Joy in Life and Death (Philippians 1:18-26)

Well, good afternoon everybody. I wanted to get that right? Not good morning, but good afternoon. First thing I noticed when I came in here is that there are a lot of tissues in this room. So you either all sick or very emotional, but either way, that's fine, we'll work with anything but great to be here. Just, I think of this, the birthday of this church is kind of the same time that I went over to Valley. Bible Church about two and a half years ago. Now I'm so it's kind of nice to kind of be able to keep track of how things are going that way is the honeymoon over.

In some ways it's like you kind of go out on the church plan. I think we came over to Valley with sort of like, you know, these exciting thoughts of know, how can I serve, how can I help? What's God going to do your excited but then head over the course of time. It's a lot of work especially in our church planting and you might kind of settle back into thoughts of like, why did I do this again or like, what's in this for me? Because it's hard to pour out a lot, and maybe not get as much poured into when you're in a situation like, you all are in. And so this morning or this afternoon, there you go. I wanted to talk about joy in life or death in Philippians 1 verses 18 to 26, We've been preaching through Philippians at Valley and it's just been so wonderful, I have to go through. It's my favorite book of the Bible and sometimes preacher say that with whatever book They're preaching. That actually mean that Philippians is my favorite book of the Bible has been really good to have to walk through that. Together, will be in Philippians 1:18 226, but let me pray first and then we'll Dive In.

Father, we are so thankful that were in Christ and that we look forward to Christ being exalted with whatever happens in our lives. We know we have a guarantee that he will be exalted, there's no question about it. I know actually be exalted with whatever life throws our way. From our perspective, it just seems like we're kind of bouncing from one thing to another going uphill. Downhill twisting to turn but everything is carefully orchestrated by you. For the exaltation of your son, and for our good. So we have confidence in whatever circumstances we might find ourselves in. That Christ is going to be exalted. And if that's our source of our joy than will always be joyful because he will always be exalted in whatever circumstances were in I think of that. Now, as we think of Jan, we pray for her Lord. I pray that you would heal her quickly. But even through this trial, that she would see that there are ways that Christ is being exalted in this. Maybe in ways that wouldn't have happened. Had she remained in perfect health And that she would have great joy in that. Even if she doesn't know all the way is that that's happening. I pray the same things for Ryan. In many ways, it might feel like Ministry could be hindered, Joy could be hindered because of circumstances.

But this isn't your plan, B, C, or D. This is your plan. A For the exaltation of your son, for the good of this church. And for everyone's good, that's involved until Lord may be able to have that perspective is not an easy perspective, it's a supernatural perspective to be able to find Joy. Even in the midst of our trials, encourage you through your word encourage. I said we can exalt price no matter what circumstances were in and he will be exalted. And in him, we can have great joy and pray this in Christ name, amen. So joy in life and death anything in between. If you're going to have joy in life or death, the first thing you need to do is make sure that you lay the foundation of your joy, in the glory of Christ. Lay the foundation of your joy, in the glory of Christ. That's what Paul has been doing throughout this letter. Look at Verse 18, He says what? Then only that in every way weather in pretense or truth, Christ is proclaimed. And in that I Rejoice. Yes. And I will rejoice and he'll go on. But what's he talking about in verse 18? He says, whatever the circumstances I mean there's people preaching Christ because they love the truth. There's people preaching price cuz they hate me but whatever it is like Christ is still being proclaimed. It in that I can rejoice. No sir, I was working through you, do these verses. It just kind of stuck out to me again. You know that God wants you to be happy. I don't know about the weird thought to you. I mean, I think sometimes we hear things like will God doesn't care about your happiness. He cares about your Holiness. Well, I don't know why those two things need to be mutually exclusive. I actually think that those two things go together, he does care about your happiness. He wants you to be happy. I mean think of Psalm 16:11, you make known to me the path of life in your present. There is what fullness of joy at your right. Hand are Pleasures, forevermore. He wants us to have full Joy forever.

Psalm 34:8 o taste and see that the Lord is good blessed or happy is the man who takes refuge in him. Of course, we're reminded of those that common phrase by John. Piper God is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in him. He wants us happy in him. God doesn't get much Glory from sour people. We're really kind of a commercial for God. If you think about it we're out in the world as Salt and Light. We're advertising the goodness of God. So God wants us to be happy. God wants people to look at our lives and say I got to get what they have. A God wants to make us happy. What's the question is then? Why do we lack Joy? That's because we lay the foundation of our joy and other things. Things other than him things other than his son, we place our hopes and expectations on things that fail. Relationships. Marriage. Career money. Hey, when your joy, your happiness is attached to those things. If those things fail. What happens to your joy? It's gone. But think about this listen to What God Says, Joel 227. I am the Lord your God. And there is no other and my people will never be put to shame. But you'll never be disappointed. If you put your hope in the Lord, Isaiah 49 23. Then you will know that I am the Lord those who? Wait? For me shall not. Be put to shame or my favorite 1st, Peter 2:6, quoting, the Old Testament for it, stands in scripture. Behold, I am laying in Zion a stone Priced Right at Cornerstone Chosen and precious and whoever believes in him will never be disappointed. Never ever. Not like if I put my hope in him in a overall if I could borrow by my whole life overall, I would not be just like, you'll never be disappointed. Like you'll never find a time in your life when you like boy, who was a real mistake to put my hope in the Lord and that situation. Like he's going to come through every time. So what are disappointments? Reveal Better hopes in something other than the Lord.

Where do we find? True Joy. That's the question. If we Heather are joy to Christ we will never be disappointed. I think about Paul Paul. Where is he writing this letter from? He's in jail. Did that steal his Joy know? He's rejoicing he's rejoicing in jail. And somebody to think, Paul being in jail, you think you had more or less Joy than his ministry, had just continued the way he thought it would continue. I actually think he has more joy as a result of being in jail. Cuz earlier he says that as a result of him being in jail, members of Caesar's household are hearing the gospel that would have, they would have never heard it. Had not been in jail and he says that other people are becoming more bolt to preach price because I'm in jail or joyful in jail and had everything gone according to maybe his plan. There's no disappointment. I mean when your joy is Tethered to the glory of Christ, there is no disappointment in this life. In jail. No problem. I have joy. People preaching against me, preaching price, but doing it in such a way to make me look bad, whatever Christ is being proclaimed, prices being for play more because I'm in jail and had I not been in jail and with that, I have great joy. I rejoice. The glory of Christ is the only sure foundation for your joy. Why? Because it's guaranteed, it's going to happen. I meant think of Revelation 5, I joked that whenever I'm preaching, I always find a way back to Revelation 5, what's happening in Revelation 5, the son is being exalted. Where are the? Are you To receive Glory and Honor wife or you or slain and you purchase a people for yourself. That's where everything is going. Every tribe tongue, people and nation is going to be for claiming the glory of the sun. That's where everything's going is to guarantee. It's going to happen. If my joy is attached to the top and there's nothing that can take my joy. No circumstance.

Right. Are you been in Hebrews? Right, let's go to Hebrews chapter 1.

When you're about what God's about what the father's about and he's all about the sun. Again, you're going to have full Joy, Hebrews 1 verse 5, I mean to which of the Angels did God ever say you are my son today? I have begotten, you Or again, I will be to him a father and he shall be to me a son and again, when he brings the first born into the world, he says let all God's angels worship Him. Of the angels He says you make his angels winds and his ministers, a flame of fire. But of the son he says your throne o, God is forever and ever. The scepter of uprightness is the scepter of your kingdom. You have loved righteousness and hated wickedness. Therefore God your God has anointed you with the oil of gladness. Beyond your companions. Could go on and on. But what's the point of is? The father has exalted the sun? Everything is pointing at Him worship Him. Love him. Honor him. That's what's going to be happening for all eternity. So we might as well do it now.

Or another favorite Romans, 15.

Romans 15.

Starting verse 13.

Says, may the god of Hope fill you with all joy. And peace in believing so that by the power of the Holy Spirit, you may abound in hope the Paul wants people to be filled with joy and peace and hope. And how do you get that joy and peace and hope by believing? Believing what believing, what he's been talkin about starting back in verse 8. What place has a state for? I tell you that Christ became a servant to the uncircumcised to show God's truthfulness. In order to confirm the promise is given to the Patriarchs and in order that the Gentiles Mike glorify God for his Mercy. What's God doing in the world? God's going to make sure that the Gentiles glorify him because of his Mercy that's the guarantee and Paul encourages them self with scripture like it's all over the Bible. He says as it's written therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles and sing to your name. And again it is said, Rejoice O, Gentiles with his people and again, praise the Lord, all you Gentiles and let all the people that stole him and I get Isaiah says the root of Jesse will come even he who arises to rule the Gentiles to him in him. Will the Gentiles hope? What's fall saying now may the god of Hope. Fill you with joy and peace as you believe those things because you trust that God's going to glorify himself through his son among all nations. If that's your hope, you will be filled with joy and peace. Set your Hope on these things.

D.a. Carson says it this way says, put the advance of the Gospel at the center of your aspirations, like everything you want is to see the sun glorified among the Nations, then you'll be a joyful person cuz that's happening. He asked the question, what are your aspirations? To make money. To get married to travel. To see your grandchildren grow up to find a new job to retire. Early. Cuz none of these is inadmissible. None is to be despised. The question is, whether these aspirations become so devouring that the Christian Central ambition is squeezed to the periphery or choke out of existence entirely. Right? I got those things are bad in and of themselves, but if they become your central aspiration, then your joy, your peace becomes fluctuating with whether or not those things are happening. And what God has planned for us is if we blew our happiness to the advance of the Gospel, in the glory of Christ, will find that we're never disappointed. Because he's going to do it. It's a guarantee.

until Paul goes on back in Philippians,

To really tell us that Living For the Glory of Christ means you can't lose. You can't lose. But back at Verse 18, the end of Verse 18. Yes, I will rejoice y for. I know that through your prayers and the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ that this will turn out for my Deliverance as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all. Be pushing you put to shame but that with full coverage. Now, as always Christ will be honored in my body, right? Pause confident. I'm getting delivered by Christ is going to be honored. Like there's no question about it in every situation he's going to honor himself. That's the only way that this works.

He's getting out of his trial. He's got his trial coming up, his actual trial coming up, right. And he's confident that he will be delivered. He says you're praying for me. God's going to supply this. And I'm getting out of this. I will not be put to shame. Christ will be honored. No question about it. We read that verse Philippians are getting this letter. They're probably thinking, oh, Paul's, very confident that he's going to get out of jail, but he's going to be released. But notice what he says, next verse 20. It's my eager expectation and hope that I will not at all. Be put to shame. But that was for courage. Now is always priced will be honored in my body but then what does he say? Whether by life, or by Death,

So he's confident, I'm getting delivered. Christ is going to be honored, we think that has to mean that he gets out of jail, but in Paul's mind he's like, it's either, I'm getting out of jail or I get killed. But either way I'm getting delivered and Christ is going to be honored whether by life or by Death. His release right is either going to be a physical release from jail or a release from this life to go and be with Christ forever. But one way or another, he's getting out and price is going to be honored.

It's a caution to us that you know our hope and confidence needs to be in Christ being honored, not a particularly Earthly outcome. Yeah, I think we think old price is going to be honored because he's going to get me out of the situation. Be confident that Christ is going to be on her but I have no real idea. What that means, it can mean several different things. But sometimes we have to be careful about the songs that we sing, right? Inca sometimes are Goliath, they won't fall the Giants in her life, they might squash us. Christ is still going to be honored. Sometimes the Jericho walls won't come tumbling down. It may not be the way that God drew it up for you, but he's still going to be honored. Sometimes he may not make that Earthly way through the trial. Are you doesn't always keep us from the fire or from the flood. Our confidence is not in a certain Avenue of Deliverance. Our confidence is at crisis going to be honored.

Get the cancer diagnosis. Are we hope that price is going to be honored in him healing this, and I'm going to go on to live for years and years and years. But it could be that he's honored and that he gives you joy and peace. As you exit this life and move into the next.

You have an unbelieving spouse. What's your hope? I hope that Christ is honored through saving my spouse. Rescuing our marriage.

But it could be that Christ is honored in years of you, loving your spouse, like Christ loves you, even when they don't deserve it. And that you're a picture of Christ in that situation. We're like Paul. You might find yourself in the midst of persecution, price could be honored through your release. Or he could be honored through your death. I think we've all heard missionary stories that go both ways, but at the end of both of those stories when we feel like Christ is so worthy. he's so powerful for getting someone out of a situation that seems hopeless or he's so worth dying for Christ is honored and either way,

cuz if we only hope and certain Earthly outcomes, we may find ourselves disappointed The kids and Rhonda night, we listen to a biography of Johnny eareckson Tada on the way home from Tahoe one time and this is an autobiography that she wrote in her mid-20s after. She broke her neck at 70 diving into a shallow kind of area of swimming swimming pool area. And she is quadriplegic. And it really is a great book because this is not easy, it's not easy to put your hope in Christ knowing that that might mean that your situation doesn't get better. That's not easy. I'm not suggesting, it's easy, it's hard. The great thing about this autobiography, it's her really wrestling with God, because for the first few years, she thought God is going to heal me. And that's how he's going to glorify himself and then it was disappointment after disappointment because she didn't get better.

and so she's wrestling with this, but eventually came to the place where she could say Christ can be honored, even if I never can walk again,

She writes this in a forward to another book. She says, most of us are able to thank God for his grace comfort and sustaining power in a trial. But we don't thank him for the problem. How many decades in a wheelchair have taught me to not segregate, My Savior from the suffering, he allows as though a broken neck merely happens and then God shows up after the fact to wrestle something good out of it. Know the god of the Bible is bigger than that much bigger and so is the capacity of your soul. Maybe this wheelchair felt like a horrible tragedy in the beginning, but I give God. Thanks in my wheelchair. I'm grateful for my quadriplegic. It's a bruising of a blessing, a gift wrapped in Black. It's the shadowy companion that walks with me daily, pulling and pushing me into the arms of my savior. And that's where the joy is.

Not easy.

But if you put your hope in Christ, you will find joy and even thankfulness in the midst of the difficult situation. Not just thanking God that he'll sustain you in a trial, but you could actually thank him for the trial itself. because it kind of cut away, the things you were hoping for and help you just to put your hope in him.

So how do you get there? That's the question. How do I get to a place where I can be? So amazed that Jesus that I don't care what he does with my life. I'm only going to Hope in him. I think that's where Paul gives us how he thinks that way. He got this way of thinking from Christ. Look at verse 21. How is it that he's able to think that way? Verse 21 for to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

If I'm to live in The Flash, that means fruitful labor for me. Yeah. Which I shall choose. I can't tell. I'm hard-pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ for that is far better. But to remain in the flash is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this. I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress, enjoy in the face. So that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus because of my coming to you again. To hear you get Paul's mission statement. This is how I think about my life. This is what I got from Jesus which will go on to explain in Chapter 2. This is the way the Jesus thought about his life to live is Christ to die is gain, which is kind of the opposite of what we usually experience, right? We think to live is gain in to die? Well, at least I'll get Jesus. To live is Christ and to die. That's actually the game. Like we think I'm sure I'll see Jesus when I die but there's so much more that I want out of life. I don't think that way anymore. I don't think about what I get from life. I think about how can I pour out my life for others. That's what he means when he says to live is Christ.

Christ. As my focus, I spend all my time looking at him, he's my passion. I want to live for him and nothing else. I want to be known like he was known. He's the pattern. I want to live my life like him. He's the foundation, he's everything. 2nd Corinthians 5:14 15 for the love of Christ controls us. Because we've concluded this that one has died for all. Therefore, all have died and he died for all that those who live might no longer live for themselves. But for him, who for their sake, died and was raised. The love of Christ compels me. Like he loves me this way. He died for me when I wasn't worth dying for when I was living for myself, he died for me so that I could live for him and if he did that for me, that's how I want to live my life for others. I want to pour out my life for other people.

Impulse noises like to live is Christ to die is gain. It's a win-win situation, right? Or is like a price price situation? I live. I get to experience Christ, Living. Even as he talked about Philippians chapter 3, I'm going to know. I'm going to know that his suffering even in the power of his resurrection. Again you can't lose if your hope is in Christ, you can't lose. Interpol actually then he sort of gives us his decision-making grid as he walks through this right. I mean he kind of brings out the scales and he talks about like let me just for a moment. Think living or dying. How should I weigh those things out? If the choice were up to me, how would I make that decision whether to live or to die? He starts off by saying to live in The Flash means fruitful labor. Which again is that? How we would think of our life? Fruitful labor, not drudgery. You do not look like this past bass. You better do what I say kind of relationship with God. Now it's fruitful labor.

Reese's like, I don't know which I would choose, I'm hard-pressed between the two, both are such good. Joyful, options. Living means fruitful labor. but to depart, Then, what did you say to depart to what? To be with Christ. I love that. What makes departing so good. He doesn't say to depart and be absent from my suffering is great gain. He doesn't say to depart and have a reunions with my loved ones. That would be the great game. To depart and get my angel wings and a sweetheart. That would be the great game that I'm looking forward to know. What does he say? What makes departing so great to depart and be with Christ? That's the game. Reminds us again for the PS3, right? The surpassing value of now what could he have filled in the blank with the surpassing value of forgiveness and say that the good thing doesn't say that the surpassing value of eternal life as passing value the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord That's the benefit. That's the benefit of departing. We get to be with Jesus. The one who gave his life for us the one, when we were seeking our own interest, he sought our interest. And he lay down his life, he was obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross for us. When we weren't sticking him, we get that one but that's what Paul so excited about. It's not that my trials will be over the persecutions will be done, I'll get to see my loved one, that's not what excites him, what excites him is to depart and be with Christ. Christ is the price of the Gospel.

I love this, John Piper quote. From God is the gospel. He says, this the saving events. And all the saving blessings of the Gospel. Our means of getting obstacles like our sin and God's Wrath out of the way so that we might know. And enjoy God most fully Propitiation Redemption, forgiveness, imputation, sanctification Liberation, healing Heaven. None of these is good news. Except for one reason, they bring us to God for our Everlasting enjoyment of him. If we believe all these things have happened to us, but do not embrace them for the fact of getting us to God, they have not happened to us. Christ, did not die to forgive. Sinners. Who go on, treasuring, anything above above, seeing and savoring. God. And people who would be happy in heaven. If Christ were not, there will not be there. The gospel is not a way to get people to Heaven. It is a way to get people to God. It's a way of overcoming every obstacle to Everlasting joy. In God, if we don't want God above all things, we have not been converted by the gospel. Like, that's what's so amazing about Paul, you see it. So clearly like I want Christ more than anything. I don't even want the benefits that he gives me. I just want him. Calvin says it this way. We don't seek in Christ something other than Christ himself. He's the price, he's the game and Tall says to depart and be with him, is far better. I come in, there's there's no tipping the scale, back the other way. It's like to depart and be with that one, like it's so much better.

D. A Carson says, like what can you do with a person like that or who sees dying as the great game? What can you possibly do to a person like that?

Until you think. I go that's the answer. Then Paul's going to choose. I'd rather just have this. Be the end and I'm going to go depart and be with Christ. Peace out. Have a good life. Will see you on the other side. What is the best answer? What did he say after that, first 24, but to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

so here's I mean, policies and here's what the decision comes down to I could depart which is far better for me. Or I could remain because it's more necessary for you. So my desire. Verse your need, which one wins?

And Paul says you win, I'll stay.

He says verse 25. Convinced of this. I know I'll remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith. Your need is more important than my desire. Where do you think you learn that from? Jesus.

Who exists in the form of God, that does not consider equality with God. Something to be held onto. But you can humble themself. He can serve as he becomes a cerveny. Becomes a man. And Paul's, like I'm thinking the same way. What's better for me? Depart and be with Christ. What's more necessary for you is for me to stay. So I'll stay. Now, you have to ask the question. Why does Paul do this? Why not? Just tell us like yeah I got I'm going to get out of jail and I'm going to come help you. Why did you walk us through this process?

Because he wants us to learn to think like him. He wants us to Value the needs of others, more than what we want. And in that actually is the secret of joy. Seeking your own interest will always lead to you not being joyful. I wish I can counter into it. If we think. Yes, he can my own interest. That's what's going to bring me joy. And he says no no, no, no, no. Seek other people's interest above your own and you'll have joy.

Can a commentator, ask the question how quickly do we employ? Paul's Criterion here established when we make decisions, how quickly do we ask ourselves? The question, what would be best for the church? Or what would be best for my brothers and sisters in Christ. How do we typically make decisions, what's in it for me? What's best for me? I got this job offer in another state pays more. I'll finally be out of California. The kids will be in better schools, like I'm out my desire wins. Every time I say, no, you have to ask yourself the question. What's more necessary for the people around you?

Cuz you get Christ gets more Glory when Paul lives his life this way. Then if he just went and went to be with the Lord,

that's Paul's key to your joy. Is you live for other people's progress. Enjoy in the faith. Not your own. That's everyday. Christian Living. I will live for other people's joy and progress in the face and not myself. That's Jesus, right? If anyone would come after me let him deny himself. Take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life, right? You live for yourself. What happens? You lose it? But whoever loses his life for my sake and the gospels will save it. That's the key to your joy. What's best for others? Others needs above my desires.

So what are some examples of that? Well, one that I've recently been convicted up cuz I spend a lot of time on my phone at home and that's what it. What am I thinking? I'm thinking that more joy is going to be found and serving Myself by scrolling through Facebook or Twitter. Why? I think those things I have no idea. Those are the only bad things usually come up on there. But I think that serving myself is going to bring me more joy when I get home from a busy day, what's going to bring me joy? That's what I think. I think it's going to be through scrolling through the phone. No, Jesus says, now you'll find more joy. If you start serving the people around you, then serving yourself. Do for me, it means. Let's put the phone in the drawer when I get home from work and care for my family, seek their interest above my own interest and I actually find myself more joyful. Husbands. That might mean put down the remote to ask your wife, how she's doing? Can you think we'll know the game is on? The game is where I'm going to find my most Joy. It's like, no, you'll actually find more joy serving others than serving yourself.

Or teenagers. Write. I'm going to find the most Joy, if I spend all my time with my friends, and I don't spend any time with, you know, anybody else. I know you'll actually find more joy, if you think if you look to be a servant to people around you than just living for yourself mean, every day were faced with that. Question will I pursue my Joy or will I pursue other people's Joy? Do I truly believe that my life will be more joyful if I serve others? Me answer that question is it will be it will you have more joy serving others than serving yourself?

Because that's what Jesus Does. That's my desire. For this church that you have a Ministry of promoting. One another's joy in Christ. That you'd want to make each other. Glad in God and that prioritizing that even over yourself is actually going to lie to you having more joy as well. So, what's the motto of your life to live is? Christ or something else, or maybe Christ, plus something else, work entertainment relationships, pleasure Comfort. What do you live for? If you live for Christ by serving others, you will have fullness of joy and never be disappointed. Osprey.

Father, we confess. It seems so radical, so counterintuitive.

To us that if we want joy, we actually have to serve other people's Joy rather than our own. Coarsely mean serve other people's true source of Joy serving people for the sake of Christ.

But we can have real Joy like that when we prioritize the glory of Christ, even above our own desires. When we can promote other people's progress, enjoy in the faith, even above our own will find that? That's where true Joy is found. Cuz will experience price in those places. We'll get to draw near to him. And he'll give us everything that we need and walk walk away. After caring for someone else will walk away more encouraged

The word help us help us in just very tangible ways as husbands as Fathers as wives as mothers as kids as teenagers as young adults, just to make those daily decisions to not live for ourselves, but to live for other people's progress and joy in the faith and maybe experience the true deep real joy that comes along with that. Because we're not living for ourselves. We're living for Christ and when we live for Christ, we are never disappointed. Never convince us of the Hat remind us of that. Encourage us with that.

And give us the strength. We need through your spirit to live that way day in day, out for your sake. We bring Christ name, amen.