Philippians 1:25-26 "And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; (26) That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."
Sitting in prison, Paul was contemplating the reality that he could possibly be
put to death. It seems he was reconciling in his mind that he would have been
immediately transported into the presence of the Lord if he had been executed.
His relationship with Jesus Christ was such that he knew that would be the best
thing for him. He would not have to suffer in the flesh anymore if he was taken
home to heaven; but, he also realized that Christ had begun a good work through
him. In verse 22, he admitted, "... I am in a strait betwixt two..."
But his ultimate desire was not placed upon the thought that he
preferred; rather, the promise that had been given him.
He said in our text, "having this confidence..." What was the
confidence to which he was referring? "Being confident of this very
thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the
day of Jesus Christ." (Philippians 1:6) He knew God had begun a good
work and was going to complete that work. Paul was determined to be in God's
will. He was there in Philippi to confirm the Gospel of Jesus Christ to
the saints. He was not sure as to how the Lord was going to work, but he was
very confident that God would complete the work.
How would Christ confirm the Gospel to the people? For Paul, the confirmation
would be as he entered the very presence of the Lord. He had "a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ." (Philippians 1:23) But he also
realized the better confirmation for the people would be through his
deliverance from prison. They were praying for his release. Their faith was
placed, in this instance, for Paul's deliverance. He realized this deliverance
would be "for your furtherance and joy of faith."
Paul was a stern man when it came to the Gospel of our Lord. He was bold in his
deliverance of the Word of God. He endured much suffering for the cause of
Christ. But underneath all the scars that were in his body, was a heart that
beat for the purpose of exalting Jesus Christ. In that desire to honor our
Lord, was a love for God's people that placed their needs above his own.
His heart's desire concerning his own life was that "Christ shall be
magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death." May this be the
desire of each of us. Seek the will of God and pursue that will with all of our
might.