Unshakable Joy in Affliction

 

Philippians 1:1-26

Living For Christ in Times of Suffering

Introduction

Life on earth is often filled with pains and sufferings. We hardly laugh when we live in a suffering world. There must be something wrong with somebody who laughs when calamity strikes. As people’s lives are very often plagued with bitterness and sufferings, so they have depressed and troubled looks on their faces. Is this really the truth of human lives? There is a story which goes like this:

An old woman had two sons, one was selling umbrellas and another sandals. When the weather was good, she felt sad because she was worried that the son who sold umbrellas would end up having a poor business. When it rained, she was troubled too because she feared that the son who sold sandals would suffer a poor sale. Therefore, the old woman usually looked troubled and worried.

Let’s think about the reason why the old woman never came to realize that her son who sold umbrellas could have good businesses in those rainy days and was rejoicing. The reason is that many times we are unable to have a positive perspective over life itself.

Somebody has rightfully pointed out that men and women who suffered the most are those who only look at what they don’t have without looking at what they already have, or those who only see what they have lost without seeing what they have gained.

The most joyful ones are exactly the opposites. They lead a positive lifestyle, and often look at life from a good perspective. They do not bother about things that they have lost, but are contented with things that they have already gained. And we know that happy is the man who is contented in all circumstances.

Interpretation

Paul was imprisoned when he wrote the book of Philippians, but he was still able to rejoice. Not only that, Paul also faced opposition from within, where his enemy sought to “stir up trouble for him while he was in chains.” (Phil 1:17) Yet Paul still rejoiced under such a circumstance.

Moreover, Paul remained rejoicing when he faced death. At that time, he was facing a possible death sentence, and he said he was caught in a dilemma, for he did not know how to pray. He could have asked God to bring him out from the prison, or he could have also asked God to let him leave the world so that he could meet Christ face to face.

Paul did not know how to pray, for it was indeed very good for him to leave the world and to be with the Lord. If he managed to come out from the prison alive, he would have to face many difficulties and persecutions.

Paul was then stuck and torn between these pains and dilemmas. How then could he still rejoice? Chapter one of the book of Philippians told us that there were three reasons for this:

1.   He was able to rejoice in the prison because the Gospel was preached and spread. He led many to come to receive the Lord in the prison, and it helped encourage more believers to preach the Good News boldly.

“Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the gospel. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Christ.  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.” (1: 12-14)

2.   He was still able to rejoice when he faced the attacks from his enemies, for Christ was widely preached. The ulterior motive of some people preaching the gospel was to increase trouble for Paul (1:17). However, what was Paul’s response to them? He said, “…in every way, … Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.” (1:18)

Though his enemies sought to increase his pains and sufferings, Paul was able to rejoice exceedingly because Christ was preached.

3.   He was able to rejoice when he faced death, because he sought to exalt Christ in his body. “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.” (1:20)

We can sum up in a nutshell. Paul was able to rejoice in the midst of his sufferings mainly because he lived a Christ-centered and Gospel-centered life. As long as the Good News was preached, Paul was able to rejoice in any circumstance.

He said, “I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.” (Phil 1:3-5)

Many of us can understand the heart of Paul very well. When brothers and sisters in church participate in the ministries of the Gospel, we would be filled with the joy of the Lord. Indeed, I am filled with the joy of the Lord whenever I see our brothers and sisters devoting and involving themselves in the ministry of the Gospel.

When there are evangelistic meetings held in the church, our brothers and sisters would play their parts and be occupied in their various tasks. Some serve as ushers or chaperones, and some invite their friends, and we all pour in our effort and time. We are also filled with joy whenever someone comes to receive Jesus. Many believers work hard during weekdays, and also serve diligently in the church during weekends. They might be busy, but they rejoice for the sake of the Gospel.

The focus of Paul’s life was not on himself, but Christ and the Gospel. We would not have all our wishes fulfilled in accordance with our will as we live on earth. Often, we are very concern with our gain and loss, but Paul did not pay attention on his gain or loss. He rejoiced when he saw that the Gospel was preached, and that he had gained Christ.

We need to change our value and priorities, in order to live such a joyful life. Not only are we shifting our focus on Christ, but we need to have a submissive heart.

Many times, we do know the importance of preaching the Gospel and Christ’s sovereignty over our lives, but we are not submissive to God’s will. Hence, it is hard for us to rejoice. Paul was able to rejoice in his hardships because he submitted to God and accepted all these as God’s arrangement in his life.

Application

I was touched deeply when I read a testimony of a sister during my youth time. She was none other than Christiana Tsai (1890-1984), the Queen of the Dark Chamber.

Madam Tsai suffered from a kind of sickness that she could not see light. Even the blind could go outdoor for activities, but she had to spend her forty years in the darkness and be tortured by her sickness daily.

Though Madam Tsai lived under pain and inconveniences, she was very willing to receive visitors and testify God with her life. She would usually meet her visitors in a very dark room.

There was only one little bulb prepared for her guests in her dark room. She wore a pair of sunglasses when she talked to them. Her visitors were encouraged by her life that was full of joy when they conversed with her.

Madam Tsai liked to say this to her visitors, “God has never done anything wrong.”

It seemed that she had experienced the truth of such a statement for her to say such words after going through 40 years of sufferings from the sickness that caused her to be able to live in the darkness only. “God has never done anything wrong.”

The center of the life of Madam Tsai was the Gospel and Christ. She came to understand that God allowed her to suffer so that the Gospel could be preached through her. Many came to know the Lord through her, and many loved the Lord more because of her. Therefore, her life was filled with joy.

Now we are already trapped under the pandemic for more than two years. We are caught by surprise. We heard that many had contacted the virus, and some even died. Scientists work day and night to speed up the innovation process of the vaccines during this period, However, the vaccines are not able to give us full immunity for the virus of Covid-19 to be eradicated.

How should the church move forward in the coming year? How should all industries move on in the future? Nobody can give us a definite answer.

The Word of God becomes the lamp onto our path under such a circumstance. We receive guidance and encouragement from Paul’s reaction and exhortation. Today let us entrust all our difficulties and worries to the Lord Jesus. We only need to do two things:

First, rejoice in Christ always! We believe that our God is in control of all things, and He could take care of us. Remember this: God never does anything wrong!

Second, we lay down all our personal gains and losses. We should make serving God, glorifying God, witnessing for God and preaching the Gospel our life’s pursuits and value. By doing so, we would be fearless in the face of Covid-19.

God’s way is not human’s way, and man could never out plan God. The end of man is the beginning of God! Those who are willing to follow the Lord closely shall have the peace and joy that comes from above.

In Philippians 4:4-7, Paul exhorted us that, “Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”