Unto the Furtherance of the Gospel
David Wilkerson's sermon emphasizes the inevitability of afflictions in the Christian life and the importance of perseverance in faith.
David Wilkerson emphasizes that the afflictions faced by Paul, as described in Philippians 1:12, serve to advance the gospel rather than hinder it. Paul, despite enduring severe hardships, reassures the Philippians that suffering is part of the Christian journey and should not cause them distress. He reminds them that all believers, not just apostles, are appointed to face tribulations, as stated in 1 Thessalonians 3:3-4. Wilkerson encourages the congregation to recognize that their own afflictions are also part of God's plan for their lives, echoing Psalm 34:19, which speaks of the Lord's deliverance amidst many troubles. Ultimately, the message is one of hope and perseverance in the face of adversity.
Text
"I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out [turned out] rather unto the furtherance of the gospel" (Philippians 1:12).
In this verse, Paul tells the Christians in Philippi not to worry about all the things that they had heard had befallen him. And those "things" included great afflictions and infirmities.
Paul wrote this epistle while bound in a Roman prison. At that point he was a seasoned warrior of the gospel, having endured every conceivable hardship and human affliction imaginable. If you have studied Paul's life, you know the kinds of things he had faced: shipwrecks, beatings, buffetings, tauntings, mockings, persecutions, hunger, thirst, nakedness, defamation of character. Everywhere Paul went, it seemed, he was met by affliction, trouble and sorrow.
Yet Paul said, "None of these things move me" (Acts 20:24). Furthermore, he added, "No man should be moved [troubled] by these afflictions: for yourselves know that we are appointed thereunto. . . . We told you before that we would suffer tribulation" (1 Thessalonians 3:3-4).
Paul was reassuring these believers, saying, "I've told you all along that if you're going to walk with Jesus, you will face afflictions. So now that these afflictions have come upon me, why are you so surprised? This is our appointed lot in life."
Try to get this picture in your mind: Here was a holy man, called by God to take the gospel to the nations. On every assignment, the Holy Spirit whispered to him, "Paul, the next stop isn't going to be easy. You're going to face opposition again. You'll find more afflictions, more testings."
I find this man's life absolutely amazing. Can you imagine it? Paul faced troubles and afflictions at every turn. At this point you may be saying, "Wait a minute! You're talking about Paul's life, not mine. He was appointed by God to suffer afflictions. I haven't been called to such a life." Wrong! The Bible says: "Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all" (Psalm 34:19).
The phrase "many are the afflictions" applies not just to Paul, but to us as well. We love to hear the last part of that verse, but do we rejoice in the first part, as well?
Sermon Outline
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I
- Introduction to Paul's afflictions
- Understanding the context of Philippians 1:12
- Reassurance to the believers in Philippi
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II
- Paul's life as a seasoned warrior of the gospel
- List of hardships faced by Paul
- The impact of these hardships on his ministry
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III
- The call to endure afflictions
- Understanding our appointed lot in life
- The significance of suffering in the Christian walk
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IV
- The role of the Holy Spirit in guiding Paul
- Facing opposition and testings
- The importance of perseverance
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V
- The universal nature of afflictions
- Application of Psalm 34:19 to all believers
- Rejoicing in both afflictions and deliverance
Key Quotes
“None of these things move me.” — David Wilkerson
“Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the Lord delivereth him out of them all.” — David Wilkerson
“If you're going to walk with Jesus, you will face afflictions.” — David Wilkerson