One Ambition (1-12-18)

One Ambition: Christ Proclaimed (Philippians 1:12-18) Pray and Intro: Kids – proclaim means to announce publicly and loudly; ambition means something that you really really want to be or do  Haven’t you ever wanted to be the best at something? Or grow up to be something cool? (When I was a kid, I wanted to be the best at everything and be in the center of everything.) – The problem with ambition is that it is almost always self-focused. So, ambition is dangerous. Wanting to be great… there’s the problem. (Great in God’s kingdom, be the servant of all) – Squelch or stifle ambition altogether? Or be ambitious for the reason God gave you the capacity to desire—himself. So a godly ambition, a holy ambition, is something that you really really want to be and do because it brings glory to God. As He begins a section with reflections and implications of his imprisonment (remainder of first chapter), Paul speaks here of one ambition, seeing Christ proclaimed, as a reassurance to and example for the Philippians. His testimony to them comes in the form of explaining his testimony involving his captors and his detractors. Read Passage and Analyze: (overview) A. Paul models godly ambition through his testimony involving his captors. 1. Paul reassures the Philippian family about his condition. (I want you to know, brothers) – They have shown their sincere affection for him, so he reassures them about himself and how their partnership/participation is making a difference, and at the same time sets an example for them to follow. (the rest of ch. 1) 2. He reassures them of gospel progress. – They might have thought that being imprisoned would have put a serious damper on Paul’s evangelistic efforts, but He assures them otherwise. (And in that sense it’s ok, even profitable, that he’s in chains.) a. Not exactly the way he had planned to preach in Rome (Romans 1 and 15, but late chapters of Acts ***) – best laid plans – detours  "The same God who used Moses' rod, Gideon's pitchers, and David's sling, used Paul's chains." (Wiersbe) b. It has become known (evident, clearly seen) through the whole imperial guard (praetorium) and to all the rest  (Constable) “The praetorian guard probably refers to the soldiers who were members of the regiment assigned to guard many of the high-ranking officials in the Roman government, though the praetorian guard was also a place.” (like a commander’s headquarters or emperor’s palace) – The praetorian guard were also assigned to prisoners who had made an appeal to Caesar, like Paul. – Guarding him 24/7 while under house arrest. c. Paul evidently had access to many other people, whoever came to him. – The "everyone else" group included unsaved members of the Jewish community (Acts 28:17-29), some Gentiles (e.g., Philippians 1:10), and Paul's fellow Christians. d. Imprisoned for Christ – not because he was a criminal, but because he proclaimed that Jesus is the Christ – When you aim to impress, being thrown in jail doesn’t normally go on the top of your résumé.  But it opened a new door. Different people heard of Christ BECAUSE of his imprisonment, giving Paul opportunity to explain his relationship to Jesus. 3. (What’s more… just wait, it gets even better…) The impact on other Christians—the way his faithfulness while a prisoner affected other local believers  Rather than going into hiding or being less conspicuous because their leader was in chains, they were inspired with courage (made confident) to boldly proclaim in ways that Paul could not, to be (abundantly more) outspoken in sharing their faith. a. We are inspired by courage and honor to be better versions of ourselves, to make sacrifices for the good of others. (military advertisements) b. To speak the word without fear. (the word of God, the gospel, the good news of Jesus  next time, for resurrection day – What is the good news of Jesus?) – fearlessly: unafraid of their opponents (v. 28), not b/c they knew no fear, but b/c their fear of God and confidence in God superseded all earthly fears.  Paul inspired them to believe better, to trust better, to obey better. (Why does Christian faith spread more rapidly under severe persecution? I believe it because Christians are inspired to trust Christ more, and when that happens, they find that God is as trustworthy and good as he says he is. But now they see it more vividly. God uses persecution to make his people more like Jesus and more bold to speak the truth of Jesus.) [Just as Paul models godly ambition through his testimony involving his captors,] B. Paul models godly ambition through his testimony involving his detractors. 1. Of these Roman Christians now witnessing more faithfully and fearlessly, not everyone has the right heart.  Just to make this plain, the point here is for Paul to demonstrate his right ambition through his right testimony and right motivation, NOT AT ALL to give a free pass to those who preach Jesus from envy, rivalry and selfish ambition. a. Apparently these detractors have a generally sound gospel. – If their words about Christ had not been true, misrepresenting or skewing the gospel, Paul wouldn’t shy away from denouncing them. – 3:2, see also Gal. 1:8 “But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed.” b. But they are personally at odds with Paul. Why is that? Self-elevation, wrong ambition. We don’t have details, but some were jealous of Paul, out to advance their own reputations, even if it meant belittling Paul’s, and striving (being contentious) with other believers. (easier to take cheap shots at a guy in prison – while the latter know Paul is in prison for the defense of the gospel, ordained by God) c. How can this be? Good question. Is God being glorified in their hearts?  There is no place in Christ for jealousy and selfish ambition. He tells the Philippians the same: 2:3. Paul knows that his testimony affects his preaching, as does ours. – Motivation matters. d. Some were indeed motivated by love and good will (love for God and Paul; pleasing, what pleases – good intentions for benevolence and favor). – Notice too that this was the majority—most. 2. V. 18 – “What then?” (What does it matter?) a. Paul can say this b/c he, like Jesus, is not motivated by self-interest. (It’s not that he doesn’t care about the pretentious hearts of his detractors, but he’s making a point that what’s more important to him is the proclamation of Christ.) i. Hawthorne rightly stated that "The power of the gospel […] does not depend on the character of the preacher." – Now I want to be a man of godly character, but aren’t you glad that the power of the gospel does not depend on this imperfect preacher? ii. Paul gives an example here of approving what is BEST over what is just good. (9-10) b. Paul is not hampered by his circumstances nor motivated by his acclaim. (They thought they could afflict him, cause him distress, stir up trouble for him, but it wasn’t working.  Paul’s comfort is not in circumstances but in Christ. Paul’s interest not in self-elevation but in Christ elevation.) – We tend to think that if only my circumstances were different, things would be better. The truth is, if only my heart were different, things would be better! 3. “Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” a. So Paul was greatly encouraged by these signs of gospel advance and wanted the Philippians to know it as well. At the same time, it served as an example of the kind of single-minded ambition that believers ought to have—aspiring that God’s name be made great through the proclamation of Christ. b. When being imprisoned is a joy. – “When you have the single mind, you look upon your circumstances as God-given opportunities for the furtherance of the Gospel, and you rejoice at what God is going to do instead of complaining about what God did not do." (Wiersbe) c. In this text then Paul becomes a model for all of us. He doesn’t put his comfort, reputation, or even his freedom first. He puts the progress of God’s plan first. He discerns what is best; his behavior is pure and blameless. And to round it all out, Paul gets exceeding joy from seeing God glorified rather than seeing himself exalted. Conclude: Some of you are driven. And perhaps you bear that moniker proudly. But may I ask today, What are you ambitious of? *** What should Christians be ambitious of? We ought to be people of One Passion: to belong exclusively to Christ and to be his vessel. Sometimes kids don’t understand how complicated truth and life can be. Sometimes adults overcomplicate things and forget how simple truth and life can be. Kids: One holy ambition: To love Jesus more than anything else and to let God make you the best picture of Jesus that you can possibly be so that Jesus is made known to others and God is glorified. (MacArthur) “[Paul] had a legitimate ambition to please the Lord, a legitimate ambition to lead the church, a legitimate ambition to preach the gospel, and that is honorable.” […] “He sees himself as a slave whose one purpose, one aspiration, one ambition in life is to please, to satisfy his master by doing his master’s will.”  Does that sound like you? Paul gives us something to aspire to—to have One Ambition: Christ Proclaimed.