Notes on Readings on Philippians 2:17-2517Yea, and if I be offered upon the sacrifice and service of your faith, I joy, and rejoice with you all. 18For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me. 19But 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. 20For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's. 22But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel. 23Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. 24But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. 25Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. (Philippians 2:17‑25)
In Paul, Timotheus and Epaphroditus we have contrast; these three servants of God are contrasted with the mass of those professing the Lord's Name in that day when "all were seeking their own." The first contrast with the apostle is when all were seeking their own things or interests. It was his joy to be offered in sacrifice and service to God's people. It is going to the full limit—sacrifice. In service to the saints you cannot go beyond what we have here, and it is, as we get elsewhere, laying down our lives for the brethren. That is the limit; beyond that we cannot go. "He laid down His life for us; and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren" 1 John 3:1616Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. (1 John 3:16). Paul not only did that, but rejoiced in it. He was so devoted to Christ and to the blesing of His people that he says in the 18th verse, "For the same cause also do ye joy, and rejoice with me."
Then we have the contrast of the devoted servant Timotheus: "I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state." He had the real state of God's people at heart and such an one Paul sends that he might know the state of the Philippians. All this is right at the end of the apostle's life.
In what way would that go along with 2 Timothy 1:66Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee by the putting on of my hands. (2 Timothy 1:6)? "Wherefore I put thee in remembrance that thou stir up the gift of God, which is in thee." We have often said, from the human side, 2 Timothy was written to a discouraged, downcast, disheartened but devoted servant of God. The apostle writes to stir him up and encourage him, and also to exhort and to warn. Take, for instance, the verse in the 1st chapter, "Stir up the gift"; in the 2nd chapter, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus," and the 1st verse of the 4th chapter: "I charge thee therefore before God, and the Lord Jesus Christ, who shall judge the quick and the dead at His appearing and His kingdom." He warns in view of the Lord's coming to judge the living and the dead.
It shows that a devoted soul can get under the power of evil. His very devotedness made him feel the power of evil if there is not being with the Lord about it. God is not overcome, but He feels it all. That is what the cross declares. At the cross there was the question of whether sin or grace would survive. "Where sin abounded, grace did much more abound." That is, when sin and Satan rose, grace kept on rising; it superabounded. Romans 5:2020Moreover the law entered, that the offence might abound. But where sin abounded, grace did much more abound: (Romans 5:20).
"I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state ... but ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel." Perhaps the apostle had known Timothy twenty years at this time.
Consider Elijah. Some of us think Elijah was a servant who was overcome with evil because of what we have recorded of him in Romans 11: "How he maketh intercession to God against Israel"—against instead of for. He was a devoted man and an honored servant.
"Overcome evil with good" means to rise above it and overcome it.
This takes us back in thought to Haggai 1: "Thus speaketh the Lord of hosts, saying, This people say, the time is not come, the time that the Lord's house should be built. Then came the word of the Lord by Haggai the prophet saying, Is it time for you, O ye, to dwell in your celled houses, and this house lie waste?" There was the principle. "All seek their own." God's interests were forgotten.O, they say, the time has not come to take care of that, but God took notice of the kinds of houses they lived in, celled houses, and called their attention to it.
"Likeminded" is a state. There is also a word at the end of 2 Corinthians 11:20-2820For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. 21I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. 22Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. 23Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. 24Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. 25Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; 26In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; 27In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. 28Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. (2 Corinthians 11:20‑28): all those sufferings he had and then the 28th verse: "besides those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches." What does he follow that with? "Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is offended, and I burn not?" He entered into the circumstances of the saints. That was really more than all those outward sufferings he had been speaking of. All that kind of outward suffering, in a certain way, the flesh can glory in, but when it comes to entering into the state of and care of the church of God, that is another thing. That was daily with the apostle, a continual thing.
Moses shunned that, did he not, when he asked to be relieved of it in Numbers 11? Prior to that he had stood for Israel. That is a remarkable thing; he got his eye off God and on the people. "Kill me, I pray Thee, out of hand,...and let me not see my wretchedness." That is a remarkable instance in that way. Numbers 11:11-1511And Moses said unto the Lord, Wherefore hast thou afflicted thy servant? and wherefore have I not found favor in thy sight, that thou layest the burden of all this people upon me? 12Have I conceived all this people? have I begotten them, that thou shouldest say unto me, Carry them in thy bosom, as a nursing father beareth the sucking child, unto the land which thou swarest unto their fathers? 13Whence should I have flesh to give unto all this people? for they weep unto me, saying, Give us flesh, that we may eat. 14I am not able to bear all this people alone, because it is too heavy for me. 15And if thou deal thus with me, kill me, I pray thee, out of hand, if I have found favor in thy sight; and let me not see my wretchedness. (Numbers 11:11‑15): God is not mentioned once! It is "I," "me" and the evil of the people and God's thoughtlessness! He had not taken His servant into consideration and had laid all this burden upon him! He was occupied with himself, but not in the same way as Elijah who said, "And I am left alone and they seek my life." In other words, he was the only man who feared God! God said, that is not so at all; there are seven thousand men who have not bowed the knee to Baal. Obadiah hid one hundred of the Lord's prophets and sustained them.
God does not record this incident of Moses in Hebrews 11. That was not faith, and He was talking about faith there. Notice what is given about Abraham: "Abraham, when he was called to go out into a place which he should after receive for an inheritance, obeyed." It is just as though he obeyed immediately, on the spot. Actually that was not the case. Abraham did not make the first move; it was his father who did, and "when his father was dead, he removed into this land." Think of that crooked life of Jacob's but we get nothing of that in Hebrews 11.
It is very touching to see how Moses did enter into the afflictions of the people on another occasion. "If Thou wilt forgive their sin—; and if not, blot me, I pray Thee, out of Thy book" Exodus 32:3232Yet now, if thou wilt forgive their sin; and if not, blot me, I pray thee, out of thy book which thou hast written. (Exodus 32:32). That was well- pleasing to God. That is referred to in the 3rd of Hebrews: "As also Moses was faithful in all his house."
"All seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's." That is a very solemn word: "All they which are in Asia be turned away from me." They had not ceased to be Christians, but Paul was going on in the proper Christian path, like a runner in a race. They had turned away from him in that sense. It does not say they had turned away from the truth, but "from me."
The epistle does not show that he is discouraged. He had his eye on Christ, pressing toward the mark. He felt things deeply but did not get under the power of them. Consider Acts 20:28-3828Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. 29For I know this, that after my departing shall grievous wolves enter in among you, not sparing the flock. 30Also of your own selves shall men arise, speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. 31Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of three years I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears. 32And now, brethren, I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, which is able to build you up, and to give you an inheritance among all them which are sanctified. 33I have coveted no man's silver, or gold, or apparel. 34Yea, ye yourselves know, that these hands have ministered unto my necessities, and to them that were with me. 35I have showed you all things, how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive. 36And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. 37And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul's neck, and kissed him, 38Sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship. (Acts 20:28‑38), and 2 Corinthians 2:44For out of much affliction and anguish of heart I wrote unto you with many tears; not that ye should be grieved, but that ye might know the love which I have more abundantly unto you. (2 Corinthians 2:4) where Paul writes of shedding "many tears" and suffering "anguish of heart." In Philippians 4:1111Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned, in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content. (Philippians 4:11) he writes, "I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content," and in 4:13, "I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me."
Trouble in the meeting is a serious trial. If it is in the family or if it is business trouble, you can keep it to yourself; but when it is in the meeting you cannot do it.
Paul's heart was deeply wrapped up in those saints, and they had neglected ministering to him; he felt that. "Not that I desire a gift," but as perhaps telling out their forgetfulness of him; he felt it.
But now when Epaphroditus came and brought this, he rejoiced that their care of him had flourished again. "Wherein ye were also careful, but ye lacked opportunity" Phil. 4:1414Notwithstanding ye have well done, that ye did communicate with my affliction. (Philippians 4:14). He softens it, takes the edge off by saying, "ye lacked opportunity." That is, there was no one to take it. It was a long way from Philippi to Rome and at last Epaphroditus said he would take it. It is one thing to take a ten dollar bill or note and send or give it, but to go and take it is quite another thing. It almost cost Epaphroditus his life. It was a part of the work. "For the work of Christ he was nigh unto death." Taking that journey nearly cost him his life, "but God had mercy on him and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow."
What a combination of Christian experience: not only these Philippians but look at 1 Thess. 3:11Wherefore when we could no longer forbear, we thought it good to be left at Athens alone; (1 Thessalonians 3:1). So great was his anxiety about those who were passing through trial. Were they standing, or were they giving way? So he sends to find out, verses 6-8.
When the Lord gave converts to the apostle, he did not rest content. It was not enough to know that they had eternal life and would never perish. He wanted them to go on. He knew that in a certain sense he was responsible to lead them on. He would "present every man perfect in Christ Jesus" Col. 1:2828Whom we preach, warning every man, and teaching every man in all wisdom; that we may present every man perfect in Christ Jesus: (Colossians 1:28)—not merely saved but in his proper place with respect to the mystery of the church.
In our day there is so much about merely getting people saved. What is uppermost now before the mind is not God's glory in man's salvation. It is the joy of the sheep being found instead of the joy of the Great Shepherd in finding the sheep, joy of the soul being saved rather than God's joy in saving it.
Why do we not have the saints more on our hearts in the way that the apostle did? The 21st verse would be the answer. Communion with God leads one to care for the objects of His care down here. "Lovest thou Me?" "Feed My sheep." That is the highest order of service the Lord has given to anyone down here on earth. If God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.
Mr. Kelly made a remark: God never for a moment allows independency in the saints one of another. "We are members one of another."