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Friends of God:
Verse by Verse
Through Paul's Epistle To The Philippians |
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Philippians 1:12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out <1> rather unto the furtherance<2> of the gospel; Philippians 1:13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places; How do I stand up under terrible adversity? Do as the Apostle did, and work for God while in the midst of adversity. Or, as it has been said, when life gives you lemons, make lemonade! Often when trials come on us, we have a tendency to believe that our life is out of control, that no one is at the helm while the sea beats against the ship. This is not true. Paul considered that the things that happened to him {<1>erchomai {pronounced er’-khom-ahee} [Perfect Active Indicative] that came upon, NOT as the KJV renders it, have fallen out} came upon him in a controlled fashion, and that our God was the controller. God allowed Paul to go through the trials that he endured so that the Gospel of Christ could be promoted {<2>prokope {pronounced prok-op-ay’}, advanced, promoted}. Changing of the Guard In Roman times the "palace guard" (PRAEFECTUS PRAETORIO) were given charge of prisoners who were sent to Rome from the provinces to stand trial. The guards who were assigned to watch Paul soon realized they didn't have a ordinary prisoner as he made his relationship to Christ clearly evident. Paul used his bad situation to the Gospel's benefit, spreading the truth of the Cross rather than bemoaning his fate. There is no way of knowing how many thousands of people came to know Christ as Savior because Paul was faithful to do God's Will, even in the midst of suffering. It has been said that each person has a direct influence on at least twenty other people. As Paul witnessed Christ while in the midst of suffering, the palace guard began to notice how Paul was different than the past prisoners that they escorted to a nearly certain death. If Paul led only a few to Christ by his example, these few hardened guards, all with families, would have shared their experience with those they loved. A soulish whining Christian is a useless Christian, but a soul winning Christian is a pleasure to be around. The example of the latter empowers all who come in contact with them, whereas the example of the former just sucks the life out of any room they are in. We are called to be winners, not whiners! Philippians 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold<3> to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:14 NASB) "and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear." <3> {perissoteros {pronounced per-is-sot-ER’-oce} + tolmao {pronounced tol-mah’-o}, Present Active Infinitive, continuously more bold}. When a Christian stands strong in Jesus in the midst of adversity, his example inspires other believers to strive to be the same way. Growth is not brought about in the church by compromise with the world. In our day many preachers, teachers, pastors, and lay members have compromised the truths of Scripture in order to draw more people into the assembly of the church. Should women pastor churches? Though Scripture gives no clear qualifications for such a position, many have promoted such a scheme in order to satisfy the crowd. Should those in sexual sin have their continued indiscretions ignored? Though Scripture condemns sexual hedonism, many churches are ignoring the trend as long as the church membership continues to grow. Should assemblies be involved in racism or hate mongering? Again, though no one but the extremist would openly advocate hate mongering, it is a fact that churches and pastors will place people of color "among their own kind", even though the Scripture considers such action abominable. When a Christian stands firm on the teaching of Scripture regardless as to what conventional wisdom says, the example that he or she sets will influence those around them to follow Christ. Other Christians drew courage from Paul's example, and, rather than hiding in order to avoid Roman imprisonment, they preached and witnessed openly. We can use our trials to further the message of the Gospel, or we can allow our trials to muffle the Gospel with our tears of suffering or with our shameful compromise. Philippians 1:15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: (Philippians 1:15 NASB) "Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;" Matthew Henry, the great preacher and theologian, states: He suffered from false friends as well as from enemies (Philippians 1:15, Philippians 1:16): Some preach Christ even of envy and strife. The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely. Now this would be a stumbling-block and discouragement to some, that there were those who envied Paul's reputation in the churches, and the interest he had among the Christians, and endeavored to supplant and undermine him. They were secretly pleased when he was laid up in prison, that they might have the better opportunity to steal away the people's affections; and they laid themselves out the more in preaching, that they might gain to themselves the reputation they envied him: Supposing to add affliction to my bonds. They thought hereby to grieve his spirit, and make him afraid of losing his interest, uneasy under his confinement, and impatient for release. It is sad that there should be men who profess the gospel, especially who preach it, who are governed by such principles as these, who should preach Christ in spite to Paul, and to increase the affliction of his bonds. Let us not think it strange if in these later and more degenerate ages of the church there should be any such. However, there were others who were animated by Paul's sufferings to preach Christ the more vigorously: Some also of good will, and love: from sincere affection to the gospel, that the work might not stand while the workman was laid up. - Knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. They knew that he was appointed to support and propagate the gospel in the world, against all the violence and opposition of its enemies, and were afraid lest the gospel should suffer by his confinement. This made them the more bold to preach the word and supply his lack of service to the church. Here is the Scriptural principle: We all have enemies, and Satan also works through his ministers while we are in our trials. (Matthew 5:43-48 KJV) "Ye have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thine enemy. {44} But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you; {45} That ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good, and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. {46} For if ye love them which love you, what reward have ye? do not even the publicans the same? {47} And if ye salute your brethren only, what do ye more than others? do not even the publicans so? {48} Be ye therefore perfect, even as your Father which is in heaven is perfect." There were many people who were jealous of the success of the Apostle and who, while he was in prison, sought to add to his pain. Sadly, Christian ministers are often the guiltiest of this sin against love. You would think that ministers would support one another while in the midst of battle, and that an encouraging word would be proffered while a brother or a sister was down. Yet here is the trend. A brother is in trial, and like Job, his friends gather around him to accuse, while his enemies tell the churches, "See, I told you, he is antichrist!". Or the opposite extreme is followed: a minister falls into sin, and his fellow ministers - stepping away from the Word - overlook his error to the detriment of the innocent. Paul may have been imprisoned for failing to follow the leading of the Spirit, but his fall should not be the occasion of celebration. "Look at what Paul is going through. Obviously he's not an Apostle, but being punished by God through this imprisonment". Philippians 1:16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: Philippians 1:17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel. Philippians 1:18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretense, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (Philippians 1:18 NASB) "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice." A Matter of Will Paul, as a good Christian and a fantastic Apostle, refused to retaliate against the dogs that snapped at his heels. Paul's attitude was "What does it matter?". As long as the Gospel was being preached, even by the jealous, it was still being preached, and this was to God's glory. It is a matter of will: will I despair under pressure, or will I trust God - no matter what. Will I look at the goal of Christ, the evangelization of the world, or will I compete with my brother to no good cause? Paul believed that the unsaved who persecuted him, God would judge. The saved who persecuted him, God would judge. The operative phrase is God will judge. Psalms 75:7 "But God is the judge: he putteth down one, and setteth up another." (Deuteronomy 32:43 NIV) "Rejoice, O nations, with his people, for he will avenge the blood of his servants; he will take vengeance on his enemies and make atonement for his land and people." (Nahum 1:2-8 NIV) "The LORD is a jealous and avenging God; the LORD takes vengeance and is filled with wrath. The LORD takes vengeance on his foes and maintains his wrath against his enemies. {3} The LORD is slow to anger and great in power; the LORD will not leave the guilty unpunished. His way is in the whirlwind and the storm, and clouds are the dust of his feet. {4} He rebukes the sea and dries it up; he makes all the rivers run dry. Bashan and Carmel wither and the blossoms of Lebanon fade. {5} The mountains quake before him and the hills melt away. The earth trembles at his presence, the world and all who live in it. {6} Who can withstand his indignation? Who can endure his fierce anger? His wrath is poured out like fire; the rocks are shattered before him. {7} The LORD is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him, {8} but with an overwhelming flood he will make an end of Nineveh; he will pursue his foes into darkness." (Hebrews 10:30-31 KJV) "For we know him that hath said, Vengeance belongeth unto me, I will recompense, saith the Lord. And again, The Lord shall judge his people. {31} It is a fearful thing to fall into the hands of the living God." This is a hard lesson to learn, but one that we all, especially I, need to learn. When evil attacks the believer we need to learn to be reliant on God, to keep our eyes on Jesus Christ our Lord. This does not mean that we turn a blind eye to injustice or evil. I believe abortion is evil, and speak against it on this website. I believe hedonistic sexual practices are evil, and speak against it on this website. This is not wrong. What God has declared sinful, let the watchman declare it sinful also, lest the watchman be judged. But at all times I must remember that God is in control and, though people may at times attack us for our ministry, attack is always better than being ignored. If you are ignored you often sink downward into oblivion, but if under attack - then you have an opportunity to share the Gospel of Christ. Paul would have rather been attacked and the gospel of salvation by Jesus Christ preached, than to have relaxed in ease and the gospel not be preached. Paul's attitude was, as long as Christ is preached, then, praise God, I will rejoice! If you're talking about me, at least I have an audience where I can share Christ :-) Trials Are An Opportunity For Service Philippians 1:19 For I know<a> that this shall turn to<b> my salvation<16> through your prayer<c>, and the supply<d> of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, (Philippians 1:19 NASB) "For I know that this shall turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ," <a>know (OIDA, Perfect
tense used as Present tense = have an absolute knowledge) <16>The salvation, or deliverance (soteria {pronounced so-tay-ree’-ah}) that Paul is speaking of here is not his salvation in Christ, for Paul accepted the Lord Jesus Christ as Savior on the Damascus Road (Acts 9.3ff). Nor was he praying that he would be delivered from his Roman imprisonment: he was at ease in prison, knowing that his state fully served the cause of God. But Paul asked for the prayers of the Philippians that they pray for his strength, that he would not (as humans so often do) fall away during the heat of the trial. We all need the prayers and loving support of our fellow believers, particularly when we undergo trials. A believer without the support of a loving Church is a believer adrift in this world, totally dependent on his own strength. What a terrible state to be in! Trials are also an opportunity for believers to work together in the framework of the Church and in the Word of God to overcome. The Bible clearly teaches that (1) Trials comes on the Christian for his strengthening, and (2) God will not allow a trial to overwhelm us or destroy us. The Bible says: 1 Corinthians 10:13 (KJV) "There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it." God allows trials to come on Christians, even strong Christians like the Apostle Paul, to strengthen both that believer as well as all the believers in his periphery. The Philippians, on hearing of the imprisonment of their beloved Apostle, began to make intercessory prayer {deesis {pronounced deh’-ay-sis}}for the same. The trial thus had two simultaneous effects: It strengthened Paul, making him look Heavenward for his deliverance. It also knitted the Philippians closer together in loving prayer. When the church operates in the power of divine love trials do not split the assembly, but they knit the assembly together. In my 27 years of Christian service I have seen a number of local churches split apart because their major operating principle was entertainment, or the speaker's popularity, or pride in self, or exclusivism, or racism, or anything else that is not divine love. The problem first manifests itself when members begin to backbite one another, starting telephone campaigns against the offending member(s). Once the campaign goes into full swing, members begin to look for fault in one another; the smallest error in one's life becomes a point of thrilling excitement for the hunting crowd. Assemblies based on anything other than divine love are described in: James 4:1-6 (KJV) "From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members? {2} Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not. {3} Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts. {4} Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. {5} Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy? {6} But he giveth more grace. Wherefore he saith, God resisteth the proud, but giveth grace unto the humble." If more local church assemblies avoided loveless behavior, our churches would not be so scattered and fragmented today. I like the suggestion that one well known preacher made. He said that, if a person approached him with a juicy bit of gossip, a bit of back biting, a bit of negativity, then he would stop the speaker and say: "I am that brother's eyes and ears. I am that sister's eyes and ears. Whatever you say to me, I will immediately go to that person and repeat it, word for word, and say that you are the speaker". He said that the tattler, on hearing this declaration, would quickly back away and take his trouble somewhere else. Beloved, if we refuse to hear it, we cannot participate in it. If we refuse to take part in the lovelessness, we cannot be judged by God because of it. Philippians 1:20 According to<a> my earnest expectation<b> and my hope, that in nothing<c> I shall be ashamed<d>, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified<e> in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. <a>KATA = according to the
norm or standard of Paul demanded of his own life that Christ always be magnified, exalted, glorified by all that he said or did. If each believer held to the same convention, how much better would our society be today? A compromising Christian does little to influence his world. A Christ magnifying Christian changes the world around him. I am often asked, "Is it fine for a Christian to join such and such an organization, such and such a club, or such and such a group?" Is it forbidden for a Christian to join, say, a college fraternity? Rather than ask me that question, put yourself in Paul's position and ask yourself the same question that the Apostle asked himself. Will joining this group, this club, this fraternity magnify Christ in your body. Will joining that organization make you more Christlike? Is the group a Christian group? Is the group filled with Christians, and associated with divine love? If not, then run, run, run far away from that group. As the Scripture says: 2 Corinthians 6:14-18 (KJV) "Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? {15} And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel? {16} And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people. {17} Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, {18} And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty." My mind cannot comprehend how Christians will join themselves with godless groups and expect to be more enhanced, more empowered as Christians. What you put in the recipe will certainly be tasted in the final product. If you are baking a cake and you put some trash off of the floor into the batter, you are going to be grinding your teeth into that trash when you eat a piece of that cake later. Beloved, you cannot yoke yourselves together with unbelievers. Just as Israel was lowered in their standards to the ways of the Canaanites, you will be lowered in your Christian standards if you allow yourself to be associated with heathen clubs. I have known good Christians, dedicated people, who commingled with unbelievers. These Christians rarely speak of God today, and seem to have reverted back to their old ways of life. I have had Christians tell me, "But Brother David, Jesus went to the saloons, the taverns, the liquor stores to witness to people. Shouldn't I do the same?" Yes, Jesus did go to the tavern owners, but Jesus is perfect and perfectly sinless - you are NOT. Jesus was not tempted to get drunk with the crowd. I guarantee you, if you go to the night clubs, the alcoholic dens of carnality, you will be tempted to take a social drink. Why not - just one to be "sociable"? After that, you will be tempted to relax your hold on Christ in other ways, until eventually you fall into the ways of the maddening crowd. There are quasi-Christian groups out there that are "religious", though they accept people of all faith - just as long as they acknowledge that there is a "God" out there somewhere. If you join these compromising groups it won't be long before your faith is watered down. Some Christians justify their behavior in joining the quasi-Christian groups by saying, "Brother David, they tell us that we need to be faithful members in our own churches". So what? If the group does not promote Christ and Christianity, I don't care if they mention your church by name. The Father says, "come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing; and I will receive you, And will be a Father unto you, and ye shall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty". Your Heavenly Father does not want you joining any group, any group that has its roots in anything other than the Holy Scripture. Philippians 1:21 For to me<1> to live<2> is Christ, and to die is gain<3>. Paul considered it to be to his advantage {<1>Proleptic Pronoun, Emphatic Position, dative of advantage. This is to my advantage} to keep on living for Christ in everything that he did. Whether freed from prison or unjustly imprisoned, Paul was going to act the same way toward Christ no matter what his condition. This is a wonderful way for the believer to behave, a way that every one of us ought to emulate. Yet sadly, often we do not strive to be as Paul was. When the easy times are here our thoughts are often far away from Christ. When the trial comes we are focused on Christ, praying that it cease so that we can get back to our easier way of life. Yet, dearly Beloved, is this right? Trials make the believer what he is. Trials forge the believer into an instrument that God can use in a mighty way. Trials are beneficial: Paul understood this. <1>For to me is in the emphatic position in the Greek, showing that, as far as Paul was concerned, his faith was unshaken. The trials he went through forged him, much as metal forged in the furnace is tempered into a harder substance. As Peter put it: 1 Peter 1:7 "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 honor and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ .." Paul not only welcomed the trials, but he stretched forward in eager anticipation for it. In verse 20 <b>earnest expectation is the Greek APOKARADOKIA, which means "to stretch the head forward in anticipation, having an unreserved waiting for something". Believers who focus on the negative aspects of a trial are often overcome by it, while those who glorify God in the trial come through it strengthened in Spirit. What keeps a believer going in spite of the trials that assail on every side? For Paul it was the excitement and the adventure of serving Christ with full commitment and abandon. Paul had so committed his life to Jesus, to serving our King, that every moment that he kept on living {<2>zao {pronounced dzah’-o}, Present Active Infinitive, Linear Aktionsart, to keep on living} is Christ. How do you keep going when things look bleak? Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! My eyes always forward, always looking at my Commander and King. If I sin, confess my sin and, like a good soldier, get back in step with the commands of Jesus. Do not look to the right or to the left, but look at Jesus. When the heathen attack, look at the Commander, follow His direction. Jesus, Jesus, Jesus! If I do this then I, like Paul, know that when I die (depart from this life) that I shall have gain {<3>kerdos {pronounced ker’-dos}, gain, advantage}. The modern day believer does not prosper in his walk with Christ because he rarely walks with Christ. Walking with Christ is not doing so just when the times are hard, but walking with Christ is a discipline of the Christian faith. We must learn to remain focused on what we believe, and not allow side issues to interfere with our walk. I have known Christians who are little better than the heathen in their belief system. They dig around in the Word of God looking for error, thinking themselves greater than the Commander. They pooh pooh the Biblical accounts of creation, preferring to replace that which our Commander has said with evolutionary theory. They stand ready to compromise anything that God has written for our benefit, just as long as we can make the church more palatable to the world. Beloved, if you want to prosper in Christ, focus on Christ and not on the heathen or what the heathen say or do. To keep on living is Christ, to leave this life is to my advantage. Nothing else matters. Doctrine of Believer Suffering
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