THE BIBLICAL SECRET TO JOY

Phil 4:10-23

Everyone loves getting secrets and we love sharing a secret. Paul learned a secret and he wanted to pass onto the people of Philippi, a secret that we can apply to our lives daily. is this secret you might ask? The secret is to be content in all circumstances. Paul knew what it meant to be content because he trusted in the providence of God over his life. What do I mean by that? In Acts last chapter Paul has been in prison attached to a Roman soldier for the past 2 years and it’s in this time Paul pleaded with the local leaders of the Jews. (Acts 28:17). Paul also pleaded with Caesar and still no one would listen to his plea of innocence to why he was bound with chains. (Acts 28:19). So Paul preached the gospel despite the opposition and in fact it was falling on deaf ears and blind eyes. (Acts 28:23-27)

Paul quotes from Isaiah 6:9 reminding his listeners that this was going to happen as it did in Isaiah’s day “Go to this people, and say, "You will indeed hear but never understand, and you will indeed see but never perceive." For this people's heart has grown dull, and with their ears they can barely hear, and their eyes they have closed; lest they should see with their eyes and hear with their ears and understand with their heart and turn, and I would heal them.' Acts 28:26-27

Because Isaiah wrote some 700 plus years earlier “And he said, "Go, and say to this people: "'Keep on hearing, but do not understand; keep on seeing, but do not perceive.' Make the heart of this people dull, and their ears heavy, and blind their eyes; lest they see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their hearts, and turn and be healed." Isaiah 6:9-10

You might ask, what does this have 

to do with contentment?

The answer to that question is found in Acts 28:30-31 “He lived there two whole years at his own expense, and welcomed all who came to him, proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.” A man of God, an Apostle chosen by Jesus Himself, was unlawfully prisoned for a crime he never committed. A child of the Living God, caged in like an animal, or some hardened criminal, used his circumstance to bring God glory and the gospel to lost people whether they listened or not. Paul knew that the secret of contentment was NOT BASED upon his circumstance. Paul knew that the secret of contentment had nothing to with world’s riches. Paul knew that the secret of contentment came directly from the sustaining grace of our Lord.

True joy is true contentment!

True joy/contentment in the finishing work of Christ alone in your life. And also the work the Lord is still doing until that Day! That Day when we are received into glory where He is; for our citizenship is in Heaven. It’s in this contentment that the church of Philippi acted/responded because they saw a need and so they act upon. This must have blessed Paul beyond words! Why? Paul says “I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me.” (v10) “Revive” here means to “blossom again” like a perennial flower does in the spring. The gift bearing Epaphroditus approached his cell, and when Paul saw him, it was like flower that blossomed and burst into its brilliant colour. Seeing the love from this church brought such great joy to his heart and he couldn’t contain himself. “I rejoice in the Lord…” (v10). See all the glory goes to the Lord; and those with deaf ears and blind eyes would once again hear Paul shout into the halls of the prison “I rejoice in the Lord.” The Lord is the source of and sphere of our joy as it was for Paul here in this letter.

The secret to true joy is contentment!

Am I content with whatever the Lord allows in my life?

Am I rejoicing despite not having relief for my pain and suffering?

The apostle Paul was a much fulfilled, a contented man according to society standards! 

He was once a high Priest, A Pharisee, an elite of the elites.

He was rich, famous and respected by the deep state.

He was a fulfilled man who had everything your heart could desire.

But all those things never made him really content or happy!

  

We know this to be true “But what things were gain to me, these I have counted loss for Christ. Yet indeed I also count all things loss for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them as rubbish, that I may gain Christ.” Phil 3:7-8. None of these things brought him joy or contentment, even when he was persecuting the church. None of these things brought him any closer to the Lord, but only pushed him further away. Many people still today think that if they go a little further up the corporate ladder. Get a higher education, and try to fulfill personal goals that will make them content. But that’s not true! Look around at people you know. Look at the media and Hollywood superstars. Look at the sports and entertainment business.

All I see is sadness and hopelessness in the things of this world. The world is blind to the secret of contentment, because they refuse to see and hear; and most of all, they refuse to rest in Christ alone for their lives. A person that rejects the gospel will never have true contentment, though they might have seasons of contentment. Again! Contentment is not based on your circumstances or pocket book; it’s based solely on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul and the church at Philippi knew this truth very well. (v15-v17) This was a giving church that was very concerned for Paul, and they gave even when they had little or next to nothing. We read in 2 Cor 8:1-5 “We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given among the churches of Macedonia, for in a severe test of affliction, their abundance of joy and their extreme poverty have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their part. For they gave according to their means, as I can testify, and beyond their means, of their own accord, begging us earnestly for the favor of taking part in the relief of the saints—and this, not as we expected, but they gave themselves first to the Lord and then by the will of God to us.”

Think about this as Epaphroditus visits Paul! 10 years without sending support since the time they established the church in the Acts 16. No where do you see Paul blame or guilt these dear people. No! Paul praises God for His perfect timing in his life. The church gave at the exact time to fulfill God’s perfect will. See this closing passage reveals to us the secret of contentment is not in our circumstance but in a person. The Lord Jesus Christ. Why was Paul so content in Jesus Christ?

Paul had confidence in God’s providence.

The doctrine of Providence is defined this way by “Ligonier Ministries”, to which I completely agree with so I will let them explain it “Providence is derived from two Latin words: pro, which means “before,” and vide, which means “see.” With respect to divine providence, a key aspect of its meaning is that it refers to God’s foresight in a temporal sense. God sees and knows the future, having declared the end from the beginning (Isa. 46:8–10). Yet this is not passive knowledge. The Lord does not look at the future as if it were on a movie screen and learn what will happen; rather, His knowledge of the future comes from His foreordination of whatsoever comes to pass. He works out all things according to the counsel of His will (Eph. 1:11), which means His will establishes all that ever happens. Our Creator also “sees before” because He is outside of time. Being omnipresent, He cannot ever overlook or miss anything in creation (Ps. 139:7–12).”

Basically in a nut shell! Paul knew that Almighty God is the maestro, the architect of our lives. Paul knew that God is the one who orders all the resources, the factors of life at the right time to fulfill His will. Nothing goes unaware of a sovereign God and that is where our contentment needs to rest in.

Daniel 4:35 says "All the inhabitants of the earth are accounted as nothing, But He does according to His will in the host of heaven And among the inhabitants of earth; And no one can ward off His hand Or say to Him, 'What have You done?'

Acts 17:26 says “and He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth, having determined their appointed times and the boundaries of their habitation,”

Matt 10:29 says “Are not two sparrows sold for a cent? And yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.”

Job 1:21 says “He said, "Naked I came from my mother's womb, And naked I shall return there The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away. Blessed be the name of the LORD."

And I can go on and on and on about the Bible affirming the Providence of God. The point I’m trying to make is this! The summary of this letter is telling us “That our joy is found in the gospel and trusting in His providential plan over our lives.” As God providentially came to this earth in the form of Man, to redeem sinners like you and me in His perfect timing. Eph 1:11 reminds of this truth “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,” It’s all in God’s perfect timing as Paul said “And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose.” Rom 8:28. Though life’s affairs are always changing, the eternal purposes of God never change. That’s good news!

“Contentment” means: not disturbed; having a mind at peace; satisfied; to make quiet, to make easy in any situation.

This is what Paul was trying to teach the church as he penned this letter from a Roman’s prison cell! True joy will always be found in a contented heart that is in love with Jesus Christ! John Piper said “God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.” On theologian said “The secret of contentment is the realization that life is a gift, not a right." As the Hebrew writer wrote “Let your conduct be without covetousness; be content with such things as you have.” Heb 13:5-6. Jesus is all we need! Not! Jesus plus this, that, or the other! Jesus is sufficient for me in all circumstances of life.

“I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” (v13).

No matter what happens I will always lean on the Lord to help me get through life’s challenges, even if the outcome is tragic. Paul was completely content in the midst of his wrong imprisonment. (v12) He knew what it meant to be “Brought low” this means: to depress; figuratively to humiliate (in condition or heart), to bring low, to humble (self). Paul knew what it was like to be humbled and have nothing. Paul was so humbled (brought low) he even requested to share in Christ’s humiliation! “that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection, and share His sufferings, becoming like Him in His death.” Phil 3:10

Paul also went on to say “...and I know how to abound” which means: to super-abound in quantity or quality, excel, increase, to remain over and above. This means? Paul knew how to get along with humble means (food, clothing, and daily necessities); he also knew how to live with an overflow of abundance. Paul knew where all of his strength came from the flowing mercies of Emmanuel’s veins. Paul knew how to deal and rise above all his trials by looking Heavenward where Christ Jesus is. As Paul said “Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth.  For you died, and your life is hidden (secure, protected, access to the Holy One) with Christ in God.” Col 3:2-3. It’s through Him (Jesus Christ), that strengthen you and me. (v13)

“I can do all things” 

In life, in my death, in my service, in my worship, in my hope of eternity, and for all eternity. Because that strength is given to you and me through the gospel of Christ Jesus. Paul was saying we get our physical and spiritual strength from the Lord. God’s power will bring contentment to those who have no strength of their own. There are no short cuts to having a contented life; it must come by the strength of the Lord. Jeremiah Burroughs said “Christian contentment is that sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit, which freely submits to and delights in God's wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.”

  

“my God will supply every need of yours according

to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus.” (19)

“all your needs” that statement alone should be enough for us to be content and happy always. Even in the midst of suffering, the unknowns, or whatever your situation might be in.

The secret of contentment is in the providence of God. 

God is the creator that spoke everything into existence for His glory.

God is the giver of life to all things breathing.

God is the one who sent His only Son to die for our sins.

God is the only one who we are to worship.

God is the reason we are here today.

God is everything to the Believer.

God is all I need!

Our whole existence, our incomplete lives, our secured salvation is a gift from God. The Triune God keeps a hold of you in the palm of their sovereign hand. I can trust that whatever happens He will always be with me through thick and thin. The good and the bad. The plenty and the absent. Remind yourself of this truth in (v19) “He will supply according to His riches not yours!” As Psalmist wrote “Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.” Psalm 37:4-5. Paul had a Christ-centered contentment which brought him joy. We are to do the same. We are to remind ourselves each and every day that “I’m sufficient and content not because I’m independent, but because I’m totally dependent upon Christ!” Remember contentment is rooted deep in the eternal God, rather than in the temporal self! 

    The secret of Joy is being completely satisfied in Christ. 

                      That’s true contentment.