What Do You Live For?

Notes: What Do You Live For?

Greg Laurie

Series: Happiness

Thursday, March 16, 2017

Philippians 1:21–26

Music: Harvest Worship Band

Is it an alarm clock or a calling that gets you up in the morning?

1. There are some who say that "to live is to live"

2. Some would say "to live is for pleasure"

Living for pleasure is one of the least pleasurable things to do.

Some would "live to get even."

3. Some "live for possessions"

You have never seen a hurse pulling a trailer.

4. Some "live to acquire knowledge."

If you forget God in your pursuit of knowledge then you have learned nothing.

What are you passionate about?

Only those who are prepared to die are ready to live.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.

The theme of the book of Philippians is happiness and joy.

Paul wrote this book while on house arrest.

Philippians 1:12-18 ESV

[12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, [13] so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. [14] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. [15] Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. [16] The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. [17] The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. [18] What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Guard by guard they were coming to Christ.

1. When you live for Christ, you will accept Gods will for your life.

Philippians 1:12 ESV

[12] I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,

You are where you are because God wants you there right now.

Philippians 1:14 ESV

[14] And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Examples of evangelism can spark more evangelism.

2. When you live for Christ, you will be a person of prayer.

Philippians 1:9-11 ESV

[9] And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, [10] so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, [11] filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul prays they grow in love and discernment.

Some people are discerning but not loving, others are loving and not discerning.

A mark of real love is that you love your Christian brothers and sisters.

Romans 5:5 NLT

[5] And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.

2. Paul prays that we would grow in knowledge.

Real spirituality is practical.

The first century Christians changed the world.

Death for a Christian, is a promotion, graduation, coronation.

When you live for Christ, then you are not afraid to die.

2 Corinthians 5:1-3 NLT

[1] For we know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down (that is, when we die and leave this earthly body), we will have a house in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. [2] We grow weary in our present bodies, and we long to put on our heavenly bodies like new clothing. [3] For we will put on heavenly bodies; we will not be spirits without bodies.

When you live for Christ, one day you will be with Him in Heaven.

If we train people to be consumers instead of commuters, then we will get customers not disciples.

Philippians 1:23 NLT

[23] I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me.

All our questions will be answered in Heaven.

1 Corinthians 13:12 NLT

[12] Now we see things imperfectly, like puzzling reflections in a mirror, but then we will see everything with perfect clarity. All that I know now is partial and incomplete, but then I will know everything completely, just as God now knows me completely.

Most importantly, you will be home with Christ.

Philippians 1:21-26 ESV

[21] For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. [22] If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. [23] I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. [24] But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. [25] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, [26] so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.

To live is Christ, to die is gain.