to God's praise. Now to begin our worship in Psalm 86. Psalm number 86, this is in the
Scottish Psalter version, page 341, and we're singing verses 12 through to the end of the psalm.
O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto
Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered
hast my soul out from the lowest hell. Verses 12 to 17, actually it is, in Psalm 86, to God's
praise.
O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I will give praise, and I will
give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me,
in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell.
And Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell. O God, the Father, the Father,
knowing that, and Thou relationships be right, and Thy environment.
and the head
that for my soul
hath so done thee
before them
hath not said
but thou art full
of faith ye Lord
a God most gracious
from suffering
and in thy good
and mercy plentious
O turn to me
thy countenance
and mercy on me have
thy servant strength
and the son
of thine own hand
may save
show me a sign
for good God
may
wish to be
in his ear
and be a ship
because the Lord
is
self
and
comfort
me
let's now call upon the Lord in prayer
we'll join together in prayer
gracious and eternal God
as we gather once again here in your presence
we pray for your help
we pray for your help that we may worship you as we ought to
that our minds may be focused upon
those things that are glorious
in your work and in your person
we pray for grace O Lord
to focus upon your word
which we find so central
to our worship
and we pray that you would enable us O Lord
to not only read your word
and hear it being expounded
help us as speaker and hearers alike
to take your word to heart
apply it to our hearts we pray
by your Holy Spirit
to enable us thereby
to give you the glory
and the praise
that you are worthy of
in a due reception of your word
we know Lord
that when we receive your word
as your word
we thereby honour you
we honour your name
and we give thanks for
the word that you have given us
we ask O Lord
that you would enable us
in our understanding of your word
to increase in that understanding daily
we know that your word
has so many aspects to it
so many depths
that we can find ourselves
drawn into
and even though some
we cannot fully understand
and comprehend
yet we thank you
for the benefit nevertheless
of giving our minds to them
we thank you
for the plain message
of your word
in regard to our redemption
we give thanks O Lord
that your word
shows us the way
of salvation so clearly
and that there are no
aspects of that left
as mysteries to us
and Lord we thank you
that as Jesus Christ
is presented to us
in your word
in the message of the gospel
we give thanks
that thereby you speak to us
you call us to yourself
you impress upon us Lord
the need to turn our back
to sin
to a life of selfishness
which we are all O Lord
by nature
so much prone to
we thank you tonight
Lord for being together
we thank you
for the improvement
in our situation
with regard to the
COVID pandemic
and we thank you
that we are able
to express ourselves
in song
in praise
in singing your praises
in a way that is
O Lord
not hampered by
even though the necessary
masks were in place
for some time
we pray O Lord
that for all of these
good things
and for everything good
that comes from you
we may tonight
be thankful
and we may be
the more dependent
upon you
your word tells us
we live and move
and have our being
in you
however Lord
we may progress
in this world
however much we may have
of worldly success
and however legitimate
these things
may be in themselves
yet Lord
we are reminded
so frequently
in your word
that they are all
from you
as regards
the good things
that we enjoy
and that it is
by your power
and by your might
by your grace
that you have given
them to us
help us to honour you
with our daily lives
help us to take
O Lord
from our worship
this evening
that which would
follow through
into the rest
of the week
for us
and help us
to be concerned
in our daily life
to manifest
the glory
of Christ
and to show
ourselves
as willing
servants
of the Lord
and to commend
him to those
that we meet
with on a daily
basis
Lord forgive us
we pray
for our failures
in regard
to this
we regard
even the best
of us
Lord
as not fully
committed
to this
in the way
we ought
we confess
O Lord
we let many
opportunities
pass
that they're
gone
before we
realise
that we
ought to
have made
the most
of them
we pray
your forgiveness
Lord
in regard
to all
our sins
the sins
that are
obvious
in our lives
sins of speech
and of behaviour
as well as
those that we
find in our
own hearts
may not be
known to any
others but
ourselves
and you
you are the
God who
looks into
our hearts
keenly
and perfectly
and O Lord
we know
that we
cannot hide
from you
and cannot
hide anything
else from you
that we
find in
ourselves
or in
all that we
think or do
we give
thanks for
this
but it is
thereby Lord
that we can
come and
place our
entire selves
our lives
in your hand
knowing that
you are able
to provide
against all
our need
in all its
variety
in all its
extent
so bless us
Lord we pray
tonight as a
congregation
bless all the
gatherings of
your people
in this town
and beyond
enable Lord
your people
tonight to
know the
empowerment
of your
Holy Spirit
oh we thank
you for your
Holy Spirit
we thank you
for the
ministry that
your spirit
exercises
in bringing
us oh Lord
to know
ourselves as
sinners
destitute of
righteousness
we thank you
for the
ministry of
your spirit
convicting us
of our sin
and of our
misery
we thank you
for the
ministry of
your spirit
in directing
us to the
saviour and
in enabling
us to embrace
you as the
living God
the living saviour
of his people
Lord we ask
for your spirit
to guide us
in our
Christian walk
we give
thanks oh
Lord for
all that you
have been to
us thus far
we pray that
whatever age we
may be
our lives may
be directed
by your
holy spirit
day by
day
we give
thanks for
the work of
your spirit
and sanctifying
your people
and preparing
them to be
with you in
heaven
and Lord we
pray that
tonight each
of us may
know that
influence in
our own
lives
our hearts
being directed
towards you
and made
conformable to
you in your
own will and
purpose
remember us
Lord we pray
in all that we
seek to do
throughout each
week in your
name both in
regard to our
young folks and
other age groups
too we pray for
our young people
and ask Lord as
we are thankful
for them we
pray for each
and every
individual we
pray for all the
families that
have young people
that belong to
us as a
congregation
Lord remember
them we pray
at this time
and establish
them in your
ways we ask
your blessing
for youth
fellowship this
evening and
pray that you
would bless
them as they
meet together
we pray for
Reverend Ferrier
as he speaks
to them we
pray that that
will be a
blessed occasion
to all
concern and
we ask oh
Lord that you
would continue
to provide for
our Sunday
school or our
creche for our
tweenies for
other groups
Lord that
involve our
young people
bless your
own gospel to
them and grant
to protect them
and show them
the things that
are in this
world designed
in themselves
from the evil
one to lead
them away from
your truth
we pray that
you would make
them wise
unto salvation
remember those
tonight whose
hearts are heavy
with mourning
Lord remember
all who mourn
the passing of
loved ones
each and every
week that goes
by recently
we know that
those belonging
to our
congregation have
experienced
bereavement and
loss
Lord we pray
for each and
every family
and each
individual
we pray for
those who are
still waiting
for preparations
regarding the
funeral of
loved ones
we ask that
you would give
them grace
Lord to
wait upon you
and to know
your direction
and your
comfort at this
time
we pray for
the outcome
of the elections
both locally
and nationally
oh Lord our
God we pray
for those
in our own
locality who
have been
elected to
council
those returning
and those who
are there for
the first time
we pray for
them and ask
that you would
show them your
ways and bless
them especially
Lord we pray
that you would
bring to them
the sense of
the sufficiency
of your word
of your own
laws of your
precepts
help also those
who offered
themselves but
ended up without
being elected
help them we pray
to deal with
that we thank
you for the
interests of so
many and we
pray especially
for those of
your own people
who gave
themselves to
election but
weren't elected
yes Lord we
we do pray for
them and ask
that you would
be pleased to
draw near to
them at this
time and so
we ask that in
all aspects of
our life
individually and
congregationally and
in our locality and
nationally Lord our
God be merciful to
us show us your
ways direct us away
from the ways of
sin and hear us
we pray now and
pardon us for
Jesus sake
amen
let's now read
God's word as we
find it this
evening in 1
Timothy
1 Timothy in
chapter 6
we'll read
through the whole
chapter from the
beginning
1 Timothy in
chapter 6
let all who are
under a yoke of
slaves regard their
own masters as
worthy of all
honor so that the
name of God and
the teaching may
not be reviled
those who have
believing masters
must not be
disrespectful on the
ground that they are
brothers rather they
must serve all the
better since those
who benefit by their
good service are
believers and
beloved
teach and urge
these things
if anyone teaches a
different doctrine
and does not agree
with the sound words
of our Lord Jesus
Christ and the
teaching that
accords with
godliness he is
puffed up with
conceit and
understands nothing
he has an
unhealthy craving
for controversy
and for quarrels
about words
which produce
envy
dissension
slander
evil suspicions
and constant
friction among
people who are
depraved in mind
and deprived of
the truth
imagining that
godliness is a
means of gain
now there is
great gain
in godliness
with contentment
for we brought
nothing into the
world and we
cannot take anything
out of the world
but if we have food
and clothing
with these we will
be content
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
for the love of
money is a root
of all kinds of
evil
it is through
this craving
that some have
wandered away
from the faith
and pierced
themselves with
many pangs
but as for you
oh man of god
flee these things
pursue righteousness
godliness
faith
love
steadfastness
gentleness
fight the good
fight of the faith
take hold of the
eternal life
to which you are
called and about
which you made
the good confession
in the presence
of many witnesses
i charge you in
the presence of god
who gives life
to all things
and to jesus christ
and of jesus christ
who in his testimony
before pontius pilate
made the good
confession
to keep the
commandment
unstained
and free from
reproach
until the appearing
of our lord jesus christ
which he will display
at the proper time
he who is the
blessed and only
sovereign
the king of kings
and lord of lords
who alone has
immortality
who dwells in
unapproachable light
whom no one has
ever seen or can
see
to him be honor
and eternal dominion
amen
as for the rich
in this present age
charge them
not to be haughty
nor to set their
hopes on the
uncertainty of
riches
but on god
who richly provides
us with everything
to enjoy
they are to do
good
to be rich
in good works
to be generous
and ready to share
thus storing up
treasure for
themselves
as a good
foundation for
the future
so that they may
take hold
of that which
is truly life
oh timothy guard
the deposit
entrusted to you
avoid the irreverent
babble and
contradictions
of what is falsely
called knowledge
for by professing
it
some have swerved
from the faith
grace
be
with you
amen
may god bless
again a reading
of his word
to his own
praise
and glory
i'm going to sing
again in psalm 68
now it's 68
in the
scottish psalter
version
not the
sing psalms
version
that's on your
bulletin sheet
so it's psalm 68
verses
7
through to
11
o god
what time
thou didst
go forth
before thy
people's face
and when
through the
great wilderness
thy glorious
marching was
then that
god's presence
shook the earth
then drops
from heaven
fell
this sinai
shook before
the lord
the god
of israel
through to
verse 11
the lord himself
did give the
word
the word
abroad
did spread
great was
the company
of them
the same
who published
that's psalm 68
on page
302
in the scottish
psalter
singing from
verse 7
to verse 11
o god
what time
thou didst
go forth
o god
what time
thou didst
go forth
before
thy
people
face
and
when
through
the
great
wilderness
thy
glorious
marching
voice
then
at
god's
presence
shook
the earth
then
drops
from
heaven
fell
this
sign
i shook
before
the lord
the god
of
israel
o god
the
who
do
thy
heritage
should send
a
plenteous
rain
whereby
the
wrennage
weary
walls
didst
it refresh
again
thy
my congregation
then
did make
their
habitation
there
of
thine
own
goodness
for
the
food
o god
thou
didst
prepare
the
lord
himself
did
give
the
word
the
word
abroad
did
spread
great
was
the
company
of
them
the
same
who
publishes
let's
turn
once again
this
evening
to the
epistle
to the
philippians
paul's
letter
to the
philippians
it's
some time
since we
had our
last study
in
philippians
chapter 4
and we're
going to
continue
tonight
chapter 4
verse 10
and looking
at verses
10
to 13
that's
philippians
chapter 4
and reading
from verse
10
i rejoiced
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
not that
i'm speaking
of being
in need
for i have
learned in
whatever
situation
i am
to be
content
i know
how to
be brought
low
i know
how to
abound
in
everything
in
every
in
any
and
every
circumstance
i have
learned
the secret
of facing
plenty
and hunger
abundance
and need
i can
do
all
things
through
him
who
strengthens
me
well we're
living as you
know in very
challenging
times
challenging
times not
only in
a way that
the gospel
is being
challenged
but challenging
too in a
more ordinary
sense if you
like challenging
times with
regard to
prices increasing
in the
aftermath of
the covid
situation and
the worldwide
effects of
that
challenges
regarding
inflation and
the increasing
inflation that
we're hearing
about and
that we know
about in the
prices themselves
as you see
that in your
shops
challenging
times with
regard to
closures of
businesses
challenges for
those who have
lost their
work and
are now
unemployed
and some
who find
difficulty in
seeking
alternative
employment
this is
an environment
for much
anxiety
an environment
in which some
find a degree
of hopelessness
and feeling
just sidelined
an environment
in which we
find an
increase in
substance abuse
and alcoholism
and those
sort of
excesses
how can
anyone be
content
in circumstances
like these
where do you
find the
secret of
contentment
what the
apostle is
calling here
the secret of
contentment
that he has
learned
how can
anyone be
content
surrounded by
and affected
by sometimes
affected directly
as most of us
are by these
issues that
prove so
challenging
for our
day
well Paul is
dealing here
with what
we're calling
the contented
life because
that's essentially
what these
verses are
about
and not
only are
we facing
challenges
we're facing
this challenge
as well
to live
a contented
life
irrespective
of what
our circumstances
may be
because it's
not just
in times
of difficulty
times of
challenges
such as we
mentioned
that living
a contented
life is
important
it is
important
at all
times
to seek
to live
a life
of contentment
to have
a contented
heart
to have
a contented
mind
to have
a mind
that is
well and
truly
content
with our
circumstances
with our
situation
with our
relationship
with God
whatever it
is you're
thinking about
and this
was important
to the
apostle
not just
in writing
to the
Philippians
it was
important
to the
apostle
not just
for his
own life
as well
and those
of the
Philippians
it was
important
pastorally
for the
apostle
as we
read in
chapter 6
of 1st
Timothy
you can
see there
in verses
6 to
10
how important
it was
for the
apostle
to commend
contentment
and how
one comes
about to
be content
in his
preaching
it's something
obviously
built into
his preaching
it's something
obviously
that should
be important
to us
in our
preaching
of the
gospel
where does
a person
get contentment
from
how does
a person
come
to be
content
in their
lives
in the
world
in which
we are
placed
and you
look at
the
verses
17 to
19
of that
chapter
where he
talks there
about the
danger
of seeking
to follow
riches
for their
own sake
he says
for the rich
in this
present age
as for
them
charge them
not to
be haughty
or set
their hopes
on the
uncertainty
of riches
but on
God
who richly
provides us
with everything
to enjoy
there to
be good
to be
rich
in good
works
you see
the way
Paul plays
on the
word rich
and riches
throughout that
passage there
they are not
to set their
hope on the
uncertainty
of riches
but rather
to look to
God
who richly
gives
good works
and is
therefore able
to give
the contentment
that we
require
and that's
really what
you have
in the
Philippians
passage
as well
what is
a contented
life
how do you
experience
contentment
where does
it come
from
what are
the elements
of contentment
for yourself
for myself
tonight
if you ask
yourself the
question
how can I
have a
contented
heart
if I'm
surrounded by
challenges
and uncertainties
if I know
of changes
in my life
if I know
of things
that I'm
struggling
with
where can I
find contentment
how can I
possibly have
contentment
true contentment
in that
situation
well Paul
gives us
here
three main
elements
to it
I'm going
to take
these in
turn
he talks
first of
all about
thankfulness
you can see
that from
verse 8
onwards
and especially
in verse 10
I rejoiced
in the Lord
greatly
that now
at length
you have
revived
your concern
for me
you are
indeed
concerned
for me
but you
had no
opportunity
you can
see
how he
is later
on in the
passage
that follows
talking about
the gift
that they
have sent
to him
verse 18
I have
received
full payment
and more
I am well
supplied
having received
from Epaphroditus
the gifts
that you
said
so he is
thankful
to the
Philippians
thankful of
course to
God most
of all
but he's
thankful
that the
Philippians
have shown
themselves
in their
kindness
to him
by sending
gifts
we're not
told what
they were
but Epaphroditus
came with
this gift
to Paul
and he is
truly thankful
for it
now that's
an essential
element
of a
contented
life
you and I
will never
have a
contented
life
if we are
not thankful
to God
if we are
not thankful
even for the
least of his
mercies
because
thankfulness
is such
an important
ingredient
in a
life
that's
in tune
with God
and in
tune
with God's
providence
and God's
wisdom
so thankfulness
is the first
element
in a
contented
life
and then
secondly
you find
verses
11 to
12
or 11
to 13
the second
element
is
dependence
Paul says
he's thankful
for the gift
but he's
saying not
that I
really
was in
dire
need
of it
because
I've
learned
in
whatsoever
situation
I am
to be
content
I know
how to
be brought
low
I know
how to
abound
in every
and any
circumstance
I have
learned
the secret
of facing
plenty
and hunger
abundance
and need
I can do
all things
through him
who strengthens
me
in other
words
he's saying
my contentment
actually comes
as he's
speaking to the
Philippians
and setting
these things
forth for them
to follow
and to apply
in their own
lives
his contentment
is not just
something that
involves thankfulness
to God
it involves
dependence
upon Christ
dependence
on God
he looks
for his
sufficiency
in Jesus
himself
in God
himself
there's
thankfulness
there's
dependence
and thirdly
there is
strengthening
because ultimately
his contentment
comes from
Jesus himself
comes from
God
as you see
in verse
13
I can
do all
things
through him
who strengthens
me
so it doesn't
matter whether
Paul is
experiencing
what he calls
being brought
low
or what he
calls
abounding
whether it's
really something
in which he
lacks certain
things
physically
or financially
or whether he
is actually
full of as
much as
possible he
could have
in this
life
he's saying
I can
do all
things
through him
who fills
me with
strength
that's what
he means
who strengthens
me
his contentment
comes from
the supply
that Jesus
gives him
on a daily
basis
and that too
is in many ways
the key to
contentment for
ourselves
the contented
life
is the life
that comes
to be supplied
by Jesus
on a daily
basis
with the grace
with the ability
with the
mindset
with everything
that is to
do with
contentment
I can do
all things
through him
who strengthens
me
and he lies
content
in the supply
that Jesus
brings
because
it's not just
a matter of
those who
are facing
deprivation
that have a
challenge
of being
content
those who
are facing
poverty
for example
in Paul's
day
and he
very much
is aware
of that
as he
writes his
letters
it's
a challenge
how to
be content
if we're
on the
breadline
if we're
facing
though many
of us
aren't
of course
nevertheless
those in
the world
that's a
difficulty
for them
but it's
equally so
for those
who are
millionaires
where does
a millionaire
find contentment
because they
will tell you
themselves
mostly
that although
their millions
bring them
a luxurious
lifetime
a comfortable
lifetime
it does not
guarantee
contentment
is not
the same
thing
as comfort
contentment
in the
apostles
terms
is being
thankful
to God
being dependent
on God
being strengthened
by Christ
let's look at
these briefly
in turn
here is Paul
saying to the
Philippians
here in verse
18
I have received
full payment
I didn't seek
this 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 gift
you sent
a fragrant
offering
a sacrifice
acceptable
and pleasing
to God
he uses
very strong
terms
to show
the extent
of his
thankful
now he is
treading a
very fine
line here
and it is
a line
that many
of us
actually know
for ourselves
he doesn't
want in
any way
to appear
ungrateful
and so
he is
thankful
for the
gifts
the
Philippians
have sent
him
but at
the same
time
on the
other
side
of things
he doesn't
want to
make it
appear
that he's
being covetous
that he really
wanted such
things for himself
and that is
something that he
would seek
from them
in the future
it's that
fine line
between
being thankful
for what
they've sent
and yet at
the same
time saying
not that I'm
speaking of
being in need
I didn't
seek this
I don't
necessarily
want any
more but I'm
thankful for
what you've
sent
and if we
speak personally
I know this
is something
that we find
ourselves in
in ministry
we are so
dependent in
many ways on
the church's
givings
we're paid
out of the
contributions
in our
stipends
from your
givings
and believe
me we're
grateful for
that
I know
our
thankfulness
ultimately
is to
God
who
supplies
all
things
for us
but that's
where we
are placed
as preachers
of the
gospel
and it's
that fine
line between
saying we're
really grateful
to you
but we're
not seeking
we're not
covetous
we're not
actually
living so
that you
will keep
on giving
to us
it's that
line that he's
following here
where he wants
them to be
truly aware
of his
thankfulness
and yet
he is
not at all
saying that he
is being
covetous
in regard
to it
now
thankfulness
therefore
is something
that's so
crucial to
our contentment
if we're going
to be content
with what we
have
it doesn't
mean that you
don't improve
life
it doesn't
mean it's
wrong to
seek an
increase in
your wealth
or things
like that
just to have
something in
hand by
which you're
able to
have more
comfort
or be
more assured
and so on
doesn't mean
that that's
wrong
but it is
and
but
thankfulness
and
contentment
is the
enemy of
covetousness
or you can
put it the
other way
covetousness
is the
enemy of
contentment
if we
have a
coveting
heart
if we
have a
heart
that really
reaches out
and wants
for its own
sake more
of the things
of this
world
whether it's
material issues
other than
finance or
whether it's
money itself
or whatever
or the
applause of
human beings
everything to do
with this
world
and its
worldiness
is something
that we
could
covet and
sometimes
do covet
covetousness
is the
enemy of
contentment
if you and
I are
coveting
something
for its
own
sake
even if
it's
good in
itself
that
covetousness
that drive
of our
hearts
which is
there
naturally
will
actually
be at
odds
with our
contentment
the
contentment
for example
that the
people of
Israel
it's very
interesting
comparison
let me
just
refer to
first of
all
Exodus
chapter
17
and
verse
7
especially
remember
that incident
very well
it's
the waters
of
Meribah
where the
people
murmured
against
and complained
about
their
situation
complaining
against
Moses
but
ultimately
complaining
against
God
where
in
Exodus
chapter
17
and
verse
7
he
called
the
name
of
the
place
Massah
and
Meribah
because
of the
quarreling
of the
people
of Israel
and
because
they
tested
the
Lord
by
saying
is
the
Lord
among
us
or
not
you
see
their
situation
where
they
couldn't
find
water
not
that
long
after
leaving
Egypt
and
their
hearts
were
really
hankering
back
after
the
things
of
Egypt
and
this
is
what
they
were
really
saying
complaining
against
Moses
and
ultimately
against
God
why did
you
bring
us
out
of
Egypt
to
kill
us
and
our
children
and
our
livestock
with
thirst
and
this
is
what
the name
was called
Meribah
because
of that
they were
really
quarreling
with the
Lord
ultimately
discontentment
with their
lot
discontentment
with the
providence
of God
for them
discontentment
and
impatience
which also
very often
is along
with discontentment
seeking
that
they would
actually go
back to
Egypt
would not
be better
but what's
interesting
it's saying
there
that
they
tested
the
Lord
they
put
the
Lord
to
the
test
quarreling
with
him
but
when
you
go
to
the
book
of
Psalms
you
find
another
angle
on
this
in
Psalm
81
and
in
Psalm
81
the
same
incident
is
referred
to
giving
that
other
angle
on
it
if
you
read
Psalm
81
and
verse
7
God
is
here
speaking
to
the
people
in
distress
you
called
and
I
delivered
you
I
answered
you
in
I
tested
you
at
the
waters
of
Meribah
hear
O
my
people
while
I
admonish
you
O
Israel
if
you
would
but
listen
to
me
there
shall
be
no
strange
God
among
you
shall
not
bow
down
to
a
foreign
God
and
there
he
would
have
fed
them
with
the
finest
of
the
wheat
with
honey
from
the
rock
I
would
satisfy
you
know
you
see
the
change
the
subtle
change
there
in
Exodus
17
the
emphasis
is on
them
testing
God
them
putting
God
to
the
test
them
complaining
about
God
and
God
is
actually
saying
Psalm
81
actually
it
was
the
other way
about
though
they
didn't
see
it
was
they
who
were
being
tested
in
the
situation
God
brought
about
whether
they
would
be
true
to
him
or
not
whether
they
would
believe
in
him
not
whether
they
would
accept
his
wisdom
that
was
the
test
that
was
going
on
they
were
being
tested
and
they
were
found
out
because
they
were
discontent
with
God's
arrangement
thankfulness
was
missing
from
their
program
and
thankfulness
for you
and for
me
tonight
is
such
an
important
ingredient
in
being
content
are
we
thankful
tonight
with
our
lot
are
we
thankful
that
God
is
in
charge
of
our
lives
are
we
thankful
that
he's
not
left
us
to
ourselves
to
our
own
wisdom
are
we
thankful
for
the
things
that
he's
given
us
in
his
providence
even
though
others
may
have
many
more
things
even
though
others
may
have
more
of
the
things
that
we
have
from
day
to
day
are
we
thankful
for
certainly
it seems
to me
in
times
gone
by
that
people
in
our
own
situation
in
our
own
locality
had
more
thankfulness
for
what
they
had
than
we
tend
to
have
today
friends
we
live
in
a
world
that
has
so
little
thankfulness
that
hardly
ever
stops
to
thank
God
how
many
people
say
grace
before
they
eat
how
many
people
think
of
who
has
actually
ultimately
provided
for
them
the
resources
that
they
have
whether
they're
small
or
great
whether
they
compare
with
others
acceptably
or
not
tonight
one of
the
things
that
should
characterize
us
from
day
to
day
is
thankful
be
thankful
to
God
every
morning
you
wake
be
thankful
that
he's
kept
you
through
the
night
be
thankful
as
you
take
your
breakfast
be
thankful
that
you have
that
to put
on
your
table
be
thankful
if
you
have
work
that
God
has
given
you
a
way
of
earning
income
for
your
family
be
thankful
if
you've
been
seen
through
work
successfully
if
you're
retired
if
you've
come
to
enjoy
the
benefits
of
retirement
even
though
you
might
not
have
a
massive
retirement
pot
like
you
might
see
others
have
shouldn't
we
be
content
if
we
have
food
and
clothing
as
we
read
in
1st
Timothy
with
these
let's
be
content
thankfulness
to
God
remember
back
in
Philippians
we
saw
how
in
verse
6
of
this
same
chapter
rejoice
in
the
Lord
always
again
I
say
rejoice
you
see
that's
the
same
alongside
of
thankfulness
you
have
the
rejoicing
in
the
Lord
the
provision
of
the
Lord
himself
but
he
went
on
to
say
don't
be
anxious
about
anything
but
in
everything
by
prayer
and
supplication
with
thanksgiving
let your
request
be made
known
to
God
if
I
were
to
come
before
God
and
plead
with
him
to
give
me
certain
things
to me, or for my family, or for whatever else. But if I do that without a word of thankfulness,
God is saying, do you really think that you're praying as you should be?
Because if I'm missing out to thankfulness, then I'm being selfish. And if I'm being selfish,
I will never be content in the contentment that God commends to me here in the gospel.
So there's the first thing, thankfulness. We could elaborate on that in many ways,
but let's move on secondly to dependence. Here he is in verse 11, not that I'm speaking of being in
need, for I've learned in whatsoever situation I am to be content. And he goes on, as we saw
through, to saying I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Now the first thing of interest
here is that he's saying, I have learned to be content. And that shows you that this contentment,
the contented heart, is not something that comes all at once. It's something that Paul himself had
to work at. We mustn't think that somebody like the Apostle Paul from the day that he was converted just
lived a completely contented life, that he didn't have to work at any of the things that he's actually
saying to others when he's writing these epistles to them. No, he's saying, I learned in whatsoever
situation I am to be content. And in verses 11 to 12, he tells us, I know how to be brought low.
I know how to abound in any and every circumstance. I've learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger,
abundance and need. You see, he's saying it again. I have learned. I have learned.
Contentment. It's something that he himself came by process of experience to learn and to increase
and to grow in. And where do you learn contentment? Well, he's telling us here it's in the things of
providence from day to day in our daily lives. I have learned in whatsoever my circumstances are,
whether it is indeed being brought low or abounding, I have learned therein to be content.
Friends, tonight, providence, as we call it, the way that God has arranged our life, which will be so
different one person from another in many respects, but providence, that arrangement that God has of
our lives is our school. It's our college. It's our university. It's where we learn the things of God
himself. And it's where we learn contentment. That's where our contentment is learned. Just as you learn
so much else that's true of a Christian life, that's where it's actually learned. That's where
it's tested. That's where it's practiced. That's where everything to do with the life of a Christian
is really worked out. It's not in the privacy of your own home, though it is there as well,
but it is in the public sphere. It's where people see you. It's where you interact with them. It's where
you work. It's where you go to school. It's all of those things on an everyday basis.
I have learned to be content. And indeed, he uses here in verse 12, he says,
I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger. Now, it's interesting that he uses that
word because scholars tell us that this was a word that was used by the philosophers in the Greek world
in the mystery religions of the time. Certain philosophies that, like the Stoics, for example,
they were a prime example of this, and their approach to life was, well, here are your
difficulties. Here are your challenges. Here are all the different aspects of your experiences day
by day. And when you're really facing a time of challenge and difficulty, steal yourself against
it. Close it off from your mind. Close your mind away from it. Look into yourself and just
build yourself up against these things as if they're not there. Well, that's not what the apostle
is saying, but he is using a word probably deliberately just by way of contrasting the
Christian approach. I have learned the secret of being content. But the secret of being content for
the apostle is not to steal himself against or firm up himself against the things that are happening
in his life, his experiences, as if they are just closed out and he doesn't want to know about them
or deal with them and just try and move on and build himself up. No, he says, I accept them.
And I accept them as God-given. And I accept them as God-arranged. And I accept them as the wisdom
of God has arranged for me. Whatever I may think of them, whatever I may make of them, however I may
complain about them, however they may hurt me, however the challenges of these come my way, saying,
I have learned the secret of facing hunger and abundance and need. Because I'm not looking to
my own resources, to my own abilities. He's looking to Jesus. He's looking to himself. So, well, Paul,
it's a deliberate contrast. You see the things that come in your providence day by day.
As we say, that's the school where you're set in order to learn contentment, where you learn
the wisdom of God in arranging your life the way it is. But it's where you learn dependence upon God
as well. And in order to be content, you need to be dependent. You need to rely on Christ himself.
You need to find him in all the different changes of life as being your sufficiency at all times.
I'm sure you all know the story, the true story of Horatius Spafford. I think I've mentioned this
before. The man who wrote the hymn, It Is Well With My Soul. Well, in 1871, Stafford's four-year-old son
died. And that same year, there was a great fire in Chicago in the USA that seriously affected his
property, his business, and devalued so much of what was left of his business after the fire.
And he sent his wife and four daughters across the Atlantic to England. And he was going to join
him after he had seen to some of the business interests that he had to deal with. And they
went across on a ship called the SS Ville du Havre in 1873. And in the middle of the Atlantic,
that ship collided with another ship called the Loch Erne and sank very soon afterwards with a great loss
of life. And Spafford received a very sad telegram from his wife, Anna. And all it said on the telegraph
was, Saved alone. Their four daughters had been drowned in that tragedy. Saved alone.
And he set off to cross the Atlantic to join his wife and to try and bring her home. And on the way
across, Stafford was summoned up to the bridge by the captain. And the captain said to him,
as far as we can reckon, this is exactly the location or the place where the Ville du Havre went down,
where his daughters were lost. So he returned to the cabin. And later that night, he wrote these words,
which became the hymn, It is well with my soul. When peace like a river attendeth my way,
when sorrows like sea billows roll, whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well,
it is well with my soul. Though Satan should buffet, though trials should come, let this blessed assurance
control that Christ has regarded my helpless estate and has shed his own blood for my soul.
It is well, it is well with my soul, with my soul. It is well, it is well with my soul.
Can you and I say that tonight? The variety of circumstances in this church tonight is significant.
Nobody may even share the experience that you're going through right now.
The providences that God has given you may be significantly different to anyone else's,
and it may be the same for me. But can I say and can you say, are we glad to be able to say,
whatever my lot, thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul.
I have learned, he said. Paul said, the secret of contentment. The key to it is Christ himself.
And that's the third point. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
The things that he mentions here in verse 13, I can do all things, are obviously the things
that are specifically mentioned in verse 12. The ways in which he's brought low, the way in which
he's abounding, whatever actually may have been involved in that, these were his circumstances,
generally speaking. But this is the key to his contentment more than anything else.
Yes, the contented life involves thankfulness. The contented life involves dependence upon God.
But the contented life itself is not something which rests on these. They are but the expressions
of a contented life or the means towards being content. But contentment itself comes
from the filling that Christ fills our souls with, who fills me with strength. I can do
all things through him or in him who fills me with strength. What is the cause? What is the ground
of Paul's contentment? Where does he find the key to his contentment? It's not in his own thankfulness.
It's not in his own dependence. So that's part of the whole package. The key to it is what Jesus is,
who Jesus is, what Jesus is doing in his life. And the word strengthens is an important verb. It's
what grammarians call a causative verb. It's something in which there is a source involved.
And he's talking here about God or about Jesus. I can do all things through him who strengthens,
who causes me to be strengthened, who fills me with strength. That's his daily experience. That's his
daily desire. That's his daily walk after contentment, looking for contentment. The secret,
the key to his contentment is that Christ fills his soul with strength. How can you face the
challenges of today? How can you face the challenges of this present time? How can you actually live a
contented life amongst the things we mentioned at the beginning of our study tonight? Well, this is the
key to it. This is the key that opens the way to a contentment and a contented life. I can do all
things through him who fills me with strength. Christ pouring his power into the apostle's life.
Is that where you're looking for your contentment? As you listen to the world, as you listen to the
voices of the world, as you listen to the philosophies of the world and the religions of the world,
as you face all of these alternatives to Jesus and to the gospel, here's the question for me tonight.
Here's the question for you. What am I seeking contentment from? Where is my contented life to
be based? How can I reach more contentment than I have? Well, not in the things of the world.
Not in the things Paul mentioned in his letter to Timothy, as we read. Your contentment must surely
come from knowing Christ, from Christ filling your life with his strength. From being able to say with
the apostle in 2 Corinthians 12, my grace is sufficient for you, God said to him, for my strength is made
perfect in weakness. Much more then, said Paul, will I glory in my infirmities that the power of Christ,
the strength of Christ may rest upon me. For when I am weak, then I am strong. You hand your life over
to Jesus. And when you hand your life over to Jesus in faith and in trust, what happens? It means that
you're not relying on your own strength. It means that you're not seeking contentment from the things
you're able to produce yourself. It means that your contentment doesn't come from your own ability
to create contentment. It doesn't come from the things of the world. It doesn't come from anything
other than from Jesus himself. I can do all things through him who fills me with strength.
The thankfulness is important. The dependence is important. But the source of all things,
the key to the contentment is really Jesus himself. When you find a ship in rough seas,
obviously plowing its way through a rough sea, that ship needs a captain. That ship needs a knowledgeable
crew, officers that will actually take their own place in what needs to be done. They all have an
important work. But whatever you say about the captain, and it may be the most skilled captain in the world,
and it may be the best crew a ship could ever have. And they have their own work to do, but they are not
the cause, the actual cause, the physical cause of the ship's progress through the rough seas.
The cause is in those engines down below. These are the engines that drive the ship.
The engines need the engineer. The ship needs the captain. But it's the working of the engines that
empowers the vessel and drives it through the waves. And it is too with a Christian life.
We need prayer. We need thankfulness. We need dependence. We need fellowship.
We need all of these things and more. But our progress and our contentment is the energy of Jesus
himself. That is the key to a contented life. And if we have that in place, then we can follow the
words of the psalmist in Psalm 4. You remember these wonderful words, though we're not going to sing
them tonight, but these words where David is saying in his dealings with God,
Lord, there are some who say, who will show us some good? There's the question that's in everybody's
minds. Who's going to show us any? Where does my contentment come from? Where can I find that which
is truly good? You have put more joy in my heart than they have when their grain and wine abound?
The joys of the harvest, the contentment of seeing the harvest safely home. But he said,
you have given me more joy than even they have at the height of their harvest joy. So he says,
in peace, I will both lie down and sleep. For you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
That's your contented life. The life that lies willingly in the hands of God. Let's pray.
Almighty God, we give thanks for your strength. O, we confess, Lord, our own weakness, our inability.
We confess our unworthiness. Confess that we are not deserving that you should show us
any comfort or mercy day by day. But we thank you that there is forgiveness with you.
We thank you for all that flows into the lives of those who live by faith, of those who trust in you
and have given their life over to you. We thank you for the enabling grace. We thank you for the daily
grace that enables us, Lord, to look for contentment in yourself alone. We ask that our lives may be
lives that are truly content. We ask that our witness to the world may be a witness that we are
content with our God, that we are content to be his people and to live by faith and dependence and
in thankfulness to him. And so receive us now, we pray. Receive our worship. Cleanse all that is of sin.
For Jesus' sake. Amen.
We're going to sing now in conclusion this evening in Psalm 28. Psalm 28 in the Sing Psalms version on page 33.
Psalm 28 verses 6 to 9.
Praise to the Lord for he has heard the plea for mercy which I made. He is my strength. He is my shield.
I trust in him who sends me aid. My heart uplifted leaps for joy. My thanks to him I gladly sing.
The Lord God is his people's strength, a saving fortress for his king.
O Lord, save your people, your own flock. Be pleased your heritage to bless.
Be their good shepherd. Carry them forever in your faithfulness.
Verses 6 to 9, page 33. Praise to the Lord.
Praise to the Lord for he has heard the plea for mercy which I made.
He is my strength. He is my strength. He is my shield. I trust in him who sends me.
My heart uplifted leaps for joy. My heart uplifted leaps for joy.
My thanks to him I gladly sing. The Lord God is his people's strength, a saving fortress for his king.
Lord, save your people, your own flock. Be pleased your heritage to bless.
Be their good shepherd. Be their good shepherd. Carry them forever in your faithfulness.
Now I went to the main door last week so I'll go to the door to my right here this evening.
Now may the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God the Father, and the communion of the Holy Spirit
be with you now and evermore. Amen.