Some Thoughts on Contentment from 2008

The following is from a message I preached at a local church in 2008, right after the financial crash.  Somehow, these words seem appropriate to me in 2018.  I believe now is a wonderful time to recapture one of the greatest blessings Christ has given His people: the supernatural ability to be CONTENT.

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From a prison cell, the apostle Paul wrote:

Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.  5  Let your moderation be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand.  6  Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.  7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.  9  Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you.  10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity.  11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  12  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.  14  Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction.  15  Now ye Philippians know also, that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but ye only.  16  For even in Thessalonica ye sent once and again unto my necessity.  17  Not because I desire a gift: but I desire fruit that may abound to your account.  18  But I have all, and abound: I am full, having received of Epaphroditus the things which were sent from you, an odour of a sweet smell, a sacrifice acceptable, wellpleasing to God.  19  But my God shall supply all your need according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus.  20  Now unto God and our Father be glory for ever and ever. Amen. (Philippians 4:4-20)

When we are thinking clearly and biblically, most of us realize that there is something in our Kingdom experience that often seems missing.  Where are the true and biblical serenity and rest Christ promised us? (Matt 11:28)  Despite our hollering, shouting, dancing, naming and claiming, declaring, goal-setting, and achieving, MANY of us remain agitated, weary, negative, “dis-eased,” down-trodden, disgruntled, and discontent.

Could it be that our relentless pursuit of “a better life” (normally defined by earthly prosperity) causes more frustration than it cures?  Why?  Because once you are “there” it still doesn’t satisfy.  Despite the tons of books, music, and seminars designed to help the Christian feel more fulfilled, we still are clamoring for more.

And this was all fine and dandy until….the bottom fell out.  Why is it that we tend to seek the blessings of contentment only when times are bad?  Do you think we have allowed our success-driven cultural principles to intrude upon the Gospel?  I submit that Contentment is part of our spiritual heritage as Christians, and is essential to grow and develop in the things the Lord cares about.  Remember that this letter was likely written from a Roman prison.  Throughout this “prison epistle,” Paul demonstrates supernatural contentment by encouraging free people to rejoice!

How do we recapture Contentment?  Here are some thoughts:

  1. By embracing that being a friend of God is enough.  “Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” (Heb 13:5)
  2. By realizing that contentment is rooted in character rather than circumstances.  “But godliness with contentment is great gain.” (1 Tim 6:6)
  3. By quieting the noise of the world. (1 John 2:15-17)  The world markets lust, selfishness, and pride.  If you view God or approach God wanting your own way (your will not His), praying for yourself all the time, or wanting self-exaltation, contentment will remain elusive.

The Benefits of Contentment from Philippians 4:

  1. With Contentment, you are able to rejoice, despite circumstances. (v4)
  2. With Contentment, you can be gentle to others, even when you are mistreated. (v5)
  3. With Contentment, your perspective shifts to the eternal. (v5)
  4. With Contentment, you are better able to defeat worry and anxiety. (v6)  You see faith differently.  Expectation is balanced with Sovereignty, which is more biblical than making demands on God.
  5. With Contentment, your prayer life and changes. (v6)  You are able to petition God with thanksgiving regardless of how the prayer is answered.  Remember that even with His promises, God doesn’t always give us time markers.  So regardless of your faith level, waiting is much easier and more joyful with Contentment.
  6. With Contentment, you become more centered and peaceful. (v7)  Blessings come with the very presentations of petitions before the results!  This in itself (says the man in prison) produces the peace!
  7. With Contentment, your thought life shifts. (v8)  You become less frantic and focused on problems, and instead, you embrace things that are true, honest, pure, and lovely.
  8. With Contentment, you can have peace in hard economic times. (v10-12)
  9. With Contentment, you can walk in the strength of God despite what is going on around you. (v13)
  10. With Contentment, joyful, abundant, consistent, giving is released into the Kingdom of God. (v14-19)  A discontent person will find it hard to give because a discontent person is focused on receiving.  A discontent person assumes a spiritual posture of holding.  A content person has a spirit of releasing.

May our LORD grant us great contentment in 2018!

6am Prayer Day 7

King of Kings,

I approach Thy throne of grace this beautiful LORD’s Day morning, asking that Thou wouldst teach CRCC how to walk in the Fear of the LORD…how to truly reverence and honor Thee in all we do.

Oh LORD, too many of Thy people are motivated by prosperity rather than propriety, convenience rather than comeliness, worldly ideas rather than worship.  Father, we are so sorry.

We repent LORD for allowing carnality and culture to shape our worldview more than Scripture.  We repent oh LORD for being judges of Thy Law rather than doers.  We repent Master for allowing the loss of our awe, joyful deference, happy submission, and the ability to tremble when Thou speakest.

Oh LORD, these are great losses indeed.  A home or a church cannot function according to Thy Word without hearts joyfully and fearfully tuned to Thy Precepts!  You desire reverent, not grudging obedience.  

LORD, Thou hast promised to be our Father and declared that we would be Thy sons and daughters.  What a great promise!  In this context, Thy Word declares, "Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."  2Co 7:1

Yes oh LORD!  We pray for the perfecting of holiness in Thy Fear!  We cannot and will not be who You want us to be without this essential character trait.  We must learn to Fear Thee!

Oh LORD, I cannot help but quote Thy Word even as I pray, for They Word has power.  "Wherefore we receiving a kingdom which cannot be moved, let us have grace, whereby we may serve God acceptably with reverence and godly fear: For our God is a consuming fire."  Heb 12:28-29

We are receiving a Kingdom!  It cannot be moved!  You have saved us by Thy grace!  So LORD Jesus, help us to serve Thee acceptably!  This means there are unacceptable ways.  LORD forbid!  Help us to serve Thee with reverence and godly fear, with honor and respect, with fear and trembling!  Thou art a consuming fire!

May we not walk causally into Thy Presence, but with our hearts prepared.  May we not view Thy worship through “please-us” lenses, but through Jesus' eyes.  May we treat the LORD’s Day with more faithfulness.  May we never take what Thou hast commanded lightly, but give fear and honor to every jot and tittle of Thy Word.

LORD, Thou are worthy of such honor and praise!

"Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and honour and power: for thou hast created all things, and for thy pleasure they are and were created."  Rev 4:11

"And I beheld, and I heard the voice of many angels round about the throne and the beasts and the elders: and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands; Saying with a loud voice, Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honour, and glory, and blessing. And every creature which is in heaven, and on the earth, and under the earth, and such as are in the sea, and all that are in them, heard I saying, Blessing, and honour, and glory, and power, be unto him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for ever and ever. And the four beasts said, Amen. And the four and twenty elders fell down and worshipped him that liveth for ever and ever."  Rev 5:11-14

Jesus, increase our Fear of Thee.  Help us to reverence and honor Thee at a greater level as a local church body.  Truly, the Fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.  LORD, we do not want to be foolish.

Thank you for hearing our prayers this week Father.  

We ask them all in the Name of Jesus Christ.

Amen.

6am Prayer Day 6

Lord of the Harvest,

I come this morning, asking, in the Name of Jesus, that Thou wouldst transform CRCC into a soul-winning church.

Oh LORD, so many people…SO many people…are lost.  There is so much pain.  There are so many who know of Thee but do know Thee.  They are all around us.  People who have rejected the Bible, rejected church, and rejected the Christ of the Scriptures.  People who have a form of godliness, but deny the power thereof.  People who have been beaten up by life and circumstances.  People who have given up.  People who are trapped in the power of sin and perversions.  People trapped in false belief systems.  People work hard against Thee.  We were once these people.  What mercy Thou didst show in saving wretches like us!

Master, You declared that You came into this world to seek and to save that which was lost.  You said You came to set captives free.  You said Your church must go into all the world and preach the Gospel. 

You suffered, bled, and died for sin, to pay the penalty we owed.  You endured torture and mocking and public humiliation.  You died the death of the worst, most shameful criminal even though Thou wast innocent!  Merciful King, Thou hast redeemed us!  You hung on the cross bleeding and in pain that we might be justified by Thy grace!  You died that we might be delivered from the power of death and You rose that we might rise with Thee!

Oh LORD, Thou hast commissioned us to Go and Make Disciples of all Nations, baptizing them in the Name of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost.  Thou has mandated a mission for us!  You’ve given us a purpose!

But Merciful LORD, we have been slack.  The harvest is plentiful.  We however have a laborer shortage.  We have sinned greatly against Thee by not diligently seeking the lost, the broken, and the hurting.  Please forgive us and restore unto us the joy of Thy salvation.  This joy should cause every believer to want others to have the same!

LORD, we need Thy power.

Wouldst Thou grant us the Power to Reach people?  Master, in our day it is so difficult to open our mouths with Thy truth.  In such a cynical, hostile, Gospel-hardened age, we struggle with fears of conflict and rejection.  SEND THY SPIRIT LORD that we might lose our fear!  So many are lost but do not realize it.  Worshipping the idols of media, politics, causes, sex, money, knowledge, and self, they cannot see their state.  Hell is real!  Eternity is real!  Oh LORD, empower us with love and boldness and passion and knowledge of Thy Word.  Help us to not only do good deeds but also open our mouths and declare that men must REPENT and BELIEVE in the Son of God!

Wouldst Thou grant us the Power to Teach people?  This is why we must have ears to hear and eyes to see ourselves.  How can we truly disciple people if we ourselves do not believe what Thou hast said?  Oh LORD, help us to see our individual and congregational responsibility to be ambassadors for Thee!  You are making an appeal of reconciliation through us!  We each must make disciples!  We must not be ashamed the Gospel of Jesus Christ, for it is the power of salvation to every one that believeth!  Jesus, show us those among us who we must invite and love into discipleship.  Help us to not just teach with our tongues, but also with our lives.  Truly LORD, make us living epistles that can be known and read by all men.

Wouldst Thou grant us the Power to Release people?  First from their sins through the Gospel.  Then released into fruitful, joyful, loving, obedient, holy and sanctified lives of service unto Thee!  Oh LORD, the saying is true: if everyone who named Your Name came to church there wouldn’t be enough room!  If everyone who said, “I’m saved” actually served, there would be few needs!  LORD Christ, cause our lives to be more intentional.  Help us focus on that we Thou has commanded!  Help us to be hospitable.  Help us usher others into Kingdom service.  Help us show our children the same.  Master, people are confused.  But your church is the pillar and ground of truth!  Help us point the way to the holy path of Kingdom life.

Oh LORD, our enemy works hard to keep people deceived.  We are waging a vicious spiritual war.  But the weapons of our warfare are not carnal; they are mighty through God to the pulling down of strongholds!

LORD, help CRCC to get our armor on and engage in the battle.

"Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might. Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness; And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace; Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked. And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints; And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel, For which I am an ambassador in bonds: that therein I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak."  Eph 6:10-20

Oh LORD, the terrible Day of Judgment approaches.  It is appointed unto every one to die and after this face the judgment.  This is most serious.  May our church become more serious about winning lost people, filling our church with visitors that they might hear the Gospel, and personally making disciples.  

LORD, help us to understand that Scripture is Sufficient.  Thy Word is perfect.  Help us not be ashamed of all Thou hast taught us, for these things aid (not hinder) the making of disciples.  Satan would have us believe the opposite!  Help us to fully embrace Thy Word that we might more fully embrace the lost.  May we be moved to action.

Thank You LORD for hearing our prayers.

Amen.

6am Prayer Day 5

Giver of all Grace and Good things, King of Kings and LORD of Lords…Wonderful Savior,

I come unto Thee this morning begging for divine healing for CRCC in every way…

Master, Your Word declares, "Jas 5:16  Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much."

Although we make no claims to the state of our own righteousness, we know that Thou hast imputed the righteousness of Christ unto us because of your great love.  So we come in Jesus’ Name, by Jesus’ blood, because of Jesus’ sacrifice, and totally and completely on the merits of Jesus alone.

LORD, please HEAL our church.  Heal every member and every family.  Heal every visitor that walks in the door of our homes and church.  Heal every child.  Heal every leader.  Heal every situation.  Heal every area of unforgiveness and pride.  Heal our bodies.  

LORD, we are sick and we need Thee!

Father, our bodies are sick.  So many of us suffer from physical infirmity.  High blood pressure, strokes, diabetes, heart disease, blood diseases, cancer, intestinal and stomach diseases, bone issues…problems with our eyes and ears, issues with our glands and organs.  OH LORD, we need Thee to be Jehovah Rapha yet again to us…to be the God who turns bitter waters sweet and declares, “...If thou wilt diligently hearken to the voice of the LORD thy God, and wilt do that which is right in his sight, and wilt give ear to his commandments, and keep all his statutes, I will put none of these diseases upon thee, which I have brought upon the Egyptians: for I am the LORD that healeth thee.”

OH LORD, heal us!  We are sick mentally.  We suffer from depression, anxiety and worry, anger, unforgiveness, racing thoughts, bi-polar disorders, and post-traumatic stresses of all sorts.  Many suffer from past hurts…extremely painful memories from past wickedness done to us.  Some suffer from the inability to walk in the forgiveness you offer from our sins.  Some suffer from loneliness.  Some battle despair.  Some battle suicidal thoughts.  Master, these things can be just as debilitating as bodily sickness.  Heal our minds and hearts OH LORD.  Be unto us again the God who binds up the wounded and heals the broken-hearted!

OH LORD, our enemy so often attacks our minds and bodies.  LORD, rebuke him!  LORD, stop him!  LORD, remind him that his “power” has been broken by YOURS!  Thou hast come to destroy the works of the devil!  Destroy oh LORD!  We cry out to Thee for help!

Oh LORD, Thou art a healing God.  Thou lovest to do wonderful things for Thy children.  From the Garden of Eden, You desired good things for us.  You designed us to walk with You in the cool of the day in relationship and intimacy.  You designed our bodies in perfection and health.  Sin has destroyed so much.

Master, heal us from unrepentant sin.  Heal us spiritually.  We know that one day, we will walk with Thee in complete healing in heaven…with gloried bodies and sin-free souls!  Hallelujah!  But oh LORD, we are asking for more of heaven now.  Heal our sinful hearts.  Break the power of the devil.  Heal us of lusts and lies and plots and harsh words.  Deliver us from the influence of unclean spirits and the oppression of demons.  Help us to crucify our fleshly impulses…to take captive every thought and make them obedient unto Thee!  Send Thy Spirit in power again; sanctify us!  OH LORD, Holiness, Holiness is what we long for…Holiness is what we need!

Master, I’m asking You to heal every marriage.  Heal every broken and lonely heart.  Heal every household.  Heal every parent/child relationship.

LORD, ABIDE among CRCC.  Call us deeper into Thy Presence, for therein is joy, wonder, mercy, and grace.  Pour out Thy  Spirit again upon all flesh.  Help us to enjoy the sweet communion of the Holy Spirit.

Breathe on us again.  Apply the Balm of Gilead.  Apply the salve from Thy mouth.  Help us to dip ourselves in Thy brook.  Help us to eat the true Manna that came down from heaven.

We cannot heal ourselves.  We are totally dependent upon Thee.

LORD Jesus, you said, "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; he hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, To preach the acceptable year of the Lord."  Luk 4:18-19

Heal us oh LORD.  It’s what You do!  Praise Your GREAT NAME!

We love You.

Amen

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