Illus. 3 men discussing their funerals, what they would want people to say.
•"He was a great humanitarian, an asset to his community."
•"He was a great family man, loved his family."
•"Look, he’s moving!"
“What would you like on your tombstone”?
What would you like to accomplish before you die?
These are things we don’t like to talk about – talking about death is morbid.
Paul had a very different viewpoint. He actually looked forward to dying!
Turn to Phil. 1:19-26. Review (rejoices over the Phil., in adversity, Christ is preached).
v.18 – Paul rejoices in the present and in the future.
I. PAUL LOOKS FORWARD TO HIS SALVATION. v. 19
Not only his physical salvation from prison, but ultimately his spiritual salvation.
A. It came thru the prayers of the saints.
19FOR I KNOW (have known) THAT THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS (cf. v. 4; longing, yearning).
The Philippians were also yearning/longing in prayer for him and he felt their prayers.
•How much encouragement have we felt knowing that people were praying for us?
Illus. New to IBC. Knew very little about being a Christian/growing in Christ.
•Strangers said they were praying for me. That had a profound effect on me.
•What an encouragement to know people are praying for you!
How does prayer encourage the saints?
Not only that, it was obvious to Paul that God heard and was answering their prayers.
God hears our fervent prayers.
B. It came thru the provision of the Spirit.
AND THE HELP (bountiful supply, provision) GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST,
•He didn’t receive help from the Spirit; the Spirit was his help.
“I’m not going to send someone to help you, I’ll help you myself.”
The Spirit is an extension of Christ Jesus.
Paul knew he wasn’t alone.
•He had the prayers of his faithful friends and the presence of the Holy Spirit.
•What else do we need?
19FOR I KNOW THAT THROUGH YOUR PRAYERS AND THE HELP GIVEN BY THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHRIST, WHAT HAS HAPPENED TO ME WILL TURN OUT FOR MY DELIVERANCE.
TURN OUT (to step off, disembark, stepping off the boat/bus).
Paul looked forward to the day when he would step off/walk away from his bondage.
•Not just his bondage from the Romans, but ultimately from the bondage of sin.
When we come to Christ, we’re delivered from the penalty of sin.
•When we walk with Christ, we’re delivered from the power of sin.
•When we die in Christ, we’re delivered from the presence of sin.
In what ways does the Spirit help us?
Paul knew that, because of their prayers and the Spirit’s provision, he would soon be delivered/saved from bondage, regardless of what the Romans did to him.
That’s why he rejoiced! I can’t wait for the Day of my deliverance!
II. PAUL LOOKS FORWARD TO EXALTING HIS SAVIOR. v. 20
20I EAGERLY EXPECT AND HOPE THAT I WILL IN NO WAY BE ASHAMED,
EAGERLY EXPECT - (anxious longing, intense expectation)
Illus. – Playing “Rascal” w/ kids. Ready to pounce. They know it’s coming, but not when.
Paul eagerly/anxiously/intensely expected something good to come.
ASHAMED - dishonored, possibly during his upcoming trial.
What was Paul concerned about? We can get a clue from the Psalms.
Ps. 25:1-3 TO YOU, O LORD, I LIFT UP MY SOUL; 2IN YOU I TRUST, O MY GOD. DO NOT LET ME BE PUT TO SHAME, NOR LET MY ENEMIES TRIUMPH OVER ME. 3NO ONE WHOSE HOPE IS IN YOU WILL EVER BE PUT TO SHAME, BUT THEY WILL BE PUT TO SHAME WHO ARE TREACHEROUS WITHOUT EXCUSE.
Because of the encouragement of the Phil. and the Spirit, Paul was confident that he would not disgrace or be ashamed of Christ.
Have we ever been ashamed of Christ?
BUT WILL HAVE SUFFICIENT (all) COURAGE (confidence, boldness) SO THAT NOW AS ALWAYS CHRIST WILL BE EXALTED (magnified) IN MY BODY, WHETHER BY LIFE OR BY DEATH.
Paul’s life was wrapped up in Christ. All he wanted to do was to exalt Christ.
He rejoiced because he knew that no matter what the Romans did to him, he would be ultimately delivered and Christ would be exalted.
How could he say that?
III. PAUL’S SAVIOR IS HIS LIFE. v. 21-26
21FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN. This is the key verse of Phil.
This is Paul’s philosophy of life, his life mission statement, his reason for contentment.
This is what Paul would have wanted on his tombstone. That’s what I want!
Paul can’t imagine himself apart from/without Christ.
Gal. 2:20 I HAVE BEEN CRUCIFIED WITH CHRIST AND I NO LONGER LIVE, BUT CHRIST LIVES IN ME. THE LIFE I LIVE IN THE BODY, I LIVE BY FAITH IN THE SON OF GOD, WHO LOVED ME AND GAVE HIMSELF FOR ME.
A. His life exalts Christ.
22IF I AM TO GO ON LIVING IN THE BODY, THIS WILL MEAN (is) FRUITFUL LABOR FOR ME.
Or, “if I am to go on living in the body, if this is fruitful labor, what shall I choose?”
As long as Paul is alive, he has a job to do, a purpose to fulfill.
•Here, we see a threefold purpose. His life exalts Christ:
1. By bearing fruit.
Jn. 15:5 “I AM THE VINE; YOU ARE THE BRANCHES. IF A MAN REMAINS IN ME AND I IN HIM, HE WILL BEAR MUCH FRUIT; APART FROM ME YOU CAN DO NOTHING.
Paul saw this promise fulfilled in every aspect of his life.
•In evangelism, in adversity, in church planting, in prison.
The reason he took advantage of the opportunities was because his life was in Christ.
2. By building up the saints.
24BUT IT IS MORE NECESSARY FOR YOU THAT I REMAIN IN THE BODY.
Paul still needed to teach them, encourage them, build them up in Christ.
•Later, he encourages them to follow His and Christ’s example.
3. By bringing joy to the saints.
25CONVINCED OF THIS, I KNOW THAT I WILL REMAIN, AND I WILL CONTINUE WITH ALL OF YOU (meno and parameno – remain and remain beside)
Paul wasn’t just going to be there for them, he was going to be with them.
FOR YOUR PROGRESS (spiritual growth/building up) AND JOY IN THE FAITH, 26SO THAT THROUGH MY BEING WITH YOU AGAIN YOUR JOY IN CHRIST JESUS WILL OVERFLOW ON ACCOUNT OF ME.
Lit. “so that your boasting/confidence may abound (cf. v. 9) in Christ Jesus in me, thru my coming again to you”.
(Frank Thielman) – “Paul’s return to the Philippians will provide an opportunity for the church to give glory to Christ Jesus.”
Paul still had a purpose on earth – his reason for living.
It wasn’t about him, it was all about Christ. His life exalts Christ.
B. His death unites him with Christ.
21FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN (profit, like gaining interest on money).
(WP) – “to cash in…principal and interest and so to have more of Christ than when living.”
Illus. Years ago, my grandfather was persuaded into investing in the stock market.
•He decided to “take a chance.” He had practically forgotten about it until he retired.
•When he cashed it in, he found it to be worth almost $3/4M!
When our faith turns to sight, we get to “cash in” and receive Christ with interest!
Rom. 8:18 I CONSIDER THAT OUR PRESENT SUFFERINGS ARE NOT WORTH COMPARING WITH THE GLORY THAT WILL BE REVEALED IN US.
2 Cor. 4:16-17 THEREFORE WE DO NOT LOSE HEART. THOUGH OUTWARDLY WE ARE WASTING AWAY, YET INWARDLY WE ARE BEING RENEWED DAY BY DAY. 17FOR OUR LIGHT AND MOMENTARY TROUBLES ARE ACHIEVING FOR US AN ETERNAL GLORY THAT FAR OUTWEIGHS THEM ALL.
It’s a win-win situation! Whether we’re dead or alive, we’re with Christ.
This is why Paul was torn between these two loves.
YET WHAT SHALL I CHOOSE? I DO NOT KNOW!
•“I can’t decide.”
Paul was torn between two loves – a love for the Savior and a love for the saints.
I DESIRE (passionate longing) TO DEPART AND BE WITH CHRIST, WHICH IS BETTER BY FAR;
DEPART - to break camp, to weigh anchor and set sail.
Paul couldn’t wait to loose the human chains that bound him and set sail for glory.
He couldn’t wait to depart from his temporary earth suit to his permanent eternal body.
This verse also points out a key theological truth.
•Physical death brings us immediately into the presence of God – no in between.
2 Cor. 5:6-8 THEREFORE WE ARE ALWAYS CONFIDENT AND KNOW THAT AS LONG AS WE ARE AT HOME IN THE BODY WE ARE AWAY FROM THE LORD…8WE ARE CONFIDENT, I SAY, AND WOULD PREFER TO BE AWAY FROM THE BODY AND AT HOME WITH THE LORD.
Are you looking forward to dying? Why or why not?
When our time is up, we will be absent from the body and present with the Lord.
Wiersbe “Paul wasn’t a prisoner of Rome, he was a prisoner of Christ…His body was not his own; his future was not his own; his reputation was not his own. In contrast, when we put ourselves first, it always brings misery. Whenever difficulties affect our lives, we should always be sure that we have the single mind that says, “Lord, whatever comes, I want Christ to be glorified.” This is the secret of Christian joy.
Paul looked forward to his salvation and his Savior because his Savior was his life.
IV. IS CHRIST OUR LIFE?
Does our life revolve around Christ or do we try to fit Him in when we can? (M-F)
To dig in deeper, how can we know Christ is our life? (4 questions)
A. Are we exalting Christ?
When people see us, do they see Jesus in us?
Are we totally surrendered and submissive to the will of God?
•Or are we really here for our own glory and comfort and purposes?
When we die, will people say they were drawn closer to Christ as a result of our life?
It’s not about us. It’s all about Christ.
Paul was able to rejoice/be content in everything because it was all about Christ.
B. Are we remaining in Christ?
Is He our true vine, our True Love? Are we filled with Him, and can’t get enough of Him?
Are we living, breathing, clinging to Christ?
C. Are we fulfilling God’s purposes?
Paul knew he had a purpose on this earth – to magnify Christ.
2 Tim. 4:7 I HAVE FOUGHT THE GOOD FIGHT, I HAVE FINISHED THE RACE, I HAVE KEPT THE FAITH.
Acts 13:36 “FOR WHEN DAVID HAD SERVED GOD’S PURPOSE IN HIS OWN GENERATION, HE FELL ASLEEP.
When God calls us home, can we say that we have fulfilled His purposes?
What are we doing here on planet Earth? What is our life mission statement?
“He who dies with the most toys wins”.
•He who dies with the most toys dies and goes away empty handed.
Are we fulfilling His purposes by bearing good fruit?
Mt. 7:19 EVERY TREE THAT DOES NOT BEAR GOOD FRUIT IS CUT DOWN AND THROWN INTO THE FIRE.
Jn. 15:16 YOU DID NOT CHOOSE ME, BUT I CHOSE YOU AND APPOINTED YOU TO GO AND BEAR FRUIT—FRUIT THAT WILL LAST.
Are we fulfilling His purposes by building up the saints?
1 Thes. 5:11 THEREFORE ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD EACH OTHER UP, JUST AS IN FACT YOU ARE DOING.
Are we bringing joy to the saints by bringing them Jesus?
When the believers saw Jesus, they were excited, they rejoiced.
Can believers say the same about us? Do we bring the joy of Jesus to others?
D. Are we eager to see Jesus?
Do we have that intense longing and expectation or are we afraid to die?
Do we say, “I want to do this first”, or can we say, “I’m ready Lord”?
Illus. Doctors make it their profession to prevent or prolong death.
Too many people make it their profession to enjoy life (money, possessions).
•Enjoy it while you can.
•Too many Christians are guilty of living for this life and not the next.
Paul couldn’t wait to see Jesus. Christ was his life. Is He ours?
FOR TO ME, TO LIVE IS CHRIST AND TO DIE IS GAIN.
That was Paul’s life mission statement. What about ours?
What do you want on your tombstone?
Only one life and soon will pass. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
The Bottom Line: Is Christ My Life?
Prayer/Reflection/Invitation
I Commit to: making Christ my life.
Hymn 324 (vv. 1,2,4) When I Survey
Sermon Outline and Power Point are available by emailing the author.
