To LIve is Christ
Sermon • Submitted
0 ratings
· 8 viewsNotes
Transcript
Introduction:
Introduction:
What do you remember from last week?
Where was Paul?
What happened as a result of Paul going to prison?
So not only was the gospel advanced but something interesting is happening in Paul’s life. He is still experiencing joy. After everything that has happened to him.
He still has joy and we asked the question. How can Paul still find joy in the midst of this difficult circumstances.
Dinah answered so well last week that it’s because his identity is in Christ. When we find our identity in Christ it frees us from everything else so that even when everything around us is falling apart we can still have joy. What a great answer.
But as I’ve been thinking about it more I think I’ve been asking the question wrong because I’ve been seeing Paul’s circumstances in a wrong light.
We look at what is happening to Paul and we think, “oh my goodness how terrible.” But is that how Paul sees his circumstance?
Or is Paul’s circumstance actually a cause for joy. Is the risk of jail, torture, and death for the sake of Christ part of the joy that Paul is experiencing. Is it the actually stepping out by faith and experiencing God’s protection and grace in the midst of our difficulties that actually brings the joy.
Zip line - What is the most fun part about the zip line?
It’s not getting the harness on.
It’s not walking up the stairs to the top of the tower
It’s not getting hooked up to the line.
It’s taking that step of faith and risking it all and getting caught by the line and the harness as you fly down towards snake hill that brings the joy. It’s actually the risk that brings the joy.
What has to happen before you are willing to risk walking off the plank? You have to trust that the line and the harness will hold you.
I think it’s actually the same with our walk with Christ. Imagine getting all harnessed up walking to the top of the tower and never jumping. That would stink. That would be miserable. You may even be tempted to think that the zip line is dumb and not worth all the hassel. Why would anybody get harnessed up and walk to the top of the tower. What a waste of time and energy. I could have been doing something else more fun.
But the problem wasn’t with the zip line. The problem was with you. You didn’t trust. So you didn’t risk. So you didn’t have joy.
That how we are with Christ. That’s how I am with Christ. We spend so much time playing it safe. Never willing to risk it. That we never experiencing the joy of stepping out by faith and experiencing the joy of faith in Christ.
Many of you are hesitant to really give into this whole Jesus thing because you’ve dipped your toe into the water and it really wasn’t all that great. You’ve been playing it safe for far to long and haven’t relied on Jesus in a way that brings real joy.
Now you may be thinking. Didn’t Paul try that and isn’t the fact that he’s in jail and doesn’t the fact that we know that in the end Paul is killed for his faith show that really God doesn’t come through and he can’t be trusted?
But that’s not what Paul is risking. Paul isn’t risking earthly comforts and pleasures for Christ hoping that God will come through and protect those and continue to give Paul a life of ease.
Paul is risking that those are the things that bring happiness and joy. Paul is saying I am going to risk that ease, comfort, and worldly pleasure aren’t enough for me. I am going to give them up in hope that Jesus is better and I think it is the actual risk and the taking away of earthly pleasure and even so far as the imprisonment that actually is bring joy to Paul.
Often it is the taking away of the things that we hold onto so close. Like peoples opinion of us, our comforts, our ease when those things get ripped from us Jesus actually comes in and bring s joy into our life that nothing from the world could actually touch.
Philippians for You Chapter 4: Ready to Die, Able to Live (Philippians Chapter 1 Verses 21–26)
No one is ready to live until they are ready to die.
You must know that the end of your life is certain before you will joyfully risk danger day by day. The end of your life must be secure before the present can be stable. It is only when you know that death will usher you into the presence of God that you will live with fearless faith.
Main Point: Only when you see death as gain and step out by faith can you really live and serve others with joy.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, 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.
Main Point: Only when you see death as gain and step out by faith can you really live and serve others with joy.
We see this right away. It is Paul’s eager expectation and hope that we will not be ashamed. But with full courage Christ will be honored with his body whether it is by life or death.
Paul is a man who is staring death in the eye. He lives his life chained to a Roman solider. But look at his attitude. It is his eager expectation that he will be unashamed of Christ. No matter what that means. Whether it is with life or with death. Paul is so unconcerned with his own life that in the midst of the Romans taking his life away he has hope he has joy.
How is this possible. Because of verse 21. One of the most shocking verses of the Bible.
For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
This verse right here better than almost any other verse from Paul’s letter explains how and why Paul lives the way that he does.
It explains why Paul make the choices that he does. Why he is willing to endure hardships and sufferings. Why he was willing to leave his old life behind.
Because to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Why he teamed up with the very people he had previously tried to kill. It explains why he can sing in deepest darkest cell of a Philippian jail. Why when an earthquake comes and opens the cells of the jail. Not only does he not escape to freedom but manages to convince his fellow prisoners to stay put. So he can share the gospel with the one responsible for keeping him in prison.
Why does Paul live this way???????
Because for him to live is Christ and to die is gain.
When death is gain. When the losing of all your earthly possessions. When becoming an outcast. When being mocked for the sake of Christ becomes gain it frees you to live a radically transformed life that is filled with a joy that can only come from Christ.
Paul is so consumed with being with Christ that he views death as 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.
It says he is hard pressed between the two.
Why????
Because yes he longs to be with the Lord but he also longs to help others.
Look at verses 25-26 why does he want for them?
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.
He wants to go and be with Jesus. But he is willing to stay and suffer. Why so they can have progress in their faith and joy.
Paul is suffering so they can have faith. Paul is suffering so they can have joy.
Again Paul is unconcerned with what he wants. Or even what is best for him. And he thinks of others.
Main Point: Only when you see death as gain and step out by faith can you really live and serve others with joy.
But here’s what I don’t want you to miss. The missing ingredient in your lives is verses 21. For me to live is Christ and to dies is gain.
The reason your spiritual life is so shallow and lacking joy is because you aren’t actually taking any risks for Jesus. This was convicting for me as I read this passage this morning.
Sometime by spiritual life can become dull. Often there is too reasons. One, because of some sin that I have let into my life and haven’t confessed. Two, because I’m playing it safe.
So what would it look like for you guys to risk something for Jesus.
Here are a few I came up with. But my guess is something has already popped into your mind as we are talking.
Is there a friend you need to tell about Jesus.
What’s keeping you back?
Are you afraid of what they will think? What if they mock you. What if they stop being your friend?
Take the risk, take the step of faith and experience joy. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If that is true in your life you will take the risk.
Is there a friend you need to stop hanging out with?
What’s keeping you back?
Are you afraid of what they will think? What if they mock you. What if they stop being your friend?
Take the risk, take the step of faith and experience joy. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. If that is true in your life you will take the risk.
What do you need to get rid of?
What do you need to confess
Philippians for You Questions for Reflection
1. What did you make of the statement, “No one is ready to live until they are ready to die”?
2. What is your own view of death? Are there any ways in which you are influenced by your culture’s perspective on it, rather than a Christian one?
3. Do you feel the dilemma Paul did, either on your own behalf or that of a believing loved one? How is it comforting to live in this way?
Philippians for You Questions for Reflection
1. “Will I do what I want to do, or will I do what is best for others?” When in your daily life should you be asking yourself this question—and how will you answer it?
2. Which verse from this section would be most helpful for you to commit to memory, and when do you think you will most need to recall it and live it out?
3. Are you ready to die?