My thoughts for the Itty Bitty Bible Study group on Facebook. (join if you’d like to get these in fb!)
To catch up, the links are at the end of the blog, or all the Itty Bitty Bible Studies are listed on this page.
Philippians 1:18b – 26
Yes, and I will rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. 23 I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. 24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again.
First, focus on what Paul is saying here:
Yes, and I will rejoice,
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance,
This sounds very familiar!!!!!
Maybe because Paul wrote ROMANS!!!
He’s in Jail.
He’s chained to a guard. Or possibly on house arrest.
Blue Letter Bible provides a very nice Timeline of Paul’s Life and Ministry
He’s had so many things happen to him…and he’s still looking at these things from the point of view that all things work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to HIS purposes! Romans 8:28
The whole chapter of Romans 8 could be written, and summarized in this thought…that no matter how badly things look, we can know that it is bringing about OUR salvation. Not in the sense that we get saved again and again, but more in the sense that we work out our salvation with fear and trembling, that this is a walk, a journey, and the fullness of Christ is to be worked out in us.
In Philippians 1:12 he is pointing out to everyone that is concerned that this is all for the furtherance of the gospel! This is his first and foremost concern.
In Philippians 4, we’ll hear about how it’s not about him having his needs met.
It’s to comfort those that are concerned, and to speak of HIS confidence in Christ.
I started that part with verse 18b – and yes, I will rejoice!
It reminds me of the letter that James wrote:
James 1:2-4
2 Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds,
3 for you know that the testing of your faith produces steadfastness.
4 And let steadfastness have its full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.
James knew Paul, Paul knew James – James was the head of the church at Jerusalem. Bible Odyssey goes into much more detail.
It makes sense that James and Paul were thinking alike!
I wrote about the Oil of Joy
To understand a little bit more of verse 20, we have to read it with verse 19.
Phil 1:19-20
19 for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, 20 as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death.
- I will not be at all ashamed,
- but that with full courage now
- as always
- Christ will be honored
- in my body,
- whether by life
- or by death.
He’s not talking about him being ashamed of the gospel. To confirm this, read
Romans 1:16
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
He’s talking about being ashamed of himself – because his first love is Christ Jesus, and he wants to glorify Him in all that he does, whether by living, or by dying.
Philippians 1:21English Standard Version (ESV)
21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
And, with that, we will stop here. There’s too much to consider with the next 5 verses!
I pray that this will bless you.
Have you ever had to choose joy in the face of a “prison” surrounding you?
Have you every been “trapped” because of your faith?
Have you ever been concerned about YOUR behavior – ashamed of Your behavior as an ambassador of Christ?
Do you know that we have an advocate with the Father?
1 John 2:1-2
2:1 My little children, I am writing these things to you so that you may not sin. But if anyone does sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous. 2 He is the propitiation for our sins, and not for ours only but also for the sins of the whole world.
Please share your thoughts with me in comments!
It is Well With My Soul
Worship Video
and
Chris Rice with a beautiful video
One of my rivers:
Philippians Itty Bitty Bible Study
