Life Worth Dying For Series

Life worth dying for

Philippians chapter 1:13-1:30

Introduction-

Last week

we looked at being in Christ

And Christ being in you.

That the joy we seek and the joy we have is not based upon your circumstances, or what success you have at the moment.

We saw that there are many fair-weather Christians that will serve God as long as everything is going their way.

We are great starters but poor finishers.

Colossians 3:3

“For you have died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God.”

So as we continue in the series “living for Christ” –

My question for you is simple-

Is what you have in your relationship with Christ worth dying for?

How important is it to you?

Background again-

Paul was in prison and he is speaking to the church at Philippi to tell them that in spite of what was happening to him, that the gospel of Christ is advancing and what he has is real.

Philippians 1:13-1:30

Read (v12-14)

Stop a minute- Paul makes it clear that he is imprisoned not because he is guilty of a crime, but because of his stand for the gospel.

Read (v14-23)

Let that sink in- those that preach God’s word and live God’s word have to recognize that even having the right motive could land them in trouble with those of this world.

Some are preaching for selfish gain.

Some are not serious and do not take the urgency of receiving Christ as Lord of their lives.

Some stir up trouble and dissension.

(v18) “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, wither from false motives or true, Christ is preached.”

Catch this- this is important.

The message can be true, even though some are doing it for the wrong motives.

If God can use a donkey to bring a word, he certainly can use a person with wrong motive to being the word to someone.

I am very careful how I said that.

Continuing v20-21-read

Key verse- “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

Paul’s joy was found in Christ-even in prison, even in bad circumstances.

Paul’s life had meaning because of Christ.

That wither he lives or dies, the most precious things to Paul was his relationship with Jesus Christ.

To be found with Christ, means we have to be in Christ, and for Christ to dwell in us, we have to be a believer filled with the Holy Spirit of God.

Believers struggle not because God is not faithful, but because we put our faith and trust in everything but God.

Finishing up the text- (v22-30)

Prayer

Let us grab these nuggets of truth that we might live our lives as an example of Christ living in us.

We have to live like we are dying. If we knew we were going to die soon, would that not change our priorities on how we would live our lives?

Your perspective would change- guaranteed!

Illustration-

President Ronald Reagan was once challenged by a college student who said it was impossible for Reagan’s generation to understand his. your generation grew up in a different world, the student said, today we have television, jet planes, space travel, nuclear energy, computers. Taking advantage of a pause in the student’s litany, Reagan said, “your right, we didn’t have those things when we were young, we invented them.”

Perspective

“To live is Christ, to die is gain.”

How many people believe that and live it out everyday in their lives.

Jim Elliott

“He is no fool to give up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.”

We will passionately pursue what is important to us!

Full devotion to Christ or full devotion to self.

Paul says- “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

I want you to see something here, to the apostle Paul, it was a win-win. If he lived, he was going to live for Christ. If he died, he was secure in Christ to know that that would be even better- it was gain.

He stood with Jesus

His priority was Jesus

Jesus was first thing and the last thing and everything in between.

Shakesphere-“To be or not to be, that is the question

Paul discovered and we need to discover that to be or not to be is not the right question- to be, to be is the right answer!

From eternal perspective- he can’t lose- dying was actually better because it meant that he would be with Jesus forever!

How many can say that!

Do you have that kind of excitement for Jesus?

Has the joy of Jesus captured you?

Would you be willing to die for your faith?

Having the ability to determine the things that matter/ divine perspective.