Good God (Part 5 Notes)

“I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.  You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. . .”

Philippians 4:10 (ESV)

“Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. 12 I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. 13 I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:11-13 (ESV)

CONTENT

LEARN – “initiated into the secret”

Contentment is something that is learned, not a spiritual gift.

Contentment – learning to become sufficient in Christ’s sufficiency.

Self/To erect a barrier or wall keep out or to ward off intrusion

Kingdom contentment means you are sufficient with Christ’s sufficiency.

To be content is to have the absence of envy.

Contentment is the protective armor that allows you to rejoice in any circumstance.

We embrace whatever situation we find ourselves in, but we are not satisfied with the way things are.

The breakthrough is going to happen through you – not by God protecting you from circumstances all the time.

TRUE OR FALSE: Happiness depends on happenings.

The secret is not a principle – it’s a Person.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

Philippians 4:13 (NKJV)

Strengthen – to infuse with strength

Anything not produced from that source is self-works.

Problems are not God turning His back on you.  It is God saying, “I can only be something for you in this situation.”

You cannot be an overcomer if you have nothing to overcome.

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds.”

James 1:2-4 NIV

“Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” 

Jude 3 (NKJV)

CONTEND“Fight strenuously for [the defense of] the faith.”

CONTENT – whatever is going on outside does not get inside.  CONTEND – But I’m not going to stay in this circumstance.

“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’  Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. 10 That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)