May God bless his word to us
and help us now to continue our meditation in the Epistle of
Paul to the Philippians chapter 1 and this evening we'll read
from verse 15 to verse 18. So that's the Epistle of Paul
to the Philippians chapter 1 and reading from verse 15 to verse
18. Some indeed preach Christ even
of envy and strife, and some also of goodwill. The one preach
Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to
my bonds, but the other of love, knowing that I am set for defense
of the gospel. What then? Notwithstanding every
way whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached, and
I therefore do rejoice, yea, and will rejoice." It's interesting that the apostle
under the influence of Almighty God saw fit to write such words
to the Philippians as we know that The Apostle at this time
was indeed in bonds, he was in prison and therefore he wasn't
able, therefore as you might think, to be able to speak to
support the things that he said and believed and therefore he
had to listen to those who told him what was occurring. And quite
clearly there were two sides really to that which was occurring. He tells us there were two lots
of preachers really, and firstly there were those who preached
Christ even of envy and strife, and then there was some also
of goodwill. That was really the division
between those who were preaching the gospel, and he tells us then
The one preached Christ of contention, not sincerely, supposing to add
affliction to my bonds. But the other, love, knowing
that I am set for the defence of the gospel. So we have the
two sides there, the first who are desiring to preach it, with
contention and really contention means they have a selfish ambition. No doubt they thought the Apostle
Paul was now in prison, he couldn't do very much, so therefore they
desired that they might therefore be able to preach and to gain
the glory and the blessing. And so we have this statement
here as the Apostle tells us the one preached Christ of contention,
not sincerely. They didn't really, were not
really concerned about the result of their preaching. They weren't
really concerned about the salvation of souls. They weren't really
concerned that the Lord Jesus Christ should be lifted up and
should be exalted. They were more concerned about
what people would think of them. and how they were able to preach
a wonderful sermon rather than be a true follower of a despised
and crucified man. And so there were those who preached
then of envy and strife, desiring to stir people up against the
apostle. And so they were those who preached
with this contention and not sincerely, supposing it would
add affliction to my bonds. They no doubt thought, well there
was the poor old apostle in prison not able to defend himself and
therefore what they were able to declare they felt would therefore
make his situation more painful and worse. But they totally underestimated
the grace of God and totally underestimated the power of God
and what the Lord was able to do. And so there was the one
side and then the other side, but the other of love. There
were those who preached the Gospel, the true Gospel, and they had
a wonderful love to the Apostle. And they desired therefore the
Gospel that he preached might truly be honoured and glorified. And indeed, The great blessing
was that that gospel was centred in none other than the Saviour. The other one may have been centred
on the Saviour, but this one was in sincerity and truth and
in love. Not, you see, in envy and strife. This is a difference. It is a
vast difference. And we see how good and how kind
and gracious the Lord is. Now, I've just spoken my words,
but I just thought I'll read you a paragraph that puts things
really a bit more succinctly than I have. I think it's through
Matthew Henry. And this is what he wrote. And he said, this is about the
apostle. He suffered from false friends as well as from enemies. Some preach Christ even of envy
and strife. The one preached Christ of contention,
not sincerely. Now, this would be a stumbling
block and discouragement to some, but there were those who envied
Paul's reputation in the churches and the interest he had among
the Christians and endeavoured to supplant and undermine him. They were secretly pleased when
he was laid up in prison that they might have the better opportunity
to steal away the people's affections. And they laid themselves out,
the more in preaching that they might gain to themselves the
reputation they envied him, supposing to add affliction to my bonds. They thought hereby to grieve
his spirit and make him afraid of losing his interest, uneasy
under his confinement and impatient for release. It is said that
there should be men who profess the gospel, especially who preach
it, who are governed by such principles as these, who should
preach Christ in spite to poor and to increase the affliction
of his bonds. So therefore that's a description
really of those who preached with this envy and strife and
contention. But thankfully there were the
others, and this is what is spoken. However, there were others who
were animated by Paul's sufferings to preach Christ the more vigorously,
some also goodwill and love from sincere affection to the gospel. that the work might not stand
while the workroom was laid up, knowing that I am set for the
defense of the gospel." So we see then the two sides and then
it comes down to the 18th verse where the apostle speaks in this
beautiful way. What then? Notwithstanding every
way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached. and I therein do rejoice, yea,
and will rejoice." You see, he was very aware that God could
use not only those who truly preached the gospel in love,
but also those perhaps who mocked the gospel, who nevertheless
did use some words of truth. You see, the Almighty God is
able to apply words even from such people. And we see here
the grace given to the apostle to lift himself above all those
kind of envies and strifes and to only be concerned that Christ
was preached. And we know that meant Jesus
Christ and him crucified. Because, as we know, the Apostle,
when he wrote to the Corinthians, said, I determined not to know
anything among you, save Jesus Christ and him crucified. And that was a theme which never
varied in the life of the Apostle. What a good thing it is if today
those who are called to preach the unsearchable riches of Christ
have this determination. to preach no other gospel other
than Jesus Christ and him crucified, and to know the Blessed Saviour
came into this world, again as the Apostle Paul said, to save
sinners, of whom I am chief. Have mercy tonight, and if we
can praise God that Lord Jesus Christ came in the sinful world
to save sinners, and that met our case and that we tonight
can be like the apostle as he came and says I therein do rejoice
yea and will rejoice well I hope tonight all of us rejoice in
the preaching of the gospel rejoice to hear Christ preached rejoice
to hear Christ crucified preached the honour and glory of almighty
God and for the salvation of our souls. Well, may God bless
his word to the prophet of our souls tonight.