On The Behalf Of Christ

“ON THE BEHALF OF CHRIST”

TEXT PHILIPPIANS 1:29-30 & 2:1-8

This Epistle is a letter that was written to the Philippli Church, which was located in Macedonia in S.E. Europe. This was Paul’s first Church in Europe. They were a Church that was not of great money and a Church that was being persecuted. This letter to the Church of Phillipi iswritten in less rebuke then the other letters Paul wrote to the churches. The Phillippi Church consisted of members of not great wealth and consider poor. But they were the one that we read about sending offerings to Paul ministry and he accepted. But as we see with the verse of scriptures we read there must have been somewhat of a problem with love, unity and humility in the Church. Paul must have heard of some feeling that they were above or better than others in the church, for this reason he writes unto them, reminding them that they are called Christians on the Behalf of Christ.

If I was scheduled to speak or had appointment that I could not attend. I could send someone to speak or make the appointment on my behalf. But this person would be representing the ideals or agenda as if I was there. The President of the United States sends out different individuals to represent him and his commitments, or values on his and The United States behalf. The President sends out Ambassadors to different countries to represent the policies of the Untied States and to offer service and, or protect American Citizens in that country. Those of us who are born again believers and confess Jesus Christ our Lord and Master are Ambassadors for him here on earth. We are here on behalf of Christ.

II CORINTHIANS 5: 20 “NOW THEN WE ARE AMBASSADORS FOR CHRIST, AS THOUGH GOD DID BESEECH YOU BY US: WE PRAY YOU IN CHRIST’S STEAD, BE YE RECONCILED TO GOD.”

For on Christ’s behalf we are not only to believe on him but also to suffer for his name’s sake. Bearing the reproach of this world and entering in to a war against satan and all his devices. But not only do we battle against satan but against our own fleshly desires. With any conflict or battle you will suffer losses or casualties. There has not been a war that did not encounter some sort of sufferings. But this war we are fighting is on behalf of Christ, therefore the suffering we encounters is on his behalf. Suffering, is a word that no one what’s to be associated with and Paul is telling them that believing only is not enough but you must and will encounter sufferings for him. To become as Christ is not just saying that I believe in Jesus Christ, but is confessing him Lord of your life. Thus then beginning to become as Christ was upon this world. For he walk and live in this world but was not a part of this world. For this reason he was persecuted, not for the things or acts that he committed but because he represented something different then what they were not willing to accept and become. He was at war with darkness and became the light of this world through his sufferings. For this, we are also to become on behalf of Jesus Christ.

In verse 30 Paul’s reminds then of the persecution he went through when he first began the Church of Phillipi. Acts 16:9 Paul has a vision of a man in Macedonia saying come over and help us. Acts 16:19 you will find that they had Paul and Silas stripped of their clothing (humiliated), beaten and thrown into jail. Then about the midnight hour in the jail a great revival began to happen and the Church of Phillippi was founded. Conflict in the Greek for this passage literally meant struggle or battle. Because of The Spirit of GOD directed him to Macedonia he came against Satan and his powers. The damsel in whom he cast out the devils, and then the stripes lay upon his back and then jailed. But through this conflict, battle and the suffering he endured, he was consoled through Christ Jesus and the Glory that was revealed unto them was greater than the suffering he had went through. For through that suffering was this Church founded in Macedonia. Today that I am writing this letter, nothing has not changed, I am still in this conflict (battle) and as you have heard I am still suffering for the name of Jesus Christ.

ROMANS 8:17 “ AND IF CHILDREN, THEN HEIRS; HEIRS OF GOD, AND JOINT- HEIRS WITH CHRIST; IF SO BE THAT WE SUFFER WITH HIM, THAT WE MAY BE ALSO GLORIFIED TOGETHER.” 18 “ FOR I RECKON THE SUFFERINGS OF THIS PRESENT TIME ARE NOT WORHTY TO BE COMPARED WITH THE GLORY WHICH SHALL BE REVEALED IN US