It's good to see everyone here. This evening, we got a good
crowd and I appreciate that very much and we're going to continue
with our study in Philippians the second chapter.
If you don't have questions, there are some on the back
table. This set of questions, deals
with verses 16 through 22. I'd like to go back to verse
well, let's just go back to the beginning and we'll read through
Let's see, we'll probably read through verse 24.
Paul writing thier to the church at Philippi says therefore if
there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love,
if any Fellowship of the spirit, if any affection and mercy,
fulfill my Joy, by being like-minded, having the same
love being of one, Accord of one mind, Let nothing be done
through selfish. Excuse me, Ambition or conceit.
But in lowliness of Mind, Let each esteem others better than
himself. Let each of you look out not
only for his own interest but also for the interests of
others, let this mind be in you which was also in Christ.
Jesus, who being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery
to be equal with God, but made himself of no reputation taking
the form of a bondservant and be coming in the likeness of men
and being found. Found in appearance as a man, he
humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death,
even the death of the Cross. Therefore God also has, he has
highly exalted him and given him the name, which is above every
name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow of those
in heaven and of those on Earth and of those under the Earth and
that every tongue should confess, that Jesus Christ is
Lord to the glory of God. Father therefore my beloved as
you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only but now much
more in my absence work out your own salvation with fear and
trembling for it is God who works in you both to Will and to
do for his good pleasure? Do all things without
complaining and disputing that you may become blameless and
harmless children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked
and perverse. Zeus generation among who you
whom you shine as lights in the world holding fast the word of
the life, so that I might may rejoice in the day of Christ
that I have not run in vain, or labored in vain, Yes and if I
being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and
service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all for the
same reason that also for the same reason, you also be glad
and rejoice with me, but I trust in the Lord Jesus to send
Timothy to you shortly. That I also may be encouraged
when I know your state for. I have no one like minded who
will sincerely care for your state.
For all for all seek their own, not the things which are of
Christ Jesus. But you know, his proven
character that has a son with his father.
He served me in the gospel, therefore I hope to send him at
once as soon as I see how it goes with me.
But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.
So throughout the first part of this book, we understand that
that Paul is really kind of just kind of laying some groundwork
for them. He's praising them for what they
do their faithfulness, they're they're, you know, holding fast
to to the the word of Truth and doing the things that need to
be, but he also gives them encouragement.
Maybe some things that maybe they're a little bit lacking on
and guys, too. Tries to get them kind of maybe
all headed in the right direction.
Talks about Unity talks about being humble to each other,
putting each other first and things of that nature.
But he he tells them that they're basically kind of doing
a good job there. He's praising them but but still
encouraging them, I guess is the term.
I'm really looking for encouraging them to continue
doing what they're doing and showing them that they are.
This light of the All that they shine as lights in the world.
He says. And so now he comes here to
verse 16 and he says holding fast the word of life, so that I
may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, or
labored in vain. And the question is, what is
meant by the phrase holding fast?
The words? The word of life and what is the
day of Christ? Well, this there was some of the
commentators kind of had a couple of different ideas about
this, but the if, You go to Thayer's and look at that the
term holding fast. They are says to hold towards
hold forth present as a light by which illumined ye are the
lights of the world. Now I kind of get the idea that
what he's saying, even, even though it can be taken in two
different, two different ways he's saying for them to
basically take the gospel, which they have and to Proclaim it to
take it and and have that light that it gives light Right?
In other words, that it's effective in what what it has to
do, I believe the other way that he that is talked about is no
other words, kind of holding fast or being firm and sure.
And stedfast in the faith is another way that it was looked
at as well or described as But he talks about them and
encouraging them to continue doing what they're doing.
In other words, taking that word and using it as we would a torch
or a or a flash light that shines light on our path to
gives us to know where we need to walk where we need to stay in
the path. And I think that is really the
term that's being used here, so he's encouraging them as if we
go back to 2. Verse 14.
He says do all things without complaining.
This Den disputing that you may become blameless and harmless
children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and
perverse generation. Now that tends to mean that
they're the the, the the Society that they're living in, is not
always going in the right direction.
So they're living amongst these people, that would want to
pervert and take them different directions.
So he says, among whom you shine as lights in the world, so it
kind of ties together with that same idea of holding fast, the
words of Life holding fast. In other words, taking that
light. If they're The Shining, as
lights of the world, to take that light and then use it for
the good to shine. And and help each other and
staying on the path and other others to help them also know
where the path is, so they can obey the gospel.
And then all of them working together in unity, then to make
sure that everyone is going in the right direction.
The words of Life talked about here, I believe certainly is the
gospel. So to take that light, which is
the work, the gospel and using that, as the way to, to light
the direction, in which they going.
If we look at John 6, + 63, there says, it is the spirit who
gives life, the flesh profits, nothing the words that I speak
to you are spirit and they are life.
The words of life. So, So taking that gospel and
spreading it, the church at Philippi, I had the
responsibility of spreading the gospel.
It was taking the words of Life, spiritual life, to these that
are lost in sin and sustaining that defending it, taking it and
using it effectively. So, the word had spiritual life
within it and then the day of Christ, Is the day when Christ
comes again, the day that Paul is trying to prepare them for,
he's encouraging them to stay faithful and to keep doing what
they're doing, and Paul stating that his desires for them to
remain blameless. And them to walk or walk with
with and, and in the Lord, Verse 17 verse 17 reads.
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.
So this was a bit of a difficult for me.
Some others may not have found it that difficult but it was a
little bit for me to kind of really hopefully get a grasp on
what was being being talked about here.
Well this was a term. This is really kind of a Hebrew
term of being Poured out poured out, as a drink offering Paul is
talking about this practice among the Jews and even among
some of the pagans that they would sacrifice to their gods,
they would pour liquid that, sometimes, that would be blood,
sometimes it would be wine, sometimes it could be perfume
and other things that we're had some value to them and they
would pour it on the thing that they were sacrificing.
So it was kind of like a I'm trying to think of the word I
wrote down here now, I can't find it.
Well, I'll find it here in a minute.
So, if we go back to numbers 15 and Verses 4 through 5 and also
two verses chapter 28 and verse 7, this the kind of brings us
this. This example of the the law
says, then he who presents his offering to the Lord shall bring
a grain offering of one-tenth of an ephah of flour of fine, flour
mixed with 1/4 of a hen of oil. And Fourth of a hin of wine as a
drink offering you shall prepare, the burnt offering or
the sacrifice for each lamb. So they would take these
elements and they would mix them together.
And that would become this, this, this offering that would
be poured over the the lamb that was going to be sacrificed the
Hebrew, that that word hen is a Hebrew unit of measure that is
about five and a half quarts. So they take five and Of quarts
of oil and five and a half cups, five and a half quarts of wine.
And of course, the term wine here, doesn't necessarily mean
that it was fermented juice or, or the grape juice.
But but simply the blood of the grape.
And then they would mix those together.
And that would become then, that drink offering the.
And so then the grammar of I'm being poured out, the Paul talks
about is, is indicates the possibility that his execution,
may be short and it coming or closely to them.
And this was an if this was so he was willing to make His
sacrifice of his blood being shed for the cause of Christ.
So if we go back and read this, he says, yes and if I'm being
poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of
your faith, I'm glad and rejoice with you.
Notice what Paul told Timothy also in.
In second Timothy 4 in verses 6 and 7 he says for I am ready to
be poured out as a drink offering and the time of my
departure is at hand, I fought a good fought, the good fight, I
have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
So Paul was basically saying the end of his life was coming, he's
ready to be poured out as a drink offering.
In other words, he's ready to be given as a sacrifice for the
cause of Christ, if it, if it was necessary.
And so, that's kind of what Paul is saying here.
I believe For their service and their faith.
He was willing to even give his life to continue their work in
Christ, to help them continue their work in Christ and he
says, and I'm glad and rejoice with you.
Also on that point of and sacrifice your faith.
So, Paul is stating that if he had even sacrifice his life,
Give his life, which is considered.
Here's what I was looking for this, minor sacrifice to him
compared to that which was being poured upon would be the major
sacrifice. So that mixing of the wine and
the oil was the minor sacrifice of giving those things that had
value and putting it in on the major sacrifice, which was the
lamb that was given. So even Paul's comparing
himself, even if I have to give my blood, it's a minor sacrifice
for what Christ is doing. And the cause of Christ.
I hope that I haven't confused you too much.
So even that humble service of him doing that would bring joy
to him, Paul's life was going to be a sacrifice for Jesus Christ.
Either in Life or in death, he was giving everything that he
had towards the cause of Christ. So this was the source of his
gladness. This is what made him happy that
he was seen that the church at Philippi was doing what they
want. They were supposed to be doing,
he found pleasure in that he found gladness in that and he
was willing regardless to give even his life, that there might
be more even more joy. And he wanted these Philippians
2 even adopt that same attitude. So verses 18 through 20.
Now we come too. And the reads for the same
reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me and that really
kind of carries along with what is we.
Just said he was wanting them to Rejoice along with him but I
trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly that I
also may be encouraged when I know your state for.
I have no one like minded who will sincerely care for your
state. so, It's not that Paul necessarily I believe was
worried that they were doing things wrong.
I think it's just like you and I, when we haven't talked to
somebody for a while or seeing a letter from them or talk to them
on the phone or whatever it may be, that we kind of get
ourselves concerned about how everybody's doing, How things
are going as if everybody's, you know, doing well people
remaining faithful and and and things of that nature.
So he says, I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you
shortly. So Paul's heart, it was relying
on, whatever the Lord's will was he was trusting the Lord that he
might be able to do that. Even though he was in Chains and
prison, he was hoping to be able to refer freed from those things
and be able to come and be with him but he says, I want to send
Timothy I want to send Timothy. Whatever the Lord's will is
though that I may be also may be encouraged.
When I know your state Paul didn't expect, there were any
problems there but he he would be encouraged when I know what's
going on. Just like you and I when we call
and we worry about somebody and we hear their voice and we talk
to him, see everybody's doing go.
We can relax about it and that's really kind of, I believe what
is being said, the contrast to this I believe is you know about
let's for say exam. The church at Corinth where
there was a lot of problems that Paul was aware of and he was
writing those letters that were much more pointed about all the
things that they were doing wrong.
That's not, that's not the, the, the flavor if you want to say,
of this letter to them, that's not the, the tone of this
letter. He's encouraging them and things
of this nature. He's not hammering on him, like
he was the Corinthians So he goes on to say about Timothy, it
says I have no one like minded. And one of the I believe it was
mayor said they said in other words, another explanation of
this, I have no one equal in Seoul.
We know what that's like to have somebody that It just seems like
we know what they're thinking, and we know what their next move
is going to be, what their next action is getting me, how they
feel about certain things. We have that that closeness to
them. He said, so who will sincerely
or the King James version, says, naturally care for your steak.
So Paul's desires to know that things are well with them, and
then they can stop worrying about them.
Timothy would also make sure that there that there was, if
there was anything lacking, he would take care of that, he
would see to their needs, and would be cared for not
necessarily for the benefit of easing, Paul's anxiety, but was
also that the this likeness of Timothy and Paul's together.
The Timothy probably was the same had the same feelings.
It's kind of like we talked about certain people and we say,
well, you know, we're just kind of like Bosom Buddies.
That's kind of way that I feel like what Paul is saying about
Timothy that they had this closeness.
That was not like all of maybe Paul's other acquaintances, may
be in some of the Apostles but even some of the other Apostles
probably maybe were sent off doing other works and things
that like That and and weren't available.
But still Paul's preference was that Timothy go and he knew he'd
get a good report, he knew that he could trust him at the, he
knew that he could put confidence in him.
He knew that he would take care of things, that would be needed
and things of that nature. Now verse 21 it says what does
this verse mean and verse 21 reads for all seek their own,
not the things which are of Christ Jesus?
There were others, of course, mentioned earlier in chapter 1
about others that were preaching for the wrong reason.
They were he said Paul was glad that they were still even
preaching the truth but their motives were were not right but
Timothy is one who stood out, he wasn't like that he was separate
and apart from any of the others and it seems that they were the
had this Oh, sness, that Paul again didn't have any others?
Timothy was one that Paul felt. He could have complete
confidence in. And the other others, maybe not
quite as much. Verse 22.
Finish up here quickly. There's 22 reads, but you know,
his proven character that has a son with his father.
He served with me in the gospel and he said, what is meant by
the phrase as a son with his father?
He served with me in the gospel. Well, He's basically saying, you
know who Timothy is, he's proven himself to you.
And this passage also indicates how close and intimate that
relationship was between Paul and Timothy and and he's, he's
comparing that to the to the relationship between a father
and a son. And the closeness that a father
and his son would have that they work together and had sold so
many things in common and devoting their lives to the
cause of Christ. So, just as a father would know,
all the things about his son. And so the sun would know things
about his father and that closeness and intimacy that
other people would maybe, not even know, or understand, there
are things that my children, understand about me.
And I understand about them that other folks don't understand.
That's the closeness that Paul and Timothy had.
That's the how Close of a relationship, they have.
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