Verses 12-18

 

• Paul, arrested in Jerusalem and held in prison in Caesarea for two years until he appealed to Caesar.  Now he has been taken to Rome and he is chained 24 hours a day to a Roman guard and here he has been for 2 more years...

 

• Many times we just don't understand why God allows certain things and from our viewpoint sometimes we feel forsaken or maybe even that God has made a mistake....my circumstances, my condition, surely there is a mistake here but even in times of personal disadvantage, you know it is so comforting to have assurance of the truth, that indeed God is at work.

 

• Romans 8:28...actually turn over to Romans chp 8, lets pick it up in verse 18...(we are a threat, we are not like the world...so...they attack) > (man is made with a certain futility)

 

• Romans 8:28 says that all things work together for good to those that love God, to those that are called according to His purpose.  > If you continue on down you will get to “who shall separate us from the love of Christ...go on to the end of the chapter.  This is comforting and it is a  compound/complex promise that we can grab a hold of when times seem grim but this is a promise for the believer...

 

• Facebook.  Most of the posts revolve around emotions or people themselves but sometimes, quite often actually, I see...”well everything for a reason..”  You know......some are wrong.

 

• This divorce you are going through because of your affair, or this time of unemployment that you are going through because you got fired for stealing from work, this newest breakup with your newest boyfriend...for the unbeliever, hey there is no taking a hold of this verse...

 

• I'm not saying that God can't and doesn't work in the lives of unbelievers because He most certainly does...always wooing and longing for all man to come to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ.....actually what I'm saying is that the unbeliever has no assurance that their time of personal pain and disadvantage is for any reason other than a simple consequence of sin.

 

• Turn over to Isaiah, the 59^th chapter.

 

• And so the hope, the light at the end of the tunnel if you will, is for the believer.  And in a most terrifying and desperate way, all things working out for a reason...for good...is not available as a hard and fast rule to those that deny the One True God.  Those that have not bowed the knee to Jesus Christ.

 

• Certainly Paul, as He was the one to pen the verse in Romans, has hope that is well anchored on good reason.  Paul, after giving his life to Jesus, after seeing and hearing Jesus himself, has seen countless conversions, he has seen churches planted, he has seen many visions from the Lord, he has seen the dead rise, he has seen the ultimate conversion...Saul of Tarsus > coming alive as the born again new creation Paul...

 

• Even more, the truth that had been revealed in Paul's life, the faith that had been granted Him by the Lord Jesus...abounded in his life...to the point where he calls what has happened and what continues to happen to him now as we encounter him in Rome as “light affliction.”  Turn over to 2 Cor Chp 4...

 

• Faith is not belief...it is action....faith is not believing that God exists...it is conducting your way in a manner that is pleasing to a living, holy, just, loving and righteousness God....are you faithful to your wife?  Does that mean you believe she exists?

 

• How well God equips us to overcome.  How well He equips us to live an abundant life...not predicated on our outward circumstances but anchored in His unwavering love and promise of that Day, when all will once again be made perfect.  His desires are in your heart, align your will with His through your conscious decisions and find yourself content in the den of the lions, find yourselves cool and calm in the midst of the fiery furnace.  That is God's desire for you today.

 

• Truly, know this...God is not reluctant to help you, He is more willing to help us more than we are willing to receive...No need I have is more or even comparable to God's already demonstrated willingness to give. 

 

• Paul expresses his assurance...Verses 19 – 26

 

• The biblical definition of ashamed is a bit different than how we understand and use that word today.  Webster would say that shame is a painful emotion excited by dishonor or disgrace.  The biblical understanding of shame however has to do with disappointment.

 

• According to the scripture, the person who is not ashamed is the person who's trust is not misplaced and who therefore, is never disillusioned. 

 

 

• Romans 5:5 Paul says “hope maketh not ashamed” in the NKJ it is translated “hope does not disappoint.”

 

• Romans 1:16 says I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ, for it is the power of God to salvation.... Paul says that he has never been disappointed in the gospel because every time it is preached the power of God accompanies it and produces supernatural results.

 

• Verse 21...The well known verse.  For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.  Paul would soon face Nero and he knew it but his mind was on converting Nero.  His heart was not full of fear but rather of power, of love and of a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7).  He was about his mission.

 

• Interesting historical tidbit...after Nero's encounter with Paul, Nero went mad.

 

• Verses 22 – 26

 

• Paul has made a couple of strong statements in these verses.  Paul is confident that Christ will be magnified...further Paul is confident that Christ will be magnified in him (back in verse 20) and now Paul recognizes that Christ would be magnified in him whether he lived or died.

 

 

• Paul was so confident that God's will for him was perfect...that God's will was the best possible thing for him and for the Philippians...that he was able to walk in it willingly even if it meant death at the hands of a Roman executioner. 

 

• When life is smooth it’s so easy to say that all things are working together for your good...but it’s not easy at the grave...or in the face of bitter disappointment...or pain.  If you are to be able to have confidence in God in such times, you must learn to trust him in the small disappointments in life.

 

• You may not see it now...you may even resist God's will and drown yourself in pity, bitterness or even legitimate sorrow, but the day is coming when you will see it from a different vantage point.  Standing in eternity before your loving Heavenly Father and from that vantage point you will no doubt agree that God knew what He was doing in your life.  You will see that Christ was certainly exalted and you will not be disappointed.

 

• Charles Spurgeon once said...”they who dive in the sea of affliction bring up rare pearls...”

 

• So how is it that you can ensure that Christ will be exalted and you are walking in God's perfect will for your life?  Well lets go on to verse 27...

 

• Interesting how Paul says, “let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ...”  I thought we are under grace...I thought we are counted worthy by His righteousness imputed to us through His death on the cross and resurrection.....> yes that is most absolutely true but understand that Paul is not talking about salvation > Paul is talking about Jesus being lifted high in our lives and our lives bearing fruit, eternal fruit, for God's glory.

 

• 1 Thes Chp 2 verses 10 – 12 says you are witnesses and God also how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves among you who believe as you know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you as a father does his own children that you would walk worthy of God who calls you into His own kingdom and glory...

 

• Faith is a gift, and salvation is by faith through grace and it is not of works lest any man should boast..so essential, so pure, simple and true...and know this...if I am not as Paul would say so many times “walking worthy of God” then not only is my walk miserable and troublesome as my relationship with God is busted up but also my witness is weak. 

 

• Preach the gospel at all times and if necessary use words...ever heard that?  Your witness, your conduct is either a very powerful validation or even possibly a powerful deterrent to the gospel.  Your conduct, actions, attitude is either a very sure stumbling block or a very open and inviting door...

 

• Whole movements thrive off of their witness...many are ripped off into becoming members of popular cults simply because they are impressed and attracted by the love shown, by the witness of the group members...one well known cult even has named themselves...witnesses!

 

• Paul says in 1 Thes see how devoutly and justly and blamelessly we behaved ourselves and that lines up, leads to, is in perfect unity...with how we exhorted, comforted and charged every one of them as a father does his children...that simply would not work if Paul said see how rudely and unjustly and self-seekingly we behaved ourselves and so we instruct you as fathers...

 

• You see effectiveness in your ministry is hidden, contained, validated or destroyed in  the effectiveness in your witness...the outward manifestation of an inward genuine work of God.

 

• Ever see those cars that say “lose 25 pounds in one month, ask me how?”  Well have you ever seen someone park and get out of those cars?  What if that car pulled up to a McDonalds, and just this huge person were to get out...how do you think sales would be?  In the toilet, why?  Because if they themselves, who are the experts don't benefit then how can they lead me to the advertised benefit?

 

• No we must be disciplined followers of Christ.  Not regarding the cross of Christ as a common thing but holding it in the very precious chamber of our hearts.

 

• The bible says in 1 Cor Chp 9 verse 24 – 27...do you not know that those who run in a race all run but one receives the prize?  Run in such a way that you may obtain it..and everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things.  Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown but we for an imperishable crown.  Therefore I run thus, not with uncertainty, Thus I fight, not as one who beats the air..but I discipline my body and bring it into subjection lest when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified....

 

• Paul pursues discipline...not out of legalism...not out of being better than others or more pious than others...but so that his witness will align with his message and therefore he shall be qualified in the eyes of the others to share with them the authenticity, genuinely & effectively.
• Are  you not yet convinced?  Turn over to 2 Timothy chp 2 verses 19 – 22.

 

• So you may say yeah we get it...we get that if we are truly led by the Spirit and truly want to live for Jesus then we will as you say, walk worthy of God...but you may not even accept or even know how it is to walk worthy of God...well the bibles tells us...  Turn over to Matthew's Gospel, the 18^th chapter and verse 4.

 

• Therefore whoever humbles himself as this little child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.  The atmosphere of solving conflict is humility.  The catalyst to ministry is humility.  Humility simply put is to defer...and more simply put...is to love.  To walk worthy of God is to walk in humility. 

 

• Humility brings you close to a humble Savior.  Humility, not forcing your way, not pressing for your benefit, not protecting your pride, will bring your soul rest, virtue and even happiness in JOY.

 

• The bible is just so so clear on this topic.  Listen I said that humility brings you close to a humble Savior....

 

• Psalm 138:6 > Though the LORD is on high, he looks upon the lowly, but the proud he knows from afar.

 

• Psalm 147:6 > The LORD sustains the humble but casts the wicked to the ground.

 

• Proverbs 11:2 > When pride comes, then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.

 

• Proverbs 15 > He who listens to a life-giving rebuke will be at home among the wise. The fear of the LORD teaches a man wisdom, and humility comes before honor.

 

• Proverbs 25:9 > He guides the humble in what is right and teaches them his way.

 

• Isaiah 66:2 > Has not my hand made all these things, and so they came into being?" declares the LORD. "This is the one I esteem: he who is humble and contrite in spirit, and trembles at my word."

 

• Micah 6:8 > He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

 

• 1 Peter Chp 5 > All of you, clothe yourselves with humility toward one another, because, “God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble."Humble yourselves, therefore, under God's mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time.

 

• Listen I said that humility actually brings you happiness....

 

• Psalm 37:11 > But the meek will inherit the land and enjoy great peace

 

• Proverbs 22:4 > Humility and the fear of the LORD brings wealth and honor and life.

 

• Proverbs 28 > A greedy man stirs up dissension, but he who trusts in the LORD will prosper. He who trusts in himself is a fool, but he who walks in wisdom is kept safe.

 

• Isaiah 57:15  > For this is what the high and lofty One says--he who lives forever, whose name is holy: "I live in a high and holy place, but also with him who is contrite and lowly in spirit, to revive the spirit of the lowly and to revive the heart of the contrite.

 

• Matthew 23:12 > For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted.

 

• Over 65 times in the Bible we are given instruction like this...that humility is key to your walk...that humility is key to your satisfaction and happiness, yet we press for our own way...yet we are in marriages right now fully aware of what our spouse likes, needs, wants and doesn't want and yet we do not serve them...and our marriages suffer...they are not all that God has ordained them to be...

 

• Over 65 times in the Bible we are given instruction like this, that humility is of utmost importance and yet we grumble against our bosses and coworkers and parents and suffer great loss in our lives...suffer great emptiness and almost intentionally shove joy away....the bible would say it is time to WAKE UP!

 

• Heed the word of God!  Serve your husbands, serve your wives, NOT IN THE WAYS that you want but in the ways and manners that they so long for...does your wife like to just sit and talk about the day...but you're just not into that > PRIDE! 

 

• WAKE UP!  Pride is just ripping you off of everything that God has for you!  Joy, intimacy with Him, fellowship with His Spirit...only available through humility and as we've seen, is the manner in which we are to conduct ourselves if we are to walk worthy of God!

 

• It’s not natural to us.  It’s like batting left handed..and you may hate it at first but Jesus would say to the man laying by the pool at Bethesda...do you want to be made well? He has given such clear instruction, He has given such clear example, yet our foolish decisions and prideful addictions drive us far from His joy, peace, and fellowship.

 

• Not Paul.  Paul knows what it is like to be found joyful in disadvantage.  To be found powerful in desperation. Because he embraced humility and counted his life loss for the Excellency of the knowledge of Jesus Christ.  Paul knew this truth because he walked in it and because of that was able to sincerely pen (verses 27-30)

 

• I wonder if you will make a change?  I wonder if you will be any different after learning of God's desire and utter commandment for you to embrace humility....I wonder if you will make the decision to grow closer to God.  It’s your decision you know...God has already decided...just look at the cross....He wants His children close to Him...but oh how we foolishly resist and strive for destruction and disappointment...let that not be said of me and you.