A True Friend In The Gospel

Philippians 2:19-24

Introduction:

We are back in our series Joy In The Journey, and today is the 10th message.

We are going to walk through verses 19-24 in chapter 2 and the title for this message is: A True Friend In The Gospel

Recap where we’ve been in Philippians 2 up to this point.

Today we are going to read about a man named Timothy, who was a dear friend of Paul and partner in the Gospel. He was a selfless follower of Jesus who cared for the churches that God put in front of him to serve and love on.

Prayer:

Read The Text:

Philippians 2:19-24

Central Idea: Jesus’ life modeled service, Paul followed, Timothy stepped up—now it’s our turn to help advance God’s Kingdom.

Context:

Who is Timothy? Timothy ended up becoming Paul's right hand man in ministry, his apprentice. He met Timothy during his first missionary journey.

Read Acts 16:1-5

Timothy, born to a Jewish mother and a Greek father, joined Paul during his second missionary journey. Paul poured into him, discipling him in the faith, and their bond grew into a strong friendship. As we’ll see in our passage today, God used Timothy mightily to strengthen the churches and encourage the believers Paul ministered to.

Walk Through The Text:

POINT ONE: Faithful Service Requires Genuine Care

Read Verse 19

Paul hopes and trusts in the Lord Jesus to be able to send Timothy to them soon.

Timothy is referenced in Philippians 1:1. He is wanting to send Timothy to them so that he can report back to Paul how they are doing.

In that time, for Paul to know how they are doing, he would have had to send someone to them and then they come back to him and report with news.

Paul sent Timothy several times to different churches: Read Acts 19:22, 1 Corinthians 4:17, and 1 Thessalonians 3:2 are three examples.

Paul was intentional about who he partnered with in ministry and even more deliberate about whom he sent to serve in the places where he ministered.

Read Verse 20

Paul had several friends in ministry that have been mentioned in Acts and throughout the letters Paul wrote, but here he is saying I have no one like him. Timothy was a unicorn in Paul's eyes. Paul loved Jesus with all of his hearts and faithfully served him. If we go back to Philippians 1:1, we see Timothy is also mentioned as a servant of Jesus just like Paul. He viewed him as an equal in the partnership of the Gospel.

That's a big deal coming from Paul and it sets an example for us to strive for.

The Calvary Road, an incredible book short but deeply convicting book about living in continual fellowship with God through humility, repentance, and the “brokenness” that comes from truly yielding to Christ, says this about servanthood: “When we understand the humbling and self-emptying that is involved in really being a servant, it becomes evident that only those who are prepared to live quite definitely under the shadow of Calvary, ever contemplating the humility and brokenness of the Lord Jesus for us, will be willing for that position.”

POINT TWO: Faithful Service Requires Selflessness

Read Verse 21

Reference Philippians 1:15 and Philippians 1:17.

There is no comparison to Timothy. He knew Timothy was a servant of Jesus Christ and fully focused on Him. That is who they needed to be encouraged by.

Someone who could set the example of Philippians 2:3-4

Read Verse 22

Reference 1 Corinthians 4:17.

One commentator said: "Because of long associations with Timothy, they know his worth, that his character has been put to the test and thus “he has proved himself” (NIV). But as with almost everything else in this letter, Paul’s interest in Timothy’s “proven character” is not with his “character” in general, but as that has been demonstrated in the way “he has served with me in the cause of the gospel."

Paul viewed Timothy like a son and treated him that way. They were truly partners in the Gospel. Whenever Paul needed Timothy to help, he did it. Think of the thousands of miles Timothy travelled to the different cities to minister with Paul and on his behalf, just like he is now with the Philippians.

POINT Three: Faithful Service Requires Availability

Read Verse 23

Reference Philippians 2:19

He is hoping in the Lord Jesus that Timothy will be sent soon on Paul's behalf. This time, we see more detail. Paul is still awaiting trial, still waiting to see if he will live for Christ or die (Philippians 1:21).

We now see 3 main reasons Paul is sending Timothy, yet waiting on the exact time to do so:

To be cheered by news of how they are doing (Update on their well-being)- Verse 19

So that he can genuinely encourage and care for them in Paul's absence- Verse 20

Finally, we see that Timothy can, in person, update them on what Paul's status is, which at the time of this writing is still up in the air- Verse 23

Read Verse 24

Reference Philippians 1:24-26

Paul again seems confident that he will be reunited with them in person shortly or soon. In that time period, even if he was getting out the next day, soon would have been quite a while compared to today (They had to walk when it came to travelling, again pointing back to how big a role Timothy played by traveling thousands of miles in his Kingdom work with and without Paul).

Applications:

Be Available To Be Used By God

Where Do We Go From Here:

Spend the next few minutes in prayer. God may be calling you to repent. God may be calling you to draw closer to Jesus this morning if you have strayed. God may be calling you to surrender to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and start your relationship with Him today. If you do not have a relationship with Jesus, if he truly is not your Lord and Savior, I would love to talk to you right now about how you can leave here with a relationship with Jesus Christ today!

However God has spoken to you this morning to respond, do it!