Seeking After the Interests of Christ

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Seeking After the Interests of Christ

• Philippians 219-30

Presented by Bob DeWaay March 13, 2005
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Pauls Loving Concern for the Church in Philippi

• Philippians 219
• But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to
  you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged
  when I learn of your condition.

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Church Leaders with Bad Motivates

• Philippians 220, 21
• For I have no one else of kindred spirit who
  will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For
  they all seek after their own interests, not
  those of Christ Jesus.

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Church Leaders with Bad Motivates

• Philippians 115
• Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from
  envy and strife, but some also from good will

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Timothy is Faithful and Trustworthy

• Philippians 222
• But you know of his proven worth that he served
  with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a
  child serving his father.

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Paul Plans to Send Timothy

• Philippians 223, 24
• Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as
  soon as I see how things go with me and I trust
  in the Lord that I myself also shall be coming
  shortly.

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Epaphroditus Had Brought Their Gift To Paul even
Though Sick

• Philippians 225
• But I thought it necessary to send to you
  Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and
  fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and
  minister to my need

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Epaphroditus Had Brought Their Gift To Paul even
Though Sick

• Philippians 226
• because he was longing for you all and was
  distressed because you had heard that he was
  sick.

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Epaphroditus Had Brought Their Gift To Paul even
Though Sick

• Philippians 227, 28
• For indeed he was sick to the point of death,
  but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but
  also on me, lest I should have sorrow upon
  sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more
  eagerly in order that when you see him again you
  may rejoice and I may be less concerned about
  you.

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Honor the Person Who Serves Even in Personal
Hardship

• Philippians 229, 30
• Therefore receive him in the Lord with all joy,
  and hold men like him in high regard because he
  came close to death for the work of Christ,
  risking his life to complete what was deficient
  in your service to me.

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Their Own Interests or Those of Christ Jesus

• Philippians 220, 21
• For I have no one else of kindred spirit who
  will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For
  they all seek after their own interests, not
  those of Christ Jesus.

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Application

• Their Own Interests
• 1) That Church Leaders Enjoy Prestige and
  Popularity
• 2) That Church Leaders Have Power over the Flock
• 3) That Church Leaders find Riches and Comfort in
  This World

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Applications

• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 1) That it be increased through Gospel preaching
• 2) That the flock be fed
• 3) That the flock be protected from harm

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• Their Own Interests
• 1) That Church Leaders Enjoy Prestige and
  Popularity

• Luke 626
• Woe to you when all men speak well of you, for
  in the same way their fathers used to treat the
  false prophets.

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• Their Own Interests
• 2) That Church Leaders Have Power over the Flock

• Mark 1042, 43
• And calling them to Himself, Jesus said to them,
  You know that those who are recognized as rulers
  of the Gentiles lord it over them and their
  great men exercise authority over them. But it is
  not so among you, but whoever wishes to become
  great among you shall be your servant

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• Their Own Interests
• 3) That Church Leaders find Riches and Comfort in
  This World

• Luke 1613
• No servant can serve two masters for either he
  will hate the one, and love the other, or else he
  will hold to one, and despise the other. You
  cannot serve God and mammon. Now the Pharisees,
  who were lovers of money, were listening to all
  these things, and they were scoffing at Him.

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Applications

• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 1) That it be increased through Gospel preaching
• 2) That the flock be fed
• 3) That the flock be protected from harm

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• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 1) That it be increased through Gospel preaching

• 1Corinthians 916
• For if I preach the gospel, I have nothing to
  boast of, for I am under compulsion for woe is
  me if I do not preach the gospel.

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• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 1) That it be increased through Gospel preaching

• Romans 1014
• How then shall they call upon Him in whom they
  have not believed? And how shall they believe in
  Him whom they have not heard? And how shall they
  hear without a preacher?

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• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 2) That the flock be fed

• 2Timothy 42, 3
• preach the word be ready in season and out of
  season reprove, rebuke, exhort, with great
  patience and instruction. For the time will come
  when they will not endure sound doctrine but
  wanting to have their ears tickled, they will
  accumulate for themselves teachers in accordance
  to their own desires

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• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 3) That the flock be protected from harm

• Acts 2028
• Be on guard for yourselves and for all the
  flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you
  overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He
  purchased with His own blood.

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• The Interests of Jesus Christ for His Flock
• 3) That the flock be protected from harm

• Acts 2029, 30
• I know that after my departure savage wolves
  will come in among you, not sparing the flock
  and from among your own selves men will arise,
  speaking perverse things, to draw away the
  disciples after them.

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Their Own Interests or Those of Christ Jesus

• Philippians 220, 21
• For I have no one else of kindred spirit who
  will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For
  they all seek after their own interests, not
  those of Christ Jesus.

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