Joy: To Live is Christ

Introduction

The Definition of Resolved

Merriam-Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary (Eleventh Edition) Resolve

1 obsolete: DISSOLVE, MELT

2 a: BREAK UP, SEPARATE 〈the prism resolved the light into a play of color〉 also: to change by disintegration

b: to reduce by analysis 〈resolve the problem into simple elements〉

c: to distinguish between or make independently visible adjacent parts of

d: to separate (a racemic compound or mixture) into the two components

3: to cause resolution of (a pathological state)

4 a: to deal with successfully: clear up 〈resolve doubts〉 〈resolve a dispute〉

b: to find an answer to

c: to make clear or understandable

d: to find a mathematical solution of

e: to split up (as a vector) into two or more components especially in assigned directions

5: to reach a firm decision about 〈resolve to get more sleep〉 〈resolve disputed points in a text〉

6 a: to declare or decide by a formal resolution and vote

b: to change by resolution or formal vote 〈the house resolved itself into a committee〉

Paul Was Resolved in His Salvation

Paul Was So Resolved that He Was Conflicted on Whether to God be With Lord

Joy is Being Resolved

Philippians 1:19 NKJV

For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

Why Was Paul Rejoicing and Resolved?

I KNOW

The Greek word oida asserts that on has full knowledge!

unequivocal

absolute

satisfied conviction

THAT THIS WILL TURN OUT FOR MY DELIVERANCE

Romans 8:28 NKJV

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

Delivered - Soteira

salvation!

Paul Understood He Would Be Delivered from his present situation

What Does He Mean By Deliverance?

By prayer

He believed prayer worked!

Romans 15:30 NKJV

Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,

Ephesians 6:18–19 NKJV

praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints—and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel,

He expected a deliverance from prison

By Jesus

But if he was not delivered from prison he would be delivered if he dies

Paul was not worried about the insults and ulterior motives of the false preachers.

Paul was not worried about his reputation.

Paul was not worried about prison

Paul was not worried death

Paul was a slave to Christ through God.

Paul denied himself

Matthew 16:24 NKJV

Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me.

We live in a materialistic self-centered day, self-servicing day, not a sacrificial day.

Philippians 1:16 NKJV

The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

Paul Was Confident of What Had Begun In Him

Philippians 1:6 NKJV

being confident of this very thing, that He who has begun a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ;

A good work had begun in Paul

He was confident God would complete it

Philippians 1:20 NKJV

according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

Paul Was Confident in the Promise of Christ!

According to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed!

Romans 1:16 NKJV

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation for everyone who believes, for the Jew first and also for the Greek.

Romans 1:17 NKJV

For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “The just shall live by faith.”

We cannot be ashamed to live in Christ

Mark 8:38 NKJV

For whoever is ashamed of Me and My words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of him the Son of Man also will be ashamed when He comes in the glory of His Father with the holy angels.”

Romans 9:33 NKJV

As it is written: “Behold, I lay in Zion a stumbling stone and rock of offense, And whoever believes on Him will not be put to shame.”

Why Fear Death? We cannot be disappointed by death!

Paul is confident in the plan of God.

WITH ALL BOLDNESS MAGNIFY

He will magnify Christ

He will magnify the Gospel

He will magnify the Church

Paul wants to live for him

Know him

Preach him

Preach for him

commune with him

serve him

love him

Philippians 1:21 NKJV

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

Paul is saying something deeper than Christ lives in him

Paul is not saying he is living for Christ but to live is Christ!

There is nothing else!!!

Galatians 2:20 NKJV

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

1 Peter 4:2 NKJV

that he no longer should live the rest of his time in the flesh for the lusts of men, but for the will of God.

Acts 20,22Acts 22 (NKJV)

“Brethren and fathers, hear my defense before you now.” And when they heard that he spoke to them in the Hebrew language, they kept all the more silent.

Then he said: “I am indeed a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, taught according to the strictness of our fathers’ law, and was zealous toward God as you all are today. I persecuted this Way to the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women, as also the high priest bears me witness, and all the council of the elders, from whom I also received letters to the brethren, and went to Damascus to bring in chains even those who were there to Jerusalem to be punished.

“Now it happened, as I journeyed and came near Damascus at about noon, suddenly a great light from heaven shone around me. And I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?’ So I answered, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And He said to me, ‘I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting.’

“And those who were with me indeed saw the light and were afraid, but they did not hear the voice of Him who spoke to me. So I said, ‘What shall I do, Lord?’ And the Lord said to me, ‘Arise and go into Damascus, and there you will be told all things which are appointed for you to do.’ And since I could not see for the glory of that light, being led by the hand of those who were with me, I came into Damascus.

“Then a certain Ananias, a devout man according to the law, having a good testimony with all the Jews who dwelt there, came to me; and he stood and said to me, ‘Brother Saul, receive your sight.’ And at that same hour I looked up at him. Then he said, ‘The God of our fathers has chosen you that you should know His will, and see the Just One, and hear the voice of His mouth. For you will be His witness to all men of what you have seen and heard. And now why are you waiting? Arise and be baptized, and wash away your sins, calling on the name of the Lord.’

“Now it happened, when I returned to Jerusalem and was praying in the temple, that I was in a trance and saw Him saying to me, ‘Make haste and get out of Jerusalem quickly, for they will not receive your testimony concerning Me.’ So I said, ‘Lord, they know that in every synagogue I imprisoned and beat those who believe on You. And when the blood of Your martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by consenting to his death, and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’ Then He said to me, ‘Depart, for I will send you far from here to the Gentiles.’ ”

And they listened to him until this word, and then they raised their voices and said, “Away with such a fellow from the earth, for he is not fit to live!” Then, as they cried out and tore off their clothes and threw dust into the air, the commander ordered him to be brought into the barracks, and said that he should be examined under scourging, so that he might know why they shouted so against him. And as they bound him with thongs, Paul said to the centurion who stood by, “Is it lawful for you to scourge a man who is a Roman, and uncondemned?”

When the centurion heard that, he went and told the commander, saying, “Take care what you do, for this man is a Roman.”

Then the commander came and said to him, “Tell me, are you a Roman?”

He said, “Yes.”

The commander answered, “With a large sum I obtained this citizenship.”

And Paul said, “But I was born a citizen.”

Then immediately those who were about to examine him withdrew from him; and the commander was also afraid after he found out that he was a Roman, and because he had bound him.

The next day, because he wanted to know for certain why he was accused by the Jews, he released him from his bonds, and commanded the chief priests and all their council to appear, and brought Paul down and set him before the

Acts 20:18 NKJV

And when they had come to him, he said to them: “You know, from the first day that I came to Asia, in what manner I always lived among you,

Acts 20:19 NKJV

serving the Lord with all humility, with many tears and trials which happened to me by the plotting of the Jews;

Acts 20:20 NKJV

how I kept back nothing that was helpful, but proclaimed it to you, and taught you publicly and from house to house,

Acts 20:21 NKJV

testifying to Jews, and also to Greeks, repentance toward God and faith toward our Lord Jesus Christ.

Acts 20:22 NKJV

And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there,

Acts 20:23 NKJV

except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me.

Acts 20:24 NKJV

But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.

Philippians 1:22 NKJV

But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

Joy In Spite of Death

Philippians 1:23 NKJV

For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Joy Spite of the Flesh

Philippians 1:24 NKJV

Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Philippians 1:25 NKJV

And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

Philippians 1:26 NKJV

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

Conclusion