Philippians: To Live is Christ

Text: Philippians 1:19-21

Theme: Believers can have confidence in life and in death if their confidence is in Christ.

In this passage the Apostle Paul is pondering his future. That future is a toss-up. He might be released and live. Then again, he might be condemned and die. He tells his dear friends at Philippi that either is fine with him because in both Christ will be magnified, and bring joy to his heart.

Paul actually tells us that his clear preference is death; one quick flash of the executioner’s sword, and the Apostle is with Christ. Death, for Paul, means nothing less than the full realization of his redemption with Christ the final prize. Later in the letter he tells the Philippian Christians, “Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. 13 Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 3:12–14, ESV).

He expects, however, to ultimately be released which is best for the Philippians. His release will lead to their progress in their sanctification, their joy in the faith. Why can the Apostle be so confident in his faith? If he continues to live, it will mean fruitful labor for him. If he dies, however, it means being with Christ, which is far better. Where does this kind of confidence come from? Five reasons are found in our text.

I. CONFIDENCE IN THE PROVIDENCE OF THE LORD

“for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.” (Philippians 1:19, NIV84)

1. the Apostle is confident that Christ is at work in his life despite his circumstances ...

a. his arrest years ago in Jerusalem, his two-year detainment in Caesarea and subsequent trials by Governors Felix and Festus, and then King Agrippa, his appeal to Caesar, and then another two years of house arrest in Rome

1) none of this has been a surprise to God, and none of it is a surprise to Paul

ILLUS. In the 9th chapter of Acts we find a man named Ananias having a heart to heart conversation with God. The Lord has told Ananias to go find Saul of Tarsus—that great persecutor of the Church—place his hands on the man and restore his eyesight. Ananias is reluctant. Listen to the conversation: “But Ananias answered, “Lord, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he has done to your saints at Jerusalem. 14 And here he has authority from the chief priests to bind all who call on your name.” 15 But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel.” (Acts 9:13–15, ESV)

2) God’s plan includes getting a gospel witness not only to the Gentiles, and not only to the children of Israel, but to governors, and kings and even Caesar himself

3) God’s plan includes getting a gospel witness to people of every tribe, every tongue, every nation, every people group on earth (which is why we support the LM offering)

2. the events of the last four to five years were not likely part of Paul’s agenda, but he recognizes that the events that have transpired have furthered the spread of the gospel in ways he could not have anticipated

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,” (Philippians 1:12, ESV)

3. the word know in vs. 19 means to know something with certainty

a. Paul was convinced that his present suffering at the hands of both unbelievers and believers would turn out for his deliverance

1) he quotes directly from the Old Testament, citing Job’s reply to Zophar: “This also will be my salvation” (Job 13:16)

b. Job correctly understood that his terrible suffering was not God’s punishment for sin

1) like Job, Paul fully believed that God would one day deliver him, both from his physical afflictions and from the false accusations of those who wrongly insisted that all of his suffering was the result of iniquity in the Apostle’s life

c. a few years earlier Paul had assured the believers in Rome that “God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose” (Rom. 8:28)

1) now he applied that marvelous truth to his own life

4. he knew his conscience was clear; he knew he was not being divinely chastened; and he was fully convinced that God would cause his present suffering to “work together for good”

a. he also knew that his present situation, one way or the other, was temporary

b. he tells the Philippians that what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance

1) he is confident that whether he is acquitted or not his stand for Christ will be vindicated

2) if he is acquitted, and released, as seems most likely, Christ is magnified

3) if he is found guilty and condemned Christ is magnified

5. it’s probable, I think, that Paul sees either outcome as a win-win situation

a. he’s more than willing to trust himself to the providential will of God

II. CONFIDENCE IN THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS

"for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."

1. Paul is confident that he can count upon two kinds of aid at this time, human (your prayers) and divine (the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ)

a. nothing is more impressive of Paul’s humanity than his constant appeal for the prayers of his converts

2. Paul believed in the limitless sovereignty of God and had perfect confidence that God’s Word would be fulfilled and His purpose carried out

a. he also knew that God’s sovereign plan incorporates the prayers of His people

b. he especially appreciated the prayers of the beloved congregation in Philippi and expressed to them his deepest convictions and personal longings

1) Paul knew that his fellow apostle—James, the brother of the Lord—was correct that; “the effective prayer of a righteous man can accomplish much” (James 5:16)

2) he therefore not only diligently prayed himself but urgently prayed for others, and also continually encouraged other believers to pray diligently for him

A. THE PRAYERS OF THE SAINTS ARE EFFECTIVE

1. facing difficult circumstances a few years earlier, Paul had appealed to the church in Corinth to pray for him:

“5 For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. ... 8 For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. 9 Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. 10 He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. 11 You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.” (2 Corinthians 1:5; 8–11, ESV)

2. before Paul visited the church at Rome, he had implored those believers:

“Now I urge you, brethren, by our Lord Jesus Christ and by the love of the Spirit, to strive together with me in your prayers to God for me” (Rom. 15:30)

3. during the same imprisonment in which he wrote Philippians he admonished the Ephesians:

“And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. 19 Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel,” (Ephesians 6:18–19, NIV84)

4. to the Thessalonians he pleaded,

“Brethren, pray for us” (1 Thess. 5:25); and later, “Brethren, pray for us that the word of the Lord will spread rapidly and be glorified, just as it did also with you” (2 Thess. 3:1).

5. nothing is more encouraging to those in ministry than to know that fellow believers are holding them up before the Lord in prayer

III. CONFIDENCE IN THE PROVISION OF THE SPIRIT

“for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance."

1. the Word of God, the prayers of the saints, and the power of the Holy Spirit always work together for the benefit of the servants of God

a. Jesus promised,

“And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever— 17 the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you.” (John 14:16–17, NIV84)

2. the phrase help given is one word, and is better translated as provision; it describes a full, bountiful, and sufficient supply of what is needed

a. the Holy Spirit is the believer’s sufficient resource for every spiritual need we have

1) He provides guidance when believers do not know what to say

“Do not worry about how or what you are to say, for it will be given you in that hour what you are to say. For it is not you who speak, but it is the Spirit of your Father who speaks in you” (Matt. 10:19–20)

a) because the Holy Spirit is operative in Paul’s life he that we he feels tongue-tied or is unsure how to answer a question of the Roman soldier tethered to him by a six-foot piece of chain, that the Holy Spirit will give him the words to speak

2) the Spirit is our companion in prayer

a) when we are weak and do not know how to pray as [they] should, … the Spirit Himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words” (Rom 8:26)

b) because the Holy Spirit is operative in Paul’s life he knows the Spirit himself will intercede for Paul when he doesn’t know how or what to pray

3) the Spirit is the source of inward spiritual power

“You will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth” (Acts 1:8)

a) because the Holy Spirit is operative in Paul’s life he know that when is emotionally drained, or physically weak or mentally fatigued that the Spirit will quicken him

4) the Spirit produces an abundant harvest of spiritual fruit:

“love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control” (Gal. 5:22–23)

a) because the Holy Spirit is operative in Paul’s life he has spiritual attributes that will enable him to love when he’d rather hate, to experience joy when he’d rather despair, to increase his faith when he’d rather doubt, etc.

IV. CONFIDENCE IN THE PROMISE OF CHRIST

“ ... according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body,” (1:20a)

1. Paul’s earnest expectation and hope were grounded in the Lord’s promise, not in the apostle’s wishful thinking

a. earnest expectation is a compound word that literally refers to stretching the neck

1) it used figuratively of an eager longing or expectancy

2) the use of the word hope reinforces the apostle’s sense of expectancy

2. Paul was certain that, in the eyes of God, he would never truly be put to shame, whether before Caesar, the world, or the church

a. ultimately, he would be vindicated

3. Paul expressed his supreme joy when he wrote that Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body

a. the apostle understood that the believer’s body is “a temple of the Holy Spirit” (1 Cor. 6:19)

1) as such we are to present our body as “a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God” (Rom. 12:1)

4. Paul rejoiced greatly that, because of his faithfulness, he could testify that the churches of Judea “were glorifying God because of me” (Gal. 1:24)

V. CONFIDENCE IN THE PLAN OF GOD

“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.” (Philippians 1:20–21, ESV)

1. Paul was not certain what God’s plan was for him, whether he would continue to serve and exalt Him through his life and ministry or through the final exaltation of death

a. either way, the Lord’s will would be done; His plan would be fully accomplished

ILLUS. To the elders from Ephesus, who met him on the beach near Miletus, Paul declared unequivocally, “I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God” (Acts 20:24). Paul is acutely aware that, as he wrote to the Church at Rome that “not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; 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. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living” (Rom. 14:7–9). Whether in life or in death, he would be victorious and Christ would be exalted.

A. LIFE IN CHRIST OR DEATH IN CHRIST IS CHRIST MAGNIFIED IN US

ILLUS. Throughout the last two millennium untold numbers of martyrs have said with Paul, “Christ is worth more than life.” Christ is worth more than falling in love. Christ is worth more than marrying and having children. Christ is worth more than making a name for myself. Christ is worth more than my career. Christ is worth more than the dream spouse, or the dream house and the dream car, and the dream cruise, or the dream retirement. Christ is worth more than all my unfinished plans and dreams.

1. many of those things come to us, and we receive them as blessings from a loving and gracious God, but Christ is worth infinitely more than all of them together

a. Paul knew that living is Christ, because he would continue to serve Him while he lived

b. He also knew that dying would be gain because then he would be in God’s presence, able to worship and serve Him in holy perfection

c. the apostle did not shrink from death and neither should we

“And I heard a loud voice in heaven, saying, “Now the salvation and the power and the kingdom of our God and the authority of his Christ have come, for the accuser of our brothers has been thrown down, who accuses them day and night before our God. 11 And they have conquered him by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of their testimony, for they loved not their lives even unto death.” (Revelation 12:10–11, ESV)

ILLUS. This is something that the world still does not understand. Across the nation, governors and mayors, and health care experts do not seem to understand that—for millions of believers—the church gathering for worship, is more important to us than the potential cost to our health ... for we love not our lives even unto death.

2. Paul fully understood that wealth, power, influence, possessions, prestige, social standing, good health, business or professional success, and all other such things are transitory

a. many acknowledge that truth, but not many live as if it is true

b. can we say with the same sincerity as Paul that for me to live is Christ and to die is gain?

The apostle’s very being was wrapped up in his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. He trusted, loved, served, witnessed for, and in every way was devoted to and dependent on Him. His only hope, his only purpose, his only reason to live was Christ. He traveled for Christ, preached for Christ, and was persecuted and imprisoned for Christ. Ultimately, he would die for Christ. But even death, by God’s marvelous grace, was ultimately for Paul’s eternal gain.

Do You Have Confidence in the Providence of the Lord

Do You Have Confidence in the Prayers of the Saints

Do You Have Confidence in the Provision of the Spirit

Do You Have Confidence in the Promise of Christ

Do You Have Confidence in the Plan of God