Living Dangerously -- 11/1/09

Sunday, November 1, 2009

LIVING DANGEROUSLY
Phil. 1:19-26

None of you knew me when I was in high school. Those were precious years in my life. I knew the Lord Jesus and He was working in my life. On the other hand, there were things that had become so established in me by the time I was 14 years old that undoing them has taken a long time. Though some of you might have a hard time believing it, I was a straight “A” student. Believe me, I am not boasting; this was a great weakness that would plague me for many years. I had a reputation and I defended it vigorously. That is called pride, and it is sin. Period. And sin has consequences.

Because I had a reputation to defend and was so addicted to getting my “A’s,” certain limitations were placed on me. I found myself steering away from certain classes, if I thought I might not be able to get an “A” in that class. It wasn’t that I was lazy. I took algebra, geometry, calculus, biology, chemistry, physics, and some difficult English classes. I knew myself pretty well. I knew that in any of those classes, if I worked hard enough, I could get an “A.” I was a person of reasonable intelligence and I knew how to study. But there was one class that I had a desire to take. It was “chorus” … you know, “choir.” I really wanted to take that class. After I had come to know the Lord, I really liked music. I liked to sing and I tinkered with the piano. There was one big problem – I wasn’t sure I could get an “A” in that class. It wasn’t that I couldn’t carry a tune, but I didn’t know how good you had to be to get an “A.” I knew it wasn’t something I could do better at just because I studied hard, and intelligence didn’t seem to have much to do with it either. Final result – I never took the class. I played it safe, and I got my “A’s.” My reputation was not soiled, but I was poorer because I wouldn’t take the risk of not getting an “A.” I never experienced some things because I was afraid and chose to play it safe.

As I shared with many of you Wednesday evening, our theme for November is simply “Living Dangerously.” I’m not talking about the physical realm. I am not referring to riding scary roller coasters or driving a car at a high rate of speed. No, I’m not talking about jumping off bridges and fighting dangerous animals. Rather, I want us to confront the danger of playing it safe in our spiritual lives. I don’t have all the answers, but I confess that I have spent far too much of my life with Christ playing it safe. And some of you are just like I am. So by God’s grace, we are going to prayerfully explore the subject of living dangerously.

What better place to start than with this passage in Philippians. This morning we are going to be looking at Phil. 1:19-26. We will continue to look at the life of a man who lived dangerously, and that man was the apostle Paul. Let’s read Phil. 1:19-26…
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. 21. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22. But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26. That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

Just in case you missed it somewhere, Paul was writing from prison to his Christian brothers and sisters in Philippi. But he wasn’t griping and complaining. Rather, he was rejoicing that the gospel was being advanced and that Christ was being preached. God was actually using his imprisonment as a way to cut a new path for the good news of Christ. Even though there were some who were preaching Christ in order to make things more difficult for the apostle, Paul’s attitude was simply: “As long as Christ is preached, I rejoice and will continue to rejoice.”

That is where we take it up this morning. We are going to tie our thinking to some phrases that Paul used. In verse 19 “my salvation.” In verse 20 “my earnest expectation and my hope.” And although we don’t find the exact phrase in verse 21, the idea is “my life.” My salvation, my expectation and hope, my life.

I. My Salvation… through prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ

Notice the connection between the words at the end of verse 18 and what we then find in verse 19… “Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” Paul connects his future rejoicing with the knowledge that this shall turn to his salvation. That raises a few questions that we must examine.

Paul says that “this shall turn to my salvation.” This what? What does he mean by “this”? It isn’t clear. I think it best to understand “this” to refer to Paul’s present situation in its entirety. He is confident that this whole set of circumstances will turn out for his salvation. That raises a second question: what does he mean by “salvation”? He certainly isn’t talking about redemption, about being saved in the sense of Eph. 2:8. So what is this salvation or deliverance of which he is speaking? At first, we might think that he is talking about being delivered from prison. The only problem with that is that the following verses indicate that this salvation will be accomplished regardless of the verdict in court. In the context, it seems Paul is saying that he will be saved from disgracing Christ and the gospel in any way. He will be saved in the sense that he will be fully vindicated in his stand for Christ.

That isn’t the whole story. Notice that this will happen through their prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Read it again in verse 19, “For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the Spirit of Jesus Christ.” If his salvation is his continued witness for Christ without disgracing the gospel, then we should understand that Paul’s Christian brothers and sisters were not just praying for his release. Release from prison was not the salvation he was talking about. If they were encouraged to preach Christ because of the way his imprisonment for Jesus’ sake was advancing the gospel, then they would be willing to join him in praying that the gospel would continue to advance. They couldn’t just pray that Paul be released.

On the surface, it would seem that their prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ are linked too closely together. How could there be any comparison between human prayer and the divine supply of the Spirit? If Paul had the help of the Spirit, what value was there in the prayers of his brothers and sisters? We see here that Paul links them very closely together, and so he should. God has chosen to use the prayers of His people. We may not understand that, but it is a truth of scripture. They prayed, and the help of the Spirit was supplied.

There may be a link between what Paul says here and what Jesus said in Matt. 10:16-20…
Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves. 17. But beware of men: for they will deliver you up to the councils, and they will scourge you in their synagogues; 18. And ye shall be brought before governors and kings for my sake, for a testimony against them and the Gentiles. 19. But when they deliver you up, take no thought how or what ye shall speak: for it shall be given you in that same hour what ye shall speak. 20. For it is not ye that speak, but the Spirit of your Father which speaketh in you.

This may be some of what Paul is talking about when he speaks of the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. Remember that he in prison waiting for a trial. It is obvious that Paul is not consumed by what is going to happen at that trial; he is consumed by Christ and the gospel.

II. My Expectation and Hope… that Christ be magnified

Now let’s read verse 19 together with verse 20…
For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

As Paul is thinking about this salvation through their prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, he links it with his earnest expectation and his hope. And what was his earnest expectation and his hope? That in nothing he would be ashamed. Perhaps more likely, “that in nothing I shall be put to shame.” Paul was not worried about his own reputation. He was thinking of his testimony for Christ. We see this clearly in the rest of the verse. He didn’t want to bring shame upon Christ in any way.

That is the negative side of his expectation and hope, but what is the positive side? “But that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body.” He longs for Christ to be magnified through him. “Body” certainly includes the physical flesh, but it goes beyond that to include the whole person. This magnifying of Christ through Paul must include his boldness. Paul has been bold in the past, and he longs for that to continue. This word “boldness” is not the same word that is translated “bold” in verse 14. This is that word that is used a number of times in the New Testament and literally refers to freedom in speaking. It doesn’t give the idea of cockiness or forcefulness. We often think of bold as the person who comes on strong. That isn’t what this word conveys. The idea is simply that Paul be able to say what he needs to say without any hindrance. That will be a big part of Christ being magnified in him.

Paul could have spoken of Christ being glorified in him, but he didn’t. It is interesting that he uses the word “magnify.” Do you know what the actual Greek word means? It means “to magnify, to make large, to enlarge.” Part of the word is “mega,” which we use very freely in our Enlgish language to speak of something that is huge. So Paul’s expectation and hope is that Christ be magnified in him.

Does anyone have a magnifying glass? (Have someone bring out the huge magnifying glass, the one made with a hula hoop). Let’s take a look at this picture (projected on the screen). Now let’s put it under the magnifying glass (put the magnifying glass up and enlarge the picture at the same time). Isn’t it amazing how much larger it is once we look at it through the magnifying glass! At first, you notice the magnifying glass, but the more you study the actual item under the glass, the less attention you pay to that magnifying glass.

This is exactly what Paul was confidently expecting to happen – that Christ would be seen larger as people looked at Paul. His desire was that their attention be turned away from Paul to Christ Himself. Isn’t that beautiful? Isn’t that what we long for? We don’t want people to see us as large. Rather, we want them to notice us less and less and be captivated by Christ. We want Jesus to become larger and larger for them. It reminds me of what John the Baptist said about Jesus: “He must increase, but I must decrease” (John 3:30). In a moment, we are going to look at what is necessary for that to happen.

By the way, that phrase “earnest expectation” is the translation of a single word that is rich in meaning. It is actually a compound word made up of “from,” “head,” and “to watch.” It pictures a person watching with head outstretched and attention focused. This desire that Christ be magnified was no small thing for Paul. It wasn’t a wish; it was his hope, his confident expectation. He waited eagerly to see it happen, to see Christ magnified in him.

We must not overlook the last words of verse 20, “whether it be by life or by death.” Paul did not know exactly how Christ would be magnified in him. The truth is that it didn’t matter. Paul didn’t pray, “Father, magnify your Son in me by showing your power in getting me out of prison.” No. Rather, “Magnify your Son in me regardless of what happens to me. It doesn’t matter whether I live or die.” Do you see? Paul was just the magnifying glass; he was expendable. The only thing that mattered was that Christ was magnified. If that could best be down through his life, praise God. If it could be best done through his death, praise God.

III. My Life… Christ Himself

Now we come to verse 21, where we find those words that many of you know well, “For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” The word “for” (because) connects verse 21 closely with what we just read in verse 20. Why is it that Paul is confident that Christ will be magnified in his body, whether by life or by death? It is because for Paul, to live is Christ and to die is gain. Do you see the connection? Christ will not be magnified in my body unless it can be said truthfully: “For Ron, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” Brothers and sisters, this isn’t an attitude for an apostle; this is the attitude for believers, for all the children of God. “To me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” But what exactly is meant by that little and well-known phrase?

To live is Christ. Paul writes these words in Col. 3:1-4…
If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. 2. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. 3. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. 4. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory.

If you have been raised with Christ, then you died with Him and you are hidden with Him in God. Indeed, Christ is your very life. You are not your own; you have been bought with a price, with the precious blood of Christ. Christ is your life. In terms of the Philippian letter, you are able to do all things through Christ, who strengthens you (4:13). You have the mind of Christ (2:5). You long to know more of Him in personal experience, being eager even to suffer with Him (Phil. 3:10). You rejoice in Him (3:1, 4:4). To live is Christ.

BUT we do have an enemy who is working hard to deceive us into thinking that our lives are our own, that living this kind of sold-out life is optional. It’s a lie. This “my life is Christ” attitude is our spiritual heritage. No one on earth can be like this except the child of God, the one who has been redeemed by the blood of Christ, justified through His death and resurrection. We and we alone can say, “To me, to live is Christ.” May God give us grace to claim this great spiritual privilege.

Paul didn’t know exactly what the future held. In verses 22-26 he weighs the future carefully, wondering out loud what might await him. Let’s read it again (22-26)…

But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not. 23. For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24. Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26. That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

In the language of my background, Paul was between a rock and a hard place. On the one hand, to depart and be with Christ was the better of the two options. Here we see the second part of what he said in verse 21 – “to die is gain.” Death would not be a loss for Paul. Why not? Why did he feel like the most desirable option would be to depart and be with Christ? Because he would indeed be with Christ. As he put it in II Cor. 5, he would be absent from the body and present with the Lord. He would no longer have any hindrance in his fellowship with Christ. As we read in Matt. 25, he would then enter into the joy of his Lord. He would know fullness of joy and pleasures forevermore.

Please take note of something at this point. There is disagreement among Christians concerning what happens after death. Some believe that the Christian will go to sleep and won’t wake up again until Christ returns. However, it seems quite clear from this passage that Paul was anticipating immediate fellowship with Christ. It is hard to imagine Paul, who was inspired by the Holy Spirit, writing like this, if this joyous fellowship with Christ was going to begin in a few thousand years. He was looking forward to being with Jesus as soon as he departed from this world.

By the way, that word “depart” is another term with rich meaning. It was used to speak of a ship that had been loosed from the dock to sail the wide seas. It was also used to speak of a military unit breaking camp. Literally, it means “loosing away upward.” We might think of a hot air balloon being loosed from its tethering to do what it was designed to do – fly through the bright blue skies. Paul was looking forward to being released from this world to do what he was designed to do – fellowship with his Lord Jesus. As one author put it, “Death is gain because it brings more of Christ to Paul, and more of Paul to Christ” (William Hendricksen, Philippians, p. 76).

Also notice where Paul’s focus is. While it is certainly true that departing this life will mean the end of sorrow and pain for the Christian, that wasn’t what Paul emphasized. Rather, he was caught up with the thought of being with the Lord Jesus Christ. Let the Lord examine your own heart. Are you longing for the end of sorrow and pain and tears and anxiety, etc.? That is certainly understandable, but if we aren’t careful, those longings will choke out our anticipation of being with our Lord. Being with Christ is a thousand times more important than being rid of all those other things. Yes, I know they go together, but Paul reminds of what is the proper focus. It is Christ.

Though to depart and be with Christ is the option that is “far more better” (a piling up of the comparative terms), Paul realizes that there is also a need for him to remain with the believers. That is why he said, “Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.” If he remains in this world, there will be more fruit for his labor. The Lord will continue to use him for His glory. The choice between these two options is so difficult, that he declines to make known which he would choose.

Ultimately, it wasn’t Paul’s choice. As he thought on these things, he says in verse 25 that he is confident the Lord is going to leave him in this world so that he might continue to strengthen the faith and joy of his brothers and sisters. Some have concluded that there must have been a preliminary hearing in which it was indicated that Paul would likely be set free. However, I believe that is unnecessary speculation. The Lord had spoken to Paul directly on more than one occasion and was certainly capable of showing him that he would remain on the earth to minister to believers. How the Lord showed him this we are not told. Not only was he confident that he would be released from prison, but he spoke openly of seeing the Philippians again (26). And what a great time of rejoicing that would be.

Again, let’s emphasize the great truth here. If we want Christ to be magnified through us, then we must live the life that says clearly: “To live is Christ and to die is gain.” Don’t view this as some kind of moral obligation. This is our privilege. We can live like this. This is the Christian life. Some of you brothers will ask the standard question: But how do we do that? Just be who you are. Just live in Christ. Surely that isn’t difficult, because Christ is your life. Your sphere of life is not the world, but Christ.

Conclusion

Two weeks ago we looked rather intently at Phil. 1:12-13 under the title, “The Gospel on the Move.” Let me read those verses again (12-13)… "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13. So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places." I commented that there is nothing more certain than the fact that things happen to us, just like things happened to Paul. I went on to say that we can’t control the things that happen to us. While that is true, I must admit that we can have a certain amount of influence on the things that happen to us.

Let me show you what I mean by giving you a biblical example from Paul’s own life. Go back a few years to the time before Paul had been arrested in Jerusalem. Please turn to Acts 21. At the time, Paul and his associates were in Caesarea. Let’s pick up the story in Acts 21:10-14…
And as we tarried there many days, there came down from Judaea a certain prophet, named Agabus. 11. And when he was come unto us, he took Paul's girdle, and bound his own hands and feet, and said, Thus saith the Holy Ghost, So shall the Jews at Jerusalem bind the man that owneth this girdle, and shall deliver him into the hands of the Gentiles. 12. And when we heard these things, both we, and they of that place, besought him not to go up to Jerusalem. 13. Then Paul answered, What mean ye to weep and to break mine heart? for I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. 14. And when he would not be persuaded, we ceased, saying, The will of the Lord be done.

Paul’s friends feared for his safety, even for his life. They were well aware that Paul had many enemies. And now a prophet of God, claiming to speak by the authority of the Holy Spirit of God, is telling Paul and the rest of them that this apostle is going to be taken by the Jews and delivered over to the Gentiles. Immediately, they tried to talk Paul out of going up to Jerusalem. If Paul wanted to be safe, it certainly seemed that he should avoid Jerusalem at all costs. Notice his response. He wasn’t harsh. He didn’t contradict the prophet. He didn’t proudly say, “You stay out of my business; I’ll do what I think best.” Instead, with great tenderness, he reminded his precious brothers and sisters in Christ that he was willing not only to be arrested and jailed, but he was willing to die for the name of Jesus. They were not giving Paul any kind of biblical counsel; they were simply afraid for him. They didn’t want anything to happen to Paul. But even then, Paul wanted Christ to be magnified in him, whether it be by life or by death.

Paul could have tried to control what might happen to him. In other words, he could have played it safe. If he would just change his itinerary and maybe soften his stand for Christ a bit, surely things would go better for him. It is clear that Paul had enemies because they didn’t like what he preached about Jesus. Couldn’t he just be content to settle down in one place and encourage the Christians in place to serve the Lord? Only if that was God’s will for him, and he was convinced it was not. Paul refused to play it safe. He would not try to control what happened to him, because that would interfere with his earnest expectation and hope, that in nothing he should be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ should be
magnified in his body, whether it be by life or by death.

Paul lived dangerously. It was a dangerous thing for a man of his background to proclaim Jesus of Nazareth as the Messiah. Brothers and sisters, it is still a dangerous thing to live Christ and declare Him to be the Savior of the world. It is a dangerous thing to proclaim the truth of God’s Word, not only that Christ is the Savior, but that judgment is coming. That is why this same Paul said bluntly that all who want to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution (II Tim. 3:12). You may well be able to avoid that persecution, if you just play it safe. But is that what you want? Or do you want to rejoice that you are counted worthy to suffer shame for His name? (Acts 5:41).

You don’t have to be an apostle 2,000 years ago to live dangerously. God calls all of His children to live dangerously in this present age. That is the theme we are going to be exploring in November. I challenge you to come tonight, as we begin to do just that. Don’t play it safe and stay home. Let other things go and join us, as we learn and pray about how to live dangerously for the glory of God.