Phil 1:12-14

Philippians 1:12-14

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.”

Pray at the end Henry Suso (1295–1366)

Lord, I can see plainly that you are the only and the true source of wisdom, since you alone can restore faith and hope to a doubting and despairing soul. In your Son, Jesus, you have shown me that even the most terrible suffering can be beautiful, if it is in obedience to your will. And so the knowledge of your Son has enabled me to find joy in my own suffering.

Lord, my dear Father, I kneel before you this day, and praise you fervently for my present sufferings, and give thanks for the measureless sufferings of the past. I now realize that all these sufferings are part of your paternal love, in which you chastise and purify me. And through that discipline I now look at you without shame and terror, because I know that you are preparing me for your eternal kingdom.

songs Nlessings laura story, just be held casting crowns, fall apart josh wilson

My imprisonment, my suffering, has led my captives to know I am in here because of Christ. And because they have seen what God is doing while I am prison, and seeing how God has provided for me in my suffering, they are now emboldened to go preach without fear of the authorities.

Only 12 verses into his letter from prison to the city of Philippi Paul says those words. As I live and breathe, shackled in this Roman prison for sharing the good news of Christ, I tell you the truth, It has only advanced the gospel of Christ. What the enemy meant for evil, has only brought about good.

Can we just sit in this verse and understand what Paul seems to be implying? Paul has been going around Europe and the Mediterranean preaching and he has been arrested, and jailed. If he indeed wrote this letter from Rome, his death is only a few years away.

But his imprisonment has done what? Advanced the gospel? How?

I will tell you what it has done for the church in Philippi. It has struck fear into them. They have sent him money, or food, or some kind of gift to help him. They are worried for him. I mean, that is not unexpected.

If you know the story of this city from the book of Acts this is the very first church Paul establishes. Lydia, the first convert he makes in Philippi, is believed to be one of the house church leaders here and one of his biggest financial supporters.

So there is a deep love and appreciation for Paul here. There is no animosity, no anger, they love Paul here! Imagine into the future 5-10 years from now. You have been faithfully attending this Church for a long time now, you consider it home, and God has blessed me to continue ministering here for all of that time. Now, I take a flight to New York to go see the big apple and I get arrested for my faith, falsely accused of sedition and trying to stage an uprising. Jessie sends back word that i have been arrested and I am awaiting execution.

How would you feel? What if the implication was not just that they wanted to arrest me, but they are cracking down on all followers of Jesus. Why not start with the church I pastor? They make an example out of me and now you fear they want to make an example out of you.

I ask again, how would you feel?

Now, there is an extra layer to this. Unlike any other city Paul helps establish, Philippi is a Roman colony. Founded and named by Philipp the great, founded of the Roman empire, father of Alexander the great. And then, after stopping the assassin's who tried to kill Julius Caesar, Mark Antony and Octavian found this city as a reward for their commanders and generals. So many Roman centurions and generals would come and retire here. It was right on a trade route, very wealthy. In fact, it gained notoriety as a “small Rome.”

There were very few cities outside of Italy with the same prestige and wealth of Philippi. I can almost guarantee the Christians here are not well aquatinted with prison and slumming it up eating slop.

So… How does this imprisonment advance the gospel again?

The first thing the Bible seems to point out is where is Paul in prison. in the book of Acts and even in the book of Romans we see Paul is wanting to get to Rome. He founded Churches all over Europe but he has not been to the capital, to the center of the Roman empire.

I am sure he has some other minor reasons but at the end of the day it is strategic. go where the people are. Reach the people with power. The Roman empire becomes a christian empire because Paul is able to reach Rome. And he gets there through prison. He is sent to face Caesar and hear his judgement in Rome.

So that is certainly one way it has been advanced right. But, there is another thing staring us in the face. This is not Pauls first time in prison. Did you know that?

Acts 16:25–30 “About midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them, and suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken. And immediately all the doors were opened, and everyone’s bonds were unfastened. When the jailer woke and saw that the prison doors were open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, supposing that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul cried with a loud voice, “Do not harm yourself, for we are all here.” And the jailer called for lights and rushed in, and trembling with fear he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?”

So Paul gets thrown in prison for casting out a demonic spirit in a slave woman. While in prison he is singing praise songs and praying to God. and.. did you catch this part, the prisoners were listening. Then out of nowhere an earthquake strikes and the gates open and chains break! If, If, the story stopped there, it is already an amazing story right?

But the jailor, wakes up thinking the prisoners has escaped, which put simply, means death to the jailor, so he draws his sword to kill himself. But valuing human life over their freedom exclaim, stop! we are all here. put up your sword. Then the man exclaims, having heard there prayers and now seeing them answered, moved by the spirit, “What must I do to be saved.” Soon after the jailor and all his house hold are baptized and saved.

The location of that city?

Philippi

One of the first families and converts in the city of Philippi, in all of Europe, Is a prison guard who came to know Christ and follow him because of Pauls imprisonment.

Paul has joy, Paul writes to the church in Philippi, hold fast to the command of Christ, Stand firm in your faith, and rejoice in all circumstances,

Because he knows in the worst of circumstances Christ is there. In the worst of circumstances there is the supernatural opportunity to present the glory of the gospel of our crucified savior.

Paul tells us plainly in this letter, I can see it! What happened there in Philippi is happening now. What better opportunity is there to minister to the lost then in prison, where no one can leave! The guards and the other prisoners hear my prayers day in and day out. They see my joy, hear my praise, and recognize the blessings of God on my life.

Do you know who the first person in the gospels to recognize Jesus divinity after his resurrection was?

This story happens in Matthew, Mark, and Luke,

“When the centurion and those with him who were guarding Jesus saw the earthquake and all that had happened, they were terrified, and exclaimed, “Surely he was the Son of God!” Matthew 27:54

Tradition and church history tells us that Roman Centurions named was Loginus. He and his soldiers were entrusted to guard the tomb, and the Scriptures tell us the Jewish leaders tried to bribe the guards, and from tradition we learn they refused. Loginus then forfeited his military career to follow Jesus. He then went to his native land of turkey and brought so many people to Christ that the Jews had pilate send guards to find and kill him. Faced with death he did not hide, but he invited them to his home, fed them, and then was martyred for the messiah he saw die and rise again.

In our torment our tormentors see the love of God poured out on them. In our suffering Christ is proclaimed.

Think of the story of Joseph.

He is only made second in command because he is in prison. He is only in prison because of false accusations. and he is only a servant in the house of Potiphar because his brothers put him in slavery. Every situation the circumstances for Joseph gets worse, but he gets one step closer to saving everyone. And when he is face to face with his brothers once again, what does he say?

Genesis 50:20 You intended to harm me, but God intended it all for good. He brought me to this position so I could save the lives of many people.

Do you see it? What we look at as sorrow, suffering, and persecution, God sees as a blessing in disguise. An opportunity to write a testimony. An opportunity for the hope of christians to be on display. An opportunity for nonbelievers to witness the joy present in a believer.

Listen to what Paul writes in 2nd Corinthians

2 Corinthians 1:3–11 “Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we share abundantly in Christ’s sufferings, so through Christ we share abundantly in comfort too. If we are afflicted, it is for your comfort and salvation; and if we are comforted, it is for your comfort, which you experience when you patiently endure the same sufferings that we suffer.

Our hope for you is unshaken, for we know that as you share in our sufferings, you will also share in our comfort. For we do not want you to be unaware, brothers, of the affliction we experienced in Asia. For we were so utterly burdened beyond our strength that we despaired of life itself. Indeed, we felt that we had received the sentence of death. But that was to make us rely not on ourselves but on God who raises the dead. He delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will deliver us again. You also must help us by prayer, so that many will give thanks on our behalf for the blessing granted us through the prayers of many.”

Paul says the suffering he faced was so great that he and the believers with him despaired of life itself! they were burdened beyond their physical capabilities. They have shared in Christs sufferings. but all of this was to make us not rely on ourselves, by on God who raises even the martyrs from the dead.

Paul has this great line where he says God delivered us from deadly peril, and he will deliver us.. again. on him we have set our hope.

Paul says we share in the sufferings of Christ, not because Christ’s sacrifice was not enough, but because in their sufferings they encounter him in a deeper and more intimate way.

The suffering of the believer not only brings others to know Christ and his work, but it also helps us to see it fully as well.

Nik Ripken studied the persuection of Christians and the church of God all over the world. China, the middle east, Russia under the communist regime. And he learned throughout listening to these persecuted believers this,

Suffering is one of God’s ordained means for the growth of his church. He brought salvation to the world through Christ, our suffering Savior, and he now spreads salvation in the world through Christians as suffering saints. In the words of Paul, “All who desire to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted” (2 Tim. 3:12). Clearly, there is a sense in which the danger of our lives increases in proportion to the depth of our relationship with Christ.”

and again in the same book he writes

“before we can grasp the full meaning of the Resurrection, we first have to witness or experience crucifixion. If we spend our lives so afraid of suffering, so averse to sacrifice, that we avoid even the risk of persecution or crucifixion, then we might never discover the true wonder, joy and power of a resurrection faith. Ironically, avoiding suffering could be the very thing that prevents us from partnering deeply with the Risen Jesus. Nik Ripken

Perseuction has always been present, you think it was only for the apostles? you think it is only now?

One observer of the early church Nicene Council in the 4th century AD where all the christian leaders at the time gathered wrote this“of the 318 delegates attending, fewer than 12 had not lost an eye or or lost a hand or lost a leg or did not limp on a leg lamed by torture for their Christian faith.”

It was the early church father, Tertullian, recognizing the ever present persecution of the church, but also recognizing the miraculous work God does in persecution said this

“The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church.”

All the saints in the world who have faithfully given their lives to for Jesus, who’s testimonies are written in the book of life, testify to this truth. That goes does not work despite our sufferings, but through them.

So how arrogant of us to think that God can use us because of our trials and our bad circumstances. how naive to think God can not use me because of my minimum wage job, my GED, or past sins

How foolish of you to think God can not you just because of your large family, your kid with autism or down syndrome. God forbid God be capable of using a blended family, thrice divorced family, or a absent father family.

if only God was capable of using me despite my past criminal background then i would be a chain breaker!

If only God could use me despite my addiction I would be a kingdom builder!

If only was so capable of using me despite my gender, the color of my skin, or the birth place of my home!

If only God was capable of using Moses to free his people front the tyranny of the Egyptians despite his stuttering lips.

If only God was capable of using David and his childish slingshot to slay a giant.

If only God was capable of using Paul, that murderer of the saints, to found a church.

If only God was capable of using Abraham despite his barren seed.

If only God could use Gideon to free Israel from enslavement to those Philistines.

If only God could use me..

You say Pastor, Well you don’t know my limitations! You think to big of me.

No friend, you think to small of God.

do you know what makes our circumstances good? if we are rich or poor? if we are hungry or well fed? what determines what is good? If i feel comfortable? What determines if my circumstaces are worth rejoicing in?

heres the answer, If God using it. God is greater than our highs and lows. He is greater than our losses, he is greater than our sins, he is greater than our falleness. On this cross Christ reigned victorious, conquered our sin, and redeemed us from our falleness.

I will end with one last story.

Angola prison. Once considered toughest prison in America. About 5000 inmates 85 percent in jail for life with no parole. 45 in death row. A few years ago a prisoner was once processed with a knife in order to protect himself, and Ravi also states that it was common to see blood stains on walls and floor. He spoke in the prism seminary one day where 90 people were enrolled in. He then chatted with one man and asked "how do you handle the prospect that you will never get out of here, and that this is where your life will now be spent. No older then his mid thirties he said "you know, sir, if you knew the kind of person I was before I came here, and what I have now become because of the freedom Jesus Christ has brought to my soul, I can only say that if this what it took to bring me to my senses, I am happy to spend the rest of my life here." Then after pausing continued "please pray for my parents. They think they are free, but they are in a prison of their own darkness without God." Before they talked this man had led 700 prisoners in worship.

God says you are not thinking big enough. In your suffering, There i Am. There in your wilderness trials, There I will be. In your pain, and in your suffering, I am present. And after God has saved you, after he has written that testimony wrapped in hope, go out in confidence that God is alive.

Verse

1 Peter 4:12–16 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery trial when it comes upon you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you. But rejoice insofar as you share Christ’s sufferings, that you may also rejoice and be glad when his glory is revealed. If you are insulted for the name of Christ, you are blessed, because the Spirit of glory and of God rests upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer or a thief or an evildoer or as a meddler. Yet if anyone suffers as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.”

quotes

Angola prison. Once considered toughest prison in America. About 5000 inmates 85 percent in jail for life with no parole. 45 in death row. A few years ago a prisoner was once processed with a knife in order to protect himself, and Ravi also states that it was common to see blood stains on walls and floor. He spoke in the prism seminary one day where 90 people were enrolled in. He then chatted with one man and asked "how do you handle the prospect that you will never get out of here, and that this is where your life will now be spent. No older then his mid thirties he said "you know, sir, if you knew the kind of person I was before I came here, and what I have now become because of the freedom Jesus Christ has brought to my soul, I can only say that if this what it took to bring me to my senses, I am happy to spend the rest of my life here." Then after pausing continued "please pray for my parents. They think they are free, but they are in a prison of their own darkness without God." Before they talked this man had led 700 prisoners in worship.

The blood of the martyrs is the seed of the church

Questions

Does our suffering and trials advance the gospel? or just Paul