A Place Of Grace
11-8-26
  • Illustrations: Sunflowers; only focused on the sun. The face of the sun flower follows the sun throughout the entire day.
    In this passage, we’ll see the joy that Paul lives his life with from having his sole focus- his love- be exalting Jesus and living for Him.
    Philippians 1:18–30 NASB95
    Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better; yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again. Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
    This whole sermon makes more sense in the context of Paul’s introduction of himself in verse 1 of Philippians. As a humble slave. A slave who loves his Master. It’s an uncomfortable idea in our day and age- the idea of slavery. But yet, this is how Paul introduces himself- as a slave to Christ. Paul is a slave to a kind, loving, good Master. And Paul loves his Master, Jesus, so much that- as we’ll see in this passage- Paul is willing to do anything for Him. Serving Jesus is what brings Paul joy.

    The Sole Focus; Christ is Exalted

    Circumstances will turn out for Deliverance

    Philippians 1:18–19 NASB95
    Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
    The first week we talked about the way joy manifests itself in relationships. The last time we were in Philippians, Paul talks about the joy he had in God using his circumstances to progress the gospel; and we ended that week with Paul giving the powerful statement, “...Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice...”
    This week, Paul goes forward from what he was talking about before. And he doubles down on the fact that he will rejoice.
    Because of what he knows.
    He was undergoing a lot of hardships- he faced imprisonment, the possibility of death, and, from fellow Christians, animosity and provocation. And yet, he declares what he knows concerning his circumstances- that they will turn out for his deliverance. For his good. He relies on the power of God answering the prayers the Philippians were praying.
    The Lord was his strength in the midst of it all.
    Again, in this next verse, we see where Paul’s focus is.

    Eagerly Expect; Craned Neck

    Philippians 1:20 NASB95
    according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything,...
    The verse says, “Earnest expectation and hope...”
    The New Bible Commentary puts it well.
    The New Bible Commentary Philippians 1:20

    The word translated eagerly expect means “straining forward with outstretched head”, and its prepositional prefix implies a turning aside from all other interests. Paul has one supreme ambition: that Christ might be exalted in his body, living or dying; that Christ might be seen by others more clearly and in his true greatness.

    Lol, that would look funny.
    Have you guys ever seen somebody craning their neck to try to see something?
    This is what Paul’s doing.
    Paul’s eager expectation- his hope- the thing that he is craning his neck for- is that he will live his life in such a way that there is no shame.
    The verse finishes… with Paul’s hope.

    All Boldness, Christ is Exalted

    Philippians 1:20 NASB95
    ...but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
    This is his goal. This is his desire. This is his eager expectation and hope.
    Paul lives his life with one goal in mind- to exalt Jesus. The Person.
    In his life or his death.
    Guys, that’s what this sermon- these passages- are about. We imitate Paul in that our whole being is oriented- pointed- towards exalting Christ, whether by our life or by our death.
    This will lead to joy in our life! In spite of the circumstances!

    To LIVE is CHRIST; To DIE is GAIN

    To Live is Christ; to Die is Gain

    Do we realize, grasp, what Paul is saying here?
    Him, living, is Christ. The Person (not the idea).
    Illustration: My addiction to video games. It got to the point of obsessing over video games that I remember actually having the thought, “I don’t care what I do in life. All I care about is that I beat this game.”
    Video games, in my life, took the place of Jesus. I was a slave to video games rather than my loving Savior Jesus.
    Jesus is what matters in life. Jesus is the life.
    John 17:3 NASB95
    “This is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You have sent.
    John 14:6 NASB95
    Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me.
    One thing I, again, want to not forget in this sermon is that… Jesus is a Person. We have a relationship with the Person Who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life. A Person.
    For Paul, to live is this Person. Christ. The man who Paul had relationship with. For Paul to die, it was to be with that Man. Paul was so ready!
    This throws Paul into an internal debate.
    Philippians 1:22–23 NASB95
    But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose. But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;

    Living is Work; Fruit-filled Work

    For Paul, “to live is Christ...” meant work.
    If we’re fine with sticking to status quo, we won’t sweat; it will be comfortable; and we’ll be all good.
    If we are seeking to grow in Christ and help others grow in Christ as well, it will take sweat. It will take work.
    Paul labored.
    Look what he says, though. If he lives, it will mean fruitful labor for him.
    The labor that we do to help others get closer to God and get closer to God ourselves is fruit-filled work.
    It’s worth it.

    But,

    He Torn

    If he died, he would be with Christ. Oh! He wants that so bad.
    But if he stays alive, others get the chance to grow closer to Christ or even start a relationship with Him.
    The dude is torn
    On my days off, we are torn between resting on the lovely couch or going out and doing stuff.
    Paul’s is torn between going to his Savior or living and bringing others to his Savior.
    Ultimately, continuing to live wins out.
    Philippians 1:24–26 NASB95
    yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.

    Convinced of God’s Will; The Selfless Love

    He stays for their progress and joy in the faith- so they’ll become closer to Jesus.
    Instead of him going to be with Jesus, he is convinced that God wants him to stay on the earth so that others will grow in their knowledge of Jesus and have a deeper relationship with Him.
    Paul’s heart displayed in these passages reminds me of the Two Greatest Commandments
    Matthew 22:37–39 NASB95
    And He said to him, “ ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ “This is the great and foremost commandment. “The second is like it, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’
    Paul loved Jesus and wanted to be with Him, but he also loved people and wanted them to be with Jesus.
    Paul’s selfless love for people won out.
    Then Paul turns his attention from himself and his desires, and shifts them toward the Philippians. In this desire for Christ- in this pursuit of Him- Paul gives instruction on how they should live.
    Philippians 1:27–30 NASB95
    Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God. For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

    Worthy of the Gospel of Christ

    Paul says, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
    Living in a manner worthy of the Gospel of Christ has two results.

    2 Results of Living in a Manner Worthy of the Gospel of Christ

    (repeat)
    Paul says, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ SO THAT whether i come and see you or remain absent, I may hear of you...

    Unity

    The verse says, “…I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.”
    Striving
    Implies a struggle
    One spirit; one mind- FIRM
    Illustr: There is a video i saw on Youtube a while ago of the Maasai People, a tribe from Africa- In the video, to get food, 3 of their men got in a line, stood shoulder to shoulder, and they just walked toward Lions after they had freshly killed their prey. They had no hesitation in their walk- they couldn’t show any hesitation in their step. They just kept walking towards the lions- there were 15 of the lions. Because they were so unified and so bold in their walk, all 15 of the lions run away from their prey, leaving the men to take some of the meat for themselves. Then the men just walk away. They just leave.
    They accomplish something just one of them could never accomplish on their own.
    Guys, this is what we need to be as Christians. Unified, together, standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel.

    Boldness- A Sign

    The Maasai People, in their taking of the food, needed boldness. If one of them showed hesitation, the lions would see that they were just human and would attack them. They needed to be bold and unified in their walk toward those lions.
    Philippians 1:28 NASB95
    in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
    When we live a life worthy of the gospel, working together, and we have no fear of what men will think if they know we are believers, it is a sign to them.
    It is a sign to them they know the meaning of- whether or not they realize it.
    Sign illustration: What do the signs say?
    How do you know? You don’t speak those languages.
    You know because the shape of the sign is universal.
    Our Boldness is a universal symbol of our hope. When we share the truth and hope that we have humbly and boldly, it is a sign to unbelievers. A sign that God is real; and thus, that they will face something after death. If they do not believe in Christ, it is a sign of their destruction.
    They know the meaning of the sign just like you guys knew the meaning of the other signs we just saw.
    It’s a sign to believers also. Your boldness in Christ- your lack of fear of man- is a sign to brothers and sisters in Christ of the salvation we have, which is a gift from God.
    Another Bible verse to go along with this is 2 Cor. 2:14-17, which says
    2 Corinthians 2:14–17 NASB95
    But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumph in Christ, and manifests through us the sweet aroma of the knowledge of Him in every place. For we are a fragrance of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing; to the one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life. And who is adequate for these things? For we are not like many, peddling the word of God, but as from sincerity, but as from God, we speak in Christ in the sight of God.
    The way we live- the knowledge of Him that we share everywhere- is a fragrance and a sign to both believers and unbelievers. “To one an aroma from death to death, to the other an aroma from life to life.”
    Our boldness is a sign.
    Guys,

    Christ Centered Life=Joyful Life

    God, at the end of this passage, gives encouragement to the persecuted Philippian believers.
    Philippians 1:29–30 NASB95
    For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
    These were blessed people.

    Blessed

    The verse says, to them it has been “Granted”
    They’ve gotten a gift!
    The word “granted” means “graciously given.” Like gifts!
    “For Christ’s sake”
    Not for their sakes, but for Christ’s
    The Philippians were given the opportunity by God, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer!
    Suffering for Christ was the gift given to the Philippian believers. It was a privilege they had!
    Guys, when we love Christ with all of our hearts, all of our souls, and all of our minds, we can have joy no matter what we go through in life! Joy in every circumstance!
    Joy even in our suffering, because we will be suffering for Jesus!
    The Philippians were blessed in their suffering! Because they suffered for Jesus’ sake! What a privilege they had! What a God!

    Outro

    So guys,
    I earnestly desire that all of us would live that life. The life of loving Jesus so much that no matter what happens- if we die or live- we will exalt HIM.
    As slaves of Jesus, the amazing Lord, we should seek to love Him so much that all we want is that our loving Master is glorified.
    I want to leave you guys with 3 questions:
    What is our earnest expectation? (x2)
    What are we craning our neck- putting blinders to everything else- to see?
    What, in this life, do we care about more than anything else? (x2)
    Ask yourselves, “To me to live is __________ and to die is __________.”
    And finally,… In light of our love for Jesus, how are we living? (x2, slower)
    Are we living in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ?
    Let’s Pray

      • Philippians 1:18–30ESV

      • Philippians 1:18–19ESV

      • Philippians 1:20ESV

      • Philippians 1:20ESV

      • John 17:3ESV

      • John 14:6ESV

      • Philippians 1:22–23ESV

      • Philippians 1:24–26ESV

      • Matthew 22:37–39ESV

      • Philippians 1:27–30ESV

      • Philippians 1:28ESV

      • 2 Corinthians 2:14–17ESV

      • Philippians 1:29–30ESV

    A Place Of Grace
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