Advancing Through The Challenges
Philippians 1:12-20
Introduction
American Ninja Warrior is a television show in its 14th season on NBC. People as young as 15 years
old from all over America compete on the world’s most difficult obstacle courses. “A top prize
of $1 million will go to the winner who can conquer all four stages at the National Finals in Las Vegas. To get there, competitors will need to make it through the qualifying rounds and Semifinals.” (NBC) This popular television show is possibly merging into more traditional arenas. According to Sports Illustrated, “The Ninja Warrior course is currently under consideration to be added as the fifth discipline in the modern pentathlon for when the Games return to the United States…” I know that’s exciting news for fans of the show.
Apostle Paul often used athletic terms in his messages. But in today’s text I’m more interested in noting the message to the Philippians that can FUEL THEIR FAITH … Paul’s message is that Christians are Advancing Through The Challenges.
Many Challenges hinder our Christian walk and steal the focus away from our mission. Everyone is dealing with some hard things - they sometimes distract us. If we want fuel for our faith, we must focus on moving forward in spite of the obstacles. Last week we talked about being focused on the finish line. Today we are going to talk about how to advance through the obstacles and challenges as we make our way through the Jesus life.
In today’s text, Paul opens up about some difficult relationships and events in his life and how he plans to address those with faith.
Philippians 1:12 “Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel.”
What Happened to Paul? He is currently in prison. Wright: “For a traveling apostle to be put in prison must have seemed like a concert pianist having his hands tied behind his back. How can he possibly continue the work he’s been called to do?”
- His imprisonment can be a source of embarrassment to some believers.
- His imprisonment can be a discouragement to him
- His imprisonment can give his enemies a platform to speak against him
- His imprisonment could be a source of shame
Yet, the gospel is advanced. The word “advance” has the idea of something that cuts away the underbrush so an army can go forward. Paul … went out in front and cleared the way for others. (Holladay) Ultimately Paul says he will not be ashamed because his only goal is to honor Jesus Christ - to Advance through the Challenges!
Things happen in your life that are hard, challenging, sometimes discouraging. What does Paul share here that can help us when we hit obstacles along the way?
1. Stay Focused (1:13)
Philippians 1:13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.
Paul does not allow his imprisonment to keep him from sharing the Gospel of Jesus.
LifeChange: “As each soldier took his turn chained to Paul, he was a captive audience hearing Paul pray, read Scripture, dictate letters, and receive visitors. Paul may have preached directly to the guards and taken a personal interest in them.” He remains focused on his obsession with Jesus by seeing the potential in his prison. Whatever obstacles you are facing in your life, remember to stay focused on Jesus. Make it clear to yourself and to any around you that you are a servant of Christ. We do this not only with words but also with our actions, attitudes, and compassion. So many Bible characters teach us this same message.
Wiersbe: “The same God who used Moses’ rod, Gideon’s pitchers, and David’s sling used Paul’s chains. Little did the Romans realize that the chains they affixed to his wrists would release Paul instead of bind him.”
Holladay: “...Look beyond the circumstance to see the result….to recognize what God was doing through those circumstances.”
When we let our life circumstances cause us to lose connection to Christ, we miss opportunities to let God work through those circumstances.
2. Be Confident (1:14)
Philippians 1:14 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.
Influence is such an important part of the Christian life. Paul is going to talk about this more in chapter 2, but he is clear that because of his own example others are willing to be bold. Wiersbe: “Discouragement has a way of spreading, but so does encouragement. Because of Paul’s joyful attitude, the believers in Rome took fresh courage and witnessed boldly for Christ.” When facing our obstacles it is important to remember:
-You are not alone - many others have walked this road ahead of you.
-Your actions can be a catalyst for others who are struggling in the same area.
-By continuing to walk in faith, you will have opportunity to share the gospel without fear.
Victor Frankl, Holocaust survivor, observed, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms - to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances.” (via Swindoll).
Stay focused, Be confident, and …
3. Rise Above (1:15-18)
Philippians 1:15-18 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.
Paul identifies two kinds of people here: Those who share the gospel out of love, and those who have ulterior motives - who actually want to hurt Paul. His recommendation is to rise above those who try to hurt us and to live for Christ anyway.
MSG: It’s true that some here preach Christ because with me out of the way, they think they’ll step right into the spotlight. But the others do it with the best heart in the world. One group is motivated by pure love, knowing that I am here defending the Message, wanting to help. The others, now that I’m out of the picture, are merely greedy, hoping to get something out of it for themselves. Their motives are bad.
It is difficult to have this perspective, but Paul knows the most important thing is that the Gospel is preached.
It’s hard to judge other people’s motives - sometimes it is hard for us to figure out our own motives. Rising Above those who work against us might involve:
-Pray for them - even those we consider to be enemies
-Determination to continue: work for the Lord in spite of criticism. ( Swindoll: Never forget: It’s the work of the Holy Spirit, not His empowered preachers, that saves people. )
-Remember the mission: the main objective of Christianity: the mission of sharing the Gospel with the world.
Stay Focused, Be Confident, Rise Above, and …
4. Lean on Jesus (1:18b-19)
Philippians18b-19 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.
Paul continues his theme of joy by expressing that he will continue to rejoice. What an amazing disciple of Jesus he really is. Notice the source of his joy:
-Through Your Prayers
-God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ (Paul uses this term three times in his writings.)
-Faith that it will all turn out for his deliverance. (Here he quotes Job 13:16 - identifying with the struggle of suffering and the faith that better times are coming.)
Holladay: “Joy is not perfect circumstances … Joy is understanding that God can use your imperfect circumstances to work his perfect will in your life.”
When we encounter the obstacles of life we would do well to engage in prayer, trust the Spirit of Jesus, and believe that we will experience deliverance. This is a deep conviction that God loves us, cares for us, and walks with us. See everything through the lens of the big picture - what Jesus did for us at Calvary. Move through your days with a single passion: Christ and the Gospel and how that plays out in a thousand ways in your life and relationships and events. Remember that the disciple takes up his cross to follow His Lord.
Leaning of Jesus is what we do in the hard times. That leads us to …
5. Exalt Jesus Always (1:20)
Philippians 1:20 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.
Paul had courage because no matter what happened next, he would exalt Jesus. In life or in death. This is his passion, which is demonstrated over and over in his life. Even when we do not know what’s going to happen next - we should exalt Christ always.
Wiersbe: To the average person, Christ is a misty figure in history who lived centuries ago. But as the unsaved watch the believer go through a crisis, they can see Jesus magnified and brought so much closer. … The believer’s body is a lens that makes a little Christ look very big, and a distant Christ come very close.
Swindoll: “The last thing you should do is worry about when you’ll die; instead, you should focus on how you’ll live. If Christ is the center, it doesn’t matter whether we live long or short lives, whether we die sooner or later. What matters is that we love him, serve Him, and rejoice in His salvation today. Christ will take care of our tomorrows.”
Conclusion
Our lives might seem like they have as many obstacles as an American Ninja Warrior course, but even if they do, we still have an admonition here to Advance Through the Challenges. Stay focused, Be Confident, Rise Above, Lean on Jesus, Exalt Jesus Always.
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Discussion Questions
1. In this passage Paul speaks positively about a very difficult situation.What are the good things Paul sees coming out of his bad situation? What do these verses tell you about Paul's attitude?
2. What are some ways that Christ could be preached out of envy and rivalry these days?
3. Paul quotes Job in 1:19. How does the story of Job relate to Paul's situation in prison? What encouragement can we take from both of their stories?
4. What do you think Paul meant by "deliverance" in verse 19?
5. What does this passage teach us about the importance of intercessory prayer? (Notice also Philippians 4:6; 2 Corinthians 1:11).
6. Why is our personal story of deliverance is an essential tool for reaching others?
7. Think out loud about how we can always keep Christ exalted in our lives. Consider various settings in which we live. Why do we sometimes let other concerns rise above keeping Christ exalted?
8. Is there a challenge or obstacle the group can pray about for you this week...something you would like to share?
9. Was there anything else in this lesson / text that you would like to talk about?
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Resources
Fee, Gordon D. Philippians: The IVP New Testament Commentary Series. InterVarsity Press, 1999.
Holloday, Tom. Philippians: The Eight PLaces Joy is Won or Lost. Pastors.com, 2015.
Lifechange. Philippians: Find Peace and Contentment in Perilous Times. Navpress, 2013.
NBC. About American Ninja Warrior. https://www.nbc.com/american-ninja-warrior/about
Koons, Zach. Sports Illustrated. https://www.si.com/extra-mustard/2022/06/28/ninja-warrior-could-be-added-modern-pentathalon-2028-summer-olympics-report
Swindoll, Charles R. Swindoll’s Living Insights New Testament Commentary, Volume 9. Tyndale, 2017.
Wright, Tom. Paul For Everyone: The Prison Letters. Society for Promoting Christian Knowledge, 2004.
