Philippians 2:19-30 - Care For One Another

***Bibles

Todays message. “Care for one another”

so as we go through this passage

we will see care for one another

in the lives of Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and the Philippian church

as Paul shares his travel plans in this section

If you feel led as we read the section right now

note ways you see care for one another taking place.

Philippians 2:19–30 NKJV

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.

as we already know Paul is in prison

and the Philippians send Epaphroditus

to go to Paul

and what we see in 4:18

to deliver gifts to Paul

but he gets sick

and almost dies

Somehow the Philippians hear about it

and while Epaphroditus is with Paul

he finds out that the Philippians heard of his condition

and so Epaphroditus gets distressed knowing

they are probably worried about him

and so he is longing to return to them

so while Paul wants to send Timothy to them

because Timothy is like minded with Paul,

and could do the work Paul cant do while in prison

he wants to wait till he finds out about

what is going to happen with his situation

so while Timothy is on hold

and while Paul is hopeful that he will be released

and also able to visit them (verse 24)

Paul sends Epaphroditus right away

so that the Philippians will rejoice and be glad

seeing Epaphroditus return healthy

and look forward to the hopeful arrival of Paul and Timothy.

there is so much beauty in this passage.

it is full of brotherly love,

and care for one another

the care starts in verse 19 at the start of this passage with Paul and in verse 23

with Paul wanting to send Timothy because

he cares for the state the Philippians are in

(and hopes to be encouraged by what he hears.)

Paul also is caring for the Philippians in verses 25 & 28

in sending Epaphroditus back to them

as he knows they are worried about him

(and is likely also sending Epaphroditus back with this letter)

and so like a shepherd we see Paul cares for them

(an important attribute of a shepherd/pastor that he cares)

Paul also cares for Epaphroditus

because he said in verse 27 he would have had sorrow upon sorrow

if Epaphroditus died while trying to minister to him.

and the reason why Paul is is sending Timothy is seen in verse 20

because no one else is like minded with Paul that will sincerely

care for them.

and so Timothy also cares for them

in fact it says sincerely cares

“sincerely” also can be translated as genuine

that he genuinely, cares for them.

then we see Epaphroditus

an amazing Philippian example (in verse 25)

as he cared for Paul and ministered to his need

and was a brother, fellow worker, and soldier with Paul

and Epaphroditus also deeply cared for his own church (verse 26):

he was distressed when he knew his church found out he was sick

and was worried because he knew they would worry.

Which that also shows us the care

the Philippian church had for their own(v.26,28)

in that he knew the church would be worried about him

this church loved and cared for their own

and they also cared for Paul (v.30)

as they sent Epaphroditus to deliver their gift to him (4:18)

and so through this whole section

we get so much care for one another

ultimately we see

they’re is care for each others health (Paul, and Philippians to Epa)

they’re is care in the practical needs (Philippians gift 2 Paul)

they’re is care in each others state and well being (Paul, Timothy, Epa towards the Philippians and Philippians to Paul and Epa)

As the care in this passage is directed towards

caring for your own church

caring for your co-laborers

caring for your minister

caring for those in your ministry

It is beautiful, touching.

Its an example we all desire.

to have relationships like this.

We all want to be cared for like this.

with care through the body of Christ

to each other

Isnt it easy though to read and hear about this kind of love and care

and start comparing?

start trying to spot the areas lacking in care

how quickly do we

cast judgement on those around us

for not caring?

Especially if we have been personally effected

As it can hurt...

when others seem to not care, or show they care

when times are hard

We wonder why we didn't receive help from them

Why they didn't show support.

Especially when the ones you thought

should have been there for you were not.

It can hurt and sting

especially in

reading this passage

when you desire to have

this kind of care with so much love and support.

Its heavy. Its real.

but I also had to be real with myself

and check myself with

“the golden” rule:

“Do unto others as you would have them do unto you”

(comes from Matt 7:12)

This passage also made me then question

what and who do I care about?

Do I care for my co-laboerers?

Do I care for my church?

Do I care for the ones ministering to me

Do I care for the ones I am ministering to?

Do I care for their practical needs?

Do I care for their health?

Do I care for their well being?

When we ask ourselves this I am sure

there will be some that we say yes

there will be some that we say I could do better

there will be some that we say no I havent.

but what do we care most about?

well verse 21 answers that for us.

look at the first half of verse 21

“for all seek their own”

Each one of us naturally care for ourselves

whats in it for me?

whats my benefit?

what will I get out of it

how will this help me?

but we dont see that with these men.

by God’s ability we dont see that thinking in them

and it also was not in the mind of Christ described earlier this chapter

instead in this chapter

is the exhortation to look out for interest of others.

to let nothing be done with selfish ambition

it has to be work of God

to not just be seeking our own.

but the things which are of Christ

as it says in the second half of verse 21

the things which are of Christ being

***His people, His will, His call, His commands***

so Timothy cared for the Philippians

because he was not seeking his own

but seeking the things which are of Christ

Looking back to our previous section

is seeking the things which are Christ’s

a work of the flesh

or a work from God?

its only a work of God

to will and to do for His good pleasure.

to seek the things which are of Christs

to sincerely care

this is a work of God.

In the flesh its about ourselves

and we get callus towards people

and sometimes even prideful

of how thick skinned we are

and tough, and act like we dont care.

nothing gets to me

i lack compassion

But God sees all over the world... the needs

God sees within this church... all the needs

the practical needs

the health needs

the well being needs.

and He has us here to be here for each other.

may we share His heart.

that has been worked in us.

may we ask do I care?

am I just seeking my own?

do I care for the things of Christ?

we very well may be and have what someone beside us needs.

maybe its just a hug, maybe its a gift, maybe its a prayer,

wisdom/ advice

the way we care for one another though is going to look different

maybe its more shepherding like Paul and Timothy

maybe its serving coming alongside

maybe its being more of a brother or sister

and giving a hug, fellowshipping and loving each other

or being a worker

and serving each other

maybe its more of like a solider

and you’re in the fight going through the

battles for each other.

slide

Galatians 6:2 NKJV

2 Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.

blank

Remember its the Lords work in you

none of us are

Paul, Timothy or Epaphroditus

We probably wont be called

to deliver a gift while sick to death

It may just be to pray for someone

to hug someone

to minister to someone

the greatest thing they did was obey God

Were not called to be literal copy cats of Epaphroditus

but when God says do this ...

may we also say yes God

and so what God has for us is

a unique call to each one of us

but the greatest thing we do is say yes God

when he leads our hearts

and a way God sometimes shows us is

by showing us the need

like we see in the last verse of chapter 2

on how we can practically care for each other

in verse 30 it says

“to supply what was lacking in your service”

in this verse it has to do with how

Epaphroditus gave to Paul, what the Philippians couldn't

to finish the job

While the Philippians did what they could

in collecting the funds

the job wasn't completed

until Epaphroditus delivered it

so Epaphroditus supplied what was lacking in their service

by finishing the job

but this may also be

a reference to the

personal touch Epaphroditus could give to Paul

that the Philippians beings hundreds of miles away could not.

while they gave financially

Epaphroditus was able to presently minister to him.

as then Paul calls him a brother, a fellow worker and soldier.

Teaching and showing us

to spot the areas that is lacking

and fill them.

A way to care for our church

is to not just notice the need

but to then fill it.

to finish the job.

If we see a need,

maybe its God showing us for a reason

that its our opportunity to show God’s love

and be a light.

so may the Lord work in us

to care to not hold back.

like we saw with these men

the same Spirit that lived in them lives in us.

and He can work in us to sincerely care for one another.

and not just in the good times

but also in the hard times.

as we see

it says in verse 22 that with Timothy it

was in his proven character

that proven character

means it was tested and tried

and his character was confirmed

as he withstood, and rose up,

when you serve it can be hard work alone

but especially when you face circumstances

and while many give up

and focus on getting out of the situation

it can be difficult

Timothy proved himself to rise up

and not back down.

Its one thing just to care

its the next level to care

when in the midst of trials and circumstances.

we that especially in Paul

while in prison

seeking to minister to others.

it is a work of God to be able to serve

and give and love

even when you’re the one suffering

in the midst of circumstances

when you are thinking

“I am the one that needs to be ministered to”

to keep serving

remember we are not these guys

but we have our own call

God wants to use us

and will give us the ability

to do what He has called for us to do

even if were facing hardship

and It maybe doesn't feel fair

but its opportunity to share

in what Christ did for us

He suffered, He served, and gave!

“a Man of sorrows and acquainted with grief” (Is 53:3)

yet also a Bondservant.

so it is also an opportunity

to get to know what Jesus did for us just little bit better

***I am not saying dont get help for yourself***

what I am saying

that in God’s strength we can rise up from our situations and pains

and do the call God has for us.

Just like we see these men in our passage doing.

in our last passage we saw that

our circumstances can give us an opportunity to shine

brighter to the world

but here it also shows that it proves our character.

what has our character proven?

when the fire is turned up

what do we do?

By God’s strength

we can do His call

which often involves loving/caring for others

even in the hard times

and its not all brutal

because like we see in our passage

when we do His call in His strength

we often end up gaining

new brothers/sister, fellow workers, and fellow soldiers

along the way

Showing us that often

when we do the work

we find others doing the work too

A lot of times when we care for others

we find others who also care for us too.

in verse 25

Paul called Epaphroditus

his brother, fellow worker, and soldier

as he ministered to Paul

brotherhood this speaks of

relationship, and fellowship

fellow worker speaks of

co laboring

fellow solder

speaks towards

being in the battle together

not too often can you say all three about someone.

this really speaks of the depth of character of Epaphroditus

it seems like it is a progression

first it starts with a brotherhood

then a co-laboring together

then a were in this fight together

Lets look for our CC Jericho Road brothers/sisters, workers, and soldiers.

and when we find them as verse 29 says:

“hold such men in esteem” (value)

with, gladness & value

but by God’s strength lets also be

CC Jericho Road brothers/sisters, workers, and soldiers to one another

To care for the

people here

the co-laboers here

the ministers here

our ministries here

Looking after the

practical, the health, and welling being needs we all have

when we share His heart for His people

as He pours it into us

it changes things!

you cant help but to help and serve and love

God can change the callus,

hard, lack of compassion heart

and make us care

it becomes this need that I have to do this

Like Epaphroditus

he is pushing through

his own personal needs

risking his life

because he just had to

finish the job

When God works in us

that call, that care, that cause, it drives you

what an amazing work of the church

when it comes together

when it cares for each other

They all were in it together

it involved donating, praying, ministering,

travleling,

because they cared

because God poured in their heart to care for one another.

Its God’s work

and each one of our lives is important

He wants to use us to be there for each other.

to look after each other

to pray, and help, and support,

Jesus said we should be known for the love we have for one another.

and so may we in God’s strength

fill the need

and care for one another.

worship team

move into Communion