Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 1:21-24

HOME IS WHERE THE HEART IS

Intro: Philippians is one of Paul’s prison epistles.

The prison epistles are books written by Paul when he was imprisoned in Rome.

Paul was incarcerated in what is called the Mamertine Prison.

In Paul’s day the prison was known as the Tullianum.

The Tullianum was constructed sometime around 640 BC.

In the beginning, the Tullianum was a cistern built underground to collect water which flowed from an artesian well.

By the time Paul was kept here, the artesian well was located on the second, or lowest level of the prison.

The lower level, where condemned prisoners were kept, can still be visited today.

The lower level lies some twelve feet underground.

The room is six and one-half feet high, thirty feet long, and twenty-two feet wide.

The lower level of the prison had a hole in the ceiling of the second level through which prisoners were lowered into the prison.

Those who were imprisoned in this room were only kept there a short time until they were executed, or they were simply left there to starve to death.

Ancient Roman prisons did not function like prisons today.

In Paul’s day, prisons were not used for longterm incarcerations.

Justice in the Roman world was meted out swiftly.

Wealthy people were usually kept under house arrest, while the poor were usually executed, or sent to work in prison camps.

We do not know if Paul was kept on the lowest level of the Mamertine Prison, he may have been kept on the first, or upper lever.

What we do know is Paul was kept there pending his trial before Caesar.

We also know Paul was eventually executed there.

Why am I giving you all this information?

I have shared this information with you today because Paul’s circumstances when he wrote this book sets the context for what He writes to the Philippians.

The passage we have taken for our text today exposes the dilemma Paul faced in prison.

The Mamertine Prison was not a pleasant place.

It was a dark, wretched, filthy place.

The ancient historian Sallust described its appearance as, “…disgusting and vile by reason of the filth, the darkness and the stench.”

While Paul languishes in prison, he wants to be a blessing to the church of God.

He indicates this desire in verses 24-26.

But, in verse 23, Paul shows us where is heart really is.

While he knows he will stay on earth to continue to serve the Lord and His church, Paul’s heart is focused on Heaven.

Simply stated, Paul wants to go to his heavenly home to be with Jesus Christ his Savior.

As Paul writes the words we will study today, he exposes the condition of his heart.

His heart is on Heaven.

His heart is on home.

Through his words, Paul shows us that he took to heart the message of Jesus regarding the focus of our hope and desire.

“Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal: For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Matthew 6:19–21.

In the book of Colossians Paul challenges the believers there to set their hearts on Heaven.

He said, “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God.

Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth.

For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory,” Colossians 3:1–4.

It seems Paul practiced what he preached.

It is always refreshing when a person lives out what he challenges others to do.

I want to preach from verse 23 today.

I want to preach on the subject Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Paul’s heart was on Heaven.

Heaven is where our hearts should be as well.

Do you remember, what Jesus said?

He said, “…where your treasure is, there will your heart be also,” Matthew 6:21.

Let’s examine Paul’s words and learn from him where our true focus in life should be.

I want to point out the feelings which gripped Paul’s heart as he writes these words.

Home Is Where The Heart Is, and Paul’s heart was on home.

His focus was on Heaven.

Allow this passage to challenge your heart today.

Allow this passage to show you where your heart should be.

Home Is Where The Heart Is.

Notice the feelings in Paul’s heart as he writes about home.

I. PAUL FELT HEAVINESS

The first emotion Paul describes is that of heaviness.

Paul says, “…I am in a strait betwixt two…” Let’s take a moment to dissect Paul’s words.

The word “strait” means “to be compressed, or pressed together with the hand”.

It was used to describe a city surrounded and besieged by enemies.

A city surrounded by an enemy is a city in deep trouble.

There is no way to obtain more supplies.

They face the potential of attack and starvation.

It was used to speak of a narrow body of water.

Ships are in greater danger when they sail though narrow passages.

The waves are rougher there.

The danger is greater there.

The ship’s crew navigates the narrow passage with the knowledge that an error in judgment, or a rogue wave could cause the ship to be destroyed.

It was used to speak of prisoners being held in custody.

A prisoner is confined to his prison.

He has no freedom to move about as he wishes.

He is trapped in a situation from which he cannot escape.

It was used to speak of mental constriction, of being pressed hard by the urgency of one’s circumstances.

It refers to a time in life when ones choices seem impossible.

The person suffering this kind of mental confusion feels trapped.

While Paul is a prisoner trapped in a horrible prison, he is also a man who is navigating treacherous waters.

In my view, this is the idea Paul has in mind.

Paul is telling us his mind is in a state of confusion.

Paul writes, “…I am in a strait betwixt two”.

Paul is a man hemmed in by two conflicting realities.

On one hand, there is the knowledge he is needed here, verses 24-26.

Paul knows he has been given a supernatural understanding of divine truth.

Paul knows the church needs him to continue to write, teach, and preach the words of God.

Paul feels the pressure, the urgency, of what the Lord has called him to do.

Paul wants to be a blessing to God’s people, and he can only do that if he stays in this world.

On the other hand, Paul feels a strong pull from Heaven.

Paul is in a dark, damp, dank, infamous Roman prison.

Paul is restricted in his movements.

He is not free to come and go as he pleases.

Paul knows he is facing possible execution.

Paul would love to be free to go out and serve the churches, but he can’t.

Because of his living condition, and because of the restrictions on his ministry, Paul wants out.

Paul feels a strong pull from Heaven.

Paul knows he is needed here, but he wants to go home.

What Paul felt is a common emotion to those who know the Lord.

When a sinner come to Jesus for salvation, the sinner becomes a child of God.

They become a citizen of Heaven, Philippians 3:20.