Prison Praying (Part II)

The Apostle Paul, in his human imprisonment, sends a cheerful message to the church

in Philippi. He may be in chains, but his soul is free. His spirit cannot be imprisoned.

Verse 12 changes Paul's focus.

He began by encouraging the church in Philippi because of what they had done and would continue to do. He began to encourage them because they were concerned about what he was experiencing.

Paul previously mentioned his time in prison (Philippians 1:7). He was often persecuted, sometimes severely (2 Corinthians 11:23–27), and suffered many other forms of hardship for the sake of his message.

These sufferings and hardships have all served

to advance the spread of the gospel. 

For this, Paul is actually rejoicing. While the world would have seen Paul's situation only in negative terms, Paul saw it as a positive way to share the gospel with new people.

Further, Paul calls the spread of the gospel the "advance" of the gospel. The gospel did not merely spread like other information; it "advanced." It was a message of power that charged forward into unknown territories, accomplishing its purpose --- to change hearts and lives.

The message that changed this man from Saul to Paul was changing people in Rome,  the capital of the empire. Paul considered his suffering well worth the transformation it provided for those around him in Rome.

Anyone who has never experienced imprisonment cannot know the extent of the agony Paul experienced in that Philippian prison.

However, we all do have frustrations from time to time. Some of those frustrations may, in our minds, have been nearly equal to the agony that Paul endured in prison.

In the many trials and difficult seasons of our lives, our lives may have been disrupted and possibly altered drastically and uncomfortably to the point where we believed we would never recover.

If I were in Paul's predicament, I would likely be singing the “Woe is me” song. I am sure most of us would sing the same song.

But, as we read Philippians 1:12-21, we do not hear Paul singing the song of “O, woe is me! What a terrible thing is happening to me!

Let’s read a portion of the 1st chapter of Paul’s letter to the church at Philippi –

verses 12-20

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, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 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.

At this time in his life, Paul had achieved several successes, which help point us in the direction we should travel in our life in Christ.

Verse 12 changes Paul's focus. He began by encouraging the Philippians in what he was experiencing.

Paul previously mentioned his time in prison (Philippians 1:7). He was often persecuted, sometimes beaten, and suffered many other forms of hardship for the sake of his message.

READ: 2 Corinthians 11: 23-27

Are they servants of Christ?—I speak as if insane—I more so; in far more labors, in far more imprisonments, beaten times without number, often in danger of death. Five times I received from the Jews thirty-nine lashes. Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, a night and a day I have spent in the deep. I have been on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers, dangers from robbers, dangers from my countrymen, dangers from the Gentiles, dangers in the city, dangers in the wilderness, dangers on the sea, dangers among false brethren; I have been in labor and hardship, through many sleepless nights, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

Paul puts a uniquely Christian spin—a truthful one—on these experiences. These things have all served to advance the spread of the gospel, and Paul is actually rejoicing for this.

While the world would have seen Paul's situation only in negative terms, Paul saw it as a positive way to share the gospel with new people.

Further, Paul calls the spread of the gospel the "advance" of the gospel. The gospel did not merely spread like other information; it "advanced." It was a message of power that charged forward into unknown territories to change the hearts and lives of those people who heard and obeyed the message of salvation through Jesus Christ.

The message that changed this man from Saul to Paul was changing people in the capital of the empire. Paul considered his suffering well worth the transformation it provided for those around him in Rome.

Paul succeeded in forgetting about his imprisonment. Hear again what he said in verse 12: “…my circumstances have turned out for the greater progress of the Gospel.”

What!!?? Did he say that his imprisonment and dire circumstances have turned out to help him make progress in the Gospel?

He succeeded in understanding that his imprisonment was an event to be joyful about – Philippians 1:18 – “

What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this: I WILL REJOICE!”

Paul is in quite a decision-making position here. In verse 21, Paul makes a very profound statement—one that we often repeat when we think about our life in Christ and our ultimate reality that we will one day die. He says, “For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

This may be the ultimate interpretation of the statement people make when they say, “I have the best of both worlds.”

If I live, I am alive in Christ! And --- If I die, I have gained Christ! I am a winner either way!

            When we see Paul at this time of his life, when his life seems to be over and he could be mournful and depressed about it, instead, he is rejoicing.

Why? Look again at verse 18 – “Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I will rejoice.”

Let’s place that verse into context:

Specifically, Paul sees the many hardships of his life as a good thing.

How could he see hardships as a positive situation?

For what reason? For one reason, these hardships have led to the gospel's spread. Paul was held captive, but he used this captivity as an opportunity to preach to his jailers.

Paul has seen others repeat his own message in an effort to spread the Gospel.

READ: Philippians 1:12–18 explains Paul's perspective on his haters to harm him; this has caused even more people to hear the gospel.

  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,

This passage sets up Paul's upcoming argument that, whether by life or death, he intends to bring glory to God.

In truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in this I rejoice! Yes! And I will rejoice!!

            It is like Paul believes he cannot say it often enough – “I will rejoice!”

            Let’s take a short look back at Paul’s imprisonment,

            Who imprisoned him? Why was he in prison?

            And how could he, in these circumstances, be joyful?

            Paul made a statement at another time that may shed some light on how and why he could view his imprisonment as joy.

Go back to Romans 8:28 – Paul wrote this as well:

“And we know that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose,”

Paul was in a dark place in his life, but he knew what the outcome would be. He knew God’s purpose in his life.

He was joyful in this tribulation because he could see beyond the walls of the prison into the life His Father and His Lord Jesus Christ had in store for him.

He could see beyond the prison walls into the light of the Gospel.

Paul also succeeded in capitalizing on his imprisonment.

He could have reacted to this imprisonment in many different negative ways, as most people would have then and as most would today.

But he determined this: rather than screaming at God, blaming God, and giving up on God, he would magnify Jesus Christ as Lord.

He was joyful in tribulation because he could see beyond the walls of the prison.

And as it was to be, Paul’s desire for Jesus Christ to be preached throughout the known world at that time and to today, his extended ministry reached to the ends of the earth.

People today—Christians—some believe that Paul had a greater opportunity, greater spiritual defenses, and more spiritual resources because there was a shorter time span between Christ’s time on this earth and when Paul lived.

They believe that the Holy Spirit has been diminished or weakened due to the centuries that have passed since Paul walked the earth.

They believe that the world has changed so drastically that belief in God and His Son Jesus Christ has diminished – that it doesn’t have the power it had back then.

But the truth is that Paul had no more spiritual defenses or spiritual resources than we have today.

Paul only had what we had available to us today.

We have the armor of God. We have the Holy Spirit living within us.

The Holy Spirit's influence and work are just as powerful today as they were then.

We simply must put on the armor, wait upon the Lord, and pray for His direction to guide us to become the kind of warrior Paul became because he used the power of his risen Savior and his Father God.

We must use those defenses and resources we have available to us.

We must be alert, looking for the opportunity to serve; seeking out those who are living without the hope of eternal life.

Although we may grow weary at times, we must learn to live within the timing of the Lord our God. We must learn to live giving glory to God.