II Corinthians 12:9 "And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me."
Philippians 4:10-14 "But I rejoiced in the Lord greatly, that now at the last your care of me hath flourished again; wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity. Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound: every where and in all things I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need. I can do all things through Christ which strengthened me. Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction."
There are people who have the opportunity, or make the opportunity, and have earned degrees from schools of education. There are others who have not had the opportunity to further their education but have learned much through experience. Dr. Lee Roberson, who is one of my heroes, tells the story of Ralph Pariette who traveled the country for many years telling people about the University of Hard Knocks and its two colleges. There was the college of Needless Knocks which does a person little good and are a result of our foolishness. Then there's the college of Needful Knocks which make us what we ought to be.
I’m a musician, voice major, and enjoy many different types of music. I’ve heard some very good, trained musicians. I’ve also heard some great musicians who have been self taught. I’m fascinated with a person who is a classical guitarist. A guitar is able to produce good music when touched by the fingers of an expert. But it only able after it’s been knocked and beaten into its present shape. A guitar must be cut, formed, strung and tuned before it is able to perform the intent of the musician.
Individuals grow by going through the school of hard knocks. God has to take us through hard times to fit us for a proper ministry. We may not like the hard knocks, but they are needful in our life. Only after the trials and tests in our life are we able to be all that God intends us to be.
For the next three weeks in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS I want us to explore the EXPERIENCED EDUCATION that is needed in our lives.
1. THERE ARE THE EXPERIENCES OF LIFE
God uses different experiences in the lives of His children. They are all designed by Him to develop character and give them a platform from which they can minister in the lives of others. Let me expound on some of the experiences:
A. There is the EXPERIENCE OF FAILURE. No doubt we all have experienced failure in our lives. We may have felt it in differing degrees, but we usually have experienced failure. Some may have failed in part, while others of us have failed completely. The experience of failure can either lead to making a man, or it may lead to breaking that man. It is determined by reaction or response to that failure.
One of my favorite preachers and authors, Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote in his commentary on Joshua Be Strong: “Discouragement over the past and fear of the future are the two reactions that often accompany failure. We look back and remember the mistakes that we made, and then we look ahead and wonder whether there’s any future for people who fail so foolishly.”
People sometimes allow failure to cripple them. But there’s another way to face failure. One of my former Youth Pastors, Jason Stephens, wrote in an e-devotions to his church members: “Setbacks present us with opportunities to be a more mature believer and build a better future.”
There is a purpose in failure, and it’s not to keep us from succeeding. Again I quote from Be Strong by Dr. Warren Wiersbe: “If we turn our mistakes into mirrors, we’ll see only ourselves; and this will make us miserable. But if by faith we turn our mistakes into windows, we’ll see the Lord and get the strength we need to try again.”
Don’t let the Experience of Failure keep us from God’s will for our life.
B. There is the EXPERIENCE OF BAD HEALTH. Many of us have health issues. I’m not going to go into my health problems, which are many. But I know people who are far worse off than I am. But health issues are a necessary part of our learning experience. How can we know how others feel if we don’t experience it ourselves? How can we sympathize with those who are hurting unless we hurt also.
When a person is going through times of bad health they are learning valuable lessons:
They are learning PATIENCE – We need patience. Bert E. McCormick said: “Once a man would spend a week patiently waiting if he missed a stagecoach. Now he rages if he misses the first section of a revolving door.” How true that is! God knows we need to learn patience so He allows some to have health problems to teach them.
Going through health issues will also teach a person SYMPATHY – If we haven’t gone through sickness we don’t know how a sick person feels. T.J. Bach said: “My burden is that I have so little burden.” That is so true!
Bad health also can teach a person LOVE – All of us need to learn I Corinthians 13 kind of love so when we are going through health issues, don’t feel sorry for us. God is at work.
Bad health can also teach a person FAITH - Lying flat on your back causes you to look upward. It causes you to look to God. You may face situations beyond your physical reserve but you will never face situations beyond God's supernatural resources.
Going through health issues will also teach a person COURAGE - Someone has said that "Courage is not the absence of fear but the conquest of fear." Billy Graham said: "Courage is contagious. When a brave man takes a stand, the spines of others are stiffened.”
I’ve seen some people facing very difficult times with their health, and I’ve seen them demonstrate courage which had to be with divine power. God wants us to depend upon Him and He will give us courage beyond the natural ability.
C. There is the the EXPERIENCE OF PERSECUTION. Some reading this issue of CHALLENGING CONCEPTS have experienced this. God’s school of hard knocks hands out some every once in a while.
There are times that each of us go through persecution, but Jesus said we would and mentioned them in Matthew 5:10-12 "Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness' sake: for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and shall say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my sake. Rejoice, and be exceeding glad: for great is your reward in heaven: for so persecuted they the prophets which were before you."
Persecution is a part of the consecrated Christian life. It's a part of God's training program. We read in II Timothy 3:12 “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution.”
There are many lessons to be learned as we grow in grace. Dr. Warren Wiersbe wrote in Be Strong “Someone has said that experience is a tough teacher because it always gives the exam first and teaches the lesson afterward.” What lessons are we learning from the experiences we are facing at this present time?
Next week we will look deeper into this subject in CHALLENGING CONCEPTS.
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, December 27, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS – Pt 2
Luke 2:10-11 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
As I reflect upon Christmases past, I think of my childhood anticipation of what Santa Claus would leave under the tree. We didn’t have a lot of money but my parents would sacrifice to make sure I had certain things. As a small child there was the little red RADIO FLYER wagon. Later there was the WESTERN FLYER bicycle. When I got old enough, it was the RED RIDER BB GUN. You can see very easily that Christmas for me as a child was all about getting presents. That was not my parents’ fault because they tried to instill in me that God gave His Son so that He would die for our sins on the cross of Calvary. I knew that, but the fleshly nature turned inwardly and it was all about ME.
As young parents my wife and I loved to give presents to our small children. When we began to understand our responsibility as parents, we gave to our children but began to teach them the real meaning of Christmas. For years the tradition of the Buford family was that we always read the account of the birth of Christ from Luke 2 before we ever opened any presents. There are many ways to keep the right perspective before your family.
So why did Jesus come? He was born in Bethlehem’s manger to start a journey that would lead to the cruel cross of Calvary. In last week’s “Challenging Concepts” we noticed THE MIND OF SOVEREIGNTY as God had a plan of redemption in place long before man needed a Savior. Then we noticed THE MANGER OF SUBMISSION as Jesus was willing to submit His will to that of the Father. Today we’re going to follow Jesus further in this journey to the cross.
3. Thirdly I want you to notice THE MINISTRY OF THE SAVIOR
When you observe the life of the Lord Jesus Christ you realize that everything He did pointed to Who He was and the mission He had come to fulfill. In the book of John Jesus performed one miracle after another to prove that He was the Master.
A. When Jesus turned the water into wine it proved that He was the Master over CIRCUMSTANCES.
B. When Jesus healed the son of the Nobleman it proved that He was the Master over DISTANCE.
C. When Jesus healed the lame man it proved that He was the Master over DISEASE.
D. When Jesus feed the 5,000 it proved that He was Master over the MASSES.
E. When Jesus stilled the raging sea it proved that He was Master over NATURE.
F. When Jesus healed the blind man it proved that He was Master over SIGHT.
G. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead it proved that He was Master over LIFE AND DEATH.
Through all of His life here on this earth the Lord Jesus Christ proved Who He was. And Who was He? He was none other than God Himself. He was God in the flesh; God incarnate. Notice what Jesus said Himself in John 10:38 “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
4. Fourthly notice THE MAJESTIC SACRIFICE
The average person likes to think of Christmas as a little-bitty sweet looking baby in a neatly built manger. But we need to remember that baby was born to make a journey which would take 33 ½ years and would end up outside the city of Jerusalem. There Jesus would be falsely accused, sentenced to be nailed to a cruel cross in between two guilty thieves. He would have already been stripped naked, beaten and His beard plucked out, Blood would be running down His side from a spear that had been thrust in His side. Blood also would be flowing down His brow from a crown of thorns that had been jarred upon His head. You could see torn flesh from His hands and feet as a result of the cross dropping into a prepared hole in the earth.
This is an ugly picture but it’s all part of the plan of God. Someone had to die for our sins. Somebody had to shed their blood that we might have redemption. And Jesus was willing to be that One. That babe of Bethlehem was willing to journey from the cradle to the cross that we might have eternal life.
Notice how it is written in I Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Jesus shed His blood that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Praise God for the magnificent sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We read in Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
5. Fifthly notice THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION
This was the message of the angels. Look again at our text, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
He came to bring salvation to the World. In fact, there is no other way for people to get saved. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 “. . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
We also read in John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
The world thinks there are many roads that lead to heaven. We may be traveling different roads but they all lead to the same place. I’m sorry for their misconception but there is only one way to heaven and that’s through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what Christmas is all about. Jesus was born in a manger over 2,000 years ago and started His journey to the cross. The mission was to die for the sins of the world. On this Christmas let’s make sure our families understand that what happened in Bethlehem was that Jesus started a journey FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS.
Have a very merry Christmas!
That’s my view; how about you?
As I reflect upon Christmases past, I think of my childhood anticipation of what Santa Claus would leave under the tree. We didn’t have a lot of money but my parents would sacrifice to make sure I had certain things. As a small child there was the little red RADIO FLYER wagon. Later there was the WESTERN FLYER bicycle. When I got old enough, it was the RED RIDER BB GUN. You can see very easily that Christmas for me as a child was all about getting presents. That was not my parents’ fault because they tried to instill in me that God gave His Son so that He would die for our sins on the cross of Calvary. I knew that, but the fleshly nature turned inwardly and it was all about ME.
As young parents my wife and I loved to give presents to our small children. When we began to understand our responsibility as parents, we gave to our children but began to teach them the real meaning of Christmas. For years the tradition of the Buford family was that we always read the account of the birth of Christ from Luke 2 before we ever opened any presents. There are many ways to keep the right perspective before your family.
So why did Jesus come? He was born in Bethlehem’s manger to start a journey that would lead to the cruel cross of Calvary. In last week’s “Challenging Concepts” we noticed THE MIND OF SOVEREIGNTY as God had a plan of redemption in place long before man needed a Savior. Then we noticed THE MANGER OF SUBMISSION as Jesus was willing to submit His will to that of the Father. Today we’re going to follow Jesus further in this journey to the cross.
3. Thirdly I want you to notice THE MINISTRY OF THE SAVIOR
When you observe the life of the Lord Jesus Christ you realize that everything He did pointed to Who He was and the mission He had come to fulfill. In the book of John Jesus performed one miracle after another to prove that He was the Master.
A. When Jesus turned the water into wine it proved that He was the Master over CIRCUMSTANCES.
B. When Jesus healed the son of the Nobleman it proved that He was the Master over DISTANCE.
C. When Jesus healed the lame man it proved that He was the Master over DISEASE.
D. When Jesus feed the 5,000 it proved that He was Master over the MASSES.
E. When Jesus stilled the raging sea it proved that He was Master over NATURE.
F. When Jesus healed the blind man it proved that He was Master over SIGHT.
G. When Jesus raised Lazarus from the dead it proved that He was Master over LIFE AND DEATH.
Through all of His life here on this earth the Lord Jesus Christ proved Who He was. And Who was He? He was none other than God Himself. He was God in the flesh; God incarnate. Notice what Jesus said Himself in John 10:38 “But if I do, though ye believe not me, believe the works: that ye may know, and believe, that the Father is in me, and I in him.”
4. Fourthly notice THE MAJESTIC SACRIFICE
The average person likes to think of Christmas as a little-bitty sweet looking baby in a neatly built manger. But we need to remember that baby was born to make a journey which would take 33 ½ years and would end up outside the city of Jerusalem. There Jesus would be falsely accused, sentenced to be nailed to a cruel cross in between two guilty thieves. He would have already been stripped naked, beaten and His beard plucked out, Blood would be running down His side from a spear that had been thrust in His side. Blood also would be flowing down His brow from a crown of thorns that had been jarred upon His head. You could see torn flesh from His hands and feet as a result of the cross dropping into a prepared hole in the earth.
This is an ugly picture but it’s all part of the plan of God. Someone had to die for our sins. Somebody had to shed their blood that we might have redemption. And Jesus was willing to be that One. That babe of Bethlehem was willing to journey from the cradle to the cross that we might have eternal life.
Notice how it is written in I Peter 1:18-19, “Forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things, as silver and gold, from your vain conversation received by tradition from your fathers; 19 But with the precious blood of Christ, as of a lamb without blemish and without spot:”
Jesus shed His blood that we might have life and have it more abundantly. Praise God for the magnificent sacrifice that Jesus made for us. We read in Hebrews 9:12 “Neither by the blood of goats and calves, but by his own blood he entered in once into the holy place, having obtained eternal redemption for us.”
5. Fifthly notice THE MESSAGE OF SALVATION
This was the message of the angels. Look again at our text, “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. 11 For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
He came to bring salvation to the World. In fact, there is no other way for people to get saved. Jesus Himself said in John 14:6 “. . . I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
We also read in John 1:12 “But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:”
The world thinks there are many roads that lead to heaven. We may be traveling different roads but they all lead to the same place. I’m sorry for their misconception but there is only one way to heaven and that’s through the Lord Jesus Christ. This is what Christmas is all about. Jesus was born in a manger over 2,000 years ago and started His journey to the cross. The mission was to die for the sins of the world. On this Christmas let’s make sure our families understand that what happened in Bethlehem was that Jesus started a journey FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS.
Have a very merry Christmas!
That’s my view; how about you?
Monday, December 13, 2010
FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS – Pt 1
Luke 2:10-11 “And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.”
This Christmas seems to be no different than most every other Christmas except I am not a pastor anymore. In the past I have been very involved in most of the church activities at this time of the year. And frankly, I was always worn out after the Christmas program, parties, luncheons and musicals. As a retired pastor (I didn’t say over the hill) I am able to enjoy these different functions without the work which have and will be done before this Christmas season is over.
Every year I have tried to keep my focus on the most important thing about Christmas and that is the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I trust each of you will do the same thing this year.
As I think about the birth of the Christ child, I think about why He came to this earth. The reality of His purpose was that He came to start a journey. For the next three weeks I would like for us to follow that journey and remember again why He came to this earth.
1. Notice first of all THE MIND OF SOVEREIGNTY
The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was no afterthought with God. From the beginning it was part of God’s plan. Even before God created the universe, His plan included the birth of the Christ child. In fact, even before man’s spiritual fall in the Garden of Eden, this birth was planned so that fallen man might be redeemed.
God knew that mankind would need a Savior and planned from the very beginning that the sinless Lamb of God would one day come to this earth, be born in a manger and make the journey to the cross of Calvary. Man’s redemption depended on it.
In writing about the Messiah who had come, Peter penned in I Peter 1:20 “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, . . .”
As I emphasized earlier, the birth of Christ was part of God’s plan from the beginning. Paul wrote it this way in Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
After Eve had fallen prey to the temptation of the serpent and Adam made a choice to disobey God’s command, God made a promise that one day One would come that would make a way for us to be reconciled to Him. That prophecy was first made in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
I’m glad that God had a plan! Aren’t you glad that the plan of God included our salvation? This plan did not come about when man sinned. It was already in place from eternity past. Notice what Paul wrote in II Timothy 1:9-10 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, . . .”
God had a plan!
2. Notice secondly THE MANGER OF SUBMISSION
The plan of our redemption was that someone would come to this earth and make a journey to the cross of Calvary. Someone had to die for the sin of mankind. Jesus was that One. We read in Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
You might think that God’s Son would be born in a palace or at least a fancy house or hotel in the city of Jerusalem, the city of kings. But Jesus was not born in royalty but in a lowly manger in the city of Bethlehem. That was God’s plan and Jesus was submitted to that plan. Whatever the plan of God contained, Jesus was surrendered to it. We read in Jesus’ own words in John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Jesus was willing to surrender His will to the will of the Father so that plan could be carried out. I wonder how many of us have surrendered our will to the will of the Father. What part of God’s will for our life have we had a hard time accepting? Are we willing to do whatever God has for us?
I remember when I was in Bible College and was confronted with whether or not God wanted me to be a missionary. I was willing to go as long as it didn’t include Africa. I didn’t want to even hear of the possibility of Africa. They have snakes; big snakes; scarey snakes. I was a music major and surely God wouldn’t want me to waste my training in the jungles of Africa, where they have snakes. . .
I did come to the place in my life where I was willing to do anything God wanted me to do and He ended up sending me to Florida where they have alligators.
Bethlehem was part of God’s salvation plan. The lowly manger was to be the place where Jesus’ earthly journey would start. But it would not end in that little manger in Bethlehem. There would be disappointments, hardships, rejections and even betrayal. That was the mission of Jesus. That’s why He came. He came to do the will of the Father, and it started in Bethlehem.
This is the Christmas season. We celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. Let us who know Christ personally in salvation not forget why He came to this earth. Let’s make this a Christ-centered celebration.
In next week’s “Challenging Concepts” I will give some more thoughts about the journey of Jesus FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS.
That’s my view; how about you!
This Christmas seems to be no different than most every other Christmas except I am not a pastor anymore. In the past I have been very involved in most of the church activities at this time of the year. And frankly, I was always worn out after the Christmas program, parties, luncheons and musicals. As a retired pastor (I didn’t say over the hill) I am able to enjoy these different functions without the work which have and will be done before this Christmas season is over.
Every year I have tried to keep my focus on the most important thing about Christmas and that is the birth of our Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. I trust each of you will do the same thing this year.
As I think about the birth of the Christ child, I think about why He came to this earth. The reality of His purpose was that He came to start a journey. For the next three weeks I would like for us to follow that journey and remember again why He came to this earth.
1. Notice first of all THE MIND OF SOVEREIGNTY
The birth of the Lord Jesus Christ was no afterthought with God. From the beginning it was part of God’s plan. Even before God created the universe, His plan included the birth of the Christ child. In fact, even before man’s spiritual fall in the Garden of Eden, this birth was planned so that fallen man might be redeemed.
God knew that mankind would need a Savior and planned from the very beginning that the sinless Lamb of God would one day come to this earth, be born in a manger and make the journey to the cross of Calvary. Man’s redemption depended on it.
In writing about the Messiah who had come, Peter penned in I Peter 1:20 “Who verily was foreordained before the foundation of the world, . . .”
As I emphasized earlier, the birth of Christ was part of God’s plan from the beginning. Paul wrote it this way in Romans 3:25 “Whom God hath set forth to be a propitiation through faith in his blood, to declare his righteousness for the remission of sins that are past, through the forbearance of God;”
After Eve had fallen prey to the temptation of the serpent and Adam made a choice to disobey God’s command, God made a promise that one day One would come that would make a way for us to be reconciled to Him. That prophecy was first made in Genesis 3:15 “And I will put enmity between thee and the woman, and between thy seed and her seed; it shall bruise thy head, and thou shalt bruise his heel.”
I’m glad that God had a plan! Aren’t you glad that the plan of God included our salvation? This plan did not come about when man sinned. It was already in place from eternity past. Notice what Paul wrote in II Timothy 1:9-10 “Who hath saved us, and called us with an holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began, But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, . . .”
God had a plan!
2. Notice secondly THE MANGER OF SUBMISSION
The plan of our redemption was that someone would come to this earth and make a journey to the cross of Calvary. Someone had to die for the sin of mankind. Jesus was that One. We read in Matthew 20:28, “Even as the Son of man came not to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a ransom for many.”
You might think that God’s Son would be born in a palace or at least a fancy house or hotel in the city of Jerusalem, the city of kings. But Jesus was not born in royalty but in a lowly manger in the city of Bethlehem. That was God’s plan and Jesus was submitted to that plan. Whatever the plan of God contained, Jesus was surrendered to it. We read in Jesus’ own words in John 5:30 “I can of mine own self do nothing: as I hear, I judge: and my judgment is just; because I seek not mine own will, but the will of the Father which hath sent me.”
Jesus was willing to surrender His will to the will of the Father so that plan could be carried out. I wonder how many of us have surrendered our will to the will of the Father. What part of God’s will for our life have we had a hard time accepting? Are we willing to do whatever God has for us?
I remember when I was in Bible College and was confronted with whether or not God wanted me to be a missionary. I was willing to go as long as it didn’t include Africa. I didn’t want to even hear of the possibility of Africa. They have snakes; big snakes; scarey snakes. I was a music major and surely God wouldn’t want me to waste my training in the jungles of Africa, where they have snakes. . .
I did come to the place in my life where I was willing to do anything God wanted me to do and He ended up sending me to Florida where they have alligators.
Bethlehem was part of God’s salvation plan. The lowly manger was to be the place where Jesus’ earthly journey would start. But it would not end in that little manger in Bethlehem. There would be disappointments, hardships, rejections and even betrayal. That was the mission of Jesus. That’s why He came. He came to do the will of the Father, and it started in Bethlehem.
This is the Christmas season. We celebrate the birth of the Christ Child. Let us who know Christ personally in salvation not forget why He came to this earth. Let’s make this a Christ-centered celebration.
In next week’s “Challenging Concepts” I will give some more thoughts about the journey of Jesus FROM THE CRADLE TO THE CROSS.
That’s my view; how about you!
Monday, December 6, 2010
THE CHRISTIAN WALK – Pt 3
Philippians 1 :21 “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”
This has been a very good study for me. I want so much to walk in the way that Christ wants me to walk. I want to be led by the Spirit, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
The Christian walk is one of Love. We read in Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
But one thing that’s hard about Paul’s statement here in Philippians 1:21 is the last part of the verse – “to die is gain.” We like the word “live” but the word “die” is not all that alluring. I have always said, “I don’t mind the word death, but the process of dying I’m not too excited about.”
Paul speaks about the Christian walk:
IT'S A PROFOUND WALK. Notice the phrase "to die is gain" – For those who are not believers, this is unthinkable. How can dying be gain? Or, many of them have the mistaken belief that everybody goes to heaven. I really am concerned that so many people think that just because someone excels in some profession they go to heaven. You hear that “they are in the heavenly grandstand watching the game below,” or “they are an angel protecting us.”
Because of these false conceptions of how you enter heaven, it leaves true believers with a responsibility to share the gospel with them. We read in I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
To the believer, the statement of Paul is very deep or weighty. This makes you stop and reflect upon the life and walk of the believer. We must live each day for the glory of God realizing that one day, either by death or the rapture, we gain our spiritual inheritance.
1. This is a CONSIDERATION – Notice the word “gain.” Paul looked at dying as “gain.” He wrote in II Corinthians 5:6-8 “Therefore we are always confident knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
In verse 8 notice the phrase “We are confident” and the word “willing.” This shows a lot of courage and boldness when it comes to death. Why? Because of the prospect that lies ahead for the believer. In fact, I’m not so sure the word “willing” is understood correctly. It doesn’t mean “I guess maybe I’d rather be in heaven with the Lord.” I think the word means “very pleased” to be in the presence of the Lord rather than continue here with all the sin and iniquity around and even in our still imperfect body.
This is why Paul looked at “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” as gain. I agree with Paul. That will be a wonderful experience. I pray that each of you reading this “Challenging Concepts” are saved and ready to meet the Lord.
2. This is a COMMENDATION – The “gain” part includes a time when the faithful servant will hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Paul looked forward to and served faithfully for that day. Looking back at his life since that Damascus Road experience and his life since, he wrote In II Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
This is what the Christian walk is all about. It’s serving the Lord and bringing glory to His name by our service to and for Him. How are we doing? Can we also say “we have fought a good fight?” Will we hear the Lord say, “well done?” This is something to really consider.
3. This is a CHANGE – Notice what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
I love what the Psalmist is saying here. He says that his noblest ambition will not be experienced with any of the pleasures of this life. He may sleep the sleep of death, but when the trumpet sounds he’s going to wake in the likeness of God Himself. What a thought! What a change!
This is the climax of the Christian walk. This makes it worth it all. We may sleep the sleep of death, or we might be alive when the trumpet sounds. I believe it will be the latter, but either way, as the song says “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”
The Christian walk is the most glorious walk of all. Do you know for sure you are a child of God? Has there been a time when you have put your faith in what Christ did on the cross of Calvary? Have you made Him Lord of your life? How is your walk going?
I pray you are saved and are growing in your walk day by day. I trust you are spending time in His Word and making application of that Word in your life.
That’s my view; how about you!
This has been a very good study for me. I want so much to walk in the way that Christ wants me to walk. I want to be led by the Spirit, as Paul wrote in Ephesians 8:1 “There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit.”
The Christian walk is one of Love. We read in Ephesians 5:2 “And walk in love, as Christ also hath loved us, and hath given himself for us an offering and a sacrifice to God for a sweetsmelling savour.”
But one thing that’s hard about Paul’s statement here in Philippians 1:21 is the last part of the verse – “to die is gain.” We like the word “live” but the word “die” is not all that alluring. I have always said, “I don’t mind the word death, but the process of dying I’m not too excited about.”
Paul speaks about the Christian walk:
IT'S A PROFOUND WALK. Notice the phrase "to die is gain" – For those who are not believers, this is unthinkable. How can dying be gain? Or, many of them have the mistaken belief that everybody goes to heaven. I really am concerned that so many people think that just because someone excels in some profession they go to heaven. You hear that “they are in the heavenly grandstand watching the game below,” or “they are an angel protecting us.”
Because of these false conceptions of how you enter heaven, it leaves true believers with a responsibility to share the gospel with them. We read in I Peter 3:15 “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:”
To the believer, the statement of Paul is very deep or weighty. This makes you stop and reflect upon the life and walk of the believer. We must live each day for the glory of God realizing that one day, either by death or the rapture, we gain our spiritual inheritance.
1. This is a CONSIDERATION – Notice the word “gain.” Paul looked at dying as “gain.” He wrote in II Corinthians 5:6-8 “Therefore we are always confident knowing that, whilst we are at home in the body, we are absent from the Lord: (For we walk by faith, not by sight:) We are confident I say, and willing rather to be absent from the body, and to be present with the Lord.”
In verse 8 notice the phrase “We are confident” and the word “willing.” This shows a lot of courage and boldness when it comes to death. Why? Because of the prospect that lies ahead for the believer. In fact, I’m not so sure the word “willing” is understood correctly. It doesn’t mean “I guess maybe I’d rather be in heaven with the Lord.” I think the word means “very pleased” to be in the presence of the Lord rather than continue here with all the sin and iniquity around and even in our still imperfect body.
This is why Paul looked at “absent from the body” and “present with the Lord” as gain. I agree with Paul. That will be a wonderful experience. I pray that each of you reading this “Challenging Concepts” are saved and ready to meet the Lord.
2. This is a COMMENDATION – The “gain” part includes a time when the faithful servant will hear “well done, thou good and faithful servant.” Paul looked forward to and served faithfully for that day. Looking back at his life since that Damascus Road experience and his life since, he wrote In II Timothy 4:6-8 “For I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge, shall give me at that day: and not to me only, but unto all them also that love his appearing.”
This is what the Christian walk is all about. It’s serving the Lord and bringing glory to His name by our service to and for Him. How are we doing? Can we also say “we have fought a good fight?” Will we hear the Lord say, “well done?” This is something to really consider.
3. This is a CHANGE – Notice what the Psalmist wrote in Psalm 17:15 "As for me, I will behold thy face in righteousness: I shall be satisfied, when I awake, with thy likeness."
I love what the Psalmist is saying here. He says that his noblest ambition will not be experienced with any of the pleasures of this life. He may sleep the sleep of death, but when the trumpet sounds he’s going to wake in the likeness of God Himself. What a thought! What a change!
This is the climax of the Christian walk. This makes it worth it all. We may sleep the sleep of death, or we might be alive when the trumpet sounds. I believe it will be the latter, but either way, as the song says “What a day that will be when my Jesus I shall see, And I look upon His face, The One who saved me by His grace; When He takes me by the hand And leads me through the Promised Land, What a day, glorious day that will be.”
The Christian walk is the most glorious walk of all. Do you know for sure you are a child of God? Has there been a time when you have put your faith in what Christ did on the cross of Calvary? Have you made Him Lord of your life? How is your walk going?
I pray you are saved and are growing in your walk day by day. I trust you are spending time in His Word and making application of that Word in your life.
That’s my view; how about you!
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