Philippians 1 — “TO LIVE IS CHRIST”

 

Philippians 1 — “TO LIVE IS CHRIST”

 “For to me to live is Christ…” — Philippians 1:21

 1. TRUST — GOD WHO STARTED THE WORK WILL FINISH IT

Philippians 1:6 “He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion…”

 There are things God is doing in me that I cannot see yet.

Some prayers are still unanswered.
Some areas of my character are still being transformed.
Some promises are still unfolding.

But unfinished does not mean abandoned.

 “God is not finished with me.” I don't have to rush God's process.

I need to remain: surrendered → teachable → faithful → obedient.

 When I see my weaknesses, I will not condemn myself or give up. I will say: “Lord, continue Your work in me.”

 2. KEEP GOING — CIRCUMSTANCES CANNOT CANCEL GOD'S PURPOSE

Philippians 1:12 “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.”

 Paul was imprisoned, but the Gospel was not imprisoned.

His circumstances did not cancel his calling.

  “I will not allow my circumstances to determine my faithfulness to God.”

When there is delay— I will keep going.

When there is opposition— I will keep going.

When I am misunderstood— I will keep going.

When I am tired— I will continue depending on God.

When I cannot see the results— I will remain faithful.

 

Instead of asking only: “Lord, why is this happening?”

I will also ask: “Lord, how can You use this season for Your glory?”

What looks like a setback to me may become an opportunity for God.

 3. SURRENDER — CHRIST MUST BE GREATER THAN MY MINISTRY

Philippians 1:20–21 “Christ will be honored in my body…”

 “For to me to live is Christ…”

This is the deepest personal challenge of Philippians 1.

I can serve Christ while slowly allowing ministry to become my identity.

My identity can become attached to:

·       position,

·       recognition,

·       accomplishments,

·       responsibilities,

·       ministry success,

• people's approval.

 

But Paul brings me back to the center: “To live is Christ.”

Not:

To live is ministry.

Not:

To live is recognition.

Not:

To live is success.

 

“Lord, never allow what I do for You to become more important to me than You Himself.”

If nobody sees— I will still serve.

If nobody praises—I will remain faithful.

If someone else is being used—I will rejoice.

If the assignment is difficult—I will obey.

Because my reason for serving is not the ministry.

My reason is Christ.

 

I want to be able to say with Paul, “For to me to live is Christ.”

Not only in my preaching.
Not only in ministry.
Not only in church.
But in every decision, relationship, struggle, success, and ordinary day of my life.

Christ is my life.
Christ is my reason.
Christ is my purpose.
And Christ is the One I want people to see through me.”

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PASTORA AGNES - JCRC

EPHESIANS 5 — “WALK IN LOVE, WALK IN LIGHT, WALK IN WISDOM”

 

EPHESIANS 5 —  “WALK IN LOVE, WALK IN LIGHT, WALK IN WISDOM”

 Ephesians 5 is a powerful call to live differently because we belong to Christ. It moves us from knowing Christ to reflecting Christ in our daily lives.

 “Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children. And walk in love…”

— Ephesians 5:1–2

 1. JCRC, WALK IN LOVE — NOT JUST IN MINISTRY

Paul says, “Walk in love.”

For us in JCRC, this means our ministry must never become more important than the people God has entrusted to us.

We can preach.

We can evangelize.

We can go to the nations.

We can organize ministries.

We can serve for many years.

But if we lose love, we can become busy for God while becoming distant from God's heart.

  “Lord, don't allow me to serve Your work while losing Your heart.”

Sometimes the hardest place to practice love is not in the mission field.

It can be inside the church.

When someone disappoints us.

When someone misunderstands us.

When someone does not appreciate our sacrifice.

When someone receives a position we wanted.

When someone makes a mistake.

When someone needs correction.

 Ephesians 5 reminds us:

Our standard is not how people treat us. Our standard is how Christ loved us.

 Before we ask, “Is this person doing right?”

we should also ask:

“Am I responding to this person with the heart of Christ?”

Love does not mean ignoring sin.

Love can correct.

Love can confront.

Love can establish boundaries.

Love can discipline.

But even correction should have the goal of restoration and Christlikeness, not humiliation.

 2. JCRC, WALK IN LIGHT — LET EVERYTHING BE BROUGHT INTO THE LIGHT

“For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light.”
— Ephesians 5:8

 We cannot preach light while secretly protecting darkness.

The light of Christ must touch:

·       our personal lives,

·       our relationships,

·       our finances,

·       our leadership,

·       our motives,

·       our conversations,

·       our decisions,

·       our ministry practices.

  “Lord, search me before I try to correct others.”

This connects strongly with 2 Corinthians 13:5:

“Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith.”

Before pointing out another person's weakness:

Let Christ examine me first.

Before correcting another person's attitude:

Let Christ correct my attitude.

Before questioning another person's faithfulness:

Let Christ examine my faithfulness.

Before asking whether others are walking in the light:

Ask whether I am walking in the light.

For JCRC: A healthy church is not a church where nobody makes mistakes.

It is a church where people are willing to bring things into the light, receive correction, repent, forgive, restore, and grow.

Light produces accountability.

And accountability protects the body.

 

3. JCRC, WALK IN WISDOM — BE INTENTIONAL WITH WHAT GOD ENTRUSTED TO US

“See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time…”
— Ephesians 5:15–16

Walk carefully.

Not carelessly.

Not impulsively.

Not according to emotion.

Not simply because:

“This is how we have always done it.”

But:

“Lord, what is Your wisdom for this?”

For JCRC, wisdom means: (which we must always practice)

Before making decisions: Pray.

Before speaking: Think.

Before correcting: Understand.

Before committing resources: Count the cost.

Before sending people: Prepare them.

Before entering ministry: Check the heart.

Before accepting a teaching: Test it with Scripture.

Before responding to conflict:   Seek God's wisdom rather than reacting emotionally.

 

“I don't want to be merely active for God. I want to be intentional with what God has entrusted to me.”

 4. JCRC, BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT

“Be filled with the Spirit.”
— Ephesians 5:18

 The answer to ministry pressure is not simply:

“Work harder.”

The answer is:

“Be filled with the Spirit.”

Because we can become:

·       spiritually tired,

·       emotionally tired,

·       ministry tired,

·       people tired,

·       mission tired.

And when we are empty inside, we can still look busy outside.

But God does not want JCRC to operate merely through human strength.

 

“Lord, fill me again before I serve again.”

Before the sermon—

be filled.

Before the mission—

be filled.

Before the meeting—

be filled.

Before correction—

be filled.

Before making decisions—

be filled.

Before confronting someone—

be filled.

Before leading others—

be filled.

We cannot continually pour out if we are unwilling to continually receive from God.

 

5. JCRC, OUR UNITY MUST REFLECT CHRIST

Ephesians 5:21 says:

“Submitting yourselves one to another in the fear of God.”

This is important for a growing church.

There will be different:

·       personalities,

·       opinions,

·       gifts,

·       leadership styles,

·       experiences,

·       ministries,

·       generations.

Unity does not mean everyone thinks exactly the same.

Unity means Christ remains greater than our differences.

 

“I don't have to win every argument. Sometimes I need to protect the relationship and the unity of the body.”

Ask:

Am I building unity or creating division?

Am I protecting the body or protecting my pride?

Am I seeking God's will or simply trying to prove that I am right?

 

6. JCRC, LET OUR MINISTRY LOOK LIKE CHRIST

Paul's ultimate example is Christ.

“Christ also loved the church, and gave himself for it.”
— Ephesians 5:25

 

Leadership in God's Kingdom is sacrificial.

It is not:

“What can I get from ministry?”

It is:

“What am I willing to give so that others can grow in Christ?”

Jesus gave Himself.

Paul gave himself.

The early church gave themselves.

Therefore, ministry cannot simply be about:

·       position,

·       title,

·       recognition,

·       authority,

·       platform,

·       appreciation.

·        

 “Lord, make me more concerned about people becoming like Christ than about people recognizing me.”

 LET CHRIST BE SEEN IN JCRC

Not merely through our preaching.

Not merely through our missions.

Not merely through our programs.

But through our character, relationships, love, holiness, humility, unity, and obedience.

 

LET US DECLARE:

 

WE WILL WALK IN LOVE.
WE WILL WALK IN LIGHT.
WE WILL WALK IN WISDOM.
WE WILL BE FILLED WITH THE SPIRIT.
WE WILL PROTECT UNITY.
WE WILL SERVE SACRIFICIALLY.
WE WILL CARRY THE HEART OF CHRIST.

AND WHEREVER GOD SENDS US,
CHRIST WILL BE SEEN IN US.

 

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PASTORA AGNES – JCRC