Problems and Burdens can be Blessings
Posted by: henkf <henkf@...>
Problems and Burdens can be Blessings
TEXT: Philippians 1:12-19
INTRODUCTION:
A. Paul always wanted his hearers to know all the facts. He never failed to face reality, and he sought to lead others toward the healthy-mindedness of accepting and coping with things as they are.
B. Paul was in jail. True, it was not the dungeon in which he was later confined; it was "house arrest."
1. Nevertheless, he was under constant guard and was virtually a prisoner.
2. Paul never ignored this fact, but neither did he use it to play upon the sympathies of the people. In fact, he did exactly the opposite.
a. Paul did not want any sympathy because of his confinement and the consequent limitation of his physical activity.
b. This section of scripture deals with the fact that even in the midst of burden and disappointment distinct ad-vantages had come to him.
I. "YOU SHOULD UNDERSTAND" - Phil 1:12a
A. Many people miss out on great blessings in life because they do not understand an event and make no effort to explore the facts concerning it.
1. Suppose Moses had turned away from the burning bush because it was simply something he did not understand.
He would have missed the greatest blessing and opportunity of his life - Exodus 3
2. Since Paul was in prison, he could no longer move about freely preaching the gospel of Christ. Sup-pose he had become bitter and blamed God for it.
a. He would have ceased to make any effort toward sharing the good news about Jesus Christ.
b. He might have decided his ministry was over and allowed cynicism to take over his life.
c. Paul, however, refused to adopt this position.
d. He reasoned that if God had permitted him to be imprisoned there was a divine purpose for it.
B. He shared the viewpoint as the one who wrote:
The world will never adjust itself
To suit your whims to the letter;
Some things will go wrong, your whole life long,
And the sooner you know it, the better.
It's folly to fight with the Infinite
And go down at last in the wrestle;
The wiser man fits into God's plan
Like the water fits into the vessel.
II. "THE FURTERANCE OF THE GOSPEL" - Phil 1:12b
A. Paul frankly stated his feelings about the disasters that had come to him. He refused to be a defeated man at the end of a strenuous life.
1. He would not accept the fact that he had been confined to prison merely to await probably execution or that he had only a faint hope for release.
2. Refusing to take the offensive, he began to tell others of his highly personal rescue on the Damascus road.
3. He encountered Jesus and had been forever changed.
a. The record of Paul's spiritual rescue is preserved in Acts 9 and 22.
b. It stands today as an inspired historical reality.
c. We still look to this today in teaching the ABCs of salvation, conviction, and conversion.
B. Similar to our own era, the time in which Paul lived was one in which people had become disillusioned with shallow substitutes for reality.
1. They longed for something substantial, something that would give them confidence concerning the meaning of life and hope for the future beyond the grave.
2. Christianity provided the only answer then and Paul delivered the message with a certainty that made the people realize their craving for inner peace would be met only in Christ.
3. Paul believed there was only one issue in life:
In the world of uncertainty only Christ can bring that which will give one something to "die by and live for."
C. As Paul delivered this message to the people around him, a strange thing happened.
1. The soldiers, impressed by Paul's strength of character, wanted to know more about his Savior and Lord.
2. As his guards believed, the word was spread.
a. Paul became an object of interest.
b. Through those people whom Paul contacted, the gospel was spread even further.
D. The word Paul used for "furtherance" describes the progress of an army.
1. In other places this term means cutting away the trees and undergrowth and removing barriers that would ordinarily hinder an army's progress.
2. This is significant in Paul's case.
a. If he had tried to "crash" the emperor's inner circle, he never could have succeeded, because there were too many obstacles in the way.
b. Since he was a prisoner, however, he could see these people face to face and teach them.
c. Surely, his decision, while in Caesurae, to appeal to Rome, was God's will at work in his life although he may not have completely comprehended that time.
3. The trip to Rome gave him an even greater field of service for the Lord.
III. "WAXING CONFIDENT IN MY BONDS" - Phil 1:13-14
A. People have far more influence than they realize.
1. Although Paul was a prisoner, his dauntless faith and indomitable sprit encouraged believers who were weak.
2. Other children of God who came in contact with Paul were hesitant to stand firmly for their faith, but Paul, by his boldness, gave them renewed strength.
B. Recently I heard the powerful testimony of an outstanding Christian tell how, as a young man, he was at a social activity when alcoholic beverages were served.
1. He had not expected this and did not want to drink.
2. At the same time, it seemed everyone else at the table was allowing the waiter to pour them a drink.
a. He saw a young lady there whom he respected very much and decided he would wait and watch to see what she did.
b. When she smiled sweetly and turned her glass up-side down indicating that she did not wish to be served, he immediately did likewise.
c. That girl later became his wife, and they lived many years together, serving the Lord with gladness.
1) Her firmness of strength gave him the courage to act out his own inner conviction.
2) How important is our influence?
3. WALK THE TALK
"Life without purpose is barren indeed.
There can't be a harvest unless you plant seed.
There can't be attainment unless there's a goal.
And man's but an object unless there's a soul.
If we send no ships out, no ships will come in.
And unless there's a contest, nobody can win.
For games can't be won unless they are played.
And prayers won't be answered unless they are prayed."
IV. "SOME PREACH CHRIST EVEN OF ENVY AND STRIFE" - Phil 1:15-18
A. Paul could have been more disturbed had he allowed himself to be, by the people who were seeking to discredit him personally.
1. It seems incredible that there should have been jealousy and envy among the Christians when they were trying to face and cope with so much difficulty.
2. Paul does not expand on this or give us any details but merely mentions that people seemed to be adding to his bonds by the manner in which they were teaching the gospel.
a. Things never really change much, do they?
b. On the other hand, we must stop splintering the Lord's church through short-sighted internal conflicts and focus in an outward manner to get the best inward results.
3. Where are our wounds? Is there nothing to fight for? How complacent are we about the world's causes, both great and small? Have we accepted with weak resignation that nothing can change, and that to try isn't worth the effort? Perhaps the call to comfort rings louder than the call to bear a cross . . . churches avoid controversy. A preacher at mid-life wrote, "Wherever the Apostle Paul went, there was a riot. Wherever I go, they serve tea.
4. If the church is the body of Christ, as Paul claims, shouldn't it also have some wounds? Yet too often, we are the cushiest people around!
B. Although we cannot be sure, these people may very well have been the Christians who had been influenced by the Judaizers and who were opposed to Paul's message of grace without either the ceremonies or the good deeds of the law.
1. Paul's philosophy is excellent still to this day.
2. Don't fight your opponents, especially if you are centered in the Lord's work and what they are doing will not ultimately doom and damn others.
3. People come to the Lord, not because of our clever arguments but because they have experienced an intense sense of shame over their sins!
a. They come to Him because they simply have no one else to turn to to rid them of the guilt and stain sin causes.
b. Hebrews 1 & 2 addresses the fact that He, and He alone, was sent to accomplish this other-wise "mission impossible."
c. Jesus meets the needs of humanity and can trans-form one's life even though the messenger may be riddled with flaws.
1) Examples of men (preachers and elders) who have occupied positions of respect, who have successfully taught and baptized others and later became castaways.
2) Or adulterers, etc.
3) Their behavior had no bearing on the validity of the obedience to Christ by those they taught.
V. "MY SALVATION..., THE SPIRIT OF JESUS CHIRST" - Phil 1:19
A. Paul knew that if he kept his spirit in tune with the
Lord, he would be vindicated.
1. Some scholars believe the expression "my salvation" refers to Paul's own personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ, while others think it refers to his deliverance from prison.
2. In a sense, both may be rue, but Paul probably was indicating that if the Philippians continued to pray for him and the he maintained a sweet Christian spirit, he would be victorious in his forthcoming trial in the Roman court system.
3. This is always the way to meet opposition—with firm conviction, prayer, meditation, a fierce obedience along with unrivaled courage to preserver.
4. We must never compromise our beliefs, but also we should not become so mean and militant that we harm the message through an obstinate and haughty attitude.
B. Adversity can and will strengthen us. We can turn our burdens into bridges.
1. A biologist watched an ant carrying a piece of straw. The ant came to a crack in the ground. The ant put the straw across the crack and walked over on the straw. The straw was a burden, but the ant used the burden as a bridge.
2. Wise people let their burdens bear them up instead of weighing them down.
3. An ancient philosopher said, "Adversity has the effect of eliciting talent which, in prosperous circumstances, would have lain dormant."
CONCLUSION:
A. Whatever the sorrow or shame, or the time of crisis, we can profit from it.
1. God's will is perceived more clearly during the dark of night and the result of discouragement than in the noon-time of prosperity.
2. A Christian went through a period of difficulty but came out closer to God and wrote:
If all of life were sunshine,
If none of life were gray,
We could not understand the joy
Of shadows passed away.
If all of life were laughter,
If none of life were tears,
We could not understand the peace
That comes with banished fears.
God often uses sorrow
To teach us of his grace,
But when the troubles disappear
We see his smiling face.
Fret not against the heartaches,
His purpose they fulfill,
For when he heals the broken life
He shapes it to his will.
B. Many people have won victories over circumstances and have made significant contributions to the world that has blessed the lives of millions.
1. Milton was blind.
2. Beethoven was deaf.
3. David Livingstone's fever-stricken body...
C. Faith is not the ability to explain things but a spirit that dares to venture even when it does not have the key to the puzzle.
…
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