April 06 2026

Monday April 06

“In The Defense and Confirmation of the Gospel”

Philippians 1:7

Welcome to Pastor’s Chat today. First, I want to thank all my friends out there who have been praying for us these past several months as we have gone through that terrible time of sciatica pain, and then discovered that I have severe spinal stenosis that needs to be operated on. You have prayed, and your prayers have been answered in so many ways, as we have shared in the past weeks. We are so thankful that right now we are not having to deal with a lot of pain, but we still know that we need to have the surgery.

I have good news. They have finally scheduled the surgery for May 7th. On top of that, it will be an in-and-out procedure. It is not highly invasive. They will perform the surgery, and when I wake up and begin to feel a little better, I will be able to get in the car and come home. Again, I am so thankful for your prayers. Please continue to pray that everything goes well as we prepare for May 7th, and that the surgery will be successful in taking care of this issue that is causing the sciatic pain. Thank you so much for your prayers.

Now, we are looking at Philippians 1:7. In the previous verses the Apostle Paul has told the church at Philippi and how thankful he is for them, how he prays for them with joy, and is confident that God will complete the good work He has begun in them. Now Paul says in verse 7, “Just as it is right for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart, inasmuch as both in my chains and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel, you all are partakers with me of grace.”

Today, I want to talk about what Paul means when he says, “in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.” The Apostle Paul saw his mission in life as proclaiming Jesus Christ and Christ alone. That meant he defended and confirmed the gospel. What does that mean for you and me today? He says, “You are partakers with me in this mission of defending and confirming the gospel.”

To defend, of course, means to stand up for the truth. The Apostle Peter, in 1 Peter 3:13-17 addresses this same subject: “And who is he who will harm you if you become followers of what is good?” He is talking about suffering. “But even if you should suffer for righteousness’ sake, you are blessed. And do not be afraid of their threats, nor be troubled. But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts, and always be ready to give a defense to everyone who asks you a reason for the hope that is in you, with meekness and fear; having a good conscience, that when they defame you as evildoers, those who revile your good conduct in Christ may be ashamed. For it is better, if it is the will of God, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil. For Christ also suffered for our sins.”

Basically, what he is saying is that suffering gives us the opportunity to stand up and proclaim the gospel. It confirms the gospel. And we need to always be ready to give a defense of the gospel because they will be amazed at the hope that you have and they will ask, “How do you still have joy and peace when you are suffering wrong?”

I also like what Jude wrote in the book of Jude, verse 3: “Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints.” Why? Because certain ungodly men had come in and were trying to undermine the deity of Jesus Christ (v. 4).

Now, my friend, in this world today that mocks and derides the Christian faith, you and I have the opportunity to defend and confirm the truth of the gospel. In 2 Corinthians 5:17 we are told if we are in Christ Jesus, everything has changed. We are new creations. In 2 Corinthians 4 our conduct should reflect the “life of Christ in our mortal flesh” in the midst of our suffering. We have this treasure in earthen vessels. It is often through suffering that the goodness of God, the grace of God, and the mercy of God are most clearly seen—and that gives us an opportunity to contend for the faith. Not to be contentious for the faith, but to contend—to speak up for it, to defend it, and to live it out so others can see Christ in us.

This is so important. People are watching. What do they want to know? They want to know if what you have is real. It is real when you have Jesus, and He is living His life through you in the midst of difficult times. That is what Paul is speaking of in the defense and confirmation of the gospel. “You are partakers with me.” Let us be partakers with Christ and with the Apostle Paul, even today, in a world that desperately needs the reality of Jesus Christ.

God bless and may you have a wonderful, wonderful day!