Philippians 2:16-24To: Philippians Main MenuTo: Grace Notes Home Page Philippians 2:16Holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.Paul's main concern is that the Philippian church will not lose its testimony and impact on the non-Christian world. In verse 15 he said that we are to illumine the world like lights. HOLDING FAST THE WORD OF LIFE "Holding fast" means give concentrated attention to. It also can mean "hold out" as a gift to the needy. This word was used in secular Greek for offering wine to a guest at a banquet. This is the offer of a message. "The word of life" is the Word of God which produces life. It is the Word which produces life. It is a life-giving Word. SO THAT I MAY REJOICE IN THE DAY OF CHRIST "The Day of Christ" refers to the day when we will meet the Lord when he comes again. One clear point of rejoicing in Scripture is at the judgment seat of Christ. The point of joy will be how many people we have led to Christ. When all the records are presented then there will be joy. THAT I HAVE NOT RUN IN VAIN OR LABORED IN VAIN "That" is a result clause. We should be result oriented. Paul was. He kept a global view of his life in mind. He constantly looked to the end when he would meet the Lord. He was concerned about how the Lord would evaluate his life. The Christian life is a race. The word "run" means run in a stadium in competition. What are we racing against? The word "vain" means empty. We are racing against an empty life, a wasted life. The word "labored" means labor to the point of exhaustion, to the last ounce of strength. We can labor to the point of exhaustion yet still conclude our life in a vacuum. PRINCIPLE: The believer should pursue results which pleases the Lord by offering the gospel on a platter. APPLICATION: If we are to hold forth the Word of God we need to climb over our petty differences. We need to get on with the task. What other people think about us will not matter when we meet the Lord. It is poor obedience that does only what wil Philippians 2:17-18Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.In verses 17 and 18 Paul presents himself as a prototype of service. His desire to see the smile of the Lord Jesus at the judgment seat of Christ was the reason for this service. Sitting in a Roman jail he knew death as a martyr was a clear possibility for him. YES, AND IF I AM BEING POURED OUT AS A DRINK OFFERING ON THE SACRIFICE AND SERVICE OF YOUR FAITH The words "poured out" means poured out as a libation. This is a figure from a sacrificial drink offering. He viewed his death as imminent. Paul is saying that "if I lose my life here in Rome, it will be because of your faith." He was willing to make whatever sacrifice necessary to advance their faith. Whenever we give our lives to Christ our we give him the right to terminate it as it pleases him. We may live to eighty years of age or we may die at thirty. The choice is God's; that is his business. The word "service" means "religious service." It was used of the high priestly work of Christ (Hebrews 8:2,6). We get our word liturgy from this Greek word. Our ministry for Christ is a liturgy for him. I AM GLAD AND REJOICE WITH YOU ALL. FOR THE SAME REASON YOU ALSO BE GLAD AND REJOICE WITH ME. Paul says, "if you hear that I am released, rejoice! If you hear that I have been executed, rejoice! It is the will of God that counts." There is no joy outside the will of God. Some of us have to learn that lesson the hard way. PRINCIPLE: God has the right to our life and service. APPLICATION: Eve wanted her will regardless of what the will of God was. She paid a terrible price for it. Some of us will pay a price for stepping out of the will of God. "I want her, I don't care what the will of God is! I don't give a hoot what the Bible says. I do not care whether this person is a Christian or not." Paul's was willing to die if necessary to do the will of God. A Spartan soldier's mother would say as she gave her son his shield would say, "Son, either this, or upon this." Either fight or be carried back on the shield. Philippians 2:19But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.At the end of chapter two Paul illustrates selflessness in the lives of people. His first portrayal is Timothy. He is set before us in verses 19-24. BUT I TRUST IN THE LORD JESUS TO SEND TIMOTHY TO YOU SHORTLY The Philippian church is in trouble; she is in danger of a split. So Paul is going to shortly send Timothy to investigate the problem. That trip is a long hazardous round trip of over 2000 miles. Bandits plagued the highways and the ships were not seaworthy. All that just to investigate the problem at Philippi. Paul's concern for the church was great. Timothy was Paul's troubleshooter. Whenever there was a difficulty to which Paul could not attend personally he sent Timothy. Timothy was a vest pocket edition of the apostle Paul. "And the things that you have heard from me among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also" (II Tim. 2:2). Two cases in point were Corinth and Thessalonica. "For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church" (I Co. 4:17). "Therefore, when we could no longer endure it, we thought is good to be left in Athens alone, and sent Timothy, our brother and minister of God, and our fellow laborer in the gospel of Christ to establish you and encourage you concerning your faith" (I Th. 3:1,2). THAT I ALSO MAY BE ENCOURAGED WHEN I KNOW YOUR STATE When Timothy comes back Paul will know the status of the church. Paul says by implication, "I hope that Euodias and Syndyche would have buried the hatchet by then." PRINCIPLE: It is important to mentor others to multiply our tasks. APPLICATION: Is there a person or people in your life you are influencing to multiply your ministry? That is the way the gospel and other ministry spreads. Philippians 2:20For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state.This verse is one of the most glowing tributes made to anyone in the New Testament. Timothy was well known in Philippi. He was with Paul on each of his three visits to that city. FOR I HAVE NO ONE LIKE-MINDED The word "like-minded" means twin-souled, of equal soul. Paul could trust Timothy with the church at Philippi because his soul was so close to his own. Both desired the will of God. Paul had let Timothy to Christ years before. He called him, "my son in the faith" and "my dearly beloved son." He was a son who became a leader in the cause of Christ. Paul says of Timothy "But you, O man of God." Paul called him a man of God. It is proper to characterize people who have a heart for God. WHO WILL SINCERELY CARE FOR YOUR STATE The word "sincerely" means genuinely, truly. Timothy had a genuine sense of responsibility. He was a straight shooter. He was a person you could count upon to get at the truth of the matter. Paul says, "I have no one so genuine, so real as Timothy. He will feed the sheep; he will not fleece the sheep." "Your state" is your spiritual state. The church at Philippi was not in a good "state." They were divided. Timothy can resolve your schism. PRINCIPLE: Leadership must fall upon point people with character, who are characterized as men or women of God. APPLICATION: It is not what is on the label; it is what is inside that counts. We can lead in name only by our title or we can lead by character and responsibility. This young protégé of Paul was not impatient like most youth. He developed character at a young age. We live in a generation where leaders use the church for their own ends. They use the church for advancement, for money, for fame. Genuine leaders care for the state of people. Philippians 2:21For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.Now we turn from a glowing tribute to a terrific indictment. Paul knew of no one who cared for people like Timothy. He was others oriented, not focused on self interests. But evidently the church at Rome was living in a "me generation." FOR ALL SEEK THEIR OWN Years before his Roman imprisonment Paul wrote "First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world" (Rom. 1:8). At one time the Roman church was interested in others. They had a reputation for sharing their faith. Now they could care less. They had lost their passion for others. There was no one else that Paul could send to Philippi other than Timothy because everyone else was seeking their own interests. If Paul were to try to send someone else on that long hazardous journey they would have said "What do I get out of this? Are their any risks to me personally? What are the wages? What are the conditions?" They all seek their own. Their interest is not Jesus', it is their own. They probably would have an interest "If it is convenient," only as it involves their spare time. If it does not cost anything, I will do it." This is Christianity as a sideline. It is not Christianity at the core. Most people are interested in themselves, their advancement, their concerns. "And do you seek great things your yourself? Do not seek them" (Jer. 45:5). NOT THE THINGS WHICH ARE OF CHRIST JESUS This phrase means to put spiritual things first. If we put God first, he will provide, "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you" (Matt. 6:33). PRINCIPLE: Selfishness preempts spiritual priority. To put priority on Jesus Christ is the essence of Christianity. APPLICATION: Jesus Christ must come before our wives or husbands and children. Jesus Christ must come before our relationships and our jobs. This idea eliminates almost all Christians at the twenty first century. No wonder Christians have such a difficult time living the Christian life! We try to live it the hard way, "All seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus." This is selfishness, one of the greatest obstructions to the Christian life. To put self first is to dethrone Christ, "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow Me" (Matt. 16:24). How many of us are so dedicated to the person of Christ to place him before ourselves? Philippians 2:22But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.Character is crucial in sports. If a player has character he has stability. People can count on him. He will persist through the tough times such as a losing streak. Here Paul talks about the character of Timothy. Here is a person who has proved himself. Paul could count on him; he will be there when the going gets tough. BUT YOU KNOW HIS PROVEN CHARACTER The word "proven" means the state of being tried. This is a person who has been through the wars and has come out stronger. His integrity has proved true. Timothy established himself as someone Paul could send to Philippi. He was dependable. When he gets there people can count on him to operate with integrity. THAT AS A SON WITH HIS FATHER This is spiritual fatherhood and sonship. Timothy was wise enough to learn from a veteran missionary. As a son with a father he learned from Paul. He was open to allow his character to be guided. Paul taught him the Word and how to live it out when things were not going well. HE SERVED WITH ME IN THE GOSPEL Timothy help found the church at Philippi. As a vest pocket edition of the apostle Paul he learned how to serve with Paul in the gospel. The phrase "in the gospel" means in getting the gospel out to the Roman world. Sharing your faith to a world who never heard of Christ is rough business. But he was willing to put himself on the line with all its risks and dangers. He cultivated character through trusting God in difficulty. PRINCIPLE: Character comes over a period of time with the right kind of structure built into it. APPLICATION: Character does not come by floating along in life with the flotsam and jetsam. Character comes by structuring into our lives events and situations that will demand that we grow beyond where we are. We love groves in life because they are secure. But by stepping out of our little nitch we will stretch our boundaries of attributes. For example, many of never witness aggressively because of fear. To run from fear will lock us into the fear. To face fear is to master fear. If we put ourselves on the line we will find how God can work through us in spite of our frailties. With whom are you "serving in the gospel?" Philippians 2:23-24Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.Here the apostle is able to dangle between two possible directions of God's will. For most of us there is insecurity in uncertainty. Yet Paul's security came from something other than knowing the future. THEREFORE I HOPE TO SEND HIM AT ONCE, AS SOON AS I SEE HOW IT GOES WITH ME This is the first of the two options in God's will: send Timothy to Philippi. Paul is not certain whether he will be released from jail. Depending upon how his sentencing goes he will make his decision to send Timothy. Paul previously said (v.19) that he was trusting the Lord to send Timothy to Philippi. He was trusting God both to send Timothy and for his release (next sentence). BUT I TRUST IN THE LORD THAT I MYSELF SHALL ALSO COME SHORTLY The word "trust" means to be persuaded. It is a verb of confidence, settled confidence. The tense of this verb means to have a state of trust. It is this kind of trust in the Lord that gives Paul stability. Paul was willing to place himself in the hands of God. Whatever the will of God, he would go with that. If God releases him from prison he will go to Philippi to resolve the church conflict. If God decided to keep him in prison, he would send Timothy to Philippi. Paul operated on the principle "if the Lord wills." The Scriptures do not reveal his release but he did receive his freedom. Later he was imprisoned again in Rome (where he wrote II Timothy). PRINCIPLE: Paul's security is independent of circumstances and rests completely on God's will. APPLICATION: Are you the kind of person that needs security almost at all costs? Do you work hard not to find yourself in uncertain situations? Paul was comfortable with uncertainty because he had complete confidence in how God was handling his life. What is the nature of your confidence in the Lord? ---------- Copyright © 1995, Dr. Grant Richison. All rights reserved. There is no charge for Grace Notes Materials. You can help further this work by your prayer and by sending a contribution to: Grace Notes 1705 Aggie Lane Austin, Texas 78757 wdoud@bga.com Grace Notes Web site: http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/ Anonymous FTP site: ftp://ftp.bga.com/vendors/wdoud/ Grace Notes is a ministry of Village Missions International. |
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