It Doesn't Matter

Advance of the Gospel- Philippians Ch 1: v12-20

Good morning to you all here today at First Southern Baptist Church of Larned, How are you doing this morning?!?!?! My family and I really appreciate this opportunity again to be here in this Home of the Lord, Worshipping with you, praying among you, and being able to lift up His name in glory today.

I want to start today by sharing a story i heard this week that really came full circle on Friday during the snow storm of 2026......hahahah. They say we got anywhere from 6-7 inches but it looks like 12 with the blowing snow drifts. It is the first one of the year but since we don't get very many might as well call it the storm of the year!

This story once you hear it and set on it for a little while will unpack in your heart the things maybe it did for me and continues to do as i think about it daily. Which then should have you ask the golden question at the end. “How do i apply this to my life?” That question should be the main one also as we leave from here each Sunday and are headed back out to the mission field of Larned each week.

This is the story of a Young man named “Oak”

“Farmer Leon and his wife Peggy have an old county farm just like you think when you here that....old country farm.....

two story house with shutters, red tall peak barn with those big old doors that creek when they open with open air style pins all around....the hands house that sits by the creek running to the south looking out at the valley. The hay barn that Leon parks the old tractors in and all the tools he needs to make the farm roll each year....and of course the cow pins and little branding building they put up to stay warm in during the winter while branding new stock added from the sale barn. I am sure the chicken coup is there along with grandmas she shed....Just saying they had the spread you know.

They needed a new hand to help at the farm so they tell the neighbors, and tell every one in town, maybe the next towns coffee round table place so they can spread the message also. If you cant tell this is at a time that there's no internet, no cell phones, no fancy emails!

Two weeks later this young whipper snapper named Oak comes walking down the road and knocks on Leon’s door. Oak looks like he doesn't know much, he looks like what many call wet behind the ears. Just very inexperience, not prepared, and prob lacks motivation. Remember I said looks like......

Leon interviews him and he has worked a couple farms and shows up here because the last jobs all the people have passed and farms gone. Same story on down the line with tall of his jobs. Leon cant really find anything wrong here.

Oak doesn't say much during it all and Leon feels pretty good about the exchange so he ask Oak.....What is the best thing you are good at?

Oak Looks him dead in the eye and says....I can sleep thru a storm.......

Now Leon is bewildered....he asked again and again but he gets the same answer from Oak. He doesn’t do it in a way like “I know what I’m doing way” but the young man just answer with a steadiness to his voice that led Leon to hire him and go on about the day.

Oak gets started and works

Some months later maybe even a year or two later it is the end of the evening and everyone is settling in for the night. Things seem to be great. Mind you there is no amenity’s that we have today. no news on tv, no cell phones, well you get it by now hopefully

Out of no where the wind comes up and and this monster of a storm comes rolling in. Wakes Poor Leon and Peggy up and they thinks it’s going to be the last night they are here on earth!!! “Ma get up, Pa wake up..everyone is yelling at each other”. They get dressed and start outside thinking we are so not prepared for this…the cows and chickens are out, the barns are wide open, the tractors are in the field….everything is going to get destroyed and we will have, nothing……

Both Leon and Peggy are white as a sheet with worry that it is paralyzing them. They run around the house but all the chairs and stuff is tucked away…..they head out to the barn and find the old doors are shut and latched, buttoned down, they run over to the field and don’t see any tractors.... because they are in the other barn under safety, they finish by running to the hands house to warn ole Oak that the storm is here but when they get there they looked in the window all they saw was Oak, all tucked in and sleeping!

WHAT!!! Oak was fast Asleep…see Oak earlier that day walked by the cows and they were all cornered up in a way that told him something is coming, he felt the wind in a way that alerted his senses that something was coming, his every step that day led him to believe that a storm was coming so he prepared all of the estate just like he said he would doin the interview so he could “ Sleep Thru the storm”.

See it wasn’t Oak first time and wouldn’t be the last time because Oak had been in storms before and wasn’t prepared so he started studying what was happening around him, he learned what to do when he saw the signs he was given, and he learned on what was presented to him so he could make a better decision in getting the place in order. So he could turn all of that worry over so he could sleep, or rest.

In doing so he was well rested for the day ahead when he awoke so he could clean up the place and put anything back together that needed to be and be on with the day!

Leon and Peggy the next day when they saw Oak said, “now we understand what you ment when you said you can sleep Thru a storm”. Oaks knowledge of what it takes to survive the storm was because of Oaks Steadfastness in being prepared when no one else was. His level of study to what his job was and what needed done. That peace that comes with being prepared.

Most of us did that for the snow storm this weekend and more over what I want to drive home here is the being ready in Gods word to be able to have that since of Peace with you at all times because you are prepared to meet your maker when he calls. Being rooted in His word So we are guided in His word, being a disciple for Crist our Lord and savior

Think about that peace that Oak carried each day knowing that because he was prepared he was ready always. Think about Gods word and having it always so we are ready everyday for the storm to come and rebuke satan.

I hope that story stays and resonates with you for this week.

We are here to day to see what Gods word has for us so no better way then getting into that word and letting it open us up to the Holy Spirit and its direction. So let me pray first and then we shall see what Philippians has for us.

PRAY OPENING

Ok if you would please stand with meif you are able as we read Philippians chapter 1 verses 12-20. We stand in honor of God’s word and respect and not out of obligation.

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ. Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word , fearlessly. To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice because I know this will lead to my salvation , through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death. ”

You may be seated

Paul, Our brother Paul….Paul has what some perceive to be in troubled and is in jail.

If you haven't heard about gotquestions.org and have bible/biblical questions that you need answered then this is a great place to start. I was unclear about his many imprisonments so i headed over there and found some insight that pertained to this stint that he was in for.

“Although a prisoner in Rome, Paul was allowed to live in a house and receive care and provision from friends and family (Acts 28:30–31).

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 28

30 Paul stayed two whole years in his own rented house. And he welcomed all who visited him, 31 proclaiming the kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ with all boldness and without hindrance.

He was under this house arrest for two years. Paul “welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ—with all boldness and without hindrance!” (Acts 28:31). It was during this house arrest that Paul wrote the books of Ephesians, Philemon, Colossians, and Philippians. Again, God did not waste His servant’s suffering but inspired Paul to write part of what would become our New Testament. Paul was released from this imprisonment sometime around AD 62.”

Paul tells us in verse 7 from when Jon preached that he is in imprisonment. Thur studying of scripture we read that he is setting there and chained to a guard. That he has someone watching him day and night and presumably another guard out side the house and the door and so on till outside gate. Some one so heavily guarded let is a peaceful person. This it’s important to know for the start of verse 12 and 13

12“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is because I am in Christ.” ‭‭

He is setting in jail but he doesn’t stop doing what God has called him to do and that is preach. So no matter where he goes he preaches the word. He doesn’t care if you are listening or not he is just going to open his mouth and let the Holy Spirit detail what Jesus Crist is doing in his life and what He wants to do in yours. But he really wants you to know that what has happened to him is really a great thing because the gospel is advancing.

So tuff situation here…..Paul is thrown in jail for the gospel but Thru this the gospel raises Thru the ranks of the Roman guard because of the belief of the the savior. The -what he will do for you in your sin gospel. Now the entire guard is fully aware of the gospel. Jail is where they thought they could stick him to have God’s word’s die and go away. Plug one hole and another will arise. The gospel just can’t be stopped!

Once these guards get to their homes and see others in the streets now they are telling others about Paul, why he is there, and what the gospel is. I mean if I am on the streets hearing this I am going to be nosey to and want to hear We all know once we hear it that mustard seed containers to grow.

Everyone knows he’s not there for a horrible sin like murder…but because he is “In Crist” something we need to be more of and be bold about it. If any times are more moving then now to believe in something then it should be in Christ that we believe. Look around at anything else we can believe in and continue to see it fall all around us. Everything that everybody believes in continues to fail while every thing Jesus Crist stands for continues to shine for us to follow. Still so many don't make that turn to Him.

I enjoy how verse 14 starts out with “most”. So that should cover most all of the men around the area at the time weather roman or not you were speaking the word of God. YOU can sense there souls are feeling what God’s confidence and the imprisonment is building the word to Fearlessly be spoken. Of course we have to see the other side of this as well in verse 15 when we learn of some preaching n envy and rivalry.

Romans ch 1 verse 29 spoke to that, it says....

Christian Standard Bible Chapter 1

They are filled with all unrighteousness, evil, greed, and wickedness. They are full of envy, murder, quarrels, deceit, and malice. They are gossips

They are still using Gods words but doing it in a way that props them up and beats Paul down for his strength in the Word.

One commentator put it like this, “they preach with a foul motive, its still a fruitful message”

It is a common problem in every house of worship today that there is someone or someone's that band together to push there agenda, ideas, ways, instead of Gods agendas, Ideas, ways. It is our duty to find this common ground of God’s gospel and adhere to His calling so that it can advance. If we do nothing but argue, bicker, side pick one another we will never get to the glory of our father and seeing the gospel advance.

When we hit those gates you already know what he will say to you....i don't need to remind you.....having to deal with that alone should scare you back to seeking first prayer and then yield to listen to where he wants us to be.

Even though there is people filled with that....well call it stuff for now....we still have the last part of that and the good part in “ but others out of good will”

For he tells us in verse 16 “ these preach out of love, knowing that i am appointed for the defense of the gospel”. Paul is telling them “I'm here with the good Word from the Good Word, the living breathing Word to tell you how great He is!”

You can feel that we are climbing the mountain here and he is taking us to the point of all of this journey.

Verse 17 he gets us with the others intent in preaching out of envy and rivalry by telling, “others proclaim out of selfish ambition”, thinking that they are building the case against Paul while he sets in this imprisonment.

FINALLY THE BIG QUESTION......verse 18 ...... What does it matter?

I love it when Paul says this. Does any one remember what the heading of this sermon was called? That's right....It doesn't matter!!

Philippians 1:18 CSB

What does it matter? Only that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice

Paul told us “in everyway, weather from false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed and in this I REJOICE. YES, and I WILL CONTUINE TO REJOICE!!

Its plain as day that he is telling us that when we fulfill the great commission of spreading the gospel it will lead to our salvation. Now it is not directly attached to our salvation. We know that is not thru works but is faith based. So don't think i am saying that spreading the gospel is the only way but part of the way. It is a life long commitment once you turn your life over to christ that you are tasked with spreading the news far and wide, boldly and without hesitation, with prayers and help from the spirit of Jesus Christ. Side note about the spirit i want to touch of

Galatians 5:25 “If we live by the Spirit, let us also keep in step with the Spirit.”

Galatians 5:26 “Let us not become conceited, provoking one another, envying one another.”

See there it is again directing us not to act in a way that put us in the negative part of spreading the gospel and deceiving ourselves in thinking we are doing good when we are really being an extension of that little red guy. I don't even like to say his name....to give him any power at all that he doesn't deserve.

verse 20 i fell answers the questions and ties it all tighter for us here.

Philippians 1:20 CSB

My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything, but that now as always, with all courage, Christ will be highly honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Well it doesn't matter!!!! Weather by life or death God will be glorified. For Paul to continue to live was one way that the gospel was going to reach the ends of the earth. We all know how motived Paul was to spread the gospel and how important he took the task that Jesus had given him. He knew he would die one day because of his belief in Jesus Crist as his lord and savior, God as his creator, and the Holy Spirit dwelling inside of him as his direct guidance form God. The triune of God.

But if he dies thier and his life was lost because of the gospel it would only solidify God’s word’s and make it more honorably that he died for the cause of the gospel. For the Lord of Armies, He is seen and heard thru both and thru both accomplishes His mission.

As we come to the close here we look back at a great passage given to us from Paul. That teaches us that it doesn't matter weather by life or by death that the gospel will honor one’s life that is honoring the gospel. Your are to be bold in delivering the gospel and you should not shy away. Weather you are 90 or your are ten you had better be out there like your about to lose your life and it depends on that word getting to the next person it is ment for. Do not be ashamed about anything but be glorified about everything God is!

Application for your life this week is to: Be bold in the talks of God and what he can do for you this week. Let it be...What does it matter kind of week! Let us pray.....