What I want to relay to you from these verses is that in order for us to be an effective witness during trials, we need to have the following perspectives:
Perspective 1: Use Trials as a Spring Board for the Gospel.
The Progress of the Gospel (vs12)
At this point, we are actually getting into the body of the letter. The literary devise that Paul is using here is called a disclosure form. This is seen in the statement “Now I want you to know, my brothers..." Paul is wanting to disclose to his readers the effects of his circumstances; something they have been eager to know about. Paul is now ready to disclose some incredible information to them that has not been previously known. We do not know all of the details concerning Paul’s circumstances, because doesn’t really tell us about them. Yet whatever was going on with his imprisonment, these events have not been a hindrance to the gospel, but a help. This is seen in the word translated "progress." The word was used in the Greek speaking world to describe “blazing a trail before an army," “the philosophical progress towards wisdom," and the “progress of a young minister." In other words, Paul saw the circumstances surrounding his imprisonment as pioneering new territory for the gospel. Notice also that he does not say in spite of his trials, but rather the text gives the impression that they are an instrument in spreading the gospel. To Paul, this was going to result in the pinnacle of his ministry to the Gentiles. He was going to get to stand before Caesar, the poster boy of the Gentiles; the leader of the Gentiles, and preach the gospel to him. This, to Paul, was the ultimate fulfillment of his ministry to the Gentiles. He lived for this moment.
If we are saints who live in the light, even though we walk through darkness and uncertainty, we can have unprecedented faith in the sovereignty of God . Our hearts can rest in the fact that He has indeed ordained our circumstance in order to further the gospel, not to hinder it. One tremendous example of this is the story of a husband and wife who were missionaries in the Philippine’s. One day, on their anniversary, Martin and Gracia Burnham were on a getaway at an exotic island resort in the Philippines. Their romantic time was soon cut short when they and a group of others, were seized by the Abu Sayyaf, a terrorist group with ties to Osama bin Laden, and held for ransom. They were taken away from their ministry and thrust into captivity, where they were chained to trees and faced starvation, gun battles, and murder. Yet while they were in this tremendously trying ordeal, Martin and Gracia prayed for their Muslim captors and began to witness to them and the other hostages with them. In her autobiography, In the Presence of My Enemies, Gracia Burnham records this conversation she had with her husband after they had been in captivity for over a year: “He said, ‘I really don’t know why this has happened to us. I’ve been thinking a lot lately about Psalm 100- what it says about serving the Lord with gladness. This may not seem much like serving the Lord, but that’s what we’re doing, you know? We may not leave this jungle alive, but we can leave this world serving the Lord with gladness; we can come before his presence with singing’.” They then prayed together and fell asleep. Martin died later that night during a gun battle. But what of his life? A situation that at first seemed like a hindrance to the gospel was actually ordained by God to further it. Imagine this: God putting this couple right in the midst of a group of cold-hearted terrorist with ties to Osama bin Laden- to witness to them. This was their witnessing opportunity of a life time. This was their Caesar!
As those who have been bought for a tremendous price, we are no longer our own. We have no right to ourselves anymore. We are not our own- we are His special possession; his chosen people. God has the right to put us in any circumstance He chooses for the furtherance of His glory and His gospel. We have no right to complain about it. Yes, you read it correctly- we have no right to complain. Do you not remember what you signed up for? Do you not remember the call to discipleship? Deny yourself, take up your cross; you must be willing to forsake all and give up everything; do you remember that? It is so easy to get bitter at God for putting us through the ringer. We get so focused and preoccupied with ourselves that we forget to see how our situation can actually be used for the furtherance of the gospel. Because of our circumstances and because of our hardships, we will come across people that we never would have if it hadn’t been for the situation we are in. These people were placed in our path for a reason, and that reason is for the furtherance of the gospel; or in other words, to witness to them. To be the manifestation of God to them. To disciple them. God places us in certain circumstances and trials not for our sake, but for the sake of others. He means for us to be the manifestation of Jesus to them. He means for us to speak into their life. However, if we are so focused on ourselves and drowning in our own self-pity, we will miss the opportunity, and instead of showing people Jesus, all we will show them is ourselves. I don’t know about you, but there is nothing good in me; nothing worth seeing at all. The only good thing we have to offer others is Jesus- the life of Christ being offered through our mortal body.
Perspective 2: Be an Evangelistic Inspiration.
The Results of Its Progress (vs13-14)
But how has the message advanced? What proof is there of this. Paul, in verse 13 and 14, gives two evidences of how the gospel had advanced. One has to do with its advancement among the unsaved, and the other among the saved.
1. The unsaved. Paul says that it has become clear- become known, brought to light, clearly seen, by the palace guard and many other pagans, that his chains are because of Christ. It is part of sharing in Christ's sufferings for Paul. This suffering for Christ has given him tremendous opportunity to share the gospel.
2. The Saved. The second result of Paul’s circumstances involved the church in Rome. A new evangelistic effort sprung up that had affected the whole community. Now, how tremendous is this! Rather than quenching evangelism out of fear, Paul’s imprisonment has fostered a spirit of boldness. Look at the language he uses here. It is expressive of courage- “trusting- actually means persuaded”; “far more- actually means so much more”; “courage- means dare or have the courage”; “without fear- fearlessly”. Paul is really trying to get the point across that an incredible surge of boldness has come into the Roman church because of his imprisonment. These people have become persuaded in the Lord through Paul’s imprisonment, and because they are now in this state of unshakable persuasion, they now have ferocious courage.
Dear God, how we need more lives like this Paul. More lives that inspire ferocious courage in the midst of fearful circumstances. We have too many insipid Christians- dull, bland, unexciting and uninteresting Christians. Christians who couldn’t inspire a cricket to chirp, much less a saint to speak out. People like these are in high demand this day and age. What we need is more people like Charles Wesley. On July 18, 1738, two months after his conversion, Charles did something absolutely astounding. He had spent the entire week witnessing to inmates at the Newgate prison with one of his friends named Bray. One of the men that they had spoken to was a black man who was sick with a fever and had been a slave and was on death row for robbing his master. On Tuesday, Charles and Bray asked is they could be locked in with these prisoners who were condemned to die- that is locked in overnight. They spoke the gospel to those men that night. They told them that Christ came down from heaven to save lost sinners. They went into detail about the agony of the Savior- his sorrow and his brutal death. The next day, these outcast of society were loaded on a cart and taken to the city of Tyburn. And guess who went with them? Yep, that’s right. Wesley did. Ropes were tied around their necks so that the cart could be driven off, leaving them to swing in the air and choke to death. Listen to what Wesley records about the fruit of their labor the previous night. “They were all cheerful; full of comfort, peace and triumph; assuradely persuaded Christ had died for them, and waited to receive them into paradise….The black slave ….saluted me with his looks. As often as his eyes met mine, he smiled with the most composed, delightful countenance I ever saw. We left them going to meet their Lord, ready for the Bridegroom. When the cart drew off, not one stirred, or struggled for life, but meekly gave up their spirits. Exactly at twelve they were turned off. I spoke a few suitable words to the crowd; and returned, full of peace and confidence in our friends happiness. That hour under the gallows was the most blessed hour of my life.”
My friends, if this story does not inspire you to share your faith and fill you with boldness, you are probably not at all converted. What about you? What about your story? Do you have one? Does your life inspire boldness? Are you reaching out to the lost? Do they know you are there? Or are you hiding in the shadows? Come out! Be bold!
Now, Paul has just finished telling his readers that his imprisonment has stimulated most of the people to evangelism. The implication is that a minority has remained unmoved and unevangelistic. But instead of talking about them, he goes on to talk about this majority who are preaching the gospel. He divides these preachers into two categories- those with pure motives and those with impure motives.
Perspective 3: Rejoice!
Paul and the Preachers (15-18b)
1. Impure Motives- “from the motive or on account of envy and strife.” The context indicates that Paul is the object of this envy and strife. Thus, we could say that they are unhappy because of what Paul has been able to do. They are envious of his success. The fact that they are quarrelsome is shown through the word “strife”. They habitually quarrel with Paul. The next thing Paul says about these preachers, in 17 is that they preach from selfish ambition rather than from pure motives. In other words, they do not preach Christ sincerely; they do it from a spirit of selfish ambition. The term selfish ambition was used to “describe a person who serves in an official position for his own selfish purposes.” They were doing this to try to cause Paul more pain and suffering in his imprisonment. Now we do not know who these people were or why they were doing what they were doing to Paul. Many people have speculated about it, but we cannot be for sure as to what Paul is referring to here. All we know is that there were people who were jealous of him, and they were trying to kick him while he was down, and were using the preaching of the gospel for their own ends.
2. Pure Motives- The word translated “good will” can have a variety of meanings, and in the context can either refer to their goodwill towards Paul or their right intentions of preaching the gospel. Both of these are probably implied here, but this latter meaning overshadows the former. These preachers were fully in favor of the gospel and were preaching it with right intentions. They are also said to preach “out of love”- this is the word “agape” here. The love here is directed towards Paul because he is dealing with the influence of his imprisonment on the preaching of the gospel. They do it out of love because they know beyond a shadow of a doubt that Paul has been sent there by God and chosen by Him to do the specific work that he is doing.
How does Paul respond to this situation and those who are trying to kick him while he is down? He says “it doesn’t matter!” “What they want to do to me does not matter!” or “What they are doing does not cause me anxiety!” Paul looks on the positive side and rejoice in the fact that the gospel is still being preached.
Have you ever had people in your life that are jealous of your success or giftings? Have those people jumped on the opportunity to kick you while you were down or just plain kick you out? This is what Paul was experiencing. Yet he did not take it personally. He did not let it keep him from doing what he was called to do or cause him to lose his focus on the ministry he had their in prison.
Yes, it is disturbing that these people would do this to Paul, or better yet, use the gospel for their own end. Surprised? You shouldn't be. I have seen pastors so engrossed in their egos that they can't see strait. Unfortunately, I have experienced what Paul is talking about here; and more than once. Egotistical pastors or others in leadership see you as a threat, so they get rid of you. Their aim is to build their name, and they use the gospel to do it. Like Paul, I don't take it personally. I have not let it hinder me from doing what I am called to do.
So what should our response be in situations like this? We rejoice. We are not negative, we are not downcast, we are not discouraged. We rejoice in what God is doing. So much so that we even rejoice when the gospel is being preached, even if it is being preached by an egomaniac. Why? Because if God can use words of an ass to accomplish His purpose once, (see Numbers 22) He can do it again.
So, don't let your negative circumstances or negative people cause you to miss the glory of God that surrounds you. Don't let them steal your joy. Don't let bitterness fester in you and bleed over into your family or your marriageFix your heart and mind daily on the truths of God's word. Preach them to yourself until your heart sours with praise and your mouth follows. All of God's best is ahead of you.