12 I want you to know, dear ones, what has happened to me has not hindered, but helped my ministry of preaching the gospel, causing it to expand and spread to many people. 13 For now the elite Roman guards and government officials overseeing my imprisonment have plainly recognized that I am here because of my love for the Anointed One. 14 And what I’m going through has actually caused many believers to become even more courageous in the Lord and to be bold and passionate to preach the Word of God, all because of my chains.
15 It’s true that there are some who preach Christ out of competition and controversy, for they are jealous over the way God has used me. Many others have purer motives—they preach with grace and love filling their hearts,16 because they know I’ve been destined for the purpose of defending the revelation of God.
17 Those who preach Christ with ambition and competition are insincere—they just want to add to the hardships of my imprisonment. 18 Yet in spite of all of this I am overjoyed. For what does it matter as long as Christ is being preached? If they preach him with mixed motives or with genuine love, the message of Christ is still being preached. And I will continue to rejoice 19 because I know that the lavish supply of the Spirit of Jesus, the Anointed One, and your intercession for me will bring about my deliverance. 20 No matter what, I will continue to hope and passionately cling to Christ, so that he will be openly revealed through me before everyone’s eyes. So I will not be ashamed. In my life or in my death, Christ will be magnified in me. 21 My true life is the Anointed One, and dying means gaining more of him.
22–24 So here’s my dilemma: Each day I live means bearing more fruit in my ministry; yet I fervently long to be liberated from this body and joined fully to Christ. That would suit me fine, but the greatest advantage to you would be that I remain alive. So you can see why I’m torn between the two—I don’t know which I prefer.
25 Yet deep in my heart I’m confident that I will be spared so I can add to your joy and further strengthen and mature your faith. 26 When I am freed to come to you, my deliverance will give you a reason to boast even more in Jesus Christ.
27 Whatever happens, keep living your lives based on the reality of the gospel of Christ, which reveals him to others. Then when I come to see you, or hear good reports of you, I’ll know that you stand united in one Spirit and one passion—celebrating together as conqueror sin the faith of the gospel. 28 And then you will never be shaken or intimidated by the opposition that rises up against us, for your courage will only prove as a sure sign from God of their coming destruction and that you have found a new life. 29 For God has graciously given you the privilege not only to believe in Christ, but also to suffer for him. 30 For you have been called by him to endure the conflict in the same way I have endured it—for you know I’m not giving up. (Philippians 1:12-30, TPT)
Paul
was out of work, was financially broke, in jail awaiting execution, and had no wife,
children, or grandchildren (that we know of). Yet, in the midst of all this, he
mentions the word “joy” or “rejoice” 14 times in the book of Philippians. His
genuine joyful attitude during his challenges was like a medicine to him in his
life.
A joyful, cheerful
heart brings healing to both body and soul.But the one whose heart is crushed struggles with sickness and depression. (Proverbs 17:22, TPT)
Joy
is a choice, but how can we have it when life is tough (like it was for Paul)?
1.
Look at obstacles as opportunities (See verse 12 above)-To advance the gospel was the same as a woodcutter clearing away brush
for an approaching army.
2. Learn to
expect optimistic outcomes (See
verses 18 through 24 above)-COVI-19 may be God’s way
to spread the gospel in new and creative ways.
3. Live to make
others overjoyed (See verses 25 through 26
above) Joyful people are joy givers to others.
4.
Let your objective be oneness with Jesus and His
family (See verses 27 through 30 above) Stand firm
in the midst of life’s challenges, and never give up.
Challenging times can produce valuable,
genuine faith.
Suffering tests your faith which is more valuable than gold (remember that gold,
although it is perishable, is tested by fire) so that if it is found genuine,
you can receive praise, honor, and glory when Jesus the Anointed, our Liberating King, is revealed at
last. (1 Peter 1:7, VOICE)
“Find joy in everything you choose to do.
Every job, relationship, home… it’s your responsibility to love it, or change
it.” (Chuck
Palahniuk)[i]
[i] Inspired by the sermon “Joy in Chains:
Unchained Joy” (installment two) Sunday May 24, 2020, Pastor Dave Jansen,
CenterPoint Church Gahanna (All CenterPoint churches are closed due to the
Coronavirus, and are meeting online.) Join us every Sunday morning at 10am at
the CenterPoint Church Main Page on Facebook.
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