God has been very gracious to our church by bringing us many new members in recent days. Sometimes, when I meet with new members, I share the story of what God has done in our church over the last several years.
A lot has happened in our church over the last ten years. Sometimes it’s hard to appreciate the blessings of what God has done if you don’t understand the whole story. So, I try to share the big picture of what God has done when I meet with those who want to become an official part of our church family.
You know, every book of the Bible is special. Yet, I really love the Book of Philippians because it has so much joy, and it also gives us so much practical truth for how to really live the life of a Christian. So, I thought, why don’t we look at the whole story of the Book of Philippians?
Today, I’d like to talk about that. After all, that’s been the name of our entire series in Philippians. Today, let’s talk about the life of a Christian.
Before we go any further, let’s go to the Lord in prayer.
(prayer)
Well, I preached eight sermons from the Book of Philippians, so today, we have eight points, which is nearly triple the amount that we normally have.
However, have no fear; your pastor likes to eat lunch also.
Keep your Bibles open and look with me now at the Book of Philippians.
First, let’s look at Philippians 1:1-11.
(Read Philippians 1:1-11)
First, let’s recognize that . . .
I. The life of a Christian is blessed through the church.
We learn this truth in the first part of Chapter 1.
By the way, we learned a lot of other things in each of these passages, but for the sake of today, I’m going to boil each passage down to a truth that pertains to the life of a Christian.
We can summarize this first passage by saying that the life of a Christian is blessed through the church.
God gave Christians to the church for its good, and He gave the church to Christians for their good.
We need the church, and the church needs us.
Hebrews 10:24–25 says:
“And let us consider one another in order to provoke love and good works, not neglecting to gather together, as some are in the habit of doing . . . ”
1 Thessalonians 5:11 says:
“Therefore encourage one another and build each other up . . . ”
1 Corinthians 12:27 says:
“Now you are the body of Christ, and individual members of it.”
Brothers and sisters, you need the church, and the church needs you.
The life of a Christian is a better and fuller life when it is blessed through the church.
Next, look at Philippians 1:12-30
(Read Philippians 1:12-30)
Second, we recognize that . . .
II. The life of a Christian is rooted in the gospel.
Paul was willing to suffer for the gospel.
Paul didn’t care if others spoke badly about him, as long as they were preaching the gospel.
Paul told the Philippians to live lives worthy of the gospel.
Paul said elsewhere in Romans 1:16
“For I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes . . . ”
The word gospel means good news.
The gospel is the good news that Jesus lived, died, and rose to live again to pay the death penalty for your sins and to earn new life for you.
As a Christian, your life must be rooted in the gospel.
Friends, everything in your life should be affected by the gospel of Jesus Christ.
There is no area of your life that is neutral.
If you are in Jesus, all of your life belongs to Him.
Next, let’s look at Philippians 2:1-11.
(Read Philippians 2:1-11)
Third, we recognize that . . .
III. The life of a Christian is marked by humility.
The passage that I just read is the most dominant Bible teaching about the call for Christians to be humble.
To say it in a really direct way, if you want to be like Jesus, be humble. If you want to be like Jesus, put the needs of others ahead of your own.
Let me be a little clearer: If your life is not marked by humility, you have a very weak Christian life, or perhaps you have no Christian life at all.
I’m not saying that to make you feel guilty; I’m saying that to light a fire under you to get close to Jesus.
You can do it. You can be like Jesus. You can be humble.
Everyone say, “I can be like Jesus.” Everyone say, “I can be humble.”
By God’s Holy Spirit, you can do everything He’s called you to do.
Next, look at Philippians 2:12-30.
(Read Philippians 2:12-30)
Fourth, we recognize that . . .
IV. The life of a Christian is committed to purposeful work.
Did you catch all of the purposeful gospel work that is happening in the passage I just read?
Paul was purposeful in doing the work of the Lord in his own life.
Paul told the Philippians that God was working in and through them.
Also, Paul spoke well of the work of the Lord through Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Listen, church: God’s plan for His people is that they would do His work.
You and I are to intentionally live our lives in such a way that we are always on mission for God.
Whether we are in school, at home, working, or retired. Whether we are young or old. Whether we have followed Jesus for many years or just a few days.
If you are a follower of Jesus, you ought to be on mission for Jesus, and you ought to do so on purpose.
1 Corinthians 10:31 says:
“So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God.”
To do something for the glory of God means that we’re bringing attention to how wonderful God is.
Live your life on purpose, doing the work of God, for the glory of God.
Next, look at Philippians 3:1-11:
(Read Philippians 3:1-11)
Fifth, we learn that . . .
V. The life of a Christian is found by knowing Jesus.
The language in this passage is some of the most beautiful and powerful language about knowing Jesus.
Paul says in verse 8, “ . . . I also consider everything to be a loss in view of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.”
He says in verse 10, “My goal is to know him and the power of his resurrection . . . ”
Christians, we discover more about who we are and who God wants us to be when we discover more about Jesus.
Simply stated, we find true life when we discover Jesus.
Who you are truly meant to be in this life, and in the next, is found in Jesus.
Discover who you are in Jesus. Discover who you were created to be in Jesus.
Next, let’s look at Philippians 3:12-21:
(Read Philippians 3:12-21)
Sixth, let us see that . . .
VI. The life of a Christian is lived reaching forward.
There’s a lot of stuff in the past, right?
There’s even a lot of stuff right in front of us currently, right?
However, followers of Jesus reach forward to who God wants them to become. Followers of Jesus reach forward toward sanctification (or becoming more and more holy).
Also, followers of Jesus look forward to the glory and promises that await them in Jesus. Followers of Jesus look forward toward glorification.
The life of a Christian is lived neither in guilt over the past nor in longing for the past.
The life of the Christian is not satisfied with things the way they are now, in terms of their spiritual lives.
Christians want more of Jesus.
Christians want to be more faithful to Jesus.
Christians want to receive more of the blessings and promises of Jesus.
The life of a Christian is lived reaching forward, toward Jesus.
Next, as we get to the last chapter, look at Philippians 4:1-9.
(Read Philippians 4:1-9)
The seventh truth we can gain from the Book of Philippians is that . . .
VII. The life of a Christian is strengthened by standing firm.
I’ve done many mission trips to Jamaica, and I have grown close to the people there at Cataboo Baptist Church. As a result, they asked me to baptize some people who were becoming part of their church. They didn’t have a baptistry, so we baptized in the Black River, which is also home to crocodiles. The bottom of that river was very uneven and muddy. Because I didn’t want to drop the people I was baptizing, and because I didn’t want to become crocodile food, I tried my best to make sure that I was standing firm on the bottom of that river.
Church, there are some things in this world that are much more dangerous than whatever awaits you in the Black River in Jamaica.
In order to live a thriving life, we must stand firm in the Lord and His ways.
Paul says in verse 1, “ . . . in this manner stand firm in the Lord, dear friends.”
Remember, the manner of which Paul speaks is to seek Jesus and His ways.
When your faith is weak, stand firm in the Lord.
When you’re confused about what’s next in your life, stand firm in the Lord.
When you’re tempted to sin, stand firm in the Lord.
When you’re hurting, stand firm.
Stand firm in Jesus.
Finally, look at Philippians 4:10-23.
(Read Philippians 4:10-23)
The final truth is that . . .
VIII. The life of a Christian is blessed by God.
Church, isn’t God good?
In the Book of Philippians, Paul talks repeatedly about rejoicing in the Lord.
Why do we rejoice in the Lord?
We rejoice because He is good!
We rejoice because He has blessed us so much!
We rejoice because He chose to rescue us from sin and adopt us as His sons and daughters!
We rejoice because of so many other blessings from God.
We also learn in these final verses of Philippians that God has not only blessed us; He will continue to bless and provide for us, so that no matter the situation, we can be content in Him.
Whatever our situation, we can be grateful and satisfied in Jesus.
That’s the life of a Christian: being blessed through the church, being rooted in the gospel, being marked by humility, committing to purposeful work, being found by knowing Jesus, reaching forward, being strengthened by standing firm, and being blessed by God.
Challenge yourself this week in this one way:
Weekly Challenge: Embrace the true life of a Christian.
Don’t just come sit in these seats once a week, once a month, or whatever. Don’t just wear the Christian t-shirt, listen to the Christian music, talk the Christian talk, and live the moral life you think a Christian should live.
Really embrace all that it means to truly live as a Christian.
Start by reading God’s Word for instruction, praying to God to make you more faithful, and living the Christian life!
(Gospel presentation)
(closing prayer)
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