Cultivating Contentment. Philippians 4:10-20

Hinckley Evangelical Free Church

March 3, 2019 

Cultivating Contentment

Philippians 4:10-20

 

“Contentment is a highly prized, but e___________ virtue…  it comes only from being rightly r________ to God and trusting His sovereign, loving, purposeful p____________”

1. MacArthur
2. First, it is “l________________” not earned! Vs 11-12
   • this implies a process…learning is a process…

• In all Paul's unique and constant sufferings, he had learned the secret of rising above them. In the midst of all his trials, he kept his f________ on heavenly realities.

 

1. Second it is “d________________”, not Independence

• “I can do everything t__________ H____ who gives me strength”! ….Vs 13

 

When he reached the limit of his r___________ and s______________, even to the point of death, he was infused with the strength of Christ.

• "I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me" ( 2:20).

 

III. Third it is “r__________________”, not wresting

19  And this same God who takes care of me will supply all your needs from his glorious riches, which have been given to us in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19 The New Living Testament

 

John 1:3 (ESV)
3   All things were made through H____, and without H_____ was not anything made that was made.

 

• In C____________ 1:16
  16 For by him a____ things were created, in heaven and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—a_____ things were created through him and for him.
  17 And he is before all things, and in him a_____ things hold together.
• H_______________ 13:5-6 (ESV)
  5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will n_________ leave you nor forsake you.”
  6 So we can c____________ say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?”

 

6  Now there is great gain in godliness with contentment,
7  for we brought nothing into the world, and we cannot take anything out of the world.
8  But if we have food and clothing, with these we will be content.
9  But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation, into a snare, into many senseless and harmful desires that plunge people into ruin and destruction.
10  For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evils. It is through this craving that some have wandered away from the faith and pierced themselves with many pangs.

____________