Day 3 – Philippians 1:12-18

Wed 13th May – Read Philippians 1:12-18

V12: He doesn’t want them to be dismayed by his imprisonment, rather he assures them it is all in God’s plan and purpose, and has actually served to advance the spread of the gospel. Truly, how remarkable are God’s ways!

V13; For he has been able to witness to the imperial guard ( ESV). – the Emperor’s own bodyguard, his ” crack troops”, who it seems are entrusted with the custody of Paul. They, and others with them, have thus heard his witness, heard the gospel from him and know he is a prisoner because of his Christian faith and gospel witness.

V14: And, as God has worked through Paul’s imprisonment, other believers in Rome have become bolder in their witness, through Paul’s example.

V15: A difficult verse, but where some preach the gospel sincerely and in a true commitment to Christ and His Word, others it seems are not preaching with these motives, but out of envy of Paul’s ministry, and as his rivals.

V16: Those whose motives are sincere and right want to show their love for Paul, they desire to support and encourage him in his captivity and know they do this best by proclaiming the gospel as he has done. How do we seek to encourage those who minister to us? Surely, there is no better way than this.

V17: But those who seek their own glory, not Christ’s, think they are adding to Paul’s troubles. ( We don’t know the exact circumstances behind these verses.) But let them remind us, we need to be discerning about the preaching we listen to and receive!

V18a: Yet Paul can rejoice because Christ IS preached, even with the wrong motivation, if the message is the true one. God can use His Word, even through an unworthy preacher – and remember, NONE of us is worthy in ourselves. But how we need to uphold those who do declare God’s Word to us in prayer, that God will keep them faithful and use them to His glory.