Joy in Difficult Circumstances
Part 2
• Paul, the Founder, is in Prison for serving Jesus.
• Epaphroditus – one of the Philippian church’s pastors almost died trying to help Paul.
• Paul the people Philippi and some didn’t like him and smeared his good name.
In Verses 12-18, we learn
- I can trust God when I do not see everything He is doing.
- The gospel message and mission advancing is more important than my personal circumstances.
- People loving Jesus is more vital than everyone loving me.
- What excites Paul should excite us – He could not wait to make a formal presentation (defense) that Christianity is true.
How?
1. Truths of the Bible.
My current difficulties are temporary
2. Prayers of the Believers
God is at work in and through our prayers
3. Supply of the Spirit
John 14:16 And I will pray the Father, and he shall give you another Comforter, that he may abide with you for ever;
Romans 8:26 Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmities: for we know not what we should pray for as we ought: but the Spirit itself maketh intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.
Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.
Ephesians 3:20 Now unto him that is able to do exceeding abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that worketh in us,
4. Jesus is Magnified .
Philippians 1:21 becomes a valuable test of our lives.
“For to me to live is _________ and to die is .” Fill in the blanks yourself.
“For to me to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.”
“For to me to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten.”
“For to me to live is power and to die is to lose it all.”
No, we must echo Paul’s convictions if we are going to have joy in spite of circumstances, and if we are going to share in the furtherance of the Gospel.
“For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain!”
Warren W. Wiersbe, The Bible Exposition Commentary, vol. 2 (Wheaton, IL: Victor Books, 1996), 70.