2018-05-06 Philippians 1: 12-18 God Always Wins (2): Right Message, Wrong Motives

GOD ALWAYS WINS (2): RIGHT MESSAGE, WRONG MOTIVES (Philippians 1:12-18) Date: ____________________ Read Phil 1:12-18 – I saw a claim the other day that Noah Webster wrote the first dictionary because of a nagging wife! That’s right. Every time he opened his mouth she’d say, “And what’s that supposed to mean?!” Demonstrating that something bad can have meaning! – something God specializes in. This passage illustrates I Cor 15:57: “But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” God never loses. It’s a hard truth to grasp because it doesn’t always look that way. It sure didn’t for Paul. He had long hoped to arrive in Rome as a preacher; instead he arrived as a prisoner. But where others saw defeat, Paul experienced victory. Paul saw God using his adversity to forward the gospel – turning defeat into victory. So we see 6 ways God turned Paul’s hard circumstances to advantage. Our results won’t be exactly the same, but it illustrates the principle God always wins – and to the extent that we live under His direction, we will win as well – circumstances notwithstanding. We looked at the first two results last week: I. Paul’s Captors Are Evangelized – Chained to Paul in shifts around the clock, these elite guards found not a “Woe is me” attitude, but an attitude of joy as Paul embraced his hardship and preached Christ anyway. II. Paul’s Colleagues Are Emboldened – His example lit a fire under others – one of the reasons Christian community is so important. Today my courage can help you; tomorrow your courage will help me. Bold together! III. Paul’s Critics Are Exposed Hard to believe, but Paul had enemies – among believers -- some were jealous and wanted to afflict him! So, who were they? Some say they were the Judaizers who taught that accepting Christ was great, but to be truly saved you had to keep all the OT Jewish Law. However, it cannot be them. Paul calls their teaching “another gospel” – not the gospel of Christ. So it could not have been them. Others think some who were mad at Paul for getting arrested and appealing to Caesar. They feared an unfavorable verdict would reflect on all believers. But it wasn’t Paul’s fault he got arrested. And the charge was taking a Gentile into the Jewish temple – nothing that reflected on Xnty per se. 1 So who? It had to be believers in the church that already existed in Rome. Leaders, in fact. They are preaching. But they do so out of “envy and rivalry” (16) and from “selfish ambition” thinking to “afflict” Paul (18). Not a pretty picture. Perhaps they were famous in Rome. But here comes the great Apostle Paul to town. His name is on everyone’s lips. Then stories of converts among the Praetorian guard begin to leak out and it’s too much. These previously timid men begin to speak out boldly. They are not about to be outdone by Paul. But they are promoting self more than Christ – operating out of “selfish ambition”. Their message is pure; their motives are anything but. It’s an easy trap to fall into, isn’t it? Someone else is getting the attention. You get none. Others are popular; your faithfulness goes unnoticed. Bitterness can grow quickly. Sometimes pastors are the worst of all. Like the guy I’ve told you about who took an elder along to a conference where it seemed each speaker was having more success than the one before. Someone asked the pastor the size of his church. The elder was surprised to hear: “Between 8 and 900.” He pulled the pastor aside and said, “Pastor, you know we only average about 80 people each Sunday.” The pastor replied, “Right, and 80 is between 8 and 900!” How we love recognition and envy those who get more than we. John Claypool is his 1979 Yale Lecture on Preaching said even in seminary he experienced jealous jockeying for position. “I can still recall going to state and national conventions in our denomination and coming home feeling drained and unclean, because most of the conversation in the hotel rooms and the halls was characterized either by envy of those who were doing well or scarcely concealed delight for those who were doing poorly. For did that not mean that someone was about to fall, and thus create an opening higher up the ladder?” That’s what Paul was experiencing – people preaching to outdo Paul – to reclaim the attention they’d had before he arrived in town. So, how is God winning thru that?! At least 2 ways. First, the folly of jealousy and envy was being exposed. The guilty parties might never have known they had it, and others might not have been able to address it had Paul not arrived exposing the problem. Second, tho they preach for the wrong motives, they were proclaiming Christ. They’re out to exalt self, but they do have the message right; the gospel is advancing. Flawed instruments – yes. But if God didn’t use flawed instruments, who would He use? We’re all flawed. Doesn’t excuse their wrong motives, but Paul rejoiced that the gospel was going forth. These guys were like the family of 6 that moved from the suburbs to minister in the intercity. Three kids were on board, but the 6-year-old resented the 2 move. So Mom was shocked one day when the rebel walked in and said, “Mommy, I want to give all my birthday money to the poor people.” Mom was about to praise her generosity when she continued, “Now Mommy, if I do this, can I go on that Oprah show and tell everybody about it?” Great message; wrong motives. Paul was big enough not to worry about losing personal ground as long as Jesus was lifted up. God will take care of motives. IV. Paul’s Conduct is Exemplary Paul kept priorities straight. He could fight when needed. When false teachers came to Galatia saying Paul’s teaching was fine, but it did not go far enough. In addition to Christ, people need to keep the laws of Judaism in order to be saved. Paul condemned them in no uncertain terms. 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. 9 As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed.” Paul knew how to fight without pulling any punches. But when his enemies in Rome sought to discredit him for their own selfadvancement, he backed off. Why? Because he kept his eye on the goal – the gospel. In Galatia the gospel was being misrepresented – so badly that Paul called it “another gospel”. In Rome, the gospel was still being presented correctly, just with wrong motives. In both cases Paul was being abused. But he didn’t fight his personal rights – only the gospel. Personal slights he could absorb as long as the gospel was going forward. God was winning through Paul’s exemplary conduct. He knew when to fight; and he knew when not to. Do you know when to fight and when not to? Augustine get credit for a motto that actually came from a German Lutheran theologian, Rupertus Meldenius in a tract written around 1627. “In essentials, unity; it non-essentials, liberty; in all things, charity.” Essentials – the basics of the gospel (substitutionary atonement, salvation by grace alone through faith alone) – or moral issues -we must have unity on those. Failure on those caused Paul to fight in Galatia. Non-essentials – minor or non-theological issues – liberty on those. In all things, charity – love. That’s what Paul was exemplified. Was he tempted to defend himself – sure. But He took the long view. 17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. [So fight, Paul?] 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” No fighting – just rejoicing that while I’m afflicted, Christ is being proclaimed. 3 Paul put the gospel above self. I dare say most of us would fight for our own rights and lot sooner than we would fight for the gospel. But we’ll miss the benefits of Christ’s always winning if that’s the case. When Hudson Taylor went to China as a missionary, he adopted Chinese dress, including the pony tail. One day as he waited for a boatman to ferry him across a river, a rich Chinese man came up, insisted he have the boat and pushed Taylor into the mud, unaware he was a foreigner. Taylor was angry but did not strike back. But as he got up, the Chinaman recognized he was a foreigner. He said, “What! You a foreigner and you did not strike me back when I struck you?” Taylor replied, “The boat is mine. But come; I will take you wherever you want to go.” On the way, he was able to share Christ. The gospel advances when we place gospel principles over personal rights – such a hard lesson for most of us – but one that puts us on God’s winning side. V. Paul’s Converts Are Edified Think about it. No prison, no letter. They were greatly edified as they saw attitudes he exemplified. And, that letter became part of the Bible, so that not just the Philippians were edified, but Xns over two millennia! Paul also wrote to the Colossians, the Ephesians and Philemon. Had he not been “put on the shelf” those letters may never have been written. And had he wallowed in his own seemingly God-forsaken circumstances, none of this would have happened. God is good, isn’t he? God always knows best. Paul reminds me of John Bunyan whose preaching was so biblical and powerful that it was unacceptable to the compromised 17th century Church of England. They jailed him to silence him. So he preached in the jail courtyard. Soon not only were large numbers of prisoners coming to hear but hundreds of citizens of Bedford and surrounding area came daily and stood outside the prison to hear him explain Scripture. So they revoked his outside privileges, placed him in a solitary cell and thought they had silenced his voice. But much like Paul, Bunyan spoke loudest of all through what he wrote in that cell – Pilgrim’s Progress – perhaps the greatest Christian classic of all that has ministered to millions of people – the most widely read and translated book of all time outside the Bible itself. God always wins. Are you part of His winning team. Or has your voice been silenced by fear of what people will think if you identify with Bible-believing, radical Christians 4 who are living their faith? How are you doing in making your voice heard? Who wins in your life – circumstances or Jesus? Israel arrived at Canaan 40 years after deliverance from Egypt. Who ever saw God’s hand more than they? But when Moses sent 12 spies into the land to check things out they brought back a mixed report. Joshua and Caleb said, “Man, it’s a great place God has brought us – full of fertile soil, flowing with milk and honey.” But the other 10 said, “Man, it a tragedy waiting to happen. They’ve got giants there that make us look like grasshoppers. The tragedy is that God ever delivered us from Egypt. We dare not go in there.” But God had the last word. He pushed the pause button – let the older generation die off – all but Joshua and Caleb – and then sent them victoriously into the land. God always wins. But not every person wins – only those who put their trust completely in Him – who refuse to be beaten by circumstances but instead look for God’s creative hand. Like Paul in prison but refusing to be a prisoner of circumstances. Who wins in your life – circumstances or Jesus? VI. Paul’s Christ is Exalted Sent to jail for at least 4 years by now unjustly, chained to a guard around the clock, and worst of all, afflicted by fellow-pastors who were jealous of his success, Paul is in the dumps, right? Not quite. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.” That’s humility, Beloved. That’s a man with perspective. He didn’t matter; Jesus did. And so, Paul’s Christ was exalted. How could Paul do that? How could he stay happy while down? How could he live above his horrendous circumstances? I’ll tell you how. It’s in Eph 3:1: “For this reason I, Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus on behalf of you Gentiles.” You can’t see it in the English text, but it’s there in the Greek. Paul doesn’t say, “a prison for Christ Jesus.” He says, “a prisoner of Christ Jesus.” Small word – big difference. Everyone else looked at Paul said, “Oh, man, tough luck to be a prisoner of Rome.” Paul looked at Paul and said, “What a privilege – I’m a prisoner of Jesus Christ.” Paul knew what most of us never get. It’s not about us; it’s about Him. He’s in charge, and He can be just as exalted by our adversity as by the good times, and that’s all that matters. Graeme Keith was treasurer of the Billy Graham Association for many years. He told of riding an elevator with Graham once when a man got on and recognized the evangelist. He said, “You’re Billy Graham, aren’t you?” 5 Graham answered, “Yes.” The man said, “Well, you are a truly great man.” Graham answered, “No, I’m not a great man. I just have a great message.” Paul knew that, and it allowed him to live a humble but joyous existence – glorying not in Himself, but glorying in the exaltation of His Lord and Savior, regardless of how it came about. Conc – So, the conclusion is simple. God always wins. He won in Paul’s life more thru his suffering than thru his success. And He’ll win in our lives, too, if we’ll submit to His Lordship – see ourselves as His prisoner, not the prisoner of circumstances. He’ll turn lead into gold. Don’t you want that? An airline passenger, tired from a long week, frustrated with the crowded conditions, and beset by crying babies finally asked the flight attendant, “Is there any way I can get bumped up to first class?” She replied, “Not unless we hit turbulence.” Beloved, I promise you whatever the turbulence in your life this morning, God intends it to bump you up to first class. So let’s do as James suggests and as Paul exemplifies: “2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds” (Jas 1:3), knowing it’s intended for good purposes. Martin Luther said, “Live as if Christ died yesterday, rose this morning and is coming back tomorrow.” In other words, live like it’s about Him, not you. Let’s pray. 6