FULL (CONTENTMENT) Philippians 4:11-12 October 23, 2016

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1 FULL (CONTENTMENT) INTRODUCTION: The Apostle Paul s writing in Philippians 4 is preceded by his life s personal goals. At the top of the list was knowing God, an experiential relationship with His Creator/Savior He spoke of his Divine Dissatisfaction of laying hold of that which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Words such as: Attaining Apprehending Desiring Maturing Pursuing In Philippians 3:11 he used language that spoke of standing up and standing out for Christ; standing now as one who has been raised from the dead. 1

2 Paul saw Christ as His Reward Paul saw Christ as the Explanation of his life. Paul saw Christ as the Inspiration of his life. Paul saw Christ as the Strength of his life. Paul saw Christ as the Pattern of his life. As one reads the New Testament, we find time after time that needs would arise and the Holy Spirit would inspire and direct one of the followers of Christ to write. It may be Luke the Doctor, or John the Beloved of our Lord, or James, His halfbrother. As the church was born at Pentecost we read in Acts 2:40-47 of the 1 st church s activities. Acts 2:44-45 Now all who believed were together, and had all things in common, 45 and sold their possessions and goods, and divided them among all, as anyone had need. This was the infancy of the church seen rejoicing before any strife or division affected it. 2

3 They had an intense feeling of responsibility for each other. They were a family (fellowship); stuck together. A spiritual unity and a practical oneness. They were a unified church. But, they were also a Generous Church. What created such needs? Many new believers belonged to distant places; the longer they tarried, the more their money diminished. Probably some of the new converts had been dismissed by their employers. The inns could not accommodate the vast influx of people to Jerusalem during those feast times. People opened their houses and shared their possessions. It is indicative of immense generosity. This was love not law; this was compassion, not compulsion. I believe that giving, caring and sharing are the essential marks of the true Christian life and proves the reality of profession. This was not a form of modern Communism, for the program was totally voluntary, temporary, and motivated by love. William Barclay, A real Christian cannot bear to have too much while others have too little. 3

4 1 John 3:16-18 By this we know love, because He laid down His life for us. And we also ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoever has this world's goods, and sees his brother in need, and shuts up his heart from him, how does the love of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth. Religion begat prosperity, and the daughter devoured the mother. Quote from The Light and the Glory (Gary Burrows). Received an after last Sunday s message. Inspired by this morning s sermon: What if? My generosity was formed by my faith, not my bottom line? I stopped hoarding for my comfort, and compassionately considered the needs of others. My kids followed my examples of giving. I understood how generosity has the capacity to transform me as the giver, and transform the recipient. 4

5 I defined rich/wealthy by how much I give instead of how much I make. I considered Jesus as worthy of giving all my earthly possessions because He has given me everything. Maybe America doesn t believe they need Jesus because they don t see a church who lives dependent upon Him K. K. (Karen Kleinschmidt) Bernadine Cantrell said she was taught, Give that you might get to give to get to give and on and on, never putting a period or even a comma! We don t give to get, but we give to get to give. We are conveyer belts of His riches! What a privilege! Proverbs 25:16 Have you found honey? Eat only as much as you need, Lest you be filled with it and vomit. The precept extends to the pleasure of which honey is the symbol. Make a moderate use of all the enjoyments (warning of excess). Over indulgence in worldly pleasure issues in moral disgust. 5

6 Speaks of self-control. Too much of a good thing. Bible does not prohibit pleasure. What the Bible forbids is excess in the use of pleasure, realizing many pleasures that arise from sin or that leads to sin. In prohibiting such pleasure, the Bible proceeds upon a principle of benevolence. The principle is benevolent because it accords with the constitution of nature. There is a point at which pleasure becomes pain. It is the law of our being that if pleasure is to remain pleasure, it must be enjoyed moderately and intermittently. The early church fathers said, it is the abundance of outward prosperity that is the undoing of most men. An abundance of pleasures is surely difficult to navigate safely. Extra spaces, extra freedom to maneuver around, may be your undoing. Paul had learned to be Full. 1. A person has learned to be full when he has learned how much is enough. (learned to set a suitable price). 6

7 2. A person has learned to be full when he can discern the best use of what he has. (that is, when he can tell how best to distribute the fullness God gives him). When a person can tell how much he really needs for himself. If you don t know, you will become excessive, even defective, in the enjoyment of what the Lord has given you. Reason- They justify their excesses by saying, I may do whatever I want with what I own. Problem- Owner or Steward? 3. A person has learned to be full when he can avoid the evil of the temptations that go along with fullness. Proverbs 1:32 teaches that the prosperity of fools shall destroy them. 7

8 4. A person has learned to be full when he can make what he has a servant not a slave. (They have possessions but the possessions don t have them.) 5. A person has learned to be full when he allows his fullness to lead him to the source of fullness. 6. A person has learned to be full when he spreads out of his fullness and offer it to God for His use. 7. A person has learned to be full when he knows his heart in the midst of his abundance. 8