7.2.43 9.17.2023 When Chains Cannot Bind Philippians 1.12-26
Completing the Work God Began • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Entice: The chains may have been tight, and the cell secure but there was never anyone quite as free as Paul in prison!
He wrote freely.
He was able to speak,
preach,
and teach
with little hindrance.
Other’s took advantage of his misfortune to denigrate him, but he kept on doing what he was called to do.
The diligence of Paul should shame the 21st century Church,
always looking for an excuse,
always complaining,
always ducking the responsibility
to joyfully tell the story of Jesus.
Engage: I think it is less a matter of the situation than it is of the preparation. We grew up in a benign environment. Now that things are not so easy it is tempting to exaggerate how “bad” it is now and how “easy” it was back then. Of course, it really comes down to how far back you look. The first century was no picnic! It was far worse than it is now. Yet the gospel flourished in jail-cells in Rome as well as Roman colonies like Philippi.
Expand: There were no badder men in the Empire than the Praetorian Guard. They were the “special forces” of the time, aligned with the Emperor. The more Roman-leaning Philippians knew about them, perhaps some of them had ancestors who had been Praetorians.
Now Paul tells them that
despite his chains,
and beyond his cell
he had penetrated this elite cohort.
The Gospel knows no boundaries, and exempts no man, regardless of how tough he might be.
Excite: And so, Paul gets on with things. As always, there are issues. Competitors and charlatans whose motivation was questionable. Churches like Philippi needed reassurance. The risk was real but the potential return enormous.
Explore:
When we are faithful the gospel prospers, and the Church is blessed despite bad circumstances.
When we are faithful the gospel prospers, and the Church is blessed despite bad circumstances.
Expand: In writing the Philippian Church, Paul both reminds them and teaches them how to remain faithful regardless of their situation…
Body of Sermon: First, he reminds them to
1 Act with Confidence.
1 Act with Confidence.
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
1.1 The Progress of the Gospel.
1.1 The Progress of the Gospel.
1.2 Fearless profession of the Gospel
1.2 Fearless profession of the Gospel
Next Paul reminds them that they must carefully
2 Assess the Challenges.
2 Assess the Challenges.
15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.
16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
2.1 Mixed motives.
2.1 Mixed motives.
2.1.1 Loving collaborators
2.1.2 Ambitious antagonists.
2.2 Specific outcomes.
2.2 Specific outcomes.
2.2.1 Christ is preached!
2.2.2 Paul is joyous.
Last of all, since we cannot change them, Paul reminds us to actually
3 Address the Circumstances.
3 Address the Circumstances.
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored 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 live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith,
26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
3.1 Purpose=Always honoring Christ. 18b-20
3.1 Purpose=Always honoring Christ. 18b-20
3.2 Promise=Always laboring for Christ. 21-25
3.2 Promise=Always laboring for Christ. 21-25
It’s a hard choice…but not up to us!
Good for you, better for Me!
3.3 Presence=Always representing Christ. 26
3.3 Presence=Always representing Christ. 26
Shut Down
Our concern for others and the ministry of the Word should always be our focus not our environment nor our position. Paul the prisoner was liberated because people heard, Jesus was preached, and the Church, with him or without him was able to continue with the mission. We spend a lot of time fretting over what we cannot control rather than focusing on what we can. Our attitude. Our outlook. Our commitment. Our life in ministry.
Things really were bad. He was in jail and there were people who took advantage of his plight to cause him trouble and preach Christ from ulterior motives. Yet Christ was preached! Neither chains nor toxic ambition could slow down the message of the risen Christ. The Philippians needed to know that with or without Paul, Jesus was at work amongst them.
He’s here too. Jesus empowers us to bear courageous witness whatever the circumstances of our lives. If we die, then we are rewarded by being in His presence. If we live, we have ongoing fellowship with Him and the opportunity to continue serving with one another. It’s a hard choice…but there is really no wrong answer.