Making Much of Jesus (Philippians 1:12-18)

Introduction

In the latter half of Acts, Paul’s missionary journeys take center stage. After his third journey, he is arrested in Jerusalem for disturbing the peace (Acts 21:33). But he sees his arrest as an opportunity to preach the gospel. So, while in chains in front of the temple in Jerusalem, he preaches the gospel (Acts 22). He then preaches the gospel to the Sanhedrin (Acts 23), to his governors Felix and Festus (Acts 24-25), and to King Agrippa (Acts 26). Because he appealed his case to Caesar, the emperor of the known world, he kept making his way westward to Rome. Acts ends with Paul preaching the gospel while under arrest. During this season, he wrote this letter to the Philippians.

Sermon Text

Now I want you to know, brethren, that my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the gospel, so that my imprisonment in the cause of Christ has become well known throughout the whole praetorian guard and to everyone else, and that most of the brethren, trusting in the Lord because of my imprisonment, have far more courage to speak the word of God without fear. Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will rejoice, Philippians 1:12–18

Explanation

Paul wants the church to know that his time in prison gives him opportunities for the advancement of the good news of Christ’s kingdom (v. 12). He used his prison time to tell everyone, including Caesar’s guard, why he is in prison, because Jesus is the true emperor (v. 13). Many of the Christian brothers in Rome saw Paul’s courage in prison and responded with preaching the word of God fearlessly in Rome (v. 14). Paul notices these bold preachers come in two different types. Some of these brothers fearlessly preach the gospel in hopes of shaming and destroying Paul (v. 15). These types of preachers were envious and self-interested (v.17). It’s possible these Roman Christians resented Paul because people were flocking to him and not to them (Acts 28:30-31). So, when they started preaching, they were not stepping in to help Paul or even stand in the gap for him, but rather to denigrate Paul’s reputation in prison (v. 17). The other type of bold preacher does so with good intentions and love; they know Paul has a chance to preach the good news of King Jesus to King Nero (vv. 15-16). But what the envious preachers don’t know is that Paul rejoices over what they’re doing. Whether Christ is exalted under false pretense or true zeal, they all are making much of Jesus (v. 18).

The Gospel Progresses through Courage (1:12-14)

Chesty Puller is the most decorated Marine in American history. He served in the second world war and the Korean War. At some point in one of these wars when he and his guys were looking for the enemy, they suddenly found themselves surrounded by the enemy on their right, their left, in front and behind them. And he said, "All right. . . they can't get away this time."

Paul was an optimistic strategist. He looked at every moment as an opportunity to make much of Jesus (v.12). He made it a point to tell every guard why he was in prison. The praetorium would have guarded Paul around the clock on four-hour shifts. Over the 2 years in Rome, he probably met all of them and told them why he was in prison—Jesus is Lord! Paul’s boldness forced everyone to make a call. He told you Jesus is Lord. You either ignored him or believed him. But either way, Paul ensured everyone’s opinions of Christ were out in the open.

Most of us stop short of full-hearted obedience out of fear. We don’t evangelize because we’re afraid of messing up. Fathers don’t lead their families out of fear he will do it wrong. But virtue without courage is no virtue at all. C.S. Lewis said, “Courage is not simply one of the virtues, but the form of every virtue at the testing point. . . A chastity or honesty, or mercy, which yields to danger will be chaste or honest or merciful only on conditions. Pilate was merciful till it became risky.” For you to grow as a Christian, you must be brave enough to mess up.   

Paul’s courage shows us that courage is contagious. When you take a bold stand and follow Jesus, especially when its unpopular, you attract two types of bold responses. The first type of boldness comes from those with good will (v. 15). Sometimes, what another Christian needs is for you to stoop down and help them. But most of the time, other Christians would be benefited most by you giving them something to emulate and follow. Trials, chains, and sufferings of various kinds await every Christian (1 Peter 1:6-7). Courage today will give you courage when those days come.

The Gospel Progresses despite Envy (1:15-17)

Paul’s boldness inspired boldness in the good-hearted. It also inspired envy in the selfish (vv. 15, 17). Envy and strife are two sins that come in clusters (e.g., Romans 13:3; Titus 3:3; 2 Cor 12:20; 1 Pet 2:1). Envy is particularly nefarious because its one of the few sins no one wants to admit. The proud say they’re confident. The angry say they’re passionate. But no one wants to admit they’re envious. Envy presupposes a defect on behalf of the envious. You see someone with a job you want, a family you want, a career you want—and you resent them for it. This is why strife (or rivalry) comes with envy. Strife and bitterness are much easier to notice. But a bitter person will rarely admit that their envy is the root problem.

We don’t have Paul’s letter to the envious Roman Christians preaching out of selfishness. I’m sure he would have encouraged them to repent so they can experience the same joy he has. The envious never experience joy because they’re never satisfied. But Paul is satisfied because his joy is in Christ. What the envious are using for their own purposes, Christ is using to accomplish his purpose, which is why Paul is so happy. If God can use envious Christians to advance the gospel, there’s really no excuse for any of us to not live like a Christian.

The Gospel Progresses with Joy (1:18)

Jesus was a preacher who emboldened two types of responses. On the one hand, he took a rag-tag group of men and made them the foundation of the church. On the other hand, he inspired the Sanhedrin to envy. They crucified him in order to shut him up. But God used the envy of the Sanhedrin to result in the salvation of the whole world and the exaltation of Jesus above all heavenly and earthly powers (Acts 2:23-24). The result of the cross is joy to the world. The good news of Jesus brings good news. But also, the joy of the good news progresses the good news.

Conclusion

Nothing quite says “something’s wrong here” like someone preaching the good news without joy. Jesus really conquered this world on the cross and conquered death from His tomb. So, your health is declining, your wealth decreasing, your dreams diminishing. This world right now is not the world you want it to be. Ok, but are you proclaiming Christ? In this you can rejoice. I challenge you, rejoice!