Prison Letters Philippians
Prison Letters Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Think back to a recent tragedy, accident, something the world would view as not good. This could be this last week or it might be a life event from your childhood or upbringing.
Did that which happened to you cause the Gospel to be advanced?
or
Could what has happened to you be used to advance the Gospel?
What will it take, for this event that took place in your life, for you to see it as advancing the Gospel? What mindset change needs to happen?
Last week, we talked about how money can mean love. It is important that as you think back to those who have helped you financially to view their help as love.
Example: The church is able to assist you with a car repair or electric bill. Or we can go even more simpler than that and say the church provides you and your family one meal a week (Wednesday night) at no charge to you. This meal can be viewed as an act of love from the church.
Don’t take it for granted but be thankful for those who give and those who work to make it happen on a weekly basis as an act of love.
The mindset has to change for you to know you are loved. We have to acknowledge and not take for granted the times we see people are loving on us.
If you only acknowledge the struggles in trial, then you will never see the Lord in the middle of it.
Speaking to parents this week and I was bragging on their child. I said to them we know it is the Lord but you as parents must receive compliments about your child or else all you will ever receive is criticism and feel like you are failing.
In the trials, we must look for how the Lord is moving and working
In the text today, some believe that Paul being in prison is a sign that something has gone horribly wrong.
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has actually resulted in the advance of the gospel,
This reads like a reply to letters Paul might have received from them wondering about Paul’s condition while in prison.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me
The result…
the advance of the gospel
pokopen tou euangeliou/advance the gospel
is advancement in spite of obstructions and dangers which would block the path of the traveller.
What are the obstructions or dangers which might have blocked your path?
The Gospel can/will advance as a result of the obstructions or dangers that have tried to block your path.
Wiersby…
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Pioneers Wanted (Philippians 1:12–26)
While recovering in the hospital from a serious auto accident, I received a letter from a total stranger who seemed to know just what to say to make my day brighter. In fact, I received several letters from him, and each one was better than the one before. When I was able to get around, I met him personally. I was amazed to discover that he was blind, a diabetic, handicapped because of a leg amputation (and since then the other leg has been removed), and that he lived with and cared for his elderly mother! If a man ever wore chains, this man did! But if a man ever was free to pioneer the Gospel, this man was! He was able to share Christ in high school assemblies, before service clubs, at the “Y,” and before professional people in meetings that would have been closed to an ordained minister. My friend had the single mind; he lived for Christ and the Gospel.
The things that have been placed in our life’s path can now be viewed as present to advance the Gospel.
13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard, and to everyone else, that my imprisonment is in the cause of Christ.
Imperial guard:
In every city there was a group of Roman soldiers in that city. When Jesus was arrested in Jerusalem, He was taken before the praetorium where Pontius Pilot the governor had his headquarters in Jerusalem.
Being in chains put Paul in contact with a whole new group of people that had he not been in chains would have never met.
He was chained to a Roman soldier twenty-four hours a day.
The shift would change every 6 hours which meant Paul could share Jesus with at least four men each day.
Imagine being a guard to someone who said to pray without ceasing and to someone who is writing these letters under the direction of the Holy Spirit.
The Soldiers knew he was there for the cause of Christ. I am sure this struck some curiosity among the soldiers to ask questions that would lead the soldiers putting their faith in Christ as well.
Think about the barriers of your life’s path and how if it had not been for the barriers then would you be able to be in contact with some people today or even relate to them at all.
Possible Carol Martin story here and her serving on the White River Board
Paul’s imprisonment gave other brothers the opportunity to step up!
14 Most of the brothers in the Lord have gained confidence from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the message fearlessly.
Paul’s imprisonment not only put him in contact with the lost but it also gave courage to the saved.
People saw Paul’s faith in prison and it encouraged them to speak the message fearlessly.
By Paul being in prison it gave other believers the opportunity to step up and as a result speaking the message multiplied.
Leadership principle is when God places you in circumstances that may limit your ability to do what you have always done then God is giving others the opportunity to lead.
Sabbatical for Amy and I caused the rest of our team here at Bridge of Faith to grow. This church is still reaping benefits from this.
Take the mindset of the Kingdom and see how others are growing because the Lord is allowing you to be “in chains”.
15 To be sure, some preach Christ out of envy and strife, but others out of good will.
16 These do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
17 the others proclaim Christ out of rivalry, not sincerely, seeking to cause me anxiety in my imprisonment.
The group that proclaims Christ out of
envy, strife, rivalry = causes anxiety in my imprisonment
Several thoughts on this group. Is it a group of fellow missionaries that are doing this
or
There are a group of people who say Paul is preaching Jesus as Lord of a New Kingdom.
This can’t be right. We are citizens of Rome and Caesar is our Lord. There is no room for Jesus to be Lord.
or
Our society is built around our little g gods and there can’t be another God. Paul is speaking that Jesus is Lord. Surely not.
So this group is stirring up trouble for Paul.
18 What does it matter? Just that in every way, whether out of false motives or true, Christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice
Christ is being spread. He is being proclaimed.
It would be like what Pontius Pilot did when he had the words written “Jesus of Nazareth King of the Jews” and put above Jesus on the cross. Pilot was mocking Jesus but then the Gospel writers said Pilot was telling the truth even when he didn’t know it.
They say in marketing that even bad news is good. As long as people are talking about you, then it is a good thing.
The mindset of the Kingdom for Paul is that he rejoices in that which causes him anxiety because Christ is proclaimed.
Wrap it up with the Oreo illustration
Glass half empty or half full. (Just right for dunking oreos)
Really bring it about God using bad circumstances for His glory and the mindset of the Kingdom is to view it.
The Bible Exposition Commentary Chapter Two: Pioneers Wanted (Philippians 1:12–26)
The secret is this: when you have the single mind, you look on your circumstances as God-given opportunities for the furtherance of the Gospel; and you rejoice at what God is going to do instead of complaining about what God did not do.
