Dwell in the Word Philippians 4:10-22

Consider these questions as you dwell in Philippians 4:10-22:

1. In Philippians 4, Paul emphasizes the importance of contentment, highlighting that he has learned to be content in various circumstances, both in times of abundance and in times of need. How does Paul's ability to find contentment in all situations challenge our modern notions of happiness and fulfillment? How can we cultivate a similar sense of contentment in our own lives?

2. The well-known verse, Philippians 4:13, "I can do all things through him who strengthens me," is often cited as a source of motivation and empowerment. How does Paul's use of this verse in the context of enduring persecution and facing difficulties provide a deeper perspective on its meaning? How can this verse offer comfort and strength to individuals experiencing challenging circumstances?

3. Paul expresses a profound sense of gratitude and praise, affirming that God will supply every need according to His riches in glory. How does Paul's understanding of God's provision relate to the overarching message of Philippians, which emphasizes rejoicing in the Lord and finding contentment in Him? How can recognizing God's abundant blessings lead us to offer sincere praise and glory to Him in our own lives?

Transcript:

So, we find some more well-known passages as the Book of Philippians wraps up for us here today. And what is the big point? We can see it in the heading that's been added to the text here, God's provision. God provides for his people. And we see that Paul is rejoicing for what he has. Again, this is odd because he has been imprisoned. He has been arrested. He is not doing what he would like to do. He's being led around. He's not a free man, but yet he's talking about God's provision. He's talking about the blessings that God has given him. But look what he has done. Look what he has learned through this circumstance that God has put him in. Verse 11, Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. He's learning that important thing that we struggle with so much contentment. But Paul, if anyone should be discontent, it should be him. He should be wondering, God, why is this happening to me? I have been your faithful servant. I'm a missionary. If I wasn't imprisoned, I could be out sharing the gospel.

People could be coming to faith. God, what's going on here? But instead, Paul has learned to be content. And look what he says. He knows how to be brought low. He knows how to abound. So, he knows when things are not good, he knows how to be content. But when things are great, he also knows how to be content. In any circumstance, he has learned this. He says, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger and abundance and need. He has learned it all. And where does that come from? It comes from Christ. Because look at what it says in verse 13. This is used a little bit differently. This is a very well-known verse, and rightly so, but we use it by itself. We rarely connect it to this idea of Paul being able to endure persecution when we think of this verse. He says, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now, this is most assuredly true. Paul talks about abundance, but this verse is also talking about how he can do all things through Christ. And that includes facing persecution, facing the difficult things of life. We like to see this verse as motivation for us to do great things.

And it is, don't get me wrong, but it also is a verse that we need to go to when we are facing difficult times. I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I can not only do the great things that I desire to do through Christ, I can also endure the difficult seasons of life. If I'm in I can do that through Christ who strengthens me. If I'm a time of financial difficulty, I can do that because Christ strengthens me. You can see what is going on here, how deep this is, how much this flows out of Paul's understanding of the gospel, that God has so richly blessed him in Christ that that is all that he needs. And so, he's going to take what God gives him because he has the most abundant thing there is, and that's the Gospel, that saves him from the wrath of God. He understands who God is and his abundance through that lens. And so, no matter what happens, he has the abundance of the gospel. So may we think about this as we think about the difficulties that we face in life. Maybe they are being used for us to learn to trust God more and to be able to be strengthened by him in any and every circumstance, as Paul says here.

And notice what Paul says here, close to the end, as we look at verses 19 and 20 says, And my God will supply every knee of yours according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus, to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. No matter what happens, God is giving of His blessings to us because we are in Christ. Because we have been united to Christ, we have the riches of His glory. And so, whether our circumstances in life are difficult or whether they are abundance, we know that God is supplying what we need according to His riches and glory, because who we have in Christ is greater than anything else. And so may that flow out of us as it does through... For Paul here, right? May that flow out of us, that line that says, To our God and Father be glory forever and ever. May this idea that we have been so abundantly blessed in Christ turn to praise within our hearts and praise that comes out of our mouths, that we might bring all glory and honor and praise to him because we have been abundantly blessed. We have been saved from the wrath of God, and that's the greatest thing that we can have.

So, may we go out into the world today and remember that we can do all things, whether it is when we are brought low or when we are high. We can do all those things through Christ who gives us strength.