Last week we started looking at Philippians. Bruce spoke about the koinonia which Paul lived out as he
shared the gospel in words and deeds. It's a personal letter written by Paul in
very difficult circumstances. Surprisingly, it's a letter that's full of joy
and encouragement! It’s the type of letter we would like to receive when going
through tough times. This week we will be looking at this letter to try and
discover how we – no matter what circumstances we are living in; can live
beyond the mundane to live joyful and encouraging lives.
If you think back to days of old, most of the people who accomplished
great things did so in the context of very difficult circumstances. Dr. Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela, Corrie
Ten Boom, our Olympian and Paralympian’s, the aids agencies and people in Iraq
to name just a few. Some people are able to accomplish great things in
very difficult circumstances. What's more, they're able to maintain a sense of
calm and purpose. This matters to us
because we spend a lot of time looking for reasonably good circumstances before
we make our mark. How is it possible to rise above the circumstances of life?
How is it possible to make a mark and
live a life that's not only joyful and encouraging but significant?
As we read through Philippians, we will
discover just how Paul was able to rise above his circumstances.
One of the hardest lessons to
learn in life is what is important and what isn't. What are our priorities?
One of the reasons Paul was able to withstand so much was that he knew where to
place his priorities. His mission mattered more than his problems. His problems
of being in prison, facing opposition, facing possible death. BUT Paul says: ‘And I want you to know, dear brothers and
sisters; that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread the
Good News.’ Does our health or family or financial or jobs or possessions,
social problems, help us to spread the Good News? Do we use our circumstances to
live for something that is bigger than our circumstances?
Often in life, we give up a present benefit for a larger future
benefit. The student gives up his leisure for the sake of an
education. The lover gives up his freedom for the security of marriage.
The dieter gives up foods he likes for the sake of health and a longer
life. The person in the military gives up civilian life for the benefit
of his military career. The jogger gives up comfort for health. The
saver gives up some purchases for the sake of a larger one later on. That
is what separates man from animals. Cattle will eat until they die. The
problem with all of these is that they're not big enough or permanent enough to
overcome the obstacles we face in life. The problem is - most of us have
nothing bigger to sustain us; that give us purpose and joy or encouragement. BUT
Paul saw the larger eternal benefits and gave up the present, smaller benefits.
Paul used his problems served to advance the gospel. Used his
problems served to inspire others.
Paul's
prison was a literal one. We may be facing circumstances we didn't choose,
which wasn’t part of our plans, from which we can't escape. Paul faced
opposition, others were preaching with selfish ambition, not sincerely. BUT
whether or not their motives are pure, the fact remains that the message about
Christ is being preached, so Paul rejoiced and would continue to rejoice. Paul
knew that the gospel could be preached from dual motives and it can be preached
amid misunderstandings.
Paul’s
MASTER mattered more than his person. Although Paul was under threat, of being
tortured and his life in danger, Paul knew that his Master gave him meaning for
life and meaning for death. In death or life, all that mattered to Paul was
that his master be glorified. ‘For I (Paul) live in eager expectation and hope that
I will never do anything that causes me shame, but that I will always be bold
for Christ, as I have been in the past, and that my life will always honour
Christ, whether I live or I die. For to me, living is for Christ, and
dying is even better. Yet if I live, that means fruitful service for
Christ. I really don't know which is better. I'm torn between two desires:
Sometimes I want to live, and sometimes I long to go and be with Christ. That
would be far better for me, but it is better for you that I live.’
We do know that Paul was released from this imprisonment, and even
anticipated this release. When Paul wrote this letter, the outcome of the trial
was still uncertain. His thoughts turned to the possibility of death.
What would give someone in jail, betrayed by his friends, with his own
life in danger, be filled with joy and encouraged? What would cause him to see
himself as part of a pioneer in spreading the gospel? To see the good that was
coming from people who were promoting themselves at his expense? To even view
the possibility of death without alarm or fear? The answer is: Paul had a purpose that was bigger than his
circumstances.
If we live as if earth is all there is, and we live for only what lasts
here - money, popularity, pleasure, prestige - we won't have enough to live
for. We don't have something worth living for until we have something worth
dying for.
There's freedom in coming to the place at which our purpose is so huge
we've got nothing to lose. "But my
life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the
Lord Jesus-the work of telling others the Good News about God's wonderful
kindness and love." (Acts 20:24)
So how can we rise above the circumstances in our
life? It starts with a relationship with Jesus Christ. Paul's priorities
changed when he met Jesus on a road to somewhere else. Meeting Jesus changes
everything, and it elevates your life from one of temporary impact to one of
eternal impact. Paul had three attitudes
that helped him to rise above his circumstances:
Paul had a BELIEF!
That God is in control of every circumstance. (v19) ‘For I know that as you pray for me and as the Spirit of Jesus Christ
helps me, this will all turn out for my deliverance.’ We only have two
options: to believe that this is all a series of co-incidences and mistakes, or
to believe that God is at work in our lives, even in and through (not despite)
our difficult circumstances. Think about circumstances of the past and look at
the past to see how God has been at work in difficulties. Is God in control of
the circumstances or our lives?
Paul thought through and found his PRIORITY! I'm part of something bigger
than my life Paul didn't measure what was happening in his life according to
how it affected his comfort or his plans, or even his life. He measured
everything according to how it accomplished his life mission. (v12) ‘And I want you to know, dear brothers and
sisters; that everything that has happened to me here has helped to spread
the Good News. What’s our life mission? Do you know yours?
Paul changed his PERSPECTIVE! It became the wider, longer view. Often we live as if
this is all that there is. If this is true, then it does make sense to live
like everyone else. But if you believe in eternity, that changes everything.
Our jobs, possessions, hang-ups become pretty insignificant compared to
the realisation that we're members of and contributors to heaven. What changes
do we need to make to be like Paul?
Questions:
·
How would
you rate the level of joy in your life? (score of 1-10)
·
How often do
you remind yourself that God is in control of every circumstance? Often or not
so often?
·
Do you see
the bigger purpose of your life is to join Jesus in what he is doing?
·
How often do
you think from a longer (eternal) perspective?
·
Does your
health or family or financial or jobs or possessions, social problems, help you
to spread the Good News?
·
Do you (as
Paul did) have a belief, a priority, a perspective?
Maybe we need to recite this prayer below on a
daily, weekly basis?
PRAYER:
That we
would rise above our circumstances; realize the power of a life well lived for
an eternal purpose
Remind
ourselves that God is in control; that we're part of something bigger; that
eternity is much bigger than our lives.
AND
Pray that
our meeting with Jesus Christ would change our priorities forever.
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