PHILIPPIANS 4:12

JULY 15, 2012

FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH JACKSON, MS USA

Wiersbe's Expository Outlines on the New Testament. Copyright © 1992 by Chariot Victor Publishing, an imprint of Cook Communication Min.

The MacArthur New Testament Commentary, Copyright © Moody Press and John MacArthur, Jr., 1983-2007.

J. Vernon McGee's Thru The Bible

Philippians 4:12 12 “I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; in any and every circumstance I have learned

the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need.”

Philippians 4:12

The twice-repeated phrase “I know how . . . I also know how” reveals that he had learned by experience and spiritual maturity to live above his circumstances and

not to let them affect his contentment, his joy. That is an important lesson for believers to learn, for it is the difficult circumstances in life that most frequently

steal our contentment.

The six things Paul listed in Philippians 4:12 had to do with physical, material needs; not spiritual things.

1) get along - humble means2) to live in prosperity 3) going hungry4) secret of being filled 5) suffering need 6) having abundance

All six of those terms refer to the material, earthly needs of this life, not to spiritual needs.

Paul was no ivory tower theologian; he had lived and ministered in the trenches. His life was not exactly a testimonial for the prosperity gospel.

The apostle's trials began at Damascus shortly after his conversion.

Acts 9:15-1615 “But the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of Mine, to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the

sons of Israel; 16 for I will show him how much he must suffer for My name’s sake.” Acts 9:15-16

2 Corinthians 11:23-33 Paul said, “I was in many imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from

the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep.

I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the

city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in

hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. In Damascus the ethnarch under Aretas the king was guarding the city of the Damascenes in order

to seize me, and I was let down in a basket through a window in the wall, and so escaped his hands.”

2 Corinthians 11:23-33

8 “we are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not despairing; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed;” 2 Cor 4

In all Paul's unique and constant sufferings, he had learned the secret of rising above them. In the midst of all his trials, he kept his focus on

heavenly realities. Colossians 3:1-21 “Therefore if you have been raised up with Christ, keep seeking the things above, where Christ is

seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.” Colossians 3:1-2

In 2 Corinthians 4:17, the apostle wrote, "For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison."

With that perspective, is it any wonder that no amount of pain, suffering, or disappointment could affect Paul’s contentment?

Philippians 4:13

13“I can do all things through Christ Who strengthens me.”

Paul’s adequacy and sufficiency came from his union with the adequate and sufficient Christ: "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“. Galatians 2:20

When Paul wrote “I can do all things” he had in mind physical, not spiritual things. Ischuo (I can do) means "to be strong," "to have power”.

The Greek text emphasizes the word translated all things (a reference to physical needs) by placing it first in the sentence.

Paul was strong enough to endure anything through Him Who strengthened him (1 Tim 1:12; 2 Tim 4:17).

1 Timothy 1:12

12 “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, Who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful,”

2 Timothy 4:16-17

16  “At my first defense no one supported me, but all deserted me; may it not be counted against them. 

17 But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that through me the proclamation might be fully accomplished, and that all the Gentiles might hear;”

1 Samuel 30:6Amplified Bible6 “David was greatly distressed, for the men spoke of stoning him because the souls of them

all were bitterly grieved, each man for his sons and daughters. But David encouraged and strength-ened himself in the Lord his God.” 1 Samuel 30:6

The apostle Paul does not, of course, mean that he could physically survive indefinitely without food, water, sleep, or shelter.

What he is saying is that when he reached the limit of his resources and strength, even to the point of death, he was infused with the strength of Christ.

He could overcome the most dire physical difficulties because of the inner, spiritual strength God had given him.

God's power will bring contentment to those who have no strength of their own, but only if they have been living righteously.

There is no quick fix, no shortcut to contentment. It comes only to those strengthened by divine power, and that divine power does not come from

counselors, therapy, or self-help formulas, but only from consistent godly living.

Paul says, "I can do all things through Christ" -- that is, “in Christ” and in the context of the will of Christ for your life.

Whatever Christ has for you to do, He will supply the power. Whatever gift He gives you, He will give the power to exercise that gift.

A gift is a manifestation of the Spirit of God in the life of the believer.

As long as you function in Christ, you will have power.

J. Vernon McGee used to take the Super Chief train from LA to Chicago.

It was known as"The Train of the Stars" because the passenger list resembled a veritable "who's who" of Hollywood stars:

Richard Burton & Elizabeth Taylor, Humphrey Bogart & Lauren Bacall, Dean Martin & Jerry Lewis, Desi Arnaz & Lucille Ball.  

If that train could have talked it would have said: "I can do all things a Super Chief is supposed to do on the tracks between Chicago and Los Angeles.”

“I've been coming by here for years, and I've never seen the Grand Canyon. I think I'll just take off across the desert here and look at the canyon for myself."

It did leave the tracks one day over on the side toward the Grand Canyon but it never did make it to the Grand Canyon. The minute it left the tracks, it was a

wreck. The train was helpless and hopeless the moment it left the tracks. As long as the Super Chief was on the tracks, as long as it was doing the thing it was

supposed to do, it could do all the things a Super Chief should do. But it was absolutely helpless when it left the tracks.

This is what Paul is saying about himself – "I can do all things in Christ”.If you are a member of Christ's body, He is the Head, and you are to

function in the context of His will for your life. His will is the track on which you are to run.

“…through Christ Who strengthens me." Christ is the One Who will strengthen you and enable you to do all that is in His will for you.

He certainly does not mean that He is putting into your hands unlimited power to do anything you want to do. Rather, He will give you the enablement to do all things

in the context of His will for you. When you and I are in Christ, and we are moving in Christ on those tracks, there is no stopping us.

But the minute you and I step out of that glorious position, step out of God's will either by sinning, by our own willfulness, or by lack of fellowship, we are as much a

wreck as a train trying to run off of the track, and we are not going anywhere.

But if we stay on track, stay in His will, we can do all things through Christ Who strengthens us!

"If ye abide in me, and My words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done for you" (John 15:7). It is essential to be in His will.

God’s will is hidden for you, not from you.

We see at once the difference between the Stoics and Paul. The Stoic said, "I will learn contentment by a deliberate act of my own will."

Paul said, "I can do all things through Christ who infuses His strength into me." For the Stoic contentment was a human achievement; for Paul it was a divine gift.

Paul could face anything, because in every situation he had Christ; the man who walks with Christ can cope with anything.

The Stoic was self-sufficient; but Paul was God-sufficient. Stoicism failed because it was inhuman; Christianity succeeded because it was rooted in the divine.

In the words of Isaiah:

Isaiah 40:29-31 “He gives strength to the weary, and to him who lacks might He increases power.

Though youths grow weary and tired, and vigorous young men stumble badly, yet those who wait for the Lord will gain new strength; they will mount up with

wings like eagles, they will run and not get tired, they will walk and not become weary.”

Isaiah 40:29-31

Paul was never the victim of circumstances; he had learned by experience the secret of peace: "I can do all things through Christ Who energizes me!"

The J. B. Phillips translation says, "I am ready for anything through the strength of the One Who lives in me" (v. 13, PH).

In Philippians 2:12-13 we see that God cannot work through us until first He works in us;

He works in us through His Word: 13 “For this reason we also constantly thank God that when you received the word of God which you heard

from us, you accepted it not as the word of men, but for what it really is, the word of God, which also performs its work in you who believe.” 1 Thessalonians 2:13

He also works in us through His Spirit: Ephesians 2:14-22, 22  “in Whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

And sometimes He works in us through suffering: 10“After you have suffered for a little while, the God of all grace, Who called you to His eternal glory in Christ,

will Himself perfect, confirm, strengthen and establish you.”

1 Peter 5:10

If we depend on our own power, we will fail; but if we depend on His strength, we can do all things through Him.

This explains why Paul could rejoice even in prison: he had learned the secret of the secure mind through the power of God.

Warren Wiersbe’s summary of Philippians chapter 4: God’s Presence v 1-5God’s Peace v 6-9God’s Power v 10-13God’s Provision v 14-23

Philippians 4:14-2314“Nevertheless, you have done well to share with me in my affliction.15 You yourselves also know, Philippians, that at the first

preaching of the Gospel, after I left Macedonia, no church shared with me in the matter of giving and receiving but you alone; 16 for even in Thessalonica

you sent a gift more than once for my needs. 17  Not that I seek the gift itself, but I seek for the profit which increases to your account. 

18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant

aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God. 19 And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ

Jesus. 20 Now to our God and Father be the glory forever and ever. Amen. 21 Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brethren who are with me greet you.

22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.23  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.” Philippians 4:14-23

Philippians 4:14-19A final strand in the tapestry of contentment woven by Paul is concern for others.

Those who live only for themselves will never be content, because contentment for them can come only when their circumstances are exactly as

they want them to be. And that will never happen.

Only those who unselfishly put others' well-being above their own will find contentment. Paul prayed that the Philippians' "love may

abound still more and more" (1:9); one of the qualities of true Biblical love is unselfishness (1 Cor 13:5). He also exhorted them, "Do nothing from selfishness or

empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves; do not merely look out for your own personal interests,

but also for the interests of others" (2:3-4). That is the attitude "which was also in Christ Jesus" (2:5); if He had looked out only for His own interests, he would never

have left Heaven to sacrifice Himself for sinful, fallen people.

Philippians 4:19

19 “And my God will supply all your needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

Paul knew that the Philippians would not only receive spiritual blessings in Heaven for their generosity, but also that God would supply all their physical

needs in this life. The Philippians had sacrificially (2 Cor 8:1-3) given of their earthly possessions to support God's servant, Paul.

In return, God would amply supply their needs; He would not be in their debt. Having sown bountifully, they would reap bountifully (2 Cor 9:6);

having "honored the Lord from their wealth and from the first of all their produce,

... their barns will be filled with plenty and their vats

will overflow with new wine"(Prov 3:9-10). They would discover that it is impossible to out give God.

The phrase in verse 19: “according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” reveals the extent to which God would supply the Philippians' needs.

He would do so according to His riches, not out of them; His giving to them would be relative to the immensity of His eternal wealth, that is, as generously as is

consistent with His riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

The letter comes to the end with greetings.

In this final section there is one intensely interesting phrase in verse 22.

Paul sends special greetings from the Christian brothers who are of Caesar's household. It does not mean those who are of Caesar's kin.

Caesar's household was the regular phrase for what we would call the Imperial Civil Service; it had members all over the world.

The palace officials, the secretaries, the people who had charge of the imperial revenues, those who were responsible for the day-to-day administration of the

empire, all these were Caesar's household. It is of the greatest interest to note that even as early as this, Christianity had penetrated into the very

centre of the Roman government. There is hardly any sentence which shows more how Christianity had infiltrated even into the highest

positions in the empire. It was to be another three hundred years before Christianity became the religion of the empire, but already the first signs of the

ultimate triumph of Christ were to be seen and Paul, chained to Roman guards 24/7 was what God used to get the Gospel into Caesar’s household.

The crucified Galilaean carpenter had already begun to rule those who ruled the greatest empire in the world!