The angel said, Men of Galilee, why do you stand there gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus that you saw as sin will come back in like manner. Phyllis, I'm ready for that day. And it's my hope that you are too. But until the Lord comes, if He tarries and gives us more time, we've got work to do. and I pray that we will be found faithful I'm so thankful that he has given us the privilege and it truly is a privilege to serve him in his church and for his kingdom and I pray that you are faithful in whatever it is that God has for you today so I would like you to turn with me you're going to have to turn with me today because we don't have the screens up there to the book of Philippians chapter 1 And I want to try to preach a message to you today with the Lord's help titled, To Live is Christ. To Live is Christ, I'm taking that right out of our text today, Philippians chapter 1, verses 19 through 26, as we continue in this series of having joy or rejoicing in all things. No matter the circumstance, no matter what life throws at us, there is true joy for the child of God. We sang about a lot of the reasons why we should have joy. Our sins, they are many. His mercy is more. He saved us from hell and placed us in His family. That's something to be excited about. And not only that, but because we are His, the day that He returns, we are going with Him. And if we leave here before He comes, we're going with Him. So we're a winner either way, church. And I think that ought to be something even Baptists can get excited about. Amen, and so with that being said, thank you. I can always count on Rosie She's she's my go-to when the rest of the world is silent. I'll get an amen Amen to that if you would and you're able would you stay with me one last time? We're gonna read verses 19 through 26 of Philippians chapter 1 Paul writes these words to the church in Philippi For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed. But with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in my flesh, this will mean fruit for my labor. Yet what shall I choose, I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you for all your progress and joy of the faith. that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Father, thank you so much for your word, for the sweet spirit we felt already today. I pray now, God, that as your word is proclaimed, that you would let faith come through that hearing and hear him by the word of God so that your spirit would work in the hearts of your people, draw them to salvation, to repentance, to service. Whatever it is, have your way in their lives and in their hearts. Lord, I pray that you would increase and I would decrease, God, and I'll give you all the praise in Jesus' mighty name. Amen. Thank you. You may be seated. I want to share a story with you today as we begin in this message about the Prime Minister of England who lived in the 19th century. His name was W.E. Gladstone. And Mr. Gladstone was approached one day by a young man who was eager to learn how to make his life successful. And he asked Mr. Gladstone, These questions, he says, I would appreciate your giving me a few minutes in which I might lay before you my plans for the future. He said, I would like to study law. Yes, said Mr. Gladstone. And then what? Well, sir, then I suppose I would like to gain entrance to the Bar of England. Yes, young man. And what then? Well then, sir, I hope to have a place in Parliament in the House of the Lords. Yes, young man, worthy cause. What then? Then I hope to do great things for Britain. Yes, young man, Gladstone answered. And what then? Then, sir, I hope to retire and take life easy. Yes, young man, and what then? He tenaciously asked. Well then, Mr. Gladstone, I suppose that I will die. Yes, young man, he said. And what then? The young man hesitated and said, I never thought any further than that, sir. And looking at the young man sternly and steadily, Gladstone said, young man, you are a fool. Go home and think your life through. That may sound harsh to us, but I would challenge us biblically that if we have never thought beyond this life, we are in fact fools. The Bible says that the fool declares in his heart that there is no God. And for us to live as though that this is all there is, is to in fact live as though there is no God. We should examine life, enjoy life, live life to the fullest, but never in such a way that we neglect the creator of life or the eternality of eternity that awaits. So as I often do every week, I want to ask you a question that I ask myself all week long as I prepare these messages. And my question for you this week is this. What are you living for? What are you truly living for? I have said in times, and I'm sure that you have said, I've heard people say things like this, my kids are my life. I've heard people say, I live for the weekend. There are many things, whether it's just the way that we say something or if we really mean that, that we talk about a certain thing or person making up the sum of our existence. And I want to follow up the question of what are you living for with a secondary question. What are you passionate about? Often they'll go hand in hand. Your passions will dictate what you live for. What are you passionate about? Sports? Hobbies? Work? Family, all of those things are good. But they are all temporary. And just as Mr. Gladstone asked the young man, I ask you today, have you thought beyond this life? When all of those things end, then what? Then what? This young man that I read about had his whole life mapped out. And there's nothing wrong with making plans. The Bible encourages us to make plans. But the Lord directs our steps. And we've got to be mindful of that. Because life, I think you'll all agree with this, even when we plan to the best of our ability, can throw things at us we never saw coming. And all our plans can quickly go this way and that way. You're not guaranteed that your plans will come to pass, but I can promise you that God's will. Are you trusting Him with your life? What is my purpose? What is your purpose? Why are we here? Why am I here? God gave us life. Why? For what meaning? For what direction? C.S. Lewis said in his amazing book, Mere Christianity, this famous quote that maybe you've heard before, If I find in myself desires which nothing in this world can satisfy, the only logical explanation is that I was made for another world. You'll never find ultimate satisfaction in this life. Our Sunday school lesson, it's amazing how God works these things together. Before I put this sermon, that Sunday school lesson was long written and they are exactly identical at the beginning here of what we talked about. I'll never forget reading a book that, there's been several books in my life that have just made a big impact in my life. And one of those books that I read years ago, not so crazy about the author today, but back then I was, a guy by the name of Francis Chan. wrote a book called Crazy Love. One of the most convicting books that I've ever read other than the Bible. And one of the things he said in that book that I've always tried to keep in the forefront of my life and in my mind is this quote. Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for? I'm going to say it again. Is what you're living for worth Christ dying for? I want us to think about these thoughts and look today with the Apostle Paul for some encouragement and some help and how we can too say like he did, for me to live is Christ. Number one, I want you to see that there is a glorious assurance There is a glorious assurance in verses 19 and 20. There is a differing of opinions between theologians on what kind of deliverance Paul is talking about in verse 19 where he says, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance. The word there is sozo, which we get our English word salvation from. So some believe he's speaking about temporary deliverance from jail. Remember, he's locked up writing these letters. And so his deliverance meaning he's confident that he is going to get out of jail. And then others believe he's speaking of spiritual things, saying, I am confident that God, no matter what happens to me in the flesh, is going to deliver me from this body of death and see me glorified with Him. And I believe that, quite honestly, it could be a measure of both of those thoughts. But I tend to lean towards more of the spiritual deliverance because of what follows in the verses about, for me to live is Christ, to die is gain. Paul was confident And that's the main thing, that no matter what came into his life, even death, he had an assurance. There is nothing greater for us as Christians to know Jesus Christ, because when you know Him and truly know Him, you will walk in a freedom. assurance and a peace that nothing can take from you I'm not saying that trials won't come and I'm not saying that you won't weep and doubt and fear at times but what's inside of you is greater than all those things all of those thoughts that flash through your mind and believe me that we all have them Many times those thoughts never come to fruition. It's our response to a circumstance instead of responding in faith and standing on the promises that God has given us. Paul didn't know at any moment when that jail cell could swing open and they'd take him out to chop his head off or stone him to death. He didn't know it, but he spoke and he believed as though he would walk out of that jail and continue to glorify God. And even if they did kill him, his life still would glorify God. That's a freedom to be able to live that way. To know that whatever comes, whatever my lot, Thou hast taught me to say, it is well, it is well with my soul. That's something that there's nothing this world can give you that can bring that kind of contentment, that can bring that kind of peace. And Paul had it. And guess what? That's not just for Paul or certain saints. That's for every believer in Christ to know that Christ will bring all things together and work all things together for good, for His deliverance. And notice how God does this. How does God strengthen Paul and his people? He does it through the prayers of the saints and the supply of the Spirit of Christ. Oftentimes I think that we neglect prayer because we don't see immediate answers or we wonder if we're doing it right. We wonder if God hears us. We feel unworthy to pray. And I think the result of all of those incorrect thoughts are that we neglect it. And church, can I say that the greatest detriment to our spiritual life is a lack of prayer. We can never pray enough. I think that's why the Bible says things like pray without ceasing. We are not going to ever live up to that standard. But if the standard is that high, I think that that ought to be where we aim. If you shoot at nothing, you'll hit nothing. I think that we have got to see the standard as being praying without ceasing so that hopefully our lives mimic one that depends on God for all things. God does not get tired of hearing you come and knock and ask for something else. He doesn't get wearied by your prayers. Your needs are not insignificant. I don't know how many times over the years as a pastor I've heard people come and say, Pastor, you know, I didn't want to mention it in prayer time because it's really not that big of a deal compared to everybody else. We're not comparing your needs to anybody else. You have a need and you have a God. Bring it to Him. He is not too busy with this side over here that He can't take care of this side over here. He doesn't have His calendar or His phone filled up with appointments to where there's no room for you. You have got to understand the importance of taking everything, every need, every offering of praise and thanksgiving and bringing it to God. His Word is how He communicates to us and prayer is how we communicate to Him. And Paul said, I drew strength and encouragement from the prayers of the people. I can't tell you how much it helps me when I get a text or a Facebook message or anything like that from someone saying, hey, you were just on my heart today and I'm praying for you. I can't put a price on that. I mean that from the bottom of my heart. And I hope that you get those texts from me and from others at times to just know that people love you and we are praying for you. and I hope that you're praying for us. It is an encouragement. And he says that not only do the prayers give me this confidence, but the supply of the Spirit. Now, this is sometimes where Baptists get real weird and we get uncomfortable. Anytime the Bible starts talking about that third person of the Trinity, we kind of weird out, right? We don't mind a name, call him the Holy Spirit, but we don't want to see him really do anything weird, like... Save somebody, that's good, but heaven forbid if the Holy Spirit gets a hold of somebody and they get happy or excited, you know, that's down the street. They do that down the street. They don't do that here. I think that sometimes we quench the Spirit not by our sins, but by us being too prideful to let Him work in our lives. I'm not saying you've got to get all ecstatic and run around and get excited, but I'm not saying also that you should be ashamed to do that if you're that excited about what God's doing in your life. Because I see people paint, I've said it many times and I'm not, I enjoy it too. I like sports and all that stuff, but I see people will paint their, I guarantee you next Sunday at the stadium downtown in Cincinnati, there will be people that could care less if you think they're an idiot. They're gonna be painted like a tiger, they're gonna have costumes on, they're gonna be out there four hours early to act absolutely nuts. over the Bengals. And that's okay. I'm glad you like the Bengals that much. There's nothing wrong with that. All I'm saying is if the Bengals can make you that excited, Jesus ought to really make you excited. Because the Bengals have a pretty good shot this year, if nobody gets hurt, of making it, that's a big if, of making it to the Super Bowl. but there's a chance they won't. But I can guarantee you 100% that every promise God has made is going to come to pass. So don't quench the spirit in your life. I think sometimes that people just need to see that we really believe what we say we do, right? If we walk around and say we've got all this joy and we've never cracked a smile in the last 10 decades, there's a problem. There is something really wrong, right? And so Paul said, these things give me strength. It was an assurance to know that the Spirit was there and active even in his difficult situation. People were praying, and he said, you know what? My deliverance is coming. Whether in the flesh or in the Spirit, God has got this. And I want to encourage you today that if you live for Christ, God's got you. He has got you in His hands, and I'm not preaching a message of prosperity and health and wealth, I pray that that comes for you. God is able. And there's nothing wrong with having those things. But if none of that takes place in your life, and the trials still come, and the suffering increases, God is still good. And God is still God. He didn't give up His throne. He didn't change His position. God is for us who can be against us. Amen? So there is this glorious assurance, and then there is a growing aspiration that I want you to see Paul has. He says in verses 21 through 23 again, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. But I want us to look at and think about that. And we've mentioned this several times. And this is vital, guys. This is so important for us or we will be so confused about who we truly are in Jesus that we will be double minded. We will be pulled this way and that way. So I just want to keep reiterating this to you. There is There are two different things taking place in the life of the believer simultaneously when it comes to talking about who we are in Christ and who we are becoming like in Christ. Both of those things are taking place for the believer immediately and instantly, but in different ways. So, I say that again to say this, you have got to know your position. Your position is fixed. Your position is unchanging. Your position does not depend on you at all. Your position is settled the moment that Christ laid down His life and you by faith received Him. I'm talking about your salvation. I'm talking about who you are now. The old man has died, there is a new creature in Christ, and you're not the same person that you used to be. That is the testimony of the believer. If you can't stand here today, we may have different stories, but if the summary of your story is not, all I know is this, there was a time in my life where I was dead in my sin, lived for the world and loved it, and Jesus found me, washed me, cleansed me, made me new, and I fail Him daily, but I'm sure not who I used to be. That has got to be your testimony. It's got to be. Know your position. Know where you stand, child of God, that you are safe with Him. Romans 6, verses 10 and 11 says, For the death that He died, that is Jesus, He died to sin once. One time, He's not coming back. He's coming back. Phyllis sung about it. But He's not coming back to die for sins again. That death on Calvary 2,000 years ago was the payment once for all. He doesn't need to come back and do anything else. He doesn't need penance. He doesn't need confession. He doesn't need purgatory. He doesn't need reincarnation. He doesn't need any of that. He just needs you to believe. He says for the death that he died, he died to sin once for all. I am not Calvinistic in my preaching. Sorry to disappoint you if you are. I can love you and disagree charitably, but I believe that when the Bible says he died for all, all means all. Now obviously not all are saved. There is condition there, that being faith, that God will save all who believe on Him. But I believe wholeheartedly that the Bible teaches that Christ's sacrifice was sufficient for the entire world. and it is applicable to all those who believe. And so he goes on in this verse in Romans and says, but the life that he lives, he lives to God. Likewise, you also, you believers, yourselves are dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus our Lord. That is our position. So you say, well, Pastor, if I'm dead to sin, why does it still trouble me so much? Why do I struggle with it so much? Because positionally, your debt is paid. You owe nothing to God. And he has credited you with all that Christ is. The perfect fulfillment of the law. Jesus never sinned. He took our sins upon himself, but he didn't have any of his own. and He gave us His perfect righteousness. So when God sees us, our account is clean, and Christ's righteousness is in our place. But, now as new creatures in Christ, unless He took you straight to glory the moment you believed, you have a life to live. You have a life to live still in this old sinful world. And every day that you walk through this old sinful world, If you pinch yourself, you'll feel something. That's this old dead flesh. That didn't get saved the moment you believed. The spirit inside of you, that's why the Bible says to be absent from the body, is to be present with the Lord. When Christians die, they don't float off into glory bodily. We have funerals for Christians and non-Christians. And there is a body, whether cremated or laid out in the gasket, because this flesh is not saved. When you believed your spirit, your soul was saved. And it will go on to be with the Lord. But this flesh is still corrupt. It's still sinful. And it is going to wage war against the new person inside of you. And that is the battle. And listen, so many times Christians come to me and they say, Pastor, I just don't have any assurance because all the time I'm trying to live for Jesus. I want to live for Jesus. I'm praying to live for Jesus. And I'm still messing up. And I never want to disregard examining ourselves, but I want to say this. Unbelievers don't come to church and talk to pastors about their struggle with sin. They love it. They want to do it. The very fact that you are now struggling against sin and warring against sin tells me that there's something going on inside of you. That there is a new creature that desires to live for Jesus. There's nothing in this book that tells me that we are going to be able to live a sinless life in the flesh. We can walk in the Spirit and we should obey Him. But that never says or never means, unfortunately, that we won't at times struggle. Struggle being the key with sin. So if you are living a life for the Lord and stumble along the way, understand that you are not abnormal. That you're facing the same struggles that we in this room face and that Paul faced. Read Romans 7 sometimes and see the struggle that Paul faced with the flesh. but we are in Christ today and that's where our confidence comes from if if you are looking at yourself today and saying I just feel so unworthy to go to heaven I feel so unworthy to serve in the church I feel so unworthy to pray I feel so unworthy to do this and unworthy to do that yes that's a proper attitude you should never be so puffed up and say boy God you're lucky you got me I'm on The day I got saved, heaven got a little brighter and I am glad that I'm going. You should be too. That's not our attitude. I've never seen a Christian like that. We understand, I hope, that God saved us by His mercy and through His grace. We don't deserve anything. But that's no excuse to say to God, I can't and I won't do what you want me to do until I'm worthy. That's putting this thing back on you. You have to say, I'm willing to take this step of faith, as unworthy as I am, and trust that you will use me. That you will help me. And that through my shortcomings, a good and glorious God will get the praise. You see, when God takes the foolish things and the unwise things of this world and does something amazing, He didn't pick scholars and theologians as the twelve. Did He? He picked fishermen. He picked people with all kinds of struggles. Look at Peter. He was a mess. And yet God used him in a mighty way. He picked a persecutor of the church like Paul to plant churches all over Asia. and to write half the New Testament over half the New Testament. So don't ever think that God is waiting for you to have it all figured out before He can do something with your life. If you want to live for Christ, then you've got to say, I am saved, I am His, and I am ready to do whatever He wants me to do. And He will work an amazing work in your life for His glory if you'll let Him. There's a growing aspiration in the life of the believer. That I can do all things through Christ. That's not a bumper sticker or a coffee cup verse. It's turned into that, sadly. But Paul wrote it from jail. And he wrote it in the face of suffering. And he was talking about the fact that no matter what comes in life, this contentment and this peace that Jesus brings allows us, no matter what, to be able to say, I can do all things through Christ, who strengthens me. In our moments of weakness, Jesus is enough. And finally, I want you to see that there is a grand acknowledgement in all of this. Verses 24-26. There's something that he said in verse 20, and I just want you to see it as we get into these last verses. In verse 20 he says, So now also Christ will be magnified in my body. Have you ever used a magnifying glass as we get older and our eyes get a little worse? Have you ever had to use that to see something? It takes the words on the page or trying to thread a needle, if you're so, or whatever you're doing with that magnifying glass, and it blows it up really big so that we can see it better, doesn't it? That's the idea that Paul says he wants to do with his life. He says He wants Christ to be magnified in my body, that is, in my life. Wherever He goes, He wants people to get a bigger view of Jesus. What if we lived with that mindset, to live as Christ, and everywhere I go, to school, to work, to the restaurant, it doesn't matter. When people run into me, they leave with a bigger view of Jesus. Man, what a testimony that would be, right? And I think that without boasting too much, God is doing that in this church. And I believe that that is why we see new people come every week. Welcome if you're new today. But I believe that God is using you to see and to testify that when believers really live like Jesus, there's something different about us. And people want that. They do. Give Him praise for that. He says, magnify Jesus in my body. Magnify Jesus in your body. He says in verse 25, Being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you for your progress and joy of the faith. That word progress is interesting. You ever seen shows about people going into the jungle and they have a machete and they're trying to cut a path through all this overgrowth and vines? They're going somewhere that someone has never went before. That's the idea of that word progress that Paul uses in verse 25 there. He says, I know that I shall remain and continue with you. He said, if I basically to live as Christ, to die as gain, but God's going to leave me here. I'm confident of that because you need me still. He says, for your progress. There are Christians and even non-Christians who are watching your life. There's people in this church that have been through some stuff that some of us haven't been yet. But one of these days, I hope not, I'm not wishing this on anybody, but one of these days, our phone might ring with the doctor calling us. One of these days, our phone might ring and we find out that our job has been eliminated. One of these days, we might come home to an empty house and our spouse saying, I'm not in love with you anymore. You never know what might come into your life. And for the first time, you're going to walk a path you've never walked before. And I'm sure thankful that Jesus goes before us, but I'm also really thankful for people that have already walked that path. that I can sit down next to in all my tears and all my discouragement. And they said, let me tell you what this is like. And let me tell you what Jesus will do. We need that, church. We need one another. If you want to live like Jesus, sometimes it's a lonely road. But you won't walk that road alone. There's going to be people alongside of you, people up ahead of you, and people behind you. We're all at different places in our walk. But we can all walk together wherever we're at. And I pray that we can do that today and glorify God. The old commentator Matthew Henry. I don't quote him a lot, but man, he was so wise and used of God in such a mighty way, even though it's. Four or five hundred year old commentary now. I love what he wrote here. I want to give this to you as we wrap this up. He said, the Apostle's difficulty was not between living in this world and living in heaven. Between these two, there is no comparison, but between serving Christ in this world and enjoying him in another. Not between two evil things, but between two good things, living to Christ and being with him. See the power of faith and of divine grace. It can make us willing to die. In this world we are encompassed with sin, but when with Christ we shall escape sin and temptation, sorrow and death forever. But those who have most reason to desire to depart should be willing to remain in the world as long as God has any work for them to do. If God has you here today, then you still have work to do. I know it's a sad thing. I've talked to a lot of older people, especially older people that have lost their spouses. And again, I've never walked that path. There is no way on earth I could ever stand up here and say, I know what that feels like. I hope I never have to. But I'm saying this, I've talked to a lot of old people, older people in those situations, broken from loneliness and sometimes feeling hopeless. And they'll say, I just really don't know what the point of my life is anymore. I just really don't know what my purpose is. Why does God even still have me here? Everybody that I love is in heaven. Why am I here? I can't begin to completely answer that question for you. But I can say this. God knows what He's doing. And if you're here, we are thankful for that. And you have a purpose still. The body may fail. It may not be able to do all the physical things that it used to do. The mind may fail. And you may not be able to think the thoughts you used to think or recall memories you used to recall. But none of those things means that you are valueless or without purpose. And so I want you to realize that God has a plan for your life and a purpose for your life regardless of age or ability. It's just another step of faith in this life of faith, to trust Him this morning, wherever you're at, with whatever your struggles, and say, God, here I am. Even if you don't know, you say, well, I believe that that could be true. Maybe He has something for me, but I sure don't know what it is. Oftentimes God doesn't tell you what it is. He just says, trust me, and we'll find out together. Not that he's learning, he already knows, but he's walking you with it. Just like Abraham. He said, come out of Ur of the Chaldees and follow me. He didn't tell Abraham where he was going, he just said, come on, follow me. He didn't tell the disciples where they were gonna go, he just said, leave your nets and follow me. Are you willing to follow him? Does he have to tell you every detail before you'll go? That's not faith. That's wanting to be in control. That's wanting to decide after you know the details. Faith says, I'll take your hand and trust you. Even if I have no idea how it ends, no idea where we're going, I'll trust you with my salvation, with my life, with my family, with my finances, with all of it. We trust him. In Lewis Carroll's Alice in Wonderland, Alice asked the Cheshire Cat, Would you tell me, please, which way I ought to go from here? And the cat replied, that depends a good deal on where you want to get to. Well, I don't much care where I'm going, said Alice. Then it doesn't matter which way you go, said the cat. You're sure to get somewhere if you only walk long enough. Some of you are just wandering around trying to figure this thing out. And I'm asking you today to be still and know that he is God. I'm asking you to just stop your frantic running long enough to hear the still, small voice that's calling to you today. Come to me, all you weary and heavy laden, and I'll give you rest. Come to me, ye who thirst. Take of the water of life freely and drink from it. Whosoever will, let him come. Over and over, God says, come and follow me. Deny yourself. Take up your cross and follow me. I believe that in this invitation, the offer is still the same. Will you follow Jesus? You're following the world into destruction right now if you don't have him. There's a broad road that many are on, and Jesus is saying today, follow me. Take my hand and trust me, I've died for your sins, I've loved you with an everlasting love. Will you trust me today? And Christians, we don't have opportunity to wait any longer to get serious about God we need everyone to roll up their sleeves and serve Jesus and make a difference will you join him today in that mission let's pray father thank you this morning Lord for the challenge that we have to live for Christ and to know him and be known by him. God, I pray that in this invitation, in these moments, that God, as you've worked in our hearts and in our lives, that today would be the day we would respond. No more excuses, no more games, no more waiting. That, Lord, we will take up our cross and trust you. And I give you the thanks for that. In Jesus' name, amen. Phyllis, you come.