Brethren,
Phil. 1:12 But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel. NKJV
The gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ is meant to continually advance forward. Furtherance means promoting, advancing, progress and helping forward. A furtherer then is a promoter, pioneer or one who furthers and helps to advance. Look at Phil. 1:12-14 The Passion Translation
“I want you to know, dear ones what has happened to me has not hindered but helped my ministry of preaching the gospel, causing it to expand and spread to many people. For now the elite Roman guards and government officials overseeing my imprisonment have plainly recognized that I am here because of my love for the Anointed One. And what I’m going through has actually caused many believers to become even more courageous in the Lord and to be bold and passionate to preach the Word of God all because of my chains
…V.18 Yet in spirit of all of this I am overjoyed! For what does it matter as long as Christ is being preached?…with genuine love, the message of Christ is still being preached. And I will continue to rejoice…”
The Philippian church is one the apostle Paul describes as partners to him in the furtherance of the gospel. They gave consistently and partnered with Him to make sure the gospel moved forward. And He spoke the Blessing to them that God would supply all their needs.
Paul rejoiced in the advance of the gospel. Do you know what caused Paul so much joy that He mentions rejoicing and joy 18 times in that one book? He said: “…Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.” (Phil 1:18.) Paul urged the Philippians to live this way: Only let your conduct be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel… Phil .1:27 NKJV
Brethren, no matter what your calling, dreams and visions in this life, you need to make sure that the furtherance of the gospel of Jesus Christ is the reason you do what you do. In the book of Acts, we see the gospel born full of power and advancement. You and I need to always make sure as our priority that the gospel we believe in keeps on spreading, growing and advancing.
Jesus is the original Pioneer. He is the Author and Finisher of our faith. (Heb. 12:1,2) He left Heaven and came on a mission from the Father to pioneer the union of God and man. Then He gave us the great commission to go into all the world and preach the good news about Him.
The apostle Paul was one who lived as a sent one. A History book entitled “History’s Hidden Turning Points” talks of the apostle Paul as a rough preacher who supported himself in the gospel as a great tent maker. Paul’s life played a major turning point in the history of mankind. He moved in an amazing spirit of faith that enabled him to obey the “heavenly vision” to change the world. He changed his known world. He said before king Agrippa:
Acts 26:19-20 “I was not disobedient to the heavenly vision.”
He wanted everyone to understand that everything that happened to him contributed to the furtherance of the gospel. He was so excited about it. You and I can live that same way with a mindset of how what we do in life will contribute to the furtherance of the gospel. We have the same spirit of faith that Paul and the apostles had. God’s plan is that all our dreams and visions fit into His larger plan of advancing the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ. May each of our lives make a huge mark in history because of our supply and contribution to the advance of the gospel.
