We had three birthdays to celebrate – one in retrospect, one for the coming week and one for the week after (when the lady is on holiday!)

How did Paul learn the secret of contentment? I suspect he learned it through the times when God said ‘no’ to him.

In 2 Cor 12, Paul tells us he faced great trouble which he describes as a ‘thorn in the flesh.’  He tells us he pleaded with God to remove this from him. We don’t know exactly what this thorn in the flesh was, but clearly Paul wasn’t very happy about it! And then, to top it all, what God said to him wasn’t the answer he was looking for. God said to him, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Cor 12:9) In other words, no. God wasn’t going to do what Paul had wanted. At this point, most of us fail to learn the lesson Paul learned. We get upset with God for saying no to us. We get angry with Him because He doesn’t do what we want. And we allow unhappiness to have the last word. Paul’s reaction was different. Eventually, he learned to say, ‘I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.’ (2 Cor 12:9) He learned that if God’s grace was sufficient for him, then he could live with the thorn in the flesh. He could actually go one step further and boast about his weaknesses, because he realised that it was when he was weak that Christ’s strength could actually be seen. He went on to say, ‘That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.’ (2 Cor 12:10) He had moved from being discontented, dissatisfied and unhappy to being delighted, contented and strong.

When things don’t go our way and we face adversity in all its many different guises – illnesses, bereavement, disappointment, loneliness, wrecked expectations, loss of hope, betrayal, opposition, persecution and whatever else may cause us to  stumble – we have a choice. We can turn our backs on God, believing Him to be fickle, capricious, mean and unloving, or we can learn to trust Him and lean on Him all the more, even when we don’t understand what is happening and even when our hearts are breaking. ‘What’s true in the light is still true in the dark,’ as Rend Collective sing. (‘Weep With Me’) Contentment is the result of a heart that leans on God and finds, in return, the peace that transends all understanding guarding our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:6-7)

This morning at Cherry Tree Court we looked at the subject of contentment. We live in a society which doesn’t seem to value contentment, with advertisers urging us always onto better, bigger, brighter things! But Paul told TImothy that godliness with contentment is great gain (1 Tim 6:6) and warned us against placing too high a value on material possessions. (1 Tim 6:7-10). Contentment is of great value in life:‘I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. I can do all this through him who gives me strength.’ (Phil 4:11-13)

We might view this is as idealistic hopefulness, but throughout his life, Paul faced many hardships for Christ. He was flogged by the Jews five times because of his faith in Jesus. He was beaten three times with rods, pelted with stones and was shipwrecked three times. (2 Cor 11:24-25) He knew what it was not to know where he was going to spend the next night because he was constantly on the move. (2 Cor 11:26) He knew all kinds of danger – including danger from rivers, danger from bandits, danger from other Jews, and danger from Gentiles. (2 Cor 11:26) Paul knew what it was to work until you were utterly exhausted and then still not be able to sleep because there was other work to be done. (2 Cor 11:27) He knew what it was to be hungry and thirsty, to be cold and naked. (2 Cor 11:27) He knew what it was to be imprisoned unfairly – in fact, he wrote this letter to the Philippians whilst he was in prison. So if anyone had reason to be discontented, it was Paul.

Yet Philippians is a book which resounds with joy, because Paul has learned the secret of contentment, which is bound up in our relationship with God, our security in knowing He is Lord of all and that He is working for our good in every situation. (Rom 8:28) It’s Christ’s strength in us which enables us to rise above our circumstances and learn to patiently wait for the Lord. Joseph is another person who learned this secret. Despite opposition, being sold into slavery and unfair imprisonment, Joseph learned to wait and trust God, forgiving his brothers and seeing God’s ‘bigger picture’ come to pass. (Gen 50:20) If we learn this lesson, we too can find contentment in any and every situation.

“The early church didn’t import existing culture into the church; they exported kingdom culture into the world. It’s what culture carriers do.” (Alan Scott)

Jesus talked about His disciples being in the world but not of the world. (John 17:14-19) When we are in Christ, we become those who participate or partake of the divine nature (2 Pet 1:4) We are given access to God’s way of doing things and have access also to the very power that raised Jesus from the dead. (Eph 1:18-19)

So many of us live, however, as though Jesus is simply an add-on to the life we used to live. This is not how it is meant to be. (Eph 4:17-24) Jesus wants to transform us totally from the inside out. His principles, methodology and motivation have to become ours. We have to put on love. (Col 3:12-14)

I find Alan Scott’s words challenging but entirely consistent with Scripture: “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Rom 12:2)

Be a culture carrier today. Forgive those who don’t deserve forgiveness. Love those who don’t love you. Bless those who oppose you and persecute you. Do something for nothing. Extend grace to those who have no hope. Show mercy to those who deserve judgment. Don’t retaliate when you’d love to punch someone. Live out kingdom culture insteasd of being indistinguishable from the world. Our evangelism has to be more than words. Carry God’s culture into the world and show people what God is really like.

The third Summer Fun day at Furlong Road Methodist Church was a great success, with board games and pottery painting the chief activities.

Outside, we had even more games:

Thanks to all the helpers, especially workers from the local Co-op who provided food for the event and helped to serve it.

We have a hope beyond this life.

“Amazing grace, how sweet the sound
That saved a wretch like me
For I once was lost but now I’m found
Was blind but now I see.

Hallelujah
Christ is risen from the grave
Hallelujah
Christ is risen from the grave

The prodigal is welcomed home
The sinner now a saint,
For the God who died came back to life
And everything is changed.

Oh death, where is Your sting?
Oh fear, where is Your power?
For the mighty King of kings has disarmed you.
Delivered and redeemed,
Eternal life resounds,
Oh praise His name forever.

And on the day You call me in
To Heaven’s sweet embrace
I’ll see Your scars, Your open arms
And the beauty of Your face
Through tears of joy, I’ll lift my voice
In everlasting praise
Hallelujah
Christ is risen from the grave.

And all throughout eternity
Our song will be the same.
Hallelujah
Christ is risen from the grave.” (‘Christ Is Risen’, Phil Wickham)