In this sermon, the speaker focuses on the theme of Christ being our life, example, object, strength, and supply. The speaker emphasizes that as believers, we are bought and purchased with a price, belonging to Jesus Christ. The speaker shares a personal story about losing a briefcase and how it reminded them of the importance of surrendering their life to God. The sermon also highlights the joy and fear that comes with fellowship in the gospel, as well as the idea that tears and hardships can become a source of joy when Jesus is involved.

At this time, we are glad to have a program... ...and friends, I speak from my waist. We record all the progress of nations. In Egypt, we are called by my first name, and my dad's first. Last name, middle name. The monkey had a last name. I know that I was setting the stage for a great conclusion. Saying over him, when he arrived there, there was no man. There was media. Well, as we read in Acts 16, it was the year of the Apostle Paul. And the Epistle to the Philippians, there are four chapters in the Epistle. The first chapter presents Christ's grace our life. The second chapter, grace. The third chapter, grace our objects. And the fourth chapter, grace our strength. Grace our life, our example. Grace our objects. Christ, our strength, and our supply. Look, Paul and Timothy, they're servants. In my Arabic Bible, Paul and Timothy, they're bought slaves. Because they were bought, purchased with a price. And so you and I are bought and purchased with a price. I don't belong to him who bought us. And the tragedy of many Christians is that they live meaninglessly. They think they're all masters. They have a set of Christ as their own. He is not only my Savior. He is my Lord. Many times, I have been really convicted when I read John chapter 12. Please, I've mentioned this woman. You know what took place in chapter 11? And the people, and in resignation, there's Jesus six days before the Passover. And he is also there in Bethany. They made him a prophet. In other words, Lazarus was the host. And Jesus was the guest. It doesn't say that Jesus was... Lazarus, the host, was one of them that sat at the table with Jesus. As much as to say, Lazarus was a guest in Lazarus' home. And Jesus was the host in Lazarus' home. This is exactly what should be the case in your life and mine. I don't belong to myself. I'm His by purchase. He paid the price for me. Isn't it the same God expressed? Behold, I stand. If He is not Lord of all, I'm a slave of Jesus Christ. I read a story. And... Or rather, one man, I'm sorry. And again, the same thing. The first man was the bricklayer. When he said the spindle was his. The second man, had the property. He bought it. He owned it. The spindle was his. He owned it. The third man lived there. He was tenant. He was living there. It was his building. He was living there. I am His three times. I'm Christ by creation. He made me. I'm Christ by purchase. He paid the price for me. I'm Christ because He lives in me. I wish this truth sinks deep in your heart and my heart. I'm not my own. I belong to Him. Which is none of the great transgressions done. I am my Lord. And He is mine. So Christ is our life. Because I was dead. Christ died for me. Gave me new life. I'm alive and I belong to Him. A few things are very eminent and prominent and conspicuous and outstanding in this chapter. Christ our life. Look for verse four. Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy for your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now. This is one of the most important, outstanding Christian fellowship. Fellowship is one of the most outstanding words in Christian life. What is fellowship? If you try to define fellowship. Fellowship, the best definition I can find is this. A common joy in a common office shared with one another. Common joy in a common office shared by one another. What is greatest joy in the world? What's my greatest joy? What is the greatest joy of every Christian should be? That the gospel of Jesus Christ is preached. I rejoice before. I rejoice because Christ is preached and you are object. And my object is that the gospel of Jesus Christ be preached throughout the world. Therefore we have fellowship. Your fellowship in the gospel. Let me tell you friends. An assembly that does not go into the world to do what it should do. The world will get into the assembly to do what it should not do. Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every Christian. Ye are the salt of the earth. Where do people put salt? In my pocket? No. Just in anywhere? I can think of two places. Now let's be a little bit genetic. I know it is hot and warm and you don't find it. But this is your place if the Lord calls you there. Ye are the salt of the earth. Your fellowship in the gospel. How could there be fellowship in the gospel? How could you have fellowship in the gospel? I am going to give you three ways where you can have fellowship in the gospel. First of all by prayer. And the apostles make three petitions in this chapter that are a mortal prayer for you and for me. Look at verse nine. And this I pray. What? That your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge than in all judgment. Your love may abound. I know we love each other in the Lord but he gave himself for the church. There is one verse that I think it will take all eternity and we will not reach the bottom of the meaning of it. The verse is in John. Right there. Picture three ten. It pleased the Lord. It pleased the Father. To bruise the tongue. What love? What love? Remember the government of Germany? The Lord Jesus was there before he went to the cross. He prayed. Father if it be by will that this cup should pass from me never let not my will but thine be done. That was the cup which he prayed for. I am sure it was not the sword. It was not the nail of the cross. That was agony indeed but not the cup he prayed for. It was not the spear which pierced his holy side. That was agony also but not the cup for which he prayed. Not the railings and the pockings of the people. What was the cup? It was separation from the Father. This is my beloved son in whom I am well pleased but on the cross of Calvary he was you representative of mine. He bore my sins in his own body on the tree and I was there in him. He was in my place. Him who knew no sin was me. And as my sin fell he cried in agony. My God, my God why hast thou forsaken me? It's done. It's done. It's finished. What's left? Where might the apostle cry in wonder? Friends, there is a difficulty. Next time you are tempted to think is it necessary? Not everything that is correct is necessary. Thirdly, the prayer that the apostle was praying for the Philippians He may approve things that don't make the Father dead and your life is hidden Christ. He may be sincere actually in the relationship between them. Well at that time the mercantile itself proclaimed of very fine the only way to the Philippians seen as you are saved by grace through faith and that's not obvious. And besides this giving all diligence adds there is here a certain progression adds to your faith virtue. Virtue again is an angel old angel that simply means courage. Virtue means courage. Adds to your faith courage. And who like Peter could speak about courage? He lacked it. We need courage to witness for Jesus Christ. To our friends to our neighbors to the people with whom we live with whom we work. Adds to your faith courage. Very especially these days. Yes you can have courage from the gospel through public testimony and incidentally I forgot to tell you how important prayer is for the vision. Elijah prayed and with the Holy Spirit wrote the whole biography of Elijah he used only two words Elijah was a man subject to life passions as you and I are and he preached he gained a great victory in Mount Carmel no he prayed. You say alright where is the God of Elijah today? Elijah was a man who knew the mind of God and he prayed and he changed the course of nature and did the whole thing. Where is the God of Elijah today? I would say where are the Elijah's of God today? Where are the Elijah's of God today? I tell you when you have when you know how to pray Samuel knew how to pray for thy servant here most cases we say hear Lord for thy servant speak that would be wrong speak Lord for thy servant here and hear him speak to you and you speak to him you know the mind of God and you can do all things I think I told some of you something one time when we were coming from we were tired we arrived at about 9 o'clock at night and we had so many good cases we arrived at home at about 7 we were tired and we the man just said and we were tired and we slept great time we were early morning I asked the Lord what is the fact don't abandon me everything that would make life I said impossible I cannot lose my briefcase I cannot lose my briefcase Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord Lord that you and I are called to share in you know what the Bible says please turn with me to 2 Corinthians chapter 8 that in a great life the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches I can't understand it now let's read it again please the abundance of their joy and their deep poverty abounded unto the riches of their liberality It was a grace bestowed upon them to share in the expenses of the preaching of the gospel. Grace is referred to in as much that we desire Christ as He has begun, so He will also finish in you the same grace. Look at verse 7. Therefore as He abounds in everything, in faith, and utterance, and knowledge, and all diligence, and in your love to us, we see that He abounds in this grace also. Look at verse 9 again. For ye know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though He was rich, yet for your sake He came forth to read of this grace bestowed upon the church, that they would share in the expenses of the preaching of the gospel. Why? Why? Why should this be called grace? You know, it is in the nature of God to give, in the nature of man to receive. When you give, you share in the nature of God. It's the grace of God. So this is fellowship in the gospel. Fellowship in the gospel in three ways as we said, in prayer, in public testimony, in the giving to the precious gospel of Jesus Christ. Look at verse 12. Please, my time is running. Verse 12. But I hope ye should understand, brethren, the things which happen unto me, so that my fellowship in the gospel, because we belong to Him, because He is our life, brings joy. You rejoice in all your experiences. As you live the life of Christ on earth, you are filled with joy. Joy in all circumstances. Joy in all difficulties. Joy in all troubles. Remember the thorn in the flesh has? I'm not a mind reader. I can say this of the authority of God, is that God has some kind of a difficulty of some description or another. Right? What is your attitude? Let me point out the thorn in the flesh that Paul has. He prayed three times for that thorn in the flesh. Many times. He didn't. Instead, the Lord said to him, my grace is sufficient for this, for my strength is made perfect in weakness. What did he say? Therefore I glory in infirmity. Can you glory in the infirmity you have? Can you glory in the difficulty you have? Can you say, thank you, Lord, for the sickness you gave me? Thank you, Lord, for the difficulty I'm experiencing? Are you weary and hesitating? Comfort with a little fear? Precious Savior is still our refuge. Take us to the Lord in prayer. And be filled with joy. I don't have much time to elaborate on this point. But in Psalm 84, we have a beautiful experience. He says, blessed are some taken in fear. Why? Because Jesus is in it. The gospel is in it. The Lord's work is in it. Christ is my life. And my life means to me to live with Christ. I rejoice. Even in prison at Philippi, the apostles could sing praise unto the Lord. There is difference between praise and thanksgiving. It's quite different. You praise God for His mercy, His truth. You thank Him for what He's done. You praise Him and you thank Him day by day. In all circumstances of life. Amen.