Win Christ

As the gospel swept through Asia and Europe no man was more influential in the preaching and forwarding of the message than Paul. Now incarcerated, Paul has not stopped his activity for he has not ceased reliance upon God. To a friend Hudson Taylor wrote, “Remember, the devil can wall you round, but he cannot roof you in.”The Spirit’s blessing is evident still, despite bonds.

We find that his estimation of the gospel’s progress is summarized in a few statements of activity. Firstly, there was the gospel which was being preached in his bonds (vs.12-13). Secondly, his bonds were inciting courage in the Lord in personal witness amongst the Christians in Rome, to boldly speak for Christ outside of prison (vs.14-18). Lastly, there was the defense of the gospel which was being made to the highest court in the world (vs.18). How could a hardened envoy of the gospel not rejoice at such advances despite personal risk?

Guerrilla Evangelism

“But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;” (Philippians 1:12-13)

The gospel is a tremendously unstoppable message- and many have tried to stay its course but failed. The gospel is like a wall-flower that often takes root and prospers in the craggiest, most unlikely places- but bears a testimony to God’s grace in vivid clarity and contrast.

As we read Paul’s Epistle to the Philippians it is very easy to forget that the apostle was incarcerated in a Roman prison. From the warmth of the text we would expect more accommodating and comfortable surroundings. But Paul was in prison for his defense of the gospel, and the prison was dank and cold, though Paul’s heart seems warm and inviting. The imprisoned apostle seems to have been particularly encouraged by the Philippian believers in ministering to him (4:10,4:14, 4:18). This present help stimulated undoubtedly pleasant memories of the Philippians’ past care of him. This remembrance and present evidence of their continuing ministry led Paul to write in his letter of thanks “being confident of this very thing that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ” (1:6). Paul recognizes in the Philippian believers that they had begun in the Spirit and were continuing in the same work of the Spirit. Such a thing could not be said of the Christians in Galatia (Galatians 3:3).

It seems that Paul’s delight and longing was made to over-flow by the acts of affection which Paul had received. Longing to be a blessing to these believers, but constrained by the walls of his prison cell, Paul did what all great men of faith do – he prayed. His prayer is underscored by his earnest desire and longing for these believers.

In the last section we introduced this outline for examining Paul’s mention of prayer in Philippians:

Philippians 1:1 - “…to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons:”

Paul’s epistle to the Philippians is of an individual nature. This is self-evident throughout the book. Perhaps he is writing, remembering those he, Timothy, and Silas met in Acts 16 – Lydia, the Philippian jailer, and others. These were the inputs the Spirit used in building together the church of God in Philippi. Forming a broad panorama of social status and personality, these souls were knit into one body in Christ. These Paul wrote, distinctly intent on edifying each- and still, Paul does not seem entirely able or willing to distinguish them from what they were in the body of Christ. It is this address to the believers, full of expressions pertinent to the local church, with which I want to be engaged.

It is important to notice that in the order of address Paul aligns his interests with the priority of God. It is Christ first, and the body of Christ as the expression of Him. It is so that men often judge a ‘good church’ by the teachers, evangelists, or shepherds associated with it - making the men who lead the priority. Israel did likewise when choosing a king. They looked for a man after the natural desire of the flesh (1 Samuel 9:2)- and this attraction to leaders after a fleshly, natural manner reaped a history of monarchic corruption so far as God was concerned. We will notice that the leader which appealed to Israel was looking for lost donkeys, while God’s man- David- was tending his father’s sheep! We of course are thankful to God for good teachers, zealous evangelists, and compassionate shepherds but these do not constitute a ‘good church’ as such in God’s estimation. These are the manifestations of the gifts given by God, “for the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ” (Ephesians 4:12).