Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Philippians 4:11
In Philippians 4:11, the Spirit speaks to us through three words. First, Paul said he does not want. This makes it sound like Paul was living the dream, but in reality was likely written during his first Roman imprisonment. Basically, he was living in the sewer system of Rome under house arrest.
Next is the word learned. With great humility and honesty regarding his religious past of works-based righteousness, Paul admits that he had to learn the ways of Christ. Initially, he didn’t know how to live by faith in the completed work of Christ. Living by faith was as foreign to Paul as it is to new believers.
Content is the third word. In the process of learning how to rest in the completed work of Christ, Paul overflowed with “contentment” which wasn’t dependent on outward circumstances, even prison. The inward life of Christ was more satisfying and sustaining than anything of the world. Philippians is a very tender and affectionate letter, but much more, it is very jubilant and exudes joy.
Before we go any further, I must remind myself that joy is not a result of better discipline or better circumstances. Joy is a gift of the Holy Spirit which is received by faith. Like me, you likely have already discovered that change of circumstances (a new job, different friends, different home, a spouse, having kids) does not result in lasting joy. I am not begrudging you the joy it afforded you, but something is missing. It is exciting, but somehow lacks lasting life. Like me, you likely have also learned that you cannot make yourself joyful when you are suffering. You are not able to be a “strong soldier” for Jesus who carries His cross without complaint.
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Philippians 1:21
First POWER KEY
Understanding that joy is not based on circumstances Paul hides within the four chapters of Philippians five power keys which lead us into the contentment which brings joy. Christ was Paul’s message of life, the sum of life, and the source of his life. In this seemingly mysterious statement Paul says, “to live is Christ.” Galatians 2:20 clarifies Paul’s words to us: “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.” Do you see it? “THE LIFE I NOW LIVE…” Paul is saying he is now living from the life of Christ. Paul is not living FOR God, but FROM Christ’s imparted life. Our first power key is this treasure right there in plain sight. CHRIST IS YOUR LIFE, YOUR SOURCE OF HOPE AND GLORY! Praise God that we have received the Spirit that is from God to reveal the mystery of Christ in you, the hope and source of glory. (1 Corinthians 2:10-16)
Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus, who, although He existed in the form of God, did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
Philippians 2:5–6, 8b
Second POWER KEY
The second power key is so simple that it can be hard to see. What did Paul mean when he said that “Christ did not regard equality with God a thing to be grasped”? He meant that Christ did not live as a god unto himself. Everywhere in the gospels Christ points to the Father who “works in me.” He repeatedly communicated in deed and word that He did not speak or do anything of His own initiative. Jesus laid aside all self-reliance and received peace, joy, power, wisdom, and divine ability from the Father. He laid aside His deity, His ability, and received all victory from the Father. He, as our example, shows us that WE RECEIVE THE SAME GIFTS WHEN WE DRAW FROM THE DIVINE SOURCE. It doesn’t happen from our ability. For Paul “to live is Christ,” he first needed to suffer the loss of living from his own sufficiency. Self-reliance quenches the power of the Spirit in our lives drying up joy, peace, contentment, and victory. Even worse, it fills us with anxiety because in our hearts we know that we cannot be a god unto ourselves.
I count all things to be loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but rubbish so that I may gain Christ, and may be found in Him, not having a righteousness of my own derived from the Law, but that which is through faith in Christ, the righteousness which comes from God on the basis of faith, that I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings, being conformed to His death; in order that I may attain to the resurrection from the dead.
Philippians 3:8–11
Third POWER KEY
Striving for victory destroys contentment. Even when we reach for the trophy, we are not satisfied. Only Christ willing and working the victory in us, which is already ours in Christ, manifests joy in us. Like myself, I am sure that you have realized that striving is exhausting and leaves us feeling “not good enough” or as if “something was missing.” I sincerely memorized verses on patience and devised strategies to help me be patient, but the fruit didn’t remain. That leads us to the next power key in Philippians which is very practical.
Paul counted his wisdom and reliance on keeping the law as rubbish so that he may gain Christ and righteousness by faith in Christ. Since he was saved, we know he is not talking about salvation. This type of “know” is best understood as experiential, not intellectual knowledge. Through interdependence on the inward life of Christ to will and work in himself, Paul expected supernatural fruitfulness. Paul knew that to experience the resurrection power of Christ, he must suffer the loss of independent living. For a long time, I was both perplexed and captivated by this verse. I wanted the resurrection power of Christ but couldn’t understand how to enter into the fellowship of Christ’s suffering. Quite frankly, I wanted the power without suffering and could not see the connection. Obviously, God is not telling us to take up Christ’s cross of suffering because we cannot save ourselves. The suffering Paul speaks of is the suffering of the loss of anything that we rely on other than Christ. Sounds so easy on paper, but it is hard to let go of familiar patterns. You have relied on them for worth, acceptance, value, and security, yet they have produced fleeting contentment. JOY AND CONTENTMENT ARE FRUIT OF THE SPIRIT, NOT STRIVING!
…work out your salvation with fear and trembling; for it is God who is at work in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure.
Philippians 2:12b–13
Fourth POWER KEY
The good news is that you are not alone in eradicating contentment which leads us to fourth power key. Rather than falling into the trap of striving not to strive, HUMBLE YOURSELF AS CHRIST DID AND ADMIT YOU ARE NOT A god UNTO YOURSELF! If Christ needed the power of God instead of self-sufficiency, surely we also do. You cannot produce the fruit of the Spirit apart from the Spirit’s power. As we live in reliance on the Spirit, “to live is Christ” — meaning Christ manifests these fruits in us. It helped me see my self-reliant efforts produce everything but the fruit of the Spirit. Rather than striving, ask God to open the eyes of your heart to show you who is the source of power for your joy, peace, and contentment.
Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice! Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.
Philippians 4:4, 8
Fifth POWER KEY
WHEN WE SUFFER SEVERE LOSSES! Perhaps, it will help to better understand the root of suffering. We suffer because we cannot control outcomes despite even the noblest efforts. It is deeply disturbing when life is unfair, and people are hurtful. Logically, we want to take control, fight our corner, defend our ground, and prove our worth. Dear friend in Christ, you can rest. Christ is doing all those things in and for you. Christ is your healer and vindicator. He is your friend, advocate, teacher, and your comforter.
You can rejoice in the worst of times because you are not on your own. You are not a god unto yourself. That is a description of the unsaved. God is the glory and lifter of your head. We are to fix our hope completely on the grace to be brought to us in Christ. How? Instead of self-reliance, rejoice that “to live is Christ.” Dwell on the fact that in Christ you are dead to sin, alive to God, and can stand confidently in God’s presence to find grace (power) and mercy in your time of need. Since you are not alone, don’t try to do things on your own. Look to and dwell on what God has finished so that by faith, God can will and work the victory in you which you have in Christ.
I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.
Philippians 4:13
In Philippians 4:13 Paul summarized the power keys. “I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.” Notice! God is the source of your strength! He is the source of Paul’s joy and contentment and can be yours too. You are not on your own. Enter God’s presence with simple childlike faith. Since you already have resurrection life, invite the Father to lead you into paths of righteousness and resurrection power. Paul left us with a parting thought, but you will notice, that it was Paul’s introductory thought to the Philippians.
For I am confident of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will perfect it until the day of Christ Jesus.
Philippians 1:6