Brethren, as we proceed this morning, just want to remind you that the actual topic that we are considering is our plans and God's will. Our plans and God's will. And just by way of introduction, because it's been a few weeks, I just want to briefly review what we've considered thus far in this topic. First of all, We began with some foundational truths concerning the will of God. And there are three things or three ways in which we know God's will is that we understand God's will in three categories. Firstly, God's decree. That is, what God has decreed in himself, that whatever comes to pass, he has decreed all things. And we have in Deuteronomy 29, 29, it says, the secret things belong to the Lord our God. And then also we understand God's will to be what He has revealed in Scripture. His revealed will. That's what we mean about His revealed will. We understand it to be what He has said to us in the Holy Scriptures. And even in our Confession it states that the Holy Scripture is the only sufficient, certain, infallible rule of all saving knowledge, faith, and obedience. And then back at the Deuteronomy passage, the latter part of the passage, it says, So the secret things belongs to God, that's God's decree, but what He has revealed belongs to us. This is what He has given to us, this treasure, that we may understand what we are to believe and how we are to live. And then thirdly, the third category where we understand God's will is His providence. His providence Again, our confession states, God, the good creator of all things, in his infinite power and wisdom, does uphold, direct, dispose and govern all creatures and all things. So when you think of God's decree and God's providence, in a real sense, God's providence is the unfolding of his decree. What God has decreed is what he has purposed. Now God doesn't make purposes and then sit back and watch as a spectator to see what's going to happen. But in his providence, he is actively involved. He upholds, he directs, he disposed, he governs all things. And in that activity of his providence, it is the unfolding of what he has decreed. So we understand God's will in those three categories. And then we consider some principles. Firstly, that planning is a reflection of God, our Creator. You know, we make plans. We should plan. But it is a reflection of God, our Creator. It is in our DNA to plan. God created the world in six days. He could have created it in an instant. But he did it that way to establish a pattern that we may follow. And he rested. God doesn't slumber. He doesn't sleep. He doesn't get tired. He doesn't need to rest. It was a pattern for we, his image bearers, to follow. And he did it progressively, systematically, in how he did his work. And so, too, we are to do our work. according to plan. God, the great architect, it says in Proverbs 3 19, Jehovah by wisdom founded the earth by understanding he established the heavens. By his knowledge the depths were broken up and the skies dropped down the dew. So God didn't do it randomly, but he did it by plan. And as he gave that directive to man to subdue and to rule the earth. And as you think of many engineering feats, I mentioned the Panama Canal, the bridges in New York City and other things. So it is honoring to God. It is a reflection of God's character in our lives when we make plan. So we should make plans. It is a God-honoring thing for us to do. And then we also considered from that first message, some lessons is that these truths will help us deal with disappointment when we embrace these principles. And also these principles will help us keep us from pride. Meaning that, you know, if you make plans and everything always goes as planned, we may think things about ourselves that are not true, that we're pretty smart and wonderful and all that. But remember, if our plans come to pass, they only come to pass because the Lord willed it. if the Lord will. And that's the point. Everything hinges on that, if the Lord wills. And then I mentioned toward the end is that these truths will help us grow in contentment. When our plans just kind of just blow up in our faces or cross our fair schemes of earthly joy, as Newton puts it. When our ways have been crossed by God's will and His providence, these truths will help us grow in contentment that we need to be like that weaned child in Psalm 131. We need to be weaned from ourselves, from our plans, from our purposes. and to be readily to embrace the outcome of our plans, embracing it as from our wise and loving Heavenly Father. And so this morning, The second installment is this matter of contentment. And then the third sermon, Lord willing, next week will be about God's providence as it impacts our plans. So this morning we will consider the subject of contentment relative to our plans and God's will. So if you open your Bibles and turn with me to Philippians chapter four, You know the text, the classic passage. There are other passages as well. But this is not an exhaustive attempt to address the topic of contentment, but to underscore some vital principles that we need to grab hold of that will help us in this area. Philippians 4. And as you're turning there, just to remind you that The circumstances in which Paul said these words really gives a lot of power to this statement or conviction because Paul was in prison when he wrote these words. He wasn't at a family retreat at a conference center on the beach enjoying some lemonade in the sunshine. He was in prison when he said these things and And I'll just begin in verse 10. Philippians 4, beginning at verse 10. Paul says this, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me. Wherein you did indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. Now, verse 10, Paul is rejoicing because what he's about to speak about in terms of what the Philippians, this gift that they have provided for him, Paul is rejoicing. He's going to make a clarification. His joy is not so much in the thing or the gift that he received from the Philippians. You know what his joy is? It's in the thought. You know the saying, it's the thought that counts. It is true. Paul is rejoicing in their thought that they have considered him. They have considered him before and they have not forgotten him. That is a thing that just brings joy to his heart. You know, sometimes when someone does something for you, you didn't expect it. And it could be some little thing, seemingly insignificant thing, but because they thought of you, They took the time. They remembered you. What really touches your heart more than anything else is that they remembered you. And so that's what Paul is saying. I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your thought for me, wherein you indeed take thought, but you lacked opportunity. Now here's this clarification. Not that I speak in respect of want, I'm not happy because I'm in such a needy circumstance, and I feel so relieved. Thank you, Philippians, for giving me this gift to meet me in my desperate need because I was falling apart, and your gift to this thing is a thing that's sustaining me. Paul is saying, I'm not speaking in respect of want. That's not what's making me happy. For I have learned in whatsoever state I am therein to be content. I know how to be abased, and I know also how to abound in everything and in all things, have I learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in Him that strengthens me." You see those words of 11, verse 11, 12, and 13, that's all Paul is just making it clear to the Philippians. I'm not covetous of the gift. I'm not excited because I'm a covetous man and I love to have things. He said, no, no, no. Don't get that impression for I have learned in whatsoever state I am. Now, what state is he in as he speaks these words? He's in prison and I've learned to be content. and he had contentment even in the prison. Not that the prison was a resort and he was just having the time of his life. No, the man was in prison. It wasn't a resort and he wasn't having the time of his life, but he was content and he tells him he has learned this. So contentment, and we're going to largely focus on this passage. So that's just some background about the setting. Now, Big question, what is contentment? What is contentment? Well, some may say, well, contentment is when I get that big house. Contentment is when I get married. Contentment is when I've reached that rung on the corporate ladder and I've attained success. And I want some likes on my social media to know that everyone recognized and rejoiced with me in my success. There's nothing wrong with being successful and all of that, but those things have nothing to do with contentment. Nothing, nothing. So what does this word contentment, what does it mean? When Paul says, I have learned to be content, what is Paul talking about? Well, this word literally means to be self-sufficient. Now we think of that self-sufficient, that doesn't sound really, that sounds opposite of what we are called to be. But that's the essence of the word self-sufficient and it means to be satisfied in the soul. to be independent of external circumstances and conditions where one has sufficiency in themselves. That's the idea here by self-sufficient. There is sufficiency within. not in terms of pride and arrogance. I don't need God. I got this. I can know that that's not what he's talking about. He's speaking about within himself. There is soul satisfaction. He is sufficient. You know, when you have a meal and let's say Thanksgiving, there's a big spread on the table and you're just enjoying yourself. And you get to the point, you say, Oh, and you say, I'm content, right? What are you saying? I've had enough. The food was delicious. I enjoyed it, but I'm content. So you're saying it suffices. I've had enough. And that's what the essence of this word is. I have enough. There is sufficiency within me, I have enough. And so what Paul is saying, you know, your gift, Philippians, I'm rejoicing more so in your thought, not so much in the gift. Because I want you Philippians to know, I have enough. I'm okay. I am content. So it is this satisfaction within the soul to have enough. And isn't that the problem with people in the world? And we are affected by that to various degrees. They never have enough. They never have enough. So they go after one thing, and another thing, and another thing, and they just never have enough. It just came to my mind, so bear with me. The Rolling Stones, I don't listen to the Rolling Stones. But what's the song, I Can't Get No Satisfaction? That's the world. They never have enough. Now, that's what contentment is. Secondly, how do you become content? How do you become content? Well, Look what Paul says here. You know, contentment is not natural. It's not natural for any of us. Being content is unnatural to us. And the reason why it's unnatural is because we are fallen creatures. Yes, those of us who have been redeemed by the grace of God, but what have we been redeemed from? We read Isaiah, how all we like sheep have gone astray. We have turned everyone to his own way. And that's the natural thing to do as fallen creatures is to go our own way, to do what we want. me first. How does this affect me? What do I get out of this? Oh, there's a decision. You've made a decision, but don't you know how that decision will affect me? You see this selfishness and Christ Jesus died that they that live. should no longer live to themselves. That's why I say contentment is not natural. We're not naturally content. We're not naturally satisfied within the soul. And this word is an aorist active indicative. I'm not trying to impress you with grief, but give you a sense of the word. This is a completed action here. This is a reality that has been accomplished a completed accomplishment. It's an heiress. It's like the completion of attaining that college degree, those four years of study. And maybe there's some students here are engaged in that where you've, you've, you've wrestled with that, or you are an apprentice and maybe you have this training program where you're working with someone for a trade and you go through the process of training and the hard knocks of study and all of that and now you reach the day where you are certified you have the certificate you have the piece you have accomplished and that's what this word means Paul says I have in a sense accomplished I have learned to be content. It has to be learned. It has to be learned. We train our children to be polite. We train them not to whine. They have to learn those things because naturally they are selfish and complaining. And that selfishness and complaining attitude continues even in our hearts as adults. and we have to continually overcome those things. That's why we have to learn to be content. It has to be learned. All right? So it's something that has to be learned. Now, that's the first thing about learning to be content. There are three other things I have to say about learning to be content. How do you become content? Firstly, it has to be learned. Secondly, It is learned only by experience. And listen to me carefully. It is learned only by experience. Only by experience. And I stress that only, only by experience. You can't learn contentment by listening to a sermon or a Sunday school. Now don't leave. There are some things we can learn about contentment, but after this hour, I have no ability to teach you to be content because it's only learned by experience. Look what Paul says. not that i speak in respect of one for i have learned in whatsoever state i am therein to be content i know how to be abased and i know also how to abound in everything and in all things have i learned or i have been instructed I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want." Now, was Paul speaking about things he learned by, you know, studying under Gamaliel or reading books? Paul is speaking experience here. He's speaking all kinds of sorts of experiences in which he had to go through the process because it wasn't natural for Paul either. Paul had to learn it. He learned by experience and where it says, I have learned the secret. That's what my translation says. I've learned the secret. Other translation says I have been instructed. Now that term was used for the mystery religions to be initiated in these mystery religions where people would go through this right or through this process of being an initiated to partake or be a part of this mystery religions where they have these, you know, ceremonies or whatever it may be that they have to go through. You could think of boot camp going into the into the Marines to be initiated. And so and that's why it's translated that way. I've learned the secret Really, I learned, I have been instructed, as Paul's saying. I have received instruction. That's what he says. I am the recipient of instruction. And this instruction occurs in life's experience. Turn with me to Hebrews 5. I want us to look at the example of our Lord Jesus, Hebrews Hebrews 5. Now the writer to the Hebrews in chapter 5, he's contrasting the priesthood of Aaron from that of Christ and Christ is a priest after the order of Melchizedek And then he wants to say more things, but he's not able to. But what he says about Christ, just jumping into context, Hebrews 5. I'll just start at verse 5, Hebrews 5, verse 5. So Christ also glorified not himself to be made a high priest, but he that spoke to him, you are my son. This day have I begotten thee. And he said also in another place, you are a priest forever after the order of Melchizedek, who in the days of his flesh, having offered up prayers and supplications with strong cryings and tears unto him that was able to save him from death and having been heard for his godly fear. And here's our verse. Though he was a son, yet learned obedience by the things he suffered. Now, interesting. Learned obedience? Christ, though he was a son, what did he have to learn? He was without sin, and the writer says this later on. And yet the scriptures tells us he learned obedience. He learned his ABCs because he was a real man. He learned things, although he never sinned. And earlier on in Hebrews in chapters two and four, we read that he was tempted at all points like as we are yet without sin. And here him, it says that he learned obedience. And this obedience that he learned was through experience in terms of his manhood. We read even before his ministry was inaugurated, his ministry, he was baptized of John the Baptist, right? In the Jordan River. Then as he came out of the waters of baptism, there was a voice spoken and there was a dove that descended upon him and it says, this is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased. The father was well pleased. What else did the son had to learn? And then you read after that announcement, what would a father do with his son that he's well pleased? Well, honor him, right? Give him gifts and good things. But what happens is that after that, immediately, the spirit drives him in the wilderness to be tempted of the devil. So you can say, well, if God is so well pleased, why would God put him through that? Well, that was all part of the work that he had come to do, of doing the will of his father. Because in accomplishing this salvation, he had to be obedient in every point of the law. And he was tempted and tried. The spirit led him for the purpose to be tempted of the devil. And as he was tempted, he passed the test. It is written, it is written. And he was tempted of the devil in a weakened state. And in that process there in the wilderness, he was learning obedience to his father. And you remember one of the verses he quote when the devil came, if you are the son of God or since you are the son of God, you know, you haven't eaten for 40 days and you're tired. And I know you're hungry and you have the power. Think about who you are. Why should you go through all this? You are the son of God. You've suffered enough. It is enough. You proved it. You proved your point, or you've satisfied what the father has called you to do now. Look at those stones. I know you're hungry. Turn those stones into bread. And what did Jesus says? It is written. man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceed from the mouth of the Lord. Now we don't have the time to do, to turn to this passage, but you know where he's quoting from? Deuteronomy chapter eight. And in Deuteronomy chapter eight, when those words were uttered by Moses, Moses is speaking to the second generation of the children of Israel. Their parents, many of them died in the wilderness. This is after that 40 years, 40 years, 40 days, maybe there's a parallel, but at this point they're on the plains of Moab about to go into the land of Canaan and Moses is exhorting them and he's reminding them how the Lord led you these 40 years. He has suffered you to hunger. He have, Then all these things to prove you to show you what's in your heart that you may know that man does not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds from the mouth of the Lord. You see the nation itself was to was learning obedience in the wilderness. Many of them failed. They didn't enter into God's rest because of their unbelief. There were sparingly few that did believe, but the whole point was that they need to know that they live by God's word and not by bread. And so Jesus, as the son of God there in the wilderness, you know, Jesus attitude is this. He says, man shall not live by bread alone. He would rather die of hunger. than to disobey his father. That's how committed he was to doing the will of God. I'm not turning these stones into bread. It is written, man shall not live by bread alone. I live by doing the will of my father. My meat is to do the will of him that sent me. You see, and in all these things, he was learning obedience. learning obedience. And so the point in looking at this passage, I mean, we could have a whole lesson on this, but the point of looking at the passage is that Jesus learned obedience through experience. He learned by experience. Just later on in this passage, as I said, the writer wanted to say more things about Melchizedek, but he couldn't say it. He said, there's more things I want to tell you about Melchizedek, but you're not ready. And you know why they weren't ready for it? Because of their experience, their lack of experience. Notice what he says in verse 11. Speaking of Melchizedek, he says, of whom we have many things to say, hard of interpretation, seeing you are become dull of hearing, lazy in the ears. For when by reason of the time you ought to be teachers, you have need again that someone teach you the rudiments of the first principles of the oracles of God and are become such as have need of milk and not solid food. The writer is saying, look, you've been in a way you've been walking in the way in the Christian life. Enough time has gone by where you should be teaching others, but you're not ready for that. You're not ready. You still need milk. And why are they not ready? Verse 13, for everyone that partakes of milk is without experience. See that? They are without experience of the Word of Righteousness, the babe, the one who's drinking milk. What they're lacking is experience of learning obedience, experience of living lives, of applying the Word of God in their lives. And as they are going through various circumstances and situations and applying the Word of God, They grow and they learn things. You know, that's how we learn and grow. We need to read of, we need to inform the mind. We can have the mind well informed and not grow. We can have all this knowledge, but it's putting that knowledge into practice and the action and God sanctifies that and we grow and we learn. And so here is the reason why I can't tell you more about Melchizedek because you are lazy hearers. You are without experience of the word of righteousness. What he says in verse 14, look there. But solid food is for full grown men. Even those, notice this, who by reason of use, that is using the word of God in their lives, who by reason of use of the word of God have their senses exercised to discern good and evil. There's a difference between the mature Christian and the immature Christian. The mature Christian has had his senses exercised by using and applying the word of God in their lives. And as we are applying the word of God, you know what happens? Our discernment is sharpened and we, our consciences are better informed by the word of God. And not only are our consciences informed, but our hearts are gripped. with the truth of God, where we have this conviction that we will buy the truth and sell it not. And we hold on, we have a strong conviction of what God has said, and we are in a position where we can discern good from evil, whereas the immature person is like the naive person. The simple man, he goes, walks into a situation, he thinks he's in a safe environment, and there's all danger around him, but he's simple. He's naive. He doesn't understand what's going on. You know, to be street wise. If you're walking down in the street in the urban area and you're not street wise, you don't know that. Hey, don't go over there. And when you do this, make sure you do this and do that. If you don't have that experience, you're naive. You just don't know. And so as, as the mature Christian, we understand what's right and what's wrong. Why? Because by reason of use of the Word of God, by experience of the Word of God in our lives, we have grown by God's grace, we have come to acquire this understanding, and it only comes by experience. And so when we go back to Philippians 4, Paul says, I have learned to be content. It is only learned by experience. Applying God's word in your life as you live your life. in every condition you're in, in every state you're in, never have the attitude, I don't have time to think about that, I'm too busy, I don't have time to really think about God's word, I have to deal with this right now, I'm so overwhelmed, I'm so over, and so you push the word of God out and now you begin to operate on your own wisdom and your own strength and pull your hair out and then all these kinds of things, no. It is by reason of use and following the example of our Lord Jesus Christ who did God's will and learned obedience even through suffering. So contentment is only learned by experience. The third aspect, and I'll mention this one briefly, is that we become content. Contentment is a fruit of faith or is a result of our faith. It grows out of faith. Faith in God's word and not in our circumstances and our conditions. For we walk by faith and not by sight. It is what we know Like James says, count it all joy when you fall into many trials knowing that the proving of your faith works patient. You can count it all joy, not because of how you feel, but because of what you know and what you believe. And so it is a fruit of faith. It's not just, well, I just have to do this and, you know, pass the time like you're on the job and you can't wait till, you know, you're finished and you can get out of here in your school. You're just passing the time, but it's really by laying hold upon God's promises in the midst of the various circumstances when your plans fall apart before your eyes, or when things just don't turn out the way you expected, you're having God's Word and you're believing His promises and you're working through these things and you're walking by faith, you're not walking by sight. You're not making conclusions that I'm a failure, my life is miserable, or maybe there's some sin in my life, could be, but how can we know all those things as to God's providence? No man can know all those things. We would have to be God. And so, in terms of learning contentment, It's a matter of faith as well. And then fourthly, contentment, it is attained by the power of God, ultimately. It is attained by the power of God. You back in our Philippians passage here. Philippians 4, Paul says, I know how to be a base, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have been instructed, or I have learned the secret, both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in want. I can do all things in Him that strengthens me. I can do all things in him that strengthens me. I know many translations have, I can do all things in Christ who strengthens me. And that is true. And there's another passage we're going to look at that bears that out very clearly and it could be understood, but, but that would be more of an interpretation than a translation. Um, here in the past is literally, uh, it could be read this way. I am strong. I am able in the one empowering me. I am able in the one Empowering me the term for Christ is not there now maybe in some other manuscripts But the term Christ like Christos is not there. It is that all things in all things I am strong that is I am I Have strength though. I have been infused with strength I am strong in the one who is empowering me, that is strengthening me, infusing strength into me. And obviously that's not a smooth translation. And so when we read this word, I can do all things, that's what Paul is saying. I, in every circumstance, in all things, I am strong, I am able, Not because of me, but in the one who is strengthening me. In the one who is empowering me. In the one who is infusing strength into me. What Paul is saying, I'm not doing this on my own. Yes, it has to be learned, but I have been enabled to learn in all of these circumstances, whether in hunger, whether to be abounding, whether to be abased. And doesn't that remind you of the wilderness generation, how they experienced different things along the way and all of that, and they never learned contentment. And Paul learned contentment. Remember, it's a process of learning. It's not natural. It has to be learned and it can only be learned by experience. And as Paul experienced various things and there are other passages, I'm debating if I want to turn there, what, where Paul speaks about the many things he has experienced. Let's turn there. Turn with me to second Corinthians chapter 11. 2 Corinthians 11. Now Paul in second Corinthians, he's doing something he shouldn't have to do, but he's defending his integrity to the Corinthians. False teachers have infiltrated. They have said slanderous things about Paul. He's too serious. He's out of his mind. He's, uh, He's weak in appearance. He's not really someone worth following. You shouldn't be listening to Paul. And Paul is defending his integrity. And here he talks about the things that he boasts in, in terms of his weakness. And now, and Paul isn't in these things, you know, have this, you know, you can have a humility that's full of pride. to say, well, yeah, I've suffered this. I suffered that. I suffered the other. I suffered this. And you say, wow, you know, they're thinking I'm really something because I've been through so much and look how strong I am. And that's that's nothing but pride. And Paul isn't speaking that way, but he is speaking the truth. in the context where he is his credibility has been questioned and challenged and even some of the Corinthians seem to be wishy-washy in their thoughts about Paul and Paul is and Says this and he has some sarcasm in this etc. But in 2nd Corinthians 11 verse 22 He's comparing himself to those who are questioning his integrity, false teachers. He says, are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they seed of Abraham? So am I. Are they ministers of Christ? I speak as one beside himself. You see the sarcasm because they said, Paul, you're beside yourself. And Paul said, okay, I speak as one beside myself. All right. If you, if you think that Corinthians bear with me, I'm going to speak as one who's a little beside myself as they say the sarcasm and notice what he says. I more in labors more abundantly in prisons more abundantly. in stripes above measure, in deaths often. Of the Jews, five times I received 40 stripes, save one, that's 39 stripes. Now think about that, five different occasions, he had 39 lashes upon him. Three times, in addition to that, I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned, and we read that even in the Book of Acts. They thought he was dead. Three times I suffered shipwreck. A night and a day I've been in the deep, probably out in the water a whole day and a night, hanging on to something in the deep, perhaps. In journeyings often, in perils that is dangerous, in dangerous circumstances, dangers of rivers, in dangers of robbers, in perils from my countrymen. You read about how Paul had to be preserved from being killed, even as we're going through the book of Acts. in perils from the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren, in labor and travail, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings, times without food often, in cold and nakedness, Besides all those things that are without, there is that which presses upon me daily. Anxiety for the churches in my own heart, there's this anxiety, there's this concern, this yearning for the churches. Who is weak and I am not weak? Who is caused to stumble and I burn not? if I must needs glory, I will glory in the things that concern my weakness, et cetera. And then he speaks about being let down in the basket. So you see, this is just a sampling. There's some other passages as well, but you see, Paul, these varied experiences, you know, Paul could have had the attitude and say, you know what, this apostle being an apostle, I, I'm really tired of this. I mean, I, I love my people, my kinsmen, and look at how they treat me. And I love the Lord, but man, this was so much a man could take. And, but in all these things, and he says in, in second Corinthians, let's, let's turn to second Corinthians six, second Corinthians six, keep mind what we read in the, in 11. verse three, second Corinthians six, verse three, he says, giving no occasion of stumbling and anything that our administration be not blamed in terms of his service as an apostle, in terms of the ministry that in nothing, he doesn't want to bring occasion of shame or bring up, uh, dispute or irrepute upon the ministry. And so he says in verse four, but in everything, commending ourselves as ministers of God in much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in imprisonments, in tumults, in labors, in watchings, in fastings, in pureness, in knowledge, in long-suffering, in kindness in the Holy Spirit. in love unfeigned, in the word of truth, in the power of God, by the armor of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by glory and dishonor, by evil report and good report, deceivers and yet true, as unknown and yet well-known, as dying and behold we live, as chastened and not killed, as sorrowful yet always rejoicing, as poor yet making many rich, as as having nothing and yet possessing all things." You see, what Paul is saying here, in all of these circumstances, and you couple this with 2 Corinthians 11, you can look at other passages. It's really fascinating when you think about this. In all of these things, you know, Paul's attitude is, is that the ministry be not blamed. is that Christ will be glorified. And even Christ told him that he will suffer many things. He has been appointed to these things and Paul embraced it wholeheartedly. It wasn't easy. There was times where they, he despaired of life. We read in chapter one of second Corinthians, so much so they was weighed down that they despaired of life, but then God had encouraged them and raised them up. And so Paul, in all of these varied circumstances you see how can a man go through all these things he wasn't a superman but he did have superpower in him and that was the power of God the power of God and that's why he says I can do all things in the one strengthening me and turn with me to second corinthians 12 And I'm gonna have to wrap things up, wind it down. 2 Corinthians 12, you know the thorn in the flesh. Verse seven, 2 Corinthians 12. And by reason of the exceeding greatness of the revelation, that is Paul was, God had revealed many things of Paul. that I should not be exalted over much, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh. So God is chastening him, not because he has sinned, but to keep him from sin. Not that he was proud, but to prevent him from being exalted over much. God has blessed him so much and God wants to keep him where he belongs. So there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to buffet me. That I should not be exalted over much. That's why he has it. What it was, we don't know. But I tend to, in my thought, I tend to think it'd be some form of satanic harassment because it's a messenger of Satan to buffet me. And what is the buffet to strike? You know, I buffet the air and that word buffet is to punch in. And so this messenger, whatever it was, it was from the devil and this thing was buffeting Paul and Paul, He couldn't handle this. He's been through many things, but this one, Paul said, this is too much for me. Concerning this thing, I besought the Lord three times that it might depart from me. And he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. Paul asked and pled with the Lord to take this thing away. And God, said, no, you need it, Paul, and you need to learn to live with this. But what God did give Paul was grace, grace. My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness. And that's why many of the translations, which is good, which is true, but from this passage, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And it is Christ who was giving him grace that whereas Paul's attitude was, he stopped praying for the removal of this storm when he realized what God was doing. And when the Lord revealed to him why he has this, then Paul says, okay, Lord, thy will be done. I embrace this. And so most gladly, therefore, will I rather glory in my weakness that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Wherefore, I take pleasure in weaknesses and injuries and necessities and persecutions and distress for Christ's sake. For when I am weak, then am I strong. You see what Paul, he learned something here. This is something he learned and experienced. Initially, he said, I can't handle this, but he learned something that God had done this for him to keep him humble. And God is saying, Christ is saying, I give you my grace. And Paul said, okay, Lord. And he received the instruction. He embraced it from his heart and he says, okay, Lord, leave the thorn. I need this. Thy will be done. And I look to you for your grace, for because in my weakness, I know you can make me strong. And so Paul, he learned something from that, that he applied continually in his life. And so that in whatever circumstance and situation you're in, Paul is saying, I have learned to be content. And he has learned to be content and contentment is attained by the power of God. And I'm just about a minute and I'm out of time, just about. So one thing I'll say as we end, as you think about Paul here, the bottom line of contentment is that God is enough. If this thorn brings me closer to Christ, if this thorn in the flesh is the occasion of the power of Christ resting upon me, then I gladly rejoice in it because it brings me closer to my Lord. And I know more of his grace. If this is the occasion for me to be the recipient of more grace, then I gladly endure, take pleasure in these things. Not that these things are enjoyable, but because it brings me closer to Christ and I know more of him. And see, that's the most important thing to Paul was to know him. And as we read in Hebrews 13, we are to be free from covetous, be free from the love of money, content with such things as you have. Why? Because I will in no wise leave you nor forsake you. You don't have money, enough money? You need money? No, you don't. No, you don't. Well, don't you have to have money to live? Yeah, but you don't need money. You know what you need? More faith. More faith. God can provide the resources, whether it's money and other things. God can provide the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof. He can provide things in many ways to meet your needs. But what you need more than anything else, you need more faith. You need to know more of God. You need to come to terms with the fact that God is enough. That's why Paul is saying, yet poor making many rich, having nothing and yet possessing all things. Paul is learning. He says, look, I'm free from all of this. I'm free from all of this. And I've learned to come in this posture to receive God's will, God's presence, God's grace. And that's all I need. That's all I need. I don't need anything else. So when our plans blow up and they fall apart, all is not lost. All is not lost. And I've just tried to squeeze in a whole lot in a few minutes, but, um, but may the Lord be pleased to use what was said here to encourage you, brethren, to encourage us all that we all can be content and we can attain contentment. And, um, well, let's pray. Our Father, we thank you that you have enabled us to consider this topic and what was said and what was heard. We pray that by your Spirit, you would sanctify it to our souls, that we would learn more and more contentment, and that you would give us more and more of your grace, and that we would have a jealousy to give you all the glory in our lives We pray and ask that you would work in us powerfully by your spirit. We pray this in Jesus' name. Amen.