Preaching through Philippians
TOPIC:“Paul - The Dutiful Disciple”
by Rev. Dr. Reg Dunlap
TEXT:Philippians 1:21-29
“For I am in a strait between two, having a desire to depart and to be with
Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to abide in the flesh is more needful
for you” (1:23-24)
So far in our study of Philippians we have looked at Paul as the joyful Christian and as the poiseful prisoner. We now come to Paul as the dutiful disciple as he balances the surge of desire against a sense of duty. As we take a fresh look at him in that Roman dungeon we behold a struggle which is raging within his inner soul.
Let me ask you: Do you think that Paul could ever forget the thought that must have constantly flashed across his mind - the coming death he had to face and the crowning deliverance he was going to experience? Impossible! I want in this message to deal with this inner struggle within Paul.
I.
Consider, to begin with, the DESIRE Paul EXPRESSED. It is recorded for us in verse 23: “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ.” Moffart has it: “I have a strong desire to depart.” The passionate longing of Paul's soul and intense craving of Paul's heart was that he would depart and forever be with Christ. This is what he preferred.
The word “depart” may be used of a ship ready to sail, of a prisoner ready to be released, of an ox ready to be unyoked, of a tent ready to be unstaked, and of a soldier ready to strike his tent. Paul thought of death as a ship ready to be put out to sea and sail to some distant port. He passionately desired to be “unloosed,” to “cast off,” for his last voyage to the beautiful shore of Heaven.
To Paul death meant a moving out of the soul from the body into a heavenly sanctuary prepared for it. This is something according to Paul that is better than life itself. Sure death has its losses, cries Paul, but it also has its gains. And this is one of them - to be with Christ. Adoniram Judson, the great Baptist missionary to Burma, wrote this about death: “I am not tired of my work, neither am I tired of the world, yet when Christ calls me home I shall go with the gladness of a school boy bounding away from school.” Such should be our attitude toward . . .