Philippians 4 verses 10 through 13. Let's hear what God's word has to say to us. I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content. I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through Christ, through Him who strengthens me. Let's pray. Father, as we look into Your Word this morning and consider these very encouraging words of the Apostle Paul, somewhat of a digression for a moment as He's giving thanks to the Philippians for their generosity to Him, we find a rich, wonderful truth revealed in this text. And we pray, Lord, that You would give us grace to lay hold of these things by faith. Help us not to listen to these things with mere curiosity, Father, but help us to see these things as coming from You, as words of God. that we can be certain of, that we can embrace by faith and apply in our lives. Lord, lead us to act on these things and how we live and how we conduct ourselves going forward. So please, fill us with Your Spirit, meet with us, and grant us grace, Lord, as we seek to hear from You. We pray in Christ's name. Amen. Having worked through the Apostle Paul's final exhortations, we now move on into the conclusion of his letter, where he seeks to encourage the Philippians in regard to a financial gift that they had sent to him. But as he does this, he brings forth some very encouraging statements as well about the provision of God, which ought to be edifying and profitable to us. And so we begin then by looking at how Paul speaks about the contentment that he has and he has learned in Christ. Notice in verse 10 he says, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. And so here Paul concludes his letter by expressing the great joy that has overwhelmed his soul in consideration of the generous gift that the Philippians had sent to him. And as we will see, it's not so much the gift itself that has given him this joy, but rather it is the heart that is behind this gift. It is what this gift had evidence about the spiritual condition of the Philippians themselves that really brought great joy to Paul. For one, it revealed a renewed concern for the Apostle on the part of the Philippians. It showed their concern and their love for him as they reach out to him in this way. They had sensed such a token of their love for him in the past, but now again in the present, it revived a sense of their deep concern for the Apostle, which no doubt was encouraging and uplifting, especially in light of his present circumstances. What a wonderful thing when you're going through a time of trial or suffering. In this case, the Apostle Paul being imprisoned. That can get lonely at times. You can begin to question things. Why is this trial so long? But to get some kind of encouragement from brethren in some way, it means the world. And that's what happened with Paul. But that said, Paul wants them to know that he's not complaining about the time gap that exists between their past gift and their present one. There's been a lapse of time from the time they offered him a gift or reached out to him in the past and when they had now in the present. And so he's not complaining as if he were saying here, you know, I rejoice greatly because the care that you once had for me has died, but now it's revived again. Paul is not charging them with forgetting about him and now suddenly remembering him again. Rather, especially since he is at such a distance from them, they simply did not have the opportunity to tangibly reach out to him in this way in a while until someone could go to Paul on their behalf. Remember, he's in Rome and they are in Philippi. That's a great many miles away. In other words, they always cared, but the opportunity wasn't present to show their care. And now Paul rejoices in that such an opportunity was provided for them to show love to him again, and that they took that opportunity. And it is their genuine concern and love for Paul that brought him such great joy. Again, it's not the gift itself that brought him the joy, as we're going to see in a moment as well, but it's the love that was behind that gift, it was the heart behind it, what it showed about their concern for him that really brought him great joy. And so he states, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity. Well, moving on then, the apostle now digresses for a moment to explain how he is not anxious about wants and needs. Remember, he's telling them that he's not so much overjoyed about the gift itself. Of course, he's thankful for it. He's more overjoyed about them. But he's going on now to address his wants and needs and showing that he's not anxious about when he lacks or when he wants something in his life and how he has learned, in fact, to be content at all times. In verse 11, he adds these words, not that I am speaking of being in need, for I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content, being overcome with joy and consideration of the spiritual virtue that was exhibited by the Philippians then. Paul here expresses that being in need, or lacking in some sense, doesn't trouble him because he has learned to be content at all times. Notice in verse 12, the first portion of that verse, he further clarifies. He says, I know how, right? He learned, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. In other words, he has learned how to remain faithful, steadfast, and joyful during times when he had very little of anything, when he lacked, when he lived hand to mouth, as it were, and maybe even less at times. times of great trial and difficulty, and he also learned how to remain faithful, steadfast, and joyful during times that God had caused him to abound. He knew not to let that get to his head or let that control him when he had plenty. He knew how to walk the line very carefully of being content no matter where he was at. Paul had entered into different seasons throughout his ministry. Some seasons where he was brought very low, having very little, and some seasons where he had abounded, where he had more than enough. And in both cases, he had learned to accept whatever state God had placed him in, remaining faithful, steadfast, and joyful, content to embrace God's hand of providence wherever it brought Paul. Now, some of us, I'm sure, can relate to that. I know I can say there are times in my walk with the Lord where there seems to be an abundance. Now, an abundance for us was probably a waterfall of abundance compared to what Paul means by abundance. But we've had, we felt like we had extra padding, right, in the account. Extra food, extra things that we, we just felt like we could be a little more loosely in some ways because we had more than sufficient. But then there are times in the life where you feel like, wow, you're just fortunate enough to make this bill. You make it by the, right, by the skin of your teeth. And it seems like you're really living hand to mouth. We have those kinds of ups and downs at times, at least most of us do. Well, Paul learned how to keep a loose grip on anything and everything in this world, not allowing his present state, be it a state of little or abundance, a state of restriction or freedom, suffering or comfort. He didn't allow any of that to hinder his commitment to Christ and the gospel. None of that determined his direction as far as following his course and fulfilling God's will for his life. Continuing in fact into the second part of verse 12, notice what he adds. He says, in any and every circumstance I have learned, again that word learned, the secret of facing plenty and hunger. Abundance and need. Now, brethren, I want you to consider with me a handful of very clear and important facts that emerged from Paul's statements up to this point with what he has said here as he's digressed in talking about, as he's giving them, he's thankful for them, but now he's talking about, however, how he views his needs in life and how he's learned to be content. And there's some things that come out of this. First, at the very basic level, Paul here speaks of the blessed virtue of Christian contentment. And Christian contentment involves learning, and I'm going to get into this idea of learning in a moment, learning to accept and embrace whatever state, whatever condition God providentially leads you into at all times. Now we can all amen that, theologically, but in practice, right, how does that make its way into our lives through the ups and downs, the difficulties and the trials of life? Contentment, in many ways, is the very opposite of covetousness, isn't it? Because covetousness involves being dissatisfied with the present state that God has you in, leading you to do what? To become angry and to desire or pine after those things that belong to others. I'm not content where I'm at. I'm not content with what God has given me, but Joe across the street, Peter down the road there, he has this, he's living it up, he has a great job, he has the white picket fence, his house is in order and all neat, he has all the latest upgrades, beautiful car, he goes on vacation twice a year, or whatever it might be, and you begin to covet what he has, but that covetousness at its root comes down to a heart of discontentment. with what God has provided for us. Secondly, we also see something else implied here as well. Paul here speaks, in fact directly, it's not even implied, it's direct. Paul here speaks of his having learned to be content at all times. In other words, Paul was not naturally content. It wasn't something that was natural to his fallen nature. In fact, as a former Pharisee, in Romans chapter 7 verse 7, we find that Paul spoke of himself as being one who was covetous. in the heart. He was a covetous man, even though he was self-righteous and people looked up to him. On the inside, he envied and was jealous of what others had and desirous of more and more in this life. Contentment, accepting God's providential lot in life, is not something that is natural to the fallen nature. It's not something you can learn in seminary. It's not something you can learn in Bible college. It's not learned just by textbook, and don't get me wrong, the Bible teaches it to us, but it's something that has to be learned by experience, by what God does in your life providentially. It must be learned and it must be increasingly developed in the heart of a true Christian who has been redeemed by Christ and is indwelt by the Holy Spirit. Which brings us to the third point. Thirdly, Paul had to learn to be content at all times, how? by means of difficult trials, by means of difficult trials. I remember I used to pray, Lord, please grant me humility, grant me these different virtues. And in my mind, early in my Christian walk, I thought when I prayed for that, I might walk down the stairs of my house and open up the front door and find a package from Amazon and open it up and suddenly have humility. That's not the way Christian virtue or humility or contentment comes. It comes through difficult trials. We advance in our sanctification by God not leaving us comfortably where we once were, but burning us in love in such a way to bring up dross so that he can refine us into pure silver. You see, it was something that had to be pressed into Paul. He was a Pharisee. He was anything but content in the past. But it had to be pressed into him time and time again as he endured great suffering and the stretching of his fate until he learned to sit quietly under the hand of God's divine direction and providence. Accepting God's control over his entire life as good and proper. It takes great work of the Spirit. It takes suffering in the life of the individual Christian. And it takes bringing you to the place where you have to let go of everything that you're holding on to by nature. And that takes suffering. It's not easy to get to the point where you say, okay God, you got my attention. You don't learn contentment without suffering loss and need. You don't learn contentment without suffering loss and without having need. You don't learn to trust God at all times, unless you walk through the wilderness with Israel, having to wait on God for even your basic needs to be met. Sometimes we read about Israel in the wilderness. And we have to say that was very hard, right, even early on. And you might be tempted to say, well, God has access to all things. He could have gave them bread all the time out of that, just flowing from the heavens. He could have gave them all the water in the world. He could have gave, but what did he do? They spent time in the wilderness, sometimes days, going without food. sometimes periods without water, not because God enjoyed seeing His people suffer, not because God is cruel in any sense, but He was teaching them to walk by faith, and not by bread alone, but by trusting in every word that proceeds out of the mouth of God. He was teaching them to be content with Christ, with God. Contentment comes, oftentimes, when you are brought to the brink of letting go of all self-confidence, sensing sometimes, perhaps, that death is always but one step away. And you have nowhere else to run. You have no ledge of self-trust to grab onto. If you're like me, you're grabbing onto self-trust anywhere you can, any ledge, until God cuts every ledge off. And you are forced to simply cast your life entirely into the hands of the Almighty. Forced there. And when I tell you it's like the last step that you take, often times it is. For me it is. It's like I'm always holding on to something until God brings me nothing left to hold on to. And as He makes His loving grip then known to you there, You find true rest and peace in His providential care. That's the secret Paul is talking about. You find true peace and rest when you let go of all self-dependence and really learn to trust in God. Those who learn to be content have the wounds to show for it. And that is exactly what happened with the Apostle Paul. His naturally anxious and racing spirit was slowed down and quieted by various trials to the point that he could accept whatever state he was in, welcoming every wave of change brought about by God for comfort or for suffering, for abundance or for need. He learned contentment in the school of hard knocks. Fourthly, in learning contentment, Paul learned a precious secret. And this is the secret. Because when you look at the process of contentment, you would say, nobody wants to go through that. I'd rather have everything at my fingertips, everything at my beck and call, everything I need and never have need. And that seems so wonderful. But those are the people who tend to worry the most. So Paul says there's a secret here that he's learned, something hidden from the natural man. I'm not talking about Greek agnosticism, I'm talking about the secret of true biblical encouragement here in God's providence. He says, in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of facing plenty and hunger. abundance and need. You see, something hidden from the natural man was discovered by Paul in the midst of his facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. In the midst of him living a life with all kinds of instability from the standpoint of circumstances and his needs being met, not knowing what a day would bring. He may have enough today and plenty there to share, and then the next day he may have nothing. And he had to learn the secret that came from that. In the breaking of his own will and in the losing of his grip on the control of his own life, Paul was brought to discover something profound, a most precious gem hidden by the chaotic facade of self-confidence and material dependence. He learned the peace and joy that are found in resting one's soul in the complete care of God. He learned that this God who he had preached about from the beginning when he was converted was more than just a theological concept in the book of God's word, that he is real. that He really does provide, that He really does interact with us, as it were, in our lives, that He's very present with us through every step that we take. He's there, He's aware, He's involved, and He's providing. We can take that for granted. When you have refrigerators full of food, right, and homes with all kinds of comfort and everything is going well, we just say, well, yeah, God's providing until things get taken away and we don't have. And then you begin to say, well, wait a second, Was I really trusting in God's providence at those times, or was I just excited because I had everything padded for me? In the breaking of his own will, he came to trust in God. You see, there is a quiet. A profound rest and deep-seated joy to be found in the hearts of those who have learned to be content. Because contentment is not simply some theoretical mind trick that gets you to deflect or hide your worries and fears into some artificial, powerless depository. That's what a lot of psychiatrists do. They try to trick your mind in some way so that you can convince yourself of something and find something to bring you to a place to hold on to hope so you have sobriety, so it'll help get you out of that depression. But there's nothing substantial that they're really giving you. They're tricking your mind, as it were. That's not what Paul learned. That's not the secret. Contentment is not a defense mechanism that buys you time to stabilize your mind so that you can prevent having a panic attack. or breaking down. No. The secret of true contentment is that you learn to entrust all that you are, all that you have, into the hands of an all-powerful, very real, all-wise, eternal God, who actually, covenantally cares for you, and has proven this in giving His Son for you. You're trusting in Him. In reality, your faith is meeting, as it were, the rubbers meeting the road to your faith. Contentment recognizes that God knows best, that He's doing what is best, and that He is Lord and King over all of your circumstances, which are naturally beyond your control. Contentment accepts all providences that come from God. Not simply because they come from God, although that is sufficient, but because they come from a God who has you in the state and place that is absolutely best for all of the good that He plans to accomplish in and by you. Contentment says, God has me here because this is what's best for me, although it's terribly uncomfortable. And it's not ideal, it's not what I would naturally seek after on my own. It accepts God's will as good and proper. And that is the secret. Contentment states, yes, I have to bear necessary and good burdens in this life. But I don't have to bear the burden of worrying about any of them, because the One who has brought them to me cares for me, and He desires and wills to use all of my lacks and gains, sorrows and joys for the very purpose of accomplishing His good and righteous design in me. Either He is Lord over the whole of our lives, every moment, every breath, or He's Lord over nothing in our lives. Brethren, You are here. You have what you have right now in life. You lack what you lack right now in life. Because that is what is actually best for you according to the will of a God who cannot and will not fail you. And that is the secret. When you slow down, When you stop running around in anxious circles and remain still and know that He is God, when you are still and know that He is God, you find yourself standing firmly in His comforting hand. You find yourself being able to walk through life, not foolishly, not arrogantly, but with a sense of security that no matter what step I take, God has ordained everything from the pavement below me, to the air around me, to every circumstance that I will enter, he has it under his control. Paul tapped into this reality. He was trained unto this end. He learned this. And he discovered the secret to remaining faithful, steadfast, and joyful at all times. He could face the next wave, whatever it might be, whatever he faced, plenty or want, he could be steadfast and joyful at all times if it was a time of abundance or need, without trying to securely hold on to anything, because Christ was holding on to him the whole time. And that's why Paul can say in Acts chapter 20 to the Ephesian elders, I don't know what's going to happen to me when I go to Jerusalem, but I have to go to Jerusalem. I do know there are people who want to kill me at Jerusalem. In fact, there were a group of Jews, a large group, who were determined not to eat anything until they killed Paul at that point. And he says, I don't know what's going to happen at these cities. I just know that the Holy Spirit solemnly testifies to me that wherever I go, guess what waits for me? An abundance of food, an abundance of pleasures, an abundance of joy. No. He says, trials and afflictions, tribulations await me wherever I go. That's the one certainty I have, Paul says. But he could be content. And he didn't allow these things to move him. so that he could finish his race with joy. He did not count his life dear to himself. He left it in the hands of God. And brethren, it's this setting that brings us into verse 13, which perhaps is one of the most, if not the most, misused texts in all of Scripture. Maybe next to judge, not lest you be judged. That might be a close second, I don't know. One of the most misused texts in all of scripture is here in this context. And it's particularly sad because when a text is misused, it's not only used in a way that it was never intended to be used and gives false hope and assurance, But furthermore, it is actually drained of the great encouragement and value that is meant to provide when it is used properly according to God's design and the working of the Holy Spirit. Continuing on with all that he's just been saying then about learning to be content at all times, Paul concludes his brief digression with these words, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Isn't it wonderful how people memorize that one verse and don't memorize the verses that we've just gone over that bring that verse into its reality. You see, the apostle is not here declaring that we can literally do and accomplish anything we want in this life whatsoever in Christ. It's not what Philippians 4.13 is saying. In fact, think about it, if that's what it were saying, it would contradict the entire purpose of the gospel for one, but it would also contradict Paul's present point of learning to be content and to submit to the will of God, accepting whatever state or position he puts you in. Right? It would contradict the whole purpose of what he just said. I've learned to be content at all times, but you know what? I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Whatever I want in life, whatever I want to do, I can do it because I'm in Christ. It completely contradicts everything he just said. And so all of the isolated quotes and children's songs that speak of being able to do anything in the world that we desire to do, while quoting this verse in Philippians, as if it has anything to do with accomplishing those kinds of things in this life at all, it grossly distorts and misrepresents the true meaning of this text. This text is addressing Paul's sufficiency in Christ, who enables him to endure and to do all things in keeping with the will of God, no matter what providential state he finds himself in. He can continue on and do all that he's called to do in God's will, no matter what he faces. He can do it. in plenty and in want, with much and with little. Whatever state Paul is in, he finds all adequate strength in Christ to fulfill God's calling on his life. Indeed, he has learned to be content at all times, because no matter how unstable or stable his circumstances may be, he is able to find an unwavering stability in Christ. at all times. Christ is Paul's stability. Christ is Paul's strength. And that is what enables him to persevere and to remain content at all times. To face whatever he must. and the providential path that lies before him. To this end, there was absolutely nothing that Paul could not face. There was nothing that could hinder him from fulfilling his calling at all times because Christ provided him with everything he needed to remain faithful at all times. Well, next time, Lord willing, We will continue on with Paul's commendation of the Philippians for their generosity. He's going to come back to how he was commending them. He digressed for a moment to talk about how he views his needs and so on. But especially next time we'll see him emphasize the blessed fruit that was manifested by the Philippians in their lovingly sharing with Paul in the gift that they sent. But I want to leave you, brethren, with a few concluding applications As we seek to conclude this morning together a few thoughts and applications First let me ask you How do you view your present providential circumstances? How do you view the circumstances that presently surround you in your life? Are you able with Paul to be content with the hand that you've been dealt, as it were, to use that language by God? Can you serve at your job with a spirit of joy, thankful for what God has provided for you in the present through that means? Are you thankful for the resources that you have, even when you're just able to make ends meet in a bad economy with very limited resources? You can't take that vacation this year, perhaps, or go where you normally would like to go because finances are strained. But are you content with what God has provided for you? Can you embrace the ups and downs of God's providential care, learning to trust and praise Him at all times? Are you generally anxious and or disappointed with your position in life? Are you frustrated constantly for your position in life and where you are? Are you upset as if God in some way has given you the raw deal even though He's given you everything in Christ? Are you worried about many things that are beyond your control? Or are you able to rest in the Lord, knowing that He has you exactly where He wants you? And although it may not be your natural preference, you would not choose the direction you're in, perhaps. You know that God, who knows all things and makes no mistakes, is doing what is best for you, even when you can't understand His present purpose for where He has you. You don't understand it. And it's prolonged. And it seems at times that the waves are getting increasingly worse. Can we learn, as Paul did, to accept that from the hand of God, rather than always complain about what's happening in our lives, and never learn? to find that place, that secret place as it were, of peace and joy that comes with being content with where God has you in Christ. I can remember a quote from John Calvin and I don't know that I would be easily able to borrow this quote if I if I experienced the same thing, but it spoke to me in some way. He had lost, one of his children had died. I don't know if it was in the womb or shortly thereafter, but he lost a child. He lost a son. And as hard and as grievous as that was for him and his family, and I can't imagine that. It must have been so difficult. Some of you may have experienced that in some way in your family, and that's very difficult. But John Calvin was able to say that I would have, he said I would have it no other way. I would have it no other way than that God would take this son from me. Because He knew that it came from the hands of a God who had ordered all things perfectly well in His life. Learning to be content is a very difficult and lengthy process. But those who submit to the will of God being willing to faithfully endure every wave of providence that He brings your way, will discover the rare, precious, and comforting virtue of Christian contentment. Isn't anxiety and fear and worry, aren't they burdens? Don't they cripple us from being faithful and doing anything productive in the present? But where there's contentment, there's usefulness, there's rest, there's peace. Because you're not holding on to anything. And you're accepting that God may give and the Lord may take away. Blessed be the name of the Lord. And in doing so, You will find a place of refuge and peace in the eye of every storm, recognizing that while everything else in this world is temporary and unstable, you can yet remain faithful to God and do all things through Christ who strengthens you. Christ's precious strength and comfort are often found where our strength ends. We often find His strength and comfort. Paul learned He learned to be content at all times, leading him to wholly submit himself to God while looking for every opportunity to glorify God with whatever resources he had and in whatever situation he found himself in. Rather than complain about what you've lost or what's been taken from you, whatever it might be, whatever you lack during the times of lacking, Looking for the opportunity to continue to glorify God in and by and especially through those very circumstances is how you learn contentment. Let us avoid complaining as we make our way through the wilderness of life, giving thanks to God in plenty and in want, content with everything we have in Christ, even when everything else in this world is fading away. Let me ask you, brethren, has God been good to us? When you think about all that God has done up to the present in your life, what He has provided for all the years you have lived, salvation itself, we gotta forget everything else, but even including everything else, do we ever have a right to complain against God when He strips us down to bare bones at times? Do we ever have the right to complain? But indeed, recall, That if you have Christ, you have eternal riches and glory that will never diminish or lose their value. And that's how we can say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Because no matter what we lose in this life, no matter what we lack in this life, whether it's health, whether it's possessions, whether it's finances, whether it's status, whatever we lose, We have everything we could ever have eternally and lasting in Christ. And that is where we draw our strength. We remind ourselves that though the outward man is perishing, though we suffer in this life, we know that there is an eternal glory to come where there is no more suffering or pain or loss or death or sorrow. And so we can say, I can do all things. I can endure whatever's coming my way through Christ who strengthens me. Everything in this world is fading. You cannot take anything with you beyond the grave. The grave is what we call the great filter. Right? Everybody has filters. A filter on your sink to make your water pure. Different kinds of filters to sift out different things. Well, the grave sifts out everything and anything material in this world. It doesn't come with you. It breaks down. It stays. And we go. We pass on. You can take nothing with you beyond the grave. Everything is breaking down and dying, and so are we. Let me ask you, to those of you who are outside of Christ this morning, if you're not genuinely in Christ, if Christ is not truly your Lord and your Savior, if He's not your all, if that is not your hope of salvation, let me ask you, What could matter more to you than having a relationship with the living God and creator of all things? What in this world could you hold on to that you know you're going to let go of at some point in the not-too-distant future, including your very life? and you will stand before God, and you will give an account, and you will be judged on the basis of whether or not you have the righteousness of God, which alone can bring you into His presence, and which alone comes through faith in Jesus Christ. If you don't have Christ, you can have everything in this world and you have nothing. If you have Christ, you can have nothing in this world and you have everything. That's why all these Hollywood stars, every other thing on Facebook that I'm seeing now, I want to shut it down. Everything that I'm seeing is about all these Hollywood people and actors and sports stars and people in royalty and people in high positions who are in all involved with debauchery in what's going on and in trafficking and sexual sin and all kinds of corruption. It's Sodom and Gomorrah in Hollywood right now and it's being exposed for what it is and these people are miserable because that's all they have. They are poor, impoverished, because they don't have Christ. Hard to find somebody more rich than Puff Diddy in this world. but he's in handcuffs. And even if justice fails, he will stand before God and give an account for all of the debaucherous parties that he has hosted, leading so many into the way of destruction. Brethren, if you have Christ, you have everything. Don't sell your soul, friends, for the things of this world which are temporary and are fading and don't last and rot and rust and moth, deteriorate it all. May God give you the grace, if you're not saved, to flee to Christ, to see that that is the place of rest and contentment, to pull you out of the rat race of pursuing the American dream, which really is an ultimate nightmare. God give you the grace to find hope in Christ and in Christ alone. Let's pray. Father, we give You thanks for Your Word. We thank You for this short digression on the part of the Apostle Paul, this Holy Spirit-led, influenced digression to talk about his contentment, his willingness to embrace situations where he lacked and situations where he had abounded. of His willingness to accept wherever you are and to use all that He had for your glory. Lord, we pray as Your people that You would help us. What a difficult and yet necessary lesson for us to embrace in this particular culture where we have so much more, where we live like the kings lived during the time of the Apostle Paul. Father, we pray, help us to examine our own hearts and to be ready to accept whatever comes our way by the hand of Providence, to be ready to give thanks to You, to be ready to be content, to submit to Your will, to hold on to nothing but Christ with both hands, and to be willing to use everything and anything that You give us for the time that we have it to bring You glory. Help us as Your people to walk contently through this life, so that those on the outside would look to us and desire to see what it is that has enabled us to have such peace in a world that is falling and collapsing beneath our feet. And Father, we pray for those in this room who do not know You. We ask that You would open their hearts to the Gospel of Christ. Don't allow them to shut their ears and their eyes to this message anymore. but lead them to seek You with all their hearts, lead them to face their end, to stand and look themselves, as it were, in the eyes and the mirror and see the person staring at them is soon to die and to leave this earth and to stand before You. Lead them to that place so that they might flee to the refuge and only hope that is in Jesus Christ, we pray in His name. Amen.