Citizens: A Study On Philippians (Part 10)

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Citizens: A Study on Philippians

(Part 11)

• Glad you are with us in person and online
  • We are walking through the end of chapter 2 of Paul’s letter
  • That means we are half way done
• Last 2 weeks have been a ton of fun
  • Two weeks ago was the subject of obedience & good works
  • Last week was the subject of not grumbling or arguing
• So look around… anyone who isn’t here this week – but was last
  • They were probably grumbling about the sermon
  • Just kidding… probably wanted to argue about something I said

So again – This week we are closing out chapter 2

Phil 2:19-30

[PRAY]

Story

Do you have any movies you love that transcend generations

• U watch as a kid… ur kids watched it… someday grandkids will too
  • One movie that is like that for me is “HOME ALONE”
  • I don’t think that movie will ever lose interest
• But 1 thing I don’t like about it is…
  • It’s always brings back the stress of travel in the 80’s & 90’s
    • Paper plane tickets
    • Alarm clocks that aren’t a phone
    • Crazy itineraries
  • That scene of waking up knowing u missed ur alarm
    • Running through the airport (even w/ no security checks)
    • I think every time I watch it… I get a few more grey hairs

At 1^st glance – these 11 verses feel a whole lot like a stressful travel log

• It’s plane tickets… itineraries… missed travel… hotel reservations
  • Paul is in a roman Prison – Where they don’t give you anything
    • You are completely at the mercy of family & friends
    • Philippians hear about Paul from 800 miles away
    • He is literally starving and will die if he doesn’t get help
• So Philippians get money together & send a guy (Apathroditus)
  • 800 miles with a gift to buy food… get water… clothes
    • And along the way he gets sick and almost dies
    • But even though he is sick… he pushes thru & gets to Paul
    • Because he didn’t give up – Paul is saved
  • Now Paul has an issue – Philippians don’t know what happened
    • Remember only way to communicate is in person
      • Did the money ever get to Rome?
      • Is Paul even still alive or was he executed?
• Paul needs 2 figure out how 2 communicate w/ the church
  • He can’t go… in prison
    • Timothy can’t go… Paul needs him through the trial
    • But he can send Apath-ro-di-tus back to fill them in
  • Then after Paul knows if he will die or not by Caesar
    • Paul will send Timothy for direction/encourage/love
    • And then circle back to Rome to report again to Paul

On surface that’s all this is – Travel plans & itineraries

But under the surface there is so much going on

• We have to keep reminding ourselves this is a letter
  • When we read: Must keep context (why verse by verse is good)
• First: Lets rewind to ch. 1 – Central point Paul is building around
  • It’s the First command of entire letter (Phil. 1:27)
  • Live as citizens of the Gospel of the King
• Second: Ch. 2 – Paul gives a vision of a church that would do that
  • And specifically in UNITY and HUMILITY

Phil 2:2

• Third: Paul gives EXAMPLES of how it looks in daily life (Phil 2:5)
  • 1^st example: Jesus – Verse 5: Same mindset as Jesus (humble)
• Fourth: (Last week) Paul shows Israel as what NOT to do
  • How Grumbling & Arguing actually hides the Gospel
• Fifth: (Today) Paul points out 2 Xian guys the Philippians know
  • These are examples again for the Philippians to follow
  • In order to learn how to live out Gospel in Unity & Humility

B/C we need examples to look to… am I right?

• I have examples all around my life
  • I look to my Dad on how to lead a family/be a man of God
  • I look to my friend Pastor Billy on how to stay mentally healthy
  • I look to my friend Pastor Mark on how to lead outside the box
  • I look to my wife on how to empathize with others
• I need examples to look to – b/c when I walk into new seasons
  • I want to hear from someone who has been there…
  • I need someone I can learn from their: MISTAKES & VICTORIES
• Which is why having multi-generational church is so important
  • I need the wisdom of Pastor Rick who’s walked things I haven’t
• And Paul gets that… because live like the KING is fuzzy at best
  • It’s one thing to say “Live out the Gospel”
  • Whole other thing to say “That guy next to you… be like him”
  • It’s a whole different thing to put flesh and blood on theology
    • That is what Paul is up to in the text

TAG: That said Paul gives us two examples 

First off is Timothy (Well know character in the Bible)

Years before Philippians is written – Paul planted church in Lystra

• There he found a young guy named Timothy (Dad was pagan)
  • Paul adopts Timothy as his own son
  • In return – Timothy follows Paul as long as he can
  • And becomes Paul’s right hand man – Even writes him 2 letters
    • That in mind… lets get into the text

Phil. 2:19-21

• And it’s a big deal to send Timothy… basically Paul’s right hand guy
  • He could have sent anyone (Rome… Jerusalem… anyone)
  • But he wants to send Timothy and here is why… he says…

• And I love this b/c reading between the Paul is saying
  • Sorta like when I leave the house and talk to my kids saying…
  • “Can’t wait 2 get home & see ur rooms clean/homework done”
  • Paul saying “Cant wait 2 send Timothy so I can hear good news”
    • And here is why Paul sends Timothy…

• Paul shows how much he values authenticity & being genuine
  • I think that is something I respect/disrespect most in people
  • Paul knows Timothy is trustworthy and will take care of them
  • He isn’t there with an agenda… but for their well fare

• And notice all the parallel language Paul puts in here from earlier
  • Phil 2:2 
  • Phil 2:19 – (same in Greek)
    • Phil 2:3 
    • Phil 2:21 
• Paul is saying Timothy is the exception to the rule… not the norm
  • He will take care of you… promote you… not looking to profit
  • Def of Humility to Paul: Being others focused over self focused
  • I ask… could that be said of me – How often do I look out 4 me

BUT that kind of character does not come cheap… Paul goes on…

Phil. 2:22

• ]The words “PROVED HIMSELF” in Greek is just one word
  • DOKIME: Character as the result of suffering
  • It’s also used in Romans 5…

Rom 5:3-4

• Wait… who does that: Glory in our sufferings?!?!
  • But here is why…

• For those of you in a place of suffering right now (fill in blank)
  • If you hold steady in perseverance it has the potential to either
    • Destroy your life
    • Create inside you a character (Dokime) money cannot buy
  • It’s what u can’t gain it from a sermon… a book… a podcast
    • You can only learn it from the hard knocks of life
• Paul says that’s true of Timothy… proven character from suffering
  • Paul says: I know because I was there!
  • In prison… suffering for the gospel…

Phil. 2:22-24

So we know Paul says to look to Timothy as example

Paul uses metaphors to help us understand how to live out gospel

Phil 2:22

• Timothy is a pic of a SON with his FATHER (not just a father figure)
  • In Ancient world you would follow father into family business
  • If ur father was a farmer… odds are u would become a farmer
  • If ur father was a merchant… ur probably gonna be a merchant
• Even today in much of the world… you learn ur trade
  • By working shoulder to shoulder with your father
  • That’s what Paul is saying… he worked right by my side
• And u learn by copying/imitation – This is how we learn as humans
  • Parenting is watching ur faults walk around on two little legs
    • Your children will follow you whether you like it or not
  • To Paul we must learn: Younger generation learning from older
    • That is why we value a multi-generational church
    • Sons/daughters learn from those further on road of faith

2 Tim 2:2

• Idea is that one generation passes down the truth to the next
  • Paul learned from Jesus > Timothy learned form Paul
  • Philippians learn from Timothy > down to you and me

Titus 2:3-4

• Paul’s vision is a church where the older women teach the younger
  • And you don’t get to say… “I’m not a teacher”
  • You don’t get off the hook w/ that… or… am I older or younger
  • But Paul says this is vital – We are a family teaching each other
• And for those specifically who are younger in the faith
  • You would do well to find a Paul (father/mother) 2 walk in faith
  • Go to men/women groups to learn from the more experienced
• And there is a responsibility if you are young to seek that out
  • And if you have walked the faith…
  • Responsibility on your shoulders to pass that on
  • One thing I love about this church: We have Paul’s/Timothy’s

And the best way to find a mentor – Is to do just that > Find one

• Someone in your life… community… space and learn from them
  • And they don’t need to be perfect
  • They just have to be honest about their life (good & bad)
• Don’t come into being mentored with a narcissistic heart posture
  • Think it’s their job is 2 pour into me & make me a better person
  • Listen to the reasoning – It’s all about you… what does Paul say

Phil 2:22

• If you want to be mentored… come with the heart of a servant
  • The mindset isn’t: I’m here… teach me
  • The mindset is: You’re here… how can I learn from you
• I have people I want to learn from > They don’t call me > I call them
  • Why? Because they are too busy… but I make lists of questions
    • And when its long enough I call them: I need an hour
    • On your time… I’ll buy… won’t waste ur time

And there are Timothy’s here… but there are also Paul’s as well

• A lot of Paul’s are afraid to be Paul’s (I can’t do that – Not ready)
  • But you can… just be honest and authentic
  • B/C you have a responsibility to pass on what you’ve learned
• All that to say…
  • Are you a Timothy to a Paul
  • Are you a Paul to a Timothy…
  • Because we need to be both

And then next is Apath-ro-di-tus

Phil 2:25-30

• You know God heals people right… it’s all over the NT & here today
  • Not always… the kingdom of God is here but not fully
  • If it was here fully – Everyone would be healed… but it’s not            

• And what Paul says here is the only command in the passage
  • One: To welcome those who are sent as an example
  • Two: To honor them as well
• We r 1 of only cultures in world that doesn’t value village elder
  • We worship at the altar of youth/beauty… not age/wisdom
  • Scripture: Welcome/honor people who help u grow (why)

There is a play on words here – Phrase “Risked his life” is gambling term

• APathroDity is who this guy is named after… goddess of gambers
  • Culturally if you were rolling dice to win something
  • You would yell out “A-Pathro-Di-Ty”!!!
  • Paul says this guy is named after a gambling goddess
    • He gambled his life… but for the Gospel
    • And the CREATOR GOD got him thru

And Paul gives 5 different Metaphors to help us

Phil 2:25

First: Brother

• Pauls favorite name for Xians is Adelphos (Brother/Sister)
  • To Paul: He sees the church as a family… and the family of God
  • …and that happens not in a crowd BUT in relationships
  • B/C when u surround yourself with relationships you will grow

Second: Worker

• Because to Paul the Gospel is work… and HARD work
  • It’s blood/sweat/tears
  • Not easy & it’s not supposed to be

Third: Soldier

• Imagery of 2 soldiers shoulder to shoulder in war
  • The kingdom of God is a war… but its “the war to end all wars”
  • It’s a struggle – Not against flesh/blood but powers of darkness
  • So it’s not physical fight… it’s spiritual (We must pray more!!!)
• Are you a soldier going to war for the kingdom of God
  • To contend for our city to be healed
  • To pray against the drug epidemic killing people
  • To fall to your knees for brokenness and injustice

Fourth: Messenger

• Messenger (Apostolos)… Means Missionary
  • Missionary can be a powerful word or a destructive word
  • We hear missionary: Think people we send so we don’t have to
  • Missionary is only a good word if it means every one of us
• B/C Missionary means: 1 sent on a mission (true of us all)
  • And while some are sent to Africa/Russia/China
  • The vast majority of ur are sent to hospitals or schools or…
  • You are sent there as a messenger EVERYWHERE you go
• What do u call a messenger that doesn’t deliver packages
  • Their sorta a thief…
  • You carry a message of life to a world that is dying

Fifth: Minister (who you sent to take care of my needs)

• Phrase is a noun – Term 4 public office or priests around the world
  • A messenger was a servant… but with authority
  • You need to understand that you are a priest…
  • NT doesn’t do away with priests > says we all are priests
• And a priest isomeone who reps God 2 people/people 2 God
  • Meaning you are the priest of your neighborhood
  • If someone on ur street wants to know of God – Go talk to Joe
  • And you rep your neighborhood back to God in prayer
    • God I ask 4 hope/protection/opportunity in my community

Before we respond – Notices what’s not on list

Pastor isn’t there… at this point these are just guys who love Jesus

• Timothy will become a pastor… but 1 thing that’s great about NT
  • Line b/w pastor and guy in the church is blurry at best
  • No such thing in Bible as one who is “Called to the Ministry”
  • Why… because we are all called into the ministry
• And its so damaging… b/c it says other 99% of church isn’t called
  • Please understand every one of us are called by God to ministry
    • Meaning: Serving in the kingdom of God
    • And its full time ministry… u are called to full time ministry
• Might do that as a pastor… or barista… selling houses… teacher
  • Wherever you find life – Called there full-time 4 the gospel
  • Regardless of job description – You are a follower of Jesus
• Do not buy into the lie that ur job is to show up Sundays…
  • Let the “Called Ones” build the Kingdom of God
  • If we would all live understanding we are called
  • The church will THRIVE… and the Gospel would shine brighter

And I think this passage… it shows us how to read the Bible

• B/C reading it on the surfact… doesn’t seem relevant at all
  • We say the Bible (All) is useful and life changing
  • Well what does that mean when its travel plans for 2 guys
  • How does that change my life
• How do we read this passage
  • You read it just like a story.. but one u are called to live in
  • And encounter and engage with
• It’s like a song that you not only hear… but you join in with
  • And you can’t just do your own thing (that just doesn’t fit right)
  • No u have to listen… find key… tempo… join into the song
• That’s my prayer for you… to play along
  • If the kingdom of God is a melody… what are you gonna do
  • Are you just gonna sit and listen… watch others live it out
  • Or will you take what you know and play along… play ur part