Philippians 2:19-30
Paul uses two men as examples of the kind of man who will make a difference in the world:
Timothy “I have no one else like him” Vs. 20
Epaphroditis “…Hold men like him in highest honor.” Vs. 29
THE KIND OF MEN GOD IS LOOKING FOR:
A man’s greatness is not determined by the value of his wealth but by the wealth of his values.
1. COMPASSION:
MEN WHO PUT ______________ BEFORE _________.
“He is the only one…who really cares about you. Everyone else is only concerned with his own affairs, not about the cause of Christ.” Vs. 20-21
Luke 10:30-36: The Samaritan
2. CONSISTENCY:
MEN WHO PUT ______________ BEFORE _________.
“…Timothy has proved himself … he has served with me in the work of the Gospel.” Vs. 22
“The man of integrity walks securely, but he who takes crooked paths will be found out.” Proverbs 10:9
3. COOPERATION:
MEN WHO PUT ______________ BEFORE _________.
“I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditis, my brother fellow worker, and fellow soldier…” Vs. 25a
Three things about the Christian life:
1. It’s a ________________.
2. It’s a ________________.
3. It’s a ________________.
“So all the men of Israel got together and united as one man against the city.” Judges 20:11
4. COMMITMENT:
MEN WHO PUT ______________ BEFORE _________.
(Epaphroditis) “…is your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs…. He was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him…” Vs. 25b-27
“Faith, by itself, is not accompanied by action, is dead.” James 2:17
5. COURAGE:
MEN WHO PUT ______________ BEFORE _________.
“Welcome him in the Lord with great joy and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.” Vs. 29-30
“So then my brothers, because of God’s great mercy to us … offer yourselves as a living sacrifice to God, dedicated to His service and pleasing to Him. Don’t conform to the standard of this world, but let God transform you inwardly by a complete of you mind.” Romans 12:1-2
“Only those who give away their lives for the sake of the Good News will ever know what it means to really live.” Mark 8:35