To Grow In Christ
Philippians 1:21-30
Prayer
Introduction
Many go through life denying different aspects to God’s word because it does not fit into their idea of how God should think, do, or say. They say this is what God really meant or that was for then this is now and the world is different and that cannot possibly be what God actually meant. For instance in a cemetery in Hanover, Germany, is a grave on which were placed huge slabs of granite and marble cemented together and fastened with heavy steel clasps. It belongs to a woman who did not believe in the resurrection of the dead. Yet strangely, she directed in her will that her grave be made so secure that if there were a resurrection, it could not reach her. On the marker were inscribed these words: "This burial place must never be opened." In time, a seed, covered over by the stones, began to grow. Slowly it pushed its way through the soil and out from beneath them. As the trunk enlarged, the great slabs were gradually shifted so that the steel clasps were wrenched from their sockets. A tiny seed had become a tree that had pushed aside the stones.
The dynamic life force contained in that little seed is a faint reflection of the tremendous power of God’s creative word that someday will call to life the bodies of all who are in their graves. He will also bring back every person drowned at sea, cremated, or destroyed in some other way. This is no problem to the One who made something out of nothing when He spoke the universe into existence. Unbelief cannot deter the resurrection. But faith in the risen Christ opens the door to blessings that His resurrection guarantees -- a glorious new spiritual body and a home in heaven. In new bodies we will be reunited with saved loved ones to live with Jesus throughout all eternity. You this woman just could this woman just could not accept the truth of what God’s Word taught about the resurrection of the Body. But she could not stop the forces of nature from opening her tomb just like what she believed cannot stop the resurrection or her judgment. We must grow everyday in our understanding of the Word of God and two we must Grow more each day like our Master and Savior. How do we do this? Let us examine what God’s Word teaches us about how we can grow in Christ everyday.
I. In verse 21 21For me, living is Christ and dying is gain. Is Christ the reason you are living for today?
a. What I am asking is Christ all you are living for today, right now in your life?
i. For those who don’t believe in Jesus Christ this world, this moment in life is there is to live for.
1. we can understand why they are so selfish, demanding, desperate to fill every moment with what they see as worldly joy, turn to drugs, alcohol, sex, or any other addiction. To them this life is all there is and when they die that is it. So lets fill up our life with as much as we can. How much sense does that make? Under their theology why bother because why you die you want know what you did anyway. Under that theology why bother?
a. For those who are lost it is natural for them to value
i. Money
ii. Popularity
iii. Power
iv. prestige
2. How desperate, and despairing that life is and you want to know the truth for everyone of us in here this morning was once living that life style. But because the Holy Spirit dealt with us and accept Jesus’ salvation we now have a different life a hope that is eternal.
ii. For a Christian there is more, a lot more, to life. Verses 22-25 state 22Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work£ for me; and I don’t know which one I should choose. 23I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better— 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith,
1. Because we live we are to serve God
2. Because we live we are to worship God.
3. Because we live we are to talk about God with each other and others. We are to help others to grow in their faith and to lead others to Jesus. Verse 26 26so that, because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus£ when I come to you again.
4. We are to become more like our Lord and Master each and every day.
a. For a Christian life is meant for developing eternal valules
i. Love
ii. Service
iii. Worship
iv. Mercy
v. Grace
vi. Truthfulness
b. That means we are to grow in love, mercy and grace daily. We forgive our enemies, we pray for those who attack us, we serve and worship God in work, life, and thought. Nothing comes before God in our lives.
iii. What a message of hope? Life under Christ not only has a purpose but it also has a fulfillment. No longer do we have to turn to selfish desires now we have Jesus to fill that void and give us hope of life eternal.
b. Paul could say that dying would be better because he would be with Christ so the troubles of this world did not matter.
i. So if you are not ready to die you are not ready to live.
1. what I mean is that once you are certain of your eternal destination they you are ready to serve God without fear.
2. Once you are certain of your eternal destination you can then devote your life to what really counts without any fear of dying. Death no longer has any hold over us. Where once it was an enemy now it is our friend.
3. Verses 23-25 23I am pressured by both. I have the desire to depart and be with Christ—which is far better£— 24but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. 25Since I am persuaded of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your advancement and joy in the faith, 26so that, because of me, your confidence may grow in Christ Jesus when I come to you again.
a. As long as we live we are to serve God and others by telling them about God, teaching the Gospel, and serving God in all aspects of our life. There is the story of a Chinese farmer who was a Christian. He farmed the side of a hill along with a few other farmers. One of the most difficult tasks that the farmer had was to irrigate his crop. He had to carry water from a lake below the hill up to his land. The farmer who owned the land below the Christian farmer was not a Christian. He made life for the Christian almost unbearable, because whenever the Christian farmer irrigated his land the non-Christian would knock down the dam separating their land and the water would flow down and irrigate his land. The Christian farmer, wanting to be a good Christian, would swallow his anger and not say anything. As time went on, however, and the behavior of the non-Christian farmer didn’t change the Christian began to harbor hard feelings and hatred began to grow in him.
The Christian thought that the solution to the problem was in his neighbor becoming a Christian also, but the neighbor was unresponsive to the Christian’s words. While praying about the situation God spoke to the Christian, convicted him of his hatred and showed him how he was to love his neighbor. Next time the Christian farmer irrigated his land, he first went and knocked down the damn between his and the other farmer’s property. He then proceeded to water both properties. He did this for several weeks until the non-Christian farmer came to him and shared with the Christian that he was giving his life to Christ because he could no longer stand against a God who could inspire such love in a man.
II. verses 27Just one thing: live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or am absent, I will hear about you that you are standing firm£ in one spirit, with one mind, working side by side for the faith of the gospel, 28not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is evidence of their destruction, but of your deliverance—and this is from God. As we grow in Christ we are to strive together for Christ.
a. We are to set aside personal feelings to work with and encourage all our brother and sisters in Christ.
i. None of us are better than another. Remember the sons of Zebebee when they asked to sit on Jesus right and left.
ii. It does not matter what color we are, sex we are, or if we are female or male if they have Christ they are our brother and sisters and must be treated as such.
b. We are to resist infighting, name calling, and back biting as God’s children we are not called to do that. The world values that not God.
III. Our lives are to be messages from God to a lost and dark world.
a. Our lives is to e a light a beacon to guide someone lost to safeties shore.
b. If we faithfully serve God we will suffer. What is the purpose of suffering.
i. It shows us that our message and example are having an effect.
ii. It takes our eyes off of worldly comforts.
iii. It weeds out superficial believers.
iv. It strengthens our faith if we continue to endure.
v. It serves as an example to those who follow us.
vi. It verifies we have been faithful.
c. We are in this battle together and all true believers must unite together to fight the same enemy.
IV. What about you? Are you ready to be saved this morning? Are you here this morning having not lived your life for Christ? If you feel that you need to rededicate you life to Christ so that you can tell people about just not with just your mouth but with your life then come forward now and confess to God your desire to live for him. What if you are here this morning lost? Hell is your home but it does not have to be Jesus died for you. I want to illustrate what Jesus did on the cross for you this morning. Bryan Chapell tells this story that happened in his hometown: Two brothers were playing on the sandbanks by the river. One ran after another up a large mound of sand. Unfortunately, the mound was not solid, and their weight caused them to sink in quickly.
When the boys did not return home for dinner, the family and neighbors organized a search. They found the younger brother unconscious, with his head and shoulders sticking out above the sand. When they cleared the sand to his waist, he awakened. The searchers asked, "Where is your brother?"
The child replied, "I’m standing on his shoulders"
With the sacrifice of his own life, the older brother lifted the younger to safety. The tangible and sacrificial love of the older brother literally served as a foundation for the younger brother’s life.
Hebrews 2:10-12 and 14-16 describes Jesus Christ’s willingness to be like the older brother to us: "In bringing many sons to glory, it was fitting that God, for whom and through whom everything exists, should make the author of their salvation perfect through suffering. Both the one who makes men holy [Jesus] and those who are made holy [Christians] are of the same family. So Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers....
Since the children have flesh and blood, he too shared in their humanity so that by his death he (Jesus) might destroy him (Satan) who holds the power of death and [that Jesus might] free those who all their lives were held in slavery by their fear of death.... For this reason he had to be made like his brothers in every way, in order that he might become a merciful and faithful high priest in service to God, and that he might make atonement for the sins of the people."
