Reading … Quotes from Apostle Paul

  • For me to live is Christ to die is gain
  • I count all things rubbish compared to knowing Christ
  • I have learned in all things to be content …
  • Rejoice in the Lord always
  • The peace of God that passes all understanding will guard you.
  • I can do all things thru Christ who strengthens me...

Introduction …

  • Any person who has been exposed to regular teaching in church will recognise these verses as great truths from the pen of the Apostle Paul…
  • The amazing thing is they are all found in the 4 short chapters that make up the epistle to the Philippians …
    • That makes Philippians one of the great epistles.
  • For the next 4 weeks we are going to highlight some of the most important teachings from this book.
    • This epistle is a life changer.
    • But beware because their application to our lives pose a great challenge …

Background …

  • To get the full impact of these verses we need to take a step back and consider the background...
  • Paul says …
    • Rejoice in the Lord ALWAYS …
    • I have learned in ALL things to be content …
  • Paul is writing this letter from prison … House arrest …
    • Death was by …
      • Starvation, strangulation, crucifixion, beheading.
      • Or you were pushed off the local cliff face and you plunged to your death.
    • Prison life was nothing short of horrendous …
      • Rejoice in the Lord always … ?????
      • But Paul under the guidance of the Holy Spirit writes
    • That meant he was chained to a member of Caesars elite Praetorian guard every hour of the day and night.
    • As a Roman citizen he was entitled to food from Rome. Clearly this was not forthcoming. So he had to rely on friends to supply his needs …
    • In terms of this system he had certain visitation rights.
    • Unlike today, prison was not regarded as Correctional Services. It was simply a holding area where you awaited trial or punishment which was usually death.
  • If we go into the history of all his missionary journeys he suffered greatly wherever he went…
    • Stripes … 5 X 40
    • Beaten with rods … X3
    • Stoned … x1
    • Shipwrecked … 24 hours in the water
    • Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Ephesus, Jerusalem.
    • Hunger, loneliness, cold.
      • I have learned in all things to be content.????
      • Yet again he says …
  • Rejoice always, be content in all circumstances…
    • Yet in the Philippian prison after a thorough beating he and Silas were singing hymns.
      • In full view of the other prisoners who must have thought it unusual.
    • Likewise how can one be content when short of life's necessities like food and clothing.
      • I know what it is to be in need... I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation.... Philippians 4:12
      • But to the Philippians he says …
    • It doesn't make much sense does it. ???
  • How is all of this possible …
    • And if Paul could rejoice in his extreme difficulties why cant I in my inconveniences.
    • That is what we want to find out from a study of this epistle …
    • Because this epistle uses the word rejoice or derivatives of it no less than 14 times …

Rejoicing in Christ…Philippians Ch. 1:21

  • In cycling the hub of a wheel are of critical importance …
    • The spin test.
    • A good hub ensures low rolling resistance …
  • Paul is unjustly in prison …
    • Question ...What is there to rejoice about …
      • In the will of God … on missionary trips
      • And all that happens is suffering and resistance.
      • How unfair …
    • Even his Praetorian guards knew that...Philippians 1:13
  • The Philippians are rightly concerned about Paul …and his imprisonment
    • Many of the men were soldiers who thru loyal service to Rome were granted property in and around Philippi.
      • And made up a citizen force to protect Rome's interests.
    • They knew all about prison conditions and life.
    • Most of them were Roman citizens …
  • Paul addresses their concerns in chapter 1:12-26
    • The hub which enables him to rejoice always
    • The secret of his contentment.
    • Preaching, teaching, missionary trips were spokes in his wheel … but Christ was the hub.
    • So whenever he received visitors like Timothy and Epaphroditus the poor Praetorian guards had to listen to all this Christ talk because they were chained to him …
    • And they became believers themselves… Ch. 4:22
      • And in that Paul rejoices … 1:18
    • And he reveals the hub around which his life rotates.
    • For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain… vs 21
    • And to this end Paul was of a one track mind.
  • In our society to be accused of being one track minded is a bit of an insult…
    • Sport, work, cars, the way she looks.
    • The implication is that you are thoroughly boring …
    • All he/she ever thinks about is …
  • If anybody was of a one track mind it was Paul
    • This defines the entire purpose of his life.
      • But you can hardly call him boring.
      • If anybody lived on the edge it was Paul.
    • But to Paul circumstances were not a deterrent… vs 17
      • In ch.1:18 he says … The important thing is that Christ is preached.
    • For me to live is Christ …
    • His dedication to the service of Christ had placed him in many difficult situations …
  • It did not matter who preached, or circumstances he had to endure
    • And because of this I … REJOICE … vs18
      • Even if it involves suffering… so what.
    • As long as Christ was preached.

Application …

  • The foundation of Paul’s rejoicing lay in his relationship with his Lord .
    • Consequently he knew his life's purpose.
    • Christ was the hub of his life …
  • Question... Is that where we are…
    • Is He the hub around which everything revolves.
    • Or is Christ just another spoke in our wheel
    • Each one single minded in our desire for Christ …
  • But Lawrence we are talking about Paul … God’s chosen one.
    • You can't expect me to be like him …
  • What does he say in Ch.2 vs 5 …
    • And He was single minded about His life's purpose.
    • So that is no defense for our shortcomings.
    • Let this mind be in YOU that was in Christ …
    • All of us should have such a view of things … Ch. 3:15
    • Follow my example … Ch. 3:17
  • Is Christ the hub of my life …or just another spoke …
    • Is that not the reason why you do not always rejoice?
    • If so … what is your hub …

Rejoice in the Lord … Philippians Ch. 3:1

  • Rejoice in the Lord …it is a safeguard for you …
    • Having full confidence in the work of Jesus on the cross
    • Rejoicing in the knowledge that it is a righteousness that is thru faith in the Lord Jesus … Ch. 3:9
      • The righteousness that is of God Himself.
      • And it is not dependent on our performance.
    • Being in the Lord means …
  • Now we need to remember that at one time Paul/Saul was consumed by his belief that keeping the law was the way to earn God’s approval
    • Born a Jew
    • Studied the law… a Pharisee
    • So zealous that he persecuted the church.
    • From a legal point of view … he believed he was faultless
      • Because of all that he had done.
    • And it all changed …
    • His self righteousness
      • No longer was salvation dependent on his performance but on Jesus' work of salvation.
      • Lost its value … Vs 7
    • What a relief... what a blessing …
      • The joy, privilege to know God’s way in Christ.
      • All his effort was rubbish compared to knowing Jesus …
    • And he details how on top of all of this he was … vs 4-6
    • But then he came to know Jesus as Christ and his Lord …
    • Now his …so called Privileged position
  • Consequently he can say …
    • I want to know him, to gain him, to be found in him … vs 9
    • To know the power of his resurrection, fellowship of sharing his suffering, becoming like him in his death … vs 10
  • All of this is summed up in his statement …
    • It meant a life of faithful service for Christ in and through the church… Philippians 1:24
      • Preaching, teaching for the benefit of the people …
    • That in Paul's thinking was the better thing...
    • For me to live is Christ … to die is gain.
    • If he lived …
    • If he died …
  • Can we see that to live with that knowledge firmly entrenched in our thinking …
    • Circumstances do not dictate our lives.
    • Results in rejoicing
    • And is a safeguard for us...
  • This knowledge was the reason why Paul and Silas could sing in the prison in Philippi…
    • It is not about circumstances but in the sure knowledge that to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Summary …

  • Rejoicing is not about circumstances …
    • Of bigger and better …
      • That offer brief satisfaction … massive distractions.
      • Cars, homes., toys …
    • If you depend on circumstances ... joy is very short lived.
    • And demanding… and expensive… never ending rollercoaster.
  • The joy that Paul is talking about is much deeper and permanent.
    • It is the sure knowledge that his relationship with Jehovah the Lord is secured by God Himself
    • Nothing can separate him from Him … Romans 8
    • To live is Christ …
      • The preaching of the gospel is his joy
    • Together they apply their gifts as one to ensure the gospel is preached and many more come into God's family…
    • They rejoice in labouring together.
    • It is all about relationships …
    • That relationship gives purpose to his life …
    • His relationship with the Philippian believers is also secured in Christ.
  • Can you see that when you are one tracked in Christ …
    • Paul says I am torn between two options only … Philippians Ch. 1:21
      • Because I go to be with Christ
      • It is about fruitful service in and through the church … Philippians 1:22
      • To die is gain …a better option.
      • If I live …I live for Christ .
    • It is a win-win situation.
    • Circumstances fade into nothing …

Challenge …

  • What hub are you using in your life
    • Rejoicing always
    • I'll go it alone … I can do this.
    • For me to live is Christ
    • Or are you the hub …self
  • Chorus …

If you want joy real joy wonderful joy

Let Jesus come into your heart

Your sins He’ll take away

Your night He’ll turn to day

Your heart he will make over anew

And then come into stay

If you want joy real joy wonderful joy

Let Jesus come into your heart