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.

____________