Philippians 1:12-30: Joy in Chains

Paul’s Pain had a purpose.

Philippians 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel,

Paul wants the Christians to know that even though he was in jail. I shouldn’t say jail. Jail is where the drunk goes to sleep it off for the night. Paul was in PRISON. He was awaiting execution. God would use it for good. He was going to further the gospel. The Devil thought He could stop Paul, but you can not stop the gospel.

Paul’s chains were Christ tool.

Philippians 1:13–14 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Everyone in prison knew that Paul in CHAINS probably to the point that he had infected blisters were he was chained were for the glory of Jesus Christ. Christ endured more on the cross than Paul did in prison and Paul wasn’t going to let a little thing like Prison stop him from sharing the gospel as a matter of fact it was going to help him serve the LORD better. What are you going through? REALLY? Pull it up in your head right now. If you aren’t going through something, don’t worry? You will! Probably tomorrow.

Family Crisis - Use your chains for God’s Glory!

Health Problems - Use your chains for God’s Glory!

Remember Joni Eareckson Tada did you know that her dad is in the national hall of fame. On July 30th 1967 at 17 years old Joni ended up in chains. Her pain had a purpose. She dove head first into the chesapeake Bay She fractured her neck. Instantly a quadrapoligic paralyzed from the shoulders down. WOW! Talk about being a prisoner in your own body. For a while she fought that her pain had a purpose she faced anger depression suicidal thoughts and religious doubts. BUT OH THE GRACE OF JESUS!!! To date she has authored over 40 books. Shared the gospel of Jesus and the joy of Jesus to the disabled all over the world. A true inspiration. We love her radio show Joni and Friends. I don’t listen to the radio ever so I haven’t heard her in years. But I can still hear Joni and Friends. She was an inspiration to my mother and probably to many of you today. So the next time you feel trapped. Picture Paul Picture Joni, truely in more dire situations than most of us will ever face but their pain had a purpose.

People have two motives for sharing the gospel.

Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill:

Strive or jealousy or goodwill are his two motives I can’t imagine somebody being jealous and going out to share the gospel but I guess it happens, but Paul wants us to know that he cares most that gospel is being spread.

The first motive to share the gospel is selfish ambition.

Philippians 1:16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains;

Paul’s ministry was booming. Some people didn’t like it. He was doing something for God. So they wanted to get the gospel out. I can do it just as good as you Paul. I will show you. Come on Paul says. They think that they are going to make me feel bad here in prison. Like Paul I am better at doing this Christian thing than you. COME ON!!! It’s like someone saying I am better at doing VBS than you!!! You know what we say to that. GOOD! Go do VBS!!!! I am better at Jail ministry than you !!! Paul is saying GOOD we need some of that work right here!

REMEMBER, We all have different gifts, USE THEM!

Romans 12:6–8 Having then gifts differing according to the grace that is given to us, let us use them: if prophecy, let us prophesy in proportion to our faith; or ministry, let us use it in our ministering; he who teaches, in teaching; he who exhorts, in exhortation; he who gives, with liberality; he who leads, with diligence; he who shows mercy, with cheerfulness.

MAYBE YOU ARE BETTER THAN ME AT PREACHING TEACHING VISITATION CHILDRENS MINISTRY ADMINISTRATION GIVING HOSPITALITY GOOD GO DO IT!!!! You won’t hurt anyone’s feelings! We are all God’s servants we all give our evenings weekends and extra time to serve the LORD. It’s not you against me, it’s us against them by them I mean the devil and all those who follow him.

The second motive to share the gospel is love.

Philippians 1:17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

This is far better as Paul says to share the gospel because you love Christ and love others. You should have agape self sacrificial love. If you love people you point them to Jesus.

Paul doesn’t care your motive as long as Christ is shared.

Philippians 1:18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

They thought that they were going to anger Paul that they were going to destroy him and his minsitry and that they were going to get the glory. Paul laughs he rejoices, he has joy in the fact that JESUS is shared. You see when you have found Jesus even your enemies bring you JOY in JESUS!!! The devil thinks that he thwart your ministry, REJOICE JESUS will have the gospel get out. Sometimes I don’t understand people. You can’t understand people. They seem to have twisted motives but they can’t steal your joy in Jesus.

One way or another, Paul will be free.

Philippians 1:19–20 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.

He is telling the Philippians one way or another these chains days are limited, either I am going to be free or I am going to heaven. You know and I know that you don’t want to hear it, one way or another cancer can’t destroy the Christian. Either God will heal you or you are going to heaven and all pain and tears will be gone. You know Paul is a little bit different than most people. He is saying Heaven is the better option. Put me to the gallows, One quick Pull and to be absent from the body is to be present with the LORD.

Nothing can separate us from Christ.

Romans 8:38–39 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

See that Neither death nor life. My family lost my mother to cancer, we don’t mind at all. Notice that I did not say we don’t care I said we don’t get angry about it. We are sad because we miss her, we could use her, but we are happy because we KNOW that she is in heaven. My Father My brother my wife we all talk about is. She couldn’t have handled COVID. She is in heaven. I don’t say this lightly she is in a better place. I HAVE CONFIDENCE IN THAT! Do You?

Philippians 1:21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

Death is the greatest thing for the Christian. I have spent a lot of time with people in their last days. Christians get it. Those who don’t know Jesus don’t. Some people fear death. I don’t I don’t want to go through the pain, but for me absent from the body is present with the LORD because HE LIVES I CAN FACE TOMORROW BECAUSE HE LIVE ALL FEAR IS GONE

If I am alive, I am here to bear fruit.

Philippians 1:22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.

What am I here for, to bear fruit. Every person in this room can bear fruit. Pray, Give, Labor, Love. My question is how are you bearing fruit. Don’t point and say what about him. Point right here and say I am alive what am I doing. You want to know what has always burned me is when bench warmers and monday morning quarterbacks tell athletes how to do it… The same can be said of pew warmers, they are good at telling others how to do it it, but?

It is better to be with Christ!

Philippians 1:23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.

Picture heaven with Jesus!

Revelation 22:4–5 They shall see His face, and His name shall be on their foreheads. There shall be no night there: They need no lamp nor light of the sun, for the Lord God gives them light. And they shall reign forever and ever.

IF you are going to see Jesus no matter what happens in this world Heaven is your home. You could be living in a nazi concentration camp, but Jesus is your savior and you are going to be ok. I only say that because I believe that Paul is in a terrible situation like we can’t understand and his answer is JOY!!!!

People have a purpose to stay here even in suffering.

Philippians 1:24–25 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,

Believers face pain with purpose!

1. Trials help the church stand fast together for Jesus.

Philippians 1:27 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel,

I believe that when the church gets comfortable, it is in danger. In trials the church grows and matures. I think about running you know how you become a good runner. You run and sometimes it isn’t fun. Nobody trains for a marathon sitting on the couch watching TV. You know what I think. PRAY FOR MYANMAR. God is going to do a great work in myanmar people are going to get saved Christians are going to grow and people are going to be mature and on fire for the LORD. Meanwhile the church in the US will get fat and lazy until we face adversity.

2. Trials help you not to fear.

Philippians 1:28 and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

Through trials, you will learn to lean on the LORD.

Psalm 23:4 Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil; For You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.

3. You face trials for Jesus.

Philippians 1:29–30 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.

Remember what Christ endured.

Hebrews 12:1–2 Therefore we also, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.

Keeping your mind on Christ will keep your heart joyful.

Romans 8:18 For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.

Our trials are temporary.

1 Peter 5:10 But may the God of all grace, who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.

We have joy through persecution for Jesus sake.

Matthew 5:10–12 Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, For theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

It’s not just about suffering. We are not some kind of masocists - someone who enjoys giving themselves pain. We understand that pain is part of the process of serving Jesus. I don’t think that we are supposed to hunt out persecution, I believe that this means that if you naturally serve Christ you will face adversity. People will mock you and many of other brothers and sisters have their lives on the line. But we do it for purpose. We endure for Jesus and if we do we can have JOY for His sake.