Honor Such Men
Notes
Transcript
Introduction
Introduction
[CONTEXT] Paul wrote to the Christians in Philippi to thank them for their support and partnership in the gospel. This church loved Paul and sought to support him and join him as he preached the good news about Jesus even though he was under house-arrest in Rome waiting to stand trial. The Philippians sent one of their own, a brother named Epaphroditus, to deliver their encouragement to Paul, but he also delivered news of discord in the Philippian church.
Thus, we see Paul calling the Philippian believers to unity. He wrote in ...
Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,
But there would be no unity in the Philippian church, unless there was humility in the individual members, so he also called them to selfless concern for one another. He wrote in ...
Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
The ultimate example of this kind of selfless living was Jesus who “emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross,” ().
But, although we should follow the example of Jesus, it sometimes seems impossible for us because he was perfect and we aren’t. He was the Son of God and we aren’t. He was God in the flesh and we aren’t.
So although Jesus is the perfect example, sometimes we need other examples between us and him - other, perhaps, more relatable examples of men and women who are living selflessly - other examples that can show us how to follow the perfect example of Jesus more faithfully. Paul said examples like that are worthy of honor.
In , Paul gave two examples of men worthy of honor because of their selfless living for Christ. They were Timothy, his son in the faith, and Epaphroditus, the messenger from the Philippians.
However, Paul provided a third example of a man living for Christ in this passage although he may not have realized it. That man was Paul and that’s who we are going to focus on this morning.
[CIT] As we study this passage, we’ll see Paul follow the selfless example of Jesus and [PROP] we will be encouraged to follow Paul as he follows the Lord.
[INTER] So how did Paul follow the selfless example of Jesus?
[TS] I want you to notice three WAYS...
Major Ideas
Major Ideas
Way #1: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by trusting (vv. 23-24).
Way #1: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by trusting (vv. 23-24).
I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
[Exp] Paul was a man who understood the difference between his wants and the Lord’s will.
He wanted to send Timothy to the Philippians so that he might care for the Philippians and serve them faithfully, but he realized that the Lord Jesus might have other plans. That’s why Paul didn’t say, “I’m sending you Timothy,” but in v. 19, “I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you...,” and in v. 23, “I hope therefore to send him...” Paul trusted that Jesus knew best for Timothy and the Philippians.
Paul also trusted that Jesus knew best for Paul. The outcome of Paul’s situation wasn’t certain. When he finally stood trial in Rome, the result could be death. As he wrote Philippians, he was fairly confident it wouldn’t end in death, but it wasn’t certain. That’s why in v. 23 he told the Philippians that he would have to “see how it (went) with (him),” before sending Timothy. If it looked like his life was coming to an end, he might keep Timothy close at hand. If it looked like he would be spared, Paul would send him on to the Philippians and then he would come to them as well. But only Jesus knew and Paul was glad to wait and trust Jesus.
[Illus] There’s a story from one of the older Our Daily Bread devotionals that goes something like this:
Boy Trusted His Father
There’s a story from one of the older Our Daily Bread devotionals that goes something like this:
A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable. But it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides. To get the flower someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a rope.
A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below.
The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” A short time later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the boy said, “I’ll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He’s my dad,” (Our Daily Bread, April 8, 1996).
Our Daily Bread, April 8, 1996
[App] Now, think about that story for a moment. Could the boy have been certain that he wouldn’t die just because his dad held the rope? Of course not. The boy simply trusted that his dad would do what was best as he held the other end of the rope. Jesus wasn’t Paul’s dad, but he was his Lord; and Paul trusted that Jesus would do what was best on the other end of the rope whether Paul lived or died.
Do you have that same kind of trust in Jesus? If I claim him as my Lord, I should. No matter the situation we find ourselves in, our attitudes should be, “Rain or shine. Good or bad. Life or death. My Lord knows best. I trust him. I trust him more than I trust anyone else. I trust him more than I trust myself. I trust his word. What he says is true. I trust his goodness. I know he’ll do what’s best for me. I trust him sovereignty. All authority in heaven and on earth belong to him.”
Now, think about that story for a moment. Could the boy have been certain that he wouldn’t die just because his dad held the rope? Of course not. The boy simply trusted that his dad would do what was best as he held the other end of the rope.
[TS] A man who lives with that kind of trust in Jesus is a man worthy of honor.
Way #2: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by servant (v. 22).
Way #2: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by servant (v. 22).
Philippians 2:22
But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
[Exp]
[Exp] Paul gave the Philippians a glowing reference concerning Timothy. He said here in v. 22 that Timothy has served with him as a son would his father. But in endorsing Timothy, Paul unintentionally endorsed himself. Timothy had been serving or slaving away in the advancement of the gospel, but he has been doing so “with (Paul).”
Before we notice Timothy’s serving and slaving to advance the gospel, we should be reminded of Paul’s serving and slaving to advance the gospel.
Paul often identified himself as a servant or, as some people think it should be translated, as a slave of Christ. In fact, Paul introduced himself in this letter to the Philippians by saying, “Paul, a servant (or slave) of Jesus Christ,” ().
Now, there are at least a few things that would have come immediately to the Philippian mind as Paul referred to himself as a slave of Christ. One, a slave belonged to another. Two, a slave served according to the will of another. And, three, a slave served to please another. All of that was true of Paul as a slave of Christ.
Paul belonged to Christ. Paul served according to the will of Christ. And Paul served to please Christ.
Another thing that would have come to mind as Paul referred to himself as a slave of Christ is his slaving or serving, as mentioned here in .
Obviously a servant was expected to serve; a slave was expected to be busy slaving. And Paul was busy. In fact, in order to defend his authority as an Apostle against those that the Corinthian church considered super-apostles, Paul wrote in ...
But by the grace of God I am what I am, and his grace toward me was not in vain. On the contrary, I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me.
In , Paul mentioned his “far greater labors” for Christ than those false teachers posing as super-apostles in the Corinthian church.
Paul was busy. He worked. He put in the effort. He served. He slaved. But he didn’t like to talk about it. The Corinthian church drove him talk because they were being led astray, and here in , he mentions it almost accidentally. Despite his incredible work ethic in making disciples of Christ, Paul was humble about it because he knew it wasn’t done in his strength but in the strength that Jesus provided. In he wrote...
For this I toil, struggling with all his energy that he powerfully works within me.
[Illus] A notice was found in the ruins of a London office building. It was dated 1852.
[Illus]
Among other things, it talked about changes in work hours and the changes necessary to keep production high...
Do you ever feel overworked, over-regulated, under-leisured, under-benefited? Take heart. This notice was found in the ruins of a London office building. It was dated 1852.
This firm has reduced the hours of work, and the clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays.
This firm has reduced the hours of work, and the clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays.
1. This firm has reduced the hours of work, and the clerical staff will now only have to be present between the hours of 7 a.m. and 6 p.m. weekdays.
No member of the clerical staff may leave the room without permission from the supervisor.
2. Clothing must be of a sober nature. The clerical staff will not disport themselves in raiment of bright colors, nor will they wear hose unless in good repair.
3. Overshoes and topcoats may not be worn in the office, but neck scarves and headwear may be worn in inclement weather.
3. Overshoes and topcoats may not be worn in the office, but neck scarves and headwear may be worn in inclement weather.
4. A stove is provided for the benefit of the clerical staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the locker. It is recommended that each member of the clerical staff bring four pounds of coal each day during the cold weather.
4. A stove is provided for the benefit of the clerical staff. Coal and wood must be kept in the locker. It is recommended that each member of the clerical staff bring four pounds of coal each day during the cold weather.
5. No member of the clerical staff may leave the room without permission from the supervisor.
5. No member of the clerical staff may leave the room without permission from the supervisor.
No talking is allowed during business hours.
7. The craving for tobacco, wine, or spirits is a human weakness, and as such is forbidden to all members of the clerical staff.
7. The craving for tobacco, wine, or spirits is a human weakness, and as such is forbidden to all members of the clerical staff.
[Illus]
Now that the hours of business have been drastically reduced, the partaking of food is allowed between 11:30 and noon, but work will not on any account cease.
The owners recognize the generosity of the new labor laws, but will expect a great rise in output of work to compensate for these near Utopian conditions, (Bits & Pieces, May 26, 1994, pp. 13-15; Galaxie Software. 2002. 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press).
10. The supervisor will nominate a senior clerk to be responsible for the cleanliness of the main office and the private office. All boys and juniors will report to him 40 minutes before prayers and will remain after closing hours for similar work. Brushes, brooms, scrubber, and soap are provided by the owners.
11. The owners recognize the generosity of the new labor laws, but will expect a great rise in output of work to compensate for these near Utopian conditions, (Bits & Pieces, May 26, 1994, pp. 13-15).
Bits & Pieces, May 26, 1994, pp. 13-1
Galaxie Software. (2002). 10,000 Sermon Illustrations. Biblical Studies Press.
[App] Maybe we think serving, slaving, or working for Jesus in today’s world is difficult and at certain times, in certain places that’s correct. But even though the opposition to Christianity is increasing in our country, it is still a great time and a great place to do work for the Lord. But will we work? Will we put in the effort? Will we serve to please our Lord Jesus? Will we live as a slave of Christ?
But will we work? Will we put in the effort? Will we serve to please our Lord Jesus?
Perhaps we need to continually pray, asking God to fill us with the same energy that he filled Paul with.
We should serve and slave for Christ throughout our lives so that on our death beds we are able to say as Paul did, “ I worked harder than any of them, though it was not I, but the grace of God that is with me,” (1 Cor. 15:10).
[TS] A man who serves and salves for Christ in this way is a man worthy of honor.
Way #3: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by forgetting (vv. 19, 23, 28).
Way #3: Paul followed the selfless example of Jesus by forgetting (vv. 19, 23, 28).
Notice what Paul wrote to the Philippians in vv. 19 and 23 about Timothy...
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me,
Philippians
I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
[Exp]
And then notice what he wrote about Epaphroditus in v. 28...
I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.
[Exp] We read this morning in Sunday School about how Paul came to Rome. Chained up. On trial. Shipped to Rome. Lost at sea. Shipwrecked on an island. Finally arriving only to be chained to a guard under house arrest awaiting trial, which could end in his death.
Paul was familiar with hardship and suffering, but he didn’t allow his hardship and suffering to make him selfish. If his hardship and suffering had made him selfish, he would have planned to keep Timothy and Epaphroditus with him rather than sending them to the Philippians.
Despite his situation, as Paul wrote this passage to the Philippians, he was not thinking about what would be best for him, but about what would best for them.
[Illus] At the Hallmark company headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, there is a 3x5 index card from 1944.
It was written by a marketing and sales executive for Hallmark named, C. E. Goodman, who came up with Hallmark’s slogan. The card reads, “When you care enough to send the very best.”
[App] For Paul that wasn’t just a slogan. It was a way of life despite the hardships in his own life. He sent the very best and it was much more than a greeting card. He sent men worthy of honor - men like Timothy and Epaphroditus and others to encourage and strengthen churches like the church in Philippi.
There’s only one way he could have done something so selfless. He forgot about himself. Now, I don’t mean that he didn’t think about his situation at all. Based on the passage, it’s obvious that he thought about his situation to some extent. But he forgot about himself in the sense that he didn’t prioritize himself even when most would’ve considered it ok to do so.
But if we justify our selfishness because of hardships we are going through, we’ll always find hardships to justify our selfishness. We’ll always think, “Someone else will have to serve… Someone else will have to give… Someone else will have to put in the work because I just have too much going on right now… because I need some me time… because no one else is going through what I’m going through.”
Sometimes we do have a lot going on. Sometimes we do need some time to ourselves. Sometimes we are going through things that are horrific. None of that justifies selfishness. While we will think about the hardships we are facing, we should forget about ourselves as Paul did. We must not prioritize ourselves even when the world (or even other believers) consider it ok to do so.
[Illus] Sometimes we see the song, We Have Come Into His House.
There is a line repeated throughout that song, which says, “Let’s forget about ourselves...” That song calls us to forget about ourselves and worship the Lord, to forget about ourselves and praise his name.
That’s right. The only way we can truly worship and praise him is to forget about ourselves. It’s also the only way that we can truly serve one another as Paul served the Philippians and, most significantly, as Jesus served us.
[TS] {see below}
Conclusion
Conclusion
As I’ve said, in his trusting, serving, and forgetting, Paul was only following the example of the Lord Jesus.
Jesus trusted that his Father, God the Father, knew best when he prayed, “Not my will but yours be done.”
Jesus came, not to be served, but to serve and give his life as a ransom for many.
Jesus forgot about himself and prioritized us as he hung on the cross to pay the price for our sins.
This kind of living is what God has already called us to when he inspired Paul to write , which says...
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
Notes
Notes
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Boy Trusted His Father
Boy Trusted His Father
Some years ago I read an account that went something like this:
A group of scientists and botanists were exploring remote regions of the Alps in search of new species of flowers. One day they noticed through binoculars a flower of such rarity and beauty that its value to science was incalculable. But it lay deep in a ravine with cliffs on both sides. To get the flower someone had to be lowered over the cliff on a rope.
A curious young boy was watching nearby, and the scientists told him they would pay him well if he would agree to be lowered over the cliff to retrieve the flower below.
The boy took one long look down the steep, dizzy depths and said, “I’ll be back in a minute.” A short time later he returned, followed by a gray-haired man. Approaching the botanist, the boy said, “I’ll go over that cliff and get that flower for you if this man holds the rope. He’s my dad.”
Our Daily Bread, April 8, 1996
Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
10,000 Sermon Illustrations Because You’re My Dad
Because You’re My Dad
One day, while my son Zac and I were out in the country, climbing around in some cliffs, I heard a voice from above me yell, “Hey Dad! Catch me!” I turned around to see Zac joyfully jumping off a rock straight at me. He had jumped and them yelled “Hey Dad!” I became an instant circus act, catching him. We both fell to the ground. For a moment after I caught him I could hardly talk. When I found my voice again I gasped in exasperation: “Zac! Can you give me one good reason why you did that???”
He responded with remarkable calmness: “Sure...because you’re my Dad.” His whole assurance was based in the fact that his father was trustworthy. He could live life to the hilt because I could be trusted. Isn’t this even more true for a Christian?
Holy Sweat, Tim Hansel, 1987, Word Books Publisher, pp. 46-47
