The Purity of Preaching & Rejoicing

The Purity of Preaching (Phil. 1:15-18):

1. Pure preaching: from pure motives/good will (Phil. 1:15b-16)
      - Should be carried out by altruistic love (2 Cor. 4:2)
      - Motivation is to glorify God (1 Thes. 3:3 | Acts 25:11)

2. Impure preaching: from envy and strife (Phil. 1:15a, 17)
      - Selfish ambition is the root of it all and gave rise to the envy and strife
      - Do things, out of a heart that seeks the benefits of others (Phil. 2:3)
      - Strife/rivalry comes from envy and often categorizes the unredeemed
        · They endanger the life of the church (1 Tim. 6:4 | 1 Cor. 3:3)
        · Jealousy + strife = carnality
      - Paul refused to compromise (Gal. 5:11, 6:12)

3)Gospel Rejoicing (Phil. 1:18)
   - Paul rejoices in the preaching of Christ in spite of all the impure preaching
   - Paul focuses on the gospel instead of slandering those preachers
   - If Christ is preached we have a reason to rejoice in the gospel!
     · Our response is different though if they are NOT preaching Christ [another Jesus/gospel] (1 Thess. 2:3 | 2 Cor. 2:17 | Gal. 1:6-8)
     · We can never compromise if it’s heresy
   - The Word of God is the power of preaching! (Is. 55:11)
     · You never know how God’s going to use His Word despite the preaching
     · Paul knew that God, being sovereign, would work all those things out for His glory!