Philippians 1:12-18


Stay on Mission

Philippians 1:12-18

Will you join me today by turning back to Philippians Chapter 1?

My childhood home in Kentucky sat on 5 acres. As you get older, you find yourself either relieved or reluctant to cut grass. But for an elementary-aged kid, it was a chance to drive the Daytona 500. SONG: “Get your motor running!”

Cutting our lawn was something I did every other week. I knew every stump, every rock, and every ditch that could hide under the grass. But one fateful Saturday morning, everything changed. There were squirrels in the yard! Lightning McQueen wasn’t invented yet, but I remember hearing his voice in my head, “I AM SPEED.” The race was on against the squirrels—who are cheaters because they run in zig-zag formations. So I turned the wheel in chase!

As I was distracted by my competition—the squirrels—everything suddenly came to a screeching halt. I hit a 10-inch-tall stump, bending the blades of the lawnmower and breaking the drive belt. My brothers made a TV reference: “LEAVE IT TO BEAVER.”

So, of course, I have entitled today’s message Stay on Mission.

Philippians 1:12-14

“I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Two years before Paul wrote this letter, he was accused of bringing a Gentile into the temple beyond the court of the Gentiles. This accusation caused an uproar in the city and nearly got Paul killed. Being a Roman citizen, Paul appealed to Caesar.

Now, two years later, Paul was under house arrest, chained to a Roman guard—but still proclaiming the gospel with unshakable faith.

I’ve personally been in ministry for 26 years and have lived in a house of ministry for 43 years. My dad was a senior pastor, and I was a PK kid. What I can promise you is this: difficult people and circumstances will come. No matter what you say, do, or don’t do—difficulties will come your way.

In that moment, if your heart is captivated by culture, you will seek your own cravings, comfort, and convenience. Those difficulties will overwhelm you. Hearts captivated by culture explain much of the depression, anxiety, anger, and angst in the world today.

Paul’s example shows us something different: if your heart is captivated by and chained to Jesus, you will have an ironclad commitment and conviction to fulfill the Great Commandment and the Great Commission.

God used a sling for David, a staff for Moses, a glass jar for Gideon—and now, chains for Paul—to open doors to share Himself.

The Greek word for “advance” in advance the gospel is prokopēn, meaning progress or advancement. Think of it like the Army Corps of Engineers clearing the way for the troops to move forward. Paul’s mind was fixed on Christ—he could see God was using his circumstances to place him where He wanted him to be, sharing the gospel with a specific group: the imperial guard.

Philippians 1:13

“…so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.”

Paul wasn’t chained to just any guard. The Praetorian Guard was an elite unit—personal bodyguards and intelligence agents for the Roman emperors. They held great political influence, even the power to appoint the emperor himself.

These guards were chained to Paul 24/7 in six-hour shifts—even in the wee hours of the morning. Paul would cover his own conversion and the faithfulness of Jesus. If anyone knew if Paul was faking it, it would have been these guards—but instead, they were experiencing the gospel firsthand.

Paul wasn’t chained to them; they were chained to Paul—and Paul was chained to Jesus. There was no better place to be. God was reaching the household of Caesar through Paul’s chains. If He can do that, what can God do in your circumstances today?

Philippians 1:14

“And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

How you live your faith affects those closest to you. Paul’s faith inspired other believers, especially in Philippi, to boldly proclaim the gospel without fear.

I think of my nephew Justin. Born to my oldest brother in a tough time and circumstance, my parents took him in, and I got the privilege to mentor him. Despite his parents’ divorce and volatile relationship afterward, Justin saw something in the life we lived—something rooted in Jesus. Today, he’s a youth pastor in Oklahoma, living and preaching the gospel. God is working in people’s lives—even through your worst circumstances.

Philippians 1:15-17

“Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”

There are two reasons people preach Jesus:

  1. Selfish Ambition:
    Some wanted to surpass Paul, to have a bigger ministry or better image. Paul never let the motives of others distract him from his mission. He didn’t grow cynical but recognized that some preached from good will.

  2. Love:
    Others preached out of genuine love for Jesus and for Paul because of his faithful defense of the gospel.

To be chained to Jesus means a lifelong bond—like a bondservant who chooses to serve a master for life. Jesus came for Paul on the road to Damascus when Paul was actively persecuting Christians. That love captured Paul, and he dedicated his life to serving Jesus.

Preaching with a heart chained to Jesus means what matters to Jesus matters to us. When looking for a pastor, don’t look for perfection—look for a conviction to fulfill the Great Commission and Great Commandment. Everything else will follow.

This also means extending grace to those who hurt or wrong us, following Jesus’ teaching in Matthew 6:12 to forgive as we have been forgiven. Grace frees us—it’s a two-way street.

Philippians 1:18

“What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.”

Paul did not say, “I will be happy,” because happiness depends on circumstances. He spoke of joy—a deeper delight.

Jesus said in John 4:34, “My delight, my food is to do the will of him who sent me and to accomplish his work.”

I wonder how many of us can say that. In good times or bad, can we say, “It is my delight to do God’s will”? Does it nourish us? Do we rejoice because God is at work?

Paul rejoices despite being chained, slandered, and surrounded by selfish preachers—because Christ is proclaimed! And he promises to continue rejoicing.

The secret to joy is a heart captivated by and chained to Jesus.

When Jesus is preached, people discover He is better—our advocate, bread of life, counselor, cornerstone, defender, friend, shepherd, high priest, Emmanuel, King of kings, Lion of Judah, Lamb of God, and more.

That is the Jesus we preach here at Harvest.

Closing

My prayer as a pastor is the same as Paul’s: to love you where you are but love you too much to leave you where you are. There’s always room to grow in Jesus. Amen?

We have a choice: be captivated by the culture’s cravings, or chain our hearts to Jesus and commit to His Great Commission and Great Commandment—preaching the gospel, making disciples, and loving others for Jesus.

As we prepare for the closing song, I ask you to stand and bow your heads.

Maybe you haven’t begun a relationship with Jesus yet, or maybe life’s difficulties have worn down your joy. King David said in Psalm 27:13, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

As we sing, would you cry out to Jesus? If you know Him and need a renewal of joy, cry out to Him. Don’t walk away robbed of the joy of the Lord— He is our strength in this world.

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