Philippians 1:27-30 says,...
Today's verses are Philippians 1:27-30, which read,
v.27, 28 - Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
Paul in prison, looking as if he will be out soon and wanting to see the Christians in Philippi in person, but if not, he tells them to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul's circumstances were not to dictate their actions. They were to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ if Paul is out of prison and in their presence or if Paul is forever locked up in jail or even executed. The gospel of Christ is bigger than Paul or any other religious leader.
When you walk this way, that the suffering is nothing compared to the relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and if suffering leads to death and you are with Him then those opponents have nothing to hold over your head. Even if those opponents were to kill you over the gospel then you would be in the arms of Jesus and how is that a down side to the situation? Paul is calling the Christians as a group to be holding each other up in this conduct that we walk worthy of the gospel of Christ.
We gather today to be striving together for the faith of the gospel. The striving that we do together is to lessen any alarm that opponents to the gospel might bring. We stand together in the gospel of Christ that has been given to us by God. Look up and down the pew and all around the church at the local body of Christ that God has put you in and see the team you are to stand with in faith.
v.29, 30 - For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
We do not just believe but we live for Christ in an active way and that will bring suffering just as it did for Christ and what the Christians in Philippi were witnessing in Paul. They saw Paul and Silas in prison when they sang at midnight and the earthquake of God came. They are now hearing about Paul in prison in Rome for the gospel of Christ. This life is one of salvation and ultimate salvation of being in God's presence but the path there involves suffering for His sake.
Paul and Silas were in prison in their fair town, unjustly accused but what were they doing? They were singing about something bigger than the suffering they were enduring. The suffering did not have the affect of diminishing their faith but actually strengthening it. Our Lord hung on a cross, the ultimate in suffering, and He still said things like "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" to the ones who were driving the nails. Something was bigger than the suffering of the cross. Jesus' relationship with the Father and the Father's will overshadowed the suffering to complete the task in front of Him.
Do I run from suffering for the sake of Christ or do I see it an opportunity to sing of Him? Do I allow suffering to diminish my faith or see it catapult me into more love of God because of my direct relationship to His suffering Son? To all those Christians who are running from suffering for the sake of Christ, Paul is saying you are running in the wrong direction. It has been granted for Christ's sake for us to not only believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. The suffering feeds the faith and I feel there are many Christians who are very under nourished because the are not eating their "greens" of suffering and running with their opponents down the wide road that leads to destruction rather than standing with the church and Christ marching up the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Let's pray.
"Lord, we typically don't want to suffer. We know that we have physical bodies and that physical suffering will happen in some way at some time. We don't typically think of suffering because we are associated with You. When that happens, may I stand with my brothers in sisters in Christ and sing for You because You are confirming again in our lives the faith we have in You. May this type of suffering be met with a destruction to our opponents because we worship One who is so much larger than anything presented to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.27, 28 - Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; in no way alarmed by your opponents--which is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.
Paul in prison, looking as if he will be out soon and wanting to see the Christians in Philippi in person, but if not, he tells them to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Paul's circumstances were not to dictate their actions. They were to conduct themselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ if Paul is out of prison and in their presence or if Paul is forever locked up in jail or even executed. The gospel of Christ is bigger than Paul or any other religious leader.
When you walk this way, that the suffering is nothing compared to the relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, and if suffering leads to death and you are with Him then those opponents have nothing to hold over your head. Even if those opponents were to kill you over the gospel then you would be in the arms of Jesus and how is that a down side to the situation? Paul is calling the Christians as a group to be holding each other up in this conduct that we walk worthy of the gospel of Christ.
We gather today to be striving together for the faith of the gospel. The striving that we do together is to lessen any alarm that opponents to the gospel might bring. We stand together in the gospel of Christ that has been given to us by God. Look up and down the pew and all around the church at the local body of Christ that God has put you in and see the team you are to stand with in faith.
v.29, 30 - For to you it has been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake, experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.
We do not just believe but we live for Christ in an active way and that will bring suffering just as it did for Christ and what the Christians in Philippi were witnessing in Paul. They saw Paul and Silas in prison when they sang at midnight and the earthquake of God came. They are now hearing about Paul in prison in Rome for the gospel of Christ. This life is one of salvation and ultimate salvation of being in God's presence but the path there involves suffering for His sake.
Paul and Silas were in prison in their fair town, unjustly accused but what were they doing? They were singing about something bigger than the suffering they were enduring. The suffering did not have the affect of diminishing their faith but actually strengthening it. Our Lord hung on a cross, the ultimate in suffering, and He still said things like "Father, forgive them for they know not what they do" to the ones who were driving the nails. Something was bigger than the suffering of the cross. Jesus' relationship with the Father and the Father's will overshadowed the suffering to complete the task in front of Him.
Do I run from suffering for the sake of Christ or do I see it an opportunity to sing of Him? Do I allow suffering to diminish my faith or see it catapult me into more love of God because of my direct relationship to His suffering Son? To all those Christians who are running from suffering for the sake of Christ, Paul is saying you are running in the wrong direction. It has been granted for Christ's sake for us to not only believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. The suffering feeds the faith and I feel there are many Christians who are very under nourished because the are not eating their "greens" of suffering and running with their opponents down the wide road that leads to destruction rather than standing with the church and Christ marching up the narrow path that leads to eternal life. Let's pray.
"Lord, we typically don't want to suffer. We know that we have physical bodies and that physical suffering will happen in some way at some time. We don't typically think of suffering because we are associated with You. When that happens, may I stand with my brothers in sisters in Christ and sing for You because You are confirming again in our lives the faith we have in You. May this type of suffering be met with a destruction to our opponents because we worship One who is so much larger than anything presented to us. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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