PHILIPPIANS LESSON 4


     We will begin this lesson in Philippians 2:14 "Do all things
without murmurings and disputings:"

     We found in the last lesson that a person's salvation is his own
responsibility to obtain. Now, we see that we are not to murmur and
dispute others. One of the things that had God angry at the children
of Israel coming from Egypt to the promised land, was their constant
murmuring. The murmurings, here, could, also, mean doubtings. If we
are to do all things, we should do them gladly and not complain.

     Philippians 2:15 "That ye may be blameless and harmless, the sons
of God, without rebuke, in the midst of a crooked and perverse nation,
among whom ye shine as lights in the world;"

     The world around them was evil to the utmost. They must let the
Light of Jesus shine forth in this very darkened place. That is really
what missionaries do. They go to places where it is spiritually very
dark, and they shine the Light of Jesus to do away with the darkness.
Notice, the fact that they are sons of God. The son will do the will
of the Father knowing full well that the Father's work is his work,
also. We followers of Jesus are not completely blameless are harmless,
but are working toward becoming that. At least, the desire of our
heart is to be blameless and harmless.

     Philippians 2:16 "Holding forth the word of life; that I may
rejoice in the day of Christ, that I have not run in vain, neither
laboured in vain."

     "The Word of Life" is the Bible and is, also, the Lord Jesus.
Many other places in Paul's writings this "day of Christ", is spoken
of as day of the Lord. Paul wants to believe that all of the people he
led to the Lord would stay in Christianity, until the return of the
Lord. Paul wants to feel that his life has caused someone to believe.
Each of us want to believe that his life has been some benefit to the
work of God.

     Philippians 2:17 "Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and
service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all."

     It seems as though Paul believes he will be martyred for the work
of the Lord. He is saying, this would be a pleasure for him, and not a
defeat. Notice the statement, your faith. He believes even the giving
of his life for the sake of the gospel is for the benefit of those he
had ministered to.

     Philippians 2:18 "For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice
with me."

     Paul wants them to share in his joy, even if he is martyred.

     Philippians 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."

     The main thing for us to see in this, is that even though Paul
wanted to send Timothy, the Lord Jesus was really the one that had to
send Timothy. If Paul sent Timothy without the approval of the Lord,
the trip would be a failure. Paul knows that Timothy would minister
the same things he would minister, if he were there. Paul trained
Timothy, and he was an extension of Paul. When Paul knows that Timothy
is ministering to them, he will be pleased, because he will feel they
are being taught the truth.

     Philippians 2:20 "For I have no man likeminded, who will
naturally care for your state."

     Paul was so sure of Timothy, that he called him his own son in
the faith. Timothy was trained totally by Paul. He thought the same
way as Paul, because he was trained by Paul. There was no one else
Paul could send who was like this. Timothy cared for these people,
primarily, because Paul loved them.

     Philippians 2:21 "For all seek their own, not the things which
are Jesus Christ's."

     The dedication, even unto death, that Paul had for Jesus Christ
was not shared by many of the Christians. Paul is saying above, they
are more concerned with their own needs than the needs of others.
It seems from what Paul says, here, that many were in the ministry for
the wrong reasons.

     Philippians 2:22 "But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son
with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel."

     Paul is saying that his relationship with Timothy was as a son
with a father. These people were already aware of the relationship
that Paul had with Timothy. This serving was almost as a slave. At
least, it was as a loving son to a father.

     Philippians 2:23 "Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon
as I shall see how it will go with me."

     Since Paul could not come at this time, the next best thing was
to send Timothy. Paul really would not ever be able to go to Philippi
again. He would end his days here in Rome.

     Philippians 2:24 "But I trust in the Lord that I also myself
shall come shortly."

     Paul loved this church at Philippi, and it was the desire of his
heart that he would be able to go there personally. We can never
overrule the will of God in these matters. Paul knew that whatever the
Lord had planned for him, would be what he would do.

     Philippians 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."

     It seemed that Paul had decided to wait a while to send Timothy
and sends Epaphroditus in his stead. Perhaps, he even took the letter
with him to these Philippians. The verse above is like a
recommendation. The word "messenger" makes me believe he carried the
letter. It seems as if he had taken care of Paul's needs while Paul
was under house arrest. Epaphroditus was Paul's brother in the sense
that all Christians are brothers, not that he was his physical
brother.

     Philippians 2:26 "For he longed after you all, and was full of
heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick."

     This illness seemed to be something of the nature of being heart
sick and weary ,possibly, because of the fact that Paul was under
arrest. Notice, he longed after you all. It appears that his love, as
Paul's, was to minister in the church at Philippi. Many believe he
might have been the head of the church there, but there is no Biblical
proof of that. Some illness is caused from exhaustion and being
homesick. This could have been the problem here, we do not know.
Whether this illness was emotional or physical, we can not say, but we
will see in the next verse, that it was a very serious illness.

     Philippians 2:27 "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God
had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should
have sorrow upon sorrow."

     We see from this verse, that God healed him. Paul is explaining
how hard it would have been on him, if Epaphroditus had died.

     Philippians 2:28 "I sent him therefore the more carefully, that,
when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less
sorrowful."

     This, in itself, makes you believe that part of his sickness was
depression over being homesick, and over seeing Paul daily in chains.
It will even make Paul feel better to know that his friend is feeling
better.

     Philippians 2:29 "Receive him therefore in the Lord with all
gladness; and hold such in reputation:"

     "To hold him in reputation" would mean that they were to show him
great respect. The Philippians would rather have seen Paul, but Paul
is saying, don't let that show when you receive him. Receive him with
joy.

     Philippians 2:30 "Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto
death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward
me."

     We see from this that Epaphroditus' illness was brought on by
overwork. His concern for Paul had been greater than his concern for
himself. Possibly, he had done without necessities for himself to give
them to Paul, because of the statement {to supply your lack of service
to me}.


















































                        Philippians 4 Questions


1.  Do all things without ________________ and _______________.
2.  A person's salvation is _________ _____ responsibility.
3.  Where is an example in the Bible, when God was angry at the people
    for their murmuring?
4.  How are Christians to be in the midst of a perverse world?
5.  Missionaries really do what?
6.  We Christians are not completely blameless and harmless, but are
    _________ __________ ___________ ____.
7.  What is the "Word of life"?
8.  What is another way to say "day of Christ"?
9.  What do we find in verse 17 that Paul believed about himself?
10. Who does Paul believe would be benefited, if he were martyred?
11. If he is martyred, Paul wants them to _____ __ ___ ___.
12. Even though Paul wanted Timothy to go, who had to send Timothy?
13. Why did Paul want Timothy to go to Philippi?
14. What is Paul speaking of, when he says Timothy is likeminded?
15. Verse 21 says, for all seek their _____.
16. What was the relationship with Paul and Timothy?
17. Serving Paul, as Timothy did, was almost as a _________.
18. Since Paul could not come to them, what was the next best thing to
    do?
19. Paul loved this church at Philippi and desired what in his heart?
20. Who did Paul send immediately to Philippi?
21. How does Paul describe him?
22. What does the word "messenger" cause the author to believe?
23. Verse 26 is probably speaking of what type of illness?
24. How sick was he?
25. What does verse 28 make you believe about his illness?
26. What does the statement, "hold such in reputation", mean?
27. Why was he nigh unto death?