Well, happy Thanksgiving to everybody.
Oh, thank you.
Hopefully your Thanksgiving holiday was full of good things and gratitude for those good things.
It is sweet, it is good to gather around a full, abundant table together with our families and the people that we love, friends.
And we obey the words of the old hymn to count our blessings, to count them one by one.
It is right and good for us to do that.
We are a joyfully indebted people.
We are eternally in God's debt for his immense kindness to us in all things physical and eternal.
But I think it is a little ironic that the day that we set aside to give God abundant thanks is also the day when, at least for most of us I am assuming, that our table is set with abundance.
That we have a house that is prepared for a feast.
We give God much thanks in the abundance when our lives are full and rich, when the sun is shining, when our mouths are full of good things, and as well we should.
These are good gifts from God.
Everything comes from him.
But that is in November at the end of the harvest season.
What about in the dead of winter?
What about in January?
When circumstances look bleak, when our table is bare, when we are feeling empty, when we are facing real difficulty and weakness, that's when the gratitude of November seems far away.
Now, I'm not just speaking economically.
I'm also speaking about seasons in our lives when they are particularly difficult.
That can be in November or any other month.
Now, I bet most of us this morning have some kind of hard situation on our minds.
Maybe it's tension in a relationship.
Maybe it's a delicate family situation.
Perhaps finances are tight.
Or you're grieving that someone dear to you has made some poor choices and is suffering for it.
Maybe you have a body that's not working very well right now.
Maybe there's a hard situation that you're facing at work.
Or maybe it's just the daily grind of the particular season of life that God has you in right now.
Maybe some of you are floating on cloud nine, but I imagine most of us are in some kind of season where some kind of hard circumstance is looking at us in the face.
And it's hard to obey the command of Scripture that Mike mentioned in his prayer a little while ago to give thanks in all circumstances.
It can be difficult when our life is impoverished, whether literally or figuratively, to give thanks to God.
We need fresh perspective from God's Word to transform the way we relate to all of our circumstances, whether they are abounding or difficult.
Whether it's on Thanksgiving Day or the other 364 days of the year.
And so this morning in Philippians 4, if you're not already there in your Bibles, go ahead and open up there.
We're going to receive some of that fresh perspective that we need from a precious letter written by the Apostle Paul to a Philippian body of believers in the church, the city of Philippi in Greece, 2,000-ish years ago.
So turn with me to Philippians 4.
And what we're going to find in Philippians 4 is a big idea.
One main idea I want to just drive home this morning.
And then we're going to explore kind of the different ways that that gets worked out in our lives.
Here's the main idea we're going to see from Philippians 4.
Having a joyful faith union with Jesus transforms the way we relate to our circumstances, good or bad.
So think of this message as a mountain spring cascading down from the high Sierras.
The source of that is that first part of that big idea.
Having a joyful faith union with Jesus.
That's the source.
And then that source is going to split into three tributaries, three streams of ways in which that faith union with Jesus transforms the way we relate to our circumstances.
So we're going to look at the source.
Then we're going to see three streams coming off of that source of how that joyful faith union transforms the way that we relate to our circumstances.
So first, let's dive in and let's look at the source.
What is a joyful faith union with Jesus?
When my wife Jessica and I were dating, once we got comfortable enough with each other that poking fun at each other wasn't dangerous, it wasn't going to cause a fight,
she began to make fun of me because I kept using the word over and over again.
And it was kind of like Princess Bride.
I don't think that means what you think it means.
I began to use the word essentially all the time.
Or basically, one of those two.
And she kept making fun of me for it.
It was such a part, it was a regular feature of my speech.
I don't know how it got worked in there, but I guess I thought I sounded smart when I kept using it.
So I kept using that.
It was a regular feature of my speech.
Well, the Apostle Paul had a regular feature to his speech that he used all the time in his letters.
It was so much a part of him that it just showed up in all of the letters he wrote.
And it showed up in today's passage that Abby read for us a few moments ago.
In Philippians 4, verses 10 through 20, Paul uses the Greek preposition in, sorry for throwing Greek out here,
but it's basically the same as English, in.
E-N, in English I-N.
It's the Greek preposition in, three times in this passage in relationship to Jesus.
Verse 10, our opening verse,
I rejoiced in the Lord, referring to Jesus.
I rejoiced in the Lord Jesus greatly that you revived your concern for me.
So he's rejoicing in Jesus.
That's one.
The second is in verse 13.
It's disguised, but it's there.
In verse 13, very familiar verse to us.
I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
That word through, although it's a very legitimate translation of the Greek preposition in,
is hiding the Greek preposition in.
So literally, if you read it in Greek,
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
Through is a very legitimate translation,
but it really comes home nice and powerfully when we read it,
in him who strengthens me.
I'll show that to us in a minute.
The third time is in verse 19.
My God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.
So that little phrase, in the Lord, or in Christ Jesus, or in him, shows up all over Paul's letters.
It's a regular feature of the way he writes.
It's the world he lives in.
He loves that little preposition in.
And when he uses it, this is what he's trying to communicate.
He's trying to convey something of the rich relational union that the believers have with Jesus.
By faith.
In fact, that little phrase, in Christ, is the number one way that the New Testament talks about Christians.
The word Christian only shows up a couple of times in our Bibles.
Not much.
And then a few other times, the word believer, or follower, or disciple.
Of course, that's used to describe Christians as well.
But nothing compared to the amount of times that Paul especially,
but other New Testament writers talk about Christians being in Christ.
In him.
Just for the sake of illustrating this, let's flip over to Ephesians 1.
Ephesians is the book right to the left of Philippians.
And I'm just going to read verses 3 through 14 of chapter 1 of Ephesians.
I want you to follow along with me.
If you're taking notes, take tally marks.
And what I want you to do is I want you to listen for how many times Paul uses the phrase,
in him, or in Christ, or with him, or in Jesus.
Anything like that.
Okay?
We might get a few different counts.
But keep track with me of how many times he is talking about us being in Christ.
Here we go.
Ephesians 1, 3 through 14.
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places,
even as he chose us in him before the foundation of the world, that we should be holy and blameless before him.
In love he predestined us for adoption as sons through Jesus Christ,
according to the purpose of his will, to the praise of his glorious grace, with which he has blessed us in the beloved.
In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace,
which he lavished on us in all wisdom and insight, making known to us the mystery of his will,
according to this purpose which he set forth in Christ, as a plan for the fullness of time,
to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.
In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will,
so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory.
In him you also, when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation, and believed in him,
were sealed with the promised Holy Spirit, who is the guarantee of our inheritance,
until we acquire possession of it to the praise of his glory.
How many did you get?
Just shout it out.
14?
Anybody else?
11?
That's a lot.
That's amazing.
Do you see how much Paul is thinking of this is who we are?
We are in Christ.
It's astounding.
And dear friend, if you have come to realize how your sin is grievous in God's sight,
and you are in need of forgiveness before God,
and you've understood that Jesus is the perfect sacrifice for your sin,
and you've put all of your eggs of hope and confidence and trust and faith in his basket,
then you are in him.
You are united to him.
Dead to sin as he died to sin.
Alive to God as he is alive to God.
Given new life in his spirit to have a present and real relationship with him.
Just as a man and a woman are united together with an unbreakable vow of commitment and care and mutual love,
so you have been united to Christ in a joyful faith union with him.
And it can't be broken.
And this changes everything if we look at life this way.
So if this is true of you,
then you are anchored to a rock that is so high and so strong
that no wave of circumstance or chaos can penetrate and shake you.
Just like in the Psalms when David's talking about being on a rock and he can't be moved,
it's because he is established in faith on the rock of Jesus.
That's what Paul is standing on in Philippians 4.
He doesn't talk about it particularly in those terms,
but that's the rock he's standing on,
and that's the rock that he keeps referring to.
He is rejoicing in the Lord about something.
He's able to do all things in him who strengthens him,
and he's confident of future provision because of being in Christ.
So that is the source.
That is the fountainhead of what we are looking at
that's going to transform the way that we relate to our circumstances.
Now, let's explore the three streams that this source splits into,
three ways in which this joyful faith union with Jesus
transforms the way we look at our circumstances.
The first stream is this.
Having a joyful faith union with Jesus
teaches us contentment no matter what our circumstances are.
Having a joyful faith union with Jesus teaches us contentment
no matter what our circumstances are.
Let's look at Philippians 4, verses 10 through 13 in a little more detail.
Let me read them for us.
I rejoiced in the Lord greatly now at length
that you have revived your concern for me.
You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity.
Not that I am speaking of being in need,
for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content.
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.
I can do all things in him who strengthens me.
So Paul is at the very end of this letter
that he's writing to his dear friends,
the believers in Philippi,
and he's coming to one of the primary reasons
for which he wrote the letter,
which is to thank them for a gift
that they had sent to him through a messenger
whose name was Epaphroditus.
It shows up later on in the letter.
We'll return to this gift that they give
in the second point.
We're going to take the gift that he just mentioned,
being thankful for,
and we're going to set that aside.
We're coming back to that in the second point.
Because right after his initial joy
of the Philippians showing concern for him,
he goes off on this tangent in verses 11 through 13.
You can almost put parentheses around verses 11 through 13.
There's just like an explanatory tangent,
but it's a beautiful tangent.
It's a wonderful tangent
that provides a beautiful window
into Paul's joyful faith union with Jesus
and how it shapes the way he relates to his circumstances.
So he knows the Philippians have been concerned about him.
He's grateful for that,
but he wants them to know
that he hasn't been pining for a change of circumstance
or wringing his hands,
waiting for their gift to get here
so he could say,
about time this thing got here.
Rather, look at verse 11.
Not that I'm speaking of being in need.
I have learned in whatever situation I am
to be content.
Paul's circumstances, by the way, are not good.
He's in prison.
He's experiencing hardship economically.
He is limited in his mobility
and his ability to work.
He's probably exposed to disease.
He is being slandered by some people.
He's being abandoned by others.
He is afflicted by inward weakness
and outward temptation.
And his death could be just around the corner.
And so it's amazing that he tells the Philippians,
in whatever situation I find myself,
I have learned how to be content.
And he elaborates this in verse 12.
I know how to be brought low.
I know how to abound.
In any and in every circumstance,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty in hunger,
abundance in need.
Did you notice all the education words
that Paul is using?
I have learned, in verse 11.
I know how, in verse 12.
At the end of verse 12,
I have learned the secret.
Paul has learned this contentment.
It is a skill that he has acquired over the years.
When I was in eighth grade,
I was forced to take a keyboarding class
to learn the skill of typing.
Raise your hand if you were subjected
to a similar kind of torture.
Okay.
It was on one of those MS-DOS computers
with floppy disks to save your progress.
If you are under the age of 25,
turn to an older person next to you
and ask them what in the world I just said.
I'm not that old,
but at least I can kind of have some bragging rights
for being old by throwing MS-DOS around.
Little did I know
that those annoying, unnatural,
repetitive exercises
were teaching me
a lifelong, incredibly valuable skill.
I have often said
that the most useful class
I have ever taken
was eighth grade keyboarding.
And here is Paul
near the end of his life
saying,
God, by his grace,
enrolled me in the course
of Christian Contentment 101.
And I strove to be a good student.
And I can say
that I indeed have learned
through a very difficult process
a very valuable skill.
How to be content
in each and every circumstance
in which I find myself.
If I am amply supplied
with all that I need,
I'm content.
I'm not fixated on the stuff that I have.
And if I don't have enough,
I'm still content.
I'm not fixated on what I don't have.
I don't know about you,
but at this point,
I want to be like,
Paul,
how?
How have you learned this?
I want to know
because it doesn't matter
what gets thrown at me.
I inevitably struggle
with discontentment.
I complain
about the stuff
that God throws at me.
So how did you learn this?
It is so hard to learn this, Paul.
How did you figure it out?
Before we move to verse 13
to find the answer,
we have to define
a very important word.
It's the word that Paul uses
for content
back in verse 11.
It was a word
that the Philippians
could have easily understood
as meaning
self-sufficient
or dependent on
no one or anything
except my own inner resources.
And this concept
of self-sufficiency
was the ideal
of the Greek
Stoic and Cynic philosophers
of that age.
The Stoics
and the Cynics
were pursuing
this ultimate
personal ideal
of self-sufficiency.
Basically,
they wanted to be MacGyver.
They wanted to have
all the resources
in themselves
to do anything
at any time
in whatever situation.
That's MacGyver.
One writer
describes this ideal
like this.
A man should be sufficient
unto himself
for all things
and able
by the power
of his own will
to resist
the force
of circumstances.
But Paul
takes that concept
of self-sufficiency
and whoop
flips it on its head
in verse 13.
He uses the same word
but he totally
transforms the idea.
Yes,
Paul was able
to resist
the force
of his circumstances
but not by the power
of his own will
or his own inner resources
but as he would say
by being in
the one
who strengthens me.
He was able
to be content
in every situation
not because he was
sufficient for himself
but because he was
united to Jesus
by faith
and Jesus was sufficient
for every circumstance.
In short,
he was not self-sufficient,
he was Christ-sufficient.
Because the most important
thing about Paul
was that he united himself
to Jesus by faith.
And because he was
in Jesus,
he was secure,
he was forgiven,
he was adopted
as God's child,
he was redeemed,
he was being made holy
and he was being
inwardly strengthened
to delight in God
regardless of his circumstances.
Now let's turn this to us.
What if
each one
of our circumstances
was a gracious assignment
from God,
your patient
and wise teacher
in the course
of Christian Contentment 101,
an assignment
in which he has
purposed to teach you
to find your sufficiency
in Jesus,
not in yourself,
because you are
in him.
So dear friend,
what current circumstance
is most on your mind?
Causing you concern,
anxiety,
fear,
despair,
frustration,
how are you
relating to it?
Are you relating
to it
through self-sufficiency
or through
Jesus'
sufficiency?
Are you searching
your own inner
resources
and exhausting
your own will
or are you
finding your
sufficiency
in the one
who strengthens you
through your faith
union with him?
Last week,
we saw in Revelation 4
that God
is never shaken.
Like we sang
just a few moments ago,
he never changes.
He is on his throne.
As Jiwon mentioned earlier,
there's no sea,
there's no chaos
in God's presence.
No ups and downs
of circumstances.
He reigns
over all.
He is sufficient
because he rules
over every circumstance.
And he has orchestrated
your particular circumstances
at this stage
and at this season
of your life
to teach you
that he is sufficient
for you
so that you can find
your full contentment
in every situation
in him.
So that's our first
stream.
We have our life
joyfully united
to him by faith
and that transforms
the way that we relate
to our circumstances
because we can find
contentment
in any circumstance.
There's another way
that it transforms
the way we relate
to our circumstances
and it's this.
Having a joyful
faith union with Jesus
produces gratitude
for things unrelated
to our circumstances.
Having a joyful
faith union with Jesus
produces gratitude
for things unrelated
to our circumstances.
Let's look at
verses 14 through 20.
Yet it was kind of you
to share my trouble.
And you Philippians
yourselves know
that in the beginning
of the gospel
when I left Macedonia
no church entered
into partnership
with me in giving
and receiving
except you only.
Even in Thessalonica
you sent me help
for my needs
once and again.
Not that I seek
the gift
but I seek the fruit
that increases
to your credit.
I have received
full payment
and more.
I am well supplied
having received
from Epaphroditus
the gifts you sent.
A fragrant offering,
a sacrifice acceptable
and pleasing
to God.
Remember the whole
last portion
of this letter
is Paul's way
of expressing
his gratitude
to the believers
in Philippi
because they had
given him a gift
through a mutual friend
to Epaphroditus.
They had no doubt
heard he was in prison.
They wanted to express
their support for him
and so they sent him
a gift.
This was probably
a financial gift
and they were trying
to give him money
to buy food
and clothing
while he was in prison.
In today's prison system
it is financially
supported by the state
through taxpayer dollars
to provide food
and clothing
and shelter
for prisoners.
But Paul's prison experience
in Rome
was not.
It included a room
but not board.
A prisoner's family
and friends
were responsible
for supplying
all the food
and clothing
that a prisoner
needed
while he was incarcerated.
So you and I
might expect
that Paul's reaction
might be something like
man, guys
thank you.
If you had not
sent your gift
when you did
I was running out
of bread.
So thank you.
I could see how
God totally provided
for my daily needs
through your kind gift.
But he doesn't mention that.
He doesn't go there.
He's just not
thinking about himself.
He's finding
all of his identity
and all of his thought
and all of his concern
in different priorities
than his own
self-priorities.
He certainly expresses
joy in their concern
for him
but not because of
how their concern
for him benefited him
but rather
how it benefited
them
and then glorify God.
So verses 14 through 16
Paul goes above
and beyond
to remind the Philippians
of their active participation
in his ministry
ever since he had known them.
They've been active supporters
of Paul
ever since he planted
their church.
They had generously
contributed
to his gospel ministry
in other cities
around their region
and even when he was
as far away
as Rome.
And so you can tell
there's this warm
affectionate partnership
between the apostle
and this group
of believers
but look at verse 17.
This is where he clarifies
why he's rejoicing
in the Lord
in verse 10.
Not that I seek the gift
I seek the fruit
that increases
to your credit.
The word fruit
was a common way
of referring
to compounded interest
that accrued
to the benefit
of an account holder.
So if you got
a savings account
the more that you invest
in that account
then the greater
your yield of interest
from the bank.
In other words
the greater your fruit.
Paul was rejoicing
not because
his circumstances
changed
but because
the Philippians
were investing
more and more
in the right account
and it would produce
a generous spiritual yield
for their benefit
both in this life
and for eternity.
Now
just for clarity's sake
he's not saying
that their generosity
is kind of
helping them
climb some ladder
of spiritual performance
and get good points
in return.
That's legalism.
That's not what
Paul's talking about.
Rather
this is
what Paul had been
praying for
back in chapter 1
of verse Philippians.
In Philippians 1
verses 9 through 11
he prays
I have been praying
that you would be
filled with the fruit
of righteousness
that comes through
Jesus Christ.
So Paul wants
these believers
to be connected
to Jesus
in such a way
that they are
thriving and flourishing
through their faith union
with him
and part of that flourishing
is a costly concern
for the needs
of others.
They are bearing fruit
and God
takes notice of that
and he rewards it
in a form of
either a present blessing
favor
or a future reward
in eternity.
So Epaphroditus
walks in Paul's
prison cell
hands him the gift
and Paul's jumping
up and down
for joy
and he's like
yes!
But it's not because
he changes circumstances.
It's because
their motives are right.
It's because
their hearts
are in the right place.
It's because
they're giving generously.
They're still
focused on Jesus.
They're still connected
to him.
This is going to be
so good for them.
Had the money
gone to some other
preacher
in some other cell
he would have been
just as happy.
He gives thanks
for something
completely unrelated
to his circumstances
because he has
a joyful faith union
with Jesus
and that has changed
his values
and his priorities.
In verse 18
Paul shifts
attention to himself
just long enough
to assure the Philippians
that his needs
are fully met
through their generous gift
and then he gets his eyes
back off himself again
and he starts rejoicing
because not only
is their generosity
accruing spiritual benefit
for them in God's eyes
but is a precious
and pleasing act
of worship
to God.
Look at the end
of verse 18.
He calls their gift
a fragrant offering
a sacrifice acceptable
and pleasing
to God.
Paul is jumping
up and down
for joy
not only because
the Philippians
would reap
spiritual benefit
from their generosity
but because it glorified God
and their generosity
pleased God.
He was giving thanks
not because
the circumstances changed
but because the Philippians
were honoring God.
If your family
is like mine
you probably
sat around
a Thanksgiving table
on Thursday
and I'm guessing
that we were
similarly grateful
for particular things.
Things that were related
to our circumstances.
Health.
A roof over our heads.
Vehicles.
Money in our bank account.
Food in the refrigerator.
Food on the table.
Family and friends.
And these are
circumstantial kindnesses
of God
and we ought to give
thanks for them.
However,
if my faith union
with Jesus
is the most important
thing about me
then these
circumstantial things
shouldn't be
the only things
I should be giving
thanks for.
when Jesus
is the center
of my life
and we are
joyfully united
with him
by faith
we don't
only give thanks
for the things
that immediately
affect us
in our circumstances
we also give thanks
for a whole new
set of spiritual
realities
that matter to us
because they matter
to Jesus
the one we're
connected to.
So do you give thanks
for what Jesus
give thanks for?
If you are
intimately connected
to Jesus
by faith
if he's the center
of your life
then his priorities
are your priorities
just like Paul's
priorities
were not focused
on his circumstances
but on greater
spiritual realities.
The things that
he values
we ought to value.
The things that
Jesus delights in
we ought to delight in.
So in this passage
there are at least
two things that we
can see through
Paul's
Jesus centered
lenses
that we can give
thanks for
and rejoice in
even though they
don't immediately
affect us
or our circumstances.
It's when others
are spiritually growing
and thriving
and when God
is honored
through the spiritual
fruit bearing
of others.
So that means
that I should be
giving thanks
not only for
God's work in my life
which affect me
but when I see
evidence of God
at work
in the heart
of someone
in my life group
because they're
learning how to be
content with a
hard circumstance
because they're
making God
their sufficiency.
Or I should be
giving thanks
when it appears
that God is
softening my
neighbor's heart
to the gospel.
I should be
giving thanks
when I hear
someone talk
about how God
is exposing
sin in their life
and teaching them
to put it to death
and trust in Jesus
more fully.
I should be
rejoicing when I
look at the bulletin
and I see last week's
offering amount
not because it was
higher than last week
and then we want
to have a good
bank account
for our church
but because
of the fruit
of generosity
that is overflowing
in our church
that is pleasing
to God
and it's for our
spiritual benefit.
So we should
give thanks
for these realities
because they matter
to Jesus.
Our circumstances
matter to Jesus too
obviously
but this is
opening our eyes
to a whole new
realm of things
to be grateful for
because our life
is connected
to him.
There's one last
thing in this passage
in verses 19 and 20
one more stream
in which our
joyful faith union
with Jesus
transforms the way
we relate to our
circumstances.
We've seen that it
teaches us contentment
no matter what our
circumstances are
that it teaches us
gratitude
for things that are
unrelated to our
circumstances
and lastly
this
having a joyful
faith union with
Jesus makes us
confident
that God will
provide
for us
for our needs
in the middle
of our circumstances.
Having a joyful
faith union with
Jesus makes us
confident that God
will provide for us
for our needs
in the middle
of our circumstances.
Let's end
this sermon
where Paul ends
his letter
verses 19 to 20.
And my God
will supply
every need of yours
according to his
riches in glory
in Christ Jesus
to our God and
Father be glory
forever and ever.
Amen.
This is wonderfully
short and sweet.
Paul is rejoicing
in Christ
because the
Philippians were
flourishing in
Christ by bearing
fruit of godly
generosity and
concern for
others.
And because of
their faithful
fruit bearing in
Christ,
Paul has no doubt
that God will be
faithful to supply
all of their needs
just as they had
supplied for his.
again, the
Philippians hadn't
earned some
benefit here.
Rather, Paul is
promising that God
takes notice
of the needs of
those who are in
his son,
Jesus,
and the Philippians
have shown the
proof that they
are in his son
by showing concern
for Paul in the
middle of his need.
So if we are in
Christ, if we are
united to him
by faith,
then all the riches
of God's glory
are ours in
Christ.
So if our
circumstances seem
perilous, dark,
empty, hopeless,
like Paul's did,
then we must not
forget that God
is abundantly able
and eager to
supply what we
need.
He's loaded,
as Pastor Mike
likes to say.
Remember Revelation
4 from last week?
Our God sits
enthroned in
might and
power and
glory.
He's totally
unmoved by
chaos or
circumstances,
and he loves
his people.
His power is
funneled and
channeled toward
those who are
in Christ,
and it's this
power not for
bad, for good.
And notice what
Paul calls God
in verse 20.
are God and
Father.
If you are
joyfully united
by faith to
Jesus, God is
your adoptive
Father.
He has placed
the spirit of
his Son in
you, calling
out from the
depths of your
being, Abba,
Father.
He has united
you to Jesus
in such a way
that you call
out to the
same Father,
and your
Father answers
because you are
in his Son.
So dear
brother, dear
sister, if you
are in need
in the middle
of your
circumstances,
and who of us
isn't,
this promise is
so delightful.
Your Father has
glorious riches,
and you have
intimate access
to him
because you are
in his Son.
and he delights
to provide what
we need in the
middle of our
circumstances because
he gets great
glory in caring
for and providing
for those who
are in Jesus.
So dear brother,
dear sister,
if you are in
Christ, then you
are able to
daily, moment
by moment,
draw joy and
strength from the
source of your
mountain stream.
Your faith union
with the
all-sufficient
one who never
changes, who
gave himself for
you, who makes
us content in all
kinds of
circumstances, who
enables us to get
our eyes off of
ourselves and on
our circumstances and
on things that are
important to him and
his kingdom, and who
is able to supply all
of our needs in the
middle of our
circumstances.
You have access
now to rejoice in
your union with
him.
So if you find
yourself tempted
toward discontentment
where you are, or
towards living in a
self-absorbed way, or
towards despairing and
doubting whether your
daily needs will be
provided for, then
jump in the stream and
swim up to the
source.
Drink deeply of your
faith union with him.
spend some time
contemplating what we
just read in Ephesians
1, that sample
passage I read for us
earlier, of all the
benefit, every spiritual
blessing, ours in
Christ.
Ask him to teach you
contentment, to help
you to give thanks for
what he gives thanks for,
to make you more
confident in his
ability to supply all
of your needs according
to his glorious riches
in Christ.
In just a moment, I'm
going to pray.
And what I want to
encourage you to do is
spend a few moments
engaging with your
all-sufficient one.
Engage with your God.
Ask for greater joy in
your union with Jesus,
that he may transform the
way that you are
relating to your
circumstances right here
and now.
And if you're here this
morning and you don't
know Jesus in this
way, you're aware that
you don't have a faith
union with him in this
way that we've been
talking about, then turn
to him in faith.
Ask him to open your
eyes to the glorious
riches of being in Jesus.
Let's pray together.
Amen.
Oh God, we need your
help.
We are a people that
are quick to
discontentment, to
grumbling, to
complaining.
We tend to have our
eyes fixed only on
ourselves and our
circumstances.
We tend to be
faithless and we need
your help.
So we come to you,
God, all-sufficient
one who never changes.
Would you show us the
joy of being united to
your son?
And may that transform
the way that we see
our circumstances.
Help us to live by
faith in him.
In Christ's name,
amen.