Phillipians 2:23-30 - Frank Brancato

It's good to be here tonight. Appreciate the presence of all

that have come to be with us. And we are very grateful that

you're here. We're continuing in our study on

the book of Philippians and the set of questions covers chapter

2 and verses 23 through 30. So we'll be finishing.

Philippians chapter 2 tonight. What I'd like to do though is

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

I'd like to go back to verse 19 and we're going to begin reading

there and I'll read down through the end of the chapter just for

context here. Beginning there in verse 19.

But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that

I also may be encouraged when I know your state for.

I have no one like minded who will sincerely care for your

state for all seek their own, not the things which are of G's

of Christ Jesus. But you know, his probe is

proven character that as a son with his father.

He served with me in the gospel. Therefore, I hope to send him at

once as soon as I see how it goes.

With me, but I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come

shortly yet. I considered it necessary to

send done to you, epaphroditus. My brother fellow worker, and

fellow Soldier, but your messenger, and the one who

ministered to my need since he was longing for you all and was

distressed because you had heard that he was sick for indeed.

He was sick almost unto death but God had mercy on him.

And not only on him but on me also lest I should have sorrow

upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more

eagerly that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may

be less sorrowful receive him therefore in the Lord with all

gladly gladness and hold such man in a steam because for the

work of Christ, he came close to death, not regarding his life to

supply. What was lacking in your

service. Add me correctly, read and

barring any mistakes on my part reads.

Those verses of scripture that are under consideration tonight.

In the latter part of Philippians chapter 2 and just

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

to kind of set the tone for what we discussed last time.

Very briefly, we had studied that Paul wanted to send Timothy

Timothy, was a man that was very close to Paul considered as one,

perhaps, that would have been his son in the faith.

You know, we talked about Timothy being the young

evangelist. We talk about him like that and

Timothy labored together with Paul, in fact, it was well known

about. His character as well known

about his priorities and all of that.

In fact, we just studied last time that Paul said that he

labored with me in the gospel as a son and a father.

Now interestingly about that that doesn't mean that Paul

being the father and Timothy being the son and Paul was in

charge and and ruled over Timothy and Timothy obeyed and

so forth, like a young child would do in the home.

That's not what that means. What he's saying about Timothy

is And his relationship with him.

We labor together like a father and son, you know, there's

nothing greater than the Loyalty of Father and Son when both of

them have the same regard for the other and are working

together with great loyalty. So it was a loving relationship

that he's describing with Timothy and Paul.

And Paul said, I have no one else that I could send that is

greater than Timothy. I have no one else.

That would care for you like Timothy.

In fact, Paul said he said this. He said most people think about

other things and they think about themself and most people

don't think like Timothy. But as I paraphrase, Timothy

thinks about Jesus Christ first and the cause of Christ first.

So he'd love to send Timothy. He would also love to go himself

but he knows that he can't as of right now.

And then in verse number 23, he said this I hope to send him at

once as soon as I see how it goes with me.

And this covers the first question actually, I'll read

another the second verse verse 24.

And then we'll look at the question Paul says, but I trust

in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

So, what was Paul referring to when he said as soon as I see

how it goes with me? I think the answer is obvious.

I think, Paul as he was personally imprisoned at the

time, Or currently imprisoned at the time.

And he was looking at his situation, his impending trial.

And he said this, I desire to go to.

I want to go with Timothy so I'm not going to send him yet.

But as I see what's going to happen to me in my impending

trial, just maybe I can go to and I would love to join him and

go shortly. In fact, that's what verse 24

says. He said I trust in the Lord that

I myself shall also come shortly.

I want to notice that phrase I trust in the Lord.

You know what Paul was saying is he was saying this and many

times Paul understood this very concept and it's a great concept

to know it's a great concept for all of us to know even today in

our life. When you are a Christian, you

put your life in the hands of God in both Time and Eternity.

And you put God in charge. In other words, what Paul was

saying here? I want to go.

I want to go to Philip II, want to go with Timothy and see you,

but I got to wait to see what's going on here, but I trust in

the Lord. In other words, it's in his

hands but he also had faith that it would be.

All right and he would be able to go to Philippi.

He said I trust in the Lord. In other words, determining

voice that holds the future is the Lord.

And I believe that he thought that he would be able to do that

by faith to but in verses 25 and 26.

Yet, I considered it necessary to send to you.

Epaphroditus notice how he describes epaphroditus.

This is really incredible. He calls him.

These are some high praise words.

He said he's my brother. He's my fellow worker.

He's my fellow Soldier but then he says, but he's your

messenger. You know, interestingly about

this word messenger, it could be used in a generic sense and it

can be used in a specific sense and often times this word and

its Origins is translated as apostle and we can look in the

New Testament. We can find that.

The word Apostle is used to describe those that were set by

the Lord. And by the way, that's what that

means, it means to be sent and we can look at the specific

office of an apostle, and the 12 apostles And one fell and

Mathias was added to the 12. And Paul was added later on.

They were Apostles in an official sense in that they were

sent by the Lord Chosen and sent this man.

Epaphroditus was not an apostle in an official sense, but in a

general sense or generic sense, he was an apostle in that he was

sent, he was a minister. So Paul said this about

epaphroditus, he's my brother. He's my fellow worker.

He's a fellow Soldier but he's your Messenger.

And the one who ministered to my need.

And then in verse 26, Since he was longing for you all and was

distressed because you heard that he was sick.

You know what? I think sometimes it's Human

Nature. It's human nature sometimes when

we have things that go wrong. In our life or our health.

And we worry about ourselves. I think it's human nature to do

that and be really concerned about our self.

And really if you talk to people about their worries, usually

they're worried about things that are going on in their life.

And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with that,

sometimes we worry and then the Bible tells us what to do about

worry is, you know, be anxious for nothing but pray about

everything. But it's human nature to be

concerned about the things that are going on in your own

personal life. What's amazing about?

This is epaphroditus was sick and the people that were there

in Philip, I were concerned for him and his health and they were

worried about it in fact and that's what it says in verse 26.

It says since he was longing for you all and was distressed

because you had heard that he was sick.

What's amazing is Epaphroditus was distressed, not because he

was sick or his own problem. He was distressed because they

were worried That's amazing. How about being so selfless?

That you have an illness and we're going to find out was an

illness that almost took his life.

It was a serious illness and he's concerned and he's

distressed because and the word distressed me, the Greek term

describes, the confused or chaotic, a heavy state of

restlessness, that results from a time of turmoil or great

trauma. So, epaphroditus was distressed

because they were worried about him.

Because he was sick men in verse 27 for indeed, he was sick

almost unto death, but God had mercy on him and not only on

him, but on me also lest, I should have said, I should

sorrow. Had lest, I should have sorrow

upon sorrow. You know.

This is really amazing because if you think about this and I've

always known about this, but I haven't really looked at it as

closely as I did today. But have you ever stopped to

consider that? Just maybe there are times when

God spares the life of someone and extends mercy and Spares the

life of someone for showing Mercy for somebody else.

You ever stopped to consider. That's exactly what Paul is

saying. Paul is saying God had mercy and

extended that Mercy in sparing, the life of a peppered itis.

But Paul said Not only did he extend Mercy by extending his

life, he extended Mercy to me. So I would not sorrow upon

sorrow that I lost my friend in the faith.

You know, that's really a powerful thing.

I got to thinking about that. I got to thinking about, you

know, there's a lot of things I don't understand about what God

does and God's providential care and we studied about that in a

Bible, study the other night, but a God's providential care.

I just know that God's Providence God is involved in

his providential care and God makes decisions.

Sometimes, we don't understand that.

But in this verse, it's saying this, I'm going to read it again

for indeed. He was sick almost unto death,

but God Had mercy on him and not only on him but on me also lest

I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

That's pretty powerful. And that's what that phrase

means sorrow upon sorrow. The first idea is Paul was

undergoing terrible persecution. Paul was imprisoned, Paul had an

impending trial coming his way, Paul had some real trouble.

And instead of allowing him to have sorrow upon sorrow, and

that would be with epaphroditus now Dying.

God was merciful to epaphroditus and he was merciful DePaul and

he spared his life. And then the phrase that I may

be less sorrowful one scholar said to relieve the tension was.

Another reason for sending epaphroditus back to Philippi at

this time, besides the one mentioned in verse 25, in other

words, when the Brethren got to see him, you know, today we just

text I knew Chris was going to Chris and his family were

running late. So I texted him to take the

invitation song in the closing prayer.

What I'm getting at is this, we have access to people, easily,

instant instantaneously, even if you're in other parts of the

world, But in this case, they didn't have that, they don't

have cell phones, they didn't have ways of picking up the

phone and making a phone call. So, Paul said it's good.

That epaphroditus goes back and relieve the stress because these

Brethren and Philippi were greatly distressed and greatly

sorrowful and worried sick about epaphroditus.

So, he said, I'm going to send him back and it will relieve

that very thing, and also relieve the stress that was On

Paul worried about them all. First 29, which covers question.

Number four. Receive him therefore in the

Lord. With all gladly gladness and

hold such man in esteem. You know, the question is simply

is this how does a Christian receives someone in the Lord?

Well, first of all, when you receive someone in the Lord, you

are receiving a fellow Christian, you are receiving a

brother or sister in Christ. In this case, it's a brother in

Christ. And the brother in Christ is

epaphroditus. Now, interestingly they loved

him. So they didn't need instruction,

or they didn't need admonition. He wasn't correcting them.

I think this was really just a friendly, loving encouraging,

reminder receive him in the Lord.

Now, this is what that means. I think it means this in two

ways. Number one, it means receive him

as a brother. That's number one, number two,

receiving him. In the Lord also means receive

him in the same way that the Lord would receive him.

Have you ever stopped to consider the word?

Christian means christ-like. And that means that in our life,

we behave like Christ, if we're going to follow our leader, if

we're going to follow Jesus and he is the, he is the husband and

we are the bride being the church and we are Christians,

meaning, we are Christ. Like that means that in every

aspect of our life, we have to do our best to try to act like

Jesus. You know the world even came up

with a number that wwjd what would Jesus do?

You know, I don't think people need to have some sort of a sign

or a bracelet or a shirt. I think that people ought to be

able to have Christ Living in them to the point.

They don't need reminders like that.

If Jesus Christ is in me and I am following him, then his word

is burning in my heart too. I'm not going to need those

extra reminders. I got the word of God and I've

got Jesus Christ in my heart. So to receive him as you would

in the Lord is to receive him as you will, as Jesus would do

also. And then he says to receive him

and give him honor or esteem because of his work sake.

And finally, verse number 30, the question is summarize, this

verse and then Briefly summarize the chapter So verse 30.

Here's the Reason, by the way, he got sick.

And I've looked and looked and researched and read scholar and

after scholar. And I tried to find out what

exactly the illness was and some have speculated but I'm going to

tell you, I don't think we can know, I don't think we know for

sure. All we know is what happened and

when he got sick and it's in verse 30, Because for the work

of Christ, he came close to death, not regarding his life to

supply. What was lacking in your service

toward me? So evidently they didn't have

sufficient enough or Provisions enough for him to take it to

Paul and have Paul have what he needed.

So, what did, what did epaphroditus do, he tarried?

He stayed along. He stayed there and did

something of a secular. In order to create or have the

provisions and bring it back to Paul, when Paul was imprisoned,

whatever happened, whatever, you people speculate, whatever

happened, he became ill. And in that period of time, it

was an illness that almost took his life, very serious.

Now, it's very important to note this too.

When they didn't have enough Provisions, it wasn't the fault

of those in Philippi. It wasn't the church is Fault.

In fact, we find out later. They didn't have they lacked

opportunity. In other words, it wasn't their

fault. It just happened.

They wasn't enough and epaphroditus had to stay on got

ill, whatever happened to him, and almost died.

Paul said I need to send him back to relieve the stress to

relieve. The worry, also to get a good

report and Paul was longing for the time.

Very shortly perhaps that his matter from a legal standpoint

would be cast aside. He would be released from

custody and be able to travel with Timothy and go back there

and check on the church in Philippi. so, That's the

questions under consideration. So let's say I'm just going to

give you a quick summary of the chapter that will open it for

discussion. The chapter begins with the

theme being humility. And not only just humility but

humility with regards to its role that it plays in unity.

You know, it's really amazing. If, if people didn't have a

problem with humility, we really wouldn't have any problem with

unity. It's easy to be unified when

people possess the spirit of humility and the idea is this

don't just think about yourself. And by the way, remember in the

beginning of the chapter in the beginning of the chapter, if he

wasn't condemning someone that thought about his own needs or

his own self. He talked about, not thinking

about only, Be your own self. That's the problem.

So in the midst of taking care of my obligations, if I think of

somebody Beyond me or somebody above me and I put him above me,

that is humility. And that actually works together

to bond with unity and that covers verses 1 through 4 verses

5 through 11. And I love this because now the

emphasis on Jesus. Here's the example.

So this is what I need you to do.

But here's the example and verses five through 11.

The emphasis is on, Jesus and his humility and exultation in

other words because he humbled himself, God, exalted him, and

gave him a name. That was greater and higher than

every name. And I think that name is Lord.

Why do I think that obviously is Jesus Christ?

It is the description of him, but it has to include Lord.

It has to, if it doesn't. Then why does it say that when

Jesus comes back? They'll be a time when every

knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus is Lord,

So Not only was he given all power and all authority in

heaven and on Earth, but he was also given the title of Lord.

He is Lord of our life. He is Lord of it all.

Therefore, he's been given that name.

Why he humbled himself in submission to God's plan and God

exalted him for doing that? All right, verses 12 through 17.

Now, Then he talks about letting their light shine to the world.

Paul encourages them to work out their salvation with fear and

trembling practical things that they can do.

He tells them to hold fast the word of life so that Paul could

rejoice in the day of Christ. Now, something about that.

Paul said you keep going, So that we can rejoice in the day

of Christ and what's that mean? Well the day of Christ is

talking about the second coming. It's talking about when Jesus

comes back. So he says that there's going to

be rejoicing when you make it, and I think it's really

important because there are people in your life.

For example, that you have had, some sort of effort, you've done

something that has helped convert them, and maybe you go

years and you've never seen, you never see him again.

When the Lord comes back, there's rejoicing because they

have kept the faith and you have kept the faith.

And I think about that a lot too.

I think about the fact that there's a day of rejoicing in

the Lord comes back to hang in there and know that when the day

of Christ comes the labor is not in vain.

That's what Paul said that the labor would not be in vain now,

got to add this though. Paul was not saying when he said

my labor is in vain. He was not saying that he was

going to be judged based on their obedience and I don't

think we're going to be judged either based on somebody else's

obedience and faithfulness. You know, we can do all that we

can we can take the word of God to people.

We could preach the truth. We can do all that, but there

comes a time when a person has to make the choice on their own,

and if they choose something else and they choose to turn

their back on the Lord, we're not going to be judged for their

making that choice. Their faithfulness does not mean

whether the work was successful in terms of doing our part.

You know why? Because all we do is plant and

water, that's it. And God gives the increase so we

don't get the credit when they obey and we won't get the blame

when they disobey. But what he's saying is this, my

labor would not be in vain? In other words, I look at it as

a success. If you make it to the end and I

make it to the end and together, we Rejoice that covers those

versus now. 19 through 23. It was Paul's commending of

Timothy. We talked about that in the

introduction. I'll not do that.

Again, his proven character and all that he was known for

wanting to send Timothy understanding that, perhaps he

would be out of the imprisonment soon and he can go to, and then

finally verses 25 to 29. It covers, the questions under

consideration tonight and that is for the most part about

epaphroditus their relationship. Their love for him, what he did.

You sacrificed and God's Great Mercy in sparing his life.

Absolutely and Terry read that scripture when he said that they

came to his Aid and he says and he wanted them to do that but

not so that he could receive a gift.

But so that it would be fruit credited to their account.

Anytime a congregation is behind financially, a work.

It is fruit for your account every time.

And that means this to in a practical sense, there's going

to be people just because you're a member of this congregation

and it is a command to give and we give of our means on the

first day of the week we must give.

And when we do give whatever amount that is, we give that

which is purposely purpose in our heart, as we've been

Prosper, like the word of God says, okay, when that money from

the treasury is taken and used to preach the gospel.

There's going to be people in heaven because the support of

the preacher that sent that is sent from the congregation.

There's people in heaven that are credited to your account.

That means this, just like Danny said, you are involved in every

aspect of a work. When you're behind an evangelist

preaching, the gospel in every aspect of it.

I think the greatest things that are done for the cause of Christ

are oftentimes done behind the scenes when nobody even sees it

it could be a During Christ doing something behind the

scenes. It needs to be done, could be a

brother in Christ. Could be an older person could

be a younger person doesn't really matter, but some of the

greatest things that are ever done are done behind the scenes

when nobody knows and the greatest things we can do God

sees that when we're not trying to do it to get the credit.

We're just doing a little part, a little work, God sees every

bit of it and that's credit. That's fruit credited to your

account. We thank you for listening to

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