00:00:00:10 – 00:00:29:53
Clint Loveall
Hey everybody. Happy Monday. Thanks for joining us. As we start the week together and as we continue through, Paul’s letter to the Philippian church, we are in the first chapter and picking up in verse 19, which is one of the places there’s kind of an odd split in the numbering system here. So I’ll pick up a little bit of the end of verse 18, which is for some reason they’ve divided in a sentence, but, jump in here and then we’ll come back and talk about it.

00:00:29:58 – 00:00:56:53
Clint Loveall
Yes. And I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance. It is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame in any way, but that by my speaking with all boldness, Christ will be exalted now and always in my body, whether by life or by death.

00:00:56:58 – 00:01:33:54
Clint Loveall
So stop there for a minute. Just, again, quick background reminder. Paul is writing to this church from prison. There seems to be some uncertainty about his future. Clearly, he feels that uncertainty. We’ll see that even more in the next passage. But here we get we already get an introduction to that. And, I think, Michael, that, you know, this isn’t a complicated passage, but I do think it is, a passage that highlights Paul’s faith.

00:01:33:54 – 00:02:09:49
Clint Loveall
And I think, it really shows something of his character, the idea that he he covets their prayers and their help and this idea that it will turn out for his deliverance, which I think may not mean what we think it means. My expectation and hope that I will not be put to shame, but that Christ will be exalted and I think is very, it’s very humbling.

00:02:09:54 – 00:02:34:41
Clint Loveall
It’s very telling that in this moment of personal uncertainty, Paul can write to the church that his main concern is that Christ be glorified, and that his main fear is that maybe he wouldn’t be up to that task. And I think that’s a reminder of some of why Paul is so celebrated in the church and in faith.

00:02:34:46 – 00:03:03:52
Michael Gewecke
Well, it’s not just a matter I don’t think of recognizing and celebrating his character and his faith, but I think there’s a way in which the church has seen in Paul, someone who models living out the faith in such a way that is worth imitation. It is worth pondering for ourselves. I think that Paul, sometimes unfairly, Clint, has gotten this impression of being a thinker, being a writer.

00:03:03:57 – 00:03:46:42
Michael Gewecke
Certainly, if you’re on a more academic setting, that is a temptation that people have. But I think when you read Paul, like we have here in Philippians, this idea that through your prayers, which is relational and, Christian practice and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance and likely here speaking about this upcoming trial, speaking of getting out of prison, being delivered from his captivity, how the scholars may point is probably not speaking spiritually, but yet he’s saying practically in verse 20, that I won’t be put to shame, but that by speaking with all boldness Christ will be exalted now and as always in my body,

00:03:46:42 – 00:04:18:18
Michael Gewecke
whether by life or by death, that that fundamental commitment, that one’s faith is not just seen in what one believes or a sense two up here in our mind, but that faith is fundamentally lived out with the commitments that we have, and the commitments that we have will lead us to choices and pathways in life that will determine whether it was just in theory or whether our trust was beyond this life itself.

00:04:18:18 – 00:04:48:58
Michael Gewecke
So that I think fundamentally that that’s one of the reasons why Paul was so effective in his own time and why the church continues to learn from Paul is because he is not of two minds. He’s not. This is what I think. And then this is what I do. That what Paul thought is what Paul did and that the complete unison of that, even when he was in positions of being wrong, you know, he said that he was a zealous, Pharisee.

00:04:49:03 – 00:05:01:03
Michael Gewecke
Even when that took Paul down the wrong paths, he would be one who would confess and repent. And then change. But yet you was always one minded. And I think you see something like that reflected in the text here.

00:05:01:17 – 00:05:28:10
Clint Loveall
Yeah, this I find it very impressive that in this moment of danger, in this moment of captivity that Paul expresses, is deep concern, not pray for me so that I can get out and come home and be released. But pray for me so that I’ll live up to the challenge of this moment and speak boldly, and that Christ will be glorified.

00:05:28:10 – 00:05:55:18
Clint Loveall
I think you know whether I live or die. And and as we move into this next section and I think we’ll just go ahead and catch it now, he only he only continues along that path. Jump in here in verse 21, for to me, living is Christ and dying is gain. If I’m to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me, and I do not know which I prefer.

00:05:55:22 – 00:06:17:44
Clint Loveall
I’m hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that’s far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for you. Since I’m convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that I may share abundantly in your boasting in Christ Jesus.

00:06:17:49 – 00:06:48:40
Clint Loveall
When I come to you again. I remember, as a young person or I think I was a youth director and being at a church camp or, an event that some youth rally and one of the leaders had a church, shirt that said this verse for me, living is Christ and dying is gain. And again, not not to beat this into the ground, but it’s one thing to wear that slogan on a T-shirt.

00:06:48:45 – 00:07:25:48
Clint Loveall
It’s another thing to write those words genuinely and truthfully from a prison cell where both of those options are absolutely on the table. And I think, again, we just see the depth of Paul’s faith, of his courage, of his commitment to what he does and ultimately his his passion and trust in Christ. It’s really, those are profound words.

00:07:25:53 – 00:07:58:31
Michael Gewecke
I think verse 22 has an interesting invitation in it. It reads, if I’m to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. And I do not know which I prefer that I think Clint is a really helpful way for us to understand our own identities in Christ. I think sometimes we get that wrong. Some people do think about the faith as being a thing that you believe, and then once it’s believed, it’s sort of like you walk through a doorway and now that’s it.

00:07:58:31 – 00:08:29:55
Michael Gewecke
You’ve walked through and here you are. We’re glad that you’re here. When Paul wants to talk about this side of eternity, he wants to talk about not just labor, but fruitful labor. He wants to talk about the purpose with which we do our lives and our relationships and our tasks. And it make no mistake about when he wants to talk to friends, people who he has had fruitful ministry with, deep relationships with the very people.

00:08:30:00 – 00:08:59:24
Michael Gewecke
And he continues to weave this theme of joy throughout the text all the way through where we read in verse 25, your progress and joy in faith, right? This kind of connection for Paul is all built inside this reality that if you’re going to be Christian, if you’re going to be, Christian family and a community, a church together, then what that means is as long as you are on this side, there’s fruitful labor for you to do.

00:08:59:29 – 00:09:36:37
Michael Gewecke
And this gets shared, I think, in many ways throughout these studies, but that is one of the most important themes for discipleship in the New Testament is this idea that every Christian is called to do the work, the fruitful ministry that they have been given. The fruitful labor of living out in your context, no matter what your skills are, no matter whether you have more or less that the fact is, each and every one of us, if we wake today and are oriented properly in Christ, then we have fruitful labor that is to be done for us.

00:09:36:37 – 00:10:02:09
Michael Gewecke
And Paul finds meaning, he finds joy, he finds purpose in that. So much so that he says that it’s actually hard pressed between the two. And if we could say that clear, and I would just submit, if your average Christian could say, you know, I really am compelled and convicted and overjoyed by my fruitful labor in Christ, that would be quite a statement unto itself.

00:10:02:09 – 00:10:08:22
Michael Gewecke
I think that would be a beautiful thing for us to aspire to, because that would reflect the Gospels growing in us.

00:10:08:34 – 00:10:49:13
Clint Loveall
I think the other thing we see here, Michael, is Paul’s willingness, his ability to think of his will as subject to Christ’s will, to God’s will. So he says here, you know, I could depart and be with Christ. In other words, if if I get put to death, then I’m released. And then he says, which by far is better, and yet he is then also willing to say, but if I’m staying here, then I’ll just keep doing the work and I’ll keep so even be even in this moment.

00:10:49:13 – 00:11:31:58
Clint Loveall
Paul doesn’t necessarily think of this in terms of what he wants, or what he considers better for him, but what it is that God, the door that God opens and whichever one it is, he finds in it, a promise of either release and freedom or continued work and I think it says a lot about Paul, that again, in a situation where you would be very tempted to think only about what you wanted and the outcome you hoped for, fork and say, well, there are these two paths and whichever one God puts me on, I’m going to do my best.

00:11:31:58 – 00:11:58:27
Clint Loveall
And I if if it’s back to you, great. I’ll keep serving. And if it isn’t, then God be praised for that. And I’ll go be with Jesus. You and I have had the privilege of being with some people in moments where they contemplate, you know, the end of their lives and, those are that is a hard won confidence.

00:11:58:31 – 00:12:26:49
Clint Loveall
And for Paul, I think, to be be able to say even even in this moment, I subject my will to God’s will and I will do whatever is in my ability, in my power to glorify Jesus. Again, I just think if you read these words literally, if you take them seriously, I just think they paint such a wonderful picture of Paul’s faith.

00:12:26:50 – 00:12:40:50
Clint Loveall
And yes, there are things we can say about Paul that could be less positive. But man, when you hear these words from that place, I think it’s astounding.

00:12:40:55 – 00:13:12:47
Michael Gewecke
I think that it is astounding. I also think that we need to recognize that there is a kind of exhibition of what happens when faith has taken root and grows, because what it does is it helps us see, much like when you turn the corner and you’re hiking and you’ve been in woods, and then you turn the corner, and then it opens up in front of you, and you can sort of see the expanse that lies ahead or behind, sometimes both.

00:13:12:52 – 00:13:43:01
Michael Gewecke
What faith does as it grows is it not only helps us to understand rightly where we are, but it helps us to understand where that is in proportion to the rest. And that’s what Paul sees so clearly here. Paul sees very clearly his own purpose. How many pages have been written about knowing your purpose and living into your destiny and all these practices, you know, New Year’s resolutions to really get down exactly what you want to accomplish?

00:13:43:10 – 00:14:16:28
Michael Gewecke
Paul has really no issue at all knowing his calling. His calling is to live out in Christian relationship and to do the fruitful work as long as he is able write for him. That is not a point of contention. That’s not a big question mark. That needs resolved. Part of the reason for that, that he doesn’t have anxiety about that is because Paul understands that within the larger story and this is a very uniquely Christian center of hope is and it’s not flashy.

00:14:16:28 – 00:14:37:30
Michael Gewecke
I think that’s maybe one of the reasons that we don’t see it very often is because at the end of the day, what Christians have is not just an awareness of what God wants us to do today that we have, that we have an awareness of how that is situated amidst God’s larger plan. We’ve been tipped off. We see in Jesus Christ what’s beyond the grave.

00:14:37:30 – 00:15:07:44
Michael Gewecke
We understand that the thing that appeared to be definite and the end is no longer that reality. That in the power of God at work in Jesus Christ, that extends that horizon is far beyond what we could have ever imagined. And because of that, Paul can see good today. Paul can see good beyond today. And when he has that, it transforms his understanding of what God has called it to do, and the gifting that God has given for him to do that work.

00:15:07:44 – 00:15:33:16
Michael Gewecke
And also, and I would argue that I think that this is important. You alluded to it. It also characterizes how it gets done. And I just think it’s so worth noting that Paul remains consider it remains connected. It continues in his care for the progress and joy and faith, even to use this word abundantly in your boast in Jesus Christ.

00:15:33:21 – 00:15:54:59
Michael Gewecke
These are extravagant words for a guy for whom many of us would not blame if he was grumpy, if he was upset, if he complained because his circumstance was negative and beyond his control, we would understand that. And yet that would make no sense to Paul, because that would be living in the smaller story rather than the larger story.

00:15:55:12 – 00:16:09:34
Michael Gewecke
And though he’s not teasing all that out for us, I don’t think he’s, you know, building that image, from the foundation up, you see, the house that’s been built, you see how he gets there. And these words, I think, flowed naturally out of it.

00:16:09:47 – 00:16:23:33
Clint Loveall
Well, I think that’s the amazing thing about, verse 21 is that Paul means it. I mean, he literally means it for me, living is Christ and dying is gain. That.

00:16:23:33 – 00:16:24:15
Michael Gewecke
Yeah.

00:16:24:19 – 00:17:01:23
Clint Loveall
That both of the imagine imagine the freedom of awaking every day and saying those words and truly meaning them. For me today, living is Christ and dying is gain. That’s I just think it’s it’s such a it’s such a tremendous statement that he makes there. And I think the rest of the path bears out the reality that he he truly means that he truly does.

00:17:01:28 – 00:17:42:50
Michael Gewecke
And if we don’t fully grasp that today, Clint, the question isn’t, can you give those words and have the full me I think that this is one of those where it’s the repeated practice of life in which we learn the truth of the words. And I certainly hope, friends, that as we make our way in to this study more fully, that you find in these words not just Paul relaying his experience to no another church, but rather an illustration of what we’re invited to find in the gospel, so that we too, might, day by day, go deeper in that affirmation that’s fundamentally, living.

00:17:42:50 – 00:17:44:37
Michael Gewecke
Yes, Christ and dying is gain.

00:17:44:42 – 00:17:46:13
Clint Loveall
Yeah, that’s a really great passage.

00:17:46:15 – 00:17:48:10
Michael Gewecke
Thanks for being with us. We will see you all tomorrow.