Pastor Nate Brosher
Sep 18, 2024
Philippians 1:12-19 NLT - 12 And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News. 13 For everyone here, including the whole palace guard, knows that I am in chains because of Christ. 14 And because of my imprisonment, most of the believers here have gained confidence and boldly speak God's message without fear. 15 It's true that some are preaching out of jealousy and rivalry. But others preach about Christ with pure motives. 16 They preach because they love me, for they know I have been appointed to defend the Good News. 17 Those others do not have pure motives as they preach about Christ. They preach with selfish ambition, not sincerely, intending to make my chains more painful to me. 18 But that doesn't matter. Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice. 19 For I know that as you pray for me and the Spirit of Jesus Christ helps me, this will lead to my deliverance.
1. Perspective
Verse 12; And I want you to know, my dear brothers and sisters, that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the Good News.
How many of us have cursed our storm or our valley?
We must evaluate our attitude or point of view.
Philippians 1:20-24 NLT - 20 For I fully expect and hope that I will never be ashamed, but that I will continue to be bold for Christ, as I have been in the past. And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. 21 For to me, living means living for Christ, and dying is even better. 22 But if I live, I can do more fruitful work for Christ. So, I really don't know which is better. 23 I'm torn between two desires: I long to go and be with Christ, which would be far better for me. 24 But for your sakes, it is better that I continue to live.
2. Two Desires.
Paul said, “I’m torn between two desires.”
Colossians 3:2 ESV - “Set your mind on things above, not on the things that are on earth”.
Oliver Wendell Holmes, Sr. a physician and writer made this statement; “Some people are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good.”
Philippians 1:27-30 NLT - 27 Above all, you must live as citizens of heaven, conducting yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News about Christ. Then, whether I come and see you again or only hear about you, I will know that you are standing together with one spirit and one purpose, fighting together for the faith, which is the Good News. 28 Don't be intimidated in any way by your enemies. This will be a sign to them that they are going to be destroyed, but that you are going to be saved, even by God himself. 29 For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him. 30 We are in this struggle together. You have seen my struggle in the past, and you know that I am still in the midst of it.
3. Suffering is temporary.
“Don’t be intimidated in any way by your enemies.”
What is our response to adversity or opposition?
Run from it or try to avoid it.
Embrace it and fight through it.
Give up and throw in the towel.
Verse 29; For you have been given not only the privilege of trusting in Christ but also the privilege of suffering for him.
Suffer – paschō - In a good sense, to be well off, in good case. In a bad sense, to suffer sadly, be in a bad plight.