Life & Death: To Live is Christ

Engage

Turn your bibles is you will over to Philippians 1:24 as we get started this morning.

My Legacy

The older I get, the more I start to think about my legacy. What impact will I have on the world, will I matter after I am gone? At the very least I hope that my life will be a positive influence on my children and hopefully that will have an impact, in some small part, for generations. The reality is, most of us will be forgotten in 3 generations.

Woodworking

One of the appeals with my hobby of woodworking is that I know, there is potential for something I have made to be around for hundreds of years. I haven’t really created any heirloom quality furniture yet, but I like the idea that even if I am forgotten something I have built could be useful, long after I am gone.

Harvest

This morning, we are meeting in a church plant, in a gymnasium in Ross. Despite the humbleness of what we have today, it is a neat idea to think about: That not only will we see an impact in for the cause of Christ in our lifetimes, but generations down the line, God could be glorified and souls saved at Harvest Baptist Church, because of the work we put in today.

Sermon Series

Our sermon series if Life and Death. As we consider what Paul wrote in v21 of Philippians Chapter 1

Philippians 1:21 KJV 1900

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

In the last message we discussed that for Christians, death isn’t loss but gain. But this week we will focus on the other side of this. Please follow along with me starting in v24

Philippians 1:24–26 KJV 1900

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

The title of our message this morning is: Life & Death: To Live is Christ

Pray

Easier to die?

Paul’s Sufferings or Job’s?

Maybe I am mistaken, but I don’t think that Paul’s sufferings were greater than those we find to have been inflicted upon Job. In the preceding verses we find Paul quoting Job from the Septuagint, and I would like to think that, like you and I, Paul could get comfort in the faithfulness of Job as he went through his trials.

Job’s Wife

The outside perspective on Job’s life was pretty bleak. What did his wife say to him in Job 2:9?

Job 2:9 KJV 1900

9 Then said his wife unto him, Dost thou still retain thine integrity? curse God, and die.

Viewing Job’s miserable state, she thought it best that Job offend God and be but down, rather than to live another day in his torment. But how does Job respond?

Job 2:10 KJV 1900

10 But he said unto her, Thou speakest as one of the foolish women speaketh. What? shall we receive good at the hand of God, and shall we not receive evil? In all this did not Job sin with his lips.

Better for Job to Die?

It would be easy for someone to look at Paul’s situation, and conclude, that it would be better for him to just give up. He would be better off if he were carried away and executed, or if he were to catch some disease in prison and die. But someone on the outside can only see what is on the outside. The physical toll being taken on a man, they can’t see the spirit.

Wife Not Heartless

Job’s wife looks at him and says curse God and Die. I know for our ears this seems heartless but understand, this isn’t happening in contemporary America. If Job dies, his wife would face certain poverty. Their wealth had been taken or destroyed. She could have had some hope in being looked after by here children, but they were all killed when the house of her eldest son collapsed and killed them all.

She may have been foolish in her statement, but she wasn’t being cold hearted. She couldn’t see the condition of Job’s spirit. In fact, earlier in Chapter 1 verse 20-21 we find the response of Job’s heart in the matter.

Job 1:20–21 KJV 1900

20 Then Job arose, and rent his mantle, and shaved his head, and fell down upon the ground, and worshipped, 21 And said, Naked came I out of my mother’s womb, And naked shall I return thither: The Lord gave, and the Lord hath taken away; Blessed be the name of the Lord.

Nothing Easy

Paul Struggled in Ministry

Paul was never quite afforded the luxury of the mega church pastor. There was no private jet, no luxurious mansion. Of his ministry, Paul wrote this (in 2 Corinthians 11:23-27):

2 Corinthians 11:23–27 KJV 1900

23 Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24 Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25 Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26 In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27 In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.

So as Paul sat in prison and debated with himself over if life or death is more preferable, we can understand how he could say in v23 of Philippians 1 that he has a

desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better

Truth

A Reason to Live

We could look at Paul, as no doubt some had, and determine that things were bleak. Why not just, die as Job’s wife suggested to Job?

Look in Philippians 1:24

Philippians 1:24 KJV 1900

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Paul doesn’t want to live for himself, he wants to live because he knows he is useful to God. That his remaining is as he writes “more needful,” necessary.

And why is Paul’ remaining so necessary. Well let’s continue in Philippians, in v25

Philippians 1:25 KJV 1900

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

Furtherance & Joy of Faith

Notice here it doesn’t say that this is for the furtherance of joy and faith, but for their furtherance AND joy of faith.

Furtherance

Prokope

We find the word translated furtherance, (prokope), only 3 times in our bible. Twice in this chapter, if you look up in v12 where it talks about the “furtherance” of the gospel. And then we find it again in the book of 1 Tim 4:1 translated in our Bible as profiting. In classical Greek writings from Polybius and Plutarch we find this word translated as progress, and in the apocryphal book of 2 Maccabees found in the Septuagint, the word is translated “pushing ahead.”

Paul was to Push

We start to paint a picture then. The Apostle understands that his presence is necessary for the Philippians, and no doubt many of the other fledgling Christian churches to push ahead.

Church Maturity

We often think of Christian maturity, or sanctification as an individual undertaking and by-and-large it is. I think one of the more destructive things a maturing Christian can do is to co-opt the role of the Holy Spirit by trying to apply sanctification to the life of another believer.

Our Young Church vs Theirs

We have to consider this, though: We may be a young church, and there is considerable room for us to grow, there are, I am sure, many false starts we have yet to make that we will look back upon and say that “we will never do that again!” But we have a significant advantage. We are a young church, made up of many believers who have been Christians for a considerable amount of time. And even more, we are a new church that can look back to 2000 years of Christian history and Christian teaching. Paul is writing his epistle, not even 30 years after the crucifixion of Jesus. They needed the Apostle to help them grow in the faith and to instruct them on how to administer their church.

Joy of Faith

And then Paul says that it is necessary for him to live for them to continue in their joy of faith. I think it is important that we don’t skip over a point here. Faith produces joy.

Joy is our Spiritual Canary

Let me give you this illustration:

Coal miners know that dangerous gases can gather silently and secretly in the tunnels. Carbon monoxide will asphyxiate them. In the early days of coal mining, they figured out, that if they brought a canary into the tunnels with them it would be an early warning sign of trouble. Canaries have a metabolism that is very sensitive to air quality. As long as they are chirping and singing everything is safe. But, if the canary stops singing and wobbles on its perch, or worse, if the canary falls over to the cage floor, they knew that dangerous gas was present.

Joy in the life of a Christian is this way. We have all known christians that are joyless, people who seem to be miserable in their faith. We ourselves might not being experiencing joy in our faith, and this might be a passing situation, or something more chronic.

Depression and Faith

A study was done by researchers at McLean Hospital in Belmont, Massachusetts on the topic of depression. They found that belief in God was associated with better outcomes. Actually what they found was quite amazing. And I quote “Individuals with no belief, or only a slight belief, in God, were twice as likely to not respond to treatment than people with stronger beliefs.

Danger in Joylessness

Joy in the life of a Christian is like the canary. If your joy is gone, it is a warning sign that something in your spirit is amiss. We lose joy when our faith falters, when we take our eyes off of God and put it on other things. And when that happens, we find ourselves in a dangerous place.

Let me jump forward to Philippians 3:1

Philippians 3:1 KJV 1900

1 Finally, my brethren, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you, to me indeed is not grievous, but for you it is safe.

We will look at this in greater detail, I am sure, sometime in the future when we get to Philippians 3, but to summarize what Paul is saying: to rejoice in the Lord, in other words, to take joy in your faith in the Lord, it is a place of safety.

Muddy Water

There is a domino effect in play here. When our faith falters, our joy falters with it. And when our joy falters we are in great danger of sin. Why is that? Think of it this way:

If I offered you a glass of muddy water out of the Ohio River to drink, you would obviously say no. That is some pretty gross water and it’s less a matter of if it will get you sick but rather how it will get you sick. But if you changed the circumstances and I were lost in the desert and hadn’t had anything to drink in a couple of days, well that would be a different story, now that water becomes something we desperately want, and we will take the mud and nastiness that comes along with it . Sin often tempts us by offering joy. If we are filled with the joy of the lord, those sins aren’t going to be nearly as appealing. However, if our joy is gone and we are desperately thirsting to replace it, the temptation to find joy in something other than God, becomes a very real danger

Paul Decides Living is Better

So when Paul looks at his decision to live rather than die, he knows that life means he is going to be able to continue in the work of the Lord. And that by him the church will mature, they will grow as Christians, and that their faith will increase bringing their joy along with it.

Application

Torn like Paul

If we back up to Philippians 1:23-24 the struggle is made clear

Philippians 1:23–24 KJV 1900

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Me

Christ’s Will

Paul has in his heart a desire to depart, and be with Christ, for sure. He even says that it would be a far better outcome. But his care for the churches, this church in Philippi specifically, is so great that his desire is redirected. But even more important, his desire to follow Christ’s will, informs even his desire to live or die.

Me Generation

Baby boomers in the United States became known as the “Me Generation”. The 70’s then picked up the title of being the “Me decade”. But this is true of pretty much every generation that has followed. Even Christian culture has picked up an ugly focus on self, so much so that books are written and denominations are built on the idea of being self-fulfilled in the here and now.

Church Activity

I am afraid that even conservative churches can adopt a rec-center or country club attitude, and church life becomes program driven rather than driven by the worship of God. Church activity becomes the focus of our lives and not Jesus!

To Live is...

We, like Paul, ought to run against that grain. When we fill in the blank, it ought to be.... for me to live is.....Christ! Not Church! And until we have the first part of that verse accomplished let’s not worry about the second part, about the gain of dying.

Others

What we mean to others

Sadly, most people don’t know how much they mean to others, and they especially don’t know how much of a potential impact they can have on others.

Mortality

Every once and a while a situation will come up that makes me consider my own mortality. My heart always comes back to wanting to live, more than anything because of the impact on my wife and children if I were gone.

Potential

But more than that, as Christians we should look at our life as a potential. A potential to help other to grow and to strengthen their faith.

Inspiration

Paul crystalizes this point in v26

Philippians 1:26 KJV 1900

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

The Blessing

Paul’s Source of Joy

You can start to see the source of Paul’s joy here? He has the expectation that his presence in the church is going to cause others to increase their rejoicing in the Lord!

The Blessing has landed

I caught a few minutes of a televangelist, a long time ago, landing is in his private jet. As he exited the plane he looked at the camera and exclaimed “The blessing has landed”.

Paul is Humble

This isn’t Paul. Paul’s life is a lesson in humility and he knows that it isn’t him but it is God, and that he is privileged to be able to be be used by God for God’s purposes.

We are Privileged to be used

See God could accomplish his will any way he chose, but he allows us the privilege to participate so that our faith can increase, and our joy increases in that. And what great joy must have Paul had, knowing that he was going to get to be used of God.

Action

What if you are Joyless

So, what do you do if you are a joyless Christian? I think the first step is being honest with ourselves, one that we don’t have a life defined by joy, and second that if our joy is fleeting, it doesn’t come for God.

Answers in John 15

Turn to John 15:11

John 15:11 KJV 1900

11 These things have I spoken unto you, that my joy might remain in you, and that your joy might be full.

How can we have joy? The verses preceeding give us the answer, but v10 summarizes it all for us

John 15:10 KJV 1900

10 If ye keep my commandments, ye shall abide in my love; even as I have kept my Father’s commandments, and abide in his love.

So if you want joy, a good place to start is by keeping Jesus commandments. And you hear that statement and think to yourself where do I begin. Well, never fear Jesus in v12 gives us a good starting point

John 15:12 KJV 1900

12 This is my commandment, That ye love one another, as I have loved you.

To Live is Christ

Faithful in Christ = Joy

So we can conclude this, this morning. If we want the Joy of Christ in our lives, we have to be faithful. And our joy will grow as our faith grows. And how can we define faith? How’s this?:

For me to Live is Christ

That was the source of Paul’s joy, that is the joy and that is the Joy he wanted the Philippians to experience and grow in, and it is the joy that your savior, Jesus Christ wants for you.

Joyless without Christ

We are going to close in prayer this morning, and after, if you know that your living a joyless life. May I suggest that it’s because either you haven’t put your faith in Jesus to be in control of your life? If that is you, please grab me after the service, or message me on Facebook if you are watching from home. I would love to talk to you more about Jesus.

Spiritual Danger

Christians, if you lack joy. Let me remind you again, you are in spiritual danger. Your faith needs to be fortified, this is your opportunity to resolve, right now, to focus on growing your faith, reclaiming your joy, and dwelling in the safety of the Lord.

Pray