The Big Read – Philippians

Powerpoint Pictures: Chewing gum on shoe; Bird pooing on someone’s head; Shutting finger in door; Prison; Flatline Heart Monitor

What is the worst thing that could happen to you?

If you ask people this question you’ll get a wide range of answers – some serious, some not so serious.

Not so serious answers might include: Getting chewing gum stuck to the bottom of your shoe or a bird pooing on your head.

More serious answers might include: Shutting your finger in a car door; being kidnapped or put in prison; or dying.

The book of Philippians was written by Paul when he was in prison and facing the possibility of death.  The church in Philippi thought that this was the worst thing that could happen to him.

Yet Paul didn’t see it that way – so he writes this letter to reassure them and encourage them.

One of the big themes of this letter is joy during suffering.  Paul writes that he is able to rejoice while in prison because of the opportunity it has given him to share the gospel.  He is also able to rejoice because of the support the church had given to him.  Even more surprisingly he can rejoice about the worst of things happening to him – death.

“For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Philippians 1:21)

It wasn’t that Paul wanted to die that he could rejoice.  Rather it was that Paul knew that because of what Jesus had done by humbling Himself to death on the cross, death was not the end but the beginning of eternal life with Jesus in heaven.

In fact because of what Christ has done, there are always reasons to rejoice, even if the situation you find yourself in is pretty rubbish.

He says “Rejoice in the Lord always.  I will say it again: rejoice.” (Philippians 4:4)

Because of who He Jesus is and what He has done, Philippians encourages us to rejoice even when we are going through hard times.