Role Models

Philippians 2:19–30 NASB95

But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly. But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

What must we do to be a godly spiritual role model?

1. HAVE A CONCERN FOR OTHER PEOPLE

1 Corinthians 9:19–23 NASB95

For though I am free from all men, I have made myself a slave to all, so that I may win more. To the Jews I became as a Jew, so that I might win Jews; to those who are under the Law, as under the Law though not being myself under the Law, so that I might win those who are under the Law; to those who are without law, as without law, though not being without the law of God but under the law of Christ, so that I might win those who are without law. To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak; I have become all things to all men, so that I may by all means save some. I do all things for the sake of the gospel, so that I may become a fellow partaker of it.

Philippians 2:20 NASB95

For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

1 Corinthians 10:24 NASB95

Let no one seek his own good, but that of his neighbor.

2. WE MUST SEEK AFTER CHRIST’S INTERESTS

Philippians 2:21–22 NASB95

For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus. But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

Luke 9:23 NASB95

And He was saying to them all, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross daily and follow Me.

3. WE MUST PUSH FOR THE GOSPELS ADVANCEMENT

Philippians 2:22 NASB95

But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

Acts 20:24 NASB95

“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.

4. WE MUST RISK IT ALL FOR JESUS

Philippians 2:30 NASB95

because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

WHAT KIND OF ROLE MODEL ARE YOU?