Introduction:
1. Have you ever heard the expression it is all in how you look at it?
2. Life brings its good and bad times. But the attitude we take toward those events tells a lot about us.
3. Paul had a crisis going on in his life but look at how he viewed it.
4. Phil. 1:19-26.
I. It will all work out (verses 19, 20).
A. No matter what happens it will all work out for good. Remember God’s providence (1 Chron. 29:12; Ps. 36:6; 2 Cor. 9:8). We will be vindicated.
B. We must have an attitude of acceptance. It should not be fatalism.
C. We are to magnify Christ. People look at Christians all of the time. They see how we handle ourselves in the good and bad times. When do we praise God? When do we act like the Christian we profess to be? Our lives are to magnify Christ (Mt. 5:16; 1 Cor. 10:31; 2 Thes. 1:2).
II. Death is not the great monster (verses 21-23).
A. Man’s view of death versus Paul’s view of death. Man views death as the king of terrors, the grim reaper, that which is to be avoided. Paul viewed death as gain. It is what he wanted and was really hoping to receive.
Reality (Heb. 9:27).
B. Christian’s view of death (Ps. 116:15; Ecc. 7:1; Rev. 14:13). Death for a Christian is a homecoming (1 Thes. 4:13f.); end of earthly trials (2 Tim. 4:6-8), better on the other side (Rev. 7:13-17), an entering into rest (Rev. 14:13; Heb. 4:9-11).
III. Living gives us opportunities (verses 24-26).
A. Paul had a difficult decision. Paul’s want to live was not for himself but for others (Rom. 9:1-3). He saw his life as an opportunity to magnify and teach Christ.
B. Life is not just about what you get out of it but also what you give. Our commitment is to God. We have been ….called (Mt. 20:26-28; Gal. 5:13), challenged (2 Thes. 3:13; Rom. 12:10-12), coaxed by the example of others (Acts 20:18, 19; Rom.; 16:1, 2). We have opportunities to help.
C. We see life as drudgery but look at it as an opportunity.
Conclusion:
Because of His Grace
Entered on 5/9/2010
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