Paul shows us how he deals with his own anxiety

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Speaker: 
Andrew Fountain
Date: 
Sun, 2018-02-25

Sermon Outline - Paul shows us how he deals with his own anxiety

Goal

  • How Paul deals with anxiety
  1. He clairfies his ultimate goal
  2. Then says “whatever”, “whatever”

Coping with Anxiety about

  1. Contentious rivals
  2. Threat to survival
  3. Challenge from anti-Christian opponents

Recap from last time

  • The most remarkable thing about Philippians is how Paul opens up his heart and his emotions

Expressions of love:
Phil 2 & 3

  1. Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be encouraged by hearing news about you.
  2. I am all the more eager to send him (Epaphroditus), so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety.
  3. Finally, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write this again is no trouble to me, and it is a safeguard for you.

Expressions of love:
Phil 4

  1. So then, my brothers and sisters, dear friends whom I long to see, my joy and crown, stand in the Lord in this way, my dear friends!
  2. I have great joy in the Lord because now at length you have again expressed your concern for me. (Now I know you were concerned before but had no opportunity to do anything.)

Philippians 1

  1. I thank my God every time I remember you.
  2. I always pray with joy in my every prayer for all of you
  3. For it is right for me to think this about all of you, because I have you in my heart...
  4. For God is my witness that I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.

Story 1: Contentious rivals

Philippians 1:12-30

A. Contentious rivals

  1. I want you to know, brothers and sisters,
    that things concerning me have actually turned out for the advancement of the gospel.
  2. The fact my chains are in Christ has become clearly known to all the imperial guard and everyone else
  3. and most of the brothers and sisters,
    trusting in the Lord because of my chains,
    more than ever are daring to speak the word without fear
  4. some, on the one hand from envy and contention
    • some, on the other hand, from goodwill, are proclaiming Christ
  5.       the latter out of love, knowing that
          for the defence of the gospel I am placed here
  6. the former out of selfish ambition, are proclaiming Christ,
    not sincerely, thinking they can add distress to my chains
  7. What’s the result?
          Only that in every way,
          whether in pretence, or whether in truth,
          Christ is being proclaimed
    and in this I rejoice!

B. Threat to survival

  • Yes, and I will continue to rejoice
  1. for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance
          through your prayer and the the help of the Spirit of Christ,
  2.       according to my confident hope that in no way will I be ashamed
          but in complete boldness, even now as always
          Christ will be magnified in my body
          whether through life or whether through death
  3. because for me, to live is Christ and to die is gain
  4. and if I’m to live in the flesh, this for me is fruitful labour
    but what I would choose I do not know,
  5. and I’m torn between the two
    having the desire
          —to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far
  6.       —but to remain in the flesh is more necessary for your sake.
  7. and being convinced of this, I know that I will remain
          and will continue with all of you
          for your progress and joy in the faith
  8. so that your boasting in Christ Jesus might abound
          through me because of my coming again to you.

C. Challenge from anti-Christian opponents

  1. Only conduct yourselves in a manner [live as a citizen] worthy of the gospel of Christ
    that whether I come and see you or whether am absent,
    I might hear of you
          that you are standing firm in one spirit,
                with one mind contending together,
                for the faith of the gospel.
  2. and not being terrified [like horses] in any way by your opponents
          which is to them a sign of destruction,
          but to you of salvation, and this from God
  3. that to you it has been granted, concerning Christ
          not only to believe in him but also to suffer for him
  4.       having the same struggle, that you saw in me
          and now hear of in me.

AMF

Acts 24:23–27

  1. Then he gave orders to the centurion that he should be kept in custody but have some liberty, and that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs.
  2. After some days Felix came with his wife Drusilla, who was Jewish, and he sent for Paul and heard him speak about faith in Christ Jesus.
  3. And as he reasoned about righteousness and self-control and the coming judgment, Felix was alarmed and said, “Go away for the present. When I get an opportunity I will summon you.”
  4. At the same time he hoped that money would be given him by Paul. So he sent for him often and conversed with him.
  5. Two years elapsed…

Story 2: Threat to survival

Story 3: Challenge from anti-Christian opponents

Updated on 2018-02-25 by Andrew Fountain