Happy & You Know It 3 | The Bigger Picture

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... For to me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain... only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ... For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. (Philippians 1:12–30)

When you finally see God's bigger picture, light floods the darkness and joy returns.

And Now You Know the Rest of the Story

For 63 years, from 1946 until 2009, Paul Harvey's famous voice could be heard nationwide six days a week on more than 1,200 radio stations. At any given time, more than 24 million people might be listening. With his southern drawl, he would tell true stories with little-known facts, draw you in, and hold the key element to the very end—then finish with, "And now you know the rest of the story. Paul Harvey, good day."

If you ever heard him, you know his stories had a way of captivating you. You were trying to figure out who and what he was talking about, and then he would draw it all together: "Oh, wow, that's amazing how that all fits." When you finally understand the bigger picture, there is a release of anxiety, a happiness that comes when light floods into the darkness. Knowing the bigger picture is extremely helpful. When you can't see, when there is a lack of clarity, there is anxiety and a lessening of happiness.

Job and the Bigger Picture

That was certainly the case with the wealthiest man of his day, a man named Job—the Warren Buffett of his time, the Bill Gates of his day. He had vast holdings of sheep, camels, goats, oxen, and servants, plus a great family of seven sons and three daughters. He was known as a man of integrity and righteousness.

There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was blameless and upright, and one who feared God and shunned evil... his possessions were seven thousand sheep, three thousand camels, five hundred yoke of oxen, five hundred female donkeys, and a very large household, so that this man was the greatest of all the people of the East. (Job 1:1–3)

Then in one day the stock market crashed. His land was raided, servants were killed, his holdings stolen, some even destroyed by fire from heaven. His seven sons and three daughters were feasting together when something like a tornado came and destroyed the place, and they all died. In a single day, Job lost everything. On another day he lost his health, until he wanted to die and bemoaned the day of his birth.

Then three friends came to comfort him, and the next 35 chapters are a discourse where they accuse him of hidden sin, concluding such things would not happen to a truly righteous man. But if you read the story, you the reader get to know the rest of the story—the bigger picture that Job and his friends did not know. In the end God shows up in chapters 38 through 41 and reveals there is something going on behind the scenes. How wonderful it is to comprehend the rest of the story. That is essentially what we will see in Philippians today.

Paul's Circumstances in Prison

As Paul writes to his friends in Philippi—a church he had the privilege of planting and pastoring—he says the things that happened to him have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. It helps to know the context. Paul was incarcerated in Rome, awaiting trial before the highest court in the Roman Empire, before Caesar Nero himself—who, if you've studied Roman history, was a nut job. Paul was accused of sedition for crimes he didn't commit; he was simply speaking on behalf of the kingdom of God and the gospel of Christ. He now awaited his trial and ultimately his execution. Yet in the midst of those circumstances he pens this four-chapter letter about joy, rejoicing, peace, and confidence. It almost seems paradoxical.

A few years before, Paul had begun his journey toward Rome from Philippi. As told in Acts, he stopped there, celebrated the Passover, and was receiving a financial gift from the churches to carry to the struggling Christians in Jerusalem. His plan was to go to Jerusalem, celebrate Pentecost—the birthday of the church—then journey to Rome and afterward continue west to Spain to preach the gospel to those who had never heard it.

But, as you study Acts, Paul's plan didn't pan out. Have you ever had plans that didn't go the way you wanted? He left Philippi in mid-March of A.D. 58 and arrived in Jerusalem for Pentecost in May. While there, enemies of the gospel laid hands on him and tried to beat him to death, but the Romans intervened and sheltered him in prison. He spent two years awaiting trial in the coastal city of Caesarea, then appealed to the highest court and was extradited to Rome. A journey that should have been short took seven months because of storms and shipwrecks, and in early A.D. 61 he finally came to Rome as a prisoner, where he wrote this letter.

When Paul had left Philippi three years earlier, the Christians knew the plan—Jerusalem, Rome, then Spain as a free man. But none of it had happened the way they expected. The reports they received were that Paul had been beaten, nearly assassinated, and was now imprisoned awaiting probable execution. Their hearts were broken. Here was a great man of God who should be free to carry the gospel anywhere, and instead he was bound.

God Understands What He Is Doing

What is Paul's response? There it is in verse 12: "I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel." He didn't want them discouraged. Point one: understand that God understands what He is doing. The events of the previous three years all seemed wrong—a righteous preacher should not face these things. But God knew what He was doing, and through all the twists and turns He was working a great plan.

What kind of plan? Verse 13: "so that it has become evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ." Paul was likely under house arrest, meaning a Roman guard watched his every move 24 hours a day. While Paul seemed to be in captivity, every one of those soldiers was a captive audience. Each day at the changing of the guard, a new soldier came—and Paul shared the gospel until the whole palace guard knew he was there because of Jesus.

It went further. At the end of the letter, in Philippians 4, Paul writes, "those of Caesar's household greet you." During his imprisonment, individuals in the household—perhaps even the family—of Caesar became followers of Jesus. No wonder Caesar didn't like Paul. These things that seemed devastating worked out for the furtherance of the gospel.

Secondly, verse 14 shows it worked to the encouragement of the saints: "most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear." The Christians in Rome had been trying to exist under the radar, fearful of what might happen. But here was one of the most well-known Christians of the day facing their worst fears with confidence, faith, and joy—and they were encouraged to come out of the shadows and preach the gospel boldly.

Insincere Preachers and the Bigger Picture

Paul continues in verse 15: "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." The Philippians were also discouraged that, while this man of integrity sat hindered in prison, others preached with wrong motivations—out of envy, jealousy, and selfish ambition. They wanted the authority Paul had in the church. They got into ministry to gain something.

Just as it was 2,000 years ago, so it is today. Sometimes in the larger church we see people who say all the right words—"I'm a Christian, I'm a pastor"—yet their message seems aimed at their own gain. We rightly look at that and feel something is wrong. There are wolves in sheep's clothing among the good ones, then and now. I won't name them, but they are there.

There was also a group whose aim was to make things harder on Paul—"supposing to add affliction to my chains." They rejoiced in his suffering. Have you ever met someone who rejoiced in the suffering of others? Here is a helpful hint for your happiness: stay away from those kinds of people.

What is Paul's response to this injustice? Verse 18: "What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice." Last week we saw that we must love others as Christ loves them and see them through the finished work of Jesus. That is easy when people are lovely—it is harder to love those who don't love you, and to pray for those who despitefully use and persecute you.

Can you maintain joy among people who rejoice in your turmoil? Yes—if you remember point two: rejoice in the bigger picture. As the New Living Translation renders it, "whether their motives are false or genuine, the message about Christ is being preached." Either way, Christ is preached. Paul could see the bigger picture.

The Bigger Picture Is Bigger Than This Life

Some may think that sounds Pollyanna-ish—come on, I'm a realist, there needs to be justice. How far can this mindset carry you? Look at verses 19–26. "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..." You might expect his deepest desire to be escaping prison to preach in Spain. Instead he says, "that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but with all boldness... 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."

If he continues living, even in prison, it is all for the glory of Christ. If he dies, he gains so much more. Verse 22: "But if I live on in the flesh, this will mean fruit from my labor; yet what I shall choose I cannot tell." If you asked Paul whether he wanted to go home to the Lord or stay and labor, he says, "I don't know. I'm hard pressed between the two."

Perhaps you've experienced this. I've counseled people in severe trials who reach the point of saying, "Lord, just take me, I don't want to go through this anymore." Given the option, they might eject—mayday, get me out of here. But Paul, in dire circumstances, says he doesn't know what he'd choose. "Having a desire to depart and be with Christ, which is far better. Nevertheless to remain in the flesh is more needful for you."

Point three: remember that the bigger picture is bigger than just this life. Paul could rejoice under persecution, even from within the church, even facing death, because he knew the bigger picture extends beyond this life.

Let me ask: what are you facing today? The loss of a job, a family member, a relationship, your health? What do you feel captive to? Maybe you feel imprisoned by your job—if only you could be released, things would be better. Understand that God understands what He is doing, and He has you right where you are for His purpose and glory. Many Christians cling to Romans 8:28: "All things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose." Not everything that happens is good, but in the midst of it all things work together for good.

Conduct Worthy of the Gospel

So Paul gives an exhortation. What is an exhortation? Have you ever had a personal trainer? They come alongside you saying, "You can do one more"—every single day—until you want to punch them in the face. That's an exhorter. Paul comes alongside the Philippians in verse 27: "Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ."

At the same time, Paul wrote Ephesians and Colossians from that same Roman prison, and in each he gives a similar exhortation. Look at Ephesians 4:1: "I, therefore, the prisoner of the Lord..." Wait—a prisoner of Caesar, of the Roman Empire? Yet Paul calls himself the prisoner of the Lord. He understood the prison cell was God's will. Your job may seem like a prison cell, but God has placed you there. "I, therefore, the engineer of the Lord, the contractor of the Lord, the teacher or police officer or accountant of the Lord... beseech you to walk worthy of the calling with which you were called, with all humility, gentleness, and longsuffering, bearing with one another in love, endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."

Back in Philippians 1:27, Paul says the same: "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." He urges them to walk worthy, to stand firm in unity, to strive together as one, and not to fear their adversaries—whether he gets out of prison or not.

Your Faithfulness Encourages Others

Point four: 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, walking worthy of the gospel."

The apostle John says something similar in 3 John, verses 3–4: "For I rejoiced greatly when brethren came and testified 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." And what was John facing when he wrote that? This is the same John whom Rome tried to kill in boiling oil—he didn't die—and then exiled to the island of Patmos, where he received the Revelation of Jesus Christ. Even in dire circumstances, his greatest joy was hearing of others' faithfulness.

Paul knew the church was about to face dark times of persecution. The temptation would be to hide out, guard ourselves, and flee. But he says in verse 28, "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." As bad news spreads—about the empire, about Paul, about things going the wrong direction—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.

Let me encourage you. I get emails from people watching the news, despairing, saying we need to prep, hide, and freak out. That fear is an indication that we don't have a view of the bigger picture. It makes unbelievers question whether we really believe what we talk about—the resurrection, the joy of Christ's return. If we do, we wouldn't be so freaked out.

The Joy of Suffering for Jesus

Finally, Paul concludes in verses 29–30: "For to you it has been granted on behalf of Christ, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake." How many of you would have liked the evangelist who shared the gospel with you to mention that fine print? It has been granted to you—the privilege—not only to believe in Jesus, but to suffer for His sake.

Point five: it is a joy to suffer for Jesus. This may be the strangest point, because it's not a joy to suffer—but it is a joy to suffer for Jesus. James 1:2 says, "My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials." How can you count it joy? Knowing the bigger picture. Peter says the same in 1 Peter 4:13: "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."

Paul, James, and Peter all say: rejoice in whatever trial or suffering you face as you suffer with Christ, because you know the bigger picture. No, we would not choose to suffer—we'd much rather get out of it. But if you suffer, and you will, may it be for the sake of Christ, becoming, as Peter says, a partner with Christ in His suffering—the One who through suffering made salvation available to us.

In Romans 8:18, ten verses before that great promise, Paul writes, "For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us." Jesus suffered on our behalf, so that though we may share in His suffering in this life, salvation and glory will one day be revealed.

Understand that God understands what He is doing. There is a bigger picture, and it is bigger than just this life. As you navigate the twists, turns, and sufferings, standing strong in faithfulness, it is an encouragement to believers and a witness to unbelievers. And know that there is joy in suffering, because through Christ's suffering, joy eternally has been extended to us. Amen.

Closing Prayer

Lord, would You help us to rejoice in the bigger picture, to understand that through Your suffering You have brought salvation, and that though we may suffer in this life, ultimately salvation awaits those who are in You. We thank You for Your grace. Help us understand this week, as we walk through the things of life, that You are doing something bigger, and that we can rejoice in that, and that we would be an encouragement and a witness to others as You strengthen us in faithfulness. Would You help us experience Your joy, which is one of the fruits of the Spirit. Be with my brothers and sisters this week wherever they go, reminding us of the reality of Your presence and Your salvation. And I pray for any here today who don't know that peace and joy—would You draw them by Your Spirit into a knowledge of and relationship with You, transforming their minds so they experience the peace and joy of walking with You. Thank You that You've given all of us a bigger picture. We praise You in Jesus' name. Amen.