By Grace Alone

“My Imprisonment is for Christ” Paul says “What is yours for?”

“So that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”
(Philippians 1:13, ESV)

We looked at this wonderful passage in Philippians and talked about suffering for the Gospel. We also looked at God’s providence in the lives of Paul, Joseph and ourselves. Great message that needs to continue to be retold time and time again. May the Lord continue to use our suffering to advance His Gospel.

In Christ
Jeff

 

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All Sermons in the Series “Life of Joy in Christ”

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  ”I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel” (Philippians 1:12, ESV)

 

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Trials and suffering to further the Gospel is Biblical as we see in the verse above. In fact, being tried as in fire and purified, so as to remove any impurity, runs through the entire Bible. (Job 23:10; Ps 66:10-12; Pro 17:3; Isa 1:25; 48:10; 1 Pet 1:7)

So we see, it is not a matter of the chains themselves (or any other trial), but what we do in the chains that counts. We can claim to have faith all day long but when the trial comes what really comes out of our mouths? Do we act on fear or faith? Are we trusting in Christ alone or do we trust in the things of this world to get us by? (2 Cor 4:7-10)

“But we have this treasure in jars of clay, to show that the surpassing power belongs to God and not to us. We are afflicted in every way, but not crushed; perplexed, but not driven to despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed; always carrying in the body the death of Jesus, so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our bodies.” (2 Corinthians 4:7-10, ESV)

May the Lord advance His Gospel through our suffering and afflictions…

 Jeff

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*Photo Courtesy of www.freefoto.com

Photo Courtesy of Carol J. Phipps

I found this list in Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists when I was finishing up a sermon on Philippians 1:12. I found it to be right on. What do you think? Download the verses in the ESV here (Verses for 25 Reasons Christians Suffer).

25 Reasons Christians Suffer 

1. To produce the fruit of patience (Rom. 5:3; James 1:3-4; Heb. 10:36)

2. To produce the fruit of joy (Ps. 30:5; 126:5-6)

3. To produce the fruit of maturity (Eccles. 7:3; 1 Pet. 5:10)

4. To produce the fruit of righteousness (Heb. 12:11)

5. To silence the devil (Job 1:9, 10, 20-22)

6. To teach us (Ps. 119:67, 71)

7. To purify our lives (Job 23:10; Ps. 66:10-12; Isa. 1:25; 48:10; Prov. 17:3; 1 Pet. 1:7)

8. To make us like Christ (Heb. 12:9, 10; 1 Pet. 4:12-13; Phil. 3:10; 2 Cor. 4:7-10)

9. To glorify God (Ps. 50:15; John 9:1-3; 11:1-4; 21:18-19; Phil. 1:19-20)

10. To prevent us from sinning (2 Cor. 12:7, 9-10)

11. To make us confess when we do sin (Judg. 10:6-7, 15-16; Ps. 32:3-5; Hos. 5:15; 6:1)

12. To chasten us for our sin (1 Pet. 4:17)

13. To prove our sonship (Heb. 12:5-6)

14. To reveal ourselves to ourselves (Job 42:6; Luke 15:18)

15. To help our prayer life (Isa. 26:16)

16. To become an example to others (2 Cor. 6:4-5; 1 Thess. 1:6-7)

17. To qualify us as counselors (Rom. 12:15; Gal. 6:2; 2 Cor. 1:3-5)

18. To further the gospel witness (Acts 8:1-5; 16:25-34; Phil. 1:12-13; 2 Tim. 4:6-8, 16-17)

19. To make us more than conquerors (2 Cor. 2:14; Rom. 8:35, 37)

20. To give us insight into God?s nature (Job 42:5; Rom. 8:14-15, 18)

21. To drive us closer to God (1 Pet. 4:14; 2 Cor. 12:10)

22. To prepare us for a greater ministry (1 Kings 17-18; John 12:24)

23. To provide for us a reward (Matt. 5:10-12; 19:27-29; Rom. 8:16-17; 2 Cor. 4:17)

24. To prepare us for the kingdom (2 Thess. 1:5; 2 Tim. 2:12)

25. To show God’s sovereignty (Rom. 8:28; 1 Cor. 10:13; Ps. 66:10-12; Gen. 45:5-8; 50:20)

Willmington, H.L.: Willmington’s Book of Bible Lists. Wheaton, IL : Tyndale, 1987, S. 318