BE ENCOURAGED, NOTHING CAN STOP THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE KINGDOM OF GOD (2)
by Tim Melton
Scripture: Philippians 1:12-18
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Be Encouraged, Nothing Can Stop the Advancement of the Kingdom of God (2)
Series: Philippians
Tim Melton
Philippians 1:12-18
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
Paul writes wanting to let the Philippians know about his situation. Surely they were shocked when they heard that Paul was in prison in Rome. First of all because he was a good man who was doing nothing more than sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondly, how could God allow such an important church planter and early church leader to be put in prison and removed from the advancement of the gospel? Paul is writing to assure them that God is still on mission and that Paul is exactly where God wants and needs him to be. They needed to understand that what had happened to Paul might have appeared to stop God´s work, but in reality it was serving to advance God´s kingdom.
William Barclay shares how the word ''advance'' that Paul used here was the word that was often used to describe those who would go ahead of an army and cut down all trees, brush and undergrowth so an army could advance unhindered. To most it appeared that prison would hinder Paul´s missionary work, but in reality it advanced, opened the way for even greater ministry.
Let´s take a moment to understand how Paul ended up in prison. In Acts 21 we read that Paul was falsely accused and arrested in Jerusalem. In the following chapters Paul´s life was so endangered that eventually he appealed his case to Caesar. As a Roman citizen that meant that he was put on a ship, accompanied by soldiers and excorted to Rome where he would present his case to Caesar. After a long journey which inclu ...
Series: Philippians
Tim Melton
Philippians 1:12-18
12 I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, 13 so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. 14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. (Philippians 1:12-14)
Paul writes wanting to let the Philippians know about his situation. Surely they were shocked when they heard that Paul was in prison in Rome. First of all because he was a good man who was doing nothing more than sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. Secondly, how could God allow such an important church planter and early church leader to be put in prison and removed from the advancement of the gospel? Paul is writing to assure them that God is still on mission and that Paul is exactly where God wants and needs him to be. They needed to understand that what had happened to Paul might have appeared to stop God´s work, but in reality it was serving to advance God´s kingdom.
William Barclay shares how the word ''advance'' that Paul used here was the word that was often used to describe those who would go ahead of an army and cut down all trees, brush and undergrowth so an army could advance unhindered. To most it appeared that prison would hinder Paul´s missionary work, but in reality it advanced, opened the way for even greater ministry.
Let´s take a moment to understand how Paul ended up in prison. In Acts 21 we read that Paul was falsely accused and arrested in Jerusalem. In the following chapters Paul´s life was so endangered that eventually he appealed his case to Caesar. As a Roman citizen that meant that he was put on a ship, accompanied by soldiers and excorted to Rome where he would present his case to Caesar. After a long journey which inclu ...
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