A Sufferer’s Perspective – part 3 (Philippians 1:27-30)
A Sufferer’s Perspective – part 3
Philippians 1:12-30 (27-30)
October 6, 2013
Without a doubt today the most distinguishable mark of our society
Is that of self-centeredness.
One recent writer put it this way:
“Our culture’s focus on self admiration has caused a flight from reality to the land of grandiose fantasy, we have phony rich people with interest only mortgages and piles of debt, phony beauty with plastic surgery and cosmetic procedures, phony athletes with performance enhancing drugs, phony celebrities via reality TV and youtube, phony genius students with grade inflation, a phony national economy with eleven trillion dollars of government debt, phony feelings of being special among children with parenting focused on self-esteem, and even phony friends with the social networking explosion. But perhaps nowhere in human history has human pride run freer, and we all see it, to our shame, than on the internet with the “me” generation. It began with blogs and myspace, then came facebook, which now has 5 hundred million users worldwide. And of course there is youtube which blatantly invites us all to “broadcast ourselves”. And twitter has given everyone the chance to broadcast a running commentary on their lives. It gives the illusion that there are dozens perhaps even hundreds of people who really care what you’re doing right now.” (Tom Pennington at 2011 Shepherd’s Conference)
We are a self-centered society.
And nothing brings out that self-centeredness in us like a little hardship.
It is so easy when we suffer to sort of clam up in a little ball
And just sit and wait for the world to come and revolve around me.
• No one ever suffered like this before…
• No one ever suffered this bad before…
• And I’m pretty sure I’m the only one suffering in the world right now…
It is easy to become self-centered.
But that is not at all how a Christian is called to live.
In this very letter Paul will tell the Philippians:
Philippians 2:1-3 “Therefore if there is any encouragement in Christ, if there is any consolation of love, if there is any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and compassion, make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;”
We read this morning in Galatians:
Galatians 6:2 “Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ.”
Paul told the Romans:
Romans 15:1-3 “Now we who are strong ought to bear the weaknesses of those without strength and not just please ourselves. Each of us is to please his neighbor for his good, to his edification. For even Christ did not please Himself; but as it is written, “THE REPROACHES OF THOSE WHO REPROACHED YOU FELL ON ME.”
I’m reminded of a verse in Hebrews:
Hebrews 13:3 “Remember the prisoners, as though in prison with them, and those who are ill-treated, since you yourselves also are in the body.”
And you understand the point.
We are not to live our lives with some sort of selfish inward focus.
Everything we go through can be used to encourage others.
And this is especially true in the church.
One of the reasons we are called to be faithful even in church attendance
Is because we are to have an encourager’s mindset.
Hebrews 10:24-25 “and let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more as you see the day drawing near.”
We know that our hardships and sufferings
Are being used by God to mold and shape us.
We have learned from men like James to count our trials joy
Because at the very least we are learning endurance.
But one thing we must learn is that our trials are not just for ourselves.
Our temptations are common temptations.
Our hardships are common hardships.
Other people face the same hardships we face,
And part of the reason we suffer them is
That we will be better equipped to encourage others.
And that is what I love about Paul’s perspective here.
This letter was not written to he could induce pity from the Philippians.
This letter was written to encourage them.
Throughout the letter he doesn’t beg them for sympathy,
He encourages them to rejoice.
In short:
Paul did not write focused on himself;
He wrote focused on the Philippians.
And this is a great perspective while suffering.
We’ve already seen two:
1) FIND A REASON TO REJOICE
The Opportunity Presented
The Encouragement Provided
The Motivation Produced
2) FIND A REASON TO ENDURE
Certain Victory
Christ’s Glory
Christian’s Encouragement
And tonight we find a third perspective to adopt when you are suffering.
#3 FIND SOMEONE TO ENCOURAGE
Philippians 1:27-30
And I don’t just say this because there are other people out there
Who are suffering who need your encouragement.
There are, but that is not why I say this.
I say this because when we suffer, we need this.
Many times our own hardships are so close that we can’t see them clearly.
However when you encourage someone else in their hardship
It is amazing how clarifying your own dilemma comes.
I can’t tell you the number of times someone has come in my office, and through talking with them, I have actually found encouragement in my own struggles.
Furthermore it helps you find joy and gratitude and comfort
When you encourage others.
When we suffer we desperately need to find someone else to encourage.
And that is precisely what Paul is doing here.
He didn’t just sit in his jail cell waiting for the next care package to come.
Paul wrote letters.
• He wrote to the Philippians
• He wrote to the Colossians
• He wrote to the Ephesians
• He wrote to Philemon
He looked past his own hardships to the hardships of others.
He determined to help them carry their burden as well.
And that is what we see here tonight.
Paul has found someone to encourage.
And tonight I want you to see how he encouraged them.
Incidentally, his life proved to be a model example
Of the lifestyle he is encouraging the Philippians to live.
And through this we are reminded that your voice carries much farther
When you encourage from your suffering.
Paul could write with all confidence because he was living this.
The Philippians could receive this encouragement with all sincerity
Because Paul knew what he was talking about.
That is all the more reason why you and I should encourage others
Even from the pit of our hardships.
But tonight let me show you the encouragements that Paul gave to the Philippians.
1) EMBRACE THE GOSPEL (27)
I love the phrase.
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”
Paul uses the word “Only” there as a way of elevating this command
Above all the others.
Remember when Jesus was at the house of Martha and Mary?
Martha was busy, Mary was worshiping.
Jesus said:
Luke 10:42 “but only one thing is necessary, for Mary has chosen the good part, which shall not be taken away from her.”
It’s not that Martha’s work wasn’t important.
The Bible speaks repeatedly about hospitality.
Furthermore we can confidently conclude that
Jesus probably ate the meal Martha fixed.
The issue wasn’t whether Martha’s work was important,
It was that Martha had failed to see the most important work.
That is how Paul addresses the Philippians.
There are a lot of things that are important,
But let’s make sure we get number 1 on the list.
“Only conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ”
Of first importance I want to encourage you to live like a Christian.
I want to encourage you to embrace the lifestyle that the gospel demands.
It is a motivation that you and I should never lose sight of.
• God became flesh and dwelt among us.
• He lived a sinless life amidst much suffering and opposition.
• Ultimately he bore our sins on a cross in cruel death.
• He rose from the dead and offers salvation to us all.
Jesus conquered sin and set us free.
That sort of reality demands a certain type of life.
It is the Christian obligation we have recently spoken of.
If you are going to accept the benefits of Christ
Then by all means embrace the obligations.
And the first is that you live like you are expected to live.
Live worthy.
And then Paul explains what he means by that.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO LIVE WORTHY?
TWO WAYS
STAND IN UNITY & STRIVE IN UNITY
“so that whether I come and see you or remain absent, I will hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit,”
We never lose sight of the reality that a Christian is called to stand.
1 Corinthians 15:58 “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your toil is not in vain in the Lord.”
Ephesians 6:13 “Therefore, take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm.”
We understand that there is an enemy in this world
Who is attacking the gospel and the cause of Christ.
False teachers distort the truth…
False religions deny the truth…
False believers malign the truth…
The gospel is under constant attack.
And Paul calls for these believers to do something worthy of the gospel
And that is to stand firm for it.
Defend it!
Jude 3 “Beloved, while I was making every effort to write you about our common salvation, I felt the necessity to write to you appealing that you contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all handed down to the saints.”
How can we be those who claim to love the sacrifice of Jesus when we stand by while others attack it?
We must defend the gospel.
We must stand.
And we must stand “in one spirit”
He isn’t referring to the Holy Spirit, but rather our internal attitude.
The implication here is that we all stand for the same reason.
We stand because we love Christ.
It isn’t out of jealousy or a desire for glory.
We stand because Christ deserves it and we all stand together in it.
We Stand in Unity.
We also STRIVE IN UNITY
“with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel;”
“striving” translates SUNATHLEO
SUN = with
ATHLEO = means to compete in a contest (wrestling)
(athletics)
Paul often pictured advancing the kingdom similar to a sporting event.
1 Corinthians 9:24-27 “Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. Everyone who competes in the games exercises self-control in all things. They then do it to receive a perishable wreath, but we an imperishable. Therefore I run in such a way, as not without aim; I box in such a way, as not beating the air; but I discipline my body and make it my slave, so that, after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified.”
And the idea here is that we are obviously on the same team
Competing for the same goal.
We are striving to push the gospel to the ends of the world.
On one hand we defend it, on the other we spread it.
I’ve always like the imagery provided by Nehemiah.
Nehemiah 4:16-18 “From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shields, the bows and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.”
That is how a Christian does his work.
In one hand is a sword to defend the truth of the gospel.
In the other hand is a trowel to continue to build the kingdom.
Let go of the sword and what you are building is of no account.
Let go of the trowel and the enemy is winning because the gospel isn’t spreading.
Paul encouraged the Philippians to EMBRACE THE GOSPEL
To stand in unity and to strive in unity.
Embrace the gospel
2) EXPECT OPPOSITION (28)
I like what Paul says here:
“in no way alarmed by your opponents”
“alarmed” in the Greek this is a word they used to describe a spooked horse.
If you’ve ever ridden a horse and had him jump out from under you,
That word makes sense.
Paul is telling the Philippians not to be easily shaken by their opposition.
Peter said:
1 Peter 4:12 “Beloved, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal among you, which comes upon you for your testing, as though some strange thing were happening to you;”
John said:
1 John 3:13 “Do not be surprised, brethren, if the world hates you.”
And obviously those men gave such warnings because
They knew that none of us is instantly ready to handle hatred.
• I don’t care how tough you are…
• I don’t care how hard you are…
• I don’t care how confident you are…
No one likes to find out that someone else hates them.
Opposition is never fun.
Opposition is never easy.
And for many people just the threat of opposition
Is enough to cause them to quit.
Some people find out that others are unhappy and instantly make a u-turn
Just because they don’t like being opposed.
Paul is encouraging the Philippians
Not to make such a knee-jerk reaction here.
Don’t be “alarmed by your opponents”
Don’t let them rattle you.
Don’t let them cause you anxiety or fear.
And in order to aid them Paul explains
What that opposition really indicates.
Some people assume that all opposition indicates error.
I’ve had people many times in my life and ministry tell me I was wrong
Simply because a certain number of people disagreed with me.
But having opposition does not necessarily mean you are wrong.
And if you what you are doing is in obedience to the will of the Lord
Opposition certainly doesn’t indicate you are wrong.
If you are opposed for doing the Lord’s work,
It only indicates that you look like Jesus.
And that is precisely what Paul reminds the Philippians of.
This opposition that they are giving you “is a sign of destruction for them, but of salvation for you, and that too, from God.”
The very fact that they oppose your preaching of the gospel
Only serves as an easy indicator that they are not saved.
Their opposition to the things of God only validates that they do not love God, or have God, and do not possess eternal life, but are instead headed for destruction.
On the other hand:
The fact that you are opposed for the cause of Christ is a good sign.
It is “of salvation for you”
It indicates that you are saved and you do look like Christ.
And incidentally, opposition commonly has this effect.
When Paul wrote to the Corinthians, they were also having division.
1 Corinthians 11:18-19 “For, in the first place, when you come together as a church, I hear that divisions exist among you; and in part I believe it. For there must also be factions among you, so that those who are approved may become evident among you.”
See, often times a division or a conflict
Is the means by which fruit is revealed.
When you push people in a disagreement you begin to see their driving force and through the conflict those who love God and those who do not
becomes evident.
And that is the fact Paul uses to encourage the Philippians here.
I know you are facing opposition, and I know it is hard,
But don’t let it get you down.
All that opposition proves is that you are of God and they are not.
He encourages them to:
Embrace the Gospel Expect Opposition
3) ENDURE SUFFERING (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.”
Now there is a truth that many would rather forget today.
“For to you it has been granted…to suffer”
Incidentally “granted” comes from CHARIZO, which is where we get “grace”
Not only has God graciously granted you the privilege of saving faith
– “to believe in Him”
God has also graciously granted you the privilege of suffering for Him.
Now we see salvation as a gracious privilege.
Most of the time we don’t see suffering as a gracious privilege.
But the apostles did.
Acts 5:40-41 “They took his advice; and after calling the apostles in, they flogged them and ordered them not to speak in the name of Jesus, and then released them. So they went on their way from the presence of the Council, rejoicing that they had been considered worthy to suffer shame for His name.”
Now where they rejoicing because they suffered?
No
Why did they rejoice?
“that they had been considered worthy to suffer”
Christ does not entrust just anybody with carrying His suffering.
Only the faithful are entrusted with that honor.
Remember when we studied Acts recently how much opposition Paul had to endure just to get to Jerusalem?
Everyone told him not to go.
And once he was there he was beaten and yet remained faithful.
After this display of faithfulness Christ came to him and said:
Acts 23:11 “But on the night immediately following, the Lord stood at his side and said, “Take courage; for as you have solemnly witnessed to My cause at Jerusalem, so you must witness at Rome also.”
Paul proved his worth, and thus was granted the privilege
Of being the one to carry the gospel to Rome.
See, in our lives, we view it all backward.
We think that if we live good enough
That Christ will spare us from suffering.
The reality is that because we aren’t faithful enough
He can’t trust us with suffering.
However, when we do, that is reason to rejoice.
For Christ knows that you can handle it.
You can take the hardship and yet He knows you will not fail.
Remember Peter?
Jesus knew this about Peter.
Luke 22:31-32 “Simon, Simon, behold, Satan has demanded permission to sift you like wheat; but I have prayed for you, that your faith may not fail; and you, when once you have turned again, strengthen your brothers.”
Jesus knew Peter would stumble, but He also knew he wouldn’t fall.
Peter could handle it.
Jesus entrusted that suffering to him.
And Paul uses that to encourage the Philippians.
Lift up your heads Philippians, Christ knows you are faithful,
He knows you can handle it.
He has graciously selected you as those who will display His suffering.
You get the tremendous privilege of suffering “for Christ’s sake”
• Who can handle this mission?
• Who can be trusted to charge this hill?
• Who can be trusted to penetrate enemy lines?
The Philippians could.
And because they did, Paul said that they were “experiencing the same conflict which you saw in me, and now hear to be in me.”
What is this conflict?
Imprisonment.
• They saw Paul imprisoned in Philippi
• They hear of Paul imprisoned in Rome
And some of the Philippians are getting the same treatment.
But it wasn’t punishment, it was an honor.
Christ trusted them with it.
Picture it like this:
Can Christ trust you to carry His cross?
He trusted the Philippians.
And Paul uses that as a means to encourage them.
So he encourages them to:
• Embrace the Gospel
• Expect Opposition
• Endure Suffering
And I’m sure they needed the encouragement.
The beauty of it all is that while Paul wrote this letter to them,
He himself was having to stand firm and strive for the gospel.
While he wrote this, he himself was being opposed.
While he wrote this, he himself was having to endure suffering.
And yet, instead of focusing on his own hardship
He took the opportunity to encourage them in theirs.
When you suffer, follow his lead.
• Find a reason to rejoice
• Find a reason to endure
• Find someone to encourage
That is how you suffer like a faithful Christian.
