Honoring our Spiritiual Fathers (Philippians 2:25-30)

Catch- Father’s Day was first observed on June 19, 1910, in Spokane, Washington, through the efforts of Sonora Smart Dodd, a Christian woman and the daughter of American Civil War veteran William Jackson Smart

A bill was introduced in Congress in 1913, and in 1916, President Woodrow Wilson spoke at a Father’s Day celebration in Spokane, Washington, wanting to make it an official holiday, but Congress still resisted. I

1966 President Lyndon Johnson made a proclamation for the third Sunday of June to be Father’s Day. Finally, it was made an official national holiday when President Nixon signed a similar proclamation in 1972

And the 5th commandment tells us to honor our fathers, so this is a good thing

I made it hard for myself on mother’s day, because I didn’t preach a mother’s day sermon, but I thougth of lots of illustrations that went with mothers

So, one of you said you couldn’t wait for my father’s day sermon… and I was like oh no

But in God’s providence we landed on the passage that literally says, “like a child serving his father.”

So could we ask for a better setup?!

How do we honor our spiritual fathers as Timothy did to Paul

Review

Then he called them to live a life worthy of the gospel and to worth out their salvation together

Remember, last week we saw he gave a very specific application work without grumbling or disputing

This was done by holding to the bible

This would be done by living for othe peole

V19 begins with a “but,” which seems too strange to talk about simple travel plans

But this next section is here because response may be living the normal Christian life on the grounds that what is required of a Christian is impossible

At this point, someone is bound to object. "That might be all right in theory, but it is pretty hard to do in practice. How can a Christian meet such standards?"

God’s apostle Paul Is telling you, it is not impossible.

To prove it Paul presents three human examples: Paul himself, an apostle; Timothy, a young minister; and Epaphroditus, a layman."

These provide not just the call, but how specific how

So let’s see how Timothy was an example of utter humility

4 marks of your CARE for your spiritual fathers.

You Cheer Him when you represent him (v19)

Explanation

First, let’s learn about the father figure:Paul is speaking of his desire to send Timothy to

Paul is speaking of his desire to send Timothy to Philipi shortly and says a key phrase, “I hope in the Lord Jesus.”

Hope could be translated I expect or am confident.

Paul’s source of hope is in God’s control, not chance or the will of the universe.

The doctrine of being “in christ,” reminds us that everything in our life is defined and dependent upon Him

Ever since he was found in Christ jesus (3:9)

Christ has become his life (1:21)

And if you have been found in him, that relationship should define you

Being in Christ redefines the believer’s life,

including shifting the things we want to do from being all about us and instead about others

Thus, our plans are dependent upon his work

Second: we have the child.Timothy

Timothy

Timothy was a church kid…. He grew up with godly influences.

2 Timothy 3:15- and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus.

So why was Paul going to send Timothy?

We’ll see next week that Epaphroditus is right there in front of them….he brought the letter

But Timothy is going to come for so that Paul may be encouraged from what he hears about them.

Encouraged= cheered or refreshed

This makes sense with what we just read. Paul cared about the success and right standing of his flock, he wanted to know how they were

Philippians 2:16- holding fast the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I will have reason to glory because I did not run in vain nor toil in vain.

Epaphroditus will deliver the message of how Paul is doing, but Timothy would be able take the news back to Paul.

Timothy represents Paul to them

But that also means Timothy will know what to look for, what lines to read between, so he can encourage Paul with the message

Illustration point- We honor our spiritual fathers when we represent them well

The biblical concept of headship seems strange to modern ears, but I think we still get it

In football, why do they fire the head coach the week after a team loses the state championship?

The coach didn't fumble the ball, miss a play, or get sent off for fighting. But he's responsible for the team's performance.

Or when a rambunctious five-year-old gleefully pulls cans of tuna off the shelf in the grocery store just to hear the repeated plunks on the floor, the manager walks past the offending kid and approaches the parent. We understand headship.

In the same way, we reflect back our those who lead us

You will honor your spiritual fathers when your actions reflect well upon them

Application

Honor doesn’t mean obeying your father

Ephesians 6:1–2- Children, obey your parents in the Lord, for this is right. HONOR YOUR FATHER AND MOTHER (which is the first commandment with a promise),

Children obey, but everyone honors because Genesis 2:24 says to leave your father and mother

Honor means to prize or esteem

Timothy is honoring Paul both by representing him and bringing news of him back

What do people think about your church your pastors, and your mentors based on your life?

There is nothing more joyous for godly mentors, disciplers or friends to hear you are doing well in the Lord

When we’re tempted to grumble and complain, can we instead be like Timothy and gossip about good news

You know what I mean… share encouraging stories instead

Kids and young adults

You are in such an important stage of picking who you will honor

There will always be someone who boasts about you, let it be your parents and those in church who will love with the love of Christ

Trans: But beyond just hearing from Timothy, here is another aspect of caring

You give more Attention to other’s welfare (vv20-21a)

Explanation

They are Kindred spirits meaning

They have the same heart beat, the same thoughts. The same desires

And what are both their hearts focused on?the welfare of the Philippians

the welfare of the Philippians

Concerned means to take thought of… or to worry about….

We’ll get there, but it is the same word in

Philippians 4:6- Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.

Worry is not proper care and concern that causes you to pay attention to other’s needs as Paul did this

2 Corinthians 11:28- Apart from such external things, there is the daily pressure on me of concern for all the churches.

Paul knew that Timothy thought of them often, how to help them and that he was doing the very thing he tells the Philipians to do in chapter 4

As the concern rises up in him, he prays

Remember, Paul is in Rome awaiting Trial

Philippians 4:21- The brethren who are with me greet you.

there are other Christians in Rome with him, but many have abandoned Paul or the cause of Christ

Flip back to

Philippians 1:15–17- Some, to be sure, are preaching Christ even from envy and strife, but some also from good will; the latter do it out of love, knowing that I am appointed for the defense of the gospel; the former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition rather than from pure motives, thinking to cause me distress in my imprisonment.

Many even who were brothers in Christ were divided over Paul’s ministry and imprisonment

But many had abandoned Paul already

They were exemplified by Demas, a dependable coworker of Paul’s in Rome (Col. 4:14; Philem. 24), who would eventually desert him (2 Tim. 4:10, 16)

Timothy thought the same as Paul

Paul’s way of telling them that Timothy would treat them as Paul would,

and they should treat Timothy as they would their beloved Paul.

Seek is a great way to describe it=

=Others strive for, aim for…like reach out to grab things for themselves only

And sometimes those are the ones who are leaders can do this…

Paul said in Acts 20:29 that savage wolves will come in among the Ephesian elders and draw away the disciples after them.

These men would have all the right reasons, even pointing to scripture and arguing they wanted to follow God’s law, but they are not seeking God’s way, just what they thought was right

Timothy honored Paul by considering others better than himself

No greater example of this than David and Jonathan

You might say, what do you mean Pastor Chris, I thought David and Jonathan were like brothers

Kind of, because that is were father relationship end up

David was thirty when he became king (2 Samuel 5:4). Saul reigned for forty years (Acts 13:21). So David must have been born in the tenth year of Saul’s reign. Jonathan was already fighting with Saul during and an Israelite solider needed to be at least 20 (Numbers 1:3).

So in the tenth year of Saul’s reign, when David was born, Jonathan must have been at least 27

He was old enough to be David’s father

But in each other they found men who were fully focused on the serving the Lord God

1 sam 20- Jonathan risks his favor with his father because of his love of David by saying he did nothing wrong

2 Samuel 9- David remembers his promises to Jonathan and seeks out the last child, Mephiboseth

Challenging political move as he was helping someone in turn who could be a challenge to him or his sons to the throne

Thinking about the needs of others rather than the risk it means for us

You can honor your spiritual father by living for others

Application

Paul was alone here at the end with only Timothy who had such an others focused mindset

But what does Paul want to do with Timothy?

Send him on ministry away to others

When you think of how you love your best friend, or your spiritual children, do you want them to think much of you or others?

DA Carson helpfully writes of this, “Those who follow Jesus Christ inevitably learn to cast self-interest and self-comfort and self-focus to one side.”

The solution to the Philippians selfishness was the example of selfless Timothy

Brothers and sisters, when you see selfishness in other people, how can you be like Timothy, an example

Trans: And Paul doesn’t allow the example to be taken over by this wrong ideas of cliques or groups of people who just hang out with each other.

You Rank Christ and the gospel highest (vv21b-22)

Explanation

Timothy was a proven worker because among them

Flip back to Acts 16.

Acts 16:1–3- Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

V12- They all head to Philippi with Silas and Luke (notice the we), so one of Timothy’s first missionary trips was here

Timothy served with them side by side, and so they knew he cared, they knew he was their friend

They saw him serving them which Paul says he served the gospel along with Paul

The word served means to be a slave. He subjected himself

Ilus- He put the chains of service onto himself to make sure these people put on the gospel

Here we have the relationship defined...a father and son.

Paul called Timothy his true son in the faith, which may mean he led him to Christ, But Paul did train Timothy in what he was to do

But Paul did train Timothy in what he was to do

But notice that he served with Paul not just under him.

Remember, Timothy is a young man.In 1 Tim 4:12, Timothy is told by Paul to not let anyone look down upon him because of his youth.

In 1 Tim 4:12, Timothy is told by Paul to not let anyone look down upon him because of his youth.& here he is even younger

& here he is even younger

But Paul considers him of equal soul

It is interesting how often a younger generation will fight the older one

This is nothing new…great quote from Socrates. (5th century BC)

“our youth now love luxury. They have bad manners, contempt for authority, disrespect for older people. Children nowadays are tyrants. They no longer rise when their elders enter the room. They contradict their parents, chatter before company, gobble their food, and tyrannize their teachers.”

But Paul and Timothy show us a better way

They served together and received their standards and instruction from the Lord

Paul then says in verse 23- I hope to send him immediately

Because he cares about christ’s mission and you, so I need to send him to help you.

Even the problems could be dealt with

Paul taught Timothy the highest good was a coworker of the gospel just like Paul taught him

We tend to learn what’s important from our parents

My great grandfather was a Norwegian immigrant, so he skied

My grandfather wanted a ski house up in Truckee because his father taught him to ski

My father loved skiing because his father brought him

My father started me skiing at 3 years old, so I love it

And yes, I’m teaching my kids to love skiing too

But I recently was given this bible from 1892 that belonged to O-leigh Jacob Bogstad, my great grandfather, with all his underlinings and markings

What is the most important thing we want to pass onto our children?

Someone who seeks Christ and his interests

I think I make O-leigh look good by how I seek Christ, and so will you

Application

And we have to ask, why is Paul saying this about Timothy?

They know his proven worth, why does he repeat it?

And the whole reason is that Paul is not going to be there and he’s sending Timothy

Young Timothy instead of father Paul

And yet Paul is saying, “He is one in soul with me.”

There is something strange that happens in parent child dynamics both spiritually and physically

If you live long enough your kids will eventually become like your siblings and then eventually will have to care for you like a parent does a child

So, in Christ, some of my best conversations have been with people much younger than me who have amazing insights into scripture and how to live like a christian… so I’m humbled…

You want those you mentor to become your equals

But just like a child may one day need to change their parents’ diapers

You may end up being taught and led by your spiritual child

Notice how dependent Paul is on Timothy’s work to encourage his soul in this hard time

So, my I be real honest here?

Your pastors is relatively young

Yet, I want to be like Timothy to you…

The world is complaining about the young who are so lazy or the old who do not get how the world is

The church can be different in that our considering of others will shine through the generational divide

Trans: But even though Paul send he wanted to send Timothy, he had not yet, because there is one other important thing great friends do.

You Elevate the highest need (vv23-24)

Explanation

This whole comment was an explanation of why Timothy was not there now!

Paul didn’t need to tell them why they should listen to Timothy, they loved him from the description here

But here stands Epaphroditus with the letter, not Timothy

Paul is saying though he is great for you, I need him now.

Paul is waiting to hear the results of his case and has his own issues in Rome.

We don’t know why exactly he needs to stay,

but he was needed there until Paul’s time in court was done and he was released.

After the decision is made Paul had some other trips but would send Timothy to them quickly before he can get there.

& then v 24- Paul too is planning to come quickly.

This brings up the question of why Paul wanted to hear news from Timothy if he was released?

Paul must have expected Timothy not to remain at Philippi but to bring him word about the church immediately.

may they planed to meet at Ephesus after Paul’s release.

Paul wanted to know, but he knew all things were based on the Lord’s will. So he trusted Timothy would come at the right time and Paul would go when the Lord wanted

Illus- Timothy honored his father by staying with Paul and then leaving Paul as the needs changed

Good fathers are an example of doing what is need

Men, Imagine after you are eating a delicious In and out burger

As the tasty food enter your stomach your blood begins to flow, allowing your stomach to digest and take the nutrients to the rest of your body

But then you see a child walking out into the street

Your body goes into fight or flight mode

You take off running

And your blood vessels to your muscles open up wide, diverting the blood that was going to your stomach towards your legs

You grab the kid safely, and with heavy breath return to your seat

But what about that burger in your stomach?

The digestion will totally be interrupted,

you might have some indigestion

But you have made the right choice.

Because it is honoring to go where the greatest need is

App:

Sometimes believers, the head of the church directs his resources to other needs rather than you.

He moves your friends to other ministries

He brings up another need when you had some event planned.

He brings a unsaved person or new believer into their life who they want to poor into you

We are to make our choices of where we live, what work we do, not based on what is most comfortable or easiest… not one what will secure my future, but where is the need God has for him

We honor our fathers when we go where God sends us, how do you respond when what’s most important isn’t you?

If the gospel growth is our goal, then you will rejoice that they serving Christ

And this attitude is only achieved when we remember how much we need the gospel

Realize that you deserve nothing because you sinned

Only judgement should be given

But Christ offered himself and lived perfectly in your place

You believe in him and his righteousness if given to you

so many blessings.

Thus we trust christ with the callings he has for us and for others

Therefore

Since we have seen (Cohesion)-

Let’s be those who Care

They bring cheer to the godly leaders over you

Attend to your welfare over the sales

They Rank Jesus’ mission as the most important

And they Elevate a more important need over you

We know we must (Resolution)- truly honor our fathers

For some father’s day is hard

Some dads never made an appearance in our lives. Some are barely present physically, let alone emotionally.

Others might be known for their destructive words and the bruises they leave behind.

Maybe they love their beer more than their babies or make it hard for us to believe any man could be gentle and loving. They don’t just make us wonder if they love us; they make us wonder if anyone could love us.

But while those earthly dads can be selfish, we have a heavenly father who gave his son for us

Then he gives us a church to be the body of Christ in our midst

Maybe you need that spiritual dad in your life to remind you of God’s fatherliness

or maybe you need to be that spiritual dad for someone else

Blood may be thinker than water, but the spirit prevails over all