Christ ministers a foretaste of contentment and empowers us to become warriors too, slaying our enemies with his strength so that we, like Paul, can learn the secret of Christian contentment in any and every circumstance.
These are only preliminary, unedited outlines and may differ from Andy’s final message.
The life of Jesus Christ as recorded in the Gospel is a massive and perfect diamond of glory…. We will never finish learning who he is, what he has done, and what he gives us.
Truly John spoke rightly when finished his gospel with these words: “Now there are also many other things that Jesus did. Were every one of them to be written, I suppose that the world itself could not contain the books that would be written.” (John 21:25)
To hold the radiant jewel of Christ within our hands and give it a slight turn to catch new rays of glory is the best way we can continue to adore him, for our hearts to continue to be ravished by him, so that we never forsake our first love toward him. (Rev. 2:4)…
Jeremiah Burroughs had a whole section entitled, “How Christ Teaches Contentment.” Though I found it helpful for beginning this meditation and will lean on his work somewhat, I want to go a little beyond what he did….
I. Jesus: The Author and Perfecter of our Faith (In NIV, the “Pioneer”)
A. Jesus is the pioneer of our faith
(NIV) Hebrews 12:2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.
Hebrews 12:2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith.
The word “author” is a powerful one in the Greek (archegos), and it can be translated “one who takes the lead,” or “pioneer.”
B. Jesus is preeminent in everything
Paul spoke of Christ as “the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent.”
Colossians 1:18 And he is the head of the body, the church. He is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in everything he might be preeminent
Jesus is leading the way as a mighty Pioneer and Captain, fighting the enemies of our contentment, powerfully slaying them all that he might bring us to a Paradise of contentment for all eternity.
He is leading us out of Satan’s kingdom of darkness in which neither the king nor any of his subjects are ever content. He is leading us through a hostile wilderness of suffering in which contentment is only worked in us by direct, supernatural power. He is battling our own constant internal bent toward discontent, as well the unending assaults of Satan and Satan’s world to make us discontent.
C. Jesus is the pioneer of our contentment
Christ ministers foretastes of contentment and empowers us to become warriors too, slaying our enemies with his strength so that we, like Paul, can learn the secret of Christian contentment in any and every circumstance.
I want to meditate on a number of facets of Christ—his person, his works, his gifts—by means of this one question: “How does Christ minister contentment?” This is not the only way we can learn of him and worship him, nor will we fully exhaust all the ways he does minister contentment. But it is worthwhile to focus our minds in this way, to drink in as much glory as he will give us while we “see through a mirror dimly.”
1 Corinthians 12:12 For now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I have been fully known.
II. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His Example
Burroughs taught us that Christian contentment is a “sweet, inward, quiet, gracious frame of spirit which freely submits to and delights in God’s wise and fatherly disposal in every condition.” Let’s take that definition and apply it to Jesus, seeing how perfectly Jesus serves as our example of contentment.
A. Jesus left the glory and honor of heaven for suffering and death on earth
Philippians 2:6-11 though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. 8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. 9 Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, 10 so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, 11 and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
• Jesus was not born into luxury, but into staggeringly humble circumstances…
• Jesus was submissive to his parent’s authority…
• Jesus lived under the law…
Isaiah 53:3 a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief;
B. In his humiliation, Jesus was at peace
This downward journey of suffering was the matrix by which we can see his astonishing example of contentment “in any and every circumstance.”
John 14:27 Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid
Matthew 12:19-20 He will not quarrel or cry aloud, nor will anyone hear his voice in the streets; a bruised reed he will not break and a smoldering wick he will not quench.
This flowed from the inner quietness and sweetness of demeanor which was constantly his
Matthew 11:29 I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls
C. Christ’s “freely submitting” shown greatest at the cross (Mt. 26:39)
The pinnacle of Christ’s example of “freely submitting to and delighting in God’s wise and fatherly disposal” came at the cross. We see the submission perfectly acted out in Gethsemane. There the Father revealed in a new and much more powerful way the
cup of his wrath that he would pour out on Jesus as our substitute, and Christ recoiled in amazement and horror.
• Jesus “freely submitted”
Matthew 26:39 My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will
• Jesus “delighted in God’s wise and fatherly disposal”
Hebrews 12:1 for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising its shame
• Following Gethsemane, Jesus lived contentment with amazing power o He met the soldiers with boldness
o He carried himself perfectly before Pilot and Herod
o The Roman soldier recognized that Jesus was the son of God (Mark 15:39)
D. Jesus’ obedience to the Father’s will was the central moment in redemption
Romans 5:19 For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so also through the obedience of the one man the many will be made righteous.
By Jesus “freely submitting to and delighting in” God’s salvation plan, “every blessing in the heavenly realms” is now pouring down on the elect for all eternity.
Isaiah 53:10 The will of the Lord will prosper in his hand
E. Jesus Gave The example, we should “follow in his steps”
1 Peter 2:21 For to this you have been called, because Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example, so that you might follow in his steps.
Whenever we are facing suffering, even great suffering, we do well to maintain our contentment by meditating on Christ’s contentment and asking him to conform us by the Holy Spirit to his pattern. We should ponder the scope of our sufferings and realize they are not worth comparing to his. We should realize that perfect
contentment in any and every circumstance is part of the salvation he won for us, and we should cry out to him in fervent prayer to make us like himself.
III. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His God-Centeredness
At the center of this example of contentment was his constant focus on his Father’s will.
A. Jesus perfectly displayed father-centered focus at every moment
Listen to these amazing statements:
John 4:34 My food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.
John 6:38 I have come down from heaven not to do my will but to do the will of him who sent me.
John 8: 28 When you have lifted up the Son of Man, then you will know that I am he, and that I do nothing on my own authority, but speak just as the Father taught me.
John 8:20 And he who sent me is with me. He has not left me alone, for I always do the things that are pleasing to him.
John 12:49 I have not spoken on my own authority, but the Father who sent me has himself given me a commandment–what to say and what to speak.
John 12:50 And I know that his commandment is eternal life. What I say, therefore, I say as the Father has told me.
Jesus did nothing…except according to the detailed plan and command of his Father
In his temptation in the desert, Satan was constantly trying to separate Jesus from his Father
For our own contentment, we must become more and more God-centered, focused on the plans and glory of the Father.
We now have the “mind of Christ” (1 Corinthians 2:16) and this is by the indwelling Holy Spirit within us.
The mindset of the flesh is constantly discontent and leads to eternal death, but the mindset of the Spirit is “life and peace.”
Romans 8:6 For to set the mind on the flesh is death, but to set the mind on the Spirit is life and peace.
Much of our discontent comes from our selfishness in pursuing our own agendas, seeking our own glory, feeding our own lusts.
Christ gives us the perfect example of how delightful and fulfilling this God-centeredness is, even if it is immeasurably costly in the short term. To learn to say to the Father continually as Jesus did, “Here am I, I delight to do your will!” (Ps. 40:8; Heb. 10:7-9) is the power and beauty of contentment.
IV. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His Atonement
There are infinite dimensions to the atonement of Christ, and a limitless flow of blessings comes to the elect by his blood. We will spend all eternity plumbing the depths of the riches of Christ’s costly grace to us. But for our purposes here, we can confidently assert that power for constant contentment in any and every circumstance is one of those blood-bought blessings.
A. The power for constant contentment was blood-bought by the cross
i. God’s wrath has been propitiated
Romans 3:25 whom God put forward as a propitiation by his blood, to be received by faith. This was to show God’s righteousness, because in his divine forbearance he had passed over former sins.
ii. Our sins forgiven, past present, future
Ephesians 1:7 In him we have redemption through his blood, the forgiveness of our trespasses, according to the riches of his grace
iii. Former enemies, reconciled to God
Romans 5:10-11 For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life. 11 More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have now received reconciliation.
iv. Adopted as children
Galatians 4:5 …to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.
v. Infinitely valuable inheritance
Colossians 1:12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light.
1 Peter 1:4 to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you,
B. What earthly circumstance can make you despise these riches?
o What deception must Satan work in our hearts?
o How can you look on the blood bought blessings with discontentment?
o How can you say, “Look at what I have recently lost! It is completely reasonable for me to be bitterly discontent!”?
We ought to stand on the permanent blessings of the atonement and by Christ’s Spirit drive out all discontent every moment of our lives, no matter how fierce that battle for contentment may be!
C. Christ’s death was the most unexpected means of salvation
o The disciples were stunned at this death, they could not comprehend God’s eternal plan
o Peter tried to talk Jesus out of the cross
o The disciples on the Emmaus road were in despair
This should be instructive to us as we fight for contentment. The atonement Christ won was costly and violated human wisdom and desires. So also lesser aspects of God’s eternal plan will be costly to us and violated our wisdom and desires. When we are in the midst of those painful trials, we should remember the lessons of the cross and be content, though our wisdom and desires scream the opposite.
V. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His Resurrection
If by Christ’s death he ministers contentment, how much more does he do so by his life? If a dead Jesus on the cross is an unending supply of peace and joy in any and every circumstance, how much more a living Christ from the tomb has power to minister contentment to his embattled church?
A. In Christ’s resurrection, death is defeated!
1 Corinthians 15:55 O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?
B. Given the resurrection, labor is not in vain! (1 Cor. 15:58)
1 Corinthians 15:58 Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.
C. We are raised to walk in newness of life (Rom. 6:4)
Romans 6:4 We were buried therefore with him by baptism into death, in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too might walk in newness of life.
D. Present suffering not worth comparing to the glory to be revealed in us
(NIV) Romans 8:18 I consider that our present sufferings are not worth comparing with the glory that will be revealed in us.
E. Resurrection feeds hope, Christian hope connected to contentment
John 11:25-26 I am the resurrection and the life.[a] Whoever believes in me, though he die, yet shall he live, 26 and everyone who lives and believes in me shall never die.
John 14:19b because I live, you also will live.
How can we be discontent when we ponder the joy of the empty tomb and of our own future resurrection?
So you can say to the temptation…
VI. Christ Ministers Contentment: By Winning For Us Access to God
By Christ’s death and resurrection, he has won for us the access to the Father that is essential to maintaining contentment in any and every circumstance. Apart from that access in prayer, we would certainly fall into bitter discontentment, for the world, the flesh, and the devil are foes far too great for us. But by prayer, we can unleash the power of God in our hearts and into our circumstances that will enable us to stand in the day of testing.
A. At the moment of Christ’s death, the curtain in the temple was torn in two
Matthew 27:51 And behold, the curtain of the temple was torn in two, from top to bottom. And the earth shook, and the rocks were split.
i. The curtain communicated restricted access to God
ii. The message of the Old Covenant is “Do not come any closer!” (Ex.3:5) iii. Violating that barrier meant certain death
Exodus 19:12-13 And you shall set limits for the people all around, saying, ‘Take care not to go up into the mountain or touch the edge of it. Whoever touches the mountain shall be put to death. 13 No hand shall touch him, but he shall be stoned or shot;[a] whether beast or man, he shall not live.’ When the trumpet sounds a long blast, they shall come up to the mountain.”
Hebrews 12:20 For they could not endure the order that was given, “If even a beast touches the mountain, it shall be stoned.”
B. Christ’s work on the cross opened up and bought access to God
The consistent message of the Old Covenant is: “This far you may come, and no farther!” But when Christ said, “It is finished!” the curtain was torn in two from top to bottom. This was the work of God, for no man had the authority to remove the barrier God had established. But God was showing by this that Christ’s atoning death had removed forever this barrier; the way into his holy presence was now opened.
C. Now we are commanded to approach the Father to receive grace and mercy (Heb. 4:16)
Hebrews 4:19-22 Therefore, brothers, since we have confidence to enter the holy places by the blood of Jesus, by the new and living way that he opened for us through the curtain, that is, through his flesh, and since we have a great priest over the house of God, let us draw near with a true heart in full assurance of faith, with our hearts sprinkled clean from an evil conscience and our bodies washed with pure water.
We are actually commanded—not merely encouraged or welcomed—to draw near to God!
Hebrews 4:16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.
Whenever we are in a battle with discontent, it is a “time of need.” We cannot fight alone… we must draw near to the throne of grace and receive mercy and find grace. If we don’t, we will most certainly succumb to the power of the temptation to murmur against God. But by prayer alone we will access limitless strength needed to stand up in the day of temptation. By prayer alone is Paul’s secret of contentment unleashed in our lives, “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”
D. Access to the Father brings contentment, He hears our prayers in any and every circumstance
(NIV) Matthew 21:22 If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.”
Matthew 7:11 If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!
VII. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His Promises
A. Thomas Manton: “Show him his writing; God is tender of his word.”
B. Memorize the promises of Jesus, Paul, Peter, John and the Prophets, they all bring contentment!
It is not my purpose here to give an extended catalog of Christ’s promises. However, Christ has the power to minister abiding contentment by his promises, and the Christian warrior would do well to memorize as many of them as possible and use them in the battle.
VIII. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His Power and Protection
The astonishing river of signs and wonders that are recorded for us in the gospels teach us one central lesson: all authority has been given to Jesus
A. All authority in heaven and on earth is given to Jesus Christ
Matthew 28:18 And Jesus came and said to them, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me
o There was literally nothing that Jesus could not do o After healing a deaf man with a speech impediment, they exclaimed:
Mark 7:37 “He has done all things well. He even makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.” o Jesus displayed power over the wind and the waves (Matthew 8:26)
o Jesus controlled the fish of the sea (Luke 5:6) o No disease could resist his healing power o No demon could put up a fight against him o Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead
His power is undiminished since his days on earth. He is still capable of healing every disease and sickness, feeding any hungry person, stilling every storm, raising any dead person. And that is absolutely vital for us to keep in mind as we strive for contentment.
Hebrews 13:8 Jesus Christ is the same, Yesterday, Today, and Forever
This means that every disease, financial deficiency, raging storm, and great tragedy that befalls us is intentional on his part; our afflictions and sufferings are not mindless, purposeless things, but they pass through the filter of his intentionality, they are part of his plan for us.
B. Jesus’ authority extends to all beings, human and angelic o Satan demanded to sift Peter and all the disciples, but he cannot get to us except by permission of Jesus o
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan demanded to have you,[a] that he might sift you like wheat, 32 but I have prayed for you that your faith may not fail. And when you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
C. Jesus and the Father have strong hands, and no one can snatch away his sheep
John 10:27-30 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. 28 I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand. 29 My Father, who has given them to me,[a] is greater than all, and no one is able to snatch them out of the Father’s hand. 30 I and the Father are one.”
D. In every trial, Jesus guards us as our Good Shepherd, he will not lose one
John 18:9 “Of those whom you have given me, I have not lost one.”
The theological implications of this statement are staggering. Though the text is speaking of his disciples being arrested and threatened with physical death, the implication is that if they faced that on that particular night, they would be lost spiritually to the Father and the Son. So Jesus filters our circumstances so that nothing happens to us beyond what we can bear, and nothing will lead to us being lost eternally. That is real power!
So this is how Jesus ministers contentment to us. In any and every affliction, we can be certain that it has come to us by the will of Christ, our Good Shepherd. Though it may hurt us severely, it will not ultimately harm us, for he cannot lose any one of his sheep. And all the seemingly arbitrary decisions of kings and governors, of officials and policy makers, all of them are under his sovereign power. He is the King of kings and the Lord of lords. And that is an solid foundation for unshakeable contentment.
IX. Christ Ministers Contentment: By His presence
A. Jesus promised to never leave or forsake us (Heb. 13:5)
The greatest comfort to us is this one timeless assertion:
Hebrews 13:5 Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have, for he has said, “I will never leave you nor forsake you.”
B. Jesus is with his people as they minister in hostile situations
Acts 18:9-10 Do not be afraid, but go on speaking and do not be silent, for I am with you, and no one will attack you to harm you, for I have many in this city who are my people.
C. Jesus “stands” by his people in trials and afflictions (2 Tim. 4:16-17)
2 Timothy 4:16-17 At my first defense, no one came to my support, but everyone deserted me. May it not be held against them. But the Lord stood at my side and gave me strength, so that through me the message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. And I was delivered from the lion’s mouth.”
D. Jesus is with us always, even to the end of the age
Matthew 28:20 And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.
Isaiah 43:1-2 Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
X. Christ Ministers Contentment: By What He Teaches About Fear and
Anxiety
Fighting Anxiety with Faith-filled Reason
One of the greatest thieves of contentment is anxiety. No one worked more carefully at enabling us to defeat anxiety than Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount:
Matthew 6:25-34 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I
tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 ¶ Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.
Jesus labors to teach us how to defeat anxiety:
1. Worry is contrary to obedience
Jesus commands us THREE TIMES in this passage not to worry! (vs. 25, 31, 34) It is simply disobedient to worry… just as it is disobedient to be discontent.
2. Worry is contrary to reason
Jesus uses faith-based reason to talk us out of worry… “If X is so, how much more will Y be so…” It’s logic!
He uses our experience in this world to teach us life lessons of God’s providential control of all things… and then says “How much more will God care for you?” Surrounding us every moment is evidence of how comprehensively the power of God is ruling over even the smallest details of life on earth. That concept alone should be sufficient to destroy anxiety, which itself is hostile to contentment.
3. Worry is contrary to faith
Jesus chides his disciples with the phrase, “O you of little faith…” It is a strong encouragement for us to use our faith to defeat anxiety… and discontent. See into the invisible spiritual world what a mighty and loving heavenly Father we have.
He also compares us to pagans… saying it is dishonoring to faith to act like a pagan and run after earthly concerns.
4. Worry is contrary to fruitfulness
Seeking first God’s Kingdom and his righteousness is the essence of a fruitful life. That should be our focus. Anxiety distracts us from that. A Kingdom-focused content person will be much more fruitful than a self-focused worried person.
Also humility should teach us that we do not have the power to deal with BOTH today’s worries AND tomorrows as well.
Fear: Clear and present danger
Anxiety: Bad use of imagination
A. Jesus commands us to not be anxious about our life (Mt. 6:25-34) § Our anxiety cannot add a single hour to our lives, so why worry?
B. Jesus commands us to not be anxious about our physical needs (Mt. 6:25-34) § God the Father cares for the lilies of the field, and he will care for you
C. Jesus commands us to not to fear those who kill the body, but can’t touch the soul
Matthew 10:28 And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
§ We are to fear God, who can cast the soul and the body in hell
XI. Christ Ministers Contentment: By How He Focuses Our Desire
A. Jesus tells us to seek the kingdom of God (Mt. 6:25-34)
B. Jesus brings contentment by showing where we are to seek satisfaction
Matthew 5:6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
C. Jesus invites us to drink of his “living water”
John 4:14 but whoever drinks of the water that I will give him will never be thirsty again. The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.
D. Jesus himself is the bread of life, the bread that satisfies (Jn. 6:35)
John 6:35 Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
E. Mary chose the “good portion” – to sit at the feat of Jesus and hear his word
Luke 10:39-42 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.” 41 But the Lord answered her, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, 42 but one thing is necessary.[e] Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.”
XII. Jesus Kills Discontentment by Teaching Us What to Expect in this World
A. Jesus teaches us that there will be tribulations in this world
John 16:33 I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.”
B. Jesus teaches us that we will be hated by the world
Matthew 10:22 You will be hated by all because of my name, but whoever endures to the end will be saved.
C. Jesus teaches us that we will be persecuted by men
John 15:20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
John 16:2 They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming when whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God.
D. Jesus teaches that following him his “taking up your cross”
Matthew 16:24 Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.
E. Jesus taught that there was immense joy in obeying and following him
John 15:11 These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and that your joy may be full.
