Sent To Take Care Of My Needs

Philippians 2:18-27 - So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. 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 that 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. 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 distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed 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.

Philippians 4:18 - I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.

Philippians 1:21,23-24 - For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain…I am torn between the two: I desire to depart and be with Christ, which is better by far; but it is more necessary for you that I remain in the body.

Conclusions:

• The Old Testament background is the sacrifice, not of atonement for sin, but of thanksgiving and praise
• The sacrifice is acceptable and pleasing to God because of Christ’s work for us and God’s work in us
• Christ was the source and secret of Paul’s continual joy, for Paul’s life found all it’s meaning in Christ
• The gain brought by death is being with Christ; so that here Paul is saying that his ultimate concern and most precious possession, both now and forever, is Christ and his relationship to Him
• Being with Christ after death must involve some kind of conscious presence and fellowship

Application:

• Are your sacrifices acceptable and pleasing to God?
• Is your ultimate concern and most precious possession Christ and your relationship to Him?
• Do you desire to depart and be with Christ?

All Scripture Verses taken from NIV

Conclusions derived from NIV Study Bible