THE JOY OF A HEAVENLY PERSPECTIVE
Have you ever felt stuck—stuck in a situation you didn’t choose, a season you didn’t want, or circumstances you couldn’t control? Maybe you’ve wondered, “God, what good can come from this?” The apostle Paul was a prisoner for preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote this letter to thank the Philippians for sending gifts and Epaphroditus to encourage him. Paul's not writing from a mountaintop or a beachside retreat—he’s writing from a prison in Rome. Yet his words overflow with joy, gratitude, and confidence in God’s purpose.
In today's scripture, Paul refuses to let his chains hinder him and his critics discourage him. We’ll learn from Paul that when our life is rooted in Christ and set on a heavenly perspective, we can see hardships as opportunities to advance the gospel and bring glory to God.
MAIN SCRIPTURE: Philippians 1:12-19
Summary
Paul would be under Roman guard 24 hours a day, and was permitted visitors to whom he would share and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. No doubt, the guards heard the gospel directly and indirectly. Paul’s chains emboldened believers in Rome with the courage to speak about Jesus. Some believers with impure motives preached about Jesus, intending to make Paul’s chains more painful, but Paul doesn’t let this discourage him. Instead, he rejoices that the message of Christ is being preached. Lastly, Paul is confident that because of their prayers and the comfort of the Holy Spirit, he will be delivered from his chains.
Teach for Understanding
V. 12 “Advance” or “spread” the Good News. The word used for “spread” here in Greek means "to pioneer." It is a Greek military term referring to the army engineers who go before the troops to open the way into new territory. Instead of finding himself confined as a prisoner, Paul uses his hardship to advance the gospel.
V. 14 “Speak God’s message.” Paul’s imprisonment served as an illustration of the words of Jesus, “Unless a kernel of wheat…dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds” (John 12:24). Paul did not die, but his imprisonment sparked a boldness and courage to speak God’s message. This was not preaching; this was simply talking about Jesus and God’s will for mankind. Preaching (v.15) was considered public proclamation, which also happened, but the majority of people spoke about Jesus as they went about their everyday lives.
V. 15-18 Paul does not give us specifics about those who are preaching about Jesus with impure and selfish motives, but one thought is “Paul aimed to glorify Christ and get people to follow Him; his critics aimed to promote themselves and win a following of their own. Instead of asking, "Have you trusted Christ?" they asked, "Whose side are you on-ours or Paul's?” (Warren Weirsbe). A similar theory is that some believers in Rome had developed a rivalry and jealousy towards Paul. While in prison, they took advantage of Paul's chains and purposely preached to draw attention to themselves. Either way, Paul chose to see and hear the silver lining; the name of Jesus was being amplified.
Application for Today
A life rooted in Christ can see hardships in a different light.
Paul thinks and sees differently because He sees life with the mind of Christ. We all have the mind of Christ, because we have the Spirit of Christ, the Holy Spirit, at salvation. But like anything in the Christian life, it has to grow, and we have to intentionally put on this way of thinking in everyday life, especially in challenging days. Colossians 3:2, Paul says, Think about the things of heaven, not the things of earth. Or, set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. Our lives are meant to be so rooted in Christ that we see through Christ's eyes and live Christ’s life. For Paul, to live is Christ…so everything he thinks and does he views from that Christlike, eternal, heavenly perspective. This is a spiritual discipline of the heart and mind to see life with a heavenly perspective versus an earthly one.
A heavenly perspective redeems obstacles into opportunities
God sometimes uses strange tools to promote and advance the gospel. The same God who used Moses' rod, Gideon's pitchers, and David's sling, used Paul's chains. Little did the Romans realize that the chains they affixed to his wrists would release Paul instead of binding him! Paul did not complain about his chains; instead, he consecrated them to God and asked God to use them. -Warren Weirsbe
The secret to redeeming Paul’s chains as tools is having the eternal, heavenly mindset and perspective. Paul did not find his joy in ideal circumstances; he found his joy in winning others to Christ. And if his circumstances promoted the Gospel, that was all that mattered!
Everyone knows Charles Haddon Spurgeon, the famous British preacher, but few know the story of his wife, Susannah. Early in their married life, Mrs. Spurgeon became very ill, unable to leave home and some days even lift her head. It looked as though her only ministry would be encouraging her husband and praying for his work. But God gave her a burden to share her husband's books with pastors who were unable to purchase them. This burden soon led to the founding of the "Book Fund." As a work of faith, the "Book Fund” provided thousands of pastors with tools for their work. All this was supervised by Mrs. Spurgeon from her home. -Weirsbe, Be Joyful, pgs. 38-39
Young mothers may feel “chained” or stuck to the home as they care for their children, but God can use those "chains" to reach people with the message of salvation. Susannah Wesley was the mother of 19 children, before the days of disposable diapers! Out of that large family came John and Charles Wesley, whose combined ministries shook the British Isles. -Weirsbe, Be Joyful pgs 40-41
Warren Weirsbe tells this story: While recovering in the hospital from my serious auto accident, I received a letter from a total stranger who seemed to know just what to say to make my day brighter. In fact, I received several letters from him, and each one was better than the one before. When I was able to get around, I met him personally. I was amazed to discover that he was blind, a diabetic, handicapped because of a leg amputation (and since then, the other leg has been removed), and that he lived with and cared for his elderly mother! If a man ever wore chains, this man did! But if a man ever was free, this man was. He was able to share Christ in high school assemblies, before service clubs, at the “Y,” and before professional people in meetings that would have been closed to an ordained minister. -Weirsbe, Be Joyful, pgs. 41-42
What if we thought and looked at our difficult hardships, long seasons, everyday circumstances, or even inconveniences, as opportunities to grow in the discipline of a heavenly perspective, spread the gospel, and glorify God? What if your workplace weren’t a prison but a platform to share the joy and goodness of God? What if that delay was God’s protection? What if the change of plans was moving you into a divine opportunity to care for or minister to someone? Learn to see from a heavenly perspective and redeem those opportunities!
When we keep a heavenly perspective, we see the silver lining, the bright side, the possibility of a situation turning into good, or the truth that God is working. I’ll be honest, I have my days where I don’t see redeemable opportunities, the silver lining or the bright side. Some days, I find myself seeing the problem and not the possibilities.
Quick story about my walk the day after pastor appreciation. I think we’ll always have to work on and grow in the spiritual discipline of thinking heavenly and eternal.
Joy remains by keeping a heavenly perspective
Those who were preaching with false motives were attempting to make his chains more difficult, but Paul didn’t let that happen. Paul said, “Whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached either way, so I rejoice. And I will continue to rejoice.”
A heavenly perspective knows this truth: Joy doesn’t exist in the absence of hardship; Joy exists in the presence of Christ
V. 20-26
Summary
Paul was uncertain of his future on earth, but he knew this: he would never be ashamed of how he lived. Not completely certain what was going to happen next, Paul vacillated between being with Christ and continuing to live to help the church grow in their faith. Paul believed he would remain alive to visit again and give them even more of a reason to boast in the power of Christ.
Teach for Understanding
Paul was not sure whether he would experience release or martyrdom for his faith. He was certain of one thing, though, that he wanted Christ to be exalted in his body either way ( vv. 22, 24). This was Paul’s expectation and hope…Paul’s concern was not what would happen to him but what testimony would be left for his Lord. Lightner, R. P. (1985). Philippians. In J. F. Walvoord & R. B. Zuck (Eds.), The Bible Knowledge Commentary: An Exposition of the Scriptures (Vol. 2, p. 651). Victor Books.
Paul isn’t saying he wanted to die; he just didn’t know exactly what was next for him. In reflection of life or death, Paul considered his death a gain because this meant he would be in the presence of Jesus. Paul’s view of death here is not grim but extremely hopeful.
“Death for Paul was not a plunge into an abyss, but a journey home, to where he would be united with Jesus Christ. The apostle leaves no doubt that his death would yield an immediate audience in the presence of Christ.” -FullLife Bible Commentary, p.1099
Application for Today
A life all about Jesus is a joyful life
Philippians 1:20-21 “...And I trust that my life will bring honor to Christ, whether I live or die. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.
What does “to live is Christ” mean? Life was all about Jesus. Some say football is life. Chipotle is life. My kids are my life. The business I love is my life. But Paul says, Jesus is life. Jesus is who Paul lived for, and whether living or in death, Paul was determined to honor Christ. Paul’s passion for Jesus compels us to consider our reason for living and our focus in life. What excites and brings us “life?” We’re not Paul, who was single, with no kids, and wholly devoted to being a missionary and apostle for Jesus. But can Jesus equal life and be who we live for? Yes. We can live for Christ, have the mind of Christ, and be like Christ in our homes, with our friends, at our workplaces, in our church, and in our community. We can bring Christ into every part of our lives, and we even communicate this by the way we speak and live. You’ll be able to tell when your life is for Jesus because you’ll honor him, and everyone around you will notice and benefit from it, too.
Does your life honor Jesus? Does your life magnify or amplify Christ? Pastor Warren Weirsbe said, “Does Christ need to be magnified? After all, how can a mere human being ever magnify the Son of God? Well, the stars are much bigger than the telescope, and yet the telescope magnifies them and brings them closer. The believer's body is to be a telescope that brings Jesus Christ close to people. To the average person, Christ is a misty figure in history who lived centuries ago. But as the unsaved watch the believer go through a crisis, they can see Jesus magnified and brought so much closer.” -Warren Weirsbe, Be Joyful, p. 44
Will your death honor Jesus?
I’ve been to funeral and memorial services where the entire time was testimonies of life lived for Christ, and the people kept flowing to the microphone to share how God used this person’s life to lead them to Jesus or help them grow.
I’ve also been to funerals where the best compliment of a person’s life was the funny jokes they told or memories of the past. The lack of Jesus was obvious; the impact for Jesus was non-existent.
Will your life and death make people glorify God or glorify yourself?
For me, to live is ________ and to die is ______.
“For me, to live is money and to die is to leave it all behind.”
“For me, to live is fame and to die is to be forgotten.”
“For me, to live is all about me and to die is to be alone.”
Make a decision today to make your life all about Christ in everything you do.
No hardship—not even death—can steal our joy, when our joy is Jesus Christ.
Discussion
What is one thing from the message that resonated with you?
Paul was chained, yet his message was free. What does this teach us about how God can use our circumstances?
Pastor Ryan said, “A heavenly perspective redeems obstacles into opportunities.”What are some hardships in your life that could actually be opportunities in disguise?
Referring to Colossians 3:2, what helps you shift your focus from earthly frustrations to heavenly thinking?
What would change in your priorities or daily routine if you truly lived with the mindset found in Philippians 1:20-26, “To Live is Christ”?
What additional notes did you make during the sermon?
What can we pray for regarding the sermon? Do you have any prayer needs?
The most important decision you will ever make!
If you’re ready to trust in Jesus for salvation and eternal life, we encourage you to process this decision with a strong believer and when you’re ready, say a simple prayer like this from your heart: Dear God, I acknowledge and admit I have sinned. I see my need for Jesus Christ. I believe in Jesus as my Lord and Savior. I believe I am forgiven and cleansed of my sin by His death. I also believe I have eternal life because of His resurrection from the dead. I repent, I turn away from my old ways and I choose to live my life to worship you and follow Jesus, Amen!
We would love to know if you decided to accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. Let us know here.
Pray Together
We hope you found this AFTER THE SERMON discussion helpful for your walk with Jesus. We pray you can find ways to apply it this week!
