Torn Between Heaven and Christ

Minister Joaquin

Philippians 1:19-24

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 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.

We should be living in tension.

Dying is personal gain vs. living is gain for others.

Sharing Christ honors Christ with your life vs. dying because you shared Christ honors him as well.

Being in heaven is what we all should desire vs. having everyone in heaven should be our desire.

Being with Christ vs being Christ to others

Bringing heaven to people here on earth 

Christ will be honored in my body with my life. V. 20

If we are to live, that means fruitful labor. V. 22

Matthew 7:9-10

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done, 

on earth as it is in heaven. 

Matthew 16:18-19

18 And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. 19 I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven, and whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven.”

Choosing Necessary for others over what is better for you. 

Paul knows heaven is far better for him. v. 23

But he chooses what is better for his people v. 24-25

Acts 2:42-47

42 And they devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers. 43 And awe came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were being done through the apostles. 44 And all who believed were together and had all things in common. 45 And they were selling their possessions and belongings and distributing the proceeds to all, as any had need. 46 And day by day, attending the temple together and breaking bread in their homes, they received their food with glad and generous hearts, 47 praising God and having favor with all the people. And the Lord added to their number day by day those who were being saved. 

Philippians 2:3-7

3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, 6 who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Applications:

1.     Thank God tonight in your prayers for all the people he has put in your life who have helped bring a little bit of heaven to your life. Thank Jesus for being the example for all of them to sacrifice and put our needs above their own. 

2.     List out all the people who bother you at church, Pray for the strength to show them love, ask for the ability to see Christ in them, and pray that God will answer their prayers and bless them. 

3.     Spend time with people outside of church. Find ways to grab some tea, food, recreational activity to help share more of your life and faith. Try to plan at least once a month to do this, then bi-monthly, then weekly. Don’t settle for just those who are close to you, try to work on hanging out with more people you don’t regularly talk with. 

4.     Commit to reading one story about Jesus helping people from the Gospels a week. Talk to Jesus and see how you can try to share that same kind of love with those he has put in your life. Ask for the strength to be bold like him and to continue bringing heaven to people. 

Live your life For Christ, With Christ, and Like Christ

Questions:

1.     How do you think it would feel to be a part of a community where everyone puts the interests of others before their own?

2.     Do you believe we can make heaven here on earth for the communities we are a part of?

3.     What can you do now to help honor Christ with your life and start making heaven here on earth?

Ways to bring heaven.

-       So put away all malice and all deceit and hypocrisy and envy and all slander. 1 Peter 2:1

-       Finally, all of you, have unity of mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble mind. 1 Peter 3:8

-       8 Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins. 9 Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. 10 As each has received a gift, use it to serve one another, as good stewards of God’s varied grace: 11 whoever speaks, as one who speaks oracles of God; whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen. 1 Peter 4:8-11

-       We ought always to give thanks to God for you, brothers, as is right, because your faith is growing abundantly, and the love of every one of you for one another is increasing. 1 Thess. 1:3

-       11 Command and teach these things. 12 Let no one despise you for your youth, but set the believers an example in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith, in purity. 13 Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. 14 Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you by prophecy when the council of elders laid their hands on you. 15 Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. 16 Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers. 1 Tim. 4:11-16

-       Thus says the Lord of hosts, Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, 10 do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” Zechariah 7:9-10

-       23 Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful. 24 And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, 25 not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near. Hebrews 10:23-25