Sermon
To Live Is Christ
May 12-13, 2001
Pastor Leighton Sheley

This week I was in one of the local stores and watching a scene at the checkout counter. I saw a mom and she had two small children who were fighting and arguing over something, and a baby that was crying, and she was going deep into that bag, that big bag, full of diapers and toys for the kids and all of those kinds of things looking for the checkbook. And she's standing in front of a clerk, who wasn't all that patient and supportive, and I stood there and I had the highest admiration and respect for her because in spite of all of those circumstances, she was maintaining her composure. And that kind of a situation would probably take a man hours to recover from. (Congregation chuckles) But our moms deserve our respect and appreciation. I think particularly so single moms because they just don't have any relief. And as I was thinking about that and I was thinking about this Sunday being Mother's Day, I realized that there are times when I'm not real contented with my situation and I don't have quite the patience of a mother and so forth. And I started thinking about that and I came to realize that perhaps myself and we as a congregation might want to take a look at this book of Philippians. You know, we are living in an...it's page 790 if you're using a pew Bible.

We're living in an era of a seemingly unprecedented options for entertainment and satisfaction. And yet, we have people all around us who are constantly chasing this contentedness which is always just out of reach like perhaps the end of a rainbow. They seem to tell themselves I will be happy if only I can get that promotion, or get that job, or get that car, or get that house, or get that companion, or get that spouse, or as I've heard some of us say -- get rid of the spouse. (Congregation chuckles) And yet, all that they're acquiring or pursuing and so forth, do not provide them with the contentedness that they're earnestly seeking. Paul makes this thought-provoking statement in Philippians 4:11-12: I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Paul said, I am content. Now how many of us can say that? How many of us can say that we are content all the time? I have to confess to you I am not content all the time. But Paul said something that caught my interest. He said that contentedness is something that can be learned. He says, I have learned to be content.

Now the secrets of being content are found throughout this book of Philippians, and so today we're going to endeavor in the few minutes remaining to sweep through this short but very powerful book. You say, short? In the pew Bible this book begins on page 790. In the pew Bible the next book, Colossians, begins on page 792. How many pages long is Philippians? It's about two pages long. It doesn't take any more than 10 minutes to read, and yet, it is filled with wonderful insights, spiritual insights, such as the one found in 1:6. Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will be able to carry it onto completion until the day of Christ Jesus. Isn't that a wonderful promise? That means He's not going to give up on us. He's not going to leave us half completed. He's going to complete the work. And how about Philippians 4:19: And my God will meet all of your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus. God is going to meet all of the needs. Now it doesn't say all of the wants, but it says all of the needs. He's going to meet our needs. He can because of His riches. And so this is a very short and yet a very powerful book, and gives us much insight.

Now let's take a moment and look at the setting in which Paul is writing this, because according to any standards we might apply he has very little reason for being content. You see, Paul wrote this while he was imprisoned in Rome in about A.D. 62. Both he and Christianity were on trial before the Roman government to find out if Christianity was just another Jewish sect to be protected or if it was a dangerous new foreign religion that needed to be crushed under the weight of Roman authority and power. And although Paul was imprisoned in a rented house, as opposed to a dungeon, he was constantly surrounded by Roman guards who enforced the edict that he was not to publicly preach the gospel. And he always had before him the possibility that his trial was going to result in his being beheaded. To further aggravate his situation, the Roman church, the church in Rome, that should have been around to support him in his moment was divided because there were those in the Roman church who were endeavoring to displace Paul from his place of authority and replace Paul with themselves, and that issue is addressed in Philippians 1:15-17. And yet, in spite of seemingly overwhelming adversity, Paul is overflowing with joy.

Now in Philippians Paul uses the word 'mind' ten times, the word 'think' five times, and if you at the word 'remember', Paul references the mind or attitude or thinking process or paradigm sixteen times in this short book. In summary, the secret to joy is a positive outlook or positive paradigm or a thinking process. As one of the biblical scholars has observed, outlook determines outcome. Outlook determines outcome. Now a number of years back there was a song that came out that rose very quickly in the charts -- Don't Worry, Be Happy. You may recall that, but it didn't really provide us with any kind of theological basis for that. Well let me tell you, Paul does in this letter to the Philippians.

Now since joy and contentedness are centered in our thinking process, what are some of the thinking processes that rob us of our joy? Well let me give you four. Number one: circumstances. Most of us feel better when things are going our way. Most of us come home happy at the end of the day if we were not late for work because of traffic, if we dealt with only the expected challenges at work, if we didn't get a flat tire, and so forth. And yet, there's so much in our lives over which we have no control or even influence. We don't have any control over the traffic, or the weather, or surprises at work, or anything else that can dominate our lives. People whose happiness depends on their circumstances are going to be miserable most of the time. The poet Byron wrote, men are the sport of circumstances.

A second joy robber is people. Some of you are saying, Pastor, no kidding. Yeah. Family members, co-workers, and others with whom we are forced to interact often say and do things that irritate and aggravate us. A number of years back we were at a Monday morning staff meeting and obviously this pastor had had a really rough Sunday; he was asked how he was doing. He said, man, ministry would be great if we could just get rid of the people. (Congregation chuckles)

Number three: things or perhaps more precisely lack of things. The story is told of Abraham Lincoln who was walking down the street with his two sons who were fighting. A friend asked, what's the problem with the boys? Abraham Lincoln replied, the same thing that's wrong with the whole world. I have three moments and each of them want two. Jesus said, a man's life does not consist of the abundance of things which he possesses, in the Sermon on the Mount. And we are warned of laying up treasures here on earth, and there are three reasons for doing so. First, people can never safeguarded these possessions against theft. Even if banks, businesspeople, and crooks can't get their hands on our possessions, the government eventually will. The second reason is that earthly possessions do not last, most have a decay cycle or rust. I had a car that I bought new about 20 years ago. Today it's a bucket of rust; fortunately, somebody else's bucket of rust. (Congregation chuckles) Even if it's made out of stainless-steel we can't take it with us when this life is done. A third reason is that such treasure can never really truly bring us satisfaction. You know that new car feeling? It lasts until the first or second car payment. And yet, most of the people around us and many of them who call themselves Christian are totally convinced that they will be joyful and they will be contented if they can just get the right combination of possessions.

Now the fourth attitude that robs us of joy is worry, and at its very root worry is a lack of faith in God being in control of our situation. There's a pervasive modern unbiblical philosophy that God set this universe into motion, but the universe is far too complex for Him to be involved in the nitty-gritty of being involved in the details of it. And every once in a while He'll come on the scene in a large way and give it a big push, but it really runs without the presence of God. That philosophy is often widely accepted amongst those who call themselves Christian, and yet, it's an unbiblical concept. The fact of the matter is that God is totally involved with His creation down to a subatomic level and beyond. It's He and that holds things together. Now worry does have physical consequences. And many of the illnesses that people are dealing with today are really caused by or promoted by worry. Paul had plenty of reasons to worry if he was so inclined. He was a prisoner facing possible execution. Jay Sekulow was not available to defend him, and he was not being financially supported by any missions organization. In fact, the Scriptures seem to indicate that only the church at Philippi supported Paul in his missions work.

So then these are the four things that rob us of joy: circumstances, people, things, and worry. How do we overcome these four thieves? And the answer is, in cultivating a biblical attitude towards these thieves. In Philippians Paul provides us four keys or four attitudes that help us maintain our joy. The theme of Philippians chapter 1 is a single mind, and if you're making notes you might want to write that -- chapter 1 a single mind. James writes, a double-minded man is unstable in all of his ways. There is an old Latin proverb that says; when a pilot does not know what port he's heading for, no wind is right. The reason many Christians are disturbed by their circumstances is because they're not single-minded. They're trying to live with one foot in heaven and one foot firmly planted on this earth. They do not have a single devotion to Christ, but their allegiance is divided between the kingdom of heaven and their own little personal earthly kingdom. Paul had a single purpose. This one thing I do. This one thing I do, he writes in Philippians 3:13. And because of that he looked at his circumstances through a heavenly perspective rather than an earthly perspective. He was not a prisoner of Rome. He was a prisoner of Jesus Christ, Ephesians 3:1. He was not facing a civil trial. He was sent for the defense of the gospel, Philippians 1:17.

Paul rejoiced in his circumstances because they gave him the opportunity to strengthen his fellowship with fellow citizens, the Christians, to lead others to Christ, and to defend the gospel before the courts of Rome. Paul's circumstances were not his enemies, but rather his opportunities. Philippians 1:12; Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear through the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latters do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoiced, for I know that through your prayers and the help that was given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Convinced of this, I know I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through by being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me. He said to live is Christ and to die is gain. What is he gaining? Heaven. To live is Christ or to die is heaven. And yet how many of us say, well, to live is possessions? To live is cars? To live is money? To live is vacations? To live is houses? To live is whatever it might be instead of Christ, and we're not single-minded.

Now the theme of Philippians chapter 2 is a submissive mind. Chapter 1 -- a single mind. Chapter 2 -- a submissive mind. The key verse of this chapter is, Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than themselves. This chapter focuses on the conflict between people. As one scholar has pointed out, in chapter 1 Paul puts Christ first, in chapter 2 he puts others second, and by extension of that it means he puts himself last. There's an old anachronism, joy, J-O-Y, Jesus-Others-Yourself. You know at the very core of conflict with others is our selfishness and our self-centeredness. The reason that we get aggravated with other people is because they're getting in our way. They're getting in our way. We're sitting on the freeway and the car in front of us is in our way, so what do we do? We hit the horn. We do it in the church parking lot too. (Congregation chuckles) I had one pastor observe some guests had come in and sat down in pews in the church and one of the old-time church members walked in and looked at them and said, you're sitting in my pew. You're in my way. My way is more important than your way.

A submissive mind does not demand that others serve our interest, but rather that we serve the interest of others. And Paul challenges us to imitate Christ's humility and look to the interest of others. He said, Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus (2:5): Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant, and being made in human likeness. And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death -- even death on a cross! The Jesus Himself said I have not come to be served, but I have come to serve and to give My life as a ransom for many.

The theme of chapter 3 in Philippians is a spiritual mind. Paul points out that most people put their confidence in the flash. In other words, their confidence is in their own strength, intelligence, accomplishments, connections, or some other worldly source. Paul points out if anyone should have any reason to put confidence in the flesh, it's he, and yet he counts all of his earthly credentials as rubbish. In verses 19 and 20 Paul's says the mind of the godless is on earthly things, but our citizenship is in heaven. Chapter 3 verse 3, For it is we who are the circumcised, we who worship by the Spirit of God, who glory in Christ Jesus, and to put no confidence in the flesh -- though I myself have reasons for such confidence. If anyone else thinks he has reason to put confidence in the flesh, I have more: circumcised on the 8th day, of the people of Israel, of the tribe of Benjamin, a Hebrew of Hebrews; in regard to the law, a Pharisee; as for zeal, persecuting the church; as for legalistic righteousness, faultless. But what ever was to my profit I know consider loss for the sake of Christ. And what is more, I consider everything a loss compared to the surpassing greatness of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them rubbish, that I might gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ the righteousness that comes from God and is by faith. I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, to attain the resurrection from the dead.

Not that I have already obtained this, or have already been made perfect, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Forgetting those things which are behind. One of the joy robbers that we have is that we carry with us, wherever it is that we go, this bag of failures and sins. And if we have come to the Lord, we've confessed our sin, we've repented from it, we shouldn't be carrying that bag. You can't run a race carrying a bag like that. You can't. Paul says forgetting those things which are behind. You say well he was the apostle. You know, he wasn't perfect and he made mistakes. Some of those mistakes were before Christ had revealed Himself, and he went and he persecuted the Christians, he divided families, and I'm sure that he must have gone to sleep at night hearing the cries of children and mothers and fathers as they were taken off, as they were tortured, as they were killed for their faith. And he had to remind himself: I have confessed my sin, I have repented of my sin, I'm going to leave that behind.

In working with men's ministries often times men will open to me and they will reveal to me areas that they deal with on a daily basis. When they stand in front of the mirror in the morning, that mirror reminds them of mistakes they made in the past because of health situations or whatever the case might be. We have to forget those things. We have to choose to forget those things every single day; leave them behind. Don't let them rob you of the joy that you can have in Christ Jesus.

The theme of Philippians chapter 4 is a secure mind. The key verse of this chapter reads; Do not be anxious about anything. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Now Paul tells us that we have a role in this process. Our role is to No. 1-rejoice always, No. 2-do not worry, No. 3-in everything pray, and No. 4-fill our minds with things which are true, and noble, and right, and lovely, and admirable, and excellent, and praiseworthy. Fill our minds with these things. And yet, how often it is we fill our minds with so much else other than the word of God. We don't read the two pages of Philippians, but we will watch hours of television. You know, I've had the misfortune of dealing with some of these flus that have been going around, and I'd sit at home, and I sit in front of the television to fill the time because I have the mental capacities of a second grader. And I get to the end of the day and I'm depressed, and I started thinking about that and I've come to realize what it is. I have to watch the commercials. Those commercials are designed by behavioral scientists. Do you know what they're designed to do? They're designed to make you discontent with your current situation so that you will buy whatever product or service is that they're hocking. You can't be happy unless you're buying our shampoo (congregation chuckles), unless you're driving this car, or whatever the case might be. They design those things to inundate us to be discontent with our situation.

A number of years back I was technical support for the church and as such I went through and read many, many technical manuals. You know I was thinking about that in preparation for this message, and I realized that 80 or 90 percent of the stuff that I read and spend my time studying doesn't even matter anymore because computers have changed. Okay. Four or five years; 20 percent a year. If you had an investment in which you had put a certain amount and you would lose 20 percent a year, would you consider that a good investment? And yet, we invest ourselves in newspapers and technical manuals and so forth, and we neglect that which is not going to only return to us 100 percent, but is going to return it with many, many dividends. I'm talking about the word of God, because the word of God doesn't change. Do you know what that means? You can study it today and 100 years from now, if you live that long, you can go back to the same page and it's the same because it's the word of God. You haven't wasted your time studying the word of God.

I know I'm out of time and we want to do everything that we can to help you protect your Christian testimony in our church parking lot today. (Congregation laughs) So if you're making notes and you want to look through the two pages of Philippians this week, remember this outline -- chapter 1-a single mind, chapter 2-a submissive mind, chapter 3-a spiritual mind, and chapter 4-a secure mind. Let's pray. Lord we thank you for Your Word and that in it we can find the treasures that give life purpose and meaning and hope, that bring us joy. Lord thank you for revealing this to us by Your Holy Spirit, for it's Your Holy Spirit that is our teacher. Lord thank you for Your patience and forbearance with us, for each and every one of us fail You each and every day, and yet Your mercies are new every morning. Thank you Lord for Your great, great love for us. It is with great joy and gratitude that we go forth this day in Jesus' name. Together we say, amen. Happy Mother's Day.