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"A Life Worth Living" Sermon Series
Rev Philip Rowe
5. NEW FRIENDSHIPS
| Philippians 2:19-30 | 'I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare' (v20) |
A good friend is a positive asset in building a community of wholeness with Christ at the centre.
What makes a person a good friend? A Christian who is useful to others? Timothy is an example of a good Christian friend.
(Timothy means honourer of God.) His mother was a Christian who taught him the Bible from an early age. He accompanied Paul on his second missionary journey. He became a Church leader in Ephesus.
Paul hopes to send Timothy to them as a blessing. He says 3 things about him to back this up.
1. Care for other Christians
'I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare' (v20)
No-one like him is a tribute of high praise.
He is concerned for their well being. A selfless altruistic spirit.
Genuinely = naturally, as if possessed by birthright. It is not forced or artificial. It was part of his born again nature.
That is why we started with 'New heart' - hopeless relying on self-effort, need the indwelling power of God.
2. Content with his role
'But Timothy's worth you know, how like a son with a father he worked with me in the work of the Gospel' (v22)
Two aspects to this:
His 'worth you know'. Through the hard school of missionary travels and ministry Timothy has stood the test, he has publicly shown his character and worthiness.
'Like a son with a father' - Timothy is willing to have a subordinate place, to be second in command.
'Worked' means 'served as a slave.
He never usurped the position God had given him.
He was not jealous which causes strife.
3. Christ centred
'All of them are seeking their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ' (v21)
The general run of people put themselves first, and not seek to serve Jesus.
It is rare to find a man like Timothy who will make a long tiring journey to assist others, when he was young (1 Tim 5:23) and physically weak (1 Tim 5:23). What is his motivation - to serve Jesus Christ. In particular this is:
'He worked with me in the work of the gospel' (v22)
He particularly focused on spreading the message, the work of evangelism, spreading the gospel to unbelievers.
As Christians, we need to make the 'main thing' the 'main thing', not simply form a secular goodwill society.
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