Chapter 30 of The Story April 26, 2015

Acts 20-23, 27-28; Ephesians 1-6; 2 Timothy 1-4

Paul's Last Days

Paul faithfully follows God’s plan to the end, writing words of encouragement and challenge all along the way.



Because of Paul’s willingness to be used of God, most of the New Testament books are attributed to him. From his conversion until his death, Paul wrote of his own struggles and encouraged others to remain faithful in theirs. Paul makes so many references to races, and prizes and games, to winning and to losing, one might think he was an athlete. But maybe he would make a better coach. Let’s look at some of Paul’s encouragement to believers. Whether we’ve been a follower of Christ for forty years or four days, Paul’s words are a shot in the arm on our lowest days.



Read 1 Timothy 4:7-8. We know that salvation is a free gift, but in what area does Paul say we need to train ourselves?

• To train ourselves to be godly.

Read 1 Timothy 4:12. In which areas does this verse imply we need to train ourselves? Why do we need this training today? If we are to be examples, who is watching us?

• To train ourselves in the areas of Speech, Life, Love, Faith, and Purity. To be examples to others.

Much of Paul’s encouragement is aimed at believers to become encouraging themselves. We are not just to live this life for the joy that Christ brings. We are to equip others to do the same. We can say that Paul encourages us to train ourselves in the areas of speech, life, love, faith, and purity so that we can be an example to others. We are to be careful of what we think and what we do because others are watching. Now, here are some words from Paul which equip us to do all of this.



Read 2 Timothy 1:7. To be a good example, what kind of help do we get? Where do we get this help?

• We have received from God a Spirit of Power, Love, and Self-Discipline to be a good example to others.

Read 2 Timothy 2:15. For Timothy, what do you think the word of truth was? For us, what is the word of truth?

• For Timothy, the word of truth was God's Word. It should be the same for us. We should build our lives on His Word and build His Word into our lives - it alone tells us how to live for Him and serve Him.

Read Timothy 3:16. For training ourselves, for coaching others, for learning and for teaching, what is our tool?

• Our tool for training, coaching, learning, and for teaching is "All Scripture." (The Bible)

Read 2 Timothy 4:7-8. Paul’s race is coming to an end. Does he sound like he has any regrets? What is his final encouragement to us?

• Paul has no regrets - his final words of encouragement to us are to fight the good fight, to finish the race, and to keep the faith!

Finally, read Philippians 1:21. This is Paul’s philosophy summed up in one verse. Do you think it is a good one?

• For Paul to live is Christ and to die is gain. To those who don't believe in God, life on earth is all there is, and so it is natural for them to strive for this world's values - money, popularity, power, pleasure, and prestige. For Paul, to live meant to develop eternal values and to tell others about Christ. Paul's whole purpose in life was to speak boldly about Christ and to become more like Him. That's pretty simple - tell others about Christ and become more like Him!

In this race of life we can be encouraged and give encouragement every step of the way. The prize at the end of our race will be worth all we have gone through for Him.

Paul’s Final Days

Think about it, how do you do toward the end of something, maybe the last day of work before vacation, or the final holes on the golf course, or even maybe the final years of your life? How do you spend final days?

As we found out in the previous chapter of The Story, Paul is the author of nearly half of the letters of the New Testament. He was a great teacher that God used to encourage, challenge, and instruct. But how does Paul’s story end? What we will find is that Paul faithfully follows God’s plan to the end, writing words of encouragement and challenge all along the way.

Chapter 30

We don’t know the details of the end of Paul’s life. Tradition holds that Paul was beheaded in Rome during the height of Nero’s persecution of Christians. Regardless, Paul fully lived out a life faithful to the call God had given him. The question for you and me isn’t how do we compare to Paul. History has never seen another like him. Rather, the question for us is are we faithfully living out the call God has given us?

 
Our journey through The Story has helped us learn more about God, but it also has helped us learn more about ourselves. I pray that everyday we would find the place where our story intersects God’s story.

Key Question

What can we learn from Paul’s willingness to obey God despite facing hardship?

Enduring Hardship

Pages 439–443

Last week we saw how God used the apostle Paul mightily to spread the gospel, teach doctrine, and strengthen churches. This week we look at Paul’s final days.

1. (a) What did Paul say the Holy Spirit warned him awaited him (Acts 20:23)? (b) What was Paul’s response (20:24)? (c) What can we learn from Paul’s willingness to continue preaching despite knowing persecution was coming?

2. What strikes you the most about Paul’s arrest and defense (Acts 21–22, pages 441–443 in The Story)? Why?

Imprisonment

Pages 443–447

Paul was under arrest, but the Lord appeared to him and told him he would testify in Rome.

3. Summarize how things worked out that Paul would set sail to Rome, where God wanted him to testify (Acts 22–26, pages 443–447 in The Story).

4. What can we learn about how God can use hardship from this section?

To Rome

Pages 447–452

Paul sailed to Rome as a prisoner.

5. What stood out to you most about Paul’s journey to Rome (Acts 27–28, pages 447–450 in The Story)? Why?

6. What stood out to you most about Paul’s house imprisonment in Rome (Acts 28, pages 451–452 in The Story)? Why?

Letter to Ephesus

Pages 452–458

Paul didn’t let imprisonment stop him from ministering. He used prison time to dictate letters to churches.

7. What is something you can put into practice this week from Paul’s letter known as Ephesians (pages 452–456 in The Story)?

8. If possible, briefly describe a way you were able to minister amidst hardship.

Nero and the Burning of Rome

Persevering to the End

Pages 439–452

Acts ends with Paul’s release from prison (AD 62/63).

Initially, Rome considered Christianity a Jewish sect. Judaism was an authorized Roman religion and exempt from the otherwise universal mandate to worship the emperor. Rome tolerated Judaism’s monotheism partly because Jews seldom converted Gentiles.

But Christians preached the gospel to Gentiles everywhere. Many Gentiles converted, causing social upheaval as shrines lost supporters and idol makers lost income. Idol worshipers detested the Christians’ insistence that man made gods were not gods at all. They bristled over hearing their lifestyles considered sinful.

By the 60s, Jews and Gentiles throughout the Roman Empire despised the Christians. Jewish leaders convinced Rome Christianity wasn’t a Jewish sect, and Rome declared Christianity a new, unauthorized religion that called an executed criminal Lord instead of the emperor.

In AD 64, the Great Fire of Rome burned much of the city, and rumors quickly spread that Emperor Nero had started the fire to facilitate a building project. Needing a scapegoat, he blamed the now reviled Christians. Imprisonments and grisly executions quickly followed for anyone bearing the name of Christ. Some he burned on posts to light the night sky; others he covered in animal skins and threw to dogs; and still others he crucified—including the Apostle Peter.

In AD 66/67, Paul sat chained in a damp, dark dungeon in Rome. Knowing his execution neared, he wrote a letter to strengthen Timothy, a pastor whom he’d mentored.

9. What stands out to you the most from Paul’s letter known as 2 Timothy (pages 456–458 in The Story)? Why?

Paul persevered to the end. The testimony of the man who once persecuted the church, and then claimed to have encountered the living Jesus Christ, stands through the ages, for he boldly testified to having seen the resurrected Lord, no matter what it cost him in this life, for he looked forward to the life to come.

In AD 67/68, Rome beheaded Paul.

10. Consider what you’ve read about Paul’s willingness to endure hardship for God, his boldness in preaching to his persecutors, and the way God used him even in dire circumstances. What can we learn from this?

By the end of the first century, most of the apostles gave their lives for the gospel: Peter, Andrew, Philip, and Bartholomew were crucified; Thomas, speared; James the son of Alphaeus and James the brother of Jesus, stoned; James the son of Zebedee and Paul, beheaded.

All of these were willing to die, and even watch their loved ones die, for their conviction that they saw Jesus raised from the dead and exalted to God’s right hand.

Some people may die for a lie they believe to be true. But these men claimed to have seen the risen Jesus with their own eyes. If they had not, they would have died—and watched those dear to them die—for what they knew was a lie. And who dies for what they know is a lie?

The Holy Spirit’s work did not end with the death of Jesus’ first followers. Many were convinced by their eyewitness testimony and willingness to suffer rather than recant. Despite persecution, the church grew and the gospel spread.

In the midst of these tribulations, Jesus appeared to the Apostle John with words of encouragement and a vision of the end times. We’ll read that next week.

AS YOU READ CHAPTER 30

Journal your answers to these questions as you read through the chapter this week. You may wish to read one day and journal the next, or spread the questions over the whole week.

1. Review Paul’s personal testimony that he gave to the Jews from the steps of the barracks (Acts 21:37-22:21, p. 442- 443). What’s your story of God getting a hold of you? How do you feel sharing your story with others? What difficulties do you have sharing? What would help you to be bolder?

2. When Paul begins to speak to the Jews, they suddenly become quiet and listen intently. But then they soon fly into an outrage. Why do they listen? What makes them so upset?

3. Review Ephesians 2:1-10 (p. 453). Make a before and after list of those things that are true of all people before salvation and after salvation. Name at least three outwardly observable ways that you can apply these truths to your life because you are in Christ. “Now that I am in Christ, I am no longer.”

4. Review Ephesians 5:21-33 (p. 455). What does Paul teach us about the relationship between Jesus and the church? Why is the image of a husband and his bride helpful to imagine Christ and the church? By Christ’s example, how does Paul challenge human notions of power and authority in relationships (see also Mark 9:35)?

5. Look up Romans 5:3-5 (p. 433-434) and 2 Timothy 3:10-17 (p. 457). What has Paul’s life taught you about perseverance? What might perseverance look like for you today? When have you received God’s strength to persevere? Where do you still need it? What gives you courage and patience to keep going forward?

6. Much like in the story of Queen Ester, God is mightily at work behind the scenes in the details of Paul’s journey. What evidence of God’s grace and sovereignty can you find in Paul’s arrests, trials and travels? What does that mean for you in your own journey of faith and life?

Our Lesson Today

The Apostle Paul’s Song for his last days!

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

My, oh my, what a wonderful day

Plenty of sunshine headin' my way

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay


The Joy of Christ is on my shoulder

It's the truth, it's actual

Ev'rything is satisfactual

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah, zip-a-dee-ay

Wonderful feeling, wonderful day, yes sir!

Paul faithfully follows God’s plan to the end, writing words of encouragement and challenge all along the way.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”

2 Timothy 4:7

As we are closing in on the end of our series, “The Story,” I pray that we are starting to be aware that as we live in the lower story, a story at times filled with chaos, confusion, struggles, sickness, and injustice - there is an UPPER STORY!



Life can be a joy when we grasp that we are a part of God’s Upper Story.

What does Science tell us about Happiness?

For many years, we’ve believed happiness followed success, when it’s actually the other way around. Hundreds of scientific studies conducted in the fields of positive psychology and neuroscience prove that happiness leads to success in nearly every domain of our lives; including marriage, health, friendship, community involvement, creativity and, in particular, our jobs, careers and businesses.


Science: happiness leads to success


Happy people are

• 37% more successful in sales
• 19% more accurate
• 3 times more creative
• 31% more productive
• Up to 10 times more engaged

All this leads to more promotions, more raises, more success. This holds true for children. Kids primed to think happy thoughts before taking standardized math tests outperformed their peers. Aibileen Clark: You is kind. You is smart. You is important. (The Help)



Science: happy people are healthier

• people primed with positive feelings experience a faster recovery from stress and its physical effects
• optimism cuts the risk of coronary heart disease by half
• children who have a more positive outlook at age 7 report better general health and fewer illnesses 30 years later
• In a 5-year study, older people were up to 35% less likely to die if they reported feeling happy, excited, and content on a typical day. And this was true even though the researchers took factors such as chronic health problems, depression, and financial security out of the equation

Science: how to improve happiness

• Find something to look forward to. Just thinking about watching your favorite movie can raise your endorphin levels by 27%
• Commit conscious acts of kindness. Studies show that giving to friends and even strangers decreases stress and strongly contributes to enhanced mental health. People who complete 5 acts of kindness in a day report feeling much happier and that feeling can last for days.
• Infuse positivity into your surroundings. Just seeing positive messages lowers physical and mental stress. In some studies it proves just as powerful as anti-depressants.
• Studies show that simply believing we can bring about positive change in our lives increases motivation and performance and becomes a self-fulfilling prophesy.
• Look for it. Research shows when we continually look for and focus on the positive, we are happier, more grateful and more optimistic.
• Practice gratitude. Gratitude has been shown to be a significant cause of positive outcomes. Practicing gratitude for a few weeks has caused people to not only feel happier and more optimistic, but also more socially connected, enjoy better sleep and even have fewer headaches.
• Research shows just the act of smiling signals your brain that you’re happy, which releases mood enhancing endorphins making it true.
• Spend time with happy people. Researchers found that when a person becomes happy, a friend living close by has a 25 percent higher chance of becoming happy themselves. A spouse experiences an 8 percent increased chance and for next-door neighbors, it’s 34 percent.

Happiness messages:

• Be good to each other.
• Believe in yourself.
• Do something nice for someone. Or five someone’s.
• Good things are coming your way.
• Gratitude is a leading cause of good things. Really good things.
• Happiness is contagious. Start an epidemic.
• If you’re happy and you know it clap your hands.
• Look for the silver lining. That’s the best way to find it.
• Smiling leads to happiness. Try it. We double dog dare you.
• You are an extraordinary person. God made you that way!
• You are worthy. Of everything. Every thing.
• Zip-A-Dee-Doo-Dah Zip-A-Dee-A. My oh my, what a wonderful day.

“Is there a difference between Joy and Happiness?"

Answer: A dictionary definition of happiness is “a state of well-being, a pleasurable or satisfying experience.” The definition of the word “rejoice,” from which our word “joy” comes, is “to feel great delight, to welcome or to be glad.” Depending on the translation, the Bible uses the words “happy” and “happiness” about 30 times, while “joy” and “rejoice” appear over 300 times.



The word “joy” comes from the Greek root word chara and means "to be exceedingly glad." James 1:2 says, “Consider it all joy, my brothers, when you encounter various trials.” How could we ever consider going through difficulties and trials a reason to feel joy? James 1:3-4 gives us a clue when it says, “Knowing that the testing of our faith produces endurance. And let endurance have its perfect result, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing.” The deep, abiding joy comes as we persevere through trials, with God’s help, and our faith matures and is strengthened. So happiness tends to be fleeting and depends upon temporal factors like circumstances or other people.



Joy, on the other hand, is true contentment that comes from internal factors like our faith in the Lord. True joy is everlasting and not dependent upon circumstances. The book of Philippians is a great study in the difference between joy and happiness. Written by the Apostle Paul while imprisoned in Rome, this book uses the words “joy,” “rejoice,” and “joyful” 16 times and teaches us how to have true contentment in Jesus Christ, despite our circumstances. In chains and aware that his life was coming to an end, Paul talks about his faith and trust in Christ and how it had changed his whole perspective on suffering. In Philippians 1:12-24, Paul says that because of his two-year imprisonment (Acts 28:30), the whole Roman guard heard the gospel from him, and it had even spread throughout all of Rome. In verse 18 Paul says, “What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed; and in this I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice.” Paul goes on to encourage others to have peace knowing that God strengthens us (Philippians 4:13) and “supplies all our needs according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19).



So the Bible teaches that happiness is fleeting because it often depends on things outside of ourselves, but true joy is eternal because it is based on our relationship with Jesus Christ, which is itself an everlasting source of joy.

To Live Is Christ

Philippians 1:12-26

Paul’s Chains Advance the Gospel

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. 15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? 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.





1. What is the theme of Philippians 1:12-26?

• The theme of Philippians 1:12-26 is joy in ministry. The keynote is Paul's declaration, "I rejoice, yes, and I will rejoice" (v. 18). He wrote that statement in the midst of some very difficult circumstances. Yet in spite of the difficulties, Paul rejoiced in the ministry God had given him.

2. What is one measure of a believer's spiritual maturity?

• A believer's spiritual maturity can be measured by what it takes to steal his joy. Joy is part of the fruit of a Spirit-controlled life (Gal. 5:22). We are to rejoice always (Phil. 4:4; 1 Thess. 5:16). In all circumstances the Spirit of God produces joy, so there ought not to be any time when we're not rejoicing in some way.

3. Nothing short of __________ should steal our joy.

• Yet though we should not allow circumstances to make us sullen, bitter, or negative, the one thing that will rob our joy is sin. It's then we cry out like the psalmist, "Restore to me the joy of Thy salvation" (Ps. 51:12). Nothing short of sin should steal our joy. But change, confusion, trials, attacks, unmet desires, conflict, and strained relationships can throw us off balance and rob us of our joy of we're not careful.

4. When we yield to the working of God's Spirit in our lives, our __________ will not __________ us.

• We ought to expect trouble. Jesus said, "In the world you will have tribulation" (John 16:33).
• The apostle James said, "Consider it all joy ... when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance" (James 1:2-3).
• God has His own profound purpose in our afflictions, but it's never to take away our joy. To maintain our joy we must adopt God's perspective regarding our trials. When we yield to the working of God’s Spirit in our lives, our difficulties will not overwhelm us.

The apostle Paul seems almost larger than life because his joy knew no bounds. As you read through his letters, it seems that the greater the trial he faced, the greater his joy. His life is a living illustration of severe affliction mingled with supreme joy.





5. How were Paul's circumstances in Rome different from what he had originally planned?

• Paul was in Rome when he wrote to the Philippians, which is exactly where he wanted to be for many years (Rom. 15:23). He had written the Roman church that he had wanted to minister to them (Rom. 1:11) and perhaps use Rome as a base from which to reach out to Spain (Rom. 15:24).
• But when Paul wrote to the Philippians, his circumstances were not in accord with what he had planned. He told the Romans of his desire to "have a prosperous journey by the will of God to come to them" (Rom. 1:10). But instead he came to Rome in chains as a prisoner and only after being shipwrecked.

1. His journey to Rome

Acts 21-28 explains how Paul ended up in Rome. It began with his return to Jerusalem after his third missionary journey. To affirm he was still living in obedience to the law, he went to the Temple to participate in a ceremony. There he was accused of teaching against the law and violating the Temple, was attacked by a mob. He might have been killed had he not been rescued by Roman soldiers. They kept him in custody to protect him from his Jewish enemies.



As time went on, Paul became a point of contention between the Jewish and Roman authorities. Hearings before Governors Festus and Felix, and an audience with King Agrippa brought no disposition of Paul's case. As a result he languished for two years as a prisoner in Caesarea (where the Roman army was garrisoned). Eventually he appealed to Caesar and was dispatched by ship to Rome.



On arrival in Rome he spent another two years in prison (Acts 28:30). During that time he wrote what are known as the prison epistles, including Philippians. He was given an initial opportunity to defend himself (perhaps alluded to in Philippians 1:7). At that time he probably spoke of his belief in Christ and his calling to preach the gospel. The Roman emperor at the time was Nero, so when Paul wrote to the Philippians, he was waiting for Nero to make up his mind regarding his case. Months may have passed while awaiting word of release or execution.



2. His house arrest



The conditions of Paul's imprisonment were unusual. Acts 28:16 says, "When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him." He was not put in a prison with other criminals--he had not committed any crime against Roman law. The Roman authorities probably realized there was no real criminal charge against Paul, yet because they could not release him before his case was adjudicated, they allowed him to be a private prisoner in his own quarters.



Paul was under constant guard. Verse 20 records his saying to Jewish leaders in Rome, "I requested to see you and to speak with you, for I am wearing this chain for the sake of the hope of Israel." The Roman government was sufficiently anxious about Paul that he was kept chained to a guard twenty-four hours a day. Roman custom provided for a change in guard every six hours, so Paul would have had four different men chained to him during the course of a day.



Nevertheless, Paul had many freedoms. He was allowed to see visitors (vv. 17, 23) and stay in a private residence (v. 30). He was allowed to preach and teach there, and may have been allowed to leave for the same purpose (vv. 30-31). The sphere of his preaching and teaching was essentially unhindered, and included a captive audience--the Roman soldiers chained to him.



Yet that was a far cry from the freedom he previously enjoyed journeying throughout a large part of the Roman Empire, founding and strengthening churches, and training leaders. He was always on the move to realize his apostolic commission to the greatest extent possible. He still sought to fulfill his commission even though he was imprisoned in Rome. Yet he did not have the solitude that the man of God craves for his personal worship. Even for the little tasks of life he knew no privacy. In sleep, while writing, while eating--he always had to endure the presence of the soldier he was chained to.



3. His response to the Philippians



The Philippians hadn't heard from Paul in a long time, yet by some means were aware that he was in prison at Rome. They loved him deeply and had always been compassionate and sympathetic toward him. So they were concerned about him and sent Epaphroditus to Rome to seek the answer to two questions: What was Paul's condition, and what was the condition of the gospel? They also sent along a monetary gift (Phil. 4:18-19) and commissioned Epaphroditus to help Paul as a loyal friend and companion (Phil. 2:25-30).



Paul wrote to the Philippians to answer their questions. Paul's letter is full of joy and rejoicing because, in spite his circumstances, the gospel was going forward and he had joy in his ministry. He didn't want the Philippians to worry needlessly about him, so he emphasized his joy throughout his letter to them.



a) Philippians 1:3-4--"I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always offering prayer with joy in my every prayer for you all."



b) Philippians 2:17--"I rejoice and share my joy with you all."



c) Philippians 3:1--"Rejoice in the Lord."



d) Philippians 4:4--"Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice!"



6. What was Paul's joy centered on?

• Paul's joy was unrelated to his circumstances. If his joy had been tied to pleasures on earth, possessions, freedom, prestige, outward success, or a good reputation, he wouldn't have had any joy. Paul's joy was centered on his ministry and was indifferent toward all other things. He had joy in spite of trouble as long as Christ's cause advanced. He had joy in spite of detractors as long as Christ's name was proclaimed. He had joy in spite of death as long as Christ was exalted. And he had joy in spite of the flesh as long as Christ's church was assisted.

 

• What Makes You Tick? The progress of the gospel was the passion of Paul's life. How about you--what motivates you, sucks up your energy, dominates your time, makes you tick? It was of little consequence to Paul what happened to his own body or career. In Acts 20:24 we find him saying, "I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, in order that I may finish my course, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus." Life, possessions, clothes, recognition, reputation, and prestige were all yielded up to one goal: "to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God" (v. 24). To the Roman church Paul wrote, "I am eager to preach the gospel to you also who are in Rome" (Rom. 1:15). In 1 Corinthians 9:16 he said, "Woe is me if I do not preach the gospel." Paul was driven to see the progress of the gospel--a model for every Christian. Are you that kind of person?

7. Why is it generally harder to witness under ideal conditions than in more difficult situations?

• They might also have feared that their imprisonment would halt the progress of the gospel. We often see that attitude among Christian leadership in our own country. In our hurry to maintain our religious freedoms, we forget that in Communist China the church has flourished better without freedom than the church in the United States has with freedom. God overrules obstacles and purifies His church through adversity.

8. What marvelous effect did Paul's ministry have on the church in Rome (Phil. 1:14)?

• Paul's joy was strictly related to the advance of the gospel. His chains benefited not only the church but also had become an effective line of communication to the elite soldiers of the Roman Empire, who were in the position of carrying the gospel to the ends of the earth.

CONCLUSION



Does your joy ebb and flow according to the tide of earthly benefits?



Do pleasure, possessions, prominence, prestige, reputation, comfort, and fulfillment of your own ambitions propel your joy?



If they do, your joy will ebb and flow according to the shifting tides of life. But if your joy is tied to the progress of the gospel, it will never diminish. Fix your heart on the progress of the gospel and your joy will be as constant as the extension of God's kingdom (Matt. 16:18).



Pondering the Principles


1. In a world wracked with pain, violence, and heartache, a person who radiates joy is a rare commodity. Yet joy is to be the distinctive of every Christian, making him or her winsome to those seeking spiritual answers in an unbelieving world. Who does not desire such joy? Is your life characterized by a joy that makes unbelievers wonder what you have that they don't?


2. To have joy in the midst of trials requires a mind fixed on something trials cannot touch. What determines the joy in your life--your circumstances, which shift like desert sand, or the Lord Jesus Christ, the rock of salvation (cf. Matt. 24-27)?

PRAYER

Lord, You grow Your Kingdom one relationship at a time. Thank You that Paul’s connections to the churches he established continued in words of support, encouragement and challenge through his letters. God, help me to establish healthy relationships with individuals who can spiritually “parent” me and those whom I can support in their faith. Help me to build purposeful relationships that further Your Kingdom work here on earth, just as Paul did. Amen.



See you on Sunday!



In His Love,



David & Susan