Fellowship of Servants

Introduction

Sound it out Epaphroditus - E Pa frO ditus

Philippians 2:19-3:1

Philippians 2:19–3:1 LEB

19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I also may be encouraged when I know your circumstances. 20 For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely be concerned about your circumstances. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character, that like a child with a father he served with me for the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see my circumstances. 24 And I am convinced in the Lord that I myself will arrive shortly also. 25 But I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, but your messenger and servant of my need, 26 because he was longing for all of you and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick, coming near to death, but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but also on me, so that I would not have grief upon grief. 28 Therefore I am sending him with special urgency, in order that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less anxious. 29 Therefore welcome him in the Lord with all joy, and consider such people highly honored, 30 because on account of the work of Christ he came near to the point of death, risking his life in order that he might make up for your inability to serve me. 1 Finally, my brothers, rejoice in the Lord. To write the same things to you is not troublesome to me, but is a safeguard for you.

Paul is returning to personal matters but is not leaving the idea of humility and following Jesus.

Timothy was with him in Rome. As soon as he knows the outcome of his legal situation, he plans to send this faithful man to get a firsthand report of how things are in Philippi.

Such a report would bring renewed cheer and hope to the imprisoned apostle who was already rejoicing over what he knew concerning them (v. 17).

But I hope in the Lord he said in Vs 19. This is Paul's confident hope that he believes is prompted by christ himself. His thoughts, intentions, desires and hope flow from his fellowship, his union with Christ.

His desire to send Timothy is not something that Paul wants in some selfish way. Because his longing after the Philippians’ spiritual welfare is part of his service for Christ, then his plan to send Timothy is part of that too.

Timothy stood out uniquely among the young pastors Paul mentored. Like Paul, Timothy had a genuine interest in their well-being. He ministered not to fulfill ambition and needs for personal success. He ministered to meet needs of the church people. What a model for today’s young ministers who are too often flooded with calls to achieve success rather than to minister.

The normal human way is the way of self-interest. Protect yourself. Get what you need. If time permits, then help others. Timothy lived a different lifestyle. Like Paul, he put aside selfish interests. He concentrated on Christ’s interests. He lived out the humble, self-giving life Christ had exemplified. He stood out as a bright star in the dark heavens.

He was a living testimony of the kind of Christian Paul was instructing the Philippians to be.

Having placed Christ, himself, and Timothy as examples of humility before them, Paul now refers to one of their own. With Timothy and himself unable to come immediately, Paul sent Epaphroditus at once. Epaphroditus was a member of the Philippian church. He had delivered the financial gift to Paul from them (Phil. 4:18). Epaphroditus had stayed on in Rome to assist in the ministry. Thus he was the Philippians’ messenger; but more, he was a colleague of Paul in the work of the ministry. He was a member along with Paul in God’s army. The Philippians had sent him to care for Paul’s needs. Now Paul sent him to care for their needs.

In chapter 2, Paul sets forth the humble examples of Christ, himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as models for them to emulate. He desires his readers to have an attitude of humility to the extent that they will unselfishly serve one another. To be truly Christlike is to follow this instruction.

When We Follow Jesus

This is all about fellowship. Paul and his fellowship with God, his fellowship with Timothy, and Epaphroditus. The church of Philippi’s fellowship with Paul, with Timothy, and Epaphroditus.

He is showing us somehting

That when we become the fellowship of Servants- those who have the mind of Christ, the very one who emptied Himself and became a servant. It leads us out of ourselves, freeing us from ourselves, binding us to Christ and to our brothers and sisters.

But Something will always stand in the way because Satan wants to steal you from Fellowship

Satan wants to steal your Fellowship

With God

With Others

With Yourself

---With God

Satan will still your fellowship with God. Our first we must spend time with him.

Individually and Communally.

We spend time with the father through the blood of Jesus Christ enabled by the Power of the Holy Spirit.

We spend time through Praise and worship, through study and medication. We spend time through hearing his word.

That is one of the reasons why Paul wanted to send these two servants of Christ. To encourage the church in further participation and fellowship with God

--- With Others

We have a tenancy to stop fellowship with people as satan attacks. He said she said moments. I don’t like them.

Be of like mind Paul had said to encourage fellowship

--- With Yourself

Fellowship with oneself sounds funny but when we follow Jesus, Satan will try to lead you down a path of depression. where you became self involved instead of a servant you are a Lord and then you will loose sight and fellowship with the real you. the real self. and the lies because what you believe are true.

Next Steps

---Bibliography---

Anders, Max. Galatians-Colossians. Vol. 8. Holman New Testament Commentary. Nashville, TN: Broadman & Holman Publishers, 1999.

Dunnam, Maxie D., and Lloyd J. Ogilvie. Galatians / Ephesians / Philippians / Colossians / Philemon. Vol. 31. The Preacher’s Commentary Series. Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Inc, 1982.

Rogers, Adrian. Adrian Rogers Sermon Archive. Signal Hill, CA: Rogers Family Trust, 2017.

New International Commentary: The Epistles of Paul to the Philippians and to Philemon (NICNT)