Hi Mike,

I would like to utilize you as a ‘sounding board’ regarding my thoughts on this scripture below (Php 1:12-18). It is a scripture that has been on my mind of late, and I have been meditating on it as well as studying it in the context of the sum of thy words is truth. Your comments are welcome.

It reminds me of the parable of the unjust steward. For years I thought it was the strangest way to get the primary point across, which is Christ exhorting us to diligence with all foresight in our Christian walk; ‘to be wise as a serpent and harmless as a dove’. It sure seemed like He was encouraging us to cheat our masters in order to protect our own hide (which I knew did not line up with the rest of scripture). Thank God He has opened my eyes to understand better, and likewise you have taught and commented on this parable to my edification already.

It seems Paul is saying in this verse and in the context of the rest of this chapter that all things (good and evil) work out for his good and the furtherance of the gospel including his chains (trials), so that whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this (Christ being preached) I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.

It seems like he is saying regardless of the motivation or even the fullness of the truth being preached, he rejoices that Christ is being preached (in other words, it’s all of God, even the false doctrines preached in Babylon, all the evil being done, etc.); yet I am fully aware of all the scriptures that require a disciple to study to show oneself approved, test the spirits, to be like the Bereans, to not let false doctrine into your spiritual house, give a first and second admonition to those that teach heresy, to expose those that contradict, etc.

So I ask myself: Is Paul saying he is rejoicing in the fact that the words of Christ are being preached even by those not doing it out of Christian love (i.e. keep His commandments and teach rightly)? Is he saying, at least it’s better than the rest of the sea of humanity who have not even been given to have faith in the bible and outwardly hate Christ and His standards?

So, when I see high profile athletes give glory to Jesus Christ publicly, I do rejoice in their testimony. Even though I have not heard them teach or preach, I discern they believe in another gospel, another Christ (just like me not long ago since we come out of the same Babylonian system, and I certainly understand that God has them where they are). In my job, I often advise senior citizens on their Medicare and government options, and often they will share their testimony with me. I rejoice in their testimony, yet I realize they are not open to the True Gospel, and I am careful not to cast my pearls; so my enthusiasm is greatly diminished.

Yet when I see someone who claims to have come out of Babylon promote the web- sites of various Babylon ministers (which I once promoted myself), I do not rejoice, and I do feel compelled to ask why to them; and I do feel compelled to expose their contradiction, etc.

When I see a TBN minister, I don’t rejoice at their false teaching even though they are at least preaching Christ while at the same time teaching another Christ and another gospel.

My conclusion:

Regarding my personal scenarios and feelings, I believe it is the Spirit of God leading me with what to say and what to feel as I do not want to hurt a babe in Christ nor give more to someone than they can handle as I constantly try and judge my motives in each situation.

Regarding Paul to Philipians 1, I conclude that why he did not hesitate to judge the body (turn one over to Satan for the destruction of the flesh and learn not blaspheme, exposed contradiction, and stand as a witness for the gospel even when his own under shepherds and disciples turned away from him, etc.), he still rejoiced over anyone’s attempt to preach Jesus, knowing God was in control and that gave him peace even when that preaching went against him.

Any thoughts?

M____

Christ Is Preached

Php 1:12 Now, brethren, I desire you should know that the things which have happened to me have fallen out rather to the furtherance of the gospel:
Php 1:13 So that my bands are made manifest in Christ, in all the court and in all other places.
Php 1:14 And many of the brethren in the Lord, growing confident by my bands, are much more bold to speak the word of God without fear.
Php 1:15 Some indeed, even out of envy and contention: but some also for good will preach Christ.
Php 1:16 Some out of charity, knowing that I am set for the defense of the gospel.
Php 1:17 And some out of contention preach Christ not sincerely: supposing that they raise affliction to my bands.
Php 1:18 But what then? So that by all means, whether by occasion or by truth, Christ be preached: in this also I rejoice, yea, and will rejoice. (DRB)

Wow, M____!,

You are right on target with this email. We all must believe in “another Jesus” and a false shepherd before we come to know “the true shepherd.”

2Co 11:4  For if he that cometh preacheth another Jesus, whom we have not preached, or if ye receive another spirit, which ye have not received, or another gospel, which ye have not accepted, ye might well bear with him

I have said many times that Babylon is under the law and is our schoolmaster to bring us to Christ. Being under the law, we differ nothing from a slave, but it is a necessary step which both the chosen elect and the many called must take at their own appointed time.

Gal 4:1  Now I say, [That] the heir, as long as he is a child, differeth nothing from a servant, though he be lord of all;
Gal 4:2  But is under tutors and governors until the time appointed of the father.
Gal 4:3  Even so we, when we were children, were in bondage under the elements of the world:
Gal 4:4  But when the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son, made of a woman, made under the law,
Gal 4:5  To redeem them that were under the law, that we might receive the adoption of sons.

“We when we were children were in bondage” in Babylon. It is true that God’s elect are still “carnal babes in Christ” even when we first think we have “come out of Babylon”. We want to expose Babylon, and we are bitter that they took our tithe money and fed us lies, and we want to make everyone see the Truth we now see. “Ye are yet carnal.”

1Co 3:1  And I, brethren, could not speak unto you as unto spiritual, but as unto carnal, even as unto babes in Christ.
1Co 3:2  I have fed you with milk, and not with meat: for hitherto ye were not able to bear it, neither yet now are ye able.
1Co 3:3  For ye are yet carnal: for whereas there is among you envying, and strife, and divisions, are ye not carnal, and walk as men?
1Co 3:4  For while one saith, I am of Paul; and another, I am of Apollos; are ye not carnal?

All of that is necessary to bring us to see our own immaturity and repent and remember that we, too, only yesterday were where they are, and we are all  exactly where God has us by His own design.

I have also pointed out that God’s elect all come out of Babylon and are all “of the flesh” and are “the son of the bondwoman” before being transformed into the son of the freewoman.

Gal 4:23  But he who was of the bondwoman was born after the flesh; but he of the freewoman [was] by promise.
Gal 4:24  Which things are an allegory: for these are the two covenants; the one from the mount Sinai, which gendereth to bondage, which is Agar.
Gal 4:25  For this Agar is mount Sinai in Arabia, and answereth to Jerusalem which now is, and is in bondage with her children.
Gal 4:26  But Jerusalem which is above is free, which is the mother of us all.

It was in verse three of this same fourth chapter of Galatians that Paul revealed that “we were in bondage…” So God’s elect all come out of Babylon as the scriptures declare.

Rev 18:4  And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.

When the Lord reveals to us the vital part that Babylon plays in our being chosen, we cannot but love and appreciate those openly Christian athletes and even the ministers of Babylon. It is on their backs that God’s elect are His elect. All things truly are for the sake of God’s elect.

Rom 11:30  For as ye in times past have not believed God, yet have now obtained mercy through their unbelief:
Rom 11:31  Even so have these also now not believed, that through your mercy they also may obtain mercy.

Thanks for sharing this with me. You have put this in very personal terms, and I will share this with our readers.

Your brother in Christ,
Mike