Untitled Sermon (2)

Living For HIM!

Phil 1:18-21

Intro

As we begin the message, I’d like to reflect on this question…

When you think about someone who has it all. They’ve got it made in life. Someone who is living at the very pinnacle of a fulfilled and satisfied life… What comes to mind? Who comes to mind?

- For many the very first thought is some kind of celebrity or SM influencer, sports-figure, successful business-owner; a life of luxury, of travel, of being served, of being important… perhaps some kind of retirement-dynamic. Perfect home, family, job—no job.

- Yet the words of Jesus tether us to spiritual reality. In Matt 16:26 our Lord says “For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole worldand forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?”

Think about that personallyfor a second… What if you could trade your soul for health, money, pleasure, power, beauty, security, possessions, honor, success, happiness… would you do it?

- Jesus says in Matt 16 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.

In our passage this morning we learn from a man who had reached the pinnacle life’s joy and purpose… even though he was a man mocked, disgraced, accused, and imprisoned.

That man from whom we will learn is the apostle Paul—who even in suffering had found life, because he had lost his life for Christ’s sake.

It wasn’t always that way of course… This same man Paul once hated Christ and hated Christians… He himself writes in the NT “I was a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor”

But in our passage this morning, having been powerfully converted and transformed by the truth he once sought to suppress, and the grace he once thought unnecessary, he says For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Turn to Phil ch 1.

- Paul’s been jailed not for criminal activity but for his bold—faithful gospel preaching… and he now writes the Philippian church from prison-quarters in ancient Rome.

- Opens “I think of you and pray for you constantly. I know God continues to work among you”

- Affection 7-8 ---

The letter is a very warm address—often called the epistle of joy, coming on 10 years of sig ministry-partnership after Paul himself planted the church!

So in ch 1 he’s thankingthe Phil and praying for the Phil. And from vs 12-26 he begins to report on Roman-imprisonment situation.

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 striking, is not his circumstance… but his mentality—this thinking.

2 attitudes of the inner-life that that dominated Paul—attitudes that IF present in our inner life, allow us transcend our circumstances and live out the purpose we were made for.

- He’s updating the Phil about his imprisonment situation, but in doing so he teachesby means of his mentality, his perspective, thinking on life.

- When this Pauline biblical thinking is folded into your life it 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…)

We see Paul trusting God amidst adversity, and magnifying Christ as supreme priority. I want to organize our time under those 2 attitudes / perspectives

I. Trusting God amidst adversity 18-19

Given Paul’s difficulty, vs 18 is particularly striking

18 ---

Did you catch the key word there?

We could call trust

a JOYFUL TRUST.

This verse, is kind of like a transition… It’s a both a conclusion to verses 12-17, and an introductionvs 19. It’s the hinge from one section to another

- Says in this I rejoice (pointing back)

- Then (pointing fw) Yes and I will rejoice

Back up to verse 12 to see the flow...

12-17 ---

God’s mission is going fw, ppl are hearing truth, ppl are getting saved, other Christians are emboldened. I rejoice even at those who elevate their ministry above my mine because while their motive badtheir message is truth and in this vs 18 “I rejoice”

Paul could have been focused on the discomfort, inconvenience, or injustice but instead he’s rejoicing!

Facing the limitations of prison life

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

- Don’t worry about these envious evangelists 

- Don’t worry about my fate because I’m resting in God’s control whether he lets me 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 What’s the reason, what’s the source of this joy?

Vs 19 tells us…“for…” Vs 19 gives the reason for the rejoicing in vs 18—that God is still working in the trial.

19a ---

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.

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

- 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…

§ What he knew about the sov of God

§ Compassion of Christ

§ Certainty of salvation

§ Unavoidability, and profitability of trials

§ Power of HS and the effective prayers of the saints

§ Theology of suffering, promises, sp growth

- 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 and then there’s 3 prepositions:

- FOR my deliverance

- THROUGH your prayers / spirit

- ACC TO my own eager expectation

So we want to work through these. First he says it will turn out—lit

result in, lead to my deliverance

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

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

Ø Is he talking about spiritual deliverance?

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

Ø 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 if 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.

I don’t think he’s telling us I KNOW I’ll be released

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

In fact, your bible prob has a footnote by the word deliverance in vs 19 because this word is usually translated as salvation. This is the NT word for Salvation.

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

Ø Sodzo is the verb form of this noun in our passage soteria. It can be rendered deliverance… but the vast majority of its occurrences are translated salvation.

So in the face of adversity, Paul had a joyful trust, confident trust…

SALVATION trust

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

- Isn’t 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 this 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 2:8-9By grace you “have been saved…” PAST

o Phil 2:12-13PRESENT experience

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

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

- What anchoring perspective!!!

- That future day is one that anchors and stabilizes and motivates every believer, not just the apostle in prison.

In 2 Tim 4 Paul I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith; in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.

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

Intertextuality is the intentional embedding of a previous bible-text into a later one. It deals with how inspired bible writers expound on previous revelation in their own writings.[1]

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

- Other times, an author alludes or echoes the wording, or setting of a previous OT text with more subtly.

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.

The reason I bring this up, is because Phil 1, 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 an early OT believer who endured tremendous suffering. BUT his suffering was not to punish him or teach him a lesson. His suffering was not because of his sin… The inspired-narrator 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).

- As readers of Job, we know God has a larger purpose behind the trial, but Job himself struggles in the agony of suffering, not knowing what we do as he asks: “Why God, why me, what are you doing?”

In Job 13:15—though he doesn’t understand what God is doing—Though he slay me, I will hope in him. Job was ready to die trusting in God… and then vs 16 this also will be my salvation.

- Sound familiar? Paul writes: 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? advancement of gospel / magnification of Christ!

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 difficulty would give way to final divine vindication in the heavenly court.

- Is this not what the soul needs amidst affliction?? Reminder of a salvation that is FIXED

o That God doesn’t stop working in pain, or opposition, persecution, or adversity.

o That there are no wasted moments or pains in the hands of a sov Lord!

We don’t demand that he insulate us from those things, No we trust him in those things! So that today’s burdens are lived in light of THAT day of salvation deliverance (you’re not burdened by prison life… but each one here knows something of loss, or betrayal, or sickness, religious scorn, family burdens

In light of John 16:33… we would do well to think deeply on the example we see here: How was it that Paul lived with such peace and joy and confidence?

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

- He was driven not by how he feltbut 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

NOW… vs 19 continues, this salvation--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 peopleof God, gave support and endurance to his ministry.

…That 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 “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 helpful reminder of the ministry of prayer for one another…

Ø 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.”

Notice verse-20 continues the same sentence

“FOR I know this whole ordeal will turn out—19.”

- FOR my deliverance—prep#1

- THROUGH God’s means—prep#2

- Now—prep#3 in vs 20 ACCORDING to my earnest expectation and hope.

That word my is important … You know what he’s saying here? God’s priority for my life and MY priority for my life are the same thing. I know that my affliction will turn out for MYearnest expectation and hope – because I’ve submitted my hope and my priority to him

And what is this goal Paul had? What is this purpose that gave Paul certainty? What was the attitude or mentality that was both Paul’s personal intention and yet because it was also God’s divine plan it gave supernatural power perspective to his suffering?

Answer. Vs 20. To magnify Christ as supreme priority.

- This is the second perspective I want to think on together this morning.

- Firsttrusting God amidst adversity, second

II. Magnifying Christ as supreme priority 20-21

Look at vs 20 his expectation and hope is 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. For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

That’s mouthful, but it’s rich, powerful, captivating thinking.

These verses really take us into the psyche and mentality answering what made this man tick? What was his driving ambition? What was his supreme priority no matter what the situation?

Answer—to exalt Christ in my body!

- In the language of 1 Cor 10:31 to glorify Christ in whatever we do (eat / drink)

- In the language of 2 Cor 5:9 we make it our ambition to be pleasing to him

I think it’s undeniable that this supreme priority of magnifying the Lord gave a kind of laser focus to Paul’s life.

- Even that phrase earnest expectation…speaks to singular focus; the original language pictures a craned fw neck with attention occupied on one thing.

- One lexicon defines “earnest-expectation” fixing your eyes intently on something with single mindedness.

That’s Paul to a Tee

- In Col 1:28 “we preach Christ”

- In 1 Cor 2:2 “I determined…”

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

He was a believer gripped by value of Christ and the glory of Christ and the fame of Christ. So what was his priority? to magnify Jesus in all things, no matter what—vs 20.

- Now and always.

- in life and in death

What’s the result of a life prioritizing God’s own priority?

The result is a life oozing and dripping with spiritual confidence.

I wont be put to shame in anything!

That’s an amazing statement of faith because being put to shame doesn’t refer to personal embarrassment but to public disgrace and dishonoring.

- See at this moment Paul WAS disgraced!

- Stripped of dignity, freedom, and privacy… in the short-run from the human perspective he was disgraced AS HE WROTE!

That’s why this paragraph is filled with faith; his expectation is that when the dust settled, when his life ended, when his ministry ended there would regret or humiliation whatsoever.

- “It might look that way now, as ppl mock my ministry, my situation. Because I know what really matters in life, I don’t care! Whatever scorn is placed on me now will be gone and forever reversed. That day is future but it’s certain.

If Paul were looking at his Lord through the lens of his situation, he’d have every reason to be disillusioned and embarrassed, to pull back.

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

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

- Humiliation would have been a natural human response, but instead we see he categorically rejected the disgrace others sought to place on him and his heart was instead filled with what—20??

o Boldness!! Boldness amidst the adversity!

As the govt sought to limit and snuff out his ministry, Paul grew in boldness!

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

- Freely flowing, plain, open speech that isn’t stifled by fear. That’s boldness!

In Mk 8:31-32 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, without apology or embarrassment.

- It wasn’t that Paul was pushy or arrogant, but boldness meant he lived and spoke for Christ openly. Definitively. Courageously.

1 Thes 2:1-6a

Boldness is

- Open as opposed to hidden

- Plain as opposed to overly “nuanced”

- Lovingly direct not fearfully self-protective

- Clear as opposed to ambiguous

- Definitive as opposed to vague

- Fixed and uncompromising as opposed to vacillating

I want more of this quality in my own life, in my own words, in our church…

Please understand:

- I’m not describing not carnal brashness / bravado—swagger.

- 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. Someone who is bold in the lord is a God-fearer not man pleaser!

See, Paul understood something in that cell. Life is not about Paul. This is so powerful when you’re struggling, suffering, facing hardship.

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.

- Might sound cruel and cold… of course it’s not that Lord doesn’t know or care…

- But beloved God’s design is for our individual voices to support the great symphony of all human history; THE great purpose of human creation—to magnify the Son—the Lord Jesus Christ!!

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

Paul was bold because that’s my life ambition NOW!! His will and my will match!

Isnt this amazing??

His life is on the line, under tremendous trauma—stress. Would he be freed and released? Would he ever see these beloved Philippians again? Would the next knock on the door bring the verdict of his criminal 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. NO OUNCE of self-pity. NO TRACE entitled anger, NO CRY of in justice…

- Rather his life BURSTS at the seams, with eager certainty that whatever happens – Christ will be honored.

Beloved, 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.

Theology. Right thinking allows Christians to live on a different plane of joy of confidence, even when the Lord keeps us in the trial. In the pain. In the waiting

Freedom vs imprisonment? secondary matter

Execution vs safety? secondary matter

Life verses death? secondary matter

Why? because Paul has come out of the matrix; he knows that really matters in life is not himself, his comfort, security. What really matters is that Christ be magnified... What matters in life is living for him!

This key verb exalted… or honored ESV; Is the word megaluno…

Mega expansive, enlarged, to adorn with greatness majesty.

To exalt.

Christ is ascended. He’s in the heavens. So for us to exalt Christ is not “taking him up” but “showing him off”… in our choices, habits, relationships, priorities we are to live and speak in such a way that esteems him…

It puts his beauty, and truth, kindness, and humility, priority on display; megaluno.

Ps 69:39 I will praise the name of God with song And magnify Him with thanksgiving.

Is that your goal?

Is that your goal in adversity? In sickness? In mischaracterization?

To magnify Christ? To advance his name?

LMTS, I don’t think Paul had this mentality because he was an apostle. He had this mentality because he was Christian.

- He was sinner saved by wonderful savior.

- As he sat in chains he was a freed-man. Freed from the guilt of sin.

- He was a man who loved Christ why??

This mentality, anchoring ambition to exalt Christ is not just for first century Paul of Philipi… it’s for us.

- It’s the thinking through which you may by God’s grace endure circumstances that would otherwise victimize and control you

- We walk through the pain and joys, the disappointments and victories seeking to please our worthy savior.

What would He want? What does his word say? How can I die to self and live for him and others??

To the UB a Christ is small, stupid and far away. Lip service may or may not be paid, but when a Christian a believer is compelled with this priority, your life magnifies Christ as precious treasure that he is.

It feeds UNSTOPPABLE RESOLVE.

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

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

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

When you are prepared to live and die for the Lord, regardless of the situation… your situation no longer controls you. Remember when Joe preached on 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,

- That was Paul’s mentality and he boils it in vs 21 down to one little mission statement.

21 ---

This verse is a compact axiom; A punchy little formula that captured 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.

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 are united with Christ

- Christ is in us; we are in him;

- His life is counted to us;

- Our life exists for his glory

Gal 2:20 I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.

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… megaluno!

It reminds us that we represent Christ in EVERYTHING you do.

- At home, at work, online, how you act, react and respond to ppl and situations. How you recreate and relate with others…. Friends, family, ppl in the body, ppl in community it’s all for him.

- Use of time, use of money…

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

- 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

How so? No more pain, no more sorrow, no more tears…

All that may be true… but death is gain to Christian because death ushes us into into the arms of the good shepherd.

- Faith becomes sight

- Where the last trace of sin is eradicated and we share perfect fellowship with him…

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

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.

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 his Name”

Do you see the unstoppable 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 belongs to all who treasure the Lord as supreme priority. 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 scripture 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 priority 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”

I ask you this morning… will that future day be a day of great gain… or will it be a day of better loss? Wherein you lose your soul?

- Will your sin in that day be one your own shoulders to bear before a perfect judge… or will it be on the shoulders of the substitute… the righteous and mercifcul shepherd; the lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world.

To live is Christ and die is gain.

But to live is self means to die is ultimate loss and ruin

.

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 (toss and turn)

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

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…

Ø 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.

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.

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.

[1]Chou Abner. The Hermenuetics of the Apostles. Kregal Publishing. Pg 21