Philippians For Times Like These #7 – Living Dead

Are We exalting christ? Paul spoke of “exalting Christ in my body” To do so depends entirely on dying to ourselves. Learning to live dead is a great challenge. Paul, as a prisoner of Rome, showed us how it is done.

To Live Is christ Philippians 1:21 – “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” No just anyone can make such a bold claim. What is necessary for us to have such an appreciation for death?

Living in Christ alone 2 Corinthians 11:3 – “But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, your minds will be led astray from the simplicity and purity of devotion to Christ. SIMPLICITY does not mean simple. What is DEVOTION?

1 Corinthians 7:35 “This I say for your own benefit; not to put a restraint upon you, but to promote what is appropriate and to secure undistracted devotion to the Lord.” Consider how many ways we can be distracted from single- minded and pure devotion to Christ.

Involved in fruitful labor Philippians 1:22 – “But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.” For this life to be worth living, it must be lived to produce fruit for Christ.

John 12:24-25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless a grain of wheat falls into the earth and dies, it remains alone; but if it dies, it bears much fruit. He who loves his life loses it, and he who hates his life in this world will keep it to life eternal.” Jesus spoke of the necessity of His own death, but left an example for our own lives.

John 15:8 “My Father is glorified by this, that you bear much fruit, and so prove to be My disciples.” The proof of our discipleship is in bearing fruit. Fruit is increase – spiritually as well as numerically.

Focused on the church’s progress Philippians 1:25 – “Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith….” If Paul remained alive, it was so that he could continue to serve the Lord in increasing the kingdom.

Ephesians 2:19-22 “So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Christ Jesus Himself being the corner stone, in whom the whole building, being fitted together, is growing into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together into a dwelling of God in the Spirit.”

Finding true joy in the faith Hebrews 12:2 – “…fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” If Jesus could find joy to keep Him on the cross, can we find joy to keep on the straight path?

TO die is gain! How do we really feel about death? Fearful? Anxious? Or, perhaps, great anticipation?

Philippians 1:21, 23 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain…having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better….” Paul was “hard-pressed” to decide between physical life or spiritual eternity.”

To depart and be with jesus We can only feel this way if we are truly in love with Jesus. We have such blessed assurance from Christ John 14:2-3 – “In My Father’s house are many dwelling places; if it were not so, I would have told you; for I go to prepare a place for you. If I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and receive you to Myself, that where I am, there you may be also.”

Promised eternal comfort 2 Thessalonians 2:15-17 – So then, brethren, stand firm and hold to the traditions which you were taught, whether by word of mouth or by letter from us. Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

So death really is much better! 2 Corinthians 5:1-2 – “For we know that if the earthly tent which is our house is torn down, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For indeed in this house we groan, longing to be clothed with our dwelling from heaven….”

Two realities If we are alive on this earth we should be serving God and spreading the gospel while we have time. If we die we go to our reward. Either way, Christ is our life. He is our Lord. He is our hope.