Philippians 1 27 30 NKJV Only let your

Philippians 1: 27 -30 (NKJV) Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, 28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, … 27

Philippians 1: 27 -30 (NKJV) but to you of salvation, and that from God. 29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, 30 having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

A Conduct Worthy Philippians 1: 27 -30

Live Like You Believe • We know the Bible teaches us over and over just how important our example is • We must watch what we say and do in our day to day lives • Our conduct may serve as motivation or inspiration to someone out there

Live Like You Believe • Paul seemed to be concerned with the conduct of Christians • He realized that it could have a negative influence upon those in the world • The last thing Paul wanted was to see the conduct of Christians bring a bad light upon the church

Live Like You Believe • He did not want to supply the world with ammunition in their weapons to bring down the Lord’s body • Paul admonished the church at Philippi to do just that • He wanted them to live like they believed in the Lord Jesus Christ

Live Like You Believe • Paul begins today’s passage with, “let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ” • The way we live should be a reflection of what God has done for us • James 2: 1 • Living like you believe means…

Live Like You Believe • 1. Standing Firm In Unity (v. 27) ▫ Paul encouraged them to “stand fast in one spirit, with one mind” ▫ He continues his thoughts in chapter 2 by encouraging all to have the mind of Christ ▫ What about the benefits of being unified?

Live Like You Believe • 1. Standing Firm In Unity (v. 27) ▫ We have looked before at Gen. 11 and the power of unity with those who built the Tower of Babel ▫ There is power and strength in numbers (Ecc. 4: 9 -12) ▫ The Psalmist expressed it very well in Psalm 133: 1…

Live Like You Believe • 1. Standing Firm In Unity (v. 27) ▫ There is nothing greater than for others to see us unified! ▫ It makes us more appealing to those in the world ▫ Think about those who give the Lord’s church a bad name

Live Like You Believe • 1. Standing Firm In Unity (v. 27) ▫ What if there were none who gave Christ a bad name? ▫ Jesus Himself prayed for our unity ▫ What about the opposite? ▫ James 3: 16 ▫ Confusion would be the opposite of unity

Live Like You Believe • 2. Striving Diligently For The Faith (v. 27) ▫ Our unity as Christians must have an object ▫ The objective is for all of us to strive diligently for the faith ▫ Jude 3 – “contend earnestly for the faith”

Live Like You Believe • 2. Striving Diligently For The Faith (v. 27) ▫ This should be what we are all working towards ▫ This is where our unity can really enable us to do great things ▫ Satan wants to side track us and have us striving for other things

Live Like You Believe • 3. Suffering Willingly For Christ (v. 29) ▫ Some may shy away from suffering ▫ We usually view suffering as a negative because we think of the present ▫ However, suffering for Christ means viewing the future

Live Like You Believe • 3. Suffering Willingly For Christ (v. 29) ▫ James said count it all joy when you fall into various trials (1: 2) ▫ Acts 5: 41 – The apostles had been condemned by the council and beaten and it says they departed “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name. ”

Live Like You Believe • 3. Suffering Willingly For Christ (v. 29) ▫ Certainly this should not cause us to fear ▫ I Pet. 3: 14 – “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. ‘And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. ’” ▫ Ps. 56: 4, 11

Live Like You Believe • 3. Suffering Willingly For Christ (v. 29) ▫ It is a privilege to suffer because we then resemble the Lord and are united with Him in trials ▫ It is a privilege because we have evidence that we are His (when trials come upon us for His cause)

Live Like You Believe • 3. Suffering Willingly For Christ (v. 29) ▫ It is a privilege because we are engaged in a good cause and the privilege of maintaining such a cause is worth the suffering ▫ Paul’s example to them (v. 30)