Becoming a Joy-FULL Person
2. Live With An Eternal Perspective
Philippians 1:12-29
May 8/9, 2004
Don Jaques
MAIN IDEAS: You can be Joy-FULL regardless of your circumstances if you live your life with an eternal perspective.
1. Let God use your tough circumstances for his purposes.
2. Don’t get sidetracked by petty disagreements.
3. Live for Christ everyday.
INTRO:
At one time or another we all face crummy situations. Whether it’s an overwhelming tragedy like the death of a loved one or a chronic illness on down to just having a bad day, as believers we can face them with joy. God can take our difficulties and trials and suffering and turn them into an occasion for joy.
Today we’re going to look at another key to becoming a Joy-FULL person: living with an eternal perspective. We’re going to turn again to the remarkable letter written by a missionary named Paul to one of the churches he established. This letter is an invitation to experience the joy of the Christian life. I say the letter is remarkable because it was written while Paul was under arrest and awaiting trial, the outcome of which could result in either his release from chains or his execution. He was chained 24/7 to a Roman soldier, yet he managed to experience joy despite his situation.
How did he do it? How could you possibly be Joy-FULL in a situation like that? Well, it’s all in your perspective.
PERSPECTIVE IS EVERYTHING!
The way we look at life determines whether we have joy or despair.
It’s something like what Coach John McKay of USC said to his team after they had been humiliated 51-0 by Notre Dame. McKay came into the locker room and saw a group of beaten worn-out and thoroughly depressed young football players who were not accustomed to losing. He stood up on a bench and said, "Men, let’s keep this in perspective. There are 800 million Chinese who don’t even know this game was played." That’s what you call perspective.
Steve Farrar, Family Survival in the American Jungle, 1991, Multnomah Press, p. 40.
That’s one way to get the situation in perspective, but Paul went a step further. He didn’t just make the best of a bad situation he actually saw the positive results of his imprisonment. So we’re not just talking about seeing the cup as half full rather than half empty. We’re talking about seeing what is going on in your life – really seeing your entire life – as something that God is at work in and through.
Let’s read from Philippians 1 starting with verse 12…
Philippians 1:12-14
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
What does it mean to live with an eternal perspective? The first thing we learn from Paul is you must…
1. Let God use your tough circumstances for his purposes. (v. 12-14)
“What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” V. 12
Look at the good things Paul mentions that have happened as a result of his rather bleak circumstances. (imprisoned, waiting, unjustly accused, unjustly beaten)
1. Everyone knows he’s in chains for Christ (v. 13), which means he has a STRONG TESTIMONY.
The harder your situation, the more powerful your testimony of faithfulness.
I was talking with a friend in our church who is going through a hard time this week – but he is displaying an amazing amount of grace and faith throughout the struggles he’s facing. He was telling me about a conversation with a neighbor that he had, where his neighbor, observing how he was handling the situation, said “I know ONE person who’s going to heaven!” This person, though not really understanding exactly what it takes to get to heaven, was seeing Christ through the example of this man – and it had him thinking about eternity.
If you’re struggling through some sort of difficult circumstance now, stop for a moment and think about the people who are watching you go through it. You have an incredible opportunity to demonstrate to them what faith in Jesus means – and the difference it can make for you. When you demonstrate faith in the hard times, it makes your testimony that much more powerful!
TRANS: The second good result from his suffering that Paul mentions is…
2. Others have been encouraged to speak the word of God. (v. 14).
When you are in tough circumstances and you continue to praise God – you continue to show joy and faith in God – then it encourages others who are in tough situations or easier situations to do the same.
ILLUS: National Day of Prayer – guest speaker was a man in his sixties who had a bicycle accident and became a quadriplegic last September. He shared about the growing depth in his walk with the Lord. He had a good sense of humor about his limitations. He displayed JOY and a love of living. It inspired me!
Paul’s time under house arrest allowed him to share his faith with the roman guards. It gave him a stronger testimony. It gave him a chance to encourage other believers by his faithful example.
These are the same things God wants to do in you whenever you suffer!
TRANS: Living with an eternal perspective means letting God use your tough circumstances for his purposes. The next key to living with an eternal perspective is…
2. Don’t get sidetracked by petty disagreements.(v. 15-18)
Philippians 1:15-18
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Somehow, it appears that the Christian message became quite popular in some circles, to the point that some Christian preachers began to use it as a way to gain influence and fuel their selfish ambition. Sounds kind of similar to some unfortunate news stories we’ve all heard. But Paul’s response to such people is so interesting. Instead of getting upset that there were people who were preaching Christ from the wrong motives, he says this: “The important thing is that in every way…Christ is preached.” V. 18
This is such an important idea that we need to understand. It’s very easy to get suspicious or jealous or downright negative about people who go to other Christian churches that have different ways of doing things than we do here. We can become like the guys in this cartoon…
(cartoon of men from different churches, one is from "First church" and is in a suit and tie. the other is from "Community Church" and is wearing casual clothes. They look at each other and both think simultaneously, "There, but for the grace of God, go I.")
But God’s word reminds us that everyone who preaches Christ is ultimately on our team. It’s a good thing!
Paul is NOT saying to put up with false doctrine. No – he spent a good amount of his time correcting errors which crept into the churches he planted. He IS saying – if someone is preaching Christ, don’t argue with his or her motives or methods!
Living with an eternal perspective means refusing to get sidetracked in your faith by petty disagreements with other believers. When you understand there is room in the kingdom for people who worship in different ways but who still love Christ then you will be freed to focus your attention on more important matters, such as the matters Paul gets to in verses 19-30.
Philippians 1:19-30
19 Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved--and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
3. Live for Christ everyday. (v. 19-30)
Paul gives us some incredibly inspiring words to live by in these verses…
Though he is facing an uncertain future that might mean execution or further imprisonment, he says…
Verse 20: “Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”
and
Verse 21: “To live is Christ, to die is gain.”
“It’s all good.” - If I’m living – I’ll be walking with Christ and being strengthened by the Holy Spirit. I’ll be bringing praise to Him with what I do.
If I die – I’ll be in heaven receiving my eternal reward. So, it’s all good!
"Too often for us it is ’to live is Christ, plus other pursuits (work, leisure, accumulating wealth, relationships, etc.). And if the truth were known, all too often the ’plus factor’ has become our primary passion."
Gordon Fee
QUESTION: What do you live for?
• Personal advancement
• Material things
• Pleasure
• Your kids
• Your spouse
• Your boyfriend/girlfriend
Unless you can say, “I’m living for Jesus Christ! For me – to live IS Christ!” you are heading for disappointment. For all those other things will disappoint.
That’s why Jesus said, “Seek first the Kingdom of God and His righteousness and ALL these things shall be added to you.”
Though he’s under house arrest, with an uncertain future ahead of him – he is able to be a Joy-Full person because he knows what is most important. Living for Christ. And he knows that even if the worst happens and he is executed – all that will happen is he will experience GAIN!
Friends – this is the kind of perspective that will change you from the inside out when you experience hard times.
Knowing that what happens to him will have an effect on the believers in Philippi, he instructs them…
Verse 27: “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”
I recently heard that Bill Bright, Founder of Campus Crusade, one of the largest non-profit organizations in the world, once prayed, "God, kill me before I do anything to shame the name of Christ." Could you pray something like that? That’s the kind of prayer Paul would have prayed. That’s the kind of life he longs for the Philippians to live. And that’s the kind of life God desires for us to live.
Why – because living for Christ everyday is the BEST way to live as a Joy-FULL person. It’s the key to one day looking back at your life and knowing you lived it to the full! It’s the key to one day hearing God speak to you “Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into your rest.”
CONCLUSION:
You want to be a Joy-FULL person?
Live life with an eternal perspective.
Let God use your tough circumstances for His purposes.
Don’t get sidetracked by petty disagreements.
And
Live for Christ everyday.
PRAY:
For those who are undergoing tough times, will you allow God to use you in those circumstances? Will you confess your anger toward Him and ask him to use you to show his love to others?
For those who have problems with other Christians over small issues – will you ask God to give you an eternal perspective on what’s important? Will you forgive those who’ve hurt you? Will you ask for forgiveness for spiritual pride?
For those of you who have been living for anything other than Christ, will you tell God you’re sorry? Will you make the changes, with the help of the Holy Spirit, that you need to make?
God give us an eternal perspective on our lives.
God make us joy-FULL people!
Amen
