Nepaug Bible Church - http://www.nepaugchurch.org - Pastor's Evening Sermon Notes - http://www.nepaugchurch.org/ev/ev20081026.htm

THRU THE BIBLE EXPOSITION
Philippians: Living God's Great Calling Of Godly Servanthood
Part VI: Following Specific Examples Of Godly Servanthood
(Philippians 2:19-30)
  1. Introduction
    1. Paul's extensive Philippians 2:1-18 teaching on practicing the lofty calling of godly servanthood is especially easy to comprehend if real life examples of those truths are supplied.
    2. Paul gave such examples in the actions of Timothy and Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:19-30 as follows:
  2. Following Specific Examples Of Godly Servanthood, Philippians 2:19-30.
    1. Paul offered his Philippian readers the genuine example of godly servanthood in Timothy, 2:19-24:
      1. Having given an extensive teaching on godly servanthood in Philippians 2:1-18, Paul revealed he was about to send Timothy to visit them that he might report back to Paul about their welfare, Phil. 2:19.
      2. The reason Timothy would relate the reality of their situation so accurately was based on the quality of his servanthood for fellow believers, a fact Paul detailed for his Philippian readers as follows, 2:20-23:
        1. Paul claimed Timothy was unlike any other coworker with him, for Timothy had Paul's heart: the word "like-minded" (KJV) is from the Greek word, isopsuchon, "of like soul or mind", U. B. S. Grk. N. T., 1966 ed., p. 685; Arndt & Gingrich, A Grk.-Eng. Lex. of the N. T., 1967, p. 382.
        2. To explain, Paul added that Timothy "genuinely" (gnasios) cared for his readers, the meaning of the KJV's "naturally" in Philippians 2:20 that described Timothy's care.
        3. This genuine care was marked by Timothy's sacrifice of his own interests if they conflicted with the interests of Christ, a tendency to obey Christ at all cost to himself in ministering, Philippians 2:21.
        4. Also, in line with his submission to Christ, Timothy heeded Paul as a son would a father, showing a capacity to subject his own interests to the interests of godly overseers over him in the Lord, 2:22.
        5. For these reasons, Paul hoped to send Timothy soon to his readers once he knew of the court ruling in his case so Timothy might give the Philippians news about Paul, and that Timothy could minister to them in a way that promoted Christ's interests above those of Timothy himself, Phil. 2:23-24.
    2. Paul offered his Philippian readers the genuine example of godly servanthood in Epaphroditus, 2:25-30:
      1. Epaphroditus had come to Paul from his Philippian readers to minister in their behalf to the Apostle Paul's needs in his imprisonment, Philippians 2:25b. Paul hoped to send him back soon to Philippi, for Epaphroditus longed to return to Paul's readers out of concern they had for him, Philippians 2:25a, 26a.
      2. To explain, Paul told how Epaphroditus had been upset by concern of the Philippians for him upon their hearing he had been ill, even though his illness had been life-threatening, Phil. 2:26-27a. This is a remarkable exhibition of selflessness on Epaphroditus' part -- concern over how others feared for him when Epaphroditus was the one whose physical life had been threatened by his illness!
      3. Nevertheless, God had mercifully healed Epaphroditus not only to comfort the Philippian believers, but to make life easier for Paul who might otherwise be overcome with sorrow were Epaphroditus to have died, especially in view of Paul's additional burdens of imprisonment and a court case with the possibility of his own martyrdom, Philippians 2:27b with Philippians 1:12-13, 20-21.
      4. Paul was thus sending Epaphroditus back with this epistle to his Philippian readers (Ryrie Study Bible, KJV, 1978 ed., p. 1682, "The Church at Philippi"; Philippians 2:28a. He hoped the arrival of Epaphroditus would cause Paul's readers to be joyful and to leave him with less grief, Phil. 2:28b.
      5. Paul added that his Philippians readers should then accept Epaphroditus not only with joy, but with honor, for he had risked his earthly life for the cause of the ministry of Christ as the Philippian Church's messenger to minister to Paul's needs, Philippians 2:29-30.
Lesson: Typified in Timothy and Epaphroditus, godly servanthood includes putting God's interests and those of His servants over us with the spiritual welfare of other believers above our interests and lives.

Application: May we put the interests of God, His servants who are in leadership over us along with the edification of other believers above our own interests and earthly lives like Timothy and Epaphroditus did, that we might serve as good servants of the Lord.