Sermon: An Imprisonment That Advanced the Gospel

Good morning. It's the president and honest to be here this morning and share the word of God with you. Greetings from my wife my and our two daughters evanderiana. They conveyed it. They convey their greetings to you all. Are so greetings from our church plant Christ as many Church planter. They were sustained their greetings. Thank you so much for praying for us. But also supporting our work Financial as well. The Lord is doing great things there

and we know that it's because of your prayers and support. Thank you so much. And this morning I have a privilege to bring us God's word and the Lord would like to speak to us from the book of Philippians Philippians chapter number one. verses 12 up to verse 18 a Philippians chapter number one verses 12 up to verse 18 a the word of the Lord I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

So that has become known throughout the whole Imperial Guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment much more to speak the word without fear. Someone did preach Christ from envy and rivalry. but others from Goodwill the letter do it out of love knowing that I'm put here for the defense for the gospel. The former proclaimed Christ out of selfish ambition.

Not sincerely, but thinking to a freak me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way within pretends to in truth. Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice. Or men are like grass the grass with us the flowers fade, but the word of our God shall stand forever. Amen. Let us pray. Do you have any father? We now come to your words? What a privilege of given to a man as weak as myself. As seen as well saved by your grace.

That I can stand in front of your people and Proclaim your word. Or do you reminded of that truth of Apostle Paul? That we have this treasure in jazz of Grace. That we might know that the surpassing worthiness is not from us. but from God himself So we pray the Lord may you open our hearts? May you open our eyes and ears so that we can receive. Here and see what you have prepared for us in your world. And Lord may the meditation of our hearts.

And the words of my mouth. Be acceptable before you our God and regime. in Christ Jesus amen

I believe that. Men of us are familiar with that saying that says the glass is either half full or half empty. And children what this means is that if you pour water into a glass. And feed it halfway. some are going to look at that glass and say it is half empty and they say that these are called pessimists because they often see things in a negative way. but if you look at that grass and Seed has food You'll say to be a an optimist.

People who see usually things in a positive way. And we see something similar. To that problem in here this passage that we have read. Apostle Paul is in prison. It is a difficult time. What is his reaction? To this difficult time now. I just want to give a brief background about the imprisonment of Paul in Rome. Apostle Paul after planting a church in Philippi. He went to other cities like thesalonica Berea and then finally settled in Ephesus.

There he lived for two years and then decided to return to Jerusalem. But as he was returning to Jerusalem and the Holy Spirit had taught him. That troubles we're waiting for him in Jerusalem. That he would be arrested there in Jerusalem. But Paul was determined. So he went back to Jerusalem and he didn't happen that one day when he was in the temple. There the Jews arrested him. Because of preaching the gospel and the accused him

of preaching falsehood. Now they wanted poor to get into greater trouble because at this time Jerusalem is under the Roman authorities. So the Romans are controlling the city and one thing that the Romans wanted was peace tax Romana. They wanted peace everywhere where they were and they would not take riots. Sitting down so they caused rice hoping that the Romans would get angry and arrest Paul and put him in prison. as one who disturbs the Peace of Jerusalem

So in lead one of the core one of the commanders, so the Roman army came called a Tribunal. and two poor into the barracks and after asking poor questions Syria is that Paul was innocent. He didn't break in the law. But he did have the authority to release him. So he ripped him to the Roman Governor Felix. So Paul went to Phoenix and again Phoenix after questioning Paul. He found out that there was nothing that he had done wrong.

He was supposed to said to be set free. But we read in art that Governor Felix wanted some money from Paul. He wanted a bride. So he left Paul in prison until he retired. And then a new governor came Governor Festus. And again Governor Festus wanted to please the Jews. So he said Paul. Would you like to go back to Jerusalem so that we should try your case there. And Paul knew that is not going to get a fair trial there.

So he said I'm going to appeal to cease as a Roman citizen so that I should be Tried by Caesar and Festus said to Caesar of Applied he of appealed and to Caesar he shall go so we find that towards the end of the book of Acts poor. He's sitting in a sheep going to Rome and there's acts. He's closing chapter. 28. Paul is in prison in Rome and a house arrest. And now as these things are happening the people at Philippi which is the church that poor planted.

I've heard that poor has been arrested. They are so anxious. They want to hear from Paul. How are things with him? So they sent one of their leaders if a patriotis. To go with some financial support as well as things to encourage Paul. And he goes to Rome and while there after died us for six, so he's sick and he's not able to return on time. To Philippi and give a report on how Paul is doing. The Philippians are so anxious.

They are worried. They want to hear from their beloved apostle. But nothing is coming out from from Rome. And then finally apartheidas recovers and is able to return to Philippi with this later that we have read part of it this morning. And you can imagine the people have gathered together in the church like this one. In the peptoditis stands in front of them and begins to read the letter. Now the people I am so anxious to

hear from Paul. beginning from verse 2 verse 11 Paul is talking about the Philippians. He's not talking about himself. So I can't imagine them waiting. So would like to hear about you Paul. Thank you for what you're saying about us. Thank you that you thank the Lord for support you mentioned us in your prayers always thinking the Lord for that. Thank you that you have that confidence that you know that he was begun a good work in us to bring you to completion. Thank

you Paul for that. I'd like to hear from you. And yeah, you see in verse 12 Paul tends to himself now. And begins to talk about himself and he says I want you to know brothers and we can add sisters that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.

Paul has two choices. You can either respond by writing to say I want you to know. Things are hard here. I don't have much freedom. Things are so bad. but poor chooses later and if thanks the Lord. For what has happened to him? And he sees the good that the Lord is doing through his imprisonment. So this morning with the help of the Lord, I like us to reflect on our passage under the title and imprisonment that Advance the

gospel. And imprisonment that advanced the gospel and you're going to look at two points first and inward advance and second and outward Advanced and in what advance and an outward Advanced first. And in what Advance please look at verses 12 and 13 poor eyes. I want you to know brothers that what has happened to me has reserved to advance the gospel. So that has become known throughout the whole Imperial God and to all the race that

my prison meant is for Christ. I want you to know brothers and sisters that the Lord is doing great things and good things through my heart situation of imprisonment. In that God is using this imprisonment to advance the gospel. mainly inward within the compounds of Caesar Paul is under the house arrest at this time, and it's changed to a god 24/7. And these gods were special gods of the emperor himself Caesar. They are

referred to as the Imperial Guard in our passage the Imperial of gods or so known as the peritonian gods constituted in 9,000 elite soldiers selected for their military skew and royalty to serve the emperor's personal security force in the Imperial Paris. So Paul is within the compound of Caesar. And is chained to these soldiers they are not probably they're taking shifts morning to evening and then another evening to morning as

well. But as as boys change there and we know who poised I don't think Paul is just keeping silent. He's sharing the gospel with his soldiers. But also we know that Apostle Paul has has a chance to meet visitors people can visit him while in prison. And as visitors are coming to see Paul and Paul is sharing And discussing the gospel with them. This soldiers have no choice but to hear the gospel. So the gospel is advancing within

the compound. And he says the whole Imperial God has come to understand that my imprisonment is for Christ. That I'm here because of Jesus Christ. Most likely they're asking who is this Jesus Christ? And Paul is fighting this opportunity to begin to share the gospel with them. But also really don't want to post a point in Philippians 4:2. Is as he's writing to the Philippines is going to say. The sense or the sense greet you

especially those of Caesar's household. So somehow The Gospel made this way even to the Paris itself. Even in the household of Caesar they were a Believers there. And Men it was through and imprisonment of Apostle Paul. And come to think of it. If Paul had not been arrested. And put in jail and the house arrest in Rome. This man would not have heard the gospel. And probably even those in the household of Caesar. Maybe they even share the gospel with Caesar.

She's had an opportunity to hear. the gospel What an opportunity and what a blessing that came disguised as a curse? Open recently. Through the chance of imprisonment. Paul has a great opportunity to minister the corridors of power. in Rome And as Paul says this Providence of God in all this he says in verse 18. I rejoice. I Rejoice not because Prison life is easy. But because God is doing greater things through my prison.

And in our passage, we do not only see that the gospel is advancing inward. rather but also it is advancing outward the gospel advancing outward and outward Advanced and we see that in verses 14 to 18 a in most of the brothers having become confident in the Lord by my prison and much more bored to speak the word without fear. Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry but others from Goodwill. The letter do it out of love knowing that I'm

put here for the defense of the Gospel. The former proclaimed Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, but thinking to a freaked me in my imprisonment. What then only that in every way within pretense or in truth Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice. God did not only you supposed imprisonment to advance the gospel within the Roman headquarters, but also outside the Roman headquarters. And in verse 14 Paul refers to

other brothers who have become embodied or encouraged to preach the gospel without fear. Now we do not know why this brothers were at first afraid to preach the gospel. But it could be that they were probably afraid of persecution. They were probably afraid of being put in prison as Podi. But now after seeing that by God's grace Paul remains steady fast despite being put in prison for his faith. And after seeing what the Lord was doing through Apostle Paul

that the gospel was really advancing. Was no longer change even Paul was telling himself, but the gospel was not changed. It was advancing and after seeing that probably the way encouraged to say we're going to do the same. We are going to preach the gospel. Even if it means to go to prison. Now notice that they were two groups of people who are preaching the gospel. The first group was that of those who priests because they loved poor.

And understood that Paul was in prison for the defense. of the Gospel as Paul says some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry but others from Good Will. The letter do it out of love knowing that I'm put here for the defense of the Gospel. So these these were doing preaching the gospel out of Goodwill. Because they loved poor. And poor user status. So to say you notice that that word the defense of the Gospel that the

they understood that Paul was put there for the defense of the Gospel. That's that word the face of the Gospel that's in the Greek Bible is Aprilia and that's where we get our word apologetics in English. And apologetics means defending the gospel against false teachers or those who had Christianity and Paul is saying my imprisonment is being used as a project. That the Lord through this imprisonment has given me an opportunity to give a defense of

the Gospel. Now the Romans didn't fully understood Christianity. They understanding was not that correct some understood Christians as being cannibals because they said that when they meet for Holy Communion, they feed on the bad of Christ and they drink the blood of Christ and we said Christians accountable. But also some understood Christians as those who are the barriers those were causing treason in the in the Roman Empire.

Empire because they understood because Christians said only Jesus is Lord. And by saying that they did not recognize Caesar's world and by not recognizing Caesar as the Lord. They were regarded as rubarius people but here Paul had an opportunity why in prison to give a defense to? Explain what Christians believe to say that our kingdom is not of this world. And our king is not of this world sees what this world his kingdom is of this word, but we have

a greater King. He's in heaven. And he rules all the nations. and even the emperor himself Is under the rain of our King of Kings? And Paul had this opportunity because he was there in prison. So Paul says well, I praise the Lord. that I'm here because this has given me an opportunity to preach the gospel and because of that other brothers as well have been encouraged to go and preach the gospel to Then notice the second group was that that was preaching the

gospel. Not with good intentions, but we've studied intention. So Mauritius intentions and we see that in verse 17 the former. Program Christ out of surface ambition, not sincerely, but thinking to a freaked me in my imprisonment. Now these are the people who didn't like Paul for some reason. We don't know why. But notice that they preach the true gospel. What do we preaching was? Not First Gospel. They were preaching

the true gospel. but their intentions and motives were not good. They knew that Apostle Paul. Love to preach the gospel to go from one place to another to plant churches. This is what Paul loved most. And now that freedom had been taken away from Paul. He was no longer free to go and preach and plant churches across the world. And because of that they wanted to cause poor to be envious. To become green with envious he sees or hears that

they are growing up about preaching. Why is not able to do so? I think some of us might identify with that. You know for some reasons when you are not able to do something that you love. And you see others doing that you are tempted to be envious. I wish I was able to do that. Think of people and to sports maybe because of an injury, they're not able to play they are sitting there on the bench. They see their friend playing and it's not doing even a good

job and they're thinking I wish I was in there. I've done a good job a better job. This is what they had hoped that Apostle Paul would feel as is in prison and they are going about preaching Paul become envious. But that's not what happened. Actually Paul says I praise the Lord. That they are preaching the gospel even though their intentions. Are not right. So even through that. They gospel is still advancing. in a great way

and please notice the amazing response of Apostle Paul. this 18 what then? only that in every way within pretense or in true Christ is proclaimed. And in that I rejoice. I Rejoice because it's not about me. I Rejoice because it's about Christ. And as long as Christ is honored Christ is glorified. No matter the intentions behind that work of glorifying Christ. I will rejoice Now friends one major application for us this

morning. We might not be in prison and I know that because we are all here this morning. But it could be that we are passing through some kind of a trial. I don't know what I don't know what it might be. You know your trials very well, you know your hardships very well. But how are you responding? or reacting to that trial suffering hardship I use So to speak seeing a half full glass. Or have empty to us. Are you constantly grumbling and complaining before God

and man? This is unfair. Why me God? Why have we forsaken me? Or are you focusing more? and being joyful and being thankful to God now, please get me right. I'm not saying that we should put on a plastic smile and pretend that always well. Even when we are going through pain, that's not what I'm saying.

But rather what I'm saying, is that despite the trials in this life. The Lord supplies us Joy by working out good things out of our tribes. and in terms of Expressing what we are feeling the truth about our own feelings. We see that again and again in the Book of Psalms, don't we? The service goes before God. And he tells God what is in his mind? It was God. This is hard. Actually, he tells God you are slow to act. Why

are you taking so long? to act in my situation Lord why have you forsaken me? It seems your forsaken me. I don't I'm not experiencing your presence in my life. That is perfectly fine. We can do that before our God in humility and rivers. But you're going to notice that after the psalmist has done this. It often ends. with expression of trust But how will trust? in you and that's how we should react friends. knowing that no matter how hard

our situations are As long as we are in Christ, the lord is able to do good things. How do that? But the Lord is able to advance the gospel. even through our tribes and really when things are hard like that. What we need to ask is Lord. What are you trying to accomplish through this? In what ways Lord would like to use this? To advance the gospel. Through my life. This is how we get the joy. that poor missions in verse 18

This is how we can rejoice. When we realize that Joy does not depend on our circumstances. It depends on our sound theology to know and believe that no matter how hard and painful our situations are. Christ means well, and he's always always working fathers. And he's always working. for the good of his church You know when I was I was coming here. stopped by in Ohio and that was meeting Brothers there and the pasta there was just sharing a story.

Of his daughter who died last year age 16 years. due to cancer and as he was sharing the story it was so touching so moving. in that through that trial as she was going through. the process receiving treatment cancer Should share her experiences and their trust in the world. And when she passed one of the ladies. Who was following her? And a story came to Believe In Christ from the Roman Catholic church and became a Christian.

And and as he was sharing it says, you know, this is hard this this was very hard. One thing that I can rejoice in is to know. That at least one person. Through the trial that my daughter went through and we as a family went through. one person came to know Christ and the gospel at Advanced through that. trial and this is what Apostle Paul reminds us, doesn't he? in Romans 8:28 for we know that for those who love God for those who are called

according to his purpose all things work together. for their good and it is by reflecting on the sweetness of God's Providence that we can invade more joy in our lives. So that we may say we supposed to pull yes. It is hard. It is painful but still I Rejoice because greater good is coming out of my situation. This is similar. To what God did through the cross about 2,000 years ago. Is it not? God chose the foolishness and the pain or the

cross to accomplish our greater and wonderful salvation. Through the darkness so that Friday afternoon came the joy of Sunday morning and beginning from that Sunday morning up until now the gospel is advancing to the ends of the Earth. To the pain and suffering for that cross. The Lord did eat through his son. And he's doing it again and again through his children. on this Earth so friends, I would like to encourage you.

To look at your situation. those trials and see the greater good that the Lord is accomplishing through that. And praise him and rejoice in that. So that you can say like a post support. I want you to know brothers and sisters that what has happened to me has reserved to advance. The gospel. Let us pray.

do you have any father we do thank you for your goodness and for your mercy We thank you how Lord you work in our lives. Even those difficult and hard trials that come our way. May you help us what? to trust in you and to glorify you in that. Knowing that no matter how hard it is. You are still accomplishing your greater Goods. and to rejoice in knowing that you always meanwhile We thank you. For your Providence Jesus name.

Amen.