Hello everyone.
This season has been one of hardship for many, even suffering for some. But, as I mentioned to you in my last video message, God is with us. As we look to him, he will ensure that we are not overwhelmed, crushed or destroyed by anything in this season.
There is another thing going on, though. And it is so important and wonderful. As the apostle Paul sat in an underground dungeon awaiting his trial, he wrote two last letters. One to the church at Philippi that he had planted years earlier, and another, his final letter, to his young protégé, Timothy who was by now overseeing the large church of Ephesus. The letter to the Philippians is the most joyful piece in the entire Scriptures – old and new testaments combined. Why? Paul is in prison. He is awaiting trial for being a “gospel terrorist”. He knows he won’t win in this sham trial. He knows he is going to be executed. Is he despairing? No! Hurting? Yes. Has he lost his faith? No! Is he sad and lonely? Yes! Does he think it is all unfair? Yes. Is he without hope? Without joy? Oh, no! Definitely not. In fact, he writes this …
Philippians 4:11b “… for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.”
That word “content” is the translation of αὐτάρκης (autárkēs) which means “the self-sufficiency of living and being that comes from the Lord”. It means being satisfied because one has been initiated into a fullness of being that can only come through the indwelling power of Christ over all those years and through all kinds of trials and testings. This word is used once in the entire New Testament. Right here - as Paul knows the executioner’s sword is just days away.
How was Paul initiated into such a state of being where the pure joy of the Lord was his thermostat regulating the temperature of life – no matter what was going on? This is so remarkable, isn’t it? How did this initiation into such a state of being start and develop? There is an easy answer to that … but the way, itself, isn’t easy. It didn’t happen overnight for Paul, or through one prayer time. It took a journey with God. Paul once said as he was encouraging many of the churches on his travels …
Acts 14:22 “… strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith. ‘We must go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God,’ they [Paul and Barnabas] said.” This is what Paul meant as he sat in that dungeon cell. He’d gone through so much, and had come out the other side time and time again, that little more initiated until he can say to those Philippians …
Philippians 4:4 “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
And so it is with us.
It becomes easier as we go … The initiation of our person and character by God starts occurring the moment we start trusting him every time we are tested and tried through hardships, disappointments, griefs, injustices and sufferings. Each time we face these, and steadfastly look to God not doubting his faithfulness, not doubting his love and trusting his abounding grace to us, despite the pain … we are initiated, conditioned, proven a little more and a little more and a little more … until we become “content in the fullness of God” by his Spirit … so that joy reigns inextinguishably supreme in us. I know this to be so true in my experience. Praise the Lord!
It can be so with you, too. Do not despair in this season. Despite the frustrations and disappointments, despite the pain and the losses … keep looking to Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. Because there will come a time when we can say with Paul, “I have learned to be content, whatever life throws at me!” And the pure joy of that …
And many who don’t know Christ will enquire of you, and Christ will draw these to Himself to the Father’s delight and glory.
You are loved so very, very much. Be encouraged!
Ps Milton