Philippians 1:19-26To Live or Die?For Paul, to live is Christ, and that is exciting! Living, he says, means fruitful labor, in which I can take the greatest delight.But facing the possibility of death does not mean he is tired of life, but that death can only mean a more wonderful and deeper companionship with Christ.That is what makes life worth living. He says, to die is gain, and you can only say that if you are prepared to say, to live is Christ!Paul’s needs were met by the Spirit of God, but this provision to P...
Philippians 1:19-26
To Live or Die?
For Paul, to live is Christ, and that is exciting! Living, he says, means fruitful labor, in which I can take the greatest delight.
But facing the possibility of death does not mean he is tired of life, but that death can only mean a more wonderful and deeper companionship with Christ.
That is what makes life worth living. He says, to die is gain, and you can only say that if you are prepared to say, to live is Christ!
Paul’s needs were met by the Spirit of God, but this provision to Paul was brought about by the prayers of the Philippians.
Paul had the confidence that he was in the center of God’s will. To be in prison.
Paul lived his life not to preserve and promote himself, but to glorify Jesus Christ.
Paul`s imprisonment would have hit hard on the Philippians who saw God do so many remarkable miracles of deliverance in Paul’s life among them in Philippi (Acts 16:11-40).
It would have been easy for the Philippians to associate God’s glory only with being delivered from one’s problems, not in being delivered in the midst of one’s problems.
It is easy for us to dictate to God how He can and cannot glorify Himself in our lives. Paul wisely left all that up to God.
Paul was confident that God intended him to be fruitful. There was no doubt in Paul’s mind that this was God’s plan for him to be in prison. If Paul lived, it would be a fruitful life.
7 things Apostle Paul reminds us of today.
#1 Christ wants us to realize His desires in our lives which happens through faith and obedience.
#2 Christ desires us to be joyful, for joy is a fruit of the Spirit and a proof of the filling of the Spirit.
#3 Christians can face death with confidence. because it means more of Christ and face-to-face fellowship with Him.
#4 God wants us to realize the worst thing that can happen to us is death. But in the presence of Christ, death is a blessing.
#5 Living in Christ has meaning, purpose, value, and importance to life. Christ is in our life. He is working out His own plan and character through us.
#6 Since death is gain for the Christian, do we Christians anticipate death on sickbeds and deathbeds? No, We speak honestly to people about the blessings beyond death.
#7 The ultimate reason we Christians live on this earth is to minister to others, glorifying God in the process.
If we are not ministering, we are not going to be experiencing the joy of Christ. Joy is connected up with spiritual growth and service.
Prayer:
Dear Lord, help us to understand the realities of life and death. Help us to be joyful knowing that to live and to die in Christ is the best thing. Help us to minister to others, grow and serve and through this find Joy. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Blessings & Prayers
Pastor. Bobby Leonard
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