Philippians: Happiness or Purpose? - Audio

The Gathering Place Church - main

We find Paul in prison waiting to learn whether he will live or die. His circumstances are dire. Here is his explanation of his circumstances. “ Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has served to advance the gospel.” Phil.1:12 In this sentence we see Paul’ entire purpose for living, preaching the good news about Jesus. Notice how he is interpreting his present dire circumstances through the lens of his purpose. He is not interpreting his purpose through the lens of his circumstances e.g. “If only I weren’t in prison, I would be accomplishing so much more preaching!” “As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.” Phil. 13-14 Rather than focusing on the loss of his platform for preaching, he focuses on the effect on his Christian brothers and sisters of his stand for the gospel in prison. Paul is not living for “his ministry” he is living for the ministry of spreading the good news about Jesus. His purpose is not his ministry, it is the ministry. “It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.” Phil. 1:15-17 Notice that Paul is not trying to ignore the trouble that he is in or the effect it has had on his ministry. He acknowledges that there are preachers of Jesus trying to take advantage of his trouble to advance their own selfish, insincere ministries. The fact is, they are taking advantage of his troubles. What they are doing is ungodly and unrighteous! How would you feel in Paul’s circumstances? How Paul reacts is not how I would react. I would be writing letters to all “my churches” commanding them to throw the bums out! I would be pleading my case! Shoring up “my ministry” and trying to protect “my leadership” for later when I am set free. Paul doesn’t worry about “his ministry” because his purpose is the spread of the gospel, not on his personal fulfillment as a preacher. He is not about his career. “But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” Phil. 1:18 By focusing on his purpose (the gospel being preached) Paul can now say one of the most powerful and helpful phrases in the English language, “So What!” “What does it matter?” All that matters to Paul is that his purpose is accomplished one way or another. And this brings us to the relationship between purpose and happiness, “And because of this I rejoice.” Happiness is the by-product of Godly Purpose. Questions: 1. Do you have a purpose that is bigger than your happiness or pleasure? 2. Do you need a new purpose? 3. If so, where will you find it?