Introduction:
- Philippians begins in thanksgiving and prayer.
- God completes the work he begins.
- He desires to see their love abound even more.
- Filled with the fruit of righteousness.
- Chapter’s conclusion: an exhortation to live in unity (v.27).
- His prayer for the individual believer’s increasing in Christ-like character is that the church might be united.
- Trials will come. Suffering will increase. But if they are united, they will endure.
- Text b/w Paul’s prayer for the believers and his exhortation to live in unity.
- We see Paul’s attitude in the face of suffering.Pray & Read Phil. 1:12–18
- What is Paul’s attitude in the face of suffering? A determined focus upon the advancement of the gospel.
- God advances His kingdom! He does so in spite of sinners who live in a fallen world.
- God doesn’t transform perfect people. Nor does He wait for the circumstances to improve before enacting change.
- Proclamation of Christ + working of His Spirit = God is at work.
- Darrell Johnson has three convictions about preaching:
- When the living God speaks, something always happens. “Let there be light.” And there was-lots of it. “Be still.” And the waves and winds died down. “Lazarus, come forth.” And out walks a dead man.
- When the preacher speaks God’s speech, God speaks. “The preaching of the Word of God is the Word of God” (The Second Helvetic Confession).
- Therefore, when the preacher speaks God’s speech, something always happens. In this passage, Paul might state it like this: Whenever Christ is preached, God is at work!We’ll consider two ways in which the gospel unexpectedly advances: 1) The Gospel advances in spite of difficult circumstances. 2) The Gospel advances in spite of discouraging people.
1. The Gospel advances in spite of difficult circumstances (12–14)
- Imagine the Philippian’s concern for Paul. Rush past the pleasantries to read of his imprisonment.
- Paul mentions his imprisonment three times, yet we learn nothing about his suffering.
- You might think I can’t relate to your suffering. But let me assure you, Paul knew suffering (see Acts 21–27; 2 Cor). His response to suffering is not superficial.
- If I were writing this letter – let me tell you – it would be very different!
- significant descriptions about my treatment,
- how deprived,
- emotional turmoil, pain, etc.
- Of course, detailed prayer requests.
- Nothing to imagination, even embellished!
- But Paul? No complaining or self-pity.
- v.12 The Philippians, in all likelihood, expected Paul’s imprisonment to be a deterrant to gospel progress.
- Play on words? The difference between “Advance” and “Hindrance” is one letter in the Greek (prokope/proskope).
- I can see them double-checking that they read it right the first time through.
- One commentator, “For a traveling apostle to be put in prison must have seemed like a concert pianist having his hands tied behind his back.”
- v.13 Paul’s imprisonment has opened the door for him to preach Christ to the whole imperial guard.
- Imagine the guards at each change of shift. Captive audience for hours at a time.
- Paul was unlike every other prisoner.
- His character: Not quiet or sulking, but joyful!
- His prayers: “Heavenly Father, I thank you for placing me here with this man…”
- His bold witness: “What brings you here?”
- His visitors: Conversing about the gospel.
- Effectiveness of Christ preached, unlikely place (see 4:22).
- Hansen, “Instead of being led by his chains to a negative outlook, Paul used them to lead his guards to the knowledge of Christ.”
- Not only that, but…
- v.14 Brothers were emboldened to preach without fear.
- When danger of preaching increased, their boldness increased.
- Evangelism is a courageous activity (unlike sports/politics). God used the occasion of Paul’s imprisonment to provide believers in Rome with fresh courage.
- Prison will be prison. Paul isn’t rejoicing that he’s in prison. He rejoices in spite of prison.Not only does the gospel advance in spite of difficult circumstances, but…
2. The Gospel advances in spite of discouraging people (15–18)
- v.15–16 Had Paul thought his imprisonment would impede the gospel, he would’ve made every effort to vindicate his name.
- Instead, he trusted that he was “put here” according to the plan of God (Not concerned w/ advancing his freedom, but the gospel).
- v.17 Although they preach Christ, their motives are inconsistent with their message.
- v.18 Does this mean we should rejoice when someone preaches the prosperity gospel? Absolutely not!
- Paul does not condemn their message, but their motives. They are preaching Christ, and Paul considers them “brothers” (v.14).
- Were they preaching a different Christ, Paul’s rebuke would echo Galatians 1:6–9 (“different gospel”). Paul not shy regarding his opinion of false teachers.
- What we know: Motivated by rivalry, envy, selfishness.
- Possibly:
- Envious of Paul’s apostolic authority.
- Questioned Paul’s apostolic authority and they used this as an opportunity to tell everyone that his circumstances were the judgment of God.
- They wanted more of the spotlight.
- Either way, their motive was not consistent with their message.
- Paul’s point? In spite of impure motives, Christ is preached, and that is cause for rejoicing, God’s Word will do it’s work regardless of the preacher’s motives.
- By the way, Paul isn’t excusing their false motives (cf. 2:3), but he’s acknowledging the superior importance of the gospel and of it’s power to work through fallen people. That should be an encouragement to all of us!
- Did you notice how many times “Christ” and “the gospel” is mentioned in this passage? “Preach Christ” (15, 17, 18). “The gospel” (12, 16).
- How many churches have a cross on their steeple, yet fail to mention Christ from the pulpit?
- Christ should be mentioned and rightly understood.
- We do not preach about a “good man”.
- We preach about the One who lived a perfect life and died in our place!
- He took our sin and bore the wrath of God that we deserved. This is the Christ that we preach.
- Illus: Every year one Christian college professor made his students listen to a sermon and evaluate it. The students always gave encouraging feedback. Then he would inform them that the sermon was preached by a Mormon. There is a critical problem in the Christian Church when we cannot distinguish between a Christian sermon and a Mormon sermon. The gospel was not in that sermon, and yet, the class had nothing but praise for the false teacher.
- However, Paul is not praising false teachers.He is rejoicing the fact that the true gospel of Jesus Christ is being preached in spite of the fact that the preachers are doing so w/ false motives.
Conclusion:
- We need to stop thinking that God will work more effectively when our circumstances change, or when certain people are removed from our lives.
- Circumstances and false motives have nothing to do with the power of God’s word.
- Because Christ lives and reigns, we can know he will work in and through His Spirit to change lives.
- Do you understand what this means?
- We don’t need to change our circumstances to “get God to work”.
- And we will never be free from discouraging people.
- But, God will continue to advance His kingdom.
- We can rejoice and participate,
- or we can become distracted and depressed.
- Either way, Christ’s kingdom will advance.
- So…Rejoice!
- Expect God to work every time we open his word!
- Repent of any tendency toward discouragement.
- Repent of ever thinking “God isn’t working in my life – or in this church – because of circumstances or people.”As long as Christ is preached – God is at work! And in that we rejoice!
Benediction: Grace and Peace to you who were dead in your sins and in the uncircumcision of your sinful nature, who God made alive in Christ and forgave all of your sins,
Go rejoicing in the Lord and be glad; for you are the upright in heart.
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