Joy in Uncertainty
Notes
Transcript
Last week:
Paul starts off this letter with the reasons he has joy in the Philippians, first because they are participants in the gospel, but even more, because he knows the Lord is faithful to complete the work in which He began.
Then we see Paul encourage and commend the Philippians for being partakers of grace with him.
Today, we Paul is going to explain to the Philippians why they can have joy in Paul and his circumstances.
Illustration:
About a week and a half ago, many of you attended a service we had with our dear sister Olga. I was amazed, this room was packed, standing room only. I had never seen so many people in this church before. It was really a sweet time and a testimony to the impact that Olga has had with the people in her life. What struck me the most, and if you were there, you could attest to it as well, Olga wanted the time we had to be about Jesus, and the hope we have in Him. Here is a precious sister in the Lord, struggling to breathe, unsure about how much time she has, and she wants to spend the last precious moments telling people about the hope and love we have in Jesus. It was such a blessing, and it was very fitting for where we are today, where Paul isn’t sure what will happen next, but his letter here points the Philippians right back to Jesus, and no matter what happens to Paul, they can have joy in Christ.
V.12
12 Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel,
My circumstances:
Think about his circumstances…
In prison, his rights have been taken away, looking at death, and think of what he says in 2 Corinthians 11:23-28
Pauls circumstances are arguably the worst possible circumstances, but Paul doesn’t point to himself for self pity, he points to the one thing that will matter…
greater progress of the gospel:
Why can the Philippians have joy knowing what Paul is dealing with? Because the gospel is progressing through Paul’s circumstances.
How has it progressed? Look in the next verse.
V.13
13 so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else,
imprisonment in the cause of Christ:
The fact that Paul is imprisoned for his faith is well known
Paul wasn’t there for his misbehavior, he was there for the gospel, and everyone knew that.
Think of what we read in 1 Peter 2:12
12 Keep your behavior excellent among the Gentiles, so that in the thing in which they slander you as evildoers, they may because of your good deeds, as they observe them, glorify God in the day of visitation.
Everyone knew why Paul was there, even the guards
V.14
14 and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear.
because of my imprisonment:
What is really neat is that specifically because Paul was imprisoned, it meant salvation for people who may have never heard.
We saw this example the first time Paul was in Philippi. Remember, Paul and Silas were arrested, and about midnight, they were singing hymns, and then a large earthquake hit, releasing the shackles. And remember what we read in Acts 16:27-30 , how Paul saved the jail guard was going to kill himself, but Paul stopped him
So he and his family were all saved. All because of Paul’s imprisonment.
And here, Paul alludes to the fact that there are still many more.
far more courage to speak the word of God:
Paul’s imprisonment didn’t scare other believers, it motivated them.
I remember last year, after Charlie Kirk was shot dead, there was more of a motivation to speak boldly, not to cower back and run away. This is the same thing that Paul’s circumstances have had with other believers.
V.15
15 Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
Preaching Christ from envy and strife:
There will always be those who look at the gospel as a competition.
One of my pastors had a roommate at Bible college tell him… “I’m going to have a bigger church than you.”
But this has become a motivation for people to preach, because they are jealous. They see the success of Paul and seeing people get saved, so they want to be better than Paul. Have more impact than Paul. Have more influence than Paul.
Some from good will:
People who have tasted and seen the goodness of God, who have found the fulfillment in being a part of the body of Christ, and they just want to see people come to know Jesus.
V.16
16 the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
out of love:
Remember what Paul says in 1 Corinthians 13:7
7 bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.
Out of love for Paul, they are bearing all things, believing in what Paul is doing, hoping for his success, and enduring in prayer for his release.
They know Paul’s heart is to defend the gospel, to build the Kingdom of God, not the Kingdom of Paul.
I think it is important to know why they are preaching the gospel out of love for Paul, because they have clearly seen Paul’s ministry and his motivation.
Paul explains in 2 Corinthians 10:12-13
12 For we are not bold to class or compare ourselves with some of those who commend themselves; but when they measure themselves by themselves and compare themselves with themselves, they are without understanding.
13 But we will not boast beyond our measure, but within the measure of the sphere which God apportioned to us as a measure, to reach even as far as you.
Paul’s heart is for the gospel, not self promotion
Can we say this about ourselves?
Is it out of love because we know others are defending the gospel, or are we trying to compete against others because we are jealous?
V.17
17 the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
out of selfish ambition:
Self seeking, self promotion
Their motives are impure
thinking to cause me distress:
They think that Paul is in agony because he is “losing the competition”
V.18
18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice,
What then?
Here is Paul’s attitude, and why he can have joy, because whether they are preaching out of selfish ambition to make Paul distressed, or with a pure motive, the gospel is being preached… people are hearing the good news of Jesus Christ.
The only thing that is being hurt is Paul’s pride, and he doesn’t so much mind that.
Church is not a competition, it is the body of Christ
Any success of another church means the gospel being preached, and we should be excited to see the Lord moving in such wonderful ways. Even if it doesn’t mean a full sanctuary here, people are getting saved, and because of that, we can have joy in all of our circumstances, especially if people who would wish us distress, and the gospel gets preached
V.19-20
19 for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
Turn out for my deliverance:
The word means salvation
Through prayers and provision of the Holy Spirit
He says he knows this will turn out for his deliverance. Why is he confident in this? Because He knows people are praying and the Lord provides miraculous things through the Spirit
Remember Peter in Acts 12, when he was arrested after James was killed, Peter was thrown into prison and Herod was going to put him to death after the passover. But we read in Acts 12:5
5 So Peter was kept in the prison, but prayer for him was being made fervently by the church to God.
He would then miraculously escape as an angel lead him out of prison, he came to the place where the others were praying, and the servant girl got so excited she told the others, but never opened the door.
Paul himself had also been miraculously set free here in Philippi, but he didn’t escape, but rather, saw the jail keeper and his family saved.
Paul knew that the Lord could still do that. He says here in verse 20,
“according to my earnest expectation and hope,”:
This is faith, isn’t it? Remember what we read in Hebrews 11:1
1 Now faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen.
The word here in our text, earnest expectation, it means to “watch with out-stretched head”, to look ahead anxiously.
I think of children, peeking their head over the window sill to see who is coming to the house, this is what Paul is doing. But what is his expectation? That Christ would be exalted.
Whether life or death:
Paul’s concern is not to simply survive, but that Christ would be exalted in his body.
He says with all boldness. It reminds me of what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 3:12
12 Therefore having such a hope, we use great boldness in our speech,
V.21
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
To live is Christ:
Paul would say in Galatians 2:20
20 “I have been crucified with Christ; and it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself up for me.
The life Paul lives is in Christ, it is for Christ, it is as a bond servant of Christ. Paul’s life is all about Christ
to die is gain:
Paul explains this better to Timothy in 2 Timothy 4:7-8
7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
8 in the future there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day; and not only to me, but also to all who have loved His appearing.
There is more for Paul to gain when he steps into eternity than to remain here on earth.
This is the hope, the expectation, to enter into the final rest in the Lord.
V.22
22 But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
IF I am to live:
That means fruitful labor.
I love how Paul still finds purpose in continuing in life.
I think many of us can learn and glean from this attitude.
We have talked about this a lot… if you are still here, alive and kicking, the Lord still has a purpose and work for you to do. And it isn’t just menial work, it is fruitful labor. You may not see the ultimate results of your labor, but you can take full confidence, as Paul did, that your labor in Christ will be fruitful.
I do not know what to choose:
This is real, and Paul is going to explain in more detail.
V.23
23 But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
desire to depart:
That is very much better.
This was Paul’s hope, the same hope we have.
We won’t get too much into this today, because Paul will go into great detail later in chapter 3
V.24————- If no time left
24 yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
to remain on in the flesh:
He knows that to live, it is for those he will leave behind.
V.25
25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith,
I know:
I will remain for your:
Progress:
Paul knows there is still a lot of work to be done, and it is necessary for him to live.
Joy in faith:
We can have joy no matter what, but there is a special joy when the Lord does miraculous things, like keeping people around for longer.
Paul is not ignorant of this reality, but as he writes this, he also wants them to know that they can still have joy no matter what. Paul is ok, he wants to be sure they will be too once he is gone.
V.26
26 so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
may abound in Christ Jesus:
This is where the real hope and joy is, that our eyes are fixed on Jesus, not Paul.
V.27
27 Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
Conduct yourselves:
Paul has no pull or ability to guarantee his coming to them, but he can help them along the way as they themselves continue here on the earth
How to conduct ourselves?
In a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Now, again, Paul is actually going to go into detail of what this means and looks like in ch.2, but I want you to see the results…
Standing firm in one spirit:
with one mind striving together for the faith.
Our greatest weapon and defense for the gospel, is unity.
What does he mean by one spirit? we will get more into next week, but that Jesus would be the common thread, the glue that holds us together. That our joy, our hope, our mission, our desire… it is all in Him and from Him.
Remember what Jesus says in John 17:20-21
20 “I do not ask on behalf of these alone, but for those also who believe in Me through their word;
21 that they may all be one; even as You, Father, are in Me and I in You, that they also may be in Us, so that the world may believe that You sent Me.
V.28
28 in no way alarmed by your opponents—which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
a sign of destruction for them:
When we are one, when we stand firm together and strive for the gospel, it is a sign of destruction for our enemies.
And trust me, we have enemies.
I can’t help but think of the world today, where everything is going, how polarized it all is. There are many churches here in our valley that are really good churches. I may not agree with every talking point or how they go about their business, but we have one spirit striving together for the gospel. And if we can stand firm together in that, it is a sign of destruction for our enemies.
But what ends up happening instead, is we belittle one another, we don’t stand together because we are in constant competition against others. But this is not what Paul wants. In fact, Paul has already explained why he has joy in the Philippians, and we see why the Philippians can have joy in Paul and his circumstances, and now, this is how we can have joy in other believers and those who attend other churches, when we stand firm together in the same spirit and strive together for the faith of the gospel.
And when we do, it is alarming to our enemies, not us. That is why the world will continue to come hard against the Spirit filled believers, because it is a sign of their destruction, their way of life, their philosophies, their idols.
But for us, it is of salvation.
V.29-30
29 For to you it has been granted for Christ’s sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
30 experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
Granted for you:
Not only believe in Him, but suffer for His sake.
Paul says to experience the same conflict in which they saw in him, and now to be in him now.
Jesus says in John 16:33
33 “These things I have spoken to you, so that in Me you may have peace. In the world you have tribulation, but take courage; I have overcome the world.”
We will have trouble in this life. If our enemies are feeling the destruction, then they are going to make it as miserable for you as possible.
same conflict:
not only persecution, but the conflict of to live is Christ, to die is gain.
Why is persecution something we can have joy in? Because it teaches us that this world is not home.
Eternity becomes a reality, and we come to know that this is all temporary.
Remember what Paul says in 2 Corinthians 4:16-18
16 Therefore we do not lose heart, but though our outer man is decaying, yet our inner man is being renewed day by day.
17 For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison,
18 while we look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen; for the things which are seen are temporal, but the things which are not seen are eternal.
