proof (phil 2:22)

Philippians 2:22

But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father, he has served with me in the gospel.

We judge people's worth by what they say, or how they look, or their success. Timothy's worth has been proven because he is a servant for the cause of the gospel, he loves God (v21) and others (v20) more than himself. This should be the criteria we are using to evaluate our own sanctification.

examples (phil 2:21)

Philippians 2:21

For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ

Timothy is an example of someone following Paul's instruction in 2v4. Paul is showing the Philippians someone who is seeking Jesus' interests before their own as an encouragement to them to do the same. How do I learn from the example of others.

people person (phil 2:20)

Philippians 2:20

For I have no one like him [Timothy], who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare

Timothy is genuinely concerned for the Phillipians, which Paul appears to think is quite rare. We might show concern to be polite, but are we actually bothered? Are we genuinely concerned for people's welfare? Am I a people person?

self-centered (phil 2:19)

Philippians 2:19

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you

It brings Paul joy and encouragement from news of them continuing to follow Jesus. This is the opposite of the twisted and crooked generation that operates out of envy and rivalry (mentioned earlier in the chapter/book). Our society looks on others doing well and is envious, and takes a twisted pleasure when things go wrong for others. Do I rejoice alongside others as their faith grows and develops? That's a good test of whether we are looking to the interests of others and not just ourselves (v4)

offerings (phil 2:17-18)

Philippians 2:17-18

Even if I am to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrificial offering of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. Likewise you also should be glad and rejoice with me.

Paul describes his life as a drink offering, being poured out to honour God. The Philippians' lives are described as a sacrificial offering - laying down their lives, dying to themselves and living for Jesus. People could look at this drink offering or sacrificial offering of a life as a waste, but it brings Paul joy because that's what our lives were designed for... something more than ourselves. The hardship and suffering is worth it for the joy that it coming, the ultimate example of this being Jesus who "for the joy set before Him, endured the cross" Heb 12:2

holding fast (phil 2:16)

Philippians 2:16

Holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ i may be proud that I did not run in vain or labour in vain.

We desperately grasp and hold on to to all sorts of things that promise life but deliver nothing. Instead, we should be holding fast to the thing that literally brings life - God's word. That's what Paul's looking at as some sort of measure of his ministry - not how many people are in the Philippian church, not how attractive their worship services were, not if everything was going "well" for them, but were they holdiing fast to God's word, because that is where they will find life.

shine (phil 2:15)

Philippians 2:15

that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world.

It's funny to think that not moaning (v14) will make us shine like lights (or stars NIV) in the world! There definitely should be a noticeable difference between the lives of Christians and unbelievers - not that Christians get everything right, but more in how we respond to our own failures. Because we see our own sinfulness and know we have been forgiven through Jesus death because of God's great love for us, that means we have less (or nothing) to moan about! Even though we are guilty, we are made blameless and innocent because the blameless and innocent one died. As this starts to change our hearts, our behaviour changes and should stand out in the middle of a crooked and twisted generation which is desperately trying to hide it's faults and failures and pretend it's got everything together, searching for acceptance from others doing the same thing. That's what shines out as a light.

moaning (phil 2:14)

Philippians 2:14

Do all things without grumbling or questioning

Just like 2:3 (do nothing out of rivalry and conceit) is totally counter cultural, so is this! we live in a moaning and grumbling culture, moaning helps you to fit in at work, it seems like there's something wrong if we've got nothing to grumble about. The questioning isn't referring to sincere evaluation but the sort of pointless, selfish questioning that arises because we don't want to be obedient. We can only start to live like this because of God's work in us (v13)

desire to serve (phil 2:13)

Philippians 2:13

for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for his good pleasure

It is God who gives us the ability to work for Him, to serve Him, but not only that, He gives us the will to do it, the desire to please Him. Begrudging submission does not honour God, but when the Holy Spirit transforms our hearts through the power of the gospel, our deepest desire is to serve and please God.

fear and trembling (phil 2:12)

Philippians 2:12b

work out your own salvation with fear and trembling

What part does fear play in my relationship with God? Do I have what McArthur calls "a healty fear of offending God"? God shows up in the old and new testament and people fall on their faces and think they're going to die. We think we get a nice warm fuxxy feeling inside?!

show up for training (phil 2:12-13a)

Philippians 2:12 - 13a

Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you

Do I expect sanctification to just happen while I sit around doing nothing? Do I expect god to just download "patience" into me while I sit passively? Training is involved. The bible teaches that God is fully in control, but that we also have responsibility. We need to show up for training. We need to gather the kindling and ask God ignite it. we need to be like the hardworking farmer who does everything he can to prepare the land and then prays for rain.

This does not say work FOR your salvation. God does the work IN us and we are just working OUT the results of that.

He is Lord (phil2:10-11)

Philippians 2:10-11

so that at the name of Jesus, every knee should bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father.

We should be on our knees at the name of Jesus - honouring Him, in awe of Him. If he turned up right now we would be terrified . It's looking at Him that kills pride and cultivates humilty in us. Recognising he is Lord. Our tongues should confess this as well. Our words matter. Jesus should be Lord of our lives in what we say and how we act - our entire lives.

Jesus' name (phil 2:9)

Philippians 2:9

Therefore God has highly exalted him and bestowed on him the name that is above every other name

Jesus name is highly exalted, it's above every other name, every knee should bow at it (v10). This is not about me, it's about Him. It's not Jesus making much of me, but His love should lead me to make much of Him. Christianity is not man-centered, it's centered around Jesus. It's his name that's important.

Jesus did what we wouldn't (phil 2:8)

Philippians 2:8

And being found in human form he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

We are proud when we've got nothing to be proud about, but Jesus humbled himself! We don't like to be obedient, but he was obedient to the point of death. The death on the cross that we deserved because we wouldn't humble ourselves or obey God.

preaching the cross

"Either we preach that human beings are rebels against God - who are lost and under judgement and can only be saved by Christ bearing their sin on the cross - or we emphasize human potential and human ability, with Christ brought in only to boost them up! If we choose the latter, then there is no necessity for the cross except to exhibit God's love and inspire us to greater endevours"

Alistair Begg, Preaching the cross

became nothing (phil 2:7)

Philippians 2:7

... but made Himself nothing, taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

We can't comprehend how big a "step down" it is for God to become a man. He made Himself NOTHING. We are nothing and are desperately trying to make ourselves something. He is THE thing, He is God, but He made Himself nothing.We think we deserve to be served. We don't, He does, but He became a servant to us.He could have come as a man, but he was born as a baby, humbling himself by learning to walk and talk. This is the attitude that we are encouraged to have in v5. The one who WAS everything, gave it all up for us. In response, it should be easy for us to give up what little we have for the sake of others.

equality with God (phil 2:6)

Philippians 2:6

who, though He was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped

We want equality with God. We think we deserve to be in the position of God in our own lives. We operate as if that's the position we occupy. We pray as if God is our consultant or our co-pilot, we still try to retain the authority ourselves. This attitude is the root of our sin. We sin in a particular situation because, in that moment we think that we know better than God. This shouldn't catch us by surprise us because it's exactly what happened to Adam and Eve, the serpent telling them that, if they eat the fruit which God had told them not to, then "your eyes will be opened, and you will be like God, knowing good and evil" Genesis 3:5. They wanted equality with God, and so do we.

Fortunately for us, Jesus, who had equality with God, gave it up on our behalf. This verse tells us that Jesus didn't consider equality with God something to be grasped, as we try desperately, and pathetically, to grasp it. He had it and he gave it up, becoming a man to ultimately die in our place, because of His great love for us.

active or passive? (phil 2:5)

Philippians 2:5

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus...

The ESV (above) is quite different to the NIV/NLT which say that our attitude should be the same as Christ Jesus, which seems to put the focus more on what we should do, rather than what God has done. Maybe the ESV goes to far the other way and conveys that we already have this attitude if we would only just realise it, leaving us passively sitting back waiting for God to zap us. The NKJV seems closer to a middle ground: Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus.

We should have this attitude and should be trying to cultivate it, but recognising that the only way we can have it is through Jesus' work for us and in us, not just us looking at his example and trying to follow

self serving? (phil 2:4)

Philippians 2:4

Let each of you look not only to his own interests but also to the interests of others.

Again, my motivation is regularly my own interests. What do I want to do in this situation? How will this serve me? What would my life look like if I primarily looked to the interests of others?

humility (phil 2:3)

Philippians 2:3

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humilty count others more significant than yourselves.

Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit? What? Almost everything we do is motivated by these two. How will this affect me? What's best for me in this situation? What will others think of me if I do this? That person has got this, I should get one? I know I sin, but at least I'm not as bad as he is. The world operates through rivalry and conceit!

Instead we are to be humble. We often misunderstand what humilty is. we think that its the sort of "false modesty" that protests when recieving a compliment or doesn't boast about acheivements. Actually, humilty is "counting others more significant than ourselves". It is not thinking less of ourselves, but thinking of ourselves less (Warren)

unity (phil 2:2)

Philippians 2:2

... complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

Because all the stuff in verse one is true THEN we should be united. Unity should be the mark of people trusting in Jesus but that doesn't mean that we should pursue unity as if it is the ultimate goal in itself. We are united around Christ. Unity should be motivated by Jesus (the things described in v1), it is only possible because of those things. Man made pursuit of unity is always fragile because it is built around us. Gospel centered unity is the only lasting unity and that is why it brings Paul joy.

because He love us (phil 2:1)

Philippians 2:1

So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the spirit, any affection and sympathy...

"If there is.." is not really a question, more like a statement "because there is...". We should be massively encouraged in Christ, the fact that he did not leave us dead in our sin but became a man and went to the cross on our behalf. We can be comforted by His love because we see it demonstrated on the cross, not a feeling but a fact, that will never change. Our participation with the Spirit is that he has opened our hearts to understand the gospel and we are continually being sanctified through His work. He cares for us, has compassion on us, prays for us! 

There is massive encouragement in Christ, complete comfort from His love, transforming participation with the Spirit, perfect affection and sympathy. That is the motivation for the exhortation to unity found in the next verse.

suffering (phil 1:29-30)

Philippians 1:29-30

For it has been granted to you that for the sake of Christ you should not only believe in him but also suffer for his sake, engaged in the same conflict that you saw I had and now hear that I still have.

Their suffering has been granted to them! The opposition they are facing has been given to them by God as an opportunity for them to bring Him glory in and through it! Do we view opposition in the same way?!

Like the Philippians and Paul, we are in conflict, not with God, not with the suffering, not with the opponents, but with the enemy who seeks to turn our eyes away from God through the suffering and/or opposition

community as a sign (phil 1:28b)

Philippians 1:28b

This is a clear sign to them of their destruction, but of your salvation, and that from God.

What is the clear sign of destruction/salvation? The life described in the previous verse. Perservering gospel partnership. Unity between natural enemies. Peace in the face of opposition. Opponents see that and start to realise it's not going away. Seeing the Christian community in action is a powerful witness to non-christians

live worthy of the gospel (phil 1:27-28b)

Philippians 1:27-28b

Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind, striving side by side for the faith of the gospel, and not frightened in anything by your opponents.

what does a life worthy of the gospel look like? Standing firm in one spirit, one mind, striving together for the gospel, not frightened. It is perserverance, communal (not individualistic), unity around the gospel, gospel partnership!

We have a tendency to drift rather than stand firm. To be selfish rather than of one mind. To procrastinate rather than strive together. To think individually rather than stand side by side.