Encouraging Confidence - SERMON NOTES

Intro: (1) series recap (2) pro quarterback (3) five aspects of Christian confidence

Confident through prayer (19): (1) question of how Paul could be confident of “deliverance” (2) spiritual use of this word for Paul (cf. Eph. 2:5, Rom. 1:16) (3) death is not the end (cf. Job 13:15-16) → everything made right in eternity (4) combo of Philippians’ prayers and HS empowerment will help him maintain this perspective (4) HS uses our prayers to instill confidence in others (cf. guys at SG praying for b.mtg)

Confident in eternity (20): (1) “eager expectation/hope” to not be ashamed of Christ (cf. Rom. 8:19-23) (3) Paul wants to trust Christ regardless of how his earthly situation turns out . . . is there a desired situation that you think will meet all your needs (cf. Wesley with landowner) (4) desire to honor Christ in life or death → no guarantee of happy-go-lucky path/end to in this life (cf. Psalm 23:4,6, 73:25-26)

Confident in Christ (21): (1) “to live is Christ” → unpacked in 3:7-11 (2) first step of repentance/fath (3) lifelong process of cultivating Christ as greatest treasure (cf. Ecclesiastes, Grandpa's quote) (4) not a clean, neat path but one filled with failure and struggle weakness → requires help (cf. Lee roots) (5) “to die is gain” → cultivating Christ as greatest treasure in life will bring confidence at death (cf. country song)

Confident despite struggle (22-24): (1) Paul is torn between desiring death or life (2) v.22 → continuing to live will allow him to continue to serve others for Christ (3) dilemma of what to “choose” likely a struggle for how to pray Rom. 8:26-28) (4) v.23-24 → dying for believer always far better (cf. 2 Cor. 5:6-8) (5) living here for others is sacrificial (cf. 1 Tim. 5:17, Gal. 6:9)

Confident to the end (25-26): (1) v.25-26 → now “convinced” he will return to them (cf. contrast with 2 Tim. 4:6-7) (2) internal struggle of self- interest recorded teach them how to walk in theirs → transition in v.27 (3) Lord won’t bring us home to him until we have finished unique work he called us to accomplish (cf. Acts 13:36) (4) asking the Lord where/how to serve

Conclusion: two astronauts