Philippians 1:12 - God Prepares Us in the Tough Times

Todaywe are continuing to look at Philippians 1:12–18. Paul is talking about hiscircumstances here. Paul had other plans, no doubt, for what he thought Godwanted him to do. Yet the Holy Spirit of God had other plans for him. God hashim in prison for a purpose. We are talking about what happens when life doesnot go as we planned it. Yesterdaywe began telling the story about Joseph. Joseph was thrown into a pit by hisbrothers. Then he went to Potiphar’s house in Egypt as a slave. Then he endedup in a prison in Egypt. But the next thing you know, God reveals and unveilsthe vision that Joseph had for himself. He becomes next to Pharaoh, ruler overall of Egypt, and saves not only the land of Egypt from a great famine but alsohis family. Nowwe are looking at Philippians 1:12, where Paul says, “But I want you toknow, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned outfor the furtherance of the gospel.” Paul is in prison. He is in chains. Heis chained between guards, but there he has the opportunity to share the goodnews of Jesus Christ. So even in our setbacks, even in our disappointments,even in situations we never would choose, God is working. God can use it allfor His glory to bring about the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Anothergreat story after the book of Genesis is in Exodus—the story of Moses. Moses,when he is 40 years old and has been trained in all the arts and military waysof the Egyptians, thinks he is going to deliver the people of Israel. Thishappens some 400 years, after Joseph and Moses now is going to deliver them. Hestarts that process and kills an Egyptian. Then he ends up running for hislife. For the next 40 years of his life he lives in a desert. He thought Godwas going to use him earlier. He had all the equipment. He had all theknowledge. He had all the background—everything. Yet God wanted to put him outthere in a desert, watching smelly sheep. Moses would have never planned that.But God had a plan in preparing Moses to become the great leader of the nationof Israel, to bring them out of bondage, to be their deliverer, to take them tothe promised land, and to lead them for the next 40 years through thewilderness. Ohmy friend, it is awesome how God works in our lives through the strangestsituations and circumstances that we would never choose. Thenyou think of David—little David, maybe 12 or 13 years old—out playing his harpon a hillside, praising God, worshiping, and getting to know Him. He is lookingat creation, watching God’s sheep, and thinking, “Man, it is awesome takingcare of these sheep.” He begins to dream about what God might want to use himfor. He ends up being anointed king by Samuel when he was around 15 years old.He has no idea what that means, but wow, something good is happening. The nextthing you know, he kills Goliath, and everybody is excited about David. Butthen Saul gets jealous. For the next 12 to 15 years, David is fleeing for hislife—something he would never choose. But he gathers a band of men to followhim. He begins to learn how to trust God as his life is at risk every day. Godis preparing him to be the great King David of Israel for the next 40 yearsafter he becomes king at 30 years of age. Sometimesthings happen that we think are bad, but God is preparing us. God is working inour lives. So do not throw in the towel. Do not quit. Keep on keeping on. Godwill continue to do something that will amaze you. Paul says, “Here I am inprison, but it has turned out for the furtherance of the gospel.” We will talkmore about that in the next few days. Today,think about what God might be doing in your life today, despite yourcircumstances.