Sermon Tone Analysis

The Advance Of The Gospel

There Are no Accidents with God

Phil.1

The word Paul uses for the advancement of the gospel is a vivid word.

It is prokopē, the word which is specially used for the progress of an army or an expedition.

It is the noun from the verb prokoptein, which means to cut down in advance.

It is the verb which is used for cutting away the trees and the undergrowth, and removing the barriers which would hinder the progress of an army.

Paul’s imprisonment, far from shutting the door, opened the door to new spheres of work and activity into which he would never otherwise have penetrated.

Barclay, W. (2003).

The Letters to Philippians, Colossians, and Thessalonians (3rd ed.

fully rev.

and updated, p. 24).

Louisville, KY; London: Westminster John Knox Press.

The Praetorian Guard were the Imperial Guard of Rome.

They had been set up by Augustus and were a body of 10,000 select troops.

Augustus had kept them dispersed throughout Rome and the neighbouring towns.

Tiberius had concentrated them in Rome in a specially built and fortified camp.

Vitellius had increased their number to 16,000.

They served for twelve, and later for sixteen, years.

At the close of their term of service, they received the citizenship and a financial payment.

Latterly, they became very nearly the emperor’s private bodyguard; and in the end they became a significant problem.

They were concentrated in Rome, and there came a time when the Praetorian Guard became nothing less than king-makers; for inevitably it was their nominee who was made emperor every time, since they could impose their will by force, if need be, upon the people.

It was to the Prefect of the Praetorian Guard, their commanding officer, that Paul was handed over when he arrived in Rome.

The situation was this.

Paul had been delivered to the captain of the Praetorian Guard, to await trial before the emperor.

He had been allowed to arrange a private lodging for himself; but night and day in that private lodging there was a soldier to guard him, a soldier to whom he was chained by his halusis all the time.

I will never forget being asked to speak at Seymour Elementary DARE Graduation-

Tell the story

What does the Life Recovery Bible have to say about this passage?

Paul could see how God used the good and bad in his life to spread the Good news about Jesus.

If we take a look at our life in recovery we may see how this is also true in our own life.

Addiction sucks…ITs painful, we hurt others, we hurt ourselves, we create victims

Its Dark-its lonely and empty

Look at the perspective it gives us.

How equipped are you now to share the message of hope with others?

Our personal stories of how God delivered us is our main tool in reaching the lost the least and the left out.

Our painful past and Gods powerful deliverance are what open that door to serving God by helping others.

We cant get this mixed up though.

Our Holy work in this world is prayer.

That should be our career focus.

Prayer is our main source of power.

God doesnt want our service first, he wants a relationship with us.

Service comes after.

14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.

18 What then?

Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

All that mattered was that Christ was preached.

All too often, we resent it when someone else gains some distinction or credit which we do not.

All too often, we regard someone as an enemy simply for expressing some criticism of us or of our methods.

All too often, we think people can do no good because they do not do things in our way.

All too often, the intellectuals have no time for the evangelicals, and the evangelicals question the faith of the intellectuals.

All too often, those who believe in the evangelism of education have no use for the evangelism of decision, and those who practise the evangelism of decision have no use for those who feel that some other approach will have more lasting effects.

Paul is the great example.

He lifted the matter beyond all personalities; all that mattered was that Christ was preached.

Pauls main concern and burden was that Christ was proclaimed.

As I close, the band can come up.

I love Peters first Gospel message in Acts 2

17 ‘In the last days,’ God says,

‘I will pour out my Spirit upon all people.

Your sons and daughters will prophesy.

Your young men will see visions,

and your old men will dream dreams.

18 In those days I will pour out my Spirit

even on my servants—men and women alike—

and they will prophesy.

19 And I will cause wonders in the heavens above

and signs on the earth below—

blood and fire and clouds of smoke.

20 The sun will become dark,

and the moon will turn blood red

before that great and glorious day of the LORD arrives.

21 But everyone who calls on the name of the LORD

will be saved.’

22 “People of Israel, listen!

God publicly endorsed Jesus the Nazarene by doing powerful miracles, wonders, and signs through him, as you well know.

23 But God knew what would happen, and his prearranged plan was carried out when Jesus was betrayed.

With the help of lawless Gentiles, you nailed him to a cross and killed him.

24 But God released him from the horrors of death and raised him back to life, for death could not keep him in its grip.

25 King David said this about him:

‘I see that the LORD is always with me.

I will not be shaken, for he is right beside me.

26 No wonder my heart is glad,

and my tongue shouts his praises!

My body rests in hope.

27 For you will not leave my soul among the dead

or allow your Holy One to rot in the grave.

28 You have shown me the way of life,

and you will fill me with the joy of your presence.’

Alter Call:

With heads bowed I would like to give you a chance to respond to the Holy Spirit…and then pray for you….

The bible says this in

8-13 Fix this picture firmly in your mind: Jesus, descended from the line of David, raised from the dead.

It’s what you’ve heard from me all along.

It’s what I’m sitting in jail for right now—but God’s Word isn’t in jail!

That’s why I stick it out here—so that everyone God calls will get in on the salvation of Christ in all its glory.

This is a sure thing:

If we die with him, we’ll live with him;