Part 07

Philippians 2:19-30

Philippians 2 -  the chapter starts with Paul talking about unity and humility. Last week – working out your salvation with fear and trembling. And in the light of what he’s been talking about he goes on to talk about gospel partnerships. And there are 3 specific gospel partnerships that he mentions in this section.

The first one is his partnership with the Philippians. It’s a great encouragement to him.   He says that he is cheered when he receives news about them. But this wouldn’t have only been an encouragement to Paul it would also be an encouragement to the Philippians themselves.  We see that in verse 19: I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered  when I receive news about you.

It must be such an encouragement to them, that they are an encouragement to Paul.

Eg. 2007 Rugby World Cup. Messages sent to the team. People far away, people back home, cheering them on. Encouraging them. Messages from Prominent sports people. from Madiba.

1. it’s encouraging to know that you have the support of someone who is far away. Supporting you. Cheering you on. Someone who has you on their heart. Remember Paul used that phrase about the Philippians in chapter 1.

But what was it specifically about the Philippians that was such an encouragement to Paul. It’s the fact that they are partners in the gospel. Partners in the gospel who are doing good gospel work. Remember Philippians chapter 1.

We should be encouraged by some of the gospel partnerships that we have in our church. The Mission to Namibia. Brian Gerard – the ministry is 27 years old this month. They’ve seen over 46,000 people. Over 4,500 people have made a commitment to Christ. That should be an encouragement to us. Also Syd Eaby in prison ministry. Working amongst people whom you would think would be the most unlikely to allow God to work in their lives. It’s a reminder that God is at work. And He is mighty to save as we often sing. Gospel partnerships should be an encouragement to us. Just as it was to Paul, and just as it was to Philippians.

But not only should these gospel partnerships be an encouragement to us. They should also be an example.

Now in this passage there are 2 people who Paul considers to be gospel partners, who are great examples of what it means to be gospel partners. So the first example he gives is Timothy. verse 19-24:

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. (20) I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. (21) for everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. (22) But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. (23) I hope therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. (24) And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

Being taught how to live a Christian life involves having it modelled to you as well as being taught from the Bible.

In the first part of chapter 2, Paul gave them a model of humility. He gave them the model of Jesus. Now the Philippians would have known about Jesus, they would have heard about him. They would have heard about this Jewish man, who died on a cross. Then of course Paul would have told them even more about Jesus when he had come to Philippi and shared the gospel with them. But I don’t think any of the Philippians would have met Jesus personally. They would have known Paul, and Paul would have been a great example of what a gospel partner should be. A great example of what it means to live as a Christian. But he hadn’t been with them for a number of years. But now he is sending Timothy. Firstly so that he may be encouraged as we’ve just looked at. But look at what he says in verse 20: I have no one else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

He is sending someone who is gospel minded. Someone who doesn’t put their own needs before the gospel. He is sending someone who takes a genuine interest in their welfare. Someone who has proved himself, because of his work in the gospel. Paul can with great confidence send Timothy to the Philippians. Because he knows that will produce gospel fruit / they will learn from the example of Timothy / they’ll benefit from having this gospel minded person amongst them. He hopes to send him soon.

We are influenced by those we spend time with. I’m grateful for good gospel examples. Examples of godliness and gospel mindedness. There have also been some bad examples. Very important when people are given positions in church, that they are people who are going to going to be a good examples. People learn from you. Music / welcome / AV / tea / Youth / children. Someone comes to church on a Sunday, they see your face. You’re involved in a certain ministry. You represent the church. Even more importantly you represent Jesus. So the same person who sees you in church on a Sunday, may see you in Bayside on Monday. They may see the way that you treat that teller at the bank, who can’t explain to you why the bank deducted money from your account. The same person who sees you in church on Sunday, may see you at that party the following Saturday night. They may see you conducting yourself in a way that isn’t worthy of the gospel / conducting yourself in a way that isn’t Gospel minded.

You are teaching the Bible by the way that you live. People watch you. I can stand up and teach you what it means to live as a Christian. I can even give you Biblical examples. But I also need to live it. Part of how we teach what it means to live as a Christian, is to live it out. Parents, when you teach your kids what it means to be a Christian, you need to live it out.

Eg. Doctors learn by observation. So we need to realize that people are watching us. Especially those in ministry. Especially those up front. And for those of us who are pastors, it’s a big deal. Go and listen to Shayne’s series on 2 Timothy to find out more about the pastors responsibility.

Paul is sending someone who he knows will be a good influence / a good example. Someone who knows will love the people / is concerned about the welfare of the people.  verse 21: For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

Remember beginning of chatper, one of the things that Paul says, is that they mustn’t look to their own interests but to the interests of others. And then he goes on to give the example of Jesus who did precisely that. By giving up the glory of heaven to come to earth. and then coming to serve. And then the ultimate sacrifice, giving up his life, and facing death on a cross.

But if you look at verse 21, you’ll see that Paul is sending someone, who gets what it means to show this gospel humility. In fact look at verse 20-22: 20 I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare.21 For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.

Here is this partner in the gospel. Paul is sending him to care for them. But he is sending them a living example of humility. A living example of someone who puts the needs of others before himself. In fact Paul implies here that it’s the needs of Jesus Christ that he puts first. If someone has put the needs of Jesus before their own needs. They will put your needs before theirs.

And then Paul gives another example of a gospel partner, who is also an example of humility. Who is also an example of someone who is concerned about the welfare of the people. In fact this next example is someone who originally comes from Phillipi. Epaphroditus.

We don’t know too much about him. Except that he is from Philippi. And that he is a messenger. The Philippian church had sent him to Paul with gifts and support for Paul. We see that later on in chapter 4. And Paul is sending him back. It seems that he’s the one who brought this letter back to the Philippians.

But Paul makes it clear that Epaphroditus is more than just a messenger.  verse 25: 25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

My brother, my co-worker and fellow soldier. He’s not just running a courier service for Paul’s letters and for taking gifts to him from the church. He is a brother, a fellow soldier and co worker. And he is another example of someone who is humble / who puts the needs of others before themselves / who follows the example of Jesus.

We see here that he has been longing for the Philippians. We see that he was sick. And he knew that his sickness would have been a concern to them. And he was concerned. Not for himself, but how the Philippians would have responded to him being sick. Paul tells us here that he was sick almost to the point of death. But God spared him. And by sparing him, God also spared Paul the sorrow of losing a friend. Paul expresses here that it would have been deep sorrow if he had lost Epaphroditus. He says that God spared me sorrow upon sorrow. I mean he would have lost someone that he calls brother, a co worker, a fellow soldier.

So Paul is sending him back. To put himself and the Philippians at ease. But look at verse 29 and 30. 29 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him,30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.

So, again, let’s go back to the beginning of chapter 2. Paul was talking about humility. He gives the example of Jesus. Who gave up his life. The ultimate sacrifice. The ultimate example of humility. Well here’s a man, who Paul is willing to back as a great example of humility. Here’s a man who almost died. A man who risked his life. For the gospel. To help Paul. So that people could be saved.

Paul has put forward here in this passage two examples of great gospel partners. Timothy, of whom he says: I have no one else like him who will show genuine concern for your welfare. And then he goes on to say how Timothy has proven himself, because he has served with him in the work of the gospel. And then the other example of Epaphroditus. Also someone who was willing to serve. Someone who was willing to risk his life.

We live in a celebrity culture. A culture where there are people that we admire. People that impress us because of their achievements / charisma / coolness / somehow they’ve been able to get some kind of following or fan club. And somehow we link that to how spiritual someone is. “Oh, you know, what a mighty man of God that is, thousands are flocking to hear him.”

Paul paints a picture here of what it means to be true people of faith. It doesn’t mean great achievements / great orators and speakers /certain type of magnetic personality / great leadership skills. Those things all have their place. And God uses those things to work within His kingdom.

Eg. Article of popular author / pastor / ‘not a Christian anymore’. He had it all. Popularity / best selling book / a large church / the kind of things that may make us think he’s doing great things for God’s kingdom.

But Paul says:

I’m sending Timothy. Here’s a guy who is genuinely concerned about your welfare. He’s not one of those who just think about themselves. But he has a gospel mindset. And I know this because I’ve seen it. He’s served with me. He’s served with me as a Son with his father in the work of the gospel. I’m sending you someone who is humble. I’m sending you someone who follows the example of Christ.

Plus I’m sending Epaphroditus back to you. He is a brother, a co-worker, a fellow soldier. He is concerned about you. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor him. He is someone who almost died for the gospel. He risked his life for the gospel. He is a true gospel partner.

Eg. Picking teams for P.E.

Imagine you had to pick a gospel team. You had to go on a mission somewhere to share the gospel. To go and minister into people’s lives. Maybe like a mission to Namibia, or to George. And there were 100 people who wanted to go, but there were only 10 places. What kind of team would you choose? Who would you want to be your gospel partners? What qualities would you be looking for? I certainly hope it would be the kind of qualities that Paul describes here about Timothy and Epaphroditus.

So my closing question is this: What kind of gospel partner are you? In the context of other Christians that you come into contact with during the week. Maybe there are other Christians at your work or school. Do you serve them? Do you love them? Do you see them as someone that you’re in partnership with?

In the context of St Matthews? Do you see yourself as a partner in the gospel? Are we concerned about each others welfare? Are we concerned about the gospel? Are we concerned about the need in this Table View / Blouberg / West Coast community, that people need Jesus.

Partnership in the gospel, should build one another up. We should be encouraged after engaging with our fellow gospel partners. We should be strengthened and spurred on. We can’t do it, if we’re just thinking about ourselves. Our own interests.

This attitude can only come, if your life has been changed by Jesus. This desire to see others come to know Christ, if you know Him and your life has been changed by knowing Him. This can only come when you’ve tasted the mercy that God has offered you. If you know what it means to be forgiven of your sin, by a loving God.

Home Group Questions

Read Philippians 2 vs 19-30

1. What is it about the Philippians that ‘cheers’ / encourages Paul? Vs 19 see also chapter 1 vs 3-5
2. Look at Timothy’s characteristics (vs 20-22) and discuss how a church would benefit from having someone like this among them.
3. Look at Epaphroditus’s characteristics (vs 25-26; vs 29-30) and discuss how a church would benefit from having someone like this among them.
4. How do these examples compare to the modern expectations of those working in church contexts?
5. Are there any gospel partnerships that have encouraged you eg. Missionaries, ministries, individuals?
6. How can you be a better partner in the gospel?