ARE YOU LEAVING OR STAYING
Paul had a hard time deciding which was better.
Go to Heaven are and work for the Lord.
It would be much easer to go to Heaven
All his problems would be over.
No more headaches are heartaches.
He thought it better to be able to witness and win others.
Philippians 1: 19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.
23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:
24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.
(1) The prayer of Paul.
I am going to be glad.
I know you are praying for me.
And the Holy spirit is going to be with me.
Matthew 7: 7 Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8 For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9 Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
Its hard to accept Gods will when we have problems.
Romans 8: 27 And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.
28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
(2) Paul’s plea.
20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.
I am Shameless before Christ
Jesus Said
Mark 8: 38 Whosoever therefore shall be ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation; of him also shall the Son of man be ashamed, when he cometh in the glory of his Father with the holy angels.
Showing Christ to the world.
Our bodies are his temples of the Holy Sprit.
1st Corinthians 6: 19 What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own?
20 For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God's.
By our life. Live the new life.
1st Corinthians 4 : 17 But he that is joined unto the Lord is one spirit.
Galatians 2: 20 I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me: and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and gave himself for me.
By our death.
Hebrews 11: 4 By faith Abel offered unto God a more excellent sacrifice than Cain, by which he obtained witness that he was righteous, God testifying of his gifts: and by it he being dead yet speaketh.
Our life speaks as a testimony.
3. The big Promotion for Paul.
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Living has opportunities for Christ.
And dying is better.
To die means the joys of Heaven
John 14: 1 Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, believe also in me.
2 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
3 And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.
4 And whither I go ye know, and the way ye know.
5 Thomas saith unto him, Lord, we know not whither thou goest; and how can we know the way?
6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
Note the no mores in Revelation 21: 4 And God shall wipe away all tears from their eyes; and there shall be no more death, neither sorrow, nor crying, neither shall there be any more pain: for the former things are passed away.
To live each day is opportunity to win others.
Mark 16: 15 And he said unto them, Go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
Paul’s problem. 3 things.
Choice ver. 22
Concern ver. 23-24
Continue ver.25-26
Enjoy your blessings because other Christians paid the price.
Jesus said.
John 9: 4 I must work the works of him that sent me, while it is day: the night cometh, when no man can work.
