Philippians 2:12-30 - Attitude of an Athlete*

Slide 1 - as I go up

Growing up most kids have a hero of some sort. It can be someone they know and look up to, a parent, a teacher, to a sibling. Their hero could be a local celebrity, someone everyone in town knows; the police chief, the college quarterback, or a popular political or civic leader. Their hero could be a national celebrity, an actor, a musician, an athlete. Their hero could be a historical figure; George Washington, William Wallace, Joan of Arc. Or as was my case their hero could be a fictional super hero; Wolverine, Spider man, Superman.... But kids always have a way of finding someone to look up to, someone to model, someone to say ‘I want to be like them when I grow up’. This last fall was the World Cup - and somewhere a kid watched soccer for the first time, and now views some of those players as their heroes and spends every waking moment watching, playing, practicing, or thinking about soccer with the dreams of being the next big star. Some other kid may have recently watched the PGA Tour… I don’t know… do people actually watch golf… I’ll gladly play a round… but watch it… it doesn’t matter this is just an illustration - we can pretend - some kid just watched the PGA Tour and is now spending every morning at their local driving range, every evening practicing their putting with dreams of being the next big golf star!

But how many kids are sitting at home looking at their wall of posters - all famous missionaries from the church - William Carey; missionary to India and founder of multiple Christian schools and mission agencies, Jim and Elisabeth Elliot, Missionaries in Ecuador where Nick was killed by the tribe they were trying to reach; for his wife Elisabeth, to remain two more years to keep trying to reach the Huaorani tribe; to eventually get an in and spend three more years living and ministering to the people who killer her husband.... Why don’t those people ever make the kids bedroom posters?!

But we’re going to see today - that if the printing press had been invented a thousand years earlier - maybe some of them would have, at least in Philippi the kids may have had Timothy and Epaphroditus posters next to their Spartacus poster…

We’re going to continue our study in SLIDE 2 Philippians today in Chapter two verses 12-30 today, so if you have a Bible and want to follow along you can, we’re going to begin in verse 19, but don’t worry, we’ll get back to 12-18 before we’re done for the day.

Now before you freak out seeing the title of this sermon is ‘the attitude of an athlete’ - don’t worry I’m not going to challenge us to all start getting up at 5 and running a 5k… though some of us may benefit from that… don’t worry I’m talking about me not you… But we will see today that the same attitude that make the athletic greats great is the attitude we need to engage as we pursue Christ - working hard for a prize, not a trophy not a championship ring - but a crown in heaven, and the joy of being welcomed by Jesus as he says ‘well done my good and faithful servant.’

So again if you have your Bibles feel free to turn to Philippians 2 and we will be starting in verse 19

19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be encouraged by news about you. 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father. 23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. 24 I am confident in the Lord that I myself will also come soon.

We see here the attitude of Timothy. Paul isn’t simply dropping Timothy as an example of one of his best and brightest. As a promising protege in ministry. But if you were here a few weeks back when we began this series, Timothy was with Paul when Paul first went to Philippi. Timothy was on the team that planted this church! They would know Timothy, he was there with many of them, likely praying as they waited for news after Paul’s arrest while he was with them in Philippi. Likely walking the streets with them as they taught others about Jesus. Timothy wasn’t just a name, he was a friend, a partner, a founding father, to the church of Philippi.

Reading what Paul says, however, can tell us a good deal about Timothy and the attitude he has. SLIDE 4

Paul first describes Timothy as like-minded. Some of your Bibles may have translated this word as ‘of equal spirit’ or ‘of like soul’. In modern Iowan English we may say they are of the same crop, or cut from the same cloth. Timothy is like Paul, if Paul can’t go you can at least get mini-Paul in the form of Timothy. Does this mean Paul and Timothy are clones of one another? They go into DT’s Pub ad Primetime and each order the same Pizza or Sandwich… no - but lets be honest we all know the taco pizza is the right choice, trust me I had it a couple weeks ago. Having the same food or music tastes isn’t what Paul means, the next line tells us how they are likeminded SLIDE 5

I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests;

Paul and Timothy were together in Philippi they love and care for the church there. They love and care for the people. Paul says in verse 21 that many others are seeking their own interests they are out for themselves, but Timothy is in it for the Philippians and the churches like them, pursing God’s heart not his own. And this care is genuine, not a mask he puts on at the right time, not a task he has to work towards, it is a genuine part of who he is. And Paul reminds the Philippians they already know this!

22 But you know his proven character, because he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

Timothy’s character is not in doubt, it has been proven firm! By being with them, and by word of others who have been with him people know Timothy is a man of character. He wasn’t always - does the Bible tell us that, no, but Timothy was a kid once… he went through the terrible twos… he was a ten year old once, a young teenager (pause) he wasn’t Jesus - he had to grow, just like we all do, and he grew into a man of proven character.

And we can even see how that character was proved,

he has served with me in the gospel ministry like a son with a father.

By working along side another - by apprenticing like a son would with a father - Timothy grew into a man of character, like minded with Paul, filled with genuine car for others. We begin to emulate the people we spend the most time around, that means we become like the people we spend the most time around. If I spend 10 hours a day hanging out with my friends who cus like crazy - odds are I’ll begin to cus. If I spend every night with my buddies down at the bar who drink two to many - I’ll begin to drink two too many. Does that mean we quit spending tim with those people? NO. It means we try and spend more time with people who will build us up, who will challenge us to grow in faith. that can be by going to church, serving midweek, attending or starting a small group or bible study, or just getting coffee with other Christians between Sundays - but intentionally surrounding ourselves with other likeminded people SO THAT for the purpose of better serving and showing the truth to our other friends when we are with them.

Timothy isn’t the only ministry partner Paul has, we also learn about a guy with a crazy name - now note - Caitlin and I are in the process of coming up with a name for baby #2, which will be revealed when the baby is born, but I can tell you right now and I don’t think this name will make the list. Verse 25 SLIDE 7

25 But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need—26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died. However, God had mercy on him, and not only on him but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. SLIDE 8 28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice again when you see him and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

I should apologize - that name joke was a little tasteless… do we have anyone here named Epaphroditus… if so I’m sorry.... (pause) that your parents named you that… (pause) no for real, I’m sorry to any Epaphrodituses out there that I made fun of your name… that was rude…

Paul tells us of this other man who is with him, Epaphroditus, a name that is unfamiliar to us, but it seems by this section he would not have been unfamiliar to the church in Philippi. While Epaphrditus’ name only appears twice in t he Bible, each time is in the book of Philippians. But even with so little page time, from these 6 verses we can learn a good bit about him. Paul gives Epaphroditus a few titles right off the bat. SLIDE 9

my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need

So we know that he is a fellow Christian, a brother, as well as some form of teacher, or leader, my coworker, and likely one involved in reaching those yet unreached with the truth of the Gospel, hence fellow soldier. Those are all titles and roles that Paul has observed as it relates to him, a fellow teacher, leader, and evangelist. In addition to those roles, however, he also served as a messenger, in chapter 4, the other section Epaphroditus is mentioned in, Paul says

18 I am fully supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you provided

Epaphroditus is a messenger, a first century postman (pause), but my favorite title Paul give him - a minister to my, Paul’s, need. How often do we think of the great apostle Paul in needed, more so in need of someone to minister to him?! Paul had a hard life, we have seen that earlier in this series, he needed fellow Christians to minister to his needs in the same way he was ministering to others! And Epaphroditus gets to go down in church history as a guy who got to minister to the needs of Paul, who ministered the the needs of thousands! That’s a pretty good legacy! A minister to the minister!

None of these titles, however, are attitudes, but rather the results of underlying attitudes. It takes faith to be a Christian - it takes passion to be a coworker, advancing the gospel - it takes courage to be a soldier advancing the kingdom of heaven against the kingdom of hell. It takes endurance and boldness to carry the gifts from Philippi to Rome. It takes empathy and compassion to be a minister to other’s needs like Epaphroditus did for Paul. But the next verse shows us more of Epaphroditus’ heart. Verses 26 and the first half of 27 SLIDE 10

26 since he has been longing for all of you and was distressed because you heard that he was sick. 27 Indeed, he was so sick that he nearly died.

Epaphroditus was longing to be with his Church family in Philippi because he was distressed. But he wasn’t distressed because of a conflict in the church or an sickness there in the church - he was distressed because he heard they were worried about him when he was sick. Epaphroditus was so sick that he almost died - and then, rather than have a woe is me, why did God let me get so ill mindset, he was distressed that the church in Philippi was worried for Him! He was more concerned with how his illness impacted others than how it almost killed him! That is textbook compassion, textbook empathy!

Now we know that Epaphroditus didn’t die, we know he recovered and Paul calls this a mercy as it saved the church from worry, it saved Epaphroditus from death, and in so protected Paul from what Paul considered sorrow upon sorrow as well. Epaphroditus had clearly found a special place in the hearts of those he ministered to and with. And as a result of Epaphroditus’ service to him he tells the church at Philippi SLIDE 11 verses 29 and 30.

29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with great joy and hold people like him in honor, 30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up what was lacking in your ministry to me.

Hold people like him in honor - put his poster on your wall, risking his life for the sake of ministry, risking his life to do the word of Christ! Those are the people worthy of honor. welcome him back joyfully.

We see these two men Timothy and Epaphroditus set up as examples, people we should follow; whose attitudes we should embrace. But why? Well, lets jump back to the section we skipped over, verses 12-18. SLIDE 12

12 Therefore, my dear friends, just as you have always obeyed, so now, not only in my presence but even more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. 13 For it is God who is working in you both to will and to work according to his good purpose. 14 Do everything without grumbling and arguing, 15 so that you may be blameless and pure, children of God who are faultless in a crooked and perverted generation, among whom you shine like stars in the world,

We start with a therefore, so we need to ask, what is this line responding to? What launched us into this, what is this therefor… there for? Last week we looked at the attitude of Christ, God made man. Humbled and made into a servant, obedient to the point of death - all by His own choice, following the will of God even if it didn’t align to his, no plan B. Paul told us to

Adopt the same attitude as that of Christ Jesus,

That was verse 5, of last weeks passage. Therefore, verse 1-15; just as you have been obeying keep being obedient. Keep following the commands, the will, and the model of Jesus, EVEN when it is hard, EVEN when no one is watching, EVEN when you don’t want to.

not only in my presence but even more in my absence

This isn’t a new command, to obey, Paul is echoing Jesus final command,

make disciples and teach them to obey all I have commanded you

And even that wasn’t a new command - read John 14 sometime where Jesus is teaching on how we find the way to His father, God’s, house - aka heaven - and you will see Jesus give the command to keep his commands, his words, 4 times in that one chapter. Clearly Jesus, and here Paul, values obedience. But the obedience isn’t for obediance sake, in verse 12 we are told SLIDE 13 to work out our salvation. And to do so with fear and trembling. And this can be a big stumbling block for a lot of Christians. There are a lot of people who read this and wrongly think - oh no - my holiness, my righteousness, my eternity is all up to me! I need to save myself! But is that what Paul is saying? NO! verse 13 makes that clear SLIDE 14

it is God who is working in you

God is working in you - so we need to work out our salvation. I heard it said once that we need to work out what God is working in. I come from a family of doctors, my grandpa and two of my uncles are all doctors - that’s two of my grandpas three sons - my dad was the black sheep, he picked engineering over medicine - but even then he had to go on and get his PHD - thanks dad - now my grandpa, and all his male sons are doctors… no pressure to the kid working on his bachelor of arts in graphic communications right… (pause) And don’t get me started on my cousins who are lawyers.... (pause) but doctors and lawyers got something going - you go through way to much school so you can… practice medicine, so you can practice law.... I like to think I got my masters in divinity, not so I can master the divine, but so that I can practice theology. I like that terminology, practice.

God saved us. Christ is our saviour - those who have accepted him as Lord have found him as their savior - that’s your degree - but now we have to practice - now we have to live out of that salvation, we need to practice that salvation, we need to work out that salvation that God worked in us. BUT we don’t do it alone! We do it with the Spirit!

God is working in you!

What is God working in us to do? SLIDE 15

To will and to work according to HIS good purposes.

Practice. We’re over here talking about practice (pause). And we do that and EVERYTHING else - without grumbling and arguing. Yeah… everything… it’s right there in the passage. Everything - mow our lawn, go to work, watch our kids, do the dishes, share the Gospel, have those hard conversations - without grumbling and complaining - because we are working out our salvation we are aligning our will - to work according to HIS purposes - advancing HIS kingdom.

So that we can be pure and blameless. we’re already children of God, lets LIVE LIKE IT.

Now, I don’t think I need to explain this line - that we are living in a crooked and perverted generation. I don’t think that line surprises any of you. I don’t think any of you look out at the world, watch the news, and go - wow, we have brought heaven to earth! Even in the best places, Caitlin and I went to Disney World this winter in Florida - we spent a long time saving up for that trip - and it was amazing - but even in the “The Most Magical Place On Earth”, you can see how we are living in a crooked and perverted world. A generation… multiple generations really… walking away from God. And what are we called to do about it? Fight it? Protest it? No. We’re called to

Shine like stars…

That may at times involve fighting the world it may involve protesting at times. But those are simply the means to the end of shining like a star - and how do we do that best? SLIDE 16

shine like stars in the world, 16 by holding firm to the word of life. Then I can boast in the day of Christ that I didn’t run or labor for nothing. 17 But even if I am poured out as a drink offering on the sacrificial service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. 18 In the same way you should also be glad and rejoice with me. SLIDE 17

By holding firm to the word of life. The logos of life. And what is the word of life? The logos that gives life? Well… John 1 SLIDE 18 does say

1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 All things were created through him, and apart from him not one thing was created that has been created. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of men. 5 That light shines in the darkness, and yet the darkness did not overcome it.

In this word was life, Jesus is this word. SLIDE 19

Hold firm to this word of life - hold firm to Jesus - be transformed BY Jesus - let our sins fall at the feet of Jesus. Take on the attitude of Jesus. Pursue holiness, righteousness, freedom in the name of Jesus! So that we can shine like stars in this generation. And then, like Paul, we can rejoice, we can celebrate. (Pause).

We have the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Men who served and ministered along with, and to, Paul. We have a command to work out our salvation which God is working in us by obeying the words of Christ. How are you going to do this? Let me give you two encouragements.

First, take an honest look at yourself, your habits, your preferences, and ask, are these in lign with God’s will? With God’s way? If the answer is no, how can you partner with God who is working in you and work those things out of your life, ridding yourself of those things.

Second, take an honest look at others, and say do I really care about where they spend eternity. If I really believe what I claim to believe. If I really believe what the Bible teaches, people have two inevitable ends - Heaven with God and Hell apart from Him. And regardless how the media portrays the two, only one is good - the other eternal torment. Ask yourself do you really care where your neighbor, coworker, friends, family go? And if so, how can you work with God, who is already working in you, to work out ways to serve, to minister, to them. So that you can some day - hopefully sooner rather than later - share the truth of the Gospel with them and like Paul celebrate joyfully as the they too embrace this truth?

At the start I mentioned I titled this sermon an ‘Attitude of an Athlete’ The best athletes didn’t get there by sleeping in and skipping practice. They got there by working hard. We too need to work hard, but not at our sport, at our salvation, not by ourselves, but with God. So how will you adopt the attitude of a spiritual athlete working out your salvation?

Let me pray for us.