The Joy of Your FaithPhilippians 1:22-26

But if I live, I can do more fruitful

work for Christ. So I really don’t

know which is better. 23I’m torn

between two desires: I long to go

and be with Christ, which would

be far better for me.

24But for your sakes, it is better

that I continue to live. 25Knowing

this, I am convinced that I will

remain alive so I can continue to

help all of you grow and

experience the joy of your faith.

26And when I come to you again,

you will have even more reason

to take pride in Christ Jesus

because of what he is doing

through me. NLT

I. Paul’s Tension

23to go and be with Christ, which

would be far better for me.

No More Will Be

Sin..............................Sinless

Sadness................Filled with Joy

Tears.........................Laughter

Faith...........................Seeing

Partial Knowing.....Full Knowing

Separation from Jesus...Face-to-

Face

No More Will Be

Distracted Worship Eternal Worship

Discord...................Perfect Unity

Not being like Him..Like Him

Insecurity.........Complete Security

Luke 23:43 – And Jesus

replied, “I assure you, today you

will be with me in paradise.” NLT

2 Corinthians 5:2-5 – We grow

weary in our present bodies, and

we long to put on our heavenly

bodies like new clothing. 3For we

will put on heavenly bodies; we

will not be spirits without bodies. 4While we live in these earthly

bodies, we groan and sigh, but

it’s not that we want to die and

get rid of these bodies that

clothe us. Rather, we want to

put on our new bodies so that

these dying bodies will be

swallowed up by life. 5God

himself has prepared us for this,

and as a guarantee he has

given us his Holy Spirit. NLT

2 Corinthians 5:6-9 – So we

are always confident, even

though we know that as long as

we live in these bodies we are

not at home with the Lord. 7For

we live by believing and not

by seeing.

8Yes, we are fully confident, and

we would rather be away from

these earthly bodies, for then we

will be at home with the Lord. 9So whether we are here in this

body or away from this body, our

goal is to please him. NLT

1 Corinthians 15:58 – So, my

dear brothers and sisters, be

strong and immovable. Always

work enthusiastically for the

Lord, for you know that nothing

you do for the Lord is ever

useless. NLT

Philippians 2:3–4 – Don’t be

selfish; don’t try to impress

others. Be humble, thinking of

others as better than yourselves. 4Don’t look out only for your own

interests, but take an interest in

others, too. NLT

II. Paul’s Convictions

1 Corinthians 3:6 – I planted

the seed in your hearts, and

Apollos watered it, but it was

God who made it grow. NLT

Philippians 1:11 – May you

always be filled with the fruit of

your salvation—the righteous

character produced in your

life by Jesus Christ—for this

will bring much glory and

praise to God. NLT

Galatians 5:22-23 – But the Holy

Spirit produces this kind of fruit

in our lives: love, joy, peace,

patience, kindness, goodness,

faithfulness, 23gentleness, and

self-control. There is no law

against these things! NLT

Romans 1:13 – I want you to

know, dear brothers and

sisters, that I planned many

times to visit you, but I was

prevented until now. I want to

work among you and see

spiritual fruit, just as I have

seen among other Gentiles. NLT

2 Thessalonians 1:3 – 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. ESV

III. Meditation & Application

Paul longed to be with Christ.

What do you long for?

Paul knew he needed to stay

and help these Christians to

grow and experience the

Joy of their faith.

While you are here on earth are

you willing to help people grow

in the Joy of their faith?

As you are used by the Holy

Spirit these Christians will then

take pride in Jesus.

Do you get excited when

people take pride in Jesus?