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Phil 08 – SERVANTS - Phil 2:17-30
 
Coming off of Pastor Jeff’s msg – last week –
“What make or breaks a Leader” - Today = “Servants”
 
We have so many servants here – For which I am thankful
So many who have laid their life down for the service of the Lord
 
We think – “well not laid their Physical Life down – as unto death –
but indeed laid this life down (this life on this earth)
 
Given up so much for the sake of the gospel
 
In a culture where moment by moment entertainment is the driving force –
where there is opportunity to live consumed with enjoyment & recreation
 
There are servants who set all that aside to serve for a kingdom that is N.O.T.W.
 
We have those servants here - & it is an awesome thing to watch them at work –
 
Serving for the Lord – setting aside their own wants / needs to give of themselves for the eternal cause
 
Seemingly normal people – simply showing up to give of their time & energy –
but from the eternal perspective it is so much more than that
 
It’s part of the “movement” of the body of Christ –
it’s part of what is continuing the motion of Christ’s church on the earth
 
 
In our lst msg – Paul talked about us “Working out our Salvation” –

In V.14 – he exhorted us to do all things w/o complaining & disputing –
that no one would be able to criticize us . . .
 
That we would shine as “Lights in the World”
 
Now – Paul is give us a look into 3 servants of the Lord (incld’g himself) –
& we get to see – the “humanness” of the work of the gospel -
 
The eternal work of the ministry takes place as each of us sacrifice our lives –
& pick up our “part” of the ministry of Christ
 
 
Paul begins with himself – but it’s just a transition from last week’s
“working out our salvation” – to this week’s text on “Servants”
 
Phil 2:17-18
17 Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all.18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.
 
The picture here Paul is painting is NOT that
his being “poured out” is the primary focus
 
But that the Philippians Sacrifice & Service is the primary focus –
He views his own life as a minor part of that (just a drink offering)
 
Paul’s focus in on the sacrifice & service of the faith of the church –
& it is in that – that he is glad & rejoices –
 
altho Paul paints His role as the minor one here . . .
 
It’s safe to assume – that the Lord would probably not be calling us to
to the LEVEL of sacrifice of the Apostle Paul
 
& yet – He does call us – to some extent - to set our own lives aside
For one another - & for the eternal work of the gospel
 
& that is what Paul is rejoicing over in this text –
& that I what we see in the body here –
 
& it’s one of the greatest encouragements in serving the Lord –
not unlike the encouragement it was for Paul . . .
 
To give 2 examples of this “Sacrificial Service” -
1st Paul brings up Timothy - & the encouragment Timothy is to him
 
Phil 2:19-22
19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.
 
Paul knows he can send Timothy back to the church
& he will return w/ encouragement
 
& in v.20 Pauls says “for I have no one like-minded” – the idea is;
I have no one quite like Timothy who will sincerely care for you
 
Paul knows Timothy is one of those servants;
Who are doing the right thing,
For the right reason,
With no concern for themselves
 
Then – in V.21 – Paul seems to make a Broad, Sweeping Statement
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
 
But the idea is – “It is NORMAL for a person to seek their own interests, & not the things of Christ” – BUT NOT SO WITH TIMOTHY
 
& again – we see the same thing in the ministry today –
 
When we see a person laying aside their own interests –
& taking up the care & concern for the body of Christ . . .
 
it is a unique & supernatural thing !
 
 
& then in V.22 Paul gives Timothy 1 of the greatest compliments
a servant of God can get – But you know his proven character
 
 
Proven Character takes time to Show –
& always shown best in the most difficult circumstances
 
& then Paul says of Timothy –
as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. –
 
& so Paul says in V.23-24 . . .
 
Phil 2:23-24
23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
 
& then Paul moves to Epaphroditus – a man mostly unknown –
yet worthy of very high honor because of his service for the Lord
 
Phil 2:25
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;
 
Epaphroditus was a servant who set aside his own life for the good of the body Almost to the extent of losing his own life1st Paul calls him – My Brother – this was a term unknown until Jesus Christ
 
Gal 3:28
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
 
 
We know this as the Norm – but it was a radical concept in the 1st Century
 
& then he calls him - fellow worker, and fellow soldier - There is something that happens when 2 people work for the Lord together - There is a bond that is built – a oneness that is difficult to break& when we really go into the trenches together – just like in a war - We carry one another – we strengthen one anotherEpaphraditus was a Fellow Worker & Fellow Soldier – He was a servant who set his own life aside
to serve God – by serving the bodyThen Paul calls him - your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;because it was Epaphraditus who brought support to Paul from the Philippians while Paul was in Rome& in doing so – he had almost died
 
Let’s re-read Phil 2:25-27
 
25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need;26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
 
This shows such a human side of the Bible –
this was a real person – with real Longing & Distress -
Who really almost died from getting sick while serving God by taking supplies (& money) from Philippi to PaulWhen we are serving the Lord – we are working in the real world – with real problems & real struggles –
& yet - in the midst – we are part of a real eternal work
 
So Paul thanks God that he spared Epaphroditus –
so that Paul would not have sorrow added upon sorrow
 
But then he also sent him back to the Philippians for their encouragement
 
Phil 2:28
28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.
 
This is the servants in the church looking out for one another - Each one more concerned about the other - above their own concerns
 
& so Paul says in V. 29-30
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;
30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
 
Receive such a servant in the Lord with all gladness –
& hold such men in esteem
 
There are those who do not regard their own life –
but allow it to be used up/poured out for the Lord –
 
We thank God for those who serve at this level –
 
may we learn from them –may we join them in this level of servicemay we know the eternal joys that they know from choosing to make their lives NOT their on – but Christ’s We are thankful for those among us who serve tirelessly in this way