What's in a Life?

Remember our study through Paul’s letter to the Philippians is revealing to us God’s design for His Church. He wants us together in unity with One mind, Christ’s; focused on One purpose, striving for the gospel; and as One Family, loving each other.

So let’s stand together as One Holy Family and Read His Holy Word. As you read it, pray it transforms you.

Philippians 1:19–26 CSB

19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23 I am torn between the two. I long to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24 but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. 25 Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that, because of my coming to you again, your boasting in Christ Jesus may abound.

Everyone familiar with the Peanuts Comic Strip? Linus is the insecure yet passionate, intellectual. Charlie Brown is the depressed and anxious over-analyzer. The pals Charlie Brown and Linus always have interesting conversations. Like the following:

Everyone familiar with the Peanuts Comic Strip? Have you ever heard of the Charlie Brown Theory of Personality? It covers what they call the Big Five Factors effecting your personality. Five of the comic strip characters are an illustration of each.

Extroversion: Measuring one’s level of how outgoing and sociable - Snoopy who to a fault tries to be a part of every conversation or activity. He brags about his adventures.

Conscientiousness: Measuring one’s discipline and integrity - Schroeder the piano player with a narrowed focus on practicing classical music, giving it up only to play on the baseball team as catcher (or field general).

Agreeableness: Measuring one’s friendliness and being good nature - Lucy the pretend Psychiatrist who is crabby, domineering and judgmental and enjoys the failure of others as she snatches the football away while Charlie Brown attempts to kick it.

Openness: Measuring one’s intellectual and experiential curiosity - Linus who is the passionate intellectual of the bunch. His minor case of insecurity is seen in his attachment with the blanket.

Neurotic-ism: Measuring presence or absence of emotional stability - Charlie Brown the oft depressed or anxious over-analyzer. He worries too much what others think about him and has a poor outlook on life, seen in the following conversation:

Linus: Life is difficult isn’t it, Charlie Brown?

Charlie Brown: Yes, it is. But I’ve developed a new philosophy. I only dread one day at a time.

Christianity is filled with

Even a casual reading of Philippians allows the reader to see the Apostle Paul’s perspective on life was anything but dread. He had an eternal focus thus he had an eternal perspective. This is how, in chains from a Roman prison, he was able to say what he did in the last part of v.18.

Flip Wilson at the end of his life said, “If I had my whole life to live over again, I don't think I'd have the strength.”

Even a casual reading of Philippians allows the reader to see the Apostle Paul’s perspective on life was anything but dread. He had an eternal focus thus he had an eternal perspective. This is how, in chains from a Roman prison, he was able to say what he did in the last part of v.18.

Even a casual reading of Philippians allows the reader to see the Apostle Paul’s perspective on his life and death was anything but dread or despair. He had an eternal focus thus he had an eternal perspective. This is how, in chains from a Roman prison, he was able to say what he did in the last part of v.18.

Philippians 1:18 NASB95

18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Pastor John Onwuchekwa in his sermon said even Christianity is filled with people who are weary of living and fearful of dying.

Let me ask you, What wakes you up in the morning and puts you to sleep at night?

Some might say, “Because I have to make living.”

“There’s a big difference in making a living and making a life.”

Transitional Sentence/Keyword: In a minute I want to show you two essentials, what is absolutely necessary for you to make a life. More Specifically a committed life of following Christ. But first:

Fill in the following blank:

“For me, to live is ________________.”

I know what the verse says, but that was Paul’s answer. Give your honest answer. What do you live for?

Is it......

Irreligious people are lost people who live life apart from God. They live for themselves, and they live by a set of priorities determined mostly by themselves.

“Dying is loss of _______________.”

Irreligious people are lost people who live life apart from God. They live for themselves, and they live by a set of priorities determined mostly by themselves.

People who live life for themselves live by a set of priorities determined mostly by themselves.

The passage we read, v.19-26, is Paul’s commentary on why he says he will.

Religious people are lost people who live their life apart from God, and they live by a set of priorities determined mostly by a set of rules, rituals and traditions.

But, remember in the very first verse of this letter Paul declares we are “saints in Christ.” Paul was an extremely religious person till he met Jesus. Jesus trade his righteousness for Paul’s religion.

But, remember in the very first verse of this letter Paul declares we are “saints in Christ.” When a person is born again, when Jesus saves you from your sin and death you become a Christian, which means you are converted from a sinner to a saint. You are set apart. Conversion into sanctification which means transformation. Transformation of your heart. Transformation of your mind. Transformation of your priorities. They are no longer set by you. They are set by Christ.

In v.18, Paul definitively show his priorities are set rightly, and he sets them rightly before the eyes and ears of the Philippian Christians who were worrying about circumstances only God could control. Paul not only declares that he is joyfully rejoicing in the present circumstances, but he makes a declaration about the only thing in the future he does have control over: his attitude. He says, “I will be joyful no matter if I live on, even in jail or if I am about to die.

The passage we read, v.19-26, is Paul’s commentary on why he says he will.

v.20 - He was confident that God the Father would bring glory to His Son Jesus by what happens. That is the one and only thing Paul wanted in His life or in His death. The example Paul sets before us is:

Romans 14:8 NASB95

for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.

Things

If glorifying Jesus becomes the basis of evaluation instead of comfort and security, life or death, then what we value radically changes.

In v.19 - he uses a word often translated as deliverance or salvation. But he does mean personal safety from harm or persecution, nor does he mean necessarily that he will be physically freed from this captivity. What he is alluding to is his life after Jesus as lived in Jesus, whether free from troubles or immersed in them.

The Greek word he uses is soteria, from which we form the word soteriology, which is the study of the doctrine of salvation.

Salvation for a Christian is three-fold: The first day, every day and the last day.

First Day - “I was saved by Jesus.”

The first day of salvation is when a person repents upon being convicted of sin. It is when a person is born again. This when Jesus saves a person from sin and death, and he/she becomes a Christian, which means conversion from a sinner to a saint, set apart.

Every Day - “I am being saved by Jesus through the presence of the Holy Spirit”

Conversion leads into sanctification which means transformation. Transformation of the heart. Transformation of the mind. Transformation of priorities. Priorities are no longer set by the individual. They are set by Christ.

The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances. - Elizabeth Elliot

Your trials. Your circumstances. Your life is all a part of God’s purpose in salvation. Just like Paul saw his circumstances, you as a Christian must as well. All of your experiences are God putting the finishing touches on his work of salvation.

v.21 - It is the means to having the abundant life Jesus promised us to have. Abundance not of wealth or privilege but in possession of him.

Galatians 2:20

Galatians 2:20 CSB

20 I have been crucified with Christ, and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I now live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

v.22 - For Paul a continued life meant a continued commitment. Paul never envisioned a time in his life where he would coast into heaven. fruit - the results or consequences of activity to produce fruit. Labor - work that is purposeful and intentional

Living means Christ. Living depends on Christ. Living honors Christ. Living tells others about Christ. Living serves Christ. Living shows Christ. Living thinks like Christ.

You cannot have a private goal of living for Christ. You cannot say you are living for Christ if you are not producing fruit for Christ. Not religious activity. This fruit is the spiritual result of your relationship with Christ. You cannot rightly speak about the transforming gospel of Jesus Christ if you have never been transformed by the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Living means Christ. Living depends on Christ. Living honors Christ. Living tells others about Christ. Living serves Christ. Living shows Christ. Living thinks like Christ. Living loves like Christ, others before self. Living dies like Christ, for the good of others. Living is pressing on toward the goal until the last day.

Last Day - “I will be saved by Jesus at my death or His second coming.”

Paul found himself between a rock and a hard place. He was living in two places at once. He was here but longing to be there. Death was looming before him but it did not matter. It did not effect his joy or his purpose.

Woody Allen once said, “It’s not that I’m afraid of dying, I just don’t want to be there when it happens.”

Whatever you put in the first blank you logically have to put in this next blank.

He was confident that, whether through continuing to live even in jail or through dying in jail, God the Father would bring glory to His Son Jesus

“For me, to live

“Dying is loss of _______________.”

Death will rob you of what you believe provides you joy. That was certainly not the case for Paul because Paul’s statement in v.21 is an emphasis on eternal enjoyment of what already satisfied him most: Jesus Christ. For Paul there was nothing better than death because it ushered him into the presence of the one he loved and worshipped. He did not desire rewards but Christ himself.

For Paul there was nothing better than death because it ushered him into the presence of the one he loved and worshipped.

Possessions and people are not to be our aim for living. Possessions and people become idols. What are idols? False gods. When Jesus is your God, and glorifying him is your goal, then death becomes your gain.

How do you envision heaven?

Streets of Gold

Tree of Life

Pearly Gates

Glassy sea

People you miss

If the greatest horror of hell is the absence of God, then would not the greatest prize in paradise be Jesus. However, some Christians never desire heaven and fear death because their life is too comfy and good here. For that person dying is loss. Don’t be that person.

Until that day, what?

Continually Rejoice in Christ

Completely Rely on Christ

Courageously Represent Christ

Follow the example Paul set’s for us.

The confidence Paul speaks of in v.26 is tied to what he is aware of in v.19. Paul knows full well how he is able to endure any and all suffering and trying circumstances. The prayers of his partners together for the gospel, and the power of the Holy Spirit. These two are divinely connected as the umbilical cord between heaven and earth.

God can and does reveal himself through miracles. Miracles come to some during their darkest times of despair. Miracles are not God’s primary MO. Paul and Silas had been in the Philippian jail and received a miracle (even then it was not intended for them). Sitting where he is now, you do not find Paul crying out to be removed from his circumstances. In our current Christian culture you find right the opposite, they cry out in despair to have theirs changed. 99% of the time God is looking to change the Christian not the circumstances. The Bible reveals that all of the apostles believed God uses the prayers of his people to provide strength for his servants. Paul’s comfort and encouragement came from this knowledge that the Philippian Christians were praying for him.

So if you do not see the moving of the Spirit in a miraculous way, the gift of grace is coming to you in the form of intercessory prayer. God’s purpose for the church being together in one mind and one spirit is so you do not have to stand alone during difficult times. Your help comes from the Body of Christ standing together on its knees praying for you while God seeks to change you in your circumstances (sanctification/transformation).

Intercession may be defined as loving our neighbor on our knees. - Charles Brent

Don’t put people down — unless it’s on your prayer list. - Stan Michalski

There is here the conviction for all of us as members of JFBC that we have an obligation to put the spiritual growth and well-being in the front of our prayers. The sufficient supply of the Spirit for them depends on us.

v.24-26 - We find Paul’s desire to continue on living here. In v.24 - We see it is for them and not him. “for your sake” or “on your account”

His return to them would encourage them to rejoice in Christ because of it all. Paul’s goal of glorifying Christ would find fulfillment as well in the deepening of their joy and the enlargement of their faith. Paul is being the example he will soon expound upon regarding the mind of Christ puts the needs of others above personal desires.

That is what makes grace so amazing. We received it even we do not deserve it, and we are supposed to give it to others even though they do not deserve it. Without grace, what we are saved by, everything you do will be done for selfish desire but be a pile of dung. Yet everything we do because of grace given us we do for the benefit of others, and it is precious fruit that brings Jesus glory.

Thank God he does not measure grace out in teaspoons. - Amy Carmichael

Don’t be a Christian who receives a dump truck load of grace but only dispenses a few teaspoons here and there to the people you like. Consider the welfare of every member here and other people out there to assist them in their spiritual growth, either to become a Christian or to grow as a Christian.

Get grace to persevere for Christ

Give grace to further other’s progress in Christ

Give grace to promote the praise of Christ

Look at the needs of the church, your family of God, with such a love as that of Paul. If he was willing to postpone the glories of heaven and the presence of Jesus for their good, shouldn’t you be willing to temporarily give up your personal desires for the good of the whole church. Whatever that personal desire, unless it is Jesus, it may be a false god.

Conclusion: Despair does not grow from bad circumstances. It grows from a bad Charlie Brown like outlook. The gospel we talk about is meant to change how we walk about.

Paul says that only Christ in a life gives meaning to that life. Only Christ in a life will bring glory to death. Paul’s perspective was simple:

Let me live - I’ll be fruitful - I speaking of Christ

Torture me - I’ll be faithful - suffering for Christ

Kill me - I’ll be fabulous - seeing Christ

How about you? What/who are you living for? What/who are you willing to die for?

Why do you do what you do in church, because of grace and for the good of others or for yourself?

Are you serving for the joy of others

This church may be known for a lot of things but is the thing it is most known for making much of Jesus? Let’s make that the case, together. Let’s make a life in Christ, together.

What's in a Life?

What’s in a Life?

Make Your Life Solely the Goal of Glorifying Jesus Christ

Make Your

Make your life by the Gift of the Grace of Jesus Christ

Invitation to Respond

What's in a Life?

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What’s in a Life?

Make Your Life Solely the Goal of Glorifying Jesus Christ

Make Your

Make your life by the Gift of the Grace of Jesus Christ

Invitation to Respond