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INTRO
When I was in college there were a number of classes I enjoyed and some not so much.
Obviously I look back with fondness at learning how to herald God’s word in my preaching classes.
Or diving deep into specific books, learning original biblical languages.
One class that was tough to swallow was The Dynamics of Church Growth.
Now I thought this would be a great class about learning tools to effectively take the gospel to a certain context.
But instead I learned about how to keep your facilities in nice shape so visitors will be likely to return.
There’s nothing wrong with that.
It just felt very sterile and more akin to maintaining a business than building a gospel family.
But I did learn some interesting things.
Do you know the number one thing that will cause a visitor to church to not return?
It’s not the preaching.
It’s not the music.
It’s not kids ministry.
It’s the women’s restroom.
Statistically speaking if you have a dingy bathroom you ain’t gonna make it.
So imagine my surprise when I go to read the text this week and I see the strangest church growth technique I can imagine.
Get your pastor arrested.
Paul is in chains.
He is in Rome, under house arrest awaiting trial and the church?
It’s booming y’all!
Despite this pretty terrible circumstance, the church is flourishing.
Again let’s set up context.
Paul had longed to take the gospel to Rome, but God had taken him to Macedonia where he inadvertently through some interesting circumstances started the Philippian church.
You can go to Acts 16 if you want to read the full story.
Fast forward it’s now several years later.
Paul had been arrested and as was his right as a Roman citizen he had appealed to Caesar.
The way there had been brutal though...
On the journey to Rome he had been shipwrecked on the island of Malta.
There he was bitten by a deadly poisonous snake and by God’s grace lived to tell the tale.
He finally gets to Rome and he is under house arrest with a Royal guard a Praetorian guard.
He has to pay for his housing, while he can have visitors he is extremely limited in what he can do.
So the Philippian church has been anxious for Paul.
They send money to him and they want to hear how he is doing.
To what I imagine is their surprise Paul is jovial!
He is happy, elated even at what God is doing.
Even though his life is the equivalent of a gospel punching bag he can’t help but see how God is using it for good and gospel advance.
Now as we walk through this account this morning here is the word I want you to write down and keep at the forefront of your mind: Perspective.
Perspective.
We talked about this a few weeks ago, Paul has a Godward prospective.
Here is my big idea today:
When the gospel is the one great permanent circumstance, all other circumstances must bow to God’s gospel purpose.
Do you have that kind of Godward prospective?
That no matter what, no matter how difficult this life gets, the main thing has been dealt with.
You are right with God.
And now that no matter what...
the most significant thing is that the gospel would go to others.
That’s how Paul thinks.
And Coram Deo…this is the perspective we should have.
That whatever comes, we would trust that the God who has shown us unfathomable mercy, the God who set the sun in the sky, he knows what he is doing and it will work for our good!
I want to look at Paul’s chains today.
I want that idea of perspective to permeate your mind.
Let’s look first at providence in chains.
I. Providence in Chains.
Philippians 1:12–13 (ESV)
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
Now remember why Paul is in chains.
Look back to verse 7
Philippians 1:7 (ESV)
It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
Paul is in these chains because he had been sharing the hope of Jesus, he had been making a defense for the gospel.
Usually when you plan a missions trip going to jail isn’t at the top of the list of strategic planning.
But Paul doesn't say that his chains have prevented the advance of the gospel, he says they have served it!
That’s right not only have his chains not hindered the gospel, they have advanced it.
That’s because God’s ways are not our ways.
Again Paul has a godward prospective.
This shouldn't be a surprise for the Philippian church.
After all one of the core team members was a Jailer who had kept watch over Paul.
Paul didn't sit in prison bemoaning the fact that now he couldn't preach.
He sang worship songs!
This past week my family and I were all at home recouping from COVID.
I was frustrated initially because I had just gotten back from a time with other Pastors in Florida and I was deeply encouraged and refreshed.
I really believe God had given me a fresh vision for coming back and leading Coram Deo.
Then I come home to the buzzsaw of sickness.
At first again, I wanted to complain.
But then I sat on a couch with Hannah one night sharing my heart and my vision for what God had been teaching me from his word.
I played with my son.
And I saw God’s unbelievable kindness to help me apply what I had learned at home first.
To take the hope of Jesus to my wife and son.
To fight for them and pray with them.
COVID had to bend to God’s gospel purposes in my life and in my family.
Listen Coram Deo this isn’t some kind of cheesy glass half-full ideology.
It’s not a hang in there cat poster.
This is an abiding truth that our God is good.
His providential hand works masterfully for our good.
We all know Romans 8:28
Romans 8:28 (ESV)
And we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.
I love what pastor David Strain says on this:
Romans 8:28 doesn't say everything is going to be ok.
It says that all things work together for good.
And the “good” in view is ultimate and final good.
It is gospel good.
Romans 8:28 is not simply a statement of God's general providence, governing and upholding all His creatures and all their actions.
It is a statement of gospel providence.
God works all things together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.
He works all things together for the sake of His church.
He works all things together for the gospel.
Having a Godward prospective says this life may mean cancer or chains, but in the end I know the lamp will be the lamb!
I know all things will be made new.
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