Sermon

Philippians 1:12-18

February 2, 2025 Christ Church Sermon Audio

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For those of you who don't know me, my name is Sam.
I'm one of the partners here at Christ Church.
And today we're going to be continuing our series through the book of Philippians.
Seth taught last week on the beginning part of Philippians chapter 1.

Philippians 1 chapter mention
So if you have your Bibles, you can open up to there.
I'm going to finish out the chapter.
I'm sorry.
Go up until verse 18.
And then Zemir will finish out the chapter.
So before I do that, I'm going to pray.
And we can jump into the text.
Father, I pray that you would fill me with your spirit as I speak.
Pray, Lord, that you would give me rest.
You give me focus.
I would be clear, Lord.
Pray that I would preach faithfully and say the words that you want me to say, Lord, to this church.
Lord, let us see how we should glean from Paul and from the Philippian church.
And that this morning, Lord, we would be built up as a spiritual house for you.
And what you've done for us.
In Jesus' name.
Amen.
Amen.
Okay.
So just to give a brief recap here.
Last, Seth taught on the beginning portion, like I said.
And I'm actually just going to go ahead and read that.
So if you have your Bible, starting in verse 1 of the book of Philippians.
It says,
And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day of Jesus Christ.
It is right for me to feel this way about you all.
Because I hold you in my heart.
For you are all partakers with me of grace.
Both in my imprisonment and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
For God is my witness.
How I yearn for you, for you all, with the affection of Christ Jesus.
And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment.
So that you may approve what is excellent.
And so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ.
To the glory and praise of God.
So Seth taught on 1 through 11 right there.
And in short, to recap, basically Paul is writing to the Philippian church.
Who is an established church.
With what we can gather, even in the beginning there.
Him saying, to the overseers and deacons.
Seems to be a thriving church.
Approximately probably 10 years old.
Since Paul planted it.
And unlike many of Paul's letters.
Where he comes in with either a correction or a buke.
He has a deep heartfelt affection and gratefulness.
That he's speaking to the Philippians about.
Because of their partnership in the gospel, it says.
The Philippian church supported Paul.
Financially, for the gospel.
For the furthering and the defense of the gospel.
And Paul is really grateful for that.
And you can hear his heart.
Even being imprisoned at the time of him writing this.
For the Philippian church.
He has deep affection, he says.
With the affection of Christ Jesus for them.
And he holds them in his heart.
And so, we see that.
The Philippians are partnered with Paul.
Paul.
And the defense and the confirmation of the gospel.
And Paul is grateful.
And he is filled with love for them.
And he prays that their love.
May abound more and more.
So, he sees that they.
Have sincere love.
And he prays that.
That love would increase.
A little bit of backstory.
Kind of history on the Philippian church.
The church at Philippi.
It was planted by Paul in about 50 or 51 AD.
And it was the first church in Europe.
Philippi comes from the man named Philip of Macedonia.
Go figure.
Father of Alexander the Great.
And fun fact.
There is actually a famous school in Philippi.
That it's possible that Luke.
The writer of the gospel of Luke.
The beloved physician.
Possibly studied under.
In Philippi.
Philippi is known for.
Its trade.
And its springs.
Or fountains.
Kind of like Kansas City.
You know.
Kansas City is known.
City of fountains.
Were like Philippi in that way.
And the beginning of.
The church at Philippi.
Happened as a result.
Of Paul preaching.
But unlike.
Many of Paul's first.
When Paul goes into a place.
To first preach.
He usually goes to the synagogue.
And there was no synagogue.
At Philippi at the time.
And so in Acts 16.
We actually see that.
He went down to a group.
Of people who were praying.
Group of women.
And there he preached.
And a woman named Lydia.
Was converted.
And that was the beginning.
Of the Philippian church.
So.
It birthed.
With a conversion.
Really there's three events.
The conversion of Lydia.
The exorcism of a.
Woman with a demon.
And then the conversion.
Of the Philippian jailer.
And the rest of his family.
That was kind of three things.
That kind of birthed.
The Philippian church.
To bring it forward.
So.
My text today.
Starts in chapter.
One.
Verse 12.
I'm going to go all the way.
Until verse 18.
And it's titled.
If you have the ESV.
It's titled.
The advance of the gospel.
And so.
I'm going to talk a little bit about.
Why.
It's rendered that way.
The advance of the gospel.
And also.
Lord willing.
Pull out.
Application for our church.
What.
Philippians is saying.
Paul's disposition.
Towards the Philippian church.
And.
What's happening.
In his imprisonment.
So.
I'm going to go ahead and read.
Starting in verse 12.
And onward.
Paul says.
I want you to know brothers.
That what has.
Happened to me.
Has really served.
To advance the gospel.
So that it has become.
Known.
Throughout the whole.
Imperial guard.
And to all the rest.
That my imprisonment.
Is for Christ.
And most of the brothers.
Having been confident.
In the Lord.
By my imprisonment.
Are much more bold.
To speak the word.
Without fear.
Some indeed.
Preach Christ.
From envy.
And rivalry.
But others.
From goodwill.
The latter.
Do it out of love.
Knowing that I am put here.
For the defense.
Of the gospel.
The former.
Proclaimed Christ.
Out of selfish ambition.
Not sincerely.
But thinking.
To afflict me.
In my imprisonment.
What then.
Only that.
In every way.
Whether in pretense.
Or in truth.
Christ is proclaimed.
And in that.
I rejoice.
Yes.
And I will rejoice.
So Paul is in prison.
In Rome.
In chains.
And this is likely.
Leading up to.
Paul's.
Execution.
The time is drying nigh.
And he kind of feels that.
So this is a heartfelt letter.
I was reading about ancient.
Farewells.
When someone was gearing up to die.
Or a member is.
About to leave this earth.
Kind of the.
The farewell process.
And.
Interestingly enough.
The way that we think of farewells.
Was a little bit different.
Than ancient farewells.
In the sense where we.
Typically get in order.
Our material possessions.
And make arrangements for.
Inheritances and things like that.
And those did exist.
But instead of.
Material arrangement.
There was a lot of relational.
And social.
Arrangements.
A preparedness with.
Loved ones.
Close.
Close friends.
Upon the departure.
Of someone's life.
A type of farewell.
To people.
Rather than material things.
And so Paul.
Is speaking away to the Philippians.
In that he.
Might die soon.
It might be the end.
And he doesn't know when.
It will be.
But he's feeling that.
His time is drying nigh.
And so.
As I read this.
And as we walk through it.
It's important to realize that.
About Paul.
You know.
As he's talking to the Philippian church.
Is that his.
His affections are for them.
And even greater so.
Because he might.
Depart.
From this life.
And be with Christ.
So.
Why is Paul.
Imprisoned.
In the first place.
The answer is pretty simple.
He's preaching the gospel.
And the gospel.
Is going forth.
But it's also stirring up strife.
He is.
Preaching.
Not directly against Caesar.
But.
He's preaching.
That Jesus is king.
Which in that day.
Is a very controversial thing.
To say.
Actually.
In the second.
I think it's.
Late first.
Or second century.
Rome issued.
A decree.
That.
All citizens.
Would have to come.
And receive.
A type of.
Check.
Or.
Token.
In order to buy and sell.
But in order to receive it.
You would have to say.
That Caesar is Lord.
And they knew.
That the Christians.
Say.
That Jesus is Lord.
And so.
That was.
A way to.
Kind of out them.
And.
As a mode of persecution.
To eradicate Christians.
So.
Paul is preaching.
That Jesus is Lord.
He's preaching.
That he is king.
And that.
Is causing.
A lot of strife.
And that's why.
He's ultimately.
In prison.
But.
What Paul says.
Here in Philippians.
Is that.
What might seem like.
An error in the plan.
Or a flaw.
That.
He's imprisoned.
Has actually proved.
To advance the gospel.
His.
His mode.
Of.
Of preaching.
Although he's bound in chains.
He says elsewhere.
That the word of God.
Is not bound.
It's actually going forth.
So.
To some people.
You know.
This might seem like.
Okay.
Paul was doing really good.
And now he.
It seems like.
He's actually.
You know.
It was.
It was a good run.
But now it's coming to an end.
You know.
Paul's in chains.
And.
We don't know.
If it's going to be.
Very good for him.
But he actually writes.
He says the opposite.
He says that because of his imprisonment.
Not only has.
The word of God gone forth.
To the whole imperial guard.
Which by the way.
That was probably around like.
Four to five thousand.
Men.
These are.
Men who are.
Nero's.
The emperor at the time.
Their.
Elite.
His elite guards.
And so.
He's like.
All these guys know.
Why I'm here.
It's because of the gospel.
All.
And.
Paul is not like.
You know.
Other zealots.
To where he.
Is violent.
And this type of thing.
But innocent.
Of the blood of all.
And so.
The reason Paul is thrown in prison.
Is because.
Of the gospel.
And he says.
He says that.
Not only that.
But something happens.
Because of his imprisonment.
To the brethren.
At Philippi.
At Philippi.
Which is that.
In verse 14.
It says.
Most of the brothers.
Having.
Become confident.
In the Lord.
In my imprisonment.
Are much more bold.
To speak the word.
Without fear.
So.
I don't know.
If you guys have ever.
Had a first hand experience.
Of somebody.
Preaching the gospel.
Or maybe just.
Not even the gospel.
But an event.
Where.
There was a fear.
Inducing thing.
And someone rose up.
Out of courage.
How.
Contagious.
That is.
How.
Maybe you were afraid.
Before.
And then someone else.
Would speak.
And you're like.
Man.
If that guy can do it.
I think I can do it now.
It was like.
It was like.
The energy.
That you didn't have.
Was transferred to you.
Because of somebody else.
So Paul is saying that.
My imprisonment.
For most.
Might seem like a.
Like a kill.
Like okay.
Paul's done.
He's in prison.
We got to figure out another way.
To get the gospel forth.
No no no.
Not.
Not so.
Actually through his imprisonment.
He gave the brothers at Philippi.
Most of them it says.
The boldness to speak.
You see.
A lot of us.
Make decisions.
Or can make decisions.
Based out of fear.
What will happen.
You know.
Some things are.
Very reasonable.
You know.
We don't want to be thrown in prison.
We don't want our families.
Our children to be in jeopardy.
But.
Paul's.
Mind.
Is single.
It's focused on.
One thing.
To preach Christ.
And to get that message.
Out.
As far as he can.
Even all the way up to Nero.
The emperor.
And it's.
And it's happening.
And it's doing something to the brothers.
And my question for you Christ Church is.
Where are we.
In our boldness.
Where are we.
In America.
You know.
It can.
It can be easy to.
To say.
You know.
American.
America is a.
Somewhat Christian nation.
Maybe you can't say that anymore.
But.
We're not like Paul.
Under the same threat.
That he had in Rome.
Or something like that.
But make no mistake.
The gospel.
Still.
Is the power of God.
For the salvation of all who believe.
So Paul says in Romans.
Which means.
It will divide people.
It will divide.
Any unbelieving person.
No matter what climate they're in.
Whether.
Under a regime.
Of tyranny.
Or in a relatively free country.
Like America.
And so.
My question to you Christ Church is.
Where are we.
We are a Christian church.
We confess that Jesus is Lord.
And that.
That.
The good news of the gospel.
Has happened in our hearts.
But not to lie dormant.
It's to go forth in power.
To the nations.
To our neighbors.
Where are we at.
In our boldness.
That's the question that I was.
Asking myself.
Lord am I ashamed of your gospel.
You know.
Have I been distracted by other things.
Let it not be so.
So Paul is in prison.
But his imprisonment.
Is giving the brothers boldness.
Giving them confidence.
I remember.
One time.
I was at a coffee shop.
I think it was actually leaving.
And I overheard somebody.
Speaking.
The word to someone else.
Preaching the gospel to a guy.
And it's almost just like.
I wanted to stop what I was doing.
And be like.
I want to get in there.
And teach with them.
You know.
Like.
It gave me inspiration.
You know.
I was focused on my drip coffee.
At the time.
Then all of a sudden.
I was just like.
Wait a second.
This is.
This is what it's about.
You know.
I've received something.
So powerful.
Outside of myself.
Paul calls it.
Paul calls it.
The power of God.
And it comes through.
A message.
Do we do that for one another.
Here at Christchurch.
Do we inspire one another.
You know.
Do we have.
A revelation.
And understanding.
Of the love of God.
In Christ Jesus.
The power of God.
The mercy of God.
That says in our hearts.
We must preach.
I think that's why.
They title it.
The advance of the gospel.
Because that's what happens.
When we know God.
And we know what he's done for us.
We preach boldly.
But.
It's not helpful.
To.
Be surrounded by people.
Who say that.
But don't actually live that.
Which is why.
We all have come together.
Because none of us.
Are perfect at this.
You know.
I don't expect all of us.
To become Paul's.
You know.
More.
I'm actually concerned about.
The church at Philippi.
Because those are the assembled saints.
Right.
How do they.
How do they act.
How do they live their lives.
You know.
We must.
We must preach the gospel.
And we must preach with boldness.
You know.
Inspire one another.
To preach.
We live in a very lost world.
So as Paul is giving the brothers confidence.
And as he is.
Preaching.
The gospel.
Even in chains.
He talks about.
Two types of people.
Both of them.
I believe.
Are brothers.
But.
One of them.
One category.
Of the brothers.
Preach.
From goodwill.
Will.
And then another category.
From ill will.
He says.
In verse 15.
Some indeed.
Preach Christ.
From envy.
And rivalry.
But others.
From goodwill.
The latter.
Do it out of love.
Knowing that I am put here.
For the defense.
Of the gospel.
The former.
Proclaimed Christ.
Out of selfish ambition.
Not sincerely.
But thinking to afflict me.
In my imprisonment.
What then?
Only that in every way.
Whether in pretense.
Or in truth.
Christ is proclaimed.
And in that I rejoice.
I was convicted.
As I was reading this.
Because I asked myself.
What category am I in?
You know.
This is about motive.
It's not about.
Whether you're preaching.
The right gospel.
It seems clear.
That Paul.
Concedes that.
Each person.
Is preaching Christ.
Indeed.
But some preach.
With a hidden motive.
Of envy.
Or rivalry.
Or selfish ambition.
You know.
That's a big deal.
Paul.
Paul in other places.
Calls ending.
And rivalry.
Works of the flesh.
You know.
But.
As Christians.
We wrestle with the flesh still.
In this body of death.
And I was convicted.
Because.
I could look back.
In my life.
And see.
Maybe patterns.
Of.
Of ill motive.
Maybe genuinely.
Preaching Christ.
But wanting to be.
Recognized.
You know.
I would talk about.
Who I'm preaching to.
To people.
Who.
Who pat me on the back.
You know.
But that's not.
That's not the reason.
That we preach.
It's not to.
Gain favor from other people.
You know.
And.
I was asking myself.
Lord.
What do I do.
If I'm found in the category.
Of.
These brethren.
You know.
Preaching ill.
Ill will.
From ill will.
From a bad motive.
And the truth is.
The same.
Solution.
For any man.
Who is found in sin.
Is the same solution.
For me.
Which is that.
We go to Calvary.
You know.
And go beneath that cleansing tide.
But Paul is making a point.
That.
Some do it.
From ill.
And some from good.
But if price is to be preached.
If it's advancing.
If his word is going forth in power.
Then.
He's rejoicing in that.
Matthew 6 says that.
Jesus says.
Beware of practicing your righteousness.
Before other people.
In order that you might.
Be seen by them.
Because.
If you do that.
You'll have no reward.
That's clear.
That should be a warning.
To all of us.
Not only in our preaching.
But just in our daily walk.
You know.
Why am I doing this?
You know.
Paul wants us.
To have a pure.
And undivided devotion.
For Christ.
And so.
I would exhort you.
Christ Church.
Not.
To spend too much time.
On the introspection.
But ask yourself.
Why am I doing this?
Why do I preach?
Why do I want to?
You know.
And is Christ worthy.
If no.
Selfish motive exists.
You know.
Do we betray ourselves.
If we say.
It's only worth it.
If I get a little bit.
Of the goods.
You know.
If I get a little bit of credit.
Or can we say.
If Christ gets all the glory.
It's worth it.
Jonathan Edwards.
Says that some have a pretended boldness.
A boldness that.
Or a few risks that.
Might seem to accomplish.
What needs to be done.
But.
It's like Paul is saying.
There's a little bit of ill in there.
You know.
It's not.
It's not.
Authentic.
And.
Jesus is the only way for us to truly.
See ourselves rightly.
To understand.
What the actual devotion is.
What the actual devotion is.
God.
I pray that.
That would be here in Christ Church.
You know.
That we would be.
Pure and undivided.
In our preaching.
And our loving of one another.
Not just outward preaching.
But preaching to each other.
Be of a sincere heart.
And mind.
Lord help us to do that.
But it seemed.
As though.
Most of the brothers.
He says.
Worsens here.
You know.
That.
He said that they partnered with him.
In the gospel.
Likely.
In a monetary way.
Financial way.
But not just to.
Meet his needs.
Although it was.
But they knew.
That by helping Paul.
They were furthering the gospel.
You know.
Do we help one another here.
You know.
Not to the same degree.
Obviously as Paul is.
But do we.
Help one another.
To bring God's kingdom.
To reign.
In our own lives.
And also elsewhere.
In our workplaces.
You know.
With our relationships.
This year we have.
Three words.
To focus on.
That we believe are from the Lord.
Character.
Family.
And order.
And these.
Right now.
These are all areas of focus for us.
And I believe.
Right ones.
But I was thinking.
What.
What are these areas for?
You know.
Are they only for the N word?
You know.
Each family.
Each family.
Needs character.
Each family needs.
Family.
Each family needs order.
And on a large part.
This is what our body needs.
But.
We also have to see.
Why.
Those things.
Exist.
And what they're for.
What they do.
And.
I believe that Jesus.
Harkens on that.
When he says.
What good is salt?
When it's lost.
Is saltiness.
You know.
You know.
We need to stay salty.
As a people.
Don't lose the flavor.
So if we look inward.
And we say.
Where are our character flaws?
Where do we lack family?
Where do we lack order?
By focusing on those things.
We become more salty.
You know.
And.
Increase our witness.
To an unbelieving world.
So it's necessary.
To do that.
But don't get pigeonholed.
Into only thinking.
We're in here.
You know.
The reason that we focus inward.
Is so that we go outward.
Right.
So that.
An unbelieving world.
Will see us.
And be like.
Why are they so ordered?
Why is their character.
Seemingly different from.
You know.
My experience.
Or what is this family?
You know.
When every family.
Seems to have.
Its own issues.
And some are trembling.
This one seems to be.
So affectionate.
And full of love.
For one another.
We mustn't forget.
About the reason.
Why we.
We do these things.
Jesus says that.
You are the light of the world.
You know.
Nobody.
Puts a.
Yeah.
What is it?
A lamp.
Or basket over a lamp.
And keeps it hidden.
You're supposed to shine.
Right?
Let your lives shine.
Shine.
But we must be bold.
We can't be.
We can't be afraid.
Of.
What people think.
You know.
I think that.
That is a.
A.
Pretty relatable vice.
You know.
To Christians.
Especially in America.
Just keep the peace.
You know.
I don't want to say something.
To ruffle anybody's.
Feathers.
Feathers.
I don't want to.
You know.
Lose the relationship.
Lose the connection.
Maybe.
A.
Longstanding one.
You know.
By saying something offensive.
But here's the deal.
Which is more worth it?
We have to ask ourselves.
What.
Is the value?
We don't just say offensive things.
Just to say them.
Right?
We.
We.
We preach the word.
So that.
God.
Would be glorified.
God.
So that his worth.
Would be exalted.
Right?
So we have to ask ourselves.
Where.
What do we actually value?
You know.
Some of us might even need to say.
I don't really value.
The worth of God that much.
Maybe.
Not period.
But.
Looking at.
Looking at your pattern of life.
Saying.
Do I.
Does my life say.
I value God?
Or am I only just saying that?
Am I not living that way?
It seems to me.
That Paul.
Paul's life.
Match the message that he preached.
Are we doing that Christ church?
Or do our lives seem so far disconnected.
From the message that we say.
That we believe.
That's an honest question.
We should examine ourselves.
I don't believe that.
You know.
It's a net zero here.
But I would exhort us.
As much as I'm exhorting my own self.
To live by this.
Because.
God is worthy.
Far more worthy.
Than anything that I could.
Compare.
His worth to.
The praise I get from other people.
What have you.
God is more worthy than that.
So we need to have a missional vision.
And we need to have boldness.
When is the last time that someone required you to be bold?
You know.
Usually people aren't saying like.
Hey do this right now.
You know.
But think about it.
If you're put in a position.
And you all know the positions that.
Or the circumstances that you get in.
The opportunities that you have.
When's the last time that you felt.
I know what I should say.
But it would be way easier not to.
Yeah.
This person needs the gospel.
Or they need to hear this.
Or that.
But you know what.
We'll save that for a different time.
You know.
And then tomorrow comes.
And you do it again.
The day after.
You know.
And the truth is.
We need to be saved from that mentality.
You know.
And know that.
It's not our power that saves.
It's not our words that save.
But it's God's power.
God's words that resides in us.
As the messenger to deliver.
This is really important.
Because then.
All the bets are off.
All the strife.
All the anxiety.
You can transfer to the Lord.
Because he's dealing with it.
It's his message.
It's his work.
It's his power.
Right?
Paul says.
What then?
In verse 18.
Only that in every way.
In every way.
Whether in pretense.
Or in truth.
Christ is proclaimed.
And in that I rejoice.
Amen.
We have to proclaim Christ.
You know.
It's not just like a mere invitation.
I think Doug Wilson.
Said it well.
When he says that.
When we preach the gospel.
And proclaim Christ.
It's not.
A invitation.
Into receiving.
You know.
The possibility.
Of.
God's lordship.
It's more of like.
The announcement.
That.
Jesus.
Is king.
Not that he will be king.
Or that.
Everybody get.
Should get their lives together.
So that one day.
You know.
Um.
You know.
Once he comes.
Yada yada.
It's that.
He already has.
Through his death.
And resurrection.
Uh.
Sealed.
For all time.
His lordship.
Acts.
Acts 2.
Uh.
46.
Says that.
Let all the house of Israel know.
That God has made him.
Both lord.
And christ.
Period.
He is that.
So when you preach the gospel.
When you tell people.
Hey.
Jesus died for your sins.
Not only that.
He rose for your sins.
So that your deadness.
Might be resurrected.
Then.
That is a truth.
That is an announcement.
It's not a hopeful.
Hoping for the best.
It's a permanent.
Fact.
For all time.
And each person.
Has to come under that.
Reality.
That lordship.
And in the end.
That will be true.
Every knee will bow.
Every tongue will confess.
That he's lord.
And again.
That takes the weight off of us.
We don't have to produce people.
For God.
It's not that there won't be.
In the end.
You know.
The lord coming up short.
Saying like.
No one wants to serve me.
No.
It's that.
All who come to him.
God draws to him.
And he wants to save.
And his lordship will reign.
In the end.
So what is our manner of life.
Christ Church.
How do we live.
You know.
I'm not asking you guys alone.
I'm asking myself.
I was asking myself.
This whole week.
I'm like.
What does my life look like.
Do I look like a Christian.
From inside my heart.
In the privacy of my own mind.
The things that I think about.
The.
The ways that I prioritize my time.
Does it look like I value God.
Now you can get a little ambiguous with this.
And go way introspective.
What I'm saying is.
Do people.
Like Peter said.
Always be ready for the reason.
For the hope that you have.
To give a reason.
Would someone want to ask us that.
By the way that we live.
What is our manner of life.
The mirror is about to preach on.
Philippians 1.27.
Which says.
Only let your manner of life.
Be worthy of the gospel.
We must consider.
How we live our lives.
And it all starts with knowing.
How Christ has lived.
His love.
Okay.
If we're not regularly.
Daily.
Reckoning ourselves.
Dead to sin.
Because of Christ.
Living his life.
And dying.
You know.
Because his love for us.
You know.
We shouldn't expect.
To generate this hubris.
And all the energy.
Of ourselves.
Christ is the object.
Of our faith.
So many people are concerned.
About what they can do for God.
How they can love God.
They can spend their life.
And very little.
About how God.
Has lived his life.
How God has loved them.
You need that revelation.
The son of man.
Came not to.
Be served.
But to serve.
So that means.
That in order for us.
To.
Serve God.
We have to first.
Be served by God.
My question to you.
Christ church.
Is that.
Is that happening.
In your life.
I know that it is.
And many of you.
But what is the regularity.
Are you seeking first.
The kingdom.
With these three words.
Order.
Family.
And character.
Are we letting the reign of Christ.
Come into our lives.
Our lives.
So that.
We understand the ways.
That God.
Sets it up.
That God has loved us.
Has served us.
And are being conformed.
To his image.
And knowing that God.
Wants to do that for you.
This isn't a call.
For you to pull yourself up.
By your bootstraps.
To get your.
Family straight.
And all that.
It's a call.
To come underneath.
Christ lordship.
Which is.
Predominantly marked by freedom.
And submitting.
To his lordship.
And kingship.
And walking out.
How God.
Has loved us.
Through Christ Jesus.
The more we do that.
The more we will be a fragrance.
To those around us.
Someone to death.
Someone to life.
That's the promise.
Right?
So we have to preach the gospel.
Probably said that.
Many times now.
But it's really easily forgotten.
That's why I was reminded this week.
As I was thinking of this.
I'm like.
I've just honestly just.
Turned it off.
Turned off the mode.
You know.
Hearing about the lost.
To care about those around me.
You know.
And I need to remind myself.
You know.
Paul said.
What was me.
If I don't preach the gospel.
And so.
Not only do we have to know the gospel.
But we have to live it.
It has to dwell inside of us.
And.
Sometimes we can.
We can feel as though.
Because.
We're not in the same position.
As maybe the Philippian church.
That.
It looks different for us.
Or that we can live differently.
But make no mistake.
Just because Paul is in prison.
Does not mean that.
We can't share.
In his sufferings.
The.
The.
The base principle is this.
We are naturally.
Hostile to God.
Okay.
And we.
There's only one message.
That will save us.
And I would remind you guys.
Of.
Actually.
Paris Reedhead's.
Sermon.
Ten shekels in a shirt.
If you remember.
At the end.
How he was.
Speaking about.
His time in Africa.
He was deeply distraught.
About.
His efforts.
Paris Reedhead.
Went to Africa.
He said.
With the.
With the intent.
To.
Evangelize the heathens.
He didn't.
Think it was right.
That.
Poor little heathens.
Were running around.
Not knowing about a salvation.
Like the gospel.
And he thought it wasn't.
It wasn't good.
That they would suffer.
In hell internally.
Not knowing the gospel.
And so.
When he got down there.
He said that.
Not only did he realize.
That.
There weren't poor ignorant heathens.
Running around.
Without knowledge of God.
But that.
They were monsters.
Of iniquity.
Living in total.
And utter defiance.
Of God's laws.
Far more knowledge of God.
Than he ever thought.
Before.
And he was saying.
That one night.
In his room.
He faced God honestly.
And said.
Lord.
It seems as though.
This whole thing.
Feels like a sham.
Nobody wants to be saved.
In fact.
They love their sin.
And they want to stay in it.
And he said.
That the Lord spoke to him.
Almost as clear as day.
That night.
And said.
That he's.
That heathens are lost.
And they'll go to hell.
Not because they haven't heard the gospel.
But because they are heathens.
And they love their sin.
And he said.
But I didn't send you.
To Africa.
For their sake.
He said.
I didn't send you to Africa.
For the heathens.
I sent you to Africa.
For my sake.
I was the one who died.
And I love them.
I endured the agonies of hell for them.
So go.
Go forth.
And preach.
Do I not deserve.
The reward of my suffering.
That's what.
That's what.
That's what.
Paris Reedhead.
Was confronted by the Lord.
In Africa.
The reason that we preach.
Is not because.
We have to convince.
Or persuade people.
It's because God is worthy.
He's the one who suffered and died.
And.
There will not be one soul.
That perishes and goes to hell.
That did not deserve it.
But Christ.
Is deserving of our obedience.
Because he's the one who died.
So in conclusion.
If we go back to the text here.
Paul is advancing the gospel.
And what seems like.
A gospel killer.
What would shut his mouth.
And maybe for many of us it would.
But the contrary happens.
That the gospel goes forth in power.
And that it advances far more than anyone thought.
And so the Philippian brothers.
The Philippian church.
Is infused with the life of God.
To preach more boldly.
Without fear.
Because they have this example.
That Paul is setting.
So my question to you Christ church is.
Do we strive for this boldness?
Do we understand the worth of God?
Do we know what God has done for us.
In Christ Jesus.
So that we daily reckon ourselves dead to sin.
Paul says that.
I've counted everything as loss.
It's all loss.
This is why we preach.
This is why Paul can say.
I count my life of no value.
Or as precious to myself.
Only that I may finish the race.
We don't do it for accolades.
We don't do it for the praise of man.
Or even the safety and certainty of life.
Although it's really easy to.
Want to preserve our lives.
But.
The Lord is faithful.
The Lord is supremely worthy.
And he is the one who deserves the praise.
I was thinking.
Earlier this week.
About.
The idea of the environment we live in.
An American environment.
You know.
And how it's very different from Paul's.
But I said this earlier.
And I think it's.
It really hit me.
Is that.
It actually doesn't matter.
The environment we live in.
It's not that we have it better than Paul.
It's just that.
We're probably not.
Preaching as we ought.
Because I assure you.
If you could go out right now.
And preach the gospel.
If indeed you are preaching the gospel.
And you would find.
Very hostile.
Men and women.
It's not that we need to.
Make the message offensive.
It's that the message itself.
Is offensive.
Because it directly confronts.
The sin.
Which so dominates this world.
To say to someone.
Your way of life is selfish.
Or to say to someone.
You're an adulterer.
Or to say.
To someone.
You're under God's wrath.
And fully deserving of it.
That really cuts.
And that's really hostile.
But again.
This is the message that we received.
It's not message unto death.
But a promise that it will.
Bring life.
To those who hear.
And that it will.
members of the body of Christ.
And let's inspire each other to preach the gospel.
Not just with our lives and with our words, but both.
Right?
We need more people like that.
You all have had people in your life that give you that example.
And I believe that Paul is an ultimate example, but even the Philippian church.
You know, if you were to walk into that church, you'd be like, man,
Paul says most of the brothers are doing this.
Most of the brothers are much more bold to preach without fear.
You know, imagine walking in as somebody who doesn't preach at all
into a congregation that's just like gospel going out everywhere.
It's like you kind of would either be uncomfortable and ashamed,
or you'd be so inspired, so filled with boldness and zeal that you'd be like,
yeah, this is what we're supposed to do.
Let's find a way, you know?
And as we focus on the words, by the way, this is not me trying to distract from the words.
By any means.
I believe that the reasons why we focus on these things, like I said earlier,
are so that we have a strong witness, so that we are salt and light in the world.
That we are a fragrance, the fragrance of Christ,
for those who are perishing and those who are being saved, it says.
So I'm praying for that, for our body, for myself, for my own family,
and I'm encouraged at the days ahead.
If any of you are struggling to have vision for that,
or if that exhortation is more burdensome than it is freeing,
I would encourage you to get prayer.
We'll have people in the back to pray for you.
But the Lord desires us to be free, not bound by a yoke,
united as a family of believers, with one mind, one mission.
And so before we close here, I'm going to pray for that, if that's you.
And I would encourage you also to let other people in on that.
But this really struck me, and I was taken back by the necessity
and sobriety of preaching.
You know, you can live your whole life and then forget about the Great Commission.
That's the last thing that Jesus gave before he left.
So if that's you, I'm going to pray right now.
So if that's you, I'm going to pray right now.