Essentials Of The Faith / Sunday Morning Sermon Series / Philippians

Philippians 1:27-2:4 06/22/03

Introduction
The following story comes from Melvin Newland.

'Have you heard the story of the farmer who started looking at his farm through critical eyes, & every place he looked it seemed that he saw something wrong? So he just decided to sell out & move somewhere else. He hired a realtor who came out to look the farm over & prepare an ad for the newspaper. But before running it in the paper, the realtor called the farmer & read the proposed ad to him over the telephone, saying, "See if this meets with your approval." The ad spoke of a good location, a well maintained house, sturdy barns, lush pasture lands, a beautiful pond, fertile soil, & a great view. The farmer listened carefully, & then said, "Read that to me again, slowly." So the realtor read it to him again. Finally, the farmer responded, "Don’t put that ad in the paper. I’ve always wanted a place like that. I think I’ll stay right where I am."'

This story is about perspective. It seems the farmers negative perspective about his farm, had changed. What changed his perspective? The  positive picture the real estate agent painted of his home. He saw his farm in a different light, from a different set of eyes, from a more positive perspective. And he decided he liked what he saw and didn’t sell his farm.

Society and even the Church is plagued by negative perspectives. Instead of seeing the best in a person, or situation, some see only the negative.

Explanation

This is what Paul is writing about. He is responding to a negative perspective in the minds and hearts of the Philippian church. They see Paul in prison, facing death, they see Christians trying to take advantage of Paul’s situation by making a name for themselves. Paul, recognizing that the Philippian church is in danger of loosing it’s joy and confidence in Christ, writes to them.  He mentions some very difficult things that are happening in his life.

BUT, he doesn’t speak in a negative way about them. In fact, Paul focuses on the positive, even the joy that he is experiencing, not in spite of but because of what he is going through.

Phil. 1:12-14 ‘Imprisonment’

Paul wanted the Philippians to know that there is much more happening than what they ‘see’. He encourages them not to be swayed by circumstances but to stand firm in the power of God. Because He believes that God is in control. Paul had a different perspective…a positive perspective on his circumstances.

From Paul’s perspective, there were at least three positive results of his imprisonment.

 First: It had been made clear through out the whole palace that Paul was in prison because he was telling people about Jesus Christ. Picture this. Paul is sitting in his home on house arrest. He is stuck there, can’t go anywhere because he is chained, at the wrist, to  Roman soldiers who guarded Paul for 8 hour shifts round the clock, 7 days a week. Here’s the kicker. Paul is able to have guests, most of whom were Christians. Can you imagine the conversations? I can. ‘So Paul, tell me how you went from persecuting Christians to being one of their leaders? Well, let me tell you how I met Jesus and what he has done for me.’
The Roman soldiers were a captive audience. Is it any wonder that many of them came to faith in Christ? A positive perspective.

 Second: The Christians in Rome who knew about Paul’s imprisonment were preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ with increased boldness and confidence. Why? Because they saw Paul’s joy in the midst of such a difficult situation. They saw that God was taking care of Paul and they believed God would also take care of them, in whatever circumstance they may be in.
And they saw that even in the midst of seriously difficult times, Paul was still able to serve the Lord and minister to others. Positive perspective.
 
Third: Although not mentioned here in this text, another positive aspect of Paul’s imprisonment was that he wrote Ephesians, Philippians and Colossians.

How is that for a positive perspective on a difficult situation. It’s this positive perspective that brought Paul joy. It’s a positive perspective that Paul wanted to share with his friends in the Philippian church.

Why? So that their joy might increase! And that’s our application. What is imprisoning you today?
 
 Are you chained to a failing body?
 Are you chained to unemployment?
 Are you chained to a marriage that just doesn’t seem to be working?

Beloved of God, understand that circumstances, good and bad, are opportunities for God to be God and for his children to trust him.

Paul is encouraging the Philippians, and all of us here this morning, to have a positive perspective about our circumstances by looking for ways to serve and honor God in whatever circumstance you may find yourself in. And please, don’t lock yourself inside the house and turn off the phone when things get tough. Paul didn’t. He continued to associate with other Believers and he still served in whatever ways he was able. Doing this Paul had great joy in his life…and so will you!

Phil. 1:15-18 ‘Envy’

Paul says there are two kinds of servants in every church. Those who serve God with proper motives. They want to serve God and  will do whatever is asked of them. Because they love the Lord and his church.

But, Paul reminds us however, some serve God out of envy, jealousy or they serve to make a name, not for Jesus Christ or the local church, they serve to make a name for themselves. (Pride is the issue)
You can usually tell who these people are. They are the ones who want to serve, but want to serve their way, in their time and usually for some benefit to them. Or they talk about serving but rarely follow through. Sadly, these are the ones most often responsible for problems in the church.

What do we do about it? What does Paul do? Something very surprising actually. He says, basically…’so what? What does it matter?’ Specifically in the text, these servants were preaching the Gospel for personal gain: for power, fame or position in the church. But Paul, they are trying to make you look bad. So what? What does it matter? You see, Paul understood that keeping the main thing the main thing in the church is the most important thing anyone can do.

What is the main thing? Well it is not our own happiness or personal fulfillment. It is not to enhance our position in the church or to improve our self esteem.  What is the main thing? Sharing the Gospel of Jesus Christ. What is the secret to a joyful, harmonious church fellowship? Keeping our eyes on the main thing. OK, what is the main thing, what is the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

The Gospel is quite simple. We have cluttered it up by our insistence on ‘isims’: Calvinism, Arminianism, Pentecostalism, Dispensationalism. While I may hold to one of those ‘isims’ they are not the Gospel. Paul in 1 Cor.15 reminds his readers, and us, what the Gospel is.

Turn to 1 Cor. 15:1-8
1. Christ died for your sins according to Scripture
2. He died and was buried, according to Scripture
3. He was raised from the dead on the third day, according to Scripture.
4. He was seen by many. That means he is alive.

This is the Gospel that will save you. And this Gospel alone. When you believe it and trust it for your very life. Everything else may or may not be good theology, but it is not the Gospel. And Paul rejoices when Christians are telling others about Jesus. That’s the main thing. That’s the positive perspective we are to have, if the church, we, are to experience the joy of the Lord.

Phil. 1:19-26 ‘Living and Dying’

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

Paul is in prison. He will face Caesar who may condemn him to death. Pretty bleak. Many would give up. The circumstances are just too much. And everyone would understand if Paul did just that, give up. But he doesn’t, because he has a different perspective on his life and death. A positive perspective we are all to have if we are to truly honor God in our bodies as Rom. 12:1-2 commands.

What Paul is telling us is, even life and death doesn’t matter, as long as we honor God. But notice that Paul was torn between the two..life or death. He saw advantages in both. What a positive perspective.

If he were to die, Christ would be glorified thru his martyrdom. Because the Gospel would be proclaimed to many through his death. And there would be a personal benefit to Paul were he to die. He would be with his Lord, forever. But, if he were to be delivered and live, God would be glorified in Paul’s continued service to others and  in his preaching of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Paul was torn. He didn’t know what to pray for..death or life. He saw positive results for both. What did he finally choose? Life! While he longed to be with Jesus in heaven, he realized that the Philippians needed him more.

From Paul’s positive perspective, he was willing to place the needs and desires of others before his own.  Paul chose life and so should we. As difficult as life can sometimes be, it is our opportunity to bring glory to God.

Paul in Romans reminds us to present our bodies to God as instruments of righteousness..regardless of what shape your body may be in.  Chose life, to bring honor and glory to God. When we do this, we all will experience joy.

Conclusion

Paul’s life, death  and everything in between was defined by Christ, who died for him. Living for Jesus is to glorify God in his life…all of it. Not just what he did on Sunday.

Paul’s comfort didn’t matter, it is the Gospel that mattered.

Paul’s reputation didn’t matter, it is the Gospel that mattered.

Paul’s Life or death didn’t matter, it is the Gospel that mattered.

What a difference it would make in our homes, in our workplaces, school and even our churches,  if the Gospel was the only thing that mattered. If the main thing was the main thing..the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And we all worked to share it with others.

But for some, perhaps even some here this morning to live is not Christ. Other things grab your attention and allegiance and all too often they win out.

What other things:

1. For me to live is pleasure: It is right to enjoy good things and to have fun, as God has given us all things to enjoy. But to allow the pursuit of pleasure to take priority over Christ and the Gospel, is sin.

2. For me to live is to endure: This person just gets through life. They grin and bear it, but w/o much grinning. For them life’s a drag and then they die. There is no joy in life and they often bring others down to their level of hopelessness.

3. For me to live is family: Uh oh! These are people who place love of family before Christ, perhaps not verbally but in practice. Children and spouse are #1. But often when children leave the home or a spouse dies, this persons life falls apart.

4. For me to live is to be in control: Any control freaks here this morning? As long as things are in your hands, under your competent control, you are fine. But these people often have difficultly submitting to others when they have to either share control or do things a different way.

For me to live is Christ…is it?

    Is Christ the love of your life?
            Is Christ your greatest treasure?
                       Is Christ your all in all?

If you are to say ‘for me to live is Christ’ then he must become more than some external force to keep you on tract and out of trouble. He must be more than an e-ticket to heaven.

Christ is a person, who wants to be in a relationship with you.  Can you see the positive in saying ‘for me to live is Christ’?
 
    He is God.
        He loves us.
            He died for us
                He is constantly making intercession for us.
                    He desires the best for us.