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There are seasons and times in life when you can experience these three things , irritation, interruption or intimidation. And Paul, in a prison cell, could have experienced it all at some point, within him. And his word to you and I, shows the way, when we undergo trials, and suffering because of the gospel, that will inevitably face the opposition of the dark forces of the evil one. But you need not cave in, is the strengthening word of God that comes through the apostle, to say- Only live your life in a manner worthy of the gospel of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you, or am absent and hear about you, I will know that you are standing firm in one spirit, striving side by side with one mind, for the faith of the gospel. [Philippians 1:27]
Life’s true struggles, come against you, only because of your faith in the good news of the gospel, which in essence is Jesus Christ, as the gospel writer Mark so concisely and precisely puts it. [Mark 1:1]
And, what is the gospel of Jesus Christ ?
It is the good news of what Christ has already done for you through the Cross, what He is doing in your life at present, as His Spirit dwells in you, and what He is going to do do for you in the future, the majestic eternity that He has prepared for you.
Christ in you – the hope of glory:
It is all about Christ, and Christ alone. And, He is the Christ who has done it all for you on the Cross of Calvary, to wear the victor’s crown, and has ascended in glorious triumph and is seated even now, at His Father’s side, interceding to intervene on your behalf, so that you may reign in life through Him.
Not intimidated – and, all by HIS power:
And are in no way intimidated by your opponents. For them this is evidence of their destruction, and your salvation. And this is God’s doing. [Philippians 1:28] It is not about self effort; but it is by trusting in the finished of Christ on the Cross, to draw your strength in your communion with God the Father, that you can stand against intimidation. It is in His power that you can stand firm and hold your ground, even in seemingly negative circumstances. It is the encouragement that the apostle proceeds to set forth in his epistle from a prison cell! He counts it all a privilege!
The privilege:
For He has granted you the privilege not only of believing in Christ, but of suffering for Him as well. Since you are having the same struggle that you saw that I had, and now hear that I still have. [Philippians 1:29,30] You can be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might, to stand against the enemy, as Paul has written to the church at Ephesus. You can stand your ground, when you are clothed in the armor of God, the truth of the righteousness of God that is now yours, by believing in all that Christ has accomplished on Calvary, to deliver you from slavery to fear and the domination of the devil. [Ephesians 6:10-17]
Stand still – see the salvation:
It was the command of God through Moses, that came to the Israelites as they found themselves intimidated, with apparently no way of escape, for the Red sea was in front of them, and behind them were the pursuing Egyptians, in their powerful horses and chariots. But it was a song of victorious deliverance from the hand of the intimidating enemy that came from their mouth, as they paid heed to the seemingly improbable command that came to them from God, to stand still, hold their peace, to see their salvation, for the Egyptians who were threateningly coming after them, they would never see again. [Exodus 14:13-30]
They stood still, and were the champions on that day, through God’s miraculous intervention, the great work that He accomplished, one that saw the intimidation of the Egyptians come to a permanent end. ‘The horse and the rider, He has thrown into the sea’, was the victorious chant of rejoicing, in the lips of God’s people on that day. [Exodus 15:20]
A triumphant position:
And therefore, though it was forty years later, when they stood before the river Jordan, at the very brink of entering into the land of promise, it was from a position of victory, as the defending champions, and not as slaves, that they were asked by God to set foot into the river, to see it part before them. It was from a triumphant position that they entered Canaan, where they had to fight against many enemies. But, ‘I will be with you wherever you go; be strong and courageous’, was the promise of God to Joshua. [Joshua 1:9]
The picture of salvation:
Today, it is the picture of your life, after knowing and putting your trust in Lord Jesus, and the finished work of the Cross, acknowledging Him as your personal Lord and Savior. It is the picture of what flows out of your salvation experience, after receiving and appropriating the victory of the Cross in your life. And when God is with you, who can stand against you ?!
No intimidation:
Intimidation need not find a place in you therefore, and the only fear that needs to be in you, is a reverential fear of God, in relationship with Him as your Heavenly Father, who knows all that you need in life. And His Son has made it all available on the mount of crucifixion, where, by grace, and through faith it comes to you.
See the solution:
Focus, on the solution therefore, and do not let your problem intimidate you, as you begin to see it through what has been prepared for you. ‘On the mountain of the Lord it shall be provided’, was the prophetic picture that Abraham saw all those years ago; one that became reality when the Savior laid down His life, for the sins of the whole world, that you and I may live life in all its abundance. It is the thief, the devil, who comes o steal, kill and destroy. [John 10:10]
God’s plan – an abundant wholeness:
If you are experiencing financial lack, therefore, look to the solution, at the God who supplies your every need, according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus, at the truth of what happened on the Cross-where in this context, He became poor, so that you may become rich, through His poverty. The power of sin and the works of darkness, need not intimidate you, when you appropriate the reality of the Cross in you, where Christ became sin, so that you can become the righteousness of God in Him.
And, how does it all become possible in you ? It It is where the sufficiency of God’s grace plays a very pivotal role, for God is able to make all grace abound towards you, so that having all sufficiency in all things at all times, you will abound in every good work. [2 Corinthians 9:8] It is the promise of God that is ‘yes’ and ‘amen’ in Christ Jesus; His word that can never lie, or fail to come to pass.
Standing firm, in one spirit:
Standing firm, in one spirit, and striving together for the gospel, is the attribute that Paul commends in the Philippian church, and gives thanks unto God in prayer. It is an oneness from within, that comes with growing spiritual maturity, which is reflected in ever increasing Christ like character in you, that is seen in a working together with God and His word, in willing submission. And, it is how you can stand joyfully and cheerfully, even when troubles come to threaten and intimidate you in this world. It is by being one in spirit, with the One who has overcome it all, and whose Spirit abides in you now forever.
He has overcome the world:
‘In this world you will have trouble; but, be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world’. [John 16:33] They are the very words of the Lord, that do not deny the harsh reality of living in this world beset of troubles, but also establish beyond any doubt, why you can be cheerful and have hope in the midst of it all. His victory is yours, in Him and through Him, when you are the child of God. It is the prayer of thankfulness that Paul offers unto God as he rests on this powerful truth, as he prays, But thanks be to God who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. [1 Corinthians 15:55]
The triumphal procession:
After the crucifixion and resurrection of Christ, you are in a triumphal procession, a march of victory over enemies that can no longer intimidate and make you shrink back in confusion and defeat, for they have been disarmed and were made a public spectacle on Calvary. You are now in a triumphal procession, that you may spread everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Christ. [2 Corinthians 2:14] And you can accomplish it all very quietly. You can hold your peace, stand firm and see the salvation of the Lord.
The quiet work of the yeast:
He told them another parable; ‘the kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and measured in with three measures of flour, until all of it was leavened’. [Matthew 13:33] The working of the yeast, which, by the Lord, and also in the epistles is not used in a very complimentary manner, in this instance is compared in favorable terms to the advancement of God’s kingdom. It need not be only about the spectacular, but can also work and grow quietly from within, to overcome the dominion of darkness, is the truth that proceeds here, from the mouth of the Lord. For, when it is He who has overcome, who else but you and I who put our trust in Him, who can overcome? This is the wondrous, unassailable truth in which you can rejoice, no matter how powerful the enemy, who prowls around like the roaring lion seeking whom to devour, appears to be. He is a defeated foe.
And, who else can overcome ?
As you show your love, your faith in God, and in Lord Jesus, His Son, by obeying His commandments, the commandments that are not burdensome, you will move on to revel in His victory, to stand unflinchingly against the onslaught of the enemy.
The VICTORY:
For whatever is born of God, conquers the world; and this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. Who is it that conquers the world, but the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God ? [1 John 5:4,5] Indeed, you will overwhelmingly conquer, through Christ who loved you, and gave Himself for you. Let this truth bring joy in you, as it penetrates to the very depths of your being, to bring comfort and encouragement in you, as you step forward to victoriously stand, and not be bowed down or intimidated, by those who come against you. For no weapon formed against you shall prosper. It is your heritage as a child of God. [Isaiah 54:17]
Therefore, STAND – don’t run away!
‘I am doing a great work, and I cannot come down. Why should the work stop…..?’ [Nehemiah 6:3] Let Nehemiah’s words become your banner, your proclamation, when you are troubled by the opposition who do not wish to see God’s kingdom purposes come to a flourishing finish ! In the Name of Christ Jesus Amen.
