Learning to Be Content

 

Learning Contentment

In Philippians 4:11, Paul says - I have learned to be content

The problem: contentment isn’t automatic. We’re all inclined to be discontent. It’s built in to our flesh.

Contentment flows out of the pursuit of sanctification as Paul introduced in Philippians 1:27 – live your lives in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Chapter 2:12-18 outlines how we are to pursue sanctification:

1. Obedience is the starting point

Verse 12 – just as you have always obeyed

Disobedience to any of God’s commands is outside of His will. 

2. It will take effort

Verse 12 – work out your salvation

It’s going to take effort. It won’t just happen on its own.

3. A Right attitude toward God

Verse 12 – with fear and trembling

A healthy reverential awe. You take God and His commands seriously

4. Without Grumbling & Complaining

Verse 14 – Do all things without grumbling or disputing

A clear sign of discontent

Matthew 12:34 – the mouth speaks out of that which fills the heart.

Holding fast is also holding forth

5. Sharing this with others

Verses 15-16 – …shine as lights in the world,  holding fast the word of life…

Holding fast is holding forth

6. Rejoice 

This comes from within - from the heart.

The Secret of Contentment

Learning Contentment is a Discipline 

that we must all pursue with great intensity.

FOCUS on these Things:

• The Spiritual, 

Rather than Immersing yourself in worldly pursuits - those will always lead to discontent 

on some level, in some way.

• Jesus

Hebrews 12:2-3 – fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary, fainting in heart.

See also: Phil 1:6, Phil 1:19

• Scripture - God’s Word must be our guide through life. The Instruction Manual

A Ship’s Ballast is internal, it’s not propped up from outside.

• The Positive (& God’s Sovereignty)

What’s happening to you is a result of the Sovereign, loving hand of God in your life.

It’s happening for His glory and your good.

When we carry our discontentment in a bucket and focus on it, we get frustrated.

When we see it in relation to the abundant ocean of God’s grace and mercy, it disappears.

The Underlying Principles of Daniel 12

 

Living for God in Ungodly Times

Nine principles to live godly lives in an ungodly world.

1. Stand Up

Bow up with confidence (not pride)

verse 1 – “At that time shall arise Michael, the great prince who has charge of your people.

God will protect His people.

We can Stand Up and be confident of His protection of us.

2. Buckle Up

Verse 1 – there shall be a time of trouble, such as never has been since there was a nation till that time. ⁷ the shattering of the power of the holy people

Trouble & difficulty & persecution is part of the regular rhythm of life. 

Be ready for trials.

James 1 - Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials,

3. Rest Up

You can rest confidently looking up to the Lord

Because full and final rescue is coming. 

If I go and prepare a place for you, 

I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.

Relax - you can trust God to rescue His people.

4. Look Up

Maybe “Hope Up” is a better phrase

Christ’s resurrection gives us absolute confidence that we will be resurrected.

1 John 3:2 – We know that when He is manifested, we will be like Him, because we will see Him just as He is. 

And everyone who has this hope fixed on Him purifies himself, just as He is pure.

5. Point Up

Our Christian walk has never been and never will be just about us. 

We cannot focus all our attention on ourselves.

We absolutely have to turn our attention to others. 

God has given us the message of the gospel of salvation, not so that we can keep it to ourselves and exult in it, but so that we can point others to Jesus Christ. 

Be praying daily that the Lord would bring evangelism opportunities your way

6. Grow Up

You have to dig deep into God’s Word to grow up spiritually. We live in an age that does not like the truth of Scripture and despises biblical doctrine. Many Christians quickly set it aside for the sake of “experience.”

The wise will always look to God’s Word to find true wisdom. 

7. Time’s Up!

Verses 5-9 Daniel’s conclusion.

The time of difficulty will be “cut short.”

verse 12  (the numbers 1290 & 1335) show us that God’s timing is precise - down to the very day that things happen. 

Whatever trial you’re currently going through - as you persevere, know that it will end precisely when it is supposed to.

Difficulties are never pointless - they always have a purpose

God is sanctifying you, even when it doesn't feel right in your own heart/mind.

8. Clean Up

1 Peter 1:13-16 – Therefore, having girded your minds for action, being sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ. 

As obedient children, (radically obedient children) not being conformed to the former lusts which were yours in your ignorance, but like the Holy One who called you, be holy yourselves also in all your conduct; because it is written, “You shall be holy, for I am holy.”

You need to passionately pursue holiness

9. [Don’t] Give Up

In verse 8, Daniel’s honesty is pretty cool:

I heard, but I did not understand. 

You will endure – Don’t give up

This is a promise given to us

Not only the guarantee of making it to heaven

But also endurance.
Matthew 24:13 – And because lawlessness is multiplied, most people’s love will grow cold. But the one who endures to the end, he will be saved. 

(Salvation brings endurance)

Conclusion

Look again at to 1 Peter 1:15

Radical obedience is:

• Not being conformed to the world

(the characteristics of AntiChrist we saw in 11)

• and the pursuit of holiness

We’re commanded to be holy

That’s what these nine principles are: 

The passionate pursuit of 

knowing God

and making Him known.

If you call yourself a Christian - this is not optional. 

I pray that you make every effort toward sanctification as together we strive to be a fired up church, radically obedient to a passionate pursuit of knowing God and making Him known.

Soli Deo Gloria!
Pastor Rob

Ongoing Conflict

 

Here is an outline of what we learned from Daniel 11.

The sermon is available on the church's YouTube channel: Precision & Perspective

Verses 2-4 - Alexander the Great

    History hails him as the greatest military commander of all time. 

    God's evaluation: a passing mention in three verses.

    Summary: what matters is not the lens of the world,  the media, or the government

        God’s verdict is the only one that matters.

Verses 5-20 - The Northern & Southern Kings (Egypt vs. Syria)

    The Prophecy is perfectly precise in all that happened. 

    This is mostly history, but not mere history

Verses 21-35 - Antiochus IV - Epiphanes - the great persecutor of the Jews

Verses 36-45 - Turning our attention to the end and seeing the ongoing pattern of the personification of evil.

What lessons do we learn from this chapter?

1. When you’re pursuing your own will rather than God’s will - there’s no stability

    You can achieve a lot of things in the flesh, but they don’t matter and they won’t last

2. The church must guard against being influenced by the World.  

    The world has influenced the way we think and the way we do things far more than we realize it or want to admit

    We must remain strong and stand firm

doctrinally

morally

spiritually

Lest the enemy gain a foothold

3. The enemies goal is always to destroy God’s people. 

    Even though the enemy plots - God prevails.

4. God is working out His purpose for HIs glory and our good.

One of the ongoing patterns we see in the world is opposition to God.

What are the characteristics of opposition to God?

1. There’s a drive for autonomy 

    to make all of my own decisions - be in charge

2. There’s a lack of regard for God and a disdain for the Order He created

    God made us male and female to reflect His glory.

    There’s nothing more basic to life (physical, emotional, social, etc) that male/female.

    The attack on male/female today is an attack of the enemy,

3. A reach & desire for power and control

    Might makes right

militarily

economically

socially

legistlatively

    There is a basic desire to have the power and authority to control others. 

Our hope: the end of verse 45 tells us:  Yet he shall come to his end, with none to help him. 

When the Lord returns, his end will be sudden, and without fanfare. The enemy will just simply be done.

What everyone will see is the Lord Jesus Christ - nothing else will remain in view.

What do we do with all this?

How are we to live for God in these ungodly times?

1. Believe

    Simply trust in God. It's not easy, but it is simple,.

2. Resist

    Resist the devil and he will flee from you. (James)

    Stand firm (Ephesians)

    We must remain faithful to God no matter what the consequence. 

3. Tell Others

    We must tell others the good news of Jesus Christ.

    Daniel 11:33 – the wise among the people shall make many understand

    We are literally commanded always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an 

    account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and respect,

4. Pray

    “Prayer is the revolutionary activity by which weak, mortal creatures take our stand in the great cosmic     

    battle and do our part to move heaven and earth towards God’s final victory” (Iain Deguid)

The Kingdom that will endure is the Kingdom of God - not any kingdom of this world. 

If you wish to endure to the end, you must place your trust in the only One who saves.

If you would be delivered from the kingdom of darkness and transferred to the Kingdom of Jesus Christ - you can only do that by turning to Jesus.

Only the power of the blood of the Lamb will bring you into His Kingdom

Only Jesus Christ can grant forgiveness

Only in Him can you be redeemed from your sin.

The Kingdom of God will endure forever

He is King of kings and Lord of lords.

every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

And we will praise His holy name FOREVER

Soli Deo Gloria!

Pastor Rob