I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. - Phil 1:12-21
THREE TRUTHS FOR A TRIUMPHANT LIFE:
1)THE PROBLEM: LIFE IS HARD
2)THE PERSPECTIVE: GOD USES ALL THINGS FOR GOOD.
3) THE PRIORITY: JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
1)THE PROBLEM: LIFE IS HARD.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (vs. 12-13)
Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches.
2 Cor. 11:23-28(ESV)
The fact of suffering undoubtedly constitutes the
single greatest challenge to the Christian faith and has been in every generation. Its distribution and degree appear to be entirely random and therefore unfair. Sensitive spirits ask if it can possibly be reconciled with God’s justice and love.” - John Stott
2) THE PERSPECTIVE: GOD USES ALL THINGS FOR GOOD.
I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. (vs. 12-13)
“Paul was chained to a prison room. You may have chains of your own. You may be tied to a desk when you would like to be out in more direct Christian service. You may be tied to a home especially when the children are young and need constant care. You may be tied to a sick bed and may never see beyond your hospital room. This should not be cause for discouragement. If you are in circumstances like these, this has been given to you by God and can be used by Him. You can witness to people who come by your desk, your kitchen sink, or your hospital bed. If you do, God will bless your effort. You will see spiritual fruit. What is more, it will change entirely how you look at your limitations whatever the cause.”
-James Montgomery Boice
3) THE PRIORITY: JESUS IS THE SOURCE OF LIFE.
For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (vs. 21)