Philippians 1:21-30
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
YOOOOO!
Week three of our Philippians Series!
Man this is a joy for me getting to go meticulously through the book of Philippians
We started out this series on 1:1, and by the time we finish this series we will be on 4:23
When we started, the series we look at the beginning where Paul states how he is constantly thanking God for the Philippians
We used used this to ask the question — would Paul thank God for us?
Then last week we looked at the fact that Philippians is a book on joy and talked about how Paul gave us an outline for how to have joy that lasts
This week we are looking at the verse that we closed last week with to see what made Paul state that
To live is Christ, Die is gain
To live is Christ, Die is gain
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
Paul at the end last time states — to live is Christ, to die is gain
Think about that: He is declaring that everything that is happening to him, his life, everything that Paul is — to live he lives for Christ, if he dies its simply gain for Paul
Paul tell us that no matter what happens Christ will be magnified
What then follows in the next verses is Paul laying out this idea by using a pro/con list
It starts like this:
Paul’s Dilemma 1
Paul is weighing out his options
Paul has already laid out that Christ gets glory no matter what, the gospel is advancing no matter what
So Paul is weighing his options of fighting or accepting his death sentence
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’s Dilemma 2
Based on the first pair of factors considered, dying sounds like the better option.
He would no longer have to be in pain or suffer imprisonment, nor would he have to deal with problems in the church.
It would not be his problem anymore.
On the other hand, remaining means more fruitful labor for Christ.
Paul is pointing out that life is hard!
I mean the idea of leaving this pain and suffering must sound nice to a man that is chained up 24/7
Especially when heaven is pained as:
16 They shall hunger no more, neither thirst anymore; the sun shall not strike them, nor any scorching heat. 17 For the Lamb in the midst of the throne will be their shepherd, and he will guide them to springs of living water, and God will wipe away every tear from their eyes.”
I mean, no tears, no hunger, no thrist
Paul points out it is hard!
Philippians 1:21–26
To Paul the prospect of heaven must have sounded even better. Five times he received thirty-nine lashes, three times he was beaten with rods and shipwrecked, and he was even stoned once (see
Paul’s Dilemma 3
Paul states in vs. 23 that He would be WITH Christ
How much better can that be?
On earth in prison the Gospel is advancing — BUT! The mission is advancing no matter what? So why wouldn’t Paul want to go?
Listen to what Paul says next:
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 however states his decision
Paul’s Dilemma 4
Paul states that he is going to remain and continue working for Christ and the advancement of the Gospel
Why?
For the needs of others!
Paul sets what he wants to the side in order to instead seek the needs of others
He will endure prison, beatings, and pain all for others
The contingency
The contingency
Paul tells the Philippians this, but then listen to what he says next:
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
He tells them that he is doing this for them. ONLY they must let their manner of life be worthy of the gospel
It was Paul’s contingency with the Philippians
Kinda like when I was a kid and my mom would leave me alone all day on a Saturday
I would be free to play video games and eat as much junk food as I wanted
But she would say I could do all of this if ONLY I would do the dishes, take out the trash, and clean my room
What did that mean for me?
It meant instead of having the freedom to do anything, I first had to complete the chores and then I would have freedom with the leftover time
The same sentiment was true with Paul and the Philippians
It sounds like Paul is staying for them and their needs
But that is based on the reality that they are going to live worthy of the gospel
How to live worthy
How to live worthy
So this gets to the root of the message — how do we live worthy of the Gospel message?
If Paul states he stayed and didn’t give into the death penalty for the Philippians, but only because they must live worthy of the Gospel what does that mean
Better question — how do we live worthy of the Gospel message?
This same sentiment is true with us — though Paul is long gone now, his challenge “living worthy of the Gospel” is extended to us?
So how do we live worthy?
Put others ahead
Put others ahead
The first thing it takes to live worthy of the gospel is:
Put others ahead of ourself
This is something we’ve already talked extensively about today — Paul declaring that he himself is putting the needs of the Philippians over the wants of himself
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
He choose to stay for their progress
For their need
We as Christians that are called to live worthy of the Gospel are to do the same
Not counting ourselves as better, but instead counting others better
This models Jesus:
45 For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”
Jesus came to serve others and not serve himself
This is the same thing we as believers must do
This is call for all of us to kill our pride, to kill that voice in your head that says “I deserve this over you”
Man when Gideon was born this was something that I had to realize very deeply
For the parents in the room you’ll feel this I’m sure
The reality was both me and Kase are doing a lot — we are tired, we are waking up every couple hours to feed him (which is good, he was growing and healthy)
But what would happen is I would start to look at the things I was doing and start to believe the lie that I am doing more, or deserving of more than Kase
I was counting myself as greater
What happened? Me and Kase got in a fight, my pride showed and I had to repent
Guys this is not what it means to live a life worthy of the Gospel
Instead we are meant to be like Paul asking the question — what can I do to help someone around me
We need to put others ahead of ourself
Be unified
Be unified
The second thing that Paul tells us about living a life worthy of the Gospel comes from verses 27-28
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.
Pauls tells us this:
Be Unified
Paul tells us that it takes unity in the body in order for us to stand firm the attacks that Satan will throw at us
Christians are all one body — we are one in Christ
In other places Paul talks about how each person is a member of the body and how it takes all the members of a body to make the body work
This is true in every circumstance
As Christians we need to be unified — seeking to help one another and build one another up
Solomon says it this way:
17 Iron sharpens iron, and one man sharpens another.
We are meant to be unified with one another so as to help one another stand firm for the Gospel sake
We are meant to sharpen one another spiritually so we are can give glory to Christ
Solomon also says:
9 Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. 10 For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! 11 Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? 12 And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
We are meant to go through life together seeking to serve Christ together!
If we want to live worthy of the Gospel as Paul calls we must have unity with one another
See suffering as honor
See suffering as honor
The last thing comes at the end of this chapter:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
Paul tells us this:
See suffering as an honor
The Christian life is tough
If we are living a life that is worthy of the gospel we are no doubt going to suffer
It is not a if — it is a guarantee
Jesus himself promises us this:
20 Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours.
However like Paul we need to see suffering not as a bad thing, but instead see suffering for Christ as an honor
It means we are truly living a life that is chasing after Christ!
It means we are actively doing something!
Conclusion
Conclusion
We are meant to live a life that is worthy of the Gospel
Let us go and do that!
Discussion Questions
Discussion Questions
What does Paul mean when he states 'to live is Christ, and to die is gain'? What implications does this have for our daily lives?
How can we practically put the needs of others ahead of our own, as Paul exemplifies in his letter to the Philippians?
Reflect on a time when you prioritized someone else's needs over your own. How did that impact your perspective on service and humility?
How does the concept of unity within the Church help us to stand firm in our faith?
How can we shift our mindset to see challenges or suffering for our faith as an honor rather than a burden?
