Living with Courage Week 3
April 27, 2025

LIVING WITH COURAGE
Week 3: Courageous in Suffering
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that
my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; 14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:
17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel. 18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. 19 For 1 know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the
supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,” (Philippians 1:12-19)

INTRODUCTION
1. The Reality of


“If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you. 19 lf ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the
world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
(John 15:18-19)
A. The of Persecution
“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;” (Philippians 1:12)
“Therefore judge nothing before the time, until the Lord come, who both will bring to light the hidden things of darkness, and will make manifest the counsels of the hearts: and then shall every man have praise of God.” (1 Corinthians 4:5)
And his brethren also went and fell down before his face; and they said, Behold, we be thy servants. 19 And Joseph said unto them, Fear not: for am I in the place of God? 20 But as for you, ye thought evil against me; but God meant it unto good to bring to pass, as it is this day, to save much people alive. (Genesis 50:18-20)
B. The through Persecution
THE GOSPEL IS FURTHERED
G O D IS FAITHFUL
“So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places.” (Philippians 1:13)
“All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.” (Philippians 4:22)
CHRISTIANS ARE ENCOURAGED
“And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:14)
2. The Relentlessness of
A. The of Motives
“Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:” (Philippians 1:15)
ONE PREACHES FOR ENVY AND STRIFE
“And John answered him, saying, Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, and he followeth not us: and we forbad him because he followeth not us. 39 But Jesus said. Forbid him not: for there is no man which shall do a miracle in my name, that can lightly speak evil of me. 40 For he that is not against us is on our part. 41 For whosoever shall give you a cup of water to
drink in my name, because ye belong to Christ, verily I say unto you, he shall not lose his reward.” (Mark 9:38-41)
“Only by pride cometh contention: but with the well advised is wisdom. Proverbs 13:10
ONE PREACHES FOR GOOD WILL
B. The of Motives
“The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.” (Philippians 1:16-17)
ONE PREACHES WITH CONTENTION
“I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.” (3 John 9)
“Fulfil ye my joy, that ye be likeminded, having the same love being of one accord, of one mind. 3 Let nothing be done through strife or vainglory; but in lowliness of mind let each esteem other better than themselves. 4 Look not every man on his own things,
but every man also on the things of others.” (Philippians 2:2-4)
ONE RELIEVES AFFLICTION
“For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead: 15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.” (2 Corinthians 5:14-15)
“The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me.” (2 Timothy 1:16-17)
3. The Rejoicing of
“What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.” (Philippians 1:18)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, 23 Meekness, temperance: against such there is no law. 24 And they
that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts. 25 If we live in the Spirit, let us also walk in the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:22-25)
A. Was Preached
“For our gospel came not unto you in word only, but also in power, and in the Holy Ghost, and in much assurance; as ye Know what manner of men we were among you for your sake.” (1 Thessalonians 1:5)
“Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: ” (1 Thessalonians 2:10)
B. Paul
“So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.” (Isaiah 55:11)
“Wherein ye greatly rejoice, though now for a season, if need be, ye are in heaviness through manifold temptations: 7 That the trial of your faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, though it be tried with fire, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ: 8 Whom having not seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory:” (1 Peter 1:6-8)
CONCLUSION
“Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there
is no searching of his understanding. 29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength. 30 Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall: 31 But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.” (Isaiah 40:28-31)