A LIFE OR DEATH MATTER

PHILIPPIANS 1:19-26

 

The death of a godly person is a very special moment.

     Psalm 116:15 tells us it’s even a special moment for God!

Privilege of being with godly people, who have walked with the Lord for years, when they leave this world and pass into our Lord’s presence.

Sometimes we get so overwhelmed by all the hospital stuff, that we miss the sacred significance of that unique moment in our life!

What a special moment!

Why would we ever want to hang on to people we love and keep them here?!!

The pagan tribal leader who asked, “For people who talk so much about how wonderful heaven will be, you Christians sure spend a lot of effort to keep from going there!”

 

The ideal church!

     *  Endured suffering       *  Doctrinally sound        *  Generous

 

Nevertheless, two problems are revealed in the letter.

1st they are discouraged. (DEPRESSION)

         Times are hard.        They are suffering.

         Their leader is in jail.     Their messenger is sick.

             Everything seems to be going wrong.

     2nd problem: division.

Personal conflict between 2 women (others seem to have taken sides!)

Larger problem: Judaistic divisions, between Judaizers and Gentiles

     DIVISION CAUSES DISCOURAGEMENT!

 

Paul’s Purpose

     2 problems indicate 2 purposes:

1. To encourage them in their affliction.

                  He writes concerning joy.

         2. To resolve the conflicts.

                  He emphasizes unity.

 

Paul’s Thanksgiving 1:3-8

     Paul takes a look at them and rejoices- ==> ENCOURAGEMENT

         He praises God for what He has done in their lives.

             For memories 1:3-4     For their fellowship 1:5     For God's ongoing work in them 1:6

 

REPORT CONCERNING IMPRISONMENT 1:12-26

What has discouraged them, isn’t a discouragement to him.

 

1st problem they’re discouraged about: “Paul, you’re locked up in jail.

         You’ve been confined. Your ministry is restricted.

         The enemy is winning. What a tragedy!”

ADVANCE OF THE GOSPEL 1:12-14

God is using imprisonment for His glory and to spread the gospel.

GOD IS AT WORK IN THIS! -ENCOURAGEMENT

     Paul’s testimony inside the prison 1:12-13

Guards realize he’s not in prison for a crime, but because of Jesus.

Others’ testimony outside the prison 1:14

Others have gained courage to speak concerning the Lord.

GOD USES DIFFICULT CIRCUMSTANCES FOR HIS GLORY!

 

2nd problem they’re discouraged about: “Well, sure, people are proclaiming Christ. But most of them are only doing it to spite you!

         They want to make you suffer because you can’t do it.

Surely God can’t use their witness when they’re doing it for all the wrong reasons!

DIVISION AMONG THE PREACHERS 1:15-18

Division among preachers isn’t a cause for discouragement.

Look at what GOD is doing!

         Gospel is being preached because of it.

     Their attitude 1:15-17     If they’re preaching to spite Paul, that’s their problem.

     His attitude 1:18             Paul rejoices because people are hearing the gospel.

GOD USES DIVISIVE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR HIS GLORY!

 

3rd problem the Philippians are discouraged about: “Paul, they might KILL you!

You could die in jail!

         Sometimes they throw people in jail and throw the key away!

Paul wants them to understand what he expects God to do.

         God’s perspective on the matter of life and death removes the fear.

 

PAUL’S DELIVERANCE 1:19-26

Paul is convinced he’s going to be released soon.

     Means of deliverance 1:19

Paul expects God to answer their prayers by getting him out of jail.

Paul expects the Spirit to work to help him get out of jail.

             He doesn’t tell us how the Spirit is going to accomplish that.

         The goal isn’t to get out of jail!

         The goal is to glorify God, whether in jail or out of jail!

 

     Desire for deliverance 1:20-26

         Desire that he not be embarrassed 1:20a

Or, more significantly, that GOD not be embarrassed, on account of Paul’s actions or attitudes while in jail.

                      Or by his attempts to get out of jail.

The ultimate “deliverance” for Paul in his imprisonment is that he be delivered from somehow causing shame to the Lord’s name.

 

         Desire that God be glorified by life or death 1:20b-26

             Whether he lives or dies isn’t important!

What’s important is that God be glorified through him.

Either by his life or by his death, He wants to see God glorified.

             LIFE IS NOT THE GOAL!

Speaking boldly for Christ . . .

                  Glorifying God in our body . . . that’s the goal!

 

             His reason 1:20b-22a

                      1:21 To live = Christ     To die = gain

                 When the focus of our life is Jesus, then to die is gain–NOT loss.

Our physical existence gets in the way of fully experiencing God’s presence.

Therefore, when the barrier is removed–when we are face-to-face with God–that’s better. The barrier is gone! Nothing gets in the way.

If Paul continues living, he’ll be able to produce more fruit 1:22a–For fruit-bearing vines, longer life = more fruit!

                          Paul desires to increase the fruit–NOT to extend his life.

To produce fruit, for God’s glory, is the goal!

                          NOT to stay alive!

He doesn’t want to get God’s purpose for his life confused with our natural human desire to live!

 

             His doubt 1:22b-24    

Paul can’t decide which to choose.

For his benefit, it’s better to die,

                      because he would be present with the Lord.

                          Death is the BETTER option–NOT the NORMAL perspective on life!

No more barriers! That’s good!

However, for their benefit, it's better to stay with them. 1:24

 

             His plan 1:25-26

Paul believes God still has a job for him to do, investing in them.

                  Paul expects God to get him out of jail.

This will be better for them because it will increase their confidence in the Lord.

                  Paul’s goals for getting out of jail:

                      *  That they might advance in their walk with God.

                      *  That they might have increased joy.

                               That their confidence might abound in Christ Jesus

                                   Because of him

                                   By means of his coming to them again

                  Paul gives up what’s best for him-for their benefit!

For Paul, the most important thing is to do God's will, for the benefit of the brethren, whether that involves living or dying.

 

GOD USES DIVERSE CIRCUMSTANCES FOR HIS GLORY!

God can use our life for His glory.

     God can use our death for His glory.

     The key question isn’t whether we live or die.

     The key issue is God’s glory.

         It’s about HIM!

             How can we best glorify God?

If God is glorified–whether by life or by death–our side wins!

 

IMPLICATIONS FOR US

From the broad, general perspective, we so easily join the Philippians in their discouragement.

         We easily lose perspective.

         We focus on the negative, instead of seeing what God is doing and praising Him.

     More specifically to this passage, do WE view life from that perspective?

Do we really believe that it’s better to be away from the body and present with the Lord?

Is that really gain?

                  Then why do we try so hard to cling to this life and its goodies?

                  Which would YOU choose?

     The goal isn’t freedom or liberty.

     The goal isn’t life.

     The goal is to glorify God!