The Reason You Are Still Alive [9:00]

February 23, 2020

Sermon Notes

While heaven might be your desired destination, the earth is your current situation. If you still have life left in you, God has more left for you to do.

Philippians 1:19-26

19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 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. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

  • Trust in Christ and need for prayer are foundational to honoring God (1:19).
  • Paul was more concerned with spiritual deliverance than physical freedom (1:19).
  • Paul resolved to honor Christ in all things (1:20).
  • Paul challenged the traditional view concerning life and death (1:21).

Honoring Christ in Life

  • “To live is Christ” means we strive for fruitful labor (1:22, cf. 1:11).
  • Paul models a Kingdom motivated life (1:24).
  • We honor God by causing others to glorify Him (1:26).

Honoring Christ in Death

  • “To die is gain,” means we are given eternal glory (1:23).
  • Our outlook on death indicates our genuine salvation (1:23-25).
  • How we live and die impacts other believers (1:24-26).
  • The more we live as Christ, the more we gain in death.