The Gospel Advances

Introduction

On January 6, after the Americans had spent several days of waiting and shouting basic Huaorani phrases into the jungle, the first Huaorani visitors arrived. A young man and two women emerged on the opposite river bank around 11:15 a.m., and soon joined the missionaries at their encampment. The younger of the two women had come against the wishes of her family, and the man, named Nankiwi, who was romantically interested in her, followed. The older woman (about thirty years old) acted as a self-appointed chaperone. he men gave them several gifts, including a model plane, and the visitors soon relaxed and began conversing freely, apparently not realizing that the men’s language skills were weak. Nankiwi, whom the missionaries nicknamed “George”, showed interest in their aircraft, so Saint took off with him aboard. They first completed a circuit around the camp, but Nankiwi appeared eager for a second trip, so they flew toward Terminal City. Upon reaching a familiar clearing, Nankiwi recognized his neighbors, and leaning out of the plane, wildly waved and shouted to them. Later that afternoon, the younger woman became restless, and though the missionaries offered their visitors sleeping quarters, Nankiwi and the young woman left the beach with little explanation. The older woman apparently had more interest in conversing with the missionaries, and remained there most of the night.

After seeing Nankiwi in the plane, a small group of Huaorani decided to make the trip to Palm Beach, and left the following morning, January 7. On the way, they encountered Nankiwi and the girl, returning unescorted. The girl’s brother, Nampa, was furious at this, and to defuse the situation and divert attention from himself, Nankiwi claimed that the foreigners had attacked them on the beach, and in their haste to flee, they had been separated from their chaperone. Gikita, a senior member of the group whose experience with outsiders had taught him that they could not be trusted, recommended that they kill the foreigners. The return of the older woman and her account of the friendliness of the missionaries was not enough to dissuade them, and they soon continued toward the beach.

On January 8 the missionaries waited, expecting a larger group of Huaorani to arrive sometime that afternoon, if only to get plane rides. Saint made several trips over Huaorani settlements, and on the following morning he noted a group of Huaorani men traveling toward Palm Beach. He excitedly relayed this information to his wife over the radio at 12:30 p.m., promising to make contact again at 4:30 p.m.

The Huaorani arrived at Palm Beach around 3:00 p.m., and in order to divide the foreigners before attacking them, they sent three women to the other side of the river. One, Dawa, remained hidden in the jungle, but the other two showed themselves. Two of the missionaries waded into the water to greet them, but were attacked from behind by Nampa. Apparently attempting to scare him, Elliot, the first missionary to be speared, drew his pistol and began firing. One of these shots mildly injured Dawa, still hidden, and another grazed the missionary’s attacker after he was grabbed from behind by one of the women.  . . .

The other missionary in the river, Fleming, before being speared, desperately reiterated friendly overtures and asked the Huaorani why they were killing them. Meanwhile, the other Huaorani warriors, led by Gikita, attacked the three missionaries still on the beach, spearing Saint first, then McCully as he rushed to stop them. Youderian ran to the airplane to get to the radio, but he was speared as he picked up the microphone to report the attack. The Huaorani then threw the men’s bodies and their belongings in the river, and ripped the fabric from their aircraft. They then returned to their village and, anticipating retribution, burned it to the ground and fled into the jungle.

This is the recounting of what happened to five missionaries who gave their lives trying to preach the gospel to the Acua Tribe in Ecuador. Jim Elliot, Nate Saint, Ed McCully, Peter Fleming, and Roger Youderian lost all they had to gain what they could not lose. Their story has been chronicled in books, movies, and countless other formats.

What is of interest to us this morning is their faithfulness to preach the gospel no matter the cost, but also to know this key result of their sacrifice. The deaths of these men galvanized the missionary effort in the US. Not only did the Acua people come to know who Christ is, it spurred on thousands, dare we say millions to boldly fund and selflessly proclaim the gospel.

The most infamous quote from Jim Elliot’s journal reads, “He is no fool who gives up what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose.

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot

This is an example of what life looks like when the gospel is prized more than life itself. This morning the question we must all wrestle with is “How much to I love the gospel?” The second question is “What am I willing to do to advance the gospel?”

Philippians 1:12–18 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. 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,

The Gospel Advancing Through Difficulty

What is not typical for any of us is to ignore the circumstances in life that we find ourselves in. And yet in this letter Paul penned to inform the Philippian church on how he was doing, Paul failed to inform them of what he was going through. Paul’s most urgent concern was to demonstrate that his imprisonment actually served to advance the gospel. And what none of us will ever hear is how Paul wrote this sentence. You see Paul used the word advance which is pronounced prokope, and what the hearer would have been expecting perhaps is the word proskope, which mean hinderance. Paul no doubt caught his readers and hears off guard by not focusing on himself, but rather on the one thing he valued more than life itself. He valued His Savior and the story of salvation going forward more than anything.

Paul was not focused on what he was going through because He knew and we need to know that life circumstance doesn’t define the love of God to us. All that Paul went through was orchestrated by God for the advancement of the gospel.

This is a point of connection for us because comfort is of the highest priority for us. And the encouragement the Philippian church recieved is the encouragement or prodding we need. God ordains difficult times and situations to further the gospel in us and through us. Think of Jim Elliot and what happened as they desired to reach the most vicious tribe in Ecuador at the time. Jim for instance was away from his wife and 10 month old daughter for what was supposed to be a 6 month season to begin this gospel work. He left family, comfort, security and safety because the Acua people needed Jesus and the truth of the gospel more than anything.

What was the encouragement that Paul left the Philippian church and by extension us?

Throughout the Imperial Guard

All that Paul was going through was advancing the gospel. The imperial guard, which were those soldiers tasked as the emperor’s elite army, came to know that gospel is why Paul was in chains. Paul was not in chains for any other reason than God allowed it so that Paul might reach more people with the gospel. Each and every person that Paul spoke with during his imprisonment was an appointment ordained by God that Paul used. Word got around that Paul was bound by chains because of Jesus and His gospel.

Normally when a person is bound those chains represent the power of the one who ordered them to be shackled. In this instance those chains did not represent the power of Caesar. They did not demonstrate the strength of Caesar and Caesar’s will. Rather the chains were evidence of Christ’s power in Paul’s life. Paul was in chains because he belonged to Jesus, those chains resulted because of his proclamation that Jesus is Lord. Every sound the chains made were a glorious song in Paul’s ears reminding him that he, Paul, faithfully served Christ no matter the cost.

One commentator put it this way:

Imagine a guard coming on duty to watch Paul. He had no idea who Paul is. So he asks Paul the most common question directed at prisoners, “Why are you in chains?” Paul’s answer is Christ-centered: “I am in chains because I belong to Christ. I serve Christ. Jesus Christ in humility and in obedience to God’s will died for our sins on a Roman cross under Roman power. Jesus Christ is now the risen and exalted Lord above all powers. Christ called me to proclaim the good news about him among the nations. Christ is the Savior of all who trust him. One day everyone will recognize and worship Christ as the Lord of all.”

Can’t you see Paul doing that. And the point is not that all who heard believed, but rather all heard. We are not responsible for the salvation of anyone. Paul was not responsible for the salvation of anyone. Why? Because Paul, nor you or I died for anyone. Jesus and the work of the Spirit applies and accomplishes salvation. We must be moved by the Spirit always to preach the gospel so that all have the opportunity to hear and respond, to hear and have the Spirit wake them from the dead.

Brothers Speaking the Word Without Fear

What is more striking to me is the truth that the gospel advanced by emboldening Christians not in chains. The text in Philippians continues, “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Paul was an example to those under the same rules and laws of not worshipping anyone above Caesar, to stand strong and treasure Christ over even the highest power in the land.

I read this statement this week, “ Many words can be spoken in human discourse without the slightest risk or need for courage. But speaking this particular word—a Christ-centered word—always requires courage. The message of Christ’s humble obedience unto death on a cross (2:8) strikes a blow at every proud heart. The message of Christ’s exaltation to be the universal Lord over all creation (2:9–11) requires every knee to bow before him. Anyone who dares to speak this word outside the church, outside the comfortable circle of Christian admirers, will be inspired by Paul’s courageous witness when he was chained to the emperor’s bodyguard.”

What was disheartening to me was the read the phrase most of the brothers. Not all who claimed the name of Christ were compelled to share the gospel. And here is the one point where I want us all to admit that we have not done everything we can to share the gospel with others. Look at your neighbor and say, “I have not done all that I can to share the gospel.” Now turn to the other neighbor and say, “I know, neither have I.”

Many words can be spoken in human discourse without the slightest risk or need for courage. But speaking this particular word—a Christ-centered word—always requires courage. The message of Christ’s humble obedience unto death on a cross (2:8) strikes a blow at every proud heart. The message of Christ’s exaltation to be the universal Lord over all creation (2:9–11) requires every knee to bow before him. Anyone who dares to speak this word outside the church, outside the comfortable circle of Christian admirers, will be inspired by Paul’s courageous witness when he was chained to the emperor’s bodyguard

This verse is critical for us because Paul does not denounce these silent non gospel sharing people are reprobate. Just like us these people may have thought about the repercussions of preaching the gospel in relation to their own lives and feelings of comfort or not wanting to offend. We each have our own reasons at different times for shying away from proclaiming the gospel. In this moment I want you to realize, you are not condemned for you lack of gospel sharing, just as Paul did not condemn those brothers who did not.

Instead, let this be a galvanizing moment for you and I that we will do all within our power to not let another opportunity pass us by where we can communicate something of the gospel.

The Gospel Advancing by Preaching

After all the gospel is advanced through preaching. Good works does not save anyone, nor does being nice and living a godly life communicate the gospel. Transformation proves that the gospel is true.

But the faith comes by hearing and hearing the word of God according to .

And what matters to Paul is that Christ is preached so that the gospel is clear and the Spirit can work.

Paul is juxtaposing two groups in the following few verses. He wants to show how motives do matter, but in the end we should be more concerned that the right Jesus is proclaimed than the reason why the right Jesus is proclaimed. I’m not saying motives don’t matter. What I am saying is the true Jesus is much more important than motives. Preaching a false Jesus with the right motives leads to damnation for both the one sharing and the one hearing and responding. Preaching the right Jesus with wrong motives leads to salvation. There may be judgment on motives but in the end both will be in heaven.

Those preaching from envy and rivalry and those preaching from good will in this passage are included within the family of Christian brothers and sisters. They are not wolves in sheep’s clothing, they are not fake Christians. They are however in need of correction and training in righteousness.

Do you think after the death of Jim Elliot, his wife told people with wrong motives to stop sharing the gospel. When she saw the tide of evangelism grow in America she praised God, the death of her husband as painful as it was, as grueling as it was, as it still is, has born more fruit than she could have ever imagined.

Preaching From Envy and Rivalry

So to the group with wrong motives. They preach from envy and rivalry. These two words are often paired in Paul’s writings and are works of the flesh, and evidence of a depraved mind. Envy here means enslaved by all kinds of passions. Rivalry is just what it means in competition with someone or something. Those who preach from envy and rivalry do so out of selfish ambition to afflict Paul in his imprisonment. The preach pretending there is a problem when there isn’t one present.

The reality was these poorly motivated preachers were within the church. Why then the rivalry and envy, one can only speculate. Perhaps they viewed Paul’s imprisonment as a sign that Paul was judged by God, therefore their ministries were right. Perhaps they were jealous of Paul and the influence he had. No matter what they thought that their ability to boldly and loudly proclaim the gospel in town would cause Paul great pain. After all he was bound and unable to travel and preach as he once had.

Paul is also addressing the divisions in the church in a foreshadowing type of way. In this church selfish ambitions were tearing the church in two. There were two ladies and lines were being drawn in the sand. What is interesting is Paul here describes the motives of these preachers who were being divisive by saying that they preach Christ out of selfish ambition. And soo in chapter 2:3 Paul will say do nothing out of selfish ambition. You see when you follow Christ, there is no me and mine, there is only Jesus and His kingdom.

Here is the positive thing to say about this group. At least they were sharing the gospel. I will say this matter of factly. Often times Christians judge other Christians saying I would not present the gospel that way. I would not take a stand for Christ like that, they came across so offensive, old school, too whatever. The truth is if you preach a proper Jesus and a proper gospel it will be offensive, old school and whatever. The cross is an offense. No one receives the news that they are a bad person dead in the wrongness well. At least when the gospel is shared by a person with wrong motives they are sharing the gospel.

We all need to be stirred from our non gospel sharing slumber, and awakened to the joy of God saving sinners from hell. I could go on, but that will come in a bit.

Preaching From Good Will

The gospel is preached with right motives and with right doctrine by the second group Paul mentions. The second group preached from goodwill out of love. These people preached the gospel and saw it advance and being transformed by the message they preached. Their love grew, they desired good for people. they were charitable, having eye’s like Jesus had. Seeing not a prostitute deserving death, but spiritually dead woman needing life. They didn’t see sinners and those to be avoided, they saw people who need light in darkness. They saw those ensnared needing to be set free.

The motives you preach from determine how you view people. Envy and Rivalry, counting the notches in your salvation belt as it were is not the right attitude. We are not trying to lift ourselves us, we are exalting Christ.

In the end what matter to Paul from the get go was preaching Christ. His imprisonment was about the gospel advancing. It advanced in his presence and in the presence of all the Christians who heard of Paul’s story and were moved to preach the gospel to others. In the end what people meant to harm Paul, didn’t bother him because His joy was in the gospel of Jesus spreading, not building his little following.

Advancing the Gospel for Us

As I have reflected on this passage a few key thoughts have been uncovered.

D.A Carson put one application this way:

First, How do we view difficult situations?

What is it in the Christian faith that excites you? What consumes your time? What turns you on? Today there are endless subgroups of confessing Christians who invest enormous quantities of time and energy in one issue or another: abortion, pornography, home schooling, women’s ordination (for or against), economic justice, a certain style of worship, the defense of a particular Bible version, and much more. The list varies from country to country, but not a few countries have a full agenda of urgent, peripheral demands. Not for a moment am I suggesting we should not think about such matters or throw our weight behind some of them. But when such matters devour most of our time and passion, each of us must ask: In what fashion am I confessing the centrality of the gospel?

First, difficulty is an opportunity to advance the gospel in our own lives or in others lives.

Look at the example of Paul, of Jim Elliot or countless others we could read about. Nothing worth doing is easy.

Secondly, God works through adverse circumstances.

One commentator put it this way, “We are not likely to find the greatest advances of the gospel within the circles of prestige, power, and wealth so pervasive in the West. We should expect instead that the gospel will make the greatest strides in places where no doubt exists that God is the agent of the work.”

The west with its affluence and comfort sees pain and suffering and difficulty as judgment. This could not be further from the truth. Jesus, God’s own Son, was a man of sorrows, with no home, and no money, who died a criminals death and borrowed someone’s tomb to be buried in.

Third, when our joy is tied to the gospel advancing and not physical circumstances, our joy remains strong and true.

This passage, finally, teaches the modern church something about the nature of joy. It is not the self-satisfied delight that everything is going our way, but the settled peace that arises from making the gospel the focus of life and from understanding that God is able to advance the gospel under the most difficult circumstances.

Second, what do we do with our desires?

Many of us have social, and political aspirations and desires. We do not want a privatized gospel or a gospel without social ramifications. BUT as one commentator put it,

“ We wisely reread the accounts of the Evangelical Awakening in England and the Great Awakening in America and the extraordinary ministries of Howell Harris, George Whitefield, the Wesley brothers, and others. We rightly remind ourselves how under God their converts led the fights to abolish slavery, reform the penal code, begin trade unions, transform prisons, and free children from serving in the mines. All of society was transformed because soundly converted men and women saw that life must be lived under God and in a manner pleasing to him. But virtually without exception these men and women put the gospel first. They were gospel people. They reveled in it, preached it, cherished Bible reading and exposition that was Christ-centered and gospel centered, and from that base moved out into the broader social agendas. In short, they put the gospel first, not least in their own aspirations. Not to see this priority means we are not more than a generation away from denying the gospel.”

We wisely reread the accounts of the Evangelical Awakening in England and the Great Awakening in America and the extraordinary ministries of Howell Harris, George Whitefield, the Wesley brothers, and others. We rightly remind ourselves how under God their converts led the fights to abolish slavery, reform the penal code, begin trade unions, transform prisons, and free children from serving in the mines. All of society was transformed because soundly converted men and women saw that life must be lived under God and in a manner pleasing to him. But virtually without exception these men and women put the gospel first. They were gospel people. They reveled in it, preached it, cherished Bible reading and exposition that was Christ-centered and gospel centered, and from that base moved out into the broader social agendas. In short, they put the gospel first, not least in their own aspirations. Not to see this priority means we are not more than a generation away from denying the gospel.

We are not likely to find the greatest advances of the gospel within the circles of prestige, power, and wealth so pervasive in the West. We should expect instead that the gospel will make the greatest strides in places where no doubt exists that God is the agent of the work.

Third, D.A Carson put one application this way:

What is it in the Christian faith that excites you?

What consumes your time? What turns you on? Today there are endless subgroups of confessing Christians who invest enormous quantities of time and energy in one issue or another: abortion, pornography, home schooling, women’s ordination (for or against), economic justice, a certain style of worship, the defense of a particular Bible version, and much more. The list varies from country to country, but not a few countries have a full agenda of urgent, peripheral demands. Not for a moment am I suggesting we should not think about such matters or throw our weight behind some of them. But when such matters devour most of our time and passion, each of us must ask: In what fashion am I confessing the centrality of the gospel?

He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain that which he cannot lose. - Jim Elliot

Perhaps this morning the response for you is to lay aside one passion or desire that you cannot keep and spend that time pursuing that which you cannot lose.

Instead of the news to end your evening, what if you read the good news? Instead of commercials, meditate on scripture. Instead of binge watching netflix, invest some time in an eternal discipline.

For Jim Elliot and the other 4 men, they gave their lives to advance the gospel in a group of people no one wanted to take the gospel to because they were known for the fierceness. Not only did that story end with Acua people hearing the gospel and responding in faith. But Jim’s wife, Elisabeth, eventually met her husbands killer who had come to faith in Christ. What was a brutal event lead to the resurgence of gospel sharing in America and beyond. It even led to Elisabeth and her daughter working among the Acua people for two years. Why would someone give so much to the people who took her husband from her? Elizabeth and Jim Elliot, and the apostle Paul had one thing in common…the gospel was worth more than life itself.