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PHIL 03 - Priority - Phil 1:19-26
 
The Apostle Paul had carried the gospel thru much of the Roman empire
& he was headed to the parts he hadn’t been yet
 
but instead of new cities & new churches
he was imprisoned for over 4 yrs – in 2 different places
& it looked like he may soon be executed for his faith
 
but in the midst of his dire circumstances –
Paul was 100% confident - that God’s purpose for his life
would NOT be shaken
 
He was fastened to a roman soldier 24 hrs/ day by a long chain –
which, if we’ll think about it – that would test our ‘witness’ for the Lord
more than any temporary trial / struggle
 
& yet – we read in v.13 of Ch1- that “the whole palace guard
had come to know that Paul’s chains were “in Christ”
 
Paul didn’t see his chains as a defeat –
but as an opportunity to Magnify Christ
 
Paul was also dealing with the extremely painful knowledge
that some within the church were only preaching Christ
out of selfish ambition (in 60ad – just like now) . . .
 
In fact, some of these “brethren” actually were preaching
with the motivation of INCREASING Paul’s affliction
 
& yet v.14 of Ch1 says - “and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear”
Paul didn’t see this “Infighting” among believers as a defeat –
but as an opportunity to “Magnify Christ”
 
Whether of trials from Outside the church –
or trials Inside the church . . .
 
Paul responded to them both the exact same way –
& we’re going to clearly see that response today
 
What we’re going to see today is the POWER
that having the Right PRIORITY - Gives a Christian’s life
 
The way we Look at our circumstances –
The way we Feel about our circumstances - & most importantly,
The way we Respond to our circumstances . . .
 
Are ALL radically changed when our SINGLE PRIORITY is changed
 
 
Phil 1:19
19 For I know that this [trials outside / inside the church] will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
 
Paul confidently says - For I KNOW that ‘this’ will turn out
 
On a ‘human’ level Paul has no idea what’s going to happen
but on the ‘spiritual’ level – he was 100% confident
 
Paul was confident because he KNEW (as he wrote in Phil 1:6)
that He who had begun a good work in him –
was faithful to complete it – until the day of Jesus Christ

& he was confident because he knew that either way
This Trial was not his final Chapter –
He was passing through this trial – just like all the rest
 
& where we see that confidence the most –
is in THE single PRIORITY in his life – which we’ll see in just a few Vs’s
 
But first – he continues his confidence in V.20
 
Phil 1:20
20 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
 
‘Earnest Expectation’ means LIT staining/stretching the neck to see –
 
Hope = Confident Expectation
 
Paul’s Earnest & Confident Expectation was –
That NO Setting – NO Situation – NO Trial – NO Test . . .
would cause him to be ashamed
 
& not only that – but with all boldness - Jesus Christ was going to
be magnified in Paul – whether by his life or by his death
 
THIS was his single-purpose - - his single goal !
that Christ would be Magnified – by his life, or by his death
 
Paul was so confident of this Single Purpose (to Magnify Christ) . . .
that EVERY Circumstance –EVERY Trial –EVERY Set-back –
Became simply another opportunity – to Magnify Christ !!!
 
THIS – is an All-Encompassing SINGLE PRIORITY . . .
& we CAN’T have this confidence – unless Jesus Christ holds
the Single Priority spot in our lives
 
So often we divide our lives into “compartments” –
“Religious” - “Secular” – “Selfish” . . .
 
& then we try hard to be “Religious”
when we’re in the “Religious” compartment
 
I gotta tell you – that doesn’t magnify Christ
Because He’s not looking for a compartment of your life –
 
1Cor 10:31 says
31 Therefore, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.
 
God wants the only # 1 PRIORITY spot -
regardless of what activity we might be engaged in . . .
 
He’s looking for our lives to Magnify Him
whether working – or caring for kids & a home –
whether eating or drinking . . .
 
God’s desire is for - “whatever you do, do all to the glory of God.”
 
& when we begin to honor God in Every area of our lives –
We begin to see God work – really work - & really bless us
 
But when we compartmentalize God to just this little part of our lives
over here – Well . . . it just doesn’t really work !
 
Because God can’t be magnified in a compartment –
He can’t allow His glory to be seen in just one compartment
 
1Cor 6:19-20
 
19 Or do you not know that your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit who is in you, whom you have from God, and you are not your own?
20 For you were bought at a price; therefore glorify God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s.
 
God wants to dwell in ALL OF YOU – not just one compartment
 
& that’s why Rom 12:1-2 is such a key Vs.
to understanding how our lives are TRULY Transformed
 
It’s not just a “religious” compartment added to the life we already have –
God wants to do a complete transformation
 
Rom 12:1-2
1 I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that you present your bodies [ALL of yourself] a living sacrifice [be consumed by God – Can’t consume a “compartment”] , holy [seperated unto God], acceptable to God, which is your reasonable service.2 And do not be conformed to this world [take on it’s nature], but be transformed [get a completely new nature] by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove [know] what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God.
 
& THAT – is Exactly what Paul’s Single Priority is –
 
His life is a living sacrifice – so he fully trusts God in EVERY Circumstance
 
& his SINGLE PRIORITY – is to Magnify Christ –
whether in the circumstances of his life – or in his death
 
Why does having this Single Priority free us SOOO MUCH
from the anxieties & fears of this life ?
 
because – of WHO that Single Priority is . . .
 
Phil 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
What was the secret to Paul’s incredible ability to tolerate extreme trials
from outside & inside the church?
 
His Secret – was the Single Priority of his life
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
That’s WHY Paul responded in grace to every trial, every disappointment
This SINGLE PRIORITY is what drove him – & it’s what sustained him
 
& this is the ULTIMATE PRIORITY for every Christian !!!
 
in Fact this may be one of the best 1-Verse definitions of Christianity
in the Bible - - - To live is Christ - & to die is GAIN
 
James Boice says in this life we have ;
FAITH in Christ
FELLOWSHIP with Christ - & we
 
FOLLOW Christ . . .& then – when we are done – it is to our gain . . .
Faith in the person of Jesus Christ – not religion –not improving our moral standards – not cleaning up our act . .
Christianity is FAITH in the person of Jesus ChristFellowship with Jesus Christ – it’s not what we DO for Him that makes us Christians - it is our fellowship with Him as our Lord
 
 
it’s Loving Him, Knowing Him, Communing with Him . . .
& often our “duties” actually get in the way of doing just that
Following Jesus – Jesus’ call to His disciples was “follow me” –
 
no explanations, no sales pitch – just “follow me” . . .
& He still uses the exact same approach
For us to say “TO LIVE IS CHRIST” means we have ;
FAITH in Christ
FELLOWSHIP with Christ - & we
FOLLOW Christ . . .
 
But in order for us to truly say “To Live Is Christ”
there’s a crucifixion that must first take place in our own lives
 
it’s the one Paul wrote in:
Gal 2:20
20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.
 
beyond the cross of crucifying our flesh – Our “SELF”
is the glory of Christ living in us
 
& then . . . to die is Gain - because then we’ll be with Christ forever –
 
& in one of the most amazing statements in the Bible
 
1Jn 3:2 says
2 . . . but we know that when He is revealed, we shall be like Him, for we shall see Him as He is.
 
Now THAT would be GAIN –
 
When CAN know Christ in an ever deepening way –
In whatever we are doing – whatever God’s will is for OUR lives . . .
 
In whatever we are doing TODAY - We can ask ourselves –
What is My Single Top Priority ??
 
Is it my relationship with Jesus Christ . . . or
Is it money (oops)
Is it success (forget it)
Is it happiness (it’s fleeting)
 
Whatever we are doing today – we CAN do it as unto the Lord
we can do it with Jesus Christ as our PRIORITY
we can do it to Magnify Christ
 
The question is – ARE WE ?
Let’s try it right now . . .
 
I’m going to say “For me to live is . . . ____”
& then you put in your own PRIORITY
 
“For me to live is . . . ____”
 
If you are a Christian - - whatever God has called you to do -
you are called to do it - - As Unto The Lord
 
& if we are doing what we are called to do – AS UNTO THE LORD
then we can walk in this SINGLE PRIORITY
 
& when we begin to walk in this SINGLE PRIORITY –
(no matter what we’re doing) . . .
 
I promise you it will change the way we;
look at our circumstances –
feel about our circumstances - & most importantly,
respond to our circumstances . . .
 
& one other thing - - once we develop this SINGLE PRIORITY –
it often presents an interesting dilemma for the Christian
 
& Paul struggled with this dilemma in the next 3 Vs’s . . .
 
His absolute confidence in his glorious eternity –
made it hard to decide what his preference would be . . .
 
Phil 1:22-24
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
 
Paul was having trouble trying to decide whether he wanted
to stick around– or catch the next train to glory
 
 
Guys – a Christian’s view of death should be one of total Triumph
 
No matter what this temporal world can throw at us – no matter the suffering our living for Christ might bring . . .
 
it is not even worthy to be compared to the triumphant glory
that will be revealed in us when we
get to the GAIN part of our relationship
 
Rom 8:18
18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.
Every person on this earth is going to experience SOME suffering - believers & non-believers – that is the nature of this fallen world –
 
& so there’s really only one difference . . .
 
The suffering Believers go thru - is Nothing compared
to the glory that will be revealed in us
 
But Unbelievers leave this place of temporary suffering
& go to a place of eternal suffering –
 
THAT (unfortunately) is what the Bible clearly says
 
& so – it may be right for an unbeliever to fear death –
but not so with the Christian
 
Heb 2:14-15 says
14 . . . that through death He might destroy him who had the power of death, that is, the devil,15 and release those who through fear of death were all their lifetime subject to bondage.
 
Paul was certainly NOT held by the fear of death - & neither should we be
 
Paul’s PRIORITY was set on magnifying Christ - & not being ashamed
 
& BECAUSE of his SINGLE PRIORITY . . .
For him . . to live is Christ,& to Die is GAIN – end of story
 
What a great way to live –
So great we can’t decide which way we’d whether go . . .
 
Stay here & follow Christ - & depart to be with Him –
which Paul says here in V.23 – is FAR BETTER
 
and we can say the exact same thing –
if we name Jesus Christ as our Lord & Savior - as Paul did
 
I pray we would all have this same dilemma personally
 
HOWEVER - for the Christian – the confidence of heaven
does not release us from our role here on earth . . .
 
& it certainly didn’t release the Apostle Paul
 
As soon as he says that to be with Christ would be far better (in V.23) . . .
 
he comes right back to his role as Christ’s ambassador –
& we need to do the same thing
 
In V.24 He says
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
 
Paul says, Yeah. I long for that day . . .
However – as long as He still has a purpose here for me . . .
 
I need to be obedient to that –
& I know that all the glory with Christ – will be reserved for me
 
 
The incredible Ch on the Resurrection in 1Cor 15 is closed with . . .
 
1Cor 15:58
58 Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.
 
& that is the same truth we find here . . .
 
Our solid confidence in heaven –
should be driving us to continue doing His will every day we’re here
 
& His will for our lives – always has to do in some way –
with edifying (strengthening) the body of Christ
 
& We see this in Paul in Phil 1:25-26
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
 
Paul is rock solid sure of the glorious inheritance reserved for him in heaven - & so he’s more than happy to serve the Lord here on earth . . .
 
Strengthening the body & spreading the Good News of Jesus Christ –
until he finally gets his . . . GAIN
 
It’s a great way to live while were on earth –
& it’s the ONLY way to make Dying FAR BETTER than Living
 
AND – this SINGLE PRIORITY of Living for Christ
to Magnify Him NO MATTER WHAT . . .
 
Will Completely Transform How we
Look at our circumstances –
Feel about our circumstances - & most importantly,
Respond to our circumstances . . .
 

It’s a WIN-WIN situation –
Living for Christ here – transforms how we view this life
& when we depart from here – it is a FAR BETTER GAIN
 
God has worked it out so well for us –
We ought to take Him up on His PRIORITY PLAN
 
Paul’s SINGLE PRIORITY is wrapped in
Phil 1:21
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
 
May each of us come to the place where ;
no matter what we’re doing
no matter what we’re called to . . .
 
We can say the same thing –
For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.