This week we concluded our semester and our series on Victory Through Prayer, focusing on contentment. Paul LEARNED contentment. His schoolroom consisted of 1) Perils – He suffered physical and emotional distresses that would trump any of ours, yet he knew that he was spiritually wealthy. 2) People – He suffered rejection and abandonment from people he loved and minister to, yet he prayed it would not be held against them. He learned contentment in Jesus alone…blessings from personal relationships were “gravy”. 3) Perspective – He carried the death of Jesus so that His life might be manifested in Paul’s body.
We often allow contentment to LEAK out of our lives. We looked at what contentment is not: 1) Distraction – When you find yourself feeling distracted, ask “What is my goal?” 2) Disquiet – complaining, lack of peace, murmuring, feeling overwhelmed. Murmuring = rising up against God, mutiny in the heart. 3) Disappointment – feeling let down. If we feel disappointed it is because of false hope or unrealistic expectations.
Our LINK to contentment: Relying on God’s 1) Providence – He sees the end from the beginning and goes before us. 2) Proven Love – God has proven His love for us time and time again!! We have received His unmerited favor. 3) Provision – Christ empowers us from within. His presence is our provision.
Paul didn’t wait for his circumstances to get better before claiming victory. He relied on the character of God and used that as a filter for viewing his circumstances rather than using circumstances as a filter for viewing God. He understood that God’s supernatural resources come to us when we get to the end of our own. Thus, he learned to be content in any and all circumstances.
Podcast: Download (Duration: 56:40 — 51.9MB)
E-Book PDF (worksheet): Download (108.7KB)
E-Book PDF (tools-and-techniques): Download (117.4KB)
E-Book PDF (addendum): Download (10.0KB)