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Good morning family.


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Turn to Philippians.

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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?

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Because God has commanded you to do it.

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We don't stop preaching the gospel because we think everybody's in is in.

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That's not the point.

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Your responsibility to the King of Kings is to obey the command of the King.

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You've been given marching orders.

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Go and preach the gospel.

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That is how God's people come to him.

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Faith comes by hearing and hearing that of the word of Christ.

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How will they hear unless somebody is sent?

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How will they be sent unless they are called?

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And if you're called, how beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.

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For faith comes by hearing and hearing that of the word of Christ.

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We all have a responsibility.

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Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, which we will read in chapter two in several weeks from now.

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Purpose to preach the gospel.

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Enjoy your suffering for the sake of Christ.

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It is not, it does not go away for it.

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It's for a purpose.

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Contend for the gospel.

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A lot of times we say be a good Berean, study the gospel.

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Be a good Philippian, preach the gospel.

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Lord, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

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To you be honor and glory forever.

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We thank you that you are the King.

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We thank you Lord that we can and have and will persevere because of the love of Christ.

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And that through the love of Christ we can persevere through our suffering, which will advance the gospel.

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And as a result of advancing the gospel and the truth of your word, if we contend for the full gospel,

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regardless of what's being preached out there by anyone else,

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we know that you are being proclaimed in the whole earth that you are the God of all creation.

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We thank you and we praise you.

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May we walk in the truth of our perseverance, which is found in you and you only.

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We praise you in Jesus' name, Amen.