A Letter to the Church of Philippi Pt.2

Ok, here we go. Some more fun stuff. Remember, read the text and comment anything that stuck out to you or anything God impressed upon your heart.

Philippians 1:12-18

¹²Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. ¹³As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. ¹⁴Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.

(((Joel Thoughts))) Overall, through the rest of the first chapter, Paul is reassuring the believers in Philippi that although he is in jail as he writes this because of his proclaiming the gospel, God will be sovereign and the message of the risen Son Jesus will keep spreading and spreading.  What a powerful message from a man who has been thrown in jail for his faith! Can you imagine the early believers getting this letter from Paul, the great missionary and church planter, and gathering around to see what is going on? They read that although he is in jail, (or in chains as Paul writes) God is winning…although the current circumstances may not look good…Love wins…the Gospel wins…I do not think that the world can hear that truth enough.

(((Joel Thoughts))) Paul even states that his imprisonment because of his message had helped spread the gospel to even more people.  Paul was thrown in jail by the Roman empire that probably imprisoned him because of his denial of the Roman gods or Emperor worship which were both extremely popular and mandatory in that day.  Paul seems to suggest that the entire prison guard had learned  of the gospel because of Paul’s imprisonment and they knew he was in prison because of his faith in Jesus. Paul even suggests that many other believers were encouraged to spread the good news because of Paul’s imprisonment and his belief that the gospel was winning and spreading more and more.  Paul gives a couple brilliant practical examples of lifestyle evangelism.  1. Paul used even the most horrendous of life circumstances (being thrown in jail) to spread the gospel.  2. Paul recognized God’s sovereignty and provision for influence in the worst of life’s circumstances. 3. Paul made the most of every opportunity by sharing his story to even the prison guards who were holding him captive. 4. Paul leaned in to the leadings of the Holy Spirit and used his imprisonment to show  boldness to encourage other believers to share their faith. You want life application?? You got it…Boiiii!

¹⁵It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. ¹⁶The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. ¹⁷The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. ¹⁸But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

(((Joel Thoughts))) Paul is mostly likely referring to some of the people who were boldly proclaiming Christ because of the encouragment of Paul’s ministry in prison, although Paul’s ideas here have some universal application for today and in ecclesiology (theology of the church).  Paul says that some are preaching out of love and others are preaching out of, let’s just say, not the purest intentions.  Whatever the specific teachings or attitudes of the “other preachers,” Paul’s response is brilliant—–”Who cares???” The importance of the gospel is that it is being proclaimed—its being lived out? Paul puts aside his personal preferences on teaching angles or styles and he celebrates the fact that the message is going out.  I think this is an awesome lesson (especially for me) because I can get so caught up in style and I have a tendency to be judgmental of people and their intentions in churches.  Paul teaches us that we can’t judge the human heart, we can only celebrate when the message is going forth.  That is something I need to hear every Sunday or everytime I am in a church setting. Maybe you do too.