Encouragment from Paul
Notes
Transcript
Philippians 1:18 (KJV 1900)
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Philippians 1:5–6 (KJV 1900)
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:
Spiritual Maturity is measured by your joy.
Measured by not how you react to things the way you would like them, but rather react to the things the way you wouldn’t like them.
22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith,
23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.
4 Rejoice in the Lord alway: and again I say, Rejoice.
The only result of the loss of joy is sin.
12 Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation; And uphold me with thy free spirit.
Circumstances should never affect our joy.
When joy is set aside, Bitterness will enter.
John 16:33 (KJV 1900)
33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.
We are to expect trouble and difficult decisions.
Paul becomes a tremendous example of how our joy can not be broken.
Remember, Paul is a prisoner in Rome.
The Message of Paul.
Philippians 1:12 (KJV 1900)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Joy Despite of Peril.
Joy Despite of Peril.
Philippians 1:12–14 (KJV 1900)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
The assumption would be, Paul’s a prisoner, Paul’s incarcerated, he’s chained, woe is me. The gospel is shut down, the ministry is debilitated, the preaching is limited. And he says, “Now, I don’t want you to think that, I want you to understand this, that just the opposite is true.”
Peril didn’t END the Ministry of the Gospel.
Peril didn’t END the Ministry of the Gospel.
Peril EXPENDED the Ministry of the Gospel.
Peril EXPENDED the Ministry of the Gospel.
Paul’s passion was the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
What is your passion? What drives you?
Romans 1:15 (KJV 1900)
15 So, as much as in me is, I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also.
Romans 1:16 (KJV 1900)
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek.
1 Corinthians 9:16 (KJV 1900)
16 For though I preach the gospel, I have nothing to glory of: for necessity is laid upon me; yea, woe is unto me, if I preach not the gospel!
The gospel means simply the message of salvation.
Paul refers to it in verse 5, verse 7, verse 12, verse 17 and once again in verse 27.
Philippians 1:5 (KJV 1900)
5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;
Philippians 1:7 (KJV 1900)
7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.
Philippians 1:12 (KJV 1900)
12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;
Philippians 1:27 (KJV 1900)
27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;
So he refers to it here over and over again. The gospel is on his heart, it is his heart, it is his passion and he lived to preach it and he lived to advance it. And even though he was a prisoner, it was still being advanced. Opposition never stopped him, never.
2 Timothy 2:9 (KJV 1900)
9 Wherein I suffer trouble, as an evil doer, even unto bonds; but the word of God is not bound.
Paul’s joy rests in Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ was killed as a common criminal in order to shut Him up, but the very death He died destroyed sin, defeated death, and dominated Satan and became the means of salvation to all who will simply accept the call to come in faith to Christ.
Paul’s Joy is realized that the gospel cannot be silenced, locked up, or bound.
No matter what the circumstance you are going through right now the word of God will continue to prove true, effective, and eternal.
Paul is reminding the Philippians that every attempt that has been made to stop the message of Christ only furthers it. That brings JOY.
The Gospel Progresses Outside of the Church.
The Gospel Progresses Outside of the Church.
Philippians 1:13 (KJV 1900)
13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;
You say, “Well, what does this say to me?” Do you ever think about your life? Somehow, some way you maybe say to yourself, “I can’t go preach the gospel. I can’t go spread … I can’t be a missionary, I can’t be a pastor. Maybe not even a Bible teacher. I’m stuck with my job.”
Humph, that’s an interesting parallel, isn’t it?
Are you chained to a desk?
Are you chained to a place on the assembly line?
Are you chained to a classroom?
Are you chained to a car as you move around from place to place, meeting people in a sales position?
Wherever you are, look at it as a point from which you can further the gospel. Whatever it is, live in your place, live in your chained place in such a way as to make the gospel believable.
Maybe it’s a hard place, probably not as hard as Paul’s was.
Maybe it’s a difficult place. But that’s all the more opportunity to demonstrate the reality of a transformed life, true? People say to me, “You know, it’s awfully hard to be a witness in my job.” My reaction is it probably would be harder to be a witness if you had a perfect situation. If you have a very difficult situation, you probably have the easiest place to be a witness because the contrast is so obvious and your character will be so manifest if under adversity you demonstrate Christ’s likeness. That’s the challenge.
The Gospel is Propelled Inside of the Church.
The Gospel is Propelled Inside of the Church.
Philippians 1:14 (KJV 1900)
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
If your joy is tied to the progress of the gospel and your life is committed to that end, then your joy is ever ever undiminished. That’s certainly my prayer for my own life and yours as well. Don’t get caught on that roller coaster, that up and down of acceleration and depression where you ride the crest of joy one minute and sink to the depths of despair the next because everything is predicated on the shifting things of life. Fix your heart on the progress of the gospel, and it doesn’t matter what happens to you as long as you can see God’s kingdom being extended. And of course you have to be part of that extension in your prayers and in your efforts. And if that’s what you live for, then that’s what you rejoice in.
One Joysucker is when people who know the Word of God and experienced the blessings of growth turn their backs on the gospel and walk away into sin.
The other is when people falsely accuse you and those who are living for Christ and the Gospel.
Therefore, we need
Joy Despite of People.
Joy Despite of People.
The people, who were belittling and devaluing and attacking the reputation, and who were falsely accusing Paul, could not steal his joy. Paul just wanted Christ to be proclaimed.
The people embolded to speak in vs. 14.
Philippians 1:14 (KJV 1900)
14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Philippians 1:15 (KJV 1900)
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Some are preaching Christ:
These are not heretics, Judaizers, gnostics, or false religionists. The people Paul is referring is Preachers of Christ.
You mean to say people preaching Christ that could sign our doctrinal statement would be trying to steal your joy?
The attackers were not attacking Paul’s theology, his doctrinal statement, it was Paul’s person that bothered them.
Let’s notice this truth.
Here in verse 15, some indeed preach Christ.
Philippians 1:16 (KJV 1900)
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
Philippians 1:18 (KJV 1900)
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
3 times Paul mentions they are preaching Christ.
The problem is not in the message, but rather the motive.
People of Envy
People of Envy
Go back to Phil 1:15
Philippians 1:15 (KJV 1900)
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
Envy = jealously.
People were being embolden to preach out of jealousy for Paul’s success.
Paul had more followers, more success, more prominence.
Because of this jealousy, it was causing strife.
Strife = contention and conflict.
The problem with jealousy is that it pits us against each other rather than on the same team.
Paul doesn’t give us details of exactly what they were accusing him. He just says it is because of jealousy, not doctrine, and is causing divisions, frustration, unhappiness, and lack of joy in the gospel.
Whatever the accusation, and we can sure let our minds wonder, but the purpose was to discredit Paul, and probably using the fact that he was in prison as the ammunition.
People of Encouragement
People of Encouragement
Philippians 1:15 (KJV 1900)
15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:
good will = satisfied with Paul’s life. There were some people content with what God is doing in the life of Paul.
These people identified, understood, and sympathized with Paul.
These people encouraged Paul and were a blessing and source of joy.
People Explained
People Explained
16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
The goal of the envious people wanted to add to the pain of Paul by hostility and strife.
Motivation of Selfishness.
Motivation of Selfishness.
contention = This word has to do with a self promoting work. A driving ambition that elevates themself at all costs not really caring how it achieves greatness or who it steps on in the process.
Notice their attitude, “supposing to add affliction to my bonds.”
Their goal was to hurt.
They were not concerned with the church, purity of doctrine, the growth of the church. No they just wanted to hurt Paul.
affliction = basically means friction. They continue to rub Paul to cause irritation.
As if the chains around his wrist were not causing enough pain and irritation, they wanted more irritation.
Paul is going to address this attitude in chapter 2.
Philippians 2:3 (KJV 1900)
3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves.
Paul places this here to remind us, there are Christians, that are doctrinally sound, that are preaching Christ, but there goal is to irritate, to cause strife because of envy, selfish ambitions, and impure motives.
Good people with wicked motives and attitudes.
But = notice the contrast.
Philippians 1:17 (KJV 1900)
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
Motivation of Love.
Motivation of Love.
The characterization is defined by love.
Remember Phil 1:9
Philippians 1:9 (KJV 1900)
9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment;
Those made bold by the imprisonment of Paul loved Paul. They had a deep affection for him. They cared for him. They loved him.
Their love for Paul was driven by the fact that Paul was imprisoned and was defending the gospel.
Philippians 1:17 (KJV 1900)
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.
The word set is a military term of appointment. Paul was on duty set by God to defend the gospel as a Roman soldier was on duty being chained to him.
They knew Paul was imprisoned, not because he was out of the will of God, but rather that he was in the will of God. He was set for the defense of the Gospel.
The word defence is the word apologia, where we get the word apologetic. It means Paul was a defender of the gospel.
2 groups, 2 motives
But, the question becomes, Did it steal Paul’s joy?
The answer is NO!
Notice the response of Paul.
Joy in Christ is Preached
Joy in Christ is Preached
Philippians 1:18 (KJV 1900)
18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.
Those preaching Christ with pretense, hypocrites.
Those preaching Christ with truth, lovers and the men of good will.
The result: Christ is Preached.
Preached carries the idea of authority.
Paul rejoiced and continues to rejoice.
Paul is not rejoicing in the preaching of errors or the attitudes of the preachers. Paul is rejoicing in the fact and authority of Christ being preached.
Praise God, that the gospel power is not based on me but rather the message.
Christ is preeminent in everything and to everything.
Listen real closely, we ought to be rejoicing when Christ is being preached.
That is what I live for and that is what I will die for.
The present preaching of Christ will flow into the future.
When are we going to quit caring who gets the credit for the salvation, baptisms, and church growth.
How do we quit living for pastor, a church, or a program and begin to live for Jesus Christ?
Where is your rejoicing?
Thank You, Father, for every mouth that proclaims Christ, no matter what they may say about me or us. Thank You that they preach Christ. And may we never become defensive but always commit our souls to a faithful creator. We thank You, Father, for the privilege of representing you, help us to be faithful. And if nothing else, how glorious to hear someday, “Well done, good and faithful servant, enter the joy of your Lord.” Until we know that consummate joy, may we know the joy of ministry even now, in spite of trouble, in spite of detractors. Keep us close to Your heart, we pray in Christ’s name. Amen.