09/26/2021
Welcome dearly beloved friends and family to yet again another Sunday evening service. I am so glad that you are here with us each and every week reading God’s sermons. I can honestly say that I have the privilege and honor to preach to the best and most wonderful church family ever. So please accept my gratitude for allowing me to be your pastor. It has and still is a blessing to me to be your pastor and see God work in each of your lives. Now let me take just a moment here to address the new guest readers that are here reading this for the very first time. I know that you could be anywhere right now fellowshipping with another church or doing something else with your time. So please accept my deepest gratitude for you taking the time to read God’s sermons and fellowshipping with us here at WTLC of Newark Ministries on Facebook. Now before we go to Jesus in prayer let me bring up both a major praise report and a prayer request. First off is the praise report. God has used this ministry to reach now around 2500 people each and every Sunday, transforming their lives. I am so grateful that God has used me in His ministry to bless people and to witness to them. Now for the prayer request. As we all saw last week there was a request made by one of our well known members brother Robert Wyatt! So let’s definitely keep him and his family in our prayers. Well with that said let’s go ahead and go to the Throne of Grace boldly together in prayer.
PRAYER:
Jesus tonight I come to you with a heart of gratitude and longing. Lord I can’t help but praise you for all the mighty blessings that you’ve been giving me and this church. You’ve been watching over me and providing everything that is needed. Your Grace surely has been more than sufficient for all my needs. Jesus I pray that you’ll continue to grow WTLC of Newark Ministries. I know that you have blessed the online church dear Lord and have grown us way larger than I ever expected the church to grow. So please dear Lord Jesus know that I am very grateful. Lord I pray tonight that You will be glorified. Let your people hear from you and not just this old pastor. Let my typing be a pen of a ready writer, writing on the hearts of your people. Grant each of us the Grace that is needed to not just be hearers of the Word but doers as well. Help us each and every day to apply your Word to our lives correctly. Jesus reach out to the lost and let them read your sermons. Tug at their heart strings and don’t give them peace nor rest till they come to know you as their personal savior. Thank you dear Jesus for everything because you and only you deserve all the praise, Glory, and the honor. I pray in your Holy and blessed name. AMEN
INTRODUCTION:
Tonight we are going to cover one of the basics of truly being at peace. Knowing full-well, that we see all kinds of advertisements saying one must have certain things to be truly happy, content and have true peace of mind. We need to understand just how to be truly thankful and content thus creating a true peace within ourselves regardless of outward circumstances. This is especially important to understand during the horrific times that we are in today. For many are starving, others have lost loved ones, and others might even be homeless. Therefore, those in these situations and others that are having a bad go of it right now ask this question. “How can I be thankful, how can I truly have peace while I’m so worried about ______, and for what do I have be thankful for and be content with?” In today’s sermon we are going to cover one of the basic essentials of being at peace and that is contentment. So let’s dig in shall we.
Series: TRUE PEACE
SERMON 2: CONTENTNESS
1). First let me ask you this. How can one ever be thankful and thus have peace if they are not content with what they have? The answer is they can’t!!! So let’s first off look at exactly what is being content and why it is so very vital to you and I’s everyday walk with the Lord Jesus.
A). So let’s start by first looking into exactly what is being content. Being content is being completely satisfied with your current condition. The original text used the word autarkeia. This word literally means a perfect state of life where no aid nor support is needed; sufficiency of the necessities of life; to be content and satisfied. So basically to be content is to be satisfied and at peace in the current situation that we are in right now. This isn’t conditionally based on your amount of money or any other outward circumstances. In fact, Paul was in prison, not having all the things that we have like food, a warm bed, family, friends, TV, etc. and was still content and even said to rejoice.
1). One must note here that we are not talking about being content in our spiritual walk. No we must always be growing and becoming more mature spiritually. No, this is talking about being okay with whatever God has given you and not being covetous of what everyone else has been blessed with. This is talking about not caring if you aren’t blessed financially with millions of dollars or even if you are going hungry, know that God will supply your every single need so be content that Jesus is the bread of life and will supply your every need. Being content is not being anxious in any situation being completely satisfied with allowing Jesus to have complete control and knowing that everything will work out for the good. This is why Paul wrote to be anxious for nothing. To be content is to be completely satisfied and not worrying about anything. It’s the feeling of lack of want.
2). To be content means to be calm or at peace. So there is no strife nor uneasiness about what is going on in your life. Basically there is no anxiety about your everyday necessities. You know that everything will be okay.
😎. Now let’s look at why it is so vital for us to be content in our walk with Christ Jesus. Now remember here dearly beloved, I’m not talking about being spiritually content but emotionally and physically content.
1). Satan always tries to get us to question the love of our God and Savior Jesus Christ. Satan is consistently trying to lie to us and say that if Jesus loved us He’d not let us suffer like this. If we fall into this trap, then we risk giving up our faith in Christ and denying our salvation.
2). If we say that our situation isn’t good enough and that we want better, yet say that God is in control of our lives then we deny that God is a good God and a loving God. In fact, what we actually are doing is saying that God isn’t good enough for us. Folks this is really the main reason that we must stay content. In all reality it is a faith thing. Not being content is nothing more than a lack of faith in God and wanting to take control over from Him, thinking you can do better than Him. This will definitely end in destruction if you try and do things your own way. (Proverbs 14:12-14) 12 There is a way that seems right to a man,
But its end is the way of death.13 Even in laughter the heart may sorrow, And the end of mirth may be grief. 14 The backslider in heart will be filled with his own ways,
But a good man will be satisfied from above.
a). Basically if you aren’t content to do things God’s way and think you can do better God will allow you to. Just as you have read above though that this leads to death. In fact, if you deny God and place your life out of His control then you will be denying the power there of and are in serious risk of losing your salvation. This kind of mind set of not being content and thinking that you can be better if you did things your way will ultimately lead to you denying your salvation in Christ. You will start feeling that you can earn and deserve Heaven and all it’s glory due to your own merit. Dearly beloved, let me warn you right now. You don’t want what you and I both deserve. It is only by the mercy and Grace of God that we don’t get what we deserve but get what we don’t deserve which is His love and blessings. (Romans 3:23-25) 23 For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God; 24 Being justified freely by his grace through the redemption that is in Christ Jesus: 25 Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God; (Romans 6:23) For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.
2). Now that we see exactly what we are talking about when we are talking about being content and why it is so very vital. Now we need to look deeper into how one can be content. I mean how a person who is going through the worst possible tribulations ever could still be content. I don’t care if you are going hungry and without a home to sleep in every night. You can still be content with Jesus Christ. So let’s look at how that is.
A). The very first thing that one must do to be content is to be saved. As we have discussed before that a person will always be at war against God and therefore not be at peace. No dearly beloved, if you are not saved by the blood of Jesus then you will never be content. You will always be looking to fill a void that you have in your heart that you just can’t fill with anything other than Jesus Himself. Remember before being born again you have a carnal mind. (Romans 8:7) Because the carnal mind is enmity against God: for it is not subject to the law of God, neither indeed can be.
😎. After being born again and becoming the new creation in Christ Jesus. We must have faith in Christ and allow His Spirit, The Holy Ghost, lead us. See by allowing the Holy Ghost to lead us means that we aren’t in control. Therefore all the “stuff” that happens to us is in His hands. Now dearly beloved who better to be in control than the Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end. See the Holy Ghost knows the future and the past. So as I have preached before we need to shout for glory that Jesus is in control of our lives and allow Him to live through us. Yes allow Him so much control that He is living His life through us. (Galatians 2:20) 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.
C). Now everyone knows that Satan is going to come against them and that they are going to have trials and tribulations. So how do we be content even through all the troubles? How are to going to be content though we are hungry, starving, homeless, lost a loved one, etc.. You can go on there and name any number of things that you are going through right now. So let’s look at this a bit deeper. How do we become content even in the midst of turmoil? Remember that Paul was in prison when he wrote most of his epistles. Some of them he even knew he was about to be killed and was at the end of his life. So it is possible to be content in no matter what situation the Lord Jesus has you currently in. (Philippians 4:11-13) 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.
1). First we must stop trying to do things our way. In fact, that is exactly what the Bible says in (Psalms 46:10-11) 10 Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth. 11 The Lord of hosts is with us; the God of Jacob is our refuge. Selah.
a). Note here the statement by God to be still. That means to stop and wait on the Lord, which brings me to the next thing.
2). Then after stopping we take God our troubles. We aren’t to be afraid to go to God in prayer. No, in fact, we are to come to Him boldly. (Matthew 11:28-30) 28 Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.(Hebrews 4:16) 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.
3) Now after you stop trying to do things yourself and then put them in the hands of the Almighty God, Jesus Christ. Then you must wait on Him. He will answer you and fight your battles for you. In fact, this is why in the Scripture above in Psalms that God stated to wait upon the Lord. This is to strengthen our faith. Folks we must understand that our trials produce endurance and strengthen our faith in Christ Jesus.
4). Finally after all of the above we just need to have complete faith in Jesus and know that He will never leave us nor forsake us. We MUST know and have faith that the Word of God is true and accurate so that when Satan tries, which he will, to come and lie to us that we don’t fall for his lies.
a). Now how do we know that Word of God is true and accurate? By first reading what it says. Dearly beloved we are to always study the Bible so that we know God’s promises. In fact, the Bible is our only OFFENSIVE weapon that we have. So in order to effectively use the Sword of the Spirit one must know what it says. So we must always be reading, feeding, and meditating on the Scriptures and the promises in them.
D). Jesus states that if we seek that we will find. This dearly beloved isn’t just for if we seek Him that we will find Him. No, this is even in life if we seek only the bad things then we will only see the bad things. Look at Peter when he was walking on the water heading to Jesus. Once he got his eyes off of Jesus then he started to sink and would’ve drown if he wouldn’t have gotten his eyes back on Jesus. This is why Paul wrote in (Philippians 4:6-9) 6 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. 9 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.
CONCLUSION:
Dearly beloved I know times are very rough right now and many of you are having to struggle with many different things. Please know that I am in no way trying to diminish the struggle here. All I am saying is that we MUST consistently stay content with our current situation. Dearly beloved we must rely on God for everything. God will ultimately pull you through. He will supply your every need. Though sometimes this may be hard to do and comprehend, especially with the wicked seemingly getting rich and getting away with no consequences. Their consequences will be in the afterlife. So no matter what is going on in your life take it to God. He will be there and give you comfort, peace and the ability to be content through His Grace. This goes if your rich or poor. Many times it’s easier to be content if you’re poor than if you’re rich. Remember everything belongs to God so if you are rich you must NEVER EVER start relying on your riches for anything. Your belongings on this earth are just here to borrow. So either rich or poor put everything in God’s hands and be content knowing that our true riches are in Heaven above. Dearly beloved your most precious and by far most valuable possession of all is your salvation. We have covered before what Heaven is like and the fact that we will have a huge mansion in Heaven waiting for us. So no matter what on this earth is going on we can always be content and satisfied knowing that even if we die that we will be present with the Lord in Paradise forevermore.
Now let me take just a moment here to address the folks that are here that can say that they don’t know the Lord Jesus as their personal Lord and Savior. Dearly beloved you will never be content EVER. You are always going to be trying to fill a void and quench a thirst that is unquenchable without Jesus and the blood of Jesus washing away your sins and allowing Jesus to live inside you. So please know that if you want contentment you must come to the Lord. Also dearly beloved if you don’t know the Lord Jesus as your savior you are already judged and found guilty of sin, as we are all sinners and guilty of sin. The difference is though, that we have the blood of Jesus to wash that sin away and to declare by His death on the cross our punishment is already paid. Therefore without Christ Jesus as your savior you will pay the penalty for your own sins. Please know that you cannot earn your way to Heaven that no amount of good deeds on this earth will ever get you in. No dearly beloved only Jesus is the key. If you aren’t going to Heaven you are headed for Hell where there is everlasting torment and pain that never ceases. So please before it is to late realize that you do need a savior and come to Jesus. If you want eternal security and know for a fact that you are Heaven bound and have everlasting peace and contentment pray with me right now. Jesus I come to you as a sinner. I know that there is nothing that I can do to earn my way into Heaven. In fact, Jesus, I know that the more I try to earn it the further away I get. Please come into my heart right now and wash me clean of my sins. Save me Jesus and be my Lord. I accept your gift of eternal life through the blood that you shed at Calvary for the remission of my sin. Help me from this day forth to live a life pleasing to you. By faith Jesus I am now a child of the Most High God. Satan I now command you to flee out of my life. You have no more authority to continue to stay in my life. I belong to Jesus now. Jesus thank you for my salvation and for being my Lord. I love you Jesus AMEN AND AMEN
Now if you just prayed that prayer and meant it from the bottom of your heart please let me know so that I can personally welcome you into the loving family of God. Also if you’d like to pray a prayer that is similar to that one to ask Jesus into your life please also get in touch with me ASAP so that I can go boldly with you to the Throne of Grace.
Also if you are here and need prayer for anything else or have a praise report you’d like to share please feel free to contact me as well. Y’all can contact me by commenting on here, pm me directly, texting me, or calling me. Now if it is an emergency please I urge you to just call me and keep calling till I pick up.
Well y’all it has been another wonderful Sunday service and until next time I pray that God will bless each of you. Just a quick announcement about next week’s sermon. We are going to be joined by the Harvest Time Assembly church family here in Sand Springs OK. So let’s make sure to join us here and welcome that church family as we dig into God’s word together. Have a wonderful and blessed week. Remember to that if you would like to hear me preach in person please have your home pastor get in touch with me so that we can schedule a time for me to come preach a revival or just a sermon or two. I love and appreciate each of you. May God richly bless you and until next week I’m here for you. See you all next Sunday.
Pastor Bucky
WTLC of Newark Ministries
918-882-5081