Have you ever noticed how circumstances often throw people to the ground?
The maturity of a person can be seen by how well he/she handles the things that happen to them.
The one thing that a believer must do is to learn to live above circumstances--to keep our witness for Christ strong and mature.
Have you ever heard that circumstances make the person?
In other words we are what we are based on our environment. Circumstances do not make the person. However, circumstances will reveal the real me/you. Discuss the person who is mild mannered until they get drunk. His family may say that the booze or the drugs made him that way. They will say: “That’s just not Joe. He is such a kind man but the booze made him that way.” Not true; the booze brought the real Joe to the surface…
Today I want to continue in the book of Philippians and discover just a few of the marks of a mature witness.
1. Look at verses12-14 A mature witness shares the gospel regardless of circumstances.
Let me show you two significant points.
1. Paul faced terrible circumstances, being a prisoner in Rome.
Paul was waiting to appear before the Supreme Court of Rome: he was facing a trial before the Roman Emperor, and he had done nothing wrong. He was having to wait the arrival of his Jewish prosecutors with their trumped-up and malicious charges.
True, he had some privileges but he was imprisoned for over two years.
Listen; even with the pressure hanging over his head, awaiting a trial that was to determine whether he live or die, Paul held his head high.
But notice something here about Paul...
a. He did not grumble and complain
b. He did not question God and wonder why
c. He did not whine and murmur
d. He did not fall to pieces
e. He did not curse God nor give up his faith
What did Paul with these terrible circumstances?
2. Paul used his terrible circumstances to spread the gospel.
Paul did not see himself as a prisoner of Rome nor of Nero. He saw himself as a prisoner for Jesus Christ. He did not see himself as a victim; he saw himself as a conqueror for Jesus Christ.
In Acts 28:20 Paul says “For this reason I have asked to see you and talk with you. It is because of the hope of Israel that I am bound with this chain."” and in
Eph.6:20 he calls himself an "ambassador in chains." “for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.”
The word for chains as used here was a small length of chain that bound a prisoner to the wrist of a guard to prevent his escape.
Think about this; Paul was bound to a Roman guard 24 hours day for over 730 days or over two years.
We might look at the bad side of this and say: “Man! I can‘t believe that he had to strapped to a guard 24/7. What a bummer.”
Paul looked at it as a blessing. What do you think Paul talked about with the guards…ALL DAY LONG? Well he tells us in verse 12. Look at it with me. "
Paul spread the gospel through the Palace Guard, the elite of the Roman army, which was his captive audience.
These soldiers were the Imperial Guard of Rome, men who had been hand-picked to protect the emperor and to carry out the major armed functions of the state.
There were sixteen thousand of them, most of whom were stationed in Rome at any given time (Barclay, The Letters to the Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians, p.26).
It was these soldiers who guarded and were chained to the wrist of Paul day and night for over two years. Young men who were the elite of Roman youth.
How many Paul led to the Lord is unknown. But what we do know is that Christ was shared so much that the gospel spread throughout... the whole Palace guard… the palace of the emperor… and all other places.
Paul, his imprisonment, his stand for Christ and the gospel which he preached--became the topic of every
conversation throughout Rome, the conversation among all the social circles including, the very palace of the emperor himself.
**lesson for us is this: Never let circumstances get you down--never let them defeat your testimony and witness for Christ, no matter what they are...
Some accident…sin…failure…loss of a loved one…financial lose…rejection…not even divorce
If we are living for Christ, we must understand that God is in control of our lives. He will strengthen us to bear whatever circumstances fall upon us. We must use the circumstances to witness to the saving power of Christ.
We should never allow our circumstances to discourage others; we are to use our circumstances to
encourage others.
Paul spread the gospel by encouraging other believers to be more fearless in witnessing.
How was this possible?
Notice several things.
a. Paul's dynamic witness and the converts among the Imperial guard were being talked about all over the city.
One thing that began to happen, was that the new converts among the soldiers were beginning to share Christ.
b. Paul's fellow ministers who visited him (Timothy and others) were sharing news about Paul and witnessing themselves.
c. Paul was allowed visitors.
While a prisoner, many of the believers throughout Rome visited him and he boldly shared Christ with them. How do we know this?
Act 28:30-31 NIV - 30 For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31 He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ--with all boldness and without hindrance!
d. Paul's dynamic witness made a strong impact upon all those around him.
His strong witness, despite his terrible circumstances, stirred many believers to become much more confident in their own witnessing.
Are you using your circumstances to strengthen those around you? What kind of impact are you making on them…positive or negative?
2. Look at verses15-18: The mature witness holds no personal jealousy nor desire for credit or prestige.
This is a strange experience shared by Paul, yet it is an experience that is so often and tragically repeated in the church and among believers. Some preachers in Rome were jealous of Paul and envious ... of the results he was having.
I think we need to understand here that the preachers were true followers of Christ.
They were not the Judaizers, the false preachers who sometimes followed and opposed Paul. These were genuine preachers who were ministers in and around the metropolis of Rome.
We know this because Paul agreed with their preaching; he just regretted their opposition to him.
Instead of supporting him, they were speaking out against him, hoping to silence his influence and to get rid of him.
According to verse16. Not all the preachers in and around Rome opposed Paul. Some were preaching Christ out of love, and they were encouraging their members to show their love for Paul by visiting and supporting him in his ministry.
How many times have we seen this repeated, in our day? How many are repeating the scene right now? How many believers and Christian workers are jealous of another believer?
How many, this week, will question and speak against a fellow believer or another church/pastor? I’ve been called a false prophet because of what I’ve “allowed” to happen in the church. Accused of not preaching from the Bible…
We may speak quietly and to only one or two others; BUT we make our voice heard. God forgive us!
We must always remember: The Lord does not require big ministries, big names and big
followers.
What he requires is faithfulness--only faithfulness in the ministry to which he has called us.
So let’s be faithful and support all the ministers of the gospel of Christ.
John 21:21-22 NIV - 21 When Peter saw him, he asked, "Lord, what about him?"
22 Jesus answered, "If I want him to remain alive until I return, what is that to you? You must follow me."
3. Look at verse19: A mature witness possesses the assurance of deliverance.
Let me remind you of Paul's circumstances: he was in prison, but he was, as always, preaching Christ. No matter his circumstances, he was always preaching Christ; and because he was so faithful to his call, God was honoring his preaching.
Paul had tremendous results in his ministry: unbelievers from all over were being saved, and believers were being encouraged to step forward and become bolder witnesses for Christ.
The result was that everyone throughout all of Rome, believers and non-believers, were talking about Paul. However, some were beginning to show so much attention and support and loyalty to him that some of the local preachers were becoming nervous, jealous, and envious, so they began a campaign to speak out against Paul and his ministry.
No matter what, Paul is sure God will save and deliver him from their criticism and opposition.
He is sure of God's help and deliverance because of two things:
1. There was the prayer of those who supported him.
What a tremendous teaching! Can you imagine Elim Bible church being so strong in the Lord that our prayers are always answered? We know we’ll receive an answer because we never pray from a selfish heart.
2. The presence/supply of the Holy Spirit would deliver him.
Paul knew that the Holy Spirit would supply whatever he needed to get through his circumstances.
No matter what our need is nor how great our need is, the Holy Spirit will deliver us.
Paul knew several reasons for the Holy Spirit’s presence in the believer.
a. The Holy Spirit was given to counsel us.
John 14:26 NIV - 26 But the counselor, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in my name, will teach you all things and will remind you of everything I have said to you.
b. The Holy Spirit was given to give us courage for witnessing no matter the circumstances.
John 15:26-27 NIV - 26 "When the counselor comes, whom I will send to you from the Father--the Spirit of truth who goes out from the Father--he will testify about me. 27 And you also must testify, for you have been with me from the beginning.
c. The Holy Spirit was given to put conviction in our lives and ministry.
John 16:7-8 NIV - 7 But very truly I tell you, it is for your good that I am going away. Unless I go away, the counselor will not come to you; but if I go, I will send him to you. 8 When he comes, he will prove the world to be in the wrong about sin and righteousness and judgment:
d. The Holy Spirit was given to share the deep things of God with us.
1Cr 2:9-10 NIV - 9 However, as it is written: "What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived"-- the things God has prepared for those who love him-- 10 these are the things God has revealed to us by his Spirit. The Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God.
e. The Holy Spirit was given to pray and intercede for us and to help us pray.
Rom 8:26 NIV - 26 In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans.
f. The Holy Spirit was given to bear His fruit in us.
Gal 5:22-23 NIV - 22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance,(patience) kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law.
g. The Holy Spirit was given to fill us and to put a song and joy in our hearts despite circumstances.
Eph 5:18-19 NIV - 18 Do not get drunk on wine, which leads to debauchery. Instead, be filled with the Spirit, 19 speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord,
h. The Holy Spirit was given to give us assurance that we are children and heirs of God.
Rom 8:16-17 NIV - 16 The Spirit himself testifies with our spirit that we are God's children.
17 Now if we are children, then we are heirs--heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory.
Do you have this kind of assurance today?
