INTRODUCTION

overview of verses 12-19

A.    OUR CIRCUMSTANCES OFTEN THROW US AND DEFEAT US, THIS WAS NOT THE CASE WITH PAUL.

Paul said 2 Timothy 4:16-17 At my first defense no one stood with me, but all forsook me . . .but the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear. And I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.

B.     THE MATURITY OF A PERSON CAN BE SEEN BY HOW WELL HE OR SHE HANDLES THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN TO HIM.

1.     I (we) must learn to live above our circumstances – How can we do that?

a.       Isaiah 40:28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the LORD, The Creator of the ends of the earth, Neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable.

b.      Isaiah 40:31--But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount   up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint

1)      An eagle, when it want’s to rise up in the air to a higher altitude, do you see it flapping its wings getting tired?  NO.  The eagle spreads its wings and catches the wind under them, which causes the eagle to rise high in the air.

2)      Remember the song, “You are the wind beneath my wings”?  The Lord is the “wind beneath our wings, and when we wait and rely upon His strength we will rise up above our circumstances.

a)      Paul prayed in Ephesians 1:19 that we would know “what is the exceeding greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of His mighty power”

b)      And “that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man, Ephesians 3:16.

c)      David said to his son Solomon, “Be strong and of good courage, and do it; do not fear nor be dismayed, for the LORD God--my God--will be with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you, until you have finished all the work for the service of the house of the LORD 1 Chronicles 28:20.

d)     Finally, my brethren, “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” . . . because “you can do all things through Christ who strengthens you” . . .”strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy”

2.     This is the subject in which we will be studied today: the marks of a mature witness.

—       He shares the gospel regardless of circumstances (v.12-14)

—       He holds no personal jealousy nor desire for credit or prestige (v.15-18)

—       He possesses the assurance of a happy ending: deliverance (v.19)

I.                 He Shares The Gospel Regardless of Circumstances, v.12-14

A.  Paul Faced Dark Circumstances: He Was A Prisoner In Rome.

1.      Paul was waiting to appear before the Supreme Court in Rome.

2.      He was imprisoned for two years.

3.      He had done nothing that should cause his arrest and imprisonment.

4.      The Philippians has sent Epaphroditus to Paul because they had heard that Paul was in need.  Since Epaphroditus’ departure, they had probable heard nothing of Paul.  They may well have supposed that his ministry was at a standstill and that he was understandably depressed.  But the news Epaphroditus brought was different. 

Read 1:12-26 with the eagerness the Philippians might have felt for new from Paul.  Think about how remarkable Paul’s attitudes are.

But I want you to know brethren . . .I don’t want you to be ignorant

1.      The church at Philippi were probably asking the question, “what is going to happen to Paul? 

2.      But Paul’s primary question was not, “what is going to happen to me,” but, “how is the gospel-cause affected by whatever happens to me?” This should be our attitude.  

1. Paul first writes about, “the gospel,” “the message of God,” “the Christ” (v.12-18), and then about his own hope of release (v.19-26).
2. Also about “Christ being magnified” (v.20), this is the single mind
3. Paul did not find his joy in his circumstances but in winning others to Christ.
4. J.O.Y. – Jesus, others, you.  

the things which happened to me . . .

1.      These things are given in Acts 21:17-28:31

1. 2 Corinthians 11:23-28 are just some of these things which had happened to Paul

have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

1.      Furtherance of the gospel, “pioneer advance”

1. Greek military term referring to the army engineers who are sent ahead of the troops in order to remove obstructions and clear the roads for the rest of the army.
2. The gospel had obstructions that needed to be removed.

1)      mistrust and hostility (1:15-18)

2)      fear and cowardice (1:27-30)

1. Paul’s experiences and reactions, had served to remove these obstacles

1)      Satan sets up road blocks to hinder the furtherance of the gospel

a)      1 Thessalonians 2:18 -- Therefore we wanted to come to you----even I, Paul, time and again----but Satan hindered us.  For you future husbands 1 Pet. 3:7

2)      road blocks are stepping stones to rise above our circumstances

a)      Paul had been bound, but the Word of God could not be bound

(1) 2 Timothy 2:8-10 -- Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel, for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.   Therefore I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.

(2) Isaiah 40:8 – The grass withers, the flower fades, But the word of our God stands forever.

                  b)  Paul discovered his circumstances opened up new areas for ministry.

2.      Acts 16:16-34  

1. But note:

1)      Paul did not grumble or complain

2)      Did not question God and wonder why

3)      Did not whine and murmur

4)      Did not fall to pieces

5)      Did not curse God nor give up his faith

1. Paul did:

1)      pray

2)      sing hymns to God while the other prisoners listened

3)      lead a Roman Guard to Christ

B.   Paul Used His Dark Circumstances To Spread The Gospel, v.13-14

1.      Paul did not see himself as a prisoner of Rome, but an “ambassador for Christ” (Ephesians 6:20).   

a.       Paul’s chains gave contact with the lost.

1)      Paul was chained to a guard 24 hours a day, changing guards every 6 hours (4 guards per day)

2)      The gospel went from guard to guard, to the families of the guards, to Caesar’s household (Phil. 4:22).

3)      What do you suppose Paul talked about? 

Thought 1.  We must never let circumstances get us down—or defeat our testimony for Christ.

b.      Paul’s chains gave courage to the saved.

1)      1:28 – at first they were frightened

2)      1:14 – then they became “much more bold to speak the word without fear”

a) this became their “everyday conversation” 

c.       Paul chains gave us the prison Epistles

1)      Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Philemon

Application: Has God “chained” you to anyone (in a hospital bed, school, someone you keep running in to quite often, office, etc.) in order to share the gospel (1:13)?  If so, how can you use those chains to God’s advantage?

Application: How might your circumstances serve to advance the gospel

For thought and discussion: Do you ever lose your courage in sharing the gospel (1:14)? 

For thought and discussion: If so, what kinds of situations discourage you?

For thought and discussion: How would Paul overcome such discouragement?

Are you witnessing?  Do the people around you know that you believe in Jesus Christ.  It is not easy sometimes, but it needs to be done.

II.            He Holds No Personal Jealousy

Nor Desire For Credit or Prestige, v.15-18

1.      How does Paul feel about his circumstances (1:18)?

1. Paul does not care about the motives of these certain people who preach Christ from envy and strife. 
2. Paul says, just as long as Christ is preached that is what matters.

A.   Some Preachers In Rome Were Jealous Of Paul and Envious . . .

—       of the results he was having.

—       of the favorable attention and prestige he was gaining from society and the social circles of the community.

—       of the support and loyalty believers were giving him.

—       of the attention he was receiving from so many of their members.

—       of the position he was gaining as the leader of the Christian community in Rome.

B.   Not All The Preachers Throughout Rome Opposed Paul.

Thought 1.  How many of us begin to question and speak against a Lord’s servant because of these things, even if it’s only to one or two other people; nevertheless, we do speak out?  God forgive us!

Thought 2.  We must remember we are all ministers and workers for Christ. Therefore, we must all support each other.

Thought 3.  The Lord does not require big ministries and big names and big followers from us all.  What the Lord requires from us is faithfulness—only faithfulness in the ministry to which He has called us to.

Thought 4.  Therefore, let us be faithful and support all the ministers of the gospel of Christ.

Jn 21:21-22; 1 Cor. 4:1-2; 2 Cor. 4:5; 1 Pet. 5:2; Is. 56:10-11; Jer. 3:15;   

2.      Why is Paul unconcerned about the selfishness of those who preach Christ in order to make trouble for Paul (verse 17-18)?

For Further Study:

Compare Philippians 1:15-18 to Galatians 1:6-9.  In what case is Paul angry about people who preach for selfish motives?  In what case is he not angry?

Application: are you in any situation with other preachers similar to the one Paul was in (1:17-18)?  If so, how can you apply Paul’s attitude to your situation? 

III.        He Possesses The Assurance Of A Happy Ending:

Deliverance, v.19

A.  There Was The Prayer Of Those Who Supported Him.

1.      Are you praying for others?

B.   The Supply Of The Holy Spirit Would Deliver Him.

1.      Paul knew that the Holy Spirit would supply whatever he needed to get through his circumstances.

2.      The Holy Spirit was given to all believers to:

1. Be our compassion (John 14:16)
2. Council us (John 14:26)
3. Give us courage for witnessing no matter what the circumstances (John 15:26-27)
4. Put conviction in our lives and ministry (John 16:7-8)
5. Share the deep things of God with us (1 Cor. 2:9-10)
6. Pray and intercede for us and to help us pray (Rom. 8:26)
7. Bear His fruit in us (Gal. 5:22-23)
8. Fill us and to ups a song and joy in our hearts despite circumstances (Eph. 5:18-19)
9. Give us assurance that we are the children of God (Rom. 8:16-17)