Philippians 2:12-30 Summarized Evening Notes
12 Dear friends, you always followed my instructions when I was with you. And now that I am away, it is even more important. Work hard to show the results of your salvation, obeying God with deep reverence and fear.
When Paul says salvation, it is understood in the general sense. The church needs to work out individual and group issues with meekness and humility. There is not always going to be leadership around.
Why the emphasis of “it is even more important”? Spiritual immaturity can tear a church apart. When the leadership is away the mice will play. It is interesting how quick certain people will step up to take control in a church setting when the leadership is away. Some for the glory of God, but most, I’m afraid for the glory of themselves or for adoration from their pastor. The body must remain guarded against this and work in unity for the desire and will of God.
13 For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him. 14 Do everything without complaining and arguing, 15 so that no one can criticize you.
Why do you go to your current church? Why are you serving in a ministry? If you are hard hearted, bitter or angry, either resolve the issue or step down or move on. If we are truly like-minded it is because we have the Holy Spirit. If we have the Holy Spirit we can discern worldly from godly desire. No need to expound!
Live clean, innocent lives as children of God, shining like bright lights in a world full of crooked and perverse people. 16 Hold firmly to the word of life; then, on the day of Christ’s return, I will be proud that I did not run the race in vain and that my work was not useless.
There is a significant difference between living and having life. During the hours of darkness, if God was to look down on His wondrous creation, would He see His light in you shining brightly for all to see? Like fireflies on a quiet warm Summer evening, without there glow you wouldn’t know they were there. Be known!
17 But I will rejoice even if I lose my life, pouring it out like a liquid offering to God, just like your faithful service is an offering to God. And I want all of you to share that joy. 18 Yes, you should rejoice, and I will share your joy.
Commonly missed is the beautiful illustration Paul is sharing about the drink (wine) offering. The drink or wine offering was added to the burnt offering and meal offering. It was never added to the sin offering or trespass offering.
Here’s the picture. The burnt offering would be covered with wine and as the wine burned off it would become what? Steam (vapor) and then disappear.
Paul is saying that he wants his life to be a drink offering to Christ. After all the work, laughter and pain, all that is left is Christ. Leaving only Christ to receive all the glory. That is truly transparent.
Paul Commends Timothy
19 If the Lord Jesus is willing, I hope to send Timothy to you soon for a visit. Then he can cheer me up by telling me how you are getting along. 20 I have no one else like Timothy, who genuinely cares about your welfare.
What is Paul really eluding? Is there no-one else? He is saying that very few (few and far between) people that are authentically willing to give up of themselves and their things to do the Lords work alone.
Look at 1 Corinthians 10:23-24
23 You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is good for you. You say, “I am allowed to do anything”—but not everything is beneficial. 24 Don’t be concerned for your own good but for the good of others.
But for the good of others we are to be concerned!
We are quick to justify for our own sake, before the sake of others. I have liberty but at what cost to others?
Illustration
The Pastor asked a couple of us to take two days off from work to help with a special project. Who does he think he is, doesn’t he know that I have my own bills to pay. Matter fact, I would need to use some of my vacation time I’ve save for my semiannual fishing trip with my buddies. I’ve worked hard for that trip. There are plenty of other people that can help repair that women’s shelter.
Hmmmm…..
21 All the others care only for themselves and not for what matters to Jesus Christ. 22 But you know how Timothy has proved himself. Like a son with his father, he has served with me in preaching the Good News. 23 I hope to send him to you just as soon as I find out what is going to happen to me here. 24 And I have confidence from the Lord that I myself will come to see you soon.
Paul Commends Epaphroditus
25 Meanwhile, I thought I should send Epaphroditus back to you. He is a true brother, co-worker, and fellow soldier. And he was your messenger to help me in my need. 26 I am sending him because he has been longing to see you, and he was very distressed that you heard he was ill. 27 And he certainly was ill; in fact, he almost died. But God had mercy on him—and also on me, so that I would not have one sorrow after another.
28 So I am all the more anxious to send him back to you, for I know you will be glad to see him, and then I will not be so worried about you. 29 Welcome him with Christian love and with great joy, and give him the honor that people like him deserve. 30 For he risked his life for the work of Christ, and he was at the point of death while doing for me what you couldn’t do from far away.
Timothy & Epaphroditus were like-minded with Paul. What a comfort to have those that are supportive without hidden agendas. Longing to increase Christ’s work.
How does one become like-minded? Submit to the Spirit and allow as verse 13 says: For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.
It’s not what we are doing or have done. It’s allowing God to work through us.
John 6:60-66 (emphasis on 66)
60 Many of his disciples said, “This is very hard to understand. How can anyone accept it?”
61 Jesus was aware that his disciples were complaining, so he said to them, “Does this offend you? 62 Then what will you think if you see the Son of Man ascend to heaven again? 63 The Spirit alone gives eternal life. Human effort accomplishes nothing. And the very words I have spoken to you are spirit and life. 64 But some of you do not believe me.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning which ones didn’t believe, and he knew who would betray him.) 65 Then he said, “That is why I said that people can’t come to me unless the Father gives them to me.”
66 At this point many of his disciples turned away and deserted him. 67 Then Jesus turned to the Twelve and asked, “Are you also going to leave?”
Many that profess to be Christian have a real problem with the bible and the true calling. So they too turn away. Christianity is not a la carte.
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