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Perseverance of the Saints Pt. 1 - Philippians 1:1-18 · Mount Eaton Church

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  Good morning family.
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  That's where we're going to be spending several weeks for a while, at least until April.
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  Resurrection weekend.
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  This letter, all these letters that Paul writes, interesting, are just powerful, doctrinal field letters.
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  Philippians does not disappoint in this area.
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  We're going to talk about some specific facts concerning this particular letter that I think is very important for us.
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  And, you know, I was thinking about how am I going to, you know, what are we going to deal with, the Old Testament,
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  or are we going to do one of the apostolic letters?
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  I'm like, you know what, we're just going to do Philippians, and then after Philippians we'll do a series on Christ the True and better.
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  So get ready for that. It's going to be a lot of fun.
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  But we got a little while.
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  And even though we've gone through all these letters, it's hard, it's very difficult to kind of pull out everything.
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  Because if we did that, for example, we'd still be in Galatians for another year and a half.
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  So the good news is you can never exhaust the spiritual manna of God's Word.
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  It is so full of stuff.
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  So as we dig into Philippians, we're going to really focus on one particular doctrine.
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  But we will try, I will try my best to hit as many doctrines as I can through this letter
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  and ask God that he would guide us in the fullness of his Word.
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  So let's pray.
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  Father, I want to thank you for this amazing letter that you have given.
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  You are good and faithful and true.
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  Thank you for your call to your people to continue to contend for the faith
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  that what you have started you will complete and that you are the perseverance of the saints.
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  So Lord, as we dig into the doctrine of the perseverance of the saints,
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  and we really start to see your sovereignty and your call to be holy,
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  and the reality of our election before you that all things, all things turn to the good of those love you've been called according to your purpose.
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  Your Word is so amazing.
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  So Lord, as we prepared our hearts for your Word, I pray that you would guide my thoughts
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  and that the words that are shared are the full counsel of your Word
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  and that you are honored and glorified in it.
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  We honor and glory in Jesus' name, Amen.
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  So just a real quick overview.
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  Philippians was written during Paul's, really, let me say it this way.
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  Paul visited the Philippians in Philippi between 49 and 51 AD.
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  It was during his second missionary journey.
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  And that's when this church was planted.
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  What's interesting about this church is some very important details.
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  This is the only letter that Paul really doesn't rebuke them for something that they're doing wrong.
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  Like all the other letters, Paul, like, wrecks them, right?
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  In Ephesians, in Galatians, in Colossians, he just like, you guys are like way out of bounds here.
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  But Philippi, they don't have that issue here.
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  For Philippi, it's more of an exhortation to continue in your walk.
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  He finds complete joy in the people of Philippi, in the church of Philippi.
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  James Montgomery Boyce calls this the joyful letter.
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  What an amazing statement.
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  Sixteen times in Philippians is the word joy mentioned.
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  And we kind of understand why Paul says he uses the word joy a lot in this letter
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  because when you realize that you will be finished, God will complete what he started,
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  you will persevere, what else do you have?
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  I mean, what else should you be worried about?
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  Like, I can have pure joy in all things because God will finish the work he started.
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  And that's really the focus of this letter.
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  I will show this to you shortly.
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  The other interesting letter is he's talking not only to the people of God,
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  but he's talking to the overseers and the deacons.
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  It's interesting.
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  So elders and deacons, this is for you.
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  It's not only just for the entire body of Christ, but this is also for you.
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  Very, very wonderful letter.
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  One of the last facts I want to give you for now is that Paul wrote this when he was in prison.
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  He was locked up, and he counts it joy and actually relishes the fact that he's in prison
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  because the gospel explodes where he's at as a result of this moment.
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  So I want to share that with you.
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  There's a couple of factoids with that.
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  That being said, I want to share some more stuff.
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  Paul's purpose for writing to the Philippian church is found in Philippians 1 verse 6.
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  He says, And I am sure of this, that he who began a good work in you will bring it to completion at the day.
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  In chapter 1 verse 9 through 10,
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  And this is my prayer, that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment,
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  so that you may approve what is excellent and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
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  And in chapter 2 verse 13, it says, For it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
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  You will accomplish what God has for you to accomplish.
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  You will persevere.
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  Paul's reminder to the saints in Philippi is seen throughout this epistle.
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  And the reminder is perseverance.
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  Here it is. You ready?
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  It's a little journey through the whole letter.
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  Sure.
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  In chapter 1 verse 9, My prayer that your love may abound.
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  In verse 10, And so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
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  Verse 21, For to me to live is Christ and to die is gain.
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  Verse 24, But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.
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  Verse 25, I will remain and continue with you all for your progress.
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  In verse 27, Let your manner of life be worthy.
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  Verse 27 again, With one mind, that's not me.
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  That's everybody's phone.
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  The only way you're going to turn them off is if you turn off your phones.
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  It's going to beep whether you have it on silent or not.
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  Mine's not beeping.
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  Yeah.
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  So thank you if you guys were able to thank you.
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  That's funny.
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  Beep, beep, beep.
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  With one, that could have been the trumpet call.
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  I'm just saying.
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  It was beep, beep, beep, boosh.
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  But like whacked out, what was that?
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  That was the trumpet call.
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  Who said it couldn't be a beep?
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  Right?
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  Here we go.
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  Verse 27, With one mind striving side by side.
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  Verse 29, It has been granted to you for the sake of Christ that you should not believe in him,
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  but also suffer for his sake.
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  Granted is the word there.
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  Chapter 2, verse 12, As you have always obeyed, so now.
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  This is the idea of continuing.
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  Verse severe, verse chapter 2, 13, It is God who works in you.
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  Verse 16, Hold fast to the word of life in the day of Christ.
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  Chapter 3, verse 12, But I press on to make it my own because Christ Jesus made me his own.
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  Verse 14, Press on toward the goal for the prize.
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  Verse 20, For our citizenship is in heaven and from it we await a savior the day, the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Verse 21, Who will transform our lowly bodies to be like his glorious body by the power that enables him
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  even to subject all things to himself.
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  Chapter 4, verse 1, Stand firm thus in the Lord.
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  Verse 3, Whose names are in the book of life. Verse 5, The Lord is at hand.
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  Verse 7, He will guard your hearts and minds.
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  Verse 14, I can do all things through him who strengthens me.
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  Verse 19, God will supply every need of yours according to his riches and glory.
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  There's a very clear common thread through this whole letter.
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  It is the perseverance of the saints.
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  The perseverance of the saints ascribes to Almighty God the authority and the ability to see his plan of salvation
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  through to the ultimate purpose which he has intended, namely the eternal salvation of his people.
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  In revealing his salvation, God reveals himself, his sovereign will, love, and grace
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  which are the eternal attributes of God. Heidelberg Seminary.
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  What an amazing doctrine.
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  So not only do we persevere eternally as a guarantee, the Holy Spirit sealing us as a guarantee of our inheritance,
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  but we persevere daily.
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  We persevere daily. He will finish what he has started.
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  So let's start. Chapter 1, verse 1.
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  Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, dulos.
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  This word, servants, is slave.
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  Doctrine number 1, the doctrine of Christian slavery.
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  You're like, that's a bad word. It's a wonderful word.
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  Why are we slaves to Christ? Because he purchased us with his own blood.
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  We are no longer owned by sin, but we are owned by Christ.
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  And we no longer belong to ourselves, but we belong to Christ.
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  That's a slave.
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  Thank God we have a good master.
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  The doctrine of Christian slavery.
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  The next we see here, it says, to all the saints.
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  This word, saints, literally means the chosen and holy ones.
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  Chosen and holy ones. That's what the word saint is.
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  This isn't just, this is not for the Catholics.
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  You don't have to be a special person to be a saint.
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  And trust me, some of the saints that the Catholics say are saints aren't saints.
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  This is you. If you know Christ, you're a saint in Christ.
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  You're a chosen and holy one in Christ who are at Philippi, here it is,
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  with the overseers and deacons.
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  Isn't that a nice statement?
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  What is God saying here?
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  He says, grace to you and peace from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Here's what Paul's saying.
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  Paul and Timothy, slaves of Christ, have come to you people of Philippi
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  and the overseers and deacons who oversee and serve the people of Philippi.
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  God says to you grace and peace.
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  I come on behalf of the King and the King has given his greeting to you.
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  You are important to him.
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  That's what Paul's saying here.
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  Every letter that Paul does, he gives the grace and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
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  Why? Because we are his people.
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  Paul is speaking on behalf of the King.
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  And that is the one important statement.
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  People probably read this over and over again and go, what's the point?
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  It's the same greeting. Exactly.
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  Because this greeting's not from Paul, it's from him to you.
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  God says grace to you and my peace be with you.
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  Isn't that what Jesus said?
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  Every time he spoke to his disciples, grace and peace be unto you.
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  Interesting, right?
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  Verse 3.
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  I thank my God in all my remembrance of you,
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  always in every prayer of mine, for you are making my prayer with joy.
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  In other words, Paul's saying, listen, I think about you often.
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  And every time I think about you, I am filled with joy to think about you.
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  It's the one group of people that he doesn't have to worry much about.
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  He doesn't have to think about what's happening.
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  He doesn't have to deal with any false teaching.
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  He doesn't have to rebuke them because people are abandoning his faith.
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  No, he's encouraged by them because they walk consistently and continue in the gospel.
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  So what does a shepherd do?
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  He encourages. Keep it up.
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  You know, it's a that-a-boy kind of thing.
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  Now, verse 5.
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  Because of your partnership, here is why his joy, why he's always remembering them with joy,
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  because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now,
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  from the first time I came to you and I shared the gospel with you, you have continued in it.
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  How many churches today can claim that?
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  We are one.
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  There's a reason why Mountaintin Church has existed for 140 years come this March.
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  Continue in the gospel.
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  If you continue in the gospel, the church will be here another 140 years if the Lord tarries.
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  You abandon the gospel, watch how quick the church goes away.
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  There are many churches throughout the country who are closing or are just open
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  because they tickle the ears of people.
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  Verse 6.
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  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.
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  In other words, this is the purpose of the letter.
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  God, what God has started in you, he will complete in you.
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  I am confident of this.
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  How do I know this? Because you have contended, have walked, have continued in the gospel
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  which I've came and preached to you from the first day until now.
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  You have not abandoned the full gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  Is it right for me to feel this way about you all because I hold you in my heart?
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  For you are all partakers with me of grace, both in my imprisonment
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  and in the defense and confirmation of the gospel.
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  It is right for him.
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  He is thankful.
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  That's the one thing that every elder desires for you,
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  to contend and fight and continue in the full gospel of Jesus Christ.
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  What can we do in a country that has abandoned God?
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  Contend for the gospel.
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  Contend for the gospel.
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  The days are not going to get better.
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  But we have the hope of Christ and that there are people who will come to Christ.
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  The kingdom of God is still growing.
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  Though all the other nations are failing, there's one nation that will not.
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  The kingdom of God will continue.
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  It is growing every single day.
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  We have a king and we have a place and he is good and that place he's made for us.
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  That we may dwell with him.
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  Now, here's where things start getting exciting.
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  If we continue to defend and confirm the gospel, this is Paul's proclamation.
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  He says, for God is my witness how I yearn for you all with the affection of Jesus Christ.
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  Man, it's like, I know you guys are experiencing it because I hear it quite a bit from you guys.
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  I can't wait to get to church.
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  I know.
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  I'd rather be here.
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  I'd do church all day and hang out with you guys.
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  Like, I love this stuff, right?
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  And Rachel's going, no, you need to go home and get some sleep.
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  But that's Paul's desire.
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  He's like, man, you guys get it.
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  I just want to hang out with you.
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  Like, the rest of these churches are driving me crazy.
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  That's what Paul's saying.
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  Why can't we just do the right thing?
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  Well, Paul is so excited about this church.
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  The hard part for Paul is that he can't go.
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  He's locked up.
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  So principle number one.
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  God's people persevere by the love of Christ.
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  God's people persevere by the love of Christ.
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  Through the love of God abounding in our lives abundantly,
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  we can know clearly what is excellent.
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  It's the love of Christ that we persevere.
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  And it's because of this love that we can clearly know what is the excellency of Christ.
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  Philippians chapter one, verse nine through 11 says this.
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  And it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more with knowledge and all discernment.
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  That word with is actually shouldn't be translated as with.
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  Because that's not what that word is in the original language.
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  The word in the original language is in.
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  Now let's use that word.
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  It says it is my prayer that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
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  Makes a lot more sense, doesn't it?
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  In knowledge and all discernment so that you may approve what is excellent.
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  If I'm in the knowledge and all discernment of God, then I can approve the excellency of Christ.
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  I can know what is excellent.
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  And so as a result of knowing the excellency of Christ, and so be pure and blameless for the day of Christ.
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  Filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ to the glory and praise of God.
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  What's interesting about Paul is Paul throws, as he makes this declarative, he's stating this statement.
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  He always does a sentence in a sentence, which I like when Paul does that.
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  So I'm going to share a sentence within what Paul just said.
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  And this is what it says.
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  So you, Philippians, that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and all discernment.
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  That you may approve what is excellent.
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  Be pure and blameless, filled with the fruit of righteousness.
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  That if we walk in the love and we abound in the love of God and we are doing it in the knowledge and discernment.
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  And we are approving the excellency of Christ and we're walking in purity and blamelessness.
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  That we will be filled with the fruit of righteousness.
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  The fruit of righteousness will be clearly seen.
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  That's what he's saying here.
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  What an amazing statement.
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  Second principle, perseverance in and through suffering advances the gospel.
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  So we have to have love, the love of Christ to be persevering.
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  And if we have a love of Christ and we're persevering, then this perseverance will get us through.
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  And then as a result of that perseverance, the gospel advances.
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  Here it is. Perseverance in and through suffering advances the gospel.
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  How many of us are willing to suffer?
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  Are any of you guys willing to suffer?
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  We kind of like don't really like suffering.
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  Because it hurts.
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  I mean I don't know about you.
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  There are times when I was not very happy about suffering.
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  Have you ever thought about what suffering for the gospel actually does for the kingdom?
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  No.
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  Because at the moment you're only thinking about your suffering and your pain.
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  What you end up realizing is that it's far more valuable than you can ever imagine.
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  And this is what Paul says in Philippians chapter 1, verse 12 through 14.
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  I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
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  Do you hear that statement?
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  That this thing that I'm going through has made the gospel even more popular, even more effective.
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  Who would have thought that suffering makes the gospel more effective?
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  Because when you're suffering and you're living out this Christian life through your suffering,
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  and they go, why are you so different?
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  Why aren't you complaining?
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  Why do you find joy in all this stuff?
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  Because it's Christ.
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  Verse 13, so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard
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  and all of the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.
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  Can you imagine that?
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  His imprisonment has gotten word out to the entire imperial guard.
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  Now, do you know how many that is?
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  Thousands.
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  Everybody's talking about it.
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  Like this dude is in a ditch with metal bars that he can't get out of, right?
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  And more than likely, all of the muck and feces and everything else that they throw out goes right through his imprisonment.
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  And all he can do is be chained up to another guard and proclaim the goodness of God
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  and be joyful for what is happening.
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  And as a result, everybody's talking about, yo, this guy is not upset about this.
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  What is different about this fellow?
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  I mean, pretty amazing.
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  Verse 14, it says, and most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment,
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  are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
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  So as a result, there are believers around all of these areas who have heard about his imprisonment are so confident.
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  It's like if Paul can do this, then there's no reason why I can't preach the gospel and so suffer on the sake of the gospel.
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  I mean, he's going through far more than I could ever imagine.
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  And he's finding joy in preaching the gospel, and people are getting saved.
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  Like, that is amazing.
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  That is what Paul's saying here.
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  So suffering for the gospel advances the gospel and builds confidence in others to be confident in proclaiming the amazing gospel of Christ.
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  Suffering never goes to waste.
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  Christ always wins in our suffering.
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  Whoever thought about that suffering would be so wonderful.
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  Paul says, this imprisonment that has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel.
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  It has become known throughout the whole Imperial Garden to all the rest.
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  And most of the brothers have become confident in the Lord and are much more bold to speak the word without fear because of this imprisonment.
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  Who would have thought that perseverance through suffering would have produced this kind of fruit?
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  We think that the fruits that we're looking for are blessings, but there is no greater blessing than suffering.
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  It produces for the kingdom people, and it produces in you Christ-like behavior.
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  You become more like him when you suffer.
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  So suffer with joy and preach the gospel.
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  Third, perseverance is never for naught.
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  Yes, it's one of those English words.
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  Perseverance is never for naught.
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  Doesn't that sound good?
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  I figured.
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  It sounded good to me.
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  I had to write the word naught.
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  I spelled it wrong at first.
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  It's a joke.
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  So perseverance is never for naught, but always for his glory.
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  The reality of our suffering has a greater purpose, the preaching of Christ and him crucified.
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  Some may think it's a way for revenge and others out of sincere heart, but either way, Christ and his gospel is being proclaimed.
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  So this is what I say.
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  There's a lot of churches in our areas, a lot of churches around the country, a lot of churches around the world.
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  And not all of them preach the gospel as effectively as they should and the responsibility to declare it clearly in the full counsel of his word.
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  But what does it matter?
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  As Paul says in chapter 1, verse 15 through 18, some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from goodwill.
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  The latter, those of goodwill, do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.
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  The former, the envy and rivalry, proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.
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  What then?
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  Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed and in that I rejoice.
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  I don't care as long as Christ is proclaimed.
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  Because one way or another, there's one thing we'll do here at Mal-Eaten, and that is to teach the full counsel of God's word and to preach the whole gospel.
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  And to show a God who stands on behalf of us, a warrior who has already won the war, not a Sisyphi Jesus.
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  That is what the Philippians understood.
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  This is Christ in him crucified.
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  There is nothing greater.
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  We will see, clearly see this as we go through the rest of this letter.
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  So what should we do?
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  How should you persevere?
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  For some of us, because we do stand in reform theology, say what's the point of preaching the gospel?
• 28:43
  Because God has commanded you to do it.
• 28:46
  We don't stop preaching the gospel because we think everybody's in is in.
• 28:50
  That's not the point.
• 28:52
  Your responsibility to the King of Kings is to obey the command of the King.
• 28:58
  You've been given marching orders.
• 29:00
  Go and preach the gospel.
• 29:03
  That is how God's people come to him.
• 29:06
  Faith comes by hearing and hearing that of the word of Christ.
• 29:09
  How will they hear unless somebody is sent?
• 29:11
  How will they be sent unless they are called?
• 29:14
  And if you're called, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.
• 29:18
  For faith comes by hearing and hearing that of the word of Christ.
• 29:22
  We all have a responsibility.
• 29:24
  Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, which we will read in chapter two in several weeks from now.
• 29:34
  Purpose to preach the gospel.
• 29:38
  Enjoy your suffering for the sake of Christ.
• 29:41
  It is not, it does not go away for it.
• 29:44
  It's for a purpose.
• 29:47
  Contend for the gospel.
• 29:51
  A lot of times we say be a good Berean, study the gospel.
• 29:55
  Be a good Philippian, preach the gospel.
• 29:59
  Lord, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.
• 30:02
  To you be honor and glory forever.
• 30:04
  We thank you that you are the King.
• 30:06
  We thank you Lord that we can and have and will persevere because of the love of Christ.
• 30:13
  And that through the love of Christ we can persevere through our suffering, which will advance the gospel.
• 30:18
  And as a result of advancing the gospel and the truth of your word, if we contend for the full gospel,
• 30:24
  regardless of what's being preached out there by anyone else,
• 30:28
  we know that you are being proclaimed in the whole earth that you are the God of all creation.
• 30:34
  We thank you and we praise you.
• 30:36
  May we walk in the truth of our perseverance, which is found in you and you only.
• 30:41
  We praise you in Jesus' name, Amen.