SAVOR GOD’S FAVOR (Outline)

September 8, 2019 – Pentecost 13 – PHILIPPIANS 4:8-13

INTRO: God’s goodness surrounds us every day of our earthly life. We live in a very wicked world.
The darkness of this sinful world also surrounds us every day. Dear friends, we are the children of God.
Our loving, heavenly Father is far greater than any darkness we encounter in our lives. We are children
of Light. The God who created light and is the Light, scatters all darkness. "This is the victory that has
overcome the world: our faith. Who is the one who overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the
Son of God” (1 JOHN 5:4b, 5). God gives us faith that overcomes the world. Faith believes that Jesus is
the Son of God. Simple truth. Powerful saving truth. We are grateful for God’s goodness.
SAVOR GOD’S FAVOR I. Think about all the good things. II. Be content with all God’s things.

I. THINK ABOUT ALL THE GOOD THINGS.

A. Verse 8a. “Finally brothers”. This letter to the believers at Philippi is nearing the end.
1. Paul’s letters begin by reminding believers they have faith, are God’s children, are forgiven.
2. Each divinely inspired letter continues with God’s encouragement concerning godly living.
3. Verse 8b. Think about these things: true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, commendable…
4. Think about anything excellent or praiseworthy. Let good thoughts drive out bad thoughts.
B. Verse 9. The early believers could us the Apostle Paul as a good example. Look at his life.
1. The Lord called Paul to teach and preach the good news of eternal salvation.
2. There was much more to Christian living that just good thoughts. There were love actions.
3. What believers “learned, received, heard, and saw” in Paul they were to “keep doing these things”.
4. Think good thoughts, live Christ-filled lives: “And the God of peace will be with you”.
C. Verse 10a. Paul was joyful to know the believers revived their love and concern for him. Action.

D. We ought not to be surprised that our loving, heavenly Father needs to remind us about directing
our thoughts to those things which are good. Have you looked at the world in which we live? Or have
you listened to the news recently? We are constantly bombarded with the evil that is alive and well in
our nation. In the world. Our homes used to be a sanctuary. We gathered in our homes with our
families to enjoy one another’s company. But now the wickedness of this world streams live into our
homes. Into our lives. Our thoughts. Our anger is aroused. Evil thoughts try to take the place of our
Christian thinking. We need God’s encouragement to pursue good. “Seek good and not evil so that you
may live, and then it will be like this for you: The LORD, the God of Armies, will be with you, as you claim. Hate
evil and love good" (AMOS 5:14, 15a). We can hate evil. We want and need to “seek good” and “love good”.

E. Differences between children of God and people of the world grows greater with each passing
moment. One can almost visibly see the vast gulf between believers and unbelievers. Warnings from the
Lord in Isaiah (5:20ff.) are being fulfilled day after day. Good is called evil. Sweet is called bitter. Light
is called darkness. "Now, the way the sinful flesh thinks results in death, but the way the spirit thinks results in life
and peace" (ROMANS 8:6). The sinful flesh is selfish. The result is death. Spirit-filled thinking brings
life and peace. Our thoughts go far beyond this life. No matter what we face we will eventually be given
a perfect life in heaven. This brings us peace. “And the God of peace will be with you.”

F. We do face trials, temptations, tribulations, and troubles. In every situation our loving, heavenly
Father delivers us safely. In our sorrows the Lord God of Armies comforts us. We know Jesus lived,
died, and rose again. He conquered death for us. We are comforted. Now we can comfort others. "The
Father of mercies and God of all comfort, comforts us in all our trouble, so that we can comfort those in any trouble
with the same comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God” (2 CORINTHIANS 1:4). Even in
disciplining us our loving, heavenly Father strengthens our faith. We can then strengthen others.
SAVOR GOD’S FAVOR. Our God directs us to think about all good things. Crowd out all evil.

II. BE CONTENT WITH ALL GOD’S THINGS.

A. Verse 10. The believers at Philippi showed their love and concern for the Apostle Paul.
1. Verse 11. Paul complemented the believers. But he was not seeking anything from them.
2. Paul learned what it was to be content. Contentment was a learning process. Lifelong.
B. Verse 12. Humble circumstances: rejection by his own people, beatings, and put into prison.
1. “…more than enough”. Paul knew what it was to have enough. Also knew if had even more.
2. Note again: “I have learned the secret”. Contentment had once been a mystery for Paul.
3. God did not remove Paul’s thorn in the flesh. In his weakness Paul relied on God’s strength.
C. Verse 13. Secret of contentment learned: “I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me.”

D. Godliness and contentment are bound together. A person really cannot have one without the other.
Godliness reminds us to focus on the only Savior, our Lord Jesus Christ. All too often our sinful nature
wants to focus on ourselves. Our thinking. Our desires. Our plans. Human thinking is not godliness.
Such thinking will not lead us to learn the secret of being content. “This is what the LORD says. Cursed is
anyone who trusts in mankind, who seeks his strength from human flesh, and who turns his heart away from
the LORD” (JEREMIAH 17:5). This is exactly what happens when we trust too much in ourselves or in
others. Our hearts turn away from the Lord. Disaster. We work on learning contentment.

E. It is all too easy for us to be discontent. Even in the lap of luxury we find too many opportunities to
grumble and complain. We murmur against the goodness of our God. Such thinking is ungodly.
Again, godliness and contentment are inseparable. "Do not give me poverty or riches. Give me food in the
amount that is right for me. Too much, and I may feel satisfied and deny you and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’ Too
little, and I may become poor and steal and profane the name of my God” (PROVERBS 30:8b, 9). Open our
eyes to know we have enough. Pray that the Lord would teach us to be content with the good things he
has given. Teach us to be grateful for the blessings our loving, heavenly Father gives us each day.

F. When we look to the Lord we see our perfect, heavenly Father. He knows what is best for us. The
Lord always knows. The Lord always provides perfectly. He give to us even more than we can ask or
imagine. In Luke (11:11-13) Jesus reminded believers that earthly fathers give good gifts to their
children. How much more our heavenly Father gives gifts that are far better. Perfect. "Every good act of
giving and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the lights, who does not change or shift
like a shadow" (JAMES 1:17). When we focus on the Lord we learn contentment. God’s perfect peace.

CONC.: We are thankful for the goodness of our God every day. We see God’s goodness surround
our lives. We think about all the good things: truth, purity, lovely, honorable, commendable, excellent,
and praiseworthy things. God gives us even more things. More than enough. Forgiveness of sins—full
and free. Perfect love. Eternal life. By grace through faith we know the God of peace is with us.
"Likewise, for everyone to whom God has given wealth and riches, if God has also given him ability to eat from it, to
accept his lot, and to rejoice in the results of his hard work—this is a gift of God, for the man seldom reflects on the
days of his life, since God keeps him busy with the joy in his heart" (ECCLESIASTES 5:19, 20). Every day we
can be grateful for God’s goodness. SAVOR GOD’S FAVOR. May our loving, heavenly Father
constantly keep us busy with God’s joy in our hearts. Amen. Pastor Timm O. Meyer

PENT. 13 rdgs.: JEREMIAH 23:23-29; HEBREWS 12:1-13; LUKE 12:49-53; (PSALM 139)
SERVICES: 7:45am @ McCook (Sun) / 10:00am @ Redeemer (Sun) / NCF 1:00 Min. (Sat) & 12:00 Med. (Sun)
BIBLE STUDIES: 11:15am @ Redeemer (SUN) / 5:45pm (Med) + 7:30pm (Min) @ NCF (TUES.)
/ Sunday radio broadcast @ 9:00am on KQNK 106.7FM or 1530AM