As you most likely know, we’ve been journeying through this topic of how to have God’s peace.
Because of our study in Philippians 4 on how to attain God’s Peace, we come to the next topic.
Which was how to maintain God’s Peace.
And now we see what’s next on the horizon.
***** Teaching is accompanied by a Totally FREE PDF Download here https://renat.co/7sspeace
Listen to Part 1 of this series here – Part 2 here – Part 3 here – Part 4 here
HOW TO HAVE GOD’S PEACE: KNOW THAT PEACE AND CONTENTMENT GO TOGETHER
In verse 11, we see that God wants us to now mature.
Yes, your Heavenly Father loves you!
He is relentless to convict your heart until you submit to Him maturing you in His ways…but you knew that!
Don’t run away in fear like many do…stick it out and mature, grow deep roots that won’t get uprooted.
Now we find that God wants to teach us what we should expect on the journey when we choose the path to live a life of God’s peace.
What is it?
It’s to learn to be CONTENT!
Remember in verse 4 – there’s a previous command to “Rejoice in the Lord always.”
Hint: Stop complaining and start rejoicing!
Verse 6 is a command that “in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.”
Hint: Have an attitude of gratitude with God!
HOW PAUL HAD GOD’S PEACE AND WAS CONTENT
Paul goes on to teach us in verse 12 how he had “learned” to be “content.”
I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.
Philippians 4:12
- “abased” can mean “to make low” – it speaks of being HUMBLED
- “abound” can mean to be furnished with things in abundance; it occurs twice here in this verse
- “To be full and to be hungry” – to have enough food, and to go without food at times
Here’s the context that applies to every Christian.
When actively answering God’s call for your life, you must learn how to be content and trust God for the outcome.
Paul learned how to be content.
Although as a direct result of answering God’s call, he now finds himself in prison.
CONTENTMENT MUST BE LEARNED
Notice that in verse 12, Paul gives us a very valuable key for spiritual maturity: CONTENTMENT is to be “learned.”
The word for “learned” speaks of “to teach fully” and it can also mean “to initiate into the mysteries.”
Here’s a good indicator!
To have “learned” how to be “content” is a mystery.
Well, if that’s how it seems….you’re right!
It’s a mystery to many Christians.
Dare I say that most seem to never venture to go that deep with God.
Therefore, it will remain a mystery for years! If a person never 100% accepts God’s will and is willing to stick it out for the rest of life.
IT’S A CONTROL ISSUE, ISN’T IT?!
You see – Jesus expects 100% control of a believer’s life!
He knows we must learn how to be content in executing His will, no matter the outcome.
I know, that freaks out many to think that Jesus really wants to be “Lord” and not just “Savior.”
As we grow and mature in God’s ways, we grow to accept this fact though.
We must relinquish control over to Jesus, and learn to be content with whatever His plan is.
ANSWER THE CALL OF GOD FULLY!
It is my encouragement to you that you would answer the call of God for your life.
I mean, REALLY ANSWER THE CALL OF GOD!
Go all in!
And then trust God for the outcome.
This is the test.
This is God’s way for you. And you must learn to be content.
LEARN TO BE CONTENT WITH CHRIST!
After all – what’s the worst that can really happen, if you 100% answer the call of God?
Do you really want to learn how to have God’s peace?
If you said “Yes” then contentment is where the Spirit is leading you to!
Here’s a dose of reality.
Using only your 66 book Bible, show me 1 negative thing from God’s point of view that will happen if you 100% answer the call of God.
You cannot find even 1 negative thing, can you?!
That’s because there’s nothing in God’s Word that supports someone not walking in God’s will.
Oh…but the devil wants you to believe it will be negative, because that’s his will! (see Genesis 3)
Christian, we must learn to walk by faith, and stop living in fear!
Make Jesus your Lord and follow Him into a life of discipleship.
Contentment in Christ is something you must learn and there is no other way.
DON’T GIVE UP!
I’ve seen many over many years now allow self to get discontented because things didn’t go their way.
Or the timing or money wasn’t what they wanted. They’re simply not content with God.
For some, it hurts too much to go through God’s transformation (Romans 12:1-2).
Some get discontented because they jealously eye someone else and get bitter.
Maybe some think the teachings of Jesus sound too tough and get offended, complain and give up (see John 6:59-69).
The reality is there’s many excuses that flesh and pride try to excuse you from a life of total commitment to Jesus.
Friend, many would be disciples give up too quickly on Jesus Christ and His ways.
They give up before ever really maturing into producing real, lasting spiritual fruit. (read John 6:66-69; Mark 4:1-20)
CONTENTMENT IS A KEY FOR SPIRITUAL MATURITY!
Take notice how God strategically places these 2 very important topics of Christianity side by side!
God first draws you in because you desire the PEACE of God for your life.
Then, as life continues on, what God desires is that you would learn to have CONTENTMENT with Him.
Either force ourselves to learn today or waste years, much money and have worse pain in the future!
Then when the person comes back to God, they’ll come right back to principles like those here in Philippians 4.
But the problem by then is they’ll have a lot more unhealed hurts in their heart. They’ll have more bad habits that need correction and redirection.
They’ll need a lot more healing than if they simply trust God today.
Furthermore, most likely a lot of people will have gotten damaged in the rebellious wake.
Some who go through this self-destructive path may go through a divorce and hit the bottom.
Some go through multiple divorces, all because of never having learned peace and contentment with God.
YOU MAY NOW SEE PEACE AND CONTENTMENT WORK HAND IN HAND IN YOUR LIFE
The Lord is trying to teach us that we need to be CONTENT simply in knowing and doing His will.
And to learn to be content by trusting in the God who Created all things for the outcome!
In fact, maybe you’ll now notice more of a conviction toward peace and contentment by the Holy Spirit.
This is my hope and prayer.
ALLOW GOD TO USE THESE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) TIMES!
Because of the Coronavirus Pandemic, we find we’re living in more difficult times now.
Christians are finding themselves being tempted away from Jesus Christ and the body of Christ like never before.
Yet, I see the Lord using this time to simultaneously mature some of His children and it’s a glorious thing!
We must allow God to use this time in our lives to teach us how to better detect His peace.
The temptation is to not be CONTENT with Jesus Christ and the ways of Christ.
Yet, we need to understand Philippians 4, and how God will help you to diagnose yourself.
And how this can help us to use the Scriptures to diagnose others so that we can minister to them.
DON’T FALL AWAY FROM PEACE, AND INTO ANXIETY AND DEPRESSION!
Using Philippians 4 to diagnose, you can probably easily see that many get easily distracted through all sorts of ANXIETIES.
Know that God warns all of humanity in Proverbs 12:25.
Anxiety in the heart of man causes depression,
Proverbs 12:25
But a good word makes it glad.
Philippians 4 also helps us know, that when a person loses sense of the Peace of God, they’ll also be discontent.