"To Live is Christ" Philippians 1:12-30

Before we continue, let's pray.

Father in heaven, we thank you for your word.

! Lord, we thank you for the testimony of your servant, Paul.

! We thank you for his example,

but not just example of how he lives,

but really the blueprint of what it means to live a life in Christ.

And that, Lord, it's a testimony too

that this life in Christ is not a drab, dark, boring one.

But rather, it is a joy-filled, exciting life.

And as we continue on, Philippians, Lord,

we ask that you would press it upon our hearts and our minds

of the goodness of Christ, the joyfulness of Christ,

and that we will grow closer to him through your word, by your spirit.

We pray this in Christ's name. Amen.

I have a friend that I've had for a long time.

He is a wonderful guy.

He is, like, the most pessimistic person I've ever met in my life.

Like, he just is.

And I try to kind of buoy his spirits up, not every time.

And often he will accuse me of toxic positivity.

That's what he says.

Not all the time, and it's in jest.

And I'm far from that positive.

I mean, you can talk to my family.

I'm not, like, terrible.

Like, I'm kind of even-keeled, whatever.

Anyways, not about me.

The story is about my friend, okay?

Toxic positivity.

You know, he just wants more commiseration.

And I, at times, just don't want to commiserate with him.

I want him to be happy.

I want him to be joyful, to see the cup half full.

I bring up this story because this section,

the second section of chapter one, Paul is in prison.

And Paul could be accused of toxic positivity here.

I mean, he's in chains.

He is not exactly in the best situation,

which is a bit of an understatement.

And yet, we're going to see that he doesn't complain at all.

I mean, it'll come up in one of my points.

He doesn't even talk about necessarily the facts of his imprisonment.

Instead, he just talks about the positive effects of it.

If I'm in prison, okay, number one, I am, like, visit me.

A lot.

Send me stuff.

Stick money in my account.

I can buy chips and whatever.

But, like, the point is, like, buoy me up.

Because I'm as snake belly low as I would be.

Paul here, again, his positivity is like an 11.

It is, it seems, it seems almost like he's lost a plot.

Or he has a couple screws loose.

That there's something kind of off.

I mean, the people that usually are this kind of positive,

I mean, they might be a bit, maybe narcissistic,

in the sense that, you know, they've done nothing wrong,

or their situation isn't necessarily as bad.

I'm not exactly sure how to describe Paul,

apart from being a bit uncomfortable with him.

I'm a bit uncomfortable with his positivity,

of his cup half fullness.

It's a bit bizarre.

And yet, we see Paul, his focus isn't just a mind over matter,

or his reality isn't just a mind over matter situation.

He is not just in this zen state where he is ignorant of his situation.

Rather, he is seeing it through a completely different lens.

He is focused, not on himself, but on the advancement of the gospel.

The gospel, which is the very good news of Christ,

that Jesus lived, that he died.

He died for our sins in our place.

He was actually killed, actually was buried.

Three days later, actually rose from the grave,

appeared to many, and eventually ascended,

and he is coming again to judge the living and the dead.

That gospel.

That's what Paul is about.

He is about the advancement of that gospel.

So, Paul, being in prison,

he is understanding his life in light of being an instrument of God

to advance the gospel.

This is God's will for Paul's life.

That he would be an instrument for the advancement of the gospel.

And we're going to see that, again, not necessarily exactly like Paul,

but that's also God's will for our lives.

For Paul, this seems like a bit of an unfair situation.

Normally, if I'm doing somebody a favor,

this is maybe not the best example,

if I'm doing somebody a favor,

I don't want to get paid back with a kick in the face.

Paul, it seems like it's a bit of an unfair situation.

He is working and laboring.

He is giving up so much for the gospel and for Christ.

You'd think that he would get a bit of kickback.

He'd get a bit of a cushy situation.

And yet, he is going to live out his days in a Roman prison.

He's going to be released for just a couple years,

find his way back in a Roman prison,

and eventually get executed.

And I would think that Paul might,

at least the human part of him,

I mean, he's fully human.

He's not like Christ, fully human and fully God.

But Paul, the humanity of him would be frustrated.

And yet, and yet,

we're going to see here that Paul is unbelievably joyful.

So much so that theologians will call this letter

the epistle of joy,

written in a Roman prison.

It's really something else.

I mentioned this last week,

but Philippians is a very short letter.

It's about 100 words in the original language,

a bit over 100 words in the Greek.

And joy or rejoice are used some 12 times.

And again, that's a large usage in a very short letter.

Suffice it to say,

Paul is finding himself

exactly where the Lord has him,

even though it on the outside looks horrible,

and yet he is fully joyful.

It's really something.

And it begs the question for us to consider,

how can we experience

genuine and authentic joy

as we obey the Lord?

Because some, for some,

and I put myself in this category,

if I'm being honest about what it means

to obey the Lord,

I'm feeling the weight of it.

I'm feeling the weight of it.

I'm not necessarily immediately thinking joy.

Like, woohoo, incredible,

sign me up for Ottawa Carleton Detention Centre.

Whatever comes,

I'm going to be joyful.

It's not like that.

I'm feeling the weight of it.

Nevertheless, how can we,

I'll ask the question again,

how can we experience

genuine and authentic joy

as we obey the Lord,

especially, especially

when it leads to our suffering

and maybe even our death?

I've broken up this just short section

into three parts

to help us organize our thoughts

and to help us with the flow.

And we'll answer this question

by looking at

three changes that need to happen

if we are to have this kind of authentic joy

in the midst of obeying the Lord

and suffering for it.

The first change

is that we need a change of perspective.

The second thing is

we need a change of priorities.

And I'll just say,

I labored to try to find another P,

so stick with me on this.

And the third change

is a change in what we value

as the ultimate prize.

If that helps you

just to organize your thoughts in this,

fantastic.

So again,

a change in perspective,

a change in priorities,

and then finally,

a change in what we view

as an ultimate prize.

First point,

look with me at verses 12 to 14.

I want you to know,

brothers and sisters,

that what has happened to me

has really served to advance the gospel.

So that it has become known

throughout the whole imperial guard,

that is like

the emperor's

personal group of guards,

and to all

the rest,

the imperial guard,

and to all the rest

that my imprisonment

is for Christ.

Verse 14,

and most of the brothers

having become confident

in the Lord

by my imprisonment

are much more bold

to speak the word

without fear.

Paul begins

the body of his letter.

So last week was the intro.

This is the beginning

of the body of the letter.

Not by detailing

the facts of his imprisonment.

I mean,

the facts,

we've talked about it.

If you've been

tracking with us

through the last portion

of Acts

over the last few months

and then into Philippians,

the facts

of Paul's imprisonment

are that he has been held

almost three years

without trial.

He is chained

at all times

24-7 to a guard.

Every four to six hours

there's going to be

a shift change.

He can't go to the bathroom

in private.

He can't host

visitors or guests

in private.

He is in

a not great condition.

He is so much so that,

I mean,

the Philippian church,

one of the reasons

why he's writing this letter

is to tell them,

listen,

I'm doing okay.

I'm still alive.

I'm hanging in there.

It's not a great situation.

Paul,

he doesn't begin

with the facts

of his imprisonment.

Rather,

he begins with the effects

of his imprisonment.

The effects

of Paul's imprisonment

have advanced the gospel

in two ways.

Through evangelism,

but also inspiring

the church

to follow suit.

So,

we'll break it down

just really simply,

the first,

evangelism.

looking first

at verse 13

and 14,

or just 13 rather,

again,

remembering that

he has maybe,

what,

four,

six,

four to six

at any time

throughout the day,

different guards

attached to his hip

quite literally.

Over months

and months

and months,

he is just chatting

their face off.

They are sending

guards his way.

And what is he doing?

What does Paul do?

He shares the gospel.

He has a steady

stream of guards

that are coming

to see him,

so much so

that the entire

imperial guard,

which isn't to say

that every last guard

has been assigned

to him

or that he has

interacted with them

personally.

Some estimates

say there's

up to maybe

close to 10,000

imperial guards.

So is it all

10,000?

Like,

seven to 10,000?

Likely not,

but the point is

is that there is

a buzz about Paul

in the city.

People have heard

about him.

And what do they

hear about?

That his imprisonment

is because of Christ.

He hasn't broken

any Roman law

necessarily.

He hasn't been

convicted of anything.

But he

worships

this man

from

the Galilee

in Judea,

the province of Judea.

And he claims

that that man

rose from the grave.

and that

he didn't just

rise from the grave,

that he is the Messiah

and he is actually

the only God.

And Paul,

he is proclaiming

that even

in prison.

Rome is

abuzz

with

the apostle

Paul.

So,

in many respects,

Paul here,

and this is where

this perspective

change comes in,

Paul doesn't

necessarily see

himself as a Roman

prisoner chained to

a guard.

Rather,

he sees that

a guard is chained

to the slave of Christ.

And as they come through,

there's a new guard

and maybe they've

heard about it,

maybe they're eager

to hear,

maybe they're not

at all.

Either way,

four to six hours

on the man's hip

hearing about the gospel,

hearing about

how they don't have

to carry their sins

any longer,

that the evils

that they have done

as members

of the Roman

imperial guard,

Christ has forgiven it

if they would only

put their faith

and trust in him

every single day,

day in and day out.

And that is

this perspective.

So all of a sudden,

Paul,

whose life is

completely Christ,

he is a slave to Christ,

doesn't see

from his perspective,

oh, woe is me.

He says,

look,

I have a captive audience

and they can't escape me.

Likewise,

his imprisonment

is affecting

most of the Christians.

Idea that the Christians

in the region

or the area

that are hearing

about him,

they are seeing

God's hand at work

in Paul's life

and they are inspired,

their confidence

is growing

and they are proclaiming

Christ with boldness

and with courage.

It says,

without fear.

And this is a wonderful thing.

They have seen

the sovereign hand

of God at work

taking a bad situation

and completely upending it

and seeing it

as rather

a continuation

of Christ's victory.

That even Rome,

even Rome can't squash

out the Christian faith.

The gospel can't be conquered.

Paul's in chains,

not the gospel.

And they're all of a sudden

seeing that

Christ's words

aren't empty,

but they're real.

Notice too

that their courage

and boldness,

it comes after

they have become

confident in the Lord.

And I'll just say this

as a bit of a side point,

which is actually

a huge point.

If I was to come up here

Sunday after Sunday

and just say,

share your faith.

Don't be afraid.

Be bold.

Go out there

and evangelize.

And I didn't

proclaim Christ

in his goodness

and testify

to his fulfilled

word

so that you

did not have

confidence

in the gospel

or in your Savior

setting you up

for failure.

How on earth

can you have

boldness

and courage

without confidence

in Jesus?

I mean,

here's the thing

with the gospel.

If the gospel

is not

a cherished thing

in your life

and if Christ

isn't

completely glorious

and we grow in that

by the way,

it's not necessarily

a switch,

maybe for some,

but if you're not

growing in that,

I mean,

to say,

listen,

go out there

and proclaim

the gospel,

be bold,

maybe for a little bit,

but all of a sudden

we will find out

that smaller things

seem much more daunting

and threatening

that they are

in Christ

who is Lord

overall

starts to shrink

and all of a sudden

things that

ought not

scare you

if you have

confidence in Christ

begin to freak you

out a bit

because you're

putting confidence

not in Christ

but in other things

and proclaiming

the gospel

is always,

always,

again,

in different respects

and to different degrees

but it will always

run counter

to the spirit

of the age,

okay?

There is always

going to be this

tension between

the spirit of the age

and the spirit

of Christ

and there will be

a battle

but here's the thing,

if our confidence

is in Christ

then we know

the battle is won.

We know our Savior

is victorious,

that we are resting

in an already

defeated,

victorious Savior

and a defeated foe.

If we don't have

confidence in Christ

then maybe he's

going to lose

or maybe his word

is going to come true

or maybe,

just maybe,

all of this

is in vain.

I don't want to

put my confidence

in things that are

going to crumble

or are in vain.

So,

when the church

in Rome

sees what's happening

to the Apostle Paul,

they are seeing

the words

and work

of Christ

being proclaimed

and being proven true

and this is giving

them confidence,

then leading them

to boldness,

then leading them

to courage.

They're constantly

seeing Christ

as glorious

and they have

their confidence

in him.

So,

I'll just say this

and then we'll

continue to move on.

Read the testimony

of the Apostle Paul

and get encouraged

but share

with each other,

testify to each other

how the Lord

is at work,

how you've trusted

in him,

little ways,

big ways,

medium ways,

whatever,

but testify,

don't hold it

in for yourself.

Bear witness

to one another,

encourage one another,

read Christian biographies,

get really jacked up

about how the Lord

has been so faithful

to his people

throughout the ages

and build up

your confidence

in the Lord.

Feed on that

and it doesn't mean

you're going to turn

into a world-class

evangelist tomorrow

but I will tell you

your fear

will subside,

it will gradually shrink

and your boldness

will gradually grow.

It's a wonderful way

to live.

Feed on the testimonies

of God's people.

Again,

we see Paul

not focus on the facts

of his imprisonment

but on its effects

and because

his perspective

is reoriented

to understand that

although he is on earth

in a Roman prison,

he is united

to Christ

who has been raised

and is seated

in the heavenly places

so therefore Paul

is up there as well.

Paul articulates this

in a beautiful way

in Colossians

in another letter

he has written

Colossians chapter 3

Colossians 3:1–4

verses 1 to 4

and this is what he says

in this changed perspective.

If then,

quote,

if then,

you have been

raised with Christ,

seek the things

that are above

where Christ is.

That is to say,

have a different perspective.

Put your gaze upwards.

words.

Christ,

who is seated above,

seated at the right hand

of God,

verse 2,

set your minds

on things that are above,

not on things that are on earth.

For you have died

and your life

is now hidden

with Christ in God.

When Christ,

who is your life,

appears,

then you also will appear

with him in glory.

I mean,

it is a promise

that supersedes

all promises.

Something that you can

really build

a life upon.

So,

Paul

is not

a mind over matter

type of guy.

He is not just

girding up his loins,

digging in deep,

finding his true self

within,

nor is he

just pretending

like this

is not happening,

willfully ignorant

of what is happening

around him.

Rather,

he is recognizing

that through Christ,

even the most difficult

earthly situations

can be transcended.

He isn't transcending

them himself,

but because he is

united to Christ

and Christ has

transcended all,

he too has transcended.

Here's the thing.

We have been elevated

with Christ,

sharing in his victory,

a victory that we

didn't fight,

a victory that we

didn't want,

but a victory that

we get to have

in its fullness,

its hours.

We take hold of it

by faith.

And this is

exactly what

we are seeing

with the Apostle Paul,

this change of perspective,

this reality

transforming

our earthly experience

so that everything

meant for ill

becomes an opportunity

for good.

And this will

lead us to our next section.

As we understand

that the gospel of Christ

is not bound

by Roman shackles

or a job loss

or a sickness

or a diagnosis

or God forbid

a tragedy,

God forbid

a tragedy.

Our perspective

doesn't just change

but so too

our priorities

begin to change.

It's not just that

we see the victory

of Christ

and we have confidence

in it,

we act upon it,

our priorities

begin to change.

This leads us

to our second point.

Look with me

at verses 15

to 18.

Some indeed

preach Christ

from envy and rivalry

but others

from goodwill.

The latter do it

out of love

knowing that I am put here

for the defense

of the gospel

but the former

proclaim Christ

out of selfish ambition

not sincerely

but thinking

to afflict me

in my imprisonment.

What then?

Only that in every way

whether in pretense

or in truth

Christ is proclaimed

and in that

I rejoice.

There's that joy word

in that I rejoice.

Not only is the apostle

in this very adverse situation

but he has also

been made aware

that there's some

bad characters

that are trying

to inflict

additional sufferings

upon him

and they are motivated

from selfish ambition.

There's considerable debate

about who these people are.

I mean not much

is not much light

has been shed upon them

who they could be.

Are they rival

Christian leaders

that are more or less

orthodox

but they are selfish

they want to

supersede Paul

in being a leader

in the church?

Were they

some young pastors

that just want

the old guard

to retire

so they can take over?

We're not sure.

It's difficult to know.

It may be an important point

for us this morning

it's really secondary

to their motivation.

They are unlike

those evangelists

who continue

proclaiming Christ

out of pure

and loving motivations.

Rather they possess

selfish ambition

and view Paul

and his situation

as an unjust way

to advance

however they are

looking to advance.

Remember

and this is

the incredible thing here

and shows

how Paul's priorities

are just much different

than likely you or I.

He is writing

to the Philippian church

the first church

in Europe

the first church

that he planted

in Europe.

They have supported him

from day one.

They have sent money

to him.

They have sent money

to Jerusalem.

They are concerned

about his well-being.

Paul with the situation

you think maybe

if he was so concerned

with this

he is writing a letter

listen I am sure

you have a couple

lawyers that can

plead my case.

Maybe some

strong guys

that can pay a visit

and say listen

should you lay

up Paul

a little bit.

But Paul here

again

his priority

isn't self-preservation.

It is not.

It is not

even to clear

his name.

Instead

Paul

who has this

heavenly perspective

he sees beyond

the immediate problem

he is recognizing

that their attempts

to afflict him

are actually

doing exactly

what he wants.

Exactly what his

priorities are.

The proclamation

of the gospel.

They are continuing

this spread

this buzz

of

throughout Rome

of Christ

being the reason

of Paul's

imprisonment.

And this by the way

isn't to say that

Paul

is just always

going to show his belly

in situations like this.

Paul is

I mean he is used

to

confronting.

I mean he is

not afraid

to confront people.

He is going to

push back

against people

that are trying

to

take

non-Jewish

believers

and make them

Jewish

so that they can

then follow Jesus

the Judaizers.

He is pushing back

against them

in other parts

of the New Testament.

He is confronting

Peter.

Paul confronts

people.

He is

again not going

to show his belly

but his priority

isn't self-preservation

to somehow

keep his own

reputation

nice and high.

It's always

always always

about the advancement

of the gospel.

His priority

is about Christ

and his glory

and his renown

and the furthering

of evangelism.

In this case

he doesn't have

to defend himself

because what is he seeing?

The gospel continues

to go out.

Okay I don't care.

I mean they're

calling me names.

They're trying to thwart me.

It's not working.

Why am I going to

spend the energy

to clear my own name

when Christ

will vindicate me

at the end of the day?

You can't really see this

in the original language

and I certainly

didn't see this

but in my studying

all the commentators

that I reference

they say there's

allusions to

a portion of Job

where Job

he is trusting

that God himself

will vindicate him

in light of slander.

And it seems

that that's what's

happening with Paul

but Paul here

is like

no what is happening

is actually

a very good thing.

It is a very good thing

that we're seeing.

And if my name

gets slandered

in the midst of it

I'll be okay.

I'll be okay.

Christ has saved me.

Remember I am

seated with him.

I am in prison

but I am more free

than anyone

in the world

because I am

in Christ Jesus.

So Paul

he is not pushing

back in this situation.

His priorities

are crystal clear

and laser focused.

It reminds me

of Genesis chapter 50.

Genesis 50 · chapter mention

If you know

the story of Joseph

I think it might be

just one of the

most beautiful stories

of how God

takes all kinds

of crazy

sinful

evil actions

of human beings

and works them out

for his glory.

If you know the story

this will be familiar

if not

I'll try to

nutshell it.

Joseph

he is

one of the youngest

children

of Jacob

and he is

one of his favorites

and he is

kind of doted over

and as such

his brothers

in their jealousy

try to kill him

and long

story made short

he finds his way

as a slave

in Egypt

and eventually

becomes a prime minister

of Egypt

the second in command

only the pharaoh

is above him

and he

saves

countless lives

when there's

a horrible famine.

And his brothers

realize who he is

after Joseph

tells them

that it's me

Joseph

and they're afraid

that Joseph's

going to kill him.

And then in

Genesis 50

Genesis 50:20

verse 20

Joseph says to them

what you intended

for evil

the Lord

intended for good.

I have no idea

how the sovereignty

of the Lord

works out

but it's clear

that God

has been at work

through all the

crazy evil

and

terrible

betrayals

that he

experienced

and there's

something of that

here in the text.

We have

these

really

ill

intentioned

people

whether they're

true believers

or not

they're trying to

thwart Paul

and God

is taking

their evil

and making it

work out for good.

And here is where

we trust in the

sovereignty of God

that God

has said

that he

will have

the final victory

and that the

victory is already

won

and that

at the end

of the age

every knee

will bow

and every tongue

will confess

that Jesus

Christ is Lord

and we are

seeing it

that nothing

can thwart

what is happening

with the apostle

Paul

nothing can thwart

the gospel

even if he is

afflicted and

wrongfully

portrayed

Paul will

allow it

his priorities

are the gospel

and he is

trusting in

God's

sovereign

hand

so

in light

of that

opposition

becomes an

opportunity

and I think

it's the case

for us

when we are

opposed

it is an

opportunity

I won't go

into the details

that a situation

happened last

Sunday

and it seemed

like it was

a potential

like huge

problem

and yet

it seems like

it's opening

a door up

for the gospel

every opposition

with Christ

becomes an

opportunity

so it's

important to

restate an

observation

from the

previous post

the previous

point rather

that confidence

in God

again

with all of

this

it has to

precede such

boldness and

assurance

that we have

to have

confidence

that God

is at work

and his

word is

true

furthermore

this change

in priority

must stem

from a change

in perspective

we can't

just will

ourselves

to have

a new

set of

priorities

if our

perspective

isn't upon

Christ

so as we

transition to

our third

and final

point

we need

to consider

that

the person

who grows

in cherishing

Christ

it is

not

it is

it is

not

a

conviction

a sentence

for a

dull

and heavy

and

difficult

life

but rather

a joyful

one

so look at

verse 18

again

in light

of all

that is

happening

what does

Paul say

what then

actually we'll

go back to

17

the former

proclaimed

Christ

of selfish

ambition

not sincerely

but thinking

to afflict

me

in my

imprisonment

verse 18

what then

only that

in every

way

whether in

pretense

or in

truth

Christ

is

proclaimed

and in

that

I

rejoice

we are

seeing

once again

Paul

he is

joyful

and it's

just oozing

out of him

he is

overflowing

with joy

so that the

purpose

of Paul's

life

is no longer

himself

his priorities

have shifted

he is not

trying to

gain his

life

instead

Paul has

lost his

life for

the sake

of Christ

and in

doing so

he has

gained it

these are

words of

Jesus

himself

so let's

look at

our third

and final

point

that

if we are

to live

this joyful

obedient

life in

Christ

we need

to change

what we

value

as

the

ultimate

prize

we'll

start at

the last

portion

of verse

18

and then

read to

26

yes

and I

will

rejoice

for I

know

that

through

your

prayers

and the

help

of

the

spirit

of

Jesus

Christ

this

will

turn out

for my

deliverance

as it

is my

eager

expectation

and hope

that I

will not

be at

all ashamed

but that

with full

courage

now as

always

Christ

will be

honored

in my

body

whether

by life

or by

death

verse 21

might be

familiar to

some of

you

for to

me

to live

is Christ

and to

die

is gain

if I

am to

live

in the

flesh

that

means

fruitful

labor

for me

yet

which

I

shall

choose

I

cannot

tell

I

am

hard

pressed

between

the

two

my desire

is to

depart

and be

with

Christ

for that

is far

better

but to

remain

in the

flesh

is more

necessary

on your

account

convinced

of this

I know

that I

will

remain

and

continue

with

you

with

you

all

for your

progress

and joy

in the

faith

so that

in

me

you

may

have

ample

cause

to

glory

in

Christ

Jesus

because

of

my

coming

to

you

again

Paul

expands

on his

posture

of

joy

from

the

previous

section

as he

contemplates

what his

deliverance

from prison

might look

like

and by

the way

he

is convinced

he will

be delivered

it's

a guarantee

for him

deliverance

might look

two

different

ways

either

off

with his

head

but then

he'll

be in

glory

with

Christ

no more

chains

no more

headaches

he'll

be with

Christ

but he

might be

actually

delivered

out of

prison

so that

he continues

the ministry

of Christ

for Paul

there's

two

possibilities

and it

sounds like

he is

by the

way

like

this is

up to

him

whether

he will

be

like

he's

the one

who's

going to

decide

whether

he goes

to

Christ

or

he

will

be

released

it's

not

the

case

at

all

but

he

is

kind

of

wrestling

with

this

reality

in

such a

way

as to

draw

in

the

Philippians

to

his

mentality

into

what

he

prizes

most

of

all

as if

to

say

ultimately

it is

Christ

and to

be in

his

presence

but

really

it's

to

submit

to

his

will

that's

what

Paul

is

saying

in

this

section

I

don't

know

what

to

choose

I

mean

I

could

go

to

Christ

it

would

be

unbelievable

or I

can

continue

on

for

your

sake

so

that

your

joy

will

continue

to

grow

as

you

progress

in

the

gospel

what

can

I

choose

both

are

fantastic

which

is

to

say

Lord

not

my

will

be

done

but

yours

Paul

is

sure

that

he

will

be

delivered

but

how

he

is

wrestling

and

man

is

he

ever

wrestling

I

say

this

it

is

a

good

thing

to

wrestle

with

the

Lord

but

ultimately

we

are

allowed

to

ache

after

glory

we

are

allowed

to

ache

after

heaven

especially

if we've

gone

through

some

loss

or

there's

been

a lot

of

difficulty

in

this

life

it

is

not

a

bad

thing

to

say

Lord

I

just

want

to

be

with

you

just

take

me

tonight

I

don't

know

I

don't

think

that's

a

bad

thing

it

would

seem

that

for

Paul

it's

not

a

bad

thing

and

by

the

way

I

don't

think

that's

a

suicidal

ideation

he

just wants

to be

with

Jesus

it's

a good

thing

to

ache

after

the

Lord

but

he

is

ultimately

saying

that

my

prize

my

prize

isn't

my

own

life

but

it

is

Christ

and

his

glory

and

if

it

is

it

sake

of

others

and

Paul

even

says

in

verse

20

his

heart

is

his

eager

expectation

his

heart

and

hope

that

I

will

not

at

all

be

ashamed

but

that

with

full

courage

now

as

always

Christ

will

be

honored

in

my

body

whether

by

life

or

by

death

that

my

life

will

not

be

my

own

that

I

will

not

be

ashamed

that

I

will

be

courageous

my

perspective

it

is

a

daunting