Perseverance of the Saints - Philippians 2:12-30 - Faithfulness

Good morning, family.

Turn to Philippians chapter 2.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

All right.

So, we're going to continue on our journey of Philippians chapter 2.

Philippians 2 · chapter mention

It's an amazing letter and really excited to see as God works these truths out in our

lives, how we start walking in all these things that God has been teaching us.

So we're going to pray.

We're going to get in.

I hope you listen a little bit on the kids' corner because that's what today is all about,

obedience.

So, Father, I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

Thank you, Lord, for your Word.

Thank you that you are the God of the universe.

You have not only do you will and work in us for your good pleasure, but you cause us,

persevere us to do the same.

And Lord, we thank you and we praise you.

Help us to walk in obedience, to understand the importance of obedience and the examples

that you have given of these two particular obedient men that God, that Paul uses to

really help us to see the importance of living rightly.

Lord, we thank you and we praise you in Jesus' name.

Amen.

So in order for us to have an understanding of what Paul is saying in Philippians chapter

Philippians 2:12–30

2, verse 12 through 30, I'm going to move up to verse 5 and reread this because this

is the concept.

This is what Paul is trying to put here.

I've said this over and over again.

If you can get rid of the subtitles and just read God's Word without the subtitle, just

read it or listen to it, just let it go.

You'll get a grasp of what he's trying to say.

I think subtitles, though, it helps us to grab a thought, really do an injustice to

helping us to understand the context.

Subtitles are not inspired.

They're just there to help you.

So verse 5, have this mind among yourselves which is yours in Christ Jesus, who though

he was in the form of God did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied

himself by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of man, being found in

human form.

He humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death.

I want you to grasp that.

Even death on the cross.

Therefore, God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every

name so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow in heaven and on earth and under

the earth and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now not only as in my presence,

but much more in my absence, work out your salvation with fear and trembling for it is

God who works in you both to will and to work for his good pleasure.

And I want you to, did you kind of grasp what Paul is doing in the continuance of that reading?

The context of what he's calling you to.

In the same way that Christ became obedient to the point of death, have you ever really

thought about how obedient are you?

Have you obeyed God's word to the point that you die?

In Romans 12, verse 1 and 2, therefore I urge you, brothers, in the view of God's mercy,

Romans 12:1

to offer your body as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing unto God, for this is your

reasonable act of worship.

Did you get that?

The whole point of obedience is have you really become obedient to the point of death?

Even death on the cross, as Christ did.

I don't think any of us have gotten to that point.

Do you know why?

Because obedience is uncomfortable.

Obedience is uncomfortable.

Principle number one, if you love Christ, you will obey him.

Jesus says that, if you love me, you will obey me.

The measurement of true love in Christ is unwavering obedience.

Obedience even when it's highly difficult.

There's nothing more difficult than the willingness to die because of obedience.

I want you to get that.

Jesus died willingly.

I lay down my own life.

No one takes it from me.

To be obedient to the Father because that was the Father's plan.

It's an example.

Obedience means everything.

Okay?

Philippians chapter 2, verse 12 and 13, therefore, in other words, all the things I just read

Philippians 2:12

to you, right?

Verse 5 through 11, Paul says, therefore, understanding all that I just explained to

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

more in my absence, you should continue to obey.

You know, he doesn't tell them that they need to obey.

He's reminding them, you've always obeyed.

I mean, what an amazing church.

You know, when I read the letter to the Philippians, I go, man, that's an amazing church, right?

Don't just be a good Berean by studying the word.

Be a good Philippian by living it.

The Philippians live it.

But then he says, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling.

This is not the term where the people, I'm sure in the past, it says, see, in order for

you to stay saved, you got to work it out.

You got to work out your own salvation to maintain your salvation.

That's not what this means.

Work out your salvation to get saved.

That's not what this means.

Working out your salvation has nothing to do with the reality of your position before

God.

Working out your own salvation is the reality of who you are already in Christ, right?

It's this idea that I need to practice it.

I need to literally live it out.

Live out your salvation with fear and trembling.

Why?

This fear is with reverence and honor and glory.

I should be absolutely thrilled to obey God.

Being obedient to God is not a burden.

It's your freedom.

Good choice on the song.

It's your freedom.

Your freedom is found when you're in obedience.

Why?

Because I have aligned my life with God.

That's why he says, it is God who works in you both to will and to work for his good

pleasure.

You will desire and you will serve for his good pleasure.

If you're truly born again, you're going to live your life out in that way with fear and

trembling, with joy and the glory of God and there will nothing, nothing will stop you

from that.

You will accomplish and do all that God has already set in plan for you.

He is sovereign to the detail.

Second principle, be a faithful witness in word and deed.

See, a person who loves and obeys God will be faithful in word and deed.

You are not just a witness of Christ through sharing the word of Christ, but also a witness

in how you live.

The picture you leave them, the world, to see speaks volumes of the faith that you claim

you have.

You can't say, I love Jesus and just go out and live any way you want.

I have to question your sincerity.

And this is what he challenges and he exhorts the church in Philippi.

He says, listen, there's more at stake here besides your faithful witness of the gospel

and your commitment to obedience.

Here, do all things without grumbling or disputing.

It's the number one issue Christians have.

What do we do?

I do it all the time.

It's so bad.

I can't watch the news.

Do all things without grumbling or disputing.

But we do.

Why?

Because it's easy.

What kind of witness does that leave?

Verse 15.

So if we're doing all things without grumbling or complaining or disputing, that you may be

blameless and innocent.

You ever notice that when you grumble and complain, what does the world say about you?

You're a hypocrite.

You have nothing else to be happy about besides you.

You just want to grumble and complain about life is terrible.

But when you're not grumbling and you're not complaining, you are blameless and innocent.

There's nothing as children of God, there's nothing that anyone can bring an accusation

against.

You're a bubby approach.

Children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation.

In other words, it should not shock you that sinful people sin.

But what we've done in churches today is we have expected that the sinner should come

into the presence of church and live as if they're believers.

And what do you have?

Churches full of unseer believers.

Lost people.

No commitment to obedience.

No commitment to honor and to love God.

No commitment to walk in the things of God.

There's none of that is there.

What do they do?

They grumble and they dispute and they're not blameless or innocent because they're

not children of God.

And so we as children of God must be above reproach, must be blemish, must be without

blemish in the midst of a very crooked and twisted world we live in.

That's the difference.

How can they tell the difference?

And then he says this, among whom when you don't grumble, complain, when you are blameless

and innocent, when you are children without blemish, you shine as lights in the world.

And people who shine as lights in the world, people who aren't grumbling, complain, people

who are blameless and innocent, and the children of God without blemish hold fast to the very

thing that keeps them, perseveres them, called holding fast to the word of life.

The word of God is the key.

So that in the day of Christ, I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

This is what Paul's saying.

Paul's saying, listen, please, can you not do all this?

And can you make sure that you're doing this?

Because when you're holding fast to the word of life, all right, something that's very

important is that I don't want to, when Christ comes, see the investment and time and work

that I put into you go to waste.

I don't want to run in vain or labor in vain.

In other words, don't waste my time is what he's basically saying.

Even if I am poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith,

I am glad and rejoice with you.

Why does he say that?

After he says, I don't want to run in vain, I'm happy you're holding fast to these things,

make sure you maintain that.

The sacrifice that I am putting in for you, I am glad and I rejoice with you.

The fact that we can be persecuted for the gospel and persecuted for our faith that we're

not only speaking the gospel, but we're living it out.

And I want you also, likewise, you should also be glad and rejoice with me because we

are co-laborers suffering together.

Are you joyful with the family when we're going through trials and troubles and struggles?

You should be.

It tells you about the genuineness of your faith.

And then Paul gives you two very important examples here.

If there's anyone, if there are two men that Paul clarifies about the reality of this life

that the Philippians are so faithfully doing.

Paul gives two more examples and this is what he says, I want you to, principle number three,

faithful men will be faithful in word and deed.

This is for you men.

Though this principle is for everybody, everyone should be faithful in word and deed.

This is specifically for the men because it's your responsibility to lead.

It's not the women's responsibility to lead.

It's yours.

It's ours.

And we will do so here.

And we are doing so.

But I'm going to exhort you and challenge you.

Think about this.

Faithful men will be faithful in word and deed.

What you do faithfully today, gentlemen, will build confidence in what you do tomorrow.

Therefore, there is no substitute for faithfulness.

In chapter two, verse 19 through 24, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send you Timothy, to

send Timothy to you soon so that I too may be cheered by the news of you.

I want you to get that out of everybody that Paul chooses to send to the Philippian church.

He sends Timothy, his son in the Lord.

Why?

Because this guy, and I want to say this to the young men.

Okay, this is to Chase and to Owen and to all the young men.

You want to be an example, you want to have an example of a godly man?

Timothy.

What a phenomenal young man.

To be honest with you, if anyone had daughters, this would be the guy I'd be like, yeah.

I want that to be my son-in-law.

I want this gentleman.

What a dude.

Now, look at what he says.

Because I know that when Timothy comes to you, he's going to bring me news that the

work and the labor that I have put in you has not gone in vain.

I'm going to be able to be cheerful about the work that's been accomplished.

This is what he says, verse 20, for I have no one like him.

Out of all the men Paul has, one is the man that I think is worthy of this responsibility.

Timothy.

I have no one like him who will genuinely, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare.

You notice Timothy's heart.

Timothy's not there because Paul sent him.

Timothy's not there because he wants to make Paul happy.

Timothy's there because he genuinely has a concern for the people of Philippi.

He loves God's people.

Faithful men love God's people.

You need to love God's people who live in your house, and you need to love God's people

who live in this, who meet and gather at this house.

You love God's people.

Okay?

Look what he says in verse 21, for they, all the other, all the other quote unquote men,

all they, all, for they all seek their own interest and not those of Jesus Christ.

Second thing, Timothy seeks genuine concern and welfare for the Philippians because he

is interested in what Christ wants.

Period.

A heart fully devoted to being obedient to God.

Verse 22, but you know Timothy's proven worth.

In other words, Timothy has been tested.

Now you know why Timothy was given the responsibility to be the pastor of the Ephesian church.

He has proven himself.

You got to, you got to prove this out.

Pastors aren't pastor because they say they're pastors.

There are churches full of pastors that aren't pastors.

They need to prove themselves out.

How do they prove it out?

They prove it out by knowing and teaching the full counsel of God's word.

Not telling you what makes you happy, but being honest with you with the truth and being

sound in doctrine.

You first and second Timothy, you have a clear understanding.

Paul's exhortation to Timothy.

Then he says, how as a son with a father, he has served me in the gospel.

Notice Timothy's heart.

Gospel.

Nothing else matters but gospel.

It's your number one responsibility is the gospel.

God has not given you anything else but gospel.

And over and over and over again from chapter one into chapter two, that's what you're

hearing.

Gospel, gospel, gospel.

Do it.

Do gospel.

And he says this, I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with

me.

And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.

I'm going to make sure once everything gets settled here, I'm sending Timothy to you

for you because he genuinely loves you, genuinely cares for you.

He's seeking the interest of Christ and he has been a well proven young man in the Lord.

Why?

Because he has served with me for the sake of the gospel.

Faithful men will be faithful in word and deed.

You have two opportunities every month, gentlemen, to grow in word so that you can live in deed,

in discipleship with other men.

Second and fourth Saturday of every month, eight o'clock in the morning.

No reason why you can't be here.

If you can't give God four hours of time to get together with men, to work out your salvation,

to learn of him in that little bit of time every month.

That doesn't mean there's not going to be times when it's going to be busy.

I get it.

But if you have a free time and there's nothing going on that day, make it your ambition to

be there for a couple hours and hang out with guys so we can talk together about Christ

and his word, man to man.

Learn biblical manhood.

Okay?

That's my challenge to you as men, because everyone is watching you.

Next principle.

You are what God says you are.

Let's go.

And you do what God has for you to do.

Romans chapter nine verse 21, has the potter no right over the clay to make out of the

same lump one vessel of honorable use and another of dishonorable use?

God has determined who you are, whose you are, what you are, and what you will do.

It's his determination.

The reason why I use that Bible verse is because you see this very clear example of a vessel

of honorable use named Epaphroditus.

Epaphroditus, what a gentleman.

What a man committed.

Now I want you to hear this list.

Philippians chapter two verse 25 through 30.

I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker

and fellow soldier and your messenger and minister to meet to my need.

Do you hear that list?

First thing, Epaphroditus is family.

Epaphroditus is a co-worker for the sake of the gospel and Epaphroditus is a soldier

of the living God.

And he is a messenger that you have sent who was there to minister to my need.

You are what God says you are and you will do what God says you will do.

And that's exactly what happens with Epaphroditus.

Epaphroditus was sent to care for Paul from the Philippian church and not only did he

do that but he did far more.

Look what it says in verse 26.

For he has been longing for you all.

In other words, he misses the family.

I get excited when I haven't seen somebody in a while and I walk in and I'm like, I'm

like beeline.

I just get excited when I don't see you and I see you and you're like there he is and

there she is.

Hey, hey, give me a hug.

I get excited.

How can you not get excited?

And at the same time, that's the point what Paul is saying here that Epaphroditus was

he was like man I miss him.

I miss the family.

This is what he says because he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because

you heard that he was ill.

He was worried that they were worried.

Now, people go pastor don't worry.

I can't help it.

I'm worried that you're worried which makes me worry.

I know.

Don't be anxious about anything but in everything by prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving.

I get it.

But I can't help it.

It's a shepherd issue and that's exactly what Epaphroditus is doing.

He's like I'm distressed because you heard of I was they heard that I was ill.

I'm like worried about it.

I don't want them to worry.

Everything's okay.

And then Paul says this.

Indeed he was ill near to near to death.

He got really sick.

He was going to die.

But look at what Paul says.

But God had mercy on him and not only on him but me also.

Why?

Lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

God had mercy on him and me so that I didn't have to worry.

I didn't have to have sorrow.

I didn't want to be.

I didn't want to deal with his death and my illness.

And God had mercy on us.

When our when our sick brothers and sisters here or aren't here reach out to them touch

them contact them make a text message if you have to.

Sometimes it's hard.

I get it.

But you know what we know what's special about what we do here at Mount Eaton is our deacons

have deacon areas now.

They deke which is exciting.

And their responsibility is every month to make contact with each family that that that

they have been given.

Now the good news some of you guys have like families of nine.

That's pretty it's pretty easy phone call.

But how about all the singles that we have.

So their job is to literally make a phone call or if they see him at church say hey

how you doing making sure that they get in contact.

We should be all of us should be here to do the same thing as best as we possibly can.

And this is what Paul says in verse 28.

I am the more eager to send him therefore why that you may rejoice at seeing him again.

What would happen when I say it this way I know when John was sick and and he I see a

song today is in church.

He's he's alive.

Should you not be excited.

Because one day I won't see him again.

And one day I'm not going to see you.

And one day you're not going to see me.

And what are you going to do when family goes home.

And you don't see them anymore.

And that's why he says I am the more eager to send him therefore that you may rejoice

in seeing him again.

And every opportunity you get to see them you love the heck out of them.

Even when we get on each other's nerves because we're family.

And this is what he says and that I may be less anxious.

My anxiety went away when I when I saw John he has mask on but I said whoo.

You know even when I see families and they go away and you go on vacation and I see them

come back from vacation.

I'm like excited.

Who could.

You should do the same.

This is what he says in verse 29 I know we're all getting teary eyed now.

I'm sorry.

So receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men.

Be joyful and honor such a man.

Let me say this.

There's only one of you.

And when God gives you godly men that lead you and that love on you.

Man love it.

Honor them.

Find joy even even among the women who are leaders among the women.

Find joy.

God has given you godly women and godly men to lead you and to teach you and disciple

you and to mentor you.

And enjoy it.

Verse 30.

This is why for he nearly died for the work of Christ risking his life to complete what

was lacking in your service to me.

In other words he gave every ounce of what he had to the point that point of death even

when I can imagine a Baphrodite is he is probably really fevered out and sick as a dog right.

He is still serving and caring for Paul.

He is giving it all.

And that's why there aren't many men like that.

So he gives us these two examples.

So let me give you these principles one more time.

If you love Christ you will obey him.

The measure of true love in Christ is unwavering obedience.

Be faithful.

Be a faithful witness in word and indeed.

You are not just a witness of Christ through sharing the word of Christ but you're also

a witness in how you live.

The picture that you leave the world to see speaks volumes of the faith you claim to have.

Faithful men will be faithful in word and deed.

Whatever what you do faithfully today will build confidence in what you do tomorrow.

There is no substitute for faithfulness.

You are what God says you are and you will do what God has for you to do.

Therefore be faithful men.

Give your ways to him and he will honor you.

It's God's will for you.

Father I want to thank you so much for your faithfulness and goodness.

We thank you for this wonderful letter.

We thank you for the examples you have given us about what it means to be a godly man and

to live a life of obedience to the point of death and to give our all and to be what you

have called us to be and to do what you have called us to do and that is gospel.

Thank you that we're part of the family.

Thank you that we are coworkers in this wonderful journey and mission that you have given us.

And thank you that we can contend for the faith as faithful soldiers being a faithful

witness and serving the family.

Lord we praise you and we thank you in Jesus name.

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