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Sermon Notes of Rev.Dr.I.J.W.Oakley (3-3-1991 Cleland Baptist Church)
As we look at these verses we need to remember who wrote
them. It wasn’t an evangelist winning thousands in great campaigns. It
wasn’t a missionary society with the promise of hundreds of more recruits. It
wasn’t a church left with a legacy of £50,000. It was written by a man in a
prison cell, chained 24 hours a day to soldiers guarding him in 6 hour shifts. A
man who knew he could be called out to his execution at any time. He had no
comforts or amenities, only time with these uncouth rough men. He may have had
the occasional visitor, and he could write letters, but it certainly looked as
though his active days were over. No more church visitation, open air preaching,
or missionary journeys.
Paul’s readers were no doubt
worried and full of anxiety. How terrible. This was the end. What were they
going to do? Why did God allow it? Was it a waste of time praying? They could
not understand how events had turned out this way. But Paul says they are all
wrong. God was in the situation all the time. God was not helpless. Prayer was
not a waste of time. God had allowed the situation. Despite appearances to the
contrary, this apparent setback and adversity would actually serve to advance
the Gospel.
prokoph
is the word used for the progress of an army - removing trees,
undergrowth and barriers hindering their progress. Paul’s time in prison –
rather than shutting doors – was God’s way of opening a door. It was not a
barrier, but it opened the way to new spheres of work and activity.
We are going to look into
God’s loving and sovereign purposes. When we are at the centre of God’s
will, all that happens causes the Gospel to advance. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love
him, who have been called according to his purpose (Romans
8:28). We see the principle in Paul’s case, and then see it in Scripture
generally, and in the past and present experience of God’s people. Then the
attitude it should produce in us, the way we ought to see things.
Note that Paul is not saying that events had served to
advance himself, his comfort, his bank balance, and his reputation, but that
they served to advance the Gospel. His great passion was that Christ be
magnified in his body – by life or death. He was not in the work for his own
sake or what he could get out of it. Unless that is our ambition, we are
unlikely to be able to say things work together for good, or serve to advance
the Gospel.
But in Paul’s passion for
Christ, and deep concern to see the Gospel advance, we find great encouragement.
Paul was sure all that happened was furthering the end which was uppermost –
the Lord’s glory and advance of His cause.
Paul says his experiences had
helped outsiders and insiders. It has become clear throughout the whole
palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ
(Philippians 1:13). The soldiers were the Imperial Guard of Rome, an elite
regiment of handpicked men. They had no doubt heard of Christians before, but
had no idea who they were or what they believed or preached. Now they had one in
their barracks, and in turn they were chained to him. He was no ordinary
prisoner. They listened to his conversation and prayers, and the things he
dictated to his secretary writing the letters. They observed his patience,
gentleness, and courage in face of death. They saw the difference Christ makes
in a life. They also heard his explanation of the Gospel. News about Christ
would have spread from guard to guard, their families, the Emperor’s
household, and soon all over Rome. Paul was the talk of the town. Thus many
heard the Gospel, who Christ was and what He did for men.
The Lord wanted testimony for
the Gospel in the imperial court. The result was that through His over-ruling,
Paul was taken prisoner, and people in the army and imperial court were brought
into daily contact with a believer. They heard the Gospel, and saw its power in
this man’s life.
Insiders were also affected. Because
of my chains, most of the brothers in the Lord have been encouraged to speak the
word of God more courageously and fearlessly (Philippians 1:14). The
Christians in Rome were a despised and small minority, cowed into silence. They
were afraid of confessing Christ because of the consequences. Then they saw
Paul’s courage and boldness. They were encouraged to open their mouths. So by
His over-ruling, God stirred up Christians to activity through Paul’s
imprisonment. They had heard many sermons on boldness, but these had had no
effect. But what sermons had not achieved, Paul’s imprisonment did. If Paul in
prison was unashamed of Christ, then they needn’t be either.
So Paul’s imprisonment caused army soldiers to be found for the Lord, and it strengthened the witness of Christians. The Gospel was advanced. None of us lives to ourselves. We always influence others. Such is the over-ruling of God, that even trials and adversities can serve to advance the Gospel. Our experiences and words touch unbelievers and believers.
Constantly we see the adversity
of God’s people is over-ruled in God’s providence to further His cause and
His work. Consider the story of Joseph – envied by his brothers, sold into
slavery, his character blackened by Potiphar’s wife, thrown into prison. These
were terrible trials for a godly and innocent young man. But the Lord was with
him, and carried out His purposes through Joseph’s adversity. He became the
Prime Minister of Egypt, and in that position he saved Egypt and his own family
from extinction. He said to his brothers, You intended to harm me, but God
intended it for good (Genesis 50:20).
Job is another example. He lost
all his earthly goods, animals, children and health. He got no help from his
wife or his friends. He was misunderstood and falsely accused. But as a result
he had an experience of the power and wisdom of God, which he would not have had
if he had not gone through that trial. And what a blessing Job has been to many
sufferers since.
Before I was afflicted I went
astray, but now I obey your word. It was good for me to be afflicted so that I
might learn your decrees (Psalm 119:67,71). The Psalmist could testify that
affliction brought sanctification.
There was much persecution
following Stephen’s martyrdom. Christians were scattered everywhere, but those
who had been scattered preached the word wherever they went (Acts 8:4). The
conversion of the Philippians gaoler, and his entire household, would not have
happened if Paul and Silas had not been beaten and thrown into prison.
Then consider the greatest act
of injustice, crime and adversity of all time – the crucifixion of the
spotless Son of God. It seemed the blackest day in history, a triumph for His
enemies and for the Devil and all forces of evil. Yet this man was handed
over to you by God’s set purpose and foreknowledge (Acts 2:23). It turned
out not only to be the defeat of the Devil, but it secured redemption for a
multitude which no man can number.
Trial, setback and adversity can bring about the furtherance and advance of the Gospel and the cause of God in the world. We see it throughout Scripture.
Tertullian (AD160-220) said that the blood of martyrs was
the seed of the church. Post-New Testament times saw appalling persecution,
which caused the Gospel to triumph and the church to advance.
John Bunyan suffered for years
in jail, but as a result he wrote Pilgrim’s Progress, which has enriched the
spiritual lives of millions.
The Scottish Covenanters were
hunted down and massacred on moors in the Lowlands, or executed at Grassmarket.
Yet Christians at that time had experiences of God and a depth of faith that
they never had after persecution ceased and they were able to go to Kirk without
molestation. They left a great legacy for us.
During the communist occupation of China, there was a
purification of the Chinese church, which caused missionaries to go to other
lands who now heard the Gospel. N.B. the sorrow of Eastern European Christians
for us in the West, with our wealth and luxury and safety, we have lost so much
spiritually.
Recent news from Arab World Ministries saying “Every
crisis gives opportunities for the Gospel. Already hundreds have become
Christians. In Iraq churches have been crowded and demand for Bibles by Muslims
has been amazing.”
Stresses and turmoil in Central America resulted in the
number of evangelicals tripling in the 11 years, 1967-1978.
My own experience of a Christian prison officer being murdered by the IRA in Belfast. As a result of that tragedy, his widow had a renewed Christian experience and her witness came alive as never before. The event brought the church together as a close family.
What has happened to me has
really served to advance the Gospel (Philippians 1:12). This is a great
proclamation of the truth of God’s sovereignty. It is a great source of
comfort and power. I know that the Lord is great. The Lord does whatever
pleases him in the heavens and on earth, in the seas and all their depths (Psalm
135:5,6). God changes the times and the seasons. He sets up kings and deposes
them (Daniel 2:21). If God is for us, who can be against us? (Romans
8:31).
Hence all that happens is with
the knowledge and permission of God. Nothing can touch us unless He allows it.
He is not helpless. All secondary causes, coming from man, are under the
Father’s control. He is able to cause these things to advance the Gospel, and
to cause Christ to be magnified in our experience.
Apply this to our present
position. Supposing we are passing through trials at the present. The main thing
is not what happens to us, but our reaction to it, and the way we look at
things.
“Two
men looked through the prison bars.
One
saw mud, the other saw stars.”
There is always danger in looking in upon ourselves,
feeling sorry for ourselves, morbid and full of self-pity. We need to try to
forget self and be interested in something else. Danger of breakdown if we have
a morbid interest in self. Transfer that interest to God. Be sure of His love to
you. Hold fast to His promise. There is nothing in life or death, present or
future, nothing in all creation which is able to separate you from the love of
God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:39).
To be sure of this will mean the
end of grumbling and murmuring against God. Why has this happened to me? It is
not fair or just. Instead, we should have a right attitude to God. It is crucial
to rest in His love, and this brings peace of mind and rest of soul. Accept the
trial as from His hand and with assurance of His love. Ask yourself, what is
God’s purpose in this? Can He use this to advance the Gospel? How can I
witness through it?
Remember people are watching
you. They know you are a Christian, and they are looking to see how a Christian
stands up to this. Remember too that you need to set an example that will
encourage other Christians who may not be so strong.
And consider, what is God
teaching me for my own good? Sometimes we stop thinking when all is going well.
Maybe all we care about is making money. Calamity can bring us up with a jolt
– and sometimes that is God’s intention. He may want you to think more
seriously about life, about the next life, about your Christian walk, about your
obedience and discipleship. He may want you to be aware of your own unworthiness
and sin. He permits adversity to send us back to Him, relying on Him more, and
knowing Him better. Spiritual things are seen again as supremely important –
something we may have forgotten.
Remember that in the midst of
everything, God is with us. He is our refuge and strength.
Thank God for a Gospel that can meet life at its worst, and enable us to emerge more than conquerors through Him that loved us. Thank God that we have a God who enables His servants to know He will never leave them nor forsake them.
