If you would and want to follow
along, please turn to the fourth chapter of Philippians. Philippians
chapter four. I'm gonna start reading in verse
eight. Man, I even put that in my notes
wrong. That's what ink pens are for,
fix your notes. Philippians chapter 4 beginning in verse 8 finally
brethren Whatsoever things are true Whatsoever things are honest
Whatsoever things are just Whatsoever things are pure Whatsoever things
are lovely Whatsoever things are of good report if there be
any virtue and if there be any praise of think on these things. Those things which ye have both
learned and received and heard and seen in me do, and the God
of peace shall be with you. But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly
that now in the last your care of me hath flourished again,
wherein ye were also careful but ye lacked opportunity. Not
that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned, I have learned
in whatsoever state I am therewith to be content. I know both how
to be abased and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all
things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry. both to abound and to suffer
need. I can do all things through Christ
which strengthens me. Notwithstanding ye, notwithstanding
ye have well done that ye did communicate with my affliction. And I'm gonna stop right there. Last week, Walter said something
about being discontented, which is something I know something
about. I had heard Henry preach from this just a week or so before,
a few days before, and when he said that about being discontented,
well, the opposite of discontent is to be content. and that's the title of this
one. Learn to be content. Learn to be content. Now I can
tell you one thing for sure. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles,
he does not mince words. Paul the apostle doesn't tiptoe
around any subject. The gospel in our reception of
it, the gospel in our belief of it, and the gospel in the
world's rejection of it. Paul, whenever he is writing,
goes full bore, plain truth, and with scriptural references
about us and about others. And another thing I wanna tell
you, because this is gonna be a repetition, Paul wasn't scared
to repeat himself. Back up one chapter. Philippians
chapter three and verse one, it says, finally my brethren
rejoice in the Lord, to write the same things to you, to me
indeed, is not grievous. It's not tiresome. To preach
the same thing, we've only got one message, folks. To preach
the same thing unto you, to me indeed, is not grievous, but
for you, it's safe. And you look at that word, It's
good. It's good to be reminded. It's
good that Paul repeated himself. There's no way you can preach
the gospel without preaching Christ somewhere. And that's
every time we preach, we are to preach Christ. We're not to
preach man. We're to preach about man. We're
to preach about men. Save men and lost men. All sinners,
all in need of the grace of God, But how do you not repeat yourself?
And besides that, it's good for you. We forget. We forget. See, the problem's
not with the scriptures. The problem is with us, as always. And the thing I really like about
this, he says, for me to write the same things to you is not
grievous, but for you it's safe. What's the next thing he says
there? Beware, dogs. Beware of evil workers, beware
of the concision. Why? For we are the circumcision,
which worship God in the spirit and rejoice in Christ Jesus and
have no confidence in the flesh. So what do you need to know about
dogs, evil workers, and the concision? Well, they don't worship God
in the spirit, they don't rejoice in Christ Jesus, and they've
got confidence in their flesh. Paul just lays it out. Here's what Paul always laid
out in every one of his epistles, in every letter he wrote. Christ
is all. From beginning to end, from alpha
to omega. Christ is all. We only have one
gospel, and that gospel is Christ is all. Because here's some questions. Where's our life? Our life is
in Christ, hidden in Christ. It's in God, it's hidden in Christ. Where's our food, our sustenance?
In the bread of life, in Christ. Where's our being? We live, we
move, and we have our being in Christ Jesus. Where is our salvation? It's in Christ. In his finished
work. In his continuous and perfect
intercession, intercession for us. Where's our treasure? In Christ. And where's our love? It's to be in Christ. Paul lays
it all out. He repeats as necessary and he
repeats as desired. And here's the thing. Paul here,
this is a prison epistle. This was one that was written
while he was in prison. You understand? Paul's in prison,
let me say that, again. Again, this is not the first
time Paul's in prison. We'll get into that a little
bit later. And the funny thing is, one of the times he was in
prison was in Philippi. That's how he got his start there. He and Silas were there. In prison,
they started praying and singing the praise of God. And the earth
quaked, and all the doors opened, and their bonds fell free, because
they were put in stocks in the cell. Because they told that
jailer, don't you lose these boys. And guess what? The doors opened, and the bonds
fell away, and the Philippian jailer was going to kill himself.
and Paul hollered out, don't do it. We're still here. The doors open, the bonds are
gone, but we're still here. There's a message there, I think.
Anyhow, one of the places that Paul had been in prison before
was Philippi, and that's who sent him this gift. They sent
him something. But here's Paul in prison in
Philippi writing to encourage these people. who sent him an
offering, who took up an offering and got it to him in prison. And what's he doing? He's comforting
them. Isn't that amazing? Isn't that something? He was
concerned about the welfare, the condition, and the faith
of these Philippians. And he writes to comfort them,
to warn them, and to uplift them. That's an apostle, you understand? That's a preacher of the gospel. But here, what I wanna talk about
today is learning to be content. He goes
on, he says, finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, what
are honest, things that are just, pure, whatsoever things are lovely,
of good report, good report. If there be any virtue, if there
be any praise, think on these things. What? These things, those
things which ye have both learned, learned, and received, and heard,
and seen in me. Well, what are we supposed to
do now? Do. Do. There's some walk, Mason. Do what? What? Pure, lovely, good report. Virtue. What's that? Good. Good. Praise. Ah, that's the thing. Praise. Not each other. Praise God. Not another man. Not yourself. Praise Christ. Because guess what? Anything
pure, anything lovely, anything of good report, anything of virtue
comes from Christ. It doesn't come from me. It don't
come from you. And that, do. Praise Christ for
what he's done. And the God of peace shall be
with you. Because trust me, you're not
gonna do any of that unless the God of peace is with you. It's
not gonna happen. But here he did say, but I rejoice
in the Lord greatly that now at last your care hath flourished
again. Paul wasn't telling these people
they were late. Because here he says it. Now at last your
care of me has flourished again, wherein you were also careful,
but you lacked opportunity. I looked it up. I like Google
sometimes. You know how far it is from Philippi
to Rome? It's about 1,300 miles. That's a lot of camels. That's
a lot of walking. It's a pretty good sea journey
across the Mediterranean. 1,300 miles. Now, I will warn
you about Google. This is just for our amusement,
okay? When I first put in distance from Philippi to Rome, it said
4,600 miles, because it was looking at Philippi, West Virginia. I
don't know where it came from. Google knows I'm in West Virginia,
I guess. But I don't know. I'm saying 4,600, that can't
be right. I mean, I knew it was a fur piece,
but that's a bit ridiculous. No, but it was 1,300 miles with
no planes, no trains, and no automobiles. You rode on donkeys. You rode on camels. You went
in a caravan. You didn't go by yourself. And you went on foot. They sent an offering 1,300 miles.
This man was thankful for that. You understand? He liked opportunity. You just don't do that at the
drop of a hat. That's the whole thing. It's not that when he
says, he's talking about, oh well you were careful, you didn't
want to do it. No, no, they were full of care. They wanted to
do it all along. Why? Because of their fellowship
in the gospel. From the first day, under what?
Under now. 1,300 miles later, that's some fellowship. That's some fellowship. To personally
take something that someone needs 1,300 miles on a camel or a ship
or whatever, even in a car or on a plane, that's the fellowship
in the gospel. And Paul was indeed thankful
and glad that they got the opportunity. But then he says this word, not
that I speak in respect of want, for I have learned in whatsoever
state I am therewith to be content. The Philippians sent this stuff
to Paul when they could, when it was possible. And Paul thanked
God for them, Paul prayed for them, and Paul rejoiced in the
Lord in them. Paul thanked God for their fellowship
in the gospel. Paul was glad, joyous, really,
that these Philippians loved Christ and the gospel enough
to support him. Nobody else had. When he was
in Thessalonica, the only one that supported him was the Philippians.
Philippians, I want to say Philippines. The Philippians, you understand,
Paul wrote it, I thank God for you every time I think of you. Like I said, they sent that support
1,300 miles. But Paul wrote this, not that
I speak in respect of want. You understand, Paul did have
needs. He was in prison. whether he
was bound, whether he was just under house arrest. Some of them
say that he was bound to a jailer, and he may have been for a while.
And I'm sure he was in transport. That's a common thing. You tie
the criminal to you so he can't get away. US Marshals do it today. But here's the thing. Paul did
have needs, but that's not his point. You understand? Paul was not speaking that, oh
my goodness, I was in such a desperate need and you guys saved my life. No, he's saying Christ has saved
my life. Christ has taken care of me and
he's doing it through you right now. And that's a blessed thing. That's a blessed thing. You know,
Paul wasn't telling him, well, your age just arrived in the
nick of time. No, whenever your aid comes, I thank God for it. Paul was grateful for their prayers
and their thoughts before the stuff ever got there. Not so in respect of want. How then? I already said it. He was thankful for their fellowship
in the gospel from the first day until right now. in Rome,
in prison. He was joyous in their labor
for Christ, whether he benefited or somebody else benefited. You
understand? This was a proof of their faith. This was a good work that they
did. Why? Well, let's see, somewhere
in Philippians I think it tells you. He'll put on you both the
will and the do of his good pleasure. You understand, Paul told him
that too. Don't get glory, don't try to take glory for something
good you did. Because it's God that put it
in you to do it. Both to will it and to do it. And to carry
it 1,300 miles to me. Oh my, I mean, I can understand
somebody might get a little puffed up. I can do that over nothing. Much less doing 1,300 miles to
give somebody a gift that they really need. I mean, I can get
puffed up, but you know, well, I'm gonna talk about the food
bank again this week. But you know, I mean, it don't
take much to puff me up. That's what I gotta watch out
for. But Paul's telling him, he says,
listen, I thank God for you. And I thank God because he did
it. In you, the will and to do of his good pleasure. Mm, man. Paul was joyous in their labor.
Their fellowship in the gospel, their love for Christ Jesus,
and his apostle. You understand? We need to support
the men who preach the gospel. And I include myself in that.
I'm not leaving myself out. The only way we can do that is
for him to put in us both the will and to do of his good pleasure. We can't take credit for that.
You understand? We are to give, yes, and I'm
glad this place does give. It's great, we don't have to
worry about money. I mean, we don't have a lot, but we got
enough. And guess what? That's what God promised us,
was enough. Enough. But their fellowship in the gospel,
in their love for Christ Jesus, and their love for their apostle
was a cause for rejoicing in the Lord, in the Lord. Why? Well, Paul tells us. Not that I speak in respect of
want, for, that little word there, I have learned. Man, that's four nice words there.
For I have learned. I like to be able to say that.
What got me was, I heard Henry preaching about this, he just
mentioned this in passing, and he said, think about it, okay?
Just think about it. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles. This man, who when he was Saul
of Tarsus, going to kill and imprison Christians. God met
him on the road to Damascus, knocked him off his donkey, and
made him a preacher of the gospel. This man. This man, who was revealed Christ by Christ
himself, audibly, he saw the light and he heard the voice
of him that spake to me. This man, he had to learn this. You understand? He had to learn
how to be content. It ain't easy. It ain't easy. Oh no, this apostle so strong
in faith, a man who saw Christ Jesus after his ascension, used
by the Holy Spirit to write scripture, he was given many, what is it,
abundant revelations. He had to learn how to be content.
He had to learn it. Don't feel, that makes me feel
good. You understand? Because if Paul had to go through
this, well darn right, I'm gonna have to too. And so are you. This is not a natural behavior
of man to be content. Okay? The problem is me. I'm gonna share. The problem
is you. It's you. It's us. Understand, I know who's in charge,
wholeheartedly. I know who's sovereign, and it
ain't me. It's not you. It's Christ. But I know who's in charge. I
know who's sovereign. I know by whom all things consist. I know it, I believe him, and I'm still affected by my
circumstance. Wait a minute, in the negative.
You understand, I'm always, the positive is so rare with me.
I don't know if y'all are like this or not, but I'm always affected
in the negative by my circumstance. You understand? My abasement
is always too low and my abounding is never high enough. Have you ever felt that way?
Now true, I have a lot less experience with abounding than I do with
abasement. I have a nice basement. But here's the thing, I have
more than I deserve, a lot more. And I do enjoy some of the things
I have. And sometimes I'm scared somebody's gonna try and take
them away from me. If they do, I'm supposed to say,
praise God. Think about Job. What happened,
you know? What happened to Job happened to me. I'd been whining
like a little dog, scared of a thunderstorm. I'd be crying. What did Job do? He worshiped
God. You know how he could do that?
Because God put in both the will and the do of his good pleasure.
And if he puts you through that, he's gonna find a way to make
you praise his name. You may not like it, what's happening,
but you're gonna praise his name because he does everything for
his honor and his glory, whether it happens to you or somebody
else. Being content in whatever state
I am is not natural to man. Because I can tell you this one
thing, and I believe it's also true of every one of you, nobody
ever had to teach me how to be discontented. You understand? Nobody had to teach me how to
be dissatisfied. I come by that honest. You understand,
because here's the thing. In my flesh dwelleth no good
thing. That's a fact. Well, here's what
that fact also means. In my flesh dwells no contentment
with my lot. There's nobody, I'm gonna tell
you this right now, I know a lot of people say, well, I got what
I deserve, but they always secretly think they deserve a little better.
You know, because this guy over here, he's worse than I am. He's
got more money. He got a newer car. It's got
air conditioning, and it talks to you now. For me, that's a
good reason to throw a car away, but it's OK. You understand?
That's the way we are, no matter Where we are, well here, I'd
say that a while back. No matter what you think of yourself,
you're thinking too high. No matter how much you think
you've abased yourself, and you think you deserve to be abased,
you're thinking too high. Because if you're not thinking,
you need to be dead. And in hell, you don't know your sin. That's
where we all deserve to be. In my flesh dwells no contentment. Because we, all of us, you included,
me included, everyone included, we need to learn how to be content. Paul learned. He said, I have
learned. And you understand, he said that
under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. He wasn't making
this up, folks. He said, I've learned. Well I can tell you, let me tell
you a couple negatives first before we get started into the
positives. Paul did not learn this from his parents. He didn't
learn it naturally. He did not learn whethersoever
state I am in to be content from his parents. He did not learn
this at the feet of Gamaliel. You understand? Because he talks
about what he learned in some places and guess what he learned?
He learned where to be puffed up. If any man got anything to
boast in, I'm o'er, you understand? Paul didn't make that part up
either. That was in him before. He was a Pharisee, what did he
say? And now he does say, I speak as a fool now. He goes on, he
says, let me boast, people got something to boast about, let
me boast. I was a Hebrew of Hebrew, of the tribe of judgment, and
I was a Pharisee, and as concerning the law, a Pharisee, and as concerning
the law, blameless. You couldn't point your finger
at Paul and say, Paul wasn't saying he kept the law fully,
no. He was just saying people couldn't blame him for not keeping
the law, why? Because they never caught him.
Because here's the one thing for sure, he found out, he's
up here. When the law said thou shalt
not covet, that slew him. You understand? Because that's
not something you're doing, although it is, but it's something you're
doing up in your head, whether you act on it or not. Oh, you know where that comes
from? I deserve better. I deserve better. My bounding ain't enough yet.
Oh, I'm going to tell you something. This will get all over you. But
here, Paul had to learn this and so do we. But that's not where he learned
it. I'm going to tell you where Paul learned it. It's starting
on the road to Damascus. Because what happened when Saul
of Tarsus, what happened when he saw the light and he heard
the voice? Well, the first thing that happened
to him, he said, who are you? A Hebrew of Hebrews, a Pharisee,
concerning the law blameless, and the Lord speaks to him from
heaven. And this man says, who are you? You wanna know why?
He didn't know. And the world doesn't know now.
Not this Jesus. Not this Christ. Not this Lord. This Lord Jesus Christ. Oh, and
what else happened? He was blinded. He was blinded. And you know what happened then?
He had to be led the rest of the way to Damascus. He ended
up in Damascus anyway. But guess what? He got a new
purpose now. He's got a new purpose. But there
was no way for him to get to Damascus unless somebody led
him there. And you know what happens? Saul had to be led the rest of
the way. By the hand. There's a sermon
there. Because there he is in a city
blind. Because I'm gonna tell you right
now, Saul of Tarsus, now Paul the Apostle, is being led right
here by our Lord Jesus Christ. And if you are in Christ, you
are being led by Christ. Whether you know it or not, whether
you realize it or not, I hope to God you'll see it after a
while. Because sometimes it takes a while to say, well that's what
that was about. That back there was to get me
here. How come I didn't say that to
start with? Well, we're, you know, we're discontented. We're not looking. And when we're
looking, we're not seeing. That's what I said. The problem
is us. The problem is me. But Paul is still being led here
in Rome by Jesus Christ. What do you write to the Romans?
All things work together for good to them that love God, to
them that are the called according to his purpose. Paul tells some of his experience
and Paul here, you read part of this. I want to tell you something. This is how Paul learned how
to be content. Look in 2 Corinthians chapter
11. Second Corinthians chapter 11
beginning in verse 23. Are they ministers of Christ?
I speak as a fool. I am more. Why? In labors more
abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons. more frequent, in
deaths oft of the Jews, five times received I 40 stripes,
save one, thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned,
thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been
in the deep, in journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils
of robbers, in perils of mine own countrymen, and in perils
of heathens. You understand? When you're a
Christian, when you're a believer, you can't win. God's gonna put you through the
ringer. Now your ringer is probably not gonna be like this. And thank
God for that also. Because we have his words for
an example. I understand Earl used to say
it, the burned hand teaches best. And better felt than telt was
what they used to tell me. I personally try to prescribe,
you know, subscribe to the adage of this. Learn from the mistakes
of others, you don't have time to make them all yourself. You
understand, this is written for our warning and our admonition
and all this. Please, learn from the Apostle Paul. In mine own countrymen, in perils
by heathen, in perils in the city, and in perils in the country,
the wilderness. In perils in the sea. in perils
among false brethren. And then he goes into his physical
problems, and weariness, painfulness, watchings often, and hunger and
thirst, fastings often, and cold and nakedness. Beside those things,
beside all that, the daily care of the church. That's the thing
that was on him daily. You understand, we think we have
it bad sometimes, and I'm guilty of this. I don't know what bad
is. Not this way. I don't want to,
I really don't. I want to be content not to know
this in this way. I want to know it, I want to
learn it, and I want to grasp it, but please, I don't really
want to go through this. Let's go through it here in our
heads and in our minds and our thoughts and our prayers. who
is weak and I am not weak, who is offended and I burn not. If I must need glory, I will
glory in the things which concern mine infirmities. We apologize
for our infirmities. Paul said, I'm gonna glory in
Christ in my infirmities. That's what you read this morning,
Paul. Because here, here's a specific concern. He says, it was given
to me. Now who gave this to Paul? Christ did. Christ did. Who gave
it to him? A thorn in the flesh. Now you
understand, Christ gave him eternal life, Christ gave him light,
then he took his sight for a while, gave it back to him later on,
and sent him out to preach. Gave him the message to preach.
Abundance of revelations, that's what he's gonna say here. You
understand? He did all that. And yet, he's
also the same one that gave him the thorn in the flesh. What did Job say? If we take
good things from God's hands, we're not gonna take something
else? You are. You may not want to, but you
are. Because that's what he does. What did he say? For this thing
I have sought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.
And he said unto me, no. And I've got, you know, on my Bible
program, I've got the words of Christ in red on the, it comes
up on the program. And it's the words of Christ.
He said unto me, my grace is, present tense. My grace always
is. It always was, it always is,
and it always will be sufficient for thee. God's grace is always
specific. It's sufficient for thee, for
my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly, therefore,
will I rather glory in my infirmities. Why? That the power of Christ
may rest upon me. You understand? To much is given, to whom much
is given, much is required. I might be exalted above measure. What? He gave me a thorn in the
flesh, lest I be exalted above measure. Why? Through the abundance
of the revelations. Paul was given a lot. By Christ. You read it, I know
a man, whether he's in the body or out of the body, I don't know.
Why, it don't matter. Because he heard things that
was unspeakable. Now it's not unspeakable because it's bad,
it's unspeakable because you can't speak of it. Paul had all
this in his head at one time because he wrote it down. Now
did he keep everything in there all at one time? I don't think
so. Because I figure he's just like us. He forgets stuff. But
that's why you write some stuff down. And when the Holy Spirit's
having him write something down, it's the truth of God. But he had a thorn in the flesh.
And I'm gonna tell you this. After reading 2 Corinthians 11,
after reading 2 Corinthians 12, the prosperity gospel can bite
me. Because it's a lie. It's a lie. It's a lie. I'll say it on television
if this makes it there, we're close. Because you understand,
you wanna come tell me that the reason Paul went through all
this stuff was his faith wasn't very strong. I'm gonna laugh
you out to, do you know the expression laughing to scorn? That's what's
gonna happen. Because you're gonna tell me
that, I'm gonna tell you you're an idiot. Because this is the
man blessed of God with a thorn in the flesh. You understand,
can't read that, sing this song. God has not promised skies always
blue, flowers strewn pathway all our lives through. God has
not promised sun without rain, peace without sorrow, and joy
without pain. But God has promised strength
as our day. I'm gonna tell you something,
that's the day you're in right now. And tomorrow, when it's
today, that'll be that day. It'll be this day. Rest when
we labor and light on the way. Grace for our trials. I like this song, I do. I wish
there were more verses. Help from above. unfading kindness
and undying love. Yeah. Sing that at Creflo Money
Servants. I don't think they will. And
I'm gonna tell you something, they don't know anything about
the gospel, they don't know anything about Christ, and they sure don't
know anything about the Apostle Paul. Paul learned by the example,
by the teaching You can't learn unless you're taught. And through
all this, what'd he say? I was answered, my grace is sufficient
for thee. Now that goes for the thorn in
the flesh as well as being stoned, being shipwrecked, being beaten
with a rock, whipped 39 times, 40 minus one. In perils with mine own countrymen.
your own family will be against you. And the perils of the heathen,
because the heathen will be against you. Here's the thing about a
child of God, nobody likes you. You understand? Nobody likes
you, except Christ. He's the only one that matters.
And the only reason I like you is because you're in Christ.
Because we can fellowship in his gospel. We fellowship in
him, and we fellowship in his gospel. So I've learned whatsoever
state I am to be content. Because Paul learned, because
he was taught, that his circumstances do not determine your contentment
with Christ. That's where the point is. And
I'm gonna tell you something, that's a good walk. That's a
good walk. I mean, it's a hard thing, preach
walk. when you're preaching grace.
Not really if you do it right. There is no grace without a good
walk. You know why? Because he'll see to it. And
he will teach you, and when he teaches you, no matter what I
say, you'll learn. You'll learn, you'll learn in
spite of me. And you know what? Therein I'll rejoice. I got no
ego in this. I know it's not me. I can't do this without him.
And you ain't got nothing to hear unless he's giving you ears. Circumcised heart and ears. Because all we got, all we have
until he comes to you is unbelief. and discontentment. Paul learned
whatsoever state I am, to be content. Because whatever state you're
in, never forget this, never forget this. If you don't get
anything else, get this. Wherever you go, there you are. And wherever you are, there is
Christ. In you, the hope of glory. It's not you. It's Him. It's always Him. He says, I know
how to be abased and I know how to abound. You understand that?
The implication being I know how to be content, abased and
abounding, or, and, any combination of the two. Because you can be
abased in your spirit and abound in money. You can be abased in
your monetary financial standings, and you can abound in your health.
You understand? It doesn't matter if you know
Christ. Be content, because abase or
abound, Jesus Christ is the same. Abase or abound, Jesus Christ
is the source. Abase or abound, He is with you
because His Spirit, the Holy Spirit, is in you. Abase or abound,
Jesus Christ knows our infirmities. Abase or abound, He's our intercessor
with the Father, with the Father. Abase or abound, He's our life.
Abase or abound, He knows our circumstances better than we
do. Because know this, knowing him
makes everything better. It's that simple. You understand? If you know Christ, if you trust
Christ, if you've submitted to Christ, I told you we might get
there. Some people don't like the submission
part. It's tough. Because that's what he says.
And that's what he teaches. And that's what we need to learn.
You understand? If we're submitted to him, whatever
state we are in, we'll be content. You understand? Because see,
your discontentment is a state of not being in submission to
Christ. That's where it is. Now it's in us, it's in my flesh
and there's that war, that's part of the war. Part of the
war is the fact that my flesh don't like Christ. People don't wanna talk about
that. And yes, that is the battle of a Christian, not an unbeliever. Because if you're an unbeliever,
all you got is unbelief. And Walter and I were talking
about this on the phone yesterday, what Tim James said. Listen, unbelief
is not a lack of belief. Unbelief is a lot of wrong beliefs. That's what it is. That you're
wrong. And trust me, unbelief's still
in you. Just like it's still, Lord help thou my unbelief. I believe, but help my unbelief. Because that's still here too. Conclusion. I can do all things
through Christ which strengthens me. Now you want the opposite
of that? You can't do nothing without
Christ strengthening you. That I'm more used to than knowing
I can do all things. You understand, this is the thing. We're better at the negative
than we are at the positive, Walter. but I can do all things
through Christ with strength. Why? He told him. He'll put it in you both to will
and to do of his good pleasure. What he told these Philippians?
Thank you for your fellowship in the gospel. And I thank God
for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until right
now. With every one of my infirmities,
Paul wrote, I believe God. And if you believe Christ, here's
the thing, Walter and I talked about this yesterday. Whatever
this book says, whatever Christ has said, you believe. I didn't say you understand.
I didn't say you agree with. But if he said it, it's settled. You understand? I got nowhere else to go. And
I have, even more importantly, I have no one else to go to. Or to whom to go. Whatever the
good English is of that. I have learned. I'm better at
it, I must admit. Walter, I used to be pitiful.
But I've learned. to be mostly content. Whatever
state I'm in, and I'm gonna tell you one of the things that really
helps is being able to come here and be encouraged by you people
and be around you. You understand? It's good to
be in the fellowship of the gospel. It's good to be here. I say that
about every week, it's only because I mean it. I mean, I could smile
and lie, but that's what other people do at my job. I am glad to be here, and it's
good for me to be here. It's good to gather together.
I'm looking forward to the meeting. Well, see, because I get a day
off on Sunday. I get to come listen to somebody
else pray us. That's good. It is. There are others around
with whom we have a fellowship in the gospel. Our Heavenly Father,
we're thankful for this time. Lord, help us, teach us to be
content in your Son, because that's where all the treasure
lies. Be with Walter as he comes to
preach the gospel. Thank you, in his name, amen.