Philippians 1:12-21 - The Joy of Gospel Progress

What were the Philippians chapter 1? And I'm going to be going over verses 12 to 21. Like I said, it is such a joy that to be here with you, this afternoon, to worship our great God in together and joy. This time, we take the time to your, to preach the word, as a parts of our worship. And so, as we worship through this time, may God give us listening ears, attentive Hearts, let me read year, Philippians chapter 1, starting in verse 12. It says there, I want you to know, brothers that what has happened to me, has really serve 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. Some indeed verse 15 preach Christ from envy and rivalry but others from Goodwill the latter do it out of love knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel the former pro, same price out of selfish ambition not sincerely but thinking to a flick me in my imprisonment what? Then only that in every way weather in pretense or Aunt Ruth Christ is Proclaim and in that I Rejoice. Yes. And I will rejoice for I know that through your prayers at 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 was full courage. That was always Christ will be honored in my body weather by life or by death for 2 me to live is Christ and to die is gain of the title of our sermon. This afternoon is the joy of gospel progress. And before we launch into this, any further, let's go ahead and pray. Let me come to you now. And we ask that you would allow your word. You were to just abide that as it is preached, we would receive it as your word, that anything that is your word, we would take you in. That we would use this time to hear from you are God. For both in encouragement, admonition. Whatever it is, Lord, let us be humble towards you now and receive what you have to say. It even for me for myself, but this is for all of us to you. Be the glory, we ask and pray Jesus name, amen. Well, Philippians is the book about Jesus about the gospel, about partnership, and joy. And something I mentioned last last time I was here on Philippians, so you see there on the screen, the cross represents Jesus, the globe represents the gospel, the person represents partnership, and the Heart represents joy. And so those icons are there for us to just remember those things that that's what this book is about fueled by the love of Christ. We see Paul along with the church at Phillipi, embracing the call to advance the gospel together and unity of love in 1:5 Paul calls the Philippian Church partners partners in the gospel and 1:27 they stand side-by-side with Paul and with each other for the faith of the Gospel, which is to say that They had a Ministry of the Gospel towards others, write the Gospel going out towards others because they were standing side-by-side with each other. They had a gospel Ministry, toward each other as well. Coming alongside each other Ministry, gifts to one another. We Minister the gospel at as partners, not alone, but together doing this work, doing this mission, that God has called us all to be a part of All rights to his ministry Partners in this letter. That's what's going on here. While he himself is in prison, even though he finds himself to be a prisoner, the gospel right is not imprisoned, gospel Ministry continues for Paul even though he's in prison, and his gospel Ministry continues for Paul, they were in prison. But we also understand is that for the Philippians, the Philippians, the gospel Ministry continues for As well at Phillipi because that's Ministry. Partners were Minister, The Gospel wherever we're at, while he's doing in prison, we're doing it here, we're Partners. We do it together wherever God has called us in our text, the gospel is advancing Ministry does indeed continue as well. See, their inverse 12. Where Paul says, that what has happened to me has really serve to advance the gospel. The gospel is actually continue and carrying on. And even though the Philippines are not in prison, they're a part of this again because our partners in the gospel standing side-by-side for the face of the Gospel. I saw this partnership and Joshua Ministry would mean then that what Paul says, For me to live is Christ and to die is gain what that means is that this this partnership price for, for the Philippians to live is Christ also, and for the Philippians to die is gain because of the Partnership. If they are Partners In The Gospel in verse five and if they are striving side-by-side with each other, for the faith of the Gospel in verse 27, what else can it mean? Except to say that their partnership runs deep in this way. That for me to live is Christ to die is gain. That is Paul says, this about himself in verse 21, we understand this to be true of the Philippines as well. They are Partners. They are Partners In Christ centered gospel ministry as they themselves. Live out, christ-centered lives. This is partnership that runs deep. But I wanted to start with verse 21 to remind all of us. that as we hit the bumps, The adversities, the trials of life that make Ministry tiring sometimes. I wanted to start with verse 21 to remind you about what your life is about in the first place to get us on the same page. So that we could we start looking at 12 and we move on and we see how we resent. This is all, I can't do that when we see that. Remember for me to live is Christ. Christ is your life we want to remember that. It's so, We see versus like in verse 11, it's like a sandwich. The way I would look at these verses because the verse 21 says, for me to live is Christ, we're jumping the first 12, but he's ending verse 11, which says this to the glory and praise of God, this is what Paul wants for the Philippian church, that their life would be to the glory and praise of God, seems like the sandwich. The glory and praise of God. Your life is priced and there's these things are happening in the middle. That's what we're going to look at to live is Christ process and that phrase there to die. Again simply means that when this life is done living, for Christ is not a waste, because eternity will need more of Christ. You will go on, you will see your savior will be with your favorite. It is gain Paul. Second verse 23, that departing from this life is to be with Christ. His life is all about Christ in the Here and Now His life will be all about Christ Beyond this life. So, when you think about the partnership that Paul has with the Philippians, I think it's safe to say that Philippians 1:21 resonate with the church at Phillipi because price was their life to just as it was for Paul. And so it, our text polish showing us, then when Christ is our life, the progress of the Gospel, Is our joy. Let's first. Look at it in terms of your circumstances and verse 12. It says I want you to know Brothers That what has happened to me has really served to Advanced the gospel. and so, in your circumstances,

When Christ is your life. Anywhere got places. You is an opportunity for the gospel. Pause in prison, anywhere. Place To Shoot is an opportunity for the gospel. Prison is not a dead-end to gospel Ministry. It's not it becomes the very opportunity for Paul to engage in gospel Ministry. This week, I had the pleasure of spending time with Pastor Harlan nakasone, I introduced them earlier over their pastor of Fellowship. Baptist Church visiting us from Hawaii and I drove down to Southern California together for a conference and he was shared with me. How would ever he goes on trips like these. He brings a stack of cracks with him because he wants to pass them out and spread the gospel. His goal, I didn't ask him yet. If you met his goal, 20 tracks, Because even this trip is an opportunity for gospel Ministry. When we were having dinner at there was a plane crash somewhere, Jesse that this week. A plane crash on fire. They said, man, I wish I was there but like, what is that? I wish.

He said what an opportunity to share the gospel.

When an opportunity people were scared, people were freaked out. He wanted to be there to share the gospel during another meal. We were talking about our Ministries and he was mentioning that part of his ministry, was ministering to the port to which he said that he never really thought he'd have a Ministry like this and his attitude is that This is the opportunity to minister the gospel to these wonderful people. Has got put you in a hard place. Are you in a difficult circumstance? Is trouble brewing in your life. Do you find yourself in a situation, you never thought you did? Can it be your church that this is your opportunity to minister the gospel? Can you look at yourself in your life circumstances? As perhaps God calling you to minister his gospel right there, right there, where he has you Is he the reason I started verse 21 again is because the only way that this can happen, that you can look at your life circumstances and make a gospel Ministry out of it. And it, look at it from that perspective. is because Christ has to be your life in order for that to happen.

When you're not looking at Christ, that's when the excuses come in. That's where the complaints and woe, is me. Attitude kicks in But when Christ is your life that you're very circumstances, are your very opportunities for the gospel. You see him throw the towel with long ago. Did you throw the towel and he's in prison 2nd Corinthians. 11:20 for Paul says this about himself, five times, I received at the hands of the Jews. The Forty lashes less one. They were afraid to go over the the law of 40. And so he received the lashes and was spared the one. Cuz of these people who are afraid to go over that amount three times, I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned three times, I was Shipwrecked a night and a day I was adrift at Sea on frequent Journeys in danger from Rivers, Danger from robbers, Danger. From my own people Danger from Jen's house, danger in the city danger in the wilderness dangerous. If Danger from false Brothers, do you get it, danger? Danger danger. Right? In toil. And hardship through many a sleepless night in hunger, and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure and apart. From other things, there's the daily pressure of me of my anxiety for all the churches. Why, or Paul? Would you even bother? Because look, Paul has let this now all that this is let you cuz now you're in prison. So while Paul, are you still so encouraged?

What to me? To live is Christ.

What's a me to live is Christ and to die, is gain, all that has happened to him these things, listed his two years, imprisonment in cesarina, even his appeal to Caesar, at the very least, his present circumstance of house arrest and his impending trial. This, this is Crystal Clear for Paul. It says it has served to advance the gospel. That's how he looks at his circumstances. And there's more, there's more with this gospel progress. That gives him Joy. It's also seeded his relationships, not just his circumstance. Just the circumstances. Restarting says, it has become known throughout the whole Imperial Guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brother is having become confident in the Lord, by my imprisonment are much more bold to speak the word without fear. That's so in your relationships. When Christ is your life, you will be an encouraging witness to any one, God places in your life is that you or are you a drag to be around when trouble strikes? Some of the most encouraging people to be around, are the Saints who Keep Their Eyes On Christ and Darren despair. You'll see them on their knees. You will see them in prayer, you'll see them beseeching God for help, you'll see them. It all that, the fullness of their Godly humility running to the only one who can help them dependence on crisis. Your life you'll be at in purging witness to any one God places in your life. The circumstances are simply avenues that connect you to the people, you must bring the gospel to you will be a witness of Christ to lost and unsafe people. And you will be a Godly influence for the cause of Christ to God's people and suffer. So sick at the Lost. Paul's imprisonment has brought him to close proximity with unsafe people. In this case, it may very well have have been the elite Imperial Guard of the Roman army. This would have put it in the vicinity of 9000 people. Man whose mouth was watering. Look at this opportunity right and God's Divine Providence. God gave him a captive audience. I think what's happening here is that Paul was was allowed visitors you see this in 2nd Timothy 4:13 2. Timothy visited Paul in prison and he says when you come come to visit him in prison, bring the clothes that I left with carpets at r o s. Also the books and above all the parchments. Has he met with people through visitors at these visitors would come this captive, audience have to hear it. They're in prison. They were in close proximity to each other. They observed Paul's life and they observed, and heard his teachings, which unbeknownst to them was ministering. The good news of Jesus Christ. Dick is Paul could not contain himself always talking about the gospel and when he shared it with those visitors, those guard shared it and everyone else within those Prison Walls heard it s. We also see him being a blessing in his relationship to the staved. Not just the lost because Christians need the gospel to, they need to be reminded of who Christ is and what he's done. This is why we have communion to remember our savior, to remember his body, sacrificing his blood spilled for our Salvation, through him, through faith, in him, in Christ, we are saying, what a good message, what a great and wonderful thought. But what happens in this life, we get distracted with jobs bills taxes Sports family, thing house thing, Car thing, all sorts of things, the greatness of the wonderful Gospel of Jesus Christ. And don't seem to shine so bright anymore with these distractions come. Just imagine for the Saints during this time who experienced a lot of the same kinds of things as you do. So then have their Premier evangelist, get dragged into prison yet again, what is the scourging thing on top of the distraction? I'll just heartening. That would have been to the Sea Is this what happens to people who commit themselves to gospel Ministry that we we just gets so Dragon, we get push down and and look our leader is going to prison. What a drag this thing is, what hope is there in this? Will for Paul to stay. My imprisonment actually has propelled the gospel. Okay, you look, you might be discouraged, but man don't feel sorry for me. My circumstance has been caused for the advancement of the Gospel. Don't be discouraged Church. It actually brought encouragement to the brothers. Were normally there would have been discouragement. God is with us, God is for us. He does not act against us. Christ is building his church and allows you me. All of us who believe in Jesus Christ, to be used of him in the spread of the Gospel. And so it's not a big deal.

So that acts 18 would be realized in our lives. You will be my witnesses witnesses of Jesus Christ in Jerusalem in all Judea and Samaria. Until the end of the Earth, that's who we are. You will be Witnesses because of Paul's testimony. What happens to the church. How do you become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment? They were in bold and they were encouraged those things that were causes for distraction. It rolls off, they were encouraged to boldly proclaim. The gospel, the imprisonment, the things you would not necessarily want, or wish for yourself. The bed, that very thing becomes the very Catalyst for both gospel preaching. Paul is consumed by the gospel precisely because again Christ is his life and your church Christ is your life. We ought to be people who are all about the gospel. If the gospel, is to advance from this place and Beyond The Gospel must be in this place. You know what I mean by that? If it's going to go from here to there, it must be here in the first place. I cannot go there. If it's not hear the gospel must be embraced in this place. It must feel the conversations in this place. It must be prayed for in this place. The gospel must be lived and preached in this place, must be supported financially in this place and brothers and sisters and must go forth and be launched from this place, but it must be in this place. It must be in your lives because it's in your life that you bring it to this place for it to go like that and we're Partners together, you just add, but if it ain't here, how can it go from here to there? How can I get from me to you, if it ain't here?

And you know, God has just thinking about it this week. God has been so kind. To allow the gospel to be here. I was thinking about this in my short time here, I've only been here, four and a half months,

Are you guys already tired? Of me? It's been like a year, right? To be like in your butt in my short time here. God, has save Liam. That is so awesome. God help my cousin to finally understand the gospel. God is cause another brother, to seeing you for the first time. God has Jason preaching in Eureka today as a candidate for pastor? God has done this. God has done this. God has done this and I know, you know more than I do cuz you've been here longer than I have. And so the gospel is in this place, be encouraged your church, that God is using you. And in using, you may his gospel go forth, but may go forth and humility. Because Paul goes out to show us that the joy of gospel progress happens in your priorities and your priorities, there is Joy. When we put a priority on price to your wrist, 1573 Christ from Envy in rivalry, but others from Goodwill, the latter do it out of love. Knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Gospel. The former pro Proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment, what? Then only that in every way weather in. Pretense are in truth, Christ is proclaimed.

So, your priorities. When Christ is your life. Glorifying Christ matters. More than glorifying yourself. I think we can all agree to that, right? These verses Strike at the very ego. That's so many of us have in the flesh. How many of us went wrong are quick to defend ourselves. Or at least get super upset that we were wrong on the inside. Maybe, no one might see it, right? Few weeks ago, when I was studying at a Starbucks I think that he's smiling cuz she knows this I texted her, she was the one that texted right away. A lady asked me to move. But you asked me so nicely. So, you got to get out of that table. Do you know what she said? It wasn't fair that she had a big group and that I only one person would take up the big table. Are there were two other big tables mind you, but she asked me when she was making a big stink about it, I asked her. And where do you want me to move with this computer and all these papers and folders? Where do you want me to move? I was so upset, I'm glad none of you were there.

But I did bite my tongue to go any further. I said, okay. It will take time for me to do this. You see all this stuff here on this table. Just give me time and I'll move over and she quickly responded with African it. I don't even argue with you. I'm going to do what you want, Lady you do was, come on.

In my mind, I was exploding and I texted vagi few will not believe what just happened to me. You know.

You seem like it was was kicking it at that moment. I think it was course it was. I'm human. Oddly enough. It gets like that in Ministry. It's all gives us inside that. Even among the creatures egos, an ill motives they flare up in Ministry. How about gospel Ministry workers. There was this kind of one-upmanship, that goes on that along with well, kind intention people. There is also a lien tensions that swarm about the jealousy Envy greed rivalry, whatever it's so interesting because this is in the context of church. This isn't the context of gospel Ministry. These things happen, they're not right. But Paul says, as long as they are, preaching the gospel, I'm good. He's not talking about false teaching here. These people are preaching Christ for Bill motives but they're preaching Christ Christmas theology. Invitations to believe in Jesus calling them to Faith. Crisp crisp ill motives. But Chris theology, false teachings here.

it reminds me of Jesus in Matthew 23, when when he spoke to the crowds, And the disciples he says this is verse two of Matthew 23. The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses seat.

So do and observe whatever they tell you but not the works, they do for they preach but do not practice. There is something about preaching that if indeed God's word is being preached and Christ is being preached. Then I'm good. Then I'm good. Can you? Praise God when God Saves someone from another denomination? I mean our denomination is the best but still right. So long as they preach the gospel and lead people to Christ is that okay with you, is that okay with you? What if it's from that other Church you don't see eye-to-eye with maybe they don't have the same view of the end times as you or share your view on the gifts of the Spirit or they don't have the same philosophy of ministry is you. What if they don't have communion every Sunday? All Shame, Shame, Shame.

Drums in the church. People quibble over that frequency of communion practice of discipleship, discipline of the church approach to biblical counseling and so on and so forth. Paul says of Christ is preached properly. Then I'm good. Even if we don't see eye-to-eye and their motives are painted to some degree and wish and hope only the worst for me as long as Christ is preached. I'm good. So much so that Paul would even call it Joy. He rejoices in Christ being glorified, over and above himself. And that's the last one. I want to touch on here. The joy of gospel progress in your heart, in your heart, says, the first 18, what? Then only that in every way weather in pretense. Or in truth Christ is proclaimed. And in that I rejoice, Yes. And I will rejoice for I know that through your prayers at the help of the spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my Deliverance, so as it is, my eager expectation. Hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that was full courage. Now, as always price will be honored in my body whether by life or by death in your heart, when Christ is your life than even the bitter Things become Joy. I Rejoice. He said, I Rejoice. Yes, I will rejoice. So we already know about the priority preaching price, but we must attach the priority to the hearts, do rejoices because Christ is proclaimed and the word Rejoice means to be glad it needs to be full of joy. This is not merely an affirmation in the mind or the conviction of the will. But it's also an expression of the heart, the proclamation of Christ gets us at the Heart level. It's emotional this word Rejoice is also defined as being in a state of happiness and well-being. It is actually your Delights that Christ is preached. I was thinking about this long and hard and there is a situation where I was confronted with this and you'll know in a moment. Why? It kind of threw me for a, a world here. But here's an example of this, just for my own personal. and just take it for what it's worth during my time in Hawaii, I went to a Bible Conference Harlan and I were talking about this conference is not one of the best conferences to go to But I did not want to go. A friend of mine who was an elder for the church that plant this conference. What ahead and bought tickets for me.

He invited me and said, you're going because I bought you tickets. And I said, okay, I will go the reason I did not want to go like I said, it's because they had convictions. I did not share in the exercise Liberties in areas that I was uncomfortable with but I went anyways, just for my friend. I hear one preacher after the other and this conference one keynote speaker to the next Ed. Even the breakout session one teacher after the next. Okay, they were preaching. and I, I should have known but I was totally disappointed with their preaching. Totally, massively disappointed. For one, they weren't preaching Christ. Sorely disappointed me because this was one of the Premier conferences in all of Hawaii. And this is what they have, this is what they're offering. Well, I'm the lineup for keynote speakers was a woman preacher. oh, You know the B FM 2000, mon Baptist faith and message. Come on. I have determined in my mind. That I wasn't at a church service and that began to appease my conscience. At that moment I was. Okay. So just sit there and listen. What you started to preach? It blew me away. Can you believe that? You know, I blew me away. Because she bring the text in context. The other preachers were taking a verse taken out of context and it meant nothing that God's word even met in the first place. But this one woman priest attack in contact, blew me away. I didn't put you in the text in contact list. Can you believe that? Because when you preached the text in context, you will preach Christ, you will The gospel was flowing out of her mouth. And I tell you, she blew all the male preachers in that conference to the water through them to the water. She obliterated their Chrysler sermons with her Crystal Centric, preaching. And my friend you that I had convictions in this area.

And he's always trying to pick a fight with me, you know, this is what you think about that. I simply said. She preached the best.

Christ was proclaimed. In this conference were men were not preaching Christ at all. I don't care if it's a woman. She please Christ and all these people heard Christ.

All I could say was praise God. That Christ was preached. What's all I can say. Would I ever have her come and preach to hear? No. Would Ryan know. He beat me up? The praise God. That Christ was preached Christ. Was preached. I noticed those words in that I rejoice, something is bringing about that joy in that I rejoice and that's something. Is that Christ is preached. There's also something else that brings Joy he says for I know is inverse 19 which is a reference to the my right for I know that this is something happening in mind that the mind he was informing the heart and what will rejoice over and it's this that Christ is honored in verse 20, not just that he is preached and verse 18 but that he is also honored in verse 20. What is it? That brings price on her here. If the people of God praying for us, 19, it's the Holy Spirit, helping him in his circumstances. Again, verse 19, it's God orchestrating good in the midst of things that are not so good that these things will turn out for Paul's good. And so this honors Christ, because as a servant of God, God has I forgotten him. And so in all of these things that are taking place prayers of the Saints, The the Holy Spirit, helping the good that's going to be brought about because of this, God is in this, we know this Romans 8:18, for I consider that the sufferings of, this present time are not worth comparing with the glory. That is to be revealed to us. All of this is going to amount to that day when we will be with him. All of this is not a waste, it will turn out for good. In fact, the present suffering, cannot compare to the greatness of that moment in time. Genesis chapter 50, you know, this this is Joseph. Brother's right? That Joseph helps save. They're not the father died, they're worried when Joseph was going to do. To the MP second-in-command in Egypt to alleviate them. Joseph sets of them do not fear. For I am in the place of God. As for you, you meant evil against me but God meant it for good to bring it about that. Many people should be kept alive as they are today. There is good and we can rejoice in gospel progress, knowing that God is at work. And he's doing that, which he says, he will do Christ is building his church if it's happening in your midst. Praise God, that in your Miss. People are coming to Christ. He's using you and I would venture to say that maybe in your life you have not seen people come to Christ, but you just have to remember we're partners and if you had eyes to see the parts that you played Has Come Together, perhaps and so much salvation happening here but not here. But because you are here, partnering. God is using it. Prioritize the gospel delight yourself in his glory, let his Joy. So fill you. So permeate through you that the glory of God's gospel from this place and Beyond would happen. I can go from here to there. If it ain't, here made me strong hear me. The gospel be strong here because of you being here for to me to live. Is Christ to die is gain. Let's pray.

What an awesome. Awesome privilege. It is dear God. That not only. Would you bring the gospel to us? Let us see Christ. I'd come to face and salvation in him, but you also give us the gospel you entrusted to us.

Didn't take that very treasure. And bring it to others. I pray Lord that you would help us. Help Trinity Church of Benicia.

To not hold the gospel. Do not take it and lock it up and keep her mouth. Shut, shut. but lord said, just Be conduits of your grace. And share your gospel. To our family members. To our friends. Your classmate to our co-workers, to our neighbors. Allow your gospel to go forth from here to Benicia save many here in this city. Lord, save money here in Solano County, Lord, save many throughout the state of California save. Many throughout this the states of the United States of America State, many throughout this world save Lord Christ, build your church. And allow us to understand the glory in the joy, the privilege of being a part of that, which you are doing to you be the glory. Will give you all the praise and pray this in Jesus name. Amen.