I AIN'T NEVER SCARED - September 20, 2020

Philippians 1:21-30

21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. 24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, 26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Striving and Suffering for Christ

27 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, 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.

For the time that is ours to share together I would like to talk a little bit about “I ain’t never scared” that is a line form a rap song I like.  When I remember the song with that same name I am fresh out of college and this song is out instant pump up music, gets you going. I thought about this song when I was preparing this sermon. 

Paul’s letter to the Philippians a church in Philippi, written around 50 CE located in eastern Macedonia or what we call northern Greece right now. A small town by our standards today with an estimated population of 10,000 at the time. The city was founded by immigrants, known for its gold mines but by the time this letter is written those mines would have been mined out. By the time the letter is written as well the Romans would have taken over the place and would be holding the important government positions. Acts 16 tells us that Paul started a church there around 49-50 CE

The Philippians church treated Paul well in making sure that the pastor was taken care of while he traveled. They sent him funds and someone to travel with him by the name of Epaphroditus who got sick and almost died. When Epaphroditus went back to Philippi, he came with this letter from the Apostle Paul. 

Paul was put in jail while in Philippi, because he casted out a demon in a woman that was helping her tell fortunes and make money for some local businesses around there. Paul casted out the demon, the businessmen lost their cash cow so they had Paul and Silas beaten and thrown in jail. Jail seems to be a common theme for those who oppose the status quo in pursuit of the greater good. Paul wrote this letter we are reading from prison, which is not anything new. Martin Luther King wrote his famous letter from a Birmingham Jail, while you guessed it, in Jail. Nelson Mandela was arrested as well and wrote while in jail. It is not unusual when people in power abuse a situation to try to detract people from upsetting the apple cart by putting them in jail. 

Paul is in jail possibly going to be executed, the church is having some turmoil, and the city that the church is in has been gentrified, taken over. This group of people out here following some man named Jesus have started to change the city and the people in power don’t like that. This should be expected sometimes though John 16:33 says  "These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation; but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”

Living this life in Christ will not be easy but that does not mean we need to lay down and just take it, greater is he who is you than he who is in the world. We have to keep putting one foot in front of the other and do the work that Christ has called us to do. Even though things are rough we have Jesus Christ on our side. This passage of scripture is often quoted at funerals to make people feel better, to live is Christ, but to die is gain, and Paul does say that, but when you read on he says that he would rather stay here, in the flesh to do the work of the Lord. We can’t use what is supposed to happen with eternal life to not be good Christians and do work in our natural lives. Salvation is not just about the sweet by and by, we as believers need to work on making heaven here on earth as well. The gospel should be stamped on our lives lived out in single minded loyalty. That means that our devotion to Christ should be over our devotion to anything else, including the government. Salvation is a gift, not a goal, there is work to do. Just getting saved and going to church and doing nothing else is like trying to stand in a garage and call yourself a car. Just because you are in the building doesn’t mean you are actually doing the job. It is work to be done out here: 

Isaiah 1:17 New King James Version (NKJV)

17 Learn to do good; Seek justice, Rebuke the oppressor; Defend the fatherless, Plead for the widow.

James 1:27 New King James Version (NKJV)

27 Pure and undefiled religion before God and the Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their trouble, and to keep oneself unspotted from the world.

Paul doesn’t know if he will live or die, Paul doesn’t know if the Philippians will be faithful to the gospel, but he does know that Christ will be glorified. Wayne Hardnett Jr. better known as Bone Crusher released a chart topping song in 2003 “Never Scared” featuring Killer Mike and T. I. to paraphrase the hook he said that he was outside of the club and someone thinks that he’s a punk. Bone crusher has to go to the trunk of his car for some assistance in the matter, because Bone Crusher had something with some power in the trunk of his car that could help in the situation he had no reason to be scared. Well Paul didn’t have a car with a trunk to go to but he had something inside of him that gave him courage. The gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul’s courage comes from prayers and the help of the Holy Spirit. With prayer and with the help of the same holy spirit, we can keep on doing the the work of the Lord we don’t have to be scared, and even if we are scared we don’t have to freeze.