankful to the Lord for giving us the grace to study the book of Philippians. Today, we're gonna conclude it, and I'm hoping and praying that the Lord spoke to your hearts through this0:11 book as much as he has refreshed even my soul as I studied this book. Praise God. Today, we're gonna talk about Philippians chapter 4 verses 10 to verse 23, and the topic is0:23 the secret of contentment. Praise God. Let's look to the Lord in prayer. Heavenly Father, we thank you so much for this day. Open our eyes and give us listening ears, mighty God, to see the truth and to0:35 obey the truth. And Holy Spirit, we pray that you will be our teacher. We thank you. Let the name of Jesus alone be glorified and continue to transform our hearts to the likeness of Christ. In0:47 Jesus name and the people of God said, amen and amen. The secret of contentment. Philippians chapter 4 verses 10 to verse 23. I want0:59 you to think about these 2 words. What is the difference between a thermostat and a thermometer? Now, not just spelling and pronunciation, there is a functional difference, isn't1:10 it? The thermometer, it only gives you a reading of the temperature in the room. In other words, if you if you set if you look at the temperature right now in this room, it will be1:22 somewhere between 20 to 22. So the thermometer just tells you what the reading is. Whereas a thermostat, it actually sets the atmosphere.1:34 For example, if you set this room to be 18 degrees, then if the thermo thermostat, if you set it to 18, the room will become 18, cold. If you set it to 24, the room will become warm.1:46 I want you to listen to me carefully. Thermostat and thermometer. People are like that too. Sometimes people are reactive to the circumstances. They are happy when1:58 good things are happening in their life. When they are they are unhappy or depressed when good things do not happen in their life. It's almost like they are emotionally yo yo. But 1 thing2:09 we need to understand from the book of Philippians is Paul is not like a thermometer. He doesn't just tell you what he's going through, but Paul is like a thermostat. He sets the temperature2:21 for the atmosphere that he wants to live in. In other words, in every situation, Paul says, I don't just react to the situation. I act. I take control. I have the mind of Christ, and therefore, I2:33 rejoice in every circumstance. Paul was a thermostat, and I believe you and I are called to be a thermostat. Now in this book, as we study, we find2:45 1 thing repeated over and over again. It is the mind of Christ, isn't it? In chapter 2, he encourages us to be of the same mind, like minded, and he says, have this attitude of Christ in you.2:57 In chapter 3, he says, let the mature have this thinking in them. What is that thinking? An eschatological thinking. I belong to the heavenly kingdom. My citizenship is in heaven, and I need to set my3:09 mind on things above. And then he says, the peace of God will guard your mind in chapter 4. And then he says, think about these things. And then finally, from verse 10 onwards, where we are gonna3:21 study today, he talks about what is the mindset that you and I need to have when we are in need. Look at verse 11 with me. Verse 11 says, not that I'm speaking of being3:33 in need. Look at Paul's life. Paul says, I am not it's not like I'm as though I'm in need. Hey, Paul. You are in prison. In Roman prison, the the government doesn't provide any3:44 food. In other words, they don't meet his needs. His needs ought to be met by people outside the prison. Maybe his friends, maybe his family members, maybe some of the church members. But here Paul3:56 says, that not that I'm speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. Hallelujah. I want us to capture this heart of Paul.4:09 This is the attitude of Paul. Paul says, in whatever situation I'm in, I'm I am. I learned to be content. Today, we're gonna talk about4:20 contentment, and it comes from this. So Paul lived with a spirit of contentment and a spirit of sufficiency that is rooted in the unchanging spiritual4:32 resources that he found in Christ, not the changing not based on the changing circumstances of his life. So you and I, we need to realize Paul tapped into4:44 the mind of Christ. Paul tapped into the inner resource that he had. Externally, he didn't have much resource, but internally, he had plenty of resource in Christ.4:56 And here he says, in Christ, I'm able to have contentment. Now that is what we're gonna study. In this passage, I find 2 things that we often quote as promises. Isn't5:08 it? Verse 13 especially, I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. And then verse 19, my God shall supply all your needs according to his5:20 riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now many times we quote these 2 verses out of context. In other words, we kind of adapted to whatever situation we want. I can do5:31 all things, but Paul was not saying, I can do all things. I can break forth from the Roman prison. That's not what he was saying. I can do all things through Jesus who strengthens me. No. No. No. There was a context in5:43 which he says this. So today, we're gonna study what that context is. How can we be like Paul? To live in a spirit of contentment. So I'm gonna ask ourselves 2 questions, and we're gonna find the5:55 answers in this passage. The 2 questions are this. How can we be satisfied in every situation? And how can we be supplied in every need?6:07 And both these things are found in this passage, and Paul gives to us the inner resources that he tapped into in Christ Jesus, and those 2 inner resources are this. Let me give it to you. Take it6:19 down. 1, the power of God that satisfies us. That is what you study from verse 10 all the way to verse 13. And then the provision of God that sustains us from verse 146:31 all the way to verse 20. Hallelujah. Let's look at it 1 by 1. How can we be satisfied in every situation? The power of God that6:43 satisfies us. Verse 10 to verse 13. I wanna give you the context. Paul writes in verse 10, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. Paul is a Paul6:55 Paul is a writer who wrote a lot of things about joy in this episode, isn't it? Nearly 14 times that word joy or rejoice is mentioned. Not only that, he also goes on to7:07 say that now at length you have revived your concern for me. Why is Paul rejoicing? He's rejoicing because Philippian church has revived their concern. It's not that they didn't have concern for7:19 him, but they didn't have an opportunity to show their concern for him. In other words, he was too far away from them, or maybe they were he was not accessible, or they7:30 didn't know what was going on in his world. But now finally, they have an opportunity to to be a blessing to him. So Paul says, I rejoice greatly in the Lord because you have revived your7:42 concern for me, because you were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. That word concern twice, it's repeated here, is the word in the Greek.7:54 Now I already established in 1 of my previous messages that the word is repeated at least 10 times in this small episode because that's the main focus of this8:05 episode. The mindset, the attitude, the thinking. Hallelujah. And Paul says here that you have now that you have now revived your thinking concerning my life.8:17 And Paul says, I greatly rejoice in this. And then verse 11, he wants to highlight this. Even though he is happy that Philippian church gave him some gifts,8:29 sent Epaphroditus all the way to Rome with some monetary gifts, certain funds so that he can they he can be of he can be of help to Paul. But Paul wants them to8:40 not just think that Paul is actually waiting for them to send, that Paul is in great dire need. Look at what Paul's attitude is. Paul says, not that I'm speaking of being in need. It's like as though he's trying to8:52 address the concern they would have. Oh, if we didn't send, he would be in need. No. No. Paul says, it's not that I'm speaking of being in need. I have learned, circle that word, in whatever situation I am to be9:04 content. Hallelujah. Paul says, I have learned to be content no matter what the situation is. In other words, Paul says,9:16 contentment is something you and I ought to learn. You know, you are you need to understand this. Contentment is an it's9:28 it's it's a it's not automatic in our lives, isn't it? In fact, covetousness is automatic. It's in our carnal flesh. We we covet those things that don't9:40 belong to us. Listen to me carefully. You know, it you'll find this even among kids. You put all a bunch of preschool preschoolers and give them hundreds of toys in a room,9:52 and if 1 picks up 1 toy to play with, another 1 will soon want that same toy. Even though there are hundreds of toys in that room, they will always gravitate towards the same toy that someone10:04 else is having fun with and say, I want this. Why is that? That's human nature. And Paul says, but whatever situation I'm in, I have learned to be content. Now, this is the key. What10:16 is that word content? Content is this. It's the Greek word called autakes. Autakes. That's the Greek word. Now,10:28 that Greek word was as unique for the book of Philippians, only used it once. But Paul takes a word that is quite common in the Greek philosophy.10:40 Among the stoic philosophy, the philosophers used this word to talk about how you cannot control your circumstance. Therefore, the only thing you can10:51 control is your own self. In other words, it doesn't matter what situation you find yourself in, you can't control the circumstance, but you can control how you feel about it. Therefore, you can be11:03 So the stoic philosophers tell people to be content, to be to be self sufficient, to have that self rule over their emotions. And Paul uses11:14 that same phrase, that same word, but with a different meaning. Because you Paul, we have already studied in the whole book of Philippians that the book is about embracing the mind of Christ.11:26 Not the mind of the world, but the mind of Christ. And here he says, specifically, I'm I'm learning. I've learned to be content. And he says, I've learned to have self rule.11:38 I've learned to have self sufficiency. But is he talking about self dependence? No. No. No. Knows that Christ is the 1 who lives in him. It is Christ who lives in me. Is that right? And he11:49 knows that the Christ is the 1 who's done a good work in me, and he continues to do the good work. He works inside of me and I work it out. He already established this in chapter 1 and then in chapter 2. So here Paul12:00 says, not that I'm speaking that I'm in need, but I've learned whatever situation I'm in, I've learned to be content. In other words, I've learned to be self sufficient. Self sufficient for me because I have12:12 Christ within me, I'm Christ sufficient. Hallelujah. Because Christ is enough for me. It doesn't matter what the circumstances are, but12:24 as long as I have Christ, I can be satisfied. That is what Paul was trying to highlight. Now, why is Paul saying suddenly using this language? Because Paul wants the Philippian church12:36 to learn about his attitude, his attitude, his thinking, his way of thinking about material needs. See, Philippian church had lot of issues. You and I, we know12:48 that. How do we know? In chapter 4, he already talked about in verse 6, do not be anxious. In other words, they have a lot of needs. In fact, in second Corinthians chapter 8 verses 113:00 to 5, if you read it, verse 2 says that affliction. They were in extreme poverty. They were facing severe affliction and extreme poverty, and that's the Macedonian church. That's the13:11 Philippian church. And he says, in the midst of their poverty, in the midst of their affliction, there will be anxieties, there will be needs in their midst. And Paul says, do not be anxious. He already said13:23 to them, you know, how can you how can you be so assure that everything will be fine? He said, peace of God will rule your heart and guard your mind,13:35 and God will supply all your needs. That's the whole passage, isn't it? So Paul is actually wanting them to learn from his aptitude because they He knows that the Philippian churches meet is in is in a dire circumstance.13:47 They have huge needs, but yet in their needs, they have been generous to him, but now he's talking to them about, guys, it's not that I'm in need. I've learned to be content. That13:59 means he's wanting them to imitate his mindset. He already established this in Philippians chapter 3 and verse 17. He already said, brothers, join me in imitating me. In14:11 verse 20, he said, we belong to a heavenly citizenship. We belong to a heavenly citizenship. And in chapter 2 and verse 5, he says, we have a mind of Christ because we belong to Christ. We14:23 belong to the heavenly kingdom. In chapter 3 and verse 19, he says the enemies of the cross, they think about the earthly things, but you and I, we need to be thinking about heavenly things, eschatological in our14:33 thinking. So Paul here goes on to say, have this mind. Then in verse 15 of chapter 3, he says, let those who are mature think this way. Remember that. We studied all of this. The reason14:45 I'm saying this is because Paul is establishing this that we have to embrace the mind of Christ regardless of the circumstance. So if you are in need, if you are in want, or if you are in abundance, if you are in14:56 plenty, it doesn't matter. As long as you have the mind of Christ. What is the mind of Christ? Mind of Christ is to be able to depend upon Christ. It's to be able to have that mature way of15:08 thinking about your material needs. To be able to say, Lord, I know no matter where you have placed me. Because I believe Paul had this mindset that no matter where's what's whatever15:19 situation he's in, it is the providence of God, that God has appointed it, God has arranged it, God has approved it, and in this circumstance, I'm gonna depend upon the mind of Christ. I'm gonna rely upon15:31 the inner resource of our Christ, and I'm I'm gonna think about situations knowing that Christ who is with me, he will help me. Listen to me carefully. That is why Paul goes on to say in verse15:43 12, listen to this verse 12. He says in verse 12, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I15:55 have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. Look at Paul. Paul says, I have learned. And secondly he says, I know16:08 how to abound and how to be abased. I know how to have plenty and I know how to have need. And Paul has gone through all these circumstances. And Paul says, this is the attitude I have. I16:20 had think about the resources I have in Christ. 3 verbs that Paul uses in these 2 verses, verse 11, verse 12, that speaks about the progress of16:32 contentment. 1, he says, I learned. This is why we say in this church, as a disciple, we don't try to be disciples, we train to be disciples.16:43 Contentment needs to be trained. Not only that. Paul says, I know. What is that word know? That means I have experienced both16:54 plenty and poverty. I've experienced both abundance and need. Therefore, I know what it means to be content. Sometimes, we call it in this17:06 house, you are going through necessary journey. What is those necessary journeys? That necessary journey is to train you up, to live in contentment, to have the mindset of Christ, to recognize17:17 that this is the way mature people think. We think of all that Christ has given us, and because of who Christ is, we can be satisfied in the power of God that he is able to17:29 provide for us. Listen to me carefully. This is what he'd says. Finally, in verse 12, he says, I learned the secret of facing plenty and need. Look at learn the secret. Why would he17:41 use that word learn the secret? It's actually a unique word that the philosophers, the stoic philosophers use when it comes to mystery religions. You know, in those days when Paul17:53 lived, there were miss miss mysterious, mystery religions and they had an a rite of initiation. This is how they initiate people into their faith, and18:05 part of that initiation is that you gotta learn the secret. And Paul says, I have learned the secret. In other words, I have been initiated into contentment. How? By going through the18:17 necessary journeys, by facing the plenty and need, by facing the abundance and poverty, by facing all these things, by experiencing it, and experiencing the nearness of Christ in all these18:28 circumstances, I have now come to a place where I've learned to be content. Hallelujah. But it is all because in verse 13 he goes on to give you the18:40 promise, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Hallelujah. Now let me give you the actual context of this promise. The actual context18:52 of this promise is not that I can do all things, or I can jump out of a building. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength, Or I can I can19:04 get into a business and I'll be successful? I can do all things. Or I will start this project and it'll be successful. No. No. No. Life coaches and people who talk about19:16 sales, they will probably use this verse in the wrong context. I can do all things, but that's not what Paul is talking about. Paul is saying, I can do all things. What are the all things? I19:27 can live in plenty, and I can live in want. I can live in abundance. I can live in need. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.19:39 Hallelujah. Another way of reading this verse would be this, I can do without all things through him who strengthens me. Isn't that right? When you read it like19:51 this, it makes sense because that's the context. I can do without all things through him who strengthens me. Listen to me carefully. Paul20:03 is a man who understands this so much. Why? Because Paul used to struggle with covetousness. Paul is a man who struggled with covetousness. Romans chapter 7 is a passage where he talks about his inner20:15 struggle, isn't it? The good I want to do, I don't end up doing. The bad I don't want to do, I end up doing. Wretched man, he calls himself. And then in verse 7, he says, what then shall we say? That the law20:27 is sin? By no means. Yet if it had not been for the law, I would have not known sin for I have not known what it is to covet if the law had not said, you shall not covet.20:38 Finally, in his life as a righteous righteous man, he he lived a righteous life as a as a Jew, isn't it? Fulfilling the law of Moses. He was blameless, he says in in Philippians 3. But20:50 yet he says, when the law came into his life, it produced within him. Look at this. But sin, seizing an opportunity through the commandment, produced in me all kinds of covetousness.21:01 Wow. All kinds of covetousness was produced in Paul. That means Paul was a man even though he was blameless under the law, yet he had a private inner21:13 struggle, a struggle of covetousness. And the Bible says here that Paul, even though he had this covetousness, now he says, I have learned to21:25 be content. What is covetousness? Covetousness is going after things that don't belong to you and snatching it, seizing it. But here, lusting after it. But Paul says, I'm a content man.21:37 See, this is where you and I, we need to understand contentment. See, many times content, if you ask, are you content to a person, he would say, yes. I'm happy with my job. I'm happy with the pay. I'm happy with the21:48 lifestyle it produced. I'm happy with the WiFi I got. I'm happy with the kids, how they're doing. I'm happy with a lot of things. So I'm content. Contentment is not having22:00 everything you want. Listen to me. That's not contentment. Contentment is wanting only what you have. In other words, contentment is even even if I don't have22:12 these things, I have Christ. And if I have Christ, Christ alone is enough because he has given me himself, and my life belongs to22:23 him. And therefore, whatever situation he places me in, I gladly accept it. That's why Paul says in verse 11, I can accept all things. That's a paraphrase. In22:35 verse 13, I can do all things. Why? Because God is the rightful owner of my life and whatever he has proportioned for my life, I have the power within me, Christ within me that22:47 satisfies my life. Hallelujah. The power of God that satisfies me is within me, and he gives me strength. So whether I have it or don't have it, I can remain in a place22:59 of contentment. Hallelujah. That's the first point Paul is teaching us. The second thing is how can we be supplied in every need? Listen to23:11 this. How can we be supplied in every need? The provision of God that sustains us from verse 14 all the way to verse 20. I wanna give you the context.23:23 Paul is writing this thank you letter to the Philippian church. And as he's thinking about his own need and the needs of the Philippian church, he actually has23:35 received this wonderful gift from them through Epaphroditus. And Paul is rejoicing in it, but at the same time Paul wants to highlight to them, it's not that I'm in need, but I'm thankful that23:47 you provided. But now he's going to give you a theological reasons for why they should give. Listen. Paul is now theologically reflecting upon the gift that the Philippian23:59 church had sent him. He had already established, I'm not in need. I know how to be content. But now he's saying, I thank you for sending it to me, but now he's theologically reflecting what that gift24:11 meant for him. Listen to this. Yet it was kind of you to share my trouble. I want you to pay attention to the language that Paul will use here. From verse 14 all the way to verse 18, the language24:23 is of a business school. He uses language of investment, interest, return, keeping audit, credit, receipt. All of that is here. Listen.24:34 And you Philippians know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership, that's the word koinonia, with me in giving and receiving except you24:46 only. Even in Thessalonica, you send me help for my needs once and again. That means, again and again, the Philippian church sent him help.24:59 Then after a long time, they have now revived their concern and sent gift 1 more time through Epaphroditus. Now verse 17, he goes on to say, not that I seek25:11 the gift. He has already established I'm not in need, and now he's saying, I'm thankful that you sent the gift, but not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.25:23 Wow. I have received full payment and more. I'm well supplied having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and25:35 pleasing to God. Listen to me carefully. What is Paul saying here? Paul is saying, I love this partnership that you have with me. No other church entered into partnership.25:47 When he left for Thessalonica, they send gifts. They did it again. And in fact, Paul actually quotes this in another passage of scripture. Paul actually writes to the Corinthian church,25:58 and he says how he ministered in Corinth, but the Corinthian church were stingy. They didn't give to the missionary work that Paul did. So instead, where did Paul get the resources from?26:11 Paul got it from the Macedonian churches. Paul got it from Philippi. Now listen to this, what he says about Corinthian church. In chapter 2 sorry. Second Corinthians chapter 11 verse 8 and verse 9,26:23 I robbed other churches by accepting support from them in order to serve you. Paul says, I robbed other churches. Hey, missionary work is expensive, but here26:34 Paul says, I robbed other churches to serve you. And who was the other church? And when I was with you, I was in need. I did not burden anyone for the brothers who came from26:46 Macedonia, that's the Philippi, supplied my need. So I refrained and refrained from burdening you in any way. Look at how he rebukes the Corinthian church. He actually says to them, guys, you should26:58 have partnered with me in the gospel work. I came. The gospel is free of charge. We don't charge for the gospel. But yet, it takes resources. He was in need, but they didn't meet his need. But who27:10 did? The Philippian church met his need. Philippian church was actually in poverty. They were going through extreme poverty and severe affliction, but yet they sent27:22 resources to Paul and they partnered with him. What a beautiful picture. So this is where Paul has this mindset that he's not asking for charity. He's not begging for funds. He's not27:34 saying, in please give me some money so I can go do missionary work. No. Paul was not asking for money. You know what Paul was saying? I love that you give because you're not giving to me. You're investing in27:46 the gospel work. Paul didn't see it as charity. Paul saw it as investment. That's why the whole language is a business language. He says the partnership, the koinonia you shared in my trouble.27:58 And not only that, you gave, and not only you gave, you you you increased the fruit in your credit. In other words, whatever you give as28:09 investment, you're gonna collect interest. Where? In heaven. In your heavenly account. For every soul that Paul was able to touch in his gospel ministry, the Philippian28:21 church partnered with him, and they reaped the benefits together. The credit goes into their account. Hallelujah. Now this is important for us to understand. Why? Because Paul28:33 says, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the credit, the fruit that increases in your credit. And then he goes on to say something spectacular about the gift. He28:44 says, your gift is a fragrant offering and sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God. I want you to listen to the language here, a fragrant offering. In other words, the gift you give towards28:56 gospel work, it goes into the nostrils of God as a sweet smelling aroma. It's a fragrant offering. Not only that, it is also something that is an acceptable29:07 sacrifice. Now the word sacrifice is usually used only in the context of the work of Jesus on the cross. His sacrificial death, his substitutionary death, his29:19 death for our atonement. But here Paul uses that same language. Look at this. In Ephesians chapter 5 and verse 2, Paul says, and I walk walk in love as Christ loved us and29:31 gave himself up for us, a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God. Christ gave himself for us as a what? As a fragrant29:42 offering and sacrifice to God. Hallelujah. And now Paul says, just like Christ gave himself, you have also given monetary gifts29:54 which are fragrant offering and sacrifice that is acceptable before God. Listen to me carefully. In the Old Testament, they gave sacrifices, and the30:06 part of the sacrificial system was for their atonement of their sin. But there was also other kinds of sacrifice they needed to bring, the grain offering, the the meal offering. All30:18 of this was to also feed the people who are in the temple, isn't it? That's what Paul writes in another passage of scripture in first Corinthians chapter 11. But I want you to listen to me carefully here. Why30:30 why is Paul saying this? Paul is saying that what you give as a monetary gift because it is comes out of a sacrifice. When it comes out of a sacrifice, it30:42 does not cost you anything, then it does not cost anything. But if it comes out of a sacrifice, you give unto the missionary work, you give unto the work of the gospel, You give unto supporting people who are30:54 doing the work of ministry. Paul writes and he says, that is a sweet smelling aroma before God. It's a fragrant offering as well as it is a sacrifice that is acceptable to God. Praise31:06 God. Now, this topic is not about giving, but Paul looks at giving like that. Not that he's in need because he has learned to be content, but he31:17 seeks their gift not for the gift's sake, but for what it will do in their credit. Hallelujah. The fruit that will increase in their credit. And then he goes on to say, if31:29 you do this, if you do this, in other words, you're giving sacrificially. You are impoverishing yourself so that the work of the gospel can31:41 advance. Then verse 19 comes as a as a promise. What is verse 19? The verse 19 is this. My God shall supply all your needs31:53 according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. See many times we take this verse out of context. The context is your32:05 sacrificial giving for the work of the kingdom. And then he says, my God shall supply all your need, every need of yours according to his riches in glory32:17 in Christ Jesus. Now listen to me very carefully. Why is this so important for us? Many times we claim this without actually sacrificing anything in the kingdom.32:30 Because we always think everything that we have belongs to us. We don't think that God is the rightful owner of our lives. See, the whole mindset that Paul is talking about here is a32:42 mindset that says, belong to Christ. It is Christ who purchased me. It is Christ who died for me. It is Christ who works in me, and and the way he humbled himself and emptied32:53 himself, I humble myself. I empty myself to serve him. And he says, I want to be found in Christ in chapter 3. And now he says, I want to33:05 be strengthened by him. I can do all things. I can do without all things through Jesus who gives me strength. Now he says, my God will supply my every need.33:17 Isn't that true for Paul? For Paul, it is true because he's sitting in the Roman prison not knowing where his next meal is gonna come from, not knowing how his needs are going to be met, but he knows the God for33:29 whom he serves so faithfully is a God who would provide his every need. Hallelujah. When you read that verse, it says according to33:41 his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. When you study on that word according to his riches, in the New Testament, there are 3 according to his33:53 riches. According to the riches of his goodness. What is the riches of his goodness? God is good to everybody in the world. He makes the sunshine and the rain34:05 happen both on the wicked and the righteous. In other words, God is good to everybody. According to the riches of his goodness, God showers his blessing, the the providential blessing upon all34:16 mankind. But then there is a second kind of according to his riches. According to his riches in grace, God forgives us of our sin. In other words, redemption happens when we come34:28 before God and say, Lord, I need you to save me. I cannot save myself. I need you. The moment you come and acknowledge your poverty, what God does according to the riches of34:40 his grace, he redeems you. He forgives you. He eternally adopts you into his family. Hallelujah. But here, the language is according to his riches in34:52 glory in Christ Jesus. Not only according to his riches in goodness, not only according to his riches in grace, but here according to his riches in35:03 glory. This is only specifically given as a promise to those who are his people, Those who walk with the mindset of Christ. God says, I will be with you. Every need of35:15 yours, I will supply. Hallelujah. God takes personal responsibility and he says, according to my glory, according to the riches in glory in Christ35:27 Jesus, your needs will be met. Our issue many times is this, that we don't trust him enough because he doesn't meet the need according to our35:39 expectation. Most of the time, the problem is not need. The problem is greed. We don't think that God will provide our lifestyle that we dream of. But God's God did not promise,35:51 I'll give you the lifestyle that you want. But God promised that every 1 of your need will be met when you live with the mindset of Christ, when you live depending on the power of God that36:02 strengthens you, and when you live in the provision of God that sustains you, God gives you a personal promise. My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in36:14 glory in Christ Jesus. Hallelujah. Now I want you to catch this church. What does this look like? You know, maybe you're in a need.36:26 Maybe you're in need of need of a life partner, and you're saying, Lord, I have been struggling as a single. I want you to learn what it means to be36:38 content with Christ. Can Christ help you in that? Absolutely. But what if you're what if you're married and you are struggling in your marriage and you are36:49 unable to have kids and you're going through that season of barrenness? Would you be able to come before God and say, Lord, I'm content even in this circumstance because I've learned to be37:01 content. Whatever the lot is, I've learned to be content because I can do all things through Jesus Christ who gives me strength. My God shall37:13 supply my every need according to his riches in Christ Jesus. Paul had this mindset. No matter what the circumstances is, I will not give room for grumbling37:25 and complaining. That's what he said in chapter 2 and verse 14. Do not grumble. Do not complain because you have to shine as stars as witnesses for the watching world. So in every37:37 situation, you and I, we need to learn to be satisfied in Christ because in Christ, we are supplied with everything that we need for life and godliness, the bible says. That's why you in37:48 Christ, you are greatly blessed in Christ. You're blessed with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ. Christ becomes for you wisdom from God. In Christ, have righteousness, holiness,38:00 sanctification, redemption. In Christ, have everything. Hallelujah. Forgiveness of sins, acceptance, adoption. Hallelujah. In Christ, we have everything.38:13 But many times, our heart is so distracted, and our heart is longing for things of this world. Can we come before God and we say, Lord, I wanna38:25 live like this. I wanna give it doesn't matter. Whatever I have is all yours because you have redeemed me. And because you have purchased me with your precious blood, my life doesn't belong to38:37 myself. My life belongs to you. I wanna live life like this. And I was reading about a man by the name of Stanley Tam. Stanley Tam is the CEO of a company38:49 that he started. He's the founder of the company called United States Plastic Corporation. Now Stanley Tam, when he started out in business, his father gave him 1239:01 dollars and he went and started the business of silver replacement, in a reclaimment, sorry, silver reclaimment. And that business miserably failed.39:13 So he was wondering, Lord, I have been tithing. I have been a good, good, gospel citizen. But at the end end of the day, why is my business struggling? Why am I failing? Suddenly, 1 day,Show more
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Paul Jeyachandran
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