September 12, 2021, "Philippians: A Win- Win Scenario" - Philippians 1:18-26

What is a win- win situation?

It is just what it sounds like… every party comes out winning. It is the opposite of a zero-sum strategy, where one person’s win is the equivalent of another person’s loss. We like it when everyone can walk away happy, don’t we?!

Here's a classic example of a win-win scenario.

During the winter of 2003, the Atlanta Braves professional baseball team needed an outfielder and the St. Louis Cardinals team needed pitching. So, the deal was swung where Hahira, GA native J.D. Drew and Eli Merrero, a infield utility specialist were sent to the Braves in exchange for pitchers Ray King, Jason Marquis, and Adam Wainwright. During the year, the commentators said again and again that it was a good trade for both teams as each team ended up with the help that that they needed in their respective areas. Braves fans were a little upset because we gained a year of JD Drew in exchange for the vibrant career that Wainwright has had for the Cardinals. While it may have been more of a one-sided trade as time passed, in the moment it was a win-win scenario that made both sides very happy.

That’s what we’re talking about today… Paul discovered two options in his relationship with Christ that both were awesome. It caused him to struggle between the two, yet he realized that as long as his life was rooted in Christ, his life would be a win-win scenario. For Paul, he lost his fear of death… not because he wanted to die, but he came to realize that either way, he was going to be in the presence of his Lord and Savior.

It should remind us all of just what a blessing it is to be in the presence of our Creator… not because of what we’ve done to deserve it… because indeed we don’t deserve it, but rather because He loves us and wants a relationship with us.

Will you please stand for the reading and the hearing of God’s Word this morning?

Philippians 1:18-26 (NIV)

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.[a] 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted 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 go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.

And may glory be to God for the reading and hearing of His Word this morning, “Thanks Be To God.”

v. 21 says, “For Me To Live Is Christ and To Die is gain...” Philippians 1:23 ESV continues, “ I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.”

Paul is contemplating two very really possibilities for his future. There he is in Roman prison, and he doesn’t know if he is going to live or if he is going to die. And to Paul either outcome is a real possibility. It’s kind of the old phrase that says, “Hope for the best, but be prepared for the worst.” That is why he says, “To Live is Christ, To Die is Gain.”

In the world of today, the opposite view is held. Life on earth is prized and clung to, with people living in mortal fear of the end and banishing it to the edge of their consciousness. Paul’s words speak equally to people with that mind-set, affirming that for those who share Christ’s life here and now, death means entrance into a fuller dimension of life. In the words of Preacher Handley Moule, “The dying hour is to Paul the mere gateway into the ‘large room’ of the presence of Christ.”

But, if he lives on in the flesh- that means fruitful labor/work for Paul. His incarceration brought attention to Christianity and the expansion of the Kingdom of God. For Paul- living in the flesh, living in this life was all about fruitful labor. But Paul is not sure which option, given the choice, he would choose. That is an incredible statement. If you asked 99.9% of people the question do you want to live or do you want to die, what would be their answer? Paul is not contemplating ending his life prematurely out of misery. Rather, because Christ is the center of his life, Paul is looking forward to death and the glory that awaits him on the other side! How many people do you know that look forward to dying?

Bishop Marion Edwards, a long time preacher in South Georgia, once said, “I do not fear death. I fear the process of dying.” I believe that most Christians would agree!

Surely he remembered the fate of John the Baptist and his own Lord and Savoir, Jesus. He knew the perils of simply telling others about Jesus and converting them to Christianity. His statement was as much a recognition of the persecution that Christians were enduring as it was a purpose statement that he would boldly continue to proclaim the Good News no matter the cost.

The only way for Paul to win was to stay plugged into Jesus and the life Jesus offered… both in the life Paul lived on earth and that he would one day enjoy in heaven. To live his life in Jesus Christ was the only way to have a win-win scenario… both in life and in the possible death he might suffer because he boldly and unashamedly proclaimed Jesus.

In this same passage, Paul wrote to the Philippians with the keys that would allow them to continue this win-win scenario in Christ, whether they were able to lived their lives unencumbered or through death by persecution.

First, Paul says in v. 18 “Yes, I will continue to rejoice!”

What does it mean to rejoice? To rejoice means to feel or show great joy or delight. Joy is one of the key words in the letter.

There is the story of a man who was walking along a busy street one day. He heard someone singing. The sweet voice was distinguishable even above the noise of the traffic. When the man located the singer, he noticed that he had no legs and was pushing himself through the crowd in a wheelchair. Catching up with the singer the man said, “I want you to know, friend, that to hear singing from a person in your condition gives everyone else a lift."He answered with a grateful smile, “When I thought about what I had lost and began concentrating on all I had left, I found much for which I could rejoice.”

That’s how we have a win-win scenario in Christ. We continue to rejoice like Paul did, even in the darkest of circumstances. We do as Psalm 30 beginning in v. 4 proclaims:

Psalm 30:4-5-

Sing praises to the Lord, O you his saints, and give thanks to his holy name. For his anger is but for a moment, and his favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may tarry for the night, but joy comes with the morning.

What would happen if like Paul we continued to rejoice at all times?

Remember this: A rejoicing heart soon makes a praising tongue!

Second, Paul says in v. 19 that “through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

We need others praying for us so that we live by the power of the Holy Spirit and not our own strength! We cannot go it alone and hope to accomplish God’s will.

Galatians, Philippians, Colossians: A Bible Commentary in the Wesleyan Tradition (2. Paul’s Future Prospects and Their Effect on the Proclamation of the Gospel 1:18b–26)

Paul’s expressed dependence on the Philippians’ prayers almost suggests that he sees his unity with them in even deeper terms than as fellow members of the body of Christ. His life is sustained by them as the life of the physical body is sustained by veins that carry the blood from one organ to another.Paul’s unmistakable feeling of dependence on the prayers of his fellow believers in Philippi urges Christians to temper their emphasis on the autonomy of the individual with an appreciation for the inter-connectedness of the church.…

Simply put, we are stronger together.

Orjan Stahl, a tree researcher in Stockholm, made an exhaustive study of over 500 trees that had root and utility conflicts. He regularly found roots at depths of 7 to 9 feet (2.1 to 2.7 meters) and the deepest root he encountered was at 23 feet (7 meters)...They found numerous examples of trees reported to be growing roots to over 33 feet (10 meters), and one report of a tree that grew roots to a depth of 174 feet (53 meters).

Apparently, the trees roots can grow as much as possible as long as the conditions are right. Conditions such as water, oxygen and soil compaction (the soil condition).

When we pray for one another, our roots in Christ grow stronger and even more vibrant so that we can remain upright and stand tall to continue to proclaim the living saving message of Jesus. Beyond that, we are able to have strength for both the big and small things of life.

Paul goes on to say in v. 20, “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage.”

Two words jump out at me here…”ashamed” and “courage”.

If you remember the 1993 movie “In the Line of Fire”, you will remember Clint Eastwood played a secret service agent who was charged with protecting the President of the United States. His character was one of the agents present on the day of the Kennedy Assassination who jumped on the bumper of the open air Presidential Limo and he still couldn’t quite shake the failure of that day 30 years later. Now, a new threat had emerged and his character was charged with saving the President yet again. This time, the demons of his past failures still haunted him and yet he pressed forward. Even when others doubted him, he believed in his mission. At the end of the movie, Eastwood’s character ran into the line of fire and courageously took a bullet for the President.

Paul was charged with the same task. His mission was to proclaim Christ at all costs. He was eager and hopeful that he could do so. He probably still carried some of the shame that came with denying Jesus and persecuting Christians years before. Yet even then, he had sufficient courage to see the mission through, in spite of what others were saying.

Do you have such courage, that in spite of your past failings with God’s help you can lay them aside and have sufficient courage to share Christ no matter the cost? I believe that kind of courage can only come when we pray for God’s strength to do so!

We all like win-win scenarios where everybody can come away as a winner, don’t we?! That’s what Paul was saying in Philippians. He was a winner because he rejoiced in Christ always, he had others praying for the power of the Holy Spirit to be his, and he had the courage to unashamedly proclaim Jesus.

Today, if you want in on Paul’s win-win scenario, make sure that you have the most important thing squared away. Invite Jesus into your heart or life, whether for the first time or as you recommit your life to him. With Christ you cannot lose!

To accept Christ, privately pray after me in your heart as I say the following Billy Graham salvation prayer out loud, “Jesus you died upon the cross, and rose again to save the lost. Forgive me now of all my sin. Come be my Savior, Lord and friend. Change my life and make it new, and help me Lord to live for you!”

If you prayed that prayer today, Scripture says all heaven and earth rejoices over your salvation. Please let me know so that I can continue to work with you. And if you want to know a good book of the BIble to begin with, try to Gospel of John. It captures a broad overview of the Christian faith.

I invite us all to be winners this week as Christ loves us, and we choose to love Him back. In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, AMEN.