WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.620 Thanks, Kel. Morning, church. I don't know if you have ever had a party or an event that you 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:13.259 have been so excited for, so excited, you're so keen that it's changed your whole week. 00:00:14.000 --> 00:00:20.719 Everything about that event in the future is what has changed. And I don't know about you, 00:00:21.080 --> 00:00:26.839 one of the things is that a lot of people love Christmas. And in our little household of three 00:00:26.839 --> 00:00:34.179 friends, something that we like to do is Christmas in July. And I personally am not a particularly 00:00:34.179 --> 00:00:40.880 festive person, but for some reason in the month of July, I get a bit festive. In fact, 00:00:41.299 --> 00:00:46.480 a week before the event, I start looking at Pinterest. I'm scrolling through to find good 00:00:46.480 --> 00:00:53.579 Christmas recipes. I'm also thinking about putting some Michael Bluble in the car. I then remember 00:00:53.579 --> 00:00:59.719 about not buying those bonbons in December for July. And I'll call my friend who's never cooked 00:00:59.719 --> 00:01:06.759 before how to make custard so that they don't bring scrambled eggs for dessert. And the three of us 00:01:06.759 --> 00:01:12.840 have cleaned the house. We've prepared it. We put Christmas decorations. And we've done that because 00:01:12.840 --> 00:01:20.280 we are so excited for the next day. We're excited for this Christmas in July hang because it's changed 00:01:20.280 --> 00:01:27.620 everything that we do. It's that event tomorrow that I know is coming, but I am living as though 00:01:27.620 --> 00:01:36.980 tomorrow is already here. Tomorrow changes how you live. So in Philippians, we're going to be 00:01:36.980 --> 00:01:45.780 encouraged about a tomorrow. A tomorrow that is good news. That for the Christian, if you put your trust 00:01:45.780 --> 00:01:52.939 in Jesus, your tomorrow shapes your today. And I'm not talking about your meals for tomorrow. I'm not 00:01:52.939 --> 00:02:01.159 talking about a big project, nor Christmas in July. For Paul, the big tomorrow is that day when he goes 00:02:01.159 --> 00:02:06.280 home and is with his Savior, Lord Jesus. So why don't you join me as I pray? 00:02:06.280 --> 00:02:14.639 Greatest God, you are good. So good that you have given us your word this morning. Speak to us today. 00:02:15.219 --> 00:02:21.740 Transform us so that we can be more like your son Jesus and that we might know you deeper and deeper. 00:02:22.379 --> 00:02:29.280 Amen. So have your Bibles open with me in Philippians 4. Now, Paul's biggest concern in the 00:02:29.280 --> 00:02:36.840 previous three chapters have been about the gospel of Jesus, the good news of Jesus. The gospel is where 00:02:36.840 --> 00:02:44.840 Paul finds steadfast joy. Jesus is where he finds his hope, even though he is in chains. In fact, he 00:02:44.840 --> 00:02:50.039 calls the Philippians to find confidence not in themselves, nor their status or achievements, but in 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:55.860 what Christ has accomplished. He says in Philippians 3 verse 8 that he considers all his achievements and 00:02:55.860 --> 00:03:04.300 status as lost. He considers them rubbish that he may gain Christ. Why? Because Christ is his Savior 00:03:04.300 --> 00:03:11.000 and his Lord, and he knows his future with Christ. He says it so aptly in Philippians 3. So flip back 00:03:11.000 --> 00:03:18.800 with me to Philippians chapter 3 verse 20. Paul says, but our citizenship is in heaven and we eagerly 00:03:18.800 --> 00:03:25.000 await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who by the power that enables him to bring everything 00:03:25.000 --> 00:03:32.539 under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:41.300 Heaven is his home. Paul looks forward to that great tomorrow. It's the tomorrow that lasts for 00:03:41.300 --> 00:03:46.960 eternity, and that's what frames Philippians 4. And we're going to see that Paul's tomorrow shapes three 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:54.460 things, our relationships, our mind, and our everyday. And so right now we land in verse 1 of chapter 4, 00:03:54.460 --> 00:04:02.460 and he goes on to say, therefore my brothers, you whom I love and long for, my joy and crown, 00:04:02.700 --> 00:04:10.700 that is how you should stand firm in the Lord, dear friends. James a few weeks ago has already described 00:04:10.700 --> 00:04:16.780 the relationship that Paul has with the Philippians as partners in the gospel. But notice how the language 00:04:16.779 --> 00:04:25.479 has changed. He calls the Philippians his joy and crown. The image here is not of a king's crown, but it's a 00:04:25.479 --> 00:04:34.579 reward given to a winner of a race. For Paul, the Philippians are his crown. The people he's invested in, 00:04:34.639 --> 00:04:41.959 prayed for, longed for, discipled, pointed them to Jesus. A big part of Paul's love and longing for the 00:04:41.959 --> 00:04:48.819 Philippians is the hope in seeing them in heaven for eternity. But he then moves to something quite 00:04:48.819 --> 00:04:55.740 different and something quite bold. So look with me in verse 2. I plead with Iodia, I plead with Syntyche 00:04:55.740 --> 00:05:04.799 to agree with each other in the Lord. Paul publicly calls these two women out by name, which he doesn't 00:05:04.800 --> 00:05:12.600 usually do, and encourages them to reconcile. He wants their reconciliation rooted in who they are 00:05:12.600 --> 00:05:19.580 in Jesus. Now imagine being called out like that in a letter, that you'd almost think that either Iodia 00:05:19.580 --> 00:05:25.879 or Syntyche or even both of them are in the wrong, they're the bad people. But Paul doesn't accuse them. 00:05:26.340 --> 00:05:31.580 We're not told what happened or what caused the breakdown of their relationship. In fact, Paul in 00:05:31.579 --> 00:05:38.639 verse 3 urges the Philippians to help these women who have contended at my side in the cause of the 00:05:38.639 --> 00:05:45.459 gospel. Iodia and Syntyche are co-workers for the gospel. And from what others have gathered, 00:05:45.899 --> 00:05:52.199 they were probably long-time friends. This isn't a matter of bad theology where someone needs to be 00:05:52.199 --> 00:05:59.240 corrected. For some reason, they've had a fallout. And what is interesting is Paul's motivation 00:05:59.240 --> 00:06:04.319 and his reminder of who they are. End of verse 3, it says, 00:06:05.220 --> 00:06:18.900 For Paul, he didn't want them united because he was conflict-averse, not because it made him sad, 00:06:19.180 --> 00:06:25.180 even though it would have been, but because they are in the book of life. In other words, 00:06:25.180 --> 00:06:30.240 because they have a certain hope, a certain tomorrow and eternity with Jesus, Paul's calling 00:06:30.240 --> 00:06:38.259 them to live as though tomorrow shapes their life now, their relationships today. If your confidence 00:06:38.259 --> 00:06:48.360 is in Jesus, you're a citizen of, not a citizen of earth. Let me say it again. If your trust and hope 00:06:48.360 --> 00:06:57.560 is in Jesus, you are not a citizen of earth. You're a citizen of heaven. If heaven is your tomorrow, 00:06:57.639 --> 00:07:06.600 it changes how you view relationships. So friends, can I ask, are there relationships that are in 00:07:06.600 --> 00:07:13.699 urgent need in your heart that you must resolve? I'm not suggesting that this is easy by no means. 00:07:13.699 --> 00:07:21.719 Often it takes time, but perhaps consider what Paul encourages the Philippian church. Look forward 00:07:21.719 --> 00:07:27.379 to the day that Paul is looking to, where we will be united with Christ in his presence forever. 00:07:27.819 --> 00:07:34.439 Dwell on the fact that your tomorrow is heaven, where all people in Christ have been reconciled 00:07:34.439 --> 00:07:41.659 with God and to each other. But for some of us here, disunity, conflict in the church, 00:07:41.660 --> 00:07:46.680 it hasn't been a thing. We think, you know, for ourselves that we're a pretty agreeable person. 00:07:46.820 --> 00:07:53.280 We don't make a huge fuss. We think we're pretty likable. But that doesn't mean that your tomorrow 00:07:53.280 --> 00:07:59.600 is changing your relationships. Because you can be a friendly person, yet not invest in gospel 00:07:59.600 --> 00:08:06.180 relationships. Relationships that are shaped by tomorrow. Your schism might not be worship preference 00:08:06.180 --> 00:08:12.920 or a big relational fallout. But perhaps it's that you're not making space for relationships 00:08:12.920 --> 00:08:19.079 with Christian brothers and sisters, or investing in Christian community with your time, your treasures, 00:08:19.240 --> 00:08:25.060 and your talents. You might not have it in your head, but the relationships you make here in this 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:30.759 church with Christian brothers and sisters, it matters for eternity. If you are serving in a ministry 00:08:30.759 --> 00:08:34.639 where you are preaching the good news of Jesus, whether kids' ministry, whether in community group, 00:08:34.639 --> 00:08:41.460 whether it's out in your workplaces, it matters for eternity. When you are sharing and making coffee, 00:08:41.840 --> 00:08:47.299 building that community here at Morning Tea, it matters for eternity. When you pray for and with 00:08:47.299 --> 00:08:57.960 someone, it matters for eternity. So can I encourage you to take one small step? Wherever your journey with 00:08:57.960 --> 00:09:03.059 Christian community is, maybe it's finally to say hi to that person who you've been sitting next to for 00:09:03.059 --> 00:09:08.539 10 years. It could be to give a person in your community group a ring to check in on them this 00:09:08.539 --> 00:09:15.879 week in their devotional life. It could be even to sign up to a community group. If you have an 00:09:15.879 --> 00:09:23.099 inkling that someone is falling away from church community, from Jesus altogether, do you go and think, 00:09:23.100 --> 00:09:30.820 that matters because Jesus is coming back? Friends, there's always a reason and there's always good 00:09:30.820 --> 00:09:37.860 things to use your time with, but Paul encourages the Philippians, perhaps there's a better thing. 00:09:38.659 --> 00:09:46.440 Your relationships now affect eternity. Jodia and Syntyche's relationship matters because Jesus is coming 00:09:46.440 --> 00:09:53.120 back. Whatever it is, after the service, when you plan your calendar, make space for Christian community 00:09:53.120 --> 00:09:58.960 and book it into your diaries. The next thing that Paul talks about is that tomorrow shapes your mind. 00:09:59.040 --> 00:10:08.880 So let's have a look at verse 4. Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say rejoice. Despite the 00:10:08.880 --> 00:10:16.000 conflict that's going on, Paul calls them again, like in chapter 3 verse 1, to rejoice. But this time, 00:10:16.000 --> 00:10:23.980 always, in all circumstances, on the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, Paul says that the 00:10:23.980 --> 00:10:30.179 Christian is to rejoice even despite this conflict. Joy for the Christian isn't only when the sun is 00:10:30.179 --> 00:10:37.539 shining and my emotions are stable. Joy is still required when the darkness is set in, the clouds, 00:10:37.779 --> 00:10:44.320 and all I can see is darkness. Because our joy is set into something that is hopeful, that is certain, 00:10:44.320 --> 00:10:49.420 a tomorrow that is coming. A tomorrow that is coming. And you might not feel that, but perhaps 00:10:49.420 --> 00:10:59.400 your joy and your hope is not in the Lord. It might be elsewhere. It might be in getting good grades. 00:10:59.960 --> 00:11:07.400 It might be when our kids are happy. Because if you fix your eyes on something that is not certain, 00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:17.779 changing, movable, joy can't last. Paul encourages that joy can last when it's fixed on a certain hope 00:11:17.779 --> 00:11:25.319 and a certain faith. But what is more is then in verse 6. Do not be anxious about anything, but in 00:11:25.319 --> 00:11:32.179 everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And it's really 00:11:32.179 --> 00:11:37.459 important to note here that Paul is not talking about anxiety disorder, nor is he talking about 00:11:37.459 --> 00:11:43.839 the physiological experience some of us have when we do get anxious. In fact, the word used here is 00:11:43.839 --> 00:11:51.479 the same word in the original text used in chapter 2 verse 20, where he describes Epaphrodite's concern, 00:11:51.899 --> 00:11:58.219 interest, or anxiety for the Philippians. So the word could actually also be a good thing. In fact, 00:11:58.220 --> 00:12:05.139 even Paul himself in chapter 2 verse 28, he talks about himself getting anxious, the possibility of it. 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:13.080 So the anxiety that Paul talks about here in chapter 4 is a worry that sits outside of the Christian 00:12:13.080 --> 00:12:21.220 reality. But what is that Christian reality? How does Paul end the sentence? But in everything, 00:12:21.220 --> 00:12:29.160 by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Prayer is a posture of 00:12:29.160 --> 00:12:35.120 dependence. It recognizes that the reality is that God alone is the one who is sovereign, 00:12:35.840 --> 00:12:43.820 in control over everything. Anxiety goes amiss when you lose sight of who God is. He's already got your 00:12:43.820 --> 00:12:49.580 whole life mapped out from birth to eternity. Often what happens when I am worried is that I'll 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:56.379 overthink about all the outcomes that might happen. In fact, I am anxious because I realize at that very 00:12:56.379 --> 00:13:04.360 moment I am not in control. That moment of anxiety for me is a reminder that I am to be Christ-dependent. 00:13:04.740 --> 00:13:10.820 Not self-dependent, but Christ-dependent. And this passage isn't saying to be stoic, have no emotions, 00:13:11.080 --> 00:13:17.680 and don't care or concerned about anything in life. Because Paul does. Epaphrodite does. 00:13:17.679 --> 00:13:25.459 Their concerns are about God's concerns. And they're placed in the Christian reality. And what 00:13:25.459 --> 00:13:32.399 is the Christian reality? What is Paul's encouragement to us? To place our worries in the Christian 00:13:32.399 --> 00:13:42.819 reality. God is sovereign. So pray to him. Lean on him. For me, as I kept reading this passage, I thought, 00:13:42.820 --> 00:13:48.620 what happens when I don't have that joy, that lasting joy we were talking about before? What do I do when 00:13:48.620 --> 00:13:57.060 I'm worried, sick about tomorrow? Have a look at verse 8. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is 00:13:57.060 --> 00:14:03.280 noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable, if anything is 00:14:03.280 --> 00:14:11.420 excellent or praiseworthy, think about such things. What are the things that you are thinking? Are you 00:14:11.419 --> 00:14:16.839 thinking of things that are pure? Is there some self-talk or self-condemnation that doesn't fit with how God 00:14:16.839 --> 00:14:26.659 sees you? But instead, let your mind think of all of these things. True, noble, right, pure, lovely, 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:36.000 admirable. And what encapsulates all of these things? It's the gospel. The gospel is from God's true word. 00:14:36.000 --> 00:14:43.600 It gives us the means to know the righteous one. The gospel is so shockingly gorgeous, lovely, and 00:14:43.600 --> 00:14:49.879 beautiful. It is full deserving of my attention that God would send his perfect son to die on the 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:56.779 cross for a sinner like me. So fix your eyes on the Lord. Meditate on the promises God has given to you 00:14:56.779 --> 00:15:06.879 in Jesus. So think of your brain as a piggy bank. Bear with me, be with me. Your brain is to be a gospel-filled 00:15:06.879 --> 00:15:16.279 piggy bank. Instead of thinking, I'm not enough, drop this gold in your head. I no longer need to strive 00:15:16.279 --> 00:15:23.659 for Christ is enough for me. When you're feeling lonely, meditate on Deuteronomy 31 verse 8, 00:15:23.659 --> 00:15:30.000 that God will never leave you nor forsake you. Preach the gospel to yourself daily, that your 00:15:30.000 --> 00:15:36.339 piggy bank is full of riches, of gospel knowledge and wisdom. And gosh, I am not saying that I've got 00:15:36.339 --> 00:15:43.379 this by no means. And I'm not even close to even being truly a beginner at this. But let's keep gazing 00:15:43.379 --> 00:15:50.220 at Jesus, the hope of our tomorrow, because I also need accountability. I need godly community around me 00:15:50.220 --> 00:15:54.860 to intervene when I'm grumbling too much. I need people to remind me that God's working and changing 00:15:54.860 --> 00:16:01.080 me, sanctifying me when I don't even think it's happening. But there's a promise there for us in 00:16:01.080 --> 00:16:08.680 verse 7, right? Have a look. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your 00:16:08.680 --> 00:16:16.580 hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Verse 7 is a promise. It's a promise for the one who brings all 00:16:16.580 --> 00:16:21.160 this to the Lord. And there have been indeed times for me, and I'm sure for many of you, 00:16:21.220 --> 00:16:27.220 where there are sleepless nights, where anxiety or despair just sink in. Paul is not here saying, 00:16:27.440 --> 00:16:33.440 you need to will yourself to have the feeling of happiness. Instead, you're encouraged to lean 00:16:33.440 --> 00:16:43.040 to Jesus, the one who knows your worries, the one who is in control. God will be the peacemaker in your 00:16:43.039 --> 00:16:50.339 heart. We don't know when that day would be, but trust in that promise here, that peace will come. 00:16:50.939 --> 00:16:58.299 Maybe not now, but it will come. A prayer I have for my friends whose brains are crippled by anxiety, 00:16:58.559 --> 00:17:04.899 and it's a prayer I pray when I'm in good spirits for my future despairing self, is that the Holy Spirit 00:17:04.899 --> 00:17:10.440 will intervene in mind and heart to bring hope in the gospel. Because in those moments, it's really 00:17:10.440 --> 00:17:16.519 hard to see outside of it. Let's be real. It's really hard. So let's be a community that starts 00:17:16.519 --> 00:17:23.440 praying before crisis strikes. Ask the Lord to intervene in your heart and pray for peace. Ask that 00:17:23.440 --> 00:17:29.740 he will preach the gospel into your heart in those moments. And our final point is that tomorrow 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:39.259 changes our every day. Paul's partnership with the Philippians has been long, deep, and fruitful. 00:17:39.259 --> 00:17:45.799 And the Philippians haven't been able to support Paul physically or financially, but they have now 00:17:45.799 --> 00:17:53.799 with a gift. Check out verse 10 with me. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have 00:17:53.799 --> 00:18:00.500 revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am 00:18:00.500 --> 00:18:09.220 speaking of being in need, for I've learnt in whatever situation I am to be content. Notice in verse 11 00:18:09.220 --> 00:18:15.220 that although he is thanking them for the gift, he was not in need of the gift. But simply, 00:18:15.319 --> 00:18:21.960 Paul enjoys that the gift represents their renewed partnership. His reason, however, for not being in 00:18:21.960 --> 00:18:27.600 need isn't the fact that he's in plenty. He hasn't suddenly won the lottery and now he's content and 00:18:27.600 --> 00:18:32.319 no longer in need. It's not like suddenly the bank has given him a massive growth on his compound 00:18:32.319 --> 00:18:34.839 interest. No, in verse 12 it says, 00:18:35.639 --> 00:18:42.740 I know what it is to be in need and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learnt the secret 00:18:42.740 --> 00:18:50.480 of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in 00:18:50.480 --> 00:18:56.480 want. Friends, don't forget this is Paul. Paul who is in chains in the hope that the good news will be 00:18:56.480 --> 00:19:02.099 proclaimed despite the chains. No, no, no. But more than that, he believes and he's seen that these 00:19:02.099 --> 00:19:09.140 chains have served to advance the gospel because his brothers and sisters are being bolder and more 00:19:09.140 --> 00:19:16.680 courageous with the gospel. And in verse 12, in some translations, the first phrase of Paul being 00:19:16.680 --> 00:19:25.980 neat is actually as Paul being made low, being humiliated. And this is counter-cultural in this era. 00:19:25.980 --> 00:19:32.640 An era where power was everything and to be humiliated was the worst possible thing. 00:19:34.180 --> 00:19:45.680 So how can someone who in those situations be content? Verse 13, I can do everything through him 00:19:45.680 --> 00:19:53.079 who gives me strength. Now this is a commonly known verse and often it's taken out of context to refer 00:19:53.079 --> 00:19:59.460 to particularly large, extraordinary events like just before the HSC. I can do everything through 00:19:59.460 --> 00:20:04.720 Christ who gives me strength. Before you do a hike to the Himalayas, I can do everything through Christ 00:20:04.720 --> 00:20:11.899 who gives me strength. Now it is true that everything I do is because the Lord has graciously enabled it. 00:20:11.900 --> 00:20:19.780 I rise each morning because God has graciously given me a new day. But this verse is not talking about that. 00:20:20.540 --> 00:20:27.360 Paul's not referring to the wild, extravagant event. Paul is talking about the secret to his contentment. 00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:33.780 Paul is talking about the contentment of the everyday, the good everyday, the best everyday, 00:20:33.779 --> 00:20:40.940 the awful, the worst everyday, the mundane, boring everyday. He can be content in all of those things 00:20:40.940 --> 00:20:46.299 and it's a power that's outside of himself. Because where does Paul find his sufficiency 00:20:46.299 --> 00:20:55.259 and contentment from? It's from Christ. Not from himself, but from Christ's strength. 00:20:55.259 --> 00:21:03.859 But what does that mean? What does it look like to be content in Christ? We've already seen that all 00:21:03.859 --> 00:21:11.900 Paul's life is for and about Christ. If Paul is poor, he has Christ. If Paul is in want, he has Christ. 00:21:12.119 --> 00:21:22.700 But even if Paul has plenty, he has Christ. Paul has been so confident in what Christ has accomplished 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:29.559 for him. It's changed who he is. He's so certain about what he has received already in Christ. 00:21:30.100 --> 00:21:38.000 But as we've seen, Paul's eyes are fixed forward to tomorrow. He finds contentment in his everyday 00:21:38.000 --> 00:21:44.779 because of his tomorrow. In fact, the gift that the Philippians have given him, it's not even the 00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:50.400 gift itself that he rejoices, that he's thankful for, but the fruit of the gift. Have a look at verse 17. 00:21:50.400 --> 00:21:57.880 Now that I seek the gift, not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit. 00:21:59.340 --> 00:22:06.060 He hopes that God uses that gift so that the gospel might be advanced. So that God's kingdom is 00:22:06.060 --> 00:22:12.900 grown and he knows it. He's confident in it. That God alone would be glorified. And Paul is then so 00:22:12.900 --> 00:22:18.060 confident about God who provides for the Philippians in verse 19. 00:22:18.059 --> 00:22:25.619 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:33.799 You see, contentment is fickle when it's about you and me. At our nature, we will always want. 00:22:34.759 --> 00:22:41.679 We've been made to be needy because we have needs. But when it becomes us-centered rather than 00:22:41.680 --> 00:22:49.880 Christ-centered, having our needs met in Christ, we won't be fully satisfied. We are all living for 00:22:49.880 --> 00:22:59.820 tomorrow. The thing is, what is your tomorrow? Is your tomorrow the whims of life? To have a house 00:22:59.820 --> 00:23:04.640 that is finally gorgeous. Is it that perfect relationship that you've been wanting, idolizing, 00:23:04.640 --> 00:23:14.900 praying for? Because the answer for Paul is that in all circumstances, none of those are the secret 00:23:14.900 --> 00:23:24.220 to contentment. Or is your tomorrow something greater? If you love Jesus, your tomorrow is found in heaven. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:32.640 The secret to contentment is found in Christ. You no longer need to strive to get into God's good books 00:23:32.640 --> 00:23:41.060 because Christ paid the price. And you are already in God's good books. Finished, paid, done. 00:23:42.140 --> 00:23:46.980 You've found the most fulfilling purpose in life, which is to treasure him and make him known. 00:23:48.220 --> 00:23:53.300 And perhaps you've been listening to this today. You've been reading this passage. You've been reading 00:23:53.300 --> 00:23:59.680 the entirety of Philippians and been thinking that you don't currently feel the joy or contentment that 00:23:59.680 --> 00:24:07.880 Paul has. The joy that Paul has expressed. You can't help but keep being worried about a particular 00:24:07.880 --> 00:24:16.039 matter. But what's Paul said about the source of our joy? This series we've learned already that 00:24:16.039 --> 00:24:23.500 biblical joy is a steadfast experience fixed on our salvation in Jesus. You don't need to live 00:24:23.500 --> 00:24:29.539 legalistic lives to attain salvation because you can only attain salvation through trusting in Jesus. 00:24:29.680 --> 00:24:37.640 For Paul, the only secret to the content life is Jesus. Do you hear it? The key word is Jesus. 00:24:38.960 --> 00:24:46.380 If what I described earlier is you, perhaps what you need is to reacquaint yourself to Jesus, 00:24:46.920 --> 00:24:53.920 see his character, see his steadfastness, his promises fulfilled in Christ. I want you to listen 00:24:53.920 --> 00:25:02.500 really carefully here. If you're trying to find joy, contentment, gospel-centered relationships, 00:25:03.100 --> 00:25:07.940 you don't need a new lifestyle. You don't need a new fad, a new calendar, a new diet, a new whatever. 00:25:09.380 --> 00:25:16.220 You need the gospel to sink in deeper and deeper. So be bold and share this with your community group, 00:25:16.220 --> 00:25:21.319 your Christian brothers and sisters, that you've lost that awe. Because can I tell you, there'll be a 00:25:21.319 --> 00:25:28.799 flock of encouragement and people who want to pray and be there for you. Be encouraged that Jesus has 00:25:28.799 --> 00:25:35.319 secured your certain tomorrow. And maybe you sat here for this entire talk not knowing who Jesus is, 00:25:35.440 --> 00:25:41.940 but wanting to have that lasting joy and contentment, wanting to have that certain forever tomorrow. 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:50.120 Come take your first step. Chat with me, chat with Jess, or the person who's brought you. 00:25:51.180 --> 00:25:58.120 We'd love for you to see who Jesus is. Because the tomorrow in heaven that has been made certain 00:25:58.120 --> 00:26:05.860 in Jesus changes everything. It changes your relationship. It changes how you think. It changes 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:15.859 your every day. So stand firm. Stand firm in joy and unity. Live as if heaven is your home. 00:26:16.619 --> 00:26:19.379 Because that great tomorrow is indeed coming.