By Diane Caston
In the previous verses of Philippians 1:11, Paul spoke of the love and affection he had for the church at Phillipi. He speaks of remembrances, prayer with joy, and partnership in the gospel. He tells us through this letter that he holds them in his heart, and how he yearns for them all with of the affection of Jesus Christ. The believers in Phillipi were very special to Paul; the feeling was mutual. They had sent aid to him several times and kept up on the news of all the trials and afflictions that had occurred on his journey to Rome to appeal to Caesar. Paul in return is concerned about how they are taking the news that he is imprisoned in Rome.
12-14 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
Paul deals with the way he was unjustly imprisoned and what it meant to him. Paul is testifying to the fact that even though he is suffering and he’s restrained and in pain, despite that, the situation is working out for the greater good. Paul’s imprisonment has not hindered the gospel in any way. Now Paul always longed to go to Rome, but this was probably not the way he envisioned going. He probably had dreams of the people who would be saved, churches he would start, the bible schools that would be needed. Paul was an ambitious guy. Paul had not listened to the warnings from Agabus that we read in Acts21:10=13, about not going to Jerusalem, and probably thought, but these are my people, they will listen to me. However, as he made his case to his fellow Jews after being arrested in the temple, as soon as he mentioned the word ‘Gentiles’ in his testimony, they were intent on killing him. Things obviously turned out differently than Paul imagined. Alone in jail, he might have been confused or a little dejected. But the Lord was there to encourage him. Acts 23:11 But the following night the Lord stood by him and said, “Be of good cheer, Paul; for as you have testified of me in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness at Rome”. Cheer up Paul! You’re going to Rome as a prisoner, in chains with a Roman guard, in pain and suffering and hardship, but not in self-pity. This wasn’t the way he thought his ministry would look, but the way God deemed was best. Now Paul is testifying that even though it doesn’t look the way he thought it would, it is working out for the greater good. He even states that his chains are in Christ, not by the Romans! The gospel was having a greater effect, because of his difficulties. God was able to do more by taking Paul there in chains than in freedom. Paul was held by the Praetorian guards, the elite force of the day in Rome. How else would he have gained access to these men?
The Lord wanted to reach this group, so he had them escort and guard Paul. It was part of the Lord’s plan. People were saved in the household of Caesar that might not have heard any other way. Phil 4:22 All the saints greet you, but especially those who are of Caesar’s household.
These words make us think of how we deal with some of the things that happen to us. Do you ask why? If we’re honest, we all do sometimes. Contrary to what we might normally do, Paul explains to the concerned followers what the whole situation is accomplishing. So, just as in Paul’s case, the pain in our lives is designed by Jesus. We need to learn to embrace it. You either believe in the sovereignty of God, or you don’t. You either cling to Jesus in your trouble, or you give up. But does scripture promise bad things won’t happen to us? What does it say?
We will have trouble, but in Him we can find peace.
Jn. 16:33 These things I have spoken to you, that in Me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world.”
If we truly preach Jesus; people will hate us. They may persecute us. They may even kill us. Just look at the persecution that has recently happened in churches.
Jn 15: 18-20“If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you. Remember the word that I said to you, ‘A servant is not greater than his master.’ If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you. If they kept My word, they will keep yours also.
When he mentions the world that hates you, that can mean people we don’t know, but it can also be our neighbors, co-workers, yes, even family members and adult children! Paul was able to take his circumstances and look for God’s purposes in them, and what did he see? And what was the result?
- All of the palace guard had heard the gospel! The Roman soldiers were probably expecting, some terrible criminal in that he was brought from Jerusalem to Caesarea under the care of 200 soldiers, 70 horsemen, and 200 spearmen. They must have thought that he was one bad hombre! They were probably curious of what he was all about, but then they saw a humble servant of God, not a Roman prisoner, but a prisoner of Jesus Christ, his declared that his chains were in Christ. Rotating through their turns of being chained to him, they discovered something quite different from what the anticipated, and they heard and received the gospel!
- Boldness was given to others because of what had happened to Paul. They were given boldness. Acts 4:31 And when they had prayed, the place where they were assembled together was shaken; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit, and they spoke the word of God with boldness.
As a result, the disciples were bolder to preach because of Paul’s example. Peer pressure makes the world go round, either for good or for evil. Paul’s example made these Christians want to be more like him, and they spread the gospel with boldness. We take greater risks when we can follow someone we admire. It wasn’t fun for Paul to go to Rome this way, but there was a greater purpose. It was working out. God was in control of all of Paul’s circumstances, and they were being woven together for God’s purpose.
15-18 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from good will: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.
- The gospel was preached
In his circumstances, he was still seeking the best way to glorify His Savior. Even those who were mocking were spreading the gospel. They had bad motives, selfish ambition, envy, strife, a hope, of financial gain, but whatever their motives were Christ was being preached, and this made Paul rejoice.
Paul was more concerned with the cause of Christ than his own comfort. Paul was willing to suffer injustice and hardship for the gospel. He trusted God’s purposes, so he didn’t fear for present circumstances. He had no self-pity, no whys. Oswald Chambers stated, “Self-pity is of the devil, and if I wallow in it, I cannot be used by God for His purposes in the world”
Paul had joy during his trials. Jesus is greater than anything this world has to offer. If we can really get that, we will see He is able to transform us through difficult situations. In God’s economy we don’t bring anything to the table. God brings it all!! We are not entitled to anything; it’s all grace. When Paul’s circumstances were difficult, it didn’t ruin him, because he understood by the gospel that God gives us everything, so we are able to let go of the sense of entitlement. His joy wasn’t dependent on his circumstances or comforts.
When people wanted to tear Paul down it didn’t work. His identity was based on being accepted by Jesus. If Jesus is everything, then when we suffer it drives us deeper into our source of joy. Make Christ supreme, because everything else can leave you hurt and broken. I’m not saying this is easy; it’s not; it’s hard, but this is where we will find real peace and joy. While Paul was in prison, some charlatans were seeking to carry on his business - gaining from him being out of commission. Others were trying to take over his position. They had wrong motives, greed, strife, contention, hatred of Paul, wanting to be admired, wanting to advance themselves, supposing maybe they could make Paul’s situation worse, and that they could end up gaining the accolades that Paul had attained! The hearts of ungodly men are wicked.
19-20 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death.
Paul knew this was going to turn out for his deliverance through their prayers and the supply (undergirding) of the Holy Spirit. Do you really grasp that our prayers affect real help for those we pray for? Our Monday morning group has seen some amazing answers to our prayers.
2 Cor. 1:11 “you also helping together in prayer for us, that thanks may be given by many persons on our behalf for the gift granted to us through many.”
We become partakers of those who go when we remain and pray. Our work of prayer is just as important as the job others have been called to do. We enter into the very work of God when we begin to pray, and then we get the reward when we watch with joy how He worked all things together for good!
Paul uses the expression ‘earnest expectation’ apokaradokía, in the Greek language, it denotes a sense of watching and intense anticipation. Its meaning relates to the word ‘head’, with the neck stretched out, on tiptoes. His earnest expectation and hope were that he would not be ashamed, but have the courage to glorify Christ in his body whether he lived or died. Even Paul the apostle was concerned that he wouldn’t come up short in anything, and he would exemplify the Lord in all he did. This was Paul’s hope in the hour he was facing possible death. He could have thought “I’m not supposed to be in that place! Lord, you deal with them.” But Paul knew it wasn’t about him. It was about Jesus, so he could rejoice, because the gospel was going forward. We can be content whether we live or die, knowing that God is the one who has the plan, not us. We will continue to pray to be pleasing to him in our bodies and carrying out the unity of the Spirit with our fellow man in all the days He has allotted for us. Paul believed that everything that happened to him would turn out for the furtherance of the gospel
21-26 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell. For I am hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
What a remarkable statement! I’ve said it repeatedly to myself as I was studying. Can we truly say about ourselves, ‘to live is Christ?’ I think we all get the ‘to die is gain’ part. We all long to be with the Lord! But for me to live is Christ? It means in everything we think and do He is supreme. I think this is something we need to ask Him to do in us daily. This does not come naturally. Yes, we want Jesus to be with us, lead and guide us, forgive our sins, fill us with His Spirit, but is our very essence of life, Him? Paul could honestly say this. His life was in danger. If his case did not go well in court he could be killed as an enemy of Rome, but when Christ is your life, death is not your enemy. If he was to live it was for Christ; if he died it would be a reward.
He wanted to depart but he knew that it would be better for his friends if he stayed. He could still be there to encourage and exhort them. So, he has a conflict inside, but it’s one he knows is already decided. He had confidence that he would remain, even see them again possibly, but either way he knew it was better for those he loved and discipled for him to stick around! So, the application to us who are also longing to be with Jesus, is to use our time as Paul did. To live is Christ. We need to turn our antennas heavenward and listen for our Master. We need to be on His wavelength. Where should we go; what should we do? How can we glorify God in every circumstance we find ourselves in. As we get mature we realize we don’t need the things of this world; we have little use for them; we can’t take them with us! But what we can take is other souls. Our purpose as we continue here on earth should be to bring others to Jesus and to disciple them. Ask the Lord for these opportunities. Be on the lookout for them. Ask the Lord for boldness!
27-30 Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, And not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God. For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is in me.
Paul had a mandate for them no matter what happened to him, whether he saw them again or not. He admonishes them that their lifestyle should be befitting Christians. That their conduct would be worthy of the gospel. Whether he came to them or just heard news about them he wanted them to have unity in the body.
As Pastor George so often reminds and instructs us, Paul wanted them to have unity in the body,
that they would be steadfast in one Spirit working together for the gospel. How do we do this if we stay home and watch church on TV? How can we do this if we are not involved with the body we are a part of? How do we do this if we do not know the people we fellowship with? How can we bear one another’s’ burdens if we don’t know what they are? That’s why I love these Tuesday mornings, worshipping the Lord, learning the word, getting to know each other and praying for one another’s needs.
This should carry over into our Sunday mornings also, and any other events we have the ability to attend. There is strength in numbers, right? We are living in dangerous times, spiritually and physically, and we want to be on the lookout for each other, making sure we all finish well.
Paul desired that they would be of one mind – striving together for the faith, not in factions and groups, not loving some and ignoring others. We are heavenly citizens already. Do we walk the walk or just talk the talk? We need to examine ourselves
Paul also desired that they would not be terrified by their enemies – that they would seek God and He would give them grace. There were many dying for their faith in those days. We see persecution all over the world in these days too, and now even in our country.
They were to live in one accord fighting against the true enemy, not each other. In the ancient Greek language, terrified “is a vivid term, unique in the Greek Bible and denoting “the uncontrollable stampede of startled horses.”, one commentator mentions. In the face of this kind of opposition, Paul wanted the Philippian Christians to have the same kind of boldness he had.
“When Christians are not in any way terrified by their adversaries, that in itself is proof of perdition — meaning destruction — to their adversaries. They are proving they are the ones who are wicked and deserve judgement.
When our spiritual enemies fail to make us afraid, they have failed completely, because they really have no other weapon than fear and intimidation.
But to you of salvation: When we as Christians are not in any way terrified by our adversaries, it is also evidence of our own salvation. In the Lord, we can surprise ourselves with our own boldness. Their hatred of God and righteousness is a sign, like a neon sign, of their perdition! Their destruction awaits them.
Finally, it had been granted or given with favor, to not only believe in Him, but to suffer. YAY!
The Philippian church suffered more than we ever will. Don’t let it disconcert you! It is a privilege to suffer for Him. If they put you in the dungeon, start singing a song! When Peter and the apostles were put into jail for preaching the gospel this happened, “So they departed from the presence of the council, rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for His name.” Acts 5:41.
The Lord has a plan and purpose for everything. Our suffering may be an example of that leads someone else to Christ. The suffering is part of the conflict. Paul points out that all true believers share this same conflict that they saw in him. Of course, we want to flee this wicked world and be with the Lord, but even if it means suffering, we are here to help others along the way until He calls us home.
2 Thess 1:11-12 Therefore we also pray always for you that our God would count you worthy of this calling, and fulfill all the good pleasure of His goodness and the work of faith with power, that the name of our Lord Jesus Christ may be glorified in you, and you in Him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ.