Learning to Live a Life of Loss, part 2

The church of the Philippians had a unique perspective in understanding how Paul endured persecution. Acts 16 records that in the first days after Paul and Silas arrived in the city of Philippi, they were beaten (flogged – bloodied & bruised) and then thrown into prison. Paul and Silas responded to their beating, imprisonment, and being locked in stocks with open wounds by singing praises to God! God responded to that praise, supernaturally breaking them out of jail! Even the Philippian jailer was impacted by Paul’s example (if you read Acts chapter 16 over the last couple of weeks, you may remember that the jailer took them into his own home, bandaged their wounds, and then he and his entire family repented of their sins and were immediately baptized in water). 

Paul’s example (while he was planting the church in Philippi) is instructive in two ways. First, there is frequently a connection between fruitful ministry and difficult days. In 2 Thessalonians 2, there is a great falling away predicted. These prophetic warnings are in the Bible to tell us that no matter what - even if everything looks dark, and hard times are coming - we are still to be about the Master’s work, looking up and crying out, “Maranatha, Jesus!” (Come, Lord Jesus!”); not just to get us out of here, but calling Maranatha, Jesus! to come into the lives of those we love and who live around us.
 

Second, the world is watching closely, as followers of Jesus endure tough times. How Paul responded – and by extension, how we respond - becomes a means of evangelism. Our actions authenticate our message.
 

Perhaps you have never been thrown in jail for your testimony of Jesus. Perhaps you have never been beaten because you were a follower of Jesus. But friends, difficult days come in many forms. There are plenty of believers who have suffered the loss of family relationships because of their faith and trust in Jesus. There are plenty of believers who have been passed over for promotions at work because they put their faith first and their work second. There are plenty of believers who make choices involving personal loss in order to remain faithful to Jesus and His mission for their lives.
 

Perhaps, you are one of those believers. Or, if you have not faced difficult days, let me encourage you, as Paul and Barnabas encouraged one of the first churches they planted, “It is necessary to go through many hardships to enter the kingdom of God.” So, the question is not whether we will face hardships or suffering; that is a certainty. The only questions are when and how we will face trouble.
 

When you first became a follower of Jesus, did anyone share with you that you were signing up for difficult days ahead? If not, they should have! Living for Jesus, will be the most difficult thing you ever d. Life is not going to be easy if you are really going to be His disciple. In fact, trouble and persecution are a part of the Good News.

Perhaps you are reading this and you are investigating the claims of Jesus. I will not deceive you by telling you that your life will always be easy as a committed follower of Jesus. In fact, a sincere desire to follow Jesus often involves loss and suffering. But I will give you very good news as well: if you give your life to Jesus, you will be headed for a joy unspeakable, that is full of glory!   

This week, as we look into Philippians 3, I would like to give us five things that will help us understand how Paul is also an example for us, today, in facing difficulties and trials.
 
Let’s begin our look at chapter 3.
In verses 1-3, Paul says, “In addition, my brothers and sisters, rejoice in the Lord! To write to you again about this is no trouble for me and is a safeguard for you. 2 Watch out for the dogs, watch out for evil workers, watch out for those who mutilate the flesh. 3 For we are the circumcision, the ones who worship by the Spirit of God, boast in Christ Jesus, and do not put confidence in the flesh…” CSB.

Continued tomorrow