I’m Satisfied with Jesus

 Temple Baptist Church - 10-30-2022

Psalms 107:1-9

Introduction: 

 

A.  We live in days of discontentment. 

 

1.  People are not satisfied with who they are nor what they have.  More is never enough!  They have the “gotta have it” and “can’t help it” attitude about things.  “I owe I owe so off to work I go” is based for the most part on over buying and overextending.

 

2.  Not only the unsaved, but God’s people lack satisfaction and contentment.  Some preachers are possibly the worst of all in this area.  Some continually move because they never learn contentment. 

 

3.  Tonight, you are looking at a contented man!  The Bible says much about contentment, and we need to be a contented people.

 

B.  Contentment is something that must be sought.  1 Timothy 6:6-8   But godliness with contentment is great gain. 7  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. 8  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

C.  Contentment is something that must be learned.  Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

D. Contentment is something that must be realized.  Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for    a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.  (I used this verse of Scripture when I preached my mother’s funeral.  She was a contented lady.  She valued her Lord and her family.)

 

E.  “For he satisfieth the longing soul, and filleth the hungry soul with goodness.”

 

1.  I Am Content With His Great Salvation - 1-9

 

          a.  Redeemed From The Hand of The Enemy - 2

          b.  Redeemed From The Wilderness Wandering - 3-4

          c.  Redeemed From Spiritual Starvation - 5

          d.  Redeemed From Misery and Distress - 6

          e.  Redeemed From The Broad Way – 7

 

2.  I Am Content With His Great Deliverance - 10-16

 

          a.  Delivered From Darkness To Light - 10

          b.  Delivered From Death To Life - 10

          c.  Delivered From Bondage To Liberty - 10, 14

          d.  Delivered From Rebellion To Loving Submission - 11-13

 

3.  I Am Content With His Great Word - 17-22

 

          a.  God’s Word Keeps Us From Chastening - 17

          b.  God’s Word Keeps Us From A Shortened Life - 18

          c.  God’s Word Keeps Us From Unnecessary Troubles – 19

 

4.  I Am Content With His Great Protection - 23-32

 

          a.  God Protects Us In The Workplace – 23

 

          b.  God Protects Us In The Storms of Life - 25-27

 

                    1.  He Commands The Storm – 25

 

                    2.  He Controls The Storm - 25-26

 

                    3.  He Calms The Storm - 27-29

 

                    4.  He Customizes The Storm - 30-31

 

5.  I Am Content With His Great Blessings - 33-43

 

a.  I’m Satisfied With His Great Salvation - Psalm 90:14  O satisfy us early with thy mercy; that we may rejoice and be glad all our days.

 

b. I’m Satisfied With My Life - Psalm 91:16  With long life will I satisfy him, and shew him my salvation.

 

c.  I’m Satisfied With My Wife - Proverbs 5:19  Let her be as the loving hind   and pleasant roe; let her breasts satisfy thee at all times; and be thou ravished always with her love.

 

d.  I’m Satisfied With My Lord - Isaiah 58:11  And the LORD shall guide thee continually, and satisfy thy soul in drought, and make fat thy bones: and thou shalt be like a watered garden, and like a spring of water, whose waters fail not.

 

e.  I’m Satisfied With God’s Blessings - Psalm 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

 

f.  I’m Satisfied With My Ministry - Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.

 

g.  I’m Satisfied With The Bible – 2 Peter 1:19  We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

 

h.  I’m Satisfied With The Blood - 1 Peter 1:18-19  Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers;  But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:

 

i.  I’m Satisfied With My Church - Romans 12:4-5  For as we have many members in one body, and all members have not he same office:  So we, being many, are one body in Christ, and every one members one of another. 

The Valley Of Grace - The Valley of Contentment

 Temple Baptist Church - 7-26-2020

Philippians 4:4-19

 

Introduction: 

 

A.  We have spent much time dealing with the valleys of life because each of us will face many of them before we get home.

 

B.  In our text for this morning, we find one of the more notable valleys that we will face.  I call this the Valley Of Grace or The Valley of Contentment. 

 

C.  Paul sets forth the key to this valley in verse 11 when he said, “for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”  The Bible teaches the child of God about the grace that brings contentment:

 

1 Timothy 6:6-8  But godliness with contentment is great gain.  For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.  And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.

 

Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Matthew 6:31-33  Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed?  (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things.  But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 

D.  Contentment is a satisfaction and trust in what the Lord is doing in your life at any particular time.  Why contentment in problems?  Because of:

 

1.  The promise of God’s commitment to the believer - 1 Timothy 6:17  Charge them that are rich in this world, that they be not highminded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God, who giveth us richly all things to enjoy.

 

2 Peter 1:3  According as his divine power hath given unto us all things that pertain unto life and godliness, through the knowledge of him that hath called us to glory and virtue.

 

2.  The promise of God’s companionship with the believer - Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

 

Acts 23:11  And the night following the Lord stood by him, and said, Be of good cheer, Paul: for as thou hast testified of me in Jerusalem, so must thou bear witness also at Rome.

 

2 Timothy 4:17  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

 

E.  Valleys in life re-introduce us to God’s amazing, all sufficient, always abounding grace!  Grace for every trial and grace for every mile!

 

1.  Promised grace in forgiveness - Romans 5:20  Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound:

 

2.  Promised grace in temptation - 1 Corinthians 10:13  There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it.

 

3.  Promised grace in endurance - 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

1.  There Is Grace For Salvation.

 

a.  Grace's Position - Genesis 6:8  But Noah found grace in the eyes of the LORD.

 

b.  Grace's  Price - Romans 3:24  Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus:

 

c.   Grace's Purity - Romans 11:6  And if by grace, then is it no more of works: otherwise grace is no more grace. But if it be of works, then is it no more grace: otherwise work is no more work.

 

d.  Grace’s Product - 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me.

 

2.  There Is Grace For Living.

 

a.  Grace's Obligation - Romans 6:1 What shall we say then?  Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein?

 

b.  Grace's Abounding - 2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work:

 

c.  Grace’s Teaching - Titus 2:11,12  For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world;

 

3.  There Is Grace For Suffering.

 

a.  Physical Suffering - 2 Corinthians 12:9  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 

 

1)  Grace's Sufficiency - 2 Corinthians 12:9a  And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

2)  Grace's Strengthening - 2 Corinthians 12:9b  for my strength is made perfect in weakness

 

3)  Grace's Satisfaction - 2 Corinthians 12:9c . Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

 

b.  Financial Suffering - Philippians 4:12-13  I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

 

c.  Persecution’s Suffering - John 15:18-20  If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you.  If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.  Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also.

 

4.  There Is Grace For Service.

 

a.  God’s Grace Administered - 1 Corinthians 15:10  But by the grace of God I am what I am: and his grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain; but I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me. 

 

b.  God’s Grace Abounding - 2 Corinthians 9:8  And God is able to make all grace abound toward you; that ye, always having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work: 

 

5.  There Is Grace For Sacrifice.

 

a.   Giving Grace's Example -  2 Corinthians 8:9  For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that, though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, that ye through his poverty might be rich.

 

                    1)  Christ Went From Riches To Rags

 

                    2)  the Believer Went From Rags To Riches

 

6.  There Is Grace For Dying.

 

a.  Manifested In The Lord Jesus - Hebrews 2:9  But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man.

 

b.  Manifested In The Apostle Paul - Philippians 1:21-23  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.  For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

Thanking God For A Satisfied Life

Temple Baptist Church - 11-29-2015

Psalms 103:1-5

Introduction: 

A.  We have been preaching on these verses for several weeks now.  What a blessing it is to sit back and take a look at the whole picture of our lives and know that we are blessed!  David had his share of problems, setbacks, disappointments, and failures but knew that God had blessed his life from beginning to end.  Too often, we find the bad times the focus of our attention instead of the big picture.  Life is hard and short!

B.  Thanksgiving is over but we are to be a thankful people 365 days a year.  Many get disturbed over Thanksgiving and Christmas being overlapped.  I do not!  I think that Thanksgiving through Christmas is truly the most wonderful time of the year and my mind goes to the blessedness of Christ throughout.

C.  David tells his soul, the seat of his affections, to bless the Lord.  In Bible College, we often said, “Bless the Lord anyhow!”  It may not be good English but it is good theology and advice.  God is good.

D.  David blessed the Lord for all of His benefits which included, up to this point, his great forgiveness of sins along with his good health.

E.  David blessed the Lord for a hedged life.  The Lord not only spiritually saved him but He also saved David’s life from the destruction of sin, self, and Satan!  Look around at where you are and then take a look at the destruction of sin in the lives of people that you know and say, “But for the grace of God go I!”  God changed your desires and your direction when He saved you.

F.  We live in days of lack of contentment and satisfaction.  People are neither content or satisfied with who they are no what they have. 

1.  More is never enough!  Not only the world, but God’s people lack satisfaction and contentment.  Preachers are possibly the worst of all in this area.  Some continually move because they never learn contentment.  This morning, you are looking at a contented man! 

2.  The Bible says much about contentment.  We need to be a contented people but satisfaction is another matter.  Let me explain the difference.  Contentment does not mean that you necessarily like your situation but it is livable!  You will improve it if you can but, if you cannot, then it will be alright.  Satisfaction is entirely different. 

a)  Contentment is something that needs to be sought!  Timothy 6:6-7   But godliness with contentment is great gain.

b)  Contentment is something that must be learned!  Philippians 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.  (I had the privilege to go see Miss Linda’s mother in Hospice House the other day.  She is bedfast and it was Thanksgiving.  I began to talk with her about blessings.  You may think that is odd but, before I left, we were singing together: “There’s a roof up above me, I’ve a good place to sleep, there’s food on my table, and shoes on my feet.  You gave me your love, Lord, and a fine family.  Thank you, Lord, for your blessings on me!”  I thank the Lord that I left her with a smile on her face.  For a few minutes, she was content.  For a few minutes, she was satisfied!)

c)  Contentment is something that must be realized!  Hebrews 13:5  Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.

Luke 12:15  And he said unto them, Take heed, and beware of covetousness: for a man’s life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.

G.  When you are satisfied, you want no more.  When I have eaten to the point that I am not still overly hungry, I can be in a state of contentment.  When I have eaten to my fill, I am satisfied and want no more.  This morning, I want to look at verse 4: “Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle’s.” 

1.  I Am Satisfied With My Salvation: In Christ alone, full, free, and eternal! “That God should love a sinner such as I; how wonderful is love like this?”

John 4:13-14  Jesus answered and said unto her, Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again:  (14)  But whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlasting life.

2.  I Am Satisfied With My Deliverance:  From self to Christ, from darkness to light, death to life, bondage to liberty, rebellion to loving submission!  He delivered me; He is delivering me; and He shall deliver me!

2 Timothy 4:17-18  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.  (18)  And the Lord shall deliver me from every evil work, and will preserve me unto his heavenly kingdom: to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

           

3. I Am Satisfied With My Bible: leads us and guides us, protects us and provides for us, encourages, it assures us, and it matures us.  You can trade “bibles” all you want but I am satisfied with the old King James Bible! 

Psalms 119:97  O how love I thy law! it is my meditation all the day.

4.  I Am Satisfied With My Church:  I neither want nor would have any other! The best people in the world grace these pews!

1 Corinthians 16:24  My love be with you all in Christ Jesus. Amen.

5.  I Am Satisfied With My Future: as Bro. Jim used to say, “All of this and heaven too!”  One day just like today and it could be today, I will be finally home!  O, that will be glory for me!

Psalms 17:15  As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness.

6.  I Am Satisfied With My Life: a wonderful wife, a wonderful family, a wonderful life, a wonderful ministry, and the list could go on all day!  You can have your money, houses, and land!  I have plenty; I have enough; I have all that I want or need!

Psalms 103:5  Who satisfieth thy mouth with good things; so that thy youth is renewed like the eagle's.

Conclusion:  Let us be a happy people, especially over the next month as now our hearts turn to the wonderful birth of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.  The best things in life cannot be bought!  You can be content and not be happy but you cannot be satisfied and not be happy!

Isaiah 55:2  Wherefore do ye spend money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight itself in fatness

Contentment

Temple Baptist Church - 10-31-2012
Philippians 4:10-19

Introduction:

A. Life is full of “ups” and “downs.” Not just in the area of trials and tribulations but also in the area of finances. The area of finances is one that affects all of us at some point in life because of the natural flow of life.

1. Our youth, according to them, are basically “broke.” Been there and done that. I pushed a lawn mower around town, raked leaves, shoveled snow, and help clean one house (by the way, that was my last house cleaning job). Don’t worry, youth, one day you will have a JOB!

2. Our young families, who are raising children, are “truly” broke at times. Been there and done that but loved it. I had my wife and children around me in our home and they were good days; they were great days; they were wonderful days.

B. Easton’s 1897 Bible Dictionary. “Contentment is a state of mind in which one’s desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be. It is opposed to envy, greed, ambition, anxiety and fretting. It arises from the inward disposition. Contentment is the offspring of humility, and of an intelligent consideration of the integrity and generosity of divine providence, the greatness of the divine promises and our own unworthiness as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter.”

C. Contentment is Taught. Vs. 12. “Instructed” I call this the “School of Hard Knocks.” Life is hard and, when you know this, you can make it! “Every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” Life will give you a college education.

D. Therefore, Contentment must be Learned! Vs. 11. “For I have learned.” It is no big deal to be content in good times. I have heard people say, “Life is good!” but they were not sitting where I sat and they were not walking in my shoes. Let me say that life is good but all of us have a tendency to not be as content in the hard times as we are in the good.

E. First of all, let us look at some verses dealing with our subject:

Hebrews 13:5-6 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. (6) So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.

Psalms 37:16 A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked.

Proverbs 13:25 The righteous eateth to the satisfying of his soul: but the belly of the wicked shall want.

Proverbs 15:16 Better is little with the fear of the LORD than great treasure and trouble therewith.

Proverbs 16:8 Better is a little with righteousness than great revenues without right.

1 Timothy 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain.

F. Let say again that Paul was in PRISON! “For I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

1. State – Where you are. Paul was content in prison where he was! Paul was content to just serve the Lord in whatever capacity He would allow he to have.

2. State – What is going on. Paul was content with the persecution he suffered. 2 Corinthians 12:9 promised Paul the sufficient grace of God for suffering and it was enough.

3. State – Who you are with. Paul was content with the people who surrounded him during his incarceration. Paul had many, as all of us have had, who forsook him in the hard places of life but—thank the Lord—there were some who stood with him and he was content with these who loved him.

4. State – What you have. Paul was content with the possessions God gave him. Paul “lacked” but he did not “want.” The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want!

5. State – What you do not know is coming. Paul was content in the providence of God for his life. Paul was content with the “state” that God had allowed him to be in but was also content with what the Lord would do with him.