Rising Above Your Circumstances

Philippians 1:12-20
verse 12 Paul's circumstances (imprisonment) was used by God to further the Gospel

How many people do you know of whose circumstances have furthered the Gospel? I think of Joni Eareckson-Tada and Nick V. (I can't spell his last name)

verse 18 When others preached the Gospel from wrong motives, Paul still rejoiced simply because it was being preached.

Are there those whom we disagree with their methods or motives, but the Gospel is still being preached? Then rejoice! God can use it no matter the method or motive.

verse 19 Paul knew God would work all things out for good no matter the circumstances, but God uses means and so he adds "through your prayers and the provision of the Spirit of Jesus Christ".

What do you pray for? Do you pray for other Christians to rise above their circumstances and glorify God in them? Do you pray that God would be glorified in your circumstances? Or instead, do you pray that God would fix the circumstances of other Christians and yourself?

verse 20 Paul knew that God's will very well might include death, but all he cared about was that Christ was exalted in him.

Unlike the wealth and health preachers of our day, Paul preached a very different Christianity. Paul's Christianity left room in it for God to use all kinds of circumstances in the life of the believer to further the Gospel and bring glory and praise to Himself. The health and wealth preachers make man sovereign over God, telling God what to do and how to order their lives by naming and claiming it.

Are you willing to give God room to use all kinds of circumstances in your life to further the Gospel and help you grow spiritually to give glory to God? Or do you fight you circumstances by complaining and begging God to fix them?