“Pouring Out From Abundance: Confidence in The Unstoppable Gospel”
Sermon Title: Pouring Out From Abundance: Confidence in The Unstoppable Gospel
Scripture: Philippians 1:12-14 (ESV)
Introduction
Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, now turns to his own situation in prison. Though under house arrest, he rejoices triumphantly in the Lord. The church in Philippi were worried because they had heard reports how their beloved Paul had been arrested and sent to Rome, how he suffered shipwreck along the way, was now confined in prison, and they feared for his life. Paul writes that the reports of his situation and his chains are true, but something else is true – that all these things have worked to advance the gospel of Jesus Christ! Despite suffering defeats, persecution by Jews and Gentiles, beaten, tortured, facing injustice, and chained to imperial guards 24/7, Paul rejoices because of the spread of the Gospel. The gospel advances most in times of adversity, not prosperity. The Gospel is invincible, unstoppable, and indomitable.
There are three points to highlight in how God uses Paul’s obstacles to advance the gospel from our text today: (1) Paul’s confidence, (2) Paul’s confinement, and (3) Paul’s challenge.
1. Paul’s Confidence – in the spread of the gospel of Jesus Christ. His difficulties were great, but his confidence was greater. Paul says in v.12 – “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,”
- His situation is dire and dreadful, yet from the eternal perspective he sees how his situation has served to advance the gospel. To him the advancement of the gospel was more important than his own safety and comfort.
- This word “advance” in its original language has a connotation of a ‘pioneer going into uncharted territory to mark out a path so that others may follow and come in behind’. Though confined, Paul see his confinement as a launching pad for the gospel to move forward. Paul is not being modest or humble, he truly believes this. He repeats this sentiment when he is imprisoned for the second time in Rome in his letter to Timothy: “Remember Jesus Christ, risen from the dead, the offspring of David, as preached in my gospel, for which I am suffering, bound with chains as a criminal. But the word of God is not bound (2 Tim. 2:8-9)!” Paul is saying that the word of God cannot be bound nor held back from advancing.
- Paul endures all things (suffering) because he knows there are those appointed by God for salvation, so he continues preaching despite his suffering (Cf. 2 Tim. 2:10 – doctrine of election/predestination)
- “I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel. (v.12)” Paul does not share these words for his sake, for his friends to comfort and encourage him, but for their sake, for their encouragement. He does this so that they too would be confidant, have no fear, step out in faith, and emulate him when they face adversity because of the gospel (v.13-14).
- “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, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have (v.29-30).” Paul reminds us that true believers who belong to Jesus Christ will face opposition and adversity for the sake of gospel. We cannot be passive bystanders, but sharers of the same conflict and suffering as Paul. God will use it to further the cause of His kingdom in the proclamation of the gospel of Jesus Christ. The stronger the winds of opposition blow against the gospel, the higher it soars.
2. Paul’s Confinement – “so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ (Phil. 1:13).”
- “… imprisonment is for Christ” – the amazing thing is that Paul did not see himself as a prisoner of Rome but of Christ. He is saying that though it may look like he is imprisoned by Rome on the surface, but he is imprisoned by divine appointment and sovereign will of Christ. Rome is merely an instrument of the higher agency of God’s sovereign will.
- “[his imprisonment] has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest (v.13a).” Paul was chained for 2 years and his chains were never taken off. He was attached/chained to a Roman soldier (in rotation) at all times. These were no mere soldiers, these were imperial guards, hand-picked elite with political power, kingmakers of their time. For 2 years, these soldiers would have witnessed Paul’s life and heard the gospel preached. From Paul’s perspective and God’s perspective, these imperial guards were prisoners chained to Paul. Furthermore, we learn that the power of the gospel has exploded like dynamite in the household of Caesar (Phil. 4:22) and to the citizens of Rome (v.13 “all the rest”).
3. Paul’s Challenge to us – “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear (v.14).”
- Notice, “most of the brothers…are much more bold…” There were already brothers who were already bold, but now they were bolder “to speak the word without fear,” no longer hesitant to speak, bear witness, and testify of the gospel. The “word” refers to the word of God, the gospel, the name of Christ, the way to salvation, the grace of redemption, and the necessity of repentance and faith in Jesus Christ. Paul’s boldness has challenged and edified most of the believers in Rome – through one man who was on fire for God, thousands were empowered with new courage. One person on fire for God has capacity to inspire and empower other believers.
- Notice, “… without fear…”, no longer were they hesitant to mention and bear witness to the name of Jesus. No longer did they fear rejections, repercussions, consequences, and to openly testify to the gospel of Jesus Christ. They were able to do this “having become confident in the Lord.” They saw how God was working through Paul and they became confident in the Lord. Their trust and confidence was in the Lord alone.
- May we do the same and place our confidence in the Lord! that He is the Sovereign One and that He is the one who orchestrates how, when, to whom, and through what circumstance the gospel advances. All we need to do on our part is to make ourselves available to be used as his instrument and take every opportunity to speak the Word boldly - because the providence of God does not run by human intuition, nor by human wisdom; it runs by the sovereign purposes of God. The more the world tries to resist the gospel, the more they fan the flames of its leaping fire to spread far and wide.
Reflection and Response
One man, one woman, on fire for God, that fire can spread like wildfire to others. For most, we need to be near others who are on fire in order to catch fire ourselves, so that we can spread that fire to the world.
Are there people around you whose boldness for the Lord is igniting your courage?
- Is it someone in the Bible like Daniel? like Paul? Is it the Lord Jesus Christ Himself? Is it someone in church history, one of the great martyrs of the faith? Is it your brothers and sisters sitting right next to you? Who in this generation is igniting your fire to be a witness for the Lord?
We all need to be ignited, and we all need to be igniting others. So let us be on fire for God – that even when the enemy tries to tie us down, we are still confident of the unstoppable advancement of the gospel, that even if we’re are confined in our little space with so many limitations, we would continue to grow much more bold to speak and proclaim the gospel – so that as God invites us to pour out our lives to advance the gospel, we would boldly go about it placing our confidence in the Lord.
Are you igniting others around you? Who are you lighting up to witness for the Lord Jesus Christ?
Like Paul who was in chains, do you feel enchained in some of the circumstances of your life? When looking through God’s eyes, how might those “chains” in your life be secondary instruments of God’s sovereign will that serve as opportunities to spread the gospel?
- For those of you who are working – maybe the Lord has placed you in your workplace and surrounded you with your coworkers because that’s where the gospel needs to advance.
- Or maybe for those of you who are parents, It could be your house with little children. And the Lord wants you to advance the gospel through the ways that you teach your children God’s Word, through the ways that you display your love and grace to them.
- If you’re married, perhaps the Lord wants to use you to advance the gospel to your spouse and their family.
- Maybe you’re a student and you are just tied to your class schedule, tied to your studies.
- Maybe you are a schoolteacher, and you are tied to your students and classroom.