Christian Unity is Detailed to the Philippians Volume 28

Paul Commends Brother Timothy to the Philippian Church Part 3

Philippians 2:23-24 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me. But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly. KJV

Even though the Apostle Paul was in the most deplorable of conditions being held in a Roman dungeon, unsure (at times) of whether he would be executed or not found his faith in our Lord Jesus Christ tested, but yet he found within himself an assurance of Christ care, concern, and comfort for him and finds it within to say to these believers at Philippi, “Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.” (Philippians 2:23) (KJV). Paul was not some in-human as some of the fictional Marvel Comic characters are described to us today in the comic books, movies, and TV shows like super-girl or the flash or super-man. Paul was a real flesh and blood man with physical strength and weakness in his physical body, but void of any spiritual strength in his inner-man, but he was redeemed by the Blood of Christ and it was Christ Blood that Paul is now drawing from to find hope in what certainly appears to be a hopeless situation. The tiny English phrase “I hope” Paul uses here embodies the essential characteristics of where he placed his focus and this phrase is translated by one Greek word elpizo meaning to anticipate, usually with pleasure; to expect or confide: to trust completely.

In other words, Paul had placed his complete confidence and trust in our Lord Jesus Christ to remove him from his current imprisonment that he might send Timothy to these believers in Philippi for the betterment and improvement of the Gospel among them and to those around them in Philippi. Paul at all times in all circumstances and at all places held this hope in our Lord Jesus always within him as he declared to the believers in Ephesus on this occasion recorded for us by Dr. Luke, “Afterward Paul remained many days longer, and then told the brethren farewell and sailed for Syria; and he was accompanied by Priscilla and Aquila. At Cenchreae he [Paul] cut his hair, for he had made a vow. Then they arrived in Ephesus, and [Paul] left the others there; but he himself entered the synagogue and discoursed {and} argued with the Jews. When they asked him to remain for a longer time, he would not consent; But when he was leaving them he said, I will return to you if God is willing, and he set sail from Ephesus.” (Acts 18:18-21) (Amplified Bible). Paul was extremely confident that the will of God would be accomplished in his life despite mistakes, mis-steps, or mis-trust in the Lord Jesus on his part and also despite what the enemy would do to him through evil and wicked men, as he is now in prison in Rome.

It was the will of God that trumped all the conditions, circumstances, or chaos that filtered in and out of Paul’s life after the encounter with Christ on the Damascus Road. Paul was certain that his second trial was fast approaching and recalling what our Lord Jesus did for him at his first trial as he documented for us in his second letter to Brother Timothy, “But the Lord stood by me and strengthened me, so that through me the [Gospel] message might be fully proclaimed and all the Gentiles might hear it. So I was delivered out of the jaws of the lion. [And indeed] the Lord will certainly deliver {and} draw me to Himself from every assault of evil. He will preserve {and} bring me safe unto His heavenly kingdom. To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen (so be it).” (2 Timothy 4:17-18) (Amplified Bible), therefore, we find him with this ‘hope’ always burning within him that despite the outward chaos, Christ Jesus our Lord would personally preserve him.

Paul felt confident that despite what happened to him, Brother Timothy would be spared by our Lord Jesus to carry on the work of the ministry and the proclamation of the Gospel of Grace in not only Philippi, but to the ends of the earth, as he (Paul) spoke of Brother Timothy in this manner to the Corinthian Church, “When Timothy arrives, see to it that [you put him at ease, so that] he may be fearless among you, for he is [devotedly] doing the Lord’s work, just as I am.” (1 Corinthians 16:10) (Amplified Bible).  Paul found himself being enabled by our Lord Jesus Christ through the power of the Holy Spirit to look away from his present situation and focus on how things were going to turn out according to the desire of his heart, therefore, he says, “But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.” (Philippians 2:24) (KJV). Paul did not just long for his freedom from the dungeon, but he also longed for his freedom to fellowship once again with these converted brothers and sisters ‘in Christ’, that believed from hearing his declaration of the Gospel of Grace and his desire was for them and not only his own personal freedom just as the Apostle John wrote with the same desire to believers he wanted to see when he said, “I have many things to write to you, but I prefer not to do so with paper and ink; I hope to come to see you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.” (2 John 1:12) (Amplified Bible).

“Paul displayed a determined reliance on our Lord Jesus Christ that many of us cannot relate to. Paul was not unrealistic, but he simply knew that nothing could ever hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of our Lord Jesus Christ for his life and we see this exactly fulfilled just as our Lord Jesus Himself spoke these words to Ananias speaking about Saul who would later be renamed Paul, “But the Lord said to him, ‘Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of Mine to bear My name before the Gentiles and kings and the descendants of Israel; For I will make clear to him how much he will be afflicted {and} must endure {and} suffer for My name’s sake.’” (Acts 9:15-16) (Amplified Bible). Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

If you do not know the Lord Jesus Christ and His amazing healing power, pray this from your heart to the Lord Jesus Christ (you speaking directly to Him), Dear Lord Jesus, I confess to You that I am a sinner and I need Your forgiveness. I believe You shed Your Blood and died for my sins. I believe that You rose from the dead proving that You alone are God. I repent of my sins. I want to turn from my sins. I ask You Dear Lord Jesus to come into my heart and take control of my life. I want You to be my Lord, Savior, and my God. Amen...


Sincerely in Christ,


Clifford D. Tate, Sr.

Author of “Silent Assassins of the Soul - Are you Broken by Pornography and Masturbation? You can be Restored by the Lord Jesus Christ and brought into Deliverance, Freedom, and Victory! A Guide for Men and Women in the Enemy’s Crosshairs” e-book available now @ Amazon Kindle, @ Apple I Bookstore for IPod, Barnes and Noble for Nook, Reader Store for Sony Reade, Kobo, Copia, Gardners, Baker and Taylor, and eBookPie…