LIKE-MINDED IN CARE
Posted by Pastor Greg Allen on March 5, 2025 under AM Bible Study |
AM Bible Study Group: March 5, 2025 from Philippians 2:19-24
Theme: A ‘shared-care’ for the cause of Christ in ministry is a blessing to the whole body.
(All Scripture is taken from The New King James Version, unless otherwise indicated).
Paul couldn’t do it all—even though he was very clearly willing to give his all.
He was very concerned for the spiritual care of his brothers and sisters in Christ in Philippi. And he made it clear that—even though he was suffering in prison for the cause of Christ on their behalf—he was willing and glad to be ‘poured out’ for them in order to advance their faith. In Philippians 2:17-18, he told his beloved brothers and sisters;
Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me (Philippians 2:17-18).
Being ‘poured out’ in the service of their faith—a picture, as we saw in our last study, that was drawn from the Old Testament command to pour out a drink offering as a final touch on the sacrifices that were offered upon the altar—was a very real potential for Paul. He was sitting in prison awaiting the verdict of Nero as to what would happen to him. For him to be shut up in a Roman prison—as a Roman citizen—would have meant that he was in a very grave situation indeed. But he was glad to suffer for the Philippian believers, and even to die for them, if it would mean that they themselves would be strengthened in their faith, and enabled to shine as lights for the gospel in their generation—faithfully lifting up the word of life to those around them.
But even though he himself couldn’t be with them right then, there were other trusted co-laborers in the gospel who could. And so, he goes on in verses 19-30 to mention two others who demonstrated a willingness—like him—to be ‘poured out’ for the advancement of the church body. The first was someone that he was hoping to send to them soon. In verses 19-24, he wrote,
But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly (vv. 19-24).
It was uncertain whether Timothy would be coming—though it was clearly Paul’s desire before the Lord that he would. But the second trusted co-worker was someone who was with them even as they read the letter, because he himself had brought it to them. In verses 25-30, Paul wrote,
Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me (vv. 25-30).
The ministries of these two co-workers from Paul were quite a bit different from one another. The ministry of Timothy would have been largely that of a teacher and a shepherd who would faithfully minister the doctrinal and pastoral work of Paul to his brothers and sisters in Philippi in his place. Timothy had joined the ministry team of Paul just shortly before Paul’s ministry in Philippi (see Acts 16:1-5); and so, the Philippian believers would certainly have known about him—even if it may not have been that Timothy had been present with them yet. They knew of Timothy so well, in fact, that Paul’s letter to them was announced at the beginning as being co-authored with Timothy (see v. 1:1). The labors of Epaphroditus as Paul’s co-worker, however, would have been largely that of practical ministry. He physically ministered to Paul on their behalf, and he ministered to the Philippians on Paul’s behalf.
Both Timothy and Epaphroditus ministered differently, though, in very sacrificial ways—illustrating the variety of what it meant to be poured out as a drink offering upon the sacrifice and service of the faith of the Philippians. In this study, let’s look in verses 19-24 at the example Paul gives of Timothy’s service. He shows us how a ‘shared-care’ for the cause of Christ in ministry is a blessing to the body.
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First, notice …
1. WHO PAUL’S CO-MINISTER WAS (v. 19).
In verse 19, Paul wrote, “But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state.”
We first find Timothy in Acts 16. When Paul and Silas came to Derbe and Lystra on Paul’s second missionary journey, we’re told that they met a certain disciple named Timothy; “the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek” (Act 16:1). It must be that Paul had led Timothy to the Lord sometime prior to then, because Paul referred to him several times as his ‘son’—that is, as “a true son in the faith” (1 Timothy 1:2).
Timothy had been raised by a godly mother named Eunice and a godly grandmother named Lois (2 Timothy 1:5); and they apparently made sure that he knew the Scriptures from a very early age (2 Timothy 3:15). At some point along the way, after Timothy came to know the Lord, Paul saw great potential in him for ministry. Timothy was also well-spoken of by the churches of Lystra and Iconium. And so, Paul took him and circumcised him (because much of Paul’s ministry involved presenting the gospel first to the Jews), and Timothy became a part of Paul’s missionary and ministry team. It seems very evident that Paul played a significant part in Timothy’s appointment to ministry; because we’re told that Paul reminded him to “stir up the gift of God which is in you through the laying on of my hands” (2 Timothy 1:6); and spoke of the prophecies that were made concerning Timothy’s ministry (1 Timothy 1:18) and of the way that “the eldership” laid hands upon him (1 Timothy 4:14).
Timothy was a very fit co-minister with Paul, because Paul had personally mentored him. He told him in 2 Timothy 1:13,
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 1:13);
and also reminded him in 2 Timothy 3:10-11;
But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra—what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me (2 Timothy 3:10-11).
All of this meant that Timothy was very qualified to be a faithful representative of Paul to the believers with whom he himself couldn’t be personally. As he was once able to tell the Corinthian believers in 1 Corinthians 4:17;
Therefore I urge you, imitate me. For this reason I have sent Timothy to you, who is my beloved and faithful son in the Lord, who will remind you of my ways in Christ, as I teach everywhere in every church (1 Corinthians 4:16-17).
Paul said to the Philippians, then, that—though he himself couldn’t be with them right then—he trusted in the Lord that he would soon be able to send Timothy to them. And notice why he wanted to send Timothy. It was so that he could be “encouraged” when he learned of their condition during their time of trial from the lips of his trustworthy co-minister Timothy.
It’s a real blessing to someone in ministry to be able to have someone else who can minister in their place—someone who is reliable and will rightly represent the Lord’s teaching and instruction to the people of God. And what’s more, it’s a real blessing to hear back from that co-minister a trustworthy report of the spiritual condition of those beloved believers.
That leads us, then, to consider …
2. WHAT PAUL’S CO-MINISTER’S QUALITIES WERE (20-22).
First of all, we see that Timothy was truly ‘like-minded’ with Paul. He believed as Paul believed, and taught as Paul taught, and even had the sacrificial willingness to be ‘poured out’ on behalf of the Philippians as Paul was willing to be. We know this by the fact that Paul said he had no one else who shared his own sacrificial commitments. As he said in verse 20, “For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.”
It wasn’t that Timothy merely echoed the teaching and instruction of Paul accurately—as important as that was. But more, Timothy shared Paul’s deep love for the people themselves. He truly cared for their spiritual condition as Paul did. In fact, Paul could be confident that if he actually had to lay down his life in the work of ministry, Timothy would carry that ministry on to his beloved fellow believers in Philippi. The ‘baton’ of the Lord’s work wouldn’t be left on the ground, but would be faithfully picked up by Timothy. What a precious thing it was to Paul to have someone that is that ‘like-minded’ with him.
Second, we see that Timothy was truly self-sacrificial in his service with Paul. He knew that Timothy would lay down his life for the cause of Christ—just as Paul was prepared to do. He said in verse 21, “For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus.” It was sometimes a great heartache to Paul that some would begin to minister with him, but would later forsake the ministry for the things of this world. As he wrote to Timothy at the end of his second letter;
Be diligent to come to me quickly; for Demas has forsaken me, having loved this present world, and has departed for Thessalonica—Crescens for Galatia, Titus for Dalmatia (2 Timothy 4:9-10).
But Timothy was a man he could trust to be willing to sacrifice his connection to the things of this world—not seeking ‘his own’ but seeking ‘the things of Christ’. He knew that if he sent Timothy to minister in his place, that ministry would not be side-tracked or somehow set aside for the fading things of this world. What a precious blessing it must have been to Paul—a man prepared to be ‘poured out’ in his service to Christ—to know he had a faithful colleague who was also prepared to be ‘poured out’ for the Lord.
And thirdly, we see that Timothy was truly a proven minister with Paul. Timothy had a reputation of faithful sacrifice and service—both as a teacher and as a missionary—that was well-known in the body of Christ. As he said in verse 22, “But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel.”
All those years of close association with Paul—all those times of suffering with Paul in the hardships of ministry—all those times of being mentored by Paul as a father would teach his own son and as a son would learn at the feet of his father—had rubbed off on Timothy. Paul truly loved him like a son, and Timothy truly loved Paul like a father. And so, Paul was once able to write to the Corinthian believers and say;
And if Timothy comes, see that he may be with you without fear; for he does the work of the Lord, as I also do. Therefore let no one despise him. But send him on his journey in peace, that he may come to me; for I am waiting for him with the brethren (1 Corinthians 16:10-11).
When someone can be like Timothy was to Paul—a trusted co-worker who is truly ‘like-minded in the commitment of love to God’s people, truly self-sacrificial in service, and truly tried and tested and proven in character—what a blessing that is to those they minister under.
And what’s more, what a blessing they are to those they minister to! Paul’s closing words in this passage show us …
3. HOW PAUL’S CO-MINISTER BLESSED THE BODY (vv. 23-24).
Paul wrote to the Philippians in verse 23 and said, “Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me.” The word “therefore” is important. It indicates to us that because of these outstanding qualities in Timothy, Paul felt confident that he could send Timothy in his place … and that Timothy would faithfully minister to the Philippians as Paul himself would. Paul didn’t know for sure what would happen to him in his imprisonment. But he knew that if he couldn’t be with them, they would still be strengthened and blessed by Timothy.
And this also enabled Paul to say in verse 24, “But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.” He was able to confidently leave the matter in the Lord’s hand; knowing that if he were allowed to come to them, he would come to a people who had been strengthened in the Lord by his trusted fellow-worker and ‘son in the faith’.
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Now; not all of us—of course—can have the ministry that Paul had. And not all of us will even have the kind of ministry that Timothy had under Paul. But all of us are sent forth to minister in the name of the Lord in some way—and most likely under the tutelage and mentorship of someone else whose ministry we support.
Let’s learn then—in whatever situation God places us—to minister by being a like-minded co-laborer as Timothy was to Paul. Because a genuine ‘shared-care’ for the cause of Christ in the ministry of God’s people is truly a blessing to the whole body.
4. WHAT HE WANTED HIS FRIENDS TO DO ABOUT IT (v. 18).
He knew that they had been concerned over the things he was suffering for them. At the beginning of his letter, he sought to assure them that the things he was suffering were falling out for the advancement of the gospel. And so, he wanted them to rejoice, too. He told them in verse 18, “For the same reason”—that is, for the fact that he may be called upon to be ‘poured out’ as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of their faith in Jesus—“you also be glad and rejoice with me.”
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As this passage shows us, we must not measure the things we may suffer in terms of life on this earth only. And this is because everything that we’re called upon to endure is purposeful under the controlling hand of our mighty heavenly Father. He even uses the suffering of one brother or sister to help advance the faith of another. He allows us to be the kind of encouraging example of steadfastness and commitment that Paul was to his brothers and sisters in Philippi; so that they too will stand strong in the faith and receive a full reward—and that we may thus all rejoice eternally together!
May God help us, then, to be willing to be ‘poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service’ of one another’s faith in Jesus. For to ‘pour out’ our lives for the advancement of the faith of one another is truly the greatest and most eternal investment in the ultimate joy that any of us can make.
AE
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