This blog is based on a sermon from Philippians. You can listen to the sermon here.
We are living in interesting times. Our culture is becoming increasingly secular and antagonistic to the Christian faith. Many people in our culture consider us to be narrow-minded because of our beliefs on sexuality, abortion, and other issues.
You may not have heard about it, but in January, the Canadian government passed Bill C-4, which effectively made it illegal to give biblical counsel with regard to sexual immorality and gender.
This bill could be used to make it illegal to evangelize the lost in Canada or to encourage someone to repent of homosexuality, transgenderism, and other sexual immorality.
Brothers and sisters, there may come a time when pastors may be imprisoned for simply preaching the Word of God. There may come a time when you lose your job because of something you posted on Facebook.
How should we respond if we have been wronged because of our commitment to Christ? What if we are persecuted, hated, or even imprisoned because of our Christian faith?
Today, in our text in Philippians 1, we see how Paul responded to being imprisoned and maligned for his commitment to Christ.
Paul was writing to the church in Philippi, a church he had founded 10 years earlier. This church had partnered with Paul through prayer and financial support in order to spread the gospel.
Paul loved this church and they were a great source of joy to him as he was imprisoned for his faith. In verses 12-18, Paul wants to update the church about how the gospel continues to spread.
Phil 1:12-18 (click for text)
BIG IDEA: We should care more about proclaiming Christ and the gospel than our own reputation.
We should trust God as we proclaim the gospel without fear (12-14)
The church at Philippi is concerned:
- They have a personal concern about Pauls’ well-being, because they love him.
- They have a kingdom concern about the advance of the gospel. Paul is in prison—how will the gospel go forth?
Paul wants to let the Philippians know that despite his imprisonment, the gospel is advancing (12-14).
Paul spent quite a bit of time in jail. Remember, in Acts 16, one of the founding members of the church was the Philippian jailer and his family.
Now, Paul says that his imprisonment for Christ “has become known throughout the whole imperial guard” (13). The imperial guard were elite Roman soldiers (around 10,000 of them) under the direct command of Caesar. Probably the best modern-day equivalent would be the secret service. In God’s sovereignty, Paul is in prison so that the gospel would be able to infiltrate a group of people who would presumably be hostile to the gospel.
Paul is essentially under house arrest. He was allowed to write letters and to speak with visitors, but he was chained to a Roman guard at all times. Every 4-6 hours, a shift change would occur and another guard would come in to guard Paul. So, Paul was sharing the gospel with every guard he came into contact with.
As Paul shared the gospel, others became emboldened to preach the gospel because of Paul’s faithfulness (v. 14).
In verses 12-14, we see that Paul is much more concerned with the advancement of the gospel than he is with his personal circumstances. In fact, rather than telling the Philippians how he was doing, Paul talks about how the gospel is doing.
The glory of God and the spread of the gospel was Paul’s passion.
The glory of God and the spread of the gospel was Paul’s passion.
What are some things we can learn from Paul in these verses? Three things:
(1) Trust in God’s sovereignty during your trials (12-13).
Paul was imprisoned for the sake of Christ (13). This should not be surprising. If we follow Christ, we will be hated. Remember Jesus’ words:
John 15:20a – Remember the word that I said to you: ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
The Romans thought that by imprisoning Paul, they would keep him quiet and Christianity would eventually dissipate. Instead, they gave him a captive audience that he wouldn’t have otherwise had.
How do you respond when you have a trial? You have two options:
The first is that you can throw a pity party and feel sorry for yourself.
The second is that you can trust God and be a steward of the situation for His glory.
When we throw a pity party, we are really proclaiming that life is about us. We think that life isn’t fair and God doesn’t care about us.
However, when we see tough situations as something that God uses to make us more like Christ, then our whole perspective changes. We are to be more concerned about God’s glory than our own comfort!
Rather than being sad about what God has not done for you, rejoice at what God will do in you and through you as you submit to his sovereign plan!
There are people that God has placed in your life to help you grow in your faith or for you to share your faith with (family, neighbors, co-workers, and others). What if your chronic health condition is God’s way for the doctors and nursing staff to hear the gospel? God can use you for His glory if you will be faithful!
If you are focused on Christ and the gospel, then your problems and your pain can become your pulpit.
If you are focused on Christ and the gospel, then your problems and your pain can become your pulpit.
See your circumstances as opportunities to speak the gospel. God doesn’t just work in spite of your circumstances, but God works through your circumstances.
Consider the fact that the church at Rome had no doubt prayed that the Lord would open a way to witness to the elite and influential imperial guard. In God’s wisdom, He answered that prayer by making members of that guard captive to Paul for two years.
(2) Trust in the power of the gospel. (12-13; Rom 1:16)
Rom 1:16 – For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
The gospel penetrated the toughest of the tough. These Roman soldiers were probably the manliest men and the toughest men on the planet at that time. And yet, the gospel was the power of God for salvation.
It is likely that Paul was a special prisoner of the emperor (Phil 4:22). The fact that he closes the letter with a greeting from “Caesar’s household” testifies to the power of the gospel over the most powerful family in the world.
Maybe you’re not in prison for the gospel, but do you ever feel chained to circumstances? Maybe you’re a woman who stays at home with her children. You can reach them with the gospel. Maybe you have a spouse who is an unbeliever or children or grandchildren who are living in sin. Never quit praying for them. Never quit sharing the gospel with them. The gospel is powerful!
(3) Trust that God will use your example to help others (14).
Paul’s example has helped other brothers be bold for Christ. When we take a stand for Christ, it helps others do the same.
We should love the glory of Christ more than our own (15-18)
There are two groups present in vv. 15-18.
There were the envious evangelists who preached because of envy and rivalry. They saw Paul’s imprisonment as an opportunity to tear him down and stir up trouble. They sought to elevate their ministries and to “afflict Paul in his imprisonment” (17).
Second, there were the empathetic evangelists who preached out of goodwill. They cared about Paul and continued his mission care about Paul’s mission to advance the gospel. They served with goodwill and love towards Paul.
What motives do we have as a church?
Is it possible that at times we are like these envious evangelists?
Do we tear down other churches that are preaching the gospel?
- Their preacher is a Calvinist (or a non-Calvinist).
- Their music is too loud and too repetitive.
- They sit in chairs instead of pews.
- They use a different Bible version.
Do we elevate our ministries and think we’re a better church because we do this or that?
When another church is held in high esteem, how do we react?
When another person is honored, are you jealous, or can you thank God for their ministry?
Remember, the envious evangelists were guilty of rivalry (17). But…sServing Jesus out of envy or rivalry is a warped motivation.
Notice Paul’s response in v. 18:
What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.
Paul is so focused on the glory of Christ, that his only concern is that “Christ is proclaimed.”
Do you care more about Christ’s glory or getting recognition for yourself?
The gospel is so glorious. We deserve nothing but God’s wrath, but God adopts us as His own children. There is no room for envy and rivalry in the kingdom of God.
The glory of God and the spread of the gospel was Paul’s passion.
I hope the glory of God and the spread of the gospel is the passion of our church. For that to happen, we need to focus on Jesus, proclaim the gospel and love the glory of Christ more than our own.
As we live an attractive and joyful lives before people and share the gospel with them, then we will see people come to faith in Jesus Christ.