JOY OF ADVERSITY – Believers can face adversity in the joy of knowing the gospel is spread.

PHILIPPIANS 1:12-26

MEMORY VERSE: PHILIPPIANS 1: 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Christians know that God is in heaven, working out his will. Christians in some areas of our world face constant pressure. Intimidation, mob beatings, and government censure are just a few of the difficulties faced. These difficulties seem to encourage and not discourage believers. They do not keep the gospel from spreading. These believers seem to have a greater focus, just like the focus of an athlete trying to improve or train for a sport. But unlike many athletes, these believers find joy and peace in the middle of the challenges faced.

THE CONTEXT (PHILIPPIANS 1:12-26)

Having greeted his Philippian friends and expressed gratitude and prayerful intercession for them, Paul updated them about his own circumstances. He not only detailed his circumstances, but more importantly he revealed his attitude toward what was happening to him. His personal testimony in these verses stands out in bold relief if one simply counts the more than two dozen times Paul used the personal pronouns “I, me, and my”.

Paul began with a summary reference to the past by speaking of what had happened to him. He moved quickly to update the Philippian church on what was going on concerning the spread of the gospel as a result of what had happened. However, his focus was not on his personal situation as much as it was the resultant progress of the gospel witness that was happening in Rome. In particular, the apostle focused on the twin facts that Roman guards were responding to the gospel, and believers in Rome were gaining courage to share the gospel without fear (1:12-14).

Motivations for sharing the gospel were not pure in every case. Paul had become aware that some were presenting the gospel in hopes of doing him harm or for impure motives. Paul’s heart for the gospel was evident in that he was at peace regardless of the mixed motives of others, knowing that in every case the good news was being spread in Rome (1:15-18).

Even in his own imprisonment, Paul expressed confidence that the prayers of the Philippians and the influence of the Holy Spirit, would enable him to be delivered from any shame over the gospel message. His hope was that Christ would be honored, whether by his death or by his continued ministry (1:19-20). His confidence was that he would be freed from prison to benefit, strengthen, and share the gospel of Jesus Christ.

OPEN DOORS (PHILIPPIANS 1:12-14)

12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.

14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

Because of Paul’s religious training in the rabbinic schools, Paul was able to powerfully use his knowledge of Pharisaic Judaism to communicate on the divinity of Jesus Christ as the Messiah. When Paul spoke in the synagogues, he upset and angered the leaders to the point where they would riot. Paul was literally driven from place to place to get him out of town. Even this spread the gospel more. The Lord works in mysterious ways. Paul was still sharing and advancing the gospel even though he was imprisoned.

We can only imagine what those who guarded him observed that led to their openness to listen to the gospel. Some had heard the apostle singing and praying as he and Silas had done in the Philippian jail. There was something about his silent demeanor as a prisoner that made them wonder what made the difference between Paul and other prisoners they had guarded. Paul assured his friends and supporters back in Philippi that his circumstances had led to the evangelizing of these soldiers. The guards had come to recognize that Paul’s imprisonment was associated with his devotion to serving the cause of Christ rather than some misbehavior on his part.

His witness, while a prisoner, had emboldened most of the other believers in Rome to have the courage to share the gospel. He noted in particular the confidence that came to other Christians to speak the word fearlessly. This inspired them to greater evangelism efforts. The power of his personal example was not missed in Paul’s assessment of his circumstances.

Persecution for the gospel can lead to even wider opportunities to share the good news. Paul’s positive attitude was a powerful force in even negative circumstances.

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED (PHIL. 1:15-18)

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.

16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

As Paul continued to describe the advance of the gospel that resulted from his Roman imprisonment, he distinguished between impure and pure motives among those emboldened to share the gospel. Paul made it clear that he was aware of the mixed motives that lay behind the efforts to share the good news of Christ in the very heart of the Roman Empire. Paul assured the Philippians that he was aware of it as well.

Those harboring the wrong motives bore witness out of envy and rivalry. Their envy of the apostle stirred them to attempt to cause division. What they failed to count on was that Paul valued the preaching of the right message even if the motives were wrong. There is an old saying that maintains “God can hit a straight lick with a crooked stick”.

Paul found pleasure in those who had both the right message and the right motives. The motive of this latter group was love. This group loved both the message they preached and the Christ of that message. They also loved people enough to share the gospel. The important point was and is that the message be true and accurate – even if the motives are less that commendable.

On the other hand, when people distorted the message, Paul spared no words in pronouncing God’s wrath on them. Such was his earlier reaction to those who distorted the gospel among the Galatians: 1: 8 But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!

9 As we have already said, so now I say again: If anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let him be eternally condemned!

Christ had called Paul to defend the gospel on two continents as well as in the heart of the Roman Empire before Caesar himself. Paul’s ministry was a matter of divine appointment and calling. Great comfort and confidence can grow when deeply rooted in the conviction that we are doing what we do because of God’s calling. A firm conviction about the sovereignty of God furnishes a strong foundation on which to stand amid whatever negative circumstance might develop around us.

When negative circumstances might develop around us, believers can ask, “What is God up to?” rather than whining with the question, “Why is this happening to me?”.

18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

Paul found joy in the fact that the gospel was being spread in Rome. So, in the face of preachers with motives that were not pure, the apostle had a simple but large-hearted response in the form of a question: “What does it matter? What mattered was not his feelings but that Christ is proclaimed. Those who faithfully proclaim the Word keep their focus on the advance of the message and not on the advance of personal agendas.

GOD HONORED (PHIL. 1:19-21)

19 for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance.

20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.

21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.

22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

Paul not only rejoiced over the increased spread of the gospel while he was imprisoned, but also over the expectation of his salvation or deliverance through the prayers of the Philippians and help from the Spirit of Jesus Christ. His perseverance would not be due simply to his own strong will, but also due to the prayers of others and the intervention of the Holy Spirit. From Paul’s letters, we know that he placed great stock in the value and effectiveness of prayer. Though separated by distance, their prayers for Paul could span the distance. Through Jesus Christ, the power of our prayers can move with strength to touch anyone anywhere at any time.

Paul boldly faced his future with the firm expectation and intention that Christ would be highly honored, whether by continuing to live and serve or by facing a martyr’s death. Like Paul, all believers honor God by being faithful to Him in life and in death.

Paul was a master of theological shorthand. There is no better way than to capsule the whole matter of Christian living in one word than to choose “Christ” as that word. “to live is Christ and to die is gain”. For Christians, living indeed is following Christ during one’s lifetime, and dying will mean even more of Christ for eternity.

CHRIST ALONE (PHIL. 1:22-26)

22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know!

23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far;

24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Paul knew that his continued living would mean fruitful work. Given the options of more fruitful ministry or transitioning into heaven left Paul with a win-win situation. He would come out on top in either alternative. Paul felt a pull in both directions. He was ready for the calling no matter which direction it took. The needs of others outweighed Paul’s desire to be with Christ immediately.

25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith,

26 so that through my being with you again your joy in Christ Jesus will overflow on account of me.

The needs of others rose up in Paul’s thinking to create the impression that he would not die at that time. He knew of the tremendous needs of people throughout the region to hear the good news of Christ. Paul weighed the benefits of each option because he knew that he wanted to assist the Philippians and others with their progress and joy in the faith.

His release and return to Philippi would have this purpose when he came to them again and hopefully, producing both joy and encouragement for them. This same underlying purpose holds true for all of us, namely, that the encouragement of other believers produces joy and purpose in the ones who do the encouraging.

His two letters to Timothy, and the one to Titus, offer evidence that Paul was indeed released from this Roman imprisonment. Paul had opportunity for further ministry that would have included a trip through Macedonia and Philippi (1 Tim. 1:3).