Connect to Kingdom Purpose Philippians 1:12-30

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Church, Mission Of

Frederick the Great, King of Prussia, won a strategic battle with comparative ease and little loss of men. When asked for the explanation of his victory over the enemy, he said, “The enemy had seven cooks and one spy, but I had seven spies and one cook.”

Perhaps the church lacks power because it majors on the minors and minors on the majors.186

I thought about that this week: Who are the people who advance the Gospel? One of our men came to meet with me a few weeks ago and he asked me for a prayer list. Not a list of the sick, but a list of people who needed to connect with Christ and to our church family. I was blown away! His priority was clear, but is it ours?

-Advancing the Gospel is one of the three great priorities in the life of a disciple of Jesus. It is greater than:

I. Your Current Suffering vv. 12-14

Paul writes this letter to the church at Philippi, from prison, where he is being held as a prisoner for Christ

Connection to Kingdom purpose doesn’t deliver Paul from suffering, in fact it is the source of his suffering!

That having been said, he would want us to see that this call to advance the Gospel is the greatest call of our lives!

What does it mean to “advance the Gospel”?

Personal-It is the proclamation of new life in Jesus Christ

Transformational-It is making disciples by teaching people to follow Jesus

Locational-It is the introduction of the Gospel message in places where it has never been heard

Paul makes it clear that imprisonment has not stopped the spread of the Gospel; His suffering has only served the mission

It has given him a captive audience, so that the whole imperial guard has heard the good news

It has made many bolder in their faith and so the mission has been multiplied

As we commit to God’s purpose in our lives, we will face suffering, but we can be certain that He is going to use this suffering for His glory and your ultimate good!

Romans 8:18

[18] For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us. (ESV)

Romans 8:28

[28] And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose. (ESV)

II. Your Bitter Rivals vv.15-18

Second, we see Paul facing a different challenge: enemies within the church

Paul has dear brothers who also proclaim the good news out of a whole-hearted devotion to Christ

Unfortunately, he also has a set of rivals; they proclaim Christ, but out of a spirit of jealousy, seeking to fulfill a self-serving desire for personal glory

There’s good news here: God is equally able to use your rivals and poorly intended brothers to spread the Gospel

Paul is able to trust that God will be just towards these men who set themselves up as rivals

Paul is able to trust in the mercy of God towards him. He will not be crushed by this

Paul is able to trust that God will be glorified in all things; the behavior is not good, but it will not overwhelm the mission

We ought not pursue rivalry with others. We must not act this way.

Likewise, we must not be consumed by it when it comes; instead, we must focus on the mission of advancing the Gospel!

Nehemiah 6:3

[3] And I sent messengers to them, saying, “I am doing a great work and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop while I leave it and come down to you?” (ESV)

III. Your Eternal Hope vv. 19-26

Third, Paul faces a hard reality with hope

He will be delivered from prison one day, either through death or to life

However, Paul is torn between the two!

Paul has reached a place of confidence that death would be the greatest gain: he is ready to go be with the Lord and experience His presence for eternity

However, Paul recognizes that this life is the only chance that he will have to fulfill the mission of advancing the Gospel

It may be better for Paul to go, but it is better for everyone else that he stay behind

Paul preferences the life of fruitful ministry over the hope of eternal life for this moment

Effectively, Paul tells the Philippians that heaven can wait, because the mission is critical

We are right as believers to look forward to heaven with an expectant hope, but the reality of eternity ought to drive us to live this life faithfully and well, committed to the advance of the Gospel:

Two little lines I heard one day, Traveling along life’s busy way; Bringing conviction to my heart, And from my mind would not depart;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Soon will its fleeting hours be done; Then, in ‘that day’ my Lord to meet, And stand before His Judgement seat;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

Only one life, yes only one, Now let me say, “Thy will be done”; And when at last I’ll hear the call, I know I’ll say “twas worth it all”;

Only one life, ’twill soon be past, Only what’s done for Christ will last.

IV. Your Greatest Fear vv. 27-30

Finally, Paul invites us to face the fear of destruction at the hand of spiritual enemies

I think it is worth noting that this is quite different than what we saw in the earlier passage

These are not fellow Christians, but enemies of the cross who are working to derail the mission and even go to the point of persecution in their effort, the kinds of people who have imprisoned Paul

Paul invites us to stand together with our brothers, unafraid

The unity that we have in the Body of Christ will give us the strength to stand

The shared mission that we have will give us strength to stand; this is the beauty of a common cause

When the church stands together fearless against the world, it sends a signal: We are looking for the triumphant return of Christ

This will be a day of salvation for those who believe

This will be a day of destruction for those who do not and most especially for those who reject Him

We are waiting for that day, but until then we remember that we are suffering and serving with Him and for Him

The life of a disciple will be difficult but it will also be worth it!

1500 Illustrations for Biblical Preaching Reward, Eternal

Henry C. Morrison, after serving for forty years on the African mission field, headed home by boat. On that same boat also rode Theodore Roosevelt. Morrison was quite dejected when, on entering New York harbor, President Roosevelt received a great fanfare as he arrived home. Morrison thought he should get some recognition for forty years in the Lord’s service.

Then a small voice came to Morrison and said, “Henry—you’re not home yet.”1144