Sermon Tone Analysis

INTRO

It was the day before graduation.

I was leaving school grabbing some food and the heading to graduation rehearsal.

Back at this time Freedom and East Burke were the only two schools in the county and the amount of traffic after school was outrageous.

It would often take a very long time to get in and out.

So I was stuck waiting to get back.

Finally after waiting to turn left after 10 min I turn to get t-boned by a car doing 55 in a 35.

I didn't see them coming over the hill.

The next thing I knew was my window was shattering all over me, my head slammed into the side and my cur spun around 3 times and landed in a ditch.

I was unconscious for a moment.

The next thing I know was a classmate was pulling me out of the car telling me I was bleeding.

He pulled my shirt off and put it on my head.

It all happened so fast.

The EMT came with the police and I was told repeatedly how lucky I was to be alive.

To this day 16 years later you can still feel where the bone by my eye was fractured.

I remember all the emotions I had graduating and thinking about what my life meant.

What really mattered.

What do I live for.

The reality of death can cause anyone to be self-reflective.

If you ever been around someone who had a near death experience, or someone who is terminally ill you know exactly what I am tlaking about.

Questions like, Did my life matter?

Did I make the most of my time?

Today we see the words of someone who is self-reflective like this.

Paul is in chains and the reality that his life may be coming to an end is at the forefront of his mind.

But Paul is not contemplative with a thousand yard stare wondering how frail his life is.

No he has a resolute confidence.

He is focused.

That’s because Paul can live fully in the face of death.

How is that possible.

Well that brings me to the big idea today and it is very simple and straight forward.

Big Idea: We can live fully in the face of death.

Because Christ is life.

Christ is life.

Understanding the reality we now live in changes the way we face each day and how we will face our last not with regret but with a confident hope.

Paul is living fully in the face of death.

The gospel has changed everything.

For him this starts with gospel confidence.

I. Gospel Confidence (v18b - 20)

Philippians 1:18–20 (ESV)

Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 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.

This is a passage full of assurance in the face of the future.

Paul is oozing confidence.

He says that I know this will turn out for my deliverance!

Now maybe you read this and think, “Oh Paul is confident he is getting out of those chains.”

That’s not all he has in mind.

IN fact that isn’t the deliverance he is saying.

The end of verse 20 says whether by life or death.

In other words Paul is writing this saying, “Look it’s all gonna work out.

Either I am gonna be free and continue in gospel ministry or I will die and be with Jesus.

No matter what I know Jesus will get the glory!”

What a wild statement.

But it is such a deep truth.

One thing my loving wife has said to me when I have been anxious is, “Billy worst case scenario we suffer and Jesus brings us through it, or we die and we get to be with Him forever.”

It’s that godward perspective making its way back all over again.

The result is a grounded confidence.

It’s a firm grasp of the saving sovereignty and grace of God.

You see Coram Deo if you keep heaven in your sight, if you keep the salvation that was already won for you by the cross of Christ then not even chains can cause you to stumble.

So Paul has certainty of his future salvation and that fuels his confidence.

But what else fuels his confidence?

What are the means that God will use to carry the work forward in Paul?

Look at verse 19 again

Philippians 1:19 (ESV)

for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,

So what is the instrument God will use to finish his saving plan in the life Paul?

It’s the prayer of the Philippian church and the work of the Spirit in response to that prayer.

Paul is confident in the prayers of the saints.

Here is what is so beautiful about this.

Gospel confidence isnt borne from just trying harder.

It come from looking outside of ourselves and seeing the prayer of the saints.

This is a challenging word to us on the importance of the prayer of the saints.

"The point to note here is that even Paul's personal growth--his sanctification-does not"The point to note here..." writes Moises Silva, "is that even Paul's personal growth--his sanctification-does not take place in isolation from the support of the church.

It is indeed a sobering thought that our spiritual relationship with God is not a purely individualistic concern; we are dependent on the Spirit's power in answer to the intercessory prayers of God's people.”

_Moises Silva

Paul knew he needed prayer.

He didn’t think he was so elite in his suffering that he didn’t need prayer.

He wasn’t so cast down in his affliction that he didn’t ask for prayer.

Coram Deo…so do we need intercession.

I find it troubling how self sufficient we can often be.

Or at least we decieve ourselves into thinking.

I’ve often asked if I could be praying for people and the response is, “Oh no I am good.”

Can we truly look our lives no matter how great the season and think that we don’t need prayer?!

Our response should at least be, “Pray that I grow deeper in Christ.”

Paul knew he needed the encouragement and prayer of the saints that as they prayed heaven would open to him and the Spirit would stir his heart.

Prayer friends…it is powerful.

This week I looked through my past CBR journals.

I had committed to pray Jesus Only prayers.

(Explain Jesus Only)

I just want to point out two answered prayers named Sam.

I prayed every day for years after we had lost hope that we could conceive for God to give me a child.

I even prayed specifically for a son.

Listen to these two prayers.

(Read CBR )

Just a few weeks ago I had the privilege to baptize Sam Crouch.

I love you brother.

God answers prayer.

He uses it to accomplish his purpose.

Don’t you want to see the Lord work in power abundantly in our town?

In our congregation.

Do you ache for more of God in your life?

Do we long to see his Spirit at work?