"Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all for your progress and joy in the faith, so that your proud confidence in me may abound in Christ Jesus through my coming to you again."

Philippians 1:25–26

What was Paul now convinced of? He was convinced that God had sovereignly put him on earth to minister to his readers in Philippi. Through this internal heaven-and-earth struggle, he became persuaded that his God-given task in his earthly shell was not yet fulfilled. While Paul felt the tension of living in the flesh as an earthly servant of Christ or departing to heaven to be eternally with Christ, he made a confident vow to continue the ministry he had been called to, for however long the Lord gave him on this earth. In these two verses, Paul gives us four insights into how we are to live the Christian life.

Perseverance

What would Paul’s next steps be after his release from prison? Did he learn his lesson to cease preaching the gospel? Would he be silent and surrender his calling? By no means! He was convinced that he would survive this latest trial. He would “remain and continue” with his brothers and sisters in Christ. In other words, deliverance would not lead to silence. Rather, it would create an opportunity to demonstrate spiritual perseverance. In God’s providence, Paul was removed from the front lines of the war and relocated to a different battlefield. However, regardless of the location, opportunity for ministry is always abundant. Whether Paul proclaimed God’s truth to the masses or shared it individually with a Roman guard, he sought to build the faith of his fellow Christians and convert the unbelievers. He persevered to live for Jesus until the day when his faith became sight.

Progress

Paul expected the body of Christ to make progress in their faith. When Paul described his life in terms of seeking “fruitful labor,” he was referencing neither personal career advancement nor prestige. The fruit he was seeking was the spiritual growth of those whom he served.

This is a helpful corrective for believers reading Philippians. The biblical expectation for believers is progress. Too many people begin the Christian life with the thrill of conversion, move quickly into an enthusiastic but short-lived focus on discipleship, and then plod forth into stagnation. While no one wants to admit to such an experience, the lack of serious spiritual discipline in the lives of so many who consider themselves to be Christ-followers tells a different story. As Paul faithfully sowed the gospel seed into the hearts of his hearers, he vigorously watered it with biblical teaching. He desired that no believer would become stagnant, but earnestly prayed for their progress, encouraged it, and expected to see it. As author Philip Graham Ryken once wrote, “This life is a short preparation for a long eternity.” We must expect progress in our own lives while praying for others to move forward in their faith as well.

Joy

As the Christians in Philippi experienced spiritual growth, Paul knew their joy in the faith would also increase, but this growth had to be intentional. There is no shortage of professing Christians, both in our day and in Paul’s, who make little to no progress in their faith. In so doing, they live joyless lives. However, true believers will not only experience sanctification (the process of spiritual maturity), but they will also see their joy increase! In fact, the grammar of Paul’s words actually links progress and joy together as one unified goal.

Is your life lacking joy? Could a lack of spiritual growth be the reason? Let me be blunt: if you are devoting all your time and energy to chasing temporal, earthly goals, you will not make the progress in your spiritual life you otherwise could. Do not rob yourself of your right as a believer. You are meant to be joyful and to see that joy increase as you grow in your faith! You will not experience it unless you are intentional. We must not only focus on the heaven to come but also on our preparation for it. We must see our relationship with God as precious and worthy of pursuit. This is a symbiotic union. God gets the glory; we get the joy and so much more. When we grow and mature in our faith, our desire to be worldly wanes as we abandon it all for the sake of the gospel.

Confidence

Convinced that he was to remain as God’s servant on earth, Paul longed for his release from jail so that he might be with his beloved Philippian believers again. By coming to them, he anticipated that the confidence of his spiritual brothers and sisters would increase. He was certain that his deliverance and restoration to his people would result in a renewed boldness in Christ Jesus for them. He desired that the courage they attained would result in an eagerness to boast in the Lord.

Do you see how all of this ties together? As we persevere in our faith, we make spiritual progress. As our spiritual progress bears fruit, our joy increases. As our joy in Christ increases, so does our confidence in Him. Secure in faith, fruitful in labor, and joyous in living, we find our rest in Him.

If you struggle with prayer because you find yourself unsure of how to pray, start with these four principles of godliness: perseverance, progress, joy, and confidence. Pray that the Lord would make these virtues true of you. Seek to cultivate and demonstrate them in your life. Further, pray for those most dear to your heart to experience the same growth. As you pray in this way, you will identify with Paul, who longed to see these characteristics in the lives of those he loved so dearly!