Advancing the Gospel Philippians 1:12-18 (NKJV)

Transcription

1 Advancing the Gospel Philippians 1:12-18 (NKJV) The theme of Philippians is joy in Jesus. It s a great theme, great outlook, not finding our joy in who we are or what we do; or even in our relationships with one another, but in a relationship with Jesus Christ. One who will never leave us or forsake us. That s the overwhelming theme to this letter that Paul pinned in prison. Read verse 12-18, then we will make our way through it. Notice Paul s outlook on his situation Vs. 12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel What a great outlook, Paul could see the benefit of being in prison. He could see God s plan in it all. It s important to remember, when Paul first made his way into Philippi he came with Silas, and there they encounter a demon possessed slave girl, she followed them around announcing their arrival. These men are the servants of the Most High God, they proclaim the way of salvation. It was true, and it was a great message to proclaim. But, she is demon possessed. Not the person you would want introducing you to anyone let alone a new city where you are planning on planting a church. So they cast out the demon and she was freed. Great right? Well for her yes, but not for her masters. She was a slave and her masters made profit off her because she was a fortune teller. Now that she was healed there was no more money. Read what happened here in Acts 16:22-34 Then the multitude rose up together against them; and the magistrates tore off their clothes and commanded them to be beaten with rods. And when they had laid many stripes on them, they threw them into prison, commanding the jailer to keep them securely. Having received such a charge, he put them into the inner prison and fastened their feet in stocks. But at midnight Paul and Silas were singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 1

2 Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken; and immediately all the doors were opened and everyone s chains were loosed. Ant the keeper of the prison, awaking from sleep and seeing the prison doors open, supposing the prisoners had fled, drew his sword and was about to kill himself. But Paul called with a loud voice, saying, Do yourself no harm, for we are all here. Then he called for a light, ran in, and fell down trembling before Paul and Silas. And he brought them out and said, Sirs, what must I do to be saved? So they said, Believe in the Lord Jesus Christ, and you will be saved, you and your household. Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all who were in the house. And he took them the same hour of the night and washed their stripes. And immediately he and all his family were baptized. Now when he had brought them into his house, he set food before them; and he rejoiced, having believed in God with all his household. Acts 16:22-34 (NKJV) Paul did not come into Philippi quiet trying to assimilate into the culture. He was changing the culture: casting out demons, shutting down the occult in the marketplace, busting out of prison, winning influential people to Christ. Paul came into town with signs and wonders proving to Philippi that the God he served was powerful, and bringing a gospel that was setting people free. That s what Philippi would know about Paul. So when Paul writes them and say s I am in prison and no earthquake is happening, I m not getting out anytime soon they might be scratching their heads. Philippi wondered: What s going on in Paul s life? Is there a problem? Why is God allowing this to happen? Is he in sin? Where s the earthquake? Start singing some hymns and see if something will happen. So Paul was reminding them: I am not in sin, I haven t stopped worshiping, God is not mad at me nor has He abandoned me. I am here because it is the will of God. Paul is actually advancing the gospel, read what he says again Vs.12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel The Gospel is making an impact in prison, it s going out. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 2

3 Furtherance= (Greek): advancement or profit. Paul was not interested in his advancement but the advancement of the gospel. It s a decision that Paul made every day of his life. Where does someone get a heart like this? How can we get a heart like this? Verse twenty-one gives us a glimpse into his heart, notice For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. Philippians 1:21 (NKJV) In other words To live is Christ and to die is just more of Christ. What a powerful way to look at life, it actually simplifies life. I am no longer living for myself; for others, for this job or that job, for this thing or that thing; the bucket list is pretty short. For me to live is Christ in every situation in every season of life, I am going to live for Christ. This was a resolve that Paul made at his conversion and it would be tested over and over again. Back when Paul was making his way to Jerusalem where his prison time started he was warned not to go, because chains and tribulations awaited him. This was his reply "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24 (NKJV) It s hard to rock a guy that say s stuff like this To die is gain, I don t count my life dear to myself. He is not trying to make a name for himself, he is not trying to make life better for himself, and he s not reaching for some temporal dream that would make life more comfortable. That s not even on the radar, that s heaven, that s the final destination. Until that day he was going to fulfill his ministry, his purpose, his destiny, to testify of the gospel of the grace of god. How much of what we do is for us, to advance us and not for Christ? It s a convicting thought. Is our life truly about the king and the kingdom? What I Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 3

4 do know is that we will always be tested to see if it is. When trials come, is it about us or about him? Is it about our comfort or about his kingdom? God conforms us to His character through uncomfortable trials. We need to decide what we want from God, to be comforted or to be conformed to His will. Avery Willis Paul had this amazing resolve in his life, for me to live is Christ. It s what Jesus was talking about when he said When He had called the people to Himself, with His disciples also, He said to them, "Whoever desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever desires to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel's will save it. Mark 8:34-35 (NKJV) It s not until we lose our life for Christ s sake that we find what life is all about. Living for the glory of God, living for the kingdom of God, this is why Paul could have glory in his chains, he could see the Lord using it. Paul did not complain about his chains; instead he consecrated them to God and asked God to use them for the advancement of the Gospel. Warren Wiersbe Notice Paul would remind the church Vs so that is has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Paul s chains were a link to the lost. Paul would be chained to a roman soldier 24 hours a day. Every six hours a new soldier would lock arms with him. Four soldiers every day and many of them were coming to Christ. Can you imagine what it would be like to be chained to the Apostle Paul? You could wonder did he share his testimony? The one who went from persecuting the church to planting churches, or maybe he talked about the time he was stoned and left for dead, and then God breathed life back into him. Remember he is penning the letters of Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 4

5 while he is chained up. I am sure that he gave them an eye and an ear full, being chained to the Apostle Paul: one of the greatest apologist, theologians, evangelist of that day. Awesome. Non believers were looking in and they saw how Paul responded to being put in prison: not because he broke the law, not because he committed a crime, or even committed a sin. He was in prison because he was preaching the gospel, and if you were chained to him you would realize that. He was a walking witness of the power of God to the non believers and all the believers looking in. Notice verse fourteen Vs.14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. The believers were hearing about Paul and his faith and those that were coming to Christ, and it was stirring them up. No longer living in fear, no longer living in doubt, but living in faith and growing in boldness. They are speaking the Word with greater confidence and boldness. Have you ever looked in at someone and thought Man, if he can do it I can do it! Mitch Harrison-Youth Pastor at Temple Campus After Dark Always important to remember that others are looking into our lives and how we respond can help them in their faith. Notice the different motives that Paul could see for those who were in the ministry 1. Envy and Strife It s rooted in selfish ambition, not sincere, and the effect is that they were adding affliction to Paul s chains. They saw Paul being put in prison as a way to gain advantage over Paul s ministry. They had a competitive spirit about them. I know pastors like this, counting converts and contributions, getting their identity by how many people are in the pews. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 5

6 We all know guys that are name droppers. They know everyone there is to know in the Christian community, and they feel the need to tell you how many great people they know. They want you to believe they are something great. Maybe they will shake your hand and follow it up with a book that they wrote: Pastor Brian had a guy hand him a book back in the day, here at church, it was his first book and he was bringing a bag of them to church each week. Brian was very cordial, thanking him for the book, and then the guy followed it up with That will be twenty bucks. We must always check our motives to make sure we are doing what we do for the right reasons. James would remind us For where envy and self-seeking exist, confusion and every evil thing are there. James 3:16 (NKJV) When we do things out of self promotion, or because of competition and envy, it opens the door for confusion and every evil thing. Now, having ambition is not all bad, it s only when it s selfish ambition that it s dangerous. Wanting our name in the lights instead of reflecting the light, wanting the glory instead of giving God the glory. That is where we get into trouble. That s the flesh not spirit. But then notice the next motive Paul points out 2. Goodwill and Love There were those who preached the gospel to advance themselves and then there were those who preached to truly advance the kingdom out of pure heart and great love for Jesus Christ. It s what Paul said to the church of Corinth and should be the only motive that we have for serving Him, and sharing Him with others. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died 2 Corinthians 5:14 (NKJV) Now at the end of the day Paul said this Vs.18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 6

7 Paul was choosing to rejoice in the message of the gospel advancing, he was not rejoicing in the motives, but in spite of the motives. Now, Paul is not saying if you preach a false gospel then all is good, Paul would never rejoice in that. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. Galatians 1:8 (NKJV) A false gospel that would add or take away from the cross is always dangerous and those who preach it are accursed. Paul was rejoicing in the message not the motives, he left the motive debt up to the Lord. And in that he could rejoice that the gospel is advancing and the message is being preached. A great example to us, rejoicing in spite of motives At the end of the day Praise the Lord that He uses any of us. Copyright 2015 Chris Fraley 7