Preaching Christ Brings Joy

1. Read: Philippians 1:12-18

2. About the Text:

1) In late Spring of 58 A.D., Paul travelled to Jerusalem (Acts 21) to deliver money to the poor (Romans 15:26).

2) Presumed to have brought gentiles into the Temple, he was about to be killed (Acts 21:28).

3) He was taken into custody by Roman soldiers (Acts 21:34).

4) Upon discovery that Paul was a Roman citizen, Romans soldiers protected him (Acts 22:29).

5) Some Jews decided to kill Paul before trial, so Claudius Lysias had him moved to Caesarea for protection to be judged by the governor Felix (Acts 22:26-35).

6) He stayed in custody there until he appealed to Caesar in late summer of 60 A.D.

7) He arrived in Rome in 61 A.D. where he remained in custody awaiting his trial.

8) In autumn of the year 62 A.D, he wrote the letter to the Philippians.

9) In Philippians 1:12-18, he described his captivity.

10) Despite all that Paul had gone through, he had joy in Christ.

3. Ref. to S, T, P, O, and A.

1. Our challenges can further the gospel.

1) “But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel” (Philippians 1:12).

2) “At that time a great persecution arose against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the apostles…. Therefore those who were scattered went everywhere preaching the word” (Acts 8:1-4).

3) How do we let our challenges further the gospel in our lives?

2. Our chains are “in Christ.”

1) “so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ” (Philippians 1:13).

2) “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28).

3) “Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:10).

4) What chains do we have that we can give to Christ?

3. Others are motivated to speak the word.

1) “and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear” (Philippians 1:14).

2) “For from you the word of the Lord has sounded forth, not only in Macedonia and Achaia, but also in every place. Your faith toward God has gone out, so that we do not need to say anything” (1 Thessalonians 1:8).

3) Book – Missionary Stories – great examples of what Paul is talking about.

4. Facing and overcoming our challenges brings joy.

1. Some preach Christ from the wrong motives.

1) “Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains” (Philippians 1:15-16).

2) “But when the Jews from Thessalonica learned that the word of God was preached by Paul at Berea, they came there also and stirred up the crowds” (Acts 17:13).

3) “Then some of the itinerant Jewish exorcists took it upon themselves to call the name of the Lord Jesus over those who had evil spirits, saying, ‘We exorcise you by the Jesus whom Paul preaches’” (Acts 19:13).

4) “So the word of the Lord grew mightily and prevailed” (Acts 19:20).

5) What is our motive for preaching Christ? Do we even preach Him?

2. Some preach Christ with the right motives.

1) “But the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel” (Philippians 1:17).

2) Barnabas, Silas, Timothy, Titus, Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos, Luke are just a few names of those who preached with the right motives.

3) “But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear” (1 Peter 3:15).

3. We gain encouragement either way.

1) We should be encouraged by the preaching of the gospel.

2) We want lives to be changed by the gospel!

3) “Likewise, I say to you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents” (Luke 15:10).

4. Cooperating together in preaching the gospel brings joy.

1. Christ is preached!

1) “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice” (Philippians 1:18).

2) “There is no bad publicity.” -P.T. Barnum (attributed)

2. Christ is the message of the gospel.

1) “Moreover, brethren, I declare to you the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received and in which you stand, by which also you are saved, if you hold fast that word which I preached to you—unless you believed in vain. For I delivered to you first of all that which I also received: that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the Scriptures, and that He was seen by Cephas, then by the twelve” (1 Corinthians 15:1-5).

2) It is a life changing message!

3) “Or do you not know that as many of us as were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? Therefore we were buried with Him through baptism into death, that just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, even so we also should walk in newness of life. For if we have been united together in the likeness of His death, certainly we also shall be in the likeness of His resurrection, knowing this, that our old man was crucified with Him, that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves of sin” (Romans 6:3-6).

3. We have fellowship with Christ.

1) “Then those who gladly received his word were baptized; and that day about three thousand souls were added to them. And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers” (Acts 2:41-42).

2) “That which we have seen and heard we declare to you, that you also may have fellowship with us; and truly our fellowship is with the Father and with His Son Jesus Christ. And these things we write to you that your joy may be full” (1 John 1:3-4).

4. We rejoice that Christ is preached and lives are changed!

1) What this joy is not.

a. Not the joy of others agreeing with you.

b. Not the joy of being right.

2) What this joy is.

a. It is the joy of upholding the standard of truth and righteousness.

b. It is the joy of seeing someone’s life transformed by the gospel.

5. The message of Christ brings joy!

1. Preaching Christ brings joy because of the . . .

1) Challenges

2) Comradery

3) Christ

2. Invitation