"Be Satisfied"    Philippians 4:11                         08/12/17

¹¹  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

This bible verse was written to the Philippians by the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. In the verse preceding this one Paul was thanking the Philippians for all their support that they had given him. Here Paul was explaining that he was more thankful that their hearts were right in their giving than he was for the physical things he received from them. Paul was rejoicing over them because they were so generous. Paul further amplified his desire for them to have a kind, giving heart by explaining how he felt personally about the physical things and even his own circumstances. He said I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. Paul was saying that he had no desire or want from the people because it didn't matter to him what he had, where he was or what his situation was, he learned how to be content. The definition of content is: satisfied with what one is or has; not wanting more or anything else. Paul was saying it didn't matter what was happening to him, he learned how to be content. There is only one way to be content in everything you do and that is to be so God conscious that you never consider your circumstances because in your heart you completely trust God. Proverbs 3:5 says, "Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding." To truly be content, you can only do it by trusting God in everything and by not letting your own carnal thoughts affect what you know is True through Jesus, the Word of God. What is True through Jesus? What is His will for your life? Paul's first letter to the Thessalonians 5:18 told us that, "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you." It's God's will for us to give thanks in all circumstances. To further confirm this truth, Paul while he was in prison also told us in Philippians 4:4 to, "Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice." Why should you rejoice in the Lord always? Because you know no matter how bad your situation is in that moment, if you are a born again believer, God will turn your situation to good because Romans 8:28 tells us this, "And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose." This says that God will turn your situation around if you trust him, so you need to stay focused on the Lord in all situations and remember what Jesus has done for you. If you just compare your temporary situation to Jesus hanging on a cross, it will change your perspective immediately. You will most likely never hang on a cross so your problem is extremely small compared to how Jesus suffered. Remember that because Jesus did suffer, you don't have to, as Paul explained in his letter to the Galatians 1:4, "Who gave himself for our sins, that he might deliver us from this present evil world, according to the will of God and our Father:" Jesus has delivered us from this present evil world but that doesn't mean you will not have problems. Jesus told us Himself in the Gospel According to John 16:33, "These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world." Jesus said to be of good cheer which means, be happy because, through Him you will have peace through tribulation by focusing on the fact that He has already overcome the world. From all this, you now know that you can have peace and be content in all situations through focusing on Jesus and what He did, to make your problems seem small in comparison. Now think about this for a moment. Is there a time in your life you should not be content? The answer is a resounding YES!  You should be discontent when you see things in your life that are contrary to what the Word of God says about you and your life. As a born again believer, you are Blessed because of Jesus and Paul wrote this in his letter to the Ephesians 1:3, "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who hath blessed us with all spiritual blessings in heavenly places in Christ:" Because of Jesus, you have been Blessed with all Spiritual Blessings in heavenly places, right here, right now. So if your life is not reflecting these Heavenly Spiritual gifts right here right now, you should absolutely be discontent.   All Spiritual Blessings in Heavenly places is referring to something that we can not fully comprehend. First there are Gifts of the Holy Spirit that you can receive if you ask for the Baptism of the Holy Spirit shown in Paul's First letter to the Corinthians Chapter 12.  Most importantly, Jesus provided us an all inclusive salvation when He died on the cross and rose again which includes deliverance from evil in this present world which we spoke about earlier. Jesus forgave all our sins and gave us complete healing in our bodies right here right now. The Apostle Peter explained this in his First Letter 2:24, "Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed." Jesus Healed you! You also received prosperity through Jesus' death and resurrection as Paul wrote in his 2nd Letter to the Corinthians 8:9, "For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich." You should be prospering right here right now. This is a short list of some of the things you receive by believing in Jesus. If you are not seeing these things manifest in your life, you should be discontent. If you have realized right now that you are discontent for any reason, first change your focus back to Jesus and start speaking to your mountain of discontent just like Jesus told you to Himself in the Gospel According to Mark 11:23, "For verily I say unto you, That whosoever shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; and shall not doubt in his heart, but shall believe that those things which he saith shall come to pass; he shall have whatsoever he saith." If your mountain is sickness of any sort, financial problems, marital problems or anything else that is hindering your life, Jesus said speak to that mountain. This is a literal instruction. If you are sick, tell the sickness by it's name to get out of your body in the name of Jesus. You can speak to your finances, marriage or any other problem the same way to see it change. One important note about speaking to your mountain, Jesus continued on in Mark 11:24 to say, "What things soever ye desire, when ye pray, believe that ye receive them, and ye shall have them." You must believe in Faith to receive, if you doubt it, you will do without it. If you are feeling like you may be doubting, you can fix that doubt by doing what it says in Romans 10:17, "So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God." Faith comes by hearing the Word of God. Read the Word to eliminate doubt, it is that simple. Now you have an overview on being content in all your circumstances and a better understanding on what you should be discontent about, and how to deal with it. Take these truths today and apply them right now in your life to not only be content in all situations but to see all the Blessings Jesus gave you working in your life. Then you will desire to give thanks and Rejoice in the Lord Always!