Untitled Sermon

Verse 12.

Introduction

Here, it is important to note Paul is switching to a new section in His letter. Before, He was greeting, but now, customarily, he would inform His reader of His present condition. the phrase “I want you to know” Indicates that Paul is switching from a greeting, to now he is informing the reader of his affairs.

What strange thing do you notice about this?

Paul doesn't actually tell the Philippians anything about what he is dong

When Paul begins to talk about his affairs, He only talks about the advancement of the Gospel. His affairs are the affairs of the Gospel. he doesn't bemoan his imprisonment. The only thing that Paul here is concerned with is the fact that God is using his imprisonment to advance the Gospel.

V. 13:

The testimony of our actions to unbelievers.

Read 1 Peter 3:1-2

1 Peter 3:1–2 CSB

In the same way, wives, submit yourselves to your own husbands so that, even if some disobey the word, they may be won over without a word by the way their wives live when they observe your pure, reverent lives.

Pauls’ imprisonment shows that he is faithful in his words as well as his actions. The Imperial guard sees how much the Gospel is worth to Paul. It is worthe enough for Paul to go to prison for it.

Paul, so filled with the Gospel is not stopped in his mission even when he is in prison. Every where he goes, Paul is so full of love for man that he must proclaim the Gospel. He never gives excuse for why he did not preach the gospel. Paul faced the greatest peril for the Gospel, and his ministry bore fruit

Read Philippians 4:21-23

Philippians 4:21–23 CSB

Greet every saint in Christ Jesus. The brothers who are with me send you greetings. All the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Caesar’s household. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

Because Paul preached the gospel, He saw converts among the praetorian guard. God used Paul’s imprisonment to save people from hell.

V.14

The testimony of our actions to believers

In addition to the salvation of the Praetorian guard, Paul’s imprisonment inspired other believers to preach the Gospel more faithfully. Our faithfulness not only serves to demonstrate the Gospel to unbelievers, but also to believers. It inspires other believers to imitate you in your faithfulness.

Read Matthew 5:13-16

Matthew 5:13–16 CSB

“You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt should lose its taste, how can it be made salty? It’s no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled under people’s feet. “You are the light of the world. A city situated on a hill cannot be hidden. No one lights a lamp and puts it under a basket, but rather on a lampstand, and it gives light for all who are in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.

It is a good thing for our good works to be seen. This is not so that we will be glorified. Rather, it is because when other believers see our own faithfulness, they are inspired to follow Christ better. A point of application from this is the need to be discipled. Paul knows that we need good examples in order to be faithfully following God. That is why he says to imitate him as he imitates christ in 1 Corinthians 11:1

1 Corinthians 11:1 CSB

Imitate me, as I also imitate Christ.

V. 15 sets the stage for a deeper look at v 14.

People have been inspired to preach the gospel more. > what sort of people? both people with good intentions and people with bad intentions. V 15-17 ought to be looked at as a single subunit rather than as individual verses.

What is striking about how Paul describes each of these groups?

1.) Paul balances his description of each group

2.) He is very vague about who these people are.

Why does he present them both this way? What does this tell us about how Paul is thinking about these two groups.

Paul doesn't identify who these two groups are. He does not add this to his letter to condemn the bad motives of the jealous group. The point that Paul here is making is that the Gospel is going foreward.

Despite what it seems like, God is using apparent failings to advance his gospel. Just like He used the apparent failing of jesus’s death to bring about His kingdom. God works in seeming foolish ways. (1 cor 1:21-23). God uses apparent opposition in the form of Paul’s imprisonment, and God uses apparent opposition in the form of selfish ambition to further the Gospel. God is sovereign over every thing, including His enemies.

There is a difference between preaching a false gospel, and preaching the gospel with bad motives.

Look at Gal 1:6-9

Galatians 1:6–9 CSB

I am amazed that you are so quickly turning away from him who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel—not that there is another gospel, but there are some who are troubling you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, a curse be on him! As we have said before, I now say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to what you received, a curse be on him!

For the ones who preach the true gospel with bad intentions, Paul rejoices, but to the ones who preach a false Gospel, Paul condemns them. We must not tolerate anyone who preaches a false gospel, but we can rejoice in the work that God is doing by using people who do not seek his will, but still preach the Gospel.

A note devotional note on envy.

In the text, there is nothing to say that the ones mentioned in verse 17 are not believers. However, they have fallen into envy of Paul. It is incredibly easy to fall into envy, so we must be on guard against it. We all are in the same family, baptized into christ, moving toward the same purpose. If someone you know is better at evangelizing than you, or reads their bible more than you, Do not envy them. Rather be happy for them and try to imitate them in those areas.

V. 18

Even though this is not a part of the memory verse, it concludes this passage.

Why does Paul rejoice?

Christ is proclaimed.

Lets think about Pastor Todd’s sermon now.

Read Rev 20:4-6

Revelation 20:4–6 CSB

Then I saw thrones, and people seated on them who were given authority to judge. I also saw the souls of those who had been beheaded because of their testimony about Jesus and because of the word of God, who had not worshiped the beast or his image, and who had not accepted the mark on their foreheads or their hands. They came to life and reigned with Christ for a thousand years. The rest of the dead did not come to life until the thousand years were completed. This is the first resurrection. Blessed and holy is the one who shares in the first resurrection! The second death has no power over them, but they will be priests of God and of Christ, and they will reign with him for a thousand years.

Paul understood that he was working for an eternal goal. That the here and now was not his goal. Paul was totally consumed by God’s goodness and by the Gospel message that he proclaimed. This results in him being able to rejoice even in prison. To him, prison is a success because in his imprisonment, Christ is proclaimed.

conclude with Matthew Henry

Matthew Henry’s Concise Commentary on the Bible Chapter 1

Our earnest expectation and hope should not be to be honoured of men, or to escape the cross, but to be upheld amidst temptation, contempt, and affliction. Let us leave it to Christ, which way he will make us serviceable to his glory, whether by labour or suffering, by diligence or patience, by living to his honour in working for him, or dying to his honour in suffering for him