Committed To Christ (Philippians 1:21; 2:5; 3:8,14)

Introduction:

A Letter from Prison would not be generally filled with Joy.

If you have ever visited a jail or prison whether as an inmate, visitor, or minister, it is clear the conditions are nothing to write well of. The conditions bear down on your attitude.

Paul writes from prison with the attitude of, to you its Prison, to me its spiritual progress!

All of Paul’s Prison letters were filled with Joy.

Although the Church was challenged by Judaizers, Pagans, and government. Paul was committed to Christ!

He would not be derailed by what did or what could happen to Him because of his belief in Christ!

Paul made it clear that some follow Christ with false motives but he was totally committed!

Background

Phillipi is a city in Greece name after Phillip of Macedon (Alexander the Great’s Father).

It had become a Roman Colony that was Pagan and had very few Jews.

Paul had done missions there previously establishing a church and was now jailed for preaching the Gospel.

Christ is our Purpose (Philippians 1:21)

THIS MESSAGE THIS MORNING IS PURELY AN INTRODUCTION TO THE PURPOSE OF THE LETTER.

We will look at a few passages to understand Paul’s great commitment to the Christ he served.

The main message of Paul’s prison letter is not him and his trouble but Christ.

The word “Christ” appears 7 times in the 1st eleven verses.

Paul is about to teach you something about Christ!

One of the most catchiest tunes is the song “YMCA.” They were trying to tell you about the YMCA because YMCA was mentioned over 18 times in the song.

It's difficult in everyday life to have a godly outlook, let alone being locked in Prison.

Philippians 1:21 CSB

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

For Paul, it wasn’t his SITUATION BUT HIS SAVIOR

Christ wasn’t circumstantial in his life but was all-encompassing.

Christ was His purpose in life!

Read Philippians 3:7-16

Philippians 3:7–16 CSB

But everything that was a gain to me, I have considered to be a loss because of Christ. More than that, I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord. Because of him I have suffered the loss of all things and consider them as dung, so that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own from the law, but one that is through faith in Christ—the righteousness from God based on faith. My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of his sufferings, being conformed to his death, assuming that I will somehow reach the resurrection from among the dead. Not that I have already reached the goal or am already perfect, but I make every effort to take hold of it because I also have been taken hold of by Christ Jesus. Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and reaching forward to what is ahead, I pursue as my goal the prize promised by God’s heavenly call in Christ Jesus. Therefore, let all of us who are mature think this way. And if you think differently about anything, God will reveal this also to you. In any case, we should live up to whatever truth we have attained.

What are you living for? Who are you going to die for?

Christian means follower of Christ.

Let Christ be your purpose!

Christ our Pattern (Phil 2:5)

The theme is Christ

What should be our attitude and actions? CHRIST!

READ PHILIPPIANS 2:5

Philippians 2:5 CSB

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

Jesus is the pattern for our life, what we should be and what we should do.

What should you be doing? Preaching Christ; Philippians 1:12-18 What do you talk about most?

It's hard to live for somebody and not talk about them regularly. What’s down in the well comes up in the bucket.

Christ preached, Paul Preached, we should preach!

The world is not afraid to share with you their ideas and philosophies. Have you seen commercials and tv programs lately?!

Matthew 10:33 CSB

But whoever denies me before others, I will also deny him before my Father in heaven.

Christ is who we Pattern our life after and Christ is Who we preach!

Christ is our Prize (Phil 3:1-14)

What do you want out of life? (Boat, cabin, millions of dollars???)

God wants you to have more than that which will fade away.

God wants you to have the grandest prize of all, Jesus Christ!

Man has a propensity to desire what is temporary.

God wanted you to change your appetite for what is eternal.

Christ has eternity and can give eternal life to you

Where your treasure is, there will be your heart also.

Matthew 6:21 CSB

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.

Is Christ your treasure?

Christ our Power (Phil 4:4-13)

We can't be what God wants us to be, or to do unless it be for Christ's Power!

We live in a world where power is important.

Energy in a can, solar panels, extra caffeine, steroids.

The world knows you need power to complete your day-to-day tasks.

How do you face your greatest challenge?!

Unless Christ be your power you are doomed

The Bible says that Christ was the light of men! John 1:4

Christ turned on your lights! You were once in darkness.

Christ is your power!

Christ is the Power (Having power to save and power to condemn