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Show ADVANCING THE GOSPEL "But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happen unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel." (Philippians 1: 12) surface, to be a rather simplistic passage of Scripture written by the Apostle Paul to the church at Philippi. Y ou do remember Philippi? It is the capitol city of the Roman empire. It is a city of Macedonia. It is the place This. appears, on where God worked the a miracle setting Paul and Silas free from jail after their midnight prayer meeting. established a . Paul had church in the midst of persecution during his second missionary journey there and here now writes a 1 Lydia was the first convert and the Philippian jailor with his family soon followed. It is a letter simmering with victory and joy. That church was a very appreciative and spiritual love letter to them. benevolent. So Paul writes about spiritual highest motive Christian service in Chapter 1. bearing and the fruit of chapter 2, he writes about Christ as the perfect example that believers ought to follow. In chapter 3, Paul urges the people to seek the supreme prize and be fashioned anew. Then in chapter 4, we are In . reminded that in . Christ, there is unlimited power available to meet every need. That would be the secret to advancing the gospel. So what is Paul trying to 2 writes, "But I understand, brethren, that the communicate when he would ye things which happen unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel. "? He wants the church to know that ignorance has no place or advantage in the kingdom of God. I've come to tell you that with 41 years of pastoral experience, an informed church is a healthy, growing church. That's what Paul was telling Timothy when he wrote, Study to show thyself approved unto God, . a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of profane and vain babblings: for they increase unto more ungodliness." (2 Timothy 2: 15-16) Furthermore, Paul wants the brethren to know that both bad and good work out truth. But sun 3 good to those who love god and are called according to His name. Everything that happens to a child of god has value. When I am training young ministers and leaders, I urged them to learn from everybody. From some learn for what not to do and from learn what locked up and in prison, of his friends had deserted him, he to do. Paul some some was being persecuted, his resources' were meager, yet he is not discouraged. He was summed it up in 2 Corinthians 4: 8-10: We are troubled on every side, yet not perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; cast down, but not destroyed. Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also ofJesus might be made manifest in our body. distressed: we are " 4 . everything that happens to him is due to the providential arrangement of God. And it's not just good for Paul but to all who hear and heed the gospel: F or I close with this story. He had everything-a wife, children, property, animals, friends, good health, respect, recognition, and a great reputation. Then, the storms came and he lost everything. His wife told him to curse God and die. His friends said he hiding something. He told them, "Thou, he slay me, yet will I trust Him. I am going to wait until my change comes." When his change did come, The Bible says, "So the Lord blessedthe end ofJob more than the beginning after this lived Job an hundred and forty years and saw his sons and his sons' sons, and even for ... . was 5 generations. So Job died, being old and full of days." (Job 42: 12-17) Jesus suffered, was mocked, chained, whipped, spat on, called names, speared in the side, nailed to the old rugged cross, and died. He didn't have buried new in, hands. tomb to be they buried Him in Joseph's Then, early on Sunday so tomb. morning, a He got up with all power in His 6 |
