Philippians 2_19_30

Philippians 2:19-30“Where are you living”

Intro: A mother was preparing pancakes for her sons, Kevin, 5, and Ryan, 3. The boys began to argue over who would get the first pancake. Their mother saw the opportunity for a moral lesson. “If Jesus were sitting here, He would say, ‘Let my brother have the first pancake; I can wait.”

Kevin turned to his younger brother and said, “Ryan, you be Jesus!”

It is a great truth that Christians live in one of two places, Philippians 1:21 or Philippians 2:21.

In the second chapter of Philippians Paul implores the church to not act selfishly seeking glory for yourself but regard the interest of others before their own interest, the key is found in vs. 5, has this mind in you which was also in Christ Jesus!

The underlying theme of chapter two is having the mind of Christ Jesus, which means simply the focused mind set on serving God through self-sacrifice and service to others. Unity in the church is mentioned continually in chapter two and it will takes place when all the saints have the mind of Christ Jesus, because they will sacrifice themselves on the altar of God service.

Chapter two is full if examples of the mind of Christ Jesus, the perfect example is of Jesus Himself

He left His glory for the sake of humanity

He made Himself of no reputation for the sake of humanity

He was made in the likeness of manfor the sake of humanity

He took upon Himself the form of a servantfor the sake of humanity

He humbled Himself for the sake of humanity

He became obedient unto deathfor the sake of humanity

He died on a cursed Crossfor the sake of humanity

Christ’s redemptive work was not for His best interest but for ours.

Paul

He worked out his salvation for others to see

He held forth the word of life to bring illumination so others can see

He refrained from grumbling and disputing

He was above reproach before a crooked and perverse world

He was ready to celebrate his own death for the service and faith of those in Philippi

Now I image the Philippians are thinking, how can we live up to these examples, Jesus the only-begotten of God and the great Apostle Paul, so Paul gives the Philippians two more examples to follow, two “ordinary saints” who they are intimately familiar with who demonstrate the submissive mind, the mind of Christ Jesus. They are Timothy and Epaphroditus.

CPS: The mind of Christ is essential to Christian living, it is the focused mind on Christ’s example of selfless service on behalf of the Children of God. In this mindset Joy is found regardless of circumstances because your desire is not set on yourself but on those who belong to Christ Jesus and the Lord will reward and highly bless that person.

The mind of Christ exemplified in Timothy the Shepherd 19-24

Timothy is a familiar name we find in the Scriptures 24 times, he was the son of a Gentile father and a Jewish Mother, “Eunice.” He first met Paul during his 1st missionary journey in the town of Lystra and quite possibly came to Christ Jesus after seeing the Apostle Paul stoned and left for dead in the street. Paul calls him his “Son in the Spirit” and Timothy became Paul’s companion in missionary efforts during his second missionary Journey and was with Paul when he first arrived in Philippi.

Timothy is listed as co-author of this letter giving evidence of his dedicated service to Christ as he serves the imprisoned Paul. I am convinced that Timothy could also so state Philippians 1:21, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. As Paul’s concern grows for those in Philippi he desires to send someone there so he can learn of their condition. But who can he send, no one but Timothy! Of all the saints in Rome there is no one who genuinely cares for whole purpose of Christ and the wellbeing of the Philippians, except Timothy.

Dr. Warren Weirsbe states that all Christians live in one of two places, Philippians 1:21 or Philippians 2:21. I am convinced that Timothy lived in 1:21!

He had a servant’s mind.

He was genuinely concerned about their Physical and Spiritual welfare.

Care = Concern - take thought

ILL: Story of Anne Morrow Lindenburg, American Author and aviator, wife of Charles Lindenburg; Dwight Morrow, the father of Anne Morrow Lindbergh, once held a dinner party to which Calvin Coolidge had been invited. After Coolidge left, Morrow told the remaining guests that Coolidge would make a good president. The others disagreed. They felt Coolidge was too quiet, that he lacked color and personality. No one would like him, they said. Anne, then age six, spoke up: “I like him,” she said. Then she displayed a finger with a small bandage around it. “He was the only one at the party who asked about my sore finger.” “And that’s why he would make a good president,” added Morrow.

He was genuinely concerned about Christ’s interest

He had Proven Character

Proof – proven worth = dokimē = examine, approve literally tested Character

ILL: Idea of testing metals for purity… He was tested, tried and true.. He had been through smelters fire on more than one occasion.

He was a faithful and able servant, one whom Paul used as a dispatch bearer and trouble shooter, he had been sent to Thessalonica to strengthen them in the midst of their persecution (1 Thes. 3:2-3), to Corinth in order to remind them of Paul’s ways in the Lord (1 Cor. 4:17), now to Philippi.

He had a servant’s Heart 1:1 (Bond-Servants) 2:7 – 2:22

Paul says of Timothy he served with me for the furtherance of the Gospel the Word “served” δουλεύω (douleuō) !!VERB!! Notice the use of the noun form in 1:1 and 2:7 δοῦλος (doulos) = Timothy was a slave to Christ out of love to sacrifice and serve at the good pleasure of our Lord Jesus.

Here is the example of saint who had the mind of Jesus, he did not regard his best interest but the interest of Christ and His people, here lived a man who lived in 1:21 not 2:21. How about you?

The mind of Christ exemplified in Epaphroditus the Leader 25-30

A Gentile of Philippi who we know little of compared to Timothy but this text tells us some things about Epaphrodtus that we can use as an example to apply to our lives in regards to having the mind of Christ.

He was a balanced Christian

His example exemplifies what we learned in Chapter 1… listen to how Paul refers to him

My Brother (2:25)……. “The Fellowship of the Gospel” (1:5) he was a participant in the Gospel, in fellowship with God, Paul, and with the Philippians.

My Companion in Labor (2:25) [my fellow worker] ……. “The furtherance of the Gospel” (1:12) his circumstance was for the greater progress of the Gospel.

My fellow soldier (2:25) ….. “The faith of the Gospel” (1:27)

Epapgroditus was a servant of God well balanced. Particioating in fellowship, laboring in the advancement of the Gospel, and standing firm in the defense of the faith; Balance is important in the life of the Christian, some focus on fellowship neglecting the furtherance of the Gospel, while others focus on defending the faith and neglect fellowship, Epaphroditus did not fall into this trap.

Warren Wiersbe compares Epaphroditus to Nehemiah who lead the third wave of exile’s out of Persia, the man who rebuilt the walls of Jerusalem with a sword and one hand and his trowel in the other. (Neh. 4:17). YOU CANNOT BUILD WITH A SWORD NOR BATTLE WITH A TROWEL, it takes both the get the Lord’s work accomplished.

ILL: Dr. H.A. Ironside tells a story of a group of believers who thought only of fellowship having little concern for reaching the lost or defending the faith, they placed a sign on their place of meeting that read “Jesus Only” over time the wind blew off some of the letters, and the sign read “US ONLY”

He was a Burdened Christian

We see an example of a burdened Christian in the life Epaphroditus, his burden was not for himself but for others.

Burdened for Paul

When he heard of Paul’s circumstances he volunteered to make the long and dangerous voyage to Rome inorder to stand at his side, assist him, and minister to him. He carried a love offering from the church to Paul and guarded it with his life as he traveled. Paul called him “your minister” and “messenger” he brought Paul news of circumstances in Philippi because Paul’s greatest burden was for the Chruch.

Burdened for the Philippians

While in Philippi he became sick to the Point of death but God showed mercy upon him and Paul, but even during his sickness his distress was for the people back home who was worried about him. He was worried over the opposition they faced and the disunity that was arising, its safe to say that Epaphrodites was burdened over Paul and had a desire to minister to him and to go home and minister to those in Philippi as well.

In Vs. 26 “Full of heaviness” same word used in Matthew 26:37 while Jesus was at Gethsemane it’s a picture of great distress in the body of Epaphroditus. Like Timothy he had a natural concern of others, like Christ he knew the meaning of sacrifice and service. Here is a man who lived in Philippians 1:21 not 2:21

Conclusion: Two men who lived in 1:21, having the mind of Christ Jesus concerned with the people of Christ, the interest of Christ, living a life of sacrifice and service along with Paul and each had reason to rejoice. Paul said God showed mercy Epaphrpditus and himself lest he have sorrow upon sorrow, but Philippians is not about sorrow but joy and rejoicing (16x) yet he was experiencing grief in his struggle. Having joy does not mean the absence of sorrow, but the capacity to rejoice in the midst of it!

And we see in this text that God honors the self-sacrificing servant. Jesus arose and was exalted and given the name above every name, Paul has reason to glory because he did not run nor toil in vain, Timothy is mentioned 24 times in the New Testament and was chosen as Paul’s replacement when the great apostle was called home, Epaphroditus was worthy of honor by the Philippians because he served Christ to the point of near death.

God exalts the humble self-sacrificing servant….. live in 1:21, serve sacrificially, and experience the joy of Christ during difficult circumstance by having the mind of Jesus in you