This week, we continue in our new sermon series “Joy, No Matter What” as we look at Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

It’s often hard to find joy when things aren’t going the way we want or the way we think they should be—especially when we are trying so hard to honor the Lord and walk in obedience to Him. When we find ourselves in these impossible situations, facing things we never would have chosen on our own, how do we respond? Do we get frustrated? Do we take matters into our own hands? Or do we look to see what God might be doing?

Why does He allow these trials to come to us, and what is His purpose through it?

In Philippians 1:12-18, from his prison cell in Rome, Paul encourages the church by pointing out how the impossible situation he finds himself in is actually serving to further the gospel, and how it is strengthening the faith and boldness of his brothers. Since Paul’s ultimate goal is that the gospel be proclaimed and that Christ’s kingdom be expanded, his prison cell is no reason to lose hope. In fact, He sees the value of this difficulty for the cause of Christ. For this reason Paul finds great joy!

Philippians 1:12-18 (The advance of the gospel)

“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.

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