4 essentials to Calling Upon God for Joy:

Call Upon God for… 

1) A Perspective to Live From (v12-14)

(v12) I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel

* It affects unbelievers (v13)  so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

* It encourages believers (v14) And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Courage is contagious. Paul’s boldness encouraged Christians to be bold.

Romans 8:28, “And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.”

 2) A Priority to Live By (v15-18)

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment

Paul’s response to his critics (v18) What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.

So What priority should I live by? 

Proverbs 3:6, “In all your ways acknowledge him, & he will make straight your paths.”

For a perspective to live from, pray “God help me see like You see”

For a priority to live by, pray  "God help me acknowledge you & value what You value”

3) A Power to Live On (v19-20)

Paul’s has 2 sources of strength (v19-20)

Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

* Prayers of the Saints. 

* Provision of the Spirit. 

4) A Purpose to Live For (v21-26)

Paul’s purpose for living (v21) - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Paul says, “My purpose is clear.” So, how do you fill in this blank? "For me to live is__." 

* "For me to live is possessions." Accumulation of stuff. Life, liberty & purchase of happiness. The tragedy is many people have so much to live on yet nothing to live for.

* "For me to live is pleasure." I just want to have fun. If it feels good, do it. I love to travel, to take vacations, drink this, smoke that, play golf, anything that brings me pleasure. The ultimate goal in life is just to have fun.

* “For me to live is prestige." Power, status, popularity, position. I want other people to look up to me. How many followers do I have?  Will I go viral?  We live in the most narcissistic culture in human history.  

Phil 3:13-14, “Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.”

Invest your life in something that will outlast it.