Of course we will begin this morning with some Calvin and Hobbes:

"Your Dad’s working, so try not to bother him, okay?"

"Dad, I have a question."

"Yes?"

"Do people ever spontaneously combust?"

"Uh… not  that I know of."

"That’s a relief.  Thanks, Dad."

"You’re welcome."

POW!

"Did I fool you?"

"If you’re having trouble thinking of ways to make yourself useful, I’ll give you some suggestions."

This is the story of our lives, right?  Even those of us without kids know that life often hands us surprises!

Sometimes they are as minimal as small interruptions to our day:

Being stuck behind a slow driver.
A boss asking for something at the last minute.
A friend in need calling when we have other plans.

And sometimes they are not just small interruptions that come and go…

A major health issue that drastically changes life.
A lost job.
A spouse that decides to leave.

Suffering is a fact of life.  We suffer because we live in a fallen world.  We suffer because of the sin of others.  We suffer because of our own sin.  And we sometimes suffer because of our own commitment to living for Jesus.

Please turn with me in your Bibles to Philippians, chapter 1.  Here is a letter that Paul is writing from jail.  He is suffering because of his commitment to sharing the Gospel of Jesus. 

Maybe we have not been thrown in jail for the gospel, but we can relate to Paul because we all suffer.  And no matter what we are suffering or why we are suffering, we can learn how to pass through the suffering and come out victorious.

In Philippians chapter 1, we see three things that we can do to press on and know Jesus in the midst of suffering; they are the three Ps of Philippians 1.  The first P is this:  Partnership

If we are going to make it through suffering, we must live out the reality of our partnership in the gospel.

Notice how Paul begins this letter to the Philippians:  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus,

Notice first that Paul identifies himself as on the same level as Timothy: they are both servants of Christ Jesus.  In the same way, we are all on the same level.  We are all servants of Jesus.

And what does it mean to be a servant of Christ?  It certainly means that Paul is not a servant of his own desires.  Nor a servant of the world around him!  Nor is he a servant of comfort. 

A servant is simply someone whose goal is pleasing the master.  Are we servants of our own pleasures and comforts?  Or are we servants of Christ? 

If we are servants of our own comforts, we will likely give up when suffering comes.  And partnership is impossible if it is "all about me!" 

“Hey, I’d like to invite you all to partner with me in my new endeavor… and it is worth giving your life to!  It is called the “Make Steve York Happy” club.  Will you join?"

I don’t think so!  In order to have a successful partnership, we have to agree to work toward something greater than ourselves!

And Paul continues:  To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons:  Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

Can you sense the close relationship that Paul has with the Philippians Christians?  He is thankful for them.  He is consistently praying for them in joy.  And why? 

because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

The word “partnership” is a Greek word that some of us might be familiar with: “koinania”

It speaks of a very close friendship, one of mutual interest and sharing.  True partnership in the gospel is quite an intimate friendship.  Surely it is possible to have close friendships outside of Christ, but a ‘partnership in the gospel’ necessarily has certain elements.  First and foremost is the desire that each other glorifies God by growing in Christ.

Paul continues:  And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.  It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart,

As we can see, Paul is passionate about them growing in Christ.  And he is convinced that it is going to happen.

We might read this and then ask ourselves: are we passionate about each other growing in Christ here at Creekside?  Are we loving each other so much that our highest desire for each other is to see each other press on in knowing more of Jesus?  And we would rightly ask: how can we do this?  How can we help each other grow in Christ?  How can we grow in passion for each other to know Jesus?

Certainly praying for each other would be key.

Certainly worshipping Jesus together would be important, such as we are doing this morning.

But is there more that we can do?  We want to grow in our love for each other, right?

One idea might be to grow in our willingness to ask each other the tough questions:

How is your soul today?
Or… how is your time in the Word these days?
Or… what is God teaching you these days? 

I meet with different groups of students every week so I can disciple them.  There are just a handful of us at each meeting, three or four of us, and we start each meeting by telling our “God Stories.” God Stories are just reports about where we’ve seen God’s fingerprints on our lives in the past week.  Someone might share that a curious non-Christian asked him to explain Christianity.  Someone might talk about an answer to prayer, or we might report on how God is stretching us or changing us through our time in his Word.

When we meet together and focus our attention on God, it gives us a clearer picture of what he’s doing in the world around us.  It unites us and strengthens our partnership with Him and with each other.

And consider what Paul says next in verse 7:  for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.

Did you catch that?  “Partakers with me of grace… both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.”

Paul holds them in his heart because they share with him in the gift of God… the gift of suffering for Christ in jail and the gift of sharing with Paul in preaching the Gospel.

This is how the body of Christ works.  One suffers; so we all suffer.  When one shares the gospel, we all are a part of it.  We are a community.  What one of us does, there is a sense in which the rest of us do the same.

Do you sense that among us?  When the Mexico team leaves this week for their Thanksgiving trip, do you sense you are a part of the trip because you are sending them?

Being partners in the gospel means yearning for each other to share the gospel… to grow in Christ… to glorify Christ.

Paul continues:  For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.

And what does it mean that Paul yearns for them with the affection of Christ Jesus?  The affection that Jesus has for us isn’t just some simple desire for our happiness.  It is a deep and profound commitment to our well-being, rooted in our relationship with him.  And this is exactly what Paul writes about next:  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

Paul’s desire for them is nothing less than their own growth in love… in purity… in righteousness.  And is not this the kind of partnership that we deep down really desire?  Isn’t’ this the kind of friends you really want?  Friends who really want what is best for you?  Who really want you to succeed at being more loving… growing in purity and intimacy with Christ?

When we live out this same partnership among ourselves here at Creekside, does not this enable us to come out victoriously on the other side of any hardship or suffering?

Imagine such a tight, loving community that cares for each other so much that our main concern is each others’ holiness and commitment to living for Jesus.  It is no doubt a partnership in which we are committed to the Word and committed to sharing the gospel.  It is one in which we are committed to doing whatever it takes to grow spiritually.

That is what makes us Jesus’ church, right?  We are committed to sharing the gospel, and we are committed to doing whatever it takes to grow spiritually.  It’s not just meeting together for the sake of meeting together, unity for the sake of unity. We are a team for a purpose.  After all, we can have great teamwork but accomplish absolutely nothing, right?

Check out this great motivational poster from www.despair.com:

(Ignorance: It’s amazing how much easier it is for a team to work together when no one has any idea where they’re going.)

It doesn’t matter how much partnership we have, we will accomplish nothing unless we know where we are going.

And this brings us nicely to the next “P” that we need to live out in order to be victorious:  Purpose

If we are going to press on to know Christ, no matter what circumstances we find ourselves in, we need to be sure that we are solid in our purpose.

Consider what Paul writes, continuing in verse 12:  I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

We see clearly here Paul’s purpose, don’t we?  It is the advance of the gospel!  Paul is in prison, and what is he concerned about?  That he is missing out on his planned vacation?  That he can’t get an In ‘n Out burger for dinner?   His main concern is the advance of the gospel.  Doesn’t this challenge you!

I feel God asking me that same question: “Steve, is your main concern the advance of the gospel?”

I feel God asking me:

"Steve, if you lose your financial stability, are you content as long as the gospel is advancing?"
"Steve, if your health fails, are you content as long as the gospel is advancing?"
"Steve, if you die, are you okay with it as long as the gospel is advancing?"

What is my purpose?
What is your purpose?

If our purpose is wrapped up in the advance of the gospel, all we have to do is focus on living for Jesus and submitting to his sovereign will, and he will take care of the rest.

As we continue to read in Philippians, we see here that some others are causing Paul some trouble… but Paul just rolls with the punches because he cares about only one thing… we read starting in verse 15:  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  The former proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.  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,

Even when other people intend to harm Paul, he is not very concerned… he is content as long as Christ is proclaimed.

Purpose:  What is our main purpose?  Are we content, no matter what the ciricumstances, as long as people are hearing about Jesus?

If we are content in everything as long as people are hearing about Jesus and growing in Him, then we will most certainly press on toward knowing Christ in everything.  And whatever happens to us, we will grow in him… and his Kingdom will advance.

And as we continue in Philippians, we see the third “P” for pressing on in the midst of suffering:  Pleasure

We read:  for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 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.  For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

What does Paul mean?

What would it mean for you to say “for to me, to live is Christ?”

I think of one word:  pleasure.

What pleases you?  Is it knowing Jesus?  Is that what life is all about for you?

It is important for us to recognize that what we are talking about here is a heart for God.  Do you have a heart that is soft toward Jesus?

Having a heart for God is not something we can just snap our fingers and do.  Having a heart for God doesn’t just ‘happen’ to us, either.  God is the one who changes our hearts, but we can put ourselves in a place where he can work.

What this necessarily will take is TIME.  I love this quote from A.W. Tozer:  “If anyone wants to know God, he will count no time wasted in the cultivation of His presence.”

What is the next step for you in putting yourself in place where God can work on your heart?

For some of us, it might be taking the time to seek God by reading the Bible more consistently.  If that is you, may I suggest trying a One Thing Study?  Here is what it is:  Pick a book of the Bible.  Read the first chapter.  Highlight or underline One Thing (a word or phrase) that really stands out to you.  And then talk to God about it.  A great way to grow in finding pleasure in Jesus is to be in the Word of God doing One Thing Studies.  The more we deliberately seek out God’s heart, the more appreciation we have for the things he’s concerned about.

And for some of us the next step to finding pleasure in Jesus might be to take some quality time just to pray and worship.  You might need to go to a park or a closet… somewhere quiet where you can just talk with Jesus.

And maybe there is something else that comes to mind that you need to do to make Jesus your pleasure. 

Maybe it is just a decision to give your life over to Him!  “Jesus, I want to be able to say with Paul, “to live is Christ, to die is gain.”  Jesus, I give you my life!

And consider the rest of this passage, starting in verse 22 we read:  If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.  I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.  But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.  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.

Paul knows he is going to live longer.  Why?  He is convinced that God still wants to use him to help the Philippians grow in Christ.

Do you ever wonder if you are going to live much longer?  Do you ever consider how short life is and that yours could end abruptly any day?  It is a sobering thought!

It is a good thing to think about, though!

When we think about how short life is and that we could die any day, it causes us to think about living for what really matters.

Wouldn’t you like to have the same attitude as Paul?  He says, “I know I am going to live for awhile because God still has work for me to do!”

In preparing for this morning I did some intense statistical research.  Listen to this: 100% of people… die!

When we die, we’ll review all the ways we spent our time and energy –  trying to impress people, trying to get comfortable – and we’ll say, “Wow, that was a bad investment.”  It is only a matter of time.

Doesn’t that make you want to make your life count?  Doesn’t that make you want to find pleasure in the only thing that really matters?  Let’s continue reading in verse 27:  Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

Let’s pause for a minute and let God ask us a few questions:

Is our manner of life worthy of the gospel of Christ?
Are we standing firm in one spirit?
Are we striving side by side for the faith of the gospel?

I just love that word – striving.

What do you think of when you think of the word “Striving?”

I think of struggle.  I think of some pain.  I think of expending all the energy I’ve got.

How are we as a church – Creekside church – how are we striving for the faith of the gospel?

How are we doing in giving everything we’ve got to work together to advance the Kingdom of God?

What would be the next step for you to give everything in you to advance the Kingdom of God?

And let’s continue starting with verse 28:  and not frightened in anything by your opponents. This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.  For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

It’s funny… sometimes I think my life is hard and that I suffer for the gospel, and then I read a passage like this.  None of us have opponents like Paul and the Philippians here have.  The opposition we have is not going to throw us in jail. 

We do have opposition today though, that is for sure.  And how do we respond to opposition?  Paul encourages us here to consider it a privilege to suffer for Christ.  “It has been granted to you not only to believe in him but also suffer for his sake.”

And why is Paul okay with suffering?  Because it is part of the package.  Suffering is nothing compared to the pleasure of seeing Jesus glorified.

So there we have it: the three “P”s of Philippians 1.

Partnership
Purpose
Pleasure.

We are going to suffer.  Life is not going to come out just the way we might want.  But if we live out these three “P”s of Philippians 1, we’ll make it through suffering as better people… and more importantly, Jesus will be glorified!

Let us Press On!

Let’s pray.

Lord Jesus, life is about you.  It is about your glory.  Help us to follow Paul’s example and live out the reality of partnership, purpose and pleasure… help us to Press On in the midst of suffering to know you.  Amen.