Philippians chapter one. Philippians chapter one, beginning at verse 12. So let's start with that. Reading through to the end of the chapter. Hear the word of the Lord. For I would and ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel, so that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places. Many of the brethren of the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife, and some also of goodwill. The one preached Christ of contention, not sincerely supposing to add affliction to my bonds, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. But then, notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. And I therein do rejoice, yea, and I will rejoice. For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ. According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live in the flesh, This is the fruit of my labor. Yet when I shall choose, I want not. For I am a straight patrix too, having a desire to depart and to be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith, that your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ For me, why am I coming to you again? Only let your conversation be as it cometh, the gospel of Christ. Whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel, and are nothing terrified by your adversaries. which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me. Let us pray. Father, we are thankful for this portion of your Word, and we ask that you would bless it to our understanding through the exposition of your Holy Word. And we pray at this time, Lord, for the comfort of the Barclay family, and especially, Lord, of Pastor Brent Barclay. That, Lord, they may take their solace in you. Lord, if their father, if his father was in the Lord all the more, that their comfort is in you, and knowing that their beloved is in glory. with all of your people that are there ahead of us, and with the angels around your glorious throne, in worship, in pure and more perfect worship to our only God. O Lord, we nevertheless do pray for those who are left behind, for their continued maintenance by your grace as Lord, it isn't easy. It isn't easy, Lord. It's very, very difficult. And if one has gone through that before, one knows the challenge that is the loss of someone that is deeply missed like that. Oh, Lord, so we commit His care to you and that of the congregation as well, because as He and His family mourn, so they mourn as well, and also as We rejoice, as your servants rejoice, so your people, even as we are to learn about this message. In the name of Christ, our Lord, we pray. Amen. It's win-win to be a Christian. If there is such a thing as an ideal church, the church in Philippi was it. of all the congregations that were started by the Apostle Paul. Anywhere except for 20 congregations or locations. Because sometimes, oftentimes, the church in Rome is speaking about multiple house churches and churches that would be in also larger buildings such as a synagogue. Such a church is very appreciative of the Apostle's efforts. even from behind walls. Like Ebeneezer, I invited the Gerashen congregations that Marikara and I had the privilege of visiting, where I had the opportunity to proclaim the Word of God, the privilege to proclaim the Word of the Lord, and also to tell about the work in a faraway land. to most, if not all, of those in that congregation. One that I know has been there before, Pastor Palma, could not be there with his sick wife. You can tell such churches, especially by their giving, they give sacrificially. Like you said about the churches in Macedonia and the Second Corinthians 8-2, moreover brethren, We do you to wit of the grace of God bestowed on the churches of Macedonia, how that in a great trial of affliction, the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality." But in essence, the apostle is saying that though they were in dire straits, in many respects, under persecution, especially, Yet they gave out of their deep poverty abundantly. That was not an issue with them. They dug deep, as it were. And Philippi stood out, as is said, for example, in Philippians 4.15, in our book of consideration. Now, you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the Gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated with me as concerning giving and receiving, but kneeling. And so even when they didn't have to, they did, this church, this particular congregation. It was one of small beginnings, as we noted already, among a few ladies that were at Riverside praying. I know that there are some of you who meet weekly to pray for this congregation. Lydia Seligman-Purple was the first convert, as you might recall from having studied this before, from Acts chapter 16, followed by Philippian Jailer and his family. And I might add also Lydia and her household were affected her, not convert her to the gospel, by the gospel, to the gospel. They were joined by a few others in their initial state, including a damsel who was freed from a spirit of divination. Paul, in Acts 16 and 18 says, I command thee in the name of Jesus Christ to come out of her, and he came out the same out of her. And I contend that she became a born-again believer. because our Lord is not going to do a half-assed job, is he? It was written under hard circumstances, that is, this letter, the letter to the Philippians. Paul was in prison, complete with the latest techniques of torture. And it can't get any harder than that, can it? He can't go with the gospel. That's his greatest burden. At least not while he's behind bars and shackles half the time, if not most of his waking hours. The church was small. Does that sound familiar? Remember what the scripture says in the Minor Prophets. Don't despise the little small things. The church was in the midst of persecution, as we already noted, in Philippians 1, 15 through 17. We read this, some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife. Now how can you do that? Well, I think we have an idea about how that can happen. Especially if ministers and preachers and church workers don't get along, as I hate to say it, but I've witnessed it in the Philippines, as we've been involved from a very early time there in seeking to come alongside and to help God's people to build solid, reformed congregations. The one preached Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. In other words, they wanted to get back from the Apostle Paul that this is going on, that it might cause his heart a lot of heartburn, if you will. But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. How thankful. I am for those who are supportive of the gospel going out. As we know, two sides. And both happen to be proclaiming the true gospel. May I say. The detractors see God is chastising the apostle Paul for some sin in his life. That's why he's behind bars. No, Paul would would tell you that I'm here because of the gospel. Notice in verse 13, his reference to my bonds in Christ, even as Christ was himself subject to the same. You can tell he had a win-win attitude, can't you? It didn't matter what others thought of Paul, what others said against Paul, what others even did to Paul. Bottom line, the bottom line, so long as Christ was preached. And really, it comes right down to that. Is the gospel being faithfully witnessed? Is the gospel being faithfully proclaimed? And is the gospel being, is Christ being faithfully preached? As it says in verse 18, What then, notwithstanding every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and I therein do rejoice, and will rejoice. The fact is, however it gets out, so long as it gets out, even if it doesn't have a good testimony to accompany it, because God can use that in spite of you or me. Notice the word, it says in verse 17, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. Set has the meaning of appointed. God appointed? Not just that Paul was digging his heels in and he was set to defend the fort, Christ's church, as it were. No. Also with the sense of the Lord putting him there like a soldier on his watch. You know, if you're in the military and you're on watch, like my dad who was in the Navy and he had his duty, as we would call it, and he would be gone all night. He was awake the whole time. At least that's what it's supposed to be. Apostle Paul is saying, like a soldier that is awake at his post. That's what he sought to do. And so Paul maximized the opportunities that were his behind bars. He couldn't go to his audience, but they could come to him. And oh, I tell you, he didn't have internet to advertise. Oh, by the way, also Paul here at We're here at the royal palace of the Caesar of Rome. Come. We have a room set aside, which happens to be where I'm in prison. But yes, you can come and hear the Word of God. No. They just came. But the Holy Spirit works in us to bring us into Christ. There's a saying, two prisoners looked through bars. One saw mud, the other saw stars. Guess who saw the stars? The saints of Philippi were not down, they were up. Could a major reason for this be because the apostle Paul was not down, but that he was up. He said in verses three through five, I thank my God upon every remembrance of you. I'm sure he had time to recall and to remember his times of fellowship, his times of worship, his times of service to people of Philippi, and how special they were, how they stood out in his ministry. Not only because it was the first church planted in Europe, Not only because he was called by the Spirit of God to a man of Macedonia, beckoning him to come and help him, and how God himself appointed him to go there, but because of his love for them. Because of his love for them that led to every prayer of his for them all, as he goes on to say, for your fellowship of the gospel from the first day until now, I'm still I'm reveling in it, I'm still relishing it in my memory lane, memory bank. And why? Is it because Paul just happens to be this upbeat kind of fellow, you know, with a positive personality? Judging by his background, I think he might not be that, but the other way around in terms of his upbringing and his training, such as his training as a lawyer. such as his training as a Pharisee. Was he one of those motivational-type speakers who just happened to have this gift of moving people to come into church or to have large numbers come into the church? And I'm not against people having those gifts, mind you, but was this the Apostle Paul, my question? According to Philippians 1-6, it was not about the Apostle Paul. He wanted to get that straight from the get-go. It was not about him. It was not about me, if you were here talking to us. But because of the Lord Jesus Christ. Be confident of this very thing that He, which hath begun a good work in you, will perform it unto the day of Jesus Christ. Paul was confident because here is a work of God. And that's it. And not all churches are necessarily about that. The book of Philippians is a spiritual love letter to the church, as you can sense already, just from what has already been said. With bursts of warm affection, joy, and praise to God, It's just all throughout this book. Like, for example, in chapter two, verses 17 and 18. Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, imagine the saint that's from prison, hundreds of miles away, to a congregation that's going through its own trials and tribulations, and himself not being in any position to be sent there. He's found every reason to believe that he'll never go there, and he has his confidence in God, in the sovereign God, to bring him there, as he expresses towards the end of his letter, how that I plan to be there by the grace of God. And 410, I rejoice greatly in the Lord. I'm sorry, I'm reading that, but I rejoice in the Lord greatly. that now, at the last care of me, hath flourished again, wherein ye were also careful to lack opportunity." They wanted to continue to support him. If money was the issue, if money was the reason, he was not able to come. Assuming, of course, that God would work in Caesar's heart like he worked in Pharaoh's heart once upon a time, and letting the people of God escape Egypt, that money was the issue, well, Paul said, Paul, just like before, don't think anything about that will provide for you. Later on, of course, they sought to bring that assistance to him, as we will know in time, in the ministry of Aphrodite. And why does he rejoice again? Because all the way in the book of Philippians is not just a love letter by the Apostle Paul to the Philippians, but a love letter of Jesus Christ to his saints. To his saints not only there, but even since that time, and not only there, but many other places in which the Lord Jesus Christ is faithfully needed. And through it, the Lord pours out his love, such as in the second verse, in what's often called the salutation, Raise me unto you in peace from God the Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. If Christians are bearing spiritual fruit in their lives at all, it is because of the Lord Jesus Christ. It says in Philippians verse 11, one verse 11, being filled with the fruits of righteousness. which are by Jesus Christ unto the glory and praise of God. If Christians are living for Christ, it is because of Jesus' gospel. Verse 27, only let your conversation, that's another old Middle English word for lifestyle, let your lifestyle be as because of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see you or else I may hear of your affairs. His desire is to hear a good report. His desire is to have good news. This is the gospel of the good news of Jesus Christ, that you stand fast in one spirit and with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel. There's no greater joy than to see that his children are longing truth and love together. and that are speaking to each other, exhorting one another while they stay, lest they be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin, speaking the truth of love, speaking it with concern for one another, bearing one another's burdens and so fulfilling the law of Christ. Is this your lifestyle? And if it is, is it becoming like the very gospel that you preach? That's the challenge we're solving. You have a clear understanding of the gospel. You take the time to learn the gospel so that you can tell someone who is wondering or maybe perhaps beseeching you. Before that, let's say he's on his deathbed or she is dying, and you're the only one in sight, and everything depends upon you being able to point them. in the right direction? Are you with such an understanding of the faith of the gospel, as he calls it here? I call that worth more faith, by the way, and many others do. There's something about that, and it's not because we're trying to be different from other people. It's not that we're trying to be superior to anybody else. That's not it at all. In fact, if anything, we are taking the lowest place In fact, we're taking the lowest place at the foot of the cross, at the foot of the Lord, the Triune God of Scripture, at the foot of our brethren. Because what did Jesus do, after all, as we're gonna learn in the next chapter? Did he not humble himself? Did he not become a beast? God, who became a man, took on the form of humanity. God, who was the king, became a slave. And He calls upon us to be like Him, to be His humble servants. So what more honorable place can there be than that? And the Reformed faith, I believe, hits it right on the head. It really speaks directly to this very, very issue of God's sovereignty and man's utter abasement. Do you recognize that this is precisely what is being preached from behind this pulpit, and are you willing to guard it? Not just the elders of the church, but you yourself, speaking to the pastor or the speaker, such as last week we had a guest speaker. If you had any questions, being like the Koreans, who are also, by the way, part of northern Greece, which is Macedonia, which is Europe today, Do you breathe like you're being of a ready mind, being a studious mind, being a worker that needs not to be ashamed, rightly providing the Word of Truth, and also searching the Scriptures daily whether these things are so? Are you content with just hearing the preaching and letting it go? Or are you holding me accountable before God because this is to your soul? And heaven and earth, heaven and hell, hang in the balance. So are you committed to this gospel? Are you willing to live for it? And are you ready to die for it? As Paul says in verse 21, for me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. By the way, to die as gain would still be a win-win proposition. You know why? Because as C.H. Scholes put it, he said, quote, that is not some mystical attempt to escape the world, but it is a strong desire for perfect fellowship, undisturbed by sin. Can you imagine an answer like that? That's a wonderful answer. Or just distractions. They may not be sins, but they may be like little birds that like to light up on the branches and distract you, you know, and take your mind away from Christ. If these things live in us, meaning these good things, the strong desire for perfect fellowship undisturbed by sin, then we may believe we know Him. Don't allow yourself any slack in thinking that you are a Christian simply because you're attending church and maybe even doing other things than Christians do. Without that inward desire, that desire that just compels you to fall down and worship upon your knees to Jesus Christ every day, that he gives you breath, and making every breath praise the Lord. Die is gained when you can focus everything on glorifying Him and enjoying Him forever. That's Westminster Shorter Catechism question number one. And I'm speaking literally. But if you live, let it be for the express purpose of bringing others to the Lord and building up others in the Lord. that they may live for the Lord, it may cost you. It says that it is not only given for us to believe on Christ, meaning it's a gift. It's also a gift that along with the gift of believing comes suffering. It will be through much tribulation that we will enter into the kingdom, says Luke. And by the way, Luke later would be left behind in this church. And the Apostle Paul established it, and he was the one who took care of it until it was on its feet. Luke, a young man, also might tell you. Very early on in the second missionary journey of the Apostle Paul. It may cost you, but let me add one important provision. You won't be alone. You're never alone. He says, I will be with you. He said that when He said, Go ye therefore and disciple the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you, and know I am with you, always, even to the end of the world. You won't be alone. Through many dangers, toils, and snares, I have already come. This grace that brought me safe thus far, well, that grace will lead me home. And so, is it worth it? That's really a good question, is it not? Is it worth it? I think that's a question that some people should have been asked along with, will you believe on Christ? And for whatever reason or not, I later on regretted, regretted having believed on Christ. I had one who was used to lead me to Christ, the very first one, from my high school days. We were already in college. And he led me to Christ. And a year later, after I came to San Diego and began to follow Christ, back in 1972, I didn't hear from him. And I wanted to know how he was doing. And I contacted him. And he said he was ashamed to call me, because he said, I've denounced the faith. I'm no longer a Christian. And I didn't want to discourage him. Count the cost, Jesus said. Count the cost. In conclusion, again, the Apostle Paul, verse 21 said, for me to live is Christ. He didn't say for me to live for Christ, but he said to live is Christ. Is he. the reason why you are a Christian. Not just what he did. Not just, as Spurgeon says, not just for what he did for you and for me. Not just for his work, but for himself. His person first, and then his work second. As he said, as Charles Spurgeon, and he always has a way of putting things that really rings in the soul. It is true that He gave us life in the dead. He gave us pardons. He gave us imputed righteousness. These are all precious things. But we are not content with them. We have received Christ Himself. The Son of God has been poured into us and we have received Him and appropriated Him. What a heartful Jesus must be, being heartful to you and to me, who have him. For heaven's self cannot contain him, and he dwells in us. Christ is the hope of glory, said the apostle Paul elsewhere. Is it a win-win thing to be a Christian? I can tell you, yea, amen to the glory of God by this. How much you shall pray. Father in heaven, we are so thankful for your Son. We are so thankful for Him who loved us and gave Himself for us. And is giving Himself for us on the cross was because of His love for us. For His love that is poured into us by the Holy Spirit who is given unto us. The very presence of the Father and of the Son within our very beings, within our very bodies. is the reason why we are who we are, and not just simply some academic understanding or objective knowledge of the gospel. Let the gospel live, let Christ live in you. For to me, to live is Christ. Oh Lord, may that ring true in our hearts and minds more and more, even unto the perfect day of your return.