2 Kings 6:8-10 - Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.” The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.
2 Kings 6:11-16 - Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
2 Kings 6:17 - Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
2 Kings 6:18-19 - When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.”
2 Kings 6:19b-20 - And he brought them to Samaria. When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
2 Kings 6:21- Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
2 Kings 6:22-23 - He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
3 fears that can be handled by prioritizing the good news of the gospel
I. The Fear of Mistreatment - vv. 15-18
A. Some were preaching Christ from envy and strife - v. 15-16
Philippians 1:15 - Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will…
1. What this wasn’t
Galatians 1:6-8 - I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
Philippians 3:2-3 - Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh…
2. What this was
Phthonos - “the desire to deprive others of what is rightfully theirs, to wish that they did not have it or had it to a lesser degree” (MacArthur, Commentary on Philippians, p. 64)
strife…eris
Philippians 1:16 - …the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel…
B. Because of impure motives – v. 17
Philippians 1:17 - …the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
“They unjustly criticized and accused him for the malicious purpose of aggravating and intensifying his distress. They exhibited unbelievable cruelty born of jealousy, using Paul’s imprisonment to discredit him and to promote themselves” (John MacArthur, p. 67)
C. Rejoicing that the gospel was being preached eliminates this fear - v. 18
Philippians 1:18 - 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…
Isaiah 55:11 - So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
“Paul’s self-forgetfulness excites affectionate admiration. We love him all the more for having written this beautiful passage. Sensitive soul though he was, he does not begin to pity himself because certain jealous preachers were trying to win applause at his expense. What really matters to him is not what they are doing to him but what they are doing for the gospel.” (Henriksen, William. Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. p. 73)
Luke 18:16 - But Jesus called for them, saying, Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
II. The Fear of Death - vv. 19-21
A. Our ultimate deliverance - v. 19
Philippians 1:19 - for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ…
deliverance - soteria - salvation
“Some commentators therefore believe Paul was referring to his deliverance from sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ. The idea then would be that he was confident in his eternal security. Others take this deliverance to refer to his vindication before Caesar and his consequent release from prison and deliverance from execution. The primary deliverance of which he was speaking could not have been from execution, however, because in verse 20 he qualifies his expectation with the words “whether by life or by death” (MacArthur, p. 73)
B. Our earnest expectation and hope - v. 20
Philippians 1:20 - …according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
earnest - apokaradokia - stretching the neck
Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
C. The gospel gives us a new and powerful identity
Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
Acts 20:24 - But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
Acts 21:13 - Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
Romans 14:7-9 - For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
2 Timothy 4:6-7 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith…
III. The Fear of Uncertainty - vv. 22-26
A. The possibility of fruitful labor - v. 22
Philippians 1:22 - But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
B. The possibility of departing to be with Christ - v. 23
Philippians 1:23 - But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better…
C. The likelihood that he would be allowed to continue to serve them
Philippians 1:24-26 - …yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
- Have you ever seen a chemical reaction where a solution is one color, and then when something else is added, it completely changes color?...
- let’s watch our resident chemist Paul Smith demonstrate what I’m talking about…
- isn’t that amazing?...
- how does the addition of one ingredient completely change what was there before?...
- that’s works in real life as well, doesn’t it?...
- you may remember the story in 2 Kings 6…I mentioned a portion of this a few weeks back for a different reason…
- 2 Kings 6:8-10 - Now the king of Aram was warring against Israel; and he counseled with his servants saying, “In such and such a place shall be my camp.” The man of God sent word to the king of Israel saying, “Beware that you do not pass this place, for the Arameans are coming down there.” The king of Israel sent to the place about which the man of God had told him; thus he warned him, so that he guarded himself there, more than once or twice.
- so this pagan king thinks he’s making wise military plans…but another ingredient is added, unknown to him, and every time he tries to surprise the Israelites, they are already there waiting for him…so the passage goes on to say…
- 2 Kings 6:11-16 - Now the heart of the king of Aram was enraged over this thing; and he called his servants and said to them, “Will you tell me which of us is for the king of Israel?” One of his servants said, “No, my lord, O king; but Elisha, the prophet who is in Israel, tells the king of Israel the words that you speak in your bedroom.” So he said, “Go and see where he is, that I may send and take him.” And it was told him, saying, “Behold, he is in Dothan.” He sent horses and chariots and a great army there, and they came by night and surrounded the city. Now when the attendant of the man of God had risen early and gone out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was circling the city. And his servant said to him, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” So he answered, “Do not fear, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.”
- so you have to picture Elisha’s servant – how could you possibly say there are more of us than there are of them…I can count…we have two, and they have a lot more than two…but then another ingredient is added…
- 2 Kings 6:17 - Then Elisha prayed and said, “O Lord, I pray, open his eyes that he may see.” And the Lord opened the servant’s eyes and he saw; and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha.
- see, sometimes the introduction of just one new ingredient can really change the color of the solution, can’t it…
- that happened throughout the remainder of this passage, by the way…because next we read…
- 2 Kings 6:18-19 - When they came down to him, Elisha prayed to the Lord and said, “Strike this people with blindness, I pray.” So He struck them with blindness according to the word of Elisha. Then Elisha said to them, “This is not the way, nor is this the city; follow me and I will bring you to the man whom you seek.”
- so the Arameans don’t really have a choice…so they follow Elisha…
- and the text says…2 Kings 6:19b-20 - And he brought them to Samaria. When they had come into Samaria, Elisha said, “O Lord, open the eyes of these men, that they may see.” So the Lord opened their eyes and they saw; and behold, they were in the midst of Samaria.
- that’s called…having a new ingredient added – when you open your eyes and you’ve been led right into the hands of your enemy…
- but then…2 Kings 6:21- Then the king of Israel when he saw them, said to Elisha, “My father, shall I kill them? Shall I kill them?”
- time for one more ingredient – mercy…2 Kings 6:22-23 - He answered, “You shall not kill them. Would you kill those you have taken captive with your sword and with your bow? Set bread and water before them, that they may eat and drink and go to their master.” So he prepared a great feast for them; and when they had eaten and drunk he sent them away, and they went to their master. And the marauding bands of Arameans did not come again into the land of Israel.
- so just like Paul Smith’s solution changed dramatically as new ingredients were added…that happened multiple times in 2 Kings 6….especially when the servant though there were just two of them against this entire army…until Elisha added the ability to see the heavenly host surrounding and ready to do battle on their behalf…
- well, what if there was a concept we could add to the fear of mistreatment, and the fear of uncertainty, and even the fear of death…that would make powerful foes like that take on an entirely different hue?...would you want to know what that is and also see it in action?...
- well, with that in mind, please open your Bible to Philippians 1…page 154 of the back section of the Bible under the chair in front of you…
- our church’s theme this year is Growing in Gospel Gratitude…and we’re kicking things off with a verse-by-verse study of the book of Philippians…
- we’ve learned already that this book is essentially a thank you letter…written by the apostle Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome for proclaiming the gospel, to a dear church that had faithfully supported him as one of their missionaries…
- we’ve also seen how one of the primary themes of the book is that of joy…and we’re going to see that again in several amazing ways…
- let’s begin at verse 1 just to set the context…but our goal today is to study verses 15-26, and learn How the Gospel Helps You Overcome Your Greatest Fears..
- read Philippians 1:1-26
- so we’re talking about How the Gospel Helps You Overcome Your Greatest Fears…and with the time we have remaining, let’s think about 3 fears that can be handled by prioritizing the good news of the gospel.
I. The Fear of Mistreatment – vv. 15-18
- what we read about beginning in verse 15 is a bit of a surprise…
- Paul has been speaking in very positive tones about the gospel opportunities his imprisonment has provided, and how wonderful it was for their church to participate with him the gospel the way they had…
- but now we read that…
A. Some were preaching Christ from envy and strife – v. 15-16
- let’s slow down for a minute and try to understand what was occurring…
- Paul says - Philippians 1:15 - Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will;
- we have to be very careful here because otherwise we could draw some very incorrect applications…so first of all…
1. What this wasn’t
- we’re not talking about people who were preaching some kind of heresy or false gospel…or Paul’s response would have been dramatically different…
- you may remember what he said to the…Galatians 1:6–8 - I am amazed that you are so quickly deserting Him who called you by the grace of Christ, for a different gospel; which is really not another; only there are some who are disturbing you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, should preach to you a gospel contrary to what we have preached to you, he is to be accursed!
- so if the purity of the gospel had been at stake here, Paul’s response would have been far different…
- this is also why it’s good to be reading this book once a week from start to finish in one sitting…because then we can be sure we’re interpreting passages like this in context…because we know what’s coming…
- Philippians 3:2–3 - Beware of the dogs, beware of the evil workers, beware of the false circumcision; for we are the true circumcision, who worship in the Spirit of God and glory in Christ Jesus and put no confidence in the flesh,
- this is probably speaking about a group called the Judaizers, and we’ll discuss them more fully when we get to chapter 3 (sometime around the turn of the next century)…
- but if you’re referring to people as “dogs” – that’s a dramatically different tone than what we’re reading here in chapter 1…(btw – while we’re in chapter 3, at least he didn’t call these false teachers “cats” – apparently you reserve the strongest condemnation for the super-heretics…tell about what happened in the virtual board meeting the other day with the cat sitting on top of a dresser behind Ron Allchin)
- so, what was going on?...
2. What this was
- Paul says that some were preaching out of envy…Phthonos – “the desire to deprive others of what is rightfully theirs, to wish that they did not have it or had it to a lessor degree” (MacArthur, Commentary on Philippians, p. 64).
- please keep in mind that Paul is imprisoned in Rome…and a church already existed there and you can imagine that when Paul arrived, with his unusual testimony of conversion, his intellect and his commitment to Christ…some other preachers may have become envious…that can very easily happen…
- you may remember back in the gospels…envy is the reason given for the Jewish multitude and the chief priests handing Jesus over to Pilate to be crucified…
- they were also preaching Christ out of strife…eris – you often find it in tandem in Scripture with envy…because one often leads to the other…and you typically find greed and malice somewhere in the mix…
- so what were these people saying about Paul as they preached Christ?...
- isn’t it fascinating and instructive that we don’t know?...
- they may have been speaking very similar to Job’s counselors…
- saying things like Paul is being punished in jail for some sort of secret sin…
- or his imprisonment is somehow evidence that he lacks victorious faith…
- who knows?...but it was certainly the opposite of those “preaching from good will…”
- how are they described in verse 16?...
- Philippians 1:16 - the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel;
- why would you try to create additional problems for a person who was already imprisoned for proclaiming the gospel…and who had clearly been appointed for, and gifted for, the task he was fulfilling…and that question is actually answered in the verse next verse…
B. Because of impure motives – v. 17
- Philippians 1:17 - the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.
- MacArthur summarizes the problem like this…They unjustly criticized and accused him for the malicious purpose of aggravating and intensifying his distress. They exhibited unbelievable cruelty born of jealousy, using Paul’s imprisonment to discredit him and to promote themselves (John MacArthur, p. 67).
- and you look at this situation and say – this is a terrible predicament
- until we add one more ingredient to the solution…we need to get Paul Smith back here…
- so what is the additional ingredient that Paul adds to this discussion?...
C. Rejoicing that the gospel was being preached eliminates this fear – v. 18
- Philippians 1:18 - 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,
- that is an incredible statement about the power of the Word of God…
- the Lord said through the prophet Isaiah - Isaiah 55:11 - So will My word be which goes forth from My mouth; It will not return to Me empty, without accomplishing what I desire, and without succeeding in the matter for which I sent it.
- so Paul’s point is – I love the gospel of Jesus Christ so much, and I want it to be proclaimed so badly…that even if some are doing so out of envy and strife, motivated by selfish ambition--trying to add distress to my imprisonment…I’m going to rejoice because the gospel is being proclaimed…and don’t you love the way it’s phrased…not just that I am rejoicing, but I’ve decided already that I’m going to continue to rejoice…
- when you think about it – this is the polar opposite of his detractors who were operating out of selfish ambition…Paul said, this isn’t about me…it’s about something, and in this case Someone…much bigger, and much greater…
- I like the way commentator William Hendrickson spoke about this -
- Paul’s self-forgetfulness excites affectionate admiration. We love him all the more for having written this beautiful passage. Sensitive soul though he was, he does not begin to pity himself because certain jealous preachers were trying to win applause at his expense. What really matters to him is not what they are doing to him but what they are doing for the gospel. (Henriksen, William. Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon. p. 73).
- this is all a matter of priorities, isn’t it?...see, what’s more important, being treated properly, or proclaiming the good news of Jesus Christ…
- and what if, the best opportunity for telling others about Christ is an episode of being mistreated?...
- can I ask you this morning…could you echo what Paul is saying here?...is your commitment to living and proclaiming the gospel so strong that you could overlook someone treating you with envy and strife if that led to a platform on which the good news of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus could be explained and heralded?...
- could you actually rejoice at a time like that?...and can you point to a specific example?...
- friends, this is one of the reasons we love the gospel…because it’s powerful enough to overcome the fear of mistreatment…
- perhaps it would be wise to carry a vial of that around in your pocket…
- and when those times of perceived mistreatment come…and that event looks a particular color…
- pour in your love for the gospel…and ask, are there ways here for me to live and speak about the difference Jesus Christ can make in my desires, and my thoughts, and my words, and my actions?...
- and since the answer to that question is almost always yes – then our response once the additional solution is added is to rejoice, and to determine that we will continue to rejoice…
- some of you may know that this week a group of Purdue University students began handing out these flyers and posting them all around campus…
- a couple of things about that…first, I personally stand for the free speech rights of students to make and distribute those posters…
- so I did not take any steps to try to have that labeled as hate speech and halted…we’re big believers in freedom around here…
- however – we also believe that the mouth speaks from that which fills the heart…
- this teaches a couple of very important lessons about those who posted them…
- first, they believe that children belong to them, not their parents…
- and that is one of the many fatal flaws of ordinance 31-21…in a piece of legislation that supposedly protects minors from harm…the one word that is never found in the ordinance is the word “parent”…
- what if a child wants to speak with a counselor about questions regarding sexual orientation from the Word of God…should the city council suppress their free speech rights?
- and what if a parent wants to discuss these questions with their own child from the Word of God?....should the city council suppress the parent’s free speech rights…
- that is a core biblical issue…that God gives children to parents, not to the government…
- there’s also the issue of suggesting that I am a child abuser…I’ve lived and served in this community for over 34 years…and I have simply tried to love Jesus Christ and His Word and encourage others who voluntarily came to hear me speak in preaching or counseling to do the same…
- and yet there are people who would accuse me of being a child abuser…which shows you that none of this was ever about protecting minors…it is about shaming, and harassing, and intimidating people of conservative religious faith…
- friends, Jesus said in Luke 18:16 – Luke 18:16 - But Jesus called for them, saying, “Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.
- the WL city council is saying that we intend to do the exact opposite…[develop]…
- now, I’m trying really hard to rejoice in all of this…you realize that we set the preaching schedule back in November, long before we had even heard of ordinance 31-21…
- the fact that I was scheduled to speak on this passage this week is breathtaking…
- and the goal is that we will bring as many of these conversations around to the gospel as possible…that we all fall short of God’s standard of holiness…but God in His love sent His Son to die in our place for our sin…and by repenting and believing in Him…we may be reconciled to Him and now have the power to use our bodies and everything else about us to honor our Lord and King…
- and if you have to have a few posters put up around campus in order to shine the light on those important theological points, then what are we called upon to do?...
- to rejoice…and continue to rejoice…because of how the gospel can help us overcome the fear of mistreatment…
- then Paul goes even deeper, because he explains that the gospel can help us overcome…
II. The Fear of Death – vv. 19-21
A. Our ultimate deliverance – v. 19
- Philippians 1:19 - for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ,
- at this point, we have to make a very important interpretive decision…
- what does Paul mean by his use of the word deliverance here?...
- and we can’t be dogmatic because he doesn’t specifically say…
- the word deliverance is soteria – from which we derive the word salvation
- MacArthur explains - Some commentators therefore believe Paul was referring to his deliverance from sin and death through faith in Jesus Christ. The idea then would be that he was confident in his eternal security. Others take this deliverance to refer to his vindication before Caesar and his consequent release from prison and deliverance from execution. The primary deliverance of which he was speaking could not have been from execution, however, because in verse 20 he qualifies his expectation with the words “whether by life or by death” (MacArthur, p. 73).
- one way or another, we know this – the gospel wasn’t just a message to be proclaimed to someone else…but it gave him strength and courage and security and stamina…
B. Our earnest expectation and hope – v. 20
- Philippians 1:20 - according to my earnest expectation and hope, that I will not be put to shame in anything, but that with all boldness, Christ will even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
- you know, its one thing for you or me to say that…because we’ll conclude this service and freely walk out of the building…
- Paul was in prison for his faith…but he still had an earnest expectation and hope…
- the word earnest is – apokaradokia – a compound word which literally means stretching the neck…
- and if you would say – Pastor Viars, I just can see how this situation I’m facing could possibly result in the furtherance of the gospel…
- then maybe you’re not stretching your neck out far enough…
- these are promises from God Himself…and we can live in a way that is characterized by expectation and hope…
- and you might say – but what if people try to shame you?...
- Romans 1:16 - For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
- that’s because…
C. The gospel gives us a new and powerful identity
- Philippians 1:21 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.
- friend, is that your testimony this morning…
- or are you like the country crooner who suggests, “everybody wants to go to heaven, but nobody wants to go now” – that’s the one drawback to eating at Cracker Barrel…
- or can you say with Paul…
- Acts 20:24 - But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.
- Acts 21:13 - Then Paul answered, “What are you doing, weeping and breaking my heart? For I am ready not only to be bound, but even to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus.”
- Romans 14:7–9 - For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s. For to this end Christ died and lived again, that He might be Lord both of the dead and of the living.
- 2 Timothy 4:6–7 - For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the course, I have kept the faith;
- one of the net effects of COVID is that many pastors have had the responsibility to conduct more funerals than normal…not just for people who died as a result of the virus, but others who passed away of other causes…
- [develop – didn’t learn in seminary that if stayed at the same church for an extended period of time, you would end up burying a lot of your friends…]
- one of those is Curtis Anderson – after his wife passed away unexpectedly, Curtis took a job as a bus driver…but before he would head off to work…he’d spend time in the Word and prayer
- even as a grieving widower…he was clear about his identity…for to me to live is Christ…
- and then towards the end of his life…he battled cancer…but when he had the opportunity to be back with his church family, he took it…not because he was being reckless, but he wanted to be with his church family…and hear the gospel which he cherished…
- [could talk about what he said to his hospice nurse]…
- Curtis Anderson loved life…but he was also ready to go to heaven…
- the gospel was his antidote to the fear of death…
- this issue of identity is becoming more prominent in culture every day…
[if time – discuss the case of the parents being called to their daughter’s school and learning she had just attempted suicide for the second time…]
- so the gospel can help us overcome the fear of mistreatment, and the fear of death…and also…
III. The Fear of Uncertainty – vv. 22-26
- part of the challenge Paul faced was that he did not know what God had in store…
A. The possibility of fruitful labor – v. 22
- Philippians 1:22 - But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.
- isn’t that amazing – he’s in prison but still focused on fruitful ministry…does this man love the impact the gospel can have or what?
- [could develop the impact of this concept on the subject of retirement…]
B. The possibility of departing to be with Christ – v. 23
- Philippians 1:23 - But I am hard-pressed from both directions, having the desire to depart and be with Christ, for that is very much better;
- [develop – the gospel]…
C. The likelihood that he would be allowed to continue to serve them
- Philippians 1:24–26 - yet to remain on in the flesh is more necessary for your sake. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again.
Conclusion
- as you can imagine, I’ve been hearing from a lot of people this week…
- one of them was Rahmaan Statik - Keep your head up brother! You are on a mission from God and nothing can stop you ! You will get through this storm . I believe in you .