PHILIPPIANS 1:22-30
BEING BODY-BOUND FOR BENEFIT OF BELIEVERS
Philippians 1:22-24 (NIV) If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.
SUSAN: Paul said he was torn between two possibilities. . .
SUSIE: . . . continuing to live and serve or dying and being with Christ. Continuing live on this earth in the flesh would enable Paul to continue preaching and writing to bring men to Jesus and to encourage those believers he had already led to the Lord. His sincere desire was to be present with Jesus, face to face, which is definitely more pleasant than dealing with all the troubles of our bodies and living in a fallen world.
SUSAN: I can relate because if I vacate my earth-suit that has many limitations which definitely feel like shackles and chains; after falling at Jesus’ feet and praising Him, I would probably break out into a happy dance fully enjoying a body that functions as it should. But if I remain, God will continue to give me courage to overcome my physical challenges in order to proclaim salvation through Jesus, teach liberty in Christ to the body of believers, and help others to grow in the knowledge and grace of our Lord.
SUSIE: As Paul talked through the options, he realized that the best choice for the believers to whom he wrote, for the continued advancement of the Gospel, and for the glory of God, was that he remain earth-bound a while longer.
Q – If you are reading this, you are still alive. God has you strategically placed where you can best serve Him. Are you seeking His purposes for you each day? Are you living in obedience to all the Holy Spirit shows you in the word of God? Are you waiting on new instructions from the Lord when you haven’t yet obeyed the last thing He laid on your heart? (OUCH!) Take a moment to genuinely seek the Lord concerning the mission He has for you THIS day.
Philippians 1:25-26 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
Footnotes: Philippians 1:25 Or “that I could help with your pioneer advance and joy in faith.” Paul was excited to help them make new pioneer advances in their faith and joy.
1:25 confident . . . I shall remain. Paul’s conviction—not a supernatural revelation—that their need would determine that he stay on earth longer. progress . . . of faith. “Progress” pictures trail blazing so that an army can advance (see note on v. 12). Paul wanted to cut a new path for the Philippians to follow to victory; the increasing of their faith would result in the increasing of their joy.
MacArthur Study Bible
SUSIE: Remember that Paul was a prisoner in Rome at the time, awaiting trial before Caesar. The result of that trial very well could have been Paul’s execution. However, he felt certain the Lord had more work for him to do on earth and that he would have further opportunity to encourage and rejoice with the Philippian Christians.
SUSAN: Paul felt that when he had “familyship” once again with the Philippians, teaching them and building them up, they would have more reason to exalt the Lord Jesus Christ and His cross.
SUSIE: He was excited to help the Philippian church blaze a trail for other Christians to follow, a path of following the Lord whatever the cost.
Q – If you are a mature follower of Jesus, do you have those who are younger in the faith who look to you as an example? Would it make a difference in any believer’s life, if you were to suddenly lose contact with them? The church—those of us who trust in Jesus and walk with Him—is designed to be a place of relationship, relationship with the Lord first and then with other believers. We are human BEINGS, not human DOINGS. God created us to BE in relationship with Him and then with others. What are you doing to cultivate those relationships with others? How are you helping others to, as Stephen Curtis Chapman sings, “Saddle up your horses! We’ve got a trail to blaze through the wild blue yonder of God’s amazing grace”?
CONDUCT DURING CONFLICT
Philippians 1:27-28 (NIV) Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.
Philippians 1:27-28 (VOICE) So here is what I want you to do: conduct yourselves as true and worthy citizens of the Anointed’s gospel, so that whether I make it or don’t make it to see you, I will at least hear that you continue to stand, united in one spirit, single-minded in purpose as you struggle together for the faith in the gospel. Don’t be paralyzed in any way by what your opponents are doing. Your steadfast faith in the face of opposition is a sign that they are doomed and that you have been graced with God’s salvation.
SUSIE: Paul admonished the Philippians to have integrity, to live what they proclaimed they believed in their day to day lives in order to be a witness to the transformation Jesus Christ had brought about in them by His grace. If Paul could not be present with them in person, he wanted to hear good reports about them.
SUSAN: When I was in the hospital, the grace of God enabled me to remain joyful and encourage those who entered my room. The ironic thing was even when I was intubated and couldn’t talk, maybe especially when I couldn’t talk, I was wanting to serve notice on the Enemy that my campaign for the Gospel would not be thwarted.
SUSIE: Had Susan given in to despair, depression, or even excessive complaining, her witness would not have been as strong. By the power of the Lord, she was able to live out the joy she was proclaiming to her caregivers and visitors. Integrity—honesty and fair dealing with others, “walking the talk”, is crucial to being an effective witness of all the Lord has done. Let me share two examples of God using Susan and I during the midst of our own trying times. The night before her amputation surgery in 2015, she shared with every hospital employee who walked into our room, leaving them with the challenge that if she could serve the Lord with gladness in her earth-suit that was about to be shortened by 23 inches, they had not excuse but to do whatever the Lord was calling them to do! One of those nurses caught up with me in the surgery waiting room while Susan was having a med-port installed and told me that a revival had broken out on the floor we had been on that first night! Praise the Lord! More recently, in October 2019, Susan was in the hospital to clean out an infection in the scar from the amputation. She ended up on ventilator for eight days! During her stay in ICU, the Lord gave me an opportunity to minister to a lady who had just had to declare her husband DNR (do not resuscitate). He placed her in my path as I headed into the waiting room to eat supper. Susan and I were united in the faith that God’s work was not standing still just because she was unable to talk at that moment.
SUSIE: Paul wanted to hear that the Philippians were continuing to serve the Lord, not only individually, but as a united team. If everyone on a sports team is trying to be the hotshot instead of working together toward the goal, it hinders their effectiveness.
SUSAN: Instead of individual “hot dogs,” Paul wanted the believers to be a seamless unit moving in tandem. It’s like a military or police unit who all move in at once upon the leader’s signal.
SUSIE: Striving together reminds me of tug-o-war. The winning team pulls together to multiply their strength. Unity in the church is extremely important if we wish to be an effective team advancing the Gospel in our community. We cannot let pettiness among us ruin our witness to non-believers. We must seek to combine our gifts and use our strengths to complement one another’s efforts.
SUSAN: Our witness together as a body of believers increases exponentially when we work as a team—an army. This is why Jesus sent the disciples in teams, much of the time, two by two.
SUSIE: The old saying is true of the church as much as for armies or sports teams: “United we stand. Divided we fall.” Our being united in purpose for the Kingdom of God shows anyone or anything that opposes us that we will be gloriously saved, not by our own might, but by the power of the God who unites us. When Christians are persecuted yet remain strong in the Lord, boldly proclaiming salvation in Christ, their fearlessness brings conviction on their persecutors. Read some of the testimonies found at http://www.persecution.com to see this truth played out in contemporary situations.
Philippians 1:29-30 For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in him, but also to suffer for him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.
Philippians 1:29 (AMPC) For you have been granted [the privilege] for Christ’s sake not only to believe in (adhere to, rely on, and trust in) Him, but also to suffer in His behalf.
SUSAN: God grants us the faith to believe in Christ in order to be saved. However, when I first saw the rest of the statement that He “grants” us to suffer for him, my brain said, “Does not compute! Does not compute!” How is suffering for Jesus a gift?
“the Greek verb translated “granted” is from the noun for grace. Believers’ suffering is a gift of grace that brings power and eternal reward.”
MacArthur Study Bible note on vs. 29
SUSAN: Even though on a human level suffering still does not translate into a “good” thing, I can trust that when God chooses suffering for me, He will also give me the strength to endure and will use it for my ultimate good and His glory (Romans 8:28). This is done by keeping my eyes on the reward of becoming more like Jesus and ultimately being in His presence forever where there will be no more suffering and no more tears.
Hebrews 12:1-2 (NASB) Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.
SUSIE: The Philippian believers had witnessed the persecution of Paul and Silas when they ministered among them (Acts 16:22-24), so they knew exactly what they faced. So often prosperity and ease are preached, but Paul is saying that God graciously allows suffering. Wrap your mind around that! We find this same idea in 1 Peter 4:12-13 (VOICE), “Dear ones, don’t be surprised when you experience your trial by fire. It is not something strange and unusual, but it is something you should rejoice in. In it you share the Anointed’s sufferings, and you will be that much more joyful when His glory is revealed.”
PONDER THIS: Do you find it significant that it was “granted” to the believers to suffer? Can difficulties truly be seen as something allowed by the grace of God? As we post this Bible study, we have been in the middle of the COVID-19 Pandemic. Many of us have felt more isolated than usual as we have been encouraged to “shelter in place” in our home and only get out when absolutely necessary. A brother in Albania shared in a prayer time that he has to call the police station and get an assigned hour in which he can do his shopping. He has ONE HOUR to get what his family needs! More than ever right now, we feel the need to be united (via technology) with our brothers and sisters in Christ. Our response of hope and even joy during this struggle will be a witness to others. Our striving in UNITY to find innovative ways to encourage one another and share Jesus with those who do not yet know Him, will serve notice to the Enemy, that the church is still built on the Rock (Jesus), and the gates of Hell cannot prevail against it (Matthew 16:18).