What’s On Your Mind - Part 2 of 2

Will be fire, and additional share. Bradley Junior welcoming you to another broadcast of the Baptist Bible will be continuing the message today entitled what's on your mind. This gives us Paul's thinking list found in the book of Philippians chapter 4, I feel that during these difficult days. It's extremely important that we give attention to what we think about thinking about the right not things that drag us down to discourage us, and even dishonor, but to think about those things ultimately bring peace and joy. So I trust the message will be a blessing to you today. Sometimes we learn contentment simply by being made more aware of the emptiness of the world has to offer is often tries to ensnare us by painting a beautiful picture as to what we will gain in pursuing things of the world.

Get the book of first John chapter 2 says love not the whirlwind of the things that are in the world but with the world around us and the world beckoning us to follow effort. The manager sometimes severe and there are times that you can be diluted and assumed the things that the world has to offer you content. Let's look at the words of Solomon in the book of Ecclesiastes chapter 2 and see what his experience was Ecclesiastes 29 so I was great, and increased more than all before me in Jerusalem, also my wisdom remained with me and whatsoever mine eyes desired I kept not from them, I withheld not my heart from any joy for my heart rejoiced in all my labor and this was my portion of all my labor. Then I looked on the works that my hands had walked in on the link with that I had labored to do and will hold all the and vexation of spirit.

And there was no profit under the sun had that experience with something so important to you so attractive to you, so appealing to you pursued it you gave it your all and you are successful, you make the money wanted to make the job you wanted to get you in the place of influence among friends in the Lord that with you. You took a step back and said all is vanity vanity and vexation of spirit, like a strange way to learn contentment. Well, it often is a painful process, but it's one that is necessary to break that desperate clutch that we so often have only two things in on what the world has to offer. In Psalm 119 the 71st verse writer says it is good for me that I have been afflicted that I might learn by statutes. How did you learn the stages of non-not just know the letter of them not just to be able to recite them but to know them in his experience, it was good for me but I've been afflicted in the afflictions we learn them the truth of Scripture. And there's no better way to be on the road toward contentment and to learn what the Scriptures teach that saying that contentment is something that is learn the question may then be pondered what just what is contentment. I would need to look at a couple thoughts here. From a negative standpoint because there can be misunderstanding about someone assumes that if you're saying well were to be content that you are just to accept what ever comes in life without any effort to make positive changes. That's not what's under consideration.

Let's see what were talking about the book of Proverbs chapter 24 Proverbs chapter 24 on the 30th verse. I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding and low it was all grown over with forms and metals had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall.

There was then I saw and considered it well. I looked upon it and received instruction yet a little sleep, a little slumber on the hamster sleep social poverty come as one the travel by want is an army command described here was content to stay in not get blood work in his field and used them to look out. There is a field it had a wall around the been planning to get out there and repair it, but he perpetually puts it all areas.

It was a productive feel at one time. What is wrong with forms and that is what I'm content I'm content would stay that way that's not contentment that is being described. The apostle Paul to true contentment doesn't mean indifference doesn't mean a neglect of duty doesn't mean that I want to refuse to do the things that are expected to require it's it's not here to when something is vital and needs attention know another expression book of Proverbs says there is one who says I will not go out because there is a lion in the street that individual was content to stay in the house because he is so that the walkout that was looming danger indication is there was no line on the street but in the man's mind. He says there is danger. So I am content to stay inside you can build in your mind. Certain fears and apprehensions you can make certain excuses for failing to do what needs to be done and continue with the status quo. I like things just like they are satisfied with the sinful situation in the book of Revelation we find a church in that condition, The freeway talks about the church at Laodicea what they say where we can increase with the thing I sent my contentment. They were content with their situation.

But God wasn't pleased with their contentment was not valid.

Their contentment was not honoring they were content with them so they were deceiving themselves because they said we have need of nothing in the Lord that you have need of everything you need to get this. I have so that you can open your eyes and see how great your need really is. So let us be careful that we not confuse what contentment really is. From a biblical point of view on the positive side of the register. I believe we can understand as we read the apostles experience which we been looking at throughout the book of Philippians that to be content is to be surrendered to God's sovereignty can't read this official without being impressed with the significance of that point, Paul was surrendered to God's will dust regarding this matter of the church flourishing once again. As far as their interest in helping him is not blaming the church. In fact, he's not rejoicing that their care of him has flourishing once again. He rejoices in the unfolding of God's providence joy is the overriding theme of this epistle. Yes, he talks a lot about suffering and try but he hasn't joy in the midst of it back in chapter 1 of the Philippians in verse 18. What lien notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and I have Marion to rejoice and will rejoice. Here's a set of circumstances where it looks like it is against the he's not at liberty to travel these changeable Roman soldier. It appears that many who stood with you have neglected him and forsaken him totally and there are those that are trying to add to his problems at the moment but rather than being discouraged by rejoicing and will continue to rejoice because he believed God was still on the Foley believe that God will still accomplish his work. I don't see how it's possible for person to continually rejoice as were commanded to do in Philippians chapter 4 for how a person can really learn contentment without the recognition that God is sovereign on other grounds can we find joy and on what basis can we learn contentment to know God is on the throne. The same with the psalmist. My times are in the hands changes your whole perspective changes your outlook about life. It changes your anticipation of what the future to know that God is working his will has promised never to leave us nor forsake us is going to accomplish something this to his glory and the good of his people from the book of Esther. Once again, more chaos is perhaps not come to the kingdom for such a time as this. How often do you look at your life pondering how God may be working. Looking at the opportunities that he's made available to you say. Perhaps God has brought me where I am at this place and this time to accomplish something that is for the advancement of his kingdom and of the Lord's name. Too often people who fail to recognize the hand of God in their life seem to develop the attitude that yes I was just born out of season. I just came overall time faculty about years ago when things were different.

I believe in the good old days and a lot of something worthwhile.

But not today. Perhaps you are here at this time in this place for a particular reason, where you can serve God to his glory.

So from apostate standpoint contentment means that there is a submission to in the recognition of God's sovereignty. Secondly, it means not to be controlled by circumstances, the terms used by the apostle when he says I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content you saying I know both how to be amazed on how to abound using term policy that was used at that time by some of the pagans buddies using it in a different connotation. You saying I have learned to be self-sufficient that we generally think that in a negative sense because were talking about somebody who's forgetting the Lord and trying to be sufficient in and of themselves, but the sense in which he is using the terminology is that I am able to be content, because I'm not depending on outside circumstances to contribute to. I don't have to have everything in place.

I don't have to have pleasant situations every day. I don't have to have positive news.

I don't have to have something this uplifting every day. I am content within myself, why because this contentment is in the Lord so easy for us to get to the place that we are allowing ourselves to be totally dependent upon the circumstances of life that being the case, we can never have true contentment. As soon as the clown comes in the sky as soon as the word of criticism is given as soon as disappointment is experienced as soon as sickness comes whenever the trouble comes our way over content contentment is within us in our relationship with the Lord around us were still content the person who is not controlled the circumstances of life is not embittered by poverty.

I learned whatever my circumstances are whether in difficult times when I have a little I'm really satisfied with what I'm up against when I'm being slandered as he was falsely accused as he laws he said that's not going to disrupt this piece that I have with God in the contentment that I enjoy. I will know the facts not in harmony with the way our human nature reacts. It doesn't mean that Paul was a man of steel that he had no heart. He didn't feel the things that were disturbing in his life. Just a man when he heard the criticisms when he heard how people slandered him and misrepresented him, and falsely accused him of what was preaching, among other things, it had to hurt, but he didn't give up in despair he didn't become bitter at the same time when all was going well and he was prosperous he didn't become exalted in himself to situations that are described here saying I know both how to be a place and I know how to abound everywhere in all things am instructed both to be full of the home where both are bound to suffer the you might ask yourself the question, in which situation do I have the easiest time trusting God and walking in contentment. Something to do very well when they're down. If they're struggling if they're dealing with poverty. They display great faith great courage have a close walk with God and then when the table turns in their joint prosperity they become horny forgetting the source of their blessing open the full of spiritual things turning the world and seeking efforts pleasures by we learn to be content whatever our circumstances may be verbally what were talking about what this contentment is it is to have a thankful heart.

We mentioned earlier that a complaining the murmuring spirit is a hindrance to contentment and from the positive side of being thankful leads us to contentment that seen throughout this epistle, Paul says in chapter 1 verse three I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. He was thankful thankful for the people to whom he ministered he was continually giving thanks to God for the things that he'd experienced, even in the midst of his trials when it comes to the fourth chapter and verse six he says be careful for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. Then in Colossians chapter 3 of the 15th verse he says and let the peace of God rule in your hearts to the which also ye are called in one body and the ye thankful. The 54.5.go to be content before if you want to be contented. You got to be walking in obedience. You can expect.

If you are rebelling against the truth of God the commandments of God the things the Lord has enjoined upon you. You're going to the wrong direction you're pursuing worldly interest. You cannot expect to be content. Chapter 2 of the book of Philippians verse five let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. What kind of mine was in the mind of being a servant, being submitted to the will of his heavenly father sent him to carry out the work that was given him to do. Verse 15 that you may be blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation, among whom you shine as lights in the world know contentment can be expected unless you're walking in this godly path, blameless and harmless, the sons of God, without rebuke Three firsthand that I may know him and the power of his resurrection of the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death, his focus is on Christ seeking to walk obediently the praise and honor of his name.

Chapter 4 verse nine says those things which you have both learned and received and heard and seen in me, do in the God of peace shall be with you the things that you can talk your to practice them to be a part of your life.

So without putting them into practice without doing the things that you been taught without walking obediently. You cannot expect to have contentment and then Paul lets us in on something of the secret that he is discovered in chapter 4 verse 13 when he says I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me to have contentment means to have found strength in Christ. The way that the child of grace can be content to pursuing other interests for pursuing the things of this world. If you determine I'm going to try to be content in the same way that I find others to be satisfied who are neglecting spiritual matters is going to always be an emptiness that will be disappointment when you find your strength in him. Isaiah chapter 40 was 29 he giveth power to the faint, and to them that have no might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, the young man's order fall but they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength they shall mount up with wings as eagles they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint. These who feel themselves to be weak and faint and in need of strength. Find where in the Lord he giveth power to them that have no might Paul learn this very intimate way in the form of the flesh that was given to him in second Corinthians chapter 12. The form was painful. What a speculation has come up with various opinions as to what the form may have been a little this much about it was something that was most unpleasant. It was something that he wanted to have removed. He prayed three times the Lord by delivering from the answer was, my grace is sufficient for the what did you learn that weather was a thorn in the flesh or any other try any other obstacle you face. You didn't have strength in himself, but he says here, I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me. How often we forget that. Try to forge ahead in our own strength and were defeated and disappointed come back again to acknowledge more. I have no strength. I do not have what is required but I am trusting the our strength is in him.

How then is this contentment to be maintained is something that must be learned.

It's not trying to condition ourselves to accept a status quo if we are in a position that needs to be remedied in change in a positive direction, but it is in recognizing God's sovereignty approaching him with a thankful heart walking in obedience finding our strength in Christ. How do we maintain and how can we continue and list the constant changing scenes of life to still be content it brings us back once again the fact that we must acknowledge God is sovereign. How can I maintain this continuance. I got to recognize that circumstances are constantly changing. Sometimes a person becomes greatly disturbed because things are not likely used to be circumstances are changing friends. That's the reality of life where in a changing world, things are not going to remain the same. But if we learn that even with changing circumstances. The thing that gives us contentment is an ongoing relationship of an unchanging God.

We can have peace of mind, contentment of heart and finally the apostle speaks of the books I can convince chapter 4 of some of the sufferings that he endured a sense of the 18th verse while we look not at the things which are seen, but the things which are not seen for the things which are seen are temperament the things which are not seen are eternal spoke to the fact that though his outward man was perishing the inward man was renewed day by day. How was it because he was looking at the things that were not seen speaks of the fact that our light affliction is but for a moment and working for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory, one of the things man that can move us to maintain a continuance. In the midst of all the changes all the challenges all the difficulties we encounter is to remember that trouble what comes our way now is not forever.

Not long lasting. If you're sick, you will soon be well forever close time moves rapidly level and as painful as the sickbed can be punished for an extended period is coming a time when the end is reached for God's children while they may suffer here, there be no suffering. After a while you have a broken heart shall be bound up in heaven if you're weeping now tears are going to soon be wiped away if you're struggling. The battle soon will be over in the victories going to be one if you weary soon going to be at rest. Understanding then that our sufferings are barred for the moment can enable us to be content if you thought that whatever the pain whatever the suffering that you have right now.

It was one of the law. There was no that would be extremely difficult. But when you understand that is but for a moment and it's working for real far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory. You can have that vital when you look at the things which are not seen and look to that which is better for the wrong if today's message is been a blessing to you, hope you will take time to write and let us know our drinks is the Baptist Bible. Our box 17 old, 37, Cincinnati, OH 45217 to depend on our listeners for the support to keep the program on their show. If you can help. This will greatly appreciated known to we greet you next time. This shall share Bradley Junior bidding goodbye and may God bless you and all and in all of all