Midweek - Philippians 1:19-25

Introduction

Read Philippians 1:19-26

Philippians 1:19–26 ESV

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. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Explanation

Philippians 1:19–20 ESV

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.

Prison, through the prayers of others and the help of the Spirit, will turn out for Paul’s deliverance.

When we pray, we pray with all comfort and assurance that those we pray for - as they are in Christ - will be delivered.

QUESTION: How does the Holy Spirit “help” cause Paul’s circumstances turn out for his deliverance?

If God’s love for us is primarily measured in terms of fortune, then the verdict of his heart towards us will always be pending the arrival of a new set of facts. // Dan Allender

Paul has an expectation and hope that he will bot be ashamed at all.

Never be satisfied with where you are in the area of spiritual growth. Cultivate an insatiability for more of God by examining your weaknesses, beholding the perfection of Christ, and finding good examples of strengths you want to develop.

Stillness begets stagnancy. You are either moving forward or backward. There is no in between.

Are you hungry for more of God and more of holiness? If you aren’t, this could be an indicator of some soul rot.

“The Godly are designed for unknown and inconceivable happiness.” JE

Read the Word, pray consistently, and read “thirst-making” authors.

Who have been thirst-making authors in your life?

With full courage, Paul expects to honor Christ in his body by life or death.

Philippians 1:21 “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This verse best describes the “unconquerable spirit” of the Christian faith.

If I am alive, I will share Jesus.

If I did, I get Jesus.

If you keep me alive, you get Jesus. If you kill me, I get Jesus.

How do we live this way?

We consider the cross.

We consider the worthiness of our God.

Philippians 1:22–23 “22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Paul explains that tough verse before it.

If I am still alive, I have fruitful labor. Now, this ought convict us. The dichotomy is not “I get to live the way I want” or “I get heaven.”

The moment you think that way, you have slipped from the life that God wants and you won’t feel the way Paul feels.

To live is fruitful game for the Kingdom or death and an inheritance of that Kingdom.

Everyone wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now.

“You can judge a man by what he groans for.” Charles Spurgeon

What still weighs upon your heart that causes you to believe that death will be less than full inheritance in the Kingdom? In what ways do you need to pray in light of that reality.

Philippians 1:24–26 ESV

24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

Paul has an others-centeredness to him. His life is lived on the account of others.

Invitation