Earthly Examples (Philippians 2:17-30)
Earthly Examples
Philippians 2:17-30
November 17, 2013
We all know that as Christians
We are called to follow our one divine example.
We all desire to be like Christ.
In fact, this is our Christian destiny.
Romans 8:29 “For those whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son, so that He would be the firstborn among many brethren;”
It is God’s desire that you and I look like Christ.
God is using hardships, difficulties, blessings, victories, defeats,
And every other thing to bring this about in your life.
In fact the preceding verse to the one we just read says that “God causes all things to work together for good…”
That “good” being Christ-likeness.
We are to be like Christ.
We are to read the Scriptures so that we can see Him and be like Him.
This is what Paul meant when he wrote:
2 Corinthians 3:15-18 “But to this day whenever Moses is read, a veil lies over their heart; but whenever a person turns to the Lord, the veil is taken away. Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty. But we all, with unveiled face, beholding as in a mirror the glory of the Lord, are being transformed into the same image from glory to glory, just as from the Lord, the Spirit.”
We read the word and as we read with unveiled face,
We see Christ and are changed into His image “from glory to glory”
Not only that, but we make a conscious effort
To imitate what we see in Him.
John 13:15 “For I gave you an example that you also should do as I did to you.”
1 Peter 2:21 “For you have been called for this purpose, since Christ also suffered for you, leaving you an example for you to follow in His steps,”
Christ is our example, and we are to follow what we see in Him.
We’ve even seen that reality in Philippians chapter 2
As we saw the attitude of Christ and Paul told us,
“Have this attitude in yourselves which was also in Christ Jesus”
Christ is the ultimate example and goal.
However, that is a lofty goal.
That is where we are headed, and that is what we strive for,
But you and I know it is difficult.
What we also learn through reading the Scripture is that
Christ is not the only example we are to follow.
God has also given us the example of Godly men and women,
Whom we are to imitate.
James 5:10 “As an example, brethren, of suffering and patience, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.”
Hebrews 13:7 “Remember those who led you, who spoke the word of God to you; and considering the result of their conduct, imitate their faith.”
That concept of imitating other’s faith
Is the whole point to the faith chapter in Hebrews 11.
The writer lays out the faith of those examples and then calls them
“a great cloud of witnesses”
They are examples of faith for you to follow.
And many times we see in the Scriptures that we are to imitate
Or follow the example of men like Paul.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-9 “For you yourselves know how you ought to follow our example, because we did not act in an undisciplined manner among you, nor did we eat anyone’s bread without paying for it, but with labor and hardship we kept working night and day so that we would not be a burden to any of you; not because we do not have the right to this, but in order to offer ourselves as a model for you, so that you would follow our example.”
1 Corinthians 4:16 “Therefore I exhort you, be imitators of me.”
1 Corinthians 11:1 “Be imitators of me, just as I also am of Christ.”
Even in this letter to the Philippians:
Philippians 3:17 “Brethren, join in following my example, and observe those who walk according to the pattern you have in us.”
That is a true reality.
And certainly it cuts both ways,
For just as we follow the example of godly men and women,
WE ARE ALSO TO SET AN EXAMPLE.
Remember what Paul told Timothy?
1 Timothy 4:12 “Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity, show yourself an example of those who believe.”
Or Titus?
Titus 2:7-8 “in all things show yourself to be an example of good deeds, with purity in doctrine, dignified, sound in speech which is beyond reproach, so that the opponent will be put to shame, having nothing bad to say about us.”
And so hopefully you get the point.
Yes we desire to be like Christ, but we also find great encouragement through the faith of one another.
We are to imitate the faith of godly men and women,
And then also set an example for others to follow.
But a good question at this point is:
WHAT SORT OF MEN OR WOMEN SHOULD WE IMITATE?
Do we just pick someone who claims to be a Christian and go to imitating them?
Obviously not.
Do we just pick our preacher and start imitating him?
(While it is true he is called to be someone worthy of such,
You still shouldn’t do it blindly)
Who do we pick?
Well that is what we learn here in our text tonight.
And it is fitting in the chapter we just studied.
• Paul commanded us to consider one another as more important than
ourselves.
• He commanded us to look out for one another’s personal interests.
• He commanded us to be humble like Christ.
• He commanded us to work hard at this endeavor.
• And He commanded us to do it all without grumbling.
But Paul doesn’t even leave it at that.
Here he gives us some practical examples of people who live that way, whose faith is worth imitating.
Paul shows us three examples of such people here.
• Here are three examples of people who show you what it means to consider others as more important than yourselves.
• Here are three examples of people who show you how to look out for the interests of others.
• Here are three examples of people who show you how to do all things without grumbling or disputing and how to shine as lights in the world and how to hold forth the word of God.
So let’s look at them, follow them, and be examples like them to others.
#1 YOUR CONSTANT EXAMPLE
Philippians 2:17-18
And of course this example is Paul himself.
He says, “But even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”
Having spent a section talking about humility and service,
Paul really seems to sort of link back here to what he mentioned in chapter 1,
Which was his suffering, and joy in the midst of it.
He mentioned in chapter 1 extensively about the suffering he faces,
And how in spite of it, he finds a reason to rejoice.
He seems to revert back to that theme here.
And he mentions again his hardship.
“even if I am being poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,”
This analogy was a common one.
• During the sacrificial offering, the priest would commonly pour a drink
offering over the top of the burnt offering.
• As the liquid hit the fire, the steam would go up, and it would picture a
soothing aroma going up to God.
The drink offering then was the final addition to the offering.
It was sort of how you “topped it all off”
And Paul says that is what he is.
It is not the only time he used this analogy.
2 Timothy 4:6 “For I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure has come.”
Obviously there, Paul uses that analogy to speak of his coming death.
His death will soon adorn the sacrifice of Christ.
Here he mentions that same reality.
The difference is that in 2 Timothy he realizes that it is happening,
Here in Philippians he acknowledges that it could be happen.
“even if I am…”
This may be the end, though he is not sure.
Philippians 1:22 “But if I am to live on in the flesh, this will mean fruitful labor for me; and I do not know which to choose.”
You will remember there that Paul knew death was possible,
But he wasn’t sure if it was coming or not.
Here he again acknowledges that this could be the end.
As far as he knew, he could just now be in the final stages of life, about to be poured out completely “upon the sacrifice and service of your faith,”
That is to say, “Just as you have presented your lives as a sacrifice to God, I present my life as an adorning drink offering with it.”
This could be the end.
But even so, notice what Paul says, “I rejoice and share my joy with you all.”
• The prospect of death hasn’t caused Paul to quit rejoicing…
• The prospect of death hasn’t caused Paul to quit obeying…
Even the current reality of suffering
Hasn’t caused Paul to quit encouraging others.
And that is the point here.
Notice the example portion?
(18) “You too, I urge you, rejoice in the same way, and share your joy with me.”
That is Paul telling the Philippians to follow his example.
• So you are living a life of suffering…
• So death is a real possibility…
• So your service to others causes self-denial at every turn…
That is no excuse “rejoice” anyway.
That’s what I do.
“rejoice in the same way, and share your joy with me.”
So you want to know what type of person to imitate?
IMITATE THE PERSON WHO IS WILLING TO BE POURED OUT FOR CHRIST, AND WHO REJOICES WHILE IT IS HAPPENING.
Look for the person who can rejoice while they suffer.
And that was Paul.
He was the Philippian’s constant example.
Your Constant Example
#2 YOUR COMING EXAMPLE
Philippians 2:19-24
So Paul is always an example to follow.
Here is an example that Paul hoped to send to the Philippians.
(19) “But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.”
No doubt, part of the reason for wanting to send Timothy was so that Timothy could return to Paul and give a report as to how the Philippians were doing.
But in reality it was more than that.
Timothy would also be a great example for the Philippians to follow.
In fact, Paul spells out three characteristics about Timothy
That make him a worthy example to imitate.
1) HE’LL SERVE YOU (20)
“For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.”
There were any number of people that Paul could send to Philippi.
But there was none that he could send like Timothy.
What set him apart?
Timothy would be “genuinely concerned for your welfare.”
Timothy was selfless.
• Timothy considered others as more important than himself.
• Timothy didn’t look out for his own personal interests, but for the interests of
others.
Paul was a good example because he rejoiced in suffering.
Timothy was a good example because he served sincerely.
When Jesus came he warned about the type of false shepherds
That people should look out for.
Matthew 9:36 “Seeing the people, He felt compassion for them, because they were distressed and dispirited like sheep without a shepherd.”
The words there “distressed” and “dispirited” refer to sheep who have been scalped and as a result are nervous and discontented.
That was a result of their bad shepherds,
Who instead of caring for the sheep, slaughtered the sheep.
John 10:12-13 “He who is a hired hand, and not a shepherd, who is not the owner of the sheep, sees the wolf coming, and leaves the sheep and flees, and the wolf snatches them and scatters them. “He flees because he is a hired hand and is not concerned about the sheep.”
Timothy was not that type of person.
Timothy was worth imitating because he would sincerely serve others.
He will serve you
2) HE WILL SEEK CHRIST’S INTERESTS (21)
“For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.”
The implication is clear here.
Christ’s “interests” are without a doubt His flock.
• They are His possession
• They are His sheep
• He is deeply concerned about them
When He left He specifically commanded the apostles to “tend His sheep”
Peter echoed this sentiment:
1 Peter 5:1-4 “Therefore, I exhort the elders among you, as your fellow elder and witness of the sufferings of Christ, and a partaker also of the glory that is to be revealed, shepherd the flock of God among you, exercising oversight not under compulsion, but voluntarily, according to the will of God; and not for sordid gain, but with eagerness; nor yet as lording it over those allotted to your charge, but proving to be examples to the flock. And when the Chief Shepherd appears, you will receive the unfading crown of glory.”
Christ never intended for His shepherds to serve for their own benefit.
He intended them to serve for the benefit of the flock.
The flock is what Christ cared about, they are His concern.
And the true shepherd concerned himself with Christ’s interests.
And not only was that the type of person Timothy was,
But that is the type of person we should imitate.
The person who is more concerned about Christ’s benefit than his own.
The person who is more concerned about how Christ looks than how he looks.
The person who is more concerned that people see Christ, than that people see him.
Was that not John the Baptist?
John 3:30 “He must increase, but I must decrease.”
Was that not Paul?
Philippians 1:21 “For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.”
That is supposed to be all of us:
Romans 14:7-8 “For not one of us lives for himself, and not one dies for himself; for if we live, we live for the Lord, or if we die, we die for the Lord; therefore whether we live or die, we are the Lord’s.”
So if you are looking for someone to imitate,
Then find someone who seeks what is in the best of interest of Christ,
Not himself.
He’ll serve you He’ll seek Christ’s interests
3) HE WILL SPREAD THE GOSPEL (22)
“But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.”
This reality not only indicates a person committed to obey Christ,
But also a person who genuinely loves others.
• What kind of love refuses to warn a dying man of destruction?
• What kind of love cares more that someone likes them, then they do that that person know the truth?
Timothy had real love.
Timothy had the kind of love that told sinners the truth.
And Timothy proved it time and time again as he preached “the gospel”
When Paul went marching into synagogue after synagogue,
Knowing that he would be hated for it,
There was Timothy right there with him.
Timothy had proven himself faithful.
He loved the truth, and he loved the lost.
If you are looking for an example to follow.
• Find someone who rejoices while suffering – that was Paul
• And find someone who serves others sincerely – that was Timothy
• He Served You
• He Sought Christ’s Interests
• He Spread the Gospel
And he did it “like a child serving his father.”
The implication there is on complete obedience and complete humility.
Timothy did what was expected of him.
And Paul reiterates all of that to the Philippians
Because he is about to send Timothy to them
And he wants them to understand that Timothy is worth imitating.
(23-24) “Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me; and I trust in the Lord that I myself will also be coming shortly.”
Timothy is your coming example.
Your Constant Example – Paul Your Coming Example – Timothy
#3 YOUR CURRENT EXAMPLE
Philippians 2:25-30
So they could always look to Paul,
And they would soon be able to look to Timothy.
But Paul wanted them to know that they already at least one person in their midst that was worthy of imitating.
It may have been a person they overlooked,
But Paul highlights this man as a faith worthy of following.
That man was Epaphroditus.
• Epaphroditus was the man who carried the financial aid of the Philippians to Paul and thus inspired Paul to write the letter.
• Epaphroditus was also the man who would have delivered this letter back to the Philippians.
And Paul is very clear that Epaphroditus
Is the type of man who should be imitated.
Paul says in verse 25 that he is “my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;”
There are five great titles for this man
“brother”
“worker”
“soldier”
“messenger”
“minister”
You put all of those together
And you realize that Epaphroditus was a great man.
• He obviously knew Christ – “brother”
• He worked hard for the faith – “worker”
• He fought hard against deception – “soldier”
• He carried the truth into danger – “messenger”
• He cared for people when he was there – “minister”
That already is enough to see that this man should be imitated.
But as if that wasn’t enough.
Paul reveals why he sent Epaphroditus back:
(26-28) “because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.”
Epaphroditus had risked his life for the sake of ministering to Paul.
We aren’t given the specifics of his sickness, but he nearly died.
And yet even at that moment his concern wasn’t that he nearly died, but rather how the Philippians would respond to his death, since they were the ones who had sent him.
He was a selfless and deeply committed man.
And so Paul gives this advice to the Philippians:
(29-30) “Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.”
• They were to “receive him” and to do so “with all joy”
• They were to “hold…him in high regard” and “men like him”
In short, this is the kind of man you imitate.
Why?
“because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.”
This man put his money where his mouth was.
He served and he served regardless of his own benefit.
• Did he consider others as more important than himself?
• Did he look out for others personal interests above his own?
• Did he willingly forsake his position for the sake of someone else?
• Did he work hard at being Christ-like?
• Is there any record of his grumbling while he did it?
That is the type of person you imitate.
THE PERSON WHO FOLLOWS SACRIFICIALLY
So certainly the Philippians wanted to be like Christ,
But that doesn’t mean that there aren’t some human examples
We imitate as well.
• Paul – who rejoices while suffering
• Timothy – who serves sincerely
• Epaphroditus – who follows sacrificially
THAT IS REFRESHING TO SEE
In our day
• Much emphasis is put on those who are the educated
• Much emphasis is put on those who are successful
• Much emphasis is put on those who are talented
• Much emphasis is put on those who are famous
And none of those things makes someone a suitable role-model.
When you are looking for someone to imitate,
Look for the person who selflessly serves Christ and others.
Look for the person who does it with joy
Look for the person who does it with sincerity
That is the type of person to imitate.
The flip side then is also true,
That you and I should be that type of example to others.
• This is especially true for people who are pastors
• This is especially true for people who are deacons
• This is especially true for people who are teachers
• This is especially true for those who work with young people
People need an example to follow.
They need to see selfless, faithful, joyful people
Who serve Christ and not themselves.
So follow that example, and be that example for others.
