Seeing the Triumphs from the Trials
When was the last time you viewed your struggle through the prism of victory? You know what I’m talking about; when was the last time you viewed your training from the victory of the impending race. When did you last visualize your diet from the vantage point of fitting in those jeans from high school? How about the shunning you might get from friends and colleagues if you speak about Jesus at work? Can we see the victory in our ostracism? Everyone will have trials in their life, how we respond to the trials will be determined by how obedient we are to our calling.
Paul was in prison for no other reason than preaching the message of Christ, and yet what was his response? Turn with me to Philippians chapter 1 verse twelve and let's find out together shall we?
“Now I want you to know and continue to rest assured, brethren, that what has happened to me, this imprisonment, has actually only served to advance and give a renewed impetus to the spreading of the good news, the Gospel.” ( Philippians 1:12 AMP)
“What has happened to me…” That’s right, Paul puts it out on front street that this, this is where I’m at right now, but guess what, it's a triumph. A triumph you ask? Yes, a triumph you see as Paul’s calling is to spread the Gospel. Turn over with me to 1 Corinthians chapter 9:16-18. Here in this section of Corinthians we find more about the mind set that Paul has toward the spreading of the Gospel.
“Yet preaching the Good news is not something I can boast about. I am compelled by God to do it. How terrible for me if I didn’t preach the Good News! If I were doing this on my own initiative, I would deserve payment. But I have no choice, for God has given me this sacred trust. What then is my pay? It is the opportunity to preach the Good News without charging anyone. That’s why I never demand my rights when I preach the good news” (1 Corinthians 9:16-18 TPT)
You see here we have it that Paul is so committed to his calling, his purpose, that the progression of the Good News is more important than even his own rights. His triumph is that amidst this incarceration, the removal of his liberty, his freedom, the Gospel is served.
Pauls imprisonment serves the advancement of the Gospel, but how? Look with me again to the Scripture, that next little verse, the completion of that thought if you will.
“So much is this a fact that throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest here, my imprisonment has become generally known to be in Christ, that I am a prisoner in His service and for Him.” (Philippians 1:13 AMP)
“...My imprisonment is for Christ.” (ESV)
The Gospel is spreading such a way that all those around him know that his trial, his hardship is in service to Christ. What’s that mean for us?
Earlier I asked if you had ever viewed a hardship or trial from the victory or let’s say it’s completion. As I am so clearly in need of dropping some of these pounds, that my love for tacos has added, let us use the diet example. If you are undergoing the rigors of diet and exercise in order to fit into your favorite dress again, or to be healthier, or in my case keep up with a two year old bent on world domination, you will constantly remind yourself of the goal, you begin to picture yourself sleeker, stronger, faster. If you don't do this then when Taco Tuesday hits that wonderful urge to grab a warm warm tortilla filled barbacoa or grilled chicken, topped with cilantro, cheese and hot sauce will derail any progress you’ve made since last Tuesday. Likewise when you are working out, you start to get hot and your body starts to ache a little bit. You have to know the goal you have to determined and purpose driven in order to punch through the discomfort and begin to form the new version of yourself you’ve been picturing.
We can understand that idea of purpose and the idea that trial, and struggle are integral to our goals. Yet, we do not seem as confident when it comes to our purpose in life as Christians.
If we are to find triumph in our trials we must be ready to have faith in our calling, our God given purpose. Even if that trial is an addition, God’s purpose for your life His calling on you is greater than.
Paul continues back in Philippians 1:14
“And most of the brothers, having become more confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are more bold to speak the word without fear.” (Philippians 1:14 ESV)
If we are more confident in our purpose then others will be bolstered in theirs.
I guess it’s gym day today. To continue on our illustration of being healthier stronger people, we must be dedicated and intentional with our regiment. What this will cause is for those around you to become inspired to follow suit, oftentimes even coming to you for advice. When others come to you seeking help, they are coming for a glimmer of hope, since that the results they are seeing from your drive and determination can be theirs as well. It’s the same in the Kingdom of God folks. Paul demonstrated it clearly, that because he was not discouraged, but made it known that the hardship of prison was all to the glory of Christ, he saw those around begin to be bolder in their profession of the word.
If we will see and claim the triumph over all our trials, others will join in the celebration. The proper perspective keeps the church on task and on target when facing difficult people (1:15-17)
Let’s head back into Philippians to see where Paul’s takes us.
“Some, it is true, actually preach Christ the Messiah for no better reason than out of envy and rivalry, but others are doing so out of a loyal spirit and goodwill. The latter proclaim Christ out of love, because they recognize and know that I am providentially put here for the defense of the good news, the gospel. But the former preach Christ out of a party spirit insincerely out of non-pure motives, but thinking to annoy me, supposing they are making my bondage more better in my chains more galling.” (Philippians 1:15-17 AMP)
There’s always going to be some...Some of those people you know the ones. The ones that start coming up to you at the gym just flex and show how much stronger they are. The ones that brag about how they can eat whatever they want. The ones that can stand that you are improving yourself, that you are staying true to your purpose. But you know what to ignore because they are at least in the gym and promoting the lifestyle goal you’re seeking. That’s alright, were it not for those people, how would you have known to set a goal or improve? When you get to where they are at you’ll have earned it.
What happens if we do the same in regards to church, rather than judging others and getting into a heated frenzy every time we hear that someone is teaching the Gospel for selfish gains we simply rejoice because it's being taught?
What does Paul have to say on the matter?
“But what does it matter...” ( Philippians 1:18a)
Ooh, this is going to be good…
“But what does it matter, so long as either way, whether in pretense for personal ends or in all honesty for the furtherance of the truth, Christ is being proclaimed? And in that I now rejoice, yes, and I shall Rejoice hereafter also.” ( 1 Philippians 1:18 AMP)
I had a friend that used to say to me “if it won’t matter in twenty years, then it shouldn’t matter in twenty minutes or better yet, it shouldn’t matter now.” Granted he was using this to get himself out of conversations that he found beinine or trivial.
But isn’t that what Paul is saying here. That the manner in which the Gospel gets told doesn’t matter as much as the fact that the Gospel is advancing and that is cause for joy.
If we are going to give our victory of purpose over to those that seek to mock us by engaging with us then what victory do we possess? Those that stand there and compete with us at the gym knowing we are just starting out, can be fuel or a barrier. To use a runner’s analogy ; Are you going to slow and hit the wall or speed burst through it.
The Proper Perspective Keeps the Church on Task and Target by Responding the Right Way (1:18)
“Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Yes, I rejoice” (Philippians 1:18 ESV)
We must grasp hold of Paul’s perspective here. That although he is a prisoner, lacking his own freedom. Can you imagine what that jail smelled like? This was before the days of air conditioning and private cells and although parts of the empire had running water for refuse don’t count on the jail being one of those places. Even in portion Paul rejoiced because whether through mockery or testimony his imprisonment aided in the advancement of the Gospel.
Through these verses in Philippians we can learn a most valuable lesson in obedience to our calling, how to view the trials we find ourselves in and how we are to relate with others as we strive to fulfill our purpose. Paul claimed victory in his imprisonment, because it led to the advancement of the Gospel, which was the sole purpose of his calling. Are you seeking the ways in which you can fulfill your purpose, your calling, if so do we find your self rejoicing by faith beyond the current hardship? Are you seeing beyond others intent towards you and finding fulfillment in the pursuit of your purpose? Paul could have given in, and become outraged at those that spoke the gospel merely for self gain and to spite him. Instead he acknowledged that feelings aren’t facts, and that any advancement of the Gospel was to be rejoiced. Cling to the Victory by faith and obedience to your calling.
