Live Like You Are Dying Series

TOWARD THE GOAL:

LIVE LIKE YOU ARE DYING

Philippians 1.19-30

S: Devotion to Jesus

Th: Toward the Goal

Pr: WE PASSIONATELY LIVE FOR JESUS.

?: How? How do we do it?

KW: Ways

TS: We will find three ways that show us how to live for Jesus.

CV: “We will passionately pursue full devotion to Jesus Christ.”

Type: Propositional

I. SUPPORT (19-20)

II. FOCUS (22-26)

III. STYLE (27-30)

PA: How is the change to be observed?

• Faithfully intercede.

• Courageously honor God with your life.

• Enthusiastically realize it is all about Jesus.

• Caringly bring progress and joy to followers of Jesus.

• Consistently live the message.

Version: ESV

RMBC 08 June 08 AM

INTRODUCTION:

ILL Perspective (H)

President Ronald Reagan was once challenged by a college student who said it was impossible for Reagan’s generation to understand his.

“You 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, “You’re right. We didn’t have those things when we were young. We invented them.”

Nancy Reagan, My Turn: The Memoirs of Nancy Reagan (Random House)

Well, that response of President Reagan’s hopefully gave the person a different perspective on the situation.

I think we all know that it is hard to see outside of or beyond our own grid of experience.

But it is a good question to ask…

1. How is your perspective?

ILL Perspective (S)

There is a twentieth century example of a person who possessed an eternal perspective. This person was known as Jim Elliott. He was famous for saying...

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

This flows from the heart of a man who had an eternal perspective. It is from someone more concerned about the things of heaven than entangled with the things of earth.

In his diary he wrote...

“God I pray to you, light these idol sticks of my life, that I may burn for you. Consume my life God, for it is yours.”

And then he wrote, “I seek not a long life but a full life, like that of Jesus Christ.” His prayer was answered. His life was not that long. He died in 1956 taking the Gospel to the Auca Indians in Ecuador.

His prayer was answered in that his life was full. The very fact that he died taking the Gospel to the Auca was a stepping-stone for that tribe to come to know Christ. His life was full because he has inspired many to live with an eternal perspective. His life was like Christ. Not a long life, but a full life. He lived with an eternal perspective.

I know that I have room to improve when it comes to having an eternal perspective, but I am really working toward it.

Wouldn’t it be something though, if all the time we would go through life with an eternal perspective?

Something happens which by most would be considered a negative situation, and yet it is used for the glory of God.

A car breaks down and a mechanic comes to know Christ.

A health problem arises and the medical staff hears the good news about Jesus.

An insult or criticism comes and love and grace are demonstrated as opposed to hate and retaliation.

A tempting immoral situation occurs and the person turns away from it because a higher standard has been placed on the heart and it would be displeasing to the Lord.

People can live this way because they have eternal perspective.

They can live this way because they have real purpose.

2. When you have eternal perspective, you move deliberately “toward the goal.”

“Toward the Goal” is the title of this theme of messages based on Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

He is in Rome, under house arrest.

For 24/7, he is bound to a solder of Roman’s elite guards.

But his imprisonment has not hindered the spread of the gospel in any way.

On the contrary, it has opened doors that otherwise would have remained closed to him.

The Emperor’s own troops are hearing the gospel.

The Christians in Rome are getting more involved in spreading the word.

And even though motives are suspect with some preachers, the Gospel is getting preached.

Why is this happening?

I think one of our core values that we unveiled at the annual meeting reflects what we find in this passage we are studying today.

That is…

3. “We will passionately pursue full devotion to Jesus Christ” (21).

Paul says it this way:

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Literally, the Greek text says it even more simply: