Meaningful Life
Date: Apr. 29, 2024
Philippians 2:19-30
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare. 21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him in the Lord’s love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
Bible Reading: Philippians 2:19-30
Sermon Topic: Live Like A Christian
Take Home Point: ”Be Like Timothy & Epaphroditus”
Earlier in chapter two of the book of Philippians, Paul described Jesus as the positive example of humility and sacrifice. Today, we will see in verses 19-30 of our text examples of two brothers who followed the model that Jesus set in motion for us.
As we all know, the apostle Paul was in prison while writing this letter to the Philippian church, yet he had great concern for the wellbeing of the church in Philippi. He planned on sending two seasoned and well-groomed disciples to encourage the church. In his quest, he decided to send the very best amongst his disciples to the church in Philippi.
See how Paul qualified Timothy in verses 20-22; 20 For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests; 21 all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know his proven character”
Genuine Care for Others (Not Selfish)
His Interest Was to Promote Jesus (Not Himself)
He Had Proven Record of a Genuine Character (The church could attest to it)
The apostle Paul knew about Timothy’s worth, and he could boost in him and therefore prayed that God will make it possible for Timothy to be sent to the Philippian church as seen in verse 19 of our text.
The other disciple that Paul was going to send back to the Philippian church was their own kit and kin: Epaphroditus who was a natural born Philippian whom the church had sent to Rome to care for Paul in prison and to bring him gifts. Paul described Epaphroditus in this glowing way in verse 25 “But I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus—my brother, coworker, and fellow soldier, as well as your messenger and minister to my need.”
Paul also knew that Epaphroditus would serve the church in Philippi better than serving him in prison (here again, we see Paul placing the interest of others far above his personal needs).
As believers, we should follow the example of Jesus, Timothy, and Epaphroditus as we:
1. We welcome God’s ministers and disciples with joy, celebration, and honor them for the Lord Jesus.
2. Let us be faithful to Christ and others by genuinely caring for them.
3. We should store up for our selves treasures in Heaven as we invest in the kingdom work and other believers (Matthew 6:20).
Until I come your way next week, remain Christ focused. I wish you a meaningful week.
Pastor David Kachi Jite