Philippians 1:12-14 - Suffering For The Advance Of The Gospel

In this blurb, Paul is writing to tell the Philippians of how God has used his persecution to spread the gospel and bring Jesus fame:

"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. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."

Paul is saying that everyone around him who is watching his life unfold is getting to see his devotion to Jesus through his imprisonment and that many of them, including all the soldiers who serve at Philippi, are intrigued and inspired by what they see. Additionally, many of his brothers in Christ are bolder as a result of Paul's courage. Why is this guy unafraid even though he might get his head chopped off? How can he be so unwavering in the face of a reality that would terrify most people?

We will discover why soon, but the big idea is that Paul does not fear death, but God, and to kill Paul would only unite him with his hearts desire, Jesus Christ. Why should he fear anything in light of the future he has to look forward to - enjoying the presence of Jesus forever.

But for now, consider how your life might impact those around you for the gospel when you begin to walk in this reality. If you are bought by the blood of Christ, you will live with him forever in his Kingdom. You, like Paul, can laugh in the face of death and give everything to advance the gospel, so that those around you might see that Jesus really is worth giving our lives for and become bold for him as well.

See you at Proxy.

Philippians 1:8-11 - God Is Our Witness, God Changes Us

In Philippians 1:8, Paul refers to God as his witness. What does that mean? Basically, God and Paul were tight. They spent a lot of time together because Paul spent a lot of time in prayer. Prayer for his brothers and sisters in Christ, in this case, the Philippians:

"For God is my witness, how I yearn for you with all the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love my abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of the righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God." (8-11)

Paul's focus in much of his prayer was on his brothers and sisters. He spent a lot of time with God and so he became more and more like God, desiring good for others. This is the inevitable result of time with God in prayer and getting to know him better. We cannot help but begin to look away from ourselves, taking our own issues and suffering less seriously, and taking God and his mission more seriously.

Paul's time with his Father caused him to yearn for God's will to be done in the lives of the Philippians, for them to made more like Christ, to grow in love, knowledge and discernment and be ready for the return of Jesus. This outward focus was the will of God in the life of Paul - that he pour out his life for the church. This is the will of God for us too. If we spend time with God in his word and in prayer, seeking the good of others, nobody will necessarily know about it but God, but he will begin to give us his heart for others so that we will genuinely yearn for their good and rejoice when they are blessed. This is the heart of Jesus.

Philippians 1:6-7 - Grace Is About God From Start To Finish

This Wednesday we heard about Paul's assurance that God would finish the work he started in the Philippians and how he had a deep love for them as "partakers of Grace" with him:

"And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way (verse 3-5) 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."

Why was Paul so sure that God would complete the work he had begun in the believers at Philippi, that he would continue to teach, protect, grow and love them with absolutely no drop outs? Because he understood God's grace. God had called the Philippians to himself and saved them by the blood of Christ while they were still his enemies, still sinners. Just as his grace saved them at their conversion, it would see them through to the end of their lives. Once God has us as his children, he will never let us go.

Why would God pursue us, call to us, make us new creations, only to then let us drift away? The answer is he wouldn't and doesn't. The Philippians were in God's family regardless of their continuing to be sinful people because they were covered by Christ's atoning sacrifice, as we all are if we trust in Jesus alone. End of story.

This grace is an unthinkable, unimaginable gift. The only way to really understand it is to experience it for yourself. And the only people who can really understand you once you've seen the beauty of the Cross are others who know God's grace, others who have partaken of it. This caused a bond between Paul and the Philippians which was unbreakable. They were one in Christ (John 17:20-26).

Have you experienced God's grace on your life and the bond he desires you to have with his sons and daughters?

See you next week.