Now I want you to know, brothers, that my circumstances have actually served to advance the gospel.Now I desire to have you know, brothers, that the things which happened to me have turned out rather to the progress of the Good News,But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel;Now I would have you know, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the progress of the gospel;
3 sermons cite this verse
… But instead, in that dark, dank prison, Paul wrote the most positive book in the Bible, Philippians. Now, in Philippians chapter one, verses 12 to 30, Paul, who is writing from prison, models four principles for being happy no matter what happens in your life. This is a very practical message. I hope you'll take notes on this. I want you to see the four choices that Paul made so you can make these same choices too. Again, you're as happy as you choose to be. All right. So here are the four principles, the four choices. First, I can be happy no matter what happens in my life if I choose to, write this down, remember God can bring good out of anything. That's the first choice. I choose to remember that God can bring good out of anything. Now, Romans 8, 28, that famous verse of scripture in the Bible says this, we know, not we guess, we know that in all that happens, all that happens, that's the good, the bad, and the ugly, we know that in all that happens, God works for the good of those who love him and are called according to his purpose. …
… God has a word that he wants to share with you. If you got a Bible, I want you to go to Philippians chapter 1, verses 12 through 14. We're reading the book of Philippians, which is really a letter. It's a letter from the Apostle Paul. Apostle Paul is one of the most important people in all the Bible. He's an apostle. He wrote two-thirds of the New Testament. And in my mind, he's kind of the goal. He writes this letter to a group of people that are worried about him. and he wants to encourage them because right now he's in prison and his situation doesn't look very promising and doesn't look very hopeful, but he writes them to encourage him. And he has this peculiar passage that I would like to share with you today. Philippians 1, 12 through 14. Here's what it says. Now I want you to know brothers and sisters that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. …
Let me read the Word of God into your hearing. Philippians 1.12 I want you to know, beloved, that what has happened to me has actually helped to spread the gospel so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to everyone else that my imprisonment is in Christ. And most of the brothers and sisters, having been made confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, dare to speak the word with greater boldness and without fear. Some proclaim Christ from envy and from rivalry, but others from goodwill. These proclaim Christ out of love, knowing that I have been put here for the defense of the gospel. The others, they proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, but intending to increase my suffering and my imprisonment. What does it matter? Just this, that Christ is proclaimed in every way, whether out of false motives or true, and in this I rejoice. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, this will turn out for my deliverance. …