- Philippians for Beginners,
this is the eighth lesson in this series. The mature Christian lives righteously. We're going to cover
the balance of the book, the epistle rather. Philippians chapter four verses one to 23. So Paul is at the point in his letter where he's going to offer
his final encouragements and greetings to this church. As I mentioned before,
which he's very fond of. So in a brief three chapters, I want to do a little review here of some of the things that he's done. Just three chapters. He's offered a prayer of thanksgiving and promise and a blessing on the church. He's also briefed them on his condition and his prospects of
being freed from prison. Paul has shared his
dilemma of wanting to be with Christ or staying on and continuing his work with them. From these personal remarks he moves on to the core issue of his letter which is an exhortation
to continue believing that salvation comes by a system of faith and not a system of
lawkeeping, rule keeping. Now his goal is to point the
way to a more mature experience and expression of the Christian faith. That's what he's trying to do. These people are already good Christians. He has nothing negative to say about them. But he wants to push them, go further. There's more to do. There are other heights to reach. So this maturing in Christ
has certain features that can be seen in a Christian
whose faith is growing and Paul gives them five
examples of Christian maturity. The five are, the mature
Christian stands firm in the faith, not moved away from belief by false teaching or adversity. So maturity is not just I know the faith, I understand the faith
but Christian maturity is I don't move away from
what I've been taught and what I know when adversity hits or when strange new ideas or fads come in to the church and they do. I remember maybe 10
years ago, 15 years ago in the Churches of Christ
there was this 70 AD movement. You know that was you
know, promoting the idea that Jesus had already come. A lot of people were talking about this and debating it and so on. And so there are always
fads and ideas that kind of work their way into the church you know. It's a cyclical thing. It's happened since the
beginning and it continues even in our day today. So Paul is saying a mature
Christian isn't moved away from the faith, from the Gospel just by every fad and idea that happens to run through the church. The mature Christian imitates
Christ in his denial of self in order to be molded in
the image of the Lord. What am I shooting for? I want to be like Jesus. That's what I'm shooting for. Number three, the mature
Christian rejoices in trial knowing that trials are a way of growing and measuring faith. Some people confuse this with masochism. I'm not happy that there's a trial. I'm not happy that you know,
the roof just caved in. I'm not happy about that. But the trials don't destroy my hope. The trials don't destroy the joy I have knowing the promise that I have in Christ. That's the point here. The mature Christian seeks
the righteousness that comes as a result of believing in Jesus and not righteousness through law keeping. So in this final section
Paul is going to describe the mature Christian
in terms of lifestyle. The idea being the mature
Christian demonstrates his growth in Christ, with his lifestyle, by living righteously. So after making this point,
he's going to close this letter with some kind greetings and
a blessing on the church. So let's tackle this final point he makes about the mature Christian. The mature Christian you
know, lives righteously. In verses one to nine,
three ways he mentions that individuals or the church as a group demonstrate their righteous lives and thus their maturity in Christ. Three ways, first by living in harmony. Living righteously
requires living in harmony. Philippians 4:1 he says
therefore my beloved brethren whom I long to see, my joy and crown, in this way stand firm
in the Lord my beloved. Note Paul's great
affection for the brethren. He says the word beloved
twice and he yearns for them he longs to see them. He mentions the word joy. Their existence and their
growth brought Paul joy. It's just like if you have a, those of you who have children. I think everyone here has children. You have children, you
see your children mature. They finish high school,
they graduate high school. You're proud of them. That's a you know, a
milestone in their life and perhaps they go on to school or work or training or votech whatever
and you see them succeed. You love to see your
children you know milestones. They marry, they begin
having their own family. All these things you know? We love seeing them. Well Paul is the same way for
this particular congregation. He sees them you know,
crossing different milestones of maturity and he loves
them and it encourages him. He talks about them
being his joy and crown, they were a credit to him in God's eyes. He took a righteous pride in them. And so, he exhorts them a second
time concerning the matters that he mentioned in the previous passage. In other words, stand firm in the faith and don't be moved by the false teachers. Alright, let's keep reading. Verse two and three, here
he says I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live
in harmony in the Lord. Indeed true companion, I ask you also to help these women who
have shared my struggle in the cause of the Gospel. Together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers whose
names are in the book of life. So the discord is not at the church level but between two female disciples. Paul considers both at fault
because he gently admonishes both women to live in
harmony before the Lord. We can't say well it's just two members. You know I mean, you know
it's no big deal you know. Well, two members becomes eight members becomes 16 members because when people are in a dispute with one another and they're not resolving it,
usually they gather a posse to their cause you know,
to their righteous cause and it can cause a lot of problem. In verse three, the term true companion could also be translated
into a man's name. Syzygus so a little, we're not sure here. In either case, Paul
appeals to this person to help the women who were former workers with Paul, help these women
find peace with one another since they have been faithful
and fruitful servants in the past. And thus, they're written
in the book of life. Just another way of saying,
they're going to heaven. If your name's written
in the book of life, it's the same way of saying
you're going to heaven. Paul does not want their dispute to grow and provide a poor witness for the church and lead to eternal
consequences for those women should the situation continue and then he recalls a time when these women, along with
another one of their number Clement worked in harmony with
themselves and other workers. So he say hey remember back in the day? We all worked together,
we were all in harmony. These two women and Clement and myself. You know, think back
on those days he says. There may be a gentle reminder here to get busy in the Lord's work for these women as a way
of remedying the dispute that they're having. The old story you know, idle
hands the Devil's workshop. Maybe they were busy in the Lord and all of a sudden they're
not busy in the Lord anymore and they're just you know,
fussing with each other. So he's saying you know, get busy. Lots to do. Mature Christians have
disagreements and disputes from time to time but they don't let these destroy the bond of
fellowship that they have nor do they allow their dispute to cause division in the church. I mean, you can't take,
you can't take 400 people like in our, you can't take 400 sinners and put them all together and tell them you live like a nice family
and not have disputes. I mean you have a family of three. You know, mom, dad and the kid. You're going to have
disputes so can you imagine when you have 400 sinners
together in the same place? Of course there's going to be disputes. It's how we handle these things you know? We have disputes from time
to time but they don't let these things destroy
the bond of fellowship. And so in Ephesians chapter
four, we'll skip over to another epistle here
where Paul talks about these type of things. He says, in Ephesians now he says, therefore I the prisoner of the Lord implore you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling with which
you have been called. What is that calling? We've been called to go to heaven. As people who have been
called to go to heaven, we ought not to be fighting
with each other down here. So he says, walk in a
manner worthy of the calling with which you have been called. With and what is that manner? How should you walk he says. With all humility and gentleness, with patience, showing tolerance
for one another in love. Being diligent to preserve
the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace. So Paul in this passage
elaborates on the importance of maintaining unity in the church. He begins by reminding
them of who they are and what is expected
of disciples of Jesus. Again, we've been called
to live as He lived. We've been called to be mature in Christ. We're going to heaven. Note also, the attitudes
and virtues necessary to maintain peace and unity among those who have been forgiven for
sin and set for eternal live but still inhabit a
sinful body here on earth. That's the problem isn't it? We're going to heaven. We have the spirit of God
within us but we still am dragging around this old flesh. So these situations are not
resolved by force or argument, by scheming or creating factions and divisions in the church. Remember, the goal in a dispute
is not to win the argument, it's to maintain the unity while we work out our differences. And you know, we always want closure. A little overused word you know. If you've lived at all,
any amount of time right? Steve is laugh, if you've
lived any amount of time you know, you've learned the hard way that there's a lot of stuff
that doesn't get closure. It stays and just flapping in
the wind for years sometimes. So among ourselves as
believers the goal again. We don't want to win the
argument or just block it down so we don't have to
talk about it again, no. We want to discuss the things
and kind of work things out and maintain the unity so that
we can continue to do that in the future. And so achieving that requires
the mature Christian virtues of humility, what does that mean? Well humility, having a
true measure of oneself, that's humility. I have measured myself
accurately for who I am and what I am. You know someone who doesn't have a true measure of themselves might think that they're always right. They can't be corrected. Well that's not having a very accurate measure of yourself is it? So if humility is having
a true measure of oneself, gentleness, seeing both
sides of a situation. Not self-willed. Not my way or the highway. Patience, patience is the willingness to bear under difficulty and
trials and misunderstandings without losing one's composure or bearing. Tolerance for one another. Recognizing the failings and weaknesses of others and not being provoked by these to unkindness or unChristian behavior. That's tolerance. Tolerance isn't anything goes. Oh you need to be tolerant,
anything goes you know. Whatever, immorality you
know and unchastity no. Tolerance is recognizing that
other people have weaknesses. And understanding that
we also have weaknesses. So all of these virtues, being motivated by Christian love. In other words, wanting what is best for the other person because of your faith and not because they deserve it. What's the difference between regular love and Christian love? Regular love offers love
to a deserving individual who usually sends us some love back. Christian love loves those that
don't even deserve our love, that's Christian love. Why do we say Jesus
epitomizes Christian love? Well He's hanging on the cross and He's asking God to forgive the ones that just murdered Him. Yeah, that's Christian love. And it's you know, in
its extremity to which. So Paul says in verse three
that mature Christians make an effort. They are diligent to preserve unity. Why are they diligent to preserve unity? Because it's hard, that's why. It's very difficult to
preserve unity, why? We're all sinners, we all have pride. You know we, we get
crossways with each other, we say things we regret after or we say things not even
realizing how hurtful they may be. That's why we have to be
diligent to preserve unity among believers because
exercising the virtues noted in verse two in a dispute
situation isn't easy and it requires emotional
and spiritual strength. I can be a patient guy
when nothing goes wrong. I'm all kinds of patient then. You know, I have this idea. You know when people talk, we've got great customer
service at our business and they always see great customer service as when you're buying something
that they're really quick in getting you your
stuff and this and that. That's not customer service, that's easy. You're giving them money,
they're giving you a product. They're selling something, no no no. Great customer service is
when something goes wrong with your order, when they lose your stuff or when there's a mixup or whatever. That's when great customer
service happens, under duress. Well it's the same thing. That's when Christian character
comes out, under duress. And so a very public demonstration
of Christian maturity visible as believers openly
interact with one another. This is the ability to
maintain harmony and peace despite differences and disputes that arise from time to time. That's what Paul is talking about here. So the mature Christian
demonstrates righteous living in another way. One way is by living in harmony. Another way to demonstrate
Christian maturity, living in confidence. How does a mature Christian
build and demonstrate confidence and assurance as a child of
God, how does he do that? Certainly not be using you know, fleshly ways such as bragging. You know, I'm the
greatest or trash talking. I'm going to beat you, or
showing off one's skills or wealth or position. That's not how we show confidence. These are worldly ways of
promoting assurance and confidence in one's skill and success. You know, I've built this business, this is my empire, this
is my bank account, that's the world. Paul describes the
person who has confidence not in himself or his abilities but rather confidence in the one who
provides all that is needed here on Earth and promises heaven as well. That's confidence, I'm
not confident in me. I'm not confident in me. I'm confident in the one who saves me, who provides for me, that's
where my confidence is. So he says in verse four he says, rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentle spirit
be known to all men. The Lord is near. Be anxious for nothing but
in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God and the peace of God which
surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus. So this section reveals
the way that a Christian builds and maintains spiritual confidence but we have to change the order okay. We have to change the
order in which it is read in order to bring out this information. As I go back and change
the order of the passage and you'll see it comes
out a little more clearly. So we start with verse six. Be anxious for nothing but in everything by prayer and supplication
with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. Building confidence begins with prayer. That's the number one part. Borrowing from Matthew 6 Paul summarizes Jesus' admonition to not
worry about daily needs by simply stating that they should not be
anxious about anything. Confidence building
requires first and foremost the understanding that God
is the one who provides all that we need, not self. We are stewards, we're developers, we're consumers of these things but He is the provider of these things. Knowing and trusting in this
reality removes the anxiety that naturally exists in us
when we think that you know, we are ultimately
responsible for providing for ourselves and others. Well obviously, we get
up and go to work sure. But God provides the work. He provides the strength. I mean, what if He doesn't
provide you with your health? What if He doesn't sustain your strength? You won't be able to get up
out of bed to go to the job. What if He doesn't provide the economy or the opportunity for that company or the government or whatever
you work for to continue? Mature Christians do not worry
about how they will obtain what they need. They invest that emotional
and spiritual energy which is many times wasted in worrying. They invest that spiritual
energy into a regular prayer life that has both components of asking for what is needed
physically and emotionally and spiritually and thanking
God for what we already have. A dynamic, ongoing prayer life is the source of one's confidence. Alright, now let's read, let's go back and read verse four and five. He says, rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice. Let your gentle spirit
be known to all men. The Lord is near. So the true mark of confidence
is joy, not bravado. Not bragging, the Christian
who begins to observe God's movement and influence in his life as prayers are answered and God's spirit works various things out,
that that person is humble and filled with joy. You know, you know when we
say, that was a God thing. You know, I, a situation in your life that works out somehow and you say, yeah that was a God thing. Mature Christians recognize
that the God things that are happening in their lives. This is what Paul is
describing in verse five. He says let the effective
seeing God at work in your life, meaning make you feel humble, let that humility and gentleness be seen. Give glory to God. It's a mark of maturity,
it's the confidence in Christ replacing the confidence in
self and this transformation is a powerful witness to other people. Alright, now let's go
forward and skip over six and go to seven. He says, and the peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and
your minds in Christ Jesus. So what does this confidence produce? It doesn't produce bragging. Like I'm holier than you
are or I've seen God working and you haven't, it doesn't produce that. This confidence produces peace of mind. A kind of peace that surpasses reasoning. Let me explain. Some rich or powerful,
some people who are wealthy and/or powerful have
peace to a certain degree because they can see and
count the resources they have that protect them from harm or poverty. I got a million bucks in the bank. I got a house with a big fence in front. You know, I got stuff that protects me and that gives me peace. When I go to bed at night, I don't care if the economy blows up. You know, I got a
million bucks in the bank or I've got a, you know, a big farm and I can grow all the
food I want, whatever. Mature Christians on the other hand have peace beyond understanding because with God as their
provider and savior, their peace of mind is guaranteed because no matter what
happens in this life, their resurrection and eternal life are guaranteed through Jesus Christ. Peace beyond understanding. You know the understanding part. That's the part where you
can count and you can amass and you have a reason why you have peace. I got a million bucks in
the bank, I'm at peace. No, yeah are you kidding? I got 10 million bucks in the bank. Can you imagine that peace I've got? And of course we know
don't we, we know don't we all these people that have
10 million bucks in the bank. Do they really have peace? What are they really thinking about? Man I hope the economy holds, hope the price of gold stays steady. They're checking the stock market and making sure it's you know, protecting their million bucks. Don't want inflation to eat it away. Confidence and peace are based
on our faith, not numbers. Our confidence and peace are
based on a person, not things. And so the third way that
the Christian demonstrates righteous living, but he
does it by living in harmony, living in confidence, knowing
that the Lord provides for us. And you know, not just provide. I don't want to concentrate
just on money you know. Not just provides what we
need to eat and shelter and take care of our
children but sometimes there's a problem, there's a project, there's a challenge in life at work. Should I take this promotion? Should I move over here? Should I change my work and
start this thing over here? And we're like, I don't know
if I'll be able to do it. Should we have another child? I don't know, should we move to the town where our children are living or should we move to the
place where our parents are? You know all these decisions you know that having a lot of money
or not a lot of money doesn't kind of solve for you. The person who has confidence in God and has a healthy prayer
life has confidence that God will work things
out for that person. Alright, so living in harmony, living in confidence
and then the third one, living in purity. Verse eight and nine, he
says finally brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely,
whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and
if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. The things that you have
learned and received and heard and seen in
me, practice these things and the God of peace will be with you. So in his effort to equip the Philippians for mature spiritual
living, Paul provides them with a kind of testing kit. You know, you have a test and you want to, you have a swimming pool, you
have a testing kit you know? You put it to see if the water, there's enough you know,
whatever chemicals in the water and all that business. So you have a testing kit right? Well Paul provides them
with a spiritual testing kit that will help them
determine if what they think and say and do are spiritually
acceptable and worthy of mature Christians who
are living a pure life. So each of the words
serve to examine something from a different perspective. The kit works to examine
and rate both incoming and outgoing ideas. Words and actions so that
the individual can monitor his own conduct and make adjustments and evaluate the conduct and attitudes of other people in
order to avoid approving by association the unChristian
conduct of other people and so Paul gives himself,
even in verse nine as a model of this human testing kit. If the words are not
enough he says to them, use his life and teaching
as a working example of how to live a pure and
faithful life as a Christian. He brings the whole section together by saying that testing what they do and following his example
are the practical ways that a mature Christian
builds the confidence that ultimately leads
to the peace you know that surpasses understanding that he described in verse seven. So it all works together. He goes to his closing
remarks in verses 10 to 20. He begins with praise for the Philippians. We know that this
congregation had helped Paul in the past and had sent a gift to him with the request to know his circumstances which prompted the writing of this letter. So in verse 10 he says but I
rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last you have
revived your concern for me. Indeed you were concerned before, but you lacked the opportunity. First time I read I remember I think man that's kind of cheeky. You know, thanks for the cheque. I know you know, you
didn't send me one before but I'm glad I got the cheque this time. And I mean I knew this wasn't the attitude but it sure sounded like that
when you just kind of read it you know on the surface. But Paul acknowledges their
gift as well as the fact that they had helped him in the past. He even recognizes the
fact that they have always been willing to help but
they lacked the opportunity and why was that? Well think now, his constant traveling. The difficulty of communications. Today we text somebody you know, I text somebody who is in China. They'll get the text right away. In those days he was
moving from place to place. You know a couple of months
here, three months there, two weeks here. To send a letter with money and a gift, I mean they had to go 1000 miles on foot or you know, in a boat. It would take, weeks, months for messages to be communicated for ordinary people. Not like the emperor who
had couriers you know? The ordinary people,
messaging was very slow. So he was never in one place long enough for them to kind of
send him something okay. The fact that they knew
where he was, he was in jail. So they knew he was stationary. The fact that they knew
he was staying there you know, enabled them
to organize something and send him a letter and send him a gift. In verse 11, 14 he says
not that I speak from want for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means and I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and every
circumstance, I have learned the secret of being
filled and going hungry. Both of having abundance
and suffering need. I can do all things through
Him who strengthens me. Nevertheless, you have
done well to share with me in my affliction. So he tempers any worries they may have about his present condition. You know, he's in prison, he needs money. By providing them with insight
into his emotional condition. He doesn't want them to
think that he is discouraged by his situation. And their gift is helpful and needed but it isn't what is going
to keep him from you know, it isn't what keeps his spirits up. What keeps him going as a mature Christian is that he has learned to be content. The Greek word here means
enough, or sufficient. So he learns to be content
in whatever circumstances he finds himself in whether
he has a lot or not a lot. Now in verse 13 he answers the question his readers would naturally
ask at this point. How are you able to be
content with little or much? And his answer is brief
but all-encompassing. His contentment is derived from the fact that Christ strengthens. Again, the Greek word there
means to enable or empower. In other words, Jesus
enables him to live with much without falling into worldliness and lust and Jesus also empowers
him to survive with little without becoming discouraged
and questioning God's will. That's how he does it. It doesn't mean, oh when I have little and I'm here in jail oh that's nothing. I just blow that off, you know peanuts. Nothing, nothing to it. No no no, he's in jail. He's an old man, it's cold, there's no AC, there's no heat. It's damp, the food isn't good. So it's not that he's uncomfortable. Excuse me, it's not that
he likes the discomfort or he's you know, above it. He just says the same Lord who enables me to enjoy the good times
without losing my head also helps me bear under the hard times without being completely defeated and isn't that what life is like? Don't we all go, I mean
hopefully we don't spend years in prison but
don't we all go through the good times, not so good times. So, his contentment is
not based on what he has but rather who he believes. Paul is not introducing a
new and different idea here. He is using his own situation. You know, a Godly man
wrongfully imprisoned and suffering from
incarceration for four years. He's using his own situation
as an ultimate example for what mature Christianity looks like. In his own life and especially
in his false imprisonment. Look, he has stood firm in the faith. He has imitated Christ in his conduct. You don't hear him
whining and complaining. He has rejoiced despite
his difficult circumstances and he has taught, sought and modeled righteousness by faith to
them from the very beginning. So his development as a mature Christian has ultimately brought
him to the point in life where he can truly be content in any, I mean if he can be
content in a Roman jail, believe me, he can be content anywhere. Now what's not written but
understood is that this level of contentment is not
reserved for only Apostles. It's available for all Christians who increasingly depend on
Jesus Christ and seek him out in prayer, it's for everybody. Imagine, imagine if we arrive
at this level of contentment. There's nothing that can destroy us. There's nothing in this
world that can defeat us. So Paul adds an additional
line thanking them in order to you know,
underscore his appreciation and he's commending them
for doing a good deed. You know, sending him some money. He raises their act beyond simple charity by saying that with their
giving they have shared. Fellowship is the word he uses. They have shared in his suffering by sacrificing to help
relieve his suffering. They've in effect,
shared in his suffering. Need to move on here. He says you yourselves
also know Philippians, that at the first preaching of the Gospel after I left Macedonia,
no church shared with me in the matter of giving and
receiving but you alone. For even in Thessalonica you sent a gift more than once for my needs. Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which
increases to your account. But I have received everything in full and have an abundance. I am amply supplied, having
received from Epaphroditus what you have sent. A fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. So finishing out here. Paul continues his comments
concerning their gift by reviewing past instances rather where they helped him financially. Especially at times when it was crucial because no one else was helping him. He not only appreciates
their history of giving but also the blessings that
the Philippians receive on account of their generosity. I'm happy because God
is going to bless you for having blessed me and he confirms that their recent gift,
delivered by Epaphroditus, one of his helpers from
the church at Colossae has more than fulfilled
all of his material needs and then he then uses another imagery to describe their gift. In verse 12 he described
it as a fellowship in his suffering. This time, the Old Testament imagery of a sacrifice offered at
the temple in the proper way for which God was pleased. So verse 19 and 20 he says
and my God will supply all your needs according
to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now to our God and Father
be the glory forever and ever, amen. So the result of their kind action of caring for Paul's
needs is that he prays that God will provide for all their needs. The difference however is that
God has unlimited resources and he can supply any kind of need. You need money, He can supply that. You need courage, He can supply that. You need patience, He can supply that. You need longsuffering to
be able to bear something that is burdening you, He can supply that. The idea reaches back to
the idea, previous one, that contentment comes when we realize that God can and does do this for us. Paul completes his comments
and prays for their gift by praying that God will
supply all of their needs. He finishes the section with a short, it's called a doxology. Meaning spontaneous praise. Giving God the glory for all things including the good deed
done by the Philippians in sending the money. So the last few verses, the
final greeting and blessing. Verse 21 and 22 he says greet
every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. So, as was the custom, the
greetings part of the letter was at the end and not at the beginning as it is today. He sends personal greetings
to the church in Philippi. Those with Paul, Luke,
Epaphroditus, Timothy and others also send their
greetings through his letter. Paul had converted other
prisoners, Onesimus for example. Philemon's runaway
slave and as I mentioned at the beginning of the series, many of Caesar's elite bodyguards. You know, the Praetorian Guard, they had heard the Gospel
through Paul and these also were, imagine the guards who are
guarding them are saying hey hey hey, say hello for us too. They're guarding the prisoner
and they want to be included in his letter to the brethren. You know, amazing, amazing stuff. And of course not to mention
other officials and servants that Paul came into contact
with and then the last verse the final blessing, the grace
of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Grace, the saving favor of God
is the most precious blessing that Paul could ask for on behalf of these in his most cherished brethren. Well there's only one
lesson here you know. I always try to finish with some lessons but only one lesson and here it is. Maturity leads to contentment and peace. If you take away a lesson, maturity leads. Why should I strive
for Christian maturity? To please God, to make him happy? No, of course this satisfies
him but he is happy when we are blessed. So striving for Christian maturity leads to contentment and peace. The climax of this letter
is found in the section where Paul explains that he has learned, it's a process, to be content. So maturing in Christ
is the learning process that brings us to that point
of spiritual development where we are able to fully depend on Jesus to empower us
for every situation. I depend on Christ for everything. The great reward for arriving
at this level of maturity is that it creates in us the
marvelous state of contentment that Paul speaks about here. This contentment is what
he describes in verse seven as the peace that surpasses understanding. There is no earthly
reason to be this content because you're depending on
somebody that no one sees. And yet, you know he is there. So they are two sides of the same coin. One describes our condition,
that's contentment and the other describes how we feel. Peace beyond understanding. Alright, remember maturity
leads to contentment and peace, that's the end of
our series on Philippians. Thank you for hanging in there,
I appreciate your attention.
