Philippians Part 3 - Whatever Happens
Phil. 1:27
My Dad was dying of cancer, he was taking the treatments, but they weren’t helping much. My family all jumped in the car and we travelled to Kitchener to visit him and Mom. At one point, on our visit, he asked everybody to leave the room except me and then proceeded to tell me in these types of words, whatever happens I want you to take my funeral and preach the Gospel. All my fishing, hunting and golf buddies will be there along with the fire department.
What else could I say, but yes, I would preach & preach the gospel.
Whatever happens, well Dad died, and I preached the gospel at his funeral.
Whatever happens, whatever happens -Paul spoke those words too.
Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
On writing this, we know Paul was in prison awaiting trial and probable execution, eerily similar to my dad’s cancer situation, awaiting death.
And Paul writes ‘whatever happens’… Let me read to you part of Paul’s letter which leads up to ‘whatever happens’, remember he is in prison.
Phil: 1:12-27
12 Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. 13 As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ. 14 And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the gospel without fear.
… 18 The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.
Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, 19 for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. 20 I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted 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 go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! 23 I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; 24 but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. 25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, 26 so that through my being with you again your boasting in Christ Jesus will abound on account of me.
&27**nbsp;Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
Let me paraphrase carefully what Paul is saying to the Church in Philippi.
I may live, I may die -whatever happens -don’t fall down spiritually, don’t sag into misbehaving, don’t mishandle your life. Rather, walk worthy, hold fast, stick to the faith, you know the Gospel à always live like you know the Gospel, whatever happens.
-often in our life troubles we are sorely tempted to stumble, sag spiritually in our faith, to fall down, to be swallowed up in anger, or fears, or doubts or worries or burdens or cares.
Whatever happens, don’t fall but walk worthy.
Whatever happens to me, whatever happens to you, whatever happens to the person next to you at Riverside, walk worthy of Christ and His Gospel.
This isn’t the first time Paul uses the word worthy, he says it to another church in Colossi.
Colossians 1:9-11 New International Version
9 For this reason, since the day we heard about you, we have not stopped praying for you. We continually ask God to fill you with the knowledge of his will through all the wisdom and understanding that the Spirit gives, 10 so that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, 11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience,
Phil. 1:9 Whatever happens, live a life worthy of the Gospel.
I repeat whatever happens to me, to you, to the person next to you at Riverside, walk worthy of Christ, conduct yourself worthy as being a Christian, a Christ follower.
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WHATEVER HAPPENS – and it angers you, makes you mad, you are really provoked, (as the Bible says in Galatians 5:20 you may even have ‘fits of rage’).
The Bible says WHATEVER HAPPENS -conduct yourself worthy of the Gospel, worthy of being a Christian.
HOW, how do I control my anger? Submit to God, submit the ‘whatever happens’ and your life to God at that very moment.
Here’s my prayer to God when I am angry, “Lord, I submit and commit my life and this circumstance to you, help me do or say only what You would have me do or say. Lord, I trust You, please help me, to Your glory. Amen.
-remember Ephesians 4:26
“In your anger do not sin”:
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WHATEVER HAPPENS -and you panic, fear surges in you, alarm bells ring in your life. This panicky fear frightens you.
The Bible says WHATEVER HAPPENS -conduct yourself worthy of the Christ, worthy of being a Christian.
HOW, how do I control my fears? Submit to God, submit the ‘whatever happens’ and your life to God at that very moment.
Here’s my prayer to God when I am fearful, “Lord, I submit and commit my life and this circumstance to you, help me do or say or only what You would have me do or say. Lord, I trust You, please help me, to Your glory. Amen
Psalm 56:3
When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. -submit, commit, trust.
The ‘whatever’ was happening to the disciples in a in a boat in a storm and Jesus walks on the wave tossed sea to them and says to them in their fear, in the storm, in the ‘whatever happens’ in their lives;
John 6:20 … “It is I; don’t be afraid.” -go to God in your fears.
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WHATEVER HAPPENS -and you worry, something seems out of control, what if -this happens or what if that happens, you are greatly troubled and seriously concerned to the point of WORRY.
The Bible says WHATEVER HAPPENS (big or small) -conduct yourself worthy of the Gospel, worthy of being a Christian.
HOW, how do I control my worries? Submit to God, submit the ‘whatever happens’ and your life to God at that very moment. Trust God with faith in Him.
Here’s my prayer to God when I am worried “Lord, I submit and commit my life and this circumstance to you, help me do or say only what You would have me do or say. Lord, I trust You, please help me, to Your glory. Amen.
Philippians 4:6
Do not be anxious (worry) about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
D0 you get a sense of a pattern here? In the ‘whatever happens’ response that we should have? There is a pattern, a real working pattern that will help you.
So, WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you –
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Go to God
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Submit to God, submit yourself to God once again.
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Commit this circumstance, this ‘whatever happens’ to God.
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Ask God for help and commit to saying or doing as He leads.
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Trust God, believe in God to help you (He will)
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WALK WORTHY TO GOD’S GLORY, not your glory but HIS.
Here are a few more WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you,
and you want to:
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Retaliate, get back, get even Be cautious to WALK WORTHY
Remember to live to God’s glory,
WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you, and you want to:
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Defend yourself, rationalize your actions, protect your reputation.
Be careful to WALK WORTHY
Remember God is your defender and God is the truth in your life.
WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you, and you want to:
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Fight for your rights, demand justice, I’ve been offended.
Be wise to WALK WORTHY
WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you, and you want to:
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Be self-deprecating, put yourself down in a disparaging way & forget that God loves you and has made you as you are.
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Be honouring to God & WALK WORTHY
WHATEVER HAPPENS to you or around you, remember that:
-In crisis and conflict,
Brothers and sisters in Christ WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CHRIST
-In doubts and disappointments, yes even in despair and in danger,
Fellow believers in Christ WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CHRIST
-In fears, failures and even with the future,
My friends in Christ WALK WORTHY OF YOUR CHRIST
-In sickness, stress and even in suffering,
WALK WORTHY
Philippians 1:27
Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ.
September 17, 2023
