Philippians 1:12-26 What are You Living For?
Notes
Transcript
Intro
Intro
Have you ever watched people shop, especially at Costco
Costco is a place that both men and women enjoy shopping
Men tend to be systematic while women tend to be more random
we were at the Costco in SLO
Our objective was to find some frying pans
I wasn’t looking for anything else
I had an idea which isle said frying pans were on and was making a bee line for them
My wife pointed out a corn hole set right at the entrance
I was like, “Huh? Oh yeah.”
Next thing I know we are meandering through the aisles
We get close to the Kitchen goods aisle and I start to head down and turn around and she isn’t there
She’s over looking at live palm trees
Men like to make progress, they like to advance
If there was one thing Paul was committed to, it was seeing the Gospel advance
Read Philippians 1:12-14
Read Philippians 1:12-14
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.
Transition: Intro to Philippians
Paul wrote this letter from prison in Rome
The Philippian church had its problems too
It’s members were desperately poor
They were being persecuted for the cause of Christ
False teachers will infiltrating the church
A feud between two prominent women was threatening to shatter their unity
It was also controlled the traffic between east and west because the Roman road “Via Egnatia” ran through the city
The citizens of Philippi were Roman citizens, which prevented them from paying certain taxes
The church in Philippi was the first that Paul planted in Europe
Paul intended to go to Asia, but in a dream got the Macedonian call
Chains Bring Confidence vs. 12-14
Chains Bring Confidence vs. 12-14
This first passage we see that chains bring confidence
Paul was literally chained to Roman guards while under house arrest
This was leading others to be more bold with the Gospel because they saw how God is using Paul
vs. 12 Suffering to Serve
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,
Paul reassures the Philippians that God has used the struggles he has endured to advance the Gospel
They were confused why he has been in prison so long
He was in Prison for 3 years in Caesarea and 2 years in Rome
When Paul was with the Philippians, there were amazing examples of the sovereign power of God, culminating in a divine jail-break and their vindication before civil magistrates
The Philippians were wondering where the power of God was in Paul’s present imprisonment.
We often expect God to work in the same way every time, yet he rarely does
And now, behold, I am going to Jerusalem, constrained by the Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there,
except that the Holy Spirit testifies to me in every city that imprisonment and afflictions await me.
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.
vs. 13 God uses Paul in chains
vs. 13 God uses Paul in chains
so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
The power of the Gospel had become evident to the Imperial guard and everyone else that God’s hand was on Paul
Imprisonment = Being in bonds, chains, or fetters
The NJKV and NIV use the term chains instead of imprisonment
Instead of looking at his chains as a hinderance, he saw the guards as a captive audience
Many Critics had used Paul’s chains as a sign that God’s blessing wasn’t on him
vs. 14 Bold to Speak
vs. 14 Bold to Speak
And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Over time people started to see that God was working
This in turn gave the brothers confidence
Confidence = To believe in something to the extent of placing confidence or trust in it
At first they were fearful the same fate awaited them, then
Paul’s imprisonment gave the Christians around him – who were not imprisoned – greater confidence and boldness.
They saw that Paul had joy in the midst of such a trial.
They saw that God would take care of Paul in such circumstances.
They saw that God could still use Paul even when he was imprisoned.
You can have confidence and boldness when being used by the Lord, but that confidence has to be in the Lord
Rejoice that Christ is Proclaimed vs. 15-18a
Rejoice that Christ is Proclaimed vs. 15-18a
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.
In this next passage we see Paul rejoice that Christ is proclaimed
Paul wants the Philippians to know that even though some preach the Gospel with the wrong motive, He is rejoicing because Christ is proclaimed
Paul was able to find joy in almost every situation
vs. 15-16 Preach Out of Envy & Strife
vs. 15-16 Preach Out of Envy & Strife
There was a group of people who had become jealous of Paul’s ministry
They preached against him and used the Gospel for their own profit
They were causing problems in the church and confusing a lot of the newer Christians
These preachers were full of selfish ambition looking to pile on Paul’s problems
They saw his chains as an opportunity for them to increase their platform
They are least interested in seeing the Gospel advance
vs. 17 Preach with Goodwill & Love
vs. 17 Preach with Goodwill & Love
Paul did see that there were men who were preaching from goodwill and love
There is nothing worse than when people kick you when you are down, so it is nice to find some who act in goodwill and love
Their hearts have been surrendered to the work of the Holy Spirit
They want to see the Gospel advance
vs. 18 In Every Way, Christ is Preached
vs. 18 In Every Way, Christ is Preached
The only way that the Gospel is going to advance is through preaching
Paul said this in Romans
How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching?
And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!”
While Paul cared about the heart of the preacher, he knew that God was sovereign enough to use both good and bad
He Gets Us Super Bowl ad
I have so many issues with this ad
But did you know searches for Jesus surged on Google right after the ad
Who knows how many untold people heard the Gospel because of that Ad
Whether in pretense or truth, Christ is preached; in this I rejoice
Maybe we should put our pitchforks and torches down and ask God to use it
To Live is Christ vs. 18b-26
To Live is Christ vs. 18b-26
for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 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. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
In this passage we see one of Paul’s most iconic sayings: To live is Christ, to die is gain
As Paul sits in prison awaiting his fate, he has come to grips with what ever happens
If he lives, it is for Christ’s glory
If he dies, it is for his gain
vs. 19-20 Christ Honored
vs. 21-26
If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
Paul was sitting in a house chained to Roman guards
People were asking what was going to be his fate
He was confident he was going to be released, but if he wasn’t then it would be his gain
His life was in Christ’s hands and he wanted to honor Him
To live is Christ means three things
To Live it is Christ’s Will
My living is for Christ’s purposes
To live is to be transformed into Christ’s image
I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.
If he was to continue to live, it would be for the fruitful labor
Paul was hard pressed
He wanted to depart and be with Christ
