The Epistle To The Philippians Two Worthy Examples Of Industry

Did Paul Get Sidetracked? Philippians 2:19-30 Almost seems as though Paul lost his train of thought for a second. Discussing their attitudes and work in the Lord. Chapter three resumes that discussion. Vs. 19-30 take a side road and begin to discuss Timothy and Epaphroditus. Is Paul perhaps showing the Philippians how to work for the Lord with fervor and enthusiasm by modeling two prime examples?

So Many Christians Not Working Why? Illustration: Lethargic man goes to the doctor. Illustration: Abraham Lincoln to Gen. McClellan. What are we doing for the Lord?

Reasons Why People Don’t Serve Laziness Proverbs 10:26 – “Like vinegar to the teeth and smoke to the eyes, so is the lazy one to those who send him.” Are some Christian’s not serving simply because they are too lazy?

Disconnection Some are simply not connected to the Spirit. They don’t have a sense of purpose. Galatians 5:16-17– “But I say, walk by the Spirit, and you will not carry out the desire of the flesh. For the flesh sets its desire against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh; for these are in opposition to one another, so that you may not do the things that you please.” They continue to walk by the flesh and therefore cannot serve the Spirit.

Distracted By Busyness Matthew 6:24-25 -- “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and wealth.” Wealth (mammon) can be anything which distracts us from devotion and service to God.

Waiting For A Personal Invitation Illustration: sinking boat Ecclesiastes 9:10 – “Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with all your might; for there is no activity or planning or knowledge or wisdom in Sheol where you are going.”

Weak Convictions Revelation 3:15-17 -- “I know your deeds, that you are neither cold nor hot; I wish that you were cold or hot. So because you are lukewarm, and neither hot nor cold, I will spit you out of My mouth. Because you say, ‘I am rich, and have become wealthy, and have need of nothing,’ and you do not know that you are wretched and miserable and poor and blind and naked…”

Timothy: Paul’s Spiritual Son Philippians 2:19-21 -- “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition. For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare. For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.” Timothy of kindred spirit Concerned about others, not just self JOY = Jesus Others You

Timothy’s Proven Worth Phil. 2:22-23 -- “But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father. Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me….” Evangelist/ Trustworthy Background? COMMON

Epaphroditus: Brother and Worker Philippians 2:25-27 – “But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.” Brother and fellow worker

Who Was Epaphroditus? The Philippians’ emissary to Paul. Paul’s fellow worker A genuine Christian soldier A minister to Paul Think about what that means: Rome Unstable politics Paul a prisoner

How Should They View Epaphroditus? Not as a liability to Paul Vs. 28-30 – “Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.” Hold such men in high regard

What Does This Have To Do With Us? We need to be of like spirit We need to be busy in the work of the Lord. We need to be of such sacrificial character If Paul was writing the church about me, what would he say?