INTRODUCTION
• Nobody in Scripture talked as much about their death as Paul, except maybe Jesus.
• Paul lived his life on the edge and so he knew he was always in danger, but covered by the Father.
• What a way to live life to the fullest.
• Not in fear, but in faith…that was Paul.
• Not shrinking back as so many of us do, but pressing into life.
• He was able to do this because he had settled eternal issues. For him death wasn’t the end, but a new beginning. A change of address only.
• He had one goal in life. He wrote about it.
II Thessalonians 1:12, “…the name of our Lord Jesus will be glorified...”
• The last eight chapters of Acts cover 2.5-5 years.
• Those eight chapters cover the closing years in the life of Paul.
• He came to Jesus around 33-35 AD and was killed somewhere around 63-65 AD 30 years later.
• Clement of Rome says of Paul (whom he said he sat under) - “He was imprisoned seven times.”
• Paul spoke often of dying.
• He wrote the letter to the Philippians likely from prison in Rome around 60-63 AD.
• He was released from jail and then rearrested a year or so later
• By Nero who was using Christians as scape goats to save himself after Rome burned.
• He would die in the next three to five years there between 62-67 AD.
• Nero died June, 68 AD, so Paul was executed before that date. Perhaps in the late spring of 68 or 67.
I. WHAT DO YOU LIVE FOR?
Philippians 1:13-26, “…my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else…21For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. 23But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; 24yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.”
• To live is Christ, to die is gain.
• Wow! We don’t think like that often do we?
• Obvious the guy is sold out?
• He knows why he lives and what he lives for.
• That settles so many issues most of us spend years wrestling over.
• Why am I here? What is my life about?
• Do you live in fear? I often hear people make statements about - “Why would you go there?” or “Why do that?”
• The safest place on earth is living in faith with the Father, not fear trying to grip your life.
• No greater example of that than Paul.
• When he was prophetically warned that danger was in Jerusalem he went anyway.
• And was arrested and sent to Rome.
• He knew his life was a mission.
After he was warned in Acts 21:11-13 he said, 11And coming to us, he took Paul’s belt and bound his own feet and hands, and said, “This is what the Holy Spirit says: ‘in this way the Jews at Jerusalem will bind the man who owns this belt and deliver him into the hands of the gentiles.’” 12When we had heard this, we as well as the local residents began begging him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
II. RUN YOUR RACE
• Paul was amazing in that he never saw obstacles as ends. They were often of little or no consideration in his decision to undertake a task or call.
• He was called and controlled by conviction that God was God and He would win.
• Through it all he kept a soft heart and a gentle spirit. He was driven by the mercy he received.
• That others would know Jesus as he knew Him.
• Whether they were Jews or non-Jews. He loved his people, but he loved all people.
• He saw life here as a journey that ran a course. It had a beginning and an ending.
• This didn’t ever seem to bother him.
• He said it was a short course, soon over.
• So run well.
• It cannot be repeated so run well.
• It will not be run again.
• So he said at the end of his life…
II Timothy 4:7, “...I have run the course, I have kept the faith.”
• He had as he said, given up everything for the call of Christ: wealth, human position.
• Paul’s plan of living was simple. He had none, except to follow what he was asked to do.
• He would often express his desire to go to a town or area then say, “If the Lord is willing.”
III. POURED OUT
• There was no waste in the life of Paul. He lived to the fullest.
• No regrets.
No woulda, shoulda, coulda. He made his decision and lived with that conviction.
II Timothy 4:6-8, “6For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. 7I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; 8in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.”
• Literally Paul said, “I am ready to be offered” for others.
• Paul was released by Rome after a lengthy stay and then rearrested in the next couple of years.
• When he was again arrested by Nero.
• Eusebius claimed that Paul was beheaded at the order of the Roman Emperor Nero or one of his subordinates. Paul’s martyrdom occurred shortly after much of Rome burned in a fire—an event that Nero blamed on the Christians.
• Many believe he was then killed along with Peter.
• Peter was crucified, Paul beheaded, because he was a Roman Citizen and could not be tortured.
• Paul saw death as a gain not a loss, because he had already lost his life to Jesus.
• Most of us believe it is better to live than to die, that is entirely normal.
• But we really know nothing of the event (Paul’s death) because it was unimportant. We know this, Paul declared...
I Corinthians 15:51-57, Behold, I tell you a mystery; we will not all sleep, but we will all be changed, 52in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet; for the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we will be changed.
53For this perishable must put on the imperishable, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54But when this perishable will have put on the imperishable, and this mortal will have put on immortality, then will come about the saying that is written,
“Death is swallowed up in victory. 55“O death, where is your victory? O death, where is your sting?” 56The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law; 57but thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.
CLOSE
• I wonder if now that Paul is in heaven, if he regrets the decisions he made with his life?
• What do you think?
• To sell out to Jesus and not look back.
• I think he wrote the answer in
I Timothy 1:12-17, “12I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength to do His work. He considered me trustworthy and appointed me to serve Him, 13even though I used to blaspheme the name of Christ…I persecuted His people. But God had mercy on me because I did it in ignorance and unbelief. 14Oh, how generous and gracious our Lord was! He filled me with the faith and love that come from Christ Jesus.
15This is a trustworthy saying, and everyone should accept it: “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners”—and I am the worst of them all. 16But God had mercy on me so that Christ Jesus could use me as a prime example of His great patience with even the worst sinners.
Then others will realize that they, too, can believe in Him and receive eternal life. 17All honor and glory to God forever and ever! He is the eternal King, the unseen one who never dies; He alone is God. Amen.”
