call to let the message of Christ fill our lives, said before the offering
16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly; in all wisdom teaching and admonishing one another with psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your heart to the Lord.
matrix of things that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, worthy of praise
8 Finally, brothers, whatever things are true, whatever things are honorable, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report; if there is any virtue, and if there is any praise, think about these things.
knowing how to get along with little and how to live in prosperity, filled or hungry
12 I know how to be humbled, and I know also how to abound. In everything and in all things I have learned the secret both to be filled and to be hungry, both to abound and to be in need.
no other church shared with Paul in giving and receiving except the Philippians, even sending to Thessalonica
15 You yourselves also know, you Philippians, that in the beginning of the Good News, when I departed from Macedonia, no assembly shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you only.
16 For even in Thessalonica you sent once and again to my need.
received everything in full, a fragrant aroma, acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God
18 But I have all things, and abound. I am filled, having received from Epaphroditus the things that came from you, a sweet-smelling fragrance, an acceptable and well-pleasing sacrifice to God.
The message in order, in a few minutes of reading.
Ray finished the letter to the Philippians on Sunday, working through the closing section where Paul thanks the church for their financial support and lands on one of his most misunderstood verses. The message centered on what contentment actually means and where it comes from. It was a practical sermon with some honest self-examination built in.
What was said
Ray opened by picking up where the previous week left off, noting that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me" gets pulled out of context constantly. He used the Power Team as an example, those weightlifting evangelists from the nineties who tore phone books and ripped quarters in half while quoting the verse. His point was that the verse is not about physical feats or any kind of outward strength. It sits inside a passage about contentment, and that changes everything about what Paul meant.
Paul's statement that he had "learned to be content in whatever circumstances" was the hinge of the whole sermon. Ray made the point that contentment is learned, not given. It comes through going through hard times and easy times and finding that Christ is sufficient in both. He quoted a line from Shakespeare's Henry VI, that contentment is "a crown that seldom kings enjoy," to underscore how rare and genuinely difficult this kind of settled peace is.
Ray walked through Paul's thanks to the Philippians for the gift they sent through Epaphroditus. Paul calls their giving a "fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God," which Ray noted is Old Testament temple language applied to a church that gave money to support gospel work. Paul was careful to say he was not angling for another gift. What moved him was knowing that giving like this adds to the giver's account before God.
From there Ray moved to "my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus," and he pushed back gently against reading it as a prosperity promise. Given everything around it in the text, the need Paul has in mind is the need to be content and sustained in the work, not material abundance on demand. The whole section, Ray said, is about trusting that God sees what we cannot see and will provide what is actually needed.
The closing verses came next. Paul's instruction to greet every saint landed as more than a pleasantry. Ray connected it back to the unity themes running through Philippians and said it means crossing whatever dividing lines we tend to draw, even silly ones like racing the other church to lunch. And the mention of believers in Caesar's household showed Paul that the gospel was moving in places no one would have predicted, precisely because he was willing to be content in his circumstances rather than consumed by them.
Ray ended where Paul ends, returning to the "do not be anxious" passage and the peace that surpasses comprehension. He said that telling someone to stop being anxious without giving them a replacement is useless, and Paul does not do that. The replacement is prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, bringing what is out of our control before the God who is almighty. Ray said that contentment is not passivity. It is the fruit of actually believing that God can handle what we cannot.
Doing a Bible study?
Here is a guide we have prepared for you: the passages
in order, questions for the group, and room to write.
Paul says he learned contentment rather than being born with it. What do you think that learning process looked like for him, and where are you in your own process of learning it?
Ray pointed out that 'I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me' is about contentment in all circumstances, not about feats of strength or achievement. How have you seen that verse misapplied, and how does its actual context change what it means to you?
Baldock is gonna give a little testimony. So we got a lot going on.
Guys, I hope that's alright.
Alright. Good morning, everybody. How are we? It's good to see you. What a beautiful morning.
Together and and worship in song? Here's an encourage word from Romans eight. And this is really good. Nothing in all creation. Just think of that for a moment.
Nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that's revealed in Christ Jesus. Our Lord, would you join us in singing, one thing remains, your love never fails, never gives up, and never runs out on me.
Alright. Higher than the mountains we face. You're higher than the mountains that I face and stronger than the power of the gray. And constant in the trial and the chain, one thing remains. Let's sing that line again.
Higher than. You're higher than the mountains that I face and stronger than the power of the ray, and constant in the trial and the shame. One thing that remains your love never fades. And your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me. Your love never fails and never gives gives up, never runs out on me.
Your love never fails and never gives up, never runs out on me. Oh, love. And on and on it goes. And on and on and on it goes. It overwhelms and satisfies my soul.
And I never ever have to be afraid. One thing remains. This one thing remains. Your love never fails and never gives out, by the power of your great love. And my debt is paid.
There's nothing I can separate my
seat. I have let's see what the announcements are this week together. Awana. No Awana.
There is no Awana to our Kids have a break from school, and we're following the school calendar. So not tomorrow, but the next Monday, we will be on for a while.
But not tomorrow. Alright. If you'd like to help out with the connect hour and the fellowship hall between services, you can contact Addie Hare. She is down there this morning. That's her number if you wanna talk to her.
And that's looking good. Lots of folks are signing up, that's wonderful. Sisters Saved by Grace is a women's Bible study. I see Nancy's back here this week, not just attending online. But women's Bible study, Thursday evenings, twelve week study on creation.
It's dinner at six, study to follow. You can call if you need any more information than that. Jackson Hole Women's Community Bible Study. I think this is the last one that's coming up this week for this round of this. So 10AM to noon in this room, that's where they'll start off and then split off into small groups.
That's 10AM to noon on Wednesdays. There is a men's snowmobile retreat coming up. That's next weekend. So it's happening. If you need to get in touch with somebody about it, Richard Largie is the guy for the details.
A $100 for adults, 75 for kids. That's a good time. That's a that's a fun fun trip. And I think that Nick put this in last week. If if you feel like you have received your tax information that's not right, please let us know.
If you've received not received it, please also let us know. And it's time for musical chairs. I'm gonna say, just sit tight this morning. We've got some outside edges that are open. Would you stand where you are?
Brad's got an announcement. We've got so much stuff going on. I'm in shorts. We've got a baptism. And I wanna do it while the kids are still in the room.
So we're gonna do baptism after Brad's deal. Jabber, are you marked down? Yes, please. Alright.
We've been doing this for a little bit, but this is gonna be our one and only announcement on it because I try to value your time. So we are Thursdays, 11:50 here at the church. We are doing the first being men's Bible study. So I'm actually asking you right now to get your phones out. If you are a man or know one or live with one or married to one, get your phone out, and let's create a calendar item.
So Thursdays, 11:50 every single Thursday. Brown bag lunch, we are walking through James. The purpose of our study is twofold. Ephesians four twelve, we wanna equip the saints for the work of ministry. And like Christ called us to in the great commission, we're making room for fellowship and discipleship.
So Thursday's 11:50 right down the hall. So what day? Thursday. What time?
11:50. Where?
Fellowship Hall.
Okay. And importantly, I'm not cooking for you. Bring your lunch. We're walking through James. It's a great time.
See you guys there. Alright.
Name of the father, and the son, and the Holy Spirit. You are buried with Christ and raised to walk in newness of life. Life. Now, if y'all stand up and greet one another, Carl
Before the world was made, before the world was made, before you spoke it to me, you were the king of kings. Yeah. You were. Yeah. You were.
And now you're reigning still enthroned above all things. Angels and saints cry out. We join them as we sing. Glory to God. Glory to God.
Glory to God forever. Let's sing that again. Glory to God. Glory to God. Creator God, he gave us breath.
Creator God, you gave me breath so I could praise your great and matchless name to God. Glory And we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to to God forever. Take my life, let it be.
So take my life and let it be all for you. And before you call me, take my life, And we sing glory to God. Glory to God. Glory to God forever. And we sing glory to God.
Glory to God. Glory to God forever.
And Lord, we recognize we we we fall short, of giving the the glory that you deserve, but but Holy Spirit, would you help us that in all things, just as you say in first Corinthians, whether we eat or drink or whatever we do, that we do it for your glory because you are so deserving. You say in Hebrews, Jesus deserves far more glory than Moses just as a person who builds a house deserves more praise than the house itself. Lord, you're the Jesus, you're the master builder. You're the cornerstone of our faith. We sing to you.
We give you praise. We give you glory. We wanna honor you. We do our best in Jesus' name. Amen.
Hi, Ray.
When darkness tries to rule over my bones, sorrow comes to steal the joy I own. Brokenness and pain is all I know.
I won't be shaking. I won't be shaking.
My feet doesn't stand the chairs when I'm staying in your love. My fear doesn't stand the chance when I'm staying in your love. My fear doesn't stand the chance when I'm staying in your nun. Shame longer has a place to hide. I'm not captive to the lies.
Not afraid to leave my past behind.
Oh, I won't be shaken. I won't be shaky.
My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand chance when I stand in your love.
There's power. Let's sing it.
There's power that can break off every chain. There's power that can empty out of grace. There's resurrection power I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when I stand in your love. My fear doesn't stand a chance when
I love that song and I love this Psalm from Psalm 23. This speaks to it. It's even though I walk through the darkest valley, I'll fear no evil for you're with me, your rod and your staff, they comfort me. Would you take comfort in that that Jesus is our good shepherd? And that's why we don't have to be afraid.
And you remember in scripture when he tells us, don't be troubled. Don't be afraid. In this world, you'll have you'll have heartache. There's gonna be sorrow, but take heart. Why?
Because he's overcome the world, and he's the good shepherd, the best shepherd, the greatest shepherd. He's laid down his life for the sheep, for you and for I. He's walking with us. Let's keep singing.
Daily, daily, I surrender. Race for today is all that I need. Surprised by a mercy that's new every morning. Faithfulness to me. Breath by breath overtaken by wonder.
One step a time when I'm overwhelmed. Strength for today, I'd hope for tomorrow. Awaken my soul to sing. Awaken my soul to sing. And I will trust my where you lead.
And I will trust when I can't see. And by morning, great is your Morning by morning, great is your faithfulness. You may fear be reminded. No fear be reminded. My future is secure.
Oh, my father has spoken. He keeps his every word again. And all fear be reminded. My future is secure. Oh, my father has spoken.
He keeps his every word. And I will trust. I will trust you. Oh, morning by morning. Oh, morning by morning.
And I will trust in you needing that I will trust when I can't see. Morning by morning, great is your faithfulness to me. Morning by morning, oh, morning by morning, great is your faithfulness to me.
Amen. You can have a a seat here for a moment. This is the worship through giving part of the service, and I'll invite the ushers to come on forward.
We're gonna
sing, speak o Lord. We want to hear from him in his word and through through our pastor and through testimony as well. From Colossians three sixteen, it's let the message of Christ in all its richness fill your lives. But before we sing, Ray, may I ask you to pray?
Lord, thank you for this morning. I thank you for Braylee Jordan. Lord, for the bright spot that she is in her community, in this church, in her Sunday school, Lord, and in your family. I'm so thankful, Lord. I'm overwhelmed.
In Jesus' name, Lord, I pray that we would be a part of the ongoing of the gospel. May it not stop with us. I pray Lord that each of us who has received of your good gospel would be extending it, that we would be using our words and our actions with gospel intent. May we be a part of the spreading of the good news of Jesus Christ. And it's in his name that we pray and we ask your blessing on all of these offerings, Lord.
We want to be doing your will and your way. Would you show us what that is? In Jesus name, amen.
Come to you to receive the fruit of your holy word. And take your truth and take deep may be seen today in our acts of love and our deeds of faith. Speak, lord, and fulfill in us all your purposes for your glory. And speak, oh, Lord, and renew our minds, help us grasp the heights of your plans for us. Let's sing this together.
The truth's unchanged from the dawn of time that we let go down through eternity. And by grace and by grace, we'll stand on your promises. And by faith, we'll walk as you walk with us. Speak, oh Lord, till your church is built and the earth is filled with your glory.
Steve, can I ask you to come up? I shared last week that as elders, we want to introduce ourselves and share a little bit about us so that you know who we are. You know that we're approachable. We know that just like you. And we want to encourage you so you know kinda who your your your shepherds and your overseers and are.
So I'm going to ask Steve to share a little bit, and I think he needs a handheld microphone.
Oh, you know me. Can you hear okay? Yep. I'll get really close. How's that?
Having a little trouble with my back today, so sitting down is better. Anyway, you know, when Ray and Carl ask us to volunteer to do some things, I need to quit saying yes. It's a great idea, you know, when you're sitting there going, oh, yeah. We should all do that. Anyway, I gotta hurry up because I don't wanna take any time from Ray.
It's a busy day. But, Ray, I gotta tell you, you got you have one of the most challenging jobs. And but the Bennies, when you get to baptize a little gal like that, jeez, that's, pretty cool. That's kinda like my story. So, you know, a testimony is a story, and this is mine.
I'm sticking with it. But I'll do it like this. Once upon a time, there was a little fat, chubby, shy boy named Steve that lived in Virginia. The youngest of four boys. And he went to this church.
I think he was about six or seven. I can't remember exactly. It was before I came out here. And he went to this church called Biltmore Baptist Church. It was like a lot of the Baptist churches back there, big red structure, had, these big white columns at the front and about a thousand steps going up to the doors.
And then you open it up and there was this huge auditorium, probably two, three, 400 people sitting in there, and it kind of sloped down to an altar. And Ray's going, uh-huh. Uh-huh. So anyway, one day I was at church with my family, and, I had no idea what the pastor said. None whatsoever.
But at the end, he said, if anybody here wants to do business with Jesus, if you want to surrender your heart to him and let him be your Lord and savior, you need to come down here right now. Now there is no earthly reason you'd have gotten that little kid to go down in front of all those people. But there was a hot poker shoved somewhere that I couldn't deal with. And I jumped up, I had to fight my way across my family and a bunch of other old stogies to get to that center aisle. And I'm sure my poor parents were going, oh gosh, I hope he doesn't embarrass us.
And I went down front there and there again, God bless the man. I don't even know who he was. I don't know what he said. But he said, are you ready? And I said, yes, sir.
And I I said a prayer and I asked Jesus to be my lord. Well, something happened that day that now I understand a little bit better. Now I can tell you it's kind of like one of those air tags you put on your luggage in case, I mean, your luggage gets lost, so you can find it no matter where it goes. God stamped my heart that day and and it's still there. He did something that day that was fantastic.
And then I lived happily ever after. No. I got to hurry up. I've had, as a Christian and, you know, one day, though, anybody wants to hear more of the gruesome story, I'll tell you. As a Christian, I've had some, pretty darn, exciting spiritual enlightenment.
I've been able to do some pretty good things. I've also had some crushing, emotional and moral failures in my life, but I'm still here because he did something. That's it.
Thank you, Steve. It is children's church time. There they go. Philistines. Last week, we covered the rest of Philippians.
From one:one up to four:nine, we covered last week. And I told you last week there are a lot of greatest hits sort of verses in Philippians and one of them is, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And we see it on t shirts and we see it on bumper stickers. And how many of y'all remember the power team? Do you know what the power team is?
Like in the nineties, there was this group of weightlifting guys and they would rip phone books in half and one of them tore quarters in half. And he would say they would say, I could do all things through Christ who strengthens me. And I thought, I don't think that verse means what he think it means. I worked at ripping a quarter in half for a good long while. I don't think Christ was strengthening me to rip quarters in half or, you know, any of the other stuff that there is.
It was interesting. But a lot of times, things that are interesting are not nearly as important as what this is talking about. And I think that what Paul's talking about here is something that's probably more elusive. It's harder for us to to grasp. This, last week, I I used that verse and then kind of drew a graph out there.
And I asked for y'all, if you are struggling with something and you are anxious about something, this is something that's new to me, this little graph or matrix here. But if you're struggling with something, attempt, do your best to look for the things that are true. This is one of Paul's points during hardship, rejoicing throughout. He never complains about his situation in prison. In fact, he is excited about it for a few reasons.
But I think that what he was doing in that prison was thinking on the things that were true. And he was thinking on the things that were honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and commendable, and excellent, and worthy of praise, and all of those things. Jesus is all of those things. Right? And as he's concentrating his efforts on these things, he's able to live a certain way.
I started to just take the morning and say, alright, testimony time. Who did this this week? Who's willing to say what it is that they're struggling with and did you do it? Did you think about it? I really mean it.
But I'm not gonna I'm not gonna do it to you like that. But forewarned is forearmed. It's coming. Okay? If you have a situation in which you're struggling, testimony is not just how Christ saved you, it's how he's working on you now.
Right? And so if you have a situation or a friend or even an enemy that you're struggling with, I really would like for you to use Philippians four eight as a matrix for trying to figure out how to come back together with that brother or that sister in Christ. Whatever is true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable, excellent, or worthy of praise. Be thinking on these things. Be thinking on these things.
Do you know that you set neural pathways by thinking on them? And so if you concentrate on the things that are making you anxious, it's not going to help. Concentrate on the things that are true and honorable and right and pure and lovely and commendable and excellent and worthy of praise. And if you don't do anything else, just commit that verse to memory and go over that. Let that loop through your mind for a little while.
It's really, really, really good. But we're starting right here. Okay? Paul says, as for the things that you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, be practicing these things and the God of peace will be with you. I know that because I've experienced it.
He's saying, I've experienced it. I know what's going on and I rejoice in the Lord greatly. I was just thinking about this Paul says. I rejoice in the Lord greatly that now at last you've revived your concern for me. And it's like Paul was writing.
He says, oh, I don't want them to think that I don't think that they think about me. So he says, oh, indeed, you were concerned before. I know you were concerned before. But you lacked an opportunity to act. Oh, gracious.
Wait a second. I might not always say that. Not that I speak from need. I'm not I'm not asking here. I'm not asking.
I'm not speaking from need. I've learned to be content in whatever circumstances. That's the elusive thing that I think we are struggling with, is contentment. I printed out this wonderful quote from Henry the sixth. Y'all talk amongst yourselves while I go get them.
Sincerely. Hey. How are you? My crown. Here it is.
Do you all remember Henry the sixth from Shakespeare? No. Come on. So Henry the sixth is the king, but he's out hunting. And while he's out hunting, maybe that's why he's content.
I don't know. While he's out hunting, some other people happen up on him, and he mentions that he's a king. And they're like, well, you don't look like a king. You're not dressed like a king. You're not acting like a king.
And he says, my crown is in my heart, not on my head. It's not decked with diamonds and Indian stones nor to be seen. My crown is called content and a crown it is that seldom kings enjoy. Contentment is not earthly. Contentment is something that we are not accustomed to.
But Paul says he's learned it. How do you think he learned to be content? Marriage vows. Why do you say at the beginning of a marriage, for richer or for poorer? Oh, in sickness and in health.
Right? Adversity or prosperity for better or for worse. If you don't learn to be content in all of the circumstances, they'll break down. It'll break down. It's good to get on the front side of it.
Paul says, I've learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. Henry thinks I don't know anything about him as a king, but I really like that quote. It is a crown that we can have, though you can't see it and it's not fancy and it's not outward. It's a crown that seldom kings enjoy and if we're honest, it's a crown that seldom any of us earthbound creatures enjoy. But he says, know how to get along with just a little.
I also know how to live in prosperity. That reminds me of the Pharisees that said, your disciples, they're eating and they're yucking it up. And Jesus says, well, I'm here. This is the time to celebrate. There's gonna be a time where they're gonna be without me.
Physically right here with him. Paul says, know how to get along with just a little and I know how to live in prosperity. In any and every circumstance, I've learned the secret of being filled and of going hungry. Contentment. To be content.
Both of having abundance and suffering need. Good times and bad times. I can do all things through him who strengthens me. That's where that verse is. That's where it is.
It's not ripping quarters in half. It's not ripping phone books in half. It's not lifting weights and grunting. It is contentment. Now, it's hard to think because you hear all the time, if you're not growing, you're dying.
If you're not growing, you're dying. If you're not growing, you're dying. Just take a deep breath. Look around and be thankful for the things that you have right now. Lord God Almighty, what a blessing it is to be here this morning.
That's true. It's good. It's good to gather in his name. It's noble. It's excellent.
Preaching is a little iffy. Music was good. To see a little girl baptized. Oh, that's excellent. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
I can be content in Christ. Nevertheless, you've done well to share with me in my difficulty. Epaphroditus had brought Paul a gift and it was some support, financial, physical, probably a pie. I don't know. He brought with him to take care of him a financial help.
You you all know, you yourself all also know Philippians. You all know that at the first preaching of the gospel, as soon as you heard, as soon as it took root, After I left Macedonia, I didn't stay very long like I did in Ephesus. After I left Macedonia, there wasn't another church that shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving except for you alone. You are the first to do that. You did it spontaneously.
It blessed Paul's socks off that they cared about him enough to give so that he could keep on rolling and tell him that he was willing to work and he did depending on the place. But he they said, you know what? What you brought to us is valuable and we want you to take it to other people and so how can we help with that? No church shared with me in in the matter of giving and receiving except for you alone. For even in Thessalonica, which is not that far from Philippi, you sent a gift.
You did it more than once for my needs. I was able to concentrate on what I needed to concentrate on because you spontaneously, led by the spirit, gave. It's amazing. And I'm not saying just so you'll give again. He said that a couple of times.
Not that I seek the gift itself. I'm not saying this to butter you up cause I'm going to ask again. I'm just saying, I love it that profit increases to your account before the Lord. Does that make sense to you? I love that you all love him enough to be given to the cause of the gospels going forward.
I can say right here. I love it that you all want to see the gospel go forward. I love it that you all care about poor people. I came in singing. One day this week, came in singing, and I just was singing.
Actually, was last night because the water was here. Came up to test to see if the heater was working. And I was walking out and I was singing the song we sang last week like, holy water, and I was just bellowing. And I passed somebody who had come to get out of the cold. It was like 11:30 last night.
I'm like, thank God. Thank God that the people care. Thank God that they know. Thank you, Lord. It's good.
It's noble. It's just. It's excellent. It's worthy of praise. Paul says, not that I'm seeking the gift itself.
It's not the money. I seek the profit that it increases to your account. I know what it's like to lay it all out there for Jesus and to see the gospel go forward. But I've received everything in full. This is like paid in full.
The stamp, the word right here in Greek is the same thing that would say paid in full in English. That's it's paid in full. There's nothing owed. I've received everything in full and I have abundance, he says from his prison cell. And I am amply supplied.
I've got what I need. Having received from Epaphroditus what you sent Uh-oh. Where'd that one go? And then this is interesting. It goes from being, thank you for the gift that you sent to a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice pleasing to God.
This is old testament language for incense. Are we gonna watch something over here? I see your faces. Is the ball game on? I don't know.
That was last week, wasn't it? Golly. Is it golf? Stock report? No, not during this one.
No. Fragrant aroma, acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God. This is Paul's not a priest. Right? I mean, he's delivering the gospel, but he's not a priest.
He's not He's not a Levite. But this is Old Testament language about giving acceptable gifts to the Lord and it's a church that gave to a guy who is all about the gospel. Wow. What you have sent is a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice. It's pleasing to God.
I'm thankful for it. But it's good for you to give too. And then he says, and my God my God will supply all your needs according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus. Now people argue over this one. What does this mean?
Is it is it physical? Is it prosperity gospel? Is it spiritual? What is it? We need to be content.
That's what we need is contentment, spiritual contentment. My God will supply all your needs according to his riches and glory in Christ Jesus. You gave an acceptable sacrifice. I recognize that it was a sacrifice to you, but God will bless that sacrifice. My God will supply all your needs and I thought, wow, Paul.
But the next line says, now to our God. We're in the same family. Now to our God and father be the glory forever and ever. He deserves all of the fame. Paul wasn't looking to be put up on a pedestal, although missionaries and pastors too get put up on a pedestal fairly often.
That's he was not about that. He was saying, I trust him. I've seen it work. You've seen that work and now you're doing the same thing. The gospel keeps on growing when people take it seriously enough to live it out.
Now to our God, be father, glory forever and ever. Amen. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Now this looks like, well, it's just a closing. Oh yeah.
The last few verses are always like this. This one's interesting. He's talked about unity in the body. He has not mentioned imprisonment negatively yet. But he says, greet every one of them.
Greet every single saint. Calvinist, greet the Armenians. Okay. Don't just section off Baptist. Don't just try to beat the Methodist to lunch.
We don't even have Methodist Church. Can pick on them around here. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. Greet them. It matters.
Have Always start with grace, know. Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me greet you. We're kind of stuck here, but I can write. Here you go.
Do you all ever do greetings in any of your churches growing up? Anybody here visiting today? Would you Where are you bringing greetings from? Kentucky? Hawaii?
North Carolina. North Carolina? Fantastic. If everybody else in the room said where we're from, it'd just be a cacophony. There are like three people that are from here.
Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. It matters. Let them know you love them. The brothers who are with me greet you. All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household.
Isn't that great? Like this little band. This little band is growing. He mentioned them when he was talking about his circumstance. And now I want you to know brothers in first chapter and sisters that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel.
So that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the Praetorian Guard. This guy's willing to go to jail for that? I gotta know more about this. I'll swing by. Especially those of Caesar's household.
You know, outlawed, persecuted, and then established in three hundred years. Now, was that a good thing? No. But if you live it out, it works. To be content is very very helpful.
And if you recognize that you have a discontent, may it be a holy discontent, something where what drove Paul was to keep on advancing the gospel. May that be what we're we have a little holy discontent in. But knowing that we're heading that direction, but we've done all we can do for today. Lord, I'm content with the hours that you gave me today. With your help, I can do all things.
Lord, everything that you lay before me tomorrow, I know that you'll supply whatever I need to get it done. I'm content in knowing that. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. It's the same thing he started with. Always start with grace and grace is unmerited favor.
Unmerited favor. God is leaning towards us with grace. He's leaning towards us. And this book over and over and over again, it said, rejoice, rejoice, rejoice. Actually for the benediction, I put this, rejoice in the Lord always and again I say rejoice.
That is grace received brings joy. It does not matter where you are. It doesn't matter your circumstances. If you recognize the grace of God and you receive it, it brings joy. That's how he can live the way that he was living.
That's how he can say, follow the example that I've set because I know the peace of God. Let your gentle spirit be known to all people. The Lord is near. Don't be anxious about anything. There's plenty of stuff to get upset about.
I'm saying, don't. Well, that's just like saying stop it, Ray. Stop it. That doesn't work. That doesn't work.
Well, is the replacement. Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving. Lord, please help me out of this situation. I'm thankful that please help me out of prison so that I could keep on spreading the gospel. Please help me out of this situation at work so that I can rest in you, not feeling a holy discontent that my side is right and their side is wrong.
But Lord, please, please bring unity. Please start it in me, Lord. Show me what I need to do. I'm grateful to lead the way out. Don't be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, lettering, quest be made known to God.
Can Almighty God do it? Can he? He's Almighty God. A lot of times in marriage counseling, premarital counseling especially, I'll say, do you believe that God put you together? And they're like, yes.
Especially in premarital. Yes. Yes. Absolutely. I believe that.
Almighty God puts you together. Yes. Despite all the circumstances. Yes. Alright.
Can Almighty God keep you together? Yes. He is Almighty. We are not almighty. A lot of what we get anxious about is because it's outside of our control.
When we pray, we say, Lord, this is outside of my control. I don't care how you fix it. Will you fix it, please? And will you allow me to be content in the process? I am a work in progress.
Show me Lord what Paul was talking about. How he was able to live content with nothing or with plenty. Don't be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and pleading with thanksgiving, let your request be made known to God. He's almighty. And the peace of almighty God, which surpasses all of our comprehension because he's infinite and we're finite, we cannot imagine the end of the situation.
And he sees the end from the beginning. The peace of God which surpasses all comprehension will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. I think I'm gonna end right there. Would you stand? We'll invite the band back forward.
In Jesus name, Lord, we plead with you to show us all of the things in our life that are true and noble and good, excellent, worthy of praise. Would you show us those things, Lord? Would you allow us to build upon the foundation of goodness that you've laid for us in Christ Jesus? And would you give us joy in our journey? Amen.
The breath from those surrounding me, I can hear. The sound of nations rising up, we will not be over taken. We will not be overcome. I can walk down this dark and painful. I can walk down this dark and painful road.
I can face Every fear of thee I know I can hear. All God's children singing out. We will not be overtaken. We will not be overconcing. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave.
The same power that rose Jesus from the grave. The same power that commands the dead to wake lives in us, lives in us. The same power that moves mountains when us. He lives in us, and we have hope. We have hope.
About his promises are true in this stray. There is nothing we're to the going we're overcome. The And And same power. Let's sing a bit. The same power that rose Jesus from the grave.
The same power power that commands the dead to wake lives in us and lives in us. The same power that moves mountains when he speaks. The same power that can calm the urgency lives in us, lives in us, lives lives in in us, us, lives in us, and greater is he. Let's sing this. Greater is he that's living in me.
He's conquered our enemy. And no power of darkness, no weapon prevails. We stand here and beg victory. Let's sing this again. Greater is he.
Greater is he that's living in me. He's conquered our enemy. And no power of darkness, no weapon prevails. We stand here in victory. The same power, the same power that grows Jesus from the grave.
The same power that commands the dead to wait lives in us, lives in us. The same power that moves mountains when he speaks. The same power that can calm the rage and sea lives in us. It lives in us. It lives in us.
It lives in us.
I also pray that you'll understand the incredible greatness of God's power for us who believe in him. I pray that you'll understand that. This is the same mighty power that raised Christ from the dead. It seated him in the place of honor, God's right hand in the heavenly realms. It's the same power that's alive and at work in you.
Lord God, may we humble ourselves before you and receive power from on high. In Jesus name, amen.
