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| Bad things happen to good people Philippians 1:12-18 |
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Bad things happen to good people Philippians 1:12-18
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Paul, writing this letter from prison, had suffered much and was now in chains. He wasn't happy because of his personal circumstances, but he could rejoice because the gospel, the good news of Jesus Christ, was being shared with others.
Note how Paul doesn't dwell on his difficult and fearful circumstances, he doesn't dwell on the miscarriage of justice, the chains, the misrepresentation, the lies, or the bodily pains, rather he wants the Philippians to recognise that the gospel was being advanced.
13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am
in chains for Christ.
That's the first thing I want us to note today, Paul's suffering, his imprisonment resulted in many hearing the gospel who may not otherwise have heard.
Secondly note that another positive outcome was encouragement to the believers.
14 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
It is most likely that on the day of Pentecost some of the people who became Christians were from Rome and had travelled back to Rome with the gospel and formed churches. Certainly the gospel had been preached at Rome years before the Apostle Paul arrived. The early years of enthusiasm had abated, many were fearful because of persecution that had arisen against Christianity. But now they see Paul, in prison, making the gospel clear and plain and many are talking about it, and so they are encouraged also to speak boldly for Jesus Christ.
However, Paul's "success" was annoying some people, some people who probably should have known better, people who preached about Jesus Christ. What was the problem? Pride and jealousy. Some who had been preachers in Rome, possibly for years, were extremely jealous.
This Paul, who is in prison is being visited by lots of the Christians. These preachers used to be in the limelight, now they feel not just so important and so we read
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but
others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so in love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.
It's so hard to believe, but it's true, here are those who claim to be Christians, yes who even preach Jesus Christ, and because of jealousy in some way or other are trying to create trouble for Paul, they are attempting in some way or other to discredit him, yes to even make him suffer. What is Paul's response?
18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,
Paul's concern is not for himself, but always that Christ is preached and in that he rejoices.
Moving from the first century to the 21st century, what do these verses say to you and to me today?
Surely the one supreme lesson that comes out of it all is that our human circumstances are in God's hands and he can use them to advance the gospel.
God is pleased to work in and through strange and difficult circumstances. Note that it is not that God works in spite of the adverse circumstances but through them.
The Apostle Paul was living under bleak and stressful conditions, nevertheless, God enabled him to use his ingenuity to communicate the gospel through these awful circumstances.
Bad things happen but God is able to work through all things, good and bad.
In conclusion, just in case anyone would misunderstand me, let me make it very clear that this passage does not say that suffering in and of itself is good, or that God is its author, nor does it answer the "why" that is sometimes the cry of our hearts when bad things do happen.
Nor is this Bible passage teaching that Christians should plaster smiles on their faces when they experience suffering and pretend that hardship is somehow a joyful experience. When Paul, for example, writes at v17 of those who stirred up trouble and hardship for him, he is acknowledging that his imprisonment is an affliction and that his opponents have made it worse or at very least are attempting to make it worse.
His joy is not because of the afflictions or even in spite of them, his joy is because Christ is being preached and more are hearing the gospel, that God in his providence is able to work through the bad circumstances for the glory of Christ.
Surely we must never forget that that God chose, through the foolishness of the cross, to reconcile us to himself. (1 Cor 1:18)
Through a bloody cross we are given hope and life. Christ died so that we might live.
This is what Paul knew, this is what Paul preached, this what Paul rejoiced in. |
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