No Matter What

Introduction: A man sits, under house arrest for two years. Guards come and keep watch on him 24 hours a day. He awaits trails for apparent crimes of disorderly conduct and inciting riots in the city. To many in the world, this man is a trouble-maker and a dissenter from what it true and good. He is causing all kinds of dissention among the people and deserves death for his apparent crimes. The pagans dislike him. The government isn’t thrilled with him. The religious leaders certainly want nothing to do with. As a matter of fact, they would like to see him dead. That is a description of Paul the apostle as he was under house arrest, awaiting his hearing with Roman rulers, hoping to eventually get to the emperor himself.

But, this man hasn’t truly done anything wrong. The only thing that Paul can be accused of is his unwavering commitment to preach the gospel to the nations. He hasn’t physically hurt anyone. As a matter of fact, he hasn’t incited physical violence either. It’s the jealousy and hatred of the Jewish people that did that! Paul loved Jesus. Why did he love Jesus so much? Because Jesus loved him when he was unlovable. A Pharisee, a zealous one at that, ready to imprison every Christian, debate and refute that Jesus was the Messiah, and stand idly by as Christian were beaten and put to death at the hands of a mob. But Jesus loved him anyway. Jesus died to save Paul. And Paul, on that fateful day on the way to Damascus, encounters Jesus and is forever changed. He is redeemed. He is made a new creature. And he has a new calling in life. Rather than persecute Christians and squelch the name of Jesus, he is now called to be Jesus’ biggest mouthpiece by becoming Jesus’ greatest missionary.

Now, this man faces unjust imprisonment. He doesn’t deserve jail. He has done nothing wrong. His faith is strong. Why would something like this happen to a man who was making strides in spreading the gospel? How is this helping? Why is a bad thing happening to a good Christian man, faithful? Why does it seem that the wicked prosper and the faithful endure suffering?

And those questions can also drive our own lives. Sometimes, we face some pretty terrible circumstances through no fault of our own. Not because of sin. Sometimes, bad things happen to faithful followers of Jesus. Why? Where is God in all of this?

This text, one of many, shows us that we can rejoice in the midst of the hardships, the midst of the suffering. We see that God isn’t surprised or even thwarted by sin or struggle. As a matter of fact, one day, it will all become clear that even in the worst of circumstances, God’s perfect plan to advance the gospel continues. No matter what....

CTS: Rejoice in God’s perfect plan to advance the gospel, even when difficulties come.

Foundational Truth: Expectations of the Christian life.

What does the Christian life look like? Before we began Philippians, we talked about the mission of the church. Those four parts of our purpose statement here at MBC explain the Christian life well. Love God. Love People. Share Jesus. Make Disciples. It is because of the gospel that we are forgiven of our sin, made new creatures in Christ, and called to a life of holiness and love for God and others, ultimately expressed through carrying out the mission of sharing Jesus and making disciples. That is a culmination of our love, and this is what the Christian life is about. No longer about me, my success, my power, my possessions, my desires, my expectations. No longer am I king over my own life, but now Jesus is seated on the throne of my heart. Its a sacrificial life. Its completely opposite of the world’s idea of a good life. It’s dying to self and giving it all to Jesus and want He wants. That’s the Christian life.

But the problem is, is that

In this life though, we are not promised that everything will be a bed of roses. As a matter of fact, because we live this life, we are going to endure opposition. Opposition from the enemy, our own flesh, and the world around us.

And we are going to even encounter troubles that we don’t understand. We will endure things that doesn’t seem right. So how do we react?

You can retain your joy in the Christian life by...

I. Focusing On the Gospel (12-14)

A. The gospel is never thwarted (12)

Paul begins the body of his letter by first addressing what is obviously on hearts and minds of the Philippian church. His fellow worker Epaphroditus, by whom he is sending this letter, would no doubt tell them the circumstances that Paul was in at that moment. Sitting in house arrest in a home, with a soldier chained to him 24 hours a day. Though he could do things, like eat, drink, write, pray, and all the normal things people do in their homes, he couldn’t leave the sight of these soldiers. And the Philippians are most likely worried for Paul’s well-being. But I’m sure they are also a bit discouraged. They see a man so faithful to preach the gospel, to love and encourage others, and he gets put in jail? Why would God do that? Isn’t this hindering his plan to preach the gospel? So, the Philippians have some concerns.

Contextualize this now: And lets be honest and open here. Sometimes, we face some really difficult circumstances in life. We will all face some personal hardships, trials, and tribulations. Some of us or someone we know will get sick unexpectedly and face a deadly disease that will kill their body. And the thing that often hurts the most, it can be someone that loves Jesus and serves Him faithfully.

Let me tell you about a guy that I knew from college. His name was Jordan. And if I could describe Jordan, he was one of the most humble and encouraging guys you would ever meet. He was in many of the same ministry classes that I had. He had a heart and love for Jesus that was infectious. He was funny. He was kind. He would also stand for what was right when needed. He was a godly man, and many people looked up to him, including myself. He married a sweet young lady there and they moved back to where he was from in Cincinatti, and he was heavily involved in a Christian camp ministry for a number of years. He then became a Cincinatti fire firefighter. He had three children. And one day on his way to work on his motorcycle, he got into an accident and died.

And let me tell you something. I thought to myself, and I’m sure many others did as well. How can a guy like that, that loves Jesus, loves his wife, his children, his community, just get taken away like that? Why do the wicked continue to live and a faithful guy like him die? Why does his sweet wife have to face this? Why does his children have to go through life without their daddy?

Why do I have to face cancer? Why does my husband have a crippling disease? Why are my parents going through a divorce? Why are these things happening? And through all of these trials, all of these difficulties, it can seem like God is being thwarted. Paul looks like he is being thwarted from doing his mission.

You see, I can’t answer that question outright. I don’t know the exact reason.

But, Paul wants them to know something, a very important truth that will drive the rest of this passage, the rest of the letter, and should drive the rest of his life, the Philippians lives, and every Christian’s life until Jesus comes again.

All of this? Don’t worry about it! Thank you for your concern. But hear this: all that has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. The word advance in the Greek has the idea of “blazing a trail before an army.” There were a set of soldiers that would clear the brush and the path by which the army traveled, going through the hard and difficult to terrain to make it easier for the rest of the army to go through. As we will find out, Paul is this advancing soldier, clearing the way and introducing the gospel into new territories. But even this trial, this imprisonment, rather than thwarting the gospel is actually paving the way for it to spread further. And this is the thing we need to hear in our own lives, in our own circumstances, in our own trials and tribulations, whether its natural causes or the sin of others against us or others we know, that for whatever reason, it’s part of God’s plan to ultimately advance the gospel. God is not surprised by these situations. He wasn’t surprised that Jordan died that morning. He is not surprised that you face cancer. He is not surprised that you need a quadruple bypass surgery. He is not surprised that your best friend has turned their back on you. He is not surprised that your spouse is leaving you. He is not surprised by the hurricane that destroys your home and livelihood. Why? Because in the end, through it all, no matter what, the gospel advances.

How can we be confident in this? Let’s look at what Paul says in regards to his trial, to his unlawful and unnecessary imprisonment. There are two results of it. Here is how the gospel advances, even in the most challenging of circumstances...

B. The gospel is being heard (13)

Paul then explains how the gospel is advancing. First, he talks about how it is being heard even in the midst of this difficult circumstance. Despite him being imprisoned, the gospel is actually still affecting others. He gets to write letters, pray, and have visitors. But a big part of the gospel advancing is that it is carrying through the imperial guard. Let me explain what this means. During his imprisonment, as mentioned earlier, Paul has a soldier that would be one a four hour rotation chained to him. In other words, Paul would have the ear of a roman soldier for four hours. To explain these soldiers, they are the elite soldiers of the imperial army. They protect high value people in the empire, and also, prisoners under house arrest awaiting trial before the rulers of the empire. This is why Paul has one. So, soldiers with great influence are now around Paul for 24 hours a day. They watch him write letters, have visitors, pray, read the Scriptures, and no doubt, he is talking to them personally about Jesus. They watch his life. His response to the unjust imprisonment. They get to see if Paul really believes in this Jesus, if he is serious. And we know that Paul is.

Often, our responses to our circumstances will be a sign of our faith and trust in the God whom we claim we love and trust. Paul had an opportunity. He shared Jesus. He lived Jesus. He reacted accordingly. And because of this, Jesus is being spread through the whole imperial guard. No doubt, these soldiers around Paul are now telling their soldier friends about Paul and this Jesus he is so passionate about. And the gospel is being heard. We don’t have any indication of how many put their faith in Christ, but we can be fairly confident that some came to faith and made an impact. tells us 22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household. Caesar, often referred to as lord among the citizens and soldiers of Rome, is now no longer lord in the lives of the high-ranking officials in Caesar’s household. It’s an encouraging word to the Philippians. Keep sharing Jesus, despite your circumstances!

Application: God has put your where you are at, right now, in whatever circumstance, to advance his gospel. We got some athletes in our youth group. I was telling them the other day that I was unatheltic in high school and I bowled a lot, in leagues and what not. But I know some of them play baseball, softball, football, etc. You are put on that team at this moment for a reason. Yes, to play the sport, but ultimately to advance the gospel. Matt Chandler, one of my favorite preachers says that he came to know Christ through the witness of one of his teammates on the football team in high school. The guy told him he was going to share Jesus with him this season, and told Matt to let him know when he was ready to hear it. You may have cancer because God needs you in that hospital to advance the gospel among the doctors and nurses. You may have lost your job because God needs you somewhere else to advance the gospel. So focus on what the meaning of our lives as followers of Jesus, to make him known. Make the gospel your focus in all circumstances.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version. (2016). (). Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles.

C. The gospel is being proclaimed by others (14)

A second result of this seemingly bad circumstance is that the gospel is being proclaimed by others. Paul wants to encourage the Philippians that his imprisonment, his persecution, is not hindering the gospel going forth even outside of his chains. He has already addressed how he gets to share Jesus, but now he talks about how his imprisonment has made others more bold.

Confidence in the Lord to preach first and foremost is rooted in God himself. Preaching the gospel is not done out of our own willpower, but rather, through God himself in the person of the Holy Spirit. This is evident by the promise of Jesus before he left that he would send the Holy Spirit to empower, guide, and teach the disciples to preach the gospel. So, our confidence to share the gospel, as we broke down with the Ethiopian eunuch a few weeks ago is founded and based in Holy Spirit.

But sometimes, God will use the circumstances of other believers to spur more confidence. Paul is telling him that his circumstances, as bad as they may seem, is actually helping others be more bold in sharing Jesus. They are watching how Paul has stood firm, unwavering in his joy in Christ and unwavering in his proclamation of the gospel. To him, to live is Christ. That is his life. That is what he desires. He is most fulfilled living in Christ and for Christ. We’ll see next week the implications of that, but Paul knows one essential truth. Life now is for Jesus, and he will give it all for the one that gave it all for him. He knows living now for Christ will benefit others, that the gospel will go forth, despite his circumstances, and actually, because of his circumstances.

Now most of the brothers and sisters in Christ are being emboldened by Paul. They now see what it means to stand for Christ in the face of opposition. They see his joy. They see how Paul counts it a privilege to suffer for the Christ that suffered it all for him. They want that. They want to follow the example of Paul, and ultimately, the example of Christ. No fear is speaking the gospel, for it is life-changing. If they get persecuted or die because of it, so be it. To die is gain. Why fear the things that cannot do anything to separate us from the love of Christ?

English Standard Version Chapter 8

31 What then shall we say to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us? 32 He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? 33 Who shall bring any charge against God’s elect? It is God who justifies. 34 Who is to condemn? Christ Jesus is the one who died—more than that, who was raised—who is at the right hand of God, who indeed is interceding for us. 35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? 36 As it is written,

“For your sake we are being killed all the day long;

we are regarded as sheep to be slaughtered.”

37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, 39 nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.

English Standard Version Chapter 4

22 All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.

Application: Here is the application. Your situation. Your circumstance. Whatever it may be, God can use it to encourage others. And people are watching you. God may put you in the hospital to not only be a witness to the lost there, but it may encourage someone in your church to watch how you have focused on the gospel. You may be facing persecution and ridicule for your faith. How are you reacting to that? Are you humble and stand strong, never wavering, but doing it with humility and love for others, despite all things said and done to you? You can spur others on to continue to live for Christ and proclaim him. God may use your difficult circumstance to spur others to more gospel faithfulness. As Paul no doubt did for the Roman believers and the Philippian church. He exhorts them to keep on advancing the gospel, no matter what! The same goes for you. No matter what, keep living and proclaiming the gospel!

II. Focusing on God’s Glory (15-18a)

A. What motivates us to preach Christ? (15-18)

Paul now shifts his attention to the “others” in verse 14. Notice how Paul said, “most” of the brothers became confident in the Lord. There are some brothers that did not became confident. As a matter of fact, they used his imprisonment for their own selfish intentions.

There are two types of people that Paul refers to in regards to the motives behind preaching Christ. There are those that preach Christ from envy and rivalry, and others from good will. And those motivations are driven either out of love or selfish ambition.

Here is the issue. There are some that are preaching Christ out of competition with Paul. They see a perfect opportunity to fill in the gap of Paul’s leadership. They certainly didn’t like how much attention and love he got when he came into Rome. And now they have the opportunity, though they don’t know him personally, to attack him. It doesn’t say what was actually said, but they preach the gospel so that it afflicts Paul. They do it to take away his following and give it to themselves. They are sheep-stealing, trying to get the glory for themselves that they think Paul has. They do it out of envy and selfish-ambition, only seeking to make much of themselves. This is in direct contrast with those that preach Christ alongside Paul, out of love, supporting the apostle in his imprisonment, spurred by his faithfulness. Most love Paul. Some are irritated about Paul and want him in prison, out of the picture. He steals their glory they think they deserve.

Here is how we should react instead. Let me give you personal example that I hope I can try to emulate if the situation arises. Let’s say a young man gets called to the ministry here (I pray that happens throughout the coming years!). And I let the young man preach, guiding him and helping him in the preaching task. And as time goes along, he becomes a better preacher than me. Now, the temptation is to be, oh no, I can’t let this guy outpreach me. He’ll steal my thunder. He’ll steal my glory. I’m not gonna let him preach anymore. I can’t have that. What have I done? My motives are about me, and not the glory of God, the kingdom of God being expanded. Instead, my reaction should be, AMEN! God has gifted him and used him in greater ways. I will use him as much as I can here and send him out to be a witness for the gospel! He could become the next Billy Graham. Amen!

1 Thess 2:2-6

English Standard Version Chapter 2

2 But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare to you the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict. 3 For our appeal does not spring from error or impurity or any attempt to deceive, 4 but just as we have been approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel, so we speak, not to please man, but to please God who tests our hearts. 5 For we never came with words of flattery, as you know, nor with a pretext for greed—God is witness. 6 Nor did we seek glory from people, whether from you or from others, though we could have made demands as apostles of Christ.

B. Who gets the glory? (18)

And here’s Paul’s overriding love the gospel shown forth in one glorious phrase. Doesn’t matter to me. No matter what, Christ is proclaimed. No matter the intentions of those who preach, as long as Christ is proclaimed. And we can gather from this passage that these people are not preaching a false gospel. They aren’t turning their backs on the true gospel. They are just preaching it out of wrong intentions. For their glory. Regardless, the gospel is proclaimed. Jesus is shared and proclaimed. People are coming to Christ. And that can be a hard pill to swallow, because sometimes we see people who share Jesus and do it out of love for themselves for their own glory. But if Jesus is proclaimed, who am I to question God’s use of them?

God will have to deal with the motives of those who preach Christ. All Paul is concerned about is Jesus. Is he being proclaimed? Yes? That’s enough for me. That should be our outlook as well.

Application: And here is the thing. We are not immune to this ourselves. We must check out motives. You see, these people are preaching Christ, not for His glory, for their own. They are looking for how they can puff themselves up, to get the attention. And unfortunately, this happens in the church quite often. Let me be clear and transparent with you, we pastors can easily fall into this trap. We may look at a fellow pastor on TV or down the street and think, why are they getting the glory? I want that. And here’s something that may go through our minds. “Man, that guys theology is just not where it needs to be. His preaching isn’t really that good. Why does he have hundred or thousands of people? Why is that guy successful? He seems arrogant?” And then our hearts motives is not to congratulate or support the guy, but rather to tear him down. We forget what Paul says in verse 18. So now it becomes a competitive spirit rather than a spirit of cooperation. Jealousy is real in ministry. It’s real in the church as well. We can even become jealous of our own brothers and sisters here in our own churches. We may become envious of the success or ministry of someone, and then rather than our motives be for Jesus, we think only of ourselves. So the danger will become, what will I do? No longer is the motive for our ministry, for going to church about glorifying God, but glorifying my wants and desires, my own selfish ambition.

So instead of competition, we are to be a people of cooperation. Because in the end, the glory doesn’t belong to me or to you, but to Christ. Don’t we want to be a people that encourages rather than discourages others? So what if someone is more gifted than you at teaching, directing, singing, or playing an instrument. So what if someone can preach better than me. Let’s encourage and equip them further. Whether we are the Sunday School teacher who humbly teaches the same class week after week or the one that stands among thousands to preach the gospel. You may be the SS teacher that leads the next great preacher to Christ! And in that, we should rejoice. As Paul said, whoever it may be, we whether they do it with right intentions or not, as long as Christ is proclaimed, in that, we rejoice.

Here is the main question we need to ask ourselves: Who am I doing this for? What am I doing ministry for? For the glory of God or for myself?

Choir, music, preaching, teaching, serving, praying. In all those things, we must ask this question: Who am I doing it for?

Conclusion: No matter what. Through my cirucmstances. In my own heart. I can rejoice because Christ is proclaimed. We may not see how right now. We may not understand. We may not see how it is going to work out. We may be discouraged by the intentions of others.

But I can retain joy in ministry if I focus on the gospel alone being advanced, despite circumstances and motives among others. God can use these circumstances in greater ways than we can imagine. Is the gospel your focus? Is Jesus your one and only joy? Is he the reason we do what we do? Is his gospel our main focus and is our motives for his glory alone?

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