The Church In Chains Series

The next take away - GOD GETS THE RESULTS DESPITE THE MESSENGER

“15 Some indeed preach Christ even from envy and strife, and some also from goodwill: 16 The former preach Christ from selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing to add affliction to my chains; 17 but the latter out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel. 18 What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is preached; and in this I rejoice, yes, and will rejoice.”

There seems to be two groups who are sharing the Good News with boldness. One group would appear to have personal problems with Paul – they are not preaching a false gospel as others are doing. They are preaching a true gospel – for which Paul is thankful and joyful – but their motives are in opposition to Paul’s motives. Just like God can work – in spite of Paul’s imprisonment – God can also work in spite of the selfish motives of these Believers. Paul does not use the old “the end justifies the means” argument. No – their means/motives are not what is rejoiced – THE GOSPEL MESSAGE GOING FORTH IS ALL THAT MATTERS.

I remember the old days of televangelists. A church I served in Portsmouth was in the neighborhood with the first little tv transmitter that Pat Robertson used to start broadcasting. Then there was Jim and Tammy Fay Baker. His fall from grace was very public as was the fate of others in that day. Yet those ministries were still leading folks to Christ even as their motives changes and grew dark. That was not the case with all of those folks. Back when televangelists became a standing joke, at least one left tv and kept spreading the gospel, building schools and orphanages and clinics in Africa. Ernest Angley – a faith healer – took the gospel around the world. There are lots of folks with good intentions – are they perfect? No – nobody is. Can God get results working with imperfect people? OH GOD, I HOPE SO… OR WE ARE SUNK!

Paul put it this way in 1 Cor. 1 – “18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19 For it is written:

“I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,

And bring to nothing the understanding of the prudent.”

20 Where is the wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of this world? 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.”

In that day and in this day – the message of the cross given to save those who will listen in the main thing.

Stephen Covey – author of “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People” – taught folks that to be successful, remember the main thing is to keep the main thing the main thing.