Focused on the Gospel - Philippians 1:12-18a

Introduction

The Power of a Testimony -

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Joy Group - Hearing the testimonies of what God has done in the lives of others

Paul has been through some tough times.

He was betrayed and arrested by his own people in Jerusalem

He was stoned on three different occasions

He was shipwrecked on his way to Rome

He is under house arrest in Rome where he has to pay for his own rent for the home within which he is imprisoned

He is facing the scorn, envy and rivalry of other brothers

He is having to face Caesar with the real prospect of being executed for his faithfulness to Christ

The people are probably wondering how Paul is doing and if the Gospel he has been preaching has failed or if God has abandoned him. Paul wants to encourage the fellowship at Philippi to tell them that the Gospel has not failed, on the contrary, it is still advancing and pressing on, not only in spite of, but because of his afflictions!

Read Philippians 1:12-18

Philippians 1:12–18 (ESV)

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Paul is writing this report to encourage the believers in Philippi to remain focused on the Gospel. Our focus helps to determine our attitude in the situations we find ourselves in. We can either react to the terrible situations and afflictions that life throws our way, or we can stop to focus on what God is doing through those afflictions and suffering.

By the word gospel, Paul is talking about the preaching of Christ’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection and our need to receive His grace by faith in His atoning work alone. And when we focus on the preaching of this gospel, we see what God provides for us in the midst of all circumstances.

The Gospel Gives Victory Among the Unbelievers (vv. 12-13)

Philippians 1:12–13 (ESV)

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

First, Paul wants this fellowship to know that his adversity and imprisonment is not a detriment to the preaching of the gospel or a sign that God’s grace and favor has left him.

A. We often judge success and God’s favor with someone based upon favorable outcomes

It seems like Paul is losing because he has been imprisoned

Maybe it seems like Paul has even lost God’s favor because these afflictions have occured to him

R. Kent Hughes - We can think “that when things are prospering ‘God is blessing us’ and, conversely, that when things are going poorly, or unpublicized, God’s blessing is not upon the work or it is unimportant...” - Liberating Ministry from the Success Syndrome

We can fall into a soft prosperity gospel by thinking that God will bless us with good circumstances as long as we are doing what we are supposed to do and He will allow afflictions to come when we disobey.

B. Success is measured by faithfulness in spite of circumstances

Paul, however, sees success in the midst of this trial.

Because of his imprisonment, it has become widely known that his imprisonment is not for any disobedience or rebellion on his part, but rather it is for his obedience and trust in Christ.

Imagine what is going to happen when there are guards having to chain themselves to a man like Paul, to exist within the same house as this man who sings praise songs in his imprisonment and who cannot help but speak about Christ and His death and resurrection.

Those guards cannot help but learn all there is to know about this marvelous sacrifice of this Jewish carpenter.

In fact, because of his imprisonment in Rome, there were some of Caesar’s own household that came to know and trust in Christ.

Philippians 4:22 (ESV)

All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

Paul’s imprisonment did not hinder the Gospel, it actually mobilized the gospel to go places where Paul might not have been able to go without it.

C. Often, God uses hardship to further His Kingdom and the message of the Gospel

God used Joseph’s suffering in Egypt to save his family, the Egyptians and the surrounding cultures from the severe famine

God used Daniel in the Babylonian captivity to show who He was to several kings and influenced many Gentile nations

God used the plans of evil men to bring salvation through the crucifixion of His Son!

The church in China and in many other places is actually growing in spite of severe persecution

It is estimated that by 2030 there will be more Christians in China then there will be in the United States.

And by 2050 it might be a primarily majority Christian nation.

God is using Paul’s imprisonment to further the gospel to places where it would not have gone otherwise

D. As a result, Paul’s faithfulness to God in his affliction is a large part of his preaching of the Gospel itself (sharing in the sufferings of Christ)

Paul’s victory and success in preaching the gospel is not proven by his circumstances, but rather by his faithfulness to God in spite of those circumstances.

Paul is living out the words of 1 Peter 4:13

1 Peter 4:13 (ESV)

But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed.

1 Peter 4:19 (ESV)

Therefore let those who suffer according to God’s will entrust their souls to a faithful Creator while doing good.

Paul completely trusts that God is still good and faithful in spite of his circumstances and the people around him see this testimony being lived out and many are responding to this gospel testimony!

It is not a matter of if, but of when we will go through hard times.

Many of us here might be going through some of those hard times Right now

It might be afflictions due directly to our obedience to Christ.

Facing persecution, mocking, or scorn for your beliefs.

Or those hardships might simply be a result of living in a fallen and broken world

Going through health difficulties

Financial trials

How you respond to those situations and continue to trust in Christ and look to Him in spite of those circumstances can be a part of your testimony to the greatness and supremacy of Christ in your life.

When people see a joy that life cannot take away, they will be curious to know where that joy comes from and you will have opportunity to share the Gospel in a powerful way!

The Gospel Gives Confidence to the Believers (v. 14)

Philippians 1:14 (ESV)

And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Not only did Paul’s circumstances allow him to share the gospel with the guards and others who saw him during his imprisonment, it also served as an encouragement to other believers.

A. Paul’s commitment to remain faithful in spite of imprisonment showed others that Paul valued Christ and the Gospel above his own personal welfare

B. As a result, others were encouraged and emboldened by his faithfulness to continue to share the gospel in spite of possible persecution and affliction.

C. Allow your testimony of what God is doing in you in spite of your circumstances to encourage others around you, and...

D. Read and listen to the testimonies of others and allow them to encourage and embolden you to share the Gospel, no matter the cost

There are places here where we gather and share what God is doing in our own lives with one another....

Joy

Sunday School

Sunday night Bible study

Prayer meeting

Read the testimonies of others

The Hiding Place - Corrie Ten Boom

Through Gates of Splendor - Elizabeth Elliot

Foxes’ Book of Martyrs

Voice of the Martyrs Website

The Gospel Gives Joy In Spite of Circumstances (vv. 15-18)

Philippians 1:15–18 (ESV)

Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Finally, Paul talks about many of those brothers who are stepping up to preach the Gospel of Christ because of him.

There were some who were preaching the Gospel because they loved Christ and out of love for Paul and the encouragement they received from him.

However, some others were jealous of Paul’s influential ministry to so many churches, so many of them were more than happy to hear that Paul was held up in chains. They tried to step in to try and gain some of the glory they felt was going to Paul.

Now, we must note here, they were not preaching false things about Christ. They were preaching good and true things about Christ. They just were not preaching with pure motives, but rather to try and take the spotlight from Paul.

However, Paul was not preaching the Gospel for his own glory. He was doing so for the glory of Christ. So while the motivation of these brothers, no doubt, probably hurt Paul, his joy in this situation was not robbed because of the motivations of these brothers, but rather increased because again he is getting to witness the furthering of the Gospel and of the Kingdom and glory of Christ.

Because his focus is on the gospel, he is not allowing his own hurt feelings to bring him down, but rather he is able to remain joyful because the gospel is going forth in power, in spite of the envy and rivalry.

A. We are all tempted to want to feel great in the kingdom as we seek to serve the church and fulfill the mission of the gospel.

B. And it might even hurt when someone else is getting more recognition than you did in doing a similar ministry or job within the church.

C. Our joy does not have to be dependent upon what others are doing or not doing. Regardless of who is getting recognition, if our focus is on sharing the Gospel and seeing lives transformed by Christ, we can grow in our joy regardless of who is getting recognized, because we will realize it is not about any of us, but it is only about Christ.

D. We can resolve to rejoice whenever the true Gospel is being preached and people are coming to Christ Himself for salvation.

the only work worth boasting in and bringing glory to is the work of Jesus upon the cross, his burial and his resurrection!

E. Ultimately, this is what it means to work together as a fellowship for the glory of Christ. To let go of our own desire for recognition and pride and allow Christ to work in and through anyone whom He chooses, regardless of what that person’s motives might be.