Stay on Mission – 23rd April 2018

1. Compelled
Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 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.
It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 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. Philippians 1:12-18
Last time we looked at the motivation that people have for sharing the gospel and reflected upon the fact that many do this for selfish ambition. Surprisingly, the apostle Paul was prepared to overlook this because it was more important that the gospel was being preached.
Paul’s response to this tells us something very important about his purpose, what he understood to be his ‘reason for living’. Elsewhere in the letters that he wrote to the churches we gain an even clearer picture.
To the church in Corinth he wrote:
For when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, since I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel! 1 Corinthians 9:16
Just a few verses later in this letter to the Philippians, he writes:
For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Philippians 1:21-24
There is little doubt that Paul understood that the only reason he did not want to leave this life was because God wanted him to remain and preach the gospel. He does not take any credit for this and present himself as a great Christian, he says that he is ‘compelled’ – there is nothing in this life that is as important to Paul as preaching the gospel.
How unrecognizable the church would be if the many millions of people who attend services every week were similarly compelled!
How many people in the sphere of your world would hear about Jesus if you were compelled?
Jesus made it abundantly clear that following Him and joining Him in His mission was not the ‘easy’ option that allows us to live lives with ourselves at the center while being grateful that we are saved!
This week, I challenge you to spend time with the Lord and read the gospel accounts of Jesus’ sacrifice for your sin and the sins of the people that are in your world. Ask Him to set your heart on fire!
Dennis