100:00:00,300 –> 00:00:03,020The denominational mantra200:00:03,020 –> 00:00:07,040Contentment does not mean that you are indifferent to your circumstances.300:00:08,160 –> 00:00:11,600It does not mean that you give up on trying to make things better.400:00:13,280 –> 00:00:17,520Contentment is not kind of throwing up your hands and saying, well, whatever will, be500:00:17,520 –> 00:00:22,240will be. That’s fadalism or stoicism and that has nothing to do with Christianity.600:00:23,360 –> 00:00:27,520Welcome to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith, I’m David Pick.700:00:27,520 –> 00:00:31,520And Colin. It’s good to hear that contentment doesn’t involve just simply accepting800:00:31,520 –> 00:00:37,439everything that happens to us sort of grin and bear it. But what does contentment actually mean?900:00:37,439 –> 00:00:43,759Well, it means that our happiness or peace or contentment is not actually dependent upon the1000:00:43,759 –> 00:00:48,240circumstances of our lives. Paul says, Now I’ve been at the best. I’ve been to the top,1100:00:48,240 –> 00:00:50,400and I’ve been to the worst, I’ve been to the bottom.1200:00:50,400 –> 00:00:55,599But I have learned in all circumstances to be content. That’s a marvelous thing to be1300:00:55,680 –> 00:01:01,759able to say because it means that my own inner peace, my own contentment, does not depend1400:01:01,759 –> 00:01:06,320on what happens around me, which is changing all the time. I’ve found a deeper and a better1500:01:06,320 –> 00:01:11,360basis for it. And of course, it’s the knowledge of who He is in Jesus Christ that is that basis1600:01:11,360 –> 00:01:15,760of contentment. So there’s something really, really important. Often in life, we’ll say,1700:01:15,760 –> 00:01:20,800I want to try and make my circumstances better, different. I want to change them for the better.1800:01:20,800 –> 00:01:25,839That’s good, but you don’t want to be in a situation in which your happiness depends1900:01:25,839 –> 00:01:31,040upon the circumstances of your life. So we’ll look at this in today’s broadcast. Join us if you can2000:01:31,040 –> 00:01:36,800in Philippians chapter 4 as we continue the message, learning to be content. Here is Colin.2100:01:36,800 –> 00:01:48,400I can do all things through Him, who strengthens me. Now, notice how Paul connects this secret of2200:01:48,400 –> 00:01:55,599contentment in verse 12 with the strength that he receives from Christ in verse 13.2300:01:56,480 –> 00:02:03,680Verse 12. I have learned the secret. Okay, Paul, I hope you’re going to tell us what it is.2400:02:04,239 –> 00:02:11,839What is the secret? He tells us in verse 13. Here it is. I can do all things through Him,2500:02:12,639 –> 00:02:21,440who strengthens me. So, the secret of contentment is the sufficiency of Christ.2600:02:22,559 –> 00:02:28,720The secret of contentment is the sufficiency of Christ.2700:02:30,160 –> 00:02:37,360Now, it’s very fascinating that there is another place where Paul also gives us2800:02:38,000 –> 00:02:43,119personal testimony that arises obviously from his own experience.2900:02:43,679 –> 00:02:47,440And he says in that other place exactly the same thing.3000:02:48,559 –> 00:02:52,080The other place is 2 Corinthians chapter 12.3100:02:52,080 –> 00:02:57,440That’s the passage where in verse 7 Paul speaks about a thorn in the flesh.3200:02:57,440 –> 00:03:01,360He doesn’t tell us what it was, but something painful was in his life.3300:03:01,360 –> 00:03:03,600It was always there. Couldn’t get away from it.3400:03:03,600 –> 00:03:06,720And Satan used it to get at him.3500:03:07,839 –> 00:03:13,279And he tells us specifically three times I pleaded with the Lord3600:03:13,279 –> 00:03:16,240about this, that it should leave me.3700:03:17,440 –> 00:03:20,559Now here we come to something very important about contentment3800:03:20,559 –> 00:03:22,320that needs to be said in the series.3900:03:23,360 –> 00:03:27,360Contentment does not mean that you are indifferent to your circumstances.4000:03:28,399 –> 00:03:31,919It does not mean that you give up on trying to make things better.4100:03:32,800 –> 00:03:35,919It is not, contentment is not kind of throwing up your hands4200:03:35,919 –> 00:03:38,240and saying, well, whatever will be, will be.4300:03:38,240 –> 00:03:42,639That’s fatalism or stoicism, and that has nothing to do with Christianity.4400:03:44,160 –> 00:03:50,080Karl Marx said that religion, by which he meant Christianity,4500:03:50,080 –> 00:03:52,320he said it is the opium of the people.4600:03:53,679 –> 00:03:57,440And his critique of Christianity was basically this.4700:03:58,399 –> 00:04:00,880That if you tell people to be content,4800:04:00,880 –> 00:04:05,199you actually take away any incentive or motive to improve their position.4900:04:06,320 –> 00:04:10,080And there are many people who would bring this charge against the faith even today,5000:04:10,080 –> 00:04:17,760people who think that the Christian gospel is actually in itself a hindrance to human progress5100:04:17,760 –> 00:04:22,160and that it sort of is a drag on the world, getting better,5200:04:22,160 –> 00:04:26,959and that it is, in effect, a kind of dope that is put on or in the people.5300:04:27,760 –> 00:04:31,760Now, how are you going to answer that when you come up against that objection?5400:04:31,760 –> 00:04:36,640And the answer is that Christian contentment, which we are pursuing,5500:04:36,640 –> 00:04:40,480does not mean that you are indifferent to your circumstances.5600:04:41,359 –> 00:04:45,440And I think we have a marvellous illustration of that in Paul’s thorn on the flesh.5700:04:45,440 –> 00:04:47,279He doesn’t say, hey, I’ve got a thorn on the flesh.5800:04:47,279 –> 00:04:49,679I’ve just got to live with it.5900:04:49,679 –> 00:04:52,799He really wanted that thing to be changed.6000:04:53,600 –> 00:04:55,679He really wanted it to be gone.6100:04:57,519 –> 00:05:04,000And he threw everything that he knew at trying to change that thing in his life.6200:05:04,000 –> 00:05:06,079He pleaded with the Lord,6300:05:07,119 –> 00:05:09,359and when he pleaded with the Lord three times,6400:05:09,359 –> 00:05:13,679which I assume means that three separate occasions in his life,6500:05:13,679 –> 00:05:17,839he gave himself to sustained prayer and fasting.6600:05:17,839 –> 00:05:20,239Oh God, change this in my life.6700:05:22,160 –> 00:05:24,799He threw everything he knew at trying6800:05:24,880 –> 00:05:29,760to change the thing that was very, very painful in his life.6900:05:30,799 –> 00:05:34,320So, Christian contentment does not mean just passively7000:05:34,320 –> 00:05:38,799kind of looking at whatever is and saying what will be, will be.7100:05:40,720 –> 00:05:45,440Jerry Bridges making the same point points to 1 Corinthians 7 217200:05:45,440 –> 00:05:47,519which I think is helpful on this,7300:05:47,519 –> 00:05:50,480where Paul is talking to someone who is a bond servant.7400:05:51,359 –> 00:05:52,160And he says this,7500:05:53,119 –> 00:05:55,359”Where you’re bond servant when called,7600:05:56,320 –> 00:05:58,239do not be concerned about it,7700:05:58,239 –> 00:06:02,640but if you can gain your freedom,7800:06:02,640 –> 00:06:05,519avail yourself of the opportunity.”7900:06:06,959 –> 00:06:08,320So, Paul does not say,8000:06:09,119 –> 00:06:11,279well, you know, whatever is just accept it,8100:06:11,279 –> 00:06:12,720that’s not what’s being said,8200:06:12,720 –> 00:06:15,359he’s saying no, if you can change8300:06:15,359 –> 00:06:19,359a difficult position for the better, do it, by all means.8400:06:19,359 –> 00:06:22,000Is there something that you can do that will make a difference?8500:06:22,160 –> 00:06:23,119Go for it.8600:06:23,119 –> 00:06:26,079Do all that you can to make your life better.8700:06:27,679 –> 00:06:29,839Contentment does not mean8800:06:29,839 –> 00:06:32,720that you are indifferent to your circumstances,8900:06:32,720 –> 00:06:35,040it does mean that you are not controlled9000:06:35,040 –> 00:06:36,320by your circumstances.9100:06:36,959 –> 00:06:38,239And that’s what Paul is saying.9200:06:38,959 –> 00:06:40,480I know how to abound,9300:06:41,679 –> 00:06:45,359but my joy and my peace doesn’t depend on me abounding.9400:06:46,079 –> 00:06:48,079It comes from a deeper place.9500:06:48,079 –> 00:06:51,440If your joy and your peace depends on your abounding,9600:06:52,000 –> 00:06:55,200if your joy and your peace depends on certain things9700:06:55,200 –> 00:06:57,040being in place in your life,9800:06:57,040 –> 00:07:00,079then it is on a very shaky foundation indeed.9900:07:00,079 –> 00:07:01,040Paul says,10000:07:01,040 –> 00:07:06,160my joy, my peace do not depend upon my circumstances.10100:07:06,160 –> 00:07:08,079They have a deeper foundation.10200:07:08,079 –> 00:07:11,040They have a deeper root than that.10300:07:12,880 –> 00:07:16,559Now Paul gave himself to do all that he could10400:07:17,600 –> 00:07:19,519in relation to this thorn in the flesh.10500:07:19,519 –> 00:07:20,799And you remember what happened?10600:07:21,760 –> 00:07:24,559God answered his prayer and remember what the answer was.10700:07:26,000 –> 00:07:26,959He said to me,10800:07:28,239 –> 00:07:30,480my grace is sufficient for you10900:07:31,760 –> 00:07:35,760and my power is made perfect in weakness.11000:07:37,040 –> 00:07:38,000In other words Paul says,11100:07:38,000 –> 00:07:41,519when I agonized over this most difficult thing in my life,11200:07:41,519 –> 00:07:43,119here’s the answer that i got.11300:07:44,000 –> 00:07:45,839The secret of contentment11400:07:46,559 –> 00:07:48,959is the sufficiency of Christ.11500:07:49,920 –> 00:07:53,440That’s the point of 2nd Corinthians chapter 1211600:07:53,440 –> 00:07:56,799and it’s exactly the same point that he comes back to11700:07:56,799 –> 00:07:58,959in Philippians chapter four.11800:07:58,959 –> 00:08:03,279How am I able to be content even in the worst of circumstances11900:08:03,279 –> 00:08:08,799because I can do all things through Jesus Christ12000:08:08,799 –> 00:08:09,839who gives me strength.12100:08:09,839 –> 00:08:15,839The secret of contentment is the sufficiency of Jesus Christ.12200:08:16,720 –> 00:08:17,519And Paul is saying,12300:08:17,519 –> 00:08:18,480here’s my testimony.12400:08:18,559 –> 00:08:20,079That’s actually how I learned to live12500:08:20,079 –> 00:08:21,760with that most difficult thing.12600:08:21,760 –> 00:08:23,200The thorn in the flesh.12700:08:23,200 –> 00:08:27,040I did discover the sufficiency of Jesus even there12800:08:27,040 –> 00:08:28,640and this is the secret therefore12900:08:28,640 –> 00:08:31,040that I have for anything in life.13000:08:31,040 –> 00:08:32,080I know this now.13100:08:32,080 –> 00:08:33,599I’ve learned this now.13200:08:33,599 –> 00:08:35,200I’ve proved this now.13300:08:35,200 –> 00:08:36,640And I’m telling you13400:08:36,640 –> 00:08:39,359because you can prove it too.13500:08:40,159 –> 00:08:42,159Now I want you to notice this wonderful thing13600:08:42,159 –> 00:08:45,599that Christ gives me strength.13700:08:45,599 –> 00:08:49,760So what Paul is describing here13800:08:49,760 –> 00:08:51,440from his own experience13900:08:51,440 –> 00:08:54,640is an infusion of strength14000:08:55,119 –> 00:08:57,200that comes from Christ14100:08:57,200 –> 00:08:59,679into the life of a believer14200:08:59,679 –> 00:09:01,599that matches the load14300:09:02,159 –> 00:09:04,400that he gives you to carry14400:09:04,400 –> 00:09:07,119at any particular point in time.14500:09:08,559 –> 00:09:09,919Jeremiah Burrows has this14600:09:09,919 –> 00:09:10,960wonderful phrase.14700:09:11,840 –> 00:09:12,400He says,14800:09:12,400 –> 00:09:15,280God can double your load14900:09:16,159 –> 00:09:18,159and triple your strength.15000:09:18,719 –> 00:09:19,440I like that.15100:09:20,320 –> 00:09:22,239Oh God if you’re going to double my load15200:09:22,239 –> 00:09:23,760please triple my strength.15300:09:24,719 –> 00:09:26,159But you see he’s got this point15400:09:26,159 –> 00:09:28,880there’s an infusion of strength15500:09:28,880 –> 00:09:31,919that comes in relation to the load.15600:09:31,919 –> 00:09:33,599That’s why I’m confident.15700:09:33,599 –> 00:09:35,520That’s why I’m contented, Paul is saying15800:09:35,520 –> 00:09:36,799because whatever happens15900:09:36,799 –> 00:09:38,000and I don’t know what’s going to happen16000:09:38,000 –> 00:09:38,799in the future16100:09:38,799 –> 00:09:40,080but I do know that Christ16200:09:40,080 –> 00:09:41,039gives me strength,16300:09:41,039 –> 00:09:42,320I’ve proved it already.16400:09:42,479 –> 00:09:43,760And therefore I’m confident16500:09:43,760 –> 00:09:44,799with regards to it.16600:09:44,799 –> 00:09:45,919That’s why I’m not worrying16700:09:45,919 –> 00:09:46,880about the future.16800:09:47,840 –> 00:09:48,559It’s wonderful.16900:09:49,440 –> 00:09:51,599Christ gives me strength.17000:09:51,599 –> 00:09:54,320We said that contentment is a journey17100:09:54,320 –> 00:09:55,679and it includes the journey17200:09:55,679 –> 00:09:57,440from anxiety to trust.17300:09:57,440 –> 00:09:59,119Here’s that journey right here.17400:09:59,119 –> 00:10:00,320What is anxiety?17500:10:01,280 –> 00:10:02,080What is worry?17600:10:03,280 –> 00:10:07,119Anxiety is anticipating a problem17700:10:07,119 –> 00:10:08,559without the strength17800:10:08,559 –> 00:10:10,719that Jesus Christ will give you to meet it.17900:10:11,679 –> 00:10:12,719Here’s how this works.18000:10:12,719 –> 00:10:14,640You see a friend18100:10:15,440 –> 00:10:17,599is diagnosed with a serious illness18200:10:19,039 –> 00:10:21,039And putting yourself in their shoes18300:10:21,039 –> 00:10:23,440you say, I don’t think18400:10:23,440 –> 00:10:24,479I could handle that.18500:10:25,599 –> 00:10:26,479Then what are you doing?18600:10:27,919 –> 00:10:29,520You’re putting yourself18700:10:29,520 –> 00:10:30,960in that situation18800:10:30,960 –> 00:10:32,559and trying to picture yourself18900:10:32,559 –> 00:10:33,919in that situation19000:10:33,919 –> 00:10:36,559without the strength19100:10:36,559 –> 00:10:38,799that Jesus Christ would give you19200:10:38,799 –> 00:10:40,559if you were in that situation.19300:10:40,559 –> 00:10:42,640That’s how worries spirals you see.19400:10:42,640 –> 00:10:44,159That’s what anxiety is19500:10:44,159 –> 00:10:46,719It’s putting yourself into a situation19600:10:46,719 –> 00:10:48,320It is anticipating a problem19700:10:48,320 –> 00:10:49,679without the strength19800:10:49,679 –> 00:10:51,760that Jesus Christ would give you19900:10:51,760 –> 00:10:52,559will give you20000:10:52,559 –> 00:10:54,799in any circumstance to meet it.20100:10:56,479 –> 00:10:58,239You begin to notice the burdens20200:10:58,239 –> 00:11:00,400that other people have20300:11:01,679 –> 00:11:02,559and you say to yourself20400:11:02,559 –> 00:11:03,679well now what would I do20500:11:03,679 –> 00:11:04,960if that happened to me?20600:11:06,799 –> 00:11:07,599And when you do that20700:11:07,599 –> 00:11:09,200you’re anticipating the problem20800:11:09,679 –> 00:11:11,919without the strength20900:11:11,919 –> 00:11:13,119that Jesus Christ would21000:11:13,119 –> 00:11:13,919will give to you21100:11:13,919 –> 00:11:15,679if you were in that circumstance of life.21200:11:16,960 –> 00:11:18,479That’s what worry is21300:11:19,760 –> 00:11:20,880and here therefore is21400:11:20,880 –> 00:11:23,919how you move from anxiety to trust21500:11:23,919 –> 00:11:25,440You confidently affirm21600:11:25,440 –> 00:11:26,880as Paul does here21700:11:26,880 –> 00:11:29,039the sufficiency of Christ21800:11:29,039 –> 00:11:31,440Christ gives me strength21900:11:33,359 –> 00:11:35,119He will give me the strength22000:11:35,119 –> 00:11:36,080that I need22100:11:36,080 –> 00:11:38,320for whatever I have to face22200:11:38,320 –> 00:11:39,679and he will do it22300:11:39,679 –> 00:11:41,760at precisely the right time22400:11:41,760 –> 00:11:42,799just when I need it22500:11:42,799 –> 00:11:43,440not before22600:11:44,159 –> 00:11:45,039and not after22700:11:46,239 –> 00:11:47,679he will infuse his strength22800:11:47,679 –> 00:11:49,280into me according to the trial22900:11:49,280 –> 00:11:50,080that I may face23000:11:51,039 –> 00:11:52,000when the time comes23100:11:53,359 –> 00:11:54,719You’re listening to Open the Bible23200:11:54,719 –> 00:11:56,000with Pastor Colin Smith23300:11:56,000 –> 00:11:57,200We’re pausing the message here23400:11:57,200 –> 00:11:58,400just briefly23500:11:58,400 –> 00:11:59,440The message is called23600:11:59,440 –> 00:12:00,799Learning to Be Content23700:12:00,799 –> 00:12:02,080and it’s part of our series23800:12:02,080 –> 00:12:04,080called The Art of Contentment23900:12:04,080 –> 00:12:05,599If you ever miss one of the series24000:12:05,599 –> 00:12:07,280or if you have to go early today24100:12:07,280 –> 00:12:08,719you can always catch up later24200:12:08,719 –> 00:12:10,239or go back and listen again24300:12:10,239 –> 00:12:11,919online at our website24400:12:11,919 –> 00:12:14,640openthebible.org.uk24500:12:14,640 –> 00:12:15,599Many people these days24600:12:15,599 –> 00:12:17,200prefer to listen to a podcast24700:12:17,200 –> 00:12:18,400at their own convenience24800:12:18,400 –> 00:12:19,919you can find Pastor Colin24900:12:19,919 –> 00:12:21,679on all the main podcast sites25000:12:21,679 –> 00:12:23,840search for Open The Bible UK25100:12:24,400 –> 00:12:26,000Back to the message now25200:12:26,000 –> 00:12:27,679here’s Colin25300:12:27,679 –> 00:12:29,200Now some of you will know this story25400:12:29,200 –> 00:12:30,000it’s an old story25500:12:30,000 –> 00:12:31,200it’s a very beautiful one25600:12:31,200 –> 00:12:32,239Corrie ten Boom25700:12:33,039 –> 00:12:34,320in her wonderful book25800:12:34,320 –> 00:12:35,760The Hiding Place25900:12:37,280 –> 00:12:38,320and she tells the story26000:12:38,320 –> 00:12:39,679of how as a young girl26100:12:40,640 –> 00:12:42,080she had gone to26200:12:42,080 –> 00:12:43,919some family friends26300:12:44,479 –> 00:12:45,280and there had been26400:12:45,280 –> 00:12:46,719a death in this family26500:12:46,719 –> 00:12:47,919and so as a young girl26600:12:48,799 –> 00:12:50,159she was brought literally26700:12:50,159 –> 00:12:51,679face to face with death26800:12:51,679 –> 00:12:53,039and it quite terrified her26900:12:53,039 –> 00:12:54,159and particularly27000:12:55,200 –> 00:12:56,799what scared her was the thought27100:12:56,799 –> 00:12:58,080what if my father27200:12:58,080 –> 00:12:59,679on whom I depend27300:12:59,679 –> 00:13:01,359what if my dad were to die27400:13:01,359 –> 00:13:02,640and this got into her mind27500:13:04,000 –> 00:13:05,440and she describes27600:13:06,320 –> 00:13:07,520how that night27700:13:07,520 –> 00:13:08,320she’s in bed27800:13:08,320 –> 00:13:09,359her father comes in27900:13:09,359 –> 00:13:10,960to tuck her in28000:13:10,960 –> 00:13:12,960and to pray with her28100:13:12,960 –> 00:13:14,400and all of that28200:13:14,400 –> 00:13:15,440and she says this28300:13:15,440 –> 00:13:16,080that night28400:13:17,200 –> 00:13:19,280as my father stepped through the door28500:13:20,400 –> 00:13:21,960I burst into tears28600:13:23,520 –> 00:13:24,640I need you28700:13:24,640 –> 00:13:25,280I sobbed28800:13:25,280 –> 00:13:26,479Can you picture this little girl28900:13:26,479 –> 00:13:27,280saying to her dad29000:13:27,280 –> 00:13:27,840I need you29100:13:28,799 –> 00:13:29,840you can’t die29200:13:29,840 –> 00:13:30,559you can’t29300:13:32,880 –> 00:13:34,080my father sat down29400:13:34,080 –> 00:13:35,679on the edge of the narrow bed29500:13:37,200 –> 00:13:37,520Corrie29600:13:37,520 –> 00:13:38,640he began gently29700:13:39,599 –> 00:13:40,479when you and I29800:13:40,479 –> 00:13:41,919go to Amsterdam29900:13:43,039 –> 00:13:45,200when do I give you your ticket30000:13:47,280 –> 00:13:48,719I sniffed a few times30100:13:48,719 –> 00:13:49,679considering this30200:13:50,880 –> 00:13:51,359why30300:13:51,359 –> 00:13:53,919just before we get on the train30400:13:55,679 –> 00:13:56,479exactly30500:13:56,479 –> 00:13:57,039he said30600:13:58,400 –> 00:14:00,719and our wise father in heaven30700:14:00,719 –> 00:14:01,119knows30800:14:01,679 –> 00:14:03,760when we’re going to need things30900:14:03,799 –> 00:14:04,299to31000:14:05,359 –> 00:14:07,359don’t run ahead of him31100:14:08,640 –> 00:14:10,239when the time comes31200:14:10,960 –> 00:14:12,400that some of us have to die31300:14:12,400 –> 00:14:14,640you will look into your heart31400:14:14,640 –> 00:14:17,440and find the strength that you need31500:14:18,640 –> 00:14:19,599just in time31600:14:21,679 –> 00:14:22,559if god31700:14:22,559 –> 00:14:23,599had told you31800:14:25,440 –> 00:14:26,239in advance31900:14:27,840 –> 00:14:29,520everything you would ever face32000:14:29,520 –> 00:14:30,159in your life32100:14:30,159 –> 00:14:31,840you would be completely32200:14:31,840 –> 00:14:34,080and utterly overwhelmed32300:14:35,599 –> 00:14:38,239thank god he does not do that32400:14:39,359 –> 00:14:42,320what he does, is he walks with his children32500:14:42,320 –> 00:14:43,840one step at a time32600:14:45,039 –> 00:14:47,679and at each point in the journey32700:14:48,320 –> 00:14:50,000he will give to you32800:14:50,000 –> 00:14:52,880the strength that you need32900:14:52,880 –> 00:14:54,719and he’ll give it to you33000:14:54,719 –> 00:14:56,960at precisely the right time33100:14:56,960 –> 00:14:59,119cory, when does your dad33200:14:59,119 –> 00:15:00,320give you the ticket33300:15:00,880 –> 00:15:04,080just when you get on the train33400:15:06,640 –> 00:15:09,440whatever jesus christ calls you to do now33500:15:10,320 –> 00:15:11,919and whatever he may call you33600:15:11,919 –> 00:15:14,000to endure and to go through in the future33700:15:15,760 –> 00:15:18,799you can do it by his grace33800:15:18,799 –> 00:15:24,400because he will give you strength33900:15:26,080 –> 00:15:27,840and paul says i’ve proved this in my life34000:15:27,840 –> 00:15:29,599i’ve been at the top and i’ve been at the bottom34100:15:30,719 –> 00:15:32,799and all over this congregation34200:15:32,799 –> 00:15:34,960there are testimonies of the truth of this34300:15:36,479 –> 00:15:38,000where among us there are folks34400:15:38,000 –> 00:15:39,520who have endured situations34500:15:39,520 –> 00:15:42,559we never imagined we would in our lives34600:15:45,039 –> 00:15:46,559and if we’d known in advance34700:15:46,559 –> 00:15:47,359we would have said34800:15:48,239 –> 00:15:49,679i could never survive34900:15:51,760 –> 00:15:53,280and yet by god’s grace35000:15:53,280 –> 00:15:54,799you have been given strength35100:15:54,799 –> 00:15:55,760and through the tears35200:15:55,760 –> 00:15:56,719and through the sorrow35300:15:57,599 –> 00:15:58,719he has held you up35400:15:59,760 –> 00:16:00,640and you have proved35500:16:00,640 –> 00:16:02,000and you have experienced35600:16:02,000 –> 00:16:04,479exactly what the apostle paul35700:16:05,119 –> 00:16:07,359is describing for all of us here35800:16:07,359 –> 00:16:08,320so friends35900:16:08,320 –> 00:16:11,760here is the christian answer to anxiety36000:16:13,039 –> 00:16:15,119Jesus Christ will give you36100:16:15,840 –> 00:16:17,840the strength that you need36200:16:17,840 –> 00:16:20,640to face whatever he calls you to face36300:16:20,640 –> 00:16:22,320and he will give you this strength36400:16:22,320 –> 00:16:24,400he will infuse it into you36500:16:24,479 –> 00:16:26,559at just the right time36600:16:26,559 –> 00:16:28,799just when you need it36700:16:28,799 –> 00:16:30,320now how are we gonna learn then36800:16:30,320 –> 00:16:31,200to be content?36900:16:31,200 –> 00:16:32,479Well in this way37000:16:32,479 –> 00:16:35,679by gratefully savoring37100:16:35,679 –> 00:16:37,520all the blessings of Christ37200:16:37,520 –> 00:16:39,520bringing them to mind regularly37300:16:39,520 –> 00:16:42,159and nourishing our hearts and our minds37400:16:42,159 –> 00:16:44,239on all the ways in which his goodness37500:16:44,239 –> 00:16:45,840has been showered upon us37600:16:45,840 –> 00:16:47,200in Jesus Christ37700:16:47,200 –> 00:16:48,880and then confidently affirming37800:16:48,880 –> 00:16:51,280the sufficiency of Christ37900:16:51,280 –> 00:16:53,280that in him is all that we need38000:16:53,280 –> 00:16:55,200the secret of contentment38100:16:55,200 –> 00:16:59,359is the sufficiency of Jesus Christ38200:16:59,359 –> 00:17:01,679and then here’s the last thing38300:17:01,679 –> 00:17:03,280we must gladly embrace38400:17:04,319 –> 00:17:06,000the supremacy of Christ38500:17:06,000 –> 00:17:07,040if you want to know more38600:17:07,040 –> 00:17:08,160of this contentment38700:17:08,160 –> 00:17:10,800here really is the step38800:17:10,800 –> 00:17:12,319that you must take today38900:17:13,760 –> 00:17:14,959Martin Lloyd-Jones said39000:17:14,959 –> 00:17:16,319I think very perceptively39100:17:16,319 –> 00:17:18,319on this subject39200:17:18,319 –> 00:17:21,199if we want to feel as Paul felt39300:17:21,280 –> 00:17:25,199we must live as Paul lived39400:17:26,239 –> 00:17:27,760and we look at his experience39500:17:27,760 –> 00:17:29,680of strength being infused into him39600:17:29,680 –> 00:17:31,280we look at the contentment39700:17:31,280 –> 00:17:32,560that he gained at the best39800:17:32,560 –> 00:17:34,959and the worst circumstances of life39900:17:34,959 –> 00:17:36,000we want that40000:17:36,000 –> 00:17:39,280if we want to feel as Paul felt40100:17:40,800 –> 00:17:44,400we must live as Paul lived40200:17:45,839 –> 00:17:46,880and how did Paul live40300:17:46,880 –> 00:17:48,880well he tells us in this same letter40400:17:48,880 –> 00:17:50,079for me to live40500:17:50,079 –> 00:17:50,719help me with it40600:17:50,719 –> 00:17:53,520for me to live is Christ40700:17:53,520 –> 00:17:55,439and to die is Gain40800:17:56,640 –> 00:17:57,760now just think about that40900:17:57,760 –> 00:18:00,160in these last moments here this morning41000:18:00,160 –> 00:18:02,079could you say that41100:18:02,880 –> 00:18:04,560would it be true that you are living41200:18:04,560 –> 00:18:05,839as the Apostle Paul lived41300:18:05,839 –> 00:18:07,119for me to live is Christ41400:18:07,119 –> 00:18:08,560and to die is Gain41500:18:08,560 –> 00:18:10,160think about this with me41600:18:10,160 –> 00:18:11,920how would you complete this sentence41700:18:11,920 –> 00:18:13,199i i like to think of it41800:18:13,199 –> 00:18:14,800with two blanks in there41900:18:15,839 –> 00:18:19,280for me to live is blank42000:18:19,280 –> 00:18:22,880and to die is blank42100:18:23,520 –> 00:18:25,280what you put in the second blank42200:18:25,280 –> 00:18:27,680depends entirely on what you put in the first blank42300:18:29,520 –> 00:18:32,239for me to live is family42400:18:33,760 –> 00:18:35,680for me to live is business42500:18:37,040 –> 00:18:38,959for me to live is ministry42600:18:40,479 –> 00:18:42,000for me to live is for music42700:18:42,000 –> 00:18:43,199whatever you put in there42800:18:43,199 –> 00:18:45,199whatever you put42900:18:45,199 –> 00:18:46,400whichever of these43000:18:46,400 –> 00:18:48,160you put in the first blank43100:18:50,079 –> 00:18:52,800there is only one word that could go in the second blank43200:18:52,800 –> 00:18:54,000and that is the word loss43300:18:56,239 –> 00:18:57,839if for you to live is work43400:18:59,520 –> 00:19:00,400or family43500:19:00,400 –> 00:19:01,119or business43600:19:01,119 –> 00:19:01,599or sport43700:19:01,599 –> 00:19:02,560or music43800:19:02,560 –> 00:19:04,000or even ministry43900:19:05,920 –> 00:19:07,439then to die is always loss44000:19:07,439 –> 00:19:09,920because it is the end of the thing for which you have lived44100:19:12,000 –> 00:19:13,680but if you can say44200:19:14,239 –> 00:19:16,880for me to live is Christ44300:19:17,760 –> 00:19:20,400then in the second blank you can truly say44400:19:20,400 –> 00:19:21,760to die is gain44500:19:21,760 –> 00:19:24,880because when you die you get more of the one you have lived for44600:19:26,079 –> 00:19:27,839and this is why when Paul was in prison44700:19:27,839 –> 00:19:30,479he was in prison when he wrote this about contentment44800:19:30,479 –> 00:19:34,000which is one of the most striking things about this letter of Philippians44900:19:34,000 –> 00:19:37,199he’s facing the possibility even of a violent death45000:19:38,880 –> 00:19:40,719and he says now even if that should happen45100:19:40,719 –> 00:19:42,880this is chapter 2 in verse 1745200:19:42,880 –> 00:19:44,880I am glad and rejoice with you all45300:19:44,959 –> 00:19:48,079Paul, how could you be content in the light of that?45400:19:48,640 –> 00:19:51,520Because I’m living for Christ and so even if I die45500:19:53,119 –> 00:19:54,640that’s only going to be gain for me45600:19:56,400 –> 00:20:00,160you want to feel what Paul felt45700:20:01,119 –> 00:20:04,400you’ve got to live as Paul lived45800:20:06,239 –> 00:20:08,160for me to live is Christ45900:20:09,119 –> 00:20:10,959this Christ gives me strength46000:20:11,439 –> 00:20:14,959and that is why I have learned to be content46100:20:14,959 –> 00:20:20,800because whatever happens He is enough for me46200:20:21,920 –> 00:20:23,319friends how sad it would be46300:20:24,359 –> 00:20:27,439if for someone, for some family in this congregation46400:20:28,719 –> 00:20:31,760how sad it would be if your joy, your peace46500:20:32,959 –> 00:20:35,439depended on holding on to something that you have46600:20:37,280 –> 00:20:39,439or gaining something that you do not have46700:20:41,939 –> 00:20:46,160How free how confident how happy you would be46800:20:46,160 –> 00:20:48,719if you could truly say with the apostle Paul46900:20:48,719 –> 00:20:52,640I have learned in whatever situation I am47000:20:53,680 –> 00:20:55,040to be content47100:20:55,040 –> 00:20:59,520So, the first step on the road to contentment47200:21:00,319 –> 00:21:04,400is to yield your life to jesus Christ47300:21:04,400 –> 00:21:05,680without condition47400:21:06,719 –> 00:21:08,000and without reservation47500:21:08,000 –> 00:21:16,079the first step, the first step out of the hellish sin of discontent47600:21:17,040 –> 00:21:20,880is to yield your life to jesus Christ47700:21:20,880 –> 00:21:22,000without condition47800:21:23,040 –> 00:21:24,400and without reservation47900:21:25,920 –> 00:21:28,800and those who lose everything for him48000:21:30,319 –> 00:21:35,359find that they gain everything in him48100:21:35,359 –> 00:21:39,599and when you can gratefully savor the blessings of Christ48200:21:40,400 –> 00:21:44,000and you can confidently affirm the sufficiency of Christ48300:21:44,000 –> 00:21:48,239and you are gladly embracing the supremacy of Christ48400:21:49,040 –> 00:21:53,040then you will be able to say with the Apostle Paul48500:21:53,040 –> 00:21:57,439I have learned in whatever situation I am to be content48600:21:58,479 –> 00:22:03,680because I can do all things through Jesus Christ48700:22:04,160 –> 00:22:07,439I am a believer in Christ who gives me strength48800:22:07,439 –> 00:22:10,479Good to hear that the first step on the road to contentment48900:22:10,479 –> 00:22:14,880is to yield your life to Jesus Christ without condition or reservation49000:22:15,839 –> 00:22:18,560That’s good to hear, whether you’re a new Christian49100:22:18,560 –> 00:22:21,520or whether you’ve belonged to Jesus for many years49200:22:21,520 –> 00:22:24,319You’ve been listening to Open the Bible with Pastor Colin Smith49300:22:24,319 –> 00:22:27,119in a message called Learning to be Content49400:22:27,119 –> 00:22:29,839part of the series The Art of Contentment49500:22:29,839 –> 00:22:31,839And if you’ve missed any of the series to date49600:22:31,839 –> 00:22:33,599or if you want to go back and listen again49700:22:33,920 –> 00:22:35,119now or in the future49800:22:35,119 –> 00:22:39,040come to our website, openthebible.org.uk49900:22:39,040 –> 00:22:40,560and there you’ll find all the messages50000:22:40,560 –> 00:22:42,640after they’ve been broadcast for the first time50100:22:43,280 –> 00:22:44,400While you’re on our website50200:22:44,400 –> 00:22:47,439don’t forget to check out Open the Bible Daily50300:22:47,439 –> 00:22:50,079our series of short daily devotions50400:22:50,079 –> 00:22:51,920based on Pastor Colin’s teaching50500:22:51,920 –> 00:22:54,719and read in the UK by Sue MacLeish50600:22:54,719 –> 00:22:58,319Fly Through the Bible is available in a number of different formats50700:22:58,319 –> 00:23:01,760and in the coming days we’ll bring news of some exciting ways50800:23:01,760 –> 00:23:03,839that you can use this material50900:23:03,839 –> 00:23:07,040Colin Smith’s original book Fly Through the Bible51000:23:07,040 –> 00:23:08,719is our gift to you this month51100:23:08,719 –> 00:23:11,280if you’re able to begin a new direct debit51200:23:11,280 –> 00:23:12,880to the work of Open the Bible51300:23:12,880 –> 00:23:16,000in the amount of five pounds per month or more51400:23:16,000 –> 00:23:18,560or a one off gift of fifty pounds or more51500:23:19,199 –> 00:23:20,400If you’re able to do that51600:23:20,400 –> 00:23:22,319we’d love to send you a copy of the book51700:23:22,319 –> 00:23:24,560and if you want to receive the book51800:23:24,560 –> 00:23:26,079don’t give anonymously51900:23:26,079 –> 00:23:28,479and please remember to leave your address52000:23:28,479 –> 00:23:31,520Colin, why did you use the Flying Metaphor52100:23:31,520 –> 00:23:32,880to describe this book?52200:23:32,880 –> 00:23:34,800Well, suppose you were making a visit52300:23:34,800 –> 00:23:36,239to the Grand Canyon52400:23:36,239 –> 00:23:38,319and exploring it for the first time52500:23:38,319 –> 00:23:40,079I mean, I guess you could hike down52600:23:40,079 –> 00:23:42,560and you’d get a sense of the depth of the canyon52700:23:42,560 –> 00:23:44,000you could drive around the rim52800:23:44,000 –> 00:23:46,079You’d get a sense of the length of it52900:23:46,719 –> 00:23:48,719but perhaps the best way to get53000:23:48,719 –> 00:23:51,119an overall sense of the vastness53100:23:51,119 –> 00:23:52,880and beauty of the Grand Canyon53200:23:52,880 –> 00:23:55,119would be to take a flight over it53300:23:55,119 –> 00:23:57,599Now, when it comes to the Bible53400:23:57,599 –> 00:24:00,239to get a high altitude overview53500:24:00,560 –> 00:24:03,040of what the Bible story is all about53600:24:03,040 –> 00:24:05,839seems to me to be the best place to begin53700:24:05,839 –> 00:24:07,680The Bible really is one story53800:24:07,680 –> 00:24:08,800It begins in a garden53900:24:08,800 –> 00:24:09,920it ends in a city54000:24:09,920 –> 00:24:10,800all the way through54100:24:10,800 –> 00:24:12,479it’s about the Lord Jesus Christ54200:24:13,040 –> 00:24:14,079Flying through the Bible54300:24:14,079 –> 00:24:15,839is kind of cookies on the bottom shelf54400:24:15,839 –> 00:24:17,839to change the analogy54500:24:17,839 –> 00:24:20,160It gives an overall picture54600:24:20,160 –> 00:24:22,079an introduction to the Scripture54700:24:22,079 –> 00:24:24,800that I hope will help and encourage people54800:24:24,800 –> 00:24:26,400to want to explore more54900:24:26,400 –> 00:24:27,520when they get on the ground55000:24:28,160 –> 00:24:29,359Well, we’d love to send55100:24:29,359 –> 00:24:30,800you a copy of Colin’s book55200:24:30,800 –> 00:24:32,239Fly Through the Bible55300:24:32,239 –> 00:24:34,239to say thank you for setting up55400:24:34,239 –> 00:24:35,439a new direct debit55500:24:35,439 –> 00:24:37,040to the work of Open The Bible55600:24:37,040 –> 00:24:39,599in the amount of £5 per month or more55700:24:39,599 –> 00:24:41,680or a one-off gift of £5055800:24:41,680 –> 00:24:42,959or more this month55900:24:43,680 –> 00:24:45,119Full terms and conditions56000:24:45,119 –> 00:24:46,479are on our website56100:24:46,479 –> 00:24:47,680at openthebible.org.uk56200:24:49,680 –> 00:24:51,839And you can give online56300:24:51,839 –> 00:24:53,680Don’t forget to leave your address56400:24:53,680 –> 00:24:55,599so that we can send you the free gift56500:24:56,319 –> 00:24:57,359For Open The Bible56600:24:57,359 –> 00:24:58,719and Pastor Colin Smith56700:24:58,719 –> 00:24:59,839I’m David Pick56800:24:59,839 –> 00:25:01,119and I hope you’ll join us again56900:25:01,119 –> 00:25:02,800next time on Open The Bible57000:25:08,959 –> 00:25:10,640Is it easier to be content57100:25:10,640 –> 00:25:12,319if you have very little57200:25:12,319 –> 00:25:13,839or if you have much more?57300:25:14,479 –> 00:25:16,959Find out next time on Open The Bible