STUDYING THE BOOK OF PHILIPPIANS #3
Phil. 1:12-26
By David J. Riggs
Intro.
A. One of the great things in the book of Philippians is Paul's
optimism in the face of overwhelming adversity.
1. We need to follow Paul as he followed Christ. 1 Cor. 11:1;
Phil. 4:9
B. "Optimism" is defined as "an inclination to put the most
favorable construction upon actions and events, or to
anticipate the best possible outcome." (Webster)
1. Someone defined optimism as "a teekettle whistling when it's
up to its neck in hot water."
2. Paul was whistling even though he was in hot water.
3. First, let's look at the adversity Paul was facing and then
look at his optimism.
I. PAUL'S ADVERSITY.
A. Paul is in prison. Phil. 1:12-14 Thus, his preaching is limited
at this time.
1. When we speak of "in prison," we shouldn't think of an inner
prison and feet fastened in stocks or something like that.
a. We should refer to this as a minimum security situation.
Acts 28:30
b. Even though it was minimum security, he was in prison,
and under constant guard.
2. We are aware, too, of how much Paul was accustomed to
travel.
a. He would travel and preach. He would strengthen and
correct problems within churches.
3. We can imagine the limitation he felt during this
imprisonment which began in Jerusalem, then in Caesarea,
and now in Rome.
B. Furthermore, as Paul looks at what is going on around him, he
sees preachers with wrong motives. Phil. 1:15-17
1. Not all of the preachers have wrong motives - some are
preaching out of sincerity and love - but some were
preaching out of envy, strife, and selfish ambition.
a. Some in their preaching hoped to add difficulty to Paul.
b. Paul, through no fault of his own, had made a lot of
enemies along the way, and these enemies, no doubt,
were thinking the more we preach, the more the
opposition, and the more the opposition, the harder it
will be on Paul.
2. Times haven't change much. We still have preachers today
preaching with the wrong motives.
a. Some thrive on controversy. Everywhere they go, they
stir up strife.
b. Some to make a name for themselves. The "big name
preacher" situation is a real problem in the brotherhood.
(1) Only 10% of the preachers hold 90% of the Gospel
Meetings. There seems to be much Phariseeism in
the whole "Meetings" situation.
c. Some preachers want a life of ease. Usually, the older,
more talented and experienced men are at the larger
churches.
(1) It's like "climbing the corporate ladder" as in the
business world.
C. Add to this a third situation that Paul faced. He faced his
upcoming trial, which means he was in a period of great
uncertainty.
1. Any of us who have ever faced uncertainty in some
important event in our lives know how perplexing
uncertainly can be.
2. Paul's trial was to take place very soon. Phil. 2:17; 2 Tim.
4:6
a. Paul makes an allusion to the priests pouring out the
drink offering and here applies it to himself in giving
his life in sacrifice to God.
3. Remember, he is not going to stand before just any judge,
but before Caesar himself and remember, too, he is on trial
for his life.
a. Anyone dreads a trial, but if it would be before Caesar,
with our lives hanging in the balance, we would be
dreading it all the more.
D. Thus, Paul was a prisoner in Rome, with his preaching limited,
preachers around him preaching with the wrong motives, and he's
about to face trial before Caesar, not knowing whether he will
be released or put to death. (See Chart #1 below)
II. PAUL'S OPTIMISM.
A. It is refreshing to see how Paul reacted to all this.
B. First, though, let's ask the question, "How would we react to
all this?"
1. How do you personally react to you adversities? When
illness strikes, or when you get in financial trouble, or
there's a death in the family, or whatever? How do you
handle it?
a. Do you tend to fall into self-pity, bitterness,
discouragement, anger, despair?
2. If we allow our hearts be filled with self-pity, anger, or
bitterness, it will destroy us both physically and
spiritually.
a. Eph. 4:31-32 - We should never allow bitterness, wrath,
and anger to dwell in our hearts. This is referring to
the on-going type of anger, the building type, not the
momentary kind.
b. 1 Pet. 2:1-2 - Instead of those things, drink in the word
of God. It has the power to destroy those evil traits.
3. Again, "How do we handle adversity?"
a. The most miserable people on the earth today are those
who are filled with self-pity, bitterness, anger.
b. We, as Christians, can't harbor those types of things.
We must get rid of them.
C. Let's look at Paul, he will help us in coping with the things
he faced.
1. Phil. 1:12-14 - It's all turned out to the furtherance of
the gospel.
a. Those who are my guard, the praetorium guard, have
come to understand "that my chains are in Christ." In
other words, they know that I'm not here because of
any crime that I have committed, but because of my
faith in Christ.
(1) Some of those in Caesar's household had been
converted. Phil. 4:22
b. Secondly, others have drawn courage from me, and they
are preaching more boldly than ever before.
c. Thus, the thing that looked like it might be a hindrance
to the gospel has turned out to be the furtherance of the
gospel.
2. We ask, "Paul, what about these preachers with wrong
motives?"
a. He says, "Christ is preached." Phil. 1:15-18
b. It is obvious that these men were not actually false
teachers, in that what they were teaching was wrong.
Paul could not have rejoiced in that. He could not have
rejoiced if a perverted gospel was preached.
c. Obviously, these men were preaching what the Lord
would approve and what Paul would approve, but out
of motives that God would not approve. They needed
to repent of those wrong motives.
d. They were preaching Christ, and as result, even though
it might have been from envy, strife, or selfish
ambition, people were hearing the gospel and were
responding to it.
e. Applying this to today, we don't rejoice in the bad
motives which some preachers have, but we rejoice in
the good that's being accomplished.
3. We ask, "Paul, what's your feelings about the uncertainty
regarding your trial?"
a. Paraphrasing, he says, "It will be good either way."
Phil. 1:19-24
b. From one viewpoint, he would rather go on and die and
be with Christ. Phil. 1:23; Rev. 14:13; Psalm 116:15
(1) The person who dies in the Lord is truly blessed.
Paul knew that the moment he was executed, he
would be free from all adversity, pain, and sorrow,
and be in paradise.
c. From another viewpoint, if he were released from prison
and allowed to live, he could continue his active work in
the Lord's kingdom. He mentions what he would be
able to do for the Philippians. Phil. 1:24-26
d. But whatever it was, to die or live, he was ready either
way.
D. We say, "Paul, you are in prison and limitations are upon you."
He says, "It's turned out to the furtherance of the gospel."
1. We say, "Paul, there are preachers preaching out of envy,
strife, and selfish ambition." He says, "Christ is
preached."
2. We say, "Paul, you are about to stand before Caesar and you
don't know if you will live or die." He says, "It will be
good either way." (See chart #2 below)
Concl.
A. What a wonderful example of optimism!
1. We might ask, "How was Paul able to do this?" "What was
his secret?"
a. Or, better still, "How can I face my adversities like he
did?"
2. The key is in verse 21 where he said, "For me to live is
Christ." He said the same in Phil. 3:7-8.
a. Some say, "For me to live is pleasure." The lives of
some are centered around pleasure, and they must say,
"For me to die is grief."
b. Some say, "For me to live is money," and they must say,
"For me to die is loss."
c. Some say, "For me to live is self," and they must say,
"For me to die is torment."
B. Paul secret of living was found "in Christ."
1. How about you? Are you in Christ? If you were to die today,
would you die in the Lord?
a. You can't die in the Lord unless you live in the Lord,
and you can't live in the Lord unless you are baptized
into Him. Gal. 3:26-27
Chart #1
Thus, Paul was
a prisoner in Rome, with his preaching limited,
with preachers around him preaching with the wrong motives,
and he's about to face trial before Caesar, not knowing whether he
will be released or put to death.
Chart #2
We say: "Paul, you are in prison and limitations are upon you."
He Says: "It's turned out to the furtherance of the gospel."
We say: "Paul, there are preachers preaching out of envy, strife, and
selfish ambition."
He says: "Christ is preached."
We say: "Paul, you are about to stand before Caesar and you don't
know if you will live or die."
He says: "It will be good either way."