Philippians 1

What Is Your Purpose?

Do you have that 1 friend that is (your partner in crime)

It is the person that you laugh the hardest with, that you have the most fun with, that you may get in the most trouble with

Paul and Timothy are this Dynamic Duo, they have traveled together completely devoted to God and spreading the message of the gospel to everyone and in every circumstance!

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: 2 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Who in here quotes movies or TV shows?

- I love to quote “one liners” some of my favorite all time quotes are:

“If you ain’t first your last”

“They do this every year”

Philippians is filled with these “one-liners” from Paul, and one of the first ones is

Philippians 1:6 ESV

6 And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.

Such a great one-liner from Paul and each Wednesday night we will have the One-liner of the night!!!!

Sermon

Philippians 1:12–14 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Paul is affirming that the rumors they had heard are in fact true and he has been arrested and put in prison.

But Paul doesn’t write to his good friends asking for bail money…. What does he say?

All that has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel!

How would it change your perspective if you began to look at every situation in your life like this?

When something doesn’t go your way.

When you don’t make that team you wanted.

When you don’t perform as well as you wanted to.

When you loose a loved one.

When the enemy places something in your path because he knows your weaknesses and he wants you to fail, the enemy wants you to question God, question your faith, question why you are living your life the way you are.

Young people God has a divine purpose for each and everyone of you! Don’t begin to focus and dwell on the cell doors (the list) and loose focus of what Christ is doing.

Philippians 1:18–21 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.

Paul’s words here is the ultimate confession, belief that we as believers are meant to have!

Philippians 1:21 ESV

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This verse brings me to ask you the question...

What is your goal?

To make that sports team.

To have a gf or bf.

To make money.

To have a cool car.

What would it look like if your goal was simply Jesus.