Title: “A New Focus” Scripture: Phil. 1:21-26
Type: Expository series Where: GNBC 5-28-23
Intro: One of the best parts of being a pastor is the opportunity I have to perform wedding services. I have been very blessed to be involved in the service for both of my married sons, and soon, my daughter, Mary. Weddings are usually beautiful occasions with a radiant bride and nervous groom. The pastor has the special vantage point and unique privilege in the wedding service of being the person closest to the bride and groom. He can see their every glance, smile, tear, and affectionate looks. When the vows are made, it becomes very obvious that to the bride and the groom the whole center of their lives are changing. “I Luke, take thee, Mary, to be my wedded wife…” At marriage both a man and a woman change the center of their lives. Each finds that previously the center of their individual lives had been themselves. Now, in an instance, the focus changes and shifts to the other. The same is true when a couple has their first child. The focus, the center of their lives change. Paul states in Phil. 1 that our focus our center is to change when we come to Christ. In fact, he encourages us to focus our attention.
Prop: In Phil. 1:21-26 Paul encourages the Philippians to Focus on Three Locations as Believers.
BG: 1. Paul ministered at Philippi during his second missionary journey, spending about three months in the city. 2. Of the four Prison Epistles, Paul likely wrote Philippians last, near the end of his Roman imprisonment in AD 61 or 62. 3. The apostle Paul did not write Philippians in response to a crisis, as he did with Galatians and Colossians. Instead, he wrote to express his appreciation and affection for the Philippian believers.
Prop: Exam Phil. 1:21ff we realize the 3 Locations Paul wanted Phil. believers to Focus.
I. 1st Location: Focus on Your Starting Place. V. 21a
A. As Believers in Christ we Must Know the Location of our Starting Place. V.21
1. Paul Clearly Defines his “Starting Place” – “For to me, to live is Christ…”
a. Illust – It was a lot of fun getting to watch my kids run track. Each race has a specific starting place whether individual or group race. Some mid distance races, like 800 meters, depending on your lane, and if you are closer in or further out, the starting points appear to be different, but they are marked with precision so that everyone goes an equal distance. In relays there are transition/hand off zones in which the baton must be passed from one relay member to the next otherwise there is a violation and the team DQed. Imperative to know the location of for a race.
b. Saul of Tarsus clearly realized his starting point when he dramatically me the Lord on the Damascus Rd in Acts 9:4-5 (read). The Lord struck Saul with blindness so his eyesight could match his spiritual condition. What took place that day eternally changed his focus, his starting place. Now, after that crisis encounter with Christ, Paul had a new starting place! Now for him, to live was Christ! Christ became the hub of his life from which the entire wheel was built around.
2. Certainly Christ had not been Paul’s “starting place” until he had encountered the Savior personally.
a. As a young man, Saul of Tarsus had been schooled in the law under the best of teachers. He was schooled as a Pharisee. He was prominent. He was zealous. He was pursuing the law. He was outpacing others who were his own age. (See Gal. 1:14; Phil. 3:4-7) He was a real up and comer! Paul thought he was serving God. He was persecuting the Church. There on the Damascus Rd. the Lord Jesus Christ kicked the stool of spiritual security out from under the proud Pharisee’s feet. He came face to face with Christ.
b. “For to me…” – I want you to think about that little phrase. “For to me…” What was Paul saying here? “For to me.” Me, my individual decision. I believe. I trust in Christ. In Acts 9:7 we read that there were other men traveling with Saul on his murderous mission. However, the Bible very clearly says that they too heard the voice of Jesus. However, in the rest of the account we never read if these men, like Paul, trust and believe in Christ or not. Friend, like Paul, you and I have to come to a place, regardless of our friends, our families, or even our foes, we come to a place of conviction about the Person of Jesus Christ.
B. What Does it Mean for Me to Say w/ Paul: “To live is Christ.”?
1. With this Statement, Paul made Known Who was his Starting place.
a. Illust – Maybe later today or this week, would you take some time to ask yourself this very question? Turn off the phone, the tv. Pray. Meditate. Get out a sheet of paper and write out these words: “For to me, to live is…” Be honest! Don’t be hasty. What would your answer be? Work? School? Family? Golf? Money? Business? Pleasure? Travel? Relationships? Some people sacrifice everything for their life. They wonder how 20-30 yrs down the road their lives have gotten so far off track from where they thought they would be. Simple to understand! It was your starting point all along! Illust: My father in law used to say: “The good is the enemy of the best.” Can pursue a lot of GOOD distractions. Make sure you focus your life on the best.
b. Exegetically, it is interesting to note in the English we read the passage: “For to me, to live is Christ…” The word “is”, isn’t there in the original! So, it would read “For to me, to live Christ”. What was Paul saying? Everything about his life was focused on Christ! His very life was intertwined with the life of Christ!
2. How are we to focus our lives? “To live: Christ!”
a. We need to be very careful how we live our lives. Lk. 12:15, our Lord said: “Watch out! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; life does not consist in an abundance of possessions.” Most people live life very passively. A few live very focused: sports, political or social cause, financial security. All of those focuses can be very good, but be careful! Be mindful of focusing on the real starting point: Christ!
b. Illust – 30 yrs ago I was walking thru the library of one of the most prestigious universities of Europe (Trinity, Dublin). Students were diligently studying at the tables and carrels in the main area. Rigorous classes. Academic papers being written. Stress and tension. Stumbled across one young man who was reading: A comic book! Here was this young man, surrounded by the wisdom and learning of the ages and he was immersed in childish trivia. Now, all of us need a study break or respite, especially during finals week! However, an unfocused starting point will lead to a life wasted on trivial pursuits!
C. Applic: Paul clearly states that his focused starting place was: “To live is Christ!” Where is your starting place friend? Christ or something or someone else?
II. 2nd Location: Focus on Your Finish Line. Vv. 21b-23
A. Notice What Paul Declares to be his “Finish Line”.
1. Paul realizes dying in Christ is his “Finish Line”
a. “To die is gain” – again, like in the first half of the verse, “is” isn’t there! So it reads: “To die gain!” What a glorious end goal! Heaven! New heaven and new earth is the end goal of the Christian. It’s sad how rarely we talk about heaven. It’s sad how rarely we talk about the 2nd coming of Jesus Christ! It’s no wonder that our focus, even as Christians, seems to only be on this earth and this life. Rarely do we connect the idea of “gain” when we consider death. We tell ourselves it was such a great “loss”. Paul says for the Christian it is GAIN! V.23 Paul calls death “to depart” (1:23). The word was used of soldiers taking down their tents to move on. Paul says that at death our tent (our body) is taken down, while our spirit goes to be with the Lord (2 Cor. 5:1-8). Sailors used the word to describe a ship being loosed from its moorings to set sail. At death the believer sets sail from this world, but safely arrives at heaven’s shore.
b. Illust – Just as every runner knows the importance of the starting point of the race, he or she knows the inestimable value of focusing on the finish line. Sprinters push every fiber of their being reaching, leaning, even diving to get to the line. Distance runners fighting fatigue, dehydration, mental exhaustion to cross that line. (Illust – Of young man at Noelridge XC meet. Dehydrated. Leading. 50 meters from line face ashen, eyes rolled up, went crashing down. Crawled, rolled, finally made it over the line. Focused every ounce of his being.
2. Paul realized there were struggles we face on the way to the Finish Line.
a. V. 23 – “hard pressed” – KJV – “in a strait betwixt two” (Need interpreter!) The idea being communicated here is to be constrained as in a crowd of people. Not sure what to do. Perplexed due to the pressure and push and swell on every side. (Illust – Once staying in Rosemont. Took the L into downtown Chicago. Started in Rosemont, plenty of room. By time in the downtown, packet. Could barely move!)
b. Illust: Steven Cole (Lesson 8, Phil. 1:19-26) When author William Saroyan was within days of his own death from cancer in 1981, he issued this statement to the Associated Press: “Everybody has got to die, but I have always believed an exception would be made in my case. Now what?” Contrast that with what Martin Luther said, “Even in the best of health we should have death always before our eyes [so that] we will not expect to remain on this earth forever, but will have one foot in the air, so to speak” (source unknown). Jonathan Edwards, as a young man, wrote down 70 resolutions which he read weekly to help keep his life focused. Number 9 was, “Resolved, to think much, on all occasions, of my dying, and of the common circumstances which attend death” (The Works of Jonathan Edwards [Banner of Truth], vol. 1, “Memoirs,” p. xx).
B. The Christian is not to See Death as Gain Because He or She Hates Life.
1. The Christian’s Motivation to See death as Gain is out of Love for Christ, not out of pain or displeasure with this life.
a. Paul did not hate this life. He was filled with joy even though he was in hard circumstances (v.18). He viewed life as a sweet fellowship with Christ and service to Christ. We all can hit low points in life where even godly people can sink to states of depression. Several notable characters in the Bible sank to points spiritually that they declared that they would rather die than live: Moses (Num. 11), Elijah (I Ki. 19), Jeremiah (Jer. 20), Jonah (Jonah 4). Yet, Paul recognized that his eventual death, in God’s timing, would be for him, GAIN!
b. Illust: J Vernon McGee once told story about a black church in Alabama in the 1950’s. Preacher was into his message and shouted: “How man of ya’ll wanna go to heaven?” Everyone but one little boy who was sitting in the front row raised hands in agreement. Preacher looked at the little boy and said: “Son, don’t you wanna go to heaven too?” “Yes sir, said the little boy, I want to go.” “Well son, why didn’t you raise your hand?” “Well Preacher, I thought you was a gettin a load up to go tonight, and I still got things to do!”
2. Paul was wanting to Go but was willing to Stay.
a. Christian, maybe you have had thoughts of suicide. Suicide is never God’s will for anyone. It doesn’t exalt Christ as Paul wants to do here in his testimony. It is a selfish act (even if out of pain) done with complete disregard to those left behind to grieve. Never solves but only multiplies problem. It always usurps God’s sovereignty in the individual’s life. Friend, as I said, if you are struggling with those thoughts would you reach out? There is help. There is hope.
b. Illust: Francis Patton was president of Princeton University (1888-1902), He once said that the highwater mark of the OT was Ps. 23:4 where David said he was willing to go but wanted to stay, and that these verses were the highwater mark of the NT because Paul was willing to stay, but wanted to go!”
c. Applic: Let’s focus on the end goal of the Christian life, the finish line. Let’s not be fearful, but rather hopeful!
III. 3rd Location: Focus on What’s Important In-Between the Start and Finish. Vv.24-26
A. As Paul concludes this Section He Focuses on What’s Important between the two points.
1. Paul turns his focus to what’s important between the start and the finish.
a. Illust – IN the sport of XC, every good coach will have his/her athletes walk the course prior to the race. Certainly there is a focus on the starting point of the race, and there is a focus on the finish line of the race. But especially in XC, a runner needs to know what’s coming up in the “in-between” portions of the course. Are there steep hills? Are there water hazards? Are there tight places in the woods? Is the course completely open and fully exposed to the sun? All of these factors will influence the runner’s strategy for the race.
b. Paul was convinced of his need to minister. He was not about to do anything that would undermine that mission. He was not afraid of death because to live for Him was Christ. To die was Christ. No one had to prod Paul to pursue his ministry because his ministry was Christ. No one had to warn him of the dangers of defection. Why? Because to live is Christ! Christ was the center of his life. As such, everything would properly fall in place. Same is true for you and me.
2. Paul realized the Importance of Remaining (In this life.) So He Could Serve Others.
a. Vv.24-25- The "confidence" here referred to was, that his life was needful for them, and hence that God would spare him. A literal translation would be, "And being persuaded as to this”. Paul realized part of his purpose in fruitful living was to encourage the fruitful living and joy of the Philippian believers. (Illust – Next April having a conference for seniors on “Finishing Well”. I know this is not the case with our seniors, but may I say the American Dream for seniors may not be God’s plan for the Christian? Selfish living is just that, selfish. Rather, seek how you can pour into the lives of younger individuals, couples, families. Look for opportunities to pass the baton and build up and encourage the next generation.
b. V. 25 – Paul wanted to live out his remaining days with conviction. V. 25 – “convinced” - Paul specifically wanted to help the Philippian believers grow and progress in the faith an in their joy in their faith. A man or woman of conviction is rare today. He or she is different. That individual stands out. Confidence.
B. Paul Wanted to Live His Life So The Philippian Believers Would Remain Proud of Him
1. As Paul is considering his life, he wants the Philippians to be proud of him. V.26 “proud confidence” – This is a very difficult verse to translate. Depending on your translation, can be very different. I think essentially, Paul is saying that the Philippian’s boasting may abound to Christ Jesus in Him. It’s their grounds for thankfulness and joy. Paul’s life was intentionally being lived in such a way as to honor that commitment. So Philippians could be proud of and grateful for Paul
2. Illust – Robertson McQuilkin was the President of my seminary. Wonderful, scholarly, godly man, passionate about world evangelization. When was in his 50’s wrote a little poem “Let Me Get Home Before Dark”. A couple of the lines read: “Few, they tell me, finish well . . .Lord, let me get home before dark. The darkness of a spirit grown mean and small, fruit shriveled on the vine, bitter to the taste of my companions, burden to be borne by those brave few who love me still. No, Lord. Let the fruit grow lush and sweet,
A joy to all who taste; Spirit-sign of God at work, stronger, fuller, brighter at the end.
Lord, let me get home before dark.” Wanted to be fruitful. Wanted to finish well. Needed to stay focused on the “in between” in order to do so.
C. Applic: In Lewis Carroll’s Alice in Wonderland, Alice asks the Cheshire Cat, “Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here?” The Cat replies, “That depends a good deal on where you want to get to.” “I don’t much care where--” says Alice. “Then it doesn’t matter which way you go,” says the Cat. “You’re sure to get somewhere--if you only walk long enough.” Where do you want to get to? If you want to get to heaven, then you need to consider the question, “What am I living for?” Complete the sentence: “For me, to live is _____.” What? Can you, with Paul, honestly say as you evaluate your life, “For me, to live is Christ,” then you can also say with all the confidence of God’s Word behind you, “to die is gain!” Just as the goal of the new bride or groom is to please the one who is the new center of their life, the goal of the child of God is to please to One Who has the preeminent place in his/her life.
