Breaking Free Desire… - It's a god we bow down to - Sacrifice for - Become depressed when he's...

Breaking FreeBreaking Free

Desire…Desire…

- It's a god- It's a godwe bow down towe bow down to

- Sacrifice for- Sacrifice for

- Become depressed when he's- Become depressed when he'sblessed others more than usblessed others more than us

- Work long hours to please- Work long hours to please

- Go into debt over- Go into debt over

Materialism!Materialism!

At least he's an American god!At least he's an American god!

But he's been aroundBut he's been aroundfor longer than America hasfor longer than America has

Breaking FreeBreaking Freeand Brokennessand Brokenness

Breaking FreeBreaking Freeand Brokennessand Brokenness

The Answer is always…?The Answer is always…?

The answer to MaterialismThe answer to MaterialismIs a question,Is a question,

"Is Jesus enough?""Is Jesus enough?"

ThisThis time of year… time of year…

AnxietyAnxiety


AnxietyAnxietyDepressionDepression



AngerAnger



AngerAngerGiving and Feeling Like SaintsGiving and Feeling Like Saints

ThatThat time of year… time of year…

AnxietyAnxietyDepressionDepression Great Fear Great FearGreat LackGreat Lack

Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. say, rejoice.


Chairo- Chairo- cheerful, calmly happycheerful, calmly happy

(Disposition, not just exhibition)(Disposition, not just exhibition)


"Celebrate God all day every day."Celebrate God all day every day.I mean, revel in him!"- MssgI mean, revel in him!"- Mssg

Rejoice Rejoice in the Lordin the Lord always; again I will always; again I will say, rejoice. say, rejoice.

2 Things:2 Things:

- Not a put-on!- Not a put-on!- Independent of Circumstances- Independent of Circumstances

The Philippian ChristiansThe Philippian ChristiansNeeded this…Needed this…

The Philippian ChristiansThe Philippian ChristiansNeeded this…Needed this…

We need this!We need this!

Let your reasonableness be known to Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand…everyone. The Lord is at hand…

Reasonableness= epieikes:Reasonableness= epieikes: a willingness a willingness to yield one’s to yield one’s personal rights personal rights and show and show

consideration and kindness to othersconsideration and kindness to others

Let your reasonableness be known to Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand…everyone. The Lord is at hand…

Reasonableness= epieikes:Reasonableness= epieikes: a willingness a willingness to yield one’s personal rights and show to yield one’s personal rights and show

consideration and kindness to othersconsideration and kindness to others

- - Reasonableness is the result of Reasonableness is the result of Rejoicing Rejoicing in the Lord in the Lord always- always- not not

circumstancescircumstances

Knowing…Knowing…The Lord is at hand…The Lord is at hand…

This world is not whatThis world is not whatI'm living forI'm living for

+ He will set it straight + He will set it straight

+ Coram Deo- Life lived in his Presence + Coram Deo- Life lived in his Presence

= Joyful sacrifice for others because…= Joyful sacrifice for others because…The Lord is at handThe Lord is at hand

……do not be anxious about do not be anxious about anythinganything


- Presents and Shopping- Presents and Shopping - They cut in line! - They cut in line!

- Debt and not enough $$- Debt and not enough $$- Everyone else has more- Everyone else has more

- My family won't get much- My family won't get much


- Our Pastor is in Jail, Death-threats- Our Pastor is in Jail, Death-threats- We're almost starving- We're almost starving

- They hate us for loving Jesus- They hate us for loving Jesus- Judaizers and Mockers of Paul- Judaizers and Mockers of Paul

- Persecution is coming - Persecution is coming

……do not be anxious about do not be anxious about anything,anything, but but in everything by prayer and in everything by prayer and

supplication supplication with thanksgiving with thanksgiving let your let your requests be made known to God.requests be made known to God.

……do not be anxious about do not be anxious about anything,anything, but but in everything by prayer and in everything by prayer and

supplication supplication with thanksgiving with thanksgiving let your let your requests be made known to God. requests be made known to God.

Implies Trust:Implies Trust:

Means I lay it downMeans I lay it downAnd give it over to God's desireAnd give it over to God's desire

And the peace of God, which surpasses And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will all understanding, will guardguard your hearts your hearts

and your minds in Christ Jesusand your minds in Christ Jesus

Peace=eirene- Peace=eirene- quietness, restquietness, rest"to set at one again""to set at one again"

And the peace of God, which surpasses And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will all understanding, will guardguard your hearts your hearts

and your minds in Christ Jesusand your minds in Christ Jesus

In the meantime…In the meantime…

1- Choose what you Feed your Head1- Choose what you Feed your Head

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is honorable, whatever is just,

whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of excellence, if there is anything worthy of

praise, think about these things. praise, think about these things.

Not…what can I getNot…what can I getNot…what must I doNot…what must I doNot…how can I get Not…how can I get

their acceptance and praisetheir acceptance and praise

But…what do I already haveBut…what do I already havein Jesus?in Jesus?

2- Live what you Know is True2- Live what you Know is True

What you have learned and received What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me- practice these and heard and seen in me- practice these

things, things, and the God of peace and the God of peace will be with you.will be with you.

Living the TruthLiving the TruthBrings PeaceBrings Peace

Living the TruthLiving the TruthBrings PeaceBrings Peace

The opposite is also true!The opposite is also true!

Belief without practiceBelief without practiceis very Americanis very American

Just not Christian…Just not Christian…

Materialism…Materialism…and Belief without Practiceand Belief without Practice

I rejoiced I rejoiced in the Lordin the Lord greatly greatly that now at length you have revived that now at length you have revived

your concern for me. You were indeed your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no concerned for me, but you had no

opportunity.opportunity.

I rejoiced I rejoiced in the Lordin the Lord greatly greatly that now at length you have revived that now at length you have revived

your concern for me. You were indeed your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no concerned for me, but you had no

opportunity.opportunity.

Every reason not to sendEvery reason not to sendFinancial support to PaulFinancial support to Paul

Which means it took real FaithWhich means it took real Faith

We want you to know, brothers, about We want you to know, brothers, about the grace of God that has been given the grace of God that has been given among the among the churches of Macedonia…churches of Macedonia…

……for in a for in a severe test severe test of affliction, their of affliction, their abundance of joy and their abundance of joy and their extreme extreme

povertypoverty have overflowed in a wealth of have overflowed in a wealth of generosity on their partgenerosity on their part

- 2 Cor. 8:1-2- 2 Cor. 8:1-2

2 Types of God’s Work in His Creation:2 Types of God’s Work in His Creation:

MiraclesMiracles- supernatural intervention into - supernatural intervention into

the natural affairs of this worldthe natural affairs of this world

ProvidenceProvidence- God working through - God working through natural events of this world natural events of this world to accomplish his purposesto accomplish his purposes

ProvidenceProvidence trusts that God’s ways and trusts that God’s ways and God’s timing are always right, God’s timing are always right,

even when they allow even when they allow for suffering and painfor suffering and pain

MiraclesMiracles- as they gave - as they gave out of their lackout of their lack

They experienced God's They experienced God's miraculous provisionmiraculous provision

ProvidenceProvidence::

When the support had When the support had suddenly stopped…suddenly stopped…

Paul's boat wasn't rockedPaul's boat wasn't rocked

Not that I am speaking of being in need, Not that I am speaking of being in need, for for I have learnedI have learned in in whateverwhatever situation situation

I am to be I am to be content.content.

Not that I am speaking of being in need, Not that I am speaking of being in need, for for I have learnedI have learned in in whateverwhatever situation situation

I am to be I am to be content.content.

Contentment is a Contentment is a learnedlearned ability abilityThat says "Jesus is enough"That says "Jesus is enough"

Content=Content= autarkies- autarkies- self-contained, self-contained, without need from outside, independent without need from outside, independent

of external circumstances of external circumstances andand the the opinions of other peopleopinions of other people

Not that I am speaking of being in needNot that I am speaking of being in need......

- Locked-up- Locked-up

- Lonely, yet constantly chained to a guard- Lonely, yet constantly chained to a guard

- Continual pain from beatings, etc.- Continual pain from beatings, etc.

- Hungry- Hungry

- In danger of the death penalty- In danger of the death penalty

- But it just sucks…- But it just sucks…I can't afford to get the new latest greatestI can't afford to get the new latest greatest

- But...I don’t have the right color shoes to - But...I don’t have the right color shoes to go with this new outfit!go with this new outfit!

- If I could just take one more vacation…- If I could just take one more vacation…

"The word 'content' actually means "The word 'content' actually means 'contained.' It is a description of the man 'contained.' It is a description of the man

whose resources are within him so that he whose resources are within him so that he does not have to depend on does not have to depend on

substitutes without"substitutes without"- Wiersbe- Wiersbe

Whom have I in heaven but you? And Whom have I in heaven but you? And besides you, I desire nothing on earth. My besides you, I desire nothing on earth. My

flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion strength of my heart and my portion

forever- Asaph, Psalm 73forever- Asaph, Psalm 73

I know how to be brought low, and I I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every know how to abound. In any and every

circumstance, circumstance, I have learned I have learned the secretthe secret of facing plenty of facing plenty

and hunger, abundance and need.and hunger, abundance and need.

What's the Secret?What's the Secret?

I have learned the I have learned the secretsecret of facing plenty of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. and hunger, abundance and need.

I have learned the I have learned the secretsecret of facing plenty of facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. and hunger, abundance and need.

I can do all things through him who I can do all things through him who strengthens mestrengthens me

- Philippians 4:4-12- Philippians 4:4-12

The secret: The secret: I can do all things through I can do all things through him who strengthens mehim who strengthens me

NOT: I can change my circumstancesNOT: I can change my circumstancesBUT- I'll be OK even if the circumstances BUT- I'll be OK even if the circumstances

Don't change!Don't change!

The secret: The secret: I can do all things through I can do all things through him who strengthens mehim who strengthens me

"I thank God that you revived "I thank God that you revived your support for me- it was needed…your support for me- it was needed…

But Jesus would have been enoughBut Jesus would have been enougheven if you hadn't!"even if you hadn't!"

The Secret of Contentment:The Secret of Contentment:

Jesus is enoughJesus is enough

- - Even if there's no tree this yearEven if there's no tree this year- Even if the divorce left scars-- Even if the divorce left scars- and debt! and debt!

- Even if I'm just happy to have food - Even if I'm just happy to have food

……if we have food and clothing, with if we have food and clothing, with these we will be contentthese we will be content

- 1 Tim. 6:8- 1 Tim. 6:8

Keep your lives Keep your lives free from the love of free from the love of moneymoney and and be contentbe content with with

what you have, what you have, becausebecause God has said, God has said, "Never will I leave you; "Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you"never will I forsake you"- Hebrews 13:5- Hebrews 13:5

Keep your lives Keep your lives free from the love of free from the love of moneymoney and and be content with be content with

what you have, what you have, becausebecause God has said, God has said, "Never will I leave you; "Never will I leave you;

never will I forsake you"never will I forsake you"- Hebrews 13:5- Hebrews 13:5

- - Where God isWhere God is- Who God is- Who God is

Know:Know:God's PresenceGod's Presence

God's Ferocious LoveGod's Ferocious Love


If Jesus isn't enough to satisfyIf Jesus isn't enough to satisfyNothing else willNothing else will


If Jesus is enough to satisfyIf Jesus is enough to satisfyEverything else is to his glory!Everything else is to his glory!

"It seemed intended by the blessed "It seemed intended by the blessed providence of God that I should be blind providence of God that I should be blind

all my life, and I thank him for the all my life, and I thank him for the dispensation…dispensation…

If perfect earthly sight were offered me If perfect earthly sight were offered me tomorrow I would not accept it. tomorrow I would not accept it.

I might not have sung hymns to the I might not have sung hymns to the praise of God if I had been distracted by praise of God if I had been distracted by

the beautiful and interesting things the beautiful and interesting things about me…about me…

……I am glad that I am blind, for when I get I am glad that I am blind, for when I get to heaven, the first face that shall ever to heaven, the first face that shall ever

gladden my sight will be gladden my sight will be that of my Savior!"that of my Savior!"

- Fanny Crosby- Fanny Crosby

The Test: The Test: What do I have to haveWhat do I have to have

Besides Jesus?Besides Jesus?

What promises is my "god" making?What promises is my "god" making?Does he deliver?Does he deliver?

The Test: The Test:

The sacrifices I makeThe sacrifices I makefor my godfor my god

Tells me which godTells me which godI'm servingI'm serving

A great Holiday SeasonA great Holiday SeasonStarts with ContentmentStarts with Contentment

"I can do all things"I can do all thingsThrough Christ who Through Christ who gives me strength…"gives me strength…"

Breaking Free Desire… - It's a god we bow down to - Sacrifice for - Become depressed when he's...

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