PHILIPPIANS 2:17-30 THE SACRIFICE THAT PLEASES GOD

Philippians 2:17 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. 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. 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. 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. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 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. (NKJV)

 Paul was a Jew, Timothy ½ Jew and ½ Gentile, Epaphroditus is 100% Gentile

 Paul was being poured out …Great and mighty

V20 Timothy was similar to Paul- Likeminded

V20 Timothy was sympathetic like Paul- He will naturally care for your state (welfare)

V21 Timothy was single-minded like Paul He seeks the things of Christ

It is said we all live in either Chapter 1:19-20 to live is Christ, to die is gain, or chapter 2:21

In verse 21, "For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus

In 1Timothy where he says, "At my first defense no one was at my side, but all deserted me." In another place he says, "All in Asia have forsaken me."

V22The fourth thing about Timothy that makes him a good model for us is he was also seasoned

V22The fifth characteristic of this model servant, he was submissive

The word "serve" is to slave

"That he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father

 Epaphroditus is the hero of the common man

We could say there are few Paul’s, there are some Timothy’s, there are many Epaphroditus. This is the people's model.

He gives him 5 titles

He is my brother. What does he mean by that? He means brother in the sense of spiritual birth.

The second title is how he related to the ministry, and he calls him "my fellow worker

We could also determine that he was a man with a heart of a servant. For him to go and to simply

Thirdly, he says "my fellow soldier." he is commendable in relationship to the enemies which fight against the ministry.

He was a man of great courage because he knew exactly what he was walking into.

If Paul's life was taken away, it would probably be a matter of course for them to at least consider taking the lives of those who served alongside of him.

Fourth, He is your messenger

He is your minister to my need.

He was a priest doing sacred service and offering a sacrifice of money for the needs of Paul.

V26 Because you heard that he was sick." Now wait a minute. That's hard to believe. You heard he

Verse 27, "But God had mercy on him."

Verse 28 The Philippians are concerned with Epaphroditus, Epaphroditus with the Philippians, and Paul with both. But nobody with himself. There's that humility. Php 2:29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem;

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.