Christ is Enough for the Christian
“Christ is Enough for the Christian”
The principle of Chirstian contentment.
Introduction: Hebrews 13:1-17; 5,6
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. 6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
“a state of mind in which one's desires are confined to his lot whatever it may be (1Ti 6:6; 2Co 9:8).
1Ti 6:6 But godliness with contentment is great gain. (SUFFICIENCY)
2Co 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:
It is opposed to (BE WITHOUT):
- envy (Jas 3:16), covetousness: not greedy of filthy lucre; avarice (Heb 13:5), ambition (Pr 13:10), anxiety (Mt 6:25,34),
and repining (1Co 10:10), complacency
- It arises from the inward disposition, and is the offspring of humility,
- and of an intelligent consideration of:
- the rectitude and benignity of divine providence (Ps 96:1,2; 145:1-21),
- the greatness of the divine promises (2Pe 1:4),
- and our own unworthiness (Ge 32:10);
- as well as from the view the gospel opens up to us of rest and peace hereafter.
Resting in the assurance that God’s will and ways are perfect.
James 3:16 For where envying and strife is, there is confusion and every evil work.
Pr 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom.
Mt 6:25 Therefore I say unto you, Take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink; nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on. Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
The CONTENTEDNESS of the Christian relies entirely on the SUFFICIENCY of Christ. Christ is enough for the Christian.
Gen. 17:1 (El Shaddai “All-Sufficient One”)
A Biblical Perspective on Where We Have Been
A Biblical Perspective on Where We Are Now
A Biblical Perspective on Where We are Headed
A Biblical Perspective on Where We Have Been
- HUMILITY ( a proper state of mind)
- The pretext of a mind that is content, is that it has a Biblical view on what lies behind it.
- 1 Corinthians 10:10 “neither murmur ye” (complain, repining)
- 1 Cor. 10:10 Neither murmur ye, as some of them also murmured, and were destroyed of the destroyer.
- How Have we gotten here? Coincidence? Accident? NOTHING IS TO BE ATTRIBUTED TO FORTUNE. God disposes of it according to his goodness, mercy, and truth. The result, therefore, cannot be fortuitous
Pr 16:33 The lot is cast into the lap; but the whole disposing thereof is of the LORD.
Isaiah 51:1 - Hearken to me, ye that follow after righteousness, ye that seek the LORD: look unto the rock whence ye are hewn, and to the hole of the pit whence ye are digged.
- Bitterness, poor perspective (God’s Point of View), and callus revisionism toward the life shaping moments in our life are debilitating and are a hindrance to finding contentment.
- POSITIVE: “Ill Gotten Gain”
- Proverbs 15:27 He that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house; but he that hateth gifts shall live. [unjust gain]
- NEGATIVE: (ROCK & HOLE/Abraham & Sarah: parentage) “” Do not be chained to what is past, but we must be properly informed by it.
Isa 51:2 Look unto Abraham your father, and unto Sarah that bare you: for I called him alone, and blessed him, and increased him.
A Biblical Perspective on Where We Are Now
- Francis of Assissi : "What a man is in the sight of God, that he is and no more."
- NOT COMPLACENT one's desires are confined to his lot
Complacent: pleasant; ‘pleasing’, feeling so satisfied with your own abilities or situation that you feel you do not need to try any harder:
CONTENT: 714. the idea of raising a barrier; to ward off, i.e. (by implication) to avail (figuratively, be satisfactory):--be content, be enough, suffice, be sufficient.
What is the “LOT” of the child of God? (What are our desires confined to?)
- Galatians 2:20 -- I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
- Ps 16:5 The LORD is the portion of mine inheritance and of my cup: thou maintainest my lot.
- Col 3:2 Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.
- We are to Enjoy and live the life we have now. Do not become of “no earthly good”
- To carry on with business.
- To occupy is also a military term. It means to control and possess a hostile territory in order for the invading Kingdom to establish a military government against an enemy within the enemy’s own territory.
Luke 19:13 And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come.
- Matthew 6:25 “Take no thought for your life”
- NOT “THOUGHTLESS”, but do not be ANXIOUS
- Is not the life more than meat, and the body than raiment?
- Am I living a life larger than this temporal world?
- Matthew 6:34 “Take no thought for the morrow” (don’t borrow worry from tomorrow’s trouble)
- anxiety
Matthew 6:34 Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof.
A Biblical Perspective on Where We are Headed
- Man's fascination with the future
- read some predictions/prophesies
- Joh 21:20 ¶ Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? 21 Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? 22 Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.
- Not selfish ambition; driven
- Avarice: extreme greed for wealth or material gain (Heb 13:5),
Phillippians 3:14 I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus.
- The Challenge of goals, Go west young man, Evangelism
- Our Cause
- Matthew 6:25-34; Jeremiah 29:11; Philippians 1:6; Romans 15:13; Proverbs 19:20-21; Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 Peter 1:3-4; 2 Corinthians 4:17-18; Lamentations 3:21-23; Proverbs 16:1-4; James 4:13-17; Psalms 103:1-5; Romans 8:18-25; 1 Thessalonians 5:1-11; 2 Thessalonians 2:1-12
CONCLUSION
Christ is enough for me. “for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee” (Hebrews 13:5)
Hebrews 13:1-17
1 Let brotherly love continue.
2 Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.
3 Remember them that are in bonds, as bound with them; and them which suffer adversity, as being yourselves also in the body.
4 Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.
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.
6 So that we may boldly say, The Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me.
7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.
8 Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and to day, and for ever.
9 Be not carried about with divers and strange doctrines. For it is a good thing that the heart be established with grace; not with meats, which have not profited them that have been occupied therein.
10 We have an altar, whereof they have no right to eat which serve the tabernacle.
11 For the bodies of those beasts, whose blood is brought into the sanctuary by the high priest for sin, are burned without the camp.
12 Wherefore Jesus also, that he might sanctify the people with his own blood, suffered without the gate.
13 Let us go forth therefore unto him without the camp, bearing his reproach.
14 For here have we no continuing city, but we seek one to come.
15 By him therefore let us offer the sacrifice of praise to God continually, that is, the fruit of our lips giving thanks to his name.
16 But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.
17 Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves: for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief: for that is unprofitable for you.
No Comments