IN DEFENSE OF THE
GOSPEL
Philippians 1:15-26
DIFFERENT PREACHERS, DIFFERENT AGENDAS
V:15. "Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and
strife; and some also of good will."
A. In Church, there
will be two groups of people; those who are sincere in love and
those who
promote the Gospel out of selfish motives.
1. Those who envy
the work of others are quick to find fault.
a. They find
pleasure in the trouble of other Christians as evidence that there is
something
wrong in their ministry.
b. They
undermine the work of others for selfish gain.
c. Because of their self-righteousness
they are the source of trouble and division.
2. Those who
preach the Gospel of Jesus Christ in truth and love will have their
share
of distracters.
a. Our
objective is not to please man but to please God.
b. It is the
will of the Father that we find the good in every person.
c. Realizing
that we all have issues, it is the job of the minister of the Gospel to
uplift,
build up and encourage the body of Christ.
B. The Church of
Jesus Christ started in strife and has grown strong because of its
opposition.
1. The fact that
people are opposed to good work for Jesus is evidence of the
Gospel's
effectiveness in convicting the hearts of men.
2. Those who
oppose the good work of others have taken notice of that work.
V:16. "The one preach Christ of contention, not
sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds."
A. The ministers of
Jesus Christ are not always accepted and sometime violently
opposed.
1. The Apostle
Paul was in prison because religious people opposed the Gospel of
Jesus Christ
and stirred up strife against him.
2. While in
prison, those who preached Jesus for selfish motives stirred
up
additional strife against Paul to promote their views.
B. There are those in
the body who use the troubles of others for personal gain.
V:17. "But the other of love, knowing that I am set for
the defense of the gospel."
A. Those who love the
Lord, love the brethren and are there to support others during
trials and
tribulations.
1. Those who know
the Lord, understand that He works through the troubles of
others.
2. Those who know
the Lord know that the defense of the Gospel breeds opposition.
3. Those who serve
the Lord with love are quick to defend those who defend the
Gospel of
Jesus Christ.
B. We are all part of
the same body; that is the body of Christ.
1. Some are given
the ministry of taking the Gospel to places where it will be
opposed.
2. Some are given
the ministry to help and support those who face trials because of
their defense
of the Gospel.
ALL PREACHING OF JESUS WORKS TOGETHER FOR GOOD
V:18. "What then? Notwithstanding every way, whether in
pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and
will rejoice."
A. God can use all the
ministries of Jesus Christ whether done out of truth and love or
out of selfish
gain.
1. Those who
preach the Gospel affect the hearers of the Gospel.
a. Faith
comes by hearing and hearing by the Word of God.
b. It is the
Word that does the convicting and the Power of the Word that saves.
2. We can find
joy in the Word whether or not we like the minister.
B. A minister is just
the vessel that God uses to draw unbelievers to Himself.
1. There is joy in
heaven when a sinner comes to Christ.
2. Likewise, we
ought to find joy, no matter who preaches the Gospel.
V:19. "For I know that this shall turn to my salvation
through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ."
A. Those who love the
Lord know that trials and tribulations work to their good and to
the good of
other believers.
1. God has prayer
warriors ready to intercede on behalf of those who preach Jesus
Christ.
2. Those who
preach Jesus Christ in truth and love have the power of the Holy Spirit
strengthening
them.
a. God's grace
is sufficient to see His workers through any trial.
B. Our salvation is
through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross.
1. What we suffer
for Christ through service on earth stores treasures in heaven for
us.
2. Endurance of
our trials and tribulations gives God the glory for the world to see.
NOT ASHAMED OF THE GOSPEL
V:20. "According to my earnest expectation and my hope,
that in nothing I shall be ashamed, but that with all boldness, as always, so
now also Christ shall be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by
death."
A. Those who love the
Lord should never be ashamed of their service or their suffering
for the Lord.
1. This life is
full of glorious times and troubled times.
2. In all
circumstances, we must give God the praise and the glory.
B. We must expect
that God will allow only what is best to happen to us.
1. Some of God's
best will at times appear adverse to us.
2. Because of our
hope in the Lord, the adverse will work to our good.
C. In all things, we
can boast in the Lord, for His goodness endures forever.
1. God uses us to
show the world His power over trials and tribulations.
2. Our focus
should not be life on this earth, but life in heaven.
3. Death is not
the end for a believer, but the beginning of a New Spiritual Life with
Christ.
V:21. "For to me to live is Christ, and to die is
gain."
A. Facing death as a
possible outcome of his trial, the Apostle Paul concluded that
death is a gain,
because he would be home with Christ.
1. Paul concluded
that if the outcome of his trial was a release from prison, he would
live for
Christ.
a. Either way,
Paul was comfortable with the outcome controlled by God.
b. When we
trust God with the outcome of our circumstances, we can be joyful.
B. For the believer,
the gain of death is heaven.
1. Heaven is the
place where tears and sorrows don't exist.
2. Heaven is the
place where praise and glorification of the Father is the only mind
set.
THE JOY IN LABOR FOR CHRIST
V:22. "But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of
my labour: yet what I shall choose I want not."
A. Living in joy and
peace has some requirements.
1. Proper living
requires labor.
a. Those who
want to accomplish anything in life must labor in some area.
b. They must
be dedicated to the task to make a difference.
2. Fruitful labor
is serving Christ Jesus.
a. In the end,
the only labor that counts is what we do for God.
b. If we accomplish
all things on earth, but lose our souls, what have we gained?
c. We can
accomplish all things through Christ who strengthens us, and gain
heaven.
B. When we labor for
Christ, our focus is on the gain of other believers.
a. It is our
obligation to use our labor to bring others to Christ and reconcile those
in Christ.
b. Surly, the
work of Christ is never done.
c. To die is to
leave Christ’s work undone for others to complete.
d. But we can take
comfort that God already has a replacement when
He calls us
home.
C. Paul saw his work
for Christ incomplete, but heaven was his desire.
a. Paul would not
choose to live or die, but left the choice in the hands of Christ.
V:23. "For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a
desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better."
A. The end of this
Christian journey of life is better than the journey itself.
1. The end is to
be with Christ and start New in the Spirit with Christ in heaven.
B. It was Paul's love
for his Christian brothers and sisters that gave him cause to
continue working
for Christ in the flesh.
1. Paul understood
the spiritual immaturity of those he shepherded.
2. Paul knew they needed more teaching and a
deeper understanding of the Word of
God.
C. To live longer was
to suffer more, but he was committed to the gain of his sheep.
1. Love requires
us to sacrifice ourselves for those who love the Lord.
2. Paul understood
that if he gave up his life, he would gain more in Christ Jesus.
V:24. "Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more
needful for you."
A. Paul was most
concerned about the spiritual welfare of those in his charge.
1. He would
rather live in pain than to see God's people suffer because of lack of
knowledge.
2. Paul’s mission from Jesus was to preach
the Gospel to the Gentiles.
a. Whatever
God has gifted us to do, we should do our best to accomplish it.
b. We should
not let our personal circumstances affect God's plan for us.
B. As long as we
have breath, we should do our best to give God our best.
1. Paul was in
prison at this time facing death, yet his concern was the life of
believers.
2. When our life
becomes secondary to God's work, we live best.
V:25. "And having this confidence, I know that I shall
abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith."
A. The Apostle Paul
derived his confidence in Jesus Christ.
1. He knew what
work he begun in Jesus would be completed in Jesus. Phil 1:6
2. Paul gained
his joy from the increasing faith of the believers.
3. Paul was
joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out
of darkness and into
the marvelous light.
4. Paul was
joyful when he saw the miracle of the preached Word bringing men out
ignorance and
into the knowledge of Jesus Christ.
B. Like a mother
finding joy in seeing her child grow into maturity, so we should find
joy in seeing
the lost come to Jesus.
1. It should be
our joy to testify to the goodness of God and His work in us.
2. It should be
our joy to see others increase in faith and live a joyous life.
3. There is joy
when God uses us to benefit the spiritual well being of others.
V:26. "That your rejoicing may be more abundant in
Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again."
A. Joy is contagious.
1. When you find
joy working with others, they will find joy with you.
2. Jesus is the
reason for our joy.
a. His joy is
available to us continuously. John 16:24
b. Knowledge of
Jesus and His promises should give us joy.
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