Ode to Joy

By Samuel E. Ward Part 5 Philippians 2:19-30 January 20, 2012   To see PowerPoint slides, click on http://www.slideshare.net/samward1/philippians-pt-5-16470562   Introduction A British publication once offered a prize for the best definition of a friend. Among the thousands of answers received were the following:  "One who multiplies joys, divides grief, and whose honesty is inviolable."  "One who understands our silence."  "A volume of sympathy bound in cloth."  "A watch that beats true for all time and never runs down."  The winning definition read: "A friend is the one who comes in when the whole world has gone out." Bits & Pieces, July, 1991. It seems that all of these characteristics would describe well the friendship that existed between Paul and the church at Philippi.  Paul only wanted the best for the people of this church and was quite pleased that they were experiencing joy in their relationship with God and each other.  This is reflected in the content of Paul's letter to the Philippians.  We observe that . . . I. This Letter Is an Expression of Paul's Joy in the Philippians, Phil 1:1-11. II. This Letter Is an Explanation of Paul's Joy in Suffering for the Gospel He Gave Them, Phil 1:12-30. III. This Letter Is an Exhortation to the Philippians to Complete Paul's Joy in Them, Phil 2:1-18. His deep love for these people is obvious in that . . . IV. This Letter Is Evidence of Paul's Commitment to See Their Joy in Christ Continue, Phil 2:19-30. A. Paul Had Plans to Send Timothy to Observe the State of Their Joy, Phil 2:19-23. What is the value of Timothy's visit to the church at Philippi? 1. Paul would be encouraged by a good report from Timothy, Phil 1:19. (Phil 2:19 NIV)  I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 2. Paul would have his most trusted partner ministering to the Philippians on his behalf, Phil 2:20-23 (Phil 2:20-23 NIV)  I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. {21} For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. {22} But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. {23} I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. The Greek philosopher Aristotle said, "Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies."  Paul's relationship to Timothy seems to affirm this idea. a. Timothy had the same interest in the Philippian's welfare. b. Timothy had the same desire for the Philippians to experience the fullness of Christ. c. Timothy had proven himself by his devotion to serving Christ at Paul's side as son learning his father's business. Timothy stands as one of many examples of how even young people can have a major impact upon God's work. Consider these noteworthy examples of godly youth in the Bible: Joseph was probably in his mid-teens when he was sold into slavery by his brothers and maintained a godly testimony through difficult times throughout his life. Joshua was Moses' aide from his youth, Num 11:28. Samuel was a leader in Israel from his youth, 1 Sam12:2. David killed Goliath between the ages of 15-17, 1 Sam 17:33. Josiah became king of Judah at age eight and restored the observance of the Law in Israel, 2 Kings 22:1. Daniel was probably taken captive to Babylon when he was in his teens, Dan 1:1-6. Mary was probably no older than 16 when she gave birth to Jesus. Mark was probably in his late teens or early twenties when he went part way on a missionary journey with Paul and Barnabas.  He also became the author of the gospel of Mark, Acts 12:12. Timothy had been a believer as a child and became a partner in Paul's missionary work in his late teens or early twenties.  This was not by accident, 2 Tim 3:14-15. B. Paul Had Plans to Personally Come to Philippi, Phil 2:24. (Phil 2:24 NIV)  And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. Paul took a very personal interest in the welfare and ministry of the churches he founded. 1. He wanted to return to the Romans so that they could be mutually encouraged by each other's faith and to evangelize others, Rom 1:10-13. 2. He did not want to return to the Corinthians because it would have been a painful visit for him, so he wrote a letter instead, 2 Cor 1:23-2:23. 3. He wanted to return to the Thessalonians but had to send Timothy instead to strengthen and encourage them and tell them not to worry about the persecution he was enduring, 1 Thes 3:1-6. C. Paul Had Plans to Send Epaphroditus Back to the Philippians, Phil 2:25-30. Anyone here remember what they used to call places where you put gas in your car? They weren't called "gas stations," or "fueling centers," but "service stations." When you pulled in, someone (or sometimes even more than one) raced out to greet you, ask what you needed, and proceeded to fill your gas tank with fuel. While you sat, warm and comfy in your car, the "service station" attendant washed your windows, checked your oil, even checked your tire pressure. After filling up the tank they took your payment and wished you well and waved you off.  "Service stations" also used to give out gifts after so many gallons of gas had been purchased (unbelievable, right?!) I will bet that a lot of us here this morning grew up drinking from juice glasses provided by Shell or Texaco, instead of Steuben or Tiffany. What is the first thing that comes to mind today when someone asks if you ever were "in the service?" There used to be two primary meanings of that phrase "in the service." The first was military service -- the "service" given by all those men and women who "served" to defend and protect our country. That why George Washington asked for no pay for serving as Commander-in-Chief of Continental forces during the Revolutionary War. He looked at what he was doing as a "service" to his country, so he refused to accept any pay. Nor he did submit expenses, which when added up amounted to nearly ten times what his salary would have been. Before taking office as President, he again offered to serve without pay if all his expenses were covered. This time Congress courteously declined. (Sebastian De Grazia, "A Necessary Evil is Also a Necessary Good," TLS: Times Literary Supplement, 26 May 2000, 12.)  The second association of being "in the service" is now made bare in a hit television show, now in its third series. Any fans of "Downton Abbey" out there? What did it mean in the early twentieth century to be "in the service?"  Of course, it meant being a "servant" to others. "In the service" meant a life lived in service to others -- whether that service was being a butler, a governess, a cook, a maid, a footman, or a working, serving part of a larger whole, and probably not receiving a whole lot of accolades for doing what you're doing. Service has always been part and parcel of being "in the service"...[1] Epaphroditis had been commissioned by the Philippian church to take gifts of support to  Paul who was imprisoned in Rome.  He soon became a valued member of Paul's companions who saw to his needs while a prisoner and in spite of this, helped him to minister.  In these verses we see in Epaphroditis many spiritual qualities that mark him as a person who had truly given himself to the cause of Christ as a servant.    1. He was a brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, and servant to those who minister in Christ's name, Phil 2:25. (Phil 2:25 NIV)  But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 2. He cared for the anxiety of others and did not want to be the cause of others' distress or sorrow, even if warranted, Phil 2:26-27. (Phil 2:26-27 NIV)  For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. {27} Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 3. He was a man whose very presence exuded joy and confidence in God, Phil 2:28. (Phil 2:28 NIV)  Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 4. He was worthy of honor not because of his position or status, but his proven unrestrained love for God, the ministry, and his fellow believers in Christ, Phil 2:29-30. (Phil 2:29-30 NIV)  Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, {30} because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. During World War II, England needed to increase its production of coal. Winston Churchill called together labor leaders to enlist their support. At the end of his presentation he asked them to picture in their minds a parade which he knew would be held in Picadilly Circus after the war. First, he said, would come the sailors who had kept the vital sea lanes open. Then would come the soldiers who had come home from Dunkirk and then gone on to defeat Rommel in Africa. Then would come the pilots who had driven the Luftwaffe from the sky. Last of all, he said, would come a long line of sweat-stained, soot-streaked men in miner's caps. Someone would cry from the crowd, 'And where were you during the critical days of our struggle?' And from ten thousand throats would come the answer, 'We were deep in the earth with our faces to the coal.'" Not all the jobs in a church are prominent and glamorous. But it is often the people with their "faces to the coal" who help the church accomplish its mission. Don McCullough, Waking from the American Dream.