Happy & You Know It 3 | The Bigger Picture

We are continuing our series in the book of Philippians. This week, we are in chapter one, considering the fact that God has a bigger picture. When we begin to understand that bigger picture, it increases our joy. So, open to Philippians chapter one with us and follow along. You guys make things so much fun!

For 63 years, from 1946 until 2009, his famous voice and radio spot could be heard nationwide six days a week on more than 1,200 radio stations. Many times, more than 24 million people would hear him at any given time. His southern drawl and the way he told stories would draw people in. He would tell true stories with little-known facts and forgotten things, captivating his audience and making them want to know what was going on. He would hold the key point, the key element, until the very end when he would finish up the story, drive it home, and then say, "And now you know the rest of the story." I'm talking about Paul Harvey. Good day!

Do you guys remember Paul Harvey? He did that for 63 years until his death in 2009. If you ever heard Paul Harvey, you know that his stories had a unique way of captivating and drawing you in. Oftentimes, as he was telling a story, you would be trying to figure out who he was talking about or what he was talking about. Then he would draw everything together, and you would think, "Oh wow, that's amazing how that all fits."

When you finally understand the rest of the story, the bigger picture, there is a release of anxiety. There is a happiness that comes when light floods into the darkness. Knowing the bigger picture is extremely helpful when you don't understand, when you can't see, or when there is a lack of clarity. In times of darkness, there is often anxiety.

The lessening of happiness is not a happy place to be. This certainly is the case with a great story told in the Old Testament about the wealthiest man who lived in his day, a man by the name of Job. He was the Warren Buffett of his time, the Bill Gates of his day. A huge landowner, he had vast holdings of sheep, camels, goats, oxen, and many employees, or servants. All kinds of great things were accounted to him. Not only that, he had a great family: seven sons and three daughters. He was known by the people of his day to be a man of integrity, a man of righteousness, and of right living.

In the Book of Job, chapter one, verses one through three, we read: "There was a man in the land of Uz whose name was Job, and that man was blameless and upright, one who feared God and shunned evil. He had seven sons and three daughters that were born to him. Also, his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and very large households, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East."

Then, in one day, the stock market crashed. Everything came tumbling down. His land was raided, many of his servants were killed, and his vast holdings were stolen. Some of them were even miraculously destroyed by a fire that came down from heaven, destroying everything he had. Not only that, his seven sons and three daughters were having a feast when something like a tornado came and destroyed the place where they were, and they all died. In one day, Job lost everything.

On another day, as described in Job chapter two, not only did he lose everything he had, but he also lost his health. He found himself in a place where he thought he was going to die, even wanting and praying that he would die because his health had become so terrible. He bemoaned the day of his birth, wishing it would have been better if he had never been born. Then, three of his friends came to comfort him. The next thirty-five chapters of the Book of Job unfold from there.

The discourse is a back-and-forth exchange between Job and his three friends, who accuse him of hidden sin and secret failure. They conclude that these kinds of things would not happen to a truly righteous man. Therefore, they believe Job is going through his suffering because of the wicked things he has done.

However, if you've ever read the story of Job—or if you do read it, which I encourage you to do—you will find that in the very beginning, in those opening chapters, the reader is given an opportunity to know the rest of the story, the bigger picture that Job and his friends did not know. In the end, God shows up and speaks with Job in chapters 38 through 41. He reveals to him something of the bigger story, indicating that there is something going on behind the scenes. The rest of the story concludes in a good way.

How wonderful it is to know the bigger picture and to comprehend the rest of the story! That is essentially what we are going to see in our study of the Book of Philippians today.

If you would take out your Bible—if you don't have one, you can raise your hand, and one of our ushers will bring you one—turn to the Book of Philippians. It is near the end of the Bible, right after the Books of Ephesians and Galatians, and just before the Book of Colossians. It is a short book with four chapters, and we will begin reading at Philippians chapter 1, verse 12.

If you would stand with me, we will read this passage. Saint Paul writes, "But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ. Most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

Now some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains. But the latter do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice. Yes, I will rejoice, for I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation."

I hope that in nothing shall I be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now also Christ will be magnified in my body, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain. But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor. Yet what I shall choose, I cannot tell. For I am hard-pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you.

Being confident of this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that from God.

For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake, having the same conflict which you saw in me and now hear is also in me.

Father, would You give us wisdom and insight as we consider this text today? Would You help us to see the application here before us, to learn from You, that we would see our joy increase in You, and that it would be evident to us and to those around us, even in the midst of trying circumstances? God, work in us to will and to do Your good pleasure, for we ask this in Jesus' name. And all those that agreed said, "Amen."

You can be seated. As Paul writes to his friends there in the church in the city of Philippi, a church that he had the privilege of planting and for a very short time overseeing and pastoring, he says, "I want you to know, my brothers, that the things that have happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." Well, what exactly is he talking about? It helps.

To know a little bit of the context of where Paul was when he wrote this letter, as well as the letters to the Colossians, the Ephesians, and to a man by the name of Philemon, we must understand that at this moment, Paul is incarcerated. He is in prison in the city of Rome, awaiting trial before the highest court in the Roman Empire, before the Caesar of Rome himself, a man named Nero. If you've ever taken the time to study Roman history, you know that Nero was a notorious figure.

Paul is awaiting trial before Nero for crimes that he did not commit. People are accusing him of sedition and of speaking against the government, which was not the case. He was speaking on behalf of the Kingdom of God and for the sake of the Gospel in Christ. He is now awaiting the day of his trial and ultimately what would be the day of his execution. Yet, in the midst of these circumstances, he pens this four-chapter letter to his friends back in Philippi, who are very close to his heart. He shares with them about joy, rejoicing, peace, and confidence. It seems almost paradoxical; how could that be his mindset in this context?

Interestingly, a few years before he wrote this letter—three to four years—he began his journey toward Rome in the city of Philippi. The story is told to us in the Book of Acts, which we studied together last year. There, Paul stopped in the city of Philippi to visit with his friends. He actually celebrated a Jewish feast day called Passover while he was there. He was receiving from the Christians of the churches that he had the privilege of planting and offering a financial gift to carry back to the Christians in Jerusalem.

You see, the Christians in Jerusalem were going through a financial crisis; they were experiencing hardship. The Christians of Asia, Macedonia, and Greece were gathering together with those of Galatia, and Paul was receiving an offering to take back to them. On his way, collecting this offering from the saints, he stopped in Philippi and celebrated the Passover. His aim was to go to Jerusalem. He shares with the Philippians, "I'm going to go to Jerusalem, and I'm going to bring this gift. I'm going to celebrate with them the Feast of Pentecost," which, interestingly, is the birthday of the Church. Essentially, he is saying, "I'm going to go to the Christians in Jerusalem, I'm going to bring them a birthday gift from you, and then after I'm done in Jerusalem, I'm going to journey to Rome." He had already sent a letter there telling them that.

I'm on my way to visit the Christians in Rome. From there, I want to continue my journey west to Spain, where I plan to preach the gospel to people who have never heard it before. However, as you study through the Book of Acts, you know that Paul's plan doesn't really pan out. Have you ever had plans that didn't go the way you thought or wanted them to? That's exactly what happened with Paul when he left the city of Philippi.

We know that these events occurred in history around the middle of March in the year 58 A.D. Paul left Philippi and traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate the Pentecost feast with the people there. He was in Jerusalem in the middle of May for the Pentecost, where he gave an offering. While he was there, an uproar arose among people who were enemies of the gospel. They laid hands on the Apostle Paul and tried to beat him to death. Fortunately, the Romans intervened and took him into custody to shelter him in prison, suspecting he was a dangerous individual.

A trial began, and there were people who attempted to assassinate him after he had been beaten and arrested. For the next two years, he spent time in prison in a coastal city of Israel called Caesarea by the Sea, awaiting trial. He eventually appealed his case to the highest court, and they extradited him to Rome. This journey, which should have taken a short period of time, ended up taking seven months due to obstacles, hang-ups, storms, and shipwrecks. Ultimately, in the early part of the year 61 A.D., he arrived in Rome as a prisoner.

Upon his arrival, he was taken to a place where he would be held while awaiting his trial. During this time, he wrote a letter to the Philippians. When Paul had left the church in Philippi three years earlier, they knew his plan: go to Jerusalem, journey on to Rome, share the gospel in Rome, and continue as a free man into Spain to preach the gospel. However, those things had not happened. The Christians who knew and loved Paul in Philippi, Ephesus, Corinth, Thessalonica, and all the places he had visited received reports that Paul had been taken into captivity, beaten, and was now sitting in prison in Rome, awaiting what would likely be the day of his execution. All of those people who loved him were deeply concerned.

The Apostle Paul’s heart was broken, and he felt devastated and discouraged. I figured this is such a great man of God, a preacher of the Gospel; he should be free to carry the Gospel wherever he possibly can go. Yet here he is, bound and unable to go, and his friends are torn up by this.

What does Paul respond? What is his view of these things as he writes back to the Philippians? It is in that verse we began with, in verse 12. He says, "I want you to know, brethren, that the things that happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the Gospel." He does not want them to be discouraged; he wants them to know that the things that have happened are actually good things.

If you want to maintain joy in the midst of difficult, discouraging circumstances, point number one on your outline is to understand that God understands what He is doing. Paul the Apostle understood this, and he wanted the Christians in his day in the city of Philippi to know that as well. I believe he would want us to know the same thing: God understands what He is doing.

We need to understand that the events of the previous three years leading up to this all seemed wrong. It just didn’t seem to be in line with the plan and what should happen. He is a righteous man, an upright man, a preacher of the Gospel; these kinds of things should not happen. But in the midst of everything that seemed so discouraging and could ultimately cause despair and depression, God knew what He was doing. Paul wanted his friends in Philippi to know the same thing: that through all the twists and turns, God was working a great plan.

What kind of plan? Look at the immediate verse following that, in verse 13. It says, "So that it has become evident to the whole palace guard and to all the rest that my chains are in Christ." Through all the twists and turns that Paul had faced over the last three years, God had used it to preach the Gospel to unbelievers in a magnificent and powerful way.

This is the interesting thing that would have happened for the Apostle Paul, as we read some of the historical realities of Roman imprisonment of that day. Paul was likely under house arrest, which meant that for 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year, Paul would have a Roman guard there watching his every move.

While Paul would seem to be in captivity, the reality was that every one of those Roman soldiers was a captive audience for him. Over the course of his time in Rome, he had the opportunity— and I don't think it's hyperbole or exaggeration to say this— to share the gospel to the point that he could declare, "The whole palace guard knows that my imprisonment is because of Jesus." This means that every single day, with the changing of the guard, he would get a new Roman soldier. There was a part of the household of Caesar overseeing and protecting the palace, and Paul was sharing the gospel with them. He also mentioned, "and all the rest."

At the end of this letter, in Philippians chapter 4, we find that Paul greets the Christians in Philippi by saying, "Those of Caesar's household greet you." During Paul's time in prison in Rome, individuals who were part of the household of Caesar—maybe even members of Caesar's family—became followers of Jesus. No wonder Caesar didn't like Paul.

Paul wanted the brethren to know that the things that had happened, which seemed so devastating, discouraging, and wrong, had worked out for the furtherance of the gospel. Not only did they work out for the furtherance of the gospel, but we also find in verse 14 that it worked to the encouragement of the saints. He says, "Most of the brethren in the Lord, the body of Christ here in Rome, having become more confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear."

Believers had been strengthened by what Paul was going through. He tells the Philippians, "I want you to know that the things going on here that seem wrong and discouraging—God is using for His glory." The Christians in Rome were apparently trying to exist under the radar; they were fearful and concerned about what might happen if they were more vocal about their faith. Yet here was Paul, one of the most well-known Christians of the day and an apostle of Jesus Christ, facing their worst fears with confidence, faith, joy, and rejoicing. They were encouraged to come out of the shadows and darkness and to preach the gospel with more boldness.

He reassures them, "Don't be concerned about what's going on here; understand that God knows what He is doing." Well, he continues in verse 15 of Philippians chapter 1.

He says some indeed preach Christ from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill. The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains. But the latter do so out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel.

Not only were the Philippians discouraged by the present circumstances that the Apostle Paul was facing and the things that had happened over the last three or four years, but they were also discouraged that here this preacher of the gospel, this man of integrity, honesty, and boldness, was hindered from preaching the gospel. Yet, in the larger church, there are other people who are preaching the gospel, but they are doing it with the wrong motivations.

There are people within the church apparently doing the work of the ministry, but they are doing it insincerely. They are acting out of envious strife and jealousy of what Paul had—the authority and the position he held. They didn't want the position in prison, but they wanted the authority he had in the church. So, selfishly, with that aim and ambition, that is why they were preaching the gospel. They got into the ministry to gain something; they were greedy for gain. Just as it was 2,000 years ago, so it is today.

As you and I look out among the larger church, we sometimes see people who say all the right words: "I'm a Christian, I'm a preacher, I'm a pastor." Yet, their message seems to be for their own ambition and gain. We rightly look at that and think it just doesn't seem right; it doesn't seem good. Here is the Apostle Paul, a good preacher, bound and unable to do what God has called him to do, while insincere people pose as wolves, maybe in sheep's clothing, among all the good ones. There are indeed bad ones in the ministry. We don't need to name them; I'm not going to go into that. But the reality is they are there, both then and now.

Not only that, there was a group of people in Paul's day whose aim in preaching and doing the work of the ministry was to try and make things harder on Paul. You see it there in the middle of that section: the former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains. They are doing it with the aim of causing Paul's suffering to be even greater. They rejoice in the suffering of the Apostle. Have you ever met someone who rejoiced?

In the suffering of other people, let me give you a helpful hint for your happiness: stay away from those kinds of people. There were those people in Paul's day. What is Paul's response to this? When he looks at what seems to be a complete injustice, as he is there bound in prison, and there are those insincerely going about the work of the ministry, verse 18 tells us what his view is.

What then? How should we respond? Paul says, "Only that in every way, whether in pretense or truth, Christ is preached, and in this I rejoice. Yes, I will rejoice." In our study last week, one of the things we saw in the earlier section of Philippians chapter 1 is that we Christians, living within the family of God, the church, need to love others as Christ loves others. We need to endeavor to see others through the finished work of Jesus, as Paul speaks about in Philippians chapter 1, verse 6.

That seems all well and good when it's people who are nice, when it's people who smell nice, and when it's people who are lovely. It's easy to love the lovely. However, it's more difficult to love people who don't love you. It's easy to pray for people you love, but it's not very easy to pray for people who despitefully use and persecute you.

How do we respond when there are these difficult people who rejoice in the turmoil and suffering of others whom you love? Is it possible to maintain joy in the midst of a group of people who sometimes rejoice in the suffering of others maliciously? Can you maintain joy in the midst of that? Yes, you can, if you remember point number two: rejoice in the bigger picture.

That's exactly what Paul did. There were insincere, envious, malicious, deceitful, selfish individuals posing as preachers, freely able to malign the apostle Paul, who is a righteous preacher bound and unable to preach the gospel freely. What was Paul's response? The New Living Translation renders it this way: "I rejoice that whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached." Either way, the message about Christ is being preached.

Preached either way, he could rejoice in the bigger picture. He could see that there was a bigger picture. Now, I know there are probably some of you at this point who are thinking that this is a really Pollyanna-ish, optimistic sort of way of seeing the world. But come on, I'm a realist. It just doesn't seem right; there needs to be some justice in this situation. That all sounds well and good, but how far can you really carry this kind of mindset? How far can this mindset carry you?

Well, look at what Paul says in the following verses, verses 19 through 26 of Philippians 1:19. "For I know that this will turn out for my deliverance through your prayer and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, according to my earnest expectation and hope." My deepest desire. Now, you might imagine that this would follow up with, "My deepest desire is to get out of this predicament and go and preach the gospel in Spain." But he doesn't say that.

"According to my earnest expectation, my deepest desire and hope, that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness, as always, so now Christ will be magnified in my body, whether I die or I live, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain." For me to continue living, even if it means staying in this incarcerated position there in prison in Rome, is all for the glory of Christ. If I die, I gain so much more.

Verse 22 states, "But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor." If I continue here, God will use it for His glory. Yet, what I shall choose, I don't know. He says, "If you gave me the choice today and you said, 'Paul, what do you want to do? Do you want to go home and be with the Lord, or stay here and continue to do the work of labor?'" He says, "I really don't know what I would choose. I'm split."

The next person, he is hard-pressed between the two: to go and be with the Lord is far better, but to continue and live on is more necessary for you. Perhaps you've experienced it. I know I've counseled with people and comforted people over the years who are facing a difficult situation and going through a severe trial. Many times, people get to the place in a severe trial where they say, "Lord, just take me. I don't want to go through this anymore." If they had the option in that moment to just go, they might sole eject just out of here.

Mayday, mayday! I'm going down. Get me out of here!

In a dire circumstance, Paul says, "If I had the option, I don't know what I'd do. I'm hard pressed between the two, having a desire to depart and be with Christ," which is far better. Nevertheless, to remain in the flesh is more needful for you. Being confident in this, I know that I shall remain and continue with you for your progress and joy in the faith, that your rejoicing for me may be more abundant in Jesus Christ by my coming to you again.

Point number three: remember that the bigger picture is bigger than just this life. Paul could rejoice in the midst of trying circumstances. He could rejoice while under persecution from people, even within the church. He could rejoice even when facing uncertainty and death because he knew that there was a bigger picture. He understood that this bigger picture was greater than just this life. So he could say with boldness, "So now also Christ will be magnified in my life, whether by life or by death. For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain."

Let me ask you, what are you facing today? Is it a difficult circumstance? The loss of a job? The loss of a family member? The loss of a relationship? The loss of your own health? What are you going through right now? What do you feel captive to? There may be some people here today who feel totally captive to their job, as if they are in prison. If only they could do something better, something greater! If only they could be released from the situation they are in, it would be far better.

Understand that God knows what He is doing and that He has you right where you are in this moment for His purpose and for His glory. Many Christians, as they read through the Bible, come to this one verse in the book of Romans that becomes their favorite verse. It's Romans 8:28, which says, "And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Many people lay hold of and claim that promise: all things work together for the good.

But we all know that sometimes there are not always good things that happen. However, in the midst of it all, all things work together for the good. Paul knew, taught, and understood that there is a bigger picture.

Bigger than just this life, Paul gives an exhortation to the Christians in Philippi, and I think it applies to us 2,000 years later. Look at verse 27, the next verse in the passage. Paul's exhortation—what's an exhortation?

Well, any of you ever gone to the gym before? Come on, even if it was only once or twice and you failed after the third day. Have any of you ever had a personal trainer? A personal trainer is an exhorter. They come alongside you and say, "You can do one more! You can do one more!" You want to punch them in the face every single day as they keep telling you that. That's what an exhorter is. Paul comes alongside the Christians there in Philippi and says, "Listen, let me give you some pointers as a coach, as an exhorter. Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

It's very interesting that at the very same time Paul penned this letter to the Philippians, he wrote a few other letters as well. One of them is a book that we just studied called the Book of Ephesians. He also wrote another letter to a group of Christians who lived in a city called Colossa, which is called Colossians. We are going to study that after we go through the Book of Philippians.

At the very same time that he wrote each of these letters, the circumstances were the same. He was in a prison in Rome, facing a trial and his execution. In each of those letters, he gives the same exhortation. Would you just turn a few pages to the left to the Book of Ephesians? Ephesians chapter 4, verse 1. Look at what Paul says; this is striking: "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord."

Wait, Paul is writing from prison in Rome, a prisoner of the Roman Empire, a prisoner of Caesar. But he says, "I therefore, the prisoner of the Lord." Paul recognized and understood that the prison cell he was in was by the will of God, the will and work of God. Your job may seem to you like a prison cell; God has placed you there. "I therefore, the engineer of the Lord."

I, therefore, the contractor of the Lord, the teacher, the police officer, or the accountant of the Lord, beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you are called. Walk worthy of the calling with all humility, lowliness, and gentleness, with long-suffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace.

Now notice what Paul says in Philippians. Go back to Philippians because it's very similar; we see similar things in the books of Ephesians and Colossians. He says in Philippians 1:27, "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, in the unity of the faith." With one mind, you fight together, strive together for the faith of the gospel, and not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them proof of perdition, but to you of salvation and that from God.

Paul exhorts them to walk worthy of the gospel, to stand firm in unity within the church, to fight together and strive together as one for the faith of the gospel, and not to be afraid of their adversaries. Notice what he says at the beginning of verse 27: "So that whether I come and see you or I'm absent, I may hear of your affairs." Whether he gets out of his predicament in Rome or not, he wants to hear good things about the steadfastness of their faith.

Point number four on your outline: Rejoice knowing that your faithfulness is an encouragement to others in whatever situation or circumstance. Rejoice knowing that your faithfulness is an encouragement to others. Paul says, "I'm in this predicament, and I rejoice to hear that you're standing strong in unity, that you're walking worthy of the gospel."

Another apostle, John, who wrote three letters in the New Testament, in his third letter, 3 John, which is just one chapter, says in verses 3 and 4, "For I rejoiced..."

Brethren, I greatly rejoice when they come to me and testify of the truth that is in you, just as you walk in the truth. I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in the truth. Rejoice, knowing that your faithfulness is an encouragement to others.

The Apostle John, who wrote that letter, faced dire circumstances when he wrote it. He said, "I rejoice to hear your steadfastness of faith. I have no greater joy than to hear that you walk in the truth." This John was the same one whom the Roman Empire decided at one point they wanted dead. They boiled him in oil, trying to kill him, but he didn't die. Then they exiled him to the island of Patmos, where he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ, the last book of the Bible. In the midst of those dire circumstances, he expressed his joy in knowing that his children walked in the truth. There is joy and rejoicing in knowing the faithfulness of others; it is an encouragement.

Paul also addressed the Christians in Philippi, knowing the challenges they faced. He saw what was happening in his life and in the empire, and he understood that the church was about to face some dark times and persecution. The temptation for the church was to hide out, to prepare, to guard themselves, and to flee. What does Paul say to the church facing these challenges? He tells them, "And not in any way terrified by your adversaries, which is to them a proof of perdition."

What does he mean? He says, "Listen, as you hear the bad news going on in the Roman Empire, as you see the bad news that has happened to me, your pastor and leader, and as you observe things around you going in the wrong direction, do not be afraid." Do not be afraid because you know the bigger picture. If you are afraid, it is a proof to unbelievers that you don't really believe what you say you believe.

Might I encourage you today? I receive all kinds of emails from people who are reading the news, listening to the radio, and watching TV news. They see all these bad things happening in the world and become despairing and discouraged. They feel the need to prepare, to hide, and to freak out. But listen, that fear is an indication that we don't have a view of the bigger picture. It signals to unbelievers that they should question whether we truly believe in the resurrection and the joy of Christ's return. Do we really believe that?

You do not need to be as freaked out about challenging things. Finally, Paul concludes with Philippians chapter 1, verses 29 and 30. For to you, Christian, it has been granted on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him but also to suffer for His sake. It has been granted to you the privilege of not only believing in Jesus but also suffering for His sake.

Now, how many of you right now would have really liked it if the evangelist who shared the Gospel with you had told you that fine print? It has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe but to suffer for His sake.

We conclude with this thought: point number five, it is a joy to suffer for Jesus. This may be one of the stranger points because it is not a joy to suffer, but it is a joy to suffer for Jesus. I mentioned a verse earlier; I got ahead of myself. James chapter 1, verse 2, the Apostle James writes a similar thing: "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." You may ask, how could you count it joy when you fall into various trials? Knowing this, the bigger picture, James says.

Not only James, but the Apostle Peter in 1 Peter chapter 4, verse 13, says to the church in his day and to this church in our day: "But rejoice to the extent that you partake of Christ's sufferings, that when His glory is revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy." The Apostle Paul, the Apostle James, and the Apostle Peter all say to rejoice in whatever circumstance, trial, or suffering that you face as you suffer with Christ because you know the bigger picture.

Rejoice because there is joy in suffering for Jesus. We would not like to suffer; we would never choose to suffer. We do not want to suffer; we would much rather get out of suffering. But if you suffer—and you will suffer—may it be that you suffer for Jesus.

For the sake of Christ, to the extent that Peter says in First Peter 4:13, we become partners with Christ in His suffering. Through suffering, He made salvation available to you and me. Paul's view is revealed to us in the Book of Romans. Again, Romans chapter 8—would you turn to the left of Philippians? You will pass Ephesians, Galatians, and First and Second Corinthians.

In Romans chapter 8, we find that great verse in verse 28: "And we know that all things work together for the good of those who love God, to those who are called according to His purpose." Look at this in the same passage, ten verses before, in Romans 8:18. Paul writes, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us." I consider, I conclude, that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us.

Jesus Christ suffered on your behalf and mine so that, though we may share and partner with Him in suffering in this life, we know that salvation and glory will ultimately one day be revealed. Understand that God knows what He is doing; there is a bigger picture. We can rejoice in the fact that the bigger picture is larger than just this life.

As you walk through and navigate the twists and turns and sufferings of this life, standing strong in faithfulness is an encouragement to believers. It serves as a witness, as with Paul, to unbelievers. Know that there is joy in suffering because, through Christ's suffering, joy eternally has been extended to us. Amen.

Would you stand with me as we close in prayer? Lord, would You help us to rejoice in the bigger picture? Help us to understand that through Your suffering...

You have brought salvation, and though we may suffer in this life, ultimately salvation awaits those who are in You. So, God, we thank You for Your grace. Lord, help us to understand this week, as we walk through the things of life, that You are doing something bigger and that we could rejoice in that.

Lord, may we be an encouragement and a witness to others as You strengthen us in faithfulness. Would You help us to experience Your joy, which is one of the fruits of the Spirit that we'll be talking about this Tuesday night? God, be with my brothers and sisters this week, wherever they go, reminding us of the reality of Your presence and Your salvation.

I pray, God, for anyone who is here today who may not know that peace, that joy, and that rejoicing. Would You draw them by Your Spirit into a knowledge of You, a relationship with You, and transform their minds? May they experience, through the salvation that You give, the peace and joy of walking with You.

God, thank You for giving all of us a bigger picture. I praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.