# 36 2018 Dev. Php.1: 27,28. A life worthy! Read verses 12-30. The purpose of these devotionals is to draw Gremar and I closer to God and grow spiritually by applying His Word to our daily living. All passages are taken from the NIV.
Philippians 1:27,28 “Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the gospel of Christ. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you.”
We take the rest of chapter one because the two sections: the “Advance of the Gospel” and “Live a Life Worthy of the Gospel” compliment each other. Paul is writing to the Philippian church thanking them for their gift and he is reporting on the progress he is making for Christ during his incarceration. He appears to be in house arrest and has the freedom to minister to all who come to him, including the Roman guards. The first thing we note is that Paul is an evangelist in whatever situation he finds himself. The next thing we notice is that what is happening to him is a continuation of the true command to the church to promote the gospel. Paul and Barnabas received their call from the institutional church through the power of the Holy Spirit. Acts 13:1-3: While the church at Antioch was “worshiping the Lord and fasting the Holy Spirit said: set apart for me; Paul and Barnabas for the work I have called them. So after they had fasted and prayed, they laid their hands on them and sent them off”. Did they send them off empty handed? Unlikely. The command continued with the gift of the Philippian church to Paul.
This command to the church is not much listened to today, missionaries go about for up to six months begging churches, family, friends and even strangers to raise the money needed to do the work that the Spirit has called them to. This goes on while church members enjoy the blessings God, live in la la land and in luxury compared to the people missionaries are trying to reach. The problem today is that politicians, some Christians and sometime a pastor or two do not practice what they preach. This is eroding our families, our Christian freedom, our churches and our society. The sad part is that prayer is what motivates and empowers missions as Paul tells us in this section of Philippians: “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.” God is faithful and will provide the funds needed for missions but who will provide the power of prayer?
Paul goes on to encourage the church to live a life worthy of the Gospel, still very much needed today. Paul wants to “know that they stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the gospel28 without being frightened in any way by those who oppose them. This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved—and that by God.” That sign that the Philippians display, standing firm in the Spirit, striving as one in the faith of the gospel and for the gospel without fear is lacking today. What is the answer?
The answer is that the institutional church must again live the life worthy of the gospel of Christ. Church leaders must again look to leaders at Antioch, worship, in Spirit and in truth, fast and pray to hear again the voice of the Holy Spirit. He is not absent, but we can’t seem to hear Him right now. Pray for revival and live a life worthy of the gospel of Christ!
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