Prison Letters Philippians 2:19-30
Prison Letters Philippians • Sermon • Submitted • Presented
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Do what some say is impossible
Do what some say is impossible
Walking on hands all the way across the wrestling room.
Saw this as a freshman and in my head I decided I would do this.
I worked on it a lot.
Lots of failure.
It is not something I picked up on the first try
By the time I was a Senior, I was able to do this.
1 If then there is any encouragement in Christ, if any consolation of love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any affection and mercy,
2 fulfill my joy by thinking the same way, having the same love, sharing the same feelings, focusing on one goal.
3 Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves.
4 Everyone should look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.
Some might respond to this portion of the letter and say NOT POSSIBLE.
No One should be expected to live like this. It can’t be done.
At the end of this chapter, Paul gives us two examples who the Philippian church may be somewhat familiar with.
19 Now I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon so that I also may be encouraged when I hear news about you.
Now I hope in the Lord Jesus
‘Under the Lordship of Jesus’
He is in prison and doesn’t have control over where he can go and where he can’t go. He writes and says under the Lordship of Jesus.
Declaring that Jesus is Lord over his imprisonment
Jesus is Lord that Timothy is going for him.
Notice also that his plans are not based on a human calculation for release and freedom. They are based on God’s sovereign plan.
I may also be encouraged when I hear news about you.
I love this expression of back and forth. I want to hear from you. I want to hear what God is doing in your life. I will report how God is moving in my life but I want to hear how God is moving in your life.
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.
Here comes the impossible that is being lived out through an ordinary man like Timothy.
I have no one else like him.
He is genuinely interested in the church at Philippi. He cares about you all. Perhaps no one else is willing to go to Philippi to check on them but Timothy is willing.
He cares about your interest.
All seek their own interest, not those of Jesus Christ
Many Christians near Paul at the time. These Christians are seeking their own interest.
We see this statement thriving in the United States church. Often we seek our interest and not what is in the best interest of others.
This is possible. See the example of Timothy and live it out. Seek the interest of others.
You know his proven character.
His character has been tested.
Many give their lives to Jesus and then want to jump right in to being on stage and speaking for the Lord.
Timothy has stood the test and shown himself to be a man of sound character and worthiness.
Timothy had been tested and approved.
Like a son with a father
In this world, there was apprenticeships. A father would train his son in their trade. he would invest into the son so that the son had a solid training in the fathers trade.
Paul says that Timothy has been an apprentice to him like a son to His father.
23 Therefore, I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
24 I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will also come quickly.
Notice Paul’s hope
I hope to send him as soon as I see how things go with me
I am convinced in the Lord.
Paul continues to write this letter from Prison and in confinement and He in confinement continues to hope in the Lord.
I want this character trait for myself and for our church.
Hope in the Lord always
Hope in the Lord on good days and bad
Hope in the Lord through pain, through plans, in finances, in success and in failures. I hope in the Lord.
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 —
my brother - fellowship in the Gospel
my coworker - furtherance of the Gospel
fellow soldier - faith of the Gospel
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 one grief on top of another.
He was distressed because you heard that he was sick.
His concern is for their well being and they are concerned because he is sick. I love this fellowship.
This is selfless love in action.
This is the one who is sick thinking about others and the others thinking about the one who is sick.
He was so sick he nearly died
God had mercy on him but also on me
Paul does not write and say God heard my prayer and he healed him because of my prayers
He in humility says God had mercy on him and mercy on me by healing him so that I too don’t have one grief on top of the other.
Also Paul is not setting aside life or ignoring life. Sickness and death but here he is modeling his faith through life.
Funerals in our community we often will set aside our faith. Paul does not do this.
28 For this reason, I am very eager to send him so that you may rejoice when you see him again and I may be less anxious.
29 Therefore, welcome him in the Lord with all joy and hold men 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 men like him in honor
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.
