I Am Homesick

Text:

Philippians 1:21-24:

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

Theme:

I Am Homesick

Introduction:

• The Epistle to the Philippians was written by Paul during the two years when he was “in bonds” in Rome, probably early in the year A.D. 62 or in the end of 61.
• The church at Philippi, of Macedonia, was the first-fruits of European Christianity.
  • Therefore, Paul was close to the church in Philippi, as he frequently writes, and the church in Philippi was close to him.
  • Although a typically poor community, the church at Philippi alone of all the churches helped him by their contributions, which he gratefully acknowledges.
    • The least giving the most
    • The fewest giving the greatest
    • There’s always the faithful few!
  • Paul wrote this letter to the Philippian church as a point of encouragement to a well-established congregation.
    • Walking the path of Truth and Righteousness can be a toilsome journey and leave you weak.
    • We need the Word of God to revive us!!
• While riding with Shantea, my niece, to pick up her sister Jasmine for church, we were talking about being the child of parents who live in different places. Shantea mentioned that she loves being with her mother so much and also loves being with her father so much too.  I mentioned to her that Teena, Lisa and Jasmine are still finding there place in the context of my separation from Sharyce.  I told Shantea that I really appreciate her talking with Teena to give her support and letting her know that everything will be alright.  I also told her that I believe that the girls can see that they get more of me now because of the separation.  I asked Shantea how does the separation make her feel.  She responded, “When I am with my Daddy for a long time, I get homesick for being with my Mama.  And, when I am with my Mama for a long time, I get homesick for being with my Mama.”
  • Hence, our theme…I AM HOMESICK!

Body:

• The child of God has a duplicitous perspective on the concept of home:
  • There is the earthly home
    • The place where mama and daddy maintain a place of safety, peace, and sanctity in the rearing of their children
    • The place that we cherish as the fruit of our labor…a place to lay one’s head…a place that we can call our own.
    • The place where a man and a woman begin their unified life of oneness and union. The place where their love can be consummated, their dreams can be manifested, and their joys can be realized.
    • The place where we forge a metaphysical union with other men and women that stirs our hearts to sing, “We are the world. We are the people.  We are the ones who make a brighter day; so let’s start giving.”
  • There is the Heavenly Home
    • Kingdom of Heaven à the reign, dispensation, or administration of Jesus Christ…the foretaste NOW and the ultimate rule after judgment
      • New Heaven à the place where John saw the 144,000 representing the 12 tribes of God’s chosen people
        • Revelation 7:4, “…and there were sealed an hundred and forty and four thousand of all the tribes of the children of Israel.”
      • New Earth à the place where John saw the number that no man could number of those whom God has allowed (by grace and mercy) to be adopted heirs
        • Revelation 7:9, “After this I beheld, and, lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands;”
      • A new Heaven and new Earth are needed because the old ones were tainted by sin/Satan.
        • Old Heaven was tainted à Job 1:6, “Now there was a day when the sons of God came to present themselves before the LORD, and Satan came also among them.”
        • Old Earth was tainted à Romans 5:12, “Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned:”
      • Paradise à the experience of the Kingdom of Heaven…not the place
        • Luke 23:43, “And Jesus said unto him, Verily I say unto thee, To day shalt thou be with me in paradise.”
• In our text Paul expressed his being torn between the two
  • Verse 23, “For I am in a strait betwixt two”
    • “having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better”
      • Paul wanted to go to Paradise
        • Where the wicked will cease from troubling
        • Where the weary will be at rest
        • Where there will be no more dying
        • Where there will be no more crying
        • The song says it best

Some glad morning when this life is over, I’ll fly away.

To a home on God’s celestial shore, I’ll fly away.

I’ll fly away, oh glory I’ll fly away,

When I die, hallelujah, by and by, I’ll fly away.

• “Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you”
  • Paul did not want to leave the beloved church of Philippi
    • We don’t want to leave our friends
    • We don’t want to leave our family
    • We don’t want to leave our loved ones
    • We don’t want to leave our things
    • We don’t want to leave our memories

Paul was homesick for both “homes”

• Paul wanted the freedom of Paradise but also wanted the comfort of his friends
• Paul wanted the perfection of Paradise but also wanted the assurance of loved ones

We get homesick along this journey

• We want the reward of Paradise but also want the stability of parents and family
• We want the exclusivity of Paradise but also want the connectedness of friends

Conclusion:

• What do you do when you get homesick? à GO “HOME”
  • Go to your loved ones…NO
    • Luke 14:26, “If any man come to me, and hate not his father, and mother, and wife, and children, and brethren, and sisters, yea, and his own life also, he cannot be my disciple.”
  • Go to your worldly relationships…NO
    • 1John 2:15, “Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.”
  • Go to your old ways or old times…NO
    • Luke 9:62, “And Jesus said unto him, No man, having put his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.”
  • GO TO GOD!!!
    • God is our “home”
      • Psalms 100:3, “Know ye that the LORD he is God: it is he that hath made us, and not we ourselves; we are his people, and the sheep of his pasture.”
    • God is our refuge
      • Psalms 46:1, “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.”
    • God is our purpose for living!!!
      • “For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain”
        • This home of this world is all about Christ
        • Paradise is the reward of our self-death

 

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