For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… ~ Philippians 1:29 ESV

The apostle Paul was a man who endured much suffering for the cause of Christ, and one thing you will never see within Paul’s teachings is the concept of “living your best life now.” This ideology (living your best life) has permeated much of Western Christianity’s view of God, but it is a fleshly view of God, and not from the Spirit of the Lord.

This view undergirds the ideology that any inconvenience is an attack from the enemy. Truly, Western Christianity knows little to nothing about the calling of grace to suffering for the sake of Christ. It is only when we are uncomfortable in our flesh (our carnal nature) that we experience what it means to suffer for Christ.

Any gospel that portrays God’s blessings as only comforting our carnal nature is a false gospel, and will lead to stunted growth in the grace of God. Thus many within American Christianity have at best a false and fleshly concept of God. This is a serious problem.

Have you ever considered that suffering for the sake of Christ is a calling that accompanies belief in Christ Jesus? When Paul says, “it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake,” he follows that by saying, “having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.” ~ v. 30

What is Paul referring to? Well the answer is found within the flow of thought in this opening chapter of Philippians. Consider with me the first 7 verses which will set the stage for what Paul is referring to.

Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus who are at Philippi, with the overseers and deacons: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now. And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ. It is right for me to feel this way about you all, because I hold you in my heart, for you are all partakers with me of grace both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. ~ Philippians 1:1-7 ESV

Where Paul says, “for you are all partakers with me of grace,” the KJV says “ye all are partakers of my grace.”

Many years ago when I followed the teachings of the Word of Faith, I was taught that when Paul said “my grace” as recorded in the KJV, he was referring to the Philippians being his partners in support of Paul’s ministry. Now, it wasn’t the minister who made popular the phrase, “your best life now” who I learned that from. I go way back, and before him in my WOF history.

The ideology that Philippians were entitled to partake of the blessing on the apostle Paul’s life serves the purposes of mega ministers who see themselves as God’s anointed. Thus the more you invest in them, the more privileged you are to be enriched by the mantle and gifting that is upon them, improving your quality of life. If they were rich, you get in on it, if they had miracles, healing, etc., you get in on it as well.

That my friends is not the gospel. That is a marketing scheme that appeals to the flesh and garners financial support for these enterprises called ministries. Yet it is not at all what Paul is talking about. Paul is talking about suffering for the sake of Christ, a calling Paul has embraced. When Jesus sent a disciple name Ananias to pray for Paul, Jesus said, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake. ~ Acts 9:15-16

Did you ever notice that Jesus never once told Paul or any of his followers how prosperous they were going to be and how he would fulfill all their dreams and give them their best life now? You have never read that in the New Testament and never will, but you will read about suffering for Christ’s sake. You will read where Jesus himself says “For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.” ~ Acts 9:16 ESV

The Philippians had recognized the call to suffering for the sake of Christ, and in this manner they were partners with Paul in the truth of the gospel. Thus Paul prayed earnestly for them.

For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus. And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more, with knowledge and all discernment, so that you may approve what is excellent, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ. And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. ~ v. 8-14 ESV

Notice that Paul viewed his imprisonment as suffering for Christ and serving the purpose of advancing the gospel. Paul did not have a best life now view of the gospel as many of us in the West have. Paul did not view his sufferings as a spiritual attack that must be rebuked. Paul viewed his imprisonment as furthering the gospel. This spiritual sight that Paul had regarding the things he suffered cannot be learned with the best life now mindset. Paul’s understanding was spiritual, the best life now view is carnal.

I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.

Matthew Henry says, “Paul’s sufferings made him known at court, where perhaps he would never have otherwise been known; and this might lead some of them to enquire after the gospel for which he suffered, which they might otherwise have never heard of. When his bonds were manifest in the palace, they were manifest in all other places. The sentiments of the court have great influence on the sentiments of all the people.”By the sufferings Paul endured for Christ, the gospel had infiltrated Caesar’s household. This is evident in Paul valedictorian to the Philippians – All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.  ~ Philippians 4:22

If Paul had been carnal and held a view of God that he should live his best life now, he would surely not have had the same disposition regarding his imprisonment, and the gospel would not have advanced throughout the Royal Palace. God desires that all be saved and for that to happen, the gospel has to advance, and thus we are called as ambassadors to endure suffering for the sake of Christ.

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake… ~ Philippians 1:29 ESV