PHILIPPIANS 2:19-30

SERVANT SHEPHERDS AND APPRECIATIVE SHEEP

Philippians 2:19-21 (NIV) I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who will show genuine concern for your welfare. For everyone looks out for their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

SUSIE: Paul planned to send Timothy, his beloved son in the faith, back to Philippi to be an example of a servant leader. Timothy could take them further news of Paul and send news back to Paul about the Philippian church. Timothy stood out above all the rest that Paul had mentored. 

SUSAN: When persecution came, the others sought self-preservation at the expense of the Gospel. 

SUSIE: Their interest was only in saving their own skins. Their fear prevented them from continuing with Paul. 

SUSAN: Timothy had a truly rare servant’s heart and a zeal for sharing the Gospel. He would prefer the interests of the Philippian believers above his own and would model the things Paul had written and taught in Philippians 2:1-5.

Q – You’ve heard the old cliche, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.” When persecution comes—and I believe it will—will you be rooted and grounded enough in the word of God to stand firm? Workers had deserted Paul in favor of “looking out for number one.” Will you flee when things get tough or will you continue with the Lord?

Philippians 2:22-24 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. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

SUSIE: During the time of Paul, fathers often mentored their sons as apprentices in the family business just as Joseph taught Jesus the skill of carpentry. 

SUSAN: Timothy was Paul’s protégé, his son in the faith. Therefore, Paul mentored him in sharing the gospel and serving the Lord.

SUSIE: He had worked faithfully beside Paul and learned from him. 

SUSAN: Timothy also was hungry for some male companionship because he had been raised by his mother and grandmother, so Paul provided something for Timothy that otherwise he would not have had, a fantastic father figure. His biological father was Greek and did not believe in Christ. His mother and grandmother were Jewish and had come to know Jesus.

Acts 16:1-3 (NASB) Paul came also to Derbe and to Lystra. And a disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek, and he was well spoken of by the brethren who were in Lystra and Iconium. Paul wanted this man to go with him; and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those parts, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.

2 Timothy 1:5 (NASB) For I am mindful of the sincere faith within you, which first dwelt in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am sure that it is in you as well.

SUSIE: Timothy’s adopted dad, Paul, was in the “business” of spreading the gospel and passed on all he knew to his spiritual son. Timothy must have been visiting and ministering to Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome because Paul had the ability to contact him and send him out to the Philippians. He had not fled in terror but persisted in the work. Paul hoped to send Timothy soon. . .

SUSAN: . . . and his expectation was that he would be able to follow shortly. 

SUSIE: Paul was confident the Lord would release him from prison so he could continue to minister to the churches he had established and have opportunity to begin new works as well. He realized God was sovereign over his future plans but felt “confident in the Lord” that his release was what God was providentially accomplishing for him.

Q – Taking someone under one’s wing to instruct them in serving the Lord is not just for a pastoral mentoring program. Is there a person who is younger than you in the faith that you could be mentoring (discipling)? Do you need to ask a more seasoned believer to disciple you? A great tool for discipleship is the book One on One with God. Visit the website for details:

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Philippians 2:25-28 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.  For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.  Indeed, he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.

SUSIE: This passage is an example of unity and compassionate concern among believers.

SUSAN:  Paul calls Epaphroditus his brother, in other words family in the Lord. The second connotation is co-laborer to advance the Gospel. 

SUSIE: Thirdly, he calls him a fellow soldier. Remember, it is Paul, directed by the Holy Spirit, who gave us the excellent instruction on the armor of the Lord. (see Ephesians 6:10-20). Next, he refers to Epaphroditus as the Philippians’ messenger because they had sent him to take Paul a monetary gift and to minister to his needs. Perhaps on the way to Rome, he had fallen ill and was even near death. Epaphroditus was concerned that his home church would be distressed by this news. God spared him, which Paul says was a blessing for himself because he would have had extreme sorrow if Epaphroditus had died. 

SUSAN: Paul knew that when the Philippians saw Epaphroditus again, they would be relieved and would rejoice. This would cause Paul to rejoice and have less concern about them because he would know that they were nurturing one another. 

SUSIE: This entire circle of concern between Paul, Epaphroditus, and the church at Philippi shows the attitude of putting others before yourself and having unity among the believers that we as a church body should exhibit.

SUSAN:  In a perfect world, in mature church communities, this is how we would function. Our Christ-like love and concern for one another would be genuine, consistent, and evident.

Q – Do we express true concern when a brother or sister is down due to illness or other distress? Do we minister to them in deed as well as words of encouragement?

Philippians 2:29-30 So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 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.

SUSAN:  Paul thought Epaphroditus should be given a welcome home party!!!

SUSIE: He instructed the church to honor people like him.

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13 (ESV) “We ask you, brothers, to respect those who labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Be at peace among yourselves.”

I Thessalonians 5:12-13 (VOICE) “Brothers and sisters, we ask you to show appreciation to those who are working hard among you and those who are your leaders as they guide and instruct you in the Lord – they are priceless. When you think about them, let it be with great love in your heart because of all the work they have done. Let peace live and reign among you.”

SUSIE: We should respect and honor our church leaders. 

SUSAN: Unfortunately, we often do the opposite. Instead of highlighting what our leadership is doing right, we rant and rave about their minor offenses which usually boils down to their human frailty. It is little wonder that leadership burns out so quickly with this kind of treatment. We must take the tactic as congregants to war on behalf of our leadership through prayer. 

SUSIE: We also need to encourage them verbally and/or through notes and cards and speak well of them to each other and outsiders. 

SUSAN: Ministers are the most underserved part of the family of God. That must change. We must realize that our pastors and other leaders are humans and have times that they are the ones in need of ministry. They have challenges and struggles just as we do. In addition to their own battles, they are hearing those of their flock, their church members, as well. We should count it our privilege to take them to the Lord in prayer on a regular basis!

SUSIE: The under-shepherds are led by the Good Shepard, but they still need the love of the sheep. They have needs to be prayed for and met just like the rest of us.

SUSAN: It takes more than the occasional Sunday dinner of fried chicken to encourage your pastor! 

SUSIE: Our pastors and other leaders are pouring their lives into ours. We need to reciprocate. Paul was not saying in verse 30 that the Philippian church had failed him in any way. He was applauding Epaphroditus for bringing their gifts since they could not all travel to Rome at that time.

APPLY THIS TO YOUR LIFE:

• In order to stand firm when faced with trials, study Ephesians 6:10-20. Each day mentally go through the pieces of armor and ask the Lord to remove any hindrances to your service and place His armor on you. Do not give up when things get tough. Trust in the Lord to hold you up!

• Are you in need of help to grow in the Lord? Attend Sunday school and maybe even seek out a believer you respect and ask them to instruct you one hour per week and pray for you. Perhaps you are that respected believer. If so, pour your life into at least one younger Christian to help them walk more closely with the Lord.

• Express true concern for others. Instead of glibly saying, “I’ll pray for you,” stop and pray with them right when they share their need. This can be done in person, over the phone, or via email. Those few minutes will encourage them greatly and ensure that you do not forget to pray as you have promised. Today, this goes for social media prayer requests as well. STOP scrolling and actually pray.

• Honor your spiritual leaders. Take time to speak to them when a message blesses or challenges you. Write a brief note of encouragement or send an email. Speak highly of them to other members of the congregation and to the community. Do not engage in gossip or negativity about them. Walk away. If you have a true concern about something they have said or done, talk TO THEM not about them.