Text: Phil. 1:12-14, 19-30
Facebook live: Bound in sin, joy in Christ!
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, … standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
In the midst of trial, look outward and proclaim Christ.
Trials are never easy. We’ve all faced them. At times there seems no way out, and there may not be. So, how do we deal with the times in life that the good report doesn’t come and we see what really is before us?
Paul writes:
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
My friend and former coworker David Monaghan’s, mother-n-law was in that position being diagnosed with advanced Leukemia a number of years ago.
When she found out she didn’t live very long and while still in the hospital, the word came to us that she joyfully shared her faith in Jesus and the eternal hope with those she came in contact with.
The Holy Spirit used her to proclaim the good news and blessing of Jesus’ sacrifice to all she came in contact with, nurses, doctors and other patients. She couldn’t help herself but to tell others the Good News - because she knew that the time was short, and that God’s word and working of the Holy Spirit does not come back void.
Paul begins his letter to the Philippians in this way with this same hope.
Saying in a sense,
“I may not get another chance so please listen to me now!”
13 [because] it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
That God’s purpose in suffering is not for the reason of suffering, but to advance the Gospel of Jesus Christ so that others may believe.
From Paul’s letter to the Romans:
3 Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4 and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5 and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. Rom. 5:3-5
And writing now to the Philippians:
14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
There is a boldness that come from the Holy Spirit - in the midst of suffering that is truly from God and by the working of the Spirit so that the eternal hope in Jesus is proclaimed to all.
In the midst of trial, look live a life of faith in the gospel.
There is also a confirming joy that we live during our trials.
This reality was for Paul a time to rejoice. To thank God!
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
When we pray, we know what we want.
Nobody puts on the prayers – praying for bad test results!
We know that whatever the possible outcomes are, that we want the good ones, good health, sickness mitigated, problem fixed, and life restored.
Paul’s hope is a bit different:
He hopes simply that, Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
I believe we all want that too, but that is not an easy hope or an easy prayer.
In the midst of trial, we suffer in the hope of the resurrection.
That is, we look to what has been proclaimed and what is promised – Jesus risen from the dead and the victory he won. Proclaimed first to the spirits in prison:
18 For Christ also suffered once for sins, the righteous for the unrighteous, that he might bring us to God, - the hope of our resurrection -being put to death in the flesh but made alive in the spirit, 19 in which he went and proclaimed to the spirits in prison, 1 Peter 3:18-19
Or, as the Creed says:
He descended into Hell.
The third day he rose again from the dead.
Paul brings this hope to the Philippians:
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me.
How many times do we not see that? The opportunity to live for Christ? Death, we know will come eventually so let us make full use of the time that remains!
Yet which I shall choose, Paul says: I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.
Not that death is better, but because of sin it is what it is.
But because of the resurrection, the sting of death has been swallowed up in victory. There is hope, not in death and rest from our trials, but hope in Jesus and his victory in our place.
24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
Paul knows the work that awaits and he is eager to be about it.
Paul knew that his work was not done. He knew that he needed to be about the work of the Lord - so he had confidence that he would continue to make a difference for the gospel through his life and proclamation.
Many in our church do take the time to live for Christ now.
Writing letter to shut-ins.
Remembering birthdays of members.
Helping with food for St. Paul’s
What else could be done?
Adopting one of the children at church and remembering them in your prayers, and sending them a note of encouragement. Sending a card for their birthday – and as such being an adoptive grandparent and mentor to them.
As a church we could get a team together to provide a meal for St. Paul or possibly Grace Centers for hope and the Pontiac Rescue Mission?
Putting together visiting teams to visit a shut-in monthly.
All of these things and others can shine Christ’s light and love on those in need.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 2
In our mid-week Bible study in Joshua, we learned that Joshua sent 2 spies to spy out the land over the Jordan that the Lord was giving them.
We can send care teams, two by two, to spy out the problems in the world that the Lord has given us to care for as, neighbors loving neighbors, so that the word of the Lord might bring hope to all who hear!
8 … not being frightened in anything by your opponents. This [being] a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and [this] from God.
Paul concludes in our text for today:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
The conflict remains but even greater, we have the promise that we who hold to Christ have the assurance of his grace and peace.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
Putting together visiting teams to visit a shut-in monthly.
All of these things and others can shine Christ’s light and love on those in need.
27 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, 2
In our mid-week Bible study in Joshua, we learned that Joshua sent 2 spies to spy out the land over the Jordan that the Lord was giving them.
We can send care teams, two by two, to spy out the problems in the world that the Lord has given us to care for as, neighbors loving neighbors, so that the word of the Lord might bring hope to all who hear!
8 … not being frightened in anything by your opponents. This [being] a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and [this] from God.
Paul concludes in our text for today:
29 For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, 30 engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.
The conflict remains but even greater, we have the promise that we who hold to Christ have the assurance of his grace and peace.
16 “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. 17 For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17
In the name of the Father, and of the Son + and of the Holy Spirit!
Amen
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