SWAT Bible Study

This week, as we finish chapter four, we see Paul thanking and encouraging the Philippians again for their gift and sacrificial giving. But, he also gives some insight into learning the secret to contentment/peace. Do we really believe God is all powerful and His plan is the best plan? God’s providence means He doesn’t just know what’s coming—He goes before us and sovereignly works circumstances together to accomplish His purposes. God is never reacting, scrambling, or caught off guard. He is ruling and overruling in the details of life. Our life is not random. For the man who trusts in Jesus, it is a series of divine appointments directed by a sovereign God. Our resources are not dependent on us, but on the providence, power, and promises of God. That’s what sustained Paul through every trial and hardship — and they are enough for us too. People assume contentment is being able to be free from the brokenness of this world. True contentment is being at peace in the midst of any problem or difficult circumstance and that peace can only come in Jesus! Our culture is discontent with what we own, what we look like, who we are married to, our parents, our children, with life in general. How can we, like Paul, learn the secret to being content, regardless of circumstances?

This week, God instructs the Philippians (and us) to FOCUS on Christ-like virtues and allow that focus to become such a discipline in our lives, that it is a daily habit/mindset. We are a product of our thinking. God says in Proverbs 23:7 as a man thinketh in his heart, so he is.” The ESV says, he is like one who is inwardly calculating. What that means is that a person's true nature is defined by what they secretly think, which eventually shows in their actions. In fact, in our culture today, we don’t think, we focus more on feelings and pragmatism. Instead of asking the questions – “is it true or is it right?”, we lean towards “how does it make them feel…does it work…does it offend anybody?” What God is saying through Paul in this little section is focus your mind on Heavenly, eternal things, not the earthly, temporary ones.

This week, we press into chapter 4 and the path to the peace and contentment that comes from Jesus. Where do most people look for peace and contentment? Especially when my wife has a chronic or terminal illness, bills aren’t getting paid, friends betray me or let me down, children disown me, grandkids are struggling with life, but you aren’t allowed to speak to it. Our world is filled with anxiety, stress, and discontentment. Unfortunately, the church has failed to be light in THAT darkness and instead of Biblical Truth, we’ve allowed self-esteem therapy, psychological self-help therapy, and victim-creating therapy to have the loudest voices. We’ve steered people to the wrong answers which produces more controlling, more anxiety, and people who reject the TRUTH for secular wisdom. The world will search anywhere for peace, except for in Jesus and God’s Word. God reminds the Philippians and us through Paul that true peace and contentment is only in Jesus. In fact, in these 7 verses, 6 of them contain either a direct quote of “in the Lord” or allude to that truth. Where are we seeking our peace today? Do we believe like the world (and secular wisdom) that every person has a right to whatever they want to do that makes them feel good? Or, do we believe that true peace and contentment can only be found in Jesus and a right relationship with our Heavenly Father?