50 Preaching/Teaching: Philippians 2:19-30-Non-Negotiable qualities to being an example

My wife coached when we lived in Conway and one of the dad’s on the team I could tell just was a great dad. So I began to get breakfast with Jim on a regular basis. He had some things in his life as a father that I aspired to have. He loved his kids well. I remember one time he told me how to balance loving your kids and disciplining your kid. His life verse for his kids was:

3 John 4 NASB95

I have no greater joy than this, to hear of my children walking in the truth.

This was something that he desired for his kids and I wanted to be a great father as well.

Jim Merritt was and is an example to the kind of Godly father I want to be.

We have been going through the book of Philippians and we are in Chapter 2.

We know that Jesus Christ is the ultimate example, the perfect example the God man. None of us can obtain to what he is and was but he is still the gold standard.

Gospel here!

But in this chapter we also see that God calls us to live exemplary lives.

We can live a life of service to God.

Last week we saw the example of Paul.

But God desires his followers to be examples.

Is your life an example to be followed?

Do you desire to live in such a way that brings honor and glory to God and impacts the people around you?

Today I want to challenge us to live lives that are exemplary.

We are going to look at two non negotiable qualities of an exemplary life.

The first non negotiable to an exemplary life is from Timothy

1. Timothy’s inspires us to embrace growth Relationships (19-24).

There are different relationships we can have. But let’s look at three important relationship Christians can have.

a. Have a Paul in our life.

Philippians 2:19–20 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.

Paul knew Timothy for a long time he was his spiritual father. They had a track record together. They had done life together. He knew Timothy was a man after his own spirit.

Because they did life together Timothy knew he was the real deal.

The guy who led me into a relationship was a Paul figure in my life.

Jim Merritt was a Paul in my life. We need men and women who invest in our lives.

Who can do life on life with us.

I remember Jim took his son to a class on missions for a semester. What was amazing he took the class with his son and as a result his son serves in a country that is one of the poorest hardest countries in the world. And it stems for a dad willing to walk alongside his son.

Philippians 2:21 NASB95

For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

He was doing the right things with the right intentions.

B. Have a Timothy in our life.

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.

Timothy was getting to do gospel ministry firsthand for the glory of God.

He also learned how to serve. We all say we want to be servants like Jesus but Paul taught Timothy first hand what it was like to be a servant.

C. Have a Barnabas in your life

Barnabas was the man who walked side by side with Paul. They spurred each other on. The goal in church planting is to make people self sufficient on you it is to empower them to be all that God wants them to be.

Paul and Timothy planted the church then they raised them up and now they were walking side by side with them. And they wanted this church not to be great for just a season they wanted this church to be great for a lifetime. They were life long partners in the gospel.

Philippians 2:23–24 NASB95

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.

Application:

Do you have growth relationship right now?

Do you have a Paul in your life who is encouraging you and challenging you in the faith?

Maybe you have that person but you are not allowing them or asking them to challenge you right now?

Do you have a Timothy in your life?

When we think about having a Timothy in our life I think it can be overwhelming at times. But there is always someone out there that we are further ahead of. This is not about a competition rather about helping someone get to a place where they can love Jesus more and then teach someone else about Jesus.

Ask God to give you someone you can help grow spiritually.

The second non negotiable to an exemplary life is from Epaphroditus

2. Epaphroditus example challenges us to the cost of discipleship (25-30).

We cannot pay for salvation. As we talked about last week Christ has already done the work for us when he died on the cross. But if we follow Jesus we will see that their is a cost to discipleship.

Dietrich Bonehoffer said, “Salvation is free, but discipleship will cost you your life.

But the beautiful thing about this is that when we follow Jesus that is where we find life.

What I love about this is who even knows about Epaphroditus.

But he is an example to be followed

Philippians 2:25 NASB95

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;

Look how Epaphroditus served:

My Brother-They were connected because of Jesus. Isn’t this a great reminder that we it does not matter your up bringing, your socio economic background, your skin color. If you are a believer you are family with any other believer.

Fellow Worker-Notice he was not just another worker, he was a fellow worker. Jesus said the harvest is plentiful and the workers are few. Matthew 9:37, they were working on mission with God.

Fellow Soldier-They were in an all out spiritual battle. Souls are on the line, Satan wants to keep us from accomplishing on mission.

Messenger-He was bringing the message

Minister-

This guy seems like he did it all. I think the big picture here is that if you want to be an example you have to use your gifts for the glory of God. God has gifted everyone so they can use their gift for God.

We don’t have to do all the things that Epaphroditus did, but God wants us to use our gifts for his honor and glory.

Philippians 2:26–27 NASB95

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.

When we serve God there are no guarantees that life will turn out great on this earth. But we know they will turn out well ultimately and he was serving with everything he had even unto the point of potential death.

Notice that the love they had for one another was a real and sincere love. They wanted to be with each other.

Philippians 2:28–30 NASB95

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 is Costly obedience?

Using our gifts for the glory of God:

3. We can live an exemplary life by

Conclusion-

This verse is in my Bible to this day.

This example impact today still points me to want to be closer to Jesus.