-The word for ‘progress’ is prokopé, which means to cut before. It is a picture of pioneers or an army or a boat moving forward and advancing, ostensibly against some kind of resistance, along the lines of ‘to make headway’ or ‘to forge ahead’. In this case, progress for the Good News involves people first hearing and then responding to the truth of the Message, turning to God from self, trusting in Christ’s death on the cross for the forgiveness of their many sins, and coming to love the Lord more and more with all their heart while also helping others to do the same, for the rest of their lives and forever. People hear who haven’t heard, and people trust who haven’t trusted. And we know that hearing the Message is the first and perhaps most important part of the process (Rom 1.16, Rom 10.17). A person must be exposed to the Message in order for the inherent power of the Message to be cranked up in their hearts.
-Paul is wanting these folks in Philippi to know that the Good News was advancing in spite of his circumstances. He has already told us that he is in prison, and will elaborate on this more in the subsequent verses, but suffice it to say that one might normally expect that chaining up the messenger might somehow chain up the Message. Clearly this wasn’t the case for Paul.
-This is not incidentally a jump to a new topic. To tie this back to our previous section, contrary to popular notion, the advance of the Gospel is at its very core about the glory of God. It is not fundamentally about me. It is not a bunch of self-centered sinners in different countries getting their fire insurance. Nor is it about the size of the Church. These things are ultimately touched by the advance of the Gospel message, but they are not ultimate. The advance of the Good News is about the God of glory blessing the nations - every nation - with Himself, providing a way for people to actually know Him - so that they might become a part of the assembly of those who love and glory in Him forever and ever.
-Wonderful statement, this. My circumstances have contributed to the spread of the Gospel. Particularly under circumstances like these which Paul was facing (prison). But truth is, any circumstance whether advantageous or adverse is a gift from the Lord, a divine opportunity. This Message of messages cannot ever be imprisoned or shut down except by the Messengers. If and when it is shared, it has the power to rescue and bring hope, healing and forgiveness to anyone anywhere anytime. Whether a prison block or a neighborhood block or some unreached people bloc, all we need to do is communicate it faithfully and clearly and the Lord will take it from there.
-Wonderful statement, this. My circumstances have contributed to the spread of the Gospel. Particularly under circumstances like these which Paul was facing (prison). But truth is, any circumstance whether advantageous or adverse is a gift from the Lord, a divine opportunity. This Message of messages cannot ever be imprisoned or shut down except by the Messengers. If and when it is shared, it has the power to rescue and bring hope, healing and forgiveness to anyone anywhere anytime. Whether a prison block or a neighborhood block or some unreached people bloc, all we need to do is communicate it faithfully and clearly and the Lord will take it from there.
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