Title Philippians (6) Suffering (1:12-14)
Contents
# The Bible should not be understood only rationally. We need to use our emotions to the fullest.
=> By identifying (empathizing) with the characters (characters) in the Bible, we should try to feel the emotions they felt as much as possible. So, “The Bible should be read with the heart, not just the head.”
# Example) The incident of Abraham offering his only son Isaac as a burnt offering
- What kind of heart did Abraham have when he suddenly heard the voice of God one day when he sacrificed Isaac as a burnt offering? Because Abraham had good faith... He must have accepted it bluntly, didn't he?
- The emotion I felt when I took my son Isaac to Mount Moriah...
- The feeling of tying up his son Isaac, and trying to kill him with a sword...
=> Without understanding the heart of a father to offer his son instead of a burnt offering, and the need for a father to kill his son, even the words of the Bible cannot be fully understood.
* When we understand Abraham's feelings, we begin to understand that the event of the sacrifice of Isaac was a manifestation of God's heart in delivering his son on Mount Calvary.
=> You can know the heart of Heavenly Father.
# Even the text of the text cannot be understood without understanding the heart of the apostle Paul => We must think differently with the Philippians.
* It must have been at least four years since the Philippians met Paul. The Philippians are concerned about what happened to Paul. From Rome to Philippi, news that Epaphradius, their co-worker and one of the saints, was ill. Those who brought the news must have told everything they knew about Paul's condition.
* However, after some time passed, a serious question arose for the Philippians. Is Paul still chained? Could it be that you are sick? Could it be that Paul had already faced a great trial? Have we not already been martyred for our faith in Jesus? are the questions I can't ask any questions, but I'm in a frustrating situation where I can't get an answer...
* At that time, a letter arrived from the Roman prison. It was a letter from Paul, and the Philippians sighed in relief. And, in order to get answers to the numerous questions they posed, they would have read the letter at once. And, in the words of today's text, you must have felt that the answers to all questions were clear.
“I want you to know, brethren, that what has happened to me has made progress in the preaching of the gospel. Therefore my bondage has been revealed in Christ to all the guards and to everyone else, and many of the brethren, through my bondage, By trusting, I am able to speak the word of God more boldly and without fear.”
* Paul is still in chains. He was imprisoned in a Roman prison and was not spared the life of a prisoner. The situation doesn't get any better. In a word, in trouble...
=> However, the important fact is the confession that these sufferings brought “the progress of the gospel. => The Philippians were interested in Paul, but Paul's interest was the gospel.
# What makes us different from the Philippians? We always have a habit of thinking and acting from our own point of view. My feelings are important and my judgment is important. When I look at people, I see them from my point of view. Everything we love, care for, worry, and pray is completely “human-centered”.
However, Paul's eyes are, always, on the gospel. Even if he is criticized by others, suffers vaguely without any sin, and in the dreary situation of a Roman prison, Paul is concentrating on the progress of the gospel only.
=> Who are the people of God? Who is more commended in the sight of God?
# Then, what was Paul's suffering? How can you confess that suffering has been instrumental in advancing the gospel?
1. Paul's Suffering
Many of the sufferings that happened to Paul were not what he planned or wanted for himself.
- Paul was a good missionary to the Gentiles. He had a grand dream of preaching the gospel to the West and to the West (Spain). This dream has completely failed. The Holy Spirit stopped it.
- Instead, what was given to Paul was a prison. I had to endure the ordeal for my life. At the time of writing to the Philippians, Paul was not sure whether he would be set free.
# Testimony of Paul's Suffering
“... I have been toiled, more imprisoned, beaten countless times, and nearly died; I have been beaten by the Jews five times, from forty to one less, three times with rods, once with stones. Three times shipwrecked, he spent a day and a night in the deep sea, and on many journeys he was in danger from rivers, in danger from robbers, in danger from his own people, in danger from Gentiles, in danger in the city, in danger in the wilderness, in danger at sea, in danger from false brethren, , and toil and toil, many times sleepless, hunger and thirsty, many times starved and cold and naked. There are still things that are pressed within me day by day, let alone other things, which I am concerned about for the sake of all the churches.”
# In our lives, have we ever suffered like Paul?
* Let's know the type of hardship!! Let's understand the purpose of God giving us suffering!!
1) Suffering for discipline / A bat that guides you to the right path when you are going the wrong way!
“My son, do not despise the LORD for discipline, and do not hate his rebuke, for the LORD disciplines those he loves, just as a father disciplines a son in whom he pleases.”
2) Suffering for Refinement / Didactic, leading to understanding the needs and feelings of others, and ultimately, a crucible that leads to imitating the character of Jesus!
“Therefore, because of various temptations, you are bound to be grieved for a little while, but on the contrary, we rejoice greatly. you will get it.”
3) Suffering for Preaching the Gospel / The sufferings of Paul, the sufferings of Jesus… the cross! => It is the suffering God allowed to share the gospel with people
# In order to become a person who can suffer to spread the gospel, you must first have experience in Damascus. You must have the experience of being born again every day, considering everything you have as excrement and looking only at Jesus. And, as Paul confessed, “You must die every day.” You must deny yourself, take up your cross, and follow the Lord!!!
# Among us, we will face many afflictions, just as Paul suffered. Whether the suffering is for discipline, refinement, or preaching the gospel, let's remember the truth of the Bible!
“The Spirit Himself bears witness with our spirit that we are children of God, and if children, then heirs, heirs of God and joint-heirs with Christ, for we must suffer with him in order to be glorified with him.”
“Everyone who wants to live a godly life in Christ Jesus will be persecuted.”
“Beloved, do not marvel at the fiery trial that comes to refine you, as if something strange happened to you, but rather rejoice in your participation in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may rejoice and rejoice in the manifestation of his glory. Blessed are you if you are reproached in the name of Christ, for the Spirit of glory, the Spirit of God, rests upon you.”
2. Preaching the Gospel of Paul through Suffering
# The biggest obstacle for a ship to navigate is water. Without water, the boat cannot go.
The biggest obstacle in an airplane is air. Without air, you cannot fly.
# Because of this storm, it floats and goes fast. Rather than be afraid of looking at the rough waves, let's ride the rough waves!! Let's enjoy the pleasure of surfing!
=> Paul confessed that suffering became an opportunity to testify of the gospel of the Lord!!
# Suffering is beneficial!!
“Therefore my bonds have been revealed in Christ to all the guards, and to all others, through which many of the brethren, trusting in the Lord, have become more bold and fearless to preach the word of God.”
=> Paul is asking for suffering in order to testify of the gospel of Jesus. Because he discovered the great power of suffering.
* Do you think you have met a crisis in your life? Think of crisis as an abbreviation for “great opportunity”!! The reason God gave us a crisis is to think of it as a whip to witness more of the gospel... We must accept it as the voice of the Lord to live a life that is more and more bound by the gospel.
# Don't worry about “why did these sufferings come?”, but instead focus on “how to witness the gospel in the midst of these sufferings.” It's because I'm only asking the reason for the hardship, but I can't do important and urgent things...
1) We must share the gospel through a loving life.
“But love your enemies and do good, lend, hoping for nothing, and your reward will be great, and you will become sons of the Most High, for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked.”
“Beloved, since God so loved us (verse 10, when he died on the cross as a propitiation for our sins), we also ought to love one another.”
=> The greatness of Christianity and the gospel of the cross is because it contains God's unconditional forgiveness and love for all people.
2) good deeds
“In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.”
=> We must preach the gospel while playing the role of salt and light.
3) A life of curiosity
“And who will harm you if you are zealous to do good? But if you suffer for the sake of righteousness, you are blessed. Do not be afraid of what they fear, do not be troubled, but sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, sanctifying you in the hope that is in you. Always be prepared to give an answer to anyone who asks you why, but with gentleness and fear
=> Saints are people who do not look at the world in the midst of suffering, but depend on Jesus. That is why our goals in life, our perseverance and our courage are bound to question the world.
# Let's give thanks for suffering? Mature saints love the Lord even more in the midst of suffering...