Examples!

In our culture today, it is very hard to find true heroes. In our world, the media scrutinizes every public figure we have, so a good example can be hard to find.

In Philippians 2:19-30 Paul shares two examples of good role models for followers of Jesus.

The cool thing about these two examples is that they were ordinary people. We tend to think that God only uses extremely talented and gifted people.

The truth is, God uses ordinary people. One of the great gifts that God has given me is the gift of being ordinary. The reasons God enjoys using ordinary people are:

It glorifies Him

It turns man’s reason upside down

Philippians 2:19-24

I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. But you know Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

The first example Paul uses is Timothy.

Timothy had a servant’s mind.

Timothy cared for people. He was concerned about their needs. He was genuinely interested in their physical and spiritual welfare.

Timothy reflected the character of Jesus in his love and concern for others.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is loving others.

Timothy had a servant’s training.

Paul discipled Timothy and help him to grow in his knowledge and understanding of the person and word of God. He had trained him in how to serve God by serving others.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is allowing God to use others to grow you in your relationship to God and your service with God.

Timothy had a servant’s rewards.

Timothy had a joy. His joy came in serving.

Timothy served God.

Timothy served others.

Timothy served Paul.

Serving should be a joy, not a burden or a duty.

The reward was the joy Timothy had in doing what God calls us to do – serving.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is serving others with joy.

Philippians 2:25-30

But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. For he longs for all of you and is destressed because you heard he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.

Epaphroditus, unlike Timothy, was a full Gentile. He risked his health and life to carry the missionary offering to Paul.

Epaphroditus was a balanced Christian.

He is referred to by Paul as:

My Brother

My Fellow Worker

My Fellow Soldier

Balance in the Christian life is important.

Balance means that we are:

Focused on the Main Thing

Not too Far to One Side or the Other

Not Majoring on Minors

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is being balanced in following Jesus.

Epaphroditus was a burdened Christian.

Epaphroditus was concerned for others:

His Church and City

Fellow Christians

Paul

Epaphroditus knew the meaning of sacrifice and service.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is hurting over what Jesus hurts over.

Epaphroditus was a blessed Christian.

When we say that someone is blessed, we usually mean that person has received some kind of blessing.

Epaphroditus was being a blessing to others.

He was a blessing to:

Paul

His Faith Family

Us Today

The phrase “God bless America” needs to be changed to “America bless God.”

The focus of Epaphroditus was for his life to be a blessing to others.

Raise the Roof and Remove the Walls is to be a blessing to others.

We need good examples of what it means to follow Jesus. Timothy and Epaphroditus are good examples of what it means to follow Jesus.

God has called us to be good examples. He wants us to show the world what it means to follow Jesus.

As Examples of Following Jesus, Raising the Roof and Removing the Walls

                                                   Joe