Purpose Over Circumstances

Good morning, everyone! Whether you're here with us in the room or joining online—listening live or later—I am truly glad you're here. Leaf River Baptist church exist to Know God, grow in faith, and to go make Him known.

Hey, if you’ve got kids with you this morning—now’s a great time for them to head to class. We’ve got an amazing team ready to welcome them and help them know Jesus in a way that makes sense to them.

Now everyone else, it’s time to grab your Bible, and get ready to be uncomfortable. We are continue in Philippians chapter 1 today.

So, over the past several months, we’ve been circling one big idea again and again. We’ve talked about what God entrusted to us. We’ve remembered how God entrusted his own Son to the world. We’ve even clarified our own mission, which is To Love God, Grow in faith, and Go make him known.

But—here’s the honest questions that most mission statements avoid.

What happens when faithfulness turns inconvenient? What happens when obedience starts costing more than we expected? What happens when the mission doesn’t advance us, but instead feels like it confines us?

Well listen, Paul wrote this letter from a pprison cell. There was no stage—no freedom—no strategic plan to escape—just chains.

Yet, instead of asking, “Why is this happening to me?” (something we would all probably ask, and probably have asked). Paul asks a far more dangerous question:

“Is the mission still moving forward—even here.

Philippians 1 checks our hearts for mission drift—not when things are going well, but when faithfulness comes with a price tag.

Now, let’s go ahead and read

Philippians 1:1–2 ESV

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Now remember Paul is writing this from prison, and he is writing to a church that is deeply connected to him. Philippi is Roman colony that is filled with military pride, and alot of pressure to conform to the culture.

So this letter truly shows us the cost of discipleship, and even more, Philippians shows us what surrendered stewardship looks like.

The Great Commission is not some theoretical command—This was Jesus’ final word to us as believer, and sometimes these words collide with real life—real suffering—and real sacrifice.

Let’s see how…

God’s Purpose is not Stopped by our Circumstances

Let’s read together

Philippians 1:12–14 ESV

12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Look at this…Paul doesn’t begin with complaints. Paul begins with clarity and purpose. “I want you to know, brothers…”

It’s interesting how Paul reframes his chains through the lens of divine purpose—In other words, Paul sees that God is still working. Specifically

God advances the Gospel through our suffering.

Listen, Paul is not sugar coating what he is going through, but he also is keeping an eternal perspective.

Paul refers to “what has happened to me” . What has happened is unjust imprisonment.

Then he says that it “has really served”. Paul has a divine perspective and sees that he is being used by God, even in his suffering…now that one’s hard sometimes isn’t it?

Finally, Paul uses the word “advance” speaking of what the Gospel has done. Folks, that word that he is using is connecting to a people that have military pride, because he is using the word that they would use as they cut forward and cleared a path , much like an army would do.

Paul’s difficult circumstances opened new opportunities for a gospel witness.

Now folks, I know some of you are suffering in various ways right now. I know some of you have been suffering for a long time. I want you to listen carefully and be encouraged. God does not merely endure your suffering—He ordains it for his mission. Think of Joseph as he was enslaved and imprisoned.

Romans 8:28 ESV

28 And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.

So while you and I are asking God to take this from us, God is saying, “My gospel will go forward through this.” Listen…

God advances the Gospel where it couldn’t go otherwise.

That’s huge right there folks. The imperial guard that Paul is talking about here is called the Praetorium. These are the elite Roman soldiers…these are the special forces kind of guys that are chared with protecting the emperor, ok. There is no way that Paul would be able to share the Gospel with these men as a free man. He wouldn’t be allowed to go where they are. However, now as they rotate shifts, Pauls chains have become his pulpit and his opportunity to share the Gospel. Everyone knew that Paul was there because he was preaching Jesus crucified and resurrected.

Here’s the deal—The command to “Go” doesn’t always mean changing locations…it just means being willing to open your mouth and share. That’s called faithfulness to the Gospel.

If God’s purpose depended on comfort, the church would have never survived. But because of God’s sovereignty, nothing is wasted!

There’s another obstacle we assume will stop the mission. It’s not circumstance…it’s people. Although,

God’s Purpose is not stopped by impure motives

Let’s read through 18

Philippians 1:15–18 ESV

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. 16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,

OK, this section is a bit uncomfortable. Paul is facing opposition—not from unbelievers, but from others preaching the Gospel. What we see though is that

God can use mixed motives to proclaim a Pure Gospel

You see, some of those that were preaching the Gospel were doing so because they loved Paul and they wanted to be a part of advancing the Gospel.

However, there was another group that was preaching in order to bring more suffering to Paul. We don’t know why, but we see that they are preaching out of envy and rivalry. They seem to have been hoping to cause Paul to have a unfavorable verdict in court. They were trying to promote themselves. Perhaps they thought they should be the spokesman for Jesus.

We don’t know what caused this rivalry, all we know is that they were preaching out of selfishness, and without pure motives. Here’s the deal though…motives may have been different, but the message of the Gospel was the same and Christ was being proclaimed.

Now it’s important here to acknowledge that this is not Paul approving of false doctrine. He has dealt with that throughout his other letters. So here it seems they are preaching a faithful Gospel, just with false motives.

Have you ever known anyone like that? I have…I can say with a fair amount of certainty that I have served alongside a pastor who was preaching the Gospel, and preaching very compellingly…however, this pastor was doing so because he was trying to prove something. He was preaching out of selfishness and pride. However, even with that motive, the Gospel was being proclaimed.

You see, God’s sovereignty extends even over sinful intentions.

Gospel success is measured by Christ fame, not our credit!

That’s why Paul said, “What then? Only that in every way…Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

Pauls excitement here is not rooted in his reputation , or the reputation of others. This isn’t about his “platform”, or his “success”. Paul isn’t trying to build his kingdom here is he. No, Paul is excited being Christ is being made known! People are believing in the Gospel of Jesus.

Now, Paul is not in love with himself like these others seem to be. That means there’s a difference between Paul heart and these others that are preaching. You see, when you’re heart is not focused on self-glory, or attention seeking, you are able to truly give of your time, resources, abilities. You’re able to give—and give completely.

OK, so watch this, When Christ is central—jealousy loses it’s power! When Christ is supreme—ego dies!

Now, Paul brings it home—this is not theoretical. His life is actually on the line folks.

God’s Purpose Sustains Us Even When the Cost is Our Life.

OK, let’s finish our section for today.

Philippians 1:19–20 ESV

19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.

Look at what Paul is doing here. Paul is looking forward—even not knowing the outcome. Paul is looking at the future in the lens of freedom or in death—release or execution. Paul knows what’s at stake here, yet he is unshakable. I love that!

The Gospel advances through dependent prayer.

Paul is not walking in his own strength here. Paul is leaning on the prayers of the saints…the believers all over that are praying for him, and he is leaning on the strength of the Holy Spirit of Jesus Christ.

That’s something that some of us in this room and online need to spend some time thinking about. What would it look like if you truly relied on the strength of the Holy Spirit instead of your own strength, which is quickly fading.

Listen…this might be hard to hear sometimes. But, if we believe that God is sovereign and the creator then we have to realize that God ordains both the ends…AND the means. Prayer is not symbolic—I know for most people it is not your first reflex to pray when things are difficult. But what would it look like in your life if you actually took your concerns to the Lord in prayer before you stressed about them for days or weeks—or for some of you for years.

Paul confidently proclaimed that he will never be ashamed. Ahamed implies cowering and running from battle. Paul’s confidence is that Christ would be highly honored in both his life, and his death. This was Paul’s prayer!

Prayer is not symbolic—it s instrumental to living this Christian life!

For us as a church…listen, we believe God is leading us to hire a Family Pastor. Are you praying about it? I’m not talking about when you are sitting in this room…I mean when you are at home and spending time with the Lord, are you praying for that need in our church?

We are building a pavilion, are you praying that the funds will come in to finish the building there? Are you praying for the financial health of LRBC? Are you praying for your leaders of LRBC? Are you praying for the mission of LRBC?

This is so important here…Mission without prayer is simply human ambition. We aren’t called to do great things in our names…we are called to follow Christ in his mission.

Listen—

The goal of life is the glory of Christ, not self-preservation.

Paul just said, “that Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.”

That right there is the very heart of this entire sermon today.

Paul’s life belongs to Christ!

Pauls body belongs to Christ!

Pauls future belongs to Christ!

And so does your!

This is what it means to be truly free in the Lord. This is what it looks like to be able to walk in the power of Christ. To realize that everything you have, and everything you are belongs to Christ…not you.

Now—hear’s the deal. The gospel does not require fearless people. I am terrified daily! It requires people who fear God far more than personal loss.

So—God doesn’t ask for ideal circumstances. He asks for surrendered lives.

And the question this morning is simply: Does that describe you? Are you durrendered to Chrsit—whether in life or in death?

Because Jesus himself was entrusted by the Father—sent to the world, rejected, oposed, tortured, crucified—and through all of that, the gospel advanced.

Church, today I want to ask you a few personal questions—not to anser out loud, but to honestly consider before the Lord.

Where are you resisting God’s purpose because of personal discomfort?

Where has God placed you to advance the Gospel right now?

What are you holding back because you fear loss?

And now, as a church family, I want us to make a commitment together. I’ll be on the Screen, but listen carefully to what we’re saying. I’ll read it first, then we will read together:

“We commit to valuing Christ above comfort,

the gospel above our preferences,

and God’s mission above our circumstances.”

Now let’s all say that together

“We commit to valuing Christ above comfort,

the gospel above our preferences,

and God’s mission above our circumstances.”

Wherever you are in your own spiritual growth, the call is the same:

prayerful participation in the mission of the church,

generous giving as an act of gospel trust,

faithful presence in every gospel opportunity,

and a unified focus on Christ—not ourselves.

Church, what we see in Paul is this :

chains cannot stop the gospel, jealousy cannot derail it,

and even death itself only serves to magnify the gospel of Christ.

Because Christ is worthy of all glory! Amen

Let’s pray: