The Privilege of Suffering

Philippians 1:27-30

The Privilege of Suffering

To walk worthy of the Gospel of christ was Paul’s major goal throughout the whole ordeal of his struggle and imprisonment.

 

The Philippian Church in many ways was an outstanding church but it was not perfect.

They were not fighting the good fight of faith in proclaiming the gospel. They were not telling people of the gospel of Christ because they were afraid of persecution.  

They were backing off from their evangelistic responsibilities. This is a very serious charge to the Philippians or to any local church.

The gospel is not only a message to be believed but is to be lived.  The gospel is a standard by which the Christian is to measure his conduct. Hence, Paul calls Philippians to walk worthy of the Gospel of Christ.

In Colossians 1:10, Paul defines living worthy of the Lord as bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, and being strengthened by God for patient endurance and long-suffering.

The kind of life that is worthy of the gospel is one that promotes unity in the church, according to the truth,.( Ephesians 4:15) and seeks the interests of others ahead of itself.

Paul talks about his own life as an example to the Philippians of how they ought to stand firm in the Lord in the face of those who persecute. Standing firm is to stand your ground.

Faith is a gift from God but also a responsibility of man, and no one will ever become a Christian until he has, by an act of the human will, invite Christ into his life through faith.  Yet, when this is done, it is a gift from God.

Paul encourages them to activate the gift of faith during these moments.

Paul says that two things have been granted, belief and suffering, are on behalf of Christ. He reminds them when they trusted Christ as Savior and Lord the very act of faith was a gift from God.

Just as Christ suffered at the hands of sinful men in order to procure their salvation , so also we now have an opportunity to suffer for the sake of the gospel.  

The Philippians had seen how Paul had suffered for the gospel when he was in Philippi.  How he was mocked, beaten, cast into prison. 

 

He encourages them saying, Wherever I go , the gospel goes along with me even to prison.

When he preached, the gospel, there was conflict, struggle with the unsaved world.

Likewise, we must understand that we are at war with the opponents of the gospel.  

 

We are in a life and death struggle because the eternal destiny of every created being rests on what he or she does with the Christ of the gospel in this earthly life.  

we must fight as skilled and hardened soldiers, and we must compete as disciplined and determined athletes if our manner of life is to glorify the gospel cause of Jesus Christ.

Paul was deeply committed to the gospel and those who came to trust in Christ.

Jesus said, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”John 16:33

Ask yourself: 
Have you ever had an opportunity to witness to someone about Jesus Christ?

Are we willing to undergo this suffering to help other believers in the faith?

 
Lets Pray:

Heavenly Father, lead us to where we can testify to the love of God by making a public stand for the Gospel, and for the truth that there is an answer to suffering through Christ Jesus. Give Your people the courage to proclaim the Gospel so that they might rejoice in Your work, we pray. AMEN

Blessings & Prayers 

Pastor. Bobby Leonard