Sermon blog post: Whatever!

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear. It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 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,”

‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:12-18‬ ‭NIV‬‬

https://bible.com/bible/111/php.1.12-18.NIV

So as you read that, perhaps you were like me when I read it. Going along quite nicely and then:

You what?

What is that about?

Well if the passage pulled you up sharply with a ‘Huh?” You are not alone.

A bit of google research and I find this passage or at least part of it listed on a website under “Difficult Bible Passages”.

So it’s a special privilege to be preaching on these verses this morning!

Paul, after his encouraging opening words to the Philippians, that we have looked at over the last few weeks, now turns to talk about himself and his current situation.

Although he has surprisingly little to say about himself even as he does so!

What becomes clear is that he is certainly not somebody sending a postcard to friends from the seaside, his situation is a difficult one.

He begins this section:

“I want you to know brothers and sisters”.

That expression is one of Paul’s ways of saying “you need to get this. This is important. Listen carefully”.

It is time to pay attention. There is an important lesson to learn or point to grasp.

He addresses his words to brothers and sisters. Family. His family. Family for each other.

“What has happened to me…”

These are words borne out of testimony.

So far in his letter Paul has not directly mentioned what his situation is. Mark has of course relayed it to us several times in this series already, particularly last week.

But now all becomes clear from the letter itself.

Although there has been a hint earlier in the letter.

A little while ago I bought Bev the Upstairs Downstairs box set. And now as the nights draw in we are working our way through it.

For those who do not know this was the Downtown Abbey of the 1970’s.

Family upstairs, servants living down below.

Have to say upstairs life is not quite on the level of that of the Grantham clan, but you get the idea.

One episode starts with everybody in the house dressed in black. In mourning.

We have not seen a death occur but at the end of the previous episode there was a very subtle hint as to what is about to happen.

Lady Marjorie Bellamy is off on a sea voyage to see her daughter and grand daughter in the USA. Very little detail is shared.

It is only when her husband the Honourable Richard Bellamy decides to send her a good news telegram that we suspect all may not be well.

It’s subtly done.

“A telegram please to Lady Marjorie Bellamy. White Star Line. RMS Titanic.”

Inevitably the start of the next episode is sombre, above and below stairs.

For us now our hint is in verse 7.

Remember 2 weeks ago Mark looked at verse 6 and Paul’s confidence that, to paraphrase the question master’s catchphrase in Mastermind, God had started so he would finish his work in the lives of the Philippians.

In the following verse he says:

“whether I am in chains or defending and confirming the gospel, all of you share in God’s grace with me.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:7‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/php.1.7.nivuk

We realise now that Paul was not just talking hypothetically there, but in fact he is wearing real chains.

It is not good surely that Paul is writing from prison. For someone so involved in spreading the good news of Jesus throughout the world, this was surely a disaster, and yet Paul says this is not a negative thing.

This is a very positive thing God is doing. Even through this trial the gospel is spreading.

“What has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel”.

Confounded expectations.

Most Bible experts place Paul at this time as being in Rome. A place he had always longed to go to preach the gospel.

But the situation he finds himself in is not the one he would have envisaged.

The book of Acts ends with Paul in Rome. In a prison of sorts.

It is perhaps not prison as you and I would imagine it.

“For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ – with all boldness and without hindrance!”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭28:30-31‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/act.28.30-31.nivuk

He is not rotting in some Italian jail.

He is in his own rented house.

And he is preaching the gospel boldly.

And yet he is no free man.

He is a prisoner in his own home.

Chained. Attached almost certainly to a series of Roman soldiers working in shifts.

Paul is a captive.

He is under constant surveillance.

But he also realises that he has a captive audience!

I wonder if you could have possibly have imagined being a prisoner in your own home. Unable to leave your house for weeks or months, unable to go to church, to visit family and friends, unable to work.

Perhaps not before, but how many times have we heard people recently say that they are under virtual house arrest.

The difference for Paul is that he is at least allowed visitors. But he is severely limited.

But Paul is not like me.

If I was talking about “what has happened to me” over the past months, it would be a lament about myself.

Disruption to work, the stresses and strains of managing a business, being unable to see family when I wanted to, deprived of my church life and visiting the churches where I preach, holidays cancelled, concerts postponed, work then busier than ever.

I have already said I will not be writing the family Christmas letter this year! There is NOTHING to report.

But when Paul talks about what has happened to him he has nothing but positive things to say.

His chains are a good thing. Paul makes it clear, everybody knows, that he is in chains because of Christ.

He is not there through some accident or worldwide pandemic.

This is the price of his preaching.

I wonder if our own experiences of imprisonment in our own homes help us in any way to appreciate that for many of our brothers and sisters around the world, our temporary experience is their permanent reality.

Imprisoned because of their faith. Even facing violence and death.

Or not daring to leave their homes for fear of persecution.

What do we really know of suffering for our faith in Jesus?

“Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison, and those who are ill-treated as if you yourselves were suffering.”
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭13:3‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/heb.13.3.nivuk

Paul knows it, but he’s not talking about the prison.

Some would even go as far to say that when Paul talks about “what has happened” to him, he is not just talking about being a prisoner in his own home.

He is talking about the series of events that have led him to where he now is. From Acts 21 onwards.

Paul having been warned about what awaits him, is arrested. He faces a howling mob, not missing the opportunity to share his story.

He appears before the Sanhedrin.

A plot to kill him.

A series of trials.

An appeal to Caesar which would lead to Rome.

A storm, a shipwreck.

Throughout Paul maintains his testimony.

Everything that “has happened to me, has actually served to advance the gospel”.

Talk about positive thinking!

Of course the Philippians should not have been surprised that God would still be at work even with his people in prison.

Here we have echoes of Paul & Silas and the Philippian jailer.

The people of Philippi had not been happy with the arrival of those travelling preachers of a new religion.

They complained to the authorities.

“After they had been severely flogged, they were thrown into prison, and the jailer was commanded to guard them carefully. When he received these orders, he put them in the inner cell and fastened their feet in the stocks.”
‭‭Acts‬ ‭16:23-24‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/act.16.23-24.nivuk

It’s through their witness, and God’s miraculous intervention that the jailer finds salvation in Jesus.

Perhaps the jailer and his family now listen as this letter is read, along with Lydia, and a young girl who had once earned her masters a packet by telling fortunes.

They knew from the history of their church that Paul in prison was still an effective witness to Jesus.

And the chains Paul is now in are chains of encouragement. Seeing what has happened to Paul does not seem to have put his fellow believers off in their witness.

We are told:

“Most of the brothers and sisters have grown in confidence in the Lord”.

Persecution produces boldness!

How easily are we put off from sharing the gospel? When things get a little bit tricky for us.

Paul’s total commitment to the gospel, and even his imprisonment, is an encouragement to many other believers.

Mobilised to share the gospel.

I wonder are we inspired when we see others who are prepared to risk suffering for their faith?

Paul is not looking at the chains but the effect of the chains.

Not even the effect of the chains upon him.

But the effects upon others.

What an example of joy in the midst of suffering.

It should be stressed if we compare our lockdown situation with that of Paul, we should not underestimate the mental toll that the current situation has had, and will have for so many. These things should be taken seriously and our support practically and in prayer is very necessary.

Then chapter 1 of Philippians turns complicated.

So far so good. So positive.

It’s great.

Paul is in prison but he’s preaching and he’s rejoicing!

Other Christians are inspired by his example and they’re preaching too.

The good news of Jesus is spreading.

But there are other preachers at work.

It is as if we have 2 sides.

“It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defence of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭1:15-17‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/php.1.15-17.nivuk

2 groups of preachers.

1 good and 1 bad?

Who are these rivals? Envious, selfish preachers? These trouble makers?

This is the difficult bit.

And the learned answer appears to be:

We don’t know who they are!

Are they Christians at all?

Contrast Paul’s words here with those written in his letter to the Galatians:

“But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let them be under God’s curse! As we have already said, so now I say again: if anybody is preaching to you a gospel other than what you accepted, let them be under God’s curse!”
‭‭Galatians‬ ‭1:8-9‬ ‭NIVUK‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬
https://www.bible.com/113/gal.1.8-9.nivuk

In Galatians they were preaching another gospel, but that does not seem to be so here.

It isn’t the message, it is the motivation that is the problem.

There was a difference in motivation.

Paul speaks of the 2 groups of preachers and shrugs his shoulders with a big “whatever”

Christ is being preached by both groups.

Rejoice.

What we have to conclude is that whilst in Galatia there was a problem with the message of the preachers, here Paul has no qualm with what is being said from the pulpit.

It’s about motive.

It’s a reminder to us all that we can never quite be sure of the purity of our motives. We can look and sound good, but actually be doing things for the wrong reasons.

Perhaps we hope for a bit of recognition. There is someone we want to impress. Perhaps we are even trying to earn God’s approval.

But the motivation of these preachers is actually to cause trouble for Paul.

It is difficult to imagine for example the situation where another Christian is preaching with a motivation of causing trouble for Mark Oliver. Or for you and I.

So how could this look for us?

Where can we be rejoicing where we’d rather take offence. Maybe we see an injustice.

It is difficult to avoid the fact that us Christians are different.

I don’t mean that we are strange, though some might say.

But we are different from each other. A host of different opinions.

Do I object to the differences I see or do I rejoice when the gospel is preached, and that preaching is “successful”.

Am I able to rejoice at the successes of that other church which is:
• Awfully old fashioned
• Far too trendy
• Has much more financial resource than mine
• Which is too charismatic
• Too high church
• Has the “wrong” approach to baptism
• That seems to be in it for fame or money?

Paul seems to be able to ignore the motive but rejoice in the message.

People are getting to hear about Jesus!

Whether the speaker is a Paul fan or not.

Whatever!

As we saw in Galatians, if the message is wrong that is a very different thing.

Paul is in rejoicing mode and he has no intention of stopping.

“And I will continue to rejoice!”

What has happened will turn out for deliverance (salvation) of Paul.

Chains bring freedom!

There are 2 things Paul tells us he relied on:

The prayers of God’s people. He knew he was being prayed for.

Are we praying for those who are in prison?

Literally.

Or in a COVID self isolation prison. As Mark reminded us last week, are we praying big prayers?

Secondly he relies on “God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ”.

Paul looks to his fellow Christians and to the resources that his God will provide.

It’s a rapid verse encapsulating the trinity, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

God is there for him. As Paul hears elsewhere from God “ My grace is sufficient for you”.

For Paul ultimately there would not be release. Not as he might have liked anyway. His preaching would cost him his life.

But God’s grace was enough for him.

As you face the month ahead, do you take courage from the fact that you are part of a family? A family at prayer for one another.

Do you find that in all this God is there for you supplying your needs?

Perhaps you are watching and you can’t even see how God is relevant to your life. You don’t see any good news for you in this Jesus.

Perhaps as again you see much of normal life stripped away from you, it will be a good opportunity for you to consider that there is true joy to be found in Jesus.

Joy in any and every situation.