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Message # 3 "An Entry concerning Supremacy"

Text:  Phillipians 1: 21-24

Intro:  In verse 21, Paul establishes the theme for this message.  He states

            "for me to live is Christ".  This statement speaks volumes about Christ

            being supreme in our lives.  He should be out theme, our goal, our

            aim, our power, our service and our allegiance. It is also apparent from

            these verses that the Philippian church was indeed a "Jesus" church.

            What we can exposite from these verses inform us of where Jesus

            stood in the life of Paul and the life of the believers:

            1)  There was a supreme standing (1:1 "to all the saints in Christ Jesus.

            2)  There was a supreme solution (1:11 "being filled with the fruits of

                 righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ"

            3)  There was a supreme supply (1:19 "the supply of the Spirit of Jesus

                 Christ".

            4)  There was a supreme status (1:21 "for me to live is Christ")

            This church stands as a model to all churches of all ages.  Truly,

            Jesus was supreme in the hearts of this people.  Notice some great

            truths that we can exposite from these verses:

 

I.  A Supreme Direction

 

    A)  One to dwell in (vs 21 "for to live is Christ")

         dwell means to abide.  Either way we address this statement the re-

         sults are the same: The Lord Jesus must be the center and control of

         our entire life.  There is no room other gods because our Lord is a sole

         proprietor.

    B)  One to die in (vs 21 "and to die is gain")

         This verse is where the rubber meets the road.  It is a great and wonder-

         ful thing to live for Christ, but are we willing to die for Christ.  Or it is a

         great and wonderful thing to praise God in life, but can we or will we

         praise God in death.

 

II.  A Supreme Discernment

 

     A)  There are products of a supreme discernment

           (vs22 "but if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour")

           While this statement by Paul has been twisted and interpreted to

           justify the flesh life, I believe that when we weight it against all other

           doctrinal statements of Paul, we can come to the conclusion that he

           meant something quite to the contrary.  In consideration of Paul's

           many afflictions and even a "thorn in the flesh", and in light of vs 21,

           I really believe he was facing a spirtual reality.  That reality was that

           if the Lord left him here, then his life on earth would be fruitful. As

           one commentator put it: "He was prepared for either a fruit-bearing

           life down here or a far better life up there".

     B)  There is the process of a supreme discernment

           ("yet what I shall choose I wot not")

           This verse should help us to understand that there is a war waging

           within us. It is the war between the new nature and the old nature.

           This war began the day we were born again, and will last until the

           day our new born soul leaves the body.  As is testified with Paul's

           statement, that war doesn't get any better, no matter how long we

           live on this earth.

 

III.  A Supreme Desire

 

      A)  This supreme desire was a functional one

            (vs 23 "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart,

            and to be with Christ, which is far better")

            The various meanings of the word "depart" is enough to make the

            most hardened saint take a shouting spell.  It means:

            1) A military term used by soldiers

                this word literally meant "to take down your tent and move on"

                The spiritual application of this is wonderful.  What a day that

                will be when this old tent we have been living in, is taken down

                and our address changes to the presence of the Saviour.

           2)  A military term used by sailors

                Again, this word literally meant "to loosen a ship and set sail"

                The old ship of Zion has been in port in this world for a long

                time, but the day is soon coming when it will lift its anchor and

                set sail for gloryland.

           3)  A meaningful term used by society

                This word described the setting free of a prisoner.  It is so true

                that we are imprisoned in this body of flesh, and sometimes

                severely limited in our life for God.  But freedom is just around

                the corner.

          4)  A methodical term used by sowers

               when the sowing in the fields was done for the day, this word

               meant "to unyoke the oxen".  One day the sowing will be over,

               we, the children of God, will be going to the house,.

     B)  This supreme desire was fellowshipping one

          (vs 24 "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you")

           It doesn't take a rocket scientist to come to the conclusion:

           "What a sacrifice, what a warrior for God".  The bottom line con-

           clusion of this verse is that Paul was willing to do whatever it took

           to win souls to the Lord, and to further the fellowship of the

           "Jesus" church.