Sometimes when I get calls, I’m a little worried. Mostly when things are going well, the pastor rarely hears from people. But when there’s a problem, the pastor gets a telephone call. At that time, people ask two questions: “Why has this happened to me?” and “What should I do in this situation?” Every child of God has asked himself, “Why should this happen to me? Why do I have to suffer like this? If I am a child of God, why did God allow this?” So when we face those difficult times, we lose all our joy.
Surely the Apostle Paul should have asked this question when he was in prison in Rome. Humanly speaking, things had not worked out as Paul had planned them. In Romans 1, he says he wanted to go to Rome to preach the gospel, saying, “I hope to have a prosperous journey to come to you.” But it was not a prosperous journey at all, but a very adventurous one. In Jerusalem a few years before the writing of this letter, Paul came to the Jerusalem temple after his long missionary journey. Jews were waiting to tear him to pieces. They saw him, and a wild mob gathered and falsely accused him of bringing a Gentile into the holy temple. As a result, he was severely beaten and would have been torn to pieces, but a Roman officer came with soldiers and had to pull Paul from the crowd. He was then put in prison for no fault of his own and narrowly escaped a flogging with rods by pleading Roman citizenship. His whole nation was burning with anger and revenge against him for preaching Christ. Forty Jews even took a vow that they would not eat until Paul was dead. The Roman officer who arrested him was afraid to let him out because of what they might do to him, which could lead to a big religious and political riot in his province.
Knowing they would kill him soon, he was taken overnight to Caesarea to Governor Felix, where he spent two years waiting in prison. Two governors, Felix and Festus, tried him and found no fault. In all the trials, no crime was proven. They played political games with this man. Felix didn’t release him to please the Jews, expecting a bribe from Paul. Then the next governor, Festus, also couldn’t resolve the case. He asked Herod Agrippa what to do. The case was hanging for two years and not going anywhere, so Paul appealed to Caesar.
Because of his appeal to Caesar, he was put on a ship and sent to Rome. On that journey, he was in the biggest storm for many days; it didn’t stop. He and all the prisoners would have lost their lives during many days of terrible storm and danger. Then, they were shipwrecked and swam to shore. But after escaping that storm and landing on an island, he was bitten by a poisonous snake. Everyone thought he was dead, but he escaped and was then forced to spend the winter on the island of Malta. Then, he somehow came to Rome. What a journey! If that happened to any of us—if a plane crashes and you land in a forest with life-threatening wounds and live with tribes—you would think you died and were born again. After that terrible journey, he finally reached Rome.
He finally arrived in Rome, bound by chains and waiting for the uncertain decision of a half-crazy earthly king, Nero. He again allowed Paul to languish in prison for another two years. Maybe he had his first hearing before Caesar Nero. In verse seven, he mentions his imprisonment and the defense and confirmation of the gospel. So after a first hearing, he was kept prisoner until Nero made up his mind, and months and months passed by while he waited to hear whether Nero was going to call for his execution or his release.
The conditions of his imprisonment are quite interesting. Though a prisoner, since there was no proven legal issue, he was given some freedom. Acts 28 talks about that. Paul was allowed to stay under house arrest, but for 24 hours, he had to be chained to a guard. In verse 20, he says, “I am wearing this chain for the gospel,” but people could come and visit him. Even groups could come, and he could preach to them. He was chained to a guard 24 hours a day. According to Roman custom, the guards would change every six hours. So he would have four different men chained to him over a period of a day, at all times, so he could not escape. That was his condition.
Think of him, what did he do? Surely Paul must have thought to himself, “Why must I suffer as an innocent person? Why has God placed me in this distressing circumstance?” We would not blame him if he was sad and depressed. He was God’s chief apostle to the Gentiles. He was well-educated, experienced, and influential. He had founded churches all over the places. He had been used by God to pen much of our New Testament. He had endured much persecution and hardship in his labors for the Lord. By now, he was over 60, at a time in life when a man looks forward to enjoying the fruits of his lifelong labors, but he was in prison and suffering. It’s an unimaginable personal pain for a man who wanted to go and preach the gospel everywhere. His skills and the ability to go and found churches and go back and strengthen churches, the ability to train leaders, to be on the move, to carry that apostolic commission to its fullest were now at an end. He did not even have the solitude that a man of God so craves. Even for the little tasks of life, he knew no privacy, for he was forever and always chained to a Roman soldier. He slept chained to a Roman soldier. He wrote chained to a Roman soldier. He ate chained to a Roman soldier, ever and always. This was his condition.
The wonder of wonders is this man, in the midst of all this, is filled with joy. How? In verse 18, he says, “I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice.” In verse four, he says, “My prayers even are filled with joy.” In chapter two, “I rejoice,” verse 17, “and share my joy with you all.” In chapter three, verse one, “Rejoice in the Lord.” In chapter four, verse four, “Rejoice in the Lord always; and again I will say, rejoice!” “Don’t worry about anything, don’t be sorrowful. Don’t fret and worry. Rejoice like me.” How? We have learned several secrets so far, and now let us see another secret of Paul’s joy.
Let us find out what is filling him with such joy. We’ll look at two things: the cause for his joy and two pieces of evidence for his joy.
The Cause for His Joy
The Philippians were worried about Paul’s condition in prison; that’s why they sent gifts and Epaphroditus to find out how Paul was doing. So far in the letter, he has just thanked God and prayed for them, and they want to know how Paul is doing. Now, for the first time, he tells them about his condition in verse 12.
“But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.”
It is said that joy depends not on circumstances but on our perspective, how we see the situation. Paul saw this situation completely differently from how we see it. It is the joy of suffering for the gospel. This is the joy of gospel ministry; it is unrelated to circumstances. He is saying that though terrible things have happened to him, he is so joyful because all this has resulted in the spread of the gospel.
If his joy was related to circumstances, he wouldn’t have had any joy. If his joy was related to pleasures on this earth, he wouldn’t have had any joy. If his joy was related to possessions in this world, he wouldn’t have had any joy. If his joy was related to freedom in this life, prestige, or a good reputation, he wouldn’t have had any joy. But his joy was all related to something completely other than that. It was all related to the gospel ministry, and in spite of his chains and all his troubles, he is experiencing the joy of the gospel ministry because the gospel is spreading through his trials. What a marvelous truth. Let us see his words.
He begins by saying, “brethren,” in a tone of intimacy. They are dear friends bonded in gospel fellowship. Only they will understand his joy, not others. “Now I want you to know,” a phrase used in old letters, as in “I want you to get this, or I want you to know this, or understand this.” What you’re saying is, “This is very important. And you’re also saying it might be misunderstood. Carefully go through this section because this may be different than you might have thought.” Another way Paul would say it is, “I would not have you to be ignorant.” It is something that’s important, something that might be a bit surprising, something not easily obvious that needs to be understood. The implied meaning is that they may be expecting him to say, “because I am in jail, woe is me, and the gospel ministry is over or very small now.” “No, no, I don’t want you to think that. I want you to understand that just the opposite is true.”
“Okay, Paul, what do you want us to know?” In verse 13, “that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” All that he went through—the Jerusalem temple riot, the wild crowd attacking him, the Roman arrest, the trials, the shipwreck, being washed up on the island, and four years in Rome—all those terrible things personally, but the whole thing has turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. He loves that. “Yes, I had a plan to come to Rome and spread the gospel, but God had a better plan than mine. I was thinking that instead of this thing shutting down the ministry, it has expanded the ministry. The good news is, this has all turned out for the progress of the gospel.” The NASB says, “for the greater progress.”
Everyone has different passions. Can you ask yourself that question? “What’s the passion for which you live? What drives you? What consumes your energies? What dominates your time? What dominates your thinking? What dominates your reading? What makes your life tick?” You know, the great passion of this man’s heart was the progress of the gospel, the spreading of the gospel to the whole world. It was such a deep passion. To fulfill that, he didn’t care about what happened to him, even his own body, his future, or his circumstances. The only thing that really mattered to him was the progress of the gospel. That was his passion.
A few years before, when he was going around cities preaching the gospel, he came to a beach and spoke to the Ephesian elders. In Acts 20:22-24, he says, “And see, now I go bound in the spirit to Jerusalem, not knowing the things that will happen to me there, except that the Holy Spirit testifies in every city, saying that chains and tribulations await me. But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God.” “I could care less about my life and my possessions, my clothes, my recognition, reputation, prestige—whatever it is. I just want to finish the course and the ministry I received from the Lord Jesus. Woe is unto me if I preach not the gospel.” The man is under compulsion. He was a driven man; he was driven for the progress of the gospel. He lived for the gospel and lived to progress it. If the gospel progressed, nothing else mattered. Boy, what a model. Where do we stand in this passion? This Great Commission? Are you so consumed with the progress of the gospel? Is that what drives you? Is that our priority prayer? Is that what compels your energies and your thoughts?
The word “progress” doesn’t just mean “moves along.” It has an inherent idea that something is “moving along in spite of obstacles, danger, and distraction.” It is moving in spite of resistance. The word is a military term, “advance” or “march,” used when an army goes to attack a nation. They won’t just look for a road, but they will just demolish houses, buildings, and cut trees, demolishing anything in their way so their army may march. I saw that at Ulsoor lake; we find a way or make a way. The Israel army now in war, just finds a way, even underground. “Progress against resistance, progress against hindrance.”
So he says the gospel is advancing against obstacles. And the chief obstacle was his imprisonment. But far from binding the gospel and halting it, the gospel was advancing against these circumstances. This man burned with a passion to advance the gospel. He lived to preach it, and he lived to advance it. We sit and give 101 excuses for opposition like cats; opposition never stopped this tiger, never. 1 Thessalonians 2:2 says that “we have preached the gospel amidst much opposition.” It never bothered him. Opposition never stops the gospel.
If the true fire for the gospel burden burns in the heart of God’s child by the Holy Spirit, no opposition can stop it. Everything the world did to hinder the gospel only spread the gospel. They tried to hinder the gospel by killing Jesus, but that very act became the message of the gospel. The early church was persecuted. In Acts 8, the church was scattered, and that scattering of the church was the evangelization of everywhere. It’s even in church history. You know, John Bunyan was known as a great fiery preacher. His preaching was so powerful that even the great John Owen came early to hear him, but they put him in the Bedford jail to silence him. But he preached sermons at the top of his voice which wafted over the walls, and people would gather outside the jail walls to hear him preach though they couldn’t see him. They finally put him down inside an underground dungeon to silence him, where nobody could hear him preach. But you know what he did? By doing that, they made him write one book which preached the gospel to millions and millions, generation after generation, and is still wonderfully preaching the gospel to millions of people: the book Pilgrim’s Progress. You see, you cannot stop the gospel.
So we see the reason for Paul’s joy is that his imprisonment has resulted in the spread of the gospel. We always see our situation as to how it affects us. You know Paul had a different perspective. He was a true example of our Lord’s words. Our Lord said lasting happiness is not running after the world; you will find true life and happiness when you lose your life for the gospel. He said, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me. For whoever wishes to save his life shall lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake and the gospel’s shall save it” (Mark 8:34, 35). He made the same point in the Sermon on the Mount, where He contrasted the pagans, who eagerly seek after the material comforts of life, with believers, who are to “seek first His kingdom and righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you” (Matt. 6:33).
You will not find true joy running after anything in life. You will find life and true happiness only when you lose your life for the gospel. It is the opposite of what the world and selfishness teach you. Paul’s was a great example of this truth. He was denying himself and losing himself for the gospel, so he had infinite joy.
Imagine the response of the Philippians when they heard this. It would have been not only a great surprise and relief to the Philippians but also a greater joy. For I remind you that this was a church like Paul’s, passionately committed to the spread of the gospel. Earlier, we saw that they were partners in the gospel from the first day until now. They were the only church that shared his great passion to bring the gospel to other regions. They were not like many churches that just selfishly enjoyed gospel privileges but were passionately committed to the spread of the gospel. Now, did Paul say this just to comfort them? Was it just an assumption, a dream, a wish, or a prayer of Paul that things that happened to him resulted in the progress of the gospel?
Evidence of His Joy
No. Next, we see that not only was the cause of his joy the joy of gospel ministry, but secondly, he gives two pieces of evidence that the gospel is spreading. What is the proof that the gospel is spreading? Two proofs: one in verse 13 and one in verse 14. The first one is the advance of the gospel outside the church, and the second is inside the church. The impact of his ministry outside the church and inside the church, to the unbelievers and to the believers.
Let us look at the first proof. In verse 13, he speaks of the tremendous results of his imprisonment outside the church: “so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.”
The term “palace guard” refers to the Praetorian Guard. This refers to a group of soldiers, not just any soldiers. They were the top, imperial soldiers in the entire Roman kingdom, the guard that was responsible for guarding the palace of the great emperor, the imperial guard of Rome.
They were a body of about ten thousand hand-picked, best troops. They were the first-rate, finest, and most seasoned, highly trained men in the Roman army. Caesar Augustus had kept them dispersed throughout the city of Rome as his representatives. They were the leaders of his presence there, responsible for keeping the peace. They were paid double because their assignment was to protect the Emperor and be security guards for all those prisoners who were appealing to Rome, of whom Paul was one. These soldiers were the future “movers and shakers” of the Roman Empire, the most important groups in ancient Rome. After faithfully serving for 12 years, they were given big positions in government, the highest privileges of citizenship, and a large sum of money. Over time, they became a powerful political force, putting forth nominees for the Roman Senate. They became so powerful that they literally became the kingmakers of Rome, and every emperor was the choice of the Praetorian Guard. Why? Because they were the power; they could impose their will by force on the populace or on the leadership. And so they chose all the emperors—tremendously powerful men.
When Paul then arrived as a prisoner to Rome, he was put in charge of this group, the Praetorian Guard. And so he was chained to one after another of these elite soldiers of Rome. What an impact. What an incredible opportunity. Paul talks about chains; it is a short chain. Paul was actually chained to one of these top Caesar’s guards every six hours. The guards would change, and different guards would be with Paul, binding him to that Roman guard 24 hours a day. Escape was impossible; privacy was impossible. Night and day he was linked to that soldier, for over two years. Now, you have to understand it’s one thing for Paul to be chained to a soldier, and it’s a whole other point of view to realize that a soldier was chained to Paul. Have you ever tried to evangelize someone who wanted to get away? The results were very predictable. Can you imagine what the topic of conversation was? It wouldn’t be hard to imagine, would it?
Imagine being chained to Paul for six hours. That could get a little heavy-duty. Boy, what an incredible, incredible missionary opportunity. I’m sure there were Christians in the Roman church praying, “O God, help us somehow to reach Caesar’s household. Help us to get the gospel into the high places.” And there was no way in. And so the Lord, in His wonderful wisdom, made the whole Praetorian Guard captive to Paul at six-hour intervals over two years while he evangelized them all.
These guards would have seen Paul pray, sing, and listen to Paul preach the gospel to people who came to listen to him, debate with unbelieving Jews, or reason with unsaved Gentiles, or teach Christians. They saw Paul write and dictate letters (Philippians, Colossians, Ephesians, Philemon), and they observed him reading the Old Testament scriptures and praying. These soldiers became a captive audience. They would see his character, his graciousness, his patience, his love, his wisdom, and his conviction. God used his example to change some of these hardened, rude, rough, and tough soldiers. They were deeply moved by what they saw and heard and felt in the presence of Paul. And the result was that the Praetorian Guard became the second line of local evangelism, going out and telling everybody about this man who was a prisoner for preaching Christ. It became “well known” or “manifest.” And it was widely understood that he was a prisoner because of his message, because of his zeal to preach Christ. “Everyone knows that I’m a prisoner, not because I committed a crime, but because I preach Christ.” And the Praetorian Guard were being converted. You say, “How do you know that?” Look at chapter four, verse 22, when he closes the letter almost tongue-in-cheek. In verse 22, he says, “All the saints greet you, especially those of Caesar’s household.” Little by little, the conversion of Caesar’s household is taking place.
Notice it was not just the preaching ability of Paul, but his life witness. They all clearly knew that he had not committed a crime, and he was unjustly arrested. In the midst of deep affliction, they saw his joy and not one complaint. He will tell us to do everything without complaining so you shine as bright lights. In the midst of the worst injustice and suffering, they didn’t hear one murmur. That amazed them. That was the context that made his message so viable, so believable, because they knew what he was suffering. And they knew his life was on the line. And they knew he could lay his head on a block and have an axe chop it off his body if Nero so decided. And he knew it too, and they knew he knew it. And they must have been in awe of the man. I mean, we know there was no argument they could give that he could not answer. His message, his character, and his life—and all of it out of suffering—his message was so believable. And the impact was that Caesar’s household was starting to fill up with saints.
Think of it: “How absolutely sincere and consistent and faithful the Apostle must have been. If there had been the least divergence, day or night, from the high standard which he upheld and preached, his soldier companions would have caught at it and passed it on to others. The fact that so many became earnest Christians and that the word of Jesus was known far and wide throughout the Praetorian Guard indicates how absolutely sincere and consistent the Apostle’s life was,” end quote.
See the wise providence of God. God wanted to reach these powerful soldiers, these future leaders, with the gospel. How could that happen? You cannot conduct a gospel meeting to gather these mighty men. Who would want to hear a Jew from Tarsus talk about some man named Jesus? But God wanted to reach the Praetorian Guards, so He took His best man and had him unjustly arrested and sent to Rome where he was put in jail and chained to a member of the Praetorian Guards 24 hours a day. Since they changed guards every six hours, this meant Paul had a new audience four times a day, 28 times a week, and over 2900 times in two years. His chains had a chained reaction to spread the gospel in Rome. It was an “Evangelism Explosion.” Only God could think of something like this. Paul saw the wisdom of God and was filled with joy.
Now this became Rome’s headline news—I mean, absolute headline news throughout Rome. It says in verse 13, “I love this, that it was ‘well known through the whole Praetorian Guard and to everyone else.'” Not only the guards, but “everybody else.” Just what it says, “everybody else” in Rome. Rome wasn’t so big, and news spread like wildfire. You’d know it if it started to happen in our country. If a revival, for example, hit the BJP office and Parliament in Delhi, we’d know. The word would spread, and it did spread. “Everyone else.” And people were coming to him then in crowds, and he was preaching and teaching. And here, what looked like a disaster turns out for the progress of the gospel. And that’s how God used him to evangelize Rome. So, this confinement for being a gospel preacher gained him great attention and advertisement. Great fame; his fame spread through the whole city. Acts 28:30-31 says, “Crowds were coming and coming and coming, and he was preaching the gospel.” People were being converted. But the message was spread most effectively by those who were closest to him, the whole Praetorian Guard.
So we see the reason for Paul’s joy was suffering for gospel progress, and he gives the first evidence of that spread outside the church. His imprisonment also began to change things inside the church. Look at verse 14.
“and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”
Now the implication here is that before Paul’s imprisonment, the church was lacking courage. Maybe they were afraid of Roman persecution or Nero, since they worshipped Caesar. There was a growing hostility against Christianity and the gospel of Christ. Paul was living proof of that because he was a prisoner for preaching. And you can imagine that the church preachers were saying, “We want to be very careful because we don’t want to end up in jail. We want to keep our freedom, so we don’t want to say too much.” So they lacked great courage and great boldness and that forthright, confrontive attitude that should belong to the prophet of God. And their general trend was to live like silent witnesses, justifying that with opposition, preaching with fear and shyness, fearing that imprisonment might end their effectiveness and halt the progress of the gospel.
Just like how we are today under our circumstances and government. We live a little under that illusion, that we want to be sure we maintain the freedom for the gospel to move, because we don’t understand how God overrules the obstacles and how He purifies the church through adversity.
But when they began to see Paul and his ministry, and God providing for him and sustaining him, giving him this incredible outreach ministry, and he was evangelizing Caesar’s house and the Praetorian Guard, and the whole city knew about it and Rome was coming to him, and people were being saved, it says, in verse 14, “most of the brethren.” Pleionas means “majority,” not just many, but “the majority” of the brethren were trusting.
When they began to see the effectiveness of Paul, they began to see how God protected him. They began to see how God was using him in tremendous ways to evangelize Jews and Gentiles. And their courage was renewed and their zeal was increased and their boldness was strengthened by his brave example and the results of his ministry. And so, verse 14 says they “are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” The Greek word here means “the abundance of courage to speak the Word of God.” They believed that if God could minister through him in that condition, He could minister through them as well. And so his strength became their strength. What a tremendous truth. The example of his life touched them all. The impact of one life revolutionized one whole church. Again, the gospel was spreading—fearlessly. It doesn’t say “pastors” or “brothers”; even church members have received a new impetus to be bold and unflinching in their proclamation of the Gospel. This was a lay movement. Every Christian began to share the good news of Christ with their friends, neighbors, business associates, classmates, or whoever.
Seeing Paul’s example, being so confident, so assured, and so bold under such adverse circumstances, they were willing to suffer themselves for the cause of the gospel. Paul’s example was infectious, and the Christians at Rome moved out for Christ. Paul, through the saints at Rome, was multiplying his ministry. This proves that the power of an example is worth a thousand sermons.
So, here is a man who has negative circumstances beyond our ability to understand them, chained to a Roman soldier. And yet he’s a model of joy. Why? Because his joy isn’t related to his comfort. His joy is not related to worldly pleasures, freedom, success, or reputation. His joy is strictly tied to the advance of the gospel, so he has joy in his gospel ministry, in spite of trouble, as long as the gospel is advanced, as long as Christ’s cause is extended. His chains, in a sense, became an effective line of communication to these elite soldiers of the Roman Empire. And if they were converted, they would carry the message to the rest of the city and, for that matter, the rest of the world. And so he was rejoicing in the progress of the gospel.
If your prayers are not earnest, it shows that even though you say you are not satisfied, you have secretly decided that this much growth is enough. This satisfaction with your Christian growth is reflected in your prayer life. You know how Christ sees such people who are so satisfied with their growth. In Revelation, He says, “You say, ‘I am rich; I have acquired wealth and do not need a thing.'” You don’t see any spiritual need that makes you pray earnestly. He says, “I’m about to puke you.” The tender, meek, loving Christ uses such language. “I am about to vomit you out.” Your apathy sickens me. Oh, my fellow believer, if we learn our theology of the Christian life from the Scriptures, from the prayers of the Apostle in particular, we must come to the conviction that it’s a life that ought to be characterized by continuous growth and increase. That will be reflected in earnest prayers.
Secondly, there is another very practical principle concerning the Christian life in this prayer, and it’s this: it is a life lived in fellowship with and dependence on union with Jesus Christ. Notice the language: “having been filled with the fruits of righteousness” (verse 11), “which are through Jesus Christ.” The Apostle, as he thinks of the Philippian Christians there in the real situation at Philippi, having to live in a pagan society with all the pressure of demonic influence, the immorality, and the ignorance of paganism, knows that if we have to bear fruit, we have to learn to live in union with Christ, a living, vital union with the Lord Jesus. Our Lord said in John 15, “I am the vine, you are the branches. As a branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me.” “Abide in Me, and My words in you.” When you abide, you will ask, “Ask what you will, and it shall be done.” “Herein is my Father glorified that you bear much fruit.” And you see the close conjunction between abiding in Christ, praying, and glorifying the Father by bearing much fruit.
You may superficially say, “I am not content; I have to grow.” If you truly have that desire, your desire and fervor to grow more and more will make you pray and make you abide in Christ. Your prayers indicate your passion to grow and to increase. And if that is there, then you will grow and increase only as you live in fellowship with and dependence on the Lord Jesus Christ. Christ is not only believed in initially for saving and the removal of sins; He has to be our daily meat and drink. That’s the Christian life, a life lived in fellowship with and dependence on the Lord Jesus.
Lessons on the Christian Life
The first lesson is that true growth in the Christian life happens when we are sincere. One word can change our life. Sincere in our secret life, personal reading, prayer, and godly living; sincere in church responsibilities and church attendance; sincere in tithing; sincere at home and at work. Oh, isn’t this where we fail and grieve the Holy Spirit? When we live such sincere lives, how much of the Holy Spirit’s fullness we can experience. Our society is full of paganism, with all roads blocked by idolatry. On the other side, men’s meetings are filled with unbearable, blasphemous false teachings in the church. If we want to be witnesses for the great truths we believe, we have to live sincere lives to the truth. Oh, can we live such sincere lives?
The next lesson is that if you want to live a sincere life and you don’t want to be complacent, satisfied with your Christian life, you must realize that the true Christian life can only be lived in the light of the day of Christ. Imagine that after sending gifts and Epaphroditus to help Paul, the Philippians would imagine Paul must be just thanking God and appreciating how loving and how wise they are, how much they’ve grown. When they read this letter, they would hear Paul praying, “that our love may abound more and more in knowledge and discernment… that we may approve the things that are excellent in order that we may be sincere and void of offense… until that time.” They would think, “Ah, we have all grown a lot in all that,” but when he said, “in light of the day of Christ,” and the moment their ears heard that they have to progress in grace in the light of that day, then they will realize, “Oh, how much we should grow… how much we have not grown.”
You see, the great motivation to grow in the Christian life sincerely and never become complacent is to realize our growth should be in the light of the day of Jesus Christ. The coming glory. I told you that if God is going to be universally and eternally glorified through the work He has done in our lives, do we realize how much we should grow in God’s grace—in love, knowledge, and discernment—and how sincere and without offense we should live? We see in the New Testament that all the vigorous, growing churches grew because of that vision. Paul spoke about the Thessalonians’ conversion and growth. He says, “You turned to God from your idols to serve the living and the true God and to wait for his Son from heaven.” The Christian life can be properly lived only when it is lived in the light of that day.
How has your Christian life grown in the last week? How much in love, knowledge, and discernment? Very dull, no growth at all, nothing to say. Can I tell you the main reason for your dullness? How many times have you thought of the second coming of Christ in the last week? How many times have you thought, “If he comes today, how will I stand? You will stand before him and be fully manifested for what you are.” You will be judged by your works, whether you are tares or wheat, wise virgins or foolish. Today, everyone is mixed in the church. That day is the separation day. How often did that thought even cross your mind the past week? Ask your own conscience how you will stand before him.
“But Pastor, I was busy with God-given work and family responsibilities; I had no time for anything.” Didn’t Christ say that’s how people’s minds will be when He comes? Just like in Noah’s day, they were eating, drinking, giving in marriage, and taking care of family responsibilities. Nothing was wrong, but their minds had no higher motives and thoughts. They were all washed away. But you didn’t live in the light of the day of Christ. We need to confess to God the sin of allowing other things to cloud our vision, to get us so earthbound that we have not been any good to God or to his kingdom. Isn’t that a sign of being cast out from the presence of God, for which David prayed? Cain was cast out to live a life of eating, drinking, and marrying. “Set your mind, your affections upon things above where Christ is seated at the right hand of God.”
When He comes, the Bible says everywhere that everyone, including believers, will be judged by their works, by their fruits. Yes, we are saved by faith, but at His second coming, it is only our works that prove our faith; it is only our fruits that prove our faith. That day we cannot say we have faith; His Word says, “Faith without works is dead.” You just had a dead faith. You called me “Lord, Lord,” and “in your name, you did this and that,” but He will say, “Depart from you, workers of iniquities. You cursed, ‘Depart from me, you who are cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.'” Aren’t you scared of those words? Some of you have no worry about growth or fruit; you just come to church and go. Oh, may God wake you up from your deadly sleep.
In his prayer, Paul lays out a summary of how to live the Christian life. It is a life of continuous increase and growth, a life lived in dependence on and in fellowship with Christ, a sincere life lived in the light of the day of Christ.
Theological Doctrine and Life
Finally, see that the passage contains not only profound lessons on prayer and practical principles on the Christian life but also a very powerful example of the relationship between theological doctrine and life. You see, the most lofty theological truths have the most practical implications. If you were to go through this prayer and underline every profound theological truth, you’d be amazed, and you would be tired of writing. Verse 1 has the doctrine of the church—saved and made saints with pastors and deacons. Verse 2 has the doctrine of grace and peace. Verse 3 has the doctrine of the Trinity, “our God and Father” and “Lord Jesus Christ.” The doctrine of the great blessings of the covenant: “I thank my God.” The doctrine of the preservation of the saints: “confident that He who has begun a good work will perfect it.” The doctrine of union with Christ. The doctrine of good works: “The fruits of righteousness, which are by Christ Jesus.” The doctrine of the Second Coming. The great concept of the glory of God. Those are the great and substantial realities upon which faith feeds. This prayer itself is filled with so much doctrine. Unless you learn to use your brain and learn these lofty doctrines, you will not be able to pray deeply or think deeply, and you will not have the discernment to live life properly. Do you see the wonderful relationship between deep doctrine and prayer and practical life?
Parker said that in a way, all our life problems are because we don’t know the deep truths of God. Using our brain and learning these truths and believing them will only bring true deliverance in life. I say this because we are a generation of mentally lazy people. We want entertainment; we want people to speak to our emotions, and we hate anything that makes us think deeply for long. If I were up here this morning speaking of the most practical applications, with stories, examples, and jokes, you would be very eager, with full ears and a full heart and all enthusiasm, and you wouldn’t know how time went. But when after long hours of struggle I understand the depth of something, it fills my heart with so much joy and transforms my soul, and I try to lead you into the paths of those lofty truths that Scripture imposes upon us. I’m sorry to say that most of you grow lethargic and lazy and dull, and you give up. With a little bit of a stretch, you switch off your brain and stop following. You think, “Oh, when will he finish?”
Can I lovingly tell you that it is because of that mental laziness that you have so many problems in your life and you are not growing in Christian maturity? You are still babies. The author of Hebrews rebukes us for still being babies who cannot handle solid food. Because you have not trained your mind to grow in the deep knowledge of truth, you don’t have discernment. Today, that is why pastors and people have decided, “No deep theology preaching.” Instead, it’s “Hallelujah! You will become the head and not the tail! Hallelujah! Praise the Lord! Yes, your father, He will never leave us nor forsake us. Whatever problems you have, He will deliver you. Money, children’s studies, family, marriage, hallelujah!” All eyes are open there; there’s no deep thinking. It is all talking emotionally, with no growth in knowledge. Don’t be like this.
If you want to be blessed by God, gird your minds and shake off your mental laziness. It is only by renewing your mind that God transforms and changes your life. Without mental effort and understanding, there is no progress in life.
Grace Reformed Baptist Church, Bangalore 