Boxed In?

Have you experienced opposition lately?  Why do you think that is?
Sometimes we find ourselves opposed due to our own errors in judgment or because of our mistakes.  Other times, we experience opposition because ... well, we can't figure out why.

We have just finished studying the letter to the Ephesians and now move on to the letter to the Philippians.  To refresh my memory (and maybe yours too?) Paul had been in some sort of prison custody since 58 A.D., when his 3rd recorded missionary journey ended in Jerusalem.  If you recall, at that time he was beaten, judged by the Sanhedrin and jailed.  The Lord told him quite clearly that he would be a witness for him in Rome (Acts 23:11).  He appealed to Caesar in 60 A.D and was eventually transported by ship to Rome, although this voyage took several months.  Reaching Rome,  he remained there under more humane conditions (under house arrest) from 61-63 A.D.

As Christians, we should be glad of that, because out of those two years came 4 jewels of the New Testament: Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians and Philemon.

The letter to the church at Philippi was the second of Paul's "prison letters", written while he was under house arrest in Rome.  During the latter part of his imprisonment, while he lived in this rented house, he was visited by Timothy, his much younger protege and disciple.  Timothy was there with Paul, and presumably continuing to be trained by him, when Philippians was written.  Paul was "in jail", but he was not "boxed in".

Let's review what has happened to Paul thus far during his ministry.  He has:

• been struck blind (and later only partially regained his sight)

• preached to the Jews in various places

• gone on at least 3 major missionary deployments (journeys)

• preached to many non-Jews/Gentiles

• started many local churches/made many friends and contacts

• survived stoning 

• had at least one heavenly vision/ "ascended into heaven"

• survived a shipwreck and subsequent snake bite 

• raised a young man from the dead after the fella fell out of a window

• performed miracles of healing

This leads me to focus one of the "golden nuggets" of Philippians 1, which we find in verses 12-18:

12  Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13  As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard^c and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14  And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.

15  It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16  The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17  The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18  But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

Yes, and I will continue to rejoice,

In Philippians 1, Christ's name is mentioned eighteen times, and the gospel is mentioned six.  Boiled down, this is what Paul is saying: it doesn't matter what happens to me, as long as Jesus Christ is glorified (preached) and the gospel message is advanced throughout the world.
The advancement of the gospel of Jesus Christ is more important than one person or even several persons and what we are called to endure. 

In nearly every letter Paul writes, he talks about opposition to the message of Jesus, opposition to Christians.  That has not changed!  Christians who are seeking to follow Jesus Christ with their whole hearts will find their efforts opposed by the Enemy.  Yet, when we encounter opposition in our spiritual lives, we begin to feverishly "pray it away".  There's nothing wrong with praying to be "delivered from evil".  After all, Jesus prayed that, in The Lord's Prayer, as He modeled praying for his disciples.  Sometimes our prayers are answered and the Lord gets us out of horrible circumstances; sometimes He leaves us in them.  In his spiritual maturity, Paul recognized that

• opposition would continue (vs. 28) (and indeed he was martyred 3-5 years later)

• opposition is Satan's attempt to frustrate and hinder the preaching of the Word of God (vs. 15-17)

• we should not be afraid of those who oppose us (vs. 28).  They will be judged by God; they'll have to answer to Him

• what God began in each of us, His children, He will see through to completion (vs. 6)

• God uses opposition to bring Himself glory and to accomplish His purposes (vs. 12-14)

• we should rejoice when we find ourselves in such difficult situations  (vs. 18)

Paul was "in chains", but he was not in despair.  He allowed his adverse circumstances to be used by God, who then transformed Paul's situations for His glory!  This was the only answer to "Why, Lord?" Paul needed.

I don't know about you, but for me that "rejoicing" part is really difficult!
At the end of this letter (4:4), Paul exclaims,
 

"Rejoice in the Lord always, and again I say, rejoice!"

What a testimony of a life well-lived!
More than any other book Paul writes, Philippians describes the Christian life I want to live, the resplendent life!  


Father, when we find ourselves in the heat of a battle, we often do not know how or what to pray.  At those times I'm especially mindful of Your promise that the Holy Spirit, that ultimate Comforter and Counselor, intercedes on our behalf to You.  When our fevered prayers sound like muddled cacophonies, He makes them into a gorgeous melody to Your ears.  Help us to recall Paul's example and to fill our prayers with praise and rejoicing in Your perfection, Your omniscience, Your omnipotence.  In Jesus' name, amen.

Sources:

http://matthewmcgee.org/paultime.html