It is easy, at times, to get distracted by other people, including co-laborers in Christ, as we do the work of God, sharing the Gospel to all we come in contact with in our daily journey. Even when we are vigilant, pride and envy creep in like thieves in the night, faster than you can shout “Sons of Thunder”. If you are working for the Gospel, then rest assured that the Enemy will try to slay you where you stand before you ever embark out your front door. The Enemy does not have to literally kill you to quell your zeal. He simply has to nourish the pride in your mind and the envy of your heart and get you all worked up so that you forget the Mission–sharing Christ Crucified with all the Nations. You see, the Devil wants to keep you hostage and in the bondage of sin. He does not want you to share the truth with people-that over 2,000 years ago, on a hill called Calvary, Christ won the victory and you and I, through repentance and believing in the atoning work of Jesus Christ, are free from sin and now are servants of righteousness, sharing the love and forgiveness secured on the Cross. Satan wants to turn us against one another, ministry brothers and sisters, so that we become entangled in controversies and distracted with things having nothing to do with God. But we must strive to stand firm in the very Gospel that saved us, so that others might hear Jesus Christ proclaimed from every rooftop, roadside, mountain and valley. He is the King of Kings and the Lord of Lords. Our message is clear–repent and believe in Jesus Christ. Apart from Christ, nothing else matters. Proclaim the Truth. Preach the Cross.
Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will. The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment. What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice. Philippians 1:15-18 (ESV)
The Devotional Guy™ 
“Satan wants to turn us against one another, ministry brothers and sisters, so that we become entangled in controversies and distracted with things having nothing to do with God.” So true
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I am rejoicing with St. Paul, that even when I mess up the message and cause him consternation, at least Christ is preached.
I am struggling to rejoice with St Paul, that even when my colleagues mess up the message and cause me consternation, at least Christ is preached.
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I think that’s a very natural spot we find ourselves in. In writing this, I was thinking of a personal ministry situation that I have been grappling with and through this passage God reminded me that I need to focus on my walk, my ministry, and how I am handling the Word, rather than what others are doing or how they are doing it. After all, I’m accountable to Him for my words and deeds.
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Cool.
That passage from Philippians is one my dad often spouts off at me. He has given me cause to think on it many times.
I guess I was thinking of Westboro Baptist Church protesting military funerals and gay pride parades. I have a “friend” in the blog-O-sphere who, I think, grew up Christian but abandoned the faith for a couple of decades largely out of shame and embarrassment at sharing the “Christian” name with people who preach hate in Jesus’ name. She happens to live in an area of the nation where new age and witchcraft and so forth has a strong foot hold. I can easily imagine how hard it is to express faith in that part of society which already shuns Jesus and points to people with that kind of message.
I too am embarrassed by them. I too feel the sting and stigma of that garbage, and I live in the Bible belt! I too see the inconsistency in voting against abortion candidates but voting for pro war candidates – and then preaching the virtues of pro life in that mixed bag. And, of course, I want any who hear me to give me more of a hearing than that. I believe in the same Jesus, but that does not mean I preach hate!
All that said, and still, I have my blind spots. I am sure I am an embarrassment to others too. In fact, I am that by design, I think. But I am still a brother – even when it hurts.
That is where my thoughts were gravitating.
I suppose it shows there are many facets to all this. The word of God applies to lots of scenarios.
Thanx for posting.
Thanx for engaging conversation!
I appreciate your blog and your ministry. Please be encouraged, and keep it up.
God bless…
X
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Absolutely! Thank you for your encouraging engagement.
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