ARE YOU WEEPING
Charles e Whisnant, March 13, 2011 Philippians 3:18
MY OCCUPATION AS A CHRISTIAN IS TO LIVE LIKE CHRIST WOULD IN A FALLEN WORLD
ARE YOU WEEPING OVER THOSE WHO HAVE FALLEN TO THE VOICE OF THE ENEMIES OF CHRIST AND THE CROSS?
That is only something the Holy Spirit can do and He can only do that when a believer ‘s spirit is yielded to His working in his life.
If my focus is on Christ the Spirit will transform me into Christ’s image.
WHAT WILL HELP ME IN REACHNG THE GOAL OF THE PRIZE?
1A FOLLOW AFTER GODLY EXAMPLES: VS. 17
2A FLEE ENEMIES OF CHRIST AND THE CROSS: VS 18
18(For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ: 19Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
Watch out that you don’t follow the enemies of Christ. In the pursuit of sanctification, some are to be followed, many are to be avoided.
FOR MANY WALK
Because Paul knew firsthand that those who were walking among the saints at Philippi were teachers who did not follow after Christ. Their conduct, their behavior, their teaching, their doctrine was not in line with Christ.
OF WHOM I HAVE TOLD YOU OFTEN
“I have told you again and again.” Or “over and over.” Matthew Henry said, “We so little heed the warning given us that we have need to have them repeated.” Colossians 2:4. A good teacher uses repetition to make sure the teaching “takes root.” Acts 20:31-32.
WEEPING 2799
Weeping expresses one’s immediate and outward reaction to suffering, or grief. The preachers of Paul’s day brought tears to Paul’s eyes and grief to his soul because they were bringing disgrace to the name of Christ and His kingdom. Paul was weeping over the way some professed Christians are living.
THAT THEY ARE ENEMIES2190
Enemies are those who had a deep seated animosity or hatred for Christ. Many came across as friends of the Lord.
OF THE CROSS4716 OF CHRIST
Mark 8:34-35 The cross here refers to the idea of self-denial which a believer must be prepared to be willing to do, to follow Christ.
WHO ARE THE FALSE ENEMIES OF CHRIST
They are not the drunkards, the harlots, but those who say they are Christians. Those who in practice are living to please themselves. They have a standard which they have adopted for their own conduct that is pleasing to them. They teach a gospel that is not of Christ. They do not teach the Cross as the only sufficiency for salvation.
THE CHURCH TODAY LACKS DISCERNMENT:
The false teachers that Christians will follow today. What Christian people will believe is amazing. I am dumbfounded how many people follow after so many quacks in the church today. And they don’t even know it.
There is a lack in the Christian church today for precise teaching and precise thinking and as a result they are victimized by those who are wolves in sheep clothing.
· Today’s church is like the religious leaders of Jesus day, who could tell the difference between superficial things like pleasant and stormy weather, but not between truth and error. (Mark 16:1-3)
· In contrast, God calls all true believers to pursue perfect conformity to the absolute, holy standard of His Word.
· Spiritual discernment is the skill of separating divine truth from error. 1 Thessalonians 5:21
· As believers we are to evaluate everything we come in contact with to distinguish what is true and false, good or bad, or right and wrong. Who is preaching the Cross of Christ, who is teaching sound doctrine?
· Paul wanted the people to be spiritually discerned about false teachers.
· Do you know the difference between the teaching of John MacArthur and Joel Osteen?
· Do you listen to Joyce Myers the same way you listen to Steven Lawson?
· Do you know the difference between teaching of the Scriptures and preaching the Bible?
· http://ccwhisnant.livejournal.com/48991.html
