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In Philippians Chapter 4at verse 10 , we read that Paul had received a gift from these disciples of Jesus and he is so grateful. Did he need the gift? Well, yes and no! Yes, he needed the gift to meet his physical needs – but he had also learned to be content – gift or no gift – and again that is difficult!

To be content when you have nothing – when you have little – when you are in prison – and let’s not simply limit this to money gifts. Sometimes God sets us tests and exams and they are more than two three hour papers.

Paul had been a Pharisee and in Luke 16 verse 14, we learn that they were lovers of money. They were covetous. They did not know how to be content.

Paul had received this gift – a token of their concern. He had learned the hard and difficult lesson of the secret of being content in any and every situation.

Paul has had a variety of experiences over these past years in his ministry in the front line of the Kingdom of God. He testifies to these in other places too – 2Corinthians 11verses 32following.

“I can do everything through Him who gives me strength.”

Jesus will never ask us to do anything without supplying the required and necessary strength.

All this is not said at a time of tremendous spiritual high – but when in prison – limited in so many ways – yet able to speak and teach and preach and write.

There is a secret revealed here – and we can learn it – “of being content in any and every situation”.

We come to this final section of the Philippian letter – where Paul in verse 9 is encouraging these disciples of Jesus Christ to put into practice what they have learned, received, or heard from me, or seen in me. That is almost a tall order. Would we be willing to write that in a letter to anyone?

Remember he did not think he was writing Scripture! But he does go on to spell out the result – would we do that? And the God of peace will be with you. Does that imply that if they did not do these things the God of peace would not be with these men and women?

God reveals things – or says something – or teaches you a lesson – through someone else – and because you accept that and put it into practice there is an amazing blessing, and in some way, you know it.

Verse10 – they had ministered to him previously. They had sent Paul a gift, but it would appear that they had almost forgotten all about him – or they have overlooked his needs in some way. They had not continued to show the same level of concern.

Really you did not have the opportunity and I am not saying this because I am in need – and then Paul gives us this tremendous insight. Here is a lesson for us all to learn. “I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need. I know what it is to have plenty.”

He had learned a secret which very few learn. For Paul this was not theory.

This had been a reality in his life, and to learn this secret we may need to experience something of these realities, and these very varied situations.

Why did he have to go through all he had to experience?

Why were Peter and John imprisoned during the early hours of the life of the Church of Jesus Christ?

There was anointing upon these men’s lives. Now, people do not mind if you have the anointing of the living Christ upon you, until you do something – or until you say something – that reveals the anointing of God. When you act or speak or move under the anointing of the Holy Spirit there is invariably a reaction.

This is one of the reasons why Paul is in prison. He had touched Goliath – the big Roman giant – which was closed to receive what God had sent into the world – His Son, Jesus Christ, and now, the Church, the Body of Christ.

And so, Paul is writing these closing words to the disciples at Philippi. He had learned to be content and having been a Pharisee, who were lovers of money, this could not have been easy.

“Loving God – we thank You and praise You for these times when the scriptures reveal such wonderful secrets of our life in Christ Jesus. In a world where there is ruthless competition and greed and grabbling, teach us how to be content – serving according to Your perfect will for our individual lives. We pray for those disciples of Jesus who have very little – who may be hungry or afraid, or in some other type of need – those who are mocked and ridiculed and persecuted because they carry the cross of Christ. Hear us as we pray for the Church of Jesus Christ.” Amen.

"Voice of Inspiration" from Andy Castro

Mangled Mind-Psalms 91:15