Timothy, An Example of Self-Sacrifice (Phil. 2:19-24)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH, on August 27, 2023

Like most physicians of great experience, Dr. Evan O’Neil Kane had become preoccupied with a particular facet of medicine. His strong feelings concerned the use of general anesthesia in major surgery. He believed that most major operations could and should be performed under local anesthetic, for, in his opinion, the hazards of a general anesthesia outweighed the risks of the surgery itself.

For example, Kane cited a surgical candidate who had a history of heart trouble. In some cases a surgeon may be reticent to operate, fearing the effects of the anesthesia on the heart of the patient. And some patients with specific anesthesia allergies never awakened. Kane’s medical mission was to prove to his colleagues once for all the viability of local anesthesia. It would take a great deal of convincing.

Many patients were understandably squeamish at the thought of “being awake while it happens.” Others feared the possibility of anesthesia wearing off in the middle of the surgery. To break down these psychological barriers, Kane would have to find a volunteer who was very brave, a candidate for major surgery who would be willing to accept local anesthesia.

In his distinguished thirty-seven years in the medical field, Kane had performed nearly four thousand appendectomies. So this next appendectomy would be routine in every way except one. Dr. Kane’s patient would remain awake throughout the surgical procedure under local anesthesia.

The operation was scheduled for a Tuesday morning. The patient was prepped, wheeled into the operating room, and the local anesthesia was administered. Kane began as he had thousands of times before, carefully dissecting superficial tissues and clamping blood vessels on his way in. Locating the appendix, the sixty-year-old surgeon deftly pulled it up, excised it, and bent the stump under. Through it all, the patient experienced only minor discomfort. The operation concluded successfully.

The patient rested well that night. In fact, the following day his recovery was said to have progressed better than most postoperative patients. Two days later, the patient was released from the hospital to recuperate at home. Kane had proved his point. The risks of general anesthesia could be avoided in major operations. The potential of local anesthesia had been fully realized, thanks to the example of an innovative doctor and a very brave volunteer.

This took place in 1921. Dr. Kane and the patient who volunteered had a great deal in common. They were the same man. Dr. Kane, to prove the viability of local anesthesia, had operated on himself.^[1]

In that illustration, we have an example of one willing to sacrifice for the good of the cause. That is what Jesus did for us. He put Himself in our place on the cross. We have been preaching through Philippians, and a few weeks ago we talked about a passage regarding Jesus making that sacrifice. In today’s passage, we see Timothy as another servant who would set aside his concerns for the concerns of others.

My theme today is:

Timothy, An Example of Self-Sacrifice (Phil. 2:19-24)

1. Timothy may be coming to you soon (Phil. 2:19).
   1. In the last few weeks, we discussed passages in which Paul exhorted them to good Christian moral living.
   2. Now, we see an example of this sacrificial living.
   3. Timothy is the example.
   4. 2:19: I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
   5. Paul hopes in the Lord…
   6. Notice the phrase “in the Lord” (see verses 24, 29; also, Phil. 3:1; 4:4; 4:10).
   7. In Phil 4:10: “Rejoice in the Lord,” and that means that He is the object of our joy.
   8. See Phil 4:1-2: “in the Lord” is repeated twice.
   9. In this verse: I hope, “in expectation of the Lord.”
   10. I hope “In response of the Lord.”
   11. Paul wants to send Timothy.
   12. Timothy is multi-ethnic. We can see this in Acts 16:1; 2 Tim. 1:5 (Grandmother Lois and Mother Eunice).
   13. His Dad was not a spiritual mentor.
   14. From 1 Tim. 5:23, we see that Timothy dealt with sickness.
   15. In 1 Tim. 4:12, we see that he was young.
   16. Paul wants to send Timothy to them soon so that he may hear of news from them.
   17. The primary purpose of Timothy’s visit was to learn the condition of the Philippian believers and to report that to Paul. This would enable Paul to pray for, minister to, and lay plans to help this church better.^[2]
   18. “In ancient times letters were written to correspondents at a distance when a favourable opportunity presented itself of forwarding them to their destination …”^[3]
2. Timothy is a self-sacrificing servant of God (Phil. 2:20-23).
   1. Philippians 2:20–23 (ESV): ²⁰ For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. ²¹ For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. ²² But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. ²³ I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me…
   2. In verse 20, Paul contrasts Timothy and others who work with Paul.
   3. In the next few verses, Paul gives a major contrast between Timothy and the others.
   4. There is no one like Timothy.
   5. Timothy will be genuinely concerned for their welfare.
   6. The others all seek after their own interests, but Timothy seeks the interests of the others.
   7. Remember Phil. 2:3-4: consider others more important than yourselves, and look out for the interests of others. Then, remember the example of Christ in Phil. 2:5-11? Timothy is another example. Timothy is an embodiment of Phil. 2:3-4.
   8. Timothy seeks Christ’s interests.
   9. Joni Eareckson Tada shares: I am a competitor, even though I can’t move much. But I’m not the only one. There’s Thad Mandsager. When his parents invited me to their home, I watched Thad and his brother, Nathan, play Nerf basketball in the hallway.
   10. Thad was twelve years old at the time, and because he is paralyzed from the neck down, he operates his power wheelchair with a chin control. This kid balanced the Nerf basketball on his mouth stick and flicked the ball up against the backboard to make his basket. He asked, “Hey, Joni, want to give it a try?” I replied, “Okay, but fair warning: I just might beat you.” Wishful thinking! Me, the famous mouth artist, could barely balance the Nerf ball on the mouth stick. As far as flicking it for a layup, forget it. I couldn’t even hit the backboard.
   11. Another time the Mandsager family came over for a barbecue. Thad brought his Nerf baseball bat. Clenching the bat between his teeth, he sent the ball sailing over the backyard fence. “Hey, Joni,” said he, spitting out the bat, “want to give it a try?” Three strikes later I was out.
   12. Needless to say, Thad is doing okay. He is such an inspiration!
   13. You don’t have to overcome the kinds of obstacles Thad has to inspire other people. The Scripture today reminds us that taking a genuine interest in the welfare of others—taking part in their activities, contributing to their efforts, cheering them on from the sidelines—will place you in a league like “no one else,” as the apostle Paul puts it.
   14. In what ways do you encourage others? How do you strive to use all the gifts God has given you? How are you working to quit complaining? Thad reminds me of all these sterling qualities whenever the paths of our wheels happen to cross.[4]
   15. It seems that the Philippians already knew Timothy.
   16. Paul says that he has no one like him [Timothy]. That means that he has no one else of kindred spirit. This means “one souled.”
   17. Probably Paul meant by “I have no one else of kindred spirit,” that he had no fellow worker with him, at that time, who would do a better job in this assignment than Timothy. Timothy consistently shared Paul’s general outlook and his specific concern for the welfare of the Philippians. Another view is that none of Paul’s other assistants in Rome were willing to travel to Philippi at that time in order to minister to the Philippians.^[5]
   18. Both Greek philosophers and Old Testament prophets complained about the scarcity of those fully devoted to the cause. Paul offers many “letters [or passages] of recommendation,” a common ancient form of writing, but he places Timothy, his special emissary, in a category by himself, offering the highest commendation.^[6]
   19. So, Timothy is likeminded with Paul.
   20. Timothy seeks Christ’s interest.
   21. What are Christ’s interests?
   22. We saw that in Phil. 2:3-4.
   23. I also think of Matthew 28:19-20.
   24. I think of 1 Tim. 2:4 and 2 Peter 3:8-9 which share that God desires all to be saved.
   25. Christ wants people to be saved.
   26. Christ wants people to be served (Matthew 25:35).
   27. In this case, Christ’s interests are the Philippians.
   28. In verse 22, Paul alludes that they know Timothy. Timothy has proven himself. Timothy has served alongside Paul. We see a paternal image here. Timothy served with Paul like a son.
   29. How did Timothy serve? Paul says that he served like a son with Paul “in the gospel.
   30. They were serving for Christ’s Kingdom.
   31. In verse 23, Paul concludes this section. He hopes to send him just as soon as he sees how it will go with him.
   32. It seems that Paul is waiting to see how things go for him before he can send Timothy.
   33. Constable: Paul hoped, the Lord willing, to send Timothy to Philippi with a report of the apostle’s situation and plans immediately, that is, as soon as he knew the result of his trial. Evidently Paul expected that a decision in his case would be forthcoming soon. Both for the love of the Philippian church and for the effectiveness of his ministry Paul wanted his friends to know about his situation. In this he set us a good example.^[7]
   34. What is our attitude like? Is our attitude like the poet who wrote:

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

Real service is what I desire.

I’ll sing You a solo any time, dear Lord,

Just don’t ask me to sing in the choir.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,

I like to see things come to pass.

But don’t ask me to teach boys and girls, O Lord.

I’d rather just stay in my class.

I’ll do what you want me to do, dear Lord,

I yearn for Thy kingdom to thrive.

I’ll give you my nickels and dimes, dear Lord.

But please don’t ask me to tithe.

I’ll go where you want me to go, dear Lord,

I’ll say what you want me to say;

I’m busy just now with myself, dear Lord,

I’ll help you some other day.^[8]

• Paul also hopes to visit soon (Phil. 2:24).
  1. 2:24: …and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also.
  2. Paul is also hoping to come and visit them.
  3. Paul was eventually released from prison (cf. Ac 28:30), after which he may have visited the church at Philippi.^[9]
  4. Constable shares: Paul believed that he would receive his freedom and would be able to return to Philippi fairly soon (cf. 1:25). However he qualified his hope with the realization that justice does not always prevail in legal courts (cf. Luke 23:13–25). As mentioned previously there is evidence that Nero did release Paul about that time and that the apostle resumed his missionary work.^[10]
  5. “The submissive mind is not the product of an hour’s sermon, or a week’s seminar, or even a year’s service. The submissive mind grows in us as, like Timothy, we yield to the Lord and seek to serve others.”^[11]
•  Applications:
  1. 1. Do we hope “in the Lord” (Phil. 2:19, 24)? So many times we see Paul qualify his statements with “in the Lord.” James said the same thing about planning “if it is the Lord’s will” (James 4:15).
     2. Do we think about our vacation plans if it is the Lord’s will?
     3. Do we think about our financial decisions if it is the Lord’s will?
     4. Regardless of whether we can afford something, all of our money is the Lord’s. Do we pray about how much we give to the church? Do we pray about what we purchase?
     5. Are we seeking the Lord’s interests like Timothy (Phil. 2:21)?
     6. Do we share the Gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Tim. 2:4; 2 Peter 3:8-9)?
     7. Do we love others (Matthew 22:36-40)?
     8. Do we serve others?
     9. Are we dependable? Paul knew that he could count on Timothy (Phil. 2:19-20).
     10. Are we prompt? Are we on time? If we say we will do something, will we?
     11. Do people have to question whether we will forget what we said we would do, or where we said we would be?
     12. Are we humble (Phil. 2:22)?
     13. Are we teachable (Phil. 2:22)?

Bruce Thielemann, pastor of First Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, told of a conversation with a member of his flock who said, “You preachers talk a lot about ‘do unto others,’ but when you get right down to it, it comes down to basin theology.”

Thielemann asked, “Basin theology? What’s that?”

The layman said, “Remember what Pilate did when he had the chance to acquit Jesus? He called for a basin and washed his hands of the whole thing. But Jesus, the night before His death, called for a basin and proceeded to wash the feet of the disciples. It all comes down to basin theology: Which one will you use?”^[12]

Prayer

^[1] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 515–516.

^[2] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:19.

^[3] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:19.

[4] Taken from More Precious than Silver; By Joni Eareckson Tada; Copyright © 1998; Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids

^[5] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:20.

^[6] Craig S. Keener, The IVP Bible Background Commentary: New Testament (Downers Grove, IL: InterVarsity Press, 1993), Php 2:19–21.

^[7] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:23.

^[8] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 516–517.

^[9] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 2:23.

^[10] Tom Constable, Tom Constable’s Expository Notes on the Bible (Galaxie Software, 2003), Php 2:24.

^[11] Ibid.

^[12] Charles R. Swindoll, The Tale of the Tardy Oxcart and 1501 Other Stories (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson, 2016), 516.

Shine! (Phil. 2:14-18)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on August 20, 2023

Sir Leonard Wood once visited the King of France and the King was so pleased with him he was invited for dinner the next day.

Sir Leonard went to the palace and the King meeting him in one of the halls, said, “Why, Sir Leonard, I did not expect to see you. How is it that you are here?”

“Did not your majesty invite me to dine with you?” said the astonished guest.

“Yes,” replied the King, “but you did not answer my invitation.”

Then it was that Sir Leonard Wood uttered one of the choicest sentences of his life. He replied, “A king’s invitation is never to be answered, but to be obeyed.”^[1]

How are we doing with obeying the Lord?

We have been walking through Philippians. Today, we talk about obeying the Lord, letting our lives shine for Jesus.

My theme today is:

Paul exhorts the Philippians to let their lives shine.

1. Remember the context.
   1. In Phil. 2:12-13 Paul exhorted the Philippians to let God’s work in them flow out of them.
   2. Philippians 2:12–13 (ESV)
   3. ¹² 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 own salvation with fear and trembling, ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
   4. God is working in them; let God’s work flow out of them.
   5. Remember, this all follows the Christ hymn. This all follows the beautiful writing about Christ’s example for us in Phil. 2:6-11.
2. Don’t complain (Phil. 2:14)
   1. 2:14: Do all things without grumbling or disputing…^[2]
   2. Verse 14 is a command: Do some things? No, do all things without complaining. That is difficult. First, you need to know that Paul likely has in mind Deut. 32:5, in which the Israelite people were described as a crooked and twisted generation. They grumbled and complained against God.
   3. So, this likely means don’t complain against God. But this also has to do with the negative attitude that we can have so much. When this noun is used in the New Testament, it concerns complaining.
   4. I agree there is a legitimate time to state your opinion. That is okay.
   5. But we must stop having a constant negative attitude.
   6. Next, do all things without disputing.
   7. This is unnecessary arguing. It is okay to have legitimate, friendly disagreements. It is not okay for Christians to be taking other Christians to court. This happened in 1 Cor. 6.
   8. This can be better understood when we understand that the Philippian Christians were going through persecution.
   9. In Phil. 1:27-30 Paul writes about their persecution.
   10. This passage may be an encouragement to the Philippians.
   11. So, they are going through trials and tribulations. Paul is in jail for his faith. Others are too. Paul is saying even with this going on, don’t argue unnecessarily. Don’t complain about God.
   12. Also, in Phil 2:3-4, Paul tells them to do nothing out of selfishness but to consider others more important than they are.
   13. Then guess what? You will be a witness. Look at verse 15.
3.  Shine!
   1. Philippians 2:15 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world…
   3. You will be blameless. This doesn’t mean perfect. It means there are no continual outward lifestyle sins.
   4. “Blameless” describes a life that cannot be criticized because of sin or evil. “Innocent” describes a life that is pure, unmixed, and unadulterated with sin, much like high quality metal without any alloy (cf. Mt 10:16; Ro 16:19; 2Co 11:3; Eph 5:27). ^[3]
   5. You will be children of God or basically followers of God.
   6. Even though you are in a messed-up world.
   7. You will be lights in the world.
   8. When you work out your salvation and allow God to work in you to make you more holy, you will be light in the world. You will be light to the world.
   9. People used to use the stars to know where they were.
   10. People should be able to look to Christians as examples of integrity.
4. Hold to the Word of life.
   1. Philippians 2:16 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.
   3. Paul can be proud that he worked with them. He can rejoice as he is prepared to die a martyr’s death. That is what it means in the next verse.
5. Rejoice with Paul in his sacrifice.
   1. Philippians 2:17–18 (ESV)
   2. ¹⁷ Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. ¹⁸ Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.
   3. Paul is ready to die for the faith.
   4. This means being completely “spent.”
   5. Drink offerings would be taking something valuable and pouring it out for God. Paul is willing to be completely spent for God’s Kingdom.
   6. Paul did pour out his life, eventually being martyred.

Tony Evans shares:

A while back, Jackie Chan starred in a movie called The Tuxedo. He played a taxi cab driver. His job was to serve his customers. He wound up becoming the driver for Clark Devlin, a top secret agent.

During one scene in the movie, the car comes under attack and Clark Devlin becomes critically wounded in the attack. Mr. Devlin tells Jackie Chan to put on a tuxedo located in the car that will give him extraordinary power. The injured passenger told Chan, “When you put my coat on, then you will share in my glory.” Jackie Chan put on Clark Devlin’s tuxedo and he found powers to walk on walls, do all kinds of flips, and overcome the enemies who would seek to bring destruction—all because he wore the clothing of another.

When you and I put on Jesus Christ and when we wear His character and His glory, we share in His greatness. Don’t think you are going to be great if you are not willing to put on His jacket, which is always the jacket of servanthood. If you really want to be somebody in time and in eternity, ask yourself if you are serving others more than they are serving you.^826[4]

 Prayer

^[1]Tan, P. L. (1996, c1979). Encyclopedia of 7700 illustrations : A treasury of illustrations, anecdotes, facts and quotations for pastors, teachers and Christian workers. Garland TX: Bible Communications.

^[2] The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Php 2:14.

^[3] John F. MacArthur Jr., The MacArthur Study Bible: New American Standard Bible. (Nashville, TN: Thomas Nelson Publishers, 2006), Php 2:15.

^[4] Tony Evans, Tony Evans’ Book of Illustrations: Stories, Quotes, and Anecdotes from More than 30 Years of Preaching and Public Speaking (Chicago, IL: Moody Publishers, 2009), 277.

You Can DO This, God Is Working in You— Work out your salvation because God is working in you (Phil 2:12-13)

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends on August 13, 2023

Dr. Bill Brown was the president of Cedarville University. A while back, I heard him tell a story about when he was working on his Ph.D. During this time, his wife was working somewhere, and the boss wanted her to do something unethical which lacked integrity. The boss wanted her to alter numbers so the company received more money. During this time, he was doing Ph.D. work, not earning much money. His wife’s income was their income. So, she went to her boss and said, “I cannot do this.” He said, “You have to.” She thought about it at her desk and returned and said, “I cannot do this.” He said, “You have to.” Again, she goes to her desk, calls her husband, and he says, “We must obey God and not man.” She tells the boss, “I cannot do this; I must obey God.” He said, “When you are here, I am your God!” So, she said she could not do it, and she was fired. Later that day, she went with her husband to deliver some manuscripts he was working on for a professor. He was editing a Greek text to make some extra money. The professor saw his wife and asked if she was off work. They explained the situation. He needed an assistant and hired her. She got a job typing what is now the NKJV Bible.

Why do I tell this story? I see in this story two themes that are important to today’s passage. One is the continual theme of Christians being different from the world. Incarnational. Christians must be light. Dr. Brown’s wife may not have made the boss happy; however, she had to be light in a dark world. The world may say, “Do what you have to do to get more money!” That is what her boss wanted her to do, altering the numbers, but Christ calls us to integrity. The world must see Christians with integrity; when they do, they will see us as light in a dark world. This is because we will be trustworthy.

The second theme from that story is reverence for God. The boss said, “When you are here, I am your god.” The passage we will look at will talk about reverence for God. So, let’s look at the passage.

My theme today is:

You Can DO This, God Is Working In You— Work out your salvation because God is working in you (Phil 2:12-13)

1. First, Paul exhorts us to work out our salvation.
   1. Philippians 2:12 (ESV) ¹² 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 own salvation with fear and trembling…
   2. Paul calls them brethren; isn’t that nice? He is continuing to write in family language.
   3. They have always obeyed. He says that. He says, “as you have always obeyed…” He is reminding them of their obedience to Him and to Christ. He is saying that he is absent but still exhorting them to keep obeying.
   4. Work out your own salvation…
   5. How can we work out salvation?
   6. Does this mean we are earning our salvation? Absolutely not! The very next verse, Phil. 2:13, makes it clear. God is working in us, and we allow that to work out of us.
   7. John MacArthur shares: Strabo was an ancient Roman scholar who lived about sixty years before Christ. He recorded an account concerning some Roman-owned mines in Spain. He uses the very same verb that Paul does in Philippians 2:12, katergazomai, when referring to the Romans as working out the mines. Strabo’s point was that the Romans were extracting from within the mines all their richness and value.
   8. That’s a fitting expression of what katergazomai (work out) means in Philippians 2:12. I am to mine out of my life what God has richly deposited there in salvation. I am to produce such precious nuggets of godly character from what He planted when He saved me.[1]
   9. Just because we have something doesn’t mean we don’t work to make it better. We can buy an old car, and we still need to keep it up. More so, we can buy an old car and fix it up. Maybe the car was junked by someone. However, in this case, God has bought the old car, and the old car is me. God will be making it new again, spiritually. But we have a part to do as well. We must allow Him to work in us.
   10. This is not about losing salvation but about completing salvation. This is not about losing salvation but making it look like we are saved. Just as with an old car, we want it to look new. We want it to look as if we own it. We want the way we live to show that God owns it.
   11. As a child, my dad always told me that my work will represent me. In the same way, as a Christian, what we do represents Christ, Who owns us and bought us with His life. It is important that we work out how we represent Him.
   12. Swindoll shares: We need to keep in mind that Paul is writing to Christians (“my beloved”), so obviously these words have nothing to do with his readers’ becoming Christians—they already are. Therefore, the idea of working out one’s salvation must be referring to living out one’s faith— carrying it out correctly. In other words, we, as God’s people, are charged with the importance of obedience. Just as Christ, our example, was “obedient to the point of death” (2:8), so we are to carry out our purpose with equal diligence. When a musician has a fine composition placed before her, that music is not the musician’s masterpiece; it is the composer’s gift to the musician. But it then becomes the task of the musician to work it out, to give it sound and expression and beauty as she applies her skills to the composition. When she does, the composition reaches its completed purpose and thrills the hearts of her listeners.[2]
2. This is about sanctification.
   1. Philippians 2:13 (ESV) ¹³ for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure.
   2. What does sanctification mean? This is not a verb that we use often. How many of you got up this morning and said, “Good morning, honey, are you being sanctified?” Sanctification is a verb to describe holiness. It really means to set apart for a purpose. This begins when you become a Christian and ends when you die. When you become a Christian, you are baptized with the Holy Spirit, and God begins a work in you.
   3. In this passage, this means God works in them to make them more holy; that is what verse 13 is about.
   4. For example: If I make brownies, and I love brownies, I am going to put white icing on them. This is because brownies are not good without white icing. Then over a few days, we will eat the brownies. But then I realize there are only two brownies left, and so I might tell Meagan, “Hey, please save one of the brownies for me!” So, she might put one of the brownies with the sanctified white icing in a place set apart for me.
   5. Likewise, as Christians, God is continually setting our lives apart for Him. He is making us different for a purpose. The brownie might be in a different location for a purpose. A Christian will be set apart in that they live a different life for a purpose.
   6. That is sanctification. God works in our life to make us different, holy, and set apart from the rest of the world. That is verse 13. God does the work.
   7. God does the work. Look at verse 13.
   8. It says it is God who works in you. Think back to Matthew 16:16-17. There is an amazing passage where Jesus asks the disciples who they think He is. Peter says, you are the Christ, the Son of the Living God. Then Jesus says blessed are you, you didn’t get this from yourself but from God.
   9. 2:13 shows God works in us in two ways:
   10. He guides our will, which is our desire.
   11. When we are baptized with the Holy Spirit, we get new desires.
   12. He guides our actions. He guides how we operate.
   13. According to His good purposes.
   14. If you look at verses 12 and 13 there is a nice contrast. Verse 12 says “work-out” and verse 13 says “work-in.” Or really “works-in.”
   15. This sanctification process, this holiness process is two parts. We work and God works. Both must happen. God is great that He is sovereign while we participate and work. We are not robots.
   16. Do you know how sometimes there are things in the Bible that may just confuse you? A pastor of worship once said there are some passages in the Bible where he gets up in the morning, gets his coffee, gets the Word of God out, and then starts reading. But he reads a very difficult passage to interpret. So, he thinks, “well, I am glad I am not the teaching pastor or the senior pastor. I will leave this difficult passage to him.” On the other hand, a teaching pastor or senior pastor gets up in the morning, gets his coffee, and gets the Word of God. He also reads a passage that is difficult to understand. So, his response is, “I am glad I am not the seminary professor of the New Testament, I will leave this passage to them.” Then the seminary professor gets up…
   17. You get the point. There are some difficult passages in the Bible. That was a joke, but the point is we can easily move something up to someone else’s pay grade. This is above my pay-grade.
   18. This can be one of them. It used to be for me. How do we understand how God works in us and we still have freewill? It is beyond our limited understanding. But the more I think about it this passage is not that difficult.
   19. We read a passage like Ephesians 2:8, which says we are saved by grace.
   20. Then we read the text at hand, Phil 2:12: “Work out your salvation.” We must think, “Paul, make this easier to understand.”
   21. Here is how we understand this. There is no contradiction.
   22. Salvation is not simply saying a prayer and believing in Christ. That is future salvation. That is eternal salvation. But now that you have been saved, you need to show that with your life. You need to let God work in you, as verse 13 says. You work to become more like Christ.
   23. But why does it say with fear and trembling? Fear means intense reverence for God. Trembling carries the idea of extreme loyalty.
   24. Work to be made more devoted to God with reverence and loyalty.
   25. Why: because it is God that is trying to do this in you. Let Him!

• Applications:
  1. One more thought about this before we talk about the rest of the text: apply it!
  2. Are we allowing God to work in us?
  3. Do we have loyalty to God?
  4. Are we reverent to God?
  5. We are losing this fast in America. Worship is not entertainment, and if we think it is, we are not loyal to God. We are loyal to entertainment. If we cannot be at worship or Bible study, or devotion time because everything else gets in the way, then we must question our loyalty. Question your reverence.
  6. We must understand that we must be humble and recognize it is God that works in us. It is God that keeps us out of some things and gives us spiritual growth. It was God… it was God… It is God.
  7. We must always work on holiness. It is never over. Charles Swindoll asked an older missionary how he handles lust. He said, “I am still working on it.”
  8. We must hold fast to the Gospel and the Scriptures.
  9. We must work out our salvation with reverence (fear and trembling). This is a serious matter. Christianity and Christian growth is serious. We must take it seriously.
  10. God is working in us according to His pleasure. It is always about Him (Phil. 2:13).
  11. Our spiritual growth is always about His will (Phil. 2:13). It is not about our will, but His will. We must be seeking His will in our spiritual growth. This follows the Christ hymn from Phil. 2:6-11 and Jesus was submissive to the Father’s will. Jesus sacrificed and so must we.
  12. Our spiritual growth is always about His pleasure. If we make it about us, if we make it about boasting if we make it about being better than others, then we are in the same problem the Pharisees were stuck in. It is about Him (Gal. 6:14: boasting only in Christ).

We are never too old to grow in Christ:

Swindoll shares in “Laugh Again” pages 92 and the following:

I came across an article way back in 1967 that I still return to on occasion. Entitled “Advice to a (Bored) Young Man,” it communicates how much one person can contribute, if only—

Many people reading this page are doing so with the aid of bifocals. Inventor? B. Franklin, age 79.

The presses that printed this page were powered by electricity. One of the first harnessers? B. Franklin, age 40.

Some are reading this on the campus of one of the Ivy League universities. Founder? B. Franklin, age 45.

Some got their copy through the U.S. Mail. Its father? B. Franklin, age 31.

Now, think fire. Who started the first fire department, invented the lightning rod, designed a heating stove still in use today? B. Franklin, ages 31, 43, 36.

Wit. Conversationalist. Economist. Philosopher. Diplomat. Printer. Publisher. Linguist (spoke and wrote five languages). Advocate of paratroopers (from balloons) a century before the airplane was invented. All this until age 84.

And he had exactly two years of formal schooling. It’s a good bet that you already have more sheer knowledge than Franklin had when he was your age.

Perhaps you think there’s no use trying to think of anything new, that everything’s been done. Wrong. The simple, agrarian America of Franklin’s day didn’t begin to need the answers we need today.

We must always reflect Christ. We are ambassadors for Christ. Let Him work in you.[3]

Swindoll gives an example of Tom Landry. Landry was on the board of the Dallas Theological Seminary, and Swindoll got to know him there. Swindoll writes:

As head coach of the Dallas Cowboys for twenty-nine years and a member of the National Football League Hall of Fame, his record speaks for itself. But what I find even more admirable are his character, his integrity, and his humility. Now that I have gotten to know the man “up close and personal,” my appreciation for him has only increased.

Most of us were surprised and disappointed at the way a new owner of the Cowboys released Coach Landry from his position. I had the privilege of watching and listening to him during that time . . . even having a few personal conversations without microphones or television cameras or news reporters nearby. He had ample opportunities to blast the new management by criticizing their methods and defending himself. Not once—not a single time—following his forced resignation did I hear an ugly remark or a blaming comment cross Tom Landry’s lips. The only response was something like, “You know, Chuck, a fellow in my position has to realize it’s going to be taken from him whether or not he is ready for it to happen. It’s just a matter of being willing to accept that.” Those are the unselfish words of a man who was told rather hurriedly to clean out his desk and be on his way . . . after giving almost three decades of his life to something he loved. Most others in his place would have held a news conference within hours and blasted the new management unmercifully.

I have been with Coach Landry on numerous occasions since then. We have had him at our church to speak to a gymnasium full of men with their sons and friends. It has been delightful to observe a total absence of bitterness in the man and, at the same time, the continued presence of a sense of humor and the joy of Christ. Personally, I am convinced his current attitude is a greater message to those to whom he speaks than all those years of success and championship seasons. It is reassuring to know that joy can endure hardship as long as that Christlike attitude of unselfishness is in place.[4]

[1]https://www.gty.org/library/blog/B140707?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=gtyblog

[2] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (p. 97). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[3] Swindoll, Charles R.. Laugh Again (pp. 93-94). Thomas Nelson. Kindle Edition.

[4] Ibid, pp. 88-89.

Christ’s Example of Humility (Phil. 2:5-11) NOTE: the contextual connection with Phil 2:1-4 must be explained.

Prepared and preached by Pastor Steve Rhodes for and at Bethel Friends Church in Poland, OH on August 6, 2023

Joni

Last week my pastor used an illustration that opened a small window on how “beyond us” God is. Let’s suppose you were a completely flat little water bug who lived only on the water’s surface. As such, you are aware of length and width, but up and down does not exist for you.

Now, suppose a human being stepped into the water. You, as a buoyant creature skimming the water’s surface, would come to know this awesome being by the qualities of, well, the human’s leg where it intersected the water. Poor little you couldn’t begin to understand the portion of the leg beneath the water or the part above, let alone the arms, torso, and head that tower above the water.

In your little bug mind, you know that one day you will live in the world of this awesome being and be transformed into a three-dimensional figure like him, with height and width. But for now you don’t understand what it means. You have to take it on faith.

When the Father revealed himself through Jesus, he was only showing us a slice of himself, a part of all that he is. But there’s so much about him we don’t comprehend, so much beneath and above our universe of understanding. When we go to be with him, we will live in his heavenly world. We will be transformed and lifted out of our limitations. I can’t take that in, so I’ll just have to take it on faith. When I do, it stirs reverence and awe in me. How about you?

Think about ways in which you’ve limited God based on your small slice of knowledge. Then expand your vision as you try to imagine what’s above and beneath your comprehension.

Lord, when I sense how big you are and how small I am, remind me to feel not diminished but rather released to expect great and mighty things from one so capable of so much.[1]

Do we realize how amazing God is? Do we realize how amazing it is that He became fully human? Do we realize that He became part of His creation in order to be brought low? He did this to die for us.

We have been preaching through Philippians. We now come to Philippians 2:5-11.

My theme today:

Paul gives Christ as the example of humility.

1. Let’s put this passage in context.
   1. This passage picks up from verses 3-4:
   2. Philippians 2:3–4 (ESV) ³ Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. ⁴ Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.
   3. Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit. In other words, don’t do anything from selfishness or with empty pride. This is not the idea of some things, but no things, nothing. Don’t do anything from selfishness!
   4. Paul continues; with humility of mind consider others more important than yourselves.
   5. This is a mindset; it starts in the mind.
   6. The test is in the rest of the verse: consider others more important than yourself.
   7. How are we doing with this?
   8. Remember that Paul is writing this from a prison. Paul is a Roman citizen; Paul is highly educated, yet he is writing about humility. He is also living humility. You know, not once do I see Paul writing, “This is below me; people of Philippi, get me out of this prison!” No, instead, he talks about how much of a witness he can have with the prison guard. Paul is living in humility.
   9. In verse 4, Paul says to look out for the interests of others. Again, this is the idea of humility.
   10. You know, humility is a good thing in our culture. If we say someone is humble, that is a compliment. But did you know that in the first century, it was not a compliment to be humble?
   11. So that is the context and some review from last week.
2. Now, we are exhorted to have the mind of Christ (Phil. 2:5).
   1. 2:5: Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus…
   2. So, Paul told them to consider others more important than themselves.
   3. Paul told them to consider the needs of others first.
   4. Now, Paul says have the mind of Christ.
   5. What was Paul’s mindset?
3. In verses 6-8, we see the humility of Jesus.
   1. Philippians 2:6–8 (ESV): ⁶ who, though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, ⁷ but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men. ⁸ And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.
   2. Verse 6 talks about how Jesus existed in the form of God.
   3. Jesus is God; Jesus was God, yet what does this passage go on to say? He did not consider being God a thing to be grasped. That is a hard thing to understand, but it basically means that Jesus was willing to become a human being, submitting to the creation that He created. He willingly set aside Divine abilities.
   4. It was not something to be grasped, to be kept and exploited for his own benefit or advantage. Instead, he had a mind-set of service. “Christ did not please himself” (Rom. 15:3). In humility, he counted the interests of others as more significant than his own (Phil. 2:3–4).^[2]
   5. D. A. Carson: The expression is not what he emptied himself of; it’s an idiomatic way of saying he became a nobody, he humbled himself completely, not only to become a human being, but to go all the way to the ignominy and shame and torture of the cross. . . . It’s talking about the astonishing, unequal, unimaginable, indescribable, self-humiliation in becoming human and then going so far not only to be a slave, but a slave who dies on the cross.
   6. This helps me to put this into the whole picture: Paul is getting ready to talk about the crucifixion, and going into the crucifixion if Christ wanted to, He could have called down ten armies of angels to conquer and rescue Him back to being with God. He could have called down ten legions of angels; each legion is between 4000 and 6000 angels. So, Jesus could have called down at least 40,000 angels to rescue Him from the cross (Matthew 26:53). That would have been using “being God” to His advantage. Instead, He died as a Human servant. Instead, Paul is just about to talk about what Christ did.
   7. Christ had everything; He had everything and gave it up. He gave up His royal robes for our salvation.
   8. Christ has always been God.
   9. Jesus created everything (John 1:1-14). Jesus holds all creation together (Col. 1:15-20). Jesus is the very imprint of God (Heb 1:3). Jesus has always existed as God. Bethlehem was not His beginning, but when He became a human being (Rev. 1:8 and Jesus saying that He is the alpha and the omega…).
   10. The American Dream is to start at the bottom and work your way to the top. Christ started at the top and worked His way down to His death on the cross. His life was the opposite of the American Dream. Ask yourself:
   11. Am I willing to sacrifice the American way for Christ?
   12. Am I willing to be humiliated for Christ? Are you? How? Witnessing? Stepping outside of your comfort zone. We live in a comfort zone country. The Christian life is not about comfort zones. We are not called to live in comfort zones. How about working at a homeless shelter? Missions? Inner city ministry? Being a friend to the one no one else will be a friend to? Jesus talked to the outcast. The woman at the well (John 4).
   13. Mother Teresa, founder of the Roman Catholic Missionaries of Charity, working saint of the streets in Calcutta, and the recipient of the Nobel peace prize in 1979, says she finds the same thing missing in the lands of plenty as in the lands of poverty—compassion. “Maybe they are starved for bread in Africa. You are starved for love in the United States.”^[3]
   14. Now, verses 7-8:
   15. Christ emptied Himself, He became a nobody.
   16. Christ being equal with God, still patiently waited to return to His place on the throne. While He waited, He continued in the position of a servant.
   17. Let’s start with a rhetorical question, “How was Christ born? Think about it…..
   18. Alright, Christ was born in a manger or a barn in a feeding trough on what was probably a cold night to a virgin woman.
   19. You and I always think of Mary as the virgin woman that was blessed by God to give birth to Jesus.
   20. That is correct; she was a very good and honorable woman. However, do you think all the other people thought of her that way? They thought of Mary as a woman committing adultery; they thought of her as a prostitute. I had one New Testament professor put it this way, “People would see Jesus and say, “Look! There is Jesus, the son of that prostitute Mary.”
   21. We would think of a King coming down to earth and being born in a castle into royal Robes, but no, that wasn’t Christ. Christ was born in a barn, into a trough where you would usually put food or water. This is how the Creator became part of His creation.
   22. Jesus was raised and suffered just like anyone else. He probably mourned the death of his earthly father. He went through pain and sickness, I am sure. He had emotions; in fact, the Bible says that Jesus wept at the death of His friend Lazarus (John 11:35). He had to work and learn a trade.
   23. If I was Jesus talking to God the Father in eternity past and God the Father said, “I am going to create people, and they are going to break my law, will you become one of them and die for them?” I would think I would say, “All right, I’ll do it but I have to be born into a castle with running water, air conditioning, breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day on time at the same time. I don’t want to have to work. I’ll teach the people, but you can make them come to me and sit in front of my throne while I talk to them. Then, I guess I have to die; just make someone assassinate me while I am asleep so I don’t feel it!!!!” No, this wasn’t Jesus. Think about Him. He is God; he created the universe. He was with God in the creation, He knew that He would return to the form of God again, but He decided to become part of His Creation. He created man, and He created the laws we live by, and now He is subject to them. He was all-knowing; now, the Bible says that He grew in wisdom and stature (Luke 2:52), which means He doesn’t know everything anymore. I am sure he was subject to body odor and bad breath, just like you and I are. At least, I am. He was once all-powerful and will be again, but for His lifetime, He submitted to corrupt powers and authorities. That is what Christ did!
   24. The text in verse 8 says that He was obedient to death, even the death on the cross.
4. Let’s read the last three verses of our text: 9-11

1. 1. Philippians 2:9–11 (ESV) ⁹ Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every name, ¹⁰ so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, ¹¹ and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.
   2. Jesus isn’t dead anymore. We serve a risen Savior. Everyone will acknowledge someday that Jesus Christ is Lord.

Conclusion:

We must be Christ-like. We must follow Christ’s example in this way. The church has everything to offer the community, not vice versa. However, to help people, you have to be a servant. To be a servant, you must be humbled.

• How are we treating others?
• Christians?
• Non-Christians?
• Are we looking upon others as better than ourselves?
• Are we being humble?
• Are we willing to die a humiliating death to help someone else? I know this is a strong statement, but verse 5 said to have the attitude of Christ; what did He do? He died for the gospel.
• Once again, are we willing to be humiliated to help others?

This all has to do with your perspective; are you storing up treasures in Heaven or on Earth? Martin Luther said, “I have held many things in my hands and I have lost them all, but whatever I have placed in God’s hands, that I still possess.” Jim Elliot said, “He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep to gain what he cannot lose.”

Are you being humble as Jesus is humble?

Pray

[1] Taken from More Precious than Silver By Joni Eareckson Tada; Copyright © 1998; Published in Print by Zondervan, Grand Rapids; All Scripture quotations, unless otherwise indicated, are taken from the Holy Bible: New International Version.

^[2] Crossway Bibles, The ESV Study Bible (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2008), 2283.

^[3] Jones, G. C. (1986). 1000 illustrations for preaching and teaching (257). Nashville, TN: Broadman Press.