Untitled Sermon

Living For HIM!

Phil 1:19-21

Intro

Pastor Tony Merida tells the account… page 61!!

People will do remarkable things to live. But here is a question: what are you living for??

- Paul, a man chained in a cell tells us about the meaning of life and the glory of death. He tells us about life worth living and death worth dying.

- Vs 21 ---

Prob some of most oft-quoted words in the NT

- This was Paul’s personal answer… For me…

- I wonder, what is the pinnacle of life’s joy for you this morning??

- For many it’s money, pleasure, power, beauty, fun success

What is life all about? What’s the pinnacle? When you think about someone who has it all—they’ve got it made… Do you think of a contented Christian? Do you think of the riches we possesses as believers saved and transformed by his grace??

Or when you think of someone living at the pinnacle of life’s joys do you think fleshly worldly categories? Celebrity, sports-figure, some kind of retirement dynamic or a certain arrangement of family relationships

These are important questions, because they diagnose what is important and ultimate in our hearts.

Why Jesus said what profit is it to a man…

1:21 perhaps the most quoted line from Philippians but if we zoom out from that statement we find in Phil 1 that Paul is talking about his situation in Rome… and not just that but his attitude and mentality in his situation…

But tonight we look through a window into this man’s mentality when he had no options.

Remember, Paul was stuck; literally chained to a Roman Guard 24-7… and he was awaiting news.

- Would he be a prisoner indefinitely?

- Would he get out? Would he see the Phil again?

- What would happen with his future?… waiting, waiting, waiting… years of unjust treatment have led to this day. But what’s most amazing—unforgettable, is not his circumstance… but his attitude… the convictions of his inner life.

2 inner life dispositions that that dominated the apostles ongoing thinking and confidence and that IF present in our inner life allow us transcend our circumstances and live for purpose we were made for.

- Paul takes us into his own thinking and mentality… but it’s thinking that if adopted… if folded into our own lives – becomes anchoring in whatever circumstance… (Tired mom, growing teenager navigating new temptations, seasoned saint battling chronic pain, Dad life is FILLED responsibility – home, ext, at church, at work…

The mentalities, the thinking in this text is true of Paul, but for us!

I. Trusting Christ amidst adversity 18-19

18-19 ---

Here is a man both modeling and articulating the power of trusting the Lord IN AFFLICTION… In adversity

And verse 18 marks a transition…

- A Transition from present circumstances to future expectation, (both are swallowed up by a Christ-focused joy). But our verses pivot from Paul’s report to now a future ongoing mindset that will grip and shape Paul in the long-haul.

- Mindset of ongoing trust and future rejoicing. Do you see it in the verb tense? Verse 18 starts, I do rejoice (present) and I will rejoice (future tense).

This trust is a JOYFUL TRUST.

He’s been speaking, from 12-17 about issues that might have robbed him of joy.

Facing the limitations of prison and envious preachers who are using his trouble to advance their ministry he says:

- Don’t worry about my suffering, the gospel is advancing ahead

- Don’t worry about these envious evangelists

Now vs 18 with respect to this looming question of his own execution…

- Don’t worry about what will happen to me because the LORD – WILL BE MAGNIFIED whether I live or die.

AMAZING! he doesn’t say “Hey guys please contact Roman officials use your political resources to leverage my cause. Work the system. Get me out of here!” No instead he is rejoicing and comforting THEM

What’s the reason, what’s the source of this joy? Vs 19 begins with an “explanatory” word, for. Vs 19 gives the reason for the rejoicing in vs 18.

19 ---

We’re in the midst of one long sentence that actually stretches into verse 20… but the joy of verse 18 is based on the certainty that God was still working in the situation.

Paul looking at his situation through the lens of conviction. right theology. eternal perspective.

So this joyful trust was also a

Confident TRUST.

The main verb in verse 19 is the word “I KNOW,” Speaks of convictions, and beliefs and understanding a person has.

- It’s a reminder that when you’re under pressure, when you’re struggling, when you’re facing adversity or suffering it’s not what you feel that gives clarity and power to move fw… its not even what you experience, it’s what you KNOW to be true…

- Rom 5:3 says we exult in our tribulations KNOWING that tribulations bring about perseverance.

Paul’s grounded, convinced. What do you know Paul? “19 that this will turn out for my deliverance” That is it will result in, lead to my deliverance

There’s been a lot of ink spilled on this phrase

 Is he talking about physical safety, deliverance from prison?

 Is he talking about spiritual deliverance?

 Is he purposely vague referring to both, double meaning?

 Is he talking about eventual court-date before Caesar?

While it’s tempting to see this as a deliverance from prison… verse 20 (same sentence) indicates that Paul is actually NOT CERTAIN of weather he’ll make it from his current imprisonment out alive!

(We know that he does. We know as NT readers that Paul was released, ministered for years, went to Spain, wrote 1,2 Timothy and Titus, imprisoned again, executed under Nero 67AD)

That’s history… we know it… but this is 61AD… he didn’t know what would happen as he wrote the Philippian church from his Roman cell. Which is why his goal in vs 20 is to honor Christ in life or death.

- It doesn’t much sense to say “I rejoice verse 18, because I know I’ll be released vs 19, but I’m not sure that I’ll survive my sentencing 20…” No… that doesn’t follow.

I think a better way to take this, in light of verse 20, is a reference to final vindication and salvation from God.

In fact, your bible may have a footnote by the word deliverance in vs 19 because the vast majority of passages translate this word as salvation. This is the NT word for Salvation.

 Last week Joe explained how the verb, sodzo—to save, can be translated as: to save, to deliver, to cure…

 Sodzo is the verb form of this noun in our passage soteria. It can be rendered deliverance (8x)… but the vast majority of it’s occurances are translated salvation.

SALVATION trust

Ok, so what does that mean? I know this will turn out for my salvation

- Isnt Paul already saved?

- Didn’t’ he say—vs 1 “I’m a slave of Christ,”??

- Hasn’t he been following the Lord for decades?

YES—That’s why I take his as final vindication and salvation… an experience of future salvation glory in all its fullness.

- That day when Paul would be made perfect.

- That day when he would be glorified in heavenly fellowship with God

- That day when human oppression would be reversed,

- That day when false political accusations would be dropped.

Future, final vindication and salvation from God.

See, “salvation” has 3 tenses. Past, present, future… Believers have experienced soteria, we are experiencing soteria, and we will experience soteria.

- We often limit the word-group narrowly to the past tense. “When--how did you get saved?” But the bible uses it broadly

o Eph 2:8-9 By grace you “have been saved…” PAST

o Phil 2:12-13 PRESENT experience

o Rom 13:11 salvation is nearer to us than when we believed… future, its coming…

That third aspect… future salvation, with all of its climactic fulfillment is what anchors Paul with confidence and certainty… that the Lord would use EVERY DETAIL in his present adversity, to bring final victory and final vindication, final salvation.

That final future day completely reframed Paul’s present perspective and outlook. Instructive for us isn’t it?

Verse 19 also contains an example of something called intertextuality. What’s that?

Intertextuality is the intentional embedding or echoing of a previous bible-texts into a later one. It deals with how inspired bible writers expound on previous revelation in their own writings

- Sometimes the NT quotes the OT, or fulfills an OT prophecy.

- Other times, an author alludes, or borrows, or intentionally echoes the wording, or setting of a previous OT text by use of a more shortened phrase

o Intertextuality is not us reading meaning of one text into another… it’s us recognizing the author’s own subtle connections and considering the enriched implications as a result.

o Does that make sense?

The reason I bring this up, is because Phil 1 rings-with, echoes with, it borrows from Job 13. As if Paul had Job’s affliction in mind as he writes drawing parallels between Job’s situation and his own

If you’re unfamiliar, Job was a man who endured tremendous adversity but his suffering was not to punish him or teach him a lesson. His suffering was not because of his sin… The inspired tells us repeatedly in ch 1, that Job was a blameless, upright, righteous, God fearer.

- Rather than divine punishment, Job’s suffering had a bigger purpose… (to exalt God’s sufficiency—supremacy—sovereignty before Satan the accuser and attacker in the narrative).

- The narrator tells US that purpose, while Job struggles in the dark asking the “why question?”

In Job 13:15 though he doesn’t understand what God is doing, Though he slay me, I will hope in him. He was ready to die trusting in God… and then vs 16 this also will be my salvation. Remember Paul I know this will turn out for my salvation. By imbedding that allusion Paul implicates…

o 1) like Job I have a clean conscience

o 2) like Job my suffering has a purpose beyond myself… like what? gospel advancement / Christ’s magnification)

Both Job in the OT and Paul in the NT were scorned as a laughing stock. But Both were innocent sufferers, and both looked to the Lord’s final verdict trusting that the ridicule and the misunderstanding would give way to final divine vindication in the heavenly court.

Before we continue forward, We would do well to meditate on this a moment… there is a lot to learn here isnt there?

Paul is teaching us to live THIS day in light of THAT day.

Paul is teaching us in his trial something about the mentality and perspective that transcends adversity.

Here we have man living with joy and confidence that CANNOT be stolen or toppled.

HOW??

- He was absorbed not with what he could see but what he would see one day…

- He was driven not by how he felt but by what he knew…

- He was mediating not on words of men, but on the word of God (Job)

- He was living not in light of his present situation, but in light of his future salvation (that’s not practical… tell that to Paul!

o Every reason to be shriveled up but instead he’s burning with spiritual passion and settled trust in our God!

So what’s your mentality in sorrow? That difficult family situation, in that medical trial, in that heartache or opposition, that thing that most burdens your soul?

The reality is we’re all in need of this attitude regardless of adversity…

This text is not applicable only to the imprisoned…

In fact, the remarkable thing in this text is not Paul’s situation, it’s his attitude, and trust, FOG, and love of God amidst his situation…

 Phil 3 forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.

o Isnt it amazing he says that while in chains. What is that? Sanctified thinking.

o Col 3 Set your mind on the things above, not on the things that are on earth.

What do you need when you’re suffering, struggling, stressed, weak. You need truth! You need the anchor of biblical revelation.

- Truth must permeate our thinking, it must govern our perspective, it must hem us in and instruct our hearts.

NOW… Notice what Paul adds at the end of vs 19… this deliverance comes how??

Vs 19 through your prayers and the provision (support, supply, assistance) of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.

So we have a joyful, confident, salvation trust, DEPENDANT TRUST

Paul knew that the provision of the SOG in conjunction with the prayers of the ppl of God gave support and endurance to his ministry.

Paul knew he was upheld in spiritual enablement and spiritual resources outside of himself.

That’s why he asks the Ephesians

Eph 6:18… “Pray on my behalf that I might open my mouth with boldness”

1 Thes 5:25 “Brethren pray for us”

He’s not asking for prayer as some kind of Christian cliché or formality… No. God who is completely sov, exercises that sov BY MEANS OF PRAYER.

In fact, that’s the meaning of little preposition through in vs 19.

- Paul was strengthened for faithful service and endurance “through”—BY MEANS OF the prayers of God’s ppl and the provision of God’s spirit.

- Upholding him, strengthening him, providing enablement and empowerment to his own endurance and faithfulness.

What a tremendous reminder of the ministry of prayer for one another… I’m carrying these little guys around with me – every single member of this church is prayed for by elders.

Vs 19 is a reminder for us to pray for pastors and missionaries…

Tanner and Rippleys “The Spirit has applied His comfort and grace through the daily ministry of the Word and your prayers.”

If you thought his attitude was compelling in vs 18-19, it just gets better as we move to a second inner life disposition.

II. Magnifying Christ as supreme priority 20-21

I’m listing for us a second heading… but we must see that this

Notice verse-20 continues the same sentence stretching back to vs 18 sentence building it to a peak.

“I know this whole ordeal will turn out—19” and then there’s 3 prepositional phrases:

- Result for my deliverance

- Means through SOG / ppl of God

- Now

 For my deliverance (result)

 Through God’s (means

 Acc to the my ultimate priority

20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

- That’s mouthful, but it’s rich.

If you want to understand, what made Paul tick? What makes the believer under pressure who retains unassailable joy… what makes that person tick? It is the magnification of Christ as supreme priority no matter what the situation.

This supreme priority of magnifying Christ it gave laser focus to Paul’s life.

First it Promotes a laser personal focus 20a

- In 1 Cor 2:2…

- In Phil 3:7-8, 12-14 ---

It was vs 20 his earnest expectation that’s one word in Greek text and it envisions strained forward head.

- It’s the craning fw of the neck and stretching-out out with attention occupied on one thing to the exclusion of others.

- One lexicon defined it this way: fixing your eyes intently on something with single mindedness.

o It’s the opposite of being stretched too thin with too many secondary priorities that don’t really matter.

o It’s the opposite of having o

Elk hunting (bull at 20 yards, busted by cow at 15)

Just as that cow had me PEGGED with obsessive alert, life and death, focus… so Paul had eyes LOCKED on Christ.

One of the biggest dangers to believers today is distraction. That which dulls, numbs, dilutes, and distracts. I tell you many who profess to gaze upon Christ’s beauty today have their focus locked on school, on reputation, on future success, on present popularity.

- Again beloved to the degree that our eyes are focused on our circumstances and not on our lord… to the degree that our lens is focused on the many things in this world, and not the one who is in heaven, WE WILL BE VULNERABLE – we will be SUB-biblical in our thinking, in our living, and in particular in our management of trial, and pressure. We will be as a cork in the surf of challenges and suffering. Paul rose above that by his mind, his faith, his attitude.

“This is my expectation AND HOPE.” See that vs 19? You may be familiar, but biblical hope is not wishful thinking. It’s not iffy… it’s not “I hope the Nuggets beat the Timberwolves…” NOT I hope it doesn’t rain… fingers crossed.”

- No biblical hope is simply a future certainty.

So you put that all together, he’s speaking of intense expectation of what is sure to happen – breathless confidence and certitude…

That takes us into the very heart of this verse and the heart of his mindset. Verse 20 that I won’t be put to shame in anything… that’s negative but rather…with all boldness Christ will be exalted in my body – no matter what.

- Death or life!

- Now, then, always!

This is a verse oozing and dripping with spiritual confidence.

Second this ambition Cultivates spiritual confidence 20b

I wont be put to shame…

- Though Paul WAS stripped of dignity, freedom, and privacy—chained to a guard 24/7.

- Nevertheless his hope—his future but certain expectation is that when the dust settled, when his life ended, when his ministry ended there would be no shame in anything.

To be put to shame has the idea NOT of the personal feeling of shame but the public status or state of being held in disgrace… so this is a word for being held in low regard, humiliation, dishonor.

“It might look that way now, but It’s just a matter of time and perspective… Because I know what really matters in life, I don’t care. I’m not embarrassed… one day I’ll be vindicated by the one who strengthens me. It’s future but certain.”

If Paul were looking at his Lord through the lens of his situation—circumstances, he would have every reason to be disillusioned, to admit defeat, to become sheepish and inward… to be embarrassed, to pull back.

- He’d wanted to go to Rome for years… but not like this.

- It looked like he had failed… like God had failed…

- Terror would have been a reasonable response, but instead we see he categorically rejected the disgrace others sought to place on him and his heart was insteadfilled with what—20—boldness!! Boldness amidst the adversity!

I love this word boldness. Word literally means: all speech**

- Freely flowing, plain, open speech that isn’t stifled by fear 3x

In Mk 8:31-32 And He began to teach them that the Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders…and be killed, and after three days rise again. And He was stating the matter plainly…

- Translated “speaking plainly…”

- Boldness is clear and plain, not shrouded in nuance or fuzzy mushiness. NOT where truth is technically--articulated but you can’t tell… NO! that’s not how Paul magnified Christ!

Boldness is

- Open in contrast to hidden

- Plain in contrast to muddled

- Free in contrast to stifled

- Confident in contrast to fearful

- Direct in contrast to ambiguous

By exalting christ with boldness, Paul is not peacocking his spirituality. In fact, the more bold a person is in the Lord the SMALLER they are in their own eyes.

See, Paul understood something. Life is not about Paul.

Life is not about you.

It’s not about me.

It’s not about your glory… it’s not about your situation, its about HIM. It’s about aligning our attitudes, and our voices to sing creation’s cosmic symphony… to align in history’s grand trajectory THE ULTIMATE divine purpose – that Christ be magnified.

Ch 2:10-11 is saying that there is day coming when…

Paul was bold because that’s my life ambition NOW!!

Isnt this amazing??

His life is on the line, under tremendous stress. Would he be freed and released back to these beloved believers an other Christians or would he face execution?? Suffering, unknowns, challenges, on every side and in the midst ALL OF IT… his greatest desire is not that his life would be spared. It’s not that his chains would be loosed, but that his savior would be exalted.

- Here is veteran of hundreds of lashes, a thousand oppressions and indignities. He had no idea what pain and humiliation awaited him and there is NO FEAR in his heart. Rather it busts at the seams, with eager certainty that whatever happens – Christ will be honored.

When you think this way, you will be able to transcend stress. You will be able to rise above circumstances that would otherwise pummel you.

Freedom vs imprisonment? secondary matter

Execution vs safety? secondary matter

Life verses death? secondary matter

Why? because Paul has come out of the matrix and knows that really matters in life is not himself, his comfort, reputation in eyes of people. What really matters is that Christ is be magnified…exalted.

This key verb exalted… or honored ESV, Is the word megaluno… mega means great, expansive, enlarged… the root of this word is behind the terms for majesty, glory, greatness…

So Paul’s goal was to magnify Christ. To advance his name. To increase the fame of the Lord. Christians!! This is our purpose! This is our path, our ticket out from being controlled and victimized by circumstance! Is he worth magnifying yes or no?

- To the average student at ISU, Christ is a misty irrelevant figure who lived centuries ago and who carries no importance. But as they watch YOU living your life. What you do, what you say. What you glory and boast in, how your eyes are never only on your heartaches, how you navigate crises and sorrows, and sufferings differently. What happens?? Christ is magnified!

- To the UB a Christ is small, stupid and far away. But when a Christians inner life is gripped with his priority like a magnifying glass, or magnifying scope, your life presents Christ as the precious treasure that he is.

We’ve already begun to slide into this third thing that Paul’s priority does.

It feeds unstoppable resolve.

Did you catch the end of verse 20? Paul pushes this priority all the way into life or death.

(actually begins a personal-theological reflection on death and life that extends into 22-26).

- If he survives his circumstances the goal is what? to magnify Christ.

- If he is executed the goal is what? to magnify Christ.

This makes for an unstoppable perspective doesn’t it? When you are prepared to live and die for the Lord – regardless of the situation… you exist on a different plane.

This is not how most believers think, but it is what drove Paul.

- Acts 20:24 But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus,

And he boils it down in vs 21 to one little mission statement.

21 ---

This verse is a compact axiom; A punchy little formula that epitomized Paul’s entire life in 6 greek words. Even the way this sentence is pronounced and spelled makes it memorable and compelling in Greek. In fact, In the original there are no verbs.

To live—Christ

To die—gain

Living—Christ

Dying—Gain

τὸ ζῆν Χριστὸς…

τὸ ἀποθανεῖν κέρδος…

Think about those 2 statements:

To live—Christ

What does that mean??

- Our life is hidden in Christ Col 3:4

- We have been crucified with Christ Gal 2:20

- To truly live is to live for him, to magnify him.

Whether Paul was stuck in chains, stuck on a boat, discipling new believers, traveling on missionary journey his goal was always the same. Living for Christ, reflecting Christ… megalumno!

You need to hear this tonight. Because believer you represent Christ in EVERYTHING you do. On campus, with your friends, how you act, react and respond to ppl and situations. How you recreate and relate with others…. Friends, professors, ppl of opposite sex, it’s all for him…

Your life is a 24/7 running reel, a testimony for what you live for… a testimony that Christ is LIFE. We represent him in every sphere.

- Is that our attitude, our perspective? Do you realize that tonight? That to live is to live for him.

- Col 3:17 Whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus,

- Col 1:18

To die is gain

Paul understood that wealth, power, influence, possessions, prestige, social standing, good health, success, pleasure, business are transitory, vanity.

- Many acknowledge that truth with Paul few truly live that truth with Paul.

- What profit Matt 16

In death there is no more pain, no more mourning no more trauma no more tears.

- But make no mistake, Paul isn’t promoting martyrdom, or escape…he’s saying that in death there is MORE of what already satisfies and supplies him now in life.

There may be no more tears / pain but death is sweet because it ushers the believer into the arms of our great shepherd.

- To be absent from the body—2 Cor 5—is to be present with the Lord.

Can you imagine it? Do you think about it believer? What’s most thrilling about heaven is not the streets of gold, nor the gates of pearl. The greatest gain of being in heaven is not to be reunited with family it is to stand before Christ and behold him as he is… to fellowship with our lord fully and finally as united people. The glory of heaven is found in the king of heaven himself

If we live for Christ, to die will be gain. However, if we live for anyone or anything else… then to die will be loss. 18year old, 20 year old… are looking fw to a great future day of gain… or of loss?

- It is only when you know that death will usher you into the presence of God that you will live with fearless faith now.

Just imagine the conversation with the guards.

G “Paul we don’t like you, or Jesus – we’re gonna kill you.”

P “If you kill me, you deliver me into final glory-I’m ready to die for him”

G “on second thought we’ll allow you to live”

P “Fantastic that means more fruitful labor for Christ”

G “well we’ll let you live but make you suffer”

P “I actually consider suffering a grace, and the suffering of this world incomparable with future glory… it would fill me with joy to suffer for the Name”

Do you see the unstoppable, unassailable power of this perspective??

- Kill me I’ll be with Christ

- Spare me I’ll live for Christ

- Oppress me and I’ll be faithfully rewarded by Christ…

This power can be yours IF, you treasure the Lord above all. IF a Christ centered passion sits at the center of your inner life.

So I press again:

- Are we living for, are you living for, the things that Paul that HS says “yes that’s the ultimate goal”

- Or are we consumed with, focused on, controlled by, things that word of God would say… that’s secondary, that’s idolatry, that’s not THE ultimate great end of life.

Is that the cry of your heart; is that the convictions burning in your bones. Your life is not dear to you… but rather you desire you burn with the ambition that the gospel goes forth in this world

- Ppl who live life for themselves and then accessorize it with Jesus on the side… cannot come to a passage like this and say “yeah that’s my Christianity”

Over many years… I’ve seen many young ppl who look at their circumstances, their plans, their stresses… with Christ on the side. I’m asking you I’m exhorting to look to Christ to look… to look at your stresses, your life, your situation through lens of Christ. Through the grid of magnifying him. Will that really change my day to day. It’s impossible for it NOT to.

Simply put our greatest joy in life is know Jesus Christ… the gladness of heart comes from far more that knowing about him. This fearless joyful, unstoppable perspective is found in actually knowing the Lord personally. Our greatest thrill our greatest excitement is having Christ living in us… in in turn our living for him.