Philippians 1:22-26
"Between Two Worlds"
Gospelcom Bible Gateway
"22But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again."
INTRODUCTION:
Thomas Watson wrote, Spiritual things satisfy; the more of heaven is in us, the less earth will content us.” The longer that authentic believers live here the more serious we become about what lies beyond. Even Jesus taught us to pray saying, “Your kingdom come!” Today we take an honest look at the meaning of Christian life and Christian death through the eyes of Paul.
1. The Philippian church felt that Paul was in a place that was difficult and wondered if it was the will of God.
2. Paul wanted them to know that they were wrong and that he was in the right place by the will of God .
3. In these verses Paul is struggling and wrestling between two worlds - here or with the Lord.
4. We need to be balanced in both - Be responsible while here on earth while recognizing that there is more beyond this world, having both of these in our minds while we live.
5. Ecclesiastes 3 - God has put eternity in our hearts. There is more beyond.
6. An unbeliever is also between 2 worlds earth and hell an
7. These verses take us to the irreducible minimum in order to face two worlds wrestling, wanting and willing. The first two is describes every Christian but the last one is for mature believers.
I. Wrestling With a Predicament (22-23)
A. Paul is wrestling with his inner feelings
B. Choose = reveals. God has not yet reveled to him what is best for him.
C. Verse 23 - I am between a rock and a hard place
D. The two walls want Paul wanted in the light of his situation versus the wall of what the Philippians needed in their situation
E. Paul is struggling with the questions of, "Will I live or die?" He is caught in the canyon of his own emotions and what is best for the Philippians and what God's desire is for him
F. When we get restricted and all options are gone what is our motivation what is best for me and my own personal comfort or what is best for the kingdom of God. If we choose our own comfort, we might become....
1. Fatalistic
2. Materialistic
II. Wanting to Depart (23) Strong desire (epi-thoo-may = lust)
A. It Will Be A Departure
1. Departure "ana-loo-oh". Used three ways in Greek
a. Breaking camp and pulling up the stakes of the tent and move on. It is alot of fun, "for awhile" a few weeks perhaps but years? It is time to break camp, depart and move on.
b. It was used for setting sail and moving on and sailing away (2 Tim 4) "The time of my departure is at hand."
c. It was used to remove a yoke off a plowing animal from off of it's back.
2. Are you preoccupied with your tent?
3. There will come a day when the burden is done and you will here well done god and faithful servant welcome into the joy of the Lord
B. It Will Be An Encounter
1. When you love someone alot you want to be with them
2. When you are in love with Jesus it is not the departure that you are excited about but it is the arrival in heaven to see your Lord.
3. The greatest thing about heaven is not what is there but who is there. Our loved ones who have accepted Jesus as their savior and Jesus Himself
4. Psalm 17:15 I will be satisfied for I will see you face to face.
a. There will be nothing to distract you from God
b. You will no need worship music to get into worship as you will always be in worship before God
C. It Will Be Much Better
1. Much more better
2. There is no such thing as soul sleep while. There is an immediate access to God
III. Willing to Remain (24)
A. Fruitful Service
1. As much as Paul desired to be with Christ and his struggle over what he wants and what the Philippians need, he pushed his own desire aside. He practiced what he preached. (cf Philippians 2:3)
2. This is the mark of a mature Christian
3. As long as he remained he knew that it would mean fruitful service (22)
4. For me to live is Christ and to die is gain. What does this mean?
5. What does fruit mean?
a. People that you win to Christ (Romans 1:13)
b. Holy living (Romans 6:22)
c. Giving your resources (Romans 15)
d. Good works (Colossians 1:10)
e. Our praises to God (Hebrews 13:15)
6. A spiritual person is not known by spiritual gifts but by spiritual fruit.
7. Fruit is the result of spiritual labor. We are spiritual farmer (2 Corinthians sow sparingly vs bountifully)
8. How are you sowing for the Lord?
9. (22) If I live on in the flesh. If is a hinge word as it shows how uncertain life is. "If" is where our fruitfulness begins as when we die we can never again lead someone to Christ.
B. Needful Progress (25-26)
1. Paul would ask, "What can I do to help you towards Chirst?"
2. This is the irreducible minimum
3. Jesus, Others, You (JOY)
Taking It Home:
1. Using scripture, can you form a description of heaven? How does it compare to life here? If heaven is our ultimate goal, then what’s the point of time spent on earth?
2. How different is your motivation for going “home with the Lord” from Paul’s?
3. To what extent is your life here motivated by making spiritual progress?
4. How have you progressed over the last six months? Have you produced spiritual fruit?
Memory Verse: Philippians 1:22-26
"22But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. "