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First, How To Respond To Opposition From Without: Know That Controversy Advances The Message

Rabbi Paul was one of the greatest men who ever lived. He was a theologian and scholar, a radical follower of the Son of God who had appeared to him and utterly transformed him. He was a prophet, and an apostle, in fact the very special apostle to the Gentiles. He was a great missionary. He was one of the very greatest leaders of Messiah’s Community who ever lived, worthy of great honor and respect. In spite of all this, Paul was in prison in Rome awaiting trial.

Most human beings don’t like to be involved in controversy. It can be uncomfortable and dangerous. We like things to be pleasant and safe. But, in a fallen world that is satanically controlled and in rebellion against God and under a curse, the Message about Messiah will be opposed and will be controversial. Yeshua of Nazareth was controversial and still is controversial. The Message about Him, including His death and resurrection, and His Lordship, was controversial and 2,000 years later is still controversial. And this great Rabbi was controversial. And, we might find ourselves in a similar kind of controversy one day, so let’s see how this outstanding leader of Messiah’s Community responded to the controversy he was in, and learn from him.

The first thing we should understand is that the Lord can use controversy to advance His purposes. Now I want you to know, brothers and sisters, that what has happened to me has actually served to advance the Good News. As a result, it has become clear throughout the whole palace guard and to everyone else that I am in chains for Messiah. And because of my chains, most of the brothers and sisters have become confident in the Lord and dare all the more to proclaim the Good News without fear. Paul’s imprisonment had the opposite of its intended effect – to silence him and intimidate others so that the Message about Yeshua would be suppressed. Even though he had been arrested in Israel, and then transported to the capitol of the mighty Roman empire to face a trial before Caesar – instead of the Lord’s representative being silenced, Messiah’s Community intimidated and the message suppressed, the opposite had happened. Paul was not silenced. The Message had advanced! All the soldiers involved in guarding Paul, and many others, found out that the Rabbi from Tarsus was in jail because of a Jewish carpenter-turned-Rabbi, Yeshua of Nazareth. That enabled them to learn more about the Messiah. Not only that, but most of the followers of Messiah in Rome became more confident and were boldly speaking out about the Good News.

That means that we are in a win-win situation! If the world leaves us alone, we are able to freely speak the truth that saves – and that’s great. And, if we are opposed, persecuted, imprisoned, even killed, the controversy that results will amplify the message even more! Moishe Rosen, the founder of Jews for Jesus, understood this principle. He used to say: “Every knock is a boost.” So, don’t be afraid of controversy. Be bold, be outspoken, and let the chips fall where they may – like Moishe and great Paul Rabbi did.

How to Respond To Opposition From Within: Focus On Yeshua And Not On Yourself. Focus On Advancing the Message And Not On Yourself

We understand that we will be opposed by those in a godless world. What is harder to understand is that we may be opposed by those who are within Messiah’s Community. You might think that you would get the most support and encouragement from leaders in the Community of the Good Shepherd, but that may not always be the case. If anyone should have been loved and supported and encouraged, it was this great representative of the Lord. But there were those who tried to take advantage of Paul’s imprisonment. Let’s see how Paul responded to them. It is true that some preach Messiah out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the Good News. The former preach Messiah out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains.

There were Christians and Messianic Jews who stepped into the vacuum left by Paul’s imprisonment who had the right motivations. That group was motivated by love. Love for God. Love for people to hear the Message about Messiah and be saved. Love for Paul, knowing that God had raised up this great Jewish man to be the apostle to the Gentiles, with an unusual ability to proclaim and defend the Message and to teach and lead God’s people.

But there were others in Messiah’s Community who were trying to take advantage of Paul’s situation to get something out of it for themselves. They were operating out of bad motives – selfish ambition and rivalry. They saw Paul as their competition, and so the worse it went for him, the better – they thought – for themselves. They were envious of the great Rabbi, and thought that with Paul out of the way, they could step into the vacuum, and gather more people and power for themselves.

A impure desire for power and position? An attitude of competition and “kingdom building” among Christian and Messianic Jewish leaders? Taking advantages of others’ weaknesses? Is that possible? Unfortunately, yes. You might think that everyone in Messiah’s Community always operates with good motives, but sadly, that’s not always the case. We expect to be opposed by the world. We don’t expect to be taken advantage of by those in Messiah’s Community. But, it happens.

There may be times when you are opposed by some of your brothers and sisters, or your peers in ministry. That can be very discouraging. How do we deal with that kind of discouragement? How did Paul respond? With Resentment? Anger? Depression? No. He decided that he didn’t care about their motives, whether they were good or bad. But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Messiah is preached. And because of this I rejoice. Paul saw the big picture – that it wasn’t about him or these other men – it was about Messiah and the Message; and that no matter what the motivation, every time one of these men opened his mouth, Messiah was being proclaimed, and people who needed to hear the Good News about the only way of salvation were hearing the Message, and that’s a wonderful thing, and that enabled Paul to be happy and cheer them on! Paul reacted to those who those who tried to take advantage of his situation by focusing on Yeshua, and not on himself; by focusing on advancing the Message, and not on himself. If we are ever in a similar situation, facing opposition or competition by a brother or sister, let’s try to have this same great attitude.

More Ways To Respond To Opposition From Without: Know That God Will Help You Endure And You Will Be Vindicated

If you’ve been arrested and are in prison, it’s not easy to wait for your trial, especially if you know your judge is a powerful king who doesn’t like you and may kill you. But, Paul could be confident and happy, even in that very difficult situation. Yes, and I will continue to rejoice, for I know that through your prayers and God’s provision of the Spirit of Messiah Yeshua what has happened to me will turn out for my deliverance. Paul could be confident and happy, even in prison awaiting a trial which could result in his death, because he knew how it would turn out. He would be delivered. Not that Paul knew that he would be declared innocent and then released – but he knew that no matter what happened – whether he lived or whether he died, he knew he had a Judge who was greater than Caesar. He knew that he would be vindicated by the Judge who has the final word.

Paul’s attitude reminds me of Shadrach, Meshach and Abed-nego’s response to king Nebuchadnezzar when they were given the choice to worship the king’s idol or die a horrible death: Our God whom we serve is able to deliver us from the furnace of blazing fire; and He will deliver us out of your hand, O king. But even if He does not, let it be known to you, O king, that we are not going to serve your gods or worship the golden image that you have set up. These three loyal Jewish men knew they were right with God, knew they were serving God, so they knew that no matter what happened, they would be OK. That knowledge gave them confidence and boldness to do the right thing in a very difficult situation.

Paul knew that he would be vindicated no matter what happened, because the prayers of the Philippians were ascending to God for him, and the Spirit of the Son of God was living in him. The prayers of the saints and the indwelling of the Spirit would empower him to remain loyal to God and to the truth and to his mission, so that everything God wanted to do in him and through him would be done. He knew that because of the prayers of God’s people and the indwelling of the Spirit, he would be able to endure to the end and be saved. That knowledge was the source of his hope and confidence and happiness.

Whether he was found innocent or guilty; whether he lived or died, Paul didn’t expect to be embarrassed by backing down or denying the truth. I eagerly expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Messiah will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death. When the fiery trial was at its hottest, he expected to receive grace that would enable him to continue to courageously honor and proclaim Messiah – no matter what.

The Rabbi’s understanding of His relationship to God; that he could expect grace in time of trial; that he would be empowered by God answering prayer and empowered by the indwelling of the Spirit of God; that the one who endures to the end will be saved; that death is not the end; that ultimately he would be vindicated by a Judge greater than Caesar – all this gave him hope, confidence, boldness, even happiness – even in very difficult circumstances – imprisoned and awaiting trial that could result in his death.

Isn’t that what we need – hope, confidence, boldness, happiness especially in our times of difficulty? And, we can have it – if we have Paul’s understanding, priorities and commitments. Do you?

Paul further explains why he was able to be fearless and joyful in his difficult circumstances. For to me, to live is Messiah and to die is gain. If I am to go on living in the body, this will mean fruitful labor for me. Yet what shall I choose? I do not know! I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Messiah, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body. Alive, Paul was Messiah’s faithful and talented servant who was able to do great things for the Lord. As long as he was alive, there would be important work for him to do. Dead, he was sure to be resurrected and rewarded and live forever with the Son of God, living a new kind of life that was much better. Earthly life that was useful to Messiah, or more and better life! He couldn’t lose. If he had to choose, he hardly knew which of these two great choices he’d make.

Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we had Paul’s understanding of things: that we are here to serve the Lord, and that, when we die, we go to a better place, so that no matter what happens to us, we are in a win-win situation? Wouldn’t that make our lives so much better?

Paul concluded that it was better if he remained alive because his presence was needed more with the Philippians. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the faith, so that through my being with you again your boasting in Messiah Yeshua will abound on account of me. Paul understood that if he was released, he would continue to be their great mentor, helping them grow and experience joy in a life of trusting God. If he was released, they would have even more reason for praising Messiah – because it would be Messiah who enabled His great servant to be freed from prison to continue to help and inspire them. And, that is what happened. Paul was released from this imprisonment.

The world and the evil spirits who control the world, will try to seduce us, intimidate us into silence, neutralize our testimony, destroy our witness. It can help to have a great spiritual authority like Paul around, keeping an eye on us, keeping us accountable, keeping us on track. But, we need to live the right way whether our spiritual authority is around, or not around. Whatever happens, conduct yourselves in a manner worthy of the Good News of Messiah. Live in such a way that you are a credit to the Message about the Messiah! If you are a Christian or a Messianic Jew, you represent the truth. You represent the only way that human beings can be saved. Don’t let your living dishonor that Message. That Message is too important!

Whether he was able to check in on them in person or only hear about them from a distance, Paul wanted this community to be united and courageously declaring the truth. Then, whether I come and see you or only hear about you in my absence, I will know that you stand firm in the one Spirit, striving together as one for the faith of the Good News without being frightened in any way by those who oppose you. Paul wanted them to live in a way that honored God and honored the Good News they represented; but he also wanted this Community to be united. He wanted them to be united and courageously and diligently working together so that more people could trust in the truths contained in the Good News. And he wanted them to be bold and confident and fearless, not intimidated in the slightest by the opposition. Their courage and unity under pressure would show those who opposed them who were the ones who had the truth and who didn’t.

This is a sign to them that they will be destroyed, but that you will be saved – and that by God. Their courage and unity while being persecuted would reveal that they had the truth, and that one day Messiah’s opponents would be defeated and Messiah’s followers would be completely victorious, and that God was on the side of Messiah’s followers and working to ensure that glorious outcome.

And, this is what I want for us: To be a community. A real community. To be united. To focus on declaring the Good News about Messiah – to the Jewish people first, and also to the non-Jews. To work hard at that. To be courageous. To not be intimidated by any opposition. For each one of us to be happy, not because our circumstances are pleasant, but because we know the Lord, and our priorities are in order, and we are focused on the Lord and our mission and not on ourselves. To be happy because we are sure of living forever. Do you think God can make this happen? I do.

How To Respond To Opposition From Without: Know That Suffering Will Be Part Of Our Experience

And, I want us to understand that like Paul, we might have to suffer. And, if we do suffer, we endure our suffering with a good attitude. For it has been granted to you on behalf of Messiah not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for Him, since you are going through the same struggle you saw I had, and now hear that I still have.

Paul wanted the Philippians to understand that there’s more to a life of faith than just knowing Messiah, and trusting Messiah and enjoying Messiah and living forever with Messiah. There’s also suffering for Messiah. And the trusting and the suffering are both part of the package of salvation. Suffering as a follower of Messiah is as much part of the deal as trusting, so suffering shouldn’t be understood to be something unusual or shameful.

The Philippians were being opposed. They were suffering. They were involved in the same kind of struggle they saw Paul go through, and about which they were getting an updated report in this letter. And if this great leader was expected to suffer, so could they. And if Paul could endure with a good attitude, so could they. And with the prayers of the saints and the Spirit of Messiah living in us, and the perspective that comes from the divinely inspired Word of God, and the support of a united community, and if our priorities are in order – if called to suffer, we can endure our suffering with a good attitude too. Amen.