Sermon Tone Analysis

Philippians 2:19-30

Intro: Letters of Recommendation

Walking worthy of the gospel looks like a life lived for Christ and others.

Timothy—a man unlike others—living a life worthy of the gospel.

Timothy models the very things that Paul says exemplify living a life worthy of the gospel.

“no one like him” or CSB “like-minded”

Phil.

2:2 “2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.”

Phil.

2:5 “5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,”

“genuinely concerned for your welfare”

Phil 2:4 “4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

Phil 1:27 “27 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,”

Contrast with “For they all seek their own interests”

Phil 2:3 “3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.”

Phil 1:15-17 “15 Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.

16 The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.

17 The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.”

“But you know Timothy’s proven worth”

Living out the gospel in their midst—this shows Paul’s certainty of his character that he calls the Philippians themselves to testify

He is a “turtle on a fencepost.”

Howard Hendricks expression

Timothy—son of mixed marriage

3rd generation Christian—probably a convert of Paul’s

Takes place of John Mark and becomes Paul apprentice

Several evidences in Scripture that he is timid or fearful and can be nervous or anxious

His stomach is weak or bothers him—maybe related to his anxiety

Paul sends him on several missions—not all successful

Paul is deeply attached to him and Timothy to Paul 2 TIM 1:4 “4 As I remember your tears, I long to see you, that I may be filled with joy.” Paul writes about Timothy with more affection than anyone else: “how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.”

whose weaknesses are as apparent as his virtues

God uses him, despite his weaknesses, to do great things.—It is God who is at work in Timothy—He can use Timothy, not because Timothy is strong, but because Timothy is fully devoted to serving God and allows God to be strong for him in his weakness.

It is not that Timothy is great for God but rather God is great for Timothy.

Application: Imagine be spoken of as Timothy is by someone so important as Paul.

Imagine someone like Paul having such faith in you despite your weaknesses because he or she understood that you lived in the power of Christ and not your own power.

He or she understood that you were who you were because someone else put you there—you were a turtle on a fencepost.

First, understand that we all can be like Timothy—not an imitation of what he did, but live a life worth of the gospel as he did.

Like Timothy, we do it in the power of the Spirt and not our own strength.

Most of us are more like Timothy than we are like Paul in our natural persons, but both Paul and Timothy understood that to work out their salvation, it meant God working in them and it meant their working in the strength and wisdom he provides.

Second, we can be a Paul to Timothy.

We can pass to others what we know of Christ.

We can mentor others.

We can mostly encourage others in their walk with love and grace, not with harsh words and demands that represent the Law instead of the grace and mercy of Christ.

Be a Paul to a Timothy—be intentional about it.

Epaphroditus—a servant of others—living a life worthy of the gospel.

Philippians 2:25-30

25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

27 Indeed he was ill, near to death.

But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

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.

29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

Name means charming or handsome—only mentioned here in Philippians

He is from Philippi and delivered the gift from the Philippians and the news about them to Paul

Epaphroditus was man of many hats.—

Phil 2:25 “25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,” —brother (spiritual family), fellow worker (co-laborer for gospel), fellow soldier (fighting for Gospel and wounded for his service), your messenger (chosen servant), and your minister to my need (servant for my needs)

Quite a resume for Paul’s reference letter

This guy does not shy away from service

He was a blessing to the Philippians

Phil 2: 28 “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.”

A man who imitated the example of Paul and Christ.

“longing for you all” —Paul

Phil 1:8 “8 For God is my witness, how I yearn for you all with the affection of Christ Jesus.”

“distressed because he heard you were ill”—Paul

Not upset over sickness but concerned about how the Philippians were handling it

His concern is for the interests of the Philippians and not himself—My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better.

24 But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account.

25 Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 1:23–25.

This is an incredibly testimony to Christ as well.

When at his lowest, his focus is not on himself but on others being distressed in finding out his condition.

This does not happen without being made new in Christ.

“near to death” “for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.” for the sake of his obedience to God

Example of Jesus who was obedient to the point of death

We are fascinated by the idea of a dying man’s words.

When life is on the line, we tend to strip away all of the superfluous and focus on the essential.

Material things become less important, relationships rises to the top; status and prestige lose their importance, authenticity takes precedence.

At that time the most important relationships become clear because those that were just for show or for social status no longer glisten in the fading light.

We are concerned with those who really matter to us.

When death was close to Epaphroditus, his heart turned to the Philippians.

His concern was for them and their welfare.

Application: Where would your heart go if you were facing the end of your life?

Who would long to see one more time?

Who would you be concerned that might be impacted or left in sorrow by your death?

Who might you long to tell about Jesus because you had not yet and this was your last chance?

A lesson for you and me—do not wait to invest in those who matter to you.

Serve them, love them, spend time with them.

If there are those you would want to tell about Jesus, do it now.

You do not know if you have another day or if they do.

Love them enough to share the greatest and most important message you could ever share—the gospel.

Paul’s character and ministry reveal his living a life worthy of the gospel

“Much as Paul loved doctrine, he also greatly loved people.” A. T. Robertson

Paul’s whole life is “in Christ.”

In every matter, he operates only in Christ.

Phil 1:14 “14 And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.”

Phil 1:21 “21 For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”

Phil 2:19 “19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.”

Phil 2:21 “21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.”

Phil 2:24 “24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.”

Phil 2:29 “29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,”

Phil 3:9 “9 and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which comes through faith in Christ, the righteousness from God that depends on faith—”

Reflects Paul trust in the sovereignty of God

2:19; 2:24 and Phil 2:27 “27 Indeed he was ill, near to death.