The Contented Life

to God's praise. Now to begin our worship in Psalm 86. Psalm number 86, this is in the

Scottish Psalter version, page 341, and we're singing verses 12 through to the end of the psalm.

O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto

Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered

hast my soul out from the lowest hell. Verses 12 to 17, actually it is, in Psalm 86, to God's

praise.

O Lord my God, with all my heart, to Thee I will give praise, and I will give praise, and I will

give praise, and I the glory will ascribe unto Thy name always. Because Thy mercy toward me,

in greatness doth excel, and Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell.

And Thou delivered hast my soul out from the lowest hell. O God, the Father, the Father,

knowing that, and Thou relationships be right, and Thy environment.

and the head

that for my soul

hath so done thee

before them

hath not said

but thou art full

of faith ye Lord

a God most gracious

from suffering

and in thy good

and mercy plentious

O turn to me

thy countenance

and mercy on me have

thy servant strength

and the son

of thine own hand

may save

show me a sign

for good God

may

wish to be

in his ear

and be a ship

because the Lord

is

self

and

comfort

me

let's now call upon the Lord in prayer

we'll join together in prayer

gracious and eternal God

as we gather once again here in your presence

we pray for your help

we pray for your help that we may worship you as we ought to

that our minds may be focused upon

those things that are glorious

in your work and in your person

we pray for grace O Lord

to focus upon your word

which we find so central

to our worship

and we pray that you would enable us O Lord

to not only read your word

and hear it being expounded

help us as speaker and hearers alike

to take your word to heart

apply it to our hearts we pray

by your Holy Spirit

to enable us thereby

to give you the glory

and the praise

that you are worthy of

in a due reception of your word

we know Lord

that when we receive your word

as your word

we thereby honour you

we honour your name

and we give thanks for

the word that you have given us

we ask O Lord

that you would enable us

in our understanding of your word

to increase in that understanding daily

we know that your word

has so many aspects to it

so many depths

that we can find ourselves

drawn into

and even though some

we cannot fully understand

and comprehend

yet we thank you

for the benefit nevertheless

of giving our minds to them

we thank you

for the plain message

of your word

in regard to our redemption

we give thanks O Lord

that your word

shows us the way

of salvation so clearly

and that there are no

aspects of that left

as mysteries to us

and Lord we thank you

that as Jesus Christ

is presented to us

in your word

in the message of the gospel

we give thanks

that thereby you speak to us

you call us to yourself

you impress upon us Lord

the need to turn our back

to sin

to a life of selfishness

which we are all O Lord

by nature

so much prone to

we thank you tonight

Lord for being together

we thank you

for the improvement

in our situation

with regard to the

COVID pandemic

and we thank you

that we are able

to express ourselves

in song

in praise

in singing your praises

in a way that is

O Lord

not hampered by

even though the necessary

masks were in place

for some time

we pray O Lord

that for all of these

good things

and for everything good

that comes from you

we may tonight

be thankful

and we may be

the more dependent

upon you

your word tells us

we live and move

and have our being

in you

however Lord

we may progress

in this world

however much we may have

of worldly success

and however legitimate

these things

may be in themselves

yet Lord

we are reminded

so frequently

in your word

that they are all

from you

as regards

the good things

that we enjoy

and that it is

by your power

and by your might

by your grace

that you have given

them to us

help us to honour you

with our daily lives

help us to take

O Lord

from our worship

this evening

that which would

follow through

into the rest

of the week

for us

and help us

to be concerned

in our daily life

to manifest

the glory

of Christ

and to show

ourselves

as willing

servants

of the Lord

and to commend

him to those

that we meet

with on a daily

basis

Lord forgive us

we pray

for our failures

in regard

to this

we regard

even the best

of us

Lord

as not fully

committed

to this

in the way

we ought

we confess

O Lord

we let many

opportunities

pass

that they're

gone

before we

realise

that we

ought to

have made

the most

of them

we pray

your forgiveness

Lord

in regard

to all

our sins

the sins

that are

obvious

in our lives

sins of speech

and of behaviour

as well as

those that we

find in our

own hearts

may not be

known to any

others but

ourselves

and you

you are the

God who

looks into

our hearts

keenly

and perfectly

and O Lord

we know

that we

cannot hide

from you

and cannot

hide anything

else from you

that we

find in

ourselves

or in

all that we

think or do

we give

thanks for

this

but it is

thereby Lord

that we can

come and

place our

entire selves

our lives

in your hand

knowing that

you are able

to provide

against all

our need

in all its

variety

in all its

extent

so bless us

Lord we pray

tonight as a

congregation

bless all the

gatherings of

your people

in this town

and beyond

enable Lord

your people

tonight to

know the

empowerment

of your

Holy Spirit

oh we thank

you for your

Holy Spirit

we thank you

for the

ministry that

your spirit

exercises

in bringing

us oh Lord

to know

ourselves as

sinners

destitute of

righteousness

we thank you

for the

ministry of

your spirit

convicting us

of our sin

and of our

misery

we thank you

for the

ministry of

your spirit

in directing

us to the

saviour and

in enabling

us to embrace

you as the

living God

the living saviour

of his people

Lord we ask

for your spirit

to guide us

in our

Christian walk

we give

thanks oh

Lord for

all that you

have been to

us thus far

we pray that

whatever age we

may be

our lives may

be directed

by your

holy spirit

day by

day

we give

thanks for

the work of

your spirit

and sanctifying

your people

and preparing

them to be

with you in

heaven

and Lord we

pray that

tonight each

of us may

know that

influence in

our own

lives

our hearts

being directed

towards you

and made

conformable to

you in your

own will and

purpose

remember us

Lord we pray

in all that we

seek to do

throughout each

week in your

name both in

regard to our

young folks and

other age groups

too we pray for

our young people

and ask Lord as

we are thankful

for them we

pray for each

and every

individual we

pray for all the

families that

have young people

that belong to

us as a

congregation

Lord remember

them we pray

at this time

and establish

them in your

ways we ask

your blessing

for youth

fellowship this

evening and

pray that you

would bless

them as they

meet together

we pray for

Reverend Ferrier

as he speaks

to them we

pray that that

will be a

blessed occasion

to all

concern and

we ask oh

Lord that you

would continue

to provide for

our Sunday

school or our

creche for our

tweenies for

other groups

Lord that

involve our

young people

bless your

own gospel to

them and grant

to protect them

and show them

the things that

are in this

world designed

in themselves

from the evil

one to lead

them away from

your truth

we pray that

you would make

them wise

unto salvation

remember those

tonight whose

hearts are heavy

with mourning

Lord remember

all who mourn

the passing of

loved ones

each and every

week that goes

by recently

we know that

those belonging

to our

congregation have

experienced

bereavement and

loss

Lord we pray

for each and

every family

and each

individual

we pray for

those who are

still waiting

for preparations

regarding the

funeral of

loved ones

we ask that

you would give

them grace

Lord to

wait upon you

and to know

your direction

and your

comfort at this

time

we pray for

the outcome

of the elections

both locally

and nationally

oh Lord our

God we pray

for those

in our own

locality who

have been

elected to

council

those returning

and those who

are there for

the first time

we pray for

them and ask

that you would

show them your

ways and bless

them especially

Lord we pray

that you would

bring to them

the sense of

the sufficiency

of your word

of your own

laws of your

precepts

help also those

who offered

themselves but

ended up without

being elected

help them we pray

to deal with

that we thank

you for the

interests of so

many and we

pray especially

for those of

your own people

who gave

themselves to

election but

weren't elected

yes Lord we

we do pray for

them and ask

that you would

be pleased to

draw near to

them at this

time and so

we ask that in

all aspects of

our life

individually and

congregationally and

in our locality and

nationally Lord our

God be merciful to

us show us your

ways direct us away

from the ways of

sin and hear us

we pray now and

pardon us for

Jesus sake

amen

let's now read

God's word as we

find it this

evening in 1

Timothy

1 Timothy in

chapter 6

we'll read

through the whole

chapter from the

beginning

1 Timothy in

chapter 6

let all who are

under a yoke of

slaves regard their

own masters as

worthy of all

honor so that the

name of God and

the teaching may

not be reviled

those who have

believing masters

must not be

disrespectful on the

ground that they are

brothers rather they

must serve all the

better since those

who benefit by their

good service are

believers and

beloved

teach and urge

these things

if anyone teaches a

different doctrine

and does not agree

with the sound words

of our Lord Jesus

Christ and the

teaching that

accords with

godliness he is

puffed up with

conceit and

understands nothing

he has an

unhealthy craving

for controversy

and for quarrels

about words

which produce

envy

dissension

slander

evil suspicions

and constant

friction among

people who are

depraved in mind

and deprived of

the truth

imagining that

godliness is a

means of gain

now there is

great gain

in godliness

with contentment

for we brought

nothing into the

world and we

cannot take anything

out of the world

but if we have food

and clothing

with these we will

be content

but those who

desire to be rich

fall into temptation

into a snare

into many senseless

and harmful desires

that plunge people

into ruin and

destruction

for the love of

money is a root

of all kinds of

evil

it is through

this craving

that some have

wandered away

from the faith

and pierced

themselves with

many pangs

but as for you

oh man of god

flee these things

pursue righteousness

godliness

faith

love

steadfastness

gentleness

fight the good

fight of the faith

take hold of the

eternal life

to which you are

called and about

which you made

the good confession

in the presence

of many witnesses

i charge you in

the presence of god

who gives life

to all things

and to jesus christ

and of jesus christ

who in his testimony

before pontius pilate

made the good

confession

to keep the

commandment

unstained

and free from

reproach

until the appearing

of our lord jesus christ

which he will display

at the proper time

he who is the

blessed and only

sovereign

the king of kings

and lord of lords

who alone has

immortality

who dwells in

unapproachable light

whom no one has

ever seen or can

see

to him be honor

and eternal dominion

amen

as for the rich

in this present age

charge them

not to be haughty

nor to set their

hopes on the

uncertainty of

riches

but on god

who richly provides

us with everything

to enjoy

they are to do

good

to be rich

in good works

to be generous

and ready to share

thus storing up

treasure for

themselves

as a good

foundation for

the future

so that they may

take hold

of that which

is truly life

oh timothy guard

the deposit

entrusted to you

avoid the irreverent

babble and

contradictions

of what is falsely

called knowledge

for by professing

it

some have swerved

from the faith

grace

be

with you

amen

may god bless

again a reading

of his word

to his own

praise

and glory

i'm going to sing

again in psalm 68

now it's 68

in the

scottish psalter

version

not the

sing psalms

version

that's on your

bulletin sheet

so it's psalm 68

Psalms 68:7

verses

7

through to

11

o god

what time

thou didst

go forth

before thy

people's face

and when

through the

great wilderness

thy glorious

marching was

then that

god's presence

shook the earth

then drops

from heaven

fell

this sinai

shook before

the lord

the god

of israel

through to

verse 11

the lord himself

did give the

word

the word

abroad

did spread

great was

the company

of them

the same

who published

that's psalm 68

on page

302

in the scottish

psalter

singing from

verse 7

to verse 11

o god

what time

thou didst

go forth

o god

what time

thou didst

go forth

before

thy

people

face

and

when

through

the

great

wilderness

thy

glorious

marching

voice

then

at

god's

presence

shook

the earth

then

drops

from

heaven

fell

this

sign

i shook

before

the lord

the god

of

israel

o god

the

who

do

thy

heritage

should send

a

plenteous

rain

whereby

the

wrennage

weary

walls

didst

it refresh

again

thy

my congregation

then

did make

their

habitation

there

of

thine

own

goodness

for

the

food

o god

thou

didst

prepare

the

lord

himself

did

give

the

word

the

word

abroad

did

spread

great

was

the

company

of

them

the

same

who

publishes

let's

turn

once again

this

evening

to the

epistle

to the

philippians

paul's

letter

to the

philippians

it's

some time

since we

had our

last study

in

philippians

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4

and we're

going to

continue

tonight

chapter 4

verse 10

and looking

at verses

10

to 13

that's

philippians

Philippians 4 · chapter mention

chapter 4

and reading

from verse

10

i rejoiced

in the

lord

greatly

that now

at length

you have

revived

your

concern

for me

you were

indeed

concerned

for me

but you

had no

opportunity

not that

i'm speaking

of being

in need

for i have

learned in

whatever

situation

i am

to be

content

i know

how to

be brought

low

i know

how to

abound

in

everything

in

every

in

any

and

every

circumstance

i have

learned

the secret

of facing

plenty

and hunger

abundance

and need

i can

do

all

things

through

him

who

strengthens

me

well we're

living as you

know in very

challenging

times

challenging

times not

only in

a way that

the gospel

is being

challenged

but challenging

too in a

more ordinary

sense if you

like challenging

times with

regard to

prices increasing

in the

aftermath of

the covid

situation and

the worldwide

effects of

that

challenges

regarding

inflation and

the increasing

inflation that

we're hearing

about and

that we know

about in the

prices themselves

as you see

that in your

shops

challenging

times with

regard to

closures of

businesses

challenges for

those who have

lost their

work and

are now

unemployed

and some

who find

difficulty in

seeking

alternative

employment

this is

an environment

for much

anxiety

an environment

in which some

find a degree

of hopelessness

and feeling

just sidelined

an environment

in which we

find an

increase in

substance abuse

and alcoholism

and those

sort of

excesses

how can

anyone be

content

in circumstances

like these

where do you

find the

secret of

contentment

what the

apostle is

calling here

the secret of

contentment

that he has

learned

how can

anyone be

content

surrounded by

and affected

by sometimes

affected directly

as most of us

are by these

issues that

prove so

challenging

for our

day

well Paul is

dealing here

with what

we're calling

the contented

life because

that's essentially

what these

verses are

about

and not

only are

we facing

challenges

we're facing

this challenge

as well

to live

a contented

life

irrespective

of what

our circumstances

may be

because it's

not just

in times

of difficulty

times of

challenges

such as we

mentioned

that living

a contented

life is

important

it is

important

at all

times

to seek

to live

a life

of contentment

to have

a contented

heart

to have

a contented

mind

to have

a mind

that is

well and

truly

content

with our

circumstances

with our

situation

with our

relationship

with God

whatever it

is you're

thinking about

and this

was important

to the

apostle

not just

in writing

to the

Philippians

it was

important

to the

apostle

not just

for his

own life

as well

and those

of the

Philippians

it was

important

pastorally

for the

apostle

as we

read in

chapter 6

of 1st

Timothy

you can

see there

in verses

6 to

10

how important

it was

for the

apostle

to commend

contentment

and how

one comes

about to

be content

in his

preaching

it's something

obviously

built into

his preaching

it's something

obviously

that should

be important

to us

in our

preaching

of the

gospel

where does

a person

get contentment

from

how does

a person

come

to be

content

in their

lives

in the

world

in which

we are

placed

and you

look at

the

verses

17 to

19

of that

chapter

where he

talks there

about the

danger

of seeking

to follow

riches

for their

own sake

he says

for the rich

in this

present age

as for

them

charge them

not to

be haughty

or set

their hopes

on the

uncertainty

of riches

but on

God

who richly

provides us

with everything

to enjoy

there to

be good

to be

rich

in good

works

you see

the way

Paul plays

on the

word rich

and riches

throughout that

passage there

they are not

to set their

hope on the

uncertainty

of riches

but rather

to look to

God

who richly

gives

good works

and is

therefore able

to give

the contentment

that we

require

and that's

really what

you have

in the

Philippians

passage

as well

what is

a contented

life

how do you

experience

contentment

where does

it come

from

what are

the elements

of contentment

for yourself

for myself

tonight

if you ask

yourself the

question

how can I

have a

contented

heart

if I'm

surrounded by

challenges

and uncertainties

if I know

of changes

in my life

if I know

of things

that I'm

struggling

with

where can I

find contentment

how can I

possibly have

contentment

true contentment

in that

situation

well Paul

gives us

here

three main

elements

to it

I'm going

to take

these in

turn

he talks

first of

all about

thankfulness

you can see

that from

verse 8

onwards

and especially

in verse 10

I rejoiced

in the Lord

greatly

that now

at length

you have

revived

your concern

for me

you are

indeed

concerned

for me

but you

had no

opportunity

you can

see

how he

is later

on in the

passage

that follows

talking about

the gift

that they

have sent

to him

verse 18

I have

received

full payment

and more

I am well

supplied

having received

from Epaphroditus

the gifts

that you

said

so he is

thankful

to the

Philippians

thankful of

course to

God most

of all

but he's

thankful

that the

Philippians

have shown

themselves

in their

kindness

to him

by sending

gifts

we're not

told what

they were

but Epaphroditus

came with

this gift

to Paul

and he is

truly thankful

for it

now that's

an essential

element

of a

contented

life

you and I

will never

have a

contented

life

if we are

not thankful

to God

if we are

not thankful

even for the

least of his

mercies

because

thankfulness

is such

an important

ingredient

in a

life

that's

in tune

with God

and in

tune

with God's

providence

and God's

wisdom

so thankfulness

is the first

element

in a

contented

life

and then

secondly

you find

verses

11 to

12

or 11

to 13

the second

element

is

dependence

Paul says

he's thankful

for the gift

but he's

saying not

that I

really

was in

dire

need

of it

because

I've

learned

in

whatsoever

situation

I am

to be

content

I know

how to

be brought

low

I know

how to

abound

in every

and any

circumstance

I have

learned

the secret

of facing

plenty

and hunger

abundance

and need

I can do

all things

through him

who strengthens

me

in other

words

he's saying

my contentment

actually comes

as he's

speaking to the

Philippians

and setting

these things

forth for them

to follow

and to apply

in their own

lives

his contentment

is not just

something that

involves thankfulness

to God

it involves

dependence

upon Christ

dependence

on God

he looks

for his

sufficiency

in Jesus

himself

in God

himself

there's

thankfulness

there's

dependence

and thirdly

there is

strengthening

because ultimately

his contentment

comes from

Jesus himself

comes from

God

as you see

in verse

13

I can

do all

things

through him

who strengthens

me

so it doesn't

matter whether

Paul is

experiencing

what he calls

being brought

low

or what he

calls

abounding

whether it's

really something

in which he

lacks certain

things

physically

or financially

or whether he

is actually

full of as

much as

possible he

could have

in this

life

he's saying

I can

do all

things

through him

who fills

me with

strength

that's what

he means

who strengthens

me

his contentment

comes from

the supply

that Jesus

gives him

on a daily

basis

and that too

is in many ways

the key to

contentment for

ourselves

the contented

life

is the life

that comes

to be supplied

by Jesus

on a daily

basis

with the grace

with the ability

with the

mindset

with everything

that is to

do with

contentment

I can do

all things

through him

who strengthens

me

and he lies

content

in the supply

that Jesus

brings

because

it's not just

a matter of

those who

are facing

deprivation

that have a

challenge

of being

content

those who

are facing

poverty

for example

in Paul's

day

and he

very much

is aware

of that

as he

writes his

letters

it's

a challenge

how to

be content

if we're

on the

breadline

if we're

facing

though many

of us

aren't

of course

nevertheless

those in

the world

that's a

difficulty

for them

but it's

equally so

for those

who are

millionaires

where does

a millionaire

find contentment

because they

will tell you

themselves

mostly

that although

their millions

bring them

a luxurious

lifetime

a comfortable

lifetime

it does not

guarantee

contentment

contentment

is not

the same

thing

as comfort

contentment

in the

apostles

terms

is being

thankful

to God

being dependent

on God

being strengthened

by Christ

let's look at

these briefly

in turn

here is Paul

saying to the

Philippians

here in verse

18

I have received

full payment

I didn't seek

this gift

but I seek

the fruit

that increases

to your credit

I have received

full payment

and more

I am well

supplied

having received

from Epaphroditus

the gift

you sent

a fragrant

offering

a sacrifice

acceptable

and pleasing

to God

he uses

very strong

terms

to show

the extent

of his

thankful

now he is

treading a

very fine

line here

and it is

a line

that many

of us

actually know

for ourselves

he doesn't

want in

any way

to appear

ungrateful

and so

he is

thankful

for the

gifts

the

Philippians

have sent

him

but at

the same

time

on the

other

side

of things

he doesn't

want to

make it

appear

that he's

being covetous

that he really

wanted such

things for himself

and that is

something that he

would seek

from them

in the future

it's that

fine line

between

being thankful

for what

they've sent

and yet at

the same

time saying

not that I'm

speaking of

being in need

I didn't

seek this

I don't

necessarily

want any

more but I'm

thankful for

what you've

sent

and if we

speak personally

I know this

is something

that we find

ourselves in

in ministry

we are so

dependent in

many ways on

the church's

givings

we're paid

out of the

contributions

in our

stipends

from your

givings

and believe

me we're

grateful for

that

I know

our

thankfulness

ultimately

is to

God

who

supplies

all

things

for us

but that's

where we

are placed

as preachers

of the

gospel

and it's

that fine

line between

saying we're

really grateful

to you

but we're

not seeking

we're not

covetous

we're not

actually

living so

that you

will keep

on giving

to us

it's that

line that he's

following here

where he wants

them to be

truly aware

of his

thankfulness

and yet

he is

not at all

saying that he

is being

covetous

in regard

to it

now

thankfulness

therefore

is something

that's so

crucial to

our contentment

if we're going

to be content

with what we

have

it doesn't

mean that you

don't improve

life

it doesn't

mean it's

wrong to

seek an

increase in

your wealth