Whatever Happens Stand Firm

 Paul & his wife Judy were talking about a vacation in Alaska. Paul kept saying how great it'd be. "Picture it. We'll be staying in a log cabin. Snow everywhere. No electricity. Wood for heat. Moose hunting for food. We'll drive a dog team, not a car." The longer he thought about it, the more excited Paul got. Finally, he asked her, "What if we decide to live there, away from civilization? What will you miss the most?" Judy's answer? "You." Who are they living for? If they want to stand firm in their marriage, they need to stand firm in Christ. That's today's lesson. We'll see that as we dive into Php 1:21-30. Paul's in jail. What's he thinking about? It's freedom, but not like we think! 21For me, to live is Christ & to die is gain. That means Paul is free-no matter what! Those words mean a lot to me. In 2011, Bonnie was given a 9 to 18-mo. diagnosis. Her end was near. Paul's words became our hope. North on our compass. To live is Christ, & to die is gain. Why? Same reason as Paul. 22aIf I'm to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. As long as we live, it's about Christ. Partnering with Him to share the Good News. Partnering with Christ to nurture His Spirit in everyone we know. Partnering with Christ to help people into the freedom He won for us all on the cross. To live is Christ. That's what Paul wrote. That's how he lived. What would you & write? "For me to live is money." Yet, to die is to leave it behind. "For me to live is family." Yet, to die is to leave them. "For me to live is pleasure." Yet, to die is to cease. "For me to live is fame." Yet, to die is to be forgotten. "For me to live is power & influence." Yet, to die is to lose significance. Only living for Christ will last beyond death. Our fruitful labor lays up treasure in eternity. Could anything be better? Turns out there is one thing. Dwelling face to face with Christ will be better. Drawing nearer to Christ in fruitful labor is rewarding, fulfilling, & good. But living with Him face-to-face is even better. Bonnie faced that choice. So did Paul. 22bWhat shall I choose? I don't know! He's conflicted! So was Bonnie, for the same reasons. 23I'm torn between the two. I desire to depart & be with Christ, which is better by far. Face-to-face with Jesus in eternity. Forever! Better by far than even the most fruitful labor, now. Bonnie faced that choice. She was torn. Stay with us? Or go home to Jesus? Would she choose seeing Nikki graduate from high school? Or would she choose to lay down her struggle with cancer & go home? For a season, she chose us. After consideration, so did Paul. Why? For one, 24It's more necessary for you [Philippians] that I remain in the body. For another, Paul knew the case against him was weak. 25aConvinced of both things, I know I'll remain. In 62AD, history says Nero released Paul from this 1st Roman imprisonment. In 68 AD, the story will be different. Romans will arrest him again & execute him as a martyr. For now, Paul is convinced he'll remain. 25bI'll continue with all of you. Why? 25bFor your progress & joy in the faith. Progress we get since Paul's their teacher. But joy? How so? 26So that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. For Paul, to live is Christ. And in Christ, he'll help his readers (1st readers & us) grow deeper into Christ & His joy. (Fruit of Christ's Spirit = love, JOY...) So for now, Paul will focus on living for Christ in fruitful labor. How does he do this? Christ is his all-in-all. Chris is his focus. His reward. Christ is his goal & will be his end. Everything Paul does, it's for Christ. Christ was Bonnie's all-in-all, too, for her 27 months. What if doctors give us 9-18 months? What will we change? Focus more on Christ? What keeps us starting now? Time's short! Since time is limited, guess what Paul gets at next! 27aWhatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of Christ's gospel. Why? Christian life is walking with Christ. But it's also a battlefield, not a playground. Yes, we're sons & daughters in God's family. Yes, we enjoy the fellowship of the Gospel (1:1-11). Yes, we're servants sharing in spreading the Gospel (1:12-26). But don't miss that we're also soldiers, defending the faith of the Gospel. Staying focused on Christ is the only way we can win a battle. That'll take a single mindedness. A single-minded believer can have the joy of the Holy Spirit even in the midst of battle. How can we maintain that single-mindedness? What manner is worthy of Christ? Before answering, Who is Christ? NT authors called Him κύριος. Why? It's the LXX translation of יְהוָ֖ה Yahweh, LORD of the OT! Yahweh. God's personal name. The point? Jesus is Yahweh. Our Creator. Lord & sovereign God of the universe. This Jesus chose to enter our world. He chose to pay the price for sin that we can't. Why? Love. Free us from sin's bondage. Free us to dwell with Him, forever. God Himself chose to take on human flesh, in the person of Jesus. God chose to die for us. That's what Christ's Gospel is. God Himself died in our place, to pay the price for our sins. For all sin. Now, let's go back & ask, 'What manner of conduct is worthy of Christ's gospel?' Isn't He worth all we have? All we are? Worthy of setting our course toward Him from whatever direction we're pointed? (That might look like repentance. Lol.) Worthy means choosing to love God with all we have & all we are? Worthy means loving our brothers & sisters as we love ourselves? Worthy of loving them, too, with all we are? Isn't that how Christ told us He'd know that we love Him? Living as if to live is Christ. That's how to conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel. What or who is 1st for us? If it isn't Christ, change course. Only as we change course toward Christ-only then will Paul's next be true. 27bThen, whether I come & see you or only hear about you in my absence, I'll know you stand firm in one spirit. Stand firm. What'll that take? Put on all God's armor. Belt of Truth (in all situations) to hold the rest of the armor in place. Breastplate of righteousness-doing what's right in all situations to protect our hearts. Feet shod with readiness from soaking in the gospel, so we won't slip on the battlefield. Taking up the shield of faith (interlocking with our brethren's shields), to quench the enemy's flaming arrows. Our helmet, the hope of salvation to guard our minds. Finally, taking up the sword of the Spirit, God's Word, as our only offensive weapon. Only as we take up His armor together can we stand firm. Together. As one. Alone, we can't withstand the enemy. But together, we can. Standing firm takes one spirit. Unity of spirit, in the Spirit. United in the Spirit, we can stand firm. 27cIn one Spirit, I'll know you're contending as one for the faith of the gospel. Contend? How? Battle with Christ to extend His Kingdom in 2 ways. 1st, help others into the KoG. 2nd, extend His KoG by fighting injustice & oppression. Both are battles. Apart from Christ, we can do nothing. Apart from each other, we can do (a) little. But united? We can contend 28awithout being frightened in any way by those who oppose us. There will be opposition. 1 Pet 5:8 says our enemy is out there & prowls around looking for someone to devour. But when we stand together, he can't touch us. Besides, we know the end of the story. God wins. The enemy can't destroy us. 28bThis is a sign to enemies that they'll be destroyed, but you'll be saved-by God. That's true now. It's also sure for eternity. Why enemies now? Jn 16:33. "In this world," Jesus says, "you will have trouble." Paul tells us why. 29It's been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him. In Col 1:24, Paul can rejoice in suffering & fill up in his flesh what's still lacking in regard to Christ's afflictions. That was his privilege. It's also ours, just as it was for the Philippians. 30You're going through the same struggle I've been having. Why does God allow us to share Christ's suffering? In part for His glory, as we stand firm, together. But also for our growth in grace, as we learn to rely on Him, more & more. What's the bottom line? How long will God give us on earth? However long it is, Paul is showing us how to find joy in each day & moment. Set our hearts & minds on Jesus. In every moment, turn toward & follow Him. To live is Christ, & to die is gain. How? Take up God's armor. And whatever happens, stand firm. Together. And as we do, rejoice, no matter what. In the end, God wins. Whatever Happens, Stand Firm - Philippians 1:21-30 Page 1 of 1