A Life Worth Living
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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.
Philippians 1:19-
Introduction
Today we thank the LORD for his faithfulness to His Church as we celebrate His awesome greatness and surpassing power and grace for the 30 years past of this Church, the FCCC.
Our theme for our celebration is ‘life and legacy’, and when we talk about life and legacy, we cannot ignore the idea of a life and a death. And when we talk about this idea of life and death, I have a question for all of us that I want you to think about: ‘How well are your life that makes it worthy of living or dying?’ ‘How does our footprints looks like in our everyday living? Does it leave a good image?’
Apostle Paul in his letter to the church of Philippians has gave us an excellent biblical principle to how should we have a life worthy of living and dying.
In verse 21, Paul said, “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.” How this statement can become evident in our own life? How can a living become Christ, and how can a dying become gain?
There are three (3) life principles that I want to share for the rest of our study this morning so we can have A LIFE WORTH LIVING.
A life glorifying: God
A life glorifying: God
A SHORT BACKGROUND OF PHILIPPIANS
A life growing: Fruits
A life growing: Fruits
The church in Philippi was founded by the apostle Paul on his second missionary journey
It is evident that Paul wrote the letter from prison
Rome is the place of origin
Paul’s house arrest
As a result she also lost the ability to foretell the future which created no little anger on the part of her owners. So they took Paul and Silas and brought them before the magistrates (Philippi was like a “little” Rome), charging that the missionaries were forcing them, as Roman citizens, to follow customs which were unlawful. The result was that Paul and Silas were thrown into prison after being stripped, beaten, and severely flogged
Around midnight there was an earthquake and all the prison doors flew open. Paul and Silas did not flee, but instead stayed and shared the gospel with the jailer who subsequently—both he and his entire family—came to the Lord
A life giving all: Work
A life giving all: Work
A life glorifying: God
A life glorifying: God
A Life Glorifying God: Christ-centered life
Paul's imprisonment does not hinder him to serve his purpose to glorify God. (v.19 “For I know that ‘this’ will turn out for my deliverance…(v.20)… so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death)
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 19-2
11 In Him also we have obtained an inheritance, being predestined according to the purpose of Him who works all things according to the counsel of His will,
12 that we who first trusted in Christ should be to the praise of His glory.
Paul maintained his hope in the LORD in the midst of unfavorable situation. (v.19 “… and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (v.20) according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed…)
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Philippians 1:19-20
Paul did not let his situation to control him. Instead, he use his situation to be turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. (v. 12 “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, (v.13) so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ)
12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,
13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ;
The single-minded Christian does not allow circumstances to overcome him; he or she turns those circumstances into opportunities to magnify Christ and win souls
Life’s situations makes us emotional and most of the time when uncontrolled, we make decisions based on what our emotions dictates.
Paul on the other hand, did not let his emotion control him. But he let the Spirit of God to control his life. (v.19) “For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”
The single-minded Christian does not allow circumstances to overcome him; he or she turns those circumstances into opportunities to magnify Christ and win souls
In Chapter 1, Paul repeatedly mentioned “Christ” 18 times. Showing us how did Paul maintained a life glorifying God and how did Paul maintained his integrity. How, because Paul demonstrated that the center of his life is Christ alone. His life is surrendered to Christ and Christ has the sole authority of his life.
How about your life? Is your life a Christ-centered life? Do you have a surrendered life? Let Christ control your life. Because only through Christ we can have a life glorifying God.
A life growing: Fruits
A life growing: Fruits
A Life Growing in Fruits: Growing in fruit of labor
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
Paul was ready to die for Christ but if he live on in the flesh, for him this will result into more fruitful labor. A life worth living is a life growing in the fruit of our labor. Our labor in the LORD.
Philippians 1:21-22
Ang buhay na iniaalay sa gawain ng Panginoon ay ang buhay na lumalago sa Panginoon.
God doesn’t want you to become stagnant. He wants you to grow in His work and through His work.
While living we never stop growing.
Paul sees all opportunity while living to grow in his knowledge of God and of Jesus Christ. Because while living we grow, by dying we glow (Christ is exalted). And that is gain. Living for Christ, and dying for Christ.
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment,
Love
4 Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up;
5 does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil;
6 does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
8 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away.
1 Corinthians 13:4-
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.
1 Corinthians 13:
Discernment -that you may approve the things that are excellent
Integrity
Death is no more a threat for those in Christ. Because of our growing love and knowledge of Christ, we become more confident and dependent on the provision of grace of the LORD and become content in every circumstances. Whether by life or by death.
A life worthy of living is a life growing in the fruit of his labor.
We cannot separate spiritual growth and labor for the work of the LORD. And this will link us into our next and last point.
A life giving all: Work
A life giving all: Work
A Life Giving All for the Work of the LORD
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
Philippians 1:
Paul did not live in compartments. He gave his all for the work of the LORD. In spite of his situation, he was not discourage of his circumstance. His excitement for the work remain intact. It does not fade. His circumstance does not affect his intimacy with Christ and the work that God has entrusted him to do. This is like a marriage vow saying, ‘Til death do us part, ministry’ “Hanggang kamatayan maglilingkod ako sayo Panginoon”.
Wow, how sweet that sound.
There are two verb in verse 25 that we should remember:
Remain - remain in the LORD. Be immovable and steadfast.
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
1
2. Continue - continue in the work of the LORD.
9 And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.
A life worthy of living is a life giving all for the work of the LORD.
In whatever circumstances remain and continue in the LORD knowing that your labor is not in vain in the LORD.
Like Paul he remain until he see Christ.
6 being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;
Philippians 1:6
Remember this Church, this is not about me, about you, about us, a life worthy of living is about CHRIST ALONE being exalted through us, to the glory and praise of God. Simply love God.
37 Jesus said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, and with all your mind.’
Matthew 22
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