Typically, this holiday season brings about a great time of rejoicing. In fact, many people place decorations around their houses. They attend Christmas parties or have attended Christmas parties. A number of festivities take place, and even many may have gone to the Winter Wonderland to see the lights right across the street. A number of festivities that we find throughout December and January. In fact, this is a time where Christians, where we celebrate the birth of Jesus and reflect upon the impact that the Savior has made upon the world. But for others, it brings about a number of different reflections. Some individuals focus on a time of giving while there are others who will focus on a time of getting. A number of stores and businesses know that this is the time of year, that this time of year is to make up losses for the lack of sales that have been accumulating. People are out and about and they're shopping and they're purchasing items that are on sale. There are stores that are opening and closing from sunup to sundown, and there are even some stores that won't even close their doors. But for others, this brings about a time of year that it brings about a sense of hurt. There may have been some who have lost loved ones or some who have been experiencing the traumatic experience of one who is in the hospital. And I want you tonight to consider a letter that I received this week at the seminary. It says this, good morning. I wanted to bring you a prayer request concerning a Master's University student from Israel. She is the daughter of one of our Master's Academy international grads from Ukraine who is now teaching in Israel. She is a part of the Master's University choir and this is her first semester at the Master's University. However, she was driving back last night with a friend, and at 9 p.m., they were in a car accident. The other car t-boned her on the passenger side. The driver is fine, but she has been unconscious since 9 p.m. She has major head trauma. She has a broken pelvis, damage to the spine, and possibly liver damage. Her parents are flying in tomorrow from Israel. She's at the hospital, but no visitors are allowed as of yet. Please remember to be in prayer for her. Or consider a text message that I received also this week. Please remember to be in prayer for Josh as he lost his father on Thanksgiving. And this is not the only thing. Think about parents around this time of year who are unable to provide gifts for their children. The question is, what comes to mind when bad circumstances and situations occur? How should we respond? How should believers respond when bad situations or circumstances occur? What is the response of a believer in these situations? We can only imagine what different individuals are going through. However, for the believer, how should we respond? How should we respond to the good things that happen in our lives? And also, how should we respond to the bad things that happen in our lives? But often, what we find is, As long as everything is going good, we're fine. But when circumstances affect us for the worse, our contentment is often affected. Why, you may think to yourself? Because we live in a discontent society. But as we examine the scriptures today, the Apostle Paul shows us the secret to this marvelous attribute that should be characterized of every believer. And this attribute will shape the way we view about the Lord. So turn with me now to Philippians chapter four. Philippians chapter four. And the Apostle Paul is writing to the church at Philippi from a Roman prison. This was around the year of AD 62, and he is writing what is known as one of the prison epistles, along with Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. Paul is writing this letter as a letter of encouragement. The church at Philippi was one who was poor. They were persecuted for the cause of Christ. They were attacked by false teachers, and the unity of the church was being threatened. However, despite all of this, joy still permeates this letter. He wants to make it clear to the church that he is thankful for their support and for them to continue to follow in Christ's example. He wants them to pursue spiritual maturity. And if we examine the book of Philippians as a whole, we find that Paul writes about truly living is Christ in chapter one, humility and being like Christ in chapter two, the goal of life in chapter three. And all of this leads to our passage today in Philippians chapter four, verses 10 through 12, where Paul reveals three marks that will characterize a content person. three marks that will characterize a content person. And we find a content person is one who trusts in the sovereignty of God. And verse 10, a content person finds peace in any circumstance and verse 11, And a content person is one who focuses on what is above. So I've entitled this message today, characteristics of a content person. Now follow along with me as I read Philippians chapter four, verses 10 through 12. The Lord's word reads, but I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. that now at last you have revived your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Start at verse 10 with a content person, trust in a sovereign God. The Apostle Paul begins this portion of scripture with a conjunction. He says, but. He transitions from exhorting the Philippians earlier to encourage Iodia and Syntyche to live in harmony. And while encouraging them to be anxious for nothing or to think or reflect on what is good. This is what he told the Philippians. The word but indicates that Paul could not forget what this church had done for him. There was still something he had not forgotten. In the Greek, this word construction can be said this, oh yes, and I must not forget. However, it is summarized here as the word but. And notice he says next, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly. Paul rejoiced in the Lord greatly. Notice the word rejoice. If you have read through the book of Philippians, you will notice that rejoicing and joy permeates throughout this letter. In Philippians chapter one, verse four, Paul says, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all. In Philippians chapter two, in verse two, he says, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. In Philippians chapter 3, in verse 1, he says, rejoice in the Lord. And in Philippians chapter 4, in verse 4, he says this, rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I will say, rejoice. And many of us may be thinking here today, Paul, what does it actually mean to rejoice? What does it mean to rejoice? Rejoice means this. It means to be glad. It means to have a tremendous amount of joy, being cheerful or gladdened. Paul rejoiced in the Lord. But notice what he says next. He says he rejoiced in the Lord. Paul's joy was found in the Lord. It wasn't in anyone else. It was in the Lord. And not only that, it is followed by the adverb greatly. Paul rejoiced in the Lord greatly and greatly conveys the depths of Paul's feelings that he not only rejoiced in the Lord, but he does so greatly. But the question is, why does Paul rejoice in the Lord greatly? What has Paul experienced that has brought him joy? Notice what he says next. That now, at last, you have revived your concern for me. Indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity. Paul rejoiced in the Lord that the Philippian believers had revived their concern for him. And the word revived here means this, it means to sprout up again, to grow green again. It gives the illustration of a plant blooming. You know, as a, as a plant goes through its seasons during the spring, it blooms, it is revived. It is alive again. And Paul was grateful that their concern for him was revived. It sprouted again. It bloomed. He was grateful that this church had given a gift to him and he had received it. And if you notice this, if you go down to Philippians chapter four and verse 18, Paul expresses how he has received everything in full and in abundance. He is amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. The Philippians supported Paul in his ministry by giving him gifts. And because of this, he was grateful. His statement is not to imply that he, because of their giving, he had been revived because of it solely, but there was a period that it was not blooming, but rather that they lacked opportunity. They were concerned before, but they lacked opportunity. And one may wonder, how did they exactly lack opportunity? Notice this, because Paul was a traveling missionary. He was planting churches all over the area of Macedonia. The Philippians would often support Paul by financial means. And their reason for support or lack of support or lack of opportunity is not given. However, they supported Paul for a number of years. They supported him in his journeys in Acts chapter 17 at Thessalonica. They supported him at Berea and they supported him also at Athens. Now, as far as what happened in the years up to this point is unknown. However, many commentators have several conclusions on why this was so. Their lack of support could have been because of poverty, because this church was very poor and didn't have a lot to give. Or secondly, they didn't know where Paul was. I mean, GPS hadn't been invented at that time, and we didn't have iPhones at that time. So they probably, there was a possibility that they may not have known where Paul was. Paul traveled a lot, and his whereabouts could not be always located. Not even Siri knew where he was. Also, they might, another possibility is they might not have had suitable weather for travel. They also might not have found the right person or et cetera. Nevertheless, even though this church did not have much to give, they gave what they could and they had not forgotten about Paul. And this is why he rejoices in the Lord, because even though this church had lost communication with him, they still had not forgotten about him. Even though after a period where they had not spoken, this church was still concerned about him. And this is what brought Paul joy. He rejoiced in the Lord because even though his circumstances were bad, he still trusted in a sovereign God. And God stayed true to his promises. God was still faithful, even though he had lost communication with this church. A content person trusts in the sovereignty of God. And I ask you today, friends, do you completely trust in the sovereignty of God? Do you trust him with his purpose and plan for your life? Do you trust him to direct your steps? The church lost communication, yet God still provided for Paul. And the Lord reminds us of this all throughout his word. Proverbs 16 verse nine says this, the mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Or another one, Proverbs chapter three and verse five, trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean to your own understanding. Is your trust found in the Lord? Is your trust found in the Lord? If you leave here tonight and you develop a disease or something requires that you go to the hospital, can you still say that you trust in the Lord? Paul could rejoice because despite his circumstances being persecuted for preaching Christ, attacked by false teachers, being placed in jail for preaching Christ, he still trusted God. His trust was found in the sovereignty of God. And this is where true contentment lies. True contentment lies at trusting God fully. So not only does a content person trust in the sovereignty of God, but look with me at verse 11, at our next point. A content person finds peace in any circumstance. A content person finds peace in any circumstance. Look with me as he says this. Not that I speak from one. So Paul moves forward in saying not that I speak from one. So he is not speaking in a sense of wanting anything. He is not writing to them because he wanted something or that he is seeking to gain something from them because of his condition. But notice as well that he is not denying that he is lacking. However, he does not want to give the impression that he was complaining. So he says, not that I speak from want. Notice what he says next. For I have learned to be content in whatever circumstance I am. Paul says he has learned to be satisfied in whatever circumstance he is in. Friends, I want you to notice that he says, I have learned. He says, I have learned. Why? Because guess what? Contentment is not something that we are naturally born with. It is not something we are naturally have or something that we naturally possess. It has to be learned. And if we look around today, we are the most discontent people. We always want more. We always want more stuff. And I might step on toes here when I say this. If we go to some of our closets today, We will find closets full of clothes, yet we always want more. We want all types of things. We want bigger houses, bigger cars, more clothes, more money, more shoes, or even this. Think about this. You may be single. And you think that having a husband or a wife is going to be the solution to all your problems. And we even carry this same type of mentality into our relationships with others. And the ways that we do that is this. We are fine with this person as long as they are satisfying what we want. But as soon as they stop satisfying what we want, we dismiss them and move on to the next person. What is quite interesting today is that we have confused the lines between what we need and what we want. We have confused the line. And so often, the root of our discontentment is pride, envy, distrust, jealousy, or covetousness. Friends, We need to learn to be content. Why? Because contentment does not come natural to us. If you want to test how truly content you are, wait till the next iPhone 8 comes out, and let's see what goes on in your hearts. Paul says, I have learned to be content. So what does it mean to be content? Contentment means this, it means a perfect condition of life in which no aid or support is needed. In other words, sufficiency of the necessities of life, sufficient for oneself. And Paul says this, he has reached a point in his life where he has learned that what he has is sufficient. And he has learned that whatever circumstance that he is in, he has learned to be content. Isn't this amazing? Here is a man who has experienced hardships, he has experienced sufferings, he has experienced pain, yet he has learned to be content. What he has is enough. And his dependency does not depend on the church's support, but rather his dependency is upon Christ. Paul has learned an independence from this world and a dependence upon God. And here's the thing, true contentment can only come from God. It is only found in Christ. And it is only found in him where you trust him that whether you are rich or whether you are poor, you are okay because your trust is in God and he is in control of all things. We read this earlier. First Timothy chapter six in verse eight, Paul writes again about the matter of contentment. If we have food and covering, With these, we shall be content. But I want you to look with me right now. Turn over to Matthew chapter 6. Matthew chapter 6. Matthew chapter 6 in verse 31. As I was leaving for seminary, this was one of the scriptures that really touched my heart. Matthew chapter 6 verse 31 says this. Do not worry then, saying, what will we eat? Or what will we drink? Or what will we wear for clothing? For the Gentiles eagerly seek all these things. for your heavenly father knows that you need all these things. And here's the key, but seek first his kingdom and his righteousness and all these things will be added to you. So do not worry about tomorrow for tomorrow will care for itself. each day has enough trouble of its own. Do not worry about tomorrow, for each day has enough trouble of its own. If we know and if we trust that our Heavenly Father knows exactly what we need and gives us well beyond what we need, then why are we not content? If you can go to your closet or your refrigerator and you have options, the Lord has provided well beyond what you need. Notice, and you don't have to turn here, but Genesis chapter 28. Genesis chapter 28 and verse 20 says this. Then Jacob made a vow saying, if God will be with me and will keep me on this journey that I take and will give me food to eat and garments to wear and I return to my father's house in safety, then the Lord will be my God. So here's the question. If we know that God loves us and cares for us, then no matter whatever circumstance we face, our trust should be in him. The Puritan Thomas Watson says this, a contended spirit is like a watch. Though you carry it up and down with you, yet the spring of it is not shaken, nor the wheels out of order. So it was with Paul, even though he went through various trials and afflictions, the spring of his heart was not broken. The wheels of his affections were not disordered, but kept their constant motion towards heaven. Friends, I want you to know this. Seeking satisfaction out of worldly possessions is like pouring water into an ocean. It will never be completely filled. So the more you keep acquiring, the more you will not be filled. I want you to examine, let us all examine our hearts today. Are we content in whatever circumstance that we're in. Or are we ones who think that we deserve more? Or do we want more? We have looked at a content person trust in a sovereign God in verse 10. In verse 11, we have looked at a content person finds peace in any circumstance. And now verse 12, a content person is one who focuses on what is above. Paul says this, I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. Paul has said he has learned to be content in whatever circumstance he is in. And in this next verse, he describes those circumstances. He illustrates these items in a number of different ways. First, he says he knows how to get along with humble means. In other words, he knew how to be brought low. He knew how to be under strict discipline. And he also knows how to live in prosperity. He knew how to abound. He knew how to have more. He knew how to live with meager conditions, and he also knew how to live with an abundance. And notice he says this, in any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, of both having abundance and suffering need. Notice he says, in any in every circumstance. So no matter the circumstance, in them all, he has learned the secret. He has learned the secret. And how has he learned this secret? Because God has taught him that through the good times and the bad, how to cope with these things. He has learned not to let his circumstances affect his contentment? Have you today allowed your circumstances to affect your contentment? Here's what happens with us most often. When bad situations occur, Our whole world is rocked. We stopped praying, we stopped going to church, we stopped confessing sin, we stopped resting upon the grace of God through Christ Jesus. Our contentment is affected. And contentment is not something, as I said earlier, that we automatically acquire. Contentment, we have to learn it. And as the world and the television and advertising fill our heads with discontent, we must learn from God how to be content. Paul says he has learned the secret of being filled, and this refers to being satisfied. It is the case with food and going hungry. Paul had his share of poverty. In 1 Corinthians chapter 4, verses 11 through 13, Paul says this. He writes, to this present hour, we are both hungry and thirsty. We are poorly clothed and are roughly treated. We are homeless and we toil. Working with our own hands, we are reviled. We bless when we are persecuted. We endure when we are slandered. We try to conciliate. We have become as scum of the world, the dregs of all things, even until now. Friends, Paul's circumstances were not always spectacular. Yet poverty could do him no harm because he had learned the secret to contentment, and that contentment was found in Christ. I want you to notice what he also says in these verses. He knew how to live in prosperity. And the same way that poverty could do him no harm because of his contentment, prosperity had no effects on him as well. Paul learned to be content. when he lived in poverty and he knew with prosperity that the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil. And some by longing for it have wandered away from the faith and have pierced themselves with many griefs. First Timothy chapter six. Paul knew that the only way contentment could be obtained is if he kept his focus on heavenly realities. He focused on heaven. We're not going to touch this next verse, but notice what Paul says in verse 13. He says, I can do all things through him who strengthens me. Wait, wait a minute. Now we have heard this verse before. And we, many of us have probably used that verse in our daily sayings. People use this verse all the time, but look at what Paul is saying. He is saying he has learned to be content and it doesn't matter whatever circumstances come his way. Why? Because he can do all things through him who strengthens him. It is because of Christ. It doesn't matter what comes my way. I can be made low. I can live in prosperity. I can be filled. I can go with hungry. I can have abundance. I can suffer need. It does not matter because it is Christ who strengthens me. And this is at the heart of contentment. True contentment recognizes that no matter what comes my way, no matter the circumstance, that my satisfaction and my joy comes from no one else but Christ. A content person focuses on the realities of heaven. Being with Christ. If I have Christ, I can suffer. If I have Christ, I can go through persecution. If I have Christ, it doesn't matter if the check comes through the mail on time. If I have Christ, I have what is sufficient. Friends, do you have Christ? Is Christ the joy in your satisfaction? Do you trust Him? Contentment helps us to recognize the grace that is found in Jesus Christ. It is because of him that we can be content. Now we may ask, how can we experience contentment? I want to draw your attention to a few things. Number one, trust God. Trust God. We read earlier that true contentment rests in the sovereignty of God. We have to focus on heavenly realities and rest in the grace that God has given us. But more importantly, Colossians chapter 3 verses 1 through 2 says this, If you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on the earth. So if you want true contentment, we must set our minds on things above and trust Christ. Cause this, this world is fleeting. This world and our bodies are dying daily. So we must trust Christ. We must focus on what is above. Why second Corinthians chapter four best verse 17 for momentary light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. We most focus on what is above. And there's where we find true contentment. But secondly, we must rejoice in the Lord. We must rejoice in the Lord. I often come across people who say that they're believers, and they have frowns upon their faces. And I say, as Christians, we should be the most joyful people to walk this earth. Why? Because we have the greatest news. We should be filled with joy because we have Christ. We have the message of salvation. We have the power of God unto salvation. We have hope. We are living in a dying world. And Christians should be some of the most joyful people. So we must take heed to what Paul has exhorted us here. If we are to have true contentment, we must rejoice in the Lord. but not only rejoicing in the Lord, but thirdly, we must pray for contentment. We must pray for contentment. I recall a time when I was going to buy a car and the salesman came up and he, I said, I just want a car. And he goes, well, don't you want this sunroof? Don't you want tenant windows? Don't you want all it? No, I just need something to get me from point A to point B. But deep down in my heart, I was struggling and thinking on whether it would be beneficial to get the sunroof. But are we content? Paul stated for us earlier, contentment is not something we are born with. We have to learn it. We have to pray for it. We have to seek it through Christ. We have to pray for contentment daily. When we are tempted to go out To buy things on sale or clearance, and we know that we don't need it, we need to pray for it. Pray for contentment. And here's the thing, I'm not saying that buying things on sale is wrong. I'm not saying that at all. But what I am saying is, we need to examine our hearts and ask ourselves, is this what we truly need? Is this the best usage of our time, our talents, and what Christ has given us? Fourth, and finally, Paul tells us in the book to the Thessalonians, in the letter to the Thessalonians, in everything give thanks. In everything give thanks. So often, we are discontent because we are unthankful. We're not giving thanks in our circumstances, in our situations, because we're not, you know what, in fact, Did you know that unthankfulness marks those who are unbelievers according to Romans chapter one? We should be thankful. We should give the Lord thanks so that we can say along with Paul that no matter what our circumstances are, no matter what our situations are, no matter how hard our bosses or however are coming down hard on us on the jobs, our teachers or whatever, we can give thanks to the Lord because it is he who is in control of everything. So these are the items that Paul learned. He learned that a content that he, he showed us today. Should I say a content person is one who trusts in the sovereignty of God. A content person finds peace in any circumstance and a content person is one who focus whose focus is on what is above. These are the keys to contentment. And we must learn to be like Christ, knowing that at the root, at its root, God causes all things to work together for the good of those who love him. Romans 8 and 28. Only those who have acknowledged their discontentment, their lack of trust in Christ, are the ones who can experience true contentment. So as we are examining our hearts today, is that you? Have you had discontentment in your heart this week? Have you not trusted God fully? If that is you, then we all need here to repent of our sin of discontentment. We need to repent And we need to place our trust in Christ, saying, Lord, no matter what comes our way, I trust you. I trust you to be with me. I need you, Lord, because there is no other way that we can do it without you. Do you recognize that you are a sinner, and the only way that you can experience change is by turning from your sin, turning from all that dishonors God, and confessing Christ Jesus as Lord and Savior, that He is Lord over your life, that He has everything worked out according to His promises. Do we trust Him? Or, if that is not us, then I beg that we need to turn to Him today. And we need to turn to Christ, rest on His grace, rest of the grace that he has provided us with. That Christ Jesus has allowed for us a way to be content. And that way of contentment is only through him. And he has provided that grace for us here. Let us give thanks for that. And I'll leave you with one more quote from Thomas Watson. The comfort of life does not consist in having much. It is Christ's maxim Man's life consists not in the abundance of things which he doth possess, but in being contented. May we all seek contentment and trust in the sovereignty of God, focusing on heaven's realities and truly placing our faith and trust in him. Let us pray. Father, we do. We come to you with heavy hearts, Lord. And we all here recognize that we have not truly trusted you. Our faith has not been in you, Lord, and thinking that you are in sovereign control over our lives. And so we pray, dear Father, that you touch our hearts right now. that you help us to be content in you. Help us, Lord, because there is nothing in this world that can provide for us the satisfaction and joy that is found in you. Help us, Lord, not to worship the creation, but to worship the creator. Please work upon our hearts, Lord. As we go throughout this new year, may we rest in being satisfied in you. We thank you for your son. We thank you that you have said in your word to be not be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication. With Thanksgiving in our hearts, let us make our requests known to you. Please be with us, Lord. In Christ's name, amen.