Viewing Your Life as a Win/Win Situation

It has been well said that for a Christian, a follower of Christ, that this life, life on earth, is the worst that he or she will ever experience.  That means that our eternity in heaven will far greater than anything and everything we experience on earth.

 

If you have your Bibles, please take them and turn to Philippians 1:19.  I want to share a message with you entitled, “Viewing Life as a Win/Win Situation.”

 

What does a “win/win situation” mean?  It means that both options are available are good and pleasurable or beneficial.

 

If you understand that you have two options of either living or dying, and you are a follower of Christ, do you view that as a win/win situation?  Paul did, and I pray that we will soon enough.

 

Remember our context.  Paul was under house arrest for two years in Rome.  He was living in a rented house and chained to a Roman Guard twenty-four hours a day.  During that time, he penned his epistle to the Philippian Church, a letter of joy.

 

In today’s text, let’s see his confidence, his conflict, and his commitment all the while in chains in Rome.  He viewed life as a win/win situation.

 

 

1. While in chains, Paul was confident, 1:19-20.

19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 20 according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

 

Verse 19 begins with “I know.”  In those words, we see Paul’s confidence that his adversity would be resolved soon enough.  He said that he would soon be delivered. 

 

What did he mean?  He meant that he was either going to be set free or he was going to die, and both could be seen as deliverance or salvation. 

 

Why was he so confident?  He was confident because of the prayers of the saints, the power of the Spirit, and the provision of the Son.

 

First, the Philippian Church was praying for Paul, and he knew it, and he felt it.  He knew their prayers were going to make things happen. 

 

BTW, prayer matters.  However, some might say that if God is all powerful and he can do anything He wants, why pray? 

 

We pray because God tells us to pray.  I believe that not only can God ordain the end, God also ordains the means.  Yes, God can do anything He wants, and God also wants to accomplish His purpose through our prayers.  He has ordained the means of prayer. 

 

This is why I have kept our Prayer Room in front of you for multiple weeks.  We need more prayers in the Prayer Room.  Why have you not signed up yet?

 

Paul also was confident in the power of the Spirit.  This is the Holy Spirit, and Paul spoke of His supply in verse 19. 

 

You could also understand His supply as His power.  It was the Holy Spirit that raised the Jesus from the dead.  If He did that, what can He not do in your life?

 

Third, Paul was confident because of the provision of the Son.  In verse 20, Paul expected with confident hope that Christ was going to be magnified regardless of what happened. 

 

In your adversity, are you confident that your life is a win/win situation?

 

 

2. While in chains, Paul was conflicted, 1:21-23.

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

 

In verse 21, you see what is arguably the most well-known verse in Philippians.  Paul laid out his two options.  For him, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.  In other words, his options were to stay or go.

 

If he stayed, that was a win because his life was identified with Christ.  He knew Christ.  He proclaimed Christ.  He served Christ. 

 

Everything about him was Jesus.  See Galatians 2:20.

 

20 I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me.

 

However, if we died, he knew immediately where he would be.  He would be with Jesus in heaven.  That was a win.  That would be gain. 

 

BTW, Paul knew that this choice was up to him.  He was merely identifying the possible outcomes.  See Psalm 139:16.

 

16 Your eyes saw my substance, being yet unformed.  And in Your book they all were written, The days fashioned for me, When as yet there were none of them.

 

In verse 22, Paul went further in thinking about these two possible outcomes.  To stay or live would be fruitful or beneficial for the Philippian Church.  They could benefit from Paul’s teaching and leadership.

 

However, verse 23 considers the other possible outcome.  If Paul died or went to heaven, he would be with Christ, and that would be far greater personally.  What could be better than being with Christ?

 

BTW, when a Christian dies, he or she immediately enters the presence of Christ in heaven.  There is no such thing as an intermediate state or purgatory or soul sleep.  To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord.

 

Do you really agree with Paul?  Is being with Jesus the absolute best?  Better than your spouse?  Better than your children or grandchildren?  Better than ________?  See Psalm 84:10.

 

10 For a day in Your courts is better than a thousand.  I would rather be a doorkeeper in the house of my God Than dwell in the tents of wickedness.

 

For Paul, he was conflicted.  Staying would be better for the Philippians.  Going would be better for him.  He was hard-pressed or torn or conflicted in his desires.

 

 

3. While in chains, Paul was committed, 1:24-26.

24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

 

Again, not that Paul could have made this decision on his own, but it appears that he experienced some kind of revelation that he wasn’t going to die in chains but was going to have the opportunity to keep ministering.  That was what was best for them.

 

Therefore, he was committed to serving the saints before self.  He decided to lay aside his personal desires and serve the Philippian Church instead.  Ministering to them would result in their progress or spiritual growth and their joy.

 

However, know that ultimately, even in Paul’s service of the saints, he was serving the Lord.  He served the Philippian Church because of his love for the Lord Jesus.

 

That is true here at EBC.  We have folks who serve others every Sunday in our Sunday School Small Groups and Choir and Nursery and as Greeters and Security Team.  However, ultimately, they are serving the Lord by serving one another. 

 

 

 

 

Conclusion

Brothers and sisters, do you view your life as a win/win situation?  When God left you here after He saved you, He had one purpose in mind. 

 

Do you know what it is?  It is to serve Him by serving others.  Specifically, it is telling others about Jesus.  It is pointing others to Christ, and even all of that is the worst that you will ever experience because of how good Jesus will be in heaven.

 

However, if you are not saved this morning, this life is as good as it will ever get.  That is a sad reality, but I want to invite you this morning to put your faith and trust in Christ and call on Jesus to save you.