TODAY’S MAIN PASSAGE:
Philippians 2:19-30 ESV
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
Aspects of this Kingdom Living
- Partnering in the work of the gospel
- Having a Kingdom mindset and perspective
- The Defining mark of “Kingdom Living” is being Christ-centered
- Identity: We are citizens of heaven, not here.
- Calling: To live worthy of the gospel Live worthy by standing firm together in the face of opposition
- Live worthy by striving together for the gospel advancement.
- Live worthy by living in unity through humility and selflessness
Philippians 2:16-18:
holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain. Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
The exhortation here from Paul is to keep their eyes on heaven-to hold firm in their faith and to rejoice.
Philippians 2:19:
I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
Why Timothy?
Timothy genuinely cares for the Philippian people
Philippians 2:20, CSB:
For I have no one else like-minded who will genuinely care about your interests.
Philippians 2:21-22:
For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel.
Paul is vouching for Timothy as somebody that looks to Christ and tries to follow His example.
Timothy genuinely cares because Christ genuinely cares about the Philippians, and Timothy seeks Christ’s interests.
Who is Epaphroditus?
A member, perhaps a leader, in the Philippian church that we know was sent to minister to Paul in his need.
Philippians 4:18:
I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Why is Paul sending Epaphroditus?
Philippians 2:25-26:
I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.
Epaphroditus had been longing to return to the Philippians because they heard and were distressed about Epaphroditus being ill. Notice, it doesn’t say he wanted to return because he had been ill. He was distressed because they were distressed for him.
Paul vouches for Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:27:
Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
Philippians 2:28-30:
I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.
With Epaphroditus, we learn that Kingdom Living includes honoring those that are doing the work of Christ
Acts 1:8:
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you, and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the end of the earth.”
Matthew 28:19-20:
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you. And behold, I am with you always, to the end of the age.”
1 Peter 2:9-10:
But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light. Once you were not a people, but now you are God’s people; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy.
We are called to be a people that honor the work of the Kingdom, and that rejoice and honor the workers of the Kingdom
Isaiah 52:7:
How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, “Your God reigns.”
ALL WORKERS FOR THE GOSPEL ARE DOING THE WORK OF CHRIST AND WE ARE TO PARTNER WITH THEM, STRIVE TOGETHER TO ADVANCE THE GOSEPL, LOOK TO JESUS, WALK WITH THEM IN HOLINESS AND OBEDIENCE, AND HONOR AND CELEBRATE TOGETHER