Joy Over Death

Introduction

Death is not the typical subject to turn to on Mother’s Day, but it is the subject that Paul addresses in our passage today.

Really, the focus for Paul is LIFE.

Death is not something that is generally pleasant to think about unless you understand death as Paul does — pulling up tent stakes and moving life from one place to another.

This is how to have JOY OVER DEATH.

Draw two horizontal lines.

A Jesus-first life means joy over death. (19-26)

When you live a Jesus-first life you:

Magnify the power of Christ.

Philippians 1:18–30 (ESV) — 18. . . . 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.

Paul is expecting that he will be released but he is not assuming it.

It is not as though Paul somehow, has a direct line to know the exact time of his death.

he lives as we do — aware that every moment could be our last.

honored = “mega” make loud, lit. magnify

ILLUST -

Telescope - brings far things near.

When we live with the Jesus-first mindset of being satisfied in Christ, we bring Jesus near to unbelievers because they see Jesus in us.

Microscope - makes little things big. Unbelievers may have many other things in their lives that they view as “bigger than Jesus.”

You can magnify Christ even if you do not yet know the outcome. Paul was uncertain about the plan for his life but he was certain about the purpose of his life.

He knew he would not be ashamed not because he himself would get any glory but because Paul knew that Jesus would get the glory.

If you live your life so that Jesus is magnified, you can’t be ashamed — in life or death.

In the fourth stanza of the modern hymn, In Christ Alone, Stuart Townend and Keith Getty write:

No guilt in life, no fear in death, This is the power of Christ in me; From life’s first cry to final breath, Jesus commands my destiny. No power of hell, no scheme of man, Can ever pluck me from His hand: Till He returns or calls me home, Here in the power of Christ I’ll stand.

Show the value of Christ.

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

For to me to live is _________________, and to die is _______________ .

For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.

For to me to live is to be known (fame) and to die is to be forgotten.

For to me to live is power (control) and to die is to lose everything.

There is a direct correlation in the two statements of the verse:

If living is not Christ, then dying is not gain. It’s a loss.

BUT, if to live is Christ then dying IS gain.

The secret to joy over death is to value Christ above life.

John Piper points out that verse 21 the inward cause that makes sense of verse 20’s outward effect — honoring Christ either through life or death.

We can see it by pairing them together differently:

“It is my eager expectation and hope that Christ will be honored in my body through death because for me to dies is gain.”

“It is my eager expectation and hope that Christ will be honored in my body in life because for me to live is Christ.”

Paul valued Christ over everything:

Philippians 3:8 ESV

8 Indeed, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ

Paul prized Christ above everything which means Christ will be praised in Paul’s life through everything.

*I wonder how many Christians today could have their lives completely wrapped around Christ?

If what you value is found in this life then the fear creeps in that you must continue this life in order to be satisfied.

(equal but opposite error)

If you only expect to be satisfied in Christ when you get to heaven then you will live through this life most miserable — as if you are being kept from what is truly good.

(one is so earthly-minded no heavenly good and other is so heavenly-minded no earthly good.)

But, if you recognize you can experience the presence and purpose of Christ in this life, and more fully experience the presence and pleasure of Christ after you die, then you will be like Paul — hard pressed — it’s a win/win.

“Death is a threat to the degree that it frustrates our goals.” — Anonymous

Dear Rev. Murphy,

How are you and Elsie? Hope Elsie is much better than before.I remember you always in prayer.

You might know about my sickness,I was admitted in the private nursing home ,just three days back I was discharged from it. At present I am having dialysis twice in a week.I don't know how long it would continue but I am so happy that,because the Lord has already given me vision . One day after dialysis I was sitting on a chair,I saw full of light,and then I saw the so bright cloud fur away and I am sleeping on cloud,I have seen on that cloud I am sleeping on purple color bed, the cloud was going up and up after few minutes it vanished. Then I found I was taken to the bed.I don't know when the time will come to meet my Lord,but I am absolutely ready to go.

Right now covid-19 is spreading like any thing in India. Doctor suggested me to be very careful,I can walk at home but can't go out.

There were more than 200 people waiting for baptism,but the situation is so bad right now we are helpless, the Lord knows everything,I know we are not out of His plan,love,care and in His will.

Thank you so much for your constant concern,help in the ministry. We will meet again.

With greetings.

Joren

Focus on the purpose of Christ.

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.

depart

= take down your tent and move on

= sailor - take up anchor and set sail.

While we cannot know everything about life after death — Scripture leaves much out — we do know:

For the believer, death means to be with Christ.

A Jesus-first life means living for Jesus first. (27-30)

27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ,

“In all ages — and not least today — the greatest hindrance to the advance of the gospel has been the inconsistency of Christians. The gospel has its greatest influence when the lives of Christians commend it. . .”

— New Bible Commentary, Phil 1:27-30

Manner of life worthy of

πολιτεύομαι

= “behave as citizens”

There is no dual-citizenship when it comes to heaven.

Paul tells us how to live a life worthy of the gospel (Jesus-first) in three ways:

so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind

Love one another — Community

1 Corinthians 1:10 (ESV)

10 I appeal to you, brothers, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree, and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same judgment.

Move from gospel spectator to participant — Cooperation

striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

striving

sunathleo - “Striving together as athletes.”

Church is not a spectator sport. So many today act as though Christianity is a spectator sport and see it as a

Jude 3 (ESV)

3 Beloved, although I was very eager to write to you about our common salvation, I found it necessary to write appealing to you to contend for the faith that was once for all delivered to the saints.

28 and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

Build your confidence in Christ — Confidence

(not arrogance)

not frightened = “not to allow yourself to be intimidated” like frightened horses when entering battle

This (your confidence in the gospel)is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God. 29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Where is the balance of your heart’s treasure?

What do you truly value?

If death is a ‘loss’ than you will not win.

Why does our heart not long for heaven? Perhaps it may be that heaven is not where we have placed our treasure (Matt 6:19-21).

Matthew 6:19–21 ESV

19 “Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal, 20 but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21 For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Living in fear of death hinders you from fully living life. You can overcome this by living in the denial of the reality of death or by living with joy over death.

Does your life have the accent of the gospel?

Or have you lost your accent and speak the world’s language?

How valuable is Jesus to you?

Conclusion

The New Park Street Pulpit Sermons, Vol. III The Good Man’s Life and Death (No. 146–147)

But blessed be God, there is one place where death is not life’s brother, where life reigns alone; “to live,” is not the first syllable which is to be followed by the next, “to die.” There is a land where death-knells are never tolled, where winding-sheets are never woven, where graves are never digged. Blest land beyond the skies! To reach it we must die. But if after death we obtain a glorious immortality, our text is indeed true: “To die is gain.”

— Charles Spurgeon