“Commendations and Instructions” - Philippians, Part 6
Philippians Sermon Series, Part 6
Philippians 2:25 – 3:4
Introduction
- Reminder about our level-set from series opener:
1. Christians must reflect the joy of Christ in everything we do
2. This means you and I are to make the Gospel personal, because it is!
3. Not telling shows them that we have nothing different/special to offer others
- This is a great book of discipleship; prayerfully help us draw closer to Christ
-- Living worthy of the Gospel means that we are to be found doing the work
-- RE: As Christians, we are in this together – but not for our ego, desires, or needs
- Quick summary of last week:
- We must acquire the knowledge as Timothy did, but there is more:
1. We must develop the heart of love and care for people
2. Ask God for a heart that will equip us to reach people and help them
-- BIG: We have to ask God to give us this heart; it is not naturally within us
- Re: Paul’s reference: “Timothy has proven himself.”
-- Let’s consider that carefully: Knowledge can be acquired and remembered
-- Association with good people can be claimed and documented
-- But … your character is proven! It is demonstrated through daily behavior!
-- Character is who you are inside; thoughts, motives, will, care and affection
- Read (NLT Version) Philippians 2:25 – 3:4 / Pray
- TR: So let’s dig into another example of faithfulness in service … Paul gives us
Point 1 – An example of a proven (faithful) character
- Notice how Paul describes Epaphroditus in v25
-- He calls Epaphroditus his brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier
-- To the Philippians he says “he is your messenger and minister to my need”
- First, he identifies Epaphroditus as a brother
-- They were brothers spiritually. They both knew Christ as Lord
-- These men enjoyed a fellowship and a common bond found in Christ
- But beyond that, Paul described him as a fellow worker.
-- Epaphroditus was committed to furthering the gospel in everything he did
-- He was a laborer in the harvest; something we can/must commit to as well
- Paul also describes him as a fellow soldier
-- He was engaged in spiritual battle, willing to face the danger of standing firm
- In these first three descriptive titles Paul uses for Epaphroditus … brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier … we see a real balance in his life.
-- Warren Wiersbe says this about Epaphroditus: “He was a balanced Christian!”
- He was also a minister. He ministered to Paul. He took care of his needs.
-- This was a man who was a servant. He was serving the Lord and serving Paul.
-- Was more concerned with how much he could give than how much he could get
- TR: Why would Paul want to send this incredible servant back?
Point 2 – Epaphroditus is a man who will not give up
- We see the first reason for the return of Epaphroditus given in v26
- Epaphroditus longs for the Philippians
-- He is distressed by the fact that they’ve heard about his sickness
-- They were concerned about his health and had prob. sent word to Paul about it
-- So, by returning to them he could set their minds at ease
-- APP: His longing for them indicates his love for them (like Timothy)
- We see in v27 that Epaphroditus had been so sick he had almost died
-- It was God in His mercy that healed Epaphroditus
-- God had mercy on him and spared his life
-- God also had mercy on Paul who would have had to bear the sorrow if he died
- In v28 we see another reason for his return
-- Paul says, “I’m sending him so that you can rejoice”
-- The Philippians will be happy to see this faithful servant
-- They will rejoice to see his health restored and to see him again with them
- Another reason for his return is so Paul will be less sorrowful
-- Paul was concerned about the Philippians; he knew they needed encouraging
- Paul cared about the welfare of others and was eager to send him back home
- TR: After making clear the reasons for his return, Paul goes on to instruct the Philippians in how they should receive this brother …
Point 3 – Fellow servants should be received with joy
- Paul instructs them to receive him in the Lord love with joy (v29)
-- They were to give him a hearty welcome home
- Get this: We are to honor and welcome in faithful servants
-- Paul wants to be clear that Epaphroditus is worthy of their honor
-- The Philippians might have been inclined to be critical of Epaphroditus
-- They might have been critical about his failures in having to come back to them
- Teaching point:
-- It’s so easy to be critical of others
-- Paul goes on to make it very clear in v30 that he was worthy of their honor
- What he did being a minister was put his own life at great risk
-- It was clear how the Roman government felt about Paul (chained to guards)
- He knew the risk of serving alongside of a man like Paul
-- If the Romans decide to kill Paul, they certainly could kill anyone with him
- We see here the sacrificial service of Epaphroditus
-- GR: parabouleuomai; risk, disregard
-- He came close to death (even risking his life) to serve with Paul
- Fact is, Epaphroditus served faithfully … but …
-- (Get this) … He was also a man who served sacrificially
-- He was willing to do whatever it takes to show Christ to others
- The picture that Paul gives us of Epaphroditus is of a worthy man
-- He was a man who was willing to roll up his sleeves and work for the Lord
-- He was a man who was willing to risk his life in service for Christ
-- APP: Was a man who was more concerned about what he could give than get
- Which question are you asking today?
-- “How much can I give” or “how much can I get?” Worth pondering …
- Why does such a detailed description matter of him, and of Timothy (last week)?
-- BIG: Valuable lesson here … each of us must consider how we will be known
- TR: So this leads us to our final point, which we’ll continue next week
-- As a servant of Jesus, we must …
Point 4 – Be on guard, and rejoice, always!
- The command to rejoice is universal, something we can all lean on (v1)
-- But for Paul, there is nothing more that matters when it comes to Jesus
-- It’s a constant reminder, a deliberate theme: encouragement
-- Why? So that our FAITH might be safeguarded (expound …) actions matter
- Notice Paul’s word use here; it is very specific:
-- GR: blepó; (beware / watch out) be advised and on alert
-- But look how Paul addresses those to be aware of: “the dogs”
-- GR: kuón; dog (universally despised in the East)
- Regarding the dogs … it is the impure persons we’ve been warned about
-- He is really driving it home when he refers to “enemies of the cross of Christ”
-- Reference (next week): Philippians 3:18, “For I have told you often before, and I say it again with tears in my eyes, that there are many whose conduct shows they are really enemies of the cross of Christ.”
-- Not just “mutilators” but evil doers … people who work against God
-- These are folks who worked serving not our Lord, but their own needs
-- Romans 16:18, “Such people are not serving Christ our Lord; they are serving their own personal interests. By smooth talk and glowing words they deceive innocent people.”
- They are dogs … lead with malice against faithful witnesses of the gospel
-- They are called dogs due to their actions: rebellion, selfish actions for results
-- Why? They professed human works in opposition to faith in Christ first
-- Their way of thinking is that we must work then be found acceptable to God
-- When we are saved, our DESIRE is to work for Christ, not work for salvation
- Why does this matter? See transition in v3, “ones who are truly circumcised"
-- This is not so much a boasting of what we have done; for our works are useless
-- It is a confession of what Christ has done in Paul (and in others)
-- Colossians 2:11, “When you came to Christ, you were “circumcised,” but not by a physical procedure. Christ performed a spiritual circumcision—the cutting away of your sinful nature.”
-- Paul’s command is to “rely on what Christ Jesus has done”!
- Simply stated, our religious service is rendered by the Spirit; it’s an output …
-- Last week:
-- Sanctification is what Jesus does within us, as we live and serve God
-- APP: Therefore, we are called to work IN obedience as a response TO Christ
-- IMP: But this is NOT a condition of salvation, but an output of what He’s done
- It is a privilege to work for God, to be faithful to Him (refer to Ch 2 v13)
-- It’s not something we desire; but it is a work of the Holy Spirit in us
-- Romans 12:1, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, I plead with you to give your bodies to God because of all he has done for you. Let them be a living and holy sacrifice - the kind he will find acceptable. This is truly the way to worship him.”
Big Idea
- Paul’s reminders are clear, and his encouragement is always before us …
-- Legal worship was outward: based on acts, restricted to certain times and places
- Christian worship begins internally:
-- It flows from the workings of the Holy Spirit (within us)
-- It is NOT related to certain isolated acts, but embracing the whole life
-- It comes from a proven character, of faithfulness to Jesus alone!
- In legal worship, men trust in something human; something they create
-- Whether it was because of their family name or what they had done
-- EX: “I saved a cat from a burning house so that’ll earn me points with God.”
- But Paul says, “put no confidence in human effort”, but RELY on Christ! (v4)
-- There is nothing we can do without Christ – b/c of what He’s already done
-- We are to boast about who He is; if anyone Paul could, but he doesn’t!
-- Why? We’ll pick this up next week, examining “how” we press forward
-- Pray
