Joy While Hard Pressed

Stuck between a rock and a hard place…two choices to make and it’s hard to choose? That’s where Paul finds himself. But he finds himself hard pressed between two

Paul is rejoicing in many brothers believing and being emboldened as well as Christ being preached regardless of motives! God will get the glory and Paul will rejoice in that!

I say I will Rejoice

Philippians 1:18-20 “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

19 Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 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 knew this by two things, your prayers and the spirit of Jesus Christ!

How did the prayers of the saints in Philippi help?

Ephesians 6:18-20 “praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end, keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints, and also for me, that words may be given to me in opening my mouth boldly to proclaim the mystery of the gospel, for which I am an ambassador in chains, that I may declare it boldly, as I ought to speak.”

To Live is Christ and to Die is Gain

Philippians 1:21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

To Live is Christ

Spurgeon - If he lived, he lived to know more of Christ, studying His person, and learning by his happy experience so that he increased in his knowledge of his Lord and Savior. If he lived, he lived to imitate Christ more closely, becoming more and more conformed to His image. If he lived, he lived to make Christ more and more known to others, and to enjoy Christ more himself. In these four senses, he might well say, “For to me to live is Christ”—to know Christ more, to imitate Christ more, to preach Christ more, and to enjoy Christ more.

To Die is Gain

Spurgeon

Philippians Exposition

This is one of the gospel riddles, which only the Christian can truly understand. To die is not gain if I look upon the merely visible. To die is loss; it is not gain. But death, Paul felt, would free him from all sin, and from all doubts as to his state in the present and the future. It would be gain to him, for then he would no longer be tossed upon the stormy sea. He would be safe upon the land where he was bound. It would be gain to him, for then he would be free from all temptations both from within and from without. It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all his enemies. There would be no cruel Nero, no blaspheming Jews, no false brothers then. It would be gain to him, for then he would be delivered from all suffering: there would be no more shipwrecks, no more being beaten with rods, or being stoned. Dying, too, would be gain for him, for he would then be free from all fear of death. Having once died, he would die no more forever. It would be gain to him, for he would find in heaven better and more perfect friends than he would leave behind on earth. And he would find, above all, his Savior, and be a partaker of His glory.

To Live Means Faithful Service

English Standard Version (Chapter 1)

Philippians 1:22-26 “If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.”

What would cause Paul, or anyone, to have this confidence in seeing the positive in either option? This is the attitude of someone who had experienced God’s presence, God’s power, and God’s provision.

(Spurgeon) My desire is to depart “The sail is spread; the soul is launched upon the deep. How long will be its voyage? How many wearying winds must beat upon the sail ere it shall be reefed in the port of peace? How often shall that soul be tossed upon the waves before it comes to the sea that knows no storm. Oh tell it, tell it everywhere; yon ship that has just departed is already at its haven. It did but spread its sail and it was there.”

Last week we looked at 2 Corinthians 11 a bit of a sarcastic rant. You boast in the flesh, okay, my boasting in the flesh is how many times i’d been beaten, whipped, flogged, stoned, in prison and so forth.

2 Corinthians 12:1-10 “I must go on boasting. Though there is nothing to be gained by it, I will go on to visions and revelations of the Lord. I know a man in Christ who fourteen years ago was caught up to the third heaven—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows. And I know that this man was caught up into paradise—whether in the body or out of the body I do not know, God knows— and he heard things that cannot be told, which man may not utter. On behalf of this man I will boast, but on my own behalf I will not boast, except of my weaknesses— though if I should wish to boast, I would not be a fool, for I would be speaking the truth; but I refrain from it, so that no one may think more of me than he sees in me or hears from me. So to keep me from becoming conceited because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, a thorn was given me in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to harass me, to keep me from becoming conceited. Three times I pleaded with the Lord about this, that it should leave me.  But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

Paul knew what Jesus said in Mathew 10

Matthew 10:28 “And do not fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather fear him who can destroy both soul and body in hell.”

Paul’s Mindset at the End!

1 Peter 4:12-19 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name. For it is time for judgment to begin at the household of God; and if it begins with us, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God? And “If the righteous is scarcely saved, what will become of the ungodly and the sinner?” Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.”