Three Keys to Living Above Your Circumstances

19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance. 20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better. 23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

Philippians 1:19-24

INTRODUCTION:

A- Opening Statements:

1- Our circumstances are not always going to be what we want them to be.

2- The question to be answered is will we choose to live above or beneath them?

B- Biblical background:

1- Paul is in prison.

a. Under house arrest, chained to a Roman soldier.

b. No longer able to start churchesOr minister to the ones he started.

c. He was awaiting trial before Caesar and therefore uncertain about his future.

2- Paul is not beneath the circumstances, but way above them.

a. The theme of the Philippian letter is “rejoice.”

C- Our need:

1- in the previous message Paul reminded us of some things that we need to know.

a. We must maintain the proper focus to live above our circumstances.

Our focus must be upon Christ and not our circumstances.

Our focus must be upon the sovereignty of God not the will of man.

Our focus must be upon the positive results of our circumstances and not our personal pain.

TS: notice 3 things that provide keys to keeping the proper focus in our circumstances.

I- I must understand my oneness with Christ. ()

Philippians 1:21a NLT

21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better.

A- the goal of the believer’s life is oneness with Christ.

1- Paul’s testimony () ()

Galatians 2:20 NLT

20 My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.

a. everything in his life was bound up in his union with Christ.

Oneness with Christ means that Christ, through the Holy Spirit, is living out his life in yours.

2- This oneness with Christ is to be continuously deepening and growing.

a. It is rooted in a progressive surrendering of each area of your life, as he reveals it to you.

This progressive surrender requires time with Christ and in his word to know his will.

This progressive surrender is hindered by rebellion.

This occurs as he shows us an area that we need to surrender and we refuse.

B- The outcome of the believer’s life is a result of his oneness with Christ.

1- Paul’s testimony ()

Philippians 1:22 NLT

22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So I really don’t know which is better.

a. Paul had the realization that his oneness with Christ in his life could only result in greater things in heaven.

2- An individual’s goals and treasure of this life determines the outcome in eternity. ()

Luke 12:34 NLT

34 Wherever your treasure is, there the desires of your heart will also be.

a. How would you fill in the following blanks?

“For me to live is __________, to die is ___________.”

to fill in the 1st blank with anything but Christ is to lose.

Illustrate:

II- I must understand my purpose in life. (, )

A- my purpose is to magnify Christ ().

Philippians 1:20 NLT

20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die.

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 1

νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται Χριστὸς

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 1

ἀποκαραδοκίαν καὶ ἐλπίδα μου

Vine’s Complete Expository Dictionary of Old and New Testament Words Expect, Expectation

(ἀποκαραδοκία, 603), primarily “a watching with outstretched head” (apo, “from,” kara, “the head,” and dokeo, “to look, to watch”), signifies “strained expectancy, eager longing,” the stretching forth of the head indicating an “expectation” of something from a certain place, Rom. 8:19 and Phil. 1:20. The prefix apo suggests “abstraction and absorption” (Lightfoot), i.e., abstraction from anything else that might engage the attention, and absorption in the object expected “till the fulfillment is realized” (Alford).

Cambridge Greek Testament: Greek Text Chapter 1

νῦν μεγαλυνθήσεται Χριστὸς

The Lexham Analytical Lexicon to the Greek New Testament μεγαλύνω

μεγαλύνω (megalynō), exalt; glorify; magnify.

1- What does it mean to magnify?

a. Like a telescope:

brings heavenly bodies closer

to many, Christ is far away. Our lives are to be such that they can see him up close.

b. Like a microscope:

makes small things large.

To many, Christ is small. Our lives are to show, in bodily form, how big Christ really is.

c- Like a magnifying glass:

focuses the light in such a way that it will ignite a fire.

Many are cold and indifferent to Christ. Our lives are to focus his light in such a way that it warms and ignites conviction and a desire to know Christ.

When a group of believers or magnifying Christ in this way, it will result in revival.

B- My purpose is to serve others ().

Philippians 1:24 NLT

24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.

1- Paul spent his life serving others.

a. He continued to do so in prison. ()

Acts 28:30–31 NLT

30 For the next two years, Paul lived in Rome at his own expense. He welcomed all who visited him, 31 boldly proclaiming the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ. And no one tried to stop him.

witnessing, winning the lost, discipling new converts, writing letters to churches and fellow believers.

The letter to the Philippians is an example.

The letter to Philemon is an example.

2- It is impossible to stay under your circumstances while truly serving others.

a. You show me a believer who has a servant’s spirit and I will show you a happy, joyful believer… Even in the midst of adverse circumstances.

III- I must understand my destiny in death. (, ).

A- Death is a departure ().

Philippians 1:23a NLT

23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

1- It is a departure from the trials of life; from this camp to another.

a. The term “depart” is a term that refers to:

soldier picking his tent down

a sailor lifting anchor

a prisoner being released

a farmer unyoking oxen

b. for the believer, death is a release from bondage to the flash and its problems.

Paul would have been released from persecution by the Jews and Romans.

Paul would have been released from the chains in prison he was forced to endure.

What limitations would you be loosed from?

B- Death is an arrival ().

Philippians 1:23b NLT

23 I’m torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

1- Death is not an end, but a beginning.

a. Paul was looking forward to being with Christ.

Forever enjoying the joys of heaven.

Fellow shipping with Christ and saints who preceded him.

Feasting on the great things he had in store. ()

1 Corinthians 2:9 NLT

9 That is what the Scriptures mean when they say, “No eye has seen, no ear has heard, and no mind has imagined what God has prepared for those who love him.”

2- it is an immediate arrival. ()

2 Corinthians 5:8 NLT

8 Yes, we are fully confident, and we would rather be away from these earthly bodies, for then we will be at home with the Lord.

Lazarus in died and was immediately in paradise.

Conclusion:

A- summary:

1- our circumstances are not always going to be what we want them to be; but we can live above them. The choice is ours.

1- Living above our circumstances necessitates understanding 3 key truths:

a. my oneness in Christ

b. my purpose in life

c. my destiny in death

B- invitation

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