Matthew C. Mitchell's Blog, page 38

Be Pitiful (In a Good Way)

“Make My Joy Complete” [Matt's Messages]

“Make My Joy Complete”
LEFC Message for Worship at Home
May 17, 2020 :: Philippians 2:1-4

This video message is intended to be viewed as part of Worship at Home for Lanse Free Church the weekend of Sunday May 17, 2020. I hope the guides we’ve been providing for Worship at Home have been helpful to your family during this difficult time when we have been apart.

I also hope that we can begin some in-person worship gatherings again soon. We are praying about that and making plans. Please continue to pray about that, too, especially for wisdom from heaven.

In the meantime, and as long as we are transitioning, here we are on video looking at Paul’s letter to the Philippians.



We’ve seen in the first chapter that Paul talks a lot to the Philippians about joy.

He always prays with joy.
He rejoices because Christ is being preached.
And he will continue to rejoice no matter what. Because he cannot lose.

And yet, in today’s little paragraph, Paul makes it very clear that his joy is not yet full.

Something is keeping Paul from fully experiencing complete joy.

Now, that’s kind of a surprise because Paul has been waxing eloquent about how joyful he is even in the face of death!

So what could be diminishing Paul’s joy?

In the previous paragraph, Paul asked the Philippians that whatever happened, they would stand firm and stand together for the gospel. And we got a little bit of whiff that Paul knows that there are problems back at Philippi.

Internal problems.

They had external problems, too. They were experiencing persecution. So they had to stand firm.

But Paul also had to remind them to stand together. “Contending as one man for the faith of the gospel.”

Apparently, the Philippians were struggling to get along with one another. There was some infighting. Some division. We don’t know the details, but it’s clear that they were struggling with one another.

And that was a drag on Paul’s joy.

I love that! Paul could not have complete and full joy while he knew that his beloved church friends were still fighting with one another.

So in today’s paragraph, Paul asks the Philippians to “Make His Joy Complete” by fixing the problems they had with one another.

But he doesn’t start there with the practical problem. He starts further back in verse 1.

He starts with the benefits and blessings of being united to Christ.

The benefits and blessings of being united to Christ.

Look again at verse 1.

“If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete...”

Do you hear the if/then logic in there?

It’s pretty hard to miss. Especially when I punch it when I read it. If, if, if, if.

By the way verses 1 through 4 are one long sentence in the original Greek!

And it’s just like this: if, if, if, if...then.

We’re all familiar with this kind of logic.

If you clean your room, then you can go to the ball game. (If there was one.)
If you say that one more time, then I’m out of here.
If the stock market continues this way, then we’re in big trouble.
If you finish your supper, then you can have dessert.

If the condition of the first part is met, then logically the second part should flow from it.

So, Paul says, if you have experienced all of these blessings of verse 1, then it only makes sense to make his joy complete and do the things in verses 2 through 4.

And (spoiler alert!) all real Christians have experienced the blessings of verse 1.

Because this is like a description of what it means to be a real Christian:

United with Christ.
Comforted by his love.
Fellowship with the Holy Spirit.
Experiencing God’s tenderness and compassion.

That’s what it means to be a Christian!

That’s how good it is to belong to Jesus Christ.

The suggested opening song for Worship at Home today was:

“What a Fellowship
What a Joy Divine
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms

What a Blessedness
What a Peace Is Mine
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms.

Leaning on Jesus
Leaning on Jesus
Safe and Secure from All Alarms

Leaning on Jesus
Leaning on Jesus
Leaning on the Everlasting Arms”

Do you have that?
Is that you?

Safe and secure from all alarms because you are united to Christ?

Do you have that encouragement in your soul?

I hope so!

If not, then I invite you to receive Jesus Christ as your Savior today and be united to Him by faith in His sacrificial death on the Cross.

He died to pay for our sins, and He came back to life to give us eternal life and the comfort of His tender and compassionate love through the fellowship of the Holy Spirit.

I invite you to turn from your sins and trust in Jesus today.

Paul says, “If you have all of that (and I know you do!), then here’s what logically follows.” Verse 2.

“...then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

I’m going to summarize it like this.

#1. THINK AS ONE.

It would complete Paul’s joy and only make sense if these Christians (and by extension you and I) would think as one. Verse 2 again. “then make my joy complete by being like-minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose.”

Now, I don’t think that Paul means that they all have to have all of the same thoughts about everything.

Billy Graham’s wife Ruth used to say something like “If you and your husband think the same exact thing about everything, one of you is not necessary!”

God has designed us all with our own brains and wants us to all think for ourselves. Which also means that we will come to different opinions about various things. But the most important things, we need to think the same on. And we need to be striving towards unity always.

Verse 2 is, I think, mostly about an attitude. A heart attitude of oneness. That’s why he uses words “like-minded” and “love” and “spirit” and “purpose.” There needs to be a desire for unity, especially around our shared mission.

We should have the same love.
The same love for God.
The same love for the lost.

We should have the same spirit and same purpose, the same gospel mission.

Or as we say it around here, the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing; and main thing is the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Do you see the logic?If you have been blessed by the gospel, then you need to be united in sharing the gospel with those who most need to hear it. And secondary matters on which you differ should stay second matters!

Now, there are probably lots of ways to apply that to our lives today, and I’m sure you can think of some. The one that jumps to my mind right now (because of right now!) is the WHEN and HOW of gathering again in our church building together. We probably have many different opinions about WHEN and HOW to do that. And we’ve asked you to share your thoughts for your family in a survey that went out this weekend.

But whatever our own thoughts are on that question, what is really important is that we focus on loving each other and staying on mission together no matter what.

We need to think as one about Jesus and about the gospel and about sharing the gospel of Jesus with the world.

What I love about our church family is that I know that we will do just that! This is a church centered on the gospel. So my joy can be complete!

We will think as one.

Not that we’ll do it perfectly! And not that this comes easily.

It certainly doesn’t come naturally. When unity comes, it’s a super-natural thing.

That’s where Paul goes next. Here’s how to get to thinking as one. Verse 3.

“Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

I’m going to summarize that by saying:

#2. THINK OF OTHERS.

It would complete Paul’s joy and only make sense if these Christians would think of others ahead of themselves. And, of course, it’s true for us today, as well.

We need to think of others ahead of ourselves.

It starts by getting over ourselves.

That’s why verse 3 says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit.”

That’s thinking only of yourself.

That’s how we naturally are. “What it’s in it for me, me, me, me?” That’s selfish ambition.

And vain conceit is, “I deserve it. I need it. I’m worth it.” An inflated sense of self-importance.

We operate this way all of the time. It’s the default mode of our hearts, but the Bible says that we need to change our default mode. “Do NOTHING out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but IN HUMILITY consider others better than yourself.”

Now, this does not mean some kind of a self-loathing: “Oh, I hate myself!” That’s just another kind of pride and vain conceit! Humility isn’t a false-kind of modesty that puts yourself down all the time.

Humility is not a focus on yourself at all! It’s a focus on others outside of yourself.

"...in humility consider others better than yourselves.”

The English Standard Version says, “as more significant than.”

The Christian Standard Bible says, “as more important than”

The 2011 NIV says, “value others above yourselves.”

And then Paul explains exactly what that means in verse 4.

“Each of you should look not only to your own interests [that’s not wrong or bad, we all need to do that], but also to the interests of others.”

Think of others. And think of others first.

Now, there are so many ways that we could apply that, and we need to in every area of our lives.

Because this is how Christians are supposed to live.

If we have the blessings of union with Christ, then we need to think of others ahead of ourselves.

And we need to start with those closest to us.

Ask yourself who are you putting first in all of your relationships:

If you are a dad, does the family revolve around you and your will?

If you are a mom, is it your way or the highway?
If you are brother or a sister, do put your siblings’ interests ahead of your own?
If you are single are you focused only on your dreams and ambitions?
If you are a boss at work? If you are an employee at work? Who are you looking out for?
Drivers, who is #1 on the road? “Consider others better than yourselves.”

Do you see how this is a radical way of living? If we start doing this, then the gospel that we proclaim will get hearing!

Thinking of others first is in basic contradiction to this world’s value system, but it is the foundation of the value system of the kingdom to come. “The last shall be first and the first shall be last.”

Put yourself last. Put yourself second.

I think that this COVID-19 world-wide health crisis is perfect opportunity for Christians to practice this.

For example, what I understand about these masks is that, for the most part, these face-masks that we are being asked to wear when interacting with people in society are not primarily worn to protect ourselves.

We are being asked to wear them, primarily, in case we have contracted the virus and don’t know it to protect those whom we are interacting with.

The Bible says that love is not self-seeking (1 Corinthians 13:5).

That is that we “should look not only to [our] own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

That’s hard to do. I know it. I am, by nature, a very selfish person.

It’s easy to see me. It’s easy to look to my own interests.

But I have been united to Christ; I have been comforted by His love; I have fellowship with the Spirit; I have experienced God’s tenderness and compassion.

So by God’s grace, I can look to the interests of others.

And Jesus has shown us the way.  Jesus has gone before us and shown us how it’s done. Lord-willing, we’ll see that next time in verses 5 through 11.

But for now, it’s enough to just say, “It is possible. We can do this. By God’s grace.”

We can think as one. One in spirit and in purpose.
And we can think of others and put them ahead of ourselves.
And then think how our joy will be complete!


***

Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"
04. "Whatever Happens"

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home - May 17, 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home May 17, 2020
$          Introduction$          Home Worship Guide$          Church Family News$          Prayer Items$          More Links to Helpful Resources                        Introduction                                                       
Dear Church Family,
I am thankful for Sundays. Even though during these strange times the days seems to run together the rest of the week, the rhythm of setting aside one day for worship (even if it has to be at home) and fellowship (even if it has to be online) and rest (even if it followed weirder work than usual) is comforting and strengthening to me. I’m glad that Sunday comes each week, and we can sanctify the day.
To help us all sanctify this Sunday, we have prepared another ten-step Guide to Worship at Home. With Paul in Philippians, we continue to emphasize the theme of rejoicing. This week in our readings and songs, we rejoice because of the blessings we enjoy through our union with Christ and fellowship with the Spirit.
This Sunday at 11am, Lord-willing, many of the families of our church will “meet” together on Zoom for a Family Fellowship time (I’ll be there by 10:45 to greet folks and help people get set up). Our special guests will be Jeff & Faith Aldridge, the new directors of the Clearfield NxtGen Center. We have been partnering with the NxtGen Center for more than 20 years (It used to be called “The Crossroad Youth Center)! Please consider joining us to get to know the Aldridges better and find out more about what the Lord is doing through that youth ministry.
Please also continue to ask the Lord for wisdom for our leaders to determine when and how to re-start in-person gatherings on our church campus. We are all eager to return, and we want to do it in the Lord’s way and the Lord’s time.
Speaking of time, when are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. I hope you are singing. This week I discovered a hymn by John Newton (1779) I had never heard of before. I’m glad that believers through the ages have found ways to capture and articulate their experience of the faithful provision of our Lord. You might want to sing your way through this song this week:
"Though troubles assail us and dangers affright,though friends should all fail us and foes all unite,yet one thing secures us, whatever betide,the promise assures us, 'The Lord will provide.'
The birds, without garner or storehouse, are fed;from them let us learn to trust God for our bread.His saints what is fitting shall ne'er be deniedso long as 'tis written, 'The Lord will provide.'
When Satan assails us to stop up our path,and courage all fails us, we triumph by faith.He cannot take from us, though oft he has tried,this heart-cheering promise, 'The Lord will provide.'
No strength of our own and no goodness we claim;yet, since we have known of the Savior's great name,in this our strong tower for safety we hide:the Lord is our power, 'The Lord will provide.'"


Home Worship Guide                         1. Call to Worship
Read Psalm 67 with joyful anticipation as your family gathers to worship.
**Option: Families with young children may want have the kids shout, “May the peoples praise You!” after each of the psalmist’s requests (v.2, v.3, v.4, v.5, and v.7).
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “Leaning on the Everlasting Arms” by Elisha Hoffman (1894).
**Option. Families with younger children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it: “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your family can sing “in the round.”
                                    3. Worship in Unity
Recite together Article 6 of the EFCA Statement of Faith.
“We believe that the Holy Spirit, in all that He does, glorifies the Lord Jesus Christ. He convicts the world of its guilt. He regenerates sinners, and in Him they are baptized into union with Christ and adopted as heirs in the family of God. He also indwells, illuminates, guides, equips and empowers believers for Christ-like living and service.”

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
As they prepared to face the challenge of entering the Promised Land, Moses told the people of Israel, “The eternal God is your refuge, and underneath are the everlasting arms” (Deuteronomy 33:27a).
We are “safe and secure from all alarms,” but those alarms are still very real. The Lord invites us to bring our trials before Him. Take time to pour your families’ troubles to the Lord while expressing your faith in the refuge of His everlasting arms. Have each family member share.

5. Worship in Bible Memorization
Recite Philippians 4:4 once more, and this time add in verse 5:                                                “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near.”
**Option: Eventually we are going to memorize all of Philippians 4:4-9. Don’t wait until the verses get long and difficult to memorize. Have each family member close their eyes and say what they can remember out loud.
            6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “Make My Joy Complete.”            Facebook VideoYouTube VideoRead on Pastor Matt’s Blog
[The message will be available online by Sunday morning.]
Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Do I enjoy the blessings of union with Christ? If not, will I repent and put my faith in Him?2. Am I doing my part to walk and work in unity with the other Christians in my life? If not, what do I need to change?3. In what ways am I humbling myself and serving other people? In what new ways do I need to begin?

8. Worship in Singing
Sing “They'll Know We Are Christians by Our Love” by Peter Scholtes (1966).

**Option: Some families may want to again sing “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019) to cement it in their memories and reinforce its profound message.

9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
                                                            10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom - 11am on Sunday.
Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 11:00am:
- See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.- Listen to announcements of church family news.- Interact with the new directors of the Clearfield NxtGen Center, Jeff and Faith Aldridge.- Pray for one another live and online.

More Links to Helpful Resources
Of Oceans, Thimbles, and Talking to Your Kids about Death by Alasdair Groves
Help: My Kids Seem Uninterested In Family Worship by David Murray                        Podcast: How To Create A Plan for Family Worship with David Murray
Keith Getty on What We and Our Children Sing About Matters by Randy Alcorn
Trusting God’s Hand When I Couldn’t See His Face by Timothy Paul Jones
Certain Counsel for Uncertain Times by Courtney Doctor

Wisdom Is Not Like Noses

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home - May 10, 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home
Mothers’ DayMay 10, 2020
$          Introduction$          Home Worship Guide$          More Links to Helpful Resources                        Introduction                                                       
Dear Church Family,
When I was growing up, my Mom always sang songs about Jesus while she went about her housework. (I’m sure she still does.) Her voice rings in my mind even as I type these words out for you:
            “I have a song that Jesus gave me...”
            “Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin..”
            “...there’s just something about that name.”
            “And He walks with me, and He talks with me...”
            “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”
            “To God be the glory–great things He hath done!”
On this Mothers’ Day weekend, I am incredibly grateful not only that Mom gave me birth but for the song in her heart and how it helped birth a song in mine.
Lord-willing, this Sunday at 11am, many of us are going to “gather” again using Zoom for a Family Fellowship time (I’ll be there by 10:45 to help folks get set-up). I’d like to ask every participant to share something in particular that they learned from their mother: a life-lesson, a spiritual truth, a helpful practice, a great example. I’m sure everybody has a story to tell!
By the way, it’s important that we also all remember that Mother’s Day is a hard day for many people many reasons including grief, loss, infertility, broken relationships, and shattered dreams. As we celebrate the joys of motherhood, we also recognize the sorrows.
We have prepared another ten-step guide for your family to use in worship at home. The theme of rejoicing continues as does our series of video messages on the book of Philippians. I hope these are an encouragement to you. For the “Worship in Unity,” we return to the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) which we were introduced to last month. In question #104, the framers noticed that the fifth commandment from Exodus 20 is repeated in Ephesians 6 as having ongoing relevance to our lives, and they also applied it to all God-ordained authorities, not just to parents. It seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this truth not just because of Mother’s Day, but also during these difficult days when we are being asked to submit to earthly authorities–in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and even unpleasant–in the interest of public health and safety. I have again worded the translation into the first person plural so that we declare it together as a community of faith with the communion of the saints.
Please continue to pray for our church leaders as we consider how ministry will change as the government lifts some restrictions. We want to make the most wise and loving choices for our whole church family. Pray for patience, as well, because we all want to get things back to “normal,” but may have to wait for some time.
Speaking of time, what time are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. I just finished reading a wonderful book by John Starke, The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World . In the last chapter, he writes something I thought was very appropriate for us all right now:
“If God is who he says he is, then singing is the most rational thing. To sing is to join ourselves to ultimate reality–to join ourselves with everything that isn't asleep. Singing is a declaration that we are awake to reality, awake to God and to our life with him.
To not sing is to be out of sync with reality, to miss something fundamental not just about ourselves but about all of creation. To live without singing of our delight in God is like driving a car in second gear; you can drive it that way, but you'll never open yourself up to the pleasure of driving down the open road with the engine at full capacity" (pg. 170).


Home Worship Guide                         1. Call to Worship            Read Psalm 34 as your family gathers to worship the Lord. When finished reading the whole psalm, repeat verse 3.
**Option: Families with young children may want to simply read verses 1-3.
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “To God Be the Glory” by Fanny Crosby (1875).
**Option. Families with younger children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it: “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your family can sing “in the round.”
**Option. This Sunday is Mothers’ Day. If your household has a mother in it, ask her what her favorite worship song is and sing it, too.
                                    3. Worship in Unity
Recite together Question #104 of the Heidelberg Catechism:
Q. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That we show all honor, love and faithfulness to our fathers and mothers, and to all in authority over us; submit ourselves with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction; and also bear patiently with their infirmities: since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
In Psalm 34, King David continually praises God but also speaks frankly about his troubles. His example for us today is to cry out to God in our trials and bring him our fears while we live out the fear of the LORD in hopeful expectation.
Have each family member share something for which you are praising the Lord and a trouble or fear you are currently experiencing.
**Option. Have each family member share something about your mother for which you are thankful.
**Option. Have someone pray a prayer of lament that we are not celebrating our mothers together in person this Sunday in our normal worship gathering.

5. Worship in Bible Memorization
Recite Philippians 4:4, the first of our new “Hide the Word” verses for this Spring:                                                “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
**Option: Don’t wait until the verses get long and difficult to memorize. Have each family member close their eyes and say the verse out loud. We will add the next verse next week!
            6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “Whatever Happens.”           

Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Am I living right now in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ? If not, where do I need to change?2. Am I standing firm and standing together with my brothers and sisters for the gospel? If not, how do I need to change?3. Am I receiving my suffering for the gospel as a gift to honor God with? If not, what do I need to change?
8. Worship in Singing
Sing “In the Garden” by Austin Miles (1913).
**Option: The newest song we have learned together as a church family is “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019). Some families may want to sing it as a closing song. The words and tune are very simple but also very profound.

9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
                                                            10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom - 11am on Sunday.
Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 11:00am:
- See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.- Listen to announcements of church family news.- Tell the group something your mother taught you.- Pray for one another live and online.

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home
Mothers’ DayMay 10, 2020
$          Introduction$          Home Worship Guide$          More Links to Helpful Resources                        Introduction                                                       
Dear Church Family,
When I was growing up, my Mom always sang songs about Jesus while she went about her housework. (I’m sure she still does.) Her voice rings in my mind even as I type these words out for you:
            “I have a song that Jesus gave me...”
            “Wonderful grace of Jesus, greater than all my sin..”
            “...there’s just something about that name.”
            “And He walks with me, and He talks with me...”
            “You ask me how I know He lives? He lives within my heart!”
            “To God be the glory–great things He hath done!”
On this Mothers’ Day weekend, I am incredibly grateful not only that Mom gave me birth but for the song in her heart and how it helped birth a song in mine.
Lord-willing, this Sunday at 11am, many of us are going to “gather” again using Zoom for a Family Fellowship time (I’ll be there by 10:45 to help folks get set-up). I’d like to ask every participant to share something in particular that they learned from their mother: a life-lesson, a spiritual truth, a helpful practice, a great example. I’m sure everybody has a story to tell!
By the way, it’s important that we also all remember that Mother’s Day is a hard day for many people many reasons including grief, loss, infertility, broken relationships, and shattered dreams. As we celebrate the joys of motherhood, we also recognize the sorrows.
We have prepared another ten-step guide for your family to use in worship at home. The theme of rejoicing continues as does our series of video messages on the book of Philippians. I hope these are an encouragement to you. For the “Worship in Unity,” we return to the Heidelberg Catechism (1563) which we were introduced to last month. In question #104, the framers noticed that the fifth commandment from Exodus 20 is repeated in Ephesians 6 as having ongoing relevance to our lives, and they also applied it to all God-ordained authorities, not just to parents. It seems appropriate to remind ourselves of this truth not just because of Mother’s Day, but also during these difficult days when we are being asked to submit to earthly authorities–in ways that are sometimes uncomfortable and even unpleasant–in the interest of public health and safety. I have again worded the translation into the first person plural so that we declare it together as a community of faith with the communion of the saints.
Please continue to pray for our church leaders as we consider how ministry will change as the government lifts some restrictions. We want to make the most wise and loving choices for our whole church family. Pray for patience, as well, because we all want to get things back to “normal,” but may have to wait for some time.
Speaking of time, what time are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. I just finished reading a wonderful book by John Starke, The Possibility of Prayer: Finding Stillness with God in a Restless World . In the last chapter, he writes something I thought was very appropriate for us all right now:
“If God is who he says he is, then singing is the most rational thing. To sing is to join ourselves to ultimate reality–to join ourselves with everything that isn't asleep. Singing is a declaration that we are awake to reality, awake to God and to our life with him.
To not sing is to be out of sync with reality, to miss something fundamental not just about ourselves but about all of creation. To live without singing of our delight in God is like driving a car in second gear; you can drive it that way, but you'll never open yourself up to the pleasure of driving down the open road with the engine at full capacity" (pg. 170).


Home Worship Guide                         1. Call to Worship            Read Psalm 34 as your family gathers to worship the Lord. When finished reading the whole psalm, repeat verse 3.
**Option: Families with young children may want to simply read verses 1-3.
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “To God Be the Glory” by Fanny Crosby (1875).
**Option. Families with younger children might want to repeat the song that has our Hide the Word verse in it: “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon your family can sing “in the round.”
**Option. This Sunday is Mothers’ Day. If your household has a mother in it, ask her what her favorite worship song is and sing it, too.
                                    3. Worship in Unity
Recite together Question #104 of the Heidelberg Catechism:
Q. What does God require in the fifth commandment?
A. That we show all honor, love and faithfulness to our fathers and mothers, and to all in authority over us; submit ourselves with due obedience to all their good instruction and correction; and also bear patiently with their infirmities: since it is God’s will to govern us by their hand.

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
In Psalm 34, King David continually praises God but also speaks frankly about his troubles. His example for us today is to cry out to God in our trials and bring him our fears while we live out the fear of the LORD in hopeful expectation.
Have each family member share something for which you are praising the Lord and a trouble or fear you are currently experiencing.
**Option. Have each family member share something about your mother for which you are thankful.
**Option. Have someone pray a prayer of lament that we are not celebrating our mothers together in person this Sunday in our normal worship gathering.

5. Worship in Bible Memorization
Recite Philippians 4:4, the first of our new “Hide the Word” verses for this Spring:                                                “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
**Option: Don’t wait until the verses get long and difficult to memorize. Have each family member close their eyes and say the verse out loud. We will add the next verse next week!
            6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “Whatever Happens.”           

Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Am I living right now in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ? If not, where do I need to change?2. Am I standing firm and standing together with my brothers and sisters for the gospel? If not, how do I need to change?3. Am I receiving my suffering for the gospel as a gift to honor God with? If not, what do I need to change?
8. Worship in Singing
Sing “In the Garden” by Austin Miles (1913).
**Option: The newest song we have learned together as a church family is “Jesus, Strong and Kind” by CityAlight (2019). Some families may want to sing it as a closing song. The words and tune are very simple but also very profound.

9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
                                                            10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom - 11am on Sunday.
Many of us are meeting through video-conference online this Sunday at 11:00am:
- See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.- Listen to announcements of church family news.- Tell the group something your mother taught you.- Pray for one another live and online.

“Whatever Happens” [Matt's Messages]

“Whatever Happens”
LEFC Message for Worship at Home
May 10, 2020 :: Philippians 1:27-30 

I’m recording this video message for Mother’s Day 2020 as, sadly, we are still not together in person for gathered worship on Sundays. But we did get to send out a surprise team of delivery guys to drop off a flower and a fridge magnet at the home of every mom in the church family that we could identify.



The moms listening can probably identify with this.

Have you ever sent somebody out the door on an errand, maybe a kid (or a dad), and you stop them right as they are leaving and say, “Oh yeah, and don’t forget...” or you say “Just one thing.”

“Whatever you do while you’re gone. Make sure you do this..”

Yesterday, Marilynn kept reminding the guys as they went out the door, “Whatever you do, make sure you ring the doorbell so they know that the gift is there because they don’t know you’re coming.”

She said it again and again. “Whatever you do, make sure you ring the doorbell so they know that the gift is there because they don’t know you’re coming.”

“Just one thing...”

That’s the flavor of the opening words of our passage in Philippians today. The Apostle Paul begins this paragraph by saying, “Whatever happens...”

The Christian Standard Bible actually translates the word here, “Just one thing!”

Whatever you do, make sure you do this. No. Matter. What.

We’re living in a day when priorities are so important. They are always important, of course, but right now we feel it more than ever.

Priorities need to be prioritized!

What are your priorities? What things are you going to do no matter what? And what other things don’t. really. matter. much?

Right here in the Bible, the Apostle Paul lays out some real priorities for you and me. And it should come as no surprise that these priorities are intimately connected to the good news of Jesus Christ. Because Paul believed, as we say around here, “The main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing; and the main thing is the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

Remember, Paul is in a Roman prison and is potentially facing execution for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. And strangely enough that doesn’t bother him. He’s just glad that the gospel is going forward! Because he knows that he can’t lose. We talked about that in the last message.

Whether he lives or dies, Paul wins.

If he keeps on living, he gets to share the gospel and be with the church. But if he dies, he gets to be with Christ which is better by far. And he doesn’t know which one is going to happen, so he begins verse 27 by saying, “Whatever happens...” whether death or life, no matter what, here’s what I want from you. Look at verse 27.

“Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

That’s point #1 of three for this message.

Whatever happens, we need to:

#1. LIVE IN A MANNER WORTHY OF THE GOSPEL.

Is that your top priority?

Does it even make the list?

Paul is bent on ensuring that he and his readers live lives that are consistent with the good news of Jesus Christ.

Now, notice that he does not say, “You are worthy of the gospel of Christ.”

That’s not how it works. We are not worthy of the grace that is bound up in the good news of Jesus’ saving life, death, and resurrection.

Paul says that we should conduct ourselves in a manner worthy of that message.

If that message is true (and it is!), then how should we now live?

The Greek word for “conduct yourselves” in verse 27 is related to citizenship. It’s “politeusthe” which gives you sense that the word “polis” or “city” is in there. We eventually get our word “politics” from that same root, but it’s basically about how to live appropriately as a citizen.

And you and I are citizens of the city, the kingdom created by the gospel. The Gospel Kingdom.

And the question is, “Are we living like it?”

Are you and I living like citizens of the Kingdom of Heaven.

Sounds like we’re back to the Sermon on the Mount, doesn’t it?

Jesus’ upside-down, inside-out, here-but-not-yet-here gospel kingdom.

Are we living out those kingdom values?

That’s a great question to ask during a public health crisis like we’re living in right now.

Maybe this afternoon, you could sit down with the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5-7 and remind yourself of what the kingdom is like, and how someone who has entered the kingdom should be conducting themselves.

Take an inventory. Is this how I am living? If not, what needs to change?

Moms with kids in the home, this is part of your job–to show and tell your kids to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.

Sometimes, we’ll say to our kids, “Don’t forget that you’re a Mitchell.”

Paul is saying to the Philippians, “Whatever happens, don’t forget that you are citizen of Jesus’ kingdom.”

Verse 27: “Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in one spirit, contending as one man for the faith of the gospel...”

That’s number two.

Whatever happens, we need to:

#2. STAND FIRM AND STAND TOGETHER FOR THE GOSPEL.

Paul says, “Then whether I come and see you (if he’s released from prison) or only hear about you in my absence (he’s sending somebody, a guy named “Epaphroditus” with this letter, and he expects him to return with a report),” then he will know whether or not they are doing what he spelling out for them to do.

Two things about that.

First, he’s kind of like a mom there, too, isn’t he? “I’ll know what you’re doing. Whether I can see you or not, I’ll find out! Mom’s got eyes in the back of her head and spies everywhere.”

And second, Paul really wishes that he could be with them, doesn’t he? But he has to rely on social media and technology [like pen and ink!] to connect with them.

He doesn’t even have Zoom or YouTube!

But he believes that whether he sees them or not, they will prioritize this: Standing firm and standing together for the gospel.

Now we’ll see more about this, Lord-willing, in the next message, but Paul is saying that they have to be unified.

“In one spirit, as one man” In one accord.

They have to work together to further the gospel.

In other words, “Evangelism is a team sport.”

We have to do this gospel thing together.

I can hear the moms saying this one, too, “Stick together now!”

We have to do this gospel thing together.

And I know that’s hard to do when we’re apart, but we’re not apart in our hearts.
And we are not apart in our giving.
And we are not apart in our technology.
And we are not apart in our homes.
We’re not apart when we’re out on the job.

We are not apart even when we are apart!

Unless, we are coming apart. Unless we allow division and disunity to pull us apart.

That’s what Paul is warning the Philippians about.

We’ll see more about that next week and when we get to the end of the book. I think the Philippians were struggling to get along with each other.

And Paul says, “Don’t come apart. Stand together as a team. Contending for the faith of the gospel.” v.28

“...without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

This is why they need to stand firm.

Because they have enemies.

Because they are facing opposition for their faith in Jesus.

They are not just facing potential internal struggles with one another but external struggles with persecution.

And Paul says, “Whatever happens with that, stand firm.”

And don’t be scared. “Without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”

I can hear the moms say, “Don’t be scared of those bullies.”

Our whole church focus in 2020 is “bold evangelism.” Do you remember that?

We have said it again and again this year.

We must grow in boldness to fearlessly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.”

That’s number three.

Whatever happens, we need to:

#3. BOLDLY AND FEARLESS PROCLAIM THE GOSPEL.

We can’t allow others to terrorize us into silence.

Now, we here in Central Pennsylvania have a hard feeling this one as we have so much religious freedom. I mean, here I am on YouTube and Facebook proclaiming that “Jesus saves” and “Jesus is Lord,” and I have almost no fear of retribution.

It’s sad that I’m not very bold when I don’t fear any persecution!

But many of our brothers and sisters around the world do have legitimate fears of just that thing.

Remember, Paul might be going to lose his life over his message.

And in the face of that, he says, “Just one thing: don’t be scared; tell them about Jesus!”

And look at the result. V.28

“This [your bold witness] is a sign to them that they will be destroyed [the persecutors will be destroyed], but that you will be saved–and that by God.”

I would not want to be in their shoes when the judgment comes.

Often when we encounter opposition, we think that we must be doing something wrong. I’m sure that they Philippians were tempted to think that if persecution started to come, maybe they were doing it wrong, and they needed to back off on sharing the gospel so much.

But Paul says, “No. You’re doing it right. If you have the right gospel and you hit opposition you know you’re doing it right.”

Because that’s how it works for him. Verse 29.

“For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.”

We’re all in it together. It’s happening to all of us. We’re not doing it wrong. We’re doing it right.

Because we know that God is sovereign.

The most startling thing that Paul says here is in verse 29 with that little word “granted.”

It’s sounds almost crazy what he says. Did you catch it? “For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe on him [that’s a wonderful gift. Faith is a wonderful gift!], but also [it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ] to suffer for him...”

What?! Our suffering for Jesus is a gift? We are not just called at times to suffer but gifted with suffering for sake of Christ?

That’s what Paul says!

Now, I’m sure that Paul is not a masochist. He’s not saying that we need to enjoy our suffering. “Wahoo! I love it when it hurts.”

No. But this gospel message is so great, it is worth suffering for.
Our gospel is worth the pain that comes with sharing it.
It’s a privilege to suffer for the good news of Jesus Christ.

A gift.

And when that suffering comes, it will not be an accident.

It will not be random. Our God is sovereign over our suffering and has good plans for our suffering.

So we need not fear that we are doing it wrong or that “they” can stop us.

I mean, what’s the worst “they” can do? Kill us?

No problem. Then we would just be with Christ which is better by far!

Whatever happens.
Whatever happens.
Whatever happens.

We have nothing to be scared of...so we can boldly and fearlessly proclaim the gospel of Jesus Christ.

Who are you going to tell?


***

Previous Messages in This Series:

01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"
03. "I Will Continue To Rejoice"

"Give Me Patience, Lord, Right Now!" & LEFC Ministry Updates

Dear Church Family,

I have often caught myself praying something like this:

“Dear Lord, please give me patience. And I need it right away!”

I don’t know about you, but I need to grow in patience, and our current situation is a great opportunity to do just that. I keep wanting things to move faster. I have a touch of cabin fever, and I, like many Americans, want things to return to normal, like yesterday! I’m excited that our county is scheduled to go from RED to YELLOW this Friday in the “Process for Reopening Pennsylvania.” I hope that happens, and I hope it stays that way, Lord-willing. I can’t hardly wait for Friday!

But “yellow” does not mean fast. It means slow. Yellow means “Proceed with caution.” Yellow probably means a lot more opportunity to practice patience.

Ruth Murray sent me a birthday card this week, and it was just what I needed. The front of this card quotes Romans 12:12, which says, “Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” I need all 3 of those, but I’m really feeling the need for patience.

The book of Colossions says that patience is something you put on like a coat. Paul writes, “[A]s God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.”

Put it on. It isn’t just natural. You have to do it. You have to choose it as a chosen, holy, and dearly loved person. You have to put it on. How are you doing at “putting on” patience? How are you doing at waiting?

The Bible says that love is patient (1 Corinthians 13:4), that patience is in the fruit of the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:23), and that patience is something to be prayed for (Col 1:12). But I think sometimes we have to wait patiently for the answer. Thankfully, the Bible also says that God is patient with us.

Please continue to pray for our leaders as we continue to think through what ministry may look like in the coming days. Thank you for being patient with us as we pray and consider creative options.

One new thing that I am planning to do as we enter into the Yellow Phase is to visit some of you at safe and appropriate distances. On Friday, the Stay-At-Home order should be lifted, so that means that I will not have to stay at home or in my church office. So instead of just calling you, I could maybe come to your place and perhaps sit safely in your driveway or on your porch at a safe 6 foot distance for a visit. I’d be glad to wear a face-covering to enhance safety, as well. Whatever the CDC guidelines may be. But I am planning to get out more, proceeding with caution, and I would love to see many of you in person and pray with you in person! Let me know if you are open to a safe pastoral visit like that.

For this coming weekend, we are preparing another Guide to Worship at Home which will go out in an email later this week, and I’ll be posting another video message on the book of Philippians.

If you haven’t already, you might want to catch up on the first three messages in that series with a focus on joy:

1. I Always Pray With Joy [March 22, 2020]
2. Because Of This I Rejoice [April 26, 2020]
3. I Will Continue to Rejoice [May 3, 2020]

We are also planning on Sunday to have another church family fellowship meeting on Zoom. This time, we’re not going to have an outside guest. We’re going to focus our time on giving thanks for our mothers as this Sunday is Mothers’ Day.

Can I ask you to think of one thing you might share with us that your Mother taught you? A spiritual truth, a life lesson, something she taught you that you could share with the rest of us Sunday on Zoom.

The details for connecting on Zoom are in your email and will also go out in the worship guide this weekend.

Being on Zoom is NOT the same thing as being together. It’s not as good, and it’s just not the same thing. But it is still good to see each other and interact with each other as the church.

On the inside of my birthday card, Ruth Murray wrote, “Sorry we can’t celebrate at church; but we can as church, right?!”

That’s exactly right! Because the church is not a building. The church is the people. There are no church buildings in the Bible. The church is the people!

And while we wait patiently to begin gathering again in large groups in our terrific building, nothing is holding us up from being the people of God.

- Pastor Matt

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home - May 3, 2020

LEFC Guide to Worship at Home May 3, 2020
$          Introduction$          Home Worship Guide$          More Links to Helpful Resources                        Introduction                                                       
Dear Church Family,
I wish we were gathering together for worship in our building on our campus this Sunday. Sadly, we are not, and it currently seems that we may be in for a longer waituntil it is wise and loving to gather in large groups once again. The Lord gives, and the Lord takes away. May the name of the Lord be praised.
For now, we continue to worship at home and use technology to connect with and care for one another. We have prepared another ten-step guide for families to use in home-based worship. You’ll notice that the theme of rejoicingcontinues throughout. As followers of Christ, we have so many reasons to rejoice! Lord-willing, I will be posting another video message this weekend on Philippians 1 where Paul says that exact same thing, “I Will Continue to Rejoice.”
Our “Worship in Unity” this week features an important piece of theology from the Westminster Larger Catechism, the “big brother” to the one we used last week. It succinctly captures what we believe happens to a Christian when they die. When the WLC speaks about “members of the invisible church,” it means “invisible” now in that we cannot infallibly tell from the outside if someone is truly a Christian on the inside, but God does know! And it also means “invisible” then in that after a Christian dies we cannot see them at all, but we know that they are safely with Christ.
I hope that your family is singing together these days. Singing together is the thing I miss the most during this time away from our worship gatherings. However, we don’t need to be at church to sing, and we do need to sing. It’s good for our hearts and helps us to cast our cares on Him because He cares for us.
What time are you going to gather your household this weekend to worship the Lord Jesus Christ?
In His Grip,
- Pastor Matt
P.S. CityAlight, a group from whom we’ve learned a number of our worship songs, just released a new one titled, “Your Will Be Done” which I think has a great message for us today.

Home Worship Guide                         1. Call to Worship            Read Psalm 33 with joy as your family gathers to worship the Lord.
Have someone pray and ask God to bless your time of worship at home.

2. Worship in Singing
As a household sing “Nothing But the Blood” by Robert Lowry (1876).
**Option. Families with younger children might also or instead choose to repeat the song from the end of last week’s worship guide: “Rejoice in the Lord Always.” Parents might plan to do this short song for several weeks because repetition helps us to learn something well. Don’t forget that it is also a canon you can sing “in the round.”
                                    3. Worship in Unity
Recite together Question #86 of the Westminster Larger Catechism (1648).                                                Q: What is the communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death ?
A: The communion in glory with Christ, which the members of the invisible church enjoy immediately after death, is, in that their souls are then made perfect in holiness, and received into the highest heavens, where they behold the face of God in light and glory, waiting for the full redemption of their bodies, which even in death continue united to Christ, and rest in their graves as in their beds, till at the last day they be again united to their souls.

4. Worship in Lament and Thanksgiving
When Job’s children died, he responded with great faith and said, “The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised” (Job 1:21).
Have each family member share something that the Lord has given and something that He has taken away.
Gave: __________________________________.                        Taken Away: __________________________________.
After each member speaks, say, “May the name of the LORD be praised.”
**Option: During the family fellowship meeting on Zoom today, we are going to ask everyone, especially the kids, to tell us something the Lord gave you this week. Prepare a family spokesman to tell us about the Lord’s gifts to your family in the last seven days.
**Option. Have someone pray a prayer of lament that we are not all partaking of the Lord’s Supper together again today.

5. Worship in Bible Memorization
Recite Philippians 4:4, the first of our new “Hide the Word” verses for this Spring:                                                “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!”
**Option: Don’t wait until the verses get long and difficult to memorize. Have each family member close their eyes and say the verse out loud. Remind everybody to rehearse it each day this week.
            6. Worship in Prayer
Take prayer requests and pray for each other.
Read the prayer guide together and pray for the rest of the church family and the requests listed.

7. Worship in the Word
Watch or read Pastor Matt’s message: “I Will Continue to Rejoice.”            Some families may want to watch/read the message on their own and then have a Bible study and discussion together during this time.
Application Questions for Personal Reflection and Family Discussion:
1. Why did Paul insist that he would continue to rejoice? Would I do the same thing if I were in his situation?2. Am I prepared to die? Why or why not? If not, what do I need to do be ready?3. Why did Paul expect to go on living at that time? What can I learn from his example for my own life right now?

8. Worship in Singing
Sing “In My Life, Lord, Be Glorified” by Bob Kilpatrick (1978).
**Option: Our church’s hymnal includes 3 verses, “In my life...” “In my song...” and “in Your Church...” The author’s original had a 4th verse, “In our home, Lord, be glorified.” Consider adding a 5th verse that corresponds to today’s message from Philippians:
“In my death, Lord, be glorified, be glorified.In my death, Lord, be glorified, be glorified someday.”

9. Worship All Week
Have someone pray a prayer of commissioning for your family as you end this time of gathered worship and face a week of new opportunities and new challenges to serve the Lord, the church, and the world in His Name.
                                                            10. Participate in LEFC Family Fellowship Meeting on Zoom.
- See one another’s faces and hear each other’s voices.- Tell the group something the Lord gave to your family this week.- Interact with Tim and Debbie McIntosh as they retire from active missionary service.- Pray for one another live and online.
  More Links to Helpful Resources
“The Joy of Psalmtooning” by Fred Sanders
Coloring Book for Kids on the Coronavirus by Nicole Rim                                                  Words of Hope: 1 Peter 5:6-7 with Ed Welch
“Is it okay for Christians to feel anxiety?” with Alisdair Groves
“God Sustained Me in COVID-19, as He Did on 9/11" by Christina Ray Stanton
“Even in the ICU: Why Hope Will Conquer Death” by Kathryn Butler, M.D.
Plagues and Prayer by Patrick Morley of Man in the Mirror

“I Will Continue to Rejoice” [Matt's Messages]

“I Will Continue to Rejoice”
LEFC Message for Worship at Home
May 3, 2020 :: Philippians 1:18-26

This is the third video message in this series on Philippians. If you haven’t already, you might want to go back and watch the first two before watching the rest of this one.



Paul, who is very far away from his beloved Philippian friends, is writing to them from a Roman prison. And so far in this letter, he has emphasized joy.

Paul always prays with joy for the Philippians because of their partnership in the unstoppable work of the gospel.

And Paul also is full of joy–he rejoices–because of the advance of that gospel. Because Christ is being preached.

The Lord is using even Paul’s imprisonment, his chains, to advance the gospel.

The whole palace guard is hearing the gospel, and even some other Christians who don’t like Paul very much are preaching the true gospel for the wrong reasons.

But Paul doesn’t care. He says in verse 18, “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.”

“I rejoice.”

But he doesn’t stop there.

In the very next sentence (same exact verse!), Paul writes, “Yes, and I will continue to rejoice...”

Paul is not done explaining why he is always rejoicing.
Why he continues to rejoice. Why he will not stop rejoicing.

And I think we all need to hear and take in what Paul says next.

We all need this.

Paul continued to rejoice because he knew that he could not lose.

Paul will continue to rejoice because he knew that, no matter what, he could not lose.

Whether he lived, or whether he died.

Remember, Paul is not only in prison, but he is in danger of execution.

If his case goes a certain way, he will live.
If his case goes the other way, he will die.
And he’s not certain at this point which of those will happen.

How would you feel if you were in that same situation?

Guess what? We are all in that same situation.

We may not all be in prison, but we all don’t know if we are going to live or going die in the near future.

I mean, eventually, we’re all going to die! Except for the generation alive at the return of Christ, we are all going to die. You are going to die.

But we don’t know when. For now, we might live. Or now, we might die. We don’t know.

And in the face of that kind of uncertainty, Paul continues to rejoice!

I don’t know about you, but I want what he had!

I want to be able to rejoice and continue to rejoice no. matter. what.

Paul says that he continued to rejoice because he knew that he could not lose whether he lived or whether he died. Look at verse 19.

“Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

Paul knows that the Philippians are praying for him.

And Paul knows that the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Jesus Christ, is using those prayers to turn his circumstances into salvation.

“Through your prayers” and through the Spirit, “what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.”

Now, I’m not sure if Paul means his deliverance from prison or his deliverance from sin, self, and Satan through death into eternal life. I think he might be intentionally ambiguous here. Paul knows that God is working it all out for his good. No matter what. It will turn out okay because God’s people are praying and the Holy Spirit is at work.

Because what Paul really cares about is, not his life, but the glory of Jesus Christ. Look at verse 20.

“I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Do you see what Paul is concerned about? Paul is concerned about being found faithful.

He doesn’t want to be ashamed. He doesn’t want to afraid.
He wants to be courageous. He wants to be faithful.

He wants Jesus Christ to be highly honored by his conduct. No. Matter. What.

Is this what you and I care about?

Do we care whether or not we are an embarrassment to Jesus Christ?

Is this what we pray about?

We’re going to see that Paul doesn’t really care if he lives or if he dies. He has a preference, but that isn’t what he is most concerned about.

He is most concerned about whether or not his behavior, his conduct brings glory to Jesus Christ.

When was the last time you and I prayed about that?

Put that on your pandemic prayer list.

Don’t just pray for health or safety.

Don’t just pray for medical personnel and essential workers.

Pray that you and I would always exalt Christ. That we would always have sufficient courage to bring honor to Christ in our words and our deeds.

Right now we tend to worry about ourselves and our lives and our wants and our needs and our rights.

But what we need to be most concerned about is whether or not our lives bring glory Christ.

Paul does worry about himself, but what he worries about himself is whether or not he will be faithful to the name of Jesus.

And, blessedly, he believes that he will be. “I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.”

Paul knows that as he stays faithful he cannot lose.

“Whether by life or by death.” Verse 21. This is one to memorize:

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”

“To live is Christ and to die is gain.”

What does he mean?

Paul explains himself in verse 22.

Here’s what “to live is Christ” means. V.22

“If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruit-ful labor for me.”

To live, for Paul, means ministry.

It means serving people for Christ’s sake. “To live is Christ, to serve and magnify Christ with fruit-ful labor.”

And that’s good!

But there is something that might be even better. V.22 again.

“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...”

There’s Paul’s actual preference. If you pushed him to decide, this is his deeper desire.

His deeper desire is to die.

Not because he has a death-wish, but because he has a Christ-wish, a Jesus-wish.

“I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

Paul knows that when he dies, he will be depart from this world and enter into the presence of Jesus Christ.

He calls it, “with Christ.”

And he says that being “with Christ” is “better by far.”

That is such a wonderful truth!

“Better by far.”

Several in our church family have recently lost a loved-one to death.

All of us have lost loved-ones to death at some time.

This is such a comfort when we are grieving the death of a follower of Christ.

Because we know that they have left us, but they are with Christ, and it is better by far than we can ever imagine.

Let that comfort you if you have recently lost a loved one.

But Paul isn’t talking about losing someone else. He’s talking about losing his own life.

“I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far.”

Can you say that?

Are you ready to die?

I think that one of the benefits of the outbreak of this new coronavirus is that it is bringing so many of us face to face with our own mortality.

We are all thinking more about death.

Other people’s deaths, and our own.

Are you ready to die?

Are you prepared for your own death?

Paul actually was looking forward to it!

I’ve been thinking a lot about my own death. This coming Monday is my birthday. If I live to Monday, I will have lived yet another complete revolution around the sun.

I do not know how many of those I have left. And the truth is, it doesn’t really matter. Because if I die, I gain.

I’ll be with Christ, and that is far better!

If you live for Christ, you cannot lose.

Are you ready to die?

Many people are not, but you can be.

Turn from your sin and put your trust in the Savior.

Repent and believe in the Lord Jesus Christ who died on the Cross taking your place there and who came back to life to give us eternal life with Him.

Are you ready to die?

You can be. In fact, you can be looking forward to it!

Now, of course, we all should be careful of this virus that’s out there.

We should wash our hands.
We should follow the guidance of our governing leaders.
We should take precautions.
We should think about others and not just ourselves.

But we should not fear for our lives at all costs.

Not if we are in Christ. If you are in Christ and are living for Christ, to die is gain.

At the same time, dying is not what Paul thought he was going to do.

Paul thought that it was much more likely that he would continue to live to serve the church and to fulfill his mission. V.24

“I am torn between the two [death and life]: 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 that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy [there’s that word again] in the faith, so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.”

There is a different word for joy there in verse 26. The word has a flavor of “boasting” to it or “exulting.” Paul expects them to be exulting in Jesus Christ, overflowing exultation because Paul continues to live and minister to them.

See what’s going on here?

Again, Paul is not thinking about himself. Paul has a servant’s heart. He’s thinking about them.

He expects to live (at least in the short run) because he thinks that he will serve them better here than gone.

I think that’s instructive for us, too.

While we wait to die, we need to be focused on loving other people for Jesus’ sake.

If we cannot lose, then we have nothing to lose.

So we can give up our own rights to serve others.

We can forget about ourselves and pour ourselves out for the good of other people.

Who are you here for right now?

Do you see what I’m asking?

If you are not dead yet, then you have a mission.

If you are not dead yet, then you are here for someone else.

If you are still remaining in the body then who are you called to continue with for their progress and joy in the faith so that by you being with them, they will exult in Christ Jesus and overflow with joy forever?

Who are you here for right now?

Make sure to love and serve them for the sake of Christ.

And you will always have a reason to continue to rejoice.


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Previous Messages in This Series:
01. "I Always Pray with Joy"
02. "Because Of This I Will Rejoice"