Philippians 2:16-22 - Terry Osburn

It's good to see everyone here. This evening, we got a good

crowd and I appreciate that very much and we're going to continue

with our study in Philippians the second chapter.

If you don't have questions, there are some on the back

table. This set of questions, deals

with verses 16 through 22. I'd like to go back to verse

well, let's just go back to the beginning and we'll read through

Let's see, we'll probably read through verse 24.

Paul writing thier to the church at Philippi says therefore if

there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,

if any Fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy,

fulfill my Joy, by being like-minded, having the same

love being of one, Accord of one mind, Let nothing be done

through selfish. Excuse me, Ambition or conceit.

But in lowliness of Mind, Let each esteem others better than

himself. Let each of you look out not

only for his own interest but also for the interests of

others, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.

Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery

to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation taking

the form of a bondservant and be coming in the likeness of men

and being found. Found in appearance as a man, he

humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,

even the death of the Cross. Therefore God also has, he has

highly exalted him and given him the name, which is above every

name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those

in heaven and of those on Earth and of those under the Earth and

that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is

Lord to the glory of God. Father therefore my beloved as

you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much

more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and

trembling for it is God who works in you both to Will and to

do for his good pleasure? Do all things without

complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and

harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked

and perverse. Zeus generation among who you

whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast the word of

the life, so that I might may rejoice in the day of Christ

that I have not run in vain, or labored in vain, Yes and if I

being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and

service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all for the

same reason that also for the same reason, you also be glad

and rejoice with me, 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 for all seek their own, not the things which are of

Christ Jesus. But you know, his proven

character that has a son with his father.

He served 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.

So throughout the first part of this book, we understand that

that Paul is really kind of just kind of laying some groundwork

for them. He's praising them for what they

do their faithfulness, they're they're, you know, holding fast

to to the the word of Truth and doing the things that need to

be, but he also gives them encouragement.

Maybe some things that maybe they're a little bit lacking on

and guys, too. Tries to get them kind of maybe

all headed in the right direction.

Talks about Unity talks about being humble to each other,

putting each other first and things of that nature.

But he he tells them that they're basically kind of doing

a good job there. He's praising them but but still

encouraging them, I guess is the term.

I'm really looking for encouraging them to continue

doing what they're doing and showing them that they are.

This light of the All that they shine as lights in the world.

He says. And so now he comes here to

verse 16 and he says holding fast the word of life, so that I

may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, or

labored in vain. And the question is, what is

meant by the phrase holding fast?

The words? The word of life and what is the

day of Christ? Well, this there was some of the

commentators kind of had a couple of different ideas about

this, but the if, You go to Thayer's and look at that the

term holding fast. They are says to hold towards

hold forth present as a light by which illumined ye are the

lights of the world. Now I kind of get the idea that

what he's saying, even, even though it can be taken in two

different, two different ways he's saying for them to

basically take the gospel, which they have and to Proclaim it to

take it and and have that light that it gives light Right?

In other words, that it's effective in what what it has to

do, I believe the other way that he that is talked about is no

other words, kind of holding fast or being firm and sure.

And stedfast in the faith is another way that it was looked

at as well or described as But he talks about them and

encouraging them to continue doing what they're doing.

In other words, taking that word and using it as we would a torch

or a or a flash light that shines light on our path to

gives us to know where we need to walk where we need to stay in

the path. And I think that is really the

term that's being used here, so he's encouraging them as if we

go back to 2. Verse 14.

He says do all things without complaining.

This Den disputing that you may become blameless and harmless

children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and

perverse generation. Now that tends to mean that

they're the the, the the Society that they're living in, is not

always going in the right direction.

So they're living amongst these people, that would want to

pervert and take them different directions.

So he says, among whom you shine as lights in the world, so it

kind of ties together with that same idea of holding fast, the

words of Life holding fast. In other words, taking that

light. If they're The Shining, as

lights of the world, to take that light and then use it for

the good to shine. And and help each other and

staying on the path and other others to help them also know

where the path is, so they can obey the gospel.

And then all of them working together in unity, then to make

sure that everyone is going in the right direction.

The words of Life talked about here, I believe certainly is the

gospel. So to take that light, which is

the work, the gospel and using that, as the way to, to light

the direction, in which they going.

If we look at John 6, + 63, there says, it is the spirit who

gives life, the flesh profits, nothing the words that I speak

to you are spirit and they are life.

The words of life. So, So taking that gospel and

spreading it, the church at Philippi, I had the

responsibility of spreading the gospel.

It was taking the words of Life, spiritual life, to these that

are lost in sin and sustaining that defending it, taking it and

using it effectively. So, the word had spiritual life

within it and then the day of Christ, Is the day when Christ

comes again, the day that Paul is trying to prepare them for,

he's encouraging them to stay faithful and to keep doing what

they're doing, and Paul stating that his desires for them to

remain blameless. And them to walk or walk with

with and, and in the Lord, Verse 17 verse 17 reads.

Yes. And if I am being poured out as

a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your

faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.

So this was a bit of a difficult for me.

Some others may not have found it that difficult but it was a

little bit for me to kind of really hopefully get a grasp on

what was being being talked about here.

Well this was a term. This is really kind of a Hebrew

term of being Poured out poured out, as a drink offering Paul is

talking about this practice among the Jews and even among

some of the pagans that they would sacrifice to their gods,

they would pour liquid that, sometimes, that would be blood,

sometimes it would be wine, sometimes it could be perfume

and other things that we're had some value to them and they

would pour it on the thing that they were sacrificing.

So it was kind of like a I'm trying to think of the word I

wrote down here now, I can't find it.

Well, I'll find it here in a minute.

So, if we go back to numbers 15 and Verses 4 through 5 and also

two verses chapter 28 and verse 7, this the kind of brings us

this. This example of the the law

says, then he who presents his offering to the Lord shall bring

a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of flour of fine, flour

mixed with 1/4 of a hen of oil. And Fourth of a hin of wine as a

drink offering you shall prepare, the burnt offering or

the sacrifice for each lamb. So they would take these

elements and they would mix them together.

And that would become this, this, this offering that would

be poured over the the lamb that was going to be sacrificed the

Hebrew, that that word hen is a Hebrew unit of measure that is

about five and a half quarts. So they take five and Of quarts

of oil and five and a half cups, five and a half quarts of wine.

And of course, the term wine here, doesn't necessarily mean

that it was fermented juice or, or the grape juice.

But but simply the blood of the grape.

And then they would mix those together.

And that would become then, that drink offering the.

And so then the grammar of I'm being poured out, the Paul talks

about is, is indicates the possibility that his execution,

may be short and it coming or closely to them.

And this was an if this was so he was willing to make His

sacrifice of his blood being shed for the cause of Christ.

So if we go back and read this, he says, yes and if I'm being

poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of

your faith, I'm glad and rejoice with you.

Notice what Paul told Timothy also in.

In second Timothy 4 in verses 6 and 7 he says for I am ready to

be poured out as a drink offering and the time of my

departure is at hand, I fought a good fought, the good fight, I

have finished the race, I have kept the faith.

So Paul was basically saying the end of his life was coming, he's

ready to be poured out as a drink offering.

In other words, he's ready to be given as a sacrifice for the

cause of Christ, if it, if it was necessary.

And so, that's kind of what Paul is saying here.

I believe For their service and their faith.

He was willing to even give his life to continue their work in

Christ, to help them continue their work in Christ and he

says, and I'm glad and rejoice with you.

Also on that point of and sacrifice your faith.

So, Paul is stating that if he had even sacrifice his life,

Give his life, which is considered.

Here's what I was looking for this, minor sacrifice to him

compared to that which was being poured upon would be the major

sacrifice. So that mixing of the wine and

the oil was the minor sacrifice of giving those things that had

value and putting it in on the major sacrifice, which was the

lamb that was given. So even Paul's comparing

himself, even if I have to give my blood, it's a minor sacrifice

for what Christ is doing. And the cause of Christ.

I hope that I haven't confused you too much.

So even that humble service of him doing that would bring joy

to him, Paul's life was going to be a sacrifice for Jesus Christ.

Either in Life or in death, he was giving everything that he

had towards the cause of Christ. So this was the source of his

gladness. This is what made him happy that

he was seen that the church at Philippi was doing what they

want. They were supposed to be doing,

he found pleasure in that he found gladness in that and he

was willing regardless to give even his life, that there might

be more even more joy. And he wanted these Philippians

2 even adopt that same attitude. So verses 18 through 20.

Now we come too. And the reads for the same

reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me and that really

kind of carries along with what is we.

Just said he was wanting them to Rejoice along with him 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. so, It's not that Paul necessarily I believe was

worried that they were doing things wrong.

I think it's just like you and I, when we haven't talked to

somebody for a while or seeing a letter from them or talk to them

on the phone or whatever it may be, that we kind of get

ourselves concerned about how everybody's doing, How things

are going as if everybody's, you know, doing well people

remaining faithful and and and things of that nature.

So he says, I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you

shortly. So Paul's heart, it was relying

on, whatever the Lord's will was he was trusting the Lord that he

might be able to do that. Even though he was in Chains and

prison, he was hoping to be able to refer freed from those things

and be able to come and be with him but he says, I want to send

Timothy I want to send Timothy. Whatever the Lord's will is

though that I may be also may be encouraged.

When I know your state Paul didn't expect, there were any

problems there but he he would be encouraged when I know what's

going on. Just like you and I when we call

and we worry about somebody and we hear their voice and we talk

to him, see everybody's doing go.

We can relax about it and that's really kind of, I believe what

is being said, the contrast to this I believe is you know about

let's for say exam. The church at Corinth where

there was a lot of problems that Paul was aware of and he was

writing those letters that were much more pointed about all the

things that they were doing wrong.

That's not, that's not the, the, the flavor if you want to say,

of this letter to them, that's not the, the tone of this

letter. He's encouraging them and things

of this nature. He's not hammering on him, like

he was the Corinthians So he goes on to say about Timothy, it

says I have no one like minded. And one of the I believe it was

mayor said they said in other words, another explanation of

this, I have no one equal in Seoul.

We know what that's like to have somebody that It just seems like

we know what they're thinking, and we know what their next move

is going to be, what their next action is getting me, how they

feel about certain things. We have that that closeness to

them. He said, so who will sincerely

or the King James version, says, naturally care for your steak.

So Paul's desires to know that things are well with them, and

then they can stop worrying about them.

Timothy would also make sure that there that there was, if

there was anything lacking, he would take care of that, he

would see to their needs, and would be cared for not

necessarily for the benefit of easing, Paul's anxiety, but was

also that the this likeness of Timothy and Paul's together.

The Timothy probably was the same had the same feelings.

It's kind of like we talked about certain people and we say,

well, you know, we're just kind of like Bosom Buddies.

That's kind of way that I feel like what Paul is saying about

Timothy that they had this closeness.

That was not like all of maybe Paul's other acquaintances, may

be in some of the Apostles but even some of the other Apostles

probably maybe were sent off doing other works and things

that like That and and weren't available.

But still Paul's preference was that Timothy go and he knew he'd

get a good report, he knew that he could trust him at the, he

knew that he could put confidence in him.

He knew that he would take care of things, that would be needed

and things of that nature. Now verse 21 it says what does

this verse mean and verse 21 reads for all seek their own,

not the things which are of Christ Jesus?

There were others, of course, mentioned earlier in chapter 1

about others that were preaching for the wrong reason.

They were he said Paul was glad that they were still even

preaching the truth but their motives were were not right but

Timothy is one who stood out, he wasn't like that he was separate

and apart from any of the others and it seems that they were the

had this Oh, sness, that Paul again didn't have any others?

Timothy was one that Paul felt. He could have complete

confidence in. And the other others, maybe not

quite as much. Verse 22.

Finish up here quickly. There's 22 reads, but you know,

his proven character that has a son with his father.

He served with me in the gospel and he said, what is meant by

the phrase as a son with his father?

He served with me in the gospel. Well, He's basically saying, you

know who Timothy is, he's proven himself to you.

And this passage also indicates how close and intimate that

relationship was between Paul and Timothy and and he's, he's

comparing that to the to the relationship between a father

and a son. And the closeness that a father

and his son would have that they work together and had sold so

many things in common and devoting their lives to the

cause of Christ. So, just as a father would know,

all the things about his son. And so the sun would know things

about his father and that closeness and intimacy that

other people would maybe, not even know, or understand, there

are things that my children, understand about me.

And I understand about them that other folks don't understand.

That's the closeness that Paul and Timothy had.

That's the how Close of a relationship, they have.

We thank you for listening to our podcast, put on by the

Church of Christ at 22:15 plans. Road in Bakersfield, if you

would like any additional information, or you would like

to receive a free Bible correspondence, course by mail.

Please email us at info at her Church of Christ

Bakersfield.com. Our service times are on Sundays

at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. and Wednesdays at 7:30 p.m.

Please make plans to join us. We would love for you to be our

honored guest.