The Book Philippians (1:12-26)

What is up Vertical. Week 2 of the Book of Philippians. Last week we talked about how “Happiness is based on happenings. Joy is based on relationships, legacy and love.” As we continue chapter one, meet me on verse 12.

Have you ever heard the terms:

Win-Win

Win-Lose

Lose-Lose

One definition says this: “Win-win, Win-Lose and Lose-Lose are possible outcomes of a game or dispute involving two sides, and more importantly, how each side perceives their outcome relative to their standing before the game.”

Let me exemplify it:

Win-Win: We do burpees, we both get chocolate

Win-Lose: You do burpees, I get chocolate

Lose-Lose: We do burpees, no one gets chocolate.

Perception is an extremely important reality of life. Because you can be blessed beyond your knowledge and perceive to be lacking or you could have very little yet perceived to be extremely blessed.

Here is my main point for today:

Main Point: In God’s economy there are only win-win situations.

Principle # 1- Lose-Win Circumstances are win-win situations in God’s economy.

Phil 1:12-14 “12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.”

Remember Paul is currently in prison. The situation looks like a lose-win, because Paul is in prison and would not be able to share Christ (lose) but others are being confident. (win)

However, Paul acknowledges that it is in fact a win-win. Although he is in a perceive negative situation, that has served to advance the gospel.

I love the fact that “the whole palace guard” knew why Paul was in prison. He was not ashamed to utilized even the worst of His circumstances to proclaim Christ.

“The custom was for a prisoner to be chained at the wrist to a soldier. All in Rome who came in contact with Paul heard about Christ. It was well known that he was not under guard for being a lawbreaker. Instead he was in chains for Christ.” The Bible Knowledge Commentary

Students, don’t forget that your friends are looking at you. You have a part in the Kingdom of God, and when your friends know that you are a believer that struggles just like anyone else, yet choose to utilize those circumstances to give glory to God, they will see that God’s economy

Main Point: In God’s economy there are only win-win situations.

Principle #2- Lose-Lose Circumstances are win-win situations in God’s economy.

Phil 1:15-18 “15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice....

The situation looks like a lose-lose, because those who had wrong motives wanted to hurt Paul and were seeking to promote themselves.

Yet again, Paul turns it around because whether he is in the spotlight or not, Christ was exalted. This was a win in God’s economy. You see God is able to utilize even our biggest mistakes or our wrong motives for His glory.

Now this is not a prescription. Paul is not saying that our motives do not matter, what He is saying is that God is bigger than our motives. Therefore, we should be encouraged to preach Christ.

Phil 1:16 “16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.”

You see, Paul also wrote:

2 Tim 2:15 “15 Do your best to present yourself to God as one approved, a worker who does not need to be ashamed and who correctly handles the word of truth.”

Gal 1:6-8 “6 I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you to live in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—7 which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse!”

Obviously Paul cared about our understanding of God, which we refer to as theology and doctrine. What we know and learn about God matters.

However, even in situations that seem to be lose-lose, Paul can find joy because...

Main Point: In God’s economy there are only win-win situations.

Principle #3- Win-Win situations in God’s economy are tied to our perspective.

Phil 1:18-26 “...Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, “26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.”

Paul understood his part in the Kingdom of God. Do you know you have a special part on God’s kingdom?

Because when you begin to see your life in the grand story of humanity, you will quickly realized that our lives are miniscule in perspective, James 4:14 “...What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes,” however, when we are in Christ, now there is a win-win.

He gets the glory and we reap the benefits of Christ’s death on the cross.

That is when faith comes into the equation. Have you put your trust in Jesus? Trust that He loved you so much, that he stepped into this broken world to offer a solution.

This picture is a great example… we are absolutely in a broken world, we are drowning in the evil and the consequences of our sin and the sins of others. Yet, Jesus is reaching out to help us. Would you take His hand and trust in His saving power?

You have heard me say, following Jesus is the best decision you can make. It is that initial decision to make Him your Lord and savior and the daily decision to surrender to His ways and his direction because

Main Point: In God’s economy there are only win-win situations.

Let’s pray.