The Meaning of Life for a Christian

(Seeking to Glorify God in All Circumstances)

Are our prayers important? (Phillipians 1:19, 2 Cor. 1:11)

… through your prayer and the help (or supply) given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ

The Greek reference to prayer here, dehsews, refers to specific prayers of supplication. The
arrangement of the words intimately joins the two nouns, prayer and supply, together, by having one
preposition and one article. Thus we get the result that by way of the specific requests made to God by
the Philippians, Paul will receive the support of the Holy Spirit.

What did Paul mean when he said “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phillipians 1:21)

For … = in either event

To live is Christ … To look for opportunities to glorify God even (and especially) in difficult times
with whatever life, time and resources we still have available to us, is what it means for Paul (or for a
Christian) to live. THIS, IN ESSENCE, IS THE MEANING OF LIFE FOR A CHRISTIAN!

and to die is gain—the actual Greek translation here is more along the lines of "to have died" is gain.
In particular, to have died for the sake of the glorification of Jesus Christ, such glorification being
Paul’s primary object, far from being a matter of shame or loss, as his enemies supposed, would
instead be an incredible honor for him.

Paul says that if he had to choose between life and death, he didn’t know which he’d choose. Clearly
Paul felt that he, personally, would be better of dying, allowing him to be with Jesus in Heaven.
However, he also clearly believed if he continued living and working on Earth for Jesus, that his
efforts would result in helping others experience the exultation (the triumphant joy) of finding
salvation through faith in Jesus. (Phillipians 1:22-26)

Do you believe that God can and does take acts done out of an evil motive by men and use them for
accomplishment of His good purposes?

Gen. 37:26-28, 45:4-5 (Joseph sold into slavery by his brothers ultimately saves his people)

Paul tells us in Phillipians:1:13,

... it has become known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to all the rest that my
imprisonment is for Christ;
The infamous Emperor Nero, had commanded that every six hours, one of his select praetorian guard
be brought in and physically chained to Paul. These were among the very smartest, strongest, most
promising young men in the whole Roman Empire. And one by one, Paul was introducing them to the
love of Christ. How do we know this? Because later in Phillipians Paul tells us …
All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar's household. (Phillipians 4:22)
As Paul wrote in 2 Tim. 2:9, "I suffer trouble as an evil-doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is
not bound.”

How should we feel as a result of Paul’s words? Encouraged/emboldened. (Phillipians 1:14)