The “Secret” Philippians 4:10-end. “The Secret” According to Oprah & Co. (Not) The tenet...

The “Secret”Philippians 4:10-end

“The Secret”According to Oprah & Co.(Not)

The tenet of the film and book is that the universe is governed by a natural law called the law of attraction which is said to work by attracting into a person's life the experiences, situations, events, and people that "match the frequency" of the person's thoughts and feelings.

“Goodbye” to Paul (for now)

Follow

ing

P

au

l…

Paul’s Great Joy!Philippians 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

• Phil. 1:4 always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all…

So the Letter Began…

12 Times!• Php 1:4• Php 1:18• Php 1:25• Php 2:2• Php 2:17• Php 2:18• Php 2:28• Php 2:29• Php 3:1• Php 4:1• Php 4:4• Php 4:10

Paul’s Great Joy!Philippians 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

•They Sent Financial Support

Phil. 2:25 …Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;

Paul’s Great Joy!Philippians 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

• It wasn’t their fault

Paul’s Great Joy!Philippians 4:10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at last you have revived your concern for me; indeed, you were concerned before, but you lacked opportunity.

Paul should have been stressed about the money situation!His freedom and ministry relied

on this…

• Acts 28:30-31 And he stayed two full years in his own rented quarters and was welcoming all who came to him, preaching the kingdom of God and teaching concerning the Lord Jesus Christ with all openness, unhindered.

Paul’s Great Joy!

Not that I was ever in need…

Philippians 4:11

Paul should have been stressed about the money situation!•Yet somehow he’s OK…!?

Paul’s Great Joy!

Even so, you have done well to share with me in my present difficulty.

Phil. 4:14  

Paul should have been stressed about the money situation!•Yet somehow he’s OK…!?•Even though he really needed their gift…

Paul’s Great Joy!As you know, you Philippians were the only ones who gave me financial help when I first brought you the Good News and then traveled on from Macedonia. No other church did this.  Even when I was in Thessalonica you sent help more than once.  I don’t say this because I want a gift from you. Rather, I want you to receive a reward for your kindness.

Phil. 4:15-17

Paul should have been stressed about the money situation!•Yet somehow he’s OK…!?•Even though he really needed their gift…•He did not enjoy much financial support…

Paul’s Great Joy!At the moment I have all I need—and more! I am generously supplied with the gifts you sent me with Epaphroditus. They are a sweet-smelling sacrifice that is acceptable and pleasing to God.

Philippians 4:18

Paul should have been stressed about the money situation!•Yet somehow he’s OK…!?•Even though he really needed their gift…•He did not enjoy much financial support…•But he’s not uptight!!!

Paul’s “Secret” Pervasive Contentment!

Very real, very powerful…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

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. Phil. 4:12

Paul’s “Secret” Pervasive Contentment!

Very real, very powerful Not Self-Flagellation*

…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

* Not to be confused with flatulation, which means “to expel intestinal gas through the anus” (Dictionary.com)

Paul’s “Secret” Pervasive Contentment!

Very real, very powerful Not Asceticism

…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

…you have done well to share with me in my affliction.

Phil. 4:14

These are matters which have, to be sure, the appearance of wisdom in self-made religion and self-abasement and severe treatment of the body, but are of no value against fleshly indulgence. Col. 2:23

Paul’s “Secret” Pervasive Contentment!

Very real, very powerful Not Asceticism Not Complacency Not “Drone Zone, USA”

…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

Paul’s “Secret” Pervasive Contentment!

Very real, very powerful Not Asceticism Not Complacency Not “Drone Zone, USA”

…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

NOT Good Nope! Christianity, USA?

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. Phil. 1:6

Paul’s “Secret” “Pervasive Contentment”

is Impossible Today!…for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.

Phil. 4:11

Emotional Disorders

20% Chronically Depressed

20% Anxiety Disorders

Suicide: Greatest Cause of Premature Death

Relational Scars

50% Marriages Fail

20% Sexually Abused

25% College Women Sexually Assaulted

Evening News!ISIS / ISIL

Eubola

Foods Killing us

Behaviors Killing Us

National Debt (100k / person)

Jerked Around!“Planned Obsolescence”

Every TV Ad

Wife Wrecks the Lexus

Wife LEAVES With Lexus

Our Problem, God Says:

• Eccles. 9:3 insanity is in their hearts throughout their lives.

Paul’s “Secret” “Pervasive Contentment”

IS:Not Getting Overwhelmed or

Panicked

You FUNCTION Well!

Thinking Like Christ

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. Phil. 4:12

Matthew 6:33 But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.

Paul’s “Secret”

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Contentment Means:

God’s Loving Power

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

Philippians 4:19

Matthew 6:32 “…your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things.”

Paul’s “Secret”

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Contentment Means:

God’s Loving Power

NOT My Greatness

Everything else is worthless when compared with the infinite value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ. Philippians 3:8

Paul’s “Secret”

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Contentment Means:

God’s Loving Power

NOT My Greatness

He Leads

Philippians 3:13-14 Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

Paul’s “Secret”

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Contentment Means:

CAN DO!

Paul’s “Secret”

I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

Contentment Means:

God’s Loving Power

NOT My Greatness

He Leads CAN DO!