The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 5

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 11 Divine Motives to Contentment...

1st Divine Motive: Consider the Excellency of it...
"There are two things in a contented spirit which make it like heaven: 1.God is there. 2. Rest is there."

"Contentment makes a man in tune to serve God."

"Contentment fits a man to bear burdens."

"Contentment prevents many sins and temptations...
SINS:
There are two sins in particular which contentment prevents: impatience & murmuring...
Impatience arises from a lack of faith; a lack of love for God; and a lack of humility.
Murmuring is quarrelling with God. The murmurer saith that God hath not dealt well with him and he deserves better... In Numbers 17:10 murmurers are likened to rebels; and is not rebellion as the sin of witchcraft? O Christian, be not as a witch, a sorcerer, or as one that deals with devil!
A contented Christian doth not murmur, but admire.
TEMPTATIONS:
"Satan takes great advantage of discontent because it eclipses reason and weakens faith which leads to atheism and apostasy."

"Contentment sweetens every condition...Do I meet with crosses? My comfort is, if they be heavy, I have not far to go."

"Contentment is the best commentator upon providence..."Love thinketh no evil" of God's providence, no matter how dark. God is wise; he hath done this either to prevent some sin or to exercise some grace."

2nd Divine Motive: Hath not God given thee Christ?
"A Christian hath "one thing needful"...Is there not enough inexhaustible treasure locked up in Jesus Christ to give the soul content?"

4th Divine Motive: God hath His end and Satan misses his end.
""The devil will cast some of you into prison" Rev.2:10...Why doth the devil throw us into prison? It is not so much the hurting of our body, as the molesting of our mind, that he aims at...O let us not gratify our enemy! for he loves to warm himself at the fire our passions...Repentance is the joy of angels, and discontent is the joy of the devils.

7th Divine Motive: Consider the evil of it.
"Discontent is unworthy of a Christian's profession. It was the saying of the heathen, bear thy condition quietly, "know thou art a man"; so I say, bear thy condition contentedly, "know thou art a Christian."

9th Divine Motive: The shortness of life. It is "but a vapor", saith James (Ja.4:14)
"We have but a short time here, and death calls us presently off the stage; therefore to thirst immoderately after the world, is an extreme folly."

"Death begins a wicked man's hell, but it puts an end to godly man's hell."

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 4

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 10 A Suasive to Contentment...

"Discontentment is sin. It labors to hide itself under some mask or vindicate itself by some apology."

Apologies & Replys...

Apology: "I have lost a child"
Reply: Oftentimes, our love to relations is more than our love to religion. We must be content, not only ehen God gives mercies, but when He takes away. look not so much upon a temporal loss, as a spiritual gain. O, be not discontented that a mercy is taken away from you, but rather be thankful that is was lent you so long. Be thankful of the loss of burden or the saving from future evils. Think of the mercies you still enjoy. Christ hath given you His only Son. Why complain of losses if you have Christ? He is his Father's brightness (Heb.1:3), his riches (Col.2:9), his delight (Ps.42:1). Is there enought in Christ to delight the heart of God? Then there should be enough in Him to ravish us holy delight.
He is wisdom to teach us, righteousness to acquit us, sanctification to adorn us; He is all in all. Why then are thou discontented? Though the child be lost, yet thou has Him for whom all things are loss.

Apology: "I have a great part of my estate largely melted away"
Reply: God hath taken away your estate, but not your portion. Honor and estate are rather luxuries than essentials. Be content; if God dam up our outward comforts, it is, that the stream of our love may run faster another way.

Apology: "It is sad with me in my relations"
This apology branches into two particulars...
1st: "My child goes in rebellion"
Reply: a) The child's sin is sometimes the parents sermon. Look upon your child's rebellion and mourn for your own rebellion.
b) To see him undutiful is your grief, yet not always your sin. Hast thou seasoned his tender years with religious education? Thous canst do no more; parents can only work knowledge, God must work grace.
Weep for the child, pray for him; but do not sin for him by discontent.
2nd: "My husband takes ill courses"
Reply: Mourn for his sins but do not murmur. God hath placed you in your relation; you must not quarrel with God. God often turns the sins of others to our good; and makes our maladies our medicines.

Apology: "My friends have dealt unkindly with me"
Reply: Why should we think it strange to have the same measure dealt out to us as Jesus Christ had? Look upon the unkindness of thy friend, and mourn for thy own unkindness against God; shall a Christian condemn that in another, which he hath been guilty of himself? You have a friend in heaven that will never fail you. Pr.18:24

Apology: "Disrespect from the world...I have not that esteem from men as is suitable to my quality and grace."
Reply: Honor is in him that gives it. It is better that God approve, than men applaud. Discontent arising from disrespect savours too much of pride; a humble Christian hath a lower opinion of himself.

Apology: "I meet with very great suffering for the truth"
Reply: Your sufferings are not so great as your sins. Shall we not with much constancy and patience devote ourselves to injuries for religion, and rather suffer for truth than the truth suffer for us?

Apology: "The evil of the times: heresy & impiety"
Reply to heresy: It should make us mourn when every man's opinion is his bible, but let us not murmur through discontent. God can make the errors of the church advantageous to truth; some had never so studied to defend the truth by scripture, if others had not endeavored to overthrow it by deceitful reasoning.
When we see others have the "leprosy in the head", how thankful are we to God that he hath not given us over to believe a lie and so be damned?
Reply to impiety: It is indeed sad to live among the wicked, yet, we ought, if there be any spark of divine love in us, to be very sensible of the sins of others, and to have our hearts bleed for them.

Apology: "My sins disquiet & discontent me"
Reply: Be sure not to lie to God or yourself; a man's disquiet about sin may be beyond its bounds, in 3 cases...
1. When it is disheartening, that is, when it sets up sin above mercy.
2. When sorrow is indisposing, it untunes the heart for prayer, meditation, and holy conference. This is not sorrow but rather sulleness and doth render a man not so much penitential as cynical.
3. When it is out of season. This is when God calls us to be thankful for a special mercy and Satan puts us to mourning; therefore God looses the acknowledgment of mercy, and we the comfort.

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 3

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 6 The Nature of Contentment...

"Contentment - a sweet temper of spirit, whereby a Christian carries himself in an equal poise in every condition."

Webster's 1828 definition, contentment - satisfaction of mind; appeasment; gratification; quietness of spirit. Content, literally means held, contained within limits, hence quiet; having a mind at peace.

"1. Contentment is a divine thing - we can not acquire it ourselves, it must be infused to us by God."

"2. Contentment is an intrinsical thing - contentment lies within the soul, and doth not depend upon external comforts. Contentment arises from apprehension of God's love."

"3. Contentment is a habitual thing - it is a settled temper of the heart."

"Highlights" from Chapter 7 Reasons Pressing to Holy Contentment...

"1. It is God's precept. Hebrews 13:5 "Be content with such things as you have."
"Though our hearts become as a raging sea, they should be stilled by His word."

"2. It is God's promise to "never leave us, nor forsake us." We should be content to be at God's disposal."

"Highlight" from Chapter 8...

"The way to be comfortable, is not by having our barns filled, but our minds quiet."

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 2

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

"Highlights" from Chapter 3...

"This word, "I have learned," is a word that imports difficulty; it shows how hardly the apostle came by contentment of mind; it was not bred in nature...It is an easy thing to be wicked but matters of religion must be learned."

"Good things are hard to come by."

"There are two pregnant reasons why there must be so much study and exercitation: 1. Because spiritual things are against our nature. 2. Because spiritual things are above our nature."

(In this section, Watson goes on to describe individually why faith, self-denial, self-examination, and self-reformation are all against our nature...he concluded with...)

"We must implore the Spirit to teacheth! Is.48:17"

"Highlights from Chapter 4...

"The main proposition I shall insist upon, is this, that a gracious spirit is a contented spirit. The doctrine of contentment is very superlative, and till we have learned this, we have not learned to be Christians."

"Contentment is a hard lesson. If our first parents clothed with innocency had not learned to be content, O how hard shall we find it, who are full of corruption!"

"To bid a natural man to live by faith, and when things go cross, be contented, you bid him do what he hath no skill in."

"To live contented upon God in the deficiency of outward comforts, is an art which "flesh and blood hath not learned;" nay, many of God's own children, who excel in other duties of religion, when they come to contentment, how they do bungle. They have scarce become masters of this art."

"Highlights" from Chapter 5...

"1. We must be sensible of our condition and humble ourselves under the mighty hand of God."

"2. We must pray. When any burden is upon the spirit, prayer gives vent, and it easeth the heart. "Hannah, having prayed, and wept, she went away, and was sad no more." "

"The difference between a holy complaint and a discontented complaint; in one we complain to God, in the other we complain of God."

"3. We must forego: ~ vexatious repining (murmuring) ~ uneven discomposure (being easily agitated, defeated, and confused) ~ childish despondency (uninformed depression)

The Art of Divine Contentment - Part 1

The Art of Divine Contentment: An Exposition of Philippians 4:11

"I have learned, in whatsoever state I am in, therewith to be content." Philippians 4:11

A quote from the FOREWORD by C.H.Spurgeon: "Although Thomas Watson issued several most valuable books, comparatively little is known of him - even the dates of his birth and death are unknown. His writings are his best memorial; perhaps he needed no other, and therefore providence forbade the superfluity."

"Highlights" from Chapter 1 An Introduction to the Text...

"Care when it is eccentric, either distrustful or distracting, is very dishonourable to God"

(The meaning behind some of these words seem to change over time, so using my Webster's 1828 dictionary, I translated the above quote to...)

Discontentment, which is deviation from divine law, comes either from not trusting in God or because of distractions away from heavenly things; both dishonor God.

"Highlights" from Chapter 2 The First Branch of the Text...

"I have learned"

"not "I have heard" thus..."

"It is not enough for Christians to hear their duty but they must learn their duty."

"Christians hear much, but it is feared, learn little."

"How can you say you have 'learned' what sin is, if you have not learned to leave sin! You have not learned - you have heard. Will you have learned what a viper is, yet still play with it?"

"A man may know much of Christ - so did the devils."
"A man may preach Christ - so did Judas."
"A man may profess Christ - there are many professors that Christ will not profess (Matt.7:22-23)

"To learn Christ is to believe in Him."
"To learn Christ is to love Christ."
"To learn Christ is to be made like Christ."

21 Posts To Go!

Well, I have posted 79 times since I started this blog in April! That means there is 21 more to go before my BIG 100th BLOG GIVEAWAY!!! I've never done a giveaway, so this will be my first and I am very excited about it!!! It's going to be a very special 'edification' gift!!! So, I hope you'll stay tuned and be looking forward to it.

In the meantime, I would like to do something new on my blog...

I'm calling it a: "Book Highlight".

What I would like to do is share some of my favorite books with you by giving you the "highlights" of each chapter! For those of you who are not "readers" you will really enjoy these little snippets of edification. And for those of you who are avid readers, hopefully it will inspire you to read the whole book!

The first book I would like to "highlight" is: The Art of Divine Contentment by Thomas Watson. This is the most powerful book I've ever read on the fruit of contentment and I know it will be of the utmost encouragement to you. I pray you'll be faithful to follow along and reap the fruits of this labor for the glory of God.

Happy Anniversary!

This past Friday, Jamey & I celebrated our 16th Wedding Anniversary!

For those of you who know us well, you know the INCREDIBLE testimony God has so graciously given us over the years...and today, we want to give Him all the honor, praise, and glory!

Thank you Father for your patient loving kindness towards two depraved sinners such as us! We love you and praise your Holy Name! Thank you for never leaving nor forsaking us. Thank you for 16 wonderful years of guidance and protection. Words cannot express our eternal gratitude for all Your grace and mercy. We look forward to spending all eternity worshipping You in the splendor of holiness! Thank you Lord, we love you!

A Cherished Memory...

(Yes, that's mud on my arm... We were mud-boggin!

It's good to laugh and play and act like kids every now and then :)

A song for my hubby...

You're Still The One

Shania Twain

(when I first saw you, I saw love.

and the first time you touched me, I felt love.

and after all this time, you’re still the one I love.)

Looks like we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

We mighta took the long way

We knew we’d get there someday

They said, ’i bet they’ll never make it’

But just look at us holding on

We’re still together still going strong

You’re still the one I run to

The one that I belong to

You’re still the one I want for life

You’re still the one that I love

The only one I dream of

You’re still the one I kiss good night

Ain’t nothin’ better

We beat the odds together

I’m glad we didn’t listen

Look at what we would be missin’

I’m so glad we made it

Look how far we’ve come my baby

I love you Jamey and I'm very thankful for the 16 years we've shared together. I pray there be MANY more to come.

Treasure, Rejoice, and Delight

Psalm 119:11-16

11. Your word I have treasured in my heart,
That I may not sin against You.

12. Blessed are You, O LORD;
Teach me Your statutes.

13. With my lips I have told of
All the ordinances of Your mouth.

14. I have rejoiced in the way of Your testimonies,
As much as in all riches.

15. I will meditate on Your precepts
And regard Your ways.

16. I shall delight in Your statutes;
I shall not forget Your word.

God is glorified not only by His glories being seen, but by its being rejoiced in. When those that see it delight in it, God is more glorified than if they only see it. ~ John Piper

Homo Unius Libri

I have thought I am a creature of a day, passing through life as an arrow through the air. I am a spirit come from God and returning to God; just hovering over the great gulf, till a few moments hence I am no more seen. I drop into an unchangeable eternity! I want to know one thing, the way to heaven - how to land safe on that happy shore. God himself has condescended to teach the way: for this very end he came from heaven. He hath written it down in a book. O give me that book! At any price give me the Book of God! I have it. Here is knowledge enough for me. Let me be homo unius libri [a man of one book].

~ John Wesley 1746

Reformation & Revival

Here is a quote from Death in the City by Francis A. Schaeffer...

The church in our generation needs reformation, revival and constructive revolution. At times men think of the two words, reformation and revival as standing in contrast to one another, but this is a mistake. Both words are related to the word restore.

Reformation refers to a restoration to pure doctrine, revival refers to a restoration in the Christian life. Reformation refers to a return to the teachings of scripture; revival speaks of a life brought into it's proper relationship to the Holy Spirit.

The great moments of church history have come when these two restorations have simultaneously come into action so that the church has returned to pure doctrine and the lives of the Christians in the church have known the power of the Holy Spirit. There cannot be true revival unless there has been reformation and reformation is not complete without revival.

Such a combination of reformation and revival would be revolutionary in our day.

May we be those who know the reality of both reformation and revival so that this poor dark world may have an exhibition of a portion of the church returned to both pure doctrine and Spirit filled life.