Prove That You Are A Servant Of God

MAY 23, 2021 STUDY NOTES PHILIPPIANS 2:22-25 BIBLE TEACHER: CLIFTON JONES PROVE THAT YOU ARE A SERVANT OF GOD INTRODUCTION There is an old saying, actually an old question that applies to this message If you were charged and arrested for being a Christian and you had to go to court What would be presented to the Judge? Would there be enough evidence to convict you? The question that will answer those questions is, who knows that you are a Christian today? What evidence does those who know you have that would confirm you as a Christian? Our Christian life is strongly challenged and tested in many ways through our society today We must meet the challenge, we must pass the test, we must prove that we are genuine Others must know that we are a servant of the Gospel A SERVANT OF THE GOSPEL Php 2:22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. “But” presents a contrast to the previous verse, Php 2:21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. Referring to church members who are self-centered and not Christ-centered Unlike those of verse 21 is the servant of God named Timothy and the Philippians knew him BUT YE KNOW THE PROOF OF HIM Those who had met Timothy did not have to be told that he was a Christian They knew with certainty, they knew from being with Timothy, he had proven himself to them The word “proof” means, to be tried and approved, Timothy had passed all of the tests of life How did Timothy prove himself? What evidence did the Philippians have that convinced them? Paul describes the way to prove to others that you are a servant of God, 2Co 2:9 For to this end also did I write, that I might know the proof of you, whether ye be obedient in all things. There is no greater evidence of the life of Christ in us than obedience to God the Father Obedience to God is not qualified by sometimes, but “in all things,” and Christ is our example, Php 2:8 And being found in fashion as a man, he humbled himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. We need to pay attention to what Paul said, as a man, Jesus “humbled himself” The meaning is that Jesus lowered Himself, He bowed down to the position of a servant Which can be a difficult task for you and I, which is not the attitude of too many Christians today But it must be true of us if we are going to “be obedient in all things” “All things” that are of God’s will for our life, our will must be to serve God in “all things” “All things” for Jesus included the cross, He became obedient unto death, the death of the cross His obedience was to the will of God the Father, listen to the prayer of Jesus as He faced death, Mat 26:39 And he went a little further, and fell on his face, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if it be possible, let this cup pass from me: nevertheless not as I will, but as thou wilt. Jesus fully submitted Himself to the will of the Father, Mat 26:42 He went away again the second time, and prayed, saying, O my Father, if this cup may not pass away from me, except I drink it, thy will be done. Page 1 of 5 Which was the cross of Calvary, Act 2:23 Him, being delivered by the determinate counsel and foreknowledge of God, ye have taken, and by wicked hands have crucified and slain: Timothy had proof that he was a servant of God, he was obedient to God’s will Timothy did not have to send a resume to the Philippians, they knew of his credentials Paul compared the obedience of Timothy to that of a son to his father THAT, AS A SON WITH THE FATHER Again, Jesus is our example, Heb 5:8 Though he were a Son, yet learned he obedience by the things which he suffered; Although He was the unique Son, the only begotten Son of God, we still have our example The things that “He suffered” refers to the experiences of the life He lived while upon earth Jesus lived by faith in the Father’s will while He ministered upon earth He learned to experience what His people experience as we walk the earth He suffered the temptations of man in the flesh, Heb 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. As man Jesus was tempted, the same sins that Satan puts before us were also set before Jesus Jesus was tempted in “all points like as we are,” “yet without sin” Which is why we must come to Jesus for the victory over sin He experienced the grief, and the anguish of temptation, but Jesus came away victorious He is the only one who can give us the strength to say no to Satan and sin Paul told Titus that through the grace of God we can be victorious over Satan and sin, Tit 2:11 For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared to all men, Tit 2:12 Teaching us that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we should live soberly, righteously, and godly, in this present world; By the grace of God, we can prove that we are a “Servant of God” Paul is telling us that Timothy is an example of victory over sin, look at how Paul introduces him, 1Co 4:17 For this cause have I sent unto you Timotheus, who is my beloved son, and faithful in the Lord, who shall bring you into remembrance of my ways which be in Christ, as I teach every where in every church. To Paul, Timothy was a spiritual son, 1Ti 1:2 Unto Timothy, my own son in the faith: Grace, mercy, and peace, from God our Father and Jesus Christ our Lord. We should all have a personal testimony like Timothy, listen to what Paul said about Timothy-HE HATH SERVED WITH ME IN THE GOSPEL They knew that what Paul said about him was true, Timothy was a servant of the gospel Paul and Timothy believed that “servant” was the highest honor bestowed upon them, Php 1:1 Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons: Too many Christians today want to be identified with as many titles as possible When we stand before Jesus there is only one title that will stand out, we must hear Jesus say, Mat 25:21 His lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant: thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will make thee ruler over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. Timothy was willing to take the position of a bondservant, one willing to serve a master That is why Paul wanted to send Timothy to the Philippians--ONE SENT TO SERVE Php 2:23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. There is emphasis upon “him therefore,” Paul has already said why Timothy was his choice, Page 2 of 5 Php 2:20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. (A servant) So, Paul said, I HOPE TO SEND PRESENTLY Paul spoke with confidence he expressed his desire to send Timothy But he knew that it would depend upon God’s will for his own life SO SOON AS I SHALL SEE HOW IT WILL GO WITH ME The Lord’s will was first before Paul’s “I hope,” Php 2:19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state. Paul’s hope was in “the Lord Jesus,” his desire was to live according to God’s will His request unto the Lord was to send Timothy to the Philippians if it was the Lord’s will Paul’s most important desire was to serve the Lord--DESIRE TO SERVE Php 2:24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. The word “trust” has the meaning of confidence, to be confident or to be assured Notice that Paul’s confidence was “in the Lord,” his submission was to the will of the Lord Paul knew that the Lord’s will was always going to be the best for him, Rom 12:2 And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. We need to learn that the Lord’s will is always “good,” meaning profitable and useful for all The Lord’s will is “acceptable,” well-pleasing, God is pleased and we will be pleased The Lord’s will is “perfect,” the goal and purpose of God is fulfilled through His will for us All of which is why Paul was willing to submit himself to the Lord’s will Paul knew that within the will of the Lord all would be profitable, pleasing, and purposeful James explains it this way, Jas 4:15 For that ye ought to say, If the Lord will, we shall live, and do this, or that. Your planning must be based upon who God is and what the will of God is for “your” life To desire the “Lord’s Will” is to recognize God’s authority over your life Living in obedience to the Word of God is the natural thing for a Christian to do So, if God was willing for Paul to be released from prison, he would go himself to Philippi If Paul remained in prison, he would send Timothy, the decision would be determined by God With all that in mind, Paul sensed that God did have a current plan to be carried out There was a man that Paul felt free to send at the time, he could immediately be sent His name is Epaphroditus, and Paul tells us why he could send him to the Philippians He had all the characteristics of a servant CHARACTERISTICS OF A SERVANT Php 2:25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. When Paul said, “Yet I suppose,” he meant that he had given serious thought to God’s will He determined that which was “necessary,” someone must go now, the circumstances required it Paul was still in prison and the sending of Timothy would be delayed until after Paul’s trial So, the decision was to send to you Epaphroditus, and Paul explains why he was his choice Paul gives us a five-fold description of the man known as Epaphroditus We need to consider each one of them seriously and pray that they might be true of us If these 5 characteristics are found in us, we will prove to others that we are a servant of God MY BROTHER, First, Epaphroditus was a brother in Christ Do we really understand how meaningful that is, as Christians we have a new relationship Page 3 of 5 We have a new relationship with God and all Christians, we are brothers and sisters in Christ Which is meaningful in so many different ways, especially in times of our trials and troubles The most qualified person to help others through difficult times is a Christian It is also helpful when you get old and can’t remember your church family’s names You can just say, “hello brother,” or “hello sister,” which is a term of affection to one another Praise God that we can honestly call one another brother and sister, identifying a church family The second characteristic of Epaphroditus was a COMPANION IN LABOR Literally Paul said, he was a “fellow-worker,” a co-laborer of Paul They labored together in the ministry of the gospel, putting forth a common spiritual effort Paul identified Timothy the same way in his letter to the Thessalonians, 1Th 3:2 And sent Timotheus, our brother, and minister of God, and our fellowlabourer in the gospel of Christ, to establish you, and to comfort you concerning your faith: Actually, all Christians are to be fellow workers for God, 1Co 3:9 For we are labourers together with God: ye are God's husbandry, ye are God's building. Our spiritual goal should be to work for God by helping others work for God There is no greater work for God than sharing the “gospel of Christ” “The gospel” is the “good news” that the world must hear in-order to be saved So, Christ must be the message of our life, the life that tells others about Jesus We must share the gospel with the lost and live the gospel before the saved God sends us out daily to do the same thing that Timothy and Epaphroditus were sent to do To represent the gospel of Christ often requires the work of a soldier The third characteristic of Epaphroditus was that he was a FELLOW SOLDIER Remember singing and marching in VBS, to “I’m in the Lord’s Army” As Christians we are soldiers for Christ fighting the spiritual forces of Satan Christian “warfare” is a common subject of Paul, Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. Even though Paul was in prison, he was standing against the devil, Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand against Satan before he comes, withstand when he comes, remain standing when he leaves The life of every faithful servant of God is a war against Satan, the world, the flesh, and the devil Paul instructed Timothy, 2Ti 2:3 Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ A “good soldier” cannot be caught up in the things of this world, 2Ti 2:4 No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. Remember that we are to be faithful to God in “all things,” obedient to God’s will in “all things” As a good soldier we are to also be a good messenger The 4th characteristic of Epaphroditus identified him as YOUR MESSENGER The word “messenger” literally means “a sent one,” one sent with a message As a Christian we are all sent-forth with the message of Jesus Christ (read Matthew 28:18-20) The 5th characteristic of Epaphroditus was that he was one THAT MINISTERED Epaphroditus was one who served, his ministry was service, in that sense we are all ministers First of all, he was a servant of God and then he served or ministered to Paul’s needs Page 4 of 5 TO MY WANTS The word “wants” literally means such things as are necessary The things which Paul lacked and were necessary to his livelihood We need servants who will prove they are servants by ministering to the needs of others Those who are willing to minister to the physical, material, and spiritual needs of others The first step toward ministering to others, giving to others, is to give your all to Jesus Listen to the song Page 5 of 5