“What is the Word for You?”

Scripture: Philippians 1: 12-20

What does the Bible mean for your life? Is it a God-given guide for your life, or is it just a great collection of stories about faith? Is it God’s command for our lives and the relationship that he offers to all of humanity, or is it a human creation that describes one of many possibilities for this life?

There seem to be many thoughts on what scripture means for humanity – from simply a nice collections of stories, to God’s inerrant word. But personally, if the Bible isn’t more than just a collection of great suggestions on how to live out this life, then why bother? It is certainly a historical record of humanity’s ins and outs, and ups and downs of faith, but it also gives us insight into God’s perfect will us, and the extent that he will go to create a way for us to spend eternity with him.

But is that even enough? Is there even more to this “word” that we know as the Bible?

Read Philippians 1:12-14

Paul doesn’t seem to have many concerns regarding his imprisonment – there is only joy over its serving to spread the gospel! No fear, no apprehension, no hatred, no surrender to the demands from the authorities and their ways in life. As a matter of fact, it is just the opposite – he rejoices that his predicament is being used to spread the word about Jesus Christ. And he also rejoices that “because of his chains”, others have become bolder in proclaiming the life that comes from faith in Christ!

Isn’t that interesting! Paul has been using his imprisonment as a means to share the gospel with those who are charged with guarding him. The men who I have known in prison had nothing good to say about their Corrections Officers. The relationship that existed between them and their captors was all about suppression and security, and there was never even a half-hearted attempt to listen to the inmate or to make life a little more pleasant for them. And the only communications from the prisoner to the guard was acknowledgment of the orders that had been given, and the prisoner’s agreement to follow the order, regardless how thoughtless it may have been.

But Paul saw his “chains” as an opportunity to share Jesus with others who didn’t know him yet. Never mind the deplorable conditions that existed in those Roman jails, never mind the fact that he could just as easily been beaten and starved, as he could have been left in solitary to suffer alone.
Remember the time that Paul and Silas were imprisoned because they had freed a slave girl of a fortune-telling demon? Her owners had lost a sizable income when she could no longer tell fortunes, and had the evangelists thrown into jail. One night, the two men were singing the Lord’s praises and praying – rather loudly, I suspect – when an earthquake shook the place, and the prison doors flew wide open! But did Paul and Silas run for their lives? Hardly!
The jailer was scared half to death, and asked the pair how he could have the faith that they had. He took the evangelists home with him, where their wounds were cared for, and the entire family was baptized. (Acts 16:34)

It’s important that we share the gospel regardless of where we are, or what our life’s circumstances may be. And not only share it, but do it boldly and courageously.

Read Philippians 1:15-18

Different people reacted differently to Paul’s arrest. Some took advantage of his situation, and began preaching the gospel, apparently, for person gain. They didn’t like Paul, and as a matter of fact, they were jealous of the successes that he had. They began sharing Jesus, not out of love for the Lord, but out of envy and distrust for Paul! In Matthew 7:21-23, Jesus warns us about doing this very thing. He told us that some may even cast out demons, or prophesy in the name of Christ, but the Lord will tell them that he doesn’t even know them. Simply proclaiming the name of the Lord will not open heaven’s gate for us. It requires a relationship, and that is what Paul had received.

But then he asks the question “Does that matter?” For him, motives weren’t the issue – the mere fact that the name of Jesus was being proclaimed was what was important. I suppose he felt that the Spirit would settle the dust, and would reveal the truth of Christ, even in the midst of unholy intentions. For Paul, anything that brought us into a relationship with Jesus was OK in his book!

Between you and me, though, I’m not so sure that proclaiming the Lord with words, but not the heart, is sufficient. I suppose some folks can come to the Lord through these insufficient means, but what about the rest, and what about the one who is only sharing words, and not the meaning behind them? What about their souls?
As an example, there are many who claim to be Christians, but who also believe in Universal Salvation – that everyone will, in the end, be saved, with or without faith in Jesus. In several of the “I AM” sayings, Jesus repeatedly says that he is the only way – John 9:5 – “I am the light of the world.”; John 10:9 – “I Am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved.”; John 11:25 – “I am the resurrection and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, they will live.”; John 14:6-7 “I am the way, the truth, the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”

It seems that as far as God is concerned, the way of Jesus is our only hope.

So we come back to the original question – what is the value of the Bible for each of our lives? If we don’t look to Jesus as the only way to glory, then hope must be based on our good works and by the world’s means and thoughts, and surrender to Christ’s ways, and enduring the hatred of the world, is both ridiculous and senseless. But if we accept scripture as containing the word and authority of God, the ways of earth become not only senseless, but hopeless. And the animosity of earth can then be endured as Paul did – with rejoicing, and singing, and proclaiming, and witnessing to the glory that comes simply by faith in Christ.

As Joshua said “Choose for yourself this day whom you will serve.” (Joshua 24:14-15)

Read Philippians 1:18-20

Paul was in prison, and would be facing a trial shortly. And yet, he found the means and purpose and strength to continue to rejoice! And why? Because he saw this as a win-win situation – if he was spared execution, then he would be able to continue proclaiming the salvation and glory that comes by faith in Jesus Christ, and if he was to be killed, that meant that he would be meeting Jesus again, and this time, it would be under far better circumstances than the first time.

He prayed that all that has happened would lead to his “deliverance”. But he wasn’t looking for an acquittal from the Roman court – he had given up all hope in earthly judgment years ago. He was trusting in his deliverance – in his salvation – from divine judgment. But at the same time, he is praying that his actions at the Roman judgment, and possibly at the Roman execution, will not bring shame to his life. In other words, his hope is that faith and spiritual power would always sustain him.

In living or dying, Paul sees a victory and a blessing – not because he is so brave and bold and faithful, but that glorifying Jesus is all that he lives for, and all that he will, one day, die for. But that hadn’t always been Paul’s way. He had been a Pharisee, and a zealous one at that. He loved the law, he strived for the law, and he believed that he had been called to persecute all who didn’t believe as he did. He pursued anyone who put their faith in Christ, and he would see to it that they were arrested, tried, judged, and stoned to death for their heresy.

And then the day came when his life would be radically changed on the Damascus Road through his meeting with the living and resurrected Jesus, who asked him pointedly “Saul, Saul, why do you persecute ME?” (Acts 9:1-19). The evangelist knew the shame that came in that moment, and he never wanted to feel that again. And he knew that his faith in Christ was the only hope of shedding that earthly shame.

The gospel message was his only hope – hope in both life and in death – and he would never relinquish it. And today, those who believe that scripture is only a nice story will one day, know the shame that Paul, and committed Christians through the centuries, have discovered, and been relieved of. If they experience that shame in life, there is hope for them in Christ; if it only comes in death, then shame will prevail.

There’s an old saying – “If you are arrested and tried for being a disciple of Jesus Christ, will there be enough evidence to convict you?” Have you shared Jesus with anyone during the last week? Have you rejoiced in Christ while enduring the persecution of the world? Have you followed the command in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything, give thanks”? (NKJV)

Do you love the gospel message enough to live it with Jesus, in his way, and for others? If not, maybe it's time!