19. THE POWER OF JOY IN THE PRISON OF PAIN IN PHIL.1:21 (part18) 

THE PROVISION OF A PERSON PHIL.1:21-30

  A PASSIONATE PROPOSITION V.21-23

    CHRIST IS OUR LIFE V.21

OUR SUM TOTAL                              for to me to live is Christ,

OUR SIGNIFICANT TRIUMPH   and to die is gain.

Death benefits are a paradox.  This is an inconsistency that disrupts the feelings of our heart.  How can death be a gain when we are losing everything that we are living for?  But maybe this is the issue in death’s profit because of who or what we’re living for.  The only way to prosper from death is to be able to really apply “for me to live is Christ.”

This is not to discount the grief and sorrow of death for we are inter-reliant on each other and the loss of those we’re close to is extremely sad.

Sickness and death are on one side of the paradox and are the work of the thief who comes to steal, kill and destroy.  He is always stalking us with his droves of sycophant underlings, seeking to bite away chunks of our life.  He attempts to destroy our health and comfort, as well as cheat us out of the joy of our loved ones with his myriad of devices.

John 11:3-5 we read of two sisters whose brother was dying of a harsh disease.  His sisters sent for Jesus, saying, Lord, behold, he who you love is sick.

Jesus gives us the other side of the paradox of sickness and death adding a new perspective to our physical losses.  

When Jesus heard that, he said, this sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.  Now Jesus loved Martha, and Mary, and Lazarus.

We feel our anguish in our prison of pain in the weakness of sickness and the loss of death but Jesus adds the joy of His beauty in the divine perception that everything that takes place is that the Son of God might be glorified thereby.  And also that Jesus deeply loves us.  

Jesus doesn’t stoically dismiss our feelings and heartache.  He’s not a fatalist, nor is He apathetic or indifferent to our distress and despair over our pain and the pain of those we love.

John 11:33-36 When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews also weeping which came with her, he groaned in the spirit, and was troubled, And said, Where have ye laid him? They said unto him, Lord, come and see. Jesus wept. Then said the Jews, Behold how he loved him! 

The word groaned means to be deeply agitated to the point of overload where we sob outwardly in moaning and groaning.  The word troubled means to shake with emotion.  Jesus wept, He burst in to tears, and He feels the same with us.  He loves us deeply and enters into all of our grief and sorrow.

There is wonder in seeing a sobbing Jesus who is touched with the feelings of our infirmity, is moved with our susceptibility and affected in all of our frailness and malady.

Joseph Scriven expresses it so exquisitely as he writes in delicate intricacy:

What a friend we have in Jesus, 
 All our sins and grief’s to bear!

What a privilege to carry
Everything to God in prayer!

Oh, what peace we often forfeit,
 Oh, what needless pain we bear,

All because we do not carry
 Everything to God in prayer!

Have we trials and temptations?
  Is there trouble anywhere?

We should never be discouraged—
 Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Can we find a friend so faithful,
 Who will all our sorrows share?

Jesus knows our every weakness;
 Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Are we weak and heavy-laden,
 Cumbered with a load of care?

Precious Savior, still our refuge—
Take it to the Lord in prayer.

Do thy friends despise, forsake thee?
  Take it to the Lord in prayer!

In His arms He’ll take and shield thee,
 Thou wilt find a solace there.

Blessed Savior, Thou hast promised
 Thou wilt all our burdens bear;

May we ever, Lord, be bringing
 All to Thee in earnest prayer.

Soon in glory bright, unclouded,
 There will be no need for prayer—

Rapture, praise, and endless worship
 Will be our sweet portion there.

We can declare that:      

CHRIST IS OUR LIFE V.21

       OUR SUM TOTAL                   for to me to live is Christ,

OUR SIGNIFICANT TRIUMPH   and to die is gain.