Philippians 1:29-30 | God's Gracious Gifts

This sermon was recorded at Faith Evangelical Free Church in Grand Forks, North Dakota.

Good morning.

Please take your Bible or your device with me this morning to Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

We're going to conclude the chapter this morning as we look at verses 29 and 30.

Which means that when we come back in December, next week is Baptism Sunday.

Then after that's our first Sunday in December, we're going to be looking at the first part of chapter 2 for our Christmas season, focusing on how it displays the humility of Christ in taking on flesh.

This morning we're in verse 29, but I want to back up to verse 27 as we read to get our context together.

When the Apostle Paul originally sent this letter, verses 27 to 12 through 30, we're all one sentence.

So we'll read that to get it all in our minds as we begin our time in God's Word this morning.

He says, Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you, and see that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation and that from God.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Let's pray together.

Lord Jesus, we ask that you would fill us with your spirit this morning to give us light to see your word.

Ears to hear.

Lord, there are some challenging things in this section that we need to hear, that need to impact how we live.

So cause your spirit to give us soft hearts, to receive it, and to have your word planted deep within us this morning.

We ask this for your glory, Lord Jesus.

Amen.

The letter to the Philippians becomes much richer when we consider all that the New Testament has to say about the origins of the church in that city.

For example, we should go back to the book of Acts and remember how the Apostle Paul entered the city of Philippi with no synagogue present.

Apparently, there weren't enough Jewish men there to have a synagogue.

So there was no place for him to gather with other like-minded people.

So he went out to the river, which was a common place for people to gather for prayer, and there he met a woman named Lydia, who was also a foreigner.

And so the church began with those two people coming together.

The community expanded.

As Paul began to impact the city of Philippi with the gospel of Jesus Christ and the power of God.

And we we can't ignore either how those humble beginnings turned sour as anger grew over Christ's impact in the city of Philippi and its pagan practices.

And Paul was imprisoned.

And we we have to remember, too, the apostle's own description of that first visit to Philippi.

In 1 Thessalonians chapter 2, verse 2, he says, But though we had already suffered and been shamefully treated at Philippi, as you know, we had boldness in our God to declare the gospel of God in the midst of much conflict.

1 Thessalonians 2:2

So his own perspective was one of suffering and conflict, coming together to bring the gospel and it not feeling good.

The conflict they faced in their ministry in Thessalonica is the same word used for conflict in Philippians 1:30.

Philippians 1:30

The Philippians observed the conflict Paul experienced and was still enduring when he wrote this letter to them.

Lydia, the woman who believed in Christ beside the river, and the former likely soldier turned Philippian jailer who believed in Christ in the middle of the night, along with others, had memories of Paul and his ministry and the struggles and suffering they endured while serving in that ancient city.

And now these people are experiencing similar conflict.

We aren't told what that looks like.

But they had opponents in the city, in verse 28, opponents who were in some way frightening God's people.

And instead of standing firm, they were tempted to stand down, or maybe even retreat.

They fragmented rather than contending side by side together for the faith of the gospel.

Friends, the enemies of Christ the Lord do not go quietly when his lordship begins to take over enemy territory.

Unfortunately, God's people often retreat with quiet whimpers when they feel the heat of battle.

This letter from the imprisoned Paul is like an officer's encouragement to his soldiers to face the enemy with courage and with boldness and without fear because of what God has done.

The Apostle Paul was the spiritual version of Lieutenant General Chesty Puller.

Perhaps you've heard of him.

When his first Marine Regiment was surrounded by enemy forces in December of 1950 in Korea, he is rumored to have said to all of his soldiers, they've got us right where we want them.

We can shoot in every direction now.

Now there are several different versions of that quote.

But all the versions of Chestipular's statement reflect the same perspective.

He wasn't about to think of defeat.

He saw the advantage of being surrounded.

And he wanted his soldiers to have that same perspective.

The Apostle Paul is doing something similar here.

But while Chesty Puller was looking for something positive in a negative circumstance, Paul was urging the believers in Philippi to rest in a genuine reality as they stood firm and contended together.

Because the receipt of two precious and enduring gifts from our gracious Father comprise a reality for every single believer in Christ.

Every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of heavenly lights, James tells us.

And two particular gifts impact how the local church and God's people should view the spiritual conflict we face in our world.

So this is a call then to reflection and proper perspective.

It guides us in how we think when we face opposition to our faith and to the gospel.

It challenges how we view conflict as Christians.

There are four reflective points in these two verses at the end of chapter one.

So let's think about them for a few minutes.

The first one is that the Father gives graciously for the sake of his son.

Our Father in heaven gives graciously for the sake of his son.

First phrase of verse 29 sets the stage for our reflection with a reality check.

Much like Chesty Puller's challenge to see being surrounded as an advantage in war, we are challenged to see our salvation and the suffering that comes with standing with Christ as divine gifts.

There's a distinct difference between those on the broad road to destruction and those on the narrow path to life in Christ.

The difference is that God's people, when they stand firm and contend together, are not frightened when surrounded by their opponents.

They stand firm like chesty polar.

Opposition to the faith or to the gospel does not frighten them into retreat.

And that lack of fear is a sign to those on the broad road who oppose Christ.

It's a sign that they are headed for destruction because they have not received the Father's good and perfect gifts.

Notice what he says.

For it has been granted to you.

I could preach a whole sermon on that one word, and I was tempted to do it.

Granted is from the grace word group.

Its basic sense is to give something freely.

So to give freely means to do it without obligation, without compulsion.

The giver is under no requirement to give gifts.

Because it belongs in the grace word group, that word granted might better be translated as graciously given.

The Philippians and all believers have received gifts from the Father.

Those gifts are grace gifts.

We've not earned them, nor do we deserve them.

They are freely given because he is absolutely free and under no compulsion or debt to anyone.

We cannot demand that God give us gifts, nor can we twist his arm to force him to give us gifts.

His gifts are measures of his grace.

Couple of passages, I think, that help us grasp this reality.

One of them is Romans chapter 8, verse 32.

Romans 8:32

You remember the section in Romans chapter 8 that gives this grandiose vision of who we are in Christ.

Romans 8 · chapter mention

And he asks, who, speaking of God, he who did not spare his own son, but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things?

Graciously give is the same word as granted in the English Standard Version here in Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 · chapter mention

The idea of giving freely is in 1 Corinthians chapter 2, verse 12.

1 Corinthians 2:12

Now that, now we who have received not the spirit of the world, but the spirit who is from God, we can understand the things now that are freely given us by God.

So where James reminds us that every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, Paul here reminds us that God's gifts to believers are acts of his grace.

They are gracious gifts that should move us to humility.

Just as Christ was moved to humility in chapter 2.

So these gracious gifts now are not given to us for our sake.

They are given to us for Christ.

These things have been graciously given to you for the sake of Christ.

So we're challenged then to see what God has given us as undeserved and unearned.

We haven't done anything to deserve it.

The fact that we possess divine gifts is not a position for us to climb the ladder of pride, but rather to kneel before the Father in gratitude.

Then we are challenged to see that God's gifts are not even ultimately for us, but they're for Jesus.

This phrase, for the sake of Christ, occurs only four times in the New Testament.

One of them is 2 Corinthians, actually twice in 2 Corinthians chapter 5, verse 20, says, Therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us, and we implore you on behalf of Christ.

2 Corinthians 5:20

There it is, on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

So it's twice here.

Once is for Christ, therefore we are ambassadors for Christ, and then again on behalf of Christ.

So the apostle Paul and those with him are in a position to do something that benefits Christ.

They are ambassadors, they represent him, and they act on his behalf, with his authority, with his power, so that whatever they do is for him.

It's also found again in 2 Corinthians chapter 12, verse 10.

2 Corinthians 12:10

For the sake of Christ, then I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities.

For when I'm weak, then I am strong.

Listen, all that I'm experiencing as a prisoner of Christ is for him.

It's for his benefit.

The last time we find it is here in Philippians 1.

It has been graciously given to you to be a benefit or value to Jesus Christ.

For the sake of means that we, what we have been given is beneficial for someone else.

The Father has given us certain gifts as measures of his grace that are for Christ, not us.

They are given to God's children to be employed in the service of Jesus Christ, just as Paul was an ambassador of Christ.

Let's put that in perspective.

Lieutenant General Pullens received news that the enemy had surrounded his troops, and he responded with a positive notion that they could attack in any direction now.

There were no limitations.

The Philippians were also under some pressure and persecution for their faith.

And the apostolic instruction here is to see their circumstances, their surrounding by opponents of Christ, as instances of divine grace.

You're surrounded?

Wonderful.

That's a sign you're on the right path.

And it serves as a reminder that you are recipients of divine grace.

That's a wake-up call, friends.

That's a perspective shift that comes when we see the grace of God given to us.

But that shift in point of view gains more momentum when we see our second realization, which is that the Father gives enduring faith for the sake of his son.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but to suffer for his sake.

So there are two gifts: believing in him and suffering for him.

There are five references to faith or believing here in Philippians.

Starts back in verse 25, where he references your progress and joy in the faith.

We see it again in verse 27, where we strive side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Then verse 29, and then chapter 2, verse 17, and chapter 3, verse 9.

Three of those, three of those five speak of the faith.

If I can put air quotes around that.

As in, it's the reality of the Christian faith.

Chapter 3, verse 9 refers to faith as the means by which we receive salvation.

Those four instances are nouns.

Here, the same word is used in the verb form, referring to the act of exercising faith, or, as we have it in our English Standard Version, believing.

So there are two aspects to this encouragement.

It has been granted to you, it has been graciously given to you that for the sake of Christ you should believe.

There are two aspects to this encouragement: one that lies in the background and one that's in the foreground, front and center.

In the background is this general sense of believing in Christ.

That is a gracious gift of God.

It takes you from the broad road of destruction and sets you on the narrow road to life.

The fact that you believe in Christ is a clear sign to the opponents of Jesus that your faith has been graciously given to you and you have believed, and they have not.

Paul's telling the Philippians the mere fact that you believe is a reception of God's grace and a sign to them that they're not right with God.

The second aspect of this encouragement is more front and center.

This verb form represents the gift of enduring faith.

It's a faith that continues despite opposition.

Faith is put to the test by trials, by opposition, by persecution, by merely living in a sin-cursed world following Christ day after day.

It's a persevering faith.

It is an enduring faith, and that is a gracious gift from the Father in heaven.

So to have the unwavering perspective of Lieutenant General Pullens is human fortitude.

It's an inner resolve and strength to fight to the bitter end.

But it's a gracious gift to know that we have been given a faith to stand firm in one spirit and contend side by side for the faith of the gospel, even when surrounded by the principalities and powers of this dark world who work to oppress the gospel, who labor to keep us divided, separate, and distant.

That is a gracious gift of God.

This sense is captured really well, I think, in Romans chapter 5, verse 3 begins with not only talking about what's coming before it, but we rejoice in our sufferings.

Romans 5:3

What?

Sounds like an oxymoron.

We rejoice in our sufferings.

Because we know that suffering produces endurance.

And endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

And hope doesn't put us to shame because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.

You see that graciously given concept again.

God graciously gives his people faith to believe that endures through gospel opposition, through the hardship that comes with knowing and living with Christ.

There's no retreat then.

It's been said that Napoleon at the Battle of Waterloo commanded his drummer to make the sound for retreat.

But the young man looked at his commanding officer and said, Master, in all of our campaigns in Europe, I have never learned the sound of retreat.

Napoleon is said to have replied, All right, drummer boy, sound the advance.

God has graciously given an enduring faith.

Where we keep going and going and going.

That is a Gracious gift.

So on the one hand, Paul reminds followers of believers that bear their cross, and that that is hard, that is painful, that is toilsome sometimes.

But the mere fact that we have been graciously given the free gift of God of eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord is a sign to unbelievers that the wages of sin are death, which is the end of that wide road that we all were once traveling on.

And the free gift that God has given is eternal life.

On the other hand, this is a reminder to stand firm and contend together because the endurance of your faith that suffering for the gospel produces comes as a part of standing firm side by side and contending together.

It's a part of how the Lord brings the world to its knees to declare that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

The way that the Apostle Paul says, not only believe, but also now is an emphatic contrast that declares that God graciously saves and God also causes us to endure opposition to our faith.

But sometimes it's a surprise to hear that suffering is a gift from God.

Now, specifically here, this is about suffering because you're a Christian.

It's opposition to who Christ is, opposition to what Christ is doing in you, opposition to the person of Christ, opposition to all that you believe in because of who Christ is.

That kind of suffering for the gospel is a gracious gift from the Father for the sake of his son.

It's easier, I think, for us to hear that our salvation is a gracious gift.

It's harder sometimes to grasp that being surrounded by gospel opponents or spending time in prison for the gospel or any other kind of suffering related to our faith is a gracious gift.

Here's how you can know.

Here's a test that you can use to determine whether or not you have recognized that gospel suffering is a gift.

Have you thanked God for it?

Because the Father gives gospel suffering for the sake of his son.

It is a gracious gift to suffer for our faith.

There's no other way for us to see this than that what has been graciously given for the sake of Christ is to believe in him and to suffer.

There are two very clear gifts given to us.

It is a gracious gift to suffer for our faith, for our belief in Christ, for telling of Jesus, for proclaiming the gospel, for living the Christian life.

A.W.

Tozer once said the Bible has a great deal to say about suffering, and most of it's positive and encouraging.

Now there are different kinds of suffering, right?

There's a general kind of suffering that comes as part of living in a sin-cursed world where everything, including our bodies, is broken to some extent.

It's why we have diseases and cancers and bodily ailments of all kinds.

That's just part of living in our sin-cursed world, where everything is degrading.

There's a kind of suffering that is consequential.

Some suffering results from the choices that we make.

Some suffering is a result of our sinful choices.

Some suffering, though, can only be experienced by believers in the Lord Jesus Christ.

This suffering isn't peculiar to God's children.

It's a suffering that comes because the world first hated Christ and now it hates all who identify with him.

That is the kind of suffering that is highlighted here that comes to you because you have identified that Jesus Christ is Lord, and I will follow him, not Caesar as Lord for the Philippians.

It's a suffering that comes from being engaged in gospel conflict.

This is the suffering Paul experienced when he was beaten, whipped, stoned, and left for dead, when he was imprisoned, chased out of town, hungry, tired, worn out, all because of everything in life being for Christ.

It's the opposition that we face from family who don't know Christ, who don't want to hear us talk about Jesus, from neighbors, from co-workers, from the community when we follow Christ in visible and audible ways.

God gives the gift of gospel suffering to strengthen his children for endurance and to bring about his good purpose in his world.

It's part of how Christ fulfills his mission throughout the world.

The Nigerian church right now is suffering terribly.

Is that wrong and evil?

Yes.

It is a gracious gift.

Yes.

God gives the gift of gospel suffering to strengthen his children for endurance and to bring about his good purpose in his world.

So gospel pain, gospel suffering, gospel trials, just living as a Christian and receiving the pushback for that are gracious gifts from your father.

Yeah, sometimes it feels like getting socks or underwear for Christmas.

It's not what you would choose.

It's not what you would ask for.

Sometimes it may not even be enjoyable.

Most of the time, suffering's not enjoyable.

We're not masochists.

But we are people who should hear the good word of our Father in heaven who says to us that he has given us this gracious gift to make us more like Jesus and to connect us more with what he's doing in his world.

You see, what's fascinating here is that this same language is used throughout the New Testament to describe Jesus' suffering.

It's the same term.

So the Apostle Paul is connecting all that Jesus suffered and all that we are suffering, and he's saying, these go together.

It's God making you more like your Savior.

And he wants us then to develop the Lord's attitude and perspective towards that within ourselves.

Look over at chapter 3.

Philippians chapter 3, verse 8, the Apostle Paul says, Look, I count everything as loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus, my Lord.

Philippians 3:8

It's just worth knowing Jesus to lose everything.

For his sake I have suffered the loss of all things and count them as rubbish, in order that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith, so that I may know him and the power of his resurrection, and may share in his sufferings, even becoming like him in his death.

The Apostle Paul is telling the Philippians, be like me as I'm like Christ.

And that includes seeing suffering for Christ as a gracious gift.

Perhaps you've heard of Adeniram Judson.

He was the first American foreign missionary to Burma, modern-day Myanmar.

Judson was notoriously imprisoned and tortured in the Ava Death Prison for several years.

His feet were shackled in iron fetters at night, and during the day, Judson, along with many other prisoners, were hanged upside down, their heads and their shoulders touching the ground in order to extract confessions from them.

Judson's feet and ankles were scarred for life from that treatment.

His first wife, Anne, was also imprisoned while she was pregnant with their first child.

Anne died at age 36, laboring to bring food and other resources to Adniram and working to get him freed.

And then their baby daughter died.

Judson labored for six years in Burma before a single person trusted in Christ.

At one point, he was in such a deep depression that he dug his own grave in the forest.

He served 38 years in Burma without much of a break.

He learned Burmese and he created the first Burmese English dictionary while living in primitive conditions and mostly sick, those 38 years.

The fruit of his toil was the establishment of a Burmese Christian church, and he also translated the first Burmese Bible that is still in use today, and it set the stage for the Lord's kingdom to grow.

Adniram Judson said, if I had not felt certain that every additional trial was ordered by infinite love and mercy, I could not have survived my accumulated suffering.

That's a recognition of the gracious gift of suffering for Christ.

I think Don Carson was right to say the staying power of our faith is neither demonstrated nor developed until it is tested by suffering.

And that testing and that strengthening of our spirits in Christ and for Christ is a gracious gift from the Father.

Finally, notice the fourth reflective point in our text.

The Father gives encouragement for the sake of his son.

It has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

The specific encouragement here is that we are not alone.

And our standing firm and our contending are not unusual.

If you're a Christian, it should be normal.

Everyone who desires to live godly in Christ Jesus will face persecution.

General Paul wants his soldiers to know that even though he's in prison, what they are facing is not unusual.

It comes with being a Christian.

And even more, it is a gracious divine gift.

But he also wants them to know that he has and was at that point in time still facing the same kind of gospel conflict.

These reflection points are all encouraging.

We're encouraged by God's gracious gifts to us for our life in Christ.

We are encouraged by God's gracious gift of an enduring faith so we don't give up.

We keep going.

We keep persevering because of the spirit that our Father has given to us because he knows we need it.

We are encouraged by God's strengthening of our spirits and the deepening of our connection with Christ through suffering.

We know that gospel suffering makes us more like Jesus.

So we can, like the apostles and the disciples in the book of Acts, count ourselves worthy to suffer for his name.

And we can be encouraged that we are in this contest together.

One of the reasons that the book of Hebrews says, don't forsake the assembling together of the saints, is because you need it for your own encouragement.

And somebody else needs you for their encouragement.

Encouragement comes when we stand firm together and we contend together for the sake of our Lord Jesus Christ.

So now let's read again verses 27 to 30 and put it all together.

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ.

So that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you.

That you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel.

Not frightened or fearful in anything by your opponents.

This standing together is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation.

For it's been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him, but also suffer for his sake, engage in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Last Sunday, we learned that Polycarp, a disciple of the Apostle John and pastor of the church in Smyrna, wrote a letter to the church in Philippi.

When you have some time, read through the letters to the churches in Revelation chapter 2 and 3, and you'll see the letter to the church in Smyrna.

Revelation 2 · chapter mention

Some believe that what was written to the church in Smyrna was in some way written directly to Polycarp.

Smyrna is one of the few churches in Revelation 2 and 3 that received no correction, just commendation.

But the church in Smyrna was told, be prepared because there's going to be some suffering that's coming to you.

Stand firm.

Polycarp was martyred as an old man in his late 80s or early 90s.

Eusebius tells us that Polycarp was bound with ropes, with his hands tied behind him.

And he was led to a stake and tied to a stake, and wood was placed around the stake.

Eusebius imagines it in this way.

He was bound like a distinguished ram, and he prepared to be an acceptable burnt offering to God, looking up to heaven and saying, O Lord God Almighty, the Father of your beloved and blessed Son Jesus Christ, I give you thanks that you have counted me worthy of this day and this honor, that I should have a part in the number of your martyrs, in the cup of your Christ, to the resurrection of eternal life, both of soul and of body, through the incorruption given by the Holy Spirit.

May I be accepted this day before you as a fat and acceptable sacrifice, as you, the ever-truthful God, have foreordained and have now fulfilled.

Therefore, I also praise you for all things.

I bless you, I glorify you, along with the everlasting and heavenly Jesus Christ, your beloved Son, with whom to you and the Holy Spirit be glory both now and to all coming ages.

Amen.

As we hear this message to our ancient brothers and sisters, people that we will one day meet and serve you side by side together with them.

Lord, cause us to hear these words so that we too might be faithful followers, having received these gracious gifts.

Standing firm to the end.

Lord, would you give us that strange, strange perspective of a rejuvenating mindset that sees opposition to our faith as a gracious and good thing.

To look to you as the source of all things that we face and endure.

Lord, you haven't given us grace for tomorrow yet, or the day after that, or next week.

But you've given us grace for today.

Enable us to face what you bring us today with thankfulness as we look to you and honor you in all that you set before us.

That we as a church might stand side by side for the faith of the gospel and contend together to the very end.

Because of your gracious gifts to us.

Amen.

That concludes this sermon from Faith Evangelical Free Church.

Our mission is to declare the Word of God and disciple believers into mature, devoted followers of Jesus.

You can learn more by visiting our website at faithfree.com.