Nail and Flesh

BIBLE STUDY #799 CHURCH IN THE HOUSES From: JANUARY 21- 27, 2014 Topic: “Nail and Flesh” Philippians 2:19-22

This is the marvelous of Paul, who lived in the reality of life. He didn’t live in much fantasy but rather in sincerity. The apostle wanted to have news of how the brothers in the Greek City of Philippi were doing. Also, he wanted them to have news of him. For this he would send his companion and brother most trustworthy, he would send his disciple Timothy. The Lord seeks that you also be as Timothy. This duty of Paul of sending Timothy to see the brothers of Philippi was not something simple, it wasn’t only that he was sent to go and see them and give a report of how were they, rather he goes further more of merely observing or asking. It is to go there and do it but having the same heart and the same feeling as Paul had in God and with God. It had to be someone who would be very realistic and that would be attentive of all of God in those brothers, it has to be someone who had not fallen by the problems of life, that doesn’t beat himself up. It is someone who has matured in order to face such mission, that requires much of the Lord; someone spiritual, disinterested in himself and without repairs and with sincere disposition to do and comply with the task of the great God. Paul could not go to that city, well he was in jail; therefore, he would send Timothy. It wasn’t an order what Timothy had to realize, it was to arrive at Philippi and be there with the brothers in the same way as Paul would do this, with a heart as the apostle. Paul didn’t have any other brother or companion of ministry THAT WOULD BE SO IN ACCORDANCE WITH HIM IN EVERYTHING. There are not many details that we can find here about Timothy, but the information of his service with Paul is an evidence of the great fidelity of this disciple, without any doubt or misunderstanding. It was during the Apostle Paul’s second missionary trip where he discovered Timothy and saw in him the qualities that demonstrated his usefulness in the service of Jesus Christ. Since that moment, Paul and Timothy were NAIL AND FLESH. Paul referred to Timothy as his son in the Lord, beloved and faithfully. (1 Corinthian 4:17 “For this reason I am sending to you Timothy, my son whom I love, who is faithful in the Lord. He will remind you of my way of life in Christ Jesus, which agrees with what I teach everywhere in every church.”) Just imagine, Timothy accomplished to write besides Paul no less than five letters (epistles). The great utility of Timothy was that whenever Paul wanted information regarding a church or to send advice, courage, or reprimand, and he couldn’t go in person, he sent him. That is how Timothy was sent to Thessalonian (1 Thessalonians 3:6), to Corinth (1 Corinthians 4:17, 16 y 10) and to Philippi. It was so much the similarity of character, in heart and purposes of Timothy with these of the Apostle Paul that he also was imprisoned for Christ’s cause. (Hebrews 13:23 “I want you to know that our brother Timothy has been released. If he arrives soon, I will come with him to see you.”) The great value of Timothy was that he was always willing to go to any place and in his hands a message was so secure as if Paul himself took it. Others could be preys of their self-ambition, but Timothy wanted no more but to serve Paul and Jesus Christ. Glory to God. The way of working of Timothy is the holy pattern of all those who are happy with occupying “A SECOND PLACE” so that they can be allowed to render a service (Vs. 21). Paul saw in Timothy someone who had the same soul, same feelings, same disposition of courage and same mentality as him (Vs. 20). If Paul would’ve had a substitute just as Timothy, he could have planned to send such person and retain Timothy by his side. It is that there was no one else whom he could send with the same confidence as Timothy. Others would have remained absorbed in the ocean of their own matters, looking out after their own private interests. And others would have remained so concentrated in caring about this life they would not have had time for Jesus Christ. That’s how it occurs in this small world of homes, refrigerators, TV and so many things. “For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.” Paul regrets not finding in others sufficient love towards Christ to undertake the long and distressing trip in favor of the Philippians. A difficult journey with struggles and fatigues, that was probably what caused the mortal illness of Epaphroditus (Vs.25-27). Many want to teach according to what they have wanted to live and not according to the gospel Christ left. My brother, you cannot commit to God in your way, or your style, or at your convenience, not according to you, “I”! We can see the value, interests, utility and all the merits that as a son to a father Timothy had shown together with Paul in the work of preaching the gospel. The other brothers weren’t so abnegated. One can be like this when there is a disposition in the heart to lose fame and worldly income. Fine linen stands for the righteous acts of the saints, says Revelation 19:8. The righteous acts are the things that are done or fulfilled according to God’s law. They adjust to God’s law. Those righteous acts are proper of a person who is sincere and blameless. They are those that if the Bible says we have to obey, well we obey; that we have to love, well we love; if it says there can’t be jealousy in your life, well there isn’t jealousy. Like Timothy, one has to be capable of acknowledging God’s mind to know how to behave and in this way be able to be clothed with fine linen. I don’t know what you struggle for here, but if something should worry you it is how you are dressing for the wedding of the Lamb. You will appear just as you have lived here on earth, just as you dressed here, that’s how your reward will be. Let us seek, just as Timothy did, the perfect union with Him in His sanctity, joy, glory and reign. The church will be resuscitated, transfigured and moved, later it will reign over the earth with Christ; that is also the earthly bride. It is the Lord who will let them dress with fine linen. It is your character that will form the dress you will have for the wedding. That holy and clear nature of yours to live for your God who called you and wants to dress you with wonderful deeds, that at the end will work for the good of your salvation. That behavior of yours, disinterested in this world, correct and righteous towards the things that God called you to serve Him will be what will dress you with fine linen. How have you formed your new character after converting? Do you continue like before? The fine linen is your righteous acts that you have lived in what God has commanded you to do. Let us be like Timothy and willing to do the righteous and pleasing to the Lord for when He comes. Amen.