To Live is Christ

Introduction:

• We ended in Phil 1:12 where Paul said “what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,”
• In other words – all things happen for a reason.
• Does not mean we like or agree with the reason or even know the reason of the season.
• Though, the Lord reigns through it all.
• Today let’s expository exhortation through Philippians 1 & 2.

Philippians 1:18-30 (ESV) 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. 27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

1. To Live Is Christ

20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

1.1. Christ honored in our body.
1.2. Life is about living for Christ.
1.3. The mindset of honoring.
1.4. A challenging statement the Apostle makes here.
1.5. It sounds simple enough though the depth of it’s implications to be sought after for the course of one’s time here on earth.

2. To live or die?

22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.

2.1. Paul had a unique situation to reckon with as he sat in the prison cell.

2.1.1. Should I stay or should I go. (Clash hit song)
2.1.2. Which to choose I do not know.
2.1.3. Ela… on the choice Paul had to make, for a moment seemingly kicked in the teeth, removed from his ministry, and put in prison.

2.1.4. Being in prison death feels like an imminent possibility.

2.2. A desire was to depart.

Philippians 1:23 (ESV) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

2.2.1. He had come to the place in His relationship with Christ that He knew to go was the better choice.

2.2.2. He was no longer grasping to hang on to life…
2.2.2.1. This is huge when we can come to the place in life that we are like “I’m good” either way.

2.2.2.2. Now it seemed he had a decision.

2.2.3. Home: (Jeremy Riddle)

• A distant shore awaiting my
• A city being built.
• Your love is leading me home.
• Where we lay aside our weaving.
• Where the air is thick with glory.
• This is where my heart is aching to go.
• Home, Home, Home
• I know one day your calling me home
• Find me watching and waiting to go.
• How go it is to finally come home.
• Can’t wait to finally come home.
• A cloud of witnesses cheering us on.
• Where God himself will make his home.

Hebrews 11:9 By faith he dwelt in the land of promise as in a foreign country, dwelling in tents with Isaac and Jacob, the heirs with him of the same promise; 10 for he waited for the city which has foundations, whose builder and maker is God.

2.2.4. Both were good decisions but one was the Lord for that moment in his life and one was not.

2.2.5. Shawshank Redemption “I guess it comes down to a simple choice really, get busy living or get busy dying”

2.2.6. Though, to die was gain.
2.3. The Apostle’s conclusion:
Vs. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

2.3.1. Know your time.
2.3.2. Know when your time is not yet.
2.3.3. It was more necessary for the work that he stay.
2.3.4. It does not seem this would have been his choice but for the people and their walk with Christ he had to stay.
2.3.5. There are many decisions in life that we have to make for others.

Philippians 2:3-4 (NKJV) 3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Vs. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.

2.4.1. Fruitful labor.

3. A life worthy of the Gospel.

Philippians 1:27 (NKJV) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

3.1. Since we are here still.

3.2. Let us live worthily.
3.3. Standing firm in one spirit

3.4. Having the same mind.

3.5. Striving for faith.

4. Be not frightened of the enemies of life and faith.

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

4.1. “If I go there will be trouble but if I stay it will be double” – The Clash

4.2. As long as the earth remains there will be those who oppose the faith.

4.2.1. People will be like ships without a rudder that cannot be steered.

4.2.2. Their hatred for God and the things of God that makes no sense.

4.2.3. They will be right and do what they call right in their own eyes.

4.2.4. Calling good evil and evil good and having no shame to do so.

4.3. One of the strategies of the enemy is to attempt to wear us out:

4.3.1. But he did not factor in that we are dead.
4.3.2. You cannot wear out a dead person.

4.3.2.1. Dead to pride.
4.3.2.2.Dead to needing too much out of life.

4.3.2.3. Even dead to the need to be right.

4.3.2.4. Just to be found faithful and steadfast.

4.3.3. Steadfastness is a great weapon to deploy.

1 Corinthians 7:37 (NKJV) 37 Nevertheless he who stands steadfast in his heart, having no necessity, but has power over his own will, and has so determined in his heart that he will keep his virgin, does well.

1 Corinthians 15:58 (ESV) Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain.

Colossians 1:23 (ESV) if indeed you continue in the faith, stable and steadfast, not shifting from the hope of the gospel that you heard, which has been proclaimed in all creation under heaven, and of which I, Paul, became a minister.

4.3.3.1. Immovable.
4.3.3.2. Settled.
4.3.3.3. Firm.
4.3.3.4. Sedentary = doing or requiring much sitting; not physically active…

Luke 10:38-40 (ESV) 38 Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. 39 And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord’s feet and listened to his teaching. 40 But Martha was distracted with much serving.

4.3.3.4.1. Seasons of just sitting at the feet of the Lord: listening, soaking, enjoying, waiting.

4.3.3.4.2. He whose mind is on Him is at perfect peace. Which means we are simply always ready: to believe, suffer, engage.

Vs. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.