:)HAPPY LORD'S DAY
OF AUGUST 29TH
AT 9:42 PM [ARNPRIOR TIME]
Pastor B was on vacation this week with his family, so one of the men, who is also a trained pastor took over the sermons today.
I taught Junior Church this morning, so I will be sharing the evening message. As per usual, the last Sunday of the month, there is also a evening fellowship get together for refreshments of both food and friendship.
SPEAKER: Pastor BL.
TOPIC: BEING CONTENT:
Passages: Phil 4:1-10
Society is build on discontentment. Satan uses society's ploy to make God's people discontent. It is Satan's ploy to breed dissatisfaction.
It is the mark of God's people is contentment with their God and His Word, His Work and with Other Believers.
It is the mark of God's people to face tragedy, difficulties, trails, losses, death, with contentment. It is mark of God's people to handle these with differences from the world.
It is the mark of God's people to say 'I HAVE ENOUGH'
Ps: 23: I shall not want
Ps: 63: My soul be satisfied
Challenge: Think - work place - daily contacts & tasks - is my testimonly to the world, - is my contentment in one's God, and His Work.
God people have all they need in the God of heaven.
Example: Joseph/brother who sold him:
SOME PEOPLE ARE CONTENT IN THEIR SIN
Moses/abusive task master he killed, fled to the desert.
SOME PEOPLE ARE CONTENT WITH LESS THAN GOD'S BEST
Aaron sons destroyed by God.
SOME PEOPLE ARE CONTENT WITH LESS THAN TRUE OBEDIENCE TO GOD.
Modern Christian churches:
SOME PEOPLE ARE CONTENT WITH COMPROMISE.
PHIL: 4 is the framework for CONTENTMENT.
Phil 1: 28-30: Philippians were facing extremely difficult times.
Paul told them to show to the adversaries that you are content.
Phil 4: 1-3: Contentment appreciate your fellowships:
Fellowship with each other. Being content has nothing to do with what we have. Appreciate the relationships we have.
True Contentment come from the relationships we have
With God, with family , with fellowship in the church, and with friends.
Every other relationships are impacted by the quality in the relationship with the Lord Jesus. Leaning on Jesus during difficulties , flows out to our families. Contentment grows in the soil of selflessness. Believers are to be willing to be allowed to be loved by others.
Phil: 4-4: Cultivate a Spirit of Rejoicing:
Rejoicing occurs in the N.T. 70X's . We need to cultivate an attitude of rejoicing. We need to see what things are right in a situation, than what is wrong with the situation.
We need to REMEMBER - 'GOD IS IN CONTROL'. The potential is to cultivate a spirit of rejoicing. The Philippians were being persecuted for their faith.
Phil 4:5 - Learn to accept less than what is our due.
The world wants 'RIGHTS', In verse 5: "let your moderation" KJV ( translated from Hebrew means 'REASONABLE")
Jesus is o ur example of accepting less than his due, giving up his rights for our sake.
'SPIRIT OF YIELDNESS' doesnt demand of our rights.
Phil 4:5: Confident Faith in the Lord
Dont lose sight that the Lord is right beside you.
Psalms'Ye keep faith will not slumber"
Jesus will not sleep, as if he is saying, There is no need for both of us to stay awake. All of us dont have to worry about the same problem. It is a belief 'GOD IS ABLE', It is a belief that GOD IS PRESENT, and that GOD IS SOVEREIGN.
Phil 4: 6-7: Contentment , a heart to problems with thankful prayes. 'EVERYTHING GIVE THANKS' . Face with difficult times, pray with THANKSGIVING, we will have PEACE.
Peace that comes with communication with prayers offered up to the Father. By pouring our hearts to the one who can solve our problems. Prayer strengthen the relationship with God, place our burdens, pour our hearts upon his shoulder, which we can lean on. GOD SHOULDER IS BIG ENOUGH.
Praying with Thankfulness through difficulties, must be cultivated, we have to work at it, because it does not come naturally. DONT LET A MOMENT PASS FROM GIVING GOD YOUR BURDEN. If you worry, then deal with your relationship with God.
Phil 4:8: Focus on the positive:
Think about the good things, spend time , find contentment, focus on the positive. Cultivating, training ourselves through the work of the Spirit, focus on the Word of God. If we do, we will not be surprised, as our hearts are filled with the good virtues that God can give us. As the Word of God dwells in us. Purpose to desire to cultivate positive and it also protects us against the negative.
Phil 4:9: Follow a Right Example:
Paul is saying to follow the right pattern, Follow a life that is a live example of following Jesus.
Discipleship.
Focus on Jesus , those who set their heart, and their lives on following Jesus.
Conclusion: Our lives are marked to demonstrate contentment with God, His Word, His work and his people.
ALL WE EVER NEED AND WANT IS FOUND IN THE LORD JESUS.