On June 22, 1941, Adolf Hitler launched his armies eastward in the largest military invasion in history, Operation Barbarossa: three great army groups with over three million German soldiers, 150 divisions, and three thousand tanks smashed across the frontier into Soviet territory. The invasion covered a front from the North Cape to the Black Sea, a distance of two thousand miles. The world held its breath as the advance seemed unstoppable until it came to a grinding halt—for a lack of fuel. Germany’s eventual retreat from Russia signaled their end and it all began with a shortage of fuel.

The word Paul uses for “advance” in 1:12 is one that pictures an attack in war. Just like every advancing army in history, the advance of the gospel in and through God’s people depends on continual fuel. I want to consider now how our text answers two questions about advancing the gospel, the first of which is . . .

What fuels gospel advance in our lives?

Trust in the sovereignty of God. Look back at 1:16 where Paul says, “I am put here for the defense of the gospel.” “Put here” (keimei) is a theological term emphasizing the appointment to chains is a divine commission. Paul is saying, “God put me in these chains, so that I might defend the gospel.” Loving trust in the sovereignty of God allows you to look beyond the mere circumstances of your life to see the divine shadow of providence that is using your hardship for gospel good.

Trust in the sufficiency of Christ. In the midst of all this talk about suffering and preaching, there is a clear unifying passion: the sufficiency of Christ. If you look back you’ll notice that in each verse Paul either mentions message about Christ or the person of Christ. The sufficiency of Christ has season Paul so pervasively he can’t help but sense him and see him everywhere.

Think back to times when the advance of the gospel in your heart seems to have stalled. Could it not be because the sovereignty of God and sufficiency of Christ lost their sweetness, beauty, and power? If this is what fuels gospel advance, what does our text say about this second question . . .

What happens when the gospel advances in our lives?

Rejoicing replaces complaining. How easy it would have been for Paul to groan and grumble at his chains and opponents, yet he keeps rejoicing. Oh, how your sinful heart and Wormy enemy assaults you with arrows each day saying, “Look at your circumstances, see how many reasons you have to complain!” Whereas God’s word says, “Look at your circumstances, see how many reasons you have to rejoice!” As the gospel advances joy become the sweet song of everyday life.

Boldness replaces fear. Remember what Paul said in 1:14, “And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.” Increasing courage and boldness is a fruit of the gospel advancing in your life.

Humility replaces rivalry. For Paul, life on earth is too short and eternity in heaven is too long to preoccupy our mind with worldly envy and spiritual rivalry. Satisfaction in the gospel’s advance propels humility as the concerns of Christ become your own. As long as the focus is kept on Christ, there will be unity in the church.

Advance the gospel through suffering in Christ and through preaching Christ. When our joy is in the gospel of Jesus Christ and its progress in the world, we have an anchor that will weather even the darkest storms of life; an anchor that leads to rejoicing instead of complaining, boldness instead of fear, and humility instead of rivalry. Advancing the gospel is the heartbeat of Christian joy.

This post is adapted from my recent sermon, “Rejoicing in Preaching,” on Philippians 1:12-18a.