BIG IDEA:
FOCUS ON EXALTING CHRIST AND YOU CAN COUNT ON
SUPERNATURAL BOLDNESS IN FRUITFUL MINISTRY --
- ONE THAT WILL GLORIFY CHRIST
- AND EFFECTIVELY IMPACT OTHERS
I. SUPERNATURAL BOLDNESS IN FRUITFUL MINISTRY COMES FROM FOCUSING ON EXALTING CHRIST (:19-21)
A. The Power of Intercessory Prayer and the Help of the Holy Spirit Give Confidence that We Will Persevere in the Faith (:19)
Our own perseverance in the faith must be the foundation for any ministry that will impact others
"This" -- must refer to the same antecedent as the "this" in v.18; the fact that Christ is being proclaimed and exalted and the gospel is making great progress as a result of Paul’s difficult personal
circumstances;
the proclamation of Christ whether from good motives or from bad motives (to try to cause Paul distress) which in either case causes Paul to rejoice
(cf. Pentecost and Kent -- reference to the general circumstances of his imprisonment in Rome -- "this imprisonment experience")
"Salvation" --
1) most translations read "deliverance" as a reference to some type of physical deliverance from prison for Paul.
cf. Lenski -- saved from the possibility that during the rest of his trial before the imperial court he might disgrace Christ and the gospel
cf. Ryrie -- "Paul’s trial had probably begun. He was confident that either release or death would advance the cause of Christ. Dearborn argues that this cannot refer to his physical release because he did not know what the outcome of his trial would be (but
he certainly expects to be released);
2) cf. J. H. Michael who argues persuasively for reference to his ultimate vindication in court based on the same Greek wording in the LXX of Job 13:16 -- he is confident that whether acquitted or convicted, his stand for Christ will be vindicated (signifies.victory in a contest for what is right)
"The progress of the gospel on account of my imprisonment will lead to my ultimate vindication thru the power of intercessory prayer and the help of the Holy Spirit"
3) Paul consistently uses this word to refer to ultimate salvation, whether in its present or future (consummated) aspect. cf. 2:13 and similar emphasis on perseverance in 1:6. Difficulty lies in seeing connection between progress of the gospel and Paul’s
final salvation. Perhaps Paul was confident that the Philippians would recognize the evil motives of those preachers who were trying to exalt themselves at the expense of Paul and would respond by increased intercessory prayer that would help him persevere in his faith and in his testimony on the path to his ultimate salvation
B. Supernatural Boldness is the Key to a Ministry that Glorifies Christ (:20b)
C. Focusing on Exalting Christ is the Key to Being Able to Count on Such Supernatural Boldness in Ministry (:20a,21)
II. THE PURPOSE OF THIS LIFE IS FRUITFUL MINISTRY -- ONE THAT GLORIFIES CHRIST AND BENEFITS OTHERS (:22-26)
A. The Opportunity for Continued Fruitful Ministry Counterbalances Our Desire to Escape the Difficulties of This Life and Enter Glory (:22-24)
cf. being caught between a rock and a hard place
Christian is caught between 2 great alternatives: eternal glory and fruitful ministry in this life
(Hendriksen)
REMAINING VS. DEPARTING (note the contrast)
temporary residence; tent / permanent abode in heaven
suffering mixed with joy / joy unmixed with suffering
suffering for a little while / joy forever
absent from the Lord / physically at home with the Lord (no purgatory or soul-sleep)
the fight / the feast
realm of sin / realm of complete sinlessness
oppty to live by faith / and living by sight
have fruitful ministry / rewards for fruitful ministry
Pentecost: "The apostle who has such a vision of glory before him is perfectly content to forego his entrance into glory, not because he is afraid of death, but because he has a proper perspective of his ministry
growing out of a proper perspective of the place the Lord Jesus Christ has in his life. You wouldn’t have to urge the Apostle Paul to pursue the ministry given to him. Why not? Because Christ is life to him. You
wouldn’t have to exhort the apostle to be faithful to the privilege entrusted to him. Why not? Because Christ is the center of his life. You wouldn’t have to warn Paul about the danger of defection. Why not?
Because Christ is the center of his life. You wouldn’t have to warn Paul about the danger of temptation. Why not? Because Christ is the center of his life. When Christ becomes the center of a man’s life here and
now, all areas of his life fall into proper place; he assumes the privileges and opportunities God affords him--willingly and gladly and sacrificially, because living is Christ. ... Christian living is finding
the proper center and then letting life revolve around that center."
B. Fruitful Ministry Involves Fellowship in the Gospel that Furthers the Gospel (effectively impacts others) and Focuses on Exalting Christ (:25-26)
* * * * * * * * * *
DEVOTIONAL QUESTIONS:
1) Is our practice of self-denial in our Christian life primarily focused on our own spiritual advancement or on the impact of our ministry and testimony on others? Are we driven by choosing to do that which is "more necessary for your sake"? What value do we place on producing fruit for Christ as opposed to our own comfort in living?
2) Can we have this same expectation of no shame and boldness in proclamation that Paul experienced? What are some of the prerequisites and mindsets to achieve this?
3) You have heard it said that "a person is not really ready to live until he is ready to die." How did Paul exemplify this sentiment? What is our perspective towards death?
4) How does this passage refute the Roman Catholic notion of some disciplinary state of purgatory or some transitional unconscious state in between our death and our enjoyment of fellowship with the Lord?
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