Beating the Spiritual Doldrums
by Rev. Kirby Williams
Learning from Paul how to cure or avoid the spiritual doldrums.
Text: Phil. 4:19
Date: 06/15/2025, the Evening service.
Series: "Evenfall; Sunday Evening Worship" Part 36
Description:
As Paul comes to the end of his somewhat extensive thanksgiving to the Philippians for their kind provision in his time of need, he pronounces a blessing of sorts promising that God will supply all their needs. We will analyze the verse word by word to make sure Paul's meaning is not misunderstood. But then we will consider the awesome promises embedded in this verse and realize that in them we can find many reasons to celebrate our relationship with God in and through Christ Jesus. Towards that end, we will explore the common problem many Christians have of falling into the spiritual doldrums. We will define what this means and how if not confronted it can slip into spiritual depression. Ultimately, we will find that Paul's central theme in this letter is also the way to beat the spiritual doldrums-- to be "in Christ"!
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I. Introduction
II. Exposition of the text, Phil. 4:19-23.
A. Context, Phil 4:13.
B. Some of the cures for the Spiritual Doldrums.
1. Closeness to God.
a. Discerning what Paul is saying.
i. What Paul is not saying.
ii. What Paul is saying.
b. A powerful cure for the doldrums, John 14:6.
2. Resting on the promises.
a. Supplying every NEED.
i. Looking at the words.
1) Filling to the brim, 2Pet. 3:8-9; James 5:7-8.
2) Supplying every need.
3) Understanding our "needs", Mark 2:25; Acts 2:45; 1John 3:17; Phil. 2:25, 4:16.
ii. The wrong needs.
1) The tragedy of "perceived" needs.
2) The problem of "felt" needs.
iii. From "perceived needs" to "actual needs".
iv. The issue of trust.
b. In astounding magnitude.
i. Riches according to God's standards.
ii. Paul's focus on God's riches, 2Cor. 6:10, 8:9; Rom. 2:4; Col. 1:27, 2:2; Eph. 1:7-8, 1:18, 3:8,16.
iii. Powerful "medicine" to cure the doldrums.
c. Filled with glory, John 16:33.
d. Riches "in Christ".
i. Exclusive promises, Matt. 7:13.
ii. Exclusive doldrums, Hab. 6:4-5.
iii. Everything is "through" Christ Jesus.
III. Conclusion, Phil 4:13.
