Life Live From A Godly Perspective Series

Our Salvation in Jesus Christ does not merely give us hope for some point in the future. I don’t want to take away anything from that important aspect of salvation-a salvation that gives us assurance that someday we will be with Jesus for eternity either by our physical death or the rapture of the church. How wonderful is that going to be!

But salvation is so much more. The Apostle Paul in the Book of Philippians is going to tell us that our salvation gives us a new look, a new perspective, on life so that changes how we deal with things that come into our life.

We need that new perspective because as a new Christian, we quickly learn that just because I gave my heart, my mind, and my soul to Jesus that does not remove the old problems of life from attacking you or new ones from coming upon me.

Let me prove my point, how many of you since you have become a Christian have had a problem in your life. Raise your hand! Just like I suspected. How many of you have a problem you are dealing with right now? Raise your hand!

We need that new perspective of salvation because life is going to throw its junk at us. It did to the Apostle Paul. He was thrown into a Roman prison for preaching Christ. If I was put in prison for teaching about Jesus from this pulpit-that is some junk. If you were put in prison for telling your neighbor about Jesus- that would be some junk. If you were put in prison for reading your Bible in some public place- that would be some junk. Listen people, those things are not far-fetched as we might have thought twenty or thirty years ago. I can see them happening in the coming years.

Well, Paul is in prison for just that- preaching Jesus. He could have become bitter and given up. But he doesn’t, he looks at his situation from that new perspective- God’s perspective- the one that comes with our salvation.

Let’s read today’s Scripture and take a look at this new perspective we should all possess. Turn in your Bible to Philippians 1 :12-14 then 19, and we will read portions of the remaining part of the chapter.

Scripture #1 Reading

Philippians 1:12–14 (NKJV)

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, 13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; 14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Philippians 1:19 (NKJV)

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Point #1

From our new Godly perspective, I can see that my suffering puts Christianity into action and shows me the power of God at work.

Paul says in verse 12 that we just read “things which happened to me”. What has happened to Paul is that he is a prisoner of Rome. It says that he is in chains and under the constant watch of the palace guard.

If I did not have a Godly perspective all I could see was Paul having been placed in prison. But from my Godly perspective, there is a whole lot more going on than just Paul is in prison. Paul sees his situation from God’s perspective, and he writes about it.

And Paul’s writing expands my Godly perspective to see what Paul sees. He says that he is not sitting quietly under guard, he is telling those who guard him about Christ. As a pastor, I have seen people who were not vocal about their relationship with Christ become vocal in a hospital bed about their connection to Christ. If you enter their room, you are going to hear about Jesus.

I have seen people whose back is against the wall, openly talk about their relationship with Christ who would have never spoken about it if things were going well. In your life, you probably have had the same type of encounters too.

The second things that my Godly perspective allows me to see is other Christians strengthen by how Paul is handling his imprisonment. He was not bitter about the situation; he did not give up because the situation was bad. Instead, he made the most of the situation, and others have seen it, and they were strengthen in their faith.

I cannot help but be reminded how Toxie’s Pat handled the situation while the cancer was growing in her body. She demonstrated so much spiritual strength and I know personally, she strengthen my faith, and I heard so many other Christians tell me that they were also strengthened.