Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 1:19-30

7/10/2022

By: Samuel Sorenson

Introduction

Seasons, there are different seasons that we all go through in our lives.

The season of childhood, adolescence, young adulthood, middle age, old age, and then depending upon where we stand with Jesus, heaven or hell.

We cannot choose what the season will be that the Lord will take us out of this world, but we can choose what our attitude will be, in whatever season we are currently living.

Christian, what kind of attitude do you have towards God, towards His word, and towards His people?

Pause

If I were to ask you today, Christian, what are some character attributes that you find attractive about yourself?

Is it your willingness to listen to those who are hurting, is it your desire to study up on current events so that you can be polished and informed on the latest news?

Is it your prayer life?

Do you pray for others to know the Lord Jesus?

Do you pray that you would know the Lord Jesus in a more intimate way and so your witness would be stronger?

Pause

For those of you who are young, what are some character attributes that draws others towards you?

Is it your playfulness, your eagerness to learn?

Your receptiveness to feedback from your parents, or from those who employ you?

Pause

For those young adults out there is it your resolve to see this world come to know Jesus?

Is it the desire to see your potential lived out?

Is it building strong friendships and relationships?

Is it being a good parent?

Is it being a person who says what they mean, and means what they say?

Pause

For those who are middle aged, what are some of your attractive character attributes?

Is it your resolve to not have too many regrets?

Is it to see your children find their calling and live out their full potential?

Is it learning how to take all those hard punches that life throws at you? Whether it be paying off your student debt, first home, or some other major expense?

Pause.

Is it being well read and well spoken?

Is it being well received by your friends and family?

Pause

For those of you who are getting close to meeting the Lord, what are some attractive character attributes that you can think of?

Is it seeing the trust you have built with people lead to stronger and more fruitful relationships?

Is it seeing that one person you have been a witness to for over thirty years finally accept the Lord?

Is it developing young people for what they will encounter in this crazy world?

Is it knowing that your service to the Lord will end with the statement, “Well done, good and faithful servant?”

What are your giving your life to?

Is it watching the next Indy 500?

Fellas, is it getting that girl you have had your eyes on over the last year or couple of years?

For you ladies is it having that husband, 2.5 kids, and a beautiful home?

Pause

Or is it living a life that is honoring to the Lord?

Pause.

That should be our most attractive quality in life.

Are we humble servants of Christ, are we living a life that is an example of a servant who seeks to honor God in all we say and do?

Wisdom begins with the fear, reverence, and love of God.

For the Christian the crucial question to ask is, “Does this honor God?”

Pause

This question will keep you from sin, help you have clarity, and give you an eternal perspective in life.

If your decisions are honoring to God than your decisions will be fruitful, your relationships will become strong, and your satisfaction and purpose in life will come to pass.

I remember when I was about 26 years old and was wrestling with the idea of submitting my life to the Lord, I asked an older gentleman what I would get if I submitted my life to the Lord?

He responded with one word, “everything.”

Pause

You see friends the Lord gave everything to reconcile us to Him through the sacrifice of His Son Jesus Christ, should we as His children not be expected to give all for the sake of His plans and purposes for our lives?

To live is Christ, and to die is gain.

This verse is the key verse to the entire first chapter of Philippians.

We will unpack that more throughout the message.

But for now, I want you to ponder this statement, “To live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Pause

With that being said let us continue our study through the book of Philippians.

Today, we are covering the rest of the first chapter of Philippians.

Text:

Philippians 1:19-30

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 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.

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

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

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

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

25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but [c]to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Theses: My purpose in speaking to you today is for you to understand the importance of being in the will of God.

(Repeat)

Context

Last week we covered three heart motives for Advancing the Good News of Jesus Christ in Philippians 1:12-18.

Those motives were.

1) The preaching of Christ out of envy and strife.

2) The preaching of Christ for selfish ambition.

3) The preaching of Christ out of love.

To give a little history to what is happening, Paul is in prison wondering what is going to happen to him, everywhere he had travelled before his imprisonment in Rome, he was given an audience to kings and rulers.

Jesus had told his disciples that they would be hailed before Ceasars and kings.

He told them to not worry what they should say for the Holy Spirit would speak for them.

Pause

He had the opportunity to speak to King Agrippa and share his testimony with him and that was told and written of by the people Paul impacted.

Paul was given the opportunity to share with boldness about the unknown God when he was speaking in the temple of idols in Athens in Acts 17:22-31.

Every time Paul testified before these rulers, Ceasars, or kings he would share with great courage his testimony of how Christ saved him and appointed him as an apostle to go out to all the nations and share the good news of Jesus Christ.

Paul realized that if he could fervently share the gospel with these rulers, than if they were saved by the gospel than they could make a huge impact upon the kingdom of heaven.

Pause

The Emperor of Rome at this time is Ceasar Nero, now if you study history, you will find that before Nero was introduced to Christianity that he was actually a fairly decent man.

I’m sure that Paul laid a heavy testimony on Nero, realizing that Nero would probably have the biggest impact for Christ ifhe received Christ.

Paul’s testimony was so powerful, and Nero’s rejection of Christ was so detrimental, that it has been argued by historians that Nero became demon possessed after he rejected Christ.

In Nero’s persecution of the church, he became inhumane, He would set Christians on fire and light up his garden in the evenings riding in his chariot fully naked and race through the paths of his garden.

Paul was going to be facing Nero a second time and he did not know if Nero was going to put him to death or not.

Nero did see that Christ was a threat and that Christians were a threat too because, Christians would not deny Christ as Lord and Savior, however they would not acknowledge Ceasar as lord.

Pause

Well, we do know that Nero does end up beheading Paul, but at this point in the text Paul does not know that.

Plural Noun Proposition: Today I want to illustrate three benefits of being in the will of God.

Repeat

1) The benefit of Christ being magnified by your obedience.

2) The benefit of seeing spiritual fruit in your own life and other people’s lives.