Christ proclaimed...

Philippians 1:12–18 NASB95

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Greeting...

I’ve just started to get to know everyone, but I’m starting to get a feel for who everyone’s rooting for during the baseball and football season. I think there a few Ohio State Fans, some Bengals fans in the room, but I understand there are also some long-time Reds fans in the room. I myself am a Vikings fan,but I’m not a very good one. I tend to get excited like I am right now when there’s a good start to the season, but in years past around 8 to 10 weeks into season things start to go downhill, and I lose interest.

Paul in our text today proves to us that he’s not the fair-weather fan I tend to be in that Paul is rooting for the advancement of the gospel and proclamation of Christ. Paul isn’t rooting for a faulty team of men for one, but he’s also rooting for a cause that simply cannot fail.

The world around us would have us believe that because of our hardship and suffering in the cause of Christ that we’re losing.

We may also be tempted to believe that because the church is made up of imperfect and faulty men that we’re losing.

In truth, the battle is being won because Christ is being proclaimed.

I hope we would be encouraged by Paul’s words today that:

In whatever our circumstance, we can find contentment and joy in Christ proclaimed.

Christ proclaimed in hardship

Philippians 1:12–14 (NASB95)

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,

so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,

and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Explanation

The circumstances from which Paul is writing is dire in and of itself, but I’d like us to consider Paul’s history and his history with the church Philippi specifically that has brought him to this point.

In Acts 16 Paul is given a vision of a Macedonian, a Greek, saying, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.”

Upon arriving in the city of Philippi in the district of Macedonia Paul meets a woman named Lydia outside the city who readily responds to the gospel along with her family.

So far his missionary journey is going great. It almost sounds too easy. Paul receives a vision of where he needs to go, he arrives, and an entire family comes to Christ. Praise God!

In such circumstances how could we not rejoice? How could we not be content with Christ proclaimed? There’s clear direction from God, a short journey, and a ripe harvest. Praise God!

We’ve probably all experienced these moments at one time or another.

New members come into the church, our family members get saved, churches are planted, young believers are being baptized and we share a common joy, contentment, and even excitement in the proclamation of Christ.

As we follow the story in the book of Acts and recall the origins of the church at Philippi, Lydia and the conversion of her family, (some of the first converts in all of Europe) only receive about three verses before Paul faces fierce resistance!

A slave girl possessed by a spirit of divination heckles them for many days

They’re dragged before the authorities

They were beaten with rods

They were thrown in prison

Now many of us may be familiar with the story, but in any other story you don’t expect this joy and contentment to endure through such persecution and trial… but it does!!

Acts 16:23–25 NASB95

When they had struck them with many blows, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to guard them securely; and he, having received such a command, threw them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in the stocks. But about midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns of praise to God, and the prisoners were listening to them;

In spite of their circumstances, Paul and Silas maintain their faith and purpose. A faith in God that they are not forsaken and a purpose that drives them ever forward proclaiming Christ.

Acts 16 goes on to tell how this enduring faith and cause result in the conversion of the Philippian jailer.

Paul’s time between his imprisonment in Philippi and his imprisonment in Rome is not much brighter.

2 Corinthians 11:24–27 NASB95

Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

As we come to our text and Paul says,

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,

Paul finds a contentment that he has had from the very beginning in his great suffering and imprisonment that is enduring because of his faith and cause.

What is this faith?

A belief that God is faithful to, and present with, those who he has redeemed.

What is this cause?

The cause of Christ! The proclamation of His gospel and the making of disciples unto the growth of his church.

Matthew 28:18–20 NASB95

And Jesus came up and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

What greater foundation of faith could we ask for than the Maker of heaven and earth our Lord and Savior promising his presence with us to the end of the age.

What greater cause could we champion than that of the extension of Christ’s eternal kingdom through the proclamation of His gospel?

Because Paul has aligned the entirety of his life with the cause of Christ he can look at his imprisonment and be content because though he has suffered much, endured great hardship, and been denied his rights his freedom the gospel goes forth!

Philippians 1:13–14 NASB95

so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.

Paul’s imprisonment has given him opportunity to witness to the praetorian guard who is obligated to be in Paul’s presence continually. You better believe Paul took advantage of that opportunity.

When you and I do evangelism there’s always the chance that person can walk away or just close the door. Paul had a unique opportunity that he took full advantage of...

Notice Paul wasn’t waiting for his next speaking engagement to continue his gospel proclamation.

“Lord when are you going to get me out of here so I can get back to work?”

We have a tendency to ask a similar question don’t we?

“Lord when are you going to give me a ‘real’ opportunity to kingdom work?”

Often times that opportunity is standing right in front of us, it’s just a little more ordinary and humble than we might like.

Paul goes on to find reason for contentment in recognizing that others have become motivated to proclaim Christ. Paul’s ministry and opportunity at this point may not be glorious, but his perseverance in humility has led to the motivation of others.

The motivation from witnessing a diligent humble minister.

At the end of the day Paul is content with his circumstances, his imprisonment, his suffering because at the end of the day Christ is proclaimed. It does not matter how great or difficult the platform from which he preaches or even if someone else has the platform, Christ is proclaimed, and so Paul is content.

Illustration

Application

For us, I hope we would take heart and be encouraged by Paul’s testimony. In the most difficult and ordinary of opportunities, God used Paul for the advancement of his kingdom. The world would have us believe that we need degrees, doctorates, books published, prominence, power, and influence to really make a difference. We have the Holy Spirit and the gospel! That is enough. Let us go on proclaiming Christ in ordinary ways through trial and hardship! In this we can be content.

Christ proclaimed in strife

Paul goes on to describe those who are not so content with their ministries.

Philippians 1:15–17 NASB95

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

Explanation

Paul is comparing two different kinds of preachers, and he does so in kind of poetic manner.

ABBA AB

for the moment let’s address the discontented, selfish preachers and we’ll get to loving selfless preacher in a moment.

At first glance, such a preacher is almost hard to imagine. What kind of person preaches the gospel in envy, strife, and selfish ambition thinking to bring intentional distress on Paul.

If you think about it for a moment we shouldn’t be shocked by our sinful heart’s ability to turn the dishonorable and the honorable for our own selfish gain and as soon as selfishness steps into the scene that which was once an honorable pursuit becomes plagued with envy and strife.

Imagine for a moment a young family with 2,3, 4 kids. Some of you don’t have to imagine very hard… The kids are old enough be tasked with some responsibilities and are asked to set the table. It’s not too hard to imagine a few moments into this honorable chore of setting the table turning into a competition.

“I wanted to do the forks”

“Mom, Johnny is using the wrong glasses.”

“Stop, it’s crooked, let me do it.”

“Look what I did!”

At some point it isn’t about setting the table anymore it’s about me setting the table.

I wonder if we do the same thing in just a ministerial/church context.

Our concern is no longer for the ministry of the church but rather my ministry in the church.

I grew up playing basketball and very early on, elementary school, basketball is a game of seeing how many points I can score. It’s five kids on a court all trying to get their chance to score.

Around middle school you start to see kids develop a sense of what working together as a team is. The coach starts teaching everyone how to create opportunities for each other. You start to recognize I probably shouldn’t shoot the deep ball, and I’m going to work to get my teammate open.

Coming to high school I had been playing with the same 3 guys for 10 years and we all knew our place and we didn’t so much care what our stat sheet was at the end of the game because we cared about the effectiveness of the team… most days.

When Paul mentions these selfish preachers, he’s describing a kind of ministerial ball-hog of sorts. They’re selfish ambition is actually undermining the work of the team, the church, in favor of their own stat sheet at the end of the game.

Illustration

Application

I believe it’s a fair question for us to consider ourselves: Are our efforts completing the efforts of the church or competing with the efforts of the church?

Christ proclaimed in love

Paul has addressed the selfish preacher and contrasts them with the selfless: those who proclaim Christ in love, good will, pure motives, and truth.

Philippians 1:15–18 NASB95

Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Explanation

Firstly, what is this ‘good will’.

Let’s look at this word Paul uses in another context.

1 Corinthians 1:21 “For since in the wisdom of God the world through its wisdom did not come to know God, God was well-pleased through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe.”

this word translated ‘well-pleased’ in 1 Corinthians is the same word Paul is using to describe the disposition of the selfless, loving preacher.

He is one who preaches Christ because he is well-pleased to do so. It is pleasing to him to proclaim Christ.

We might ask this preacher, “Suppose no fruit or personal benefit came from your preaching, would you still do it?” I believe his answer would be, “Yes!” because his delight is not in the benefit derived from proclaiming Christ but rather the act in itself is pleasing to him.

I don’t think you can expect the same response from the selfish preacher. “Suppose no fruit or personal benefit came from your preaching, would you still do it?” I believe his answer would be, “Probably not” If he were honest, because his ambition is not for the proclamation of Christ, but rather his own personal betterment.

Maybe you’ve met someone who likes to run or likes to workout. When you just start working out or just start running we’re often in pursuit of some benefit. (which is right and good) It’s good to be healthy. It’s good to be fit. But then there’s some people who just run to run. They’re fit, they’re healthy and they just run to run. “Why do you run?” … “Because I like running?” “Why do you eat ice cream?” … “Because I like it.”

This preacher of “good-will” that Paul speaks of might answer in the same way. “Why do you proclaim Christ?” … “Because I enjoy making his name known.”

A prayer to take with you today:

We might make a point to pray that we might have that same enjoyment. “Father give me a heart which delights to proclaim Christ, even when no one acknowledges my work, no one listens, and there is no reward for my effort.”

Paul goes on to describe this preacher of good will as one who preaches out of love.

A lot could be said about serving and preaching out of love generally, but I’d like to focus on the specific description Paul gives us. What is on the mind of the preacher who preaches out of love?

“knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; (vs. 16)

There’s an understanding by these loving preachers that Paul is laboring to protect and preserve the good news which gives us life and grants us strength to persevere to the end. The fidelity of these men is fundamentally to Christ and his gospel and out of that commitment to the gospel of Jesus Christ flows a love for all who defend it.

Illustration

Application

This being missions month I hope we might be inspired towards a similar love as we take time consider those men and women who proclaim and protect the gospel of Jesus Christ as Paul did. There are churches in our association, throughout the U.S., and across the globe in places we can’t even imagine; All of which are proclaiming and protecting this gospel of Jesus Christ which we so cherish.

Might we join them in love... to proclaim Christ with whatever opportunities the Lord has put before us laying aside all personal ambition.

Closing Summary

Paul has made it clear to us that in God’s sovereign plan to redeem humanity through the work of Christ, the gospel of Christ will go forth.

Through trial and hardship Christ is proclaimed.

Through selfish, ambitious preachers Christ is proclaimed.

Through the love of believers for the preservation of the gospel, Christ is proclaimed.

What is Paul’s response?

Philippians 1:18 NASB95

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

Though we continue to face resistance and hardship in numerous ways as Christians, today we have reason to rejoice because Christ is proclaimed.

Do we pray for freedom and rest from this hardship? Absolutely. Yet even now we have reason to rejoice.

Though selfish, ambitious preachers make their way into pulpits around the world, today we have reason to rejoice because Christ is proclaimed.

I believe many of us here have stories to tell about how God used imperfect men and imperfect churches for our maturity and growth in the faith.

Perhaps especially for all the faithful men and women who proclaim Christ in churches down the street, across the nation, and around the globe do we have reason to rejoice today.

In whatever our circumstance, may we find contentment and joy in Christ proclaimed.

Closing Application

Closing Prayer

Let’s pray.

Benediction

“Our Benediction as we approach the table.”

2 Thessalonians 2:16–17 NASB95

Now may our Lord Jesus Christ Himself and God our Father, who has loved us and given us eternal comfort and good hope by grace, comfort and strengthen your hearts in every good work and word.

“Gentleman if you would come...”

(Distribute the bread)

Luke 22:19 NASB95

And when He had taken some bread and given thanks, He broke it and gave it to them, saying, “This is My body which is given for you; do this in remembrance of Me.”

As we remember what Christ has accomplished on our behalf in his death and resurrection we have great reason for comfort, hope, and rejoicing. As we take this bread and juice together we proclaim Christ together. As Paul rejoiced in the proclamation of Christ so we now proclaim Him and rejoice.

“Let’s take and eat.”

(Distribute the juice)

Luke 22:20 NASB95

And in the same way He took the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup which is poured out for you is the new covenant in My blood.

“In the blood of Christ which satisfied God’s justice, we can rest.”

“Let’s take and drink”

“Let’s close with the doxology.”

“Praise God from whom...