Purify Your Motives
Notes
Transcript
Prayer/Introduction
Prayer/Introduction
Good morning, as always, it is a pleasure and an honor to preach this morning. This morning we will continue with the book of Philippians, chapter 1, verses 15 through 18. Before we get into our text, lets run through a quick refresher of the previous passages. In verses 1 through 12, Paul encourages the Philippian church. He encourages the church by letting them know he is praying for them, letting them know that Christ is the finisher of their faith, he encourages the church by showing them a glimpse of his prayer life and how he is praying for them. In verses 12 through 14, we saw hoe Paul gives an example in his suffering. He teaches the church how to suffer well and how to think and act through trials and suffering. This morning in our passage we come to an area I had to wrestle with. So, without further delay, lets go ahead and read our passage this morning.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim 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,
When I first skimmed over this verse, knowing that this was the passage I would be preaching from next, I immediately thought to myself, “Ahhhh this will be a passage on false teachers. Those who are not preaching a true gospel. Well, I sat down to begin my sermon prep and started digging into the passage and boy was I wrong. At first glance, it is easy to conclude that Paul is speaking of false teachers. However, if you really look close, I think its evident he is not necessarily speaking of false teachers, I think hes speaking of selfish teachers with bad motives. As we work through our passage, I’ll point out why I believe the scriptures teach bad motives and not false teachings. This morning we will cover this passage in two points… first, we will look at the mixed motives. Paul tells us of two different types of teachers…good teachers with good motives and teachers with bad motives. Lastly, we will cover why Paul rejoices and how we can apply this to our own walk with Christ and our lives within His Church.
Mixed Motives
Mixed Motives
Beginning in verse 15, we immediately see the mixed motives Paul is speaking of. Paul says there are some men who are preaching even from envy and rivalry, or the New King James Version uses the word “strife”. As I said before, at first glance, it seems this passage is speaking of a false teacher. But I would hesitate to call them a false preacher. They may have bad motives, but they are still preaching Christ. Paul does not say they are preaching a false gospel. If you take a look at 2 John 1:7-11, the apostle writes....
For many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not confess the coming of Jesus Christ in the flesh. Such a one is the deceiver and the antichrist. Watch yourselves, so that you may not lose what we have worked for, but may win a full reward. Everyone who goes on ahead and does not abide in the teaching of Christ, does not have God. Whoever abides in the teaching has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this teaching, do not receive him into your house or give him any greeting, for whoever greets him takes part in his wicked works.
When the scriptures call out a false teacher, God’s Word does not beat around the bush. But this is not the language we see Paul using. 2 John is clear, the people who do not preach Christ according to the scriptures are false teachers and anti-christ. The men Paul is speaking of in verse 15, are preaching Christ, just with the wrong motives. Paul says in verse 15 they preach Christ from envy and rivalry. There are obviously some men in the church, who envy Paul. The scriptures point to jealousy. I’m not sure exactly why they envy Paul or why they have the motives they do…the scriptures are silent on this. What we do know, is they have bad motives. The other men Paul speaks of…are preaching Christ with the right motives. They are preaching Christ from Good will. Verse 16 says these men with bad motives preach Christ from a selfish ambition, not sincerely, and in doing so…attempt to hurt Paul while he is in prison. Then in verse 17, Paul says the men with good motives do it out of love. I want to Pause here and discuss this for just a second. Love is talked about a lot through the scriptures. We talked about love in the last sermon I preached out of Philippians. What is love within the church? Why is love within the church important? Look at John 13:35 with me...
By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
A short but such a powerful verse. Again…why is love so very important within God’s people? Because this is how the world identifies the church. If you want the world to know you are set apart, not of the world…you must have a love for one another. A biblical love for one another. I'm not speaking about just a handshake and a pat on the back. I’m talking about a love that produces a bond, a love that causes each of you to care for one another. A love…that when unbelievers witness it…they know you are different…they know you are set apart. This is why verse 17 is a big deal and I wanted to Pause. These men with good motives, preach Christ because number 1, They love Christ…but number 2 because they love those around them.
Conclusion
Conclusion
As we come to the end of the passage I want to spend some time on this last verse, verse 18. Philippians 1:18
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,
This is the strongest verse I believe shows these men with bad motives are not false teachers…they are just as the verse says…men with bad motives. If these men preached Christ in an unbiblical manner how could Paul rejoice? Paul is rejoicing not because these men have tried to hurt him, but because they preach Christ. Think about that for just a minute. We know that the preaching of Christ…the preaching of His word…that is one of the most common ways he saves souls and regenerates a lost sinner. It doesn't matter what the motive is behind the man who is preaching....If he is preaching Christ in a proper manner…souls can still be saved!! It is in this that Paul rejoices. There is most definitely some practical application here. We all know there is not a perfect church out there. Churches…While made up of God’s people…is still a place full of broken sinners. We maybe regenerated…we maybe not who we once were…but that does not make is sinless. We are each called to serve Christ’s church with the gifts he so graciously has given us. As you serve the church…as you serve Christ…Do not let the bad motives of other Christians derail your service and ministry to our Lord and Savior. Sinclair Ferguson…a great Presbyterian preacher said this “Paul refused to allow himself to be diverted from the main business of his ministry: exalting the name of his Lord Jesus Christ. The wrong motives of bad men must never be allowed to become the determining element in our attitude to either our own lives or the fellowship of the saints. This is often a great snare for Christians who are committed to the truth of the gospel. It is very easy to develop a streak of bitterness in our spirits when we see the errors of other professing Christians. The way in which we present the gospel can then be dominated by our criticism of others rather than by a presentation of Jesus Christ. The result is an unattractive harshness, which does not commend Christ.”
In those kind of situations, we must follow Paul's example. I know this can be very difficult. Bitterness can seep in so easy…and before you know it…what started as a seed of bitterness grows into anger and disdain for a fellow believer. I am not excusing these kind of folks. Bad motives, selfish motives, are sinful. However, with that being said, I think its extremely important for each one of us to constantly examine our motives behind our service to our church. What started as good intentions can quickly turn to bad motives. It’s very easy to read about men like this…who had a selfish ambition in serving Christ, and to condemn them. But how many times have you had to stop yourself…or have been called out by a brother or sister in Christ because maybe you were serving the church with bad motives. Maybe your service began unnoticed by those around you…then before too long..you began receiving compliment after compliment. Before too long…you catch yourself serving and working harder…not for the cause of Christ…but because you want more recognition. What started good..turned into service with bad motives. So…when serving in the church…make sure your motives are pure. Double check and triple check your motives. Are you serving for the Kingdom of Christ no matter what? Or do you have selfish ambitions?
Lastly, when you are hurt by others in the church with bad motives…take the advice of Sinclair Ferguson. Do not let a seed of bitterness begin to form and to grow. I speak from experience saints…when that seed begins to grow…it grows fast. Do not let the sin of other Christians be a snare for you. Serve Christ and Christ alone…and serve His church out of love.
Let us pray.
