Will Your Adversity Advance the Gospel?

We are continuing our study this morning in Paul’s letter to the Philippian Church, the letter of joy.  If you were here last Sunday, you saw Paul praying for these believers that they would grow in their love and knowledge and example of Christ.

 

Today, Paul is going to remind of his adversity.  When we speak of adversity, we might use that word, but we also might use trial or tribulation or suffering. 

 

Bro. Jimmy Pritchard, long-time pastor of FBC Forney, used to say that no one is immune from adversity.  That includes Christians and non-Christians. 

 

As a matter of fact, every individual is currently in one of three places as it relates to adversity.  Some of you are experiencing adversity right now.  Others of you just came out of adversity.  There are still others who are about to be in the middle of adversity. 

 

Regardless of where you are, I have one question for you.  Will your adversity advance the gospel?  I would dare say that Paul answered this question yes.  I would even say he decided that his adversity would advance the gospel.  What about you?

 

As we look at the text, let’s examine what adversity can look like.

 

1. Sometimes, adversity can come in the form of physical limitations, 1:12.

12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.

 

Obviously, the Philippian Church was worried about Paul and his adversity.  However, he wanted to put them at ease with this letter of joy.

 

What was Paul’s adversity?  He was under house arrest in Rome for preaching the gospel.  That story is in Acts 28.  We will look there closer in just a moment.

 

We know from the end of Acts that he rented a house.  However, for a period of two years, he was chained to a Roman soldier to write, to eat, to sleep, and everything else.  He referred to his chains four times in this first chapter: 7, 13, 14, and 16.

 

BTW, the NKJV translates verse 12 the things which happened to me.  Notice that “which happened” is italicized.  That means the editors supplied those two words to make the English flow better, and that is fine.

 

However, know this morning, Brothers and Sisters, that nothing ever just happens in your life.  God is control of all things.  Even adversity doesn’t just happen.  Either God caused the adversity, which is called discipline, or He allowed the adversity. 

 

There is nothing in your life that is an accident or coincidence.  It is all providence meaning under the control of the Eternal Sovereign. 

 

Paul’s adversity had literal, physical limitations.  He couldn’t go anywhere he wanted.  He had to go where the soldier wanted, and he never went anywhere alone. 

 

Some of you today are experiencing adversity in the form of physical limitations.  It might be cancer.  It might be diabetes.  It might be kidney failure.  Your adversity might be any number of literal, physical limitations.

 

 

2. Sometimes, adversity can come from the fallen world, 1:13.

13 so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ.

 

Don’t lose sight of the fact that Paul’s adversity was at the hands of the pagan Jewish World and the pagan Roman World.  See Acts 28:16 and 28:30.

 

16 Now when we came to Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the captain of the guard; but Paul was permitted to dwell by himself with the soldier who guarded him.

 

30 Then Paul dwelt two whole years in his own rented house, and received all who came to him.

 

Some of you today are experiencing adversity at the hands of the fallen world.  Make no mistake about it.  If you are a follower of Christ, Satan cannot endanger your eternity.  However, he will do everything he can to make your life on earth a living hell, and he will use lost people to do it.

 

 

3. Sometimes, adversity can come from the fellowship of believers, 1:14-18.

14 and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

 

This may surprise you, but sometimes adversity can come from other brothers and sisters in Christ.  In verses 14-18, there is an unnamed group of gospel preachers who trying to add more adversity to Paul’s adversity.  That is what he said in at the end of verse 16. 

 

This group preached Christ from envy and strife.  They were guilty of selfish ambition.  Maybe they were jealous of Paul and his influence in the church. 

 

Unfortunately, some of our greatest adversity can come from within these walls.  However, it shouldn’t be so. 

 

 

Application

So how can we apply today’s text to our everyday lives?

 

First, for me, when I was younger and immature, I thought it was my calling in life to point out the error and be hypercritical of other preachers.  I did this for those I read and those I saw on television. 

 

That was not Paul’s practice.  He did point out these brothers in Christ were different than him and even trying to hurt him.  However, notice what he said in verse 18.  He rejoiced in Christ being preached regardless of the motivation. 

 

Keep in mind, these brothers weren’t preaching a false gospel.  They were preaching the true gospel but with the wrong motives. 

 

Consequently, I’m not interested in pointing out to you or the world how I disagree with other brothers and sisters in Christ outside of this church. If you want to know my opinion, feel free to ask, but I’m not going to openly and publicly criticize other brothers and sisters in Christ unless they are preaching heresy.  See Ephesians 4:29.

 

29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.

 

 

Second, God can use your adversity for His glory and your good.  God used Paul’s adversity to embolden the Philippian Church in sharing the gospel.  That is what verse 14 says.  Furthermore, he said in verse 12 that his adversity had furthered the gospel. 

 

Remember, there are not accidents or coincidences in your life.  Romans 8:28 reminds how God works all things for His glory.

 

28 And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.

 

However, He also works all things for our good including adversity.  See James 1:2-4.

 

2 My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, 3 knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience. 4 But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.

 

 

Third, how you hand your adversity will either point others to Christ or turn others away from Christ.  Paul chose the former. 

 

He didn’t let his adversity rob his joy, and he took the opportunity to tell everyone he met about why he was in chains.  Look back at verse 13. 

 

It became evident to the entire palace guard and all of the rest that he was in chains because of Christ?  But how did that happen when he was chained to only one at a time?  One by one. 

 

Paul used his adversity to point others to Christ.  Jesus tells us to do the same in the Sermon on the Mount.  See Matthew 5:16.

 

16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.

 

However, this isn’t the first time Paul did this.  See Acts 16:25.

 

25 But at midnight Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God, and the prisoners were listening to them.

 

The prisoners in Philippi were listening and watching how Paul and Silas would handle their adversity.  Brothers and sisters, the world is watching how you will handle your adversity. 

 

Will your adversity advance the gospel or hinder the gospel?  I pray the former and not the latter.