OUR FATHER WHO WORKS IN US TO WILL AND TO DO FOR HIS GOOD PLEASURE

In the second chapter of his letter to the Phillippians, from verse 12 - verse 30, the Apostle Paul advised the Phillipians to the continue earnestly in their own personal journeys of salvation even though he was not with them any more.  

Paul advises them to exliminate complaining and disputing from their midst so that they would develop into faultless children of God as they live among crooked and perverse people to whom the light of their lives is meant to illuminate.

Paulˋs urgency towards the Phillippians that they hold fast to the word of life was because  he had laboured so hard to cultivate the faith in them and he did not want to reach the day of the revealing of Christ and find that all his work had been in vain. Paul describes his life as a drink offering that the Lord was pouring out as a sacrifice on the service and faith of the believers. 

What is meant by the image of the libation (the book of Numbers chapter 15 verses 1 - 10) is a sacrifice of a ram or a cow would be accompanied by an amount of wine as a drink offering. The service and sacrifice of the lives of the believers were the main sacrifice and Paulˋs life being poured out on top of the sacrifice was the drink offering added on top.

12 Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling; 13 for it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure.

14 Do all things without complaining and disputing, 15 that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, 16 holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain.

17 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. 18 For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice with me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly.

25 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; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 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. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 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.

Paul writes to the Phillippians about two servants of God they were depending on to convey messages and assistance between them named Timothy and  Epaphroditus. 

Paul commends Timothy to them as a trusted fellow servant in the service of the gospel and Epaphroditus as a fellow worker who risked his life to asist Paul and he tells the Phillippians to esteem such men in their midst who sacrificially live to benefit the brethren.

Amen.

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