Deep Joy: The Message of Philippians #4: "The Joy of Gospel Progress" (Phil 1:18b-30)

If you have a Bible and I hope you do take it and turn with me to Philippians chapter one. Philippians and chapter one. Philippians chapter one and we will be in verses 18 to 30 this afternoon, but for context.

We're going to read verses 12 through 30 so philippians chapter 1 verses 12 through 30. Um if you grabbed one of the Red bibles that we give away. That's page 1040. That's Page 1040. Philippians chapter 1 verses 12 through 30.

Page 1040. If you're able to do so, I invite you to stand with me as you read this portion of god's word out of Respect for it. It's something we do here at redeemer every time we come to the ministry of god's word.

Philippians chapter 1 and verses 12 through 30. Philippians chapter 1 and verses 12 through to 30. Philippians 1 12 through 30. Brothers and sisters. These are god's words. Now I want you to know brothers and sisters that what has happened to me has actually advanced the gospel.

So that it has become known throughout the whole imperial god. And to everyone else that my imprisonment is because I am in christ. Most of the brothers have gained confidence in the lord from my imprisonment and dare even more to speak the word fearlessly.

To be sure some preach christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. These preach out of love knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. The others proclaim christ out of selfish ambition not sincerely thinking they will cause me trouble in my imprisonment.

What does it matter? Only that in every way whether from false motives or true christ is proclaimed. And in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the spirit of.

Jesus christ.

My expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything but that now as always with all courage christ will be honored in. Highly honored in my body whether by life or by death. For to me to live is christ and to die is gain.

Now if I live on in the flesh, this means fruitful work for me, and I don't know which one I should choose. I'm torn between the two. I I long to depart and be with christ, which is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.

Since I am persuaded of this I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith. So that because of my coming to you again your boasting in christ. Jesus may abound.

Just one thing. As citizens of heaven live your life worthy of the gospel of christ. Then whether I come to see you or i'm absent. I will hear about you that you are standing firm in one spirit in one accord.

Contending together for the faith of the gospel not being frightened in any way by your opponents. This is a sign of destruction for them, but of your salvation and this is from god. For it has been granted to you on christ's behalf not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him.

Since you are engaged in the same struggle that you saw I had and now here that I have. Pray that god will bless that reading of his word and give us understanding. Let's pray ask for god's help and we will come to this portion of his word.

Heavenly father, we thank you once again that we have the opportunity to gather and to.

Join.

In worship. We thank you that We get this opportunity now to hear you speak to us through your word and we pray that as we open up your word and we Hear it speak to us. We ask that your spirit would do a work of shining light upon the word helping us to Understand its meaning and what it says to us as your people.

Father, it's our custom to pray for other churches in our area and We take a moment this afternoon to pray for first baptist church medford. Thank you for pastor greg and the leadership there and the work that they are doing Pray for their ongoing summer series through the psalms such rich Material there as we see the praise of god's people in his word.

And so we ask that you bless the ministry of the word there and all of the efforts To disciple and to train and to equip and to evangelize happening there. Pray your blessing upon them and pray upon us now as we come to your word.

For we ask it in jesus name and for his sake. Amen. Please be seated This afternoon. I want to speak to you. Uh from the subject the joy finding joy or joy in seeking progress Through the gospel. Joy in seeking progress through the gospel.

Gospel Progress and the Danger of Stagnation

This whole subject of progress is Kind of dangerous to talk about a little bit if we're honest because.

I'm.

Keenly aware that as I start to talk about this subject and I start to drill down on some of the particulars that relate to this subject there can be a disconnect that happens between what is said. And often what is heard when we come to this topic.

Often the disconnect that happens can come across as oh he's talking to us about the need for progress and growth. He must think we're not doing enough.

Or.

He must think he's arrived. Because why does he feel that we're not making progress? Why does he feel the need to talk about this. Or as someone once told me as a Young bible teacher who was kind of finding his way and finding his unique voice you know, I don't like when we talk about progress and growing and doing more because in my understanding people who focus on Progress and doing more just don't understand grace.

I mean in one sense. It's very easy to talk about progress in a way. That is all law and no gospel. You know what? I mean when I say that It basically just turns progress into here's a checklist. Do these things on this checklist and you will grow.

There's no grace there. There's no understanding that. Okay. This is the cause over the course of a lifetime that there is growth and maturity that happens in all of us. None of us praise god are where we used to be.

But none of us are where we ultimately hope to be. We still have growing to do. There's a way to talk about progress that can Be somewhat defeatist and somewhat Unencouraging. But I would suggest that the abuse of an idea.

The fact that you can speak about progress in a negative way. In a bad way or an unhelpful way the fact that you can abuse the idea of progress. That doesn't negate the regular and normal use of the idea.

The fact that progress can be used in a way that is less than helpful Doesn't mean that we should never talk about what it is for A christian or for a church or for the church capital c to make progress.

And that's the theme really that's writ large over this section that we're going to consider. It's a slightly longer section but it's tied with this theme of.

Progress.

You'll remember those of you who've been regulars here in our study through philippines I've said that chapter one really is addressing just one question. Chapter one is addressing one question. The one question is What does it look like for the gospel the good news of salvation found only in jesus?

What does it look like for the gospel to impact god's people? And for it to produce Deep joy, that's what we've titled this series. We are pursuing deep joy. Well, how is it that? The gospel does that what does it look like when the gospel impacts people and produces deep joy.

And you remember that I said that really you can break chapter one down into three broad movements. I'll put them up on screen again just to remind you. So chapter 1 verses 3 through 11. There's this idea of gospel partnership hand in hand joining together for Ultimately number two the advance of the gospel verses 12 through 18.

Well where the gospel advances that should lead to the ultimate goal of what we're going to talk about this afternoon this idea of gospel progress. Because not only does the gospel make progress out there as people who don't know the lord.

Jesus hear of the lord. Jesus. But the gospel does a work among god's people the gospel produces growth maturity and progress among god's people. And the reality is as you read the new testament progress is something that we're supposed to seek after as christians.

A stagnating christian is not a good thing. Now, let's be clear christians can stagnate in their walk. It happens we don't want to discount the reality of somebody's salvation just because their walk has grown stagnant, but there is a reality that stagnation Is real and it can happen.

But the expectation when you read the new testament is though stagnation happens. That's not meant to be the norm of the christian life the norm of the christian life is meant to be.

Regular.

Continual lifelong.

Progress.

So those of you who were here all the way back in january was our first sunday of the year. Remember the text I preached hebrew chapter 5. If you don't remember it, it's on our website. Growing deeper and wider in 2023 was the title.

Remember what the author says in hebrews chapter 5 verses 11 and 12. He says we have a great deal to say about this and the this is the person the work of christ and particularly his priesthood. He says we have a great deal to say about this and it is difficult to explain since you have become too lazy to understand Verse 12.

For although by this time you ought to be teachers.

He says.

For where you are and how long you've been walking with the lord you should be here. That's the level of progress you should have achieved. And yet He says you need someone to teach you the basic principles of god's revelation again.

The reality is that god's people are meant to be a growing and a maturing people and when you don't see growth. And maturity in a gathering of the people of god. We should rightly be concerned. But thankfully the lord cares for us as his people.

And he doesn't demand of us something that he doesn't explain. And empower us for through the gospel. So yes christians should pursue progress and yes christians can stagnate and not make progress. But the lord doesn't just look at us and say oh not again.

Like seriously. Why are they not getting the picture? That's not what he does. Thankfully. That's the word of god says he knows our frame. He knows that we are dust. And so he is gracious in giving us portions of his word that help us to think in a more focused way.

About what progress looks like and this passage in philippians one is one of them. So why should we care about gospel progress as god's people if what I just said is true that You can be a stagnant christian and you're still a christian.

Your sins are still forgiven. You are still going to glory. If that is true, well, can't we just mail it in until we get there? Why should we care about gospel progress as god's people? Well, really that's my big idea for this.

Um, if you don't remember anything else I have to say I trust you'll remember this. That gospel progress is what god desires for us. And what we should desire for each other very simple. Gospel progress is what god desires for us.

And what we should desire for each other. You see it's not. Just that progress is a good thing. Can I give you some encouragement right from the jump as we start? God wants you to make progress. God is not leaving you to your own devices in growing in your faith and growing in maturity.

He's not leaving that just to you. God is for you in your making progress. And so since that's what god desires for us is what we should desire for each other and it's what we should seek and pursue. For the rest of the time, um in our message today, I want to consider three aspects of gospel progress in the lives of Paul and the church at philippi.

Like I said, this is a longer section I will summarize points and some people drill down depending on its importance but three aspects of Gospel progress that we see in the lives of paul and the church at philippi because if we're going to pursue gospel progress.

Then this is going to be a community project this is going to be a group effort together. And we see that here in this passage. Well, let's begin by seeing it from paul's perspective point number one this afternoon I want you to consider with me paul's confidence in god's plans.

Paul's Confidence in God's Plans and Purposes

And purposes god's excuse me paul's confidence in god's plans and purposes. So look with me at the end of verse 18 through to verse 20.

Paul says.

Having said well, what does it matter? There are these people who preach christ with bad motives whether from good motives or true christ is being proclaimed. I can rejoice in that. We'll pick it up at the end of verse 18.

He says yes.

And I will continue to rejoice. Because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the spirit of jesus christ. My eager expectation is and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything.

But that now as always with all courage christ will be honored in my body whether by life.

Or.

By.

Death.

Paul has this confidence that you it just exudes from this passage that he can rejoice. And he will continue to rejoice. Because of certain things he knew that god was able to do. That's why i've titled this point paul's confidence not in himself but in god's plans and purposes.

And actually when you look at this passage. This confidence was grounded in several realities. First of all, it was grounded in the providence of god. It was grounded in the providence of god. Uh, so again look at end of verse 18.

Yes, I know this. I know and will continue to rejoice because I know this will lead to my salvation. Paul had nothing but total confidence in the fact that god was ordering everything that was happening to him.

In fact, he has so much confidence. Some of your bibles may point this out others may not. He actually quotes from quite an unlikely place. When he says that verse 19 this will lead to my salvation. This one I want you to see keep something here in philippians 1 turn to the book of job for a moment.

Job chapter 13 book of job. And chapter number 13. Book of job chapter 13.

Job is.

Once again Replying his friends who had nothing but bad advice to give him. And pick it up in verse 13. He says this. Be quiet, he's speaking to his friend. I believe it's so hard so far at this point.

Says be quiet and I will speak. Let whatever comes happen to me. I will put myself at risk and take my life in my own hands. Even if he kills me referring to god, I will hope in him. I will still defend my ways before him.

Look at verse 16. Yes, this will result in my deliverance. For no godless person can appear Before him. You see that phrase then. Verse 16. This will result in my deliverance in the greek translation of the old testament that paul would have more than likely used.

It's just bible of the early church. That's the exact phrase that he uses in philippians chapter 1. As one writer puts it he has applied these words of job to his own situation not because they were vaguely or Marginally parallel but because he like job was certain of his vindication.

Paul believed that despite his imprisonment despite the fact that he was in this difficult circumstance and he really didn't know how this was going to.

Go.

He knew that he would be ultimately delivered. Catch this. This is important both from this temporal trial that he was experiencing as well as Experiencing the fullness of salvation when he was with the lord.

How do I know that because the job passage he quotes from job talks about the fact that even if he were to die He would stand in the presence of god and he would have nothing to be ashamed about. So when paul talks here about his salvation, he's kind of speaking in two different ways here.

Both his temporal salvation from the situation he's in but also his eternal salvation that even if he were to die He has nothing to worry about and what's interesting is This confidence that he has is not kind of pie in the sky.

He's not just saying, you know, god will do it. I'm, not sure how he's going to do it, but I think he can do it. I'm not too worried about that. He might figure it out. No, paul knew that any sort of salvation or deliverance from This situation would only happen through the means that god uses kind of leads me to my second thought.

It's grounded in the providence of god, but it's also grounded in the prayers of the saints. It's grounded in the prayers of the saints. So again verse 19, yes, and I will continue to rejoice because I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers.

Through your prayers. Paul's high view of god's providence. It didn't remove his understanding of the fact that yes god is sovereign. But god has chosen to exercise his sovereignty through the use of means that god exercises his sovereignty through I don't know shocker through people in particular paul knew that either Temporal deliverance or final vindication wouldn't happen without the prayers of the saints.

It's interesting by the way, the word he uses for prayer here Is not the standard word for prayer. There's a standard word that the new testament uses for prayer usually just carries this idea of the bending of the knee.

And that's actually where the phrase comes from the bending of one's knee but kneeling.

Kneeling.

But that's not the word he uses here. He uses a very different word and the word that he uses here. It's a little more urgent. It carries this idea of an urgent request. It was used of soldiers who would send a message back to their leaders as it were requesting urgent assistance.

Whatever is being asked for when you use this particular word. This is not polite and civilized asking.

It's desperate.

And paul says I know that this will lead to my salvation through your we can add a word here your urgent prayers.

Your.

Desperate prayers. Older saints used to use the term importunate not a word we use often today. The basic idea of that word importunate or importunities the idea of Begging. I think I said this a couple of weeks ago in one of our messages.

In our circle where we have such a high view of the sovereignty of god. Which we should have a high view of the sovereignty of god. Amen. I mean, that's what the bible teaches. But in our circles where we have this high view of the sovereignty of god.

We can sometimes fall prone to what I like to call the sovereignty shuffle. Anything the sovereignty what follow me? Let me explain this. In our circles, we are very good in my opinion. I've spoken to other people and they kind of noted.

Yeah, we do do that a lot. We're very good at throwing up the sovereignty of god and sometimes throwing up the language of the sovereignty of god in ways that excuse us from our own responsibility.

So.

There's a situation. We probably should do something about this situation. We should probably do something urgently about this situation. But what's the general tone antenna with that when that comes up?

I hear all the time. Well god is in control i'm not going to worry about that. Well, yes, you shouldn't worry the bible tells you not to but we'll see in philippians. We're not supposed to be anxious.

I agree, we should not worry. But we probably want to do more than just say god is sovereign. Paul would know nothing about that. At least if we take him at his word in this passage. Now maybe if I use the illustration this might illustrate the problem I have with what I call the sovereignty shuffle.

I imagine any of you came to me in this room said kofi. Look, I really need some help. I'm in a tough place. Like something's not working out or i'm in this really bad situation. I really need your help.

Can you help me? And I can you come to me you ask me to help you. I'm like, you know what bear i've got you. Whatever you need. All you have to do is ask. I'm there but then Your situation gets worse and worse.

You don't ask me but you say well, yeah kofi said to help me out i'm not worried about it. Okay, but you've not asked me for any help. I can't help you if you don't ask me. We all understand that that way a minute.

That's slightly Back to front don't you? Yes. He's promised to help you. So maybe you should ask. We all get that on a human level, but here's the thing I've often wondered if god in heaven feels that way about some of us.

That he's as it were standing ready to help us to aid us just for the asking. And yet we don't ask. And we don't ask desperately. Kind of just say well, he's sovereign. He'll take care of it. Yes, he's sovereign but in his sovereignty.

He's asked you to pray. How slow can we often be to ask god for the very things we need and in fact even the things we don't know we need. Kind of reminds me what james says in his letter james chapter 4 verse 2.

He says you Do not have because you do not. One of my favorite hymns growing up some most of you probably know it if you've Been around church long enough. What a friend we have in jesus. What a friend we have in jesus all our sins and griefs to bear.

Uh, what a privilege to carry everything to god in prayer. Remember how that first verse goes. Oh. What peace we often forfeit oh what needless pain we bear all because we do not carry everything to god in prayer.

Yes, god is sovereign and he has final say in heaven and on earth. So no, we don't worry but As I was writing this I wrote a sentence and I said, you know what? Let me put this on the slide so everyone can actually see it.

God is sovereign isn't an excuse to go take a nap. It's empowerment to go take the hill, you know what I mean when I say that. The fact that god is sovereign doesn't mean I sit around and say well god will work it out.

No, what it means is hey god is sovereign. So let me go ask him for help to go do the thing. He asked me to go do prayer and action ought to be the logical response to Sovereign providence not waiting for stuff to happen and not asking.

So can I pause and ask for a moment and say, uh. Can your brothers and sisters in this room can they depend on you. Can they depend on me. For our prayers when difficult situations come can they ask. Can they be a supporters.

Even ask. Did you notice that Paul doesn't ask. He just says it. Look at it in our passage again. He says. And those who lead to my salvation through your prayers. Doesn't even ask just assumes that you're praying for me.

Paul's confidence was grounded in the providence of god. It was grounded in the prayers of the saints, but also It was grounded in the provision of the spirit. It was grounded in the provision of the spirit.

So again end of verse 19. I know this will lead to my salvation through your prayers and help from the spirit of jesus christ. Some of your translations in front of you will probably use the language of supply or the provision.

Of.

The spirit of jesus christ.

That's what this word means. It's not just a standard word again. For just help for assistance. No, it's the idea of Help through supplying someone's need to providing for someone's needs. Human resourcefulness would only get pulled so far and I did just talk about prayer and the importance of prayer.

But let me not oversell it. Even the most white hot fervent prayer of god's people in and of itself can't do it. No paul recognizes the need for divine empowerment through the spirit if the deliverance that he longed for would materialize.

He recognized that this there are some things that I can do some things that god's people can do. But there are a whole lot of things that only god's spirit can do. Amen. I would say more about this, but I preached a whole sermon series on the personal work of the holy spirit.

It's available on our website or if you download our church app, it's there, too. So I won't labor this point too long except to say It is important that we understand the necessity of the power of the spirit for anything we do.

Paul's confidence was grounded in the providence of god in the provision of the spirit in the prayers of the saints. It was also grounded in the purpose of glorifying god the purpose of glorifying god, so what does Paul say there verse 20.

My eager expectation and hope is that I will not be ashamed about anything. But now as always with all courage christ will be highly honored in my body whether by life or by death. One of the things I love about paul the apostle is that he's a man of very singular passion.

He doesn't really you read him. He doesn't seem to have a diversity of interests. He seems to be a man really of single motivation. And the single motivation seems to be all the time. That christ would be honored in and through him.

Whether he was vindicated in life or in death. Paul was sure of this that christ would be exalted through his life. And these words that he uses this idea of eager expectation this idea of hope which by the way hope in the bible is not Wishful thinking.

Oh, I hope that will happen. No hope in the bible is a certain expectation. These words aren't wishy-washy. They're not well, you know always look on the bright side of life. No, these are steadfast and firm terms.

Whether he made it or didn't make it by earthly standards Paul could honestly say to god be the glory great things he has done and so paul is Completely confident in this moment. Yes, it's a dark situation.

He doesn't know how this is going to pan out. But he does know this god has this situation entirely in hand and his plans and purposes will come good. So we see something of paul's confidence in god's, uh plans and purposes.

But there's a second aspect as we think about this idea of progress. That we see in this passage and once again, paul's the focus here. So you've seen god's confident, excuse me paul's confidence in god's plans and purposes.

But secondly consider with me paul's commitment to the philippians progress paul's commitment to the philippians progress verses 21 through to 26 I said a few weeks ago with that Philippians is one of those new testament books that has a bunch of those coffee mug verses, you know.

I mean when I say coffee mug verses. Those verses are nice. You can put them in a coffee mug. They're really encouraging and rightfully so. One of my friends calls them he's a musician highly quotable bars.

And in the constellation of highly quotable bars, I would put it to you that few are as high up as philippians 121. If you've been around church any length of time, I just have to say the reference and the words come to mind for me to live is christ and to die.

Is.

Gain.

The verse is beautiful in its simplicity. In fact our english translations out of add a verb they add the verb is. But really in the original language it just reads to live.

Christ.

To die.

Gain.

For paul life was actually very simple. We often talk about how life is complicated. For paul life seems to be pretty simple. If I live I live for christ and if I die guess what. I profit because I go to be with christ.

New testament scholar walter hansen and his commentary on philippians Describes the impact of this very simple way. This verse is rendered and he says.

To live.

Christ. The absence of a verb may be filled in many ways. To live is christ. To live means christ. To live depends on christ. To live honors christ. The foundation center purpose direction power and meaning of paul's life is.

Christ.

Paul had come to a place where for him all that gave him purpose and meaning and value was his. Identity as a man who was in christ. Can I pause for a moment and simply ask is that how you understand your identity christian?

Do you view your life as being in christ as being joined to christ so closely that you are identified solely by your relation to him. As christians we often lament the way that the culture treats christians and the christ.

Culture doesn't always treat us nicely or with respect but I think sometimes the culture treats us the way it does because we I see we the church with the big c. We have often not done a good job of presenting what christianity is at its heart.

At the heart of christianity isn't a list of do's and don'ts. Yes. There is a way that god desires for us to live but that way that god desires for us to live is the fruit of faith. It's the fruit of knowing christ.

We don't come to know christ by living a particular way. It's not a particular set of cultural norms. If I can just answer that one quickly the gospel transcends cultural norms while at the same time making itself at home in every culture.

No christianity is not a list of do's or don'ts or conformity to a particular set of cultural standards that we come up with. No at the heart of being a christian. Is a person if I can be so brash for a moment the clue is in the name christian.

At the heart of being a christian is a man named jesus. And paul lived and breathed that reality and it shaped everything about him. Even right down to whether I should live or whether I should die for paul if he lived it was for christ.

But if he died as a man in christ, he still profited because it was a one-way ticket to being with christ and yet as true as that was. You get the sense from these verses verses 21 to 26 that this creates a tension for paul.

So look at verse 22 he says now if I live on in the flesh this means fruitful work for me. In fact verse 24, he makes it clear that the work would be for the sake of the philippians. So if I live it gives me an opportunity to do more for the lord jesus.

So that's the tension on one side. But on the other side, this is a man who understands his union with christ. And so of course above everything else he wants to be with christ. The guy says in verse 23 I'm torn between the two.

Literally so many translations will say i'm hard pressed between the two. Why is he hard pressed between the two. Because he longs to depart and to be with christ which is far better. And so you get the sense there was a tension in paul.

He's torn in two very good directions. Would paul be wrong in this moment think about this with me. Would he be wrong for desiring to be with christ in this moment? Would he be selfish for saying? Lord, if you give me the opportunity i'm ready to go home now, would he would he be wrong?

To leave this life and go be with christ. No, of course, he wouldn't. It's a perfectly legitimate desire. But that's what makes his response all the more astounding. Verse 25. Since I am persuaded of this.

Of what. Well verse 24. That to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake since I am persuaded of this I know that I will remain and continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith.

So that because of my coming to you again, you're boasting in christ. Jesus may abound. Paul's commitment to christ wasn't just a commitment to christ for himself. It was a commitment to christ that extended to His brothers and sisters in christ.

Life in christ meant life lived not just for christ individually, but life lived for the people that christ himself.

Loves.

I had us all do this a couple weeks ago, but we're going to do this again for a moment. Look around this room. Stop looking at me. Look around the room. But look around the room for just a moment. You see those wonderful faces that you see.

Ask yourself this. Are you so committed to their progress that you would be willing to give up what's best for you for their sake? That question hit me hard this week. Kofi, are you committed to the progress of redeemer bible fellowship that you'd be willing to give up what's best for you?

For their sake. And that's a question not just I need to ask as the pastor of this church. All of us have to ask that. Maybe you're here visiting. You're at another church. Ask that about the church that you're a part of.

Are you willing. Are you so committed to the progress of your brothers and sisters that you will put aside? Paul's willing to put aside the best thing possible. Going to be with christ. He's willing to say you know what?

If the lord wills.

And he seems to have an indication that the lord will do it. I'm gonna hit pause on that. Because it might be best for me, but it's not best for my brothers and sisters. Are you so committed to the progress of your brothers and sisters that you are willing to give up what is best for you?