WILLING TO SUFFER FOR THE LORD?

Newsletter 264 October 9, 2011
Philippians 1:12-26 King James Version (KJV)

This letter is addressed to the church at Philippi. This church began with the conversion of Lydia and her fellow workers when they believed his teaching and obeyed his instructions out under the trees that bordered the riverside. Then it probably doubled with the conversion of the jailer and his family after they had been arrested and thrown into prison. These were people who knew hard work and suffering, and they showed this in the intensity of their love for others and for Paul, their evangelist. They sent often to aid him, even though at the time of writing, he was in prison again. He was there again because of preaching unpopular truths to nonbelievers.

He never complained of these problems, but counted them to be permitted of God that His Word might be preached, even to those who rejected it.

12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;

God can turn all conditions to good if we allow Him.

PAUL’S IMPRISONMENT SPREAD THE GOSPEL EVEN IN THE PALACE

13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

How else could he have reached the very guards and staff of the palace? and through them, many others as well.

THIS STRENGTHENED THE FAITH OF THE CHURCH

14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

There began during and after the great depression in America, a period when church buildings were neglected, and people were suffering, My own mother resorted to welfare for a short time, and I as a child mowed yards for 25c a time. Pockets were empty, but people were living by faith, and missionary projects both at home and abroad flourished. Bible colleges opened all over the nation. I, myself, enrolled in one of those infant schools, now a university. Then it had one concrete block building on an 18 inch campus all around. That was a time when faith and love flourished, and the church grew by leaps and bounds all over the world; also the college!

BUT IT WAS ALSO A TIME WHEN SOME BEGAN TO PREACH FOR THE WRONG MOTIVES.

15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will:

16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds:

When things are easy, there is also a tendency to follow the easy path of seeking, not for love, but numbers for number’s sake, wealth, huge congregations, beautiful buildings with every amenity, and the ways of the world creep in. Why? Probably because the members feel unloved and neglected; perhaps, that they have become just a number.

17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

The whole gospel message is a message of love, so make those other things at least secondary, and return to a love based message where every convert has a job to do out of love. Not everyone is self motivated. Those will stay, but if he feels unloved and unnecessary, perhaps even “used” the weaker is going to find greener fields in which to graze, using the illustration of the church as like a flock.

18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,

20 According to my earnest expectation and my hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death.

LIKE PAUL, TO DIE IS GAIN FOR ALL BELIEVERS

21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.

22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

IF THE CHURCH SUFFERS, IT WILL GROW.

23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better:

24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you.

25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;

26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

BUT IF IT IS SOFT, UNLOVED, UNLOVING, AND FAITHLESS, IT IS ALREADY DEAD AND DOES NOT KNOW IT.

That is the difference between the church at Philippi, (Revelation 3:7-13) and the church at Laodicea. (Revelation 3:14-22).

To me the church at Philippi represents the church struggling and coming out of the depression years, the church at Laodicea, the present, (materialist), loveless time of wealth, numbers, pride, and unfortunately death.

If we think of the letters to the churches as charting the church from beginning until the end of the era, then, the last one is also a warning. God spoke to all of them up until the last one as a body. He speaks to Laodicea as individuals.
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READ THE BIBLE THROUGH AGAIN IN 2011
OCTOBER

9th. Sunday – Jeremiah 20, 21, 22, Colossians 3, Psalm 118:1-8
10th. Monday – Jeremiah 23, 24, Colossians 4, Psalm 119:9-16
11th. Tuesday – Jeremiah 25, 26, 1 Thessalonians 1, Proverbs 24:23-34
12th. Wednesday - Jeremiah 27, 28, 29, 1 Thessalonians 2, Psalm 119:17-24
13th. Thursday - Jeremiah 30, 31, 1 Thessalonians 3, Psalm 119:25-32
14th. Friday – Jeremiah 32, 33, 1 Thessalonians 4, Psalm 119:33-40
15th. Saturday - Jeremiah 34, 35, 36, 1 Thessalonians 5, Proverbs 25:1-10

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THIS WEEK'S SCRIPTURE

“God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth: and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.” - Philippians 2:9-11
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