Attitudes For Adversity:
(Phil 1:12-30)
Introduction:
Scenario... 1 – medical issue
Scenario 2 – loss of work
Scenario 3 – marriage break-up
Cuba...
Five years after the collapse of the Berlin Wall, (theologian Thomas Oden) visited congregations in the Methodist Church of Cuba and discovered that despite thirty-five years of oppression and miserable economic conditions, the Methodists had grown from a low of 6,000 to over 50,000 members.
Nothing short of a spiritual revolution reminiscent of Acts 2, said Oden, had taken place. Much of this spiritual and numerical growth, moreover, could be attributed to people, both young and old, who had grown weary of the official atheist party line and turned to the church to find a more satisfying answer to the meaning of life. During the previous four decades, the best efforts of Fidel Castro’s tyrannical regime had not succeeded in stamping out the church.
***Despite the personal cost of everything --- from a chance at a university education to long prison terms, Christians had remained faithful and the church had grown!
Text:
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. 22 If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
27 Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel 28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God. 29 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, 30 since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Biblical Context - Paul was at peace with his circumstances despite his unjust imprisonment and the presence of fellow believers who took advantage of his suffering to advance their own selfish ambitions. The reason for this remarkable attitude was that the advancement of the gospel was his primary goal in life.
Truett Foster McKeehan, eldest son of Christian hip hop artist TobyMac, died suddenly at his home in Franklin, Tennessee, on Wednesday of this week -- Wednesday, October 23, 2019.
He was just 21.
Cause of death -- unknown
TobyMac...statement:
“My wife and I would want the world to know this … We don’t follow God because we have some sort of under the table deal with Him, like we’ll follow you if you bless us. We follow God because we love Him.” ... God is “the God of the hills and the valleys.”
Attitudes in adversity...
1. Reflect Upon Your (Imperfect/Flawed) Life And Decide To Not Fall Into Self-Pity : v. 12
a. see the big picture! (the gospel advancing)
b. “what has happened to me....”
Charles Colson – “What has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel...”
1970’s Watergate scandal... (R Nixon)
Pled guilty to obstruction of justice...
Served 7 months
As Colson was facing arrest, a friend gave him a copy of Mere Christianity by C. S. Lewis;
after reading it, Colson became an evangelical Christian.
Colson then joined a prayer group of both republicans and democrats
. newspapers ridiculed the conversion, claiming that it was a ploy to reduce his sentence.
Book – “Born Again”
he was called by God to develop a ministry to prisoners with an emphasis in promoting changes in the justice system.
“Prison Fellowship” ? (1976)
• 117 countries... 45,000 volunteers.
• Bible studies
• Restorative justice
• Prison reform
(what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel...)
Colson received the prestigious...
• Templeton Prize for Progress in Religion (1993),
• the Presidential Citizens Medal (2008),
• several honorary doctorates (1982-1995).
• He wrote more than 30 books which have sold more than five million copies!
Note : I met Colson at my graduation in Boston (1999)
2. Allow Your “Deficits” Or Constraints To Appreciate Community...Lean Into Community: v. 14-18
a. to lean into /upon community and
b. actually celebrate communal Christianity (viz individual Christianity)
c. –"one another”: v. 14 - 18 “...the brothers/sisters have become...fearless” (and this helps Paul see progress)
d. Paul says they don’t do it quite the way I would do it – but at least they’re doing it!
i. Older generation viz younger gen ///styles/creativity
e. Paul says some of them are immature and have selfish ambition – but they are still going some good for the kingdom
f. Don’t wait till you’re fully mature to serve!
g. Rejoice in what being done – find the good in it!
3. Practise Ongoing Rejoicing/Worship/Praise/Thanksgiving: v. 18
a. 18d – “because of this I rejoice”
b. I will continue to rejoice!
4. Decide To Live With Hope! – Not Shame! V. 20
a. Hope of your prayer
b. Hope provided by the HS
c. Hope & prayer adds to my courage! (“Sufficient courage”)
5. Decide To Live For Christ And His Glory: V. 20-21
a. “that Christ will be exalted in me/my body
b. To live... to exist...to breath...to get out of bed each day – is to live for him!
c. So... what will you do today for him!
d. What will you do today that advances the kingdom?
i. But I’m in prison
ii. But I’m broke
iii. But I’m too old
iv. But I’m too busy
v. But I’m too shy...
vi. But I’m afraid...
e. Hear me church .... “to live... is to live for Christ!
f. If I fail ... if I die trying ... I win... I gain!
6. Decide To Live A Life Of Fruitfulness – v. 22
a. Then The “How” Will Surface! V. 22
b. “To live” is going to mean one thing - fruitful labor!!!
c. No retirement from kingdom work!
d. Find a place to serve...
e. I’m in the recruiting business!
i. “get the right people in the right seats on the Bus... in the boat...on the quad... in the mini-van”
7. Decide To Take Your Eyes Off Yourself And Serve Others; V. 25
a. Be interested in others “progress” and others “joy”
b. Be a blessing!!!
8. Decide To Conduct Yourselves With Honor/Integrity: v. 27
a. Don’t let adversity allow you to become bitter/complaining/angry/critical
b. Don’t let fear control you (v. 28)
9. Draw Closer To Christ... Be Drawn Closer To Christ; V. 29
a. “granted to believe in him
b. “Granted to suffer for him...” v. 29
c. You and me are going through the same struggle
d. people around you are also struggling with some burden...some baggage of the past... some stress... some worry
e. yes even Paul – yes even me – yes even godly people struggle with life’s challenges...
George Chen...(prison story – 6 years in a cesspool)
Pastor Chen spent 18 years in a prison work camp in China. Because he came from a background of moderate wealth and opportunity, the guards at the camp worked hard to break his spirit and indoctrinate him. He was so hungry at times that he was tempted to eat toothpaste. He was separated from his wife and his young church. While he was in prison, his wife died.
One of his greatest hardships was that he had no privacy to worship, pray, read, or memorize the Scripture. He was under constant surveillance. Frequently, he prayed that God would allow him a place of privacy so he could enjoy fellowship with God.
Soon the prison officials gave him a new assignment. In order to break his spirit and indoctrinate him further they gave him the most difficult work assignment in the camp. They assigned him to the camp cesspool.
The sewer pit where he worked served 60,000 prisoners. His assignment was to scoop out human waste to be used for fertilizer. No one else wanted the job because it was lonely and repulsive and they feared deadly diseases.
His heart was broken when he went to work on his new assignment. Day after day working in the foul pit he wondered if his prayers were heard. To withstand the hardship, he would sing, pray, and quote Scripture aloud. One day it occurred to him that his assignment was a specific answer to prayer.
Because he worked in such a foul hole none of the guards would get anywhere near him. He worked completely alone. He could pray, sing, and quote Scripture as loud as he wanted! He began to thank God and rejoice. There was no one there to hear him but his faithful God. His cesspool assignment lasted six years, and miraculously he never contracted a disease from it.
When he was released, the church for which he had labored and prayed had exploded in growth and vitality. He traveled to poor villages where he saw the hand of God at work. He represented the cause of the suffering church in China around the world.
the song that he used to sin...
I come to the garden alone
While the dew is still on the roses …
And He walks with me and he talks with me
And He tells me I am His own
And the joy we share as we tarry there
None other has ever known.
Pastor Chen had learned that the secret to rejoicing is not perfect circumstances, but a consciousness of the presence of the Lord Jesus. “… In his presence is fullness of joy …” (Psalm 16:11).
When you are discouraged by difficult circumstances, misunderstanding, pressures, responsibilities, or outright persecution, rejoice! The presence of Jesus can turn a cesspool into a garden.
Application ? Whatever our own “chains” might be -- look for ways in which the gospel might be advanced through them!
(1) If you live under adversity... you’re not being productive.
(2) look for people in adversity (empathy/not sympathy) and offer them hope in Christ – now you are on mission!
Choose ministry over misery!
