Trials Turn Into Trails When Traveled Together

On February 15, 1947 Glenn Chambers boarded a plane bound for Quito, Ecuador to begin his ministry in missionary broadcasting. But he never arrived. In a horrible moment, the plane carrying Chambers crashed into a mountain peak and spiraled downward. Later it was learned that before leaving the Miami airport, Chambers wanted to write his mother a letter. All he could find for stationery was a page of advertising on which was written the single word "WHY?" Around that word he hastily scribbled a final note. After Chambers's mother learned of her son's death, his letter arrived. She opened the envelope, took out the paper, and unfolded it. Staring her in the face was the question "WHY?"

Why? A word that appears to form the most prominent questions heard from humanity.

The passage from Philippians we are about to read teaches that a different word should form the most prominent questions of Christianity.

What Paul writes to the Philippian Christians

How does God want to us me? How is God using this to advance the gospel? How can I encourage others? How can I glorify God? How can I respond?

Stand with me together as Holy People to Honor our Holy God in reading His Holy Word.

Philippians 1:12–20 CSB

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. 14 Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the Lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly. 15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of good will. 16 These preach out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; 17 the others proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, thinking that they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment. 18 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 19 because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. 20 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.

Why?

We hear and surely have many why questions ourselves.

Why such devastation in Houston? Why the chaos and crime around the country? Why are Christians around the world being behead or thrown in Jail?

Why have I lost my job? Why is my boss, coach or teacher treating me this way? Why is my co-worker or classmate being such a bully to me?

Why did my loved one die like that? Why is my child going through this illness? Why has my family experienced so much suffering?

Joanna and I met a lady named Kathy, who became one of our dearest friends during one of our greatest trials of pregnancy complications leading up to Silas’ birth. Over the past 12 years we have watched her loose her home, struggle together with a husband having a mid-life crisis, later go through a difficult divorce, and now is walking her 2 year old son through treatment of a rare childhood cancer. We and she has asked may times, why?

Unfortunately on too many occasions, from too many pulpits and from too many pews, there has been either a flippant unrepentant or a calloused judgmental approach to the reality of suffering.

No problem is more common to man nor a more serious threat to faith. The evils which come from the destructiveness of nature, sorrow, sickness, accident, death, war, poverty, vice, the sufferings of the young, the righteous, the innocent—these are parts of the painful mystery which inevitably causes man to ask of God “why?” The problem is serious for Christianity because it involves the very nature of God. - Gordon Clinard (Southwestern Journal of Theology)

Why? Why do people suffer, whether Christian or not.

There will be occasions of suffering that we just will never know why, because the Bible confesses the mystery of suffering. - The ways and thoughts of God are not the same as that of humans. He has a sovereign purpose for humanity and history that on occasions we cannot understand.

How do you answer your suffering when you cannot see a reason from scripture? Faithfully Trust God and Persevere. Job had God and God is enough.

Time does not afford me the ability to go very deep into the reasons for suffering today. That will take a series of sermons, but let me give you a cursory glance (from that Journal).

Retributive - Your suffering at times is judgment from God, because of His holiness and righteousness, upon your sinfulness and unrighteousness. Sin brings suffering but not all suffering is from sin.

Examples: Zacharius-mute, Ananius and Sapphira-death, Elymas (sorcerer)-blind

Your Answer: Repent and Submit

Disciplinary and Educational - Closely related to above. This is affliction from God, not for punishment but discipline (teaching rather than retribution) to draw you closer to Him. In OT (Jer.) it was national and individual (potter’s wheel). In NT and now both corporal (church) and personal (Christian).

See and &

Hebrews 2:10 CSB

10 For in bringing many sons and daughters to glory, it was entirely appropriate that God—for whom and through whom all things exist—should make the source of their salvation perfect through sufferings.

Hebrews 12:7 CSB

7 Endure suffering as discipline: God is dealing with you as sons. For what son is there that a father does not discipline?

Your Answer: Love the Lord as your Father & Learn what He is teaching

Revelational - God intends at times to allow suffering in your life to give you a greater awareness of His nature and His character. You learn how comforting He is by needing His comfort, how wise by needing His wisdom, how He provides by needing His provisions, so on.

Examples: Job about God Majesty and Mightiness, Hosea about God’s un-ending love in the face of spiritual fidelity.

See of the close relationship of Christ w/His people

Your Answer: Open your mind and heart to God then give Him Glory

God allowed the most powerful and committed missionary he had to be imprisoned. Why?

v.12 - “what has happened” - Paul could be talking about his current situation or everything up to this point.

Beaten during a riot

2yr prison term in another city

threat of murder

shipwrecked on way to Rome and now this

These last 2 biblical reasons for all these sufferings are what he writes about in the text.

Temporary and Evidential - Evil exist in the world so the Godly wait for the Day of the Lord (wrath upon the wicked and redemption of the righteous). Your character is revealed as your faith is tested. Christ promised you that following Him would entail suffering, thus suffering is evidence of being in Christ.

Habk. wrestled with why righteous suffer - but not permanent. Paul - deeply committed follower - writes Philippians from Jail.

See

Luke 21:13 NASB95

13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.

Luke 21:13 NASB95

13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.

Luke 21:13 NASB95

13 “It will lead to an opportunity for your testimony.

v. 12-13 - The Roman authorities, by throwing Paul in jail, thought “hey we will shut this loud mouth Christian up once and for all.” The Christians in Philippi, probably saw this trial as an obstacle to the Great Comission. Paul sees it differently from a divine perspective. He reminds the church that God has a purpose, and it is being done from jail because people are being positively impacted. This is where the sermon title comes in.

Paul uses an interesting word here. He says that his trials have actually “advanced” . The word in the Greek was used to describe blazing a trail or clearing the way for an army. Paul sees God has clear the path. He has literally blazed a trail for the gospel to go into places he never imagined the gospel would go.

Trials Turn Into Trails When Traveled Together

Caesar’s household. The home of several Imperial Guards, over 9,000 of them. The city of Rome itself. All were being saturated with the gospel because Paul was not gripping, was not complaining, was not whining about his suffering. He was telling the gospel, evangelizing, making disciples. Together with his partners, Paul followed trail of his trials to give testimony to Jesus any time he could. People all over Rome and beyond for centuries have been saved because of Paul’s joy in the midst of suffering.

D. A. Carson told the story of Peter O’brien during one of his sermons on suffering.

Caesar’s household. The home of several Imperial Guards. The city of Rome itself. All were being saturated with the gospel because Paul was not gripping, was not complaining, was not whining about his suffering. He was telling the gospel, evangelizing, making disciples.

Neither of his parents were Christians, but they had a neighbor lady who was a faithful follower of Christ. This lady, through her faithful witness made a deep impact upon O’brien’s mother. She was a simple lady with a sincere faith, who unfortunately suffered day after day from an incurable disease. She never gripped. She never complained. She just told about Jesus and lived out her faith in front of his mother, who eventually trusted Christ as her savior. In turn, Obrien later became a Christ follower, went to seminary became renowned Bible scholar, went to India to make the gospel known for years, later went to Australia taught and wrote several commentaries. Untold millions of lives changed by the gospel. All because of the faithfulness of that one woman enduring trials with joy.

Your Answer: Prayerfully Endure and Purposefully Evangelize w/joy.

During your time of suffering, you do not know the outcome but God does, and we must trust His sovereignty to bring good and the gospel from our personal hardships.

Redemptive - Your suffering can be redemptive for others at times.

the Suffering Servant chapters point to Jesus on the cross suffering for the sins of humanity.

Taking the suffering for someone else paints a picture of Jesus. The picture is flawed at best, but still the picture is effective to point people to the salvation found in Christ.

Your suffering can empower others in their journey with Christ. After the resurrection the Apostles were able to face untold and unspeakable persecution, even to point of death because of Jesus’ death/resurrection for them.

v. 12-13 - Christians in Philippi, probably saw this trial as an obstacle to the mission, that God has blazed a trail for the gospel into places he never imagined the gospel would go. Paul also realized how hot God had caused the gospel to burn in the hearts of many who were together in Christ.

A redemptive purpose is what we find in the passage we read today. v.14 - Paul realized how God was using his imprisonment to cause the gospel to burn white hot in the hearts of many who were together with him in Christ. Many of Paul’s partners in the gospel were now unable to remain silent about the gospel.

At other times your suffering is redemptive for yourself when God gives you the victory either through it or over it.

Revelational

Christ’s death redeemed from satan the power of suffering over Paul, turning it from despair into hope.

Christ’s resurrection redeemed from satan the power of death over Paul, turning it from frightening to victorious.

Philippians 1:21 CSB

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

Your answer: Rejoice in the Lord and live for Christ while looking to heaven

How is Paul able to have such a perspective. Paul was consumed with the gospel, whether walking the streets of city or chained to the arm of a Roman guard. Paul could praise Christ with joy during the worst of trials, because of the gospel, and his partners together in the gospel.

How does God want to use me? How is God using this to advance the gospel? How can I encourage others? How can I glorify God? How can I respond?

Ask me one thing I remember about growing up in Church, and I will tell you walking out after the communion at end of service. All you could hear: Bless be the tie that binds.

What is the tie we sang about? When we gather together, the topics of weather, sports, politics, community issues or fun activities may arise. We often discuss our careers or our kids, our thrills and our spills. Which we should, but what is the one thing, in spite of our different personalities, etc, that must tie us all together?

The gospel. A passion for it. A fellowship around the gospel. A church that furthers does with the gospel. A church that fails does so without the gospel.

Your answer: Rejoice in the Lord and live together with courage for Christ glory while looking to heaven.

Your answer: Rejoice in the Lord and live for Christ while looking to heaven

Prayerfully these will help when faced with a time of trials. Life has trials but trials are not all that make up life. We also need to know how to travel together with those who are in the middle of a crisis, even if we are not. There are lessons we can learn from those Paul describes in v.15-18.

Together Means You Travel the Trail Well

What motivates your religion?

v.15-18 - Paul describes 2 types of Christians who proclaimed the gospel.

Paul describes 2 types of Christians who proclaimed the gospel.

Encouraging Christians vs. Envious Christians

v.15 - Paul describes Envious Christians as filled with envy and strife. These are believers who are living in sin by sowing seeds of discord. Paul said these people were looking to tear him down while he was going through a trial.

v.16 - Instead of being an encouragement, Envious Christians make the trail a tough terrain by attempting to lift themselves higher than the people who are struggling.

v. 15b & 17 - Empathetic Christians, Paul says are full of “good will.” They care about their fellow travelers who are in the middle of trying times. Empathetic Christians do not have that critical spirit looking down upon a person in the throws of a trial, rather they seek to be compassionate and understanding.

When the suffering is for the Evidential or Redemptive purpose of God they seek to help carry on the mission.

What motivates your Christianity or your Christ following?

Your response: When other believers are in a better position than you, rejoice.

When other believers appear to receive recognitions or blessings you thought you should receive, rejoice.

When someone is kicking you while your down and lifting themselves up while speaking about Jesus, rejoice that the name of Jesus is being lifted up, even while you are down.

Without Condoning the motives Paul praised the message. The only thoughts, words and actions you can control are your own. No need to defend yourself. Paul knew that God would soon bring judgment upon those Envious Christians. Put the gospel, Jesus and Others before yourself.

Conclusion: Christianity is a guarantee for adversity. If you are a new creation in Christ through salvation, satan, since he cannot keep your soul, seeks to destroy your life through many trials. Joy in the midst of trials will come to us when we fasten/bind our hope to something other than our circumstances.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians Principles

PRINCIPLES

• God is bigger than my circumstances.

• From on high God understands why!

• Proper perspective produces praise.

Holman New Testament Commentary: Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians & Colossians Principles

God is bigger than my circumstances.

• From on high God understands why!

• Proper perspective produces praise.

What Paul writes to the Philippian Christians challenged believers throughout history and challenges you and me at this very moment to flip the script on satan during our trials. Take Paul’s perspective. See your trials as the trail God is blazing in your own life down which the gospel will travel to others.

Christianity is a guarantee for adversity. If you are a new creation in Christ through salvation, satan, since he cannot keep your soul, seeks to destroy your life through many trials.

In these verses Paul says take my example and learn as I have learned to make the most prominent questions of Christianity be formed with the word How?

How does God want to use me? How is God using this to advance the gospel? How can I encourage others? How can I glorify God? How can I respond?

Christianity is also intended to be filled with unity. Remember, together means being on the same team. Everybody may want to be the pitcher or the quarterback, but not everyone is gifted that way. The team wins when each member does their best in their best position, and when they cheer everyone else on in doing the same.

Together means traveling the journey with one another holding others up when they need it, so that when you need it you know where to find help for your trials.

Invitation to Respond

Together means traveling the journey with one another holding others up when they need it, so that when you need it you know where to find help for your trials.

Do you need holding up today? Come and pray. If someone does come others need to come and pray with them. Joy comes from Jesus. Do you know Him as your savior?

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