Fill in the Blanks

Philippians 1:21-26

 

 

"To live is ­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­­______________ and to die is _______________."

This is the actual saying.  Paul simply filled in the blanks for his own life.  But you and I must fill in those blanks for ourselves, with our own honest answer.  This is Paul's philosophy of life.  His true purpose of life is summed up here.

 

In v. 21, there's only 2 words you can alter.  'Live' and 'die' are not changeable.  You're going to do both!

 

v. 21        12 one syllable words ... but they say so much.  What a hopeful expression.  “Either way, I win!”

 

What do you live for?  "Life is that to which you come alive!"

 

ill.—My wife and I walk through a mall.  We are both fairly bored as we amble along.  Then she sees it.  A 75% off sale sign in a hobby store.  She comes alive.  I remain lethargic.  I find a bench and sit.  Time literally stands still.  This is the dullest existence possible!

        Then she emerges with bags in hand, and the walk continues, and something catches my eye.  It's a new sporting goods store and they have A to Z - everything from ATV's to Zip-line equipment!  I run, in what feels like slow motion.  I come alive.  Now my life is worth living!

 

"Life is that to which you come alive!"

 

What do you live for?  To fish/hunt/work/shop/eat/my kids

 

v. 21        replace 'Christ' with something else.  What is it?  That's your philosophy of life.

        In a few minutes we will study Paul's philosophy of death.  You cannot have the right philosophy of death if you don't have the appropriate philosophy of life.

 

Paul said that everything he lives for revolves around Jesus, who is the hub of the wheel, not just another spoke.  [compartments like work/hobbies/home/spiritual]

 

Jesus is the beginning of life / basis / bounty / beauty / benediction!

 

With so many things going on in our lives, with so much busyness in our business, how do we have room for God?  Here’s how:  Because He IS our business, and all the rest are just things.

Matthew 6:33
But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you.

1.     A personal experience.

v. 21        'for to me'  [it’s personal]

Christianity is not just a set of rules or beliefs.  It is knowing Jesus in a personal way!

        Salvation is not a plan or a program...it is a person:  Jesus!

 

Ever been to a church where they read prayers from a book?  How about where they say stuff in Latin?  “Domine Dominus” - Religion without Christ reeks of death!

 

It’s personal, it’s intimate!

 

Churches go through 3 phases:

1.     Mission

2.     Machine

3.     Monument

 

We all start out well, on a mission, which is the Great Commission to reach the lost.  But in time we can allow ourselves to become the well oiled machine, going through the motions, and eventually we will be a building, just an empty shell, a monument of the past.

        Christ is what makes a church alive / thrive / and worth the drive!

 

ill.--take a tour of old churches where greats of the past used to preach and thousands USED to be saved.  Or ivy league schools.  Those buildings today draw tourists, but they are simply monuments to the past.

 

This will happen here if Jesus ceases to be real and personal to each one of us!  He is not a suit of clothes to put on each Sunday and take off during the week.  He is supposed to be the hub of the wheel, and permeate every area of our being!

 

He's not the big guy in the sky or the man upstairs, He's King of kings and Lord of lords, and due our reverence ... and yet He's a friend which sticks closer than a brother!

 

John 10:14
I am the good shepherd, and know my sheep, and am known of mine.
John 10:27
My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:

See how personal this is?  My name is graven on the palm of His hand, and written in His Lamb’s Book in heaven.

 

Jesus knows my name, not just my number.

        Do you get junk mail?  Mine is obvious, because they call me Shirley.

"Dear customer 867-5309 - we are personally interested in you!"

 

The antichrist will give the lost a #.  When the end of the world comes, will your name be called, or will your number be up?

 

1.     A personal experience.

'For to me...'

 

2.     A practical experience.

v. 21        'to live...'

He wants us to LIVE, not just exist.

        Life is not about eating, sleeping, and working to pay bills until you die.  You say, "That's right...I need TV too!"

 

There's something very exciting and practical about having a higher purpose for your life.  It's a mantra.  It's marching orders.  It's accountability, because above there is a great cloud of witnesses cheering us on from the grandstands of heaven, and a loving Father looking down in love, seeing us even when we are alone, and wanting to make something of our life which He gave to us! 

 

What is practical Christianity?

In the home - kindness.

In business - honesty.

In society - courtesy.

In work - fairness.

Toward the unfortunate - generosity.

For the weak - help.

Toward the hurting - compassion.

Toward the strong - trust.

Toward the fortunate - congratulations.

Toward the repentant - forgiveness.

Toward God - reverence.

 

1.     A personal experience.

'For to me...'

2.     A practical experience.

'to live...'

 

3.     A possible experience.

v. 21        'Christ' is what makes it possible.

"I tried being a Christian, and it just wasn't possible."

        We are weak, and can't do it on our own.  Paul needed Christ, and so do we.  Paul didn't say, "For to me to live is self-effort." [being good enough / getting baptized / giving money]

 

Jesus is what makes the personal and practical, possible!

 

TV:  "For to me to live is electricity."

Remote:  "For to me to live is batteries."

Sailboat:  "For to me to live is wind."

 

Don't try to do it under your own power.  To live is Christ!

 

So, this is his philosophy of life…

…Now, what is his philosophy of death?  "To die is gain!"

 

In order to 'gain' something you need more of the same.  [weight / money / children]

        If to live is Christ, then to die is MORE Christ!

 

If I say, "For me to live is money", then to die is to lose it all!

[fame / forgotten - power / loss - youth / old age]

 

v. 23        'straight betwixt two' = pressure from both sides.

        Paul was in a delightful dilemma.  He wins either way.

 

ill.—This week I wanted ice cream at Sams Club.  You could have vanilla or chocolate.  I wanted both.  It was a delightful dilemma.  How did I solve it?  The swirl of both!

 

ill.--a child on earth and another in heaven.  Whether you live or die, you're gonna be with your child!

 

ill.--when J. Vernon McGee had his first cancer surgery a radio listener wrote him, "I'm praying that you'll go on to heaven, for you'd be better off."  He wrote her back, "Please, stay out of it!"

 

And yet there's no fear of death for the Christian who walks with God personally and practically.  The longer we are here on earth, the better heaven looks to us!  Eventually you have more loved ones in heaven than you have on earth.

 

v. 23        'depart'

3 uses of the word in Paul's day:

1.     A military term used to describe a battle weary soldier coming home.

2.     A nautical term used to picture a storm tossed sailor entering the harbor, a haven of rest.

3.     A political term used to describe the setting free/release of a prisoner.

 

O to be at home, at rest, released from the earth!

 

ill.--A little bird hatched from an egg doesn't mourn the broken shell out of which he emerged, he rejoices in the new world he has entered!

 

In v. 21, there's only 2 words you can alter.  'Live' and 'die' are not changeable.  You're going to do both!

        Christ and 'gain' are alterable.  You fill in the blanks!