Conviction - Philippians 1:18b-26

Title: Conviction

Series: Living for Christ

Text: Philippians 1:18b-26

PP:

RTL:

Points:

Face Every Circumstance With Courage (vv.18b-20) 

Value Christ Above Everything Else (vv.21-24) 

Spend Your Life Serving Others (vv.25-26) 

Intro:

Have you ever noticed … how much people want to stay alive?

Our culture is fascinated with … living longer.

People spend thousands of dollars every year on:

Gym memberships.

Supplements and vitamins.

Sleep trackers and smart watches.

Blood work.

Cold plunges.

Saunas.

There’s always a … new health trend that promises a longer, healthier life.

Then there are people who take it even further.

One of the most well-known examples is Bryan Johnson.

Tech entrepreneur.

Has reportedly spent millions of dollars trying to … slow the aging process.

Carefully measured meals.

Strict exercise routine.

Dozens of supplements.

Constant medical testing.

Sleep monitoring.

All with one goal:

To live as long as possible.

Now of course …

There is nothing inherently wrong with taking care of your body.

As Christians, we should be good stewards of the bodies God has given us.

But I think all of this reveals something much deeper.

Almost everyone wants:

One more year.

One more decade.

We instinctively cling to life.

The irony is that …

The world …is obsessed with how long they’ll live…

Yet we rarely stop to ask:

“What am I actually living for?”

See Many people are trying to add years to their lives.

God wants us to make every year and everyday count.

The greatest question isn’t:

“How long will I live?”

It’s:

“What am I living for?”

That’s exactly the question our passage answers tonight.

God calls every Christian to live a life that is completely shaped by Christ.

Because if Christ isn’t shaping your life … you’ll spend your life pursuing things that won’t make much of an impact for eternity.

Today we’re continuing our study through Philippians.

TURN to Philippians 1:18b–26.

Last week we saw Paul’s courage in the face of suffering.

Tonight we’re going to discover the conviction that produced that courage.

READ

Paul continues the thought from v.18

Remember where we left off.

Paul has just said:

“Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

But now another question naturally arises.

What about Paul?

He’s still in prison

His future is still uncertain.

He still has Christians attacking him

He still doesn’t know whether he’ll live or die.

And yet … v.18b he begins saying …

“Yes, and I will rejoice.”

He is saying not just presently I am rejoicing … but future

He’s confident about the future

Now look at verses vv.18-20

We learn that what brings Christ honor … is courage

1. Face Every Circumstance With Courage (vv.18b-20) 

Notice the confidence language.

Paul says:

“I will rejoice…” (v.18b)

“I know…” (v.19)

“This will turn out…” (v.19)

“My eager expectation…” (v.20)

“I will not at all be ashamed…” (v.20)

“Christ will be honored in my body” (v.20)

This has to make us think … Where does confidence like that come from?

Because let’s be honest … Most of us

would be anxious

… Yet … Paul is confident

You know it’s rooted in what he says in v.19 …

“this will turn out for my deliverance” (v.19b)

This can sound confusing.

At first glance we might think Paul means:

“I know I’m getting out of prison.”

But that’s probably not what he’s saying.

Because in v.20 he says…

“…whether by life or by death.”

So he does know execution is still possible.

So what kind of “deliverance” is he talking about?

Well that phrase

Is a quotation from the Septuagint (Grk translation of the OT) or LXX

It’s Job 13:16

“16 This will be my salvation, that the godless shall not come before him.”

Why does he do that?

Well … Job was a man who was getting blamed for sin and being disciplined from the Lord

Yet he was innocent

Job in saying this will turn out for my “deliverance” or “salvation” is saying that God would one day will vindicate him

And Paul is in the same situation … and trusts that God will one day “save” him

Whether he lives…

or dies…

God will ultimately save and vindicate him.

So what kind of “deliverance”??

Not temporal … from prison

But .. ultimate deliverance

IOW confidence isn’t rooted in being released.

… It’s rooted in belonging to God and knowing that salvation will come one day

So that is where he is gaining his confidence from

Also when he says … “I will not be at all ashamed” (v.20)

Paul isn’t talking about embarrassment.

He’s talking about faithfulness.

He doesn’t want to shrink back.

He doesn’t want … fear to silence him.

He wants to remain faithful…

Regardless of the outcome.

Notice Paul’s greatest concern v.20

Not…

Will I survive?

Will I be released?

Will life get easier?

His greatest concern is…

“That Christ will be honored in my body…”

Whether…By life Or by death.

Paul’s courage has a purpose.

It exists…

To honor Christ.

Same with you …

when you are faced with a difficult circustance … something where you don’t know what’s going to happen

God wants you to be strong and courageous … having the goal of honoring the Lord … with whatever the outcome

That’s our goal … aim!

Now Paul even tells us too … what is sustaining his confidence and courage in Prison

Well there are 3 means that God uses here

Paul is thinking … meditating …

on Scripture

1. God’s Promises

So interesting … bc under pressure …

Scripture comes out

Like a Sponge

Paul isn’t inventing hope.

… He’s remembering truth … he’s actively studying truth

The promises of God are stabilizing his heart …

Psalm 119:49–52 “49 Remember your word to your servant, in which you have made me hope. 50 This is my comfort in my affliction, that your promise gives me life. 51 The insolent utterly deride me, but I do not turn away from your law. 52 When I think of your rules from of old, I take comfort, O Lord.”

Psalm 119:81–88 “81 My soul longs for your salvation; I hope in your word. 82 My eyes long for your promise; I ask, “When will you comfort me?” 83 For I have become like a wineskin in the smoke, yet I have not forgotten your statutes. 84 How long must your servant endure? When will you judge those who persecute me? 85 The insolent have dug pitfalls for me; they do not live according to your law. 86 All your commandments are sure; they persecute me with falsehood; help me! 87 They have almost made an end of me on earth, but I have not forsaken your precepts. 88 In your steadfast love give me life, that I may keep the testimonies of your mouth.”

Psalm 119:153–160 “153 Look on my affliction and deliver me, for I do not forget your law. 154 Plead my cause and redeem me; give me life according to your promise! 155 Salvation is far from the wicked, for they do not seek your statutes. 156 Great is your mercy, O Lord; give me life according to your rules. 157 Many are my persecutors and my adversaries, but I do not swerve from your testimonies. 158 I look at the faithless with disgust, because they do not keep your commands. 159 Consider how I love your precepts! Give me life, O Lord, according to your steadfast love. 160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever.”

Meditating on God’s promises found in his Word —> is how can have godly confidence and courage

What fills your mind when life becomes difficult?

Fear?

Anxiety?

Just think about the … Worst-case scenarios?

Or God’s promises?

Biblical courage begins with biblical truth

v.19.

“…through your prayers…”

2. The Prayers of God’s People

Paul genuinely believed prayer mattered

He wasn’t too proud to ask for it

Bc … he knew that God strengthens His people through the prayers of His people

And remember be.g of this chapter he was telling them he was praying for them …

It’s a reciprocal … mutual praying

James 5:16

“16 Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.”

2 Corinthians 1:8–11 “8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

Herod was persecuting the church … he killed James … Peter is in prison

Acts 12:5

“5 So Peter was kept in prison, but earnest prayer for him was made to God by the church.”

Acts 12:12

12 … he went to the house of Mary, the mother of John whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.”

So gain godly confidence and courage … through the prayers of others!

You know we can’t fight our spiritual battles alone … we can’t go through life … alone

You need to employ the prayers of those around you

So Invite others to pray for you

AND Be faithful to pray for others.

Knowing that prayer …

1) is powerful and effective

2) And other are praying for you

That gives you a godly confidence

Go to the next phrase …

“…and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” (V.19)

This is a way of describing the HS

As he is sent by Christ and glorifies Christ

Paul uses this to emphasize that the risen Christ continues to strengthen His people through His Spirit.

3. The Power of God’s Spirit

So Paul isn’t depending on himself.

He knows he can’t rely on himself

Proverbs 3:5–6

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

The Holy Spirit supplies exactly what we need

Ephesians 3:16

“that according to the riches of his glory he may grant you to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in your inner being,”

Philippians 4:19

“19 And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.”

So let’s put these together …

God has given every believer:

His Word.

His people.

His Spirit.

These are the means He uses to strengthen us

So .. Where do you look for confidence?

Yourself?

Your abilities?

Your personality?

Your experience?

Run to the Lord!

When fear comes…

Run to:

God’s promises.

God’s people.

God’s Spirit.

Ask yourself:

What circumstance am I facing right now that tempts me to fear?

What promise of God speaks to that fear?

Who can I ask to pray for me?

Am I depending on the Spirit…

or myself?

So Biblical courage … is being confident in God

But there’s another question.

How could Paul have this kind of courage if execution was a real possibility?

The answer is one of the most famous verses in all of Scripture.

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

It reveals what he valued more than life itself

Same with us … we have to value Christ Above Everything Else

2. Value Christ Above Everything Else (vv.21-24) 

We have few couples in Alliance who are engaged or getting married sometime soon

And you guys are learning that …

Rings aren’t cheap!

They can cost hundreds…

Thousands…

Sometimes much more.

You know I think if you asked most married couples …

If someone walked up to you and offered you $10,000 for your wedding ring…

I think most people would say they wouldn’t sell it

And maybe the diamond or gold … is worth more than that

But i think they would say no …

BC of what the ring represents.

A covenant … someone you love

The value of the ring … to you changes everything

People gladly give up lesser things for what they treasure most

That’s exactly what Paul is saying.

Christ was so valuable to Paul…

That everything else became secondary.

It can’t just be to believe Christ … or even to believe in him

It’s to treasure Christ.

v.21 is one of the most well-known verses in all of Scripture.

But it is also one of the most profound.

Paul isn’t giving us a Christian slogan.

He is revealing the deepest conviction of his heart.

Notice the first word:

“For…”

So v.21 explains everything Paul has just said.

Why could Paul face prison with courage?

Why wasn’t he afraid of death?

Why wasn’t he consumed with his circumstances?

Because…

“For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This is the foundation beneath Paul’s entire life.

You know he he doesn’t say:

To live is ministry.

To live is serving.

To live is preaching.

To live is heaven.

He says:

“To live is Christ.”

In the Greek text there is actually no verb.

Literally:

“To live—Christ.

To die—gain.”

Christ wasn’t merely part of Paul’s life.

Christ was his life.

Everything revolved around Him.

His identity.

His purpose.

His joy.

His ambitions.

His decisions.

—> His life was completely defined by Christ

Galatians 2:20

“20 I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.”

Everyone finishes this sentence somehow.

“To live is ________.”

Some people would say…

Career.

Success.

Travel.

Money.

Marriage.

Family.

Sports.

Pleasure.

Comfort.

The question isn’t whether you fill in the blank.

The question is:

What fills the blank?

Whatever follows “To live is…”

is what you value most

Explains … what you sacrifice for … what occupies your thoughts … what excites and disappoints you

So what is it

that receives your best energy? …

What do you daydream about? …

What takes up your time outside of work?

If someone watched your life for one month, how would they finish Paul’s sentence about you?”

“To live is __________.”

As X’s it must the Lord …

Not one the gifts he has given you

Colossians 3:1–4

“1 If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory.”

So set your mind on things above!

Matthew 6:19–21

“19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.”

Where’s your treasure? — Is Christ your treasure? — The one you value the most over everything??

Think what am I living for??

Something that will fade and rot away

Or something … that will last in 1000 years

May our lives … scream out …

To live — Christ

Well that’s only the first half of the verse …

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

This is one of the most radical statements in the Bible

How could death possibly be gain?

He doesn’t say bc i would be out of here

Suffering would end

Heaven would be spectacular

Those things are true.

Look at his emphasis … v.23

”…My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

So What made death gain?

Not simply heaven.

—> Christ Himself

Paul didn’t ultimately long for a place.

He longed for a Person.

He wanted to be with Christ

Which is the same of you and I …

John 17:3

“3 And this is eternal life, that they know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom you have sent.”

See our Xianity … is not

some experience

even something we get

It’s about first being reconciled and enjoying a person!

Paul says …

I’d rather be with him … because I treasure Christ

Psalm 16:11

“11 You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”

Psalm 84:10

“10 For a day in your courts is better than a thousand elsewhere. I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God than dwell in the tents of wickedness.”

1 John 3:2

“2 Beloved, we are God’s children now, and what we will be has not yet appeared; but we know that when he appears we shall be like him, because we shall see him as he is.”

Which notice … that Paul didn’t say you wait … to be with Christ after you die

immediately into the presence of the Lord!

2 Corinthians 5:6–8

“6 So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, 7 for we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.”

You know … someone that wouldn’t be able to say this with Paul

is someone who is clutching onto something in this life

That person would say … well that’s good for that old man

But I still needa do some things here …

I still have dreams and desires (maybe not even bad ones)

But you see if that’s you …

Christ is not who you value the most

it’s whatever that is

God’s Word would say …

Ecclesiastes 12:1

“1 Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years draw near of which you will say, “I have no pleasure in them”;”

Ecclesiastes 12:8

“8 Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher; all is vanity.”

Ecclesiastes 12:13

“13 The end of the matter; all has been heard. Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man.”

As a follower of Christ …

we have to say with Paul …

I know to die would be gain

Bc I get Christ

Not the benefits of heaven or just more earthly living

But Him!

So Whatever you value most will shape the way you live

and what you value most will ultimately determine what you gain.

Now notice the tension … in his mind

Paul is torn.

If he remains…

There is fruitful labor.

If he departs…

He’s with Jesus

Notice.

Paul isn’t choosing between:

Good…

and bad.

He is choosing between:

Christ through ministry right now …

or

Christ through glory as I am with him

Both are wins

Well …. If Christ truly is your greatest treasure…

Something remarkable begins to happen.

You become free from living for yourself

That’s exactly what we see in the next verses (vv.25-26)

Paul says…

“I would rather be with Christ…”

“But if remaining means helping you grow…”

“I’ll gladly stay.”

That leads us to our final point

3. Spend Your Life Serving Others (vv.25-26) 

Well Paul has just said …

“My desire is to depart and be with Christ…”

If the passage ended there…

We would understand.

Who wouldn’t want to be with Christ?

But Paul doesn’t stop.

v.25 begins:

“Convinced of this…”

IOW Paul believes that God is going to leave him here a little longer.

But it’s not bc …

He has places to visit

He wants to retire

Has dreams to accomplish

He says …

”…for your progress and joy in the faith.” (v.25)

So Paul’s focus immediately shifts away from himself…

to other people.

And he’s not saying … I just want you to be happier …

He wanted them to:

Grow spiritually.

Stand firm in the faith.

Which let’s just take a step back …

This is a guy who says it’s better to depart and to be with Christ

But I know it’s more “necessary on your account”

To stay and continue to pour into you guys

Departing — Being with Christ

Staying — Serving you guys

We see Phil 2:3-4 lived out

Along that … when he says “so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus” (v.26)

Again the focus is off him

He wants their joy and their boasting …

To overflow —> In Christ

Which gives us insight …

Ministry while done by you … should always be pointed away from you … and toward Jesus!

Paul’s greatest desire…

Was to be with Christ (He says that)

But his greatest earthly desire…

Was to help others know Christ

That’s spiritual maturity in a Christian

Paul wasn’t asking:

“What do I want?”

He was asking:

“What will … most help God’s people?”

Guys … this is not just for Paul …

This is the mindset you and I should have …

Every X!

As we follow the example of Christ

Mark 10:45

“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.””

Because if it’s true … that you value Christ above everything else …

and for you “to live is Christ and to die is gain”

Then you will love what Christ loves

His people … His bride … His church … His flock

2 Corinthians 12:15

“15 I will most gladly spend and be spent for your souls … ”

Romans 15:1–3

“1 We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. 2 Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. 3 For Christ did not please himself … (but as it is written, “The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.””)

We don’t live to please ourselves

We live to build others up

Imagine if every person walked into Alliance asking…

Not:

“What am I going to get tonight?”

But:

Who can I encourage?

Who can I pray for?

Who looks new?

Who’s someone I can serve?

START BY ASKING

THEN Serve

That begins with remembering …

If I love Christ … that means I get to love his people

Remember last week …

We looked at how God as you where he has you … to impact for him

Now we’re seeing that if

God has saved you from his wrath

Secured eternal life for you

He has you alive … to serve his people!

So instead of thinking …

What makes me happy?

What do I want?

What fulfills me?

What’s best for me?

—> Think … who can I serve and meet their need

Could be someone you already know …

OR go out of your way and serve someone you don’t know very well

I think all of us … could always make more room to serve others

God’s people are worth your time … energy … money … resources

Because Christ is your life!

Well … The world will tell you to …

Protect yourself

Promote yourself.

Prioritize yourself.

Well we’ve seen what a life of conviction looks like

Honor Christ with Biblical courage

Value Christ

Serve others (His people)

May it be true of you … that …

To live is Christ and to die is gain