My State is NOT My Status!
WHBC, 12-4-22, Sunday Morning Service
Pastor Gary Caudill

NOTES

Php 4:4-13  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 
5  Let your moderation [appropriateness, mildness, gentleness, patience] be known unto all men. The Lord is at hand. 
Be careful for nothing; but in every thing by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God. 
7  And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. 
8  Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things. 
Those things, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me, do: and the God of peace shall be with you. 
10  But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. 
11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 
12  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. 
13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 
 

FOCUS:  Php 4:11  Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. 

STATE:  Greek:  That person, place, or thing which is relative to your current situation.
CONTENT:  Webster:  quiet; not disturbed; having a mind at peace; satisfied, so as not to object or oppose.

             1Ti 6:6  But godliness with contentment is great gain
 
  • MY STATE IS NOT MY STATUS!
  • UP OR DOWN, MY STATE IS NOT MY STATUS!

 

1.  The Parameters

Php 4:4  Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice. 

2.  The Paradox

Php 4:12  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 [super natural] and to be hungry [natural], both to abound [super natural] and to suffer need [natural]
 
  • Everyone has their JACOB & their ISRAEL. 
  • Everyone has their ISAAC & their ISHMAEL.

3.  The Power

Php 4:13  I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me. 

CONCLUSION:

Rom 8:36-37  As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. 
37  Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. 
 
  • My STATE is that I’m IMPRISONED, my STATUS is that I’m FREE!
  • My STATE is that I’m HUNGRY, my STATUS is that I’m FULL!
  • My STATE is that I’m WEAK, my STATUS is that I’m STRONG
  • My STATE is that I’m SICK, my STATUS is that I’m HEALED!
  • My STATE is that I’m TROUBLED, my STATUS is that I’m NOT DISTRESSED!
  • My STATE is that I’m PERPLEXED, my STATUS Is that I’m NOT IN DESPAIR!
  • My STATE is that I’m PERSECUTED, my STATUS is that I’m NOT FORSAKEN!
  • My STATE is that I’m CAST DOWN, my STATUS is that I’m NOT DESTROYED!!!!

Paul wrote in Philippians 2:17, "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all.

He wrote that... from a prison cell... for their sake... literally living what he preached... WITH JOY!!!

"Lord please help me never again to grumble at the costs of ministry which benefit your Church.  Rather, let me REJOICE and be JOYFUL that my pain is someone else's gain."

It is only then, I'm convinced, that the purest of ministry and its effects can be experienced.

T'would be a shame for the grape to go through the crushing with no wine left to offer the thirsty. 

If I am crushed, then let the end result quench the thirsty soul; and may it NEVER be said that my crushing yielded no joy juice for the sake of my own bitterness.  I don't want to be waste; I'd rather be wine!

My STATE is that I’m CRUSHED, my STATUS is that I’m WINE!

Selah!
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