THE HEART of the PREACHER

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Phil. 1:7 …I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace.

[By Ron Halbrook]

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHER

Introduction:

1. We see into Paul’s heart: Love the gospel, suffer to uphold it!

Love brethren who share this commitment!

2. This is the spirit of every true Christian.

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3. Chapter 1 reveals his unselfish commitment to serve God, save the lost, & edify the saved:

Vv. 3-8 Thankful to God & Brethren for Privilege to PreachVv. 9-11 Concern for Spiritual Growth & Maturity of BrethrenVv. 12-18 Focus on Spread of Gospel Above Personal TrialsVv. 19-26 Seek to Magnify Christ in Life & DeathVv. 27-30 Urge Saints: Stand Fast, United

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I. Vv. 3-8 Thankful to God & Brethren for Privilege to Preach

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3 I thank my God upon every remembrance of you, 4 Always in every prayer of mine for you all making request with joy, 5 For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now; 6 Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ: 7 Even as it is meet for me to think this of you all, because I have you in my heart; inasmuch as both in my bonds, and in the defence and confirmation of the gospel, ye all are partakers of my grace. 8 For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.

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A. Heart Filled with Prayer & Thanksgiving

1 Thess. 5:17 “Pray without ceasing.”

Count blessings or complaints?

Grow nearer to the heart of God

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B. Fellowship: Spiritual Unity, Relationship, Participation

Vv. 5, 7 “fellowship in the gospel,” “partakers of my grace”

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B. Fellowship: Spiritual Unity, Relationship, Participation

1 Jn. 1:3 With the Father, the Son, & all saints

That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you, that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ.

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHERII. Vv. 9-11 Concern for Spiritual Growth

& Maturity of Brethren

9 And this I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and in all judgment; 10 That ye may approve things that are excellent; that ye may be sincere and without offence till the day of Christ; 11 Being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are by Jesus Christ, unto the glory and praise of God.

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II. Vv. 9-11 Concern for Spiritual Growth & Maturity of Brethren

A. Grow in Love, Knowledge, & JudgmentContext of true growth: love— unselfish spirit of serving God & manSeek more knowledge in loveJudgment, discernment grows from love & knowledge

Learn facts, then concepts, then practical application

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B. Approve Things that Are Excellent, Distinguish the Things that Differ

Right & wrong, good & evil

Matters of revealed faith & matters of personal conscience

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C. Result of Maturity: Bear Fruit of Righteousness

All fruit of the Spirit, all Christian graces, life a blessing to all men

If lack discernment: fruit will be sin, apostasy, friction, disruption

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III. Vv. 12-18 Focus on Spread of Gospel Above Personal Trials

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12 But I would ye should understand, brethren, that the things which happened unto me have fallen out rather unto the furtherance of the gospel; 13 So that my bonds in Christ are manifest in all the palace, and in all other places;

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14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, waxing confident by my bonds, are much more bold to speak the word without fear. 15 Some indeed preach Christ even of envy and strife; and some also of good will: 16 The one preach Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my bonds: 17 But the other of love, knowing that I am set for the defence of the gospel.

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18 What then? notwithstanding, every way, whether in pretence, or in truth, Christ is preached; and I therein do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice.

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A. Spirit of Joy Overshadows Personal Suffering

B. Vv. 12-14 Trials caused by unbelieversResult: Paul preaching in bonds, other men preaching not in bonds

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHERIII. Vv. 12-18 Focus on Spread of Gospel

Above Personal Trials C. Vv. 15-18 Trials when betrayed

by brethrenSpirit of competition: criticize Paul to promote themselvesPaul: no competition, no bitterness, no retaliationResult: gospel spread by men of right & wrong spiritsPaul rejoiced!!! Heart filled with love, defend the gospel not self

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IV. Vv. 19-26 Seek to Magnify Christ in Life & Death

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19 For I know that this shall turn to my salvation through your prayer, and the supply of the Spirit of Jesus Christ, 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. 21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. 22 But if I live in the flesh, this is the fruit of my labour: yet what I shall choose I wot not.

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23 For I am in a strait betwixt two, having a desire to depart, and to be with Christ; which is far better: 24 Nevertheless to abide in the flesh is more needful for you. 25 And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith; 26 That your rejoicing may be more abundant in Jesus Christ for me by my coming to you again.

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHERIV. Vv. 19-26 Seek to Magnify Christ

in Life & Death A. Magnify Christ by Serving Him

How? Live to teach, strengthen, & encourage the brethrenMagnify & serve Christ by serving our brethren

Widow, sick, lonely, sad, agedYoung, weak, strong, tempted, discouraged, struggling, growing

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B. Magnify Christ if Die in Faithful Service to Him

Great reward, greatly desired!

“to die is gain”

“to be with Christ … far better”

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHERIV. Vv. 19-26 Seek to Magnify Christ

in Life & Death C. Christ Magnified by a Life

of Unselfish ServiceSelfish life:

Seek to be servedImmediate gratificationUse, manipulate, deceive others

Unselfish life: Yield, delay our wishes, preferences, & advantages to serve others

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V. Vv. 27-30 Urge Saints: Stand Fast & Stand United

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V. Vv. 27-30 Urge Saints: Stand Fast, United

27 Only let your conversation be as it becometh the gospel of Christ: that whether I come and see you, or else be absent, I may hear of your affairs, that ye stand fast in one spirit, with one mind striving together for the faith of the gospel; 28 And in nothing terrified by your adversaries: which is to them an evident token of perdition, but to you of salvation, and that of God. 29 For unto you it is given in the behalf of Christ, not only to believe on him, but also to suffer for his sake; 30 Having the same conflict which ye saw in me, and now hear to be in me.

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THE HEART of the PREACHERTHE HEART of the PREACHERV. Vv. 27-30 Urge Saints: Stand Fast &

Stand United A. Godly Lives, Firm Faith, United Efforts

to Spread & Defend the GospelFight together for the truth

Fight Satan, not each otherGeronimo: There are so few of us, we cannot afford to fight each other. (His band of 36 surrendered 1886)Defend gospel, oppose false doctrine (not every detail, judgment, opinion)

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V. Vv. 27-30 Urge Saints: Stand Fast & Stand United

B. Not Discouraged by PersecutionChrist suffered

Paul suffered

Saints at Philippi suffered

Saints today suffer

Steadfast in suffering: points to final victory

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Invitation:

1. Open our hearts to God:Gal. 3:26-27 Become a child of God “by faith in Christ Jesus… baptized into Christ”

Acts 8:22 Restored if repent, pray

Love the gospel, suffer to uphold it!

Love brethren who share this commitment!

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2. Let God fill & mold your heart: Thankful to Serve God & Brethren

Concern for Spiritual Growth

Focus on Spread of Gospel

Magnify Christ in Life & Death

Stand Fast & Stand United


THE HEART of the PREACHER

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