Philippians 1:12-26
There’s no such thing as a problem-free life. If we’re going to learn to be full of JOY, we must learn to be joyful in the situation, in the problems, and in the very experiences of life. Joy is internal and can be and should be constant.
The background for today’s text is that Paul for the last four years has been in miserable circumstances. He’s spent two years in prison in Caesarea for a trumped-up charge. Then he’s put on a ship to go to Rome to appear before Nero who is not known for his niceties towards Christians. On the way, he’s shipwrecked, stranded on an island, bitten by a poisonous snake, waits the winter there, continues to Rome, and spends another two years in prison awaiting trial to be executed. During this two-year period in Rome, he has absolutely no privacy as he is chained to a guard for 24 hours a day, getting a new guard every four hours.
Yet despite all of these situations, Paul says in Phil. 1:18 “I rejoice, and I will continue to rejoice.” How does he stay positive in prison, triumph over troubles, delight in difficulties, and stay so joyful in spite of the fact that everything has not turned out the way he planned? Paul gives us his four secrets.
WE NEED A PERSPECTIVE TO LIVE FROM
Everyone has problems. That’s not the problem. Our problem is how we look at those problems. Your perspective makes the difference.
V.12 “Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.” Paul could see God at work in the problems even when they didn’t go his way. V.13: “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
Paul had always wanted to go to Rome and lead a crusade. Instead, God put him in prison where he would write the New Testament. He’s chained to the palace guard, the crack elite troops of the Roman Empire, personally chosen by Caesar. They were the highest paid people of the empire and when they retired after 12 years, they were made leaders in Rome. There is not a more strategic group that Paul could witness to if he’s going to reach the Roman empire. God puts Paul in Rome and Nero pays the bill and chains a future leader of Rome to him every four hours. In two years at four-hour shifts, Paul could have witnessed to 4,380 guards. These guards had an inside route to the emperor and as a result, even some of Nero’s family became believers. History tells us that Nero had his wife, mother, and children killed because they became believers. Paul had a captive audience.
The perspective you need to live from if you’re going to have joy in your life is Romans 8:28 “And we know that in ALL things God works for the good of those who love Him…” God has a purpose behind every one of our problems. When we get that perspective, we are on the way to joyful living.
WE NEED A PRIORITY TO LIVE BY
If you don’t choose your priorities, you’ll go around putting out one fire after another, living your life simply from problem to problem to problem, and not choosing what’s important. Either you’ll decide what’s important in your life or you’ll let other people decide what’s important
How many arguments have you had over little things that really don’t matter? Is it worth losing your joy over? No! Have a perspective to live from and a priority to live by. Know what is important. Proverbs 3:6 “In everything you do, put God first and He will direct you and crown your efforts with success.” This is what matters — putting God first. Focus on what really counts.
WE NEED A POWER TO LIVE ON
Life can wear you out. One crisis after another can drain you. V. 19: “I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help given by the Spirit of Jesus Christ, what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed.” There were two things that kept Paul going and strengthened him for whatever lay ahead. The prayers of other people. And the help of the Holy Spirit. Those two things gave Paul hope, and you’ve got to have hope to cope. The moment hope is gone you’re domed.
Where do you get your hope to keep on keeping on? Is that source reliable? God’s answer: Phil. 4:13 “I have the strength to face all conditions by the power that Christ gives me.” With God’s power, nothing can devastate you.
WE NEED A PURPOSE TO LIVE FOR
Paul is old and tired and has been in prison for four years. He’s ready to go on to heaven. They’ve taken everything from him — friends, ministry, freedom, privacy. They’ve taken everything except the one thing that cannot be taken and that is a purpose to live for. V. 21 “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
Paul had a long-term goal. He looked at things in the light of eternity. Phil. 3:13-14 “Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” The best use of your life is to invest it in something that will outlast it. To tell those who don’t know the Lord the good news and encourage each other
The secret of JOY — Jesus first, Others second, Yourself third.
I am convinced that the reason there is so much unhappiness in our culture, and so many discouraged and depressed people is because in our society there is a total preoccupation with self. What’s best for me? What will make me happy? When you learn to have a greater purpose in your life than just yourself, you will have joy more than you can handle. There is no such thing as problem-free living. When you base your life on the kinds of values that are going to last, then problems just aren’t as significant. So, what things haven’t worked out as you’ve planned, God has a purpose that is bigger than your problems.
Grace & peace
Pastor John