The Path Ahead (Philippians 1:19-26)

Philippians has been called the ‘Epistle of Joy’ because of the number of times Paul refers to the topic of rejoicing. Although he was in a difficult and uncertain situation due to his imprisonment in Rome, he wanted to inform his friends that he was still a happy man. Moreover, he wanted them to know the reasons why he was a happy man and in this set of verses from his letter he mentions some of them. We might be surprised at what Paul mentions, but if we are, we need to ask some questions about ourselves. The reasons why Paul was a happy man are connected to Jesus. It was in Christ that the apostle found his joy.

In order to understand Paul’s particular reasons, we should remind ourselves that he was due to face a trial in the imperial court that would decide whether or not he lived or died. He refers to this set of outcomes when he mentions that his appearance there might result in a death sentence being pronounced against him. Although that negative verdict was possible, and a few years later he did receive such a verdict (as he describes in his final letter, 2 Timothy), at the time of writing he was optimistic for a release and he tells his friends why that will be the case. And as he describes his circumstances, we can sense his joy.

The power of prayer

One thing that stands out in the outlook of Paul is his confidence in prayer. Prayer to God by the apostle was a constant activity and he had earlier mentioned his prayers for the Philippians. Now, however, he wants to focus on the prayers of the Philippians for his deliverance. Here he shows that he believes prayer can affect the decisions of the highest people in society.  

From one point of view, to engage in prayer for someone is to have a fellow-feeling with that individual regarding whatever situation that person is in. We normally pray because we feel that the issue is important. But if that was all that prayer could do, it would not have much effect – it would only be an expression of sympathy. Much more is needed, and Paul states what it is when he adds to the reality of prayer its outcome, which is that spiritual help is received from heaven. What comes from heaven to Paul is ‘the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ’. We will think it a moment of what that help could have included, but one aspect of the help that we can see is that the Spirit was helping Paul to write an infallible letter that would encourage the people of God throughout the future.

‘The help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ’ is a wonderful summary of what happens when real prayer is made. What does this help include? Jesus is the ruler of all things and he decides what happens with regard to those who trust in him, with the instrument that he uses being the Holy Spirit. Why was Paul in prison? Several answers can be given. Jesus wanted Paul to be a witness and he would need the Spirit for that task. Jesus had wanted to use Paul there to convey spiritual blessings to unlikely recipients and the apostle had been able to do so because he had been helped by the Spirit. 

Yet we should observe that Paul links the presence of the Spirit with him to the prayers of the Philippians. This is a reminder of a very basic Christian reality, one to which many promises are connected. We can pray to God to give the Spirit in a special way to those who need him in a particular situation. Paul needed the help of the Spirit not just to bring the gospel to those he met through his imprisonment, but also to enable him to remain true to the gospel when he appeared in court because of his commitment to the gospel. We can see that his burden was that he would not be ashamed of the gospel when his trial commenced, and he knew that he could not depend on his abilities and strength of character. He required divine help in all that happened to him and through him.

The lesson for us is that when we pray for one another we should ask God to send the Spirit to help in our situations. Some situations are obvious, and they can involve what we call saving grace and common grace. Paul needed saving and sanctifying grace to witness for Jesus and those judging him needed common grace when assessing the situation. 

Bringing the matter back to ourselves, for what areas in life should we be asking for the help of the Spirit. Here are some examples. We can pray that parents would have the Spirit as they work to bring up their children and that the children would be given the Spirit. Or we can pray that the Spirit would be given to those who teach God’s Word. But we can pray that the Spirit would be given as we engage in personal devotions. And we can pray that the Spirit would be given to help individuals in times of stress, when decisions have to be made. We can easily see that there are many situations in which our prayers for the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ are the main activity in which we can express brotherly love.

The prospect of heaven

Paul knew that the roads ahead of him out of the Roman prison had only two worthwhile destinations. One road, which would be decided by the judge, was that Paul should die. Paul looked down that road and said that it would for him be something much better. He does not mean only that heaven is better than a prison, he also means that heaven is better than everything that earth can provide. In Paul’s case, heaven was better than his life as a preacher of the gospel.

This leads us to ask why Paul thought heaven would be better? His answer is a very simple one – it would be better because he would be with Christ. Nothing on earth could compare with that. So we can think briefly as to why being with Christ in heaven would be better for Paul. Of course, Paul is not suggesting that this outlook is only for him. Rather he is saying that this should be the normal Christian outlook. 

Indeed, we know that Jesus prayed for this when he requested in the prayer recorded in John 17 that his people should be with him, and we also know that this experience is what he promised to the penitent thief when saying that he would be with him in Paradise. And it is a very challenging question for us to ask ourselves: ‘What do we make of this reason?’

There are what we can describe as secondary reasons for believers wanting to go to heaven. They would include the prospect of reunion with family members and friends, or the prospect of being sinless personally, or the pleasure of finding ourselves in a sin-free environment without the possibility of it being destroyed again. We can want to go to heaven in order to get away from the temptations of the devil or from the harassments of people opposed to the kingdom of God. There is nothing wrong with such reasons, but they are not mentioned here by Paul when he says that heaven is very much better.

Instead, the primary reason given by the apostle is that he will be with Jesus. So let us try and see if we can see why Paul would say this? Obviously, in heaven he would be with Jesus as far as proximity is concerned. The Bible does not indicate how close believers will be to one another in heaven, but it does say that all of them will be close to Jesus. It is not a mere physical nearness that Paul is anticipating here such as what he will enjoy after the resurrection. Rather, there is special contact with Christ in the heavenly state that exceeds anything he could have known on earth.

We can also deduce that Paul would be with Jesus as far as his personality is concerned. What can be said about Paul as a person? Normally we consider personhood as including rationality, emotions and choices. Obviously, we can be enthusiastic in each of these areas. They reveal who we are in a real way. It is obvious that Paul had a very big mind, yet he also knew that as far as knowing Jesus was concerned he knew very little of the greatest person in existence. Moreover, Paul was a very expressive person emotionally – he speaks a lot about love, about joy, about peace, and he had known them all in some measure. Also, Paul had been faced with many choices and they had led him into situations where he discovered aspects of divine grace. Yet he knew that as a person he had not fully appreciated what it was for him to have been made in the image of God and to use his mind, his emotions and his will to the fullest manner. And he knew that he would never do so until he was in the presence of Jesus.

Why did Paul want to be with Jesus? One reason would be that the greatness of Jesus and another reason would be the personal benefits that Paul would know, benefits that he had begun to taste while here on earth, but the fullness of which awaited him when he would be with Christ and enjoy his blessings.

The priority of providence

Yet as we have seen, there was another possible road for Paul to travel down, a road that would not be easy. It would still be beneficial for him because he points out that it would be ‘fruitful labour’ in the service of Christ. What does he mean by ‘fruitful’? I suppose he could have in mind the effects of his activities in the lives of other people as he had known in the lives of those in Rome whom he had influenced. Or he could have in mind the reward that he would get in heaven when he would eventually get there.

So despite his own personal preference of going to heaven, it was this second road that he was convinced would happen and which he should choose. This second road would involve Paul being released from prison and resuming his travels in preaching the gospel. At some stage on these travels he would once again find himself in Philippi with the beloved church there. 

How did Paul come to this conclusion? He still knew that it may not happen, so he did not possess infallible knowledge. He would have prayed about the matter and thought deeply about it according to biblical principles. Sometimes, we forget that this is the usual way in which the Lord guides his people.

No doubt, that would have been a wonderful time when Paul and the Philippians did meet, and together they would engage in praising God as they thought about the different ways his grace had been revealed in their lives.

Applications

Here are three brief responses for us to think about. First, we can note the simplicity and spirituality of prayer. While it is good to be specific in prayer, we recognise that there will be situations when that is not possible. But it is always appropriate to ask that people would receive the Holy Spirit.

Second, what is the value that we place on Jesus and being with him? It is easy to see why Paul wanted to be with Jesus and the position the Saviour had in the apostle’s affections. Yet, it is a challenging question for us to think about honestly.

Third, what place do other Christians have in our thinking when we make decisions about our futures? Paul was prepared to stay out of heaven and be of help to them, if that was the Lord’s will.