How to Live In Frustration City
Phil 1:12-21
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really 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 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 The latter do so in 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 the help given by 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.
One summer, my wife and I were touring the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC. It was very warm and we stopped at an ice cream stand. We got in line a waited patiently for our turn. After about 15 minutes, I finally stepped up to the window to order, when all of a sudden, right before my eyes, the clerk closed the window, saying, “I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the day.”
Talk about frustration! Well, as a matter of fact, that IS what I am addressing today...How to Live in Frustration City.
The text is verse 12: Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Like a beam of light out of the dungeon, comes this message from the Apostle Paul while in his Roman prison cell.
You can put an eagle in a cage, but he’ll soon make his way to the highest perch.
You can put a man of God in prison and chain him to the floor between armed guards, but his spirit remains free.
You cannot imprison the human spirit!
Not that being locked up is easy; not that we should take it lightly. Paul was “in bonds”–in total frustration. How do I know he was frustrated? Just look at him...
• He had a call to preach
• He was a man on the move–zealous for the gospel
• He had a burden for the lost
• Pioneered churches that looked to him as leader
And there he was, locked up, unable to do any of those things. Yet, even though he must have been frustrated at times, he was not sitting around wringing his hands, chewing his fingernails, or tearing his hair. Instead, we find him on top of his troubles, having learned from his Lord how to behave when in distress. His behavior is summed up in Phil 4:11: ...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
All of us have frustrations from time to time. They may not be of the prison variety, but they’re just as real.
❏ Inadequate time to do the things we want to do
❏ Not enough money at the end of the month
❏ Too much month at the end of the money
❏ Memory that often fails
❏ Family frustrations
❏ Job-related frustrations
❏ Caring for a sick relative
❏ Trying to reach someone for Christ
❏ Trying to break a habit
❏ Trying to lose weight.
Frustrations surfaces when...
❏ You put both contact lenses in the same eye
❏ Your wife says “Good morning, Bill” and your name is George.
❏ Your car horn goes off and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hells Angels.
❏ You buy $40 seats at a Detroit Lions game onmly to see them lose by 40 points.
❏ You hit a deer on your way home from purchasing your new car.
How to Live In Frustration City
Phil 1:12-21
12 Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really 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 Because of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the word of God more courageously and fearlessly.
15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill.
16 The latter do so in 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 the help given by 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.
One summer, my wife and I were touring the Biltmore Mansion in Asheville, NC. It was very warm and we stopped at an ice cream stand. We got in line a waited patiently for our turn. After about 15 minutes, I finally stepped up to the window to order, when all of a sudden, right before my eyes, the clerk closed the window, saying, “I’m sorry, but we’re closed for the day.”
Talk about frustration! Well, as a matter of fact, that IS what I am addressing today...How to Live in Frustration City.
The text is verse 12: Now I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
Like a beam of light out of the dungeon, comes this message from the Apostle Paul while in his Roman prison cell.
You can put an eagle in a cage, but he’ll soon make his way to the highest perch.
You can put a man of God in prison and chain him to the floor between armed guards, but his spirit remains free.
You cannot imprison the human spirit!
Not that being locked up is easy; not that we should take it lightly. Paul was “in bonds”–in total frustration. How do I know he was frustrated? Just look at him...
• He had a call to preach
• He was a man on the move–zealous for the gospel
• He had a burden for the lost
• Pioneered churches that looked to him as leader
And there he was, locked up, unable to do any of those things. Yet, even though he must have been frustrated at times, he was not sitting around wringing his hands, chewing his fingernails, or tearing his hair. Instead, we find him on top of his troubles, having learned from his Lord how to behave when in distress. His behavior is summed up in Phil 4:11: ...I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances.
All of us have frustrations from time to time. They may not be of the prison variety, but they’re just as real.
❏ Inadequate time to do the things we want to do
❏ Not enough money at the end of the month
❏ Too much month at the end of the money
❏ Memory that often fails
❏ Family frustrations
❏ Job-related frustrations
❏ Caring for a sick relative
❏ Trying to reach someone for Christ
❏ Trying to break a habit
❏ Trying to lose weight.
Frustrations surfaces when...
❏ You put both contact lenses in the same eye
❏ Your wife says “Good morning, Bill” and your name is George.
❏ Your car horn goes off and remains stuck as you follow a group of Hells Angels.
❏ You buy $40 seats at a Detroit Lions game onmly to see them lose by 40 points.
❏ You hit a deer on your way home from purchasing your new car.
Illus.: “Skunks in My Cellar”
A woman in Terre Haute, IN, called the police station to report a skunk in her cellar. The police told the woman to make a trail of bread crumbs from the basement to the yard and to wait for the skunk fo follow it outside. A little later the woman called back and said, “I did what you told me. Now I’ve got two skunks in my cellar!”
Unhealthy Ways of Dealing With Frustration
1. Bill your doctor for the time you spent in his waiting room.
2. Read the dictionary backwards and look for subliminal messages.
3. Drive to work in reverse
4. Pop some popcorn without the lid on
5. When someone tells you to have a nice day, tell them you have other plans
6. Use your Mastercard to pay your Visa bill.
Seriously, if we don’t get a grip on our frustrations, here’s what could happen:
1. We could lose our temper, and at the same time lose our testimony.
2. We might give up, quit, resign (happens a lot in church), which in most cases leaves one with a feeling of failure.
3. We could go into depression.
4. We could become bitter and cynical
All around are people who are breaking down because they don’t possess the spiritual defenses and resources to endure the strains and pressures of every day living.
There is something we can learn from Paul when it comes to this matter of frustration. By the time he wrote this epistle to the Philippian believers, he had achieved several successes which point the way for us.
Let’s look specifically at how Paul was able to cope with his frustrating imprisonment.
1. He Succeeded In Seeing the Stars Instead of the Bars.
Verse 18 says, “And because of this I rejoice, yes and I will continue to rejoice.”
He’s rejoicing because the Gospel is being preached. The believers had intensified their efforts because their leader was in jail. Even his enemies intensify their efforts to gain an advantage while he’s locked up.
Four times in this letter he refers to his “bonds.” Sixteen times he uses the words, “joy,” “rejoice,” and “gladness.”
Look at him! There he sits—for the crime of preaching the good news. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever see the outside again. He doesn’t know if some day, he would be led out to the executioner’s block. And yet, instead of smoldering in bitterness or self-pity, he is radiant with joy and serene.
From the same prison he wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “Blessed be the God and Father pf our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings is heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (1:3).
Where was he sitting? In prison! But not in his thinking. In his thinking he was dwelling in Bulah land.
In verse 21, we read, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
That’s prison faith. That’s the kind of spiritual maturity that can stand any test–because we look for a better country.
Years ago, up in New England, it became very dark at midday with shooting stars flying in all directions. People were frightened and thought the world was going to end. A housekeeper burst into an old preacher’s study and shrieked, “The world’s going to end!” In calmness, he turned to her and said, “Well, good, let it be so. We can get along just fine without it!”
And that is exactly what everyone of us will have to do one of these days–we shall have to get along without it.
The second thing that we can learn from Paul in the matter of dealing with frustration is to see how...
2. He Succeeded in Dignifying His Imprisonment.
Paul is not unlike Joseph who said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.”
He knew whose prisoner he was–not Nero’s or Rome’s, but the Lord’s. Yes, that’s right, Paul was the Lord’s prisoner. According to Ephesians 3:1 and 4:1 he believed that God was his jailor.
Paul also knew why he was there. It was for the furtherance of the gospel (vs.12). He believed that he was on the King’s business.
Where did this kind of unquenchable optimism come from?
❏ He was convinced that what he wrote in Rom. 8:28 was true. Richard Stores and Gordon Hall were students together at the same theological Seminary. One Saturday toward the end of the semester, Hall was preparing to go to Braintree, Mass to preach, hoping that he might be called to be their pastor. That afternoon as he was splitting some wood, his hat fell beneath the axe and was destroyed. He didn’t have the money to replace it and it was bitter cold. So he asked his friend to take his assignment. Storrs preached for him and was invited to be their pastor. He remained there until his dying day, more than 50 years. Hall, although disappointed, sought other outlets for his talents and became a renowned foreign missionary. He came to believe that there are no accidents in God’s dealingsl all things have divine purpose.
❏ Paul could see beyond his present circumstances.
❏ He knew that regardless of what happened, in the end he would win.
Really, it all boils down to this. Its not what happens TO us that really matters. Its what happens IN us.
One more insight can be gained from Paul’s handling of prison frustration.
3. He Succeeded in Capitalizing On His Imprisonment.
He bore a convincing and effective testimony. Look at verse 13: “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
You can see the fruit of his witness in Phil.4:2: “All of the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Ceasar’s household.”
From his jail cell Paul extended his ministry. He wrote the epistles of Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. They have blessed millions who have never seen his face or heard his voice.
Charlotte Elliott was a bed-ridden invalid for 37 years and a devout Christian with the deep longing to do something for her Lord. From her bed of affliction she penned the words of a hymn that is the single-most used in evangelistic settings. Probably more people have walked the aisle to confess Christ to the accompaniment of this hymn than all others put together–Just As I Am.
Thank God for the helpless, frustrating condition out of which Ms. Elliott gave us this beautiful song. There will be many in heaven who will testify as to its effectiveness in prompting them to yield their hearts to Jesus.
What resources did Paul have that we do not have? NONE! What he had, we too have–or can have.
❏ A faith that believes that God is in control of all our circumstances.
❏ A faith that looks beyond the bars to the stars.
❏ A faith that knows that a better future awaits us.
Chorus:
Unhealthy Ways of Dealing With Frustration
1. Bill your doctor for the time you spent in his waiting room.
2. Read the dictionary backwards and look for subliminal messages.
3. Drive to work in reverse
4. Pop some popcorn without the lid on
5. When someone tells you to have a nice day, tell them you have other plans
6. Use your Mastercard to pay your Visa bill.
Seriously, if we don’t get a grip on our frustrations, here’s what could happen:
1. We could lose our temper, and at the same time lose our testimony.
2. We might give up, quit, resign (happens a lot in church), which in most cases leaves one with a feeling of failure.
3. We could go into depression.
4. We could become bitter and cynical
All around are people who are breaking down because they don’t possess the spiritual defenses and resources to endure the strains and pressures of every day living.
There is something we can learn from Paul when it comes to this matter of frustration. By the time he wrote this epistle to the Philippian believers, he had achieved several successes which point the way for us.
Let’s look specifically at how Paul was able to cope with his frustrating imprisonment.
1. He Succeeded In Seeing the Stars Instead of the Bars.
Verse 18 says, “And because of this I rejoice, yes and I will continue to rejoice.”
He’s rejoicing because the Gospel is being preached. The believers had intensified their efforts because their leader was in jail. Even his enemies intensify their efforts to gain an advantage while he’s locked up.
Four times in this letter he refers to his “bonds.” Sixteen times he uses the words, “joy,” “rejoice,” and “gladness.”
Look at him! There he sits—for the crime of preaching the good news. He doesn’t know if he’ll ever see the outside again. He doesn’t know if some day, he would be led out to the executioner’s block. And yet, instead of smoldering in bitterness or self-pity, he is radiant with joy and serene.
From the same prison he wrote to the Christians in Ephesus, “Blessed be the God and Father pf our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with all spiritual blessings is heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (1:3).
Where was he sitting? In prison! But not in his thinking. In his thinking he was dwelling in Bulah land.
In verse 21, we read, “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
That’s prison faith. That’s the kind of spiritual maturity that can stand any test–because we look for a better country.
Years ago, up in New England, it became very dark at midday with shooting stars flying in all directions. People were frightened and thought the world was going to end. A housekeeper burst into an old preacher’s study and shrieked, “The world’s going to end!” In calmness, he turned to her and said, “Well, good, let it be so. We can get along just fine without it!”
And that is exactly what everyone of us will have to do one of these days–we shall have to get along without it.
The second thing that we can learn from Paul in the matter of dealing with frustration is to see how...
2. He Succeeded in Dignifying His Imprisonment.
Paul is not unlike Joseph who said to his brothers, “You meant it for evil but God meant it for good.”
He knew whose prisoner he was–not Nero’s or Rome’s, but the Lord’s. Yes, that’s right, Paul was the Lord’s prisoner. According to Ephesians 3:1 and 4:1 he believed that God was his jailor.
Paul also knew why he was there. It was for the furtherance of the gospel (vs.12). He believed that he was on the King’s business.
Where did this kind of unquenchable optimism come from?
❏ He was convinced that what he wrote in Rom. 8:28 was true. Richard Stores and Gordon Hall were students together at the same theological Seminary. One Saturday toward the end of the semester, Hall was preparing to go to Braintree, Mass to preach, hoping that he might be called to be their pastor. That afternoon as he was splitting some wood, his hat fell beneath the axe and was destroyed. He didn’t have the money to replace it and it was bitter cold. So he asked his friend to take his assignment. Storrs preached for him and was invited to be their pastor. He remained there until his dying day, more than 50 years. Hall, although disappointed, sought other outlets for his talents and became a renowned foreign missionary. He came to believe that there are no accidents in God’s dealingsl all things have divine purpose.
❏ Paul could see beyond his present circumstances.
❏ He knew that regardless of what happened, in the end he would win.
Really, it all boils down to this. Its not what happens TO us that really matters. Its what happens IN us.
One more insight can be gained from Paul’s handling of prison frustration.
3. He Succeeded in Capitalizing On His Imprisonment.
He bore a convincing and effective testimony. Look at verse 13: “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.”
You can see the fruit of his witness in Phil.4:2: “All of the saints send you greetings, especially those who belong to Ceasar’s household.”
From his jail cell Paul extended his ministry. He wrote the epistles of Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, and Philemon. They have blessed millions who have never seen his face or heard his voice.
Charlotte Elliott was a bed-ridden invalid for 37 years and a devout Christian with the deep longing to do something for her Lord. From her bed of affliction she penned the words of a hymn that is the single-most used in evangelistic settings. Probably more people have walked the aisle to confess Christ to the accompaniment of this hymn than all others put together–Just As I Am.
Thank God for the helpless, frustrating condition out of which Ms. Elliott gave us this beautiful song. There will be many in heaven who will testify as to its effectiveness in prompting them to yield their hearts to Jesus.
What resources did Paul have that we do not have? NONE! What he had, we too have–or can have.
❏ A faith that believes that God is in control of all our circumstances.
❏ A faith that looks beyond the bars to the stars.
❏ A faith that knows that a better future awaits us.
Chorus:
