Philippians 2:19- 30

Review

Philippians is known for being the book of Joy as it is mentioned some 14 times. Joy in-spite of circumstances. Remember Paul is writing from a Roman prison.

How is your “Joy Meeter” this week? What’s the difference between Happiness and Joy?

For our purposes here, generally - happiness relates more to circumstances and joy relates to the soul and has an eternal sense. However, in researching the question the Bible uses the terms inter changeably.

Paul has been attacking a problem in the Philippian fellowship. What was it?

A- Disunity

He gave us an antidote to disunity in 2:3,4

The New King James Version Chapter 2

3 Let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind let each esteem others better than himself. 4 Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others.

Remember that if we all look up to others we look down on no one.

Next, Paul shows us the example of Jesus Christ who being God humbled Himself and became a man in the form of a bondservant giving His life in behalf of our sins.

9 Therefore God also has highly exalted Him and given Him the name which is above every name, 10 that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of those in heaven, and of those on earth, and of those under the earth, 11 and that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

I found some thing in my devotions today, a promise to you and us, relating to this passage in :

The New King James Version Psalm 91

14 “Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him;

I will set him on high, because he has known My name.

“I will set him on high”, means to exalt. Why because we have known His name.

Finally, last time we learned that we should become blameless and harmless and without fault, why?

Because we are lights, literally, luminaries to a perverse world with a duty of holding forth the Word of Life by word and deed.

Gandhi was quoted:

“Oh, I don’t reject Christ. I love Christ. It’s just that so many of you Christians are so unlike Christ. If Christians would really live according to the teachings of Christ, as found in the Bible, all of India would be Christian today.“

How we live matters.

:26 ​​A righteous man who falters before the wicked

​​Is like a murky spring and a polluted well.

Now lets look at two examples of believers that Paul commends for being sources of “fresh unpolluted water of life.”

Timothy

Vs 19 - 23

Timothy was trusted by Paul, the word trust in vs 19 means “hope”. Timothy was reliable. Q- Do you know someone who is reliable? What are they like?

Paul had no one like-minded, better of a “kindred spirit”.

Sincerely cares for the flock, he was “genuine” in his care. What does it mean when we say, something is genuine? A- not a fake, Real. See

Timothy was not about his own self. He was different than most everyone Paul had worked with. “All seek their own interests”. What is someone who seeks the things of Christ like?

Proven character

Proven character - How is your character proven? Testing

See

6 In this you greatly rejoice, though now for a little while, if need be, you have been grieved by various trials, 7 that the genuineness of your faith, being much more precious than gold that perishes, though it is tested by fire, may be found to praise, honor, and glory at the revelation of Jesus Christ, 8 whom having not seen you love. Though now you do not see Him, yet believing, you rejoice with joy inexpressible and full of glory, 9 receiving the end of your faith—the salvation of your souls.

Epaphroditus

E was a laymen. He volunteered to take the Philippians gift to Paul in Rome.

He ministered to Paul in prison.

He became severely sick while on the mission field.

E was willing to risk his life for the service of Christ.

We all have a part to play and you are the unique one gifted for your part. Find your place and serve.