philippians 1:12-1:18

1:1-11 Paul & his concern
1:12-18 Imprisonment & preaching
1:19-30 Live well (or die well)
2:1-11 Have Christ's mind
2:12-18 Work it out: use Christ's mind
2:19-30 Welcome Paul's Friends
3:1-11 Worthless works: what Paul was
3:12-21 Press on to the goal: what Paul is
4:1-9 Reconcile & rejoice
4:10-23 Thanks & blessing

1:12-15 Paul's prison time

Paul has desire to communicate to his brothers and sisters in Philippi about his present circumstances.

- he's in prison, but it's not so bad.........because
- the whole guard (imperial?!) has learned about Christ
- the brothers have become more bold after seeing paul's example

...notes on paul's context...
here's an example of a letter requiring context to gain complete knowledge.
what imprisonment? where is paul? do they know more about it than we do?
recorded info about paul:

acts 14:19ff - stoned and left for dead in lystra, instigated by Jews
acts 16:16-4o - jailed in philippi b/c he casts out a demon - only one night, instigated by gentiles in city `
acts 21:27-40 - arrested in temple in jerusalem
paul's story in chapter 22 - flogging stopped by 'roman citizen' admission (v. 26ff)
acts 23 - chief priests and elders question paul. then 40 jews make a vow to not eat or drink until he dies.
plot foiled + paul sent from jerusalem (claudius the tribune) to felix the governor in caesarea
- to be guarded in herod's praetorium - 23:35
imprisonment last for over 2 years in praetorium - 23:35 - 24:27
acts 25 - new governor festus doesn't want to let paul go (worried about jews)
paul appeals to caesar (1-12)
agrippa the king visits - and paul preaches again (one track mind boy) - no grounds for keeping him (v.13 - 26:32)
acts 27-28 - sent to rome.

1:16-18 Paul's crazy perspective

1 circumstance

prison! paul!

2 effects

preaching from good motives - from love - knowing importance of good news
preaching from bad motives - rivalry + insincerity - hoping to cause paul trouble

3 perspectives

earnest preachers

understand gospel

insincere preachers

absolute idiots about what really matters, but god accomplishes his purpose in them anyhow.

paul

troubled in circumstance, but doesn't even merit mention. why?
because the gospel alone matters - THAT makes him rejoice.

the message of christ mattered more than anything to paul
+ he put his money where his mouth was...

do you complain about where god has put you?
in what way is the location of your life an opportunity for the gospel?
do you use your chance?

paul doesn't spend any time complaining about his tough times. doesn't even ask for prayer - just thinks about jesus.

what do you do?

Not just for:

Money, jobs, health (health and wealth)
ease, etc....

Rather for:

Maturity of the church.
Glory and praise of God.