The Model Christian

Philippians 2:19–29 “If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon. Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another. So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve.”

We have two men here

Timothy

Pauls travelling companion for awhile.

like a son.

He stays with Paul

Epaphroditus

from the church in Philippi

Was sent with a gift for Paul

Is who is delivering the letter

Was ill but got better

Both were ministering to Paul while he was in prison was was not safe. They could have been in prison too if the wrong mood struck the guards. Also you can see Paul’s star is waning in the imperial eye

Paul commends them to the church as exemplars of the faith as model Christians.

So it raises the question what does the model Christian look like?

Here is not a full definition there are countless other areas we could talk about but for tonight this is what we will focus on.

The Message of Philippians Chapter 14. Model Christians (2:19–30)

The Lord is the Christian’s model; they are model Christians

Paul commends these two men for a reason. They are true partners in the gospel with him when he feels like true partners are fleeting. timothy his like a son to him and has been with him in his travels for a long time.

Epap is from the Philippian church but has brought Paul a gift and has become sick . he is sending him back fro the church sake that they wont be worried about him anymore.

Timothy does not seek his own interests but others. His Character is proven.

what does a proven character mean?

it is consistent. Not faltering

look at epap even though he has recently recovered from a sickness near death he is worried about his church. Again his focus is not on himself but others. Paul tells them to highly honor him. Epap is probably epap delivering the letter to them. These three men are model Christians. What can we lean about the journey of faith through them.

Hope in Jesus

Philippians 2:19 “If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along.”

our hope in the future and present has to be in Jesus. We have to want his future and not our own.

2 Corinthians 4:16–18 “That is why we never give up. Though our bodies are dying, our spirits are being renewed every day. For our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! So we don’t look at the troubles we can see now; rather, we fix our gaze on things that cannot be seen. For the things we see now will soon be gone, but the things we cannot see will last forever.”

hope renews our spirits every day

Paul hopes in the Lord to send timothy.

Trust in Jesus

whatever the outcome or situation there is trust in Jesus. As opposed to trust in people or a system. Like trusting in Rome to release Paul

Philippians 2:21 “All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ.”

Philippians 2:26 “I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill.”

These two and Paul trusted Jesus with their situation and focused on others.

Proverbs 3:5–6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.”

to trust in Jesus is to leave your vindication to him. Your revenge, your justice.

Submit to Jesus

what is submission to the lord/ what does it look like?

it is simply stating and showing that the Lord’s way is better and doin ti instead of our own will

it seeing that God’s way is better than yours.

There is a way that seems upright to a man, but its end is the way of death. Prov `4:21

Matthew 16:24 “Then Jesus said to his disciples, “If any of you wants to be my follower, you must give up your own way, take up your cross, and follow me.”

Matthew 26:39 “He went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.””

Hebrews 12:9 “Since we respected our earthly fathers who disciplined us, shouldn’t we submit even more to the discipline of the Father of our spirits, and live forever?”

1 Samuel 15:22 “But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams.”

Ultimately what makes someone a model Christian is not our actions but us just being willing to try. You do not have to be the best christian in the world right now. You just have to be the best one you can be right now. All you need to do is everyday try to be more in love with God and follow him better than you did yesterday.