A Daily Walk

Guest (Male): Can you relate to this?

John Randall: Maybe you're in such a place today, where your strength is run out, but God's strength never runs out. You feel the sense of weakness, an inability, and yet God's grace is tangible, sustaining, upholding us. It's interesting when the nation of Israel was going through the wilderness, there was a record that talks about that the Lord bore them up on eagles' wings. Meaning when they couldn't go further, the Lord carried them. And maybe that's where you are today. And God's grace is sufficient for you, and it's sufficient for me.

Guest (Male): Would you say that you're content? Most people would answer that question based on whether or not life is going good and smoothly by their own estimation. But as we'll see today on a daily walk, it is possible to experience contentment even in the worst conditions. We'll learn how by revisiting an epistle written by an apostle in a prison cell. Please join us. Turn to the book of Philippians chapter 4. Here is Pastor John Randall.

John Randall: At this point in the life of the Apostle Paul, he had lost his freedom. He had been arrested. He was in prison, chained to a Roman guard, awaiting his court date before Caesar. That would eventually lead to his martyrdom. Yet as dark as things appeared, the Lord was using it for good within his life. Paul had the opportunity to write several letters to the churches, one of which we're studying now, the book of Philippians. And in the midst of all of his challenges, Paul discovered that the joy of the Lord was his strength. And one of the secrets to Paul's joy was encouragement from others.

There is not a person in this room today that does not need encouragement now and again. And the Bible actually has much to say on this subject. Paul felt extremely encouraged. In fact, he even says here that he greatly rejoiced through the support of the congregation in their financial partnership. Again, verse 10, I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at last your care for me has flourished. Though you surely did care, but you lacked opportunity. It had been 10 years since Paul had planted the church in Philippi. And once the church was planted and established, Paul continued on his church planting mission, planting other churches.

And the congregation in Philippi actually continued to support Paul in those endeavors. But as time passed, it wasn't always easy to reach Paul. He was constantly on the move. The Philippians wanted to support him, but they couldn't always locate him. They therefore they lacked opportunity. But now that Paul was in prison, it would seem that the Philippians picked up where they left off and supported Paul once again. And it would appear that their gift couldn't have come at a better time. Paul knew that the church was concerned about him, that they cared for him. And their financial support was actually a tangible sign to him of their sacrificial love.

However, Paul was very sensitive to the subject of giving. And he never wanted the churches that he ministered at to think that he might be looking for more donations from them. And therefore, he makes it very clear in the next verse what his intentions were. If you look at verse 11, he says, not that I speak in regard to need, because I have learned in whatever state I am to be content. Paul was grateful for the generosity of the church in Philippi, but he didn't want them to feel obligated or pressured to support him. It is a challenge for many ministers within the church to talk about, to preach on the subject of giving financially to the work of the ministry.

And I think there are several reasons for this. One, you never want to appear greedy. Two, you don't want to be linked to or seen as a prosperity teacher that preached prosperity doctrine. Some churches actually have walls that actually are have pictures of the previous years' top givers. Some churches require members to provide the church with a copy of their tax returns for membership in order to verify that they give 10% to the church. Some preachers even emphasize tithing as a legalistic requirement for salvation. And there are some who are quick to pronounce any financial difficulty that you may be having at this moment as a direct result of your lack of giving, which is sad.

And therefore, it is a challenge. But when you come to it in scripture, you've been here long enough, you teach what the Bible says on the subject. Giving to the work of the Lord should never be out of constraint or manipulated. It should be motivated by a love for Jesus and obedience to his word. The amazing thing about Paul's ministry is as I said, he never wanted to be a burden to anyone. In fact, he made it a practice when he was planting the churches to minister in a way that he was bivocational. He would make tents for a living to support himself and those who worked alongside of him.

And then in addition to that, he would just plant the churches free of charge. And he tells us why this, because in 15 Thessalonians chapter 2 verse 9, listen to what Paul said. Gives you an insight into his heart for ministry. He said, you remember, brethren, our labor and our toil, laboring night and day that we may not be a burden to any of you. We preach to you the gospel of God. Later on in his second letter to the same church in the third chapter this time, he said, we didn't eat anyone's bread free of charge, but we worked with labor and toil night and day that we might not be a burden to any of you.

Not because we don't have authority, but to make ourselves an example of how you should follow us. In other words, what Paul was saying to the churches that he planted, the reason we did what we did and in the way that we did it was not because we wanted you to we didn't want you to think that we wanted to take something from you. We wanted you to understand that we were here to impart something to you. We were here to give, not to take. And I love the example of the Apostle Paul. You know, I was raised in a church where our pastor often said, and to the point where it is embedded into my mind and has become a pillar in the philosophy of ministry for me that where God guides, God provides.

And my pastor would always say that. And he had so many stories that he would tell us of God's provision. And I used to be amazed at those stories and not just amazed, but also inspired. And we ended up having now our own stories of God's faithfulness and his provision. And I I think this has been a practice for us within the ministry. Paul was grateful for the gift, but he also wanted the Philippians to know that he had learned a valuable lesson in the area of contentment. That's why in verse 13, notice Paul said this, I have notice this word, underscore it, learned.

I've learned to be content in whatever state I am in. Being content was not something that came naturally. I don't think it comes naturally to most people, but it is something that is learned. In fact, the language implies here, I have come to learn. I didn't always think this way, but in light of what God has allowed me to go through, in light of what the Lord has put me through, the things that I've experienced, Paul could say I've I've actually learned some things and I've learned how to be provided for. I 've learned to survive with no provision.

I I I 've learned to be abased. I know how to abound. When Paul said I've learned to be abased, it's actually a word that implies being very low. And there were plenty of times in life and ministry when Paul was at the the rock bottom, brought very low through hardship and difficulty. And even in the midst of that, he said, through that process I've learned something, and that's to be content in the Lord. Paul had learned what Jesus said in Luke chapter 12 verse 15. Jesus said, take heed and beware of covetousness, for a man's life does not consist in the abundance of things that he possesses.

Furthermore, when Paul wrote to Timothy in 1 Timothy chapter 6 and verse 6, he said, godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain that we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing with these, we shall be content. The writer of Hebrews said in chapter 13 in verse 5, he said, let your conversation be without covetousness and be content with such things as you have. For he has said, I will never leave you or forsake you. Are you content where the Lord has you today? Interesting, Paul said, I have learned to be content in whatever state I am in.

I wonder if you're content in this state that you're in. Certain things. But Paul tells us, I know how to be brought low and I know how to abound. I I have been in some of the the lowest spots in my life. And in the midst of that, I have Paul could say I have found the Lord to be there. If you've ever read through the life of the Apostle Paul, he in his epistle to the Corinthians, his second epistle, he's probably the most transparent as he gives details into the school of contentment, the lessons that he learned, the tests that he went through.

Let me read them to you if you're unfamiliar. He says in 2 Corinthians 11 in verse 23 that he was in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. It's like when Paul showed up in a town, probably the first question he would ask is what's the prison system like here? I just curious what what's it like? Do they use rods or whips here when they I mean, this is this is something that he faced. But he goes on. And he says in verse 24, from the Jews five times I received 40 stripes minus one.

Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked. A night and a day I've spent in the deep. Imagine just floating out in the ocean for a night and a day. But that's not all. Paul said in journeys often, in perils of water, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren. Pretty much all perils. In weariness and toil, in sleeplessness, often in hunger, in thirst, in fasting often, in cold and nakedness.

Verse 28, besides the other things. Like like there's more than that. Besides the other things, that which comes upon me daily, my deep concern for the churches. I mean, yeah, this is what I 've experienced physically and it's painful. But let me just tell you there's something else that's that I deal with every single day and that's my concern for the churches that have been planted. Paul 's contentment was not based upon his present circumstance or conditions, but rather the presence of Christ. And that is why in verse 13 he could say, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

And then please understand the context in which he writes this. Some people like to extract Philippians 4:13 uh from the context. And it is a powerful passage and one that we should cling to. But God wants me to fulfill all my dreams. I can do all things through Christ. It's like, yeah, look at Paul's suffering. I can I can go through the pain and the hardship through the strength that God provides for me. That's what he's saying in the context. I can do all of these things. What things? The things he just listed through the power of Christ, not his own strength, but the strength of the Lord.

You know, there was such a low point in Paul's life and ministry. Again, 2 Corinthians records it where Paul was given something called a thorn in the flesh. He said it was a messenger of Satan that was sent to buffet him to keep him humble because of all the revelations that he'd received. God allowed something to come into Paul's life to be used to keep him humble. In fact, Paul prayed that the Lord would take it away three times. He said, God, would you please take this away from me? Lord, would you please heal me of this?

Whatever it was, the thorn in the flesh. And there are some speculations as to what it was, some physical difficulty that he had. But this was the Lord's response to Paul in 2 Corinthians in chapter 12 verse 9. In response to his prayer, he said to me, my grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. This was God's response to Paul prayer. Lord, please take this away. The Lord said, here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to give you grace to endure. I'm going to give you strength when you're weak.

And that is why Paul would go on to say, therefore most gladly I'll boast in my infirmities that the power of Christ may rest upon me. It 's when Paul was at his weakest moment when he felt like he couldn't go any further, it was then that God's strength upheld him. And God's grace was sufficient to sustain him. Maybe you're in such a place today. It's possible where your strength is run out, but God's strength never runs out. You feel the sense of weakness and inability, and yet God grace is tangible, sustaining, upholding us. It's interesting when the nation of Israel was going through the wilderness, there was a record that talks about that the Lord bore them up on eagles' wings.

Meaning when they couldn't go further, the Lord carried them. And maybe that's where you are today. And God's grace is sufficient for you. And it's sufficient for me. Paul returns in verse 14 and he says, nevertheless, hey, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I'm not trying to pressure you to give to me. I'm just I 'm letting you know, nevertheless, let me just say to you, you've done well that you've shared in my distress. In other words, he was there's a sense of gratitude. Thank you for for doing that. I really I I it came at at a at an important time.

Have you ever been in in a place where somebody somebody just seemed to be right on time with encouragement that you needed and they didn't necessarily know that that's what you needed when you needed it and they just came through and just what what did that do for you? It just man, it lifted you up. It it helped you. Be that person for somebody else. Paul said, you've done well to share in my distress. Verse 15, now you Philippians, you know that in the beginning of the gospel, that is his ministry, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving.

But you only. For even in Thessalonica, you sent aid once again and again for my necessities, more than once. When Paul left Philippi, they continued to to help him. And he said, in fact, you are the only church that supported me. You know, when I was 25 and we planted our first church, I mean, just 25 uh with my wife and two sons. You know, church planning is different now, I think, than when it was back in the day. Um like many things have changed. Um when we went, there was no internet. There was no uh cell phones really weren't a big thing yet.

Um they had phone books and uh things like that. And they had actual phones, young people, in the house that you like That was really old, right? And then you had the beep beep beep. You know, but this was like and then then remember when we got the the cordless, they were like, what? Anyways. No, go ahead. I can hear you. Wait. Let me pull the antenna out. Okay. You know, it's like, you remember those? But but where was I going? I I digress. I come back. Oh yeah, I remember. When when church planning is much different than it was when we started out.

You know, now it's like we have a team, we have a support, we got a church that pays for like my pastor was like, take care. We'll be praying for you. If God's in it, we'll find out. You know, like that that's like how we went out. Like why? And when we went out, the church that I that sent us out said, we will support you for 3 months and then you're on your own. Which basically means you got 3 months to get a job and get this thing started or you're not coming back. I mean, that that's it.

That was it. And so we went out and it was that kind of mentality and and and you just you you did whatever you had to do. There wasn't any churches that were supporting us. But there it's interesting during that season, there were individual people that we didn't we didn't send out a newsletter, you know, with with with pictures of us and we just we we just didn't have that. But we had people that knew we were going out and unbeknownst to us, they supported us. And we never knew where it was going to come from and or if it would even show up.

And I mean, there were moments when we had just just exactly what we needed. And because of those people, that church was planted. And and with without that, we wouldn't have survived. And and we we did everything we could. Paul said, you did well to handle my distress. You were you were the only ones that survived me. And even when he should have been supported by others, he wasn't. In fact, when Paul wrote to the church in Corinth, he actually used the church in Philippi as a model, a template for how they should give. An example really for believers.

One thing you might find unique if you are new to Calvary Chapel is that we do not get up here on this platform and beg for money. And that just doesn't happen. We we have never done that. We will never do that. There are times, however, when we may make you aware of a need or something that the Lord is doing and give you opportunity to partner with and be a part of it. But that's really about it. We we like to share about how the Lord is using the generosity of us collectively as a fellowship to minister far outside of this community, into other parts of the country, even into other parts of the world.

The Lord is doing marvelous works through this fellowship. But we never use or will use methods that are carnal or manipulative. We don't have thermometers. We don't have swag bags for those givers or whatever. I don't know. Whatever whatever they're doing these days, you'll never have somebody call you and ask you, hey, where's where's the money? You'll never have somebody interview you and ask for your W-2. That won't happen to let you know whether you can be a part of this church or not. We believe that if you've been here long enough, you see that God does provide and that he provides through his people.

And I could tell you countless stories of how God has faithfully provided for the church. When it comes to giving, hear me on this. Everything that we have is a gift from God. It it actually all belongs to him. I think that's something that we sometimes take for granted. We don't realize, hey, it's all his. It's all his. Secondly, that when it comes to giving, it's an act of worship. It's an act of worship. That's what it is. It's offering back to God that which I have been given. If it's I don't give to God so that he'll bless my life.

The Lord has blessed my life. And it is a privilege to give back to him. And I'm in awe of that.

Guest (Male): What a good point there as we close. Everything we have is a gift from God and belongs to God. Our giving back to him should be an act of worship. Today on a daily walk, we're receiving insights about giving and receiving as Pastor John Randall delivered part one of our final message in Philippians. You can hear it again at adailywalk.org. You can also hear John's messages through our free app. This is a great way to listen to current and past teachings from Pastor John. Search for Calvary South OC. Has this ministry blessed and encouraged you in your daily walk?

If it has, we'd like to know. You can email us at adailywalk@gmail.com. Pastor John would be so encouraged by what you have to say. So tell him which station you listen to as well. That's adailywalk@gmail.com. Here in the month of June, we picked out a resource from R. Kent Hughes. It's called Disciples of a Godly Man. If your desire is to be a Godly man, then this is a must read. You'll be encouraged to grow in godliness through disciplines like purity, devotion, prayer, and leadership. It's available for the cost of $11. Ordering is really easy online at adailywalk.org or just call 877-242-0828.

And please remember us in your prayers and your giving to the Lord. We want to help as many people as possible in their daily walk through the teaching of God's word. And you can help to make that possible through either a one-time gift or ongoing monthly support. Donations can be made online at adailywalk.org or call 877-242-0828. Don't miss John Randall's final look at Philippians tomorrow on a daily walk. We'll again be talking about giving and receiving. This program is brought to you by Calvary South OC and made possible through your generous support.