WEBVTT 00:00:00.760 --> 00:00:08.279 Well, now we come to the preaching of God's Word, and we're going to pick up where we left off a couple weeks ago looking in the book of Timothy. 00:00:08.540 --> 00:00:09.279 Excuse me, Timothy. 00:00:09.700 --> 00:00:13.359 The book of Philippians, chapter 1, starting in verse 18 through 26. 00:00:13.859 --> 00:00:17.280 So if you have your Bibles, you can turn there or look on the screen behind me. 00:00:17.920 --> 00:00:21.800 As you turn there, I wonder, have you ever struggled with making a big decision? 00:00:23.059 --> 00:00:28.580 Maybe you've been confident in the outcome that you want, but you don't exactly know how that's going to come to pass. 00:00:28.579 --> 00:00:31.679 And so there's different strategies for making decisions. 00:00:31.899 --> 00:00:34.960 Maybe you've done a pros and cons list before. 00:00:35.899 --> 00:00:37.179 There's a lot of things to consider. 00:00:37.299 --> 00:00:38.179 There's a lot of uncertainty. 00:00:38.399 --> 00:00:44.000 So you write on one side of the paper all the considerations, a positive aspect of one consideration. 00:00:44.780 --> 00:00:50.099 On the other side, you write the cons, why this may be a bad idea, something you want to avoid, something that's not ideal for you. 00:00:50.359 --> 00:00:54.980 You may do this for a variety of situations, thinking about being an adult. 00:00:55.079 --> 00:00:56.939 There's lots of these kind of decisions you have to make. 00:00:56.939 --> 00:00:58.399 Maybe it's the purchase of a car. 00:00:58.399 --> 00:01:02.339 You know your family needs a car, so how are you going to make this decision? 00:01:02.719 --> 00:01:06.140 Are you going to get a smaller vehicle or a larger vehicle? 00:01:06.239 --> 00:01:13.819 Are you going to get something that is maybe the color is important to you or the gas mileage is important to you? 00:01:13.879 --> 00:01:18.000 Probably the price or if it's a used car, the mileage that's on the car is important. 00:01:19.019 --> 00:01:23.700 Perhaps buying a house, you may consider the pros and cons of different choices that you have. 00:01:23.759 --> 00:01:26.719 Maybe something that's close to the city center is important to you. 00:01:26.719 --> 00:01:29.599 Or maybe you want new construction that's a little bit further out. 00:01:29.659 --> 00:01:33.299 Maybe how many bedrooms it has or whether it has a garage or a garden. 00:01:33.400 --> 00:01:35.519 All these things you may take into account. 00:01:36.640 --> 00:01:40.420 Maybe if you're a student or youth, you think about the future for yourself. 00:01:40.840 --> 00:01:42.480 Where you might go to university. 00:01:43.200 --> 00:01:44.659 What you want your career to be. 00:01:44.659 --> 00:01:46.359 There's a lot of uncertainty. 00:01:46.439 --> 00:01:47.759 A lot of decisions to be made. 00:01:47.859 --> 00:01:49.000 Where do you want to go to school? 00:01:49.799 --> 00:01:51.879 Close to home or do you want to be far from family? 00:01:52.280 --> 00:01:57.120 Are you going to study a particular subject that will lead to a certain career like a doctor or a nurse? 00:01:57.179 --> 00:01:59.539 Or would you rather be a teacher or an engineer? 00:01:59.540 --> 00:02:05.960 There's a lot of uncertainty in the decisions that we face on a daily basis. 00:02:07.340 --> 00:02:09.200 And so that's what we see in our passage today. 00:02:09.319 --> 00:02:13.240 This uncertainty that Paul faces with when he's faced with this big decision. 00:02:13.240 --> 00:02:18.180 But it's not a decision about what house he's going to buy or his future at university. 00:02:18.740 --> 00:02:20.060 It's something much more important. 00:02:20.200 --> 00:02:23.040 It's his future regarding his life and death. 00:02:23.039 --> 00:02:27.699 Because we see as Paul writes this letter, he's sitting under house arrest. 00:02:28.039 --> 00:02:30.060 It remains certain. 00:02:30.340 --> 00:02:33.419 There's a certainty that he knows as to his continued purpose. 00:02:33.959 --> 00:02:36.459 That God may be honored in his life. 00:02:37.639 --> 00:02:39.939 But he also is faced with great uncertainty. 00:02:40.659 --> 00:02:42.599 Because he doesn't know what's going to happen to him. 00:02:42.639 --> 00:02:44.219 He's awaiting trial in Rome. 00:02:44.299 --> 00:02:46.780 What is the outcome of that trial going to be? 00:02:47.719 --> 00:02:50.879 Is he going to be found innocent and released and receive his freedom? 00:02:51.459 --> 00:02:52.639 Is he going to be convicted? 00:02:53.519 --> 00:02:54.419 And sentenced to death? 00:02:55.879 --> 00:02:59.459 What's going to happen to the church while he's in prison? 00:02:59.539 --> 00:03:03.859 What happens to the church and the spread of the gospel if he is killed for his faith? 00:03:05.280 --> 00:03:11.500 And so we see in this passage today this struggle that he has between what is certain and what is uncertain. 00:03:11.599 --> 00:03:15.539 But even though there is uncertainty in his life, we see that there is great confidence. 00:03:15.539 --> 00:03:19.819 That whatever happens in his life, that whatever happens in life and in death, 00:03:19.819 --> 00:03:23.900 he is certain of this, that he will receive Christ's joy. 00:03:24.400 --> 00:03:26.340 And that Christ will receive the glory. 00:03:27.079 --> 00:03:31.219 And so that's what we're going to look at today as we turn to our passage in Philippians chapter 1, 00:03:31.299 --> 00:03:33.840 picking up on verse 18, the second part of verse 18. 00:03:33.840 --> 00:03:35.819 Follow along as I read. 00:03:35.819 --> 00:03:38.759 Yes, and I will rejoice. 00:03:38.759 --> 00:03:43.140 For I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 00:03:43.300 --> 00:03:45.060 this will turn out for my deliverance. 00:03:45.439 --> 00:03:50.400 As it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, 00:03:50.840 --> 00:03:54.960 but that with full courage, now as always, Christ will be honored in my body, 00:03:55.039 --> 00:03:56.560 whether by life or by death. 00:03:56.560 --> 00:04:01.159 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 00:04:02.219 --> 00:04:05.800 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. 00:04:06.500 --> 00:04:08.900 Yet which I should choose, I cannot tell. 00:04:09.740 --> 00:04:11.420 I am hard-pressed between the two. 00:04:11.960 --> 00:04:14.900 My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 00:04:15.620 --> 00:04:18.899 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 00:04:20.000 --> 00:04:23.860 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all 00:04:23.860 --> 00:04:26.439 for your progress and joy and faith. 00:04:27.560 --> 00:04:32.740 So that you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus 00:04:32.740 --> 00:04:34.839 because of my coming to you again. 00:04:35.600 --> 00:04:36.800 This is the Word of God. 00:04:37.699 --> 00:04:38.459 Pray with me again. 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:42.779 God, we ask as we turn to the study of your Word 00:04:42.779 --> 00:04:44.279 that you may grant us your wisdom. 00:04:45.340 --> 00:04:47.939 That you may grant us not only understanding, 00:04:48.120 --> 00:04:50.840 but the desire to apply these truths to our lives. 00:04:50.839 --> 00:04:56.060 We ask, Lord, that this passage may convict us and encourage us, 00:04:56.679 --> 00:04:58.759 that it also may provide comfort to us. 00:05:00.219 --> 00:05:03.319 And, Lord, I pray that the words of my mouth 00:05:03.319 --> 00:05:07.759 and the meditations of all of our hearts will be pleasing in your sight. 00:05:07.759 --> 00:05:10.620 O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. 00:05:11.620 --> 00:05:12.019 Amen. 00:05:12.019 --> 00:05:17.740 Well, as we've been going through the book of Philippians 00:05:17.740 --> 00:05:19.399 during the month of June, 00:05:20.299 --> 00:05:24.399 you may recognize how we've kind of very slowly moving through chapter 1. 00:05:24.500 --> 00:05:26.919 We've kind of are coming out of the introduction. 00:05:27.159 --> 00:05:31.879 And as we do, we start to see Paul's focus start to shift somewhat. 00:05:32.600 --> 00:05:35.699 The subject of matter of what he's addressing is starting to move 00:05:35.699 --> 00:05:38.719 because we know that he began by kind of looking at the past. 00:05:39.379 --> 00:05:42.579 He's talked about the help that he's received from the church, 00:05:42.779 --> 00:05:44.420 the struggle that he has endured. 00:05:44.519 --> 00:05:46.399 And then he looks at the present, 00:05:46.519 --> 00:05:49.620 what he is currently enduring in imprisonment 00:05:49.620 --> 00:05:51.819 and how the gospel is continuing to go forth. 00:05:52.000 --> 00:05:53.800 And now it's another pivot. 00:05:54.100 --> 00:05:56.000 He's looking toward the future. 00:05:56.659 --> 00:05:58.399 And so as we previously discussed, 00:05:58.519 --> 00:06:01.360 the church at Philippi, they had great affection for Paul. 00:06:01.360 --> 00:06:05.800 They were the first church to provide financial support to him in his ministry. 00:06:05.900 --> 00:06:08.500 They had every desire to know how he is doing. 00:06:08.580 --> 00:06:10.460 They're eager to get this letter from him, 00:06:10.520 --> 00:06:14.560 to know his condition, the progress of the gospel. 00:06:15.660 --> 00:06:18.040 And so with that, we know that there was great uncertainty 00:06:18.040 --> 00:06:19.699 as to what was going to happen to Paul. 00:06:20.139 --> 00:06:22.439 What was the outcome of his trial going to be? 00:06:22.500 --> 00:06:23.379 Was he going to live? 00:06:23.620 --> 00:06:24.500 Was he going to die? 00:06:24.580 --> 00:06:27.800 What was going to happen to the spread of the gospel either way? 00:06:27.800 --> 00:06:34.639 And so we see here in this passage that Paul is really trying to address a lot of their concerns. 00:06:36.220 --> 00:06:40.460 And he does so not by merely focusing on his current circumstances, 00:06:40.680 --> 00:06:45.360 but he focuses again on the advancement of the gospel. 00:06:45.360 --> 00:06:49.939 He focuses on both the certainty that he has in that, 00:06:50.020 --> 00:06:57.280 but also is vulnerable enough to express the uncertainty that he has with how that is going to come to pass. 00:06:57.780 --> 00:07:01.379 And so that's what I want us to look at today as we look to Paul's future, 00:07:01.460 --> 00:07:03.280 as Paul thinks into the future, 00:07:03.340 --> 00:07:04.540 what is going to happen to him, 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.800 what is going to happen to the future of the church. 00:07:06.800 --> 00:07:10.360 I want us to look at the certainty that Paul has in the result. 00:07:11.420 --> 00:07:16.100 And I also want to look at the uncertainty in the root to that result. 00:07:17.060 --> 00:07:19.759 And so let's first consider Paul's certainty in the result. 00:07:19.879 --> 00:07:21.160 Look again at verse 19. 00:07:22.259 --> 00:07:24.040 Yes, I will rejoice, 00:07:24.240 --> 00:07:27.639 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 00:07:27.720 --> 00:07:30.019 this will turn out for my deliverance. 00:07:31.220 --> 00:07:32.759 Now, if you remember from a couple of weeks ago, 00:07:32.759 --> 00:07:38.159 Paul has just finished talking about the fact that he can rejoice in the spread of the gospel, 00:07:38.339 --> 00:07:42.740 even when it's coming through envy and rivalry of other preachers. 00:07:43.180 --> 00:07:46.779 And then he immediately follows up in the second part of verse 18 and on 00:07:46.779 --> 00:07:49.079 with a second reason for having joy, 00:07:49.920 --> 00:07:51.839 the reason being his deliverance. 00:07:52.560 --> 00:07:55.459 This word in the Greek can also be translated as his salvation. 00:07:56.079 --> 00:08:01.079 And so we see this joy that comes through Christ's word being proclaimed 00:08:01.079 --> 00:08:05.339 and through the fact that he recognized that he is being saved. 00:08:06.079 --> 00:08:09.759 And so it's not him actually being saved from his current circumstances. 00:08:09.899 --> 00:08:11.779 We know there's great hardship that he's endured, 00:08:11.879 --> 00:08:13.459 not only imprisonment, but before that, 00:08:13.819 --> 00:08:17.259 beatings and floggings and stonings that he's been shipwrecked 00:08:17.259 --> 00:08:20.000 and now is waiting trial at Rome. 00:08:20.519 --> 00:08:24.539 So he's not necessarily addressing being saved from his current situation. 00:08:25.060 --> 00:08:26.659 He has a much greater picture. 00:08:26.660 --> 00:08:31.080 As he looks to the future, he's looking at the final judgment of Christ 00:08:31.080 --> 00:08:33.259 and the salvation that comes to him there. 00:08:33.580 --> 00:08:36.220 And so that's why he looks to the book of Job. 00:08:36.279 --> 00:08:38.620 That's why we read those verses from Job 13. 00:08:39.740 --> 00:08:41.580 If you're not familiar with the story of Job, 00:08:41.720 --> 00:08:46.019 Job was a man who was a man of God in the Old Testament. 00:08:47.100 --> 00:08:48.320 He had great material wealth, 00:08:48.460 --> 00:08:51.840 great blessing of family and wealth and livestock. 00:08:51.840 --> 00:08:55.639 And we see that Satan comes to God and says, 00:08:55.759 --> 00:08:58.220 ask for permission to tempt Job. 00:08:58.480 --> 00:09:00.639 Because he thinks that if you take all his things away, 00:09:00.759 --> 00:09:02.340 Job is going to curse you and die. 00:09:03.440 --> 00:09:04.399 And so God allows it. 00:09:04.580 --> 00:09:06.780 And we see as a result, everything is taken away from him. 00:09:07.500 --> 00:09:11.920 His children, his livestock, his servants, his wealth, his health. 00:09:13.300 --> 00:09:16.040 And so even we see as he sits in misery, 00:09:16.920 --> 00:09:18.720 his friends come to him. 00:09:18.720 --> 00:09:21.600 And they want to give him comfort, 00:09:21.759 --> 00:09:23.980 but instead they give him some bad counsel instead. 00:09:24.200 --> 00:09:25.740 And they say, Job, look, 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:27.740 if all this bad stuff has happened to you, 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.519 you've obviously done something wrong. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:31.779 You've obviously done something to anger God. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.840 So you need to figure out what that is. 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:35.519 You need to apologize for your sin 00:09:35.519 --> 00:09:37.940 so all this bad stuff will stop happening to you. 00:09:39.000 --> 00:09:41.779 And Job responds with that passage that we read earlier. 00:09:42.440 --> 00:09:45.940 He responds in a way that shows the wisdom that he has of God 00:09:45.940 --> 00:09:47.720 to recognize that suffering can come, 00:09:48.040 --> 00:09:51.860 and it's not always because of a form of punishment. 00:09:52.700 --> 00:09:54.880 It can be a part of God's sovereign plan, 00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:56.720 that his hope in God is not shaken, 00:09:57.200 --> 00:09:59.460 regardless of what his circumstances are. 00:09:59.840 --> 00:10:02.100 And so he says, as we read in verse 15, 00:10:02.200 --> 00:10:05.000 though he slay me, yet I will hope in him. 00:10:05.700 --> 00:10:08.260 I will surely defend my ways to his face. 00:10:08.360 --> 00:10:11.020 Indeed, this will turn out for my deliverance, 00:10:11.200 --> 00:10:13.780 for no godless person would dare come before me. 00:10:13.779 --> 00:10:17.199 And so this is the exact phrase that Paul uses here 00:10:17.199 --> 00:10:19.740 when he says, this will turn out for my deliverance. 00:10:20.980 --> 00:10:22.799 Paul recognizes that his suffering, 00:10:22.939 --> 00:10:25.059 just like Job's, was not meaningless. 00:10:25.899 --> 00:10:28.279 It was not a result of his own sin. 00:10:28.500 --> 00:10:30.240 It wasn't punishment for that sin. 00:10:30.620 --> 00:10:34.579 It was a part of God's plan in producing fruit in his life. 00:10:35.240 --> 00:10:36.860 And so as a result, Paul is eager, 00:10:37.039 --> 00:10:39.579 just like Job was, to go before Christ 00:10:39.579 --> 00:10:41.360 on that final judgment day, 00:10:41.360 --> 00:10:43.539 when he will give account before God, 00:10:43.539 --> 00:10:46.240 when he is certain that he will be vindicated, 00:10:46.600 --> 00:10:48.539 regardless of what happens in his current life, 00:10:48.620 --> 00:10:51.019 regardless of the trial that he will face in Rome. 00:10:52.820 --> 00:10:54.899 And so we see when Paul is talking about salvation, 00:10:55.080 --> 00:10:57.800 the subject has come up several times already 00:10:57.800 --> 00:11:00.840 in just these first few verses of chapter 1. 00:11:01.560 --> 00:11:02.980 And we see when he talks about salvation, 00:11:03.100 --> 00:11:05.899 it's just not a one-time act of Christ 00:11:05.899 --> 00:11:08.000 in the past on our behalf. 00:11:08.000 --> 00:11:11.799 It's salvation that is ongoing in process. 00:11:12.299 --> 00:11:14.240 And so when we looked at verse 6 a few weeks ago, 00:11:14.340 --> 00:11:16.940 it says that he who began a good work in you 00:11:16.940 --> 00:11:18.639 will be faithful to bring it to completion 00:11:18.639 --> 00:11:20.639 at the day of Jesus Christ. 00:11:21.639 --> 00:11:22.379 And so what does that mean, 00:11:22.440 --> 00:11:25.159 that our salvation is ongoing in nature? 00:11:26.279 --> 00:11:29.639 Yes, as saints, we presently possess salvation. 00:11:30.600 --> 00:11:33.720 But the full enjoyment of that salvation 00:11:33.720 --> 00:11:35.059 lies in the future. 00:11:35.059 --> 00:11:38.759 And so that's why Paul can say in Romans 13, 11, 00:11:38.879 --> 00:11:40.699 he says salvation is nearer now 00:11:40.699 --> 00:11:42.779 than when we first believed. 00:11:43.059 --> 00:11:44.819 It's something that we look forward to, 00:11:44.879 --> 00:11:47.059 the consummation of that salvation 00:11:47.059 --> 00:11:51.239 when we experience the full enjoyment of Christ. 00:11:52.399 --> 00:11:54.379 And so how does Paul say then in this passage 00:11:54.379 --> 00:11:56.959 that deliverance, that salvation will occur? 00:11:57.059 --> 00:11:58.500 He says, through your prayers 00:11:58.500 --> 00:11:59.879 and the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:01.259 --> 00:12:02.739 Now, we may think this seems weird. 00:12:02.859 --> 00:12:04.259 If we're praying for salvation, 00:12:04.259 --> 00:12:06.319 we may think, well, I have to pray myself 00:12:06.319 --> 00:12:07.259 for my own salvation, 00:12:07.439 --> 00:12:09.899 for my own help that comes from the Holy Spirit. 00:12:10.620 --> 00:12:13.259 But Paul says, no, he's not focusing on his own prayer. 00:12:13.819 --> 00:12:15.700 He's talking about the prayers 00:12:15.700 --> 00:12:17.559 that he desires from the church at Philippi. 00:12:18.139 --> 00:12:20.179 He's already voiced his prayers 00:12:20.179 --> 00:12:22.019 for the church at Philippi a few verses ago. 00:12:22.080 --> 00:12:23.799 And now he says, not only am I praying for you, 00:12:23.860 --> 00:12:25.960 but I need you to pray for me. 00:12:27.200 --> 00:12:27.980 And so through this, 00:12:28.039 --> 00:12:31.100 we see that our faith is not individualistic in nature. 00:12:31.100 --> 00:12:34.879 We are connected as the body of Christ to one another. 00:12:35.960 --> 00:12:37.019 John Calvin said this, 00:12:37.100 --> 00:12:39.740 he who depends for help on the prayers of the saints 00:12:39.740 --> 00:12:42.519 relies on the promise of God. 00:12:43.600 --> 00:12:46.259 And so God desires to hear our prayers, 00:12:46.360 --> 00:12:48.680 not only the ones that we submit on our own behalf, 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:50.920 but the prayers that we pray for one another 00:12:50.920 --> 00:12:52.220 because we see the result. 00:12:52.580 --> 00:12:53.860 The result of these prayers 00:12:53.860 --> 00:12:57.060 is that we receive the help of the Holy Spirit. 00:12:57.059 --> 00:13:00.119 And so we see there's a direct link 00:13:00.119 --> 00:13:03.319 between our prayers and the work of the Holy Spirit. 00:13:03.419 --> 00:13:05.519 The presence of the Spirit in Paul's life 00:13:05.519 --> 00:13:09.099 is supplied through the prayers of the Philippian church. 00:13:10.599 --> 00:13:11.899 Both are instruments. 00:13:12.119 --> 00:13:14.439 Both the prayer and the work of the Spirit 00:13:14.439 --> 00:13:16.579 are instruments, are used 00:13:16.579 --> 00:13:19.000 in order to bring about God's salvation. 00:13:20.039 --> 00:13:21.179 And so that doesn't mean 00:13:21.179 --> 00:13:24.239 that our prayers for others save them. 00:13:24.359 --> 00:13:26.039 We don't rely on other people praying for us 00:13:26.039 --> 00:13:28.759 that we can be saved and justified before the Father. 00:13:29.159 --> 00:13:31.299 But it demonstrates our need 00:13:31.299 --> 00:13:33.219 for the Holy Spirit in our lives, 00:13:33.259 --> 00:13:34.579 that we can maintain our faith, 00:13:34.639 --> 00:13:36.439 that we can grow like Christ. 00:13:37.519 --> 00:13:40.379 That's why Paul gives the command later in Philippians 00:13:40.379 --> 00:13:43.459 to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:45.759 So in order to do this, 00:13:46.120 --> 00:13:49.039 we need to pray for the abundant supply 00:13:49.740 --> 00:13:52.159 of the Spirit in our lives for that to happen. 00:13:52.159 --> 00:13:55.219 Because it's the Spirit who empowers us 00:13:55.219 --> 00:13:56.360 to persevere. 00:13:57.579 --> 00:14:00.000 And so let us not grow complacent in our faith 00:14:00.000 --> 00:14:02.500 to think there's nothing more we have to do. 00:14:03.399 --> 00:14:05.980 Yes, we have been saved by the blood of Jesus. 00:14:06.779 --> 00:14:08.019 But we are called, 00:14:08.839 --> 00:14:09.860 after that justification, 00:14:10.219 --> 00:14:11.839 to a life of sanctification, 00:14:11.959 --> 00:14:13.639 to grow more and more like Christ. 00:14:13.679 --> 00:14:14.439 So that should be our prayer, 00:14:14.519 --> 00:14:15.639 not only for ourselves, 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:18.600 but our prayers for our brothers and sisters as well. 00:14:18.600 --> 00:14:22.639 Paul's certainty continues in verse 20 00:14:22.639 --> 00:14:23.899 when he says, 00:14:24.120 --> 00:14:26.920 As it is my eager expectation and hope 00:14:26.920 --> 00:14:28.779 that I will not be ashamed, 00:14:29.180 --> 00:14:30.659 but that with full courage, 00:14:30.740 --> 00:14:31.580 now as always, 00:14:31.700 --> 00:14:33.200 Christ will be honored in my body, 00:14:33.279 --> 00:14:35.080 whether by life or by death. 00:14:36.360 --> 00:14:38.480 And so this word, eager anticipation, 00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:42.700 in the Greek it really creates this word picture for us 00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:44.379 of our turning our heads, 00:14:44.519 --> 00:14:46.820 of kind of craning our necks to see something. 00:14:47.720 --> 00:14:48.260 And so kids, 00:14:48.320 --> 00:14:49.879 if you've ever been in a large crowd 00:14:49.879 --> 00:14:50.680 and you want to see something, 00:14:50.760 --> 00:14:52.100 there's people taller than you, 00:14:52.140 --> 00:14:52.640 what do you have to do? 00:14:52.660 --> 00:14:54.200 You kind of have to look up and around them 00:14:54.200 --> 00:14:57.020 and between them to figure out what's going on. 00:14:57.560 --> 00:14:58.840 You think of the story of Zacchaeus. 00:14:58.860 --> 00:15:00.560 What did he have to do in order to see Jesus? 00:15:00.640 --> 00:15:01.360 He had to climb a tree, 00:15:01.500 --> 00:15:04.180 strain his neck to kind of see Jesus coming his way. 00:15:04.980 --> 00:15:07.260 And so that's the idea that Paul is getting at here 00:15:07.260 --> 00:15:08.460 at looking toward the future 00:15:08.460 --> 00:15:09.700 with this eager anticipation. 00:15:10.340 --> 00:15:12.860 And we see here that it's paired with hope. 00:15:12.860 --> 00:15:15.659 Now in the English language, 00:15:15.779 --> 00:15:17.740 we normally kind of just throw around that word hope 00:15:17.740 --> 00:15:20.580 as just a kind of a means of wishing something good. 00:15:21.399 --> 00:15:22.779 You know, I hope you have a good day. 00:15:23.300 --> 00:15:24.360 I hope it doesn't rain today. 00:15:25.480 --> 00:15:26.379 Well, that doesn't really, 00:15:26.600 --> 00:15:28.039 it may not be grounded in reality, 00:15:28.120 --> 00:15:29.659 it's just kind of a wish that we're expressing 00:15:29.659 --> 00:15:31.399 to ourselves or to others. 00:15:31.419 --> 00:15:33.980 But that's not how hope is used in this passage. 00:15:34.800 --> 00:15:36.060 We see when Paul says hope, 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:38.360 he's looking forward with certainty, 00:15:38.360 --> 00:15:41.060 having this reasonable confidence 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:42.860 that his hope will be fulfilled. 00:15:44.060 --> 00:15:45.340 And so when we pair together 00:15:45.340 --> 00:15:47.720 this eager anticipation and this hope, 00:15:48.100 --> 00:15:50.700 we understand the longing that Paul has, 00:15:50.779 --> 00:15:53.379 this desperate, unshakable expectation 00:15:53.379 --> 00:15:55.440 that Paul has in the future. 00:15:57.019 --> 00:15:58.340 And what's that expectation in? 00:15:58.379 --> 00:15:59.320 What's that longing for? 00:15:59.379 --> 00:16:01.980 It says that Christ will be honored in his body, 00:16:02.060 --> 00:16:03.920 whether by life or by death. 00:16:03.919 --> 00:16:06.919 And so that word honored, 00:16:07.740 --> 00:16:09.159 it means to be magnified. 00:16:09.699 --> 00:16:11.219 It means to be enlarged. 00:16:11.799 --> 00:16:14.259 That's what we sang about in Psalm 34, 00:16:14.399 --> 00:16:16.000 to magnify the Lord with me. 00:16:16.360 --> 00:16:18.199 Let us exalt his name together. 00:16:19.939 --> 00:16:20.759 And so when Paul, 00:16:21.620 --> 00:16:23.500 when Paul is recognizing 00:16:23.500 --> 00:16:25.299 others are looking to him for leadership, 00:16:25.500 --> 00:16:26.819 others are looking for him for direction, 00:16:26.919 --> 00:16:28.799 he doesn't want them to just see him. 00:16:29.719 --> 00:16:31.519 He wants them to see Christ. 00:16:32.120 --> 00:16:33.240 Just like John the Baptist, 00:16:33.240 --> 00:16:35.259 when Christ was beginning his ministry, 00:16:36.180 --> 00:16:37.399 some of John the Baptist's disciples 00:16:37.399 --> 00:16:37.919 come to him and say, 00:16:38.000 --> 00:16:38.860 hey, what's going on here? 00:16:39.120 --> 00:16:40.100 I thought you were going to be a leader. 00:16:40.919 --> 00:16:42.440 And what does John the Baptist say in response? 00:16:42.779 --> 00:16:43.860 He must increase, 00:16:44.560 --> 00:16:45.460 and I must decrease. 00:16:46.659 --> 00:16:48.340 This is Paul's ultimate goal, 00:16:48.399 --> 00:16:50.159 that Christ will be honored, 00:16:50.240 --> 00:16:52.899 that Christ will be magnified in his body. 00:16:54.139 --> 00:16:55.200 In any way possible, 00:16:55.299 --> 00:16:56.659 in good times and in bad, 00:16:57.360 --> 00:16:58.680 in suffering and in sickness, 00:16:58.680 --> 00:17:00.240 in life and in death, 00:17:00.779 --> 00:17:01.379 in all ways, 00:17:01.379 --> 00:17:05.160 Paul wants Christ magnified in his body. 00:17:05.240 --> 00:17:07.720 And this is the result that he is certain of. 00:17:08.539 --> 00:17:10.859 This is the result that he strives for. 00:17:12.500 --> 00:17:15.440 And so then that leads us to the second consideration. 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.180 If he is certain in the result that is to come, 00:17:20.200 --> 00:17:23.180 he still experiences uncertainty in the root, 00:17:23.839 --> 00:17:26.640 in the means for how that result is going to come about. 00:17:26.640 --> 00:17:28.720 And so look in verse 21. 00:17:29.740 --> 00:17:32.120 For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:17:33.400 --> 00:17:34.940 If I am to live in the flesh, 00:17:35.120 --> 00:17:36.740 that means fruitful labor for me. 00:17:37.540 --> 00:17:38.500 Which yet I should choose, 00:17:38.560 --> 00:17:39.120 I cannot tell. 00:17:39.200 --> 00:17:40.600 I am hard pressed between the two. 00:17:42.400 --> 00:17:44.840 So Paul here is certain about Christ's work. 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:48.000 And so the issues of life and death in his life, 00:17:48.060 --> 00:17:49.640 they don't really threaten his faith whatsoever. 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.840 They don't tear down his confidence. 00:17:51.839 --> 00:17:54.679 The uncertainty of this earthly faith, 00:17:54.720 --> 00:17:56.899 it doesn't hinder him in any way. 00:17:57.359 --> 00:17:59.879 Because he has been set free from the tyranny of fear, 00:18:00.099 --> 00:18:02.139 of wondering what is going to happen to him, 00:18:02.220 --> 00:18:04.859 how this is going to affect his physical body. 00:18:06.199 --> 00:18:08.159 And so even though he doesn't experience fear, 00:18:08.220 --> 00:18:10.939 we still see he has to wrestle with this uncertainty. 00:18:11.079 --> 00:18:13.639 And he does so in a very open manner in this letter 00:18:13.639 --> 00:18:16.339 that he presents to the church at Philippi. 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:19.359 And so as we examine this uncertainty, 00:18:19.500 --> 00:18:21.379 we need to consider this phrase that he uses. 00:18:21.720 --> 00:18:22.799 We've certainly heard this phrase 00:18:22.799 --> 00:18:25.299 if you've been anywhere around the church 00:18:25.299 --> 00:18:26.240 for any amount of time. 00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:28.259 To live is Christ and to die is gain. 00:18:28.359 --> 00:18:30.159 What in the world is Paul trying to say? 00:18:31.399 --> 00:18:34.099 And so let's take that in two bits 00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:36.480 to consider what does it mean to live as Christ. 00:18:37.839 --> 00:18:39.559 And it may be worth thinking about first, 00:18:39.679 --> 00:18:41.019 what does society, 00:18:41.179 --> 00:18:43.819 what does the world around us think about life and living? 00:18:43.819 --> 00:18:47.879 To the world, life is what people value most. 00:18:48.519 --> 00:18:50.139 It's what we desire to protect, 00:18:50.559 --> 00:18:52.579 desire to preserve above all else. 00:18:54.039 --> 00:18:55.859 And so no one wants to die young. 00:18:56.019 --> 00:18:58.639 Our desire for most people is to live 00:18:58.639 --> 00:19:00.919 till you are a ripe old age 00:19:00.919 --> 00:19:04.659 and at some point be able to die in your sleep. 00:19:05.819 --> 00:19:09.779 And it's all that comes in between our birth and our death 00:19:09.779 --> 00:19:11.240 that we are so concerned about, 00:19:11.299 --> 00:19:13.039 seeking our own enjoyment, 00:19:13.039 --> 00:19:15.319 seeking our own satisfaction and comfort. 00:19:16.259 --> 00:19:17.519 We want a good job. 00:19:18.180 --> 00:19:19.500 We want to make lots of money. 00:19:19.859 --> 00:19:21.659 We want to be able to afford a nice house 00:19:21.659 --> 00:19:22.759 and drive a nice car. 00:19:22.859 --> 00:19:24.019 We want to have lots of friends. 00:19:24.159 --> 00:19:25.720 We want an attractive spouse 00:19:25.720 --> 00:19:27.119 and to make a family. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:29.659 We want to be able to go on good holidays. 00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:32.039 We want to avoid suffering and pain. 00:19:33.039 --> 00:19:35.399 We want to make the most of every moment, 00:19:35.539 --> 00:19:36.740 make great memories, 00:19:36.899 --> 00:19:37.440 gain knowledge, 00:19:37.559 --> 00:19:38.079 be kind. 00:19:38.259 --> 00:19:39.639 The list goes on and on, right? 00:19:39.640 --> 00:19:39.720 Right? 00:19:41.420 --> 00:19:44.660 That's what the world thinks that life is meant for. 00:19:44.920 --> 00:19:46.259 That's how we find fulfillment in life, 00:19:46.320 --> 00:19:47.080 by these things. 00:19:47.960 --> 00:19:50.360 But we only need to go back to the book of Ecclesiastes 00:19:50.360 --> 00:19:51.220 in the Old Testament, 00:19:51.360 --> 00:19:53.640 where we see the author of that book 00:19:53.640 --> 00:19:56.060 talk about these pursuits. 00:19:56.059 --> 00:19:58.339 And what does he say about them all? 00:19:59.019 --> 00:20:00.440 He says they're all vanity. 00:20:01.399 --> 00:20:02.319 They're all meaningless. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.799 They have no value whatsoever. 00:20:05.960 --> 00:20:07.319 It's like striving after the wind. 00:20:08.579 --> 00:20:10.119 And so that's what Paul gets out here 00:20:10.119 --> 00:20:11.740 in Philippians as well. 00:20:11.839 --> 00:20:13.240 He speaks of the worthlessness 00:20:13.240 --> 00:20:15.079 of all these pursuits 00:20:15.079 --> 00:20:16.179 when compared to Christ. 00:20:16.839 --> 00:20:18.839 If we look ahead to Philippians 3.8, 00:20:19.220 --> 00:20:19.679 he says, 00:20:19.680 --> 00:20:35.180 And so to Paul, 00:20:35.320 --> 00:20:36.620 living is not about self 00:20:36.620 --> 00:20:38.400 and personal satisfaction. 00:20:38.700 --> 00:20:40.299 Living is about Christ. 00:20:41.620 --> 00:20:42.960 We see over and over again 00:20:42.960 --> 00:20:44.920 that Paul emphasizes this connection, 00:20:45.259 --> 00:20:46.180 this personal connection 00:20:46.180 --> 00:20:48.920 that we as believers have with Christ. 00:20:48.920 --> 00:20:51.460 That's why when he uses this phrase 00:20:51.460 --> 00:20:52.279 over and over again, 00:20:52.380 --> 00:20:53.700 in Christ, in Christ, 00:20:53.759 --> 00:20:54.500 we are in Christ. 00:20:54.560 --> 00:20:55.360 In all his epistles, 00:20:55.480 --> 00:20:56.240 we see this repeated. 00:20:57.600 --> 00:20:58.880 We see it in various forms 00:20:58.880 --> 00:20:59.400 when he talks about 00:20:59.400 --> 00:21:01.800 we have fellowship with Christ, 00:21:01.900 --> 00:21:03.400 that we are hidden in Christ, 00:21:03.480 --> 00:21:05.340 that we are united with Christ, 00:21:05.400 --> 00:21:06.620 that we are crucified with him, 00:21:06.759 --> 00:21:07.519 raised with him, 00:21:07.779 --> 00:21:08.840 made alive with him. 00:21:08.880 --> 00:21:09.680 Over and over again, 00:21:09.740 --> 00:21:10.500 Paul repeats this. 00:21:10.759 --> 00:21:11.680 And so it's no different 00:21:11.680 --> 00:21:13.500 when he's talking in general terms 00:21:13.500 --> 00:21:15.440 about life as a whole. 00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.560 He boils it down for us. 00:21:18.559 --> 00:21:19.559 He doesn't even use 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.639 a preposition here. 00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.740 There's actually no verb 00:21:21.740 --> 00:21:22.179 in the Greek. 00:21:22.259 --> 00:21:22.659 If you read it, 00:21:22.700 --> 00:21:23.000 it just says, 00:21:23.079 --> 00:21:24.319 To live Christ. 00:21:25.679 --> 00:21:27.039 Our entire life 00:21:27.039 --> 00:21:28.419 means Christ. 00:21:29.859 --> 00:21:30.379 And so therefore, 00:21:30.559 --> 00:21:31.480 knowing Christ 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:33.460 is our highest goal. 00:21:33.940 --> 00:21:34.720 Gaining him 00:21:34.720 --> 00:21:35.179 is worth 00:21:35.179 --> 00:21:36.639 the loss of all else. 00:21:38.299 --> 00:21:39.179 And so that's why 00:21:39.179 --> 00:21:39.960 Paul can say 00:21:39.960 --> 00:21:41.519 in Acts 24, 00:21:41.679 --> 00:21:42.440 or 20-24, 00:21:42.440 --> 00:21:43.559 I do not count 00:21:43.559 --> 00:21:44.080 my life 00:21:44.080 --> 00:21:44.900 of any value 00:21:44.900 --> 00:21:46.000 nor as precious 00:21:46.000 --> 00:21:46.820 to myself. 00:21:47.620 --> 00:21:49.220 If only I may finish 00:21:49.220 --> 00:21:50.299 my course in ministry 00:21:50.299 --> 00:21:51.180 that I received 00:21:51.180 --> 00:21:52.200 from the Lord Jesus 00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.940 to testify 00:21:52.940 --> 00:21:53.799 to the gospel 00:21:53.799 --> 00:21:55.120 of the grace of God. 00:21:56.660 --> 00:21:57.500 And so listen 00:21:57.500 --> 00:21:58.100 to these words 00:21:58.100 --> 00:21:59.360 of the Scottish theologian, 00:21:59.440 --> 00:21:59.900 John Eady, 00:22:00.580 --> 00:22:01.480 who summarizes 00:22:01.480 --> 00:22:02.200 Paul's thoughts 00:22:02.200 --> 00:22:02.759 like this. 00:22:03.840 --> 00:22:04.559 He says, 00:22:04.660 --> 00:22:05.440 when thinking about 00:22:05.440 --> 00:22:06.080 what Paul means 00:22:06.080 --> 00:22:07.240 by to live is Christ, 00:22:07.720 --> 00:22:08.100 he says, 00:22:08.099 --> 00:22:09.399 the preaching of Christ, 00:22:10.199 --> 00:22:11.379 the business of my life, 00:22:12.000 --> 00:22:13.480 the presence of Christ, 00:22:13.719 --> 00:22:14.919 the cheer of my life, 00:22:15.259 --> 00:22:16.419 the image of Christ, 00:22:16.519 --> 00:22:17.639 the crown of my life, 00:22:17.719 --> 00:22:18.719 the spirit of Christ, 00:22:19.079 --> 00:22:20.299 the life of my life, 00:22:20.500 --> 00:22:21.679 the love of Christ, 00:22:21.779 --> 00:22:22.779 the power of my life, 00:22:22.859 --> 00:22:23.799 the will of Christ, 00:22:23.899 --> 00:22:24.959 the law of my life, 00:22:25.059 --> 00:22:26.339 and the glory of Christ, 00:22:26.679 --> 00:22:27.699 the end of my life. 00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:30.019 Christ was the absorbing 00:22:30.019 --> 00:22:31.839 element of Paul's life. 00:22:31.919 --> 00:22:32.599 If he traveled, 00:22:32.899 --> 00:22:34.079 it was on Christ's errand. 00:22:34.179 --> 00:22:34.859 If he suffered, 00:22:35.179 --> 00:22:36.459 it was in Christ's service. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:37.179 When he spoke, 00:22:37.259 --> 00:22:37.959 his theme was 00:22:37.960 --> 00:22:38.259 Christ. 00:22:38.319 --> 00:22:38.880 When he wrote, 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:40.259 Christ filled his letters. 00:22:42.319 --> 00:22:43.460 And so we have to ask, 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.460 does that describe our lives? 00:22:46.840 --> 00:22:48.960 Is Christ the very essence 00:22:48.960 --> 00:22:50.819 of our lives? 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:54.620 Do we view worldly possessions 00:22:54.620 --> 00:22:55.880 and pursuits 00:22:55.880 --> 00:22:57.660 as meaningless 00:22:57.660 --> 00:23:00.019 compared to gaining Christ? 00:23:02.120 --> 00:23:03.960 We really need to answer 00:23:03.960 --> 00:23:04.500 these questions. 00:23:04.620 --> 00:23:05.860 We have to face these questions 00:23:05.860 --> 00:23:06.640 even though they're difficult 00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.799 because what we think 00:23:07.799 --> 00:23:08.559 about life 00:23:08.559 --> 00:23:09.579 has everything to do 00:23:09.579 --> 00:23:11.599 with how we face death. 00:23:12.799 --> 00:23:14.159 So what does Paul mean 00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:14.940 when he says 00:23:14.940 --> 00:23:16.200 that death is gain? 00:23:17.859 --> 00:23:18.639 Charles Spurgeon, 00:23:18.759 --> 00:23:21.099 who was a well-known minister 00:23:21.099 --> 00:23:21.639 in England 00:23:21.639 --> 00:23:22.720 in the 1800s, 00:23:23.279 --> 00:23:24.960 he spoke a lot about this 00:23:24.960 --> 00:23:25.740 and he says that 00:23:25.740 --> 00:23:27.339 we fly like arrows 00:23:27.339 --> 00:23:28.639 to that common target 00:23:28.639 --> 00:23:29.139 of mankind, 00:23:29.839 --> 00:23:30.619 the grave. 00:23:30.619 --> 00:23:33.979 And so if death is inevitable 00:23:33.979 --> 00:23:34.719 for all of us, 00:23:34.719 --> 00:23:36.159 why is it such a fear 00:23:36.159 --> 00:23:38.000 that the world has? 00:23:39.459 --> 00:23:39.699 Well, 00:23:39.699 --> 00:23:41.139 Spurgeon answers by saying this, 00:23:41.140 --> 00:23:42.740 to an ungodly man to die 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.720 can never be a thing 00:23:43.720 --> 00:23:44.380 to be desired 00:23:44.380 --> 00:23:45.840 for what remains 00:23:45.840 --> 00:23:46.940 to him after death. 00:23:47.500 --> 00:23:48.300 His possessions 00:23:48.300 --> 00:23:49.280 go from him 00:23:49.280 --> 00:23:50.420 like birds 00:23:50.420 --> 00:23:51.060 that have rested 00:23:51.060 --> 00:23:51.900 for a little while 00:23:51.900 --> 00:23:52.640 upon a field 00:23:52.640 --> 00:23:53.960 but take to their wings 00:23:53.960 --> 00:23:54.540 when travelers 00:23:54.540 --> 00:23:55.400 clap their hands. 00:23:55.860 --> 00:23:57.480 So all the worldlings' riches 00:23:57.480 --> 00:23:59.040 must take to themselves 00:23:59.040 --> 00:23:59.500 wings 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:00.880 and fly away. 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:04.280 And so if our lives 00:24:04.280 --> 00:24:05.300 are preoccupied 00:24:05.300 --> 00:24:06.100 with the collection 00:24:06.100 --> 00:24:07.380 of these possessions 00:24:07.380 --> 00:24:08.720 and pursuits, 00:24:09.260 --> 00:24:10.600 then it's really understandable 00:24:10.600 --> 00:24:12.820 to think why death 00:24:12.820 --> 00:24:14.300 would want to be avoided 00:24:14.300 --> 00:24:14.840 at all costs, 00:24:14.940 --> 00:24:16.220 why the world 00:24:16.220 --> 00:24:17.220 fears death. 00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:19.500 Because it's the absence 00:24:19.500 --> 00:24:20.520 of all security, 00:24:20.680 --> 00:24:21.760 all that we've been trying 00:24:21.760 --> 00:24:22.860 to build up in this world 00:24:22.860 --> 00:24:23.740 for our own comfort, 00:24:24.020 --> 00:24:24.860 for our own safety, 00:24:25.320 --> 00:24:26.340 is stripped from us. 00:24:28.120 --> 00:24:28.880 And so how then 00:24:28.880 --> 00:24:29.560 can Paul say 00:24:29.560 --> 00:24:30.740 that death is gain? 00:24:30.880 --> 00:24:34.520 As we've discussed, 00:24:34.980 --> 00:24:36.440 to live in Christ, 00:24:36.540 --> 00:24:37.460 if that's our goal, 00:24:37.540 --> 00:24:38.240 if that's our mindset 00:24:38.240 --> 00:24:39.780 just like Paul says, 00:24:39.920 --> 00:24:41.900 then we're striving 00:24:41.900 --> 00:24:42.960 for sanctification 00:24:42.960 --> 00:24:43.880 to become more 00:24:43.880 --> 00:24:45.340 and more like Christ. 00:24:46.260 --> 00:24:47.420 Our goal in life 00:24:47.420 --> 00:24:49.580 brings us to abandon 00:24:49.580 --> 00:24:50.260 all else 00:24:50.260 --> 00:24:50.980 in order that we can 00:24:50.980 --> 00:24:51.700 gain Christ. 00:24:52.740 --> 00:24:53.520 And so if that is 00:24:53.520 --> 00:24:54.060 our desire, 00:24:54.180 --> 00:24:55.460 if that is our result 00:24:55.460 --> 00:24:55.940 that we want, 00:24:55.980 --> 00:24:57.020 that we can gain Christ, 00:24:57.300 --> 00:24:58.400 then by that reasoning 00:24:58.400 --> 00:24:59.920 death is ultimate gain 00:24:59.920 --> 00:25:00.460 for us. 00:25:00.460 --> 00:25:01.579 Because not only 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:02.620 are we striving 00:25:02.620 --> 00:25:03.840 to be like Christ anymore, 00:25:04.019 --> 00:25:05.539 we have Christ. 00:25:07.220 --> 00:25:08.299 That's why Paul says 00:25:08.299 --> 00:25:09.100 in 2 Corinthians, 00:25:09.200 --> 00:25:10.279 to be absent from the body 00:25:10.279 --> 00:25:11.319 is to be present 00:25:11.319 --> 00:25:11.900 with the Lord. 00:25:11.980 --> 00:25:12.819 This is what Paul wants 00:25:12.819 --> 00:25:14.200 more than anything else. 00:25:14.420 --> 00:25:15.059 When he's stating 00:25:15.059 --> 00:25:15.720 his preferences 00:25:15.720 --> 00:25:17.579 between whether he lives 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.660 and he dies, 00:25:19.059 --> 00:25:19.680 what does he say 00:25:19.680 --> 00:25:20.460 in verse 23? 00:25:20.860 --> 00:25:22.240 My desire is to depart 00:25:22.240 --> 00:25:23.180 and to be with Christ, 00:25:23.240 --> 00:25:24.240 for that is far better. 00:25:24.240 --> 00:25:28.559 If we go back to Spurgeon again, 00:25:28.620 --> 00:25:29.319 he says this, 00:25:30.120 --> 00:25:31.319 what a believer 00:25:31.319 --> 00:25:33.240 loses of comfort here 00:25:33.240 --> 00:25:35.720 is made up to him 00:25:35.720 --> 00:25:36.759 a thousandfold 00:25:36.759 --> 00:25:37.579 by the joys 00:25:37.579 --> 00:25:38.359 of the hereafter. 00:25:39.359 --> 00:25:40.720 He knows that for him 00:25:40.720 --> 00:25:41.500 there is a crown 00:25:41.500 --> 00:25:42.140 of triumph 00:25:42.140 --> 00:25:43.839 and a palm of victory, 00:25:43.839 --> 00:25:44.920 for him a harp 00:25:44.920 --> 00:25:45.819 of ecstatic joy, 00:25:46.259 --> 00:25:47.940 for him the robe 00:25:47.940 --> 00:25:49.140 of immaculate purity, 00:25:49.859 --> 00:25:51.000 for him a place 00:25:51.000 --> 00:25:52.339 at the right hand of God, 00:25:52.339 --> 00:25:53.179 even the Father, 00:25:53.299 --> 00:25:54.279 in eternal security 00:25:54.279 --> 00:25:56.179 and indescribable delight. 00:25:57.579 --> 00:25:57.899 Therefore, 00:25:58.019 --> 00:25:58.480 the Christian 00:25:58.480 --> 00:26:00.019 not only regards death 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.919 as a necessity 00:26:00.919 --> 00:26:02.379 through which he hopes 00:26:02.379 --> 00:26:03.099 to be supported 00:26:03.099 --> 00:26:03.859 as a patient 00:26:03.859 --> 00:26:05.139 through a painful operation, 00:26:05.679 --> 00:26:06.819 but he looks 00:26:06.819 --> 00:26:07.720 for his departure 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.799 as an heir looks forward 00:26:09.799 --> 00:26:10.459 to the day 00:26:10.459 --> 00:26:11.359 of his majority, 00:26:12.019 --> 00:26:13.720 as a bride anticipates 00:26:13.720 --> 00:26:14.359 her wedding day. 00:26:16.899 --> 00:26:18.379 And so is that our heart? 00:26:20.379 --> 00:26:21.579 Certainly at some point 00:26:21.579 --> 00:26:21.919 or another, 00:26:21.920 --> 00:26:22.759 we've all considered 00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:24.580 our own mortality. 00:26:25.920 --> 00:26:26.700 Maybe we've had 00:26:26.700 --> 00:26:27.779 some sort of close brush 00:26:27.779 --> 00:26:28.580 with death before. 00:26:29.000 --> 00:26:29.960 Maybe an accident 00:26:29.960 --> 00:26:31.700 or an illness. 00:26:33.140 --> 00:26:33.940 Maybe even just 00:26:33.940 --> 00:26:34.720 our emotions 00:26:34.720 --> 00:26:36.460 or a bad dream 00:26:36.460 --> 00:26:37.180 that we've had 00:26:37.180 --> 00:26:38.980 that we recognize 00:26:38.980 --> 00:26:41.320 that death is imminent 00:26:41.320 --> 00:26:42.000 in our lives 00:26:42.000 --> 00:26:42.900 at some point in time. 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.060 And so in that moment, 00:26:46.140 --> 00:26:46.759 is there fear 00:26:46.759 --> 00:26:49.799 or do we stand ready 00:26:49.799 --> 00:26:51.240 and eager even 00:26:51.240 --> 00:26:52.920 to gain the personal presence 00:26:52.920 --> 00:26:53.539 of the Lord? 00:26:53.619 --> 00:26:54.200 Does the thought 00:26:54.200 --> 00:26:55.259 of spending eternity 00:26:55.259 --> 00:26:57.680 with the one true living God 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:59.000 give us that desire, 00:26:59.140 --> 00:26:59.660 as Paul says, 00:26:59.720 --> 00:27:01.220 to depart immediately 00:27:01.220 --> 00:27:02.819 and be with him? 00:27:04.500 --> 00:27:05.879 And Paul's not saying this 00:27:05.879 --> 00:27:06.519 in such a way 00:27:06.519 --> 00:27:07.160 to be morbid, 00:27:07.200 --> 00:27:07.879 to think that he's going 00:27:07.879 --> 00:27:08.599 to take his life 00:27:08.599 --> 00:27:09.400 because he so wants 00:27:09.400 --> 00:27:10.279 to be with Christ. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.279 But he says this 00:27:12.279 --> 00:27:12.899 as a means 00:27:12.899 --> 00:27:13.680 of encouragement. 00:27:14.960 --> 00:27:15.539 For as believers, 00:27:15.680 --> 00:27:16.859 we have no fear 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:17.399 in death 00:27:17.399 --> 00:27:18.319 because the result 00:27:18.319 --> 00:27:18.940 of death 00:27:18.940 --> 00:27:19.899 is Christ. 00:27:22.960 --> 00:27:23.980 But although Paul 00:27:23.980 --> 00:27:24.759 longs to be present 00:27:24.759 --> 00:27:25.099 with the Lord, 00:27:25.139 --> 00:27:25.819 we still see that 00:27:25.819 --> 00:27:26.660 he faces this 00:27:26.660 --> 00:27:27.839 internal struggle. 00:27:28.960 --> 00:27:29.839 He has to choose 00:27:29.839 --> 00:27:30.899 between life and death 00:27:30.899 --> 00:27:31.539 and know that's not 00:27:31.539 --> 00:27:32.500 his choice to make. 00:27:32.579 --> 00:27:33.099 He's expressing, 00:27:33.279 --> 00:27:34.319 what is my preference here? 00:27:34.480 --> 00:27:35.399 What would I prefer? 00:27:36.400 --> 00:27:37.220 If he's only thinking 00:27:37.220 --> 00:27:38.280 about his own self-interest, 00:27:38.360 --> 00:27:38.800 like he said, 00:27:38.840 --> 00:27:39.560 he'd rather depart 00:27:39.560 --> 00:27:40.360 and be with Christ. 00:27:41.720 --> 00:27:42.400 But that's not 00:27:42.400 --> 00:27:43.620 his own consideration here, 00:27:43.680 --> 00:27:44.580 his only consideration. 00:27:44.880 --> 00:27:45.680 He's also considering 00:27:45.680 --> 00:27:46.740 the welfare of the church. 00:27:47.480 --> 00:27:48.180 So if we go back 00:27:48.180 --> 00:27:48.960 to verse 22, 00:27:49.780 --> 00:27:50.620 if I am to live 00:27:50.620 --> 00:27:51.080 in the flesh, 00:27:51.160 --> 00:27:52.200 that means fruitful labor 00:27:52.200 --> 00:27:52.620 for me. 00:27:53.300 --> 00:27:54.360 Yet which I shall choose, 00:27:54.420 --> 00:27:55.080 I cannot tell. 00:27:55.160 --> 00:27:55.940 I am hard pressed 00:27:55.940 --> 00:27:56.580 between the two. 00:27:57.500 --> 00:27:58.240 And so Paul here, 00:27:58.320 --> 00:27:59.640 he's being very vulnerable. 00:27:59.759 --> 00:28:00.200 He's giving this 00:28:00.200 --> 00:28:02.160 behind-the-scenes look 00:28:02.160 --> 00:28:03.840 into his own thought process. 00:28:04.180 --> 00:28:05.080 Much like we talked 00:28:05.079 --> 00:28:05.720 about at the beginning, 00:28:05.819 --> 00:28:06.480 making this list 00:28:06.480 --> 00:28:07.240 of pros and cons. 00:28:07.279 --> 00:28:07.939 This is what kind of 00:28:07.939 --> 00:28:08.859 Paul is doing 00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:10.199 as he's fleshing out 00:28:10.199 --> 00:28:11.259 his thoughts in this letter. 00:28:12.319 --> 00:28:12.859 And we may think, 00:28:12.939 --> 00:28:13.720 man, if I were to write a letter, 00:28:13.779 --> 00:28:14.740 I may be a little more certain 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.500 about my own feelings 00:28:15.500 --> 00:28:16.699 before I write a letter 00:28:16.699 --> 00:28:17.379 to the church. 00:28:18.220 --> 00:28:19.179 But we see Paul is, 00:28:19.359 --> 00:28:19.779 like I said, 00:28:19.819 --> 00:28:20.659 being vulnerable here. 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:21.699 He wants the church 00:28:21.699 --> 00:28:23.399 to learn from his struggle, 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:24.779 from his own thought process 00:28:24.779 --> 00:28:26.119 because as we've talked 00:28:26.119 --> 00:28:26.759 about before, 00:28:27.359 --> 00:28:28.039 there's a theme 00:28:28.039 --> 00:28:29.119 that runs through Philippians. 00:28:29.199 --> 00:28:29.839 We know that theme 00:28:29.839 --> 00:28:30.720 of joy is there, 00:28:30.779 --> 00:28:31.199 but there's also 00:28:31.199 --> 00:28:32.939 this theme of unity. 00:28:32.940 --> 00:28:35.279 unity that's needed 00:28:35.279 --> 00:28:36.799 within the church. 00:28:38.620 --> 00:28:39.360 And so Paul wants 00:28:39.360 --> 00:28:40.299 the saints of the church 00:28:40.299 --> 00:28:42.160 to follow his lead, 00:28:42.220 --> 00:28:44.259 to put their interests aside 00:28:44.259 --> 00:28:45.299 and consider the interests 00:28:45.299 --> 00:28:45.720 of others, 00:28:45.759 --> 00:28:46.600 to be able to love 00:28:46.600 --> 00:28:47.519 and serve others 00:28:47.519 --> 00:28:48.580 in such a way 00:28:48.580 --> 00:28:49.519 as Christ would. 00:28:49.840 --> 00:28:50.779 And so Paul is leading 00:28:50.779 --> 00:28:51.580 by example here. 00:28:51.680 --> 00:28:52.360 It's his desire, 00:28:52.539 --> 00:28:52.980 ultimately, 00:28:53.259 --> 00:28:54.400 to do what is best 00:28:54.400 --> 00:28:54.980 for the church. 00:28:54.980 --> 00:28:58.059 And so if his life 00:28:58.059 --> 00:28:59.380 will result in fruitful labor 00:28:59.380 --> 00:29:00.579 that will benefit the church, 00:29:00.660 --> 00:29:01.700 this is what he wants. 00:29:02.779 --> 00:29:03.960 And he says specifically 00:29:03.960 --> 00:29:04.900 what these benefits 00:29:04.900 --> 00:29:05.980 will be to his labor. 00:29:06.059 --> 00:29:07.000 It says in verse 25, 00:29:07.380 --> 00:29:08.259 Convinced of this, 00:29:08.620 --> 00:29:09.680 I know that I will remain 00:29:09.680 --> 00:29:10.980 and continue with you all 00:29:10.980 --> 00:29:12.140 for your progress 00:29:12.140 --> 00:29:13.579 and joy in the faith. 00:29:15.140 --> 00:29:17.519 And so Paul's two desires then 00:29:17.519 --> 00:29:19.000 are for the church's progress 00:29:19.000 --> 00:29:20.299 and for their joy. 00:29:21.839 --> 00:29:23.319 Again, Paul's making the point here 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.439 that our faith is not 00:29:24.439 --> 00:29:26.460 some static thing. 00:29:27.619 --> 00:29:28.859 We don't come to salvation 00:29:28.859 --> 00:29:29.980 simply by praying a prayer 00:29:29.980 --> 00:29:31.039 and then going back to living 00:29:31.039 --> 00:29:32.339 just as our lives were before. 00:29:32.939 --> 00:29:34.039 Faith, true faith, 00:29:34.119 --> 00:29:35.359 is something that's dynamic. 00:29:35.759 --> 00:29:36.799 It's something that changes. 00:29:37.240 --> 00:29:38.579 We are compelled to grow 00:29:38.579 --> 00:29:40.559 in our faith with Christ. 00:29:41.319 --> 00:29:42.279 As we read the word, 00:29:42.359 --> 00:29:43.279 as we hear the word preached, 00:29:43.339 --> 00:29:44.659 as we spend time 00:29:44.659 --> 00:29:45.919 learning from one another, 00:29:46.019 --> 00:29:46.939 spending time in fellowship 00:29:46.939 --> 00:29:48.220 and in service with one another, 00:29:48.399 --> 00:29:49.279 we don't want to be 00:29:49.279 --> 00:29:49.899 who we were 00:29:49.899 --> 00:29:51.419 when we first came to Christ. 00:29:51.980 --> 00:29:53.000 We want to see evidence 00:29:53.000 --> 00:29:54.259 of his work in our lives. 00:29:56.180 --> 00:29:58.200 And so I've helped coach 00:29:58.200 --> 00:29:59.740 my son's football team 00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:00.940 for the last couple years, 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:01.619 their school team, 00:30:01.740 --> 00:30:02.539 and when we started, 00:30:02.640 --> 00:30:04.359 there's just tons of boys 00:30:04.359 --> 00:30:05.000 that show up. 00:30:05.640 --> 00:30:06.420 And over time, 00:30:06.500 --> 00:30:07.200 that number kind of 00:30:07.200 --> 00:30:08.720 dwindles down a bit. 00:30:09.980 --> 00:30:10.440 Boys decide 00:30:10.440 --> 00:30:11.799 it may not be their sport. 00:30:11.880 --> 00:30:12.400 They may decide 00:30:12.400 --> 00:30:13.220 to do something else. 00:30:13.380 --> 00:30:14.440 And it's really, 00:30:14.599 --> 00:30:16.099 it's common. 00:30:16.579 --> 00:30:17.539 The boys that stop playing 00:30:17.539 --> 00:30:18.180 are usually the boys 00:30:18.180 --> 00:30:18.759 that haven't made 00:30:18.759 --> 00:30:19.960 any progress in the sport, 00:30:20.660 --> 00:30:21.500 whether because they're really 00:30:21.500 --> 00:30:22.180 not that athletic 00:30:22.180 --> 00:30:23.680 or that football 00:30:23.680 --> 00:30:24.700 is just not their thing. 00:30:24.779 --> 00:30:25.579 They realize that 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.500 if I'm making progress, 00:30:26.579 --> 00:30:27.359 I'm not having fun, 00:30:27.420 --> 00:30:28.160 there's no joy in it, 00:30:28.279 --> 00:30:29.640 it's more frustration 00:30:29.640 --> 00:30:30.539 than anything else. 00:30:32.019 --> 00:30:33.099 And so the same 00:30:33.099 --> 00:30:34.279 is true of us. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:35.980 We experience joy 00:30:35.980 --> 00:30:37.259 when we grow 00:30:37.259 --> 00:30:38.039 in our faith. 00:30:39.619 --> 00:30:40.660 We don't want to be 00:30:40.660 --> 00:30:41.839 baby Christians forever. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.839 And it's not this joy 00:30:43.839 --> 00:30:45.180 of self-satisfaction 00:30:45.180 --> 00:30:45.779 to say, 00:30:45.880 --> 00:30:46.880 look how much I've grown, 00:30:47.000 --> 00:30:48.980 look how great I've become. 00:30:48.980 --> 00:30:50.019 No, it's a joy 00:30:50.019 --> 00:30:50.980 in recognizing 00:30:51.519 --> 00:30:52.140 the evidence 00:30:52.140 --> 00:30:52.839 of Christ's work 00:30:52.839 --> 00:30:53.400 in our life. 00:30:54.400 --> 00:30:56.059 And so as our faith progresses, 00:30:56.299 --> 00:30:58.019 our joy should deepen. 00:31:00.039 --> 00:31:00.860 And so in this letter, 00:31:01.079 --> 00:31:02.299 I just want to make clear, 00:31:02.360 --> 00:31:03.240 because we've talked a lot 00:31:03.240 --> 00:31:03.880 in recent weeks 00:31:03.880 --> 00:31:05.079 about suffering of Paul, 00:31:05.700 --> 00:31:06.240 the suffering 00:31:06.240 --> 00:31:07.240 that we should expect. 00:31:07.380 --> 00:31:08.180 Now we talk about 00:31:08.180 --> 00:31:09.980 adversity and death. 00:31:11.420 --> 00:31:12.099 I don't want this 00:31:12.099 --> 00:31:13.079 to overshadow 00:31:13.079 --> 00:31:14.140 Paul's whole theme 00:31:14.140 --> 00:31:15.039 of this letter. 00:31:15.220 --> 00:31:15.700 This is known 00:31:15.700 --> 00:31:17.059 as the epistle of joy. 00:31:17.059 --> 00:31:18.240 Paul is starting 00:31:18.240 --> 00:31:18.859 this passage 00:31:18.859 --> 00:31:19.899 and ending this passage 00:31:19.899 --> 00:31:20.960 with his own joy. 00:31:22.099 --> 00:31:23.299 Joy that regardless 00:31:23.299 --> 00:31:24.159 of his circumstances, 00:31:24.359 --> 00:31:25.259 regardless of his suffering, 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:26.139 he is confident 00:31:26.139 --> 00:31:27.379 in the work of Christ. 00:31:27.940 --> 00:31:28.819 He is confident 00:31:28.819 --> 00:31:29.819 in the joy 00:31:29.819 --> 00:31:30.359 that will come 00:31:30.359 --> 00:31:31.039 to the church 00:31:31.039 --> 00:31:32.759 through his ministry. 00:31:34.759 --> 00:31:35.859 And so his joy 00:31:35.859 --> 00:31:36.759 isn't held captive 00:31:36.759 --> 00:31:37.539 by the unknown. 00:31:37.759 --> 00:31:38.539 It's not hindered 00:31:38.539 --> 00:31:39.559 by the uncertainty 00:31:39.559 --> 00:31:40.599 around him. 00:31:41.779 --> 00:31:42.919 Regardless of life 00:31:42.919 --> 00:31:43.500 or death, 00:31:43.599 --> 00:31:44.619 we see here 00:31:44.619 --> 00:31:45.500 that Paul 00:31:45.500 --> 00:31:46.559 can find joy. 00:31:48.000 --> 00:31:48.659 And so the same 00:31:48.659 --> 00:31:49.599 is true for us. 00:31:50.599 --> 00:31:51.639 Do we rejoice 00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.679 in the Lord? 00:31:54.139 --> 00:31:55.099 Can we rejoice 00:31:55.099 --> 00:31:55.619 in the midst 00:31:55.619 --> 00:31:56.319 of uncertainty? 00:31:56.500 --> 00:31:57.159 Even though we don't know 00:31:57.159 --> 00:31:58.440 how long we're going to live, 00:31:58.619 --> 00:31:59.639 what we might suffer, 00:31:59.779 --> 00:32:00.659 when we might die, 00:32:00.759 --> 00:32:01.899 can we hold on 00:32:01.899 --> 00:32:02.559 to the joy 00:32:02.559 --> 00:32:04.059 of knowing that Christ 00:32:04.059 --> 00:32:04.799 is at work 00:32:04.799 --> 00:32:05.659 in our lives? 00:32:07.039 --> 00:32:08.559 That we can experience 00:32:08.559 --> 00:32:09.500 the full joy 00:32:09.500 --> 00:32:10.339 of that salvation 00:32:10.339 --> 00:32:11.480 when we are united 00:32:11.480 --> 00:32:12.759 with Christ again. 00:32:12.759 --> 00:32:16.339 that's what Paul 00:32:16.339 --> 00:32:17.259 wants us to see 00:32:17.259 --> 00:32:17.740 in this letter. 00:32:17.859 --> 00:32:19.299 But it's really not 00:32:19.299 --> 00:32:21.420 singularly focused 00:32:21.420 --> 00:32:22.259 on joy 00:32:22.259 --> 00:32:23.519 because that's not 00:32:23.519 --> 00:32:24.319 how this passage 00:32:24.319 --> 00:32:24.579 ends. 00:32:24.700 --> 00:32:25.339 Joy is not the 00:32:25.339 --> 00:32:26.160 ultimate end here. 00:32:26.220 --> 00:32:26.920 It's the means 00:32:26.920 --> 00:32:28.019 to something more. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:29.700 And so if we look 00:32:29.700 --> 00:32:30.799 at verse 25 00:32:30.799 --> 00:32:31.519 and 26, 00:32:32.299 --> 00:32:33.279 it says, 00:32:33.279 --> 00:32:47.899 Notice again 00:32:47.899 --> 00:32:49.160 this progression 00:32:49.160 --> 00:32:51.259 in Paul's reasoning here. 00:32:52.460 --> 00:32:53.319 Paul is willing 00:32:53.319 --> 00:32:54.220 to keep on living 00:32:54.220 --> 00:32:55.099 because he knows 00:32:55.099 --> 00:32:55.660 that his life 00:32:55.660 --> 00:32:56.660 is going to lead to fruit. 00:32:57.099 --> 00:32:57.700 And he knows 00:32:57.700 --> 00:32:58.259 that that fruit 00:32:58.259 --> 00:32:58.839 is going to lead 00:32:58.839 --> 00:32:59.779 to progress in the church. 00:32:59.859 --> 00:33:00.200 And he knows 00:33:00.200 --> 00:33:00.819 that progress 00:33:00.819 --> 00:33:02.220 is going to lead to joy 00:33:02.220 --> 00:33:03.160 and that joy 00:33:03.160 --> 00:33:04.240 ultimately will lead 00:33:04.240 --> 00:33:05.539 to the glory of God. 00:33:06.880 --> 00:33:07.839 And so we see 00:33:07.839 --> 00:33:09.299 that the glory of God 00:33:09.299 --> 00:33:10.519 goes hand in hand 00:33:10.519 --> 00:33:11.700 with our joy. 00:33:13.039 --> 00:33:13.539 And so this is 00:33:13.539 --> 00:33:14.339 a good thing for us 00:33:14.339 --> 00:33:14.860 because I think 00:33:14.860 --> 00:33:15.620 this is one of the things 00:33:15.620 --> 00:33:16.640 that the outside world 00:33:16.640 --> 00:33:18.299 mistakes about the church. 00:33:18.460 --> 00:33:19.059 When they think 00:33:19.059 --> 00:33:19.660 about Christians, 00:33:19.779 --> 00:33:20.420 they may think of us 00:33:20.420 --> 00:33:21.839 as unhappy law keepers 00:33:21.839 --> 00:33:22.839 that just have to do 00:33:22.839 --> 00:33:23.339 what we can 00:33:23.339 --> 00:33:23.980 to please 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:25.360 a judgmental, 00:33:25.839 --> 00:33:26.620 upset God. 00:33:27.720 --> 00:33:28.500 But that's not 00:33:28.500 --> 00:33:29.500 what Paul is saying here. 00:33:29.579 --> 00:33:29.980 It's basically 00:33:29.980 --> 00:33:31.140 that God's glory 00:33:31.140 --> 00:33:31.960 comes through 00:33:31.960 --> 00:33:32.700 our joy. 00:33:32.819 --> 00:33:33.640 When we realize 00:33:33.640 --> 00:33:34.420 that to live 00:33:34.420 --> 00:33:34.960 is Christ 00:33:34.960 --> 00:33:35.740 and to die 00:33:35.740 --> 00:33:36.299 is gain, 00:33:36.420 --> 00:33:37.700 there is no sacrifice 00:33:37.700 --> 00:33:38.740 that we have to make. 00:33:40.900 --> 00:33:42.500 We get to hold on 00:33:42.500 --> 00:33:43.519 to that joy. 00:33:44.240 --> 00:33:45.340 And it's that joy 00:33:45.340 --> 00:33:46.019 that's part of 00:33:46.019 --> 00:33:46.799 Paul's commitment 00:33:46.799 --> 00:33:49.240 to the glory of God. 00:33:50.740 --> 00:33:51.880 It is the underlying 00:33:51.880 --> 00:33:52.360 reasoning 00:33:52.360 --> 00:33:53.160 for the decisions 00:33:53.160 --> 00:33:53.880 that he makes. 00:33:53.980 --> 00:33:54.940 He wants to see 00:33:54.940 --> 00:33:56.759 the glory of God. 00:33:56.840 --> 00:33:57.460 And he knows 00:33:57.460 --> 00:33:58.500 that that will be paired 00:33:58.500 --> 00:33:59.980 with his own joy. 00:33:59.980 --> 00:34:03.700 And so if you're here today, 00:34:04.700 --> 00:34:05.720 maybe you're not 00:34:05.720 --> 00:34:06.079 a believer. 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:07.900 Maybe you can't say 00:34:07.900 --> 00:34:08.920 to live is Christ 00:34:08.920 --> 00:34:09.920 and to die is gain. 00:34:12.480 --> 00:34:13.400 I ask you simply, 00:34:13.460 --> 00:34:14.240 what's holding you back? 00:34:16.280 --> 00:34:17.500 What is keeping you 00:34:17.500 --> 00:34:18.199 from Christ? 00:34:19.719 --> 00:34:20.559 Is it the things 00:34:20.559 --> 00:34:21.159 of this world, 00:34:22.240 --> 00:34:22.659 possessions 00:34:22.659 --> 00:34:23.679 and pursuits 00:34:23.679 --> 00:34:25.480 that the world says 00:34:25.480 --> 00:34:26.219 brings purpose? 00:34:26.219 --> 00:34:28.799 Christ said, 00:34:29.219 --> 00:34:30.459 Paul says very clearly here 00:34:30.459 --> 00:34:31.119 that these are both 00:34:31.119 --> 00:34:32.099 temporary and worthless 00:34:32.099 --> 00:34:33.919 compared to knowing Christ. 00:34:35.279 --> 00:34:36.299 And so there is no 00:34:36.299 --> 00:34:37.279 greater pursuit, 00:34:37.379 --> 00:34:38.719 there is no greater possession 00:34:38.719 --> 00:34:40.559 than having Christ. 00:34:41.879 --> 00:34:43.279 In a world full of uncertainty, 00:34:43.459 --> 00:34:44.319 he is the one 00:34:44.319 --> 00:34:44.980 who gives joy 00:34:44.980 --> 00:34:46.639 and he is the one 00:34:46.639 --> 00:34:47.980 who we hope in, 00:34:48.099 --> 00:34:48.719 both in life 00:34:48.719 --> 00:34:49.199 and in death. 00:34:50.480 --> 00:34:51.779 And so this is a reminder too 00:34:51.779 --> 00:34:52.299 for you, 00:34:52.619 --> 00:34:53.399 brother and sister, 00:34:54.099 --> 00:34:55.159 that although there is 00:34:55.159 --> 00:34:56.139 certainty in the root, 00:34:56.219 --> 00:34:57.859 the result is certain. 00:34:59.299 --> 00:35:00.779 And so we can be confident 00:35:00.779 --> 00:35:01.779 in the work of Christ. 00:35:02.659 --> 00:35:03.759 We can delight 00:35:03.759 --> 00:35:05.179 in the joy of Christ. 00:35:06.500 --> 00:35:07.539 And we can long 00:35:07.539 --> 00:35:08.799 for the glory of Christ. 00:35:10.139 --> 00:35:10.739 Let's pray. 00:35:17.779 --> 00:35:18.379 Oh God, 00:35:18.440 --> 00:35:18.980 how we long 00:35:18.980 --> 00:35:19.659 for your glory. 00:35:22.659 --> 00:35:23.879 Surrounded by uncertainty 00:35:23.880 --> 00:35:24.599 in our lives, 00:35:24.640 --> 00:35:25.760 it's so easy 00:35:25.760 --> 00:35:27.099 to take our vision 00:35:27.099 --> 00:35:29.660 away from you. 00:35:31.340 --> 00:35:32.360 To be concerned 00:35:32.360 --> 00:35:33.460 about our own welfare 00:35:33.460 --> 00:35:35.500 could be scared of death. 00:35:38.160 --> 00:35:38.820 Oh God, 00:35:38.860 --> 00:35:39.599 but may we know 00:35:39.599 --> 00:35:40.860 that to live is Christ 00:35:40.860 --> 00:35:41.579 and to die 00:35:41.579 --> 00:35:42.760 is gain. 00:35:45.000 --> 00:35:45.940 May Christ 00:35:45.940 --> 00:35:47.599 be our ultimate desire. 00:35:48.900 --> 00:35:49.980 May your glory 00:35:49.980 --> 00:35:51.220 be our ultimate passion. 00:35:51.219 --> 00:35:54.339 may we experience 00:35:54.339 --> 00:35:55.019 your joy 00:35:55.019 --> 00:35:57.719 in honoring you 00:35:57.719 --> 00:35:58.299 with our bodies. 00:35:58.799 --> 00:36:00.059 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:36:00.699 --> 00:36:00.919 Amen. 00:36:03.919 --> 00:36:05.079 Now will you stand with me 00:36:05.079 --> 00:36:06.259 for our final hymn, 00:36:06.939 --> 00:36:07.199 Christ, 00:36:07.299 --> 00:36:07.679 our hope 00:36:07.679 --> 00:36:08.519 in life and death. 00:36:08.519 --> 00:36:25.480 and now of the promise 00:36:25.519 --> 00:36:26.280 the filling 00:36:28.280 --> 00:36:29.199 of our man 00:36:29.199 --> 00:36:31.320 and the 00:36:31.320 --> 00:36:31.559 love 00:36:31.559 --> 00:36:31.900 and the 00:36:31.900 --> 00:36:33.139 il Go 00:36:33.579 --> 00:36:35.980 in