Phil 1:18-29
SS Lesson for 08/01/2010
Devotional Scripture: 1 Cor 9:19-23
The major outline of the lesson came from Bible Expositor and Illuminator. This week's lesson examines Sharing God's Grace. The study's aim is to realize that serving Christ should be a believers greatest motive. The study's application is to base our actions on a deep love for our Savior and Lord.
The New Golden Age of Preaching
Preaching, the public proclamation of God’s Word, has been God’s chosen means of spreading the gospel since the time of the apostles. Paul asked, “How can they hear without someone preaching to them?” (Romans 10:14). Paul saw his vocation as a “preacher” just as important as his status as an apostle (see 1 Timothy 2:7). Revelation 14:6 pictures the preaching of an “eternal gospel” with the implication that this mode of delivery is also eternally ordained. For the last several generations, there have been those who have forecast the end of preaching. Public proclamation is pronounced an archaic method of communication. People look back on the preachers of the past and see a “golden age” of preaching. It seems that no current preacher can stand with such preachers as Charles Spurgeon and D. L. Moody. In a local church, it is often said by old-timers that the current preacher cannot hold a candle to the former minister or the preacher of their youth. Others say that in our fast-paced and visually driven world, oral communication is a lost and unappreciated art, and traditional preaching is in its death throes. This is a distorted view of the past and the present. There have always been excellent preaching and mediocre preaching. There have always been learned preaching and simple preaching. Styles and methods have changed. Consider that the most celebrated preacher of the Middle Ages, Bernard of Clairvaux, preached an unfinished series of sermons on the Song of Solomon. Bernard preached 86 sermons from this little book and had only progressed to chapter 3 (out of 8)! That most preachers today would never spend nearly two years’ worth of sermons on the most obscure book in the Bible cannot be considered a bad development in the history of preaching! Technological advances have made an impact on preaching in the last 50 years. Many preachers use projected visuals, including pictures and video clips. Some large venues project a live image of the preacher, making him 20 feet tall so all can see. The traditional wooden pulpit has been replaced with a clear plastic lectern or done away with entirely. Sermon preparation has also changed. The proliferation of sermon resources on the Internet has made excellent material very accessible. (An unscrupulous preacher may thus preach a downloaded sermon without attribution, as if it were his own.) Some believe that new media has decreased the patience and attention span of congregations, forcing quick, shallow exposition of Scripture. Overall, though, there are many excellent sermons delivered every week in churches all over the world. Preaching’s doomsayers must wait; their prophecies will not be fulfilled in the near future. Fifty years from now some will probably decry the preaching of their time and yearn for the early days of the twenty-first century as a “golden age of preaching.” The apostle Paul was aware that there were many preachers in his day. We do not know much about them. We are told of the eloquent Apollos, but we have no samples of his preaching (Acts 18:24). Paul did speak of false and heretical preaching (see Galatians 1:8, 9) and warned his people to be on guard for such. In today’s lesson, Paul speaks not so much of the doctrinal purity of other preachers, but of the spirit in which they deliver their messages. Paul’s insights in this area are surprisingly fresh and have application for us today.
Lesson Background
In Paul’s day, Philippi was a leading city of Macedonia. It derived its name from Philip II of Macedon, the father of Alexander the Great. Philip prized the site because of its strategic location and nearby gold mines, so he founded the city and named it after himself. It later served as a base of operations for Alexander’s conquests. In the Roman civil wars following the murder of Julius Caesar, a major battle was fought near Philippi. When Caesar Augustus emerged as the undisputed ruler of Rome, he resettled the city with veterans from his legions, making it a Roman colony. It became an outpost for Roman culture in the Greek world, although it never became a large city. When Paul visited Philippi, the city probably had fewer than 20,000 inhabitants, but it enjoyed close and important connections with the imperial city itself. Acts 16 records Paul’s visit to Philippi, often celebrated as his first ministry in Europe. In Philippi, Paul converted the rich and generous businesswoman Lydia (Acts 16:14, 15) and the Roman soldier who had been his jailer (Acts 16:25–33). Paul called his experience with the Roman authorities of the city an insult (see 1 Thessalonians 2:2), for he and Silas were beaten and jailed illegally and then encouraged to leave the city (Acts 16:38, 39). Paul’s letter to the Philippian church is counted among the “Prison Epistles,” written by Paul while under house arrest in Rome about ad 63. The other three Prison Epistles—Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon—are directed to a connected pair of churches (or to an individual in one of those churches) in Asia Minor. Philippians is from the same period, but it addresses a completely separate audience with different issues. The Philippian church had continued to support Paul financially, sending a monetary gift to Rome via one of its members, Epaphroditus (Philippians 4:18). Epaphroditus had dutifully delivered the gift, but while in Rome he had become deathly ill (Philippians 2:25–30). After his recovery, Paul sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi with his thanks and with encouragement and advice for several issues the church was experiencing. This encouragement and advice are what make up the book of Philippians, one of the most beloved books of the New Testament and the source of our lessons for the next four weeks.
Paul wrote the letter to the church at Philippi while he was under house arrest in Rome (Acts 28:30). His death was a possibility as he anticipated his court appearance. Yet he had the confidence that he would be released so that he could minister to his readers once again. Life for Paul was bound up in Jesus Christ. His passion was to glorify Him, whether in life or in death. This consumed Paul's life and ministry. In addition to facing the distress of imprisonment, Paul also had to contend with opposition from some ministers (Phil. 1:14-17). While some preached Christ out of their love for the gospel, others did not. These preached the gospel but did so for the purpose of furthering their own interests. Paul's desire for the Philippians was that they conduct themselves in a manner befitting their heavenly citizenship. Whether he was present or absent from them, this was his expectation. Such conduct includes sharing the gospel of God's grace. The key verse of the letter is Philippians 1:21, "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." This echoes Paul's statement found in Galatians 2:2, "I am crucified with Christ: nevertheless I live; yet not I, but Christ liveth in me." Writing while under arrest, Paul's heart soared above his circumstances. Old Testament characters had only a limited concept of what awaited them after they died. There are indications that they knew of blessings in the afterlife, but there is not much elaboration. It was reserved for the New Testament to have a fuller understanding regarding the destiny of their souls following death. To be absent from the body is to be present with the Lord until our bodies are raptured and rejoined with our souls (1 Thess. 4:16-17).
(Scriptural Text from the New King James Version; cross-references from the NIV)
18 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.
25 Now to him who is able to establish you by my gospel and the proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery hidden for long ages past, 26 but now revealed and made known through the prophetic writings by the command of the eternal God, so that all nations might believe and obey him— 27 to the only wise God be glory forever through Jesus Christ! Amen.
5 because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, with the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake.
13 And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit,
5 the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel
11 Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart!
21 In him our hearts rejoice, for we trust in his holy name.
15 And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"
16 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!
8 But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth."
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,
19 For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
20 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.
21 For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
22 But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell.
23 For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better.
24 Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.
25 And being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy of faith,
26 that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.
18 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints.
20 But you, dear friends, build yourselves up in your most holy faith and pray in the Holy Spirit.
13 But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears, and he will tell you what is yet to come.
26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groans that words cannot express. 27 And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints in accordance with God's will.
10 For what was glorious has no glory now in comparison with the surpassing glory. 11 And if what was fading away came with glory, how much greater is the glory of that which lasts! 12 Therefore, since we have such a hope, we are very bold.
16 Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego replied to the king, "O Nebuchadnezzar, we do not need to defend ourselves before you in this matter. 17 If we are thrown into the blazing furnace, the God we serve is able to save us from it, and he will rescue us from your hand, O king. 18 But even if he does not, we want you to know, O king, that we will not serve your gods or worship the image of gold you have set up."
2 We had previously suffered and been insulted in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in spite of strong opposition.
37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you a spirit of unity among yourselves as you follow Christ Jesus, 6 so that with one heart and mouth you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
12 Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.
16 In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.
20 you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body.
16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name.
19 Let us therefore make every effort to do what leads to peace and to mutual edification.
23 "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is beneficial. "Everything is permissible"-but not everything is constructive. 24 Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
10 He who descended is the very one who ascended higher than all the heavens, in order to fill the whole universe.) 11 It was he who gave some to be apostles, some to be prophets, some to be evangelists, and some to be pastors and teachers, 12 to prepare God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up 13 until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.
29 Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen.
27 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,
28 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.
29 For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake,
10 And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God,
4 As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. 2 Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. 3 Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.
11 For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children, 12 encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God, who calls you into his kingdom and glory.
11 With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith.
28 Do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Rather, be afraid of the One who can destroy both soul and body in hell.
10 For I am with you, and no one is going to attack and harm you, because I have many people in this city."
13 Then Paul answered, "Why are you weeping and breaking my heart? I am ready not only to be bound, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus." 14 When he would not be dissuaded, we gave up and said, "The Lord's will be done."
6 For I am already being poured out like a drink offering, and the time has come for my departure. 7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. 8 Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day — and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing.
14 "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God; trust also in me.
6 You became imitators of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering, you welcomed the message with the joy given by the Holy Spirit.
8 So do not be ashamed to testify about our Lord, or ashamed of me his prisoner. But join with me in suffering for the gospel, by the power of God, 9 who has saved us and called us to a holy life — not because of anything we have done but because of his own purpose and grace. This grace was given us in Christ Jesus before the beginning of time, 10 but it has now been revealed through the appearing of our Savior, Christ Jesus, who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. 11 And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher. 12 That is why I am suffering as I am. Yet I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed, and am convinced that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.
12 Dear friends, do not be surprised at the painful trial you are suffering, as though something strange were happening to you. 13 But rejoice that you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 14 If you are insulted because of the name of Christ, you are blessed, for the Spirit of glory and of God rests on you. 15 If you suffer, it should not be as a murderer or thief or any other kind of criminal, or even as a meddler. 16 However, if you suffer as a Christian, do not be ashamed, but praise God that you bear that name. 17 For it is time for judgment to begin with the family of God; and if it begins with us, what will the outcome be for those who do not obey the gospel of God?
4 Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because he who has suffered in his body is done with sin.
The Bible often pictures the lives of Christians in terms of a military struggle. We are soldiers in the cosmic battle being waged by servants of the Lord against the forces of evil. The ironic thing about this is that there is no gigantic battlefield for this warfare. It is a battle in the life of each individual believer. In Ephesians, Paul develops a wonderful allegorical presentation along these lines, exhorting his readers to don the spiritual protection offered by the “full armor of God.” Paul says that the purpose of wearing this battle gear is so that when the battle is over, the soldier will be able “to stand” (Ephesians 6:13). The word picture he presents means that Paul is praying that his readers will not end up as casualties from the spiritual battles of life. At the end, they will still be standing, not among the fallen. They will have neither fled the battle nor succumbed to enemy attacks. They will die while yet spiritually alive and kicking. They will be found faithful.
As individuals, Christians need to be concerned about living in a manner worthy of the gospel. This should also be the concern of the local church. In the Scriptural text, Paul exhorted the believers in Philippi to let their "conversation (manner of life) be as it becometh the gospel (suitable to the gospel of Christ)." It is clear from the context that Paul had in mind the type of living by the local church that attracted people to the gospel. What does it mean for a local congregation to have a lifestyle that is appropriate to the gospel message? First, it means that the church must possess unity in passion and purpose. To "stand fast in one spirit" refers to a core passion. It involves the grace of a common driving force, the faith of the gospel, which would include a passion to guard the message of the gospel and a passion to spread the gospel throughout the world. Some churches, sadly, lack this common passion. Instead, they have people whose chief motivation is to engage in social action that has no connection with the message of salvation from sin in Christ. They may want to keep people from physical hunger but have no concern about the eternal hunger of their souls. They seek justice for the oppressed but care nothing about helping people become just before a holy God. There are also churches that are driven by a desire for socializing. There is a place for socializing, but it should not be the primary passion of the church. Second, for a church to have a lifestyle that complements the glorious gospel, it must be characterized by "striving together for the faith of the gospel." A church should be known for people who work side by side to promote clear Bible teaching and aggressive outreach to their communities and the world. My church recently put on a free car wash for the community. The volunteer workers labored together in beautiful harmony. Some washed; some scrubbed; some rinsed; some dried; and some stood on the sidewalks advertising the event. It was a beautiful picture of harmony in labor. This is how the local church should function, people working side by side for the faith of the gospel. The picture of people "striving together" refutes two false practices found in many churches. First, it refutes the isolation practiced by some believers. They attend church but never connect with people. They are in and out before you know it and never get involved in ministry. There is no way that they can be described as "striving together for the faith of the gospel." Second, it refutes the opposition practiced by some believers. Instead of working with others in a patient, supportive way, they continually resist and hinder what others are trying to do for the Lord. Harmony in labor demands humility, unconditional love for others, and a strong dedication to the cause of Christ. Churches that lack unity in passion and the ability to work together do not have a worthy lifestyle.
1. We should rejoice when the true gospel is preached even if we have qualms about the preacher or the method (Phil. 1:18)
2. The goal of our prayers should always be that Christ is magnified (vs. 19-20)
3. God's will is far more important than whether we live or die (vs. 21-24)
4. Joy comes from serving others, not ourselves (vs. 25-26)
5. The gospel of Christ must always be accompanied with Christlike behavior (vs. 27)
6. When our lives are fully given to Christ, suffering for Him is a blessing (vs. 28-29)
The gospel of Jesus Christ had changed Paul's life. He had gone from the one extreme to the other: from persecuting Christ (Acts 9:4-5) to exalting Christ by his life and death (Phil. 1:20). In our lesson this week, we as believers can check on what the gospel is doing in our lives.
The Apostle Paul was writing to the Philippian believers from a Roman prison. While there, he had heard about other believers sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The problem was that they were doing it from false motives (envy and rivalry). How did Paul respond to the proclamation of the gospel by men with sinful motives? Paul rejoiced that the gospel was being proclaimed! His desire was that he would never be ashamed of the gospel. His desire was that at all times, whether in life or in death, he would be used to magnify Christ. He wanted to be filled with all boldness to proclaim God's salvation in Christ. Paul had God's heart when it came to making the gospel of Christ known. Paul had so changed his life that God's heartbeat for spreading the gospel message was his top priority in life. God's heartbeat had become Paul's heartbeat. Do we have that kind of desire to share the gospel of Jesus Christ?
Paul made it perfectly clear what his ultimate purpose was: "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain." He had no purpose in life other than to live for Christ. Paul knew that being with Christ one day would be far better. Still, he had great concern for other believers, and he knew that if he continued to serve the Lord on earth, he would be able to encourage them to greater growth in Christ, that they would live for Christ and learn how to better share His gospel. What about us? Is our ultimate purpose on earth to live for Christ and to advance the gospel?
It is one thing to say that one knows Jesus Christ as Saviour by believing in His gospel. It is quite another matter to live out the gospel of Christ in one's daily life. That is why Paul encouraged the Philippian believers to "stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel." What did Paul mean? He meant that their lifestyle as a body of believers should give evidence that each member was submitting to the mind of Christ that dwelled within him (cf. 1 Cor. 2:16). This did not mean that each believer would give up his or her individuality. Rather, it meant that each would submit to Christ and allow the power of the Holy Spirit to create in him the sacrificial spirit of Christ as he served the Lord and others. Submitting to Christ, believers would display the character of Christ by working together for Him in unity of spirit. As the believers stayed united in Christ, they could face their adversaries with faith in the Lord instead of fearing them. When believers face persecution, it provides another opportunity to show their faith. It is a privilege to be able to suffer for the Lord, who gave His life for His people. The gospel changed Paul's life and those of the believers at Philippi. Has it changed your life?