WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:04.700 Who are some of your role models? 00:00:05.900 --> 00:00:07.000 Think about it. 00:00:08.359 --> 00:00:12.220 Who are some of your role models? 00:00:13.700 --> 00:00:16.019 Now, obviously, children and teenagers, 00:00:16.500 --> 00:00:21.379 they need good role models to show them what it means to be 00:00:21.379 --> 00:00:25.500 what? A loving husband, 00:00:26.219 --> 00:00:27.320 a loving wife. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:34.179 A loving father or mother. 00:00:36.060 --> 00:00:38.960 In this church, young people, teenagers, children, 00:00:39.060 --> 00:00:42.719 they need to see and have good role models for what it means to be a 00:00:42.719 --> 00:00:46.000 faithful and active Christian church member. 00:00:46.679 --> 00:00:48.700 Outside, in this community, 00:00:48.700 --> 00:00:54.039 our children, young people, they need to have good, 00:00:54.179 --> 00:00:58.260 healthy role models to show them what it looks like to make a 00:00:58.259 --> 00:01:01.659 positive contribution to the community. 00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:04.659 But don't we as adults, 00:01:05.439 --> 00:01:12.319 don't we need role models to help us prepare for the next stage of our 00:01:12.319 --> 00:01:13.159 life? 00:01:13.719 --> 00:01:14.739 That's before us. 00:01:14.739 --> 00:01:21.919 At various stages, as adults, we need good role models. 00:01:23.379 --> 00:01:27.219 You know, some of you may be in your 30s. 00:01:28.179 --> 00:01:32.299 You may need to look for some good role models that show you, 00:01:32.299 --> 00:01:38.399 I can survive the teenage years and keep my sanity. 00:01:39.359 --> 00:01:39.959 Right? 00:01:41.759 --> 00:01:43.219 Because sometimes you wonder. 00:01:44.060 --> 00:01:47.099 Some of you may be in your 40s, maybe 50s. 00:01:47.640 --> 00:01:54.159 You need some good, healthy role models to show you how to be the good in-law 00:01:54.159 --> 00:01:57.659 or the helpful grandparent. 00:01:57.659 --> 00:02:08.259 You know, I have seen good role models in this church for how to be concerned about 00:02:08.259 --> 00:02:18.219 and take care of aging parents and a spouse that is going through declining health. 00:02:18.219 --> 00:02:24.099 We need role models for how to be good old people. 00:02:25.219 --> 00:02:26.139 I'm serious. 00:02:26.400 --> 00:02:31.120 Ellen Brown back there, she is a great role model for how to be an old person. 00:02:32.219 --> 00:02:35.719 She's old as the hills, but she's happy. 00:02:36.079 --> 00:02:36.960 She's positive. 00:02:37.879 --> 00:02:41.639 And if, I wouldn't be surprised she didn't stand up and give it back to me. 00:02:43.120 --> 00:02:46.879 That's the kind of old person I want to be when I'm 110 like her. 00:02:46.879 --> 00:02:54.799 Now, role models, I'm trying to, I'm serious now. 00:02:55.359 --> 00:03:00.919 Role models are important throughout our lives if you just think about it this way. 00:03:01.799 --> 00:03:04.419 And role models are important for us as Christians. 00:03:05.079 --> 00:03:11.079 That's why Paul, we're going to be in Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse 19. 00:03:11.080 --> 00:03:19.500 Paul seems to interrupt his flow of thought about how to live a faithful Christian life 00:03:19.500 --> 00:03:26.500 by pointing out some things about Timothy and Epaphroditus. 00:03:27.180 --> 00:03:30.480 But what we're going to say this morning is it's not an interruption. 00:03:30.479 --> 00:03:41.379 Paul is being intentional in pointing out two role models for all Christians 00:03:41.379 --> 00:03:44.959 when it comes to living a faithful Christian life. 00:03:45.679 --> 00:03:49.899 Now, Pastor Kent Hughes in his commentary on Philippians, 00:03:50.459 --> 00:03:54.739 he clearly shows this is Paul's intention. 00:03:54.740 --> 00:03:57.280 What we're going to read this morning is not an interruption. 00:03:58.120 --> 00:03:59.219 It's not a change of subject. 00:03:59.820 --> 00:04:00.820 It's a flow. 00:04:01.680 --> 00:04:02.659 Hughes says this, 00:04:03.060 --> 00:04:07.120 The Apostle Paul's brief references to Timothy and then Epaphroditus 00:04:07.120 --> 00:04:10.020 here in Philippians are not casual, 00:04:10.760 --> 00:04:13.360 but rather are meant to capture our attention 00:04:13.360 --> 00:04:16.600 and top off Paul's train of thought 00:04:16.600 --> 00:04:18.740 that began in chapter 1 verse 27, 00:04:19.160 --> 00:04:22.360 Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ. 00:04:22.360 --> 00:04:24.360 Now in verses 19 through 30, 00:04:24.920 --> 00:04:29.560 Paul gives flesh and blood examples of the selfless conduct 00:04:29.560 --> 00:04:32.080 to which he is calling the Philippian church. 00:04:32.480 --> 00:04:36.420 Here are men who live lives worthy of the gospel. 00:04:37.160 --> 00:04:38.139 Let's read about them. 00:04:39.060 --> 00:04:41.980 We're in Philippians chapter 2 beginning in verse 19. 00:04:42.980 --> 00:04:46.520 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon 00:04:46.520 --> 00:04:50.240 so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.579 For I have no one like him 00:04:52.579 --> 00:04:58.379 who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:04:59.460 --> 00:05:02.160 For they all seek their own interests, 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:04.860 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:05:05.420 --> 00:05:07.699 But you know Timothy's proven worth. 00:05:08.319 --> 00:05:10.480 How as a son with a father, 00:05:11.019 --> 00:05:13.420 he has served with me in the gospel. 00:05:13.420 --> 00:05:17.259 I hope therefore to send him just as soon 00:05:17.259 --> 00:05:20.259 as I see how it will go with me. 00:05:20.620 --> 00:05:24.400 And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 00:05:26.040 --> 00:05:29.280 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, 00:05:29.879 --> 00:05:33.700 my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier 00:05:33.700 --> 00:05:38.700 and your messenger and minister to my need. 00:05:38.699 --> 00:05:41.560 For he has been longing for you all 00:05:41.560 --> 00:05:44.620 and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:05:45.019 --> 00:05:47.319 Indeed he was ill, near to death. 00:05:47.899 --> 00:05:49.259 But God had mercy on him. 00:05:49.519 --> 00:05:51.480 And not only on him but also on me, 00:05:52.079 --> 00:05:54.339 lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:05:55.180 --> 00:05:57.579 I am the more eager to send him therefore, 00:05:58.060 --> 00:06:00.300 that you may rejoice at seeing him again 00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:02.639 and that I may be less anxious. 00:06:02.639 --> 00:06:05.699 So receive him and the Lord with all joy 00:06:05.699 --> 00:06:08.379 and honor such men. 00:06:08.979 --> 00:06:11.639 For he nearly died for the work of Christ, 00:06:12.300 --> 00:06:14.099 risking his life to complete 00:06:14.099 --> 00:06:16.399 what was lacking in your service. 00:06:17.680 --> 00:06:20.159 Paul is explaining his plan. 00:06:21.479 --> 00:06:25.259 As soon as I can, I'm gonna send Timothy to you. 00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:29.139 But now I'm gonna send Epaphroditus. 00:06:29.139 --> 00:06:32.079 Now what I want us to see is, 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:37.339 this is a lot more than him explaining travel plans. 00:06:38.439 --> 00:06:40.219 He's holding these men up as role models 00:06:40.219 --> 00:06:43.240 for every Christian who wants to live 00:06:43.240 --> 00:06:44.300 a faithful Christian life. 00:06:45.740 --> 00:06:49.479 I wanna emphasize, they are role models 00:06:49.479 --> 00:06:52.979 for every Christian who desires 00:06:52.979 --> 00:06:55.219 to live a faithful Christian life. 00:06:55.719 --> 00:06:57.019 Let's look at some of the qualities 00:06:57.019 --> 00:06:58.879 that they model for us. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:02.279 First, faithful Christians genuinely care 00:07:02.279 --> 00:07:03.420 about other people. 00:07:04.699 --> 00:07:06.139 Timothy showed a genuine interest 00:07:06.139 --> 00:07:08.579 in these Philippian Christians. 00:07:08.980 --> 00:07:11.519 It says, for I have no one like him 00:07:11.519 --> 00:07:14.079 who will be genuinely concerned 00:07:14.079 --> 00:07:15.920 for your welfare. 00:07:17.379 --> 00:07:19.540 Timothy was genuinely concerned 00:07:19.540 --> 00:07:21.139 about what was going on in these people's lives 00:07:21.139 --> 00:07:22.579 because he knew them. 00:07:23.699 --> 00:07:25.040 He had been with Paul. 00:07:25.399 --> 00:07:26.939 It's recorded in Acts chapter 16. 00:07:26.939 --> 00:07:29.420 He had been with Paul when the church was started. 00:07:30.379 --> 00:07:32.259 I mean, Timothy was there from the get-go. 00:07:33.079 --> 00:07:35.180 He saw some of these people come to faith in Jesus. 00:07:35.579 --> 00:07:37.219 He saw how they were growing. 00:07:38.259 --> 00:07:40.079 He knew some of them by name. 00:07:40.180 --> 00:07:42.259 He had a personal interest in them 00:07:42.259 --> 00:07:43.540 and what was going on. 00:07:44.540 --> 00:07:46.399 Well, Paul planned to send him back 00:07:46.399 --> 00:07:49.040 and help them deal with some of the problems 00:07:49.040 --> 00:07:50.019 we've been looking at. 00:07:50.019 --> 00:07:52.560 The main thing, their lack of unity. 00:07:53.259 --> 00:07:54.240 It's a good church. 00:07:54.680 --> 00:07:57.019 They're not about to just implode and fall apart, 00:07:57.219 --> 00:07:58.459 but there are some problems. 00:07:58.699 --> 00:07:59.560 We've already looked at some. 00:07:59.639 --> 00:08:00.799 We'll see more later. 00:08:02.060 --> 00:08:05.180 But Paul had confidence in Timothy's ability to do that 00:08:05.180 --> 00:08:08.599 because he cared about them. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.099 You see, Paul is Timothy's mentor. 00:08:13.359 --> 00:08:14.459 He's trained him well. 00:08:14.819 --> 00:08:16.899 Timothy knows exactly what to do 00:08:16.899 --> 00:08:17.979 to take care of the problem, 00:08:17.980 --> 00:08:19.560 but more importantly, 00:08:21.560 --> 00:08:23.020 Timothy knows how to work with people. 00:08:23.439 --> 00:08:26.300 He knows how to deal with people in a positive way 00:08:26.300 --> 00:08:28.259 to help them see the need 00:08:28.259 --> 00:08:31.319 and want to cooperate with him. 00:08:32.539 --> 00:08:34.340 When it comes to dealing with issues 00:08:34.340 --> 00:08:37.759 that involve people in every realm of life, 00:08:38.980 --> 00:08:41.980 it's not enough just to know what to do. 00:08:43.639 --> 00:08:45.620 We need to know how to relate to people. 00:08:45.620 --> 00:08:48.460 As the old saying goes, 00:08:48.580 --> 00:08:50.399 people don't care how much you know 00:08:50.399 --> 00:08:53.340 until they know how much you care. 00:08:54.740 --> 00:08:58.919 And that applies to just about every kind of relationship 00:08:58.919 --> 00:08:59.840 in this world. 00:09:01.100 --> 00:09:02.899 You want to have a more healthy home? 00:09:04.960 --> 00:09:06.120 Love one another. 00:09:07.580 --> 00:09:09.019 Work on, develop, 00:09:09.360 --> 00:09:13.419 develop having good, healthy relationships. 00:09:13.419 --> 00:09:15.299 You know, sometimes at home, 00:09:16.439 --> 00:09:19.120 you got to deal with some touchy situations. 00:09:19.819 --> 00:09:21.439 Sometimes husbands and wives. 00:09:22.939 --> 00:09:24.379 You got to talk about some things 00:09:24.379 --> 00:09:26.439 that's going to make at least one of you uncomfortable. 00:09:28.279 --> 00:09:30.539 And with those teenagers I was mentioning a while ago, 00:09:31.259 --> 00:09:33.279 there's a lot of issues. 00:09:33.879 --> 00:09:34.559 Children too. 00:09:34.559 --> 00:09:37.439 But you know, it makes a difference 00:09:37.439 --> 00:09:40.179 when Lisa points out some 00:09:40.179 --> 00:09:43.579 one or two flaws from time to time 00:09:43.579 --> 00:09:48.359 because I know that she really cares about me. 00:09:49.819 --> 00:09:52.379 She's trying to help me, for example, 00:09:52.959 --> 00:09:54.359 not make a fool of myself 00:09:54.359 --> 00:09:56.579 and some of the things I might do in preaching. 00:09:57.139 --> 00:09:58.399 So I listen to her. 00:09:58.399 --> 00:10:02.519 You know, kids, teenagers, 00:10:03.539 --> 00:10:06.259 most every one of you, 00:10:06.919 --> 00:10:08.279 if not every one of you, 00:10:09.000 --> 00:10:11.059 you have parents and grandparents 00:10:11.059 --> 00:10:12.279 and people in your lives 00:10:12.279 --> 00:10:15.059 who truly love you and care about you. 00:10:15.439 --> 00:10:16.860 And when they correct you, 00:10:16.959 --> 00:10:18.059 they point out some things. 00:10:18.179 --> 00:10:19.980 It's not to make your life miserable. 00:10:20.179 --> 00:10:22.259 It's to help you, believe it or not. 00:10:22.259 --> 00:10:26.179 And so if we'll work on in our home, 00:10:27.679 --> 00:10:28.720 our relationships, 00:10:29.039 --> 00:10:31.080 having healthy relationships, 00:10:31.700 --> 00:10:33.659 let people know that you live with, 00:10:33.840 --> 00:10:34.919 that you really do love them. 00:10:36.139 --> 00:10:38.259 It will help when it comes time 00:10:38.259 --> 00:10:40.679 to say some hard things. 00:10:41.639 --> 00:10:43.240 That applies across the board. 00:10:43.960 --> 00:10:45.519 That applies here at church. 00:10:46.439 --> 00:10:47.659 It applies to work. 00:10:48.700 --> 00:10:50.919 Some of you who are young adults, 00:10:50.919 --> 00:10:54.740 you know, just sort of getting started well 00:10:54.740 --> 00:10:56.079 in your business, 00:10:56.199 --> 00:10:57.000 in your profession, 00:10:57.319 --> 00:10:58.240 out in the world. 00:10:59.120 --> 00:11:01.519 You may think it's all about what you know 00:11:01.519 --> 00:11:03.000 or who you know, 00:11:03.159 --> 00:11:04.779 all about the nuts and bolts. 00:11:05.779 --> 00:11:09.899 And certainly competence is a necessity. 00:11:11.279 --> 00:11:12.839 But the way you treat people 00:11:12.839 --> 00:11:13.819 will go a long way 00:11:13.819 --> 00:11:15.759 in determining how successful you are. 00:11:16.699 --> 00:11:19.219 You may be a genius at what you do, 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:21.259 but if you mistreat people, 00:11:21.360 --> 00:11:22.399 if you act like a fool, 00:11:22.480 --> 00:11:24.100 if you try to just run over people, 00:11:24.420 --> 00:11:25.279 bulldoze people, 00:11:25.399 --> 00:11:26.100 you're gonna fail. 00:11:28.300 --> 00:11:30.240 And it may be that some people in this room, 00:11:32.040 --> 00:11:33.379 maybe the lights come on. 00:11:34.279 --> 00:11:35.680 It seems that everywhere you go in life, 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.399 you have trouble. 00:11:38.840 --> 00:11:40.519 You have trouble getting along with people. 00:11:41.200 --> 00:11:42.000 And to this point, 00:11:42.060 --> 00:11:42.800 you may think to yourself, 00:11:43.240 --> 00:11:44.300 it's those people. 00:11:44.500 --> 00:11:45.080 It's him. 00:11:45.160 --> 00:11:45.620 It's her. 00:11:45.620 --> 00:11:47.759 If it happens over and over and over again, 00:11:47.759 --> 00:11:48.500 it's you. 00:11:50.519 --> 00:11:51.399 Relationships matter. 00:11:51.639 --> 00:11:53.220 Relationships matter everywhere. 00:11:55.340 --> 00:11:57.259 And Paul, the apostle, 00:11:57.980 --> 00:11:59.679 who had real authority 00:11:59.679 --> 00:12:01.360 and could tell them what to do, 00:12:02.580 --> 00:12:04.159 because he was speaking the word of God, 00:12:05.759 --> 00:12:07.179 he thought it was very important 00:12:07.179 --> 00:12:10.639 to send Timothy for this reason. 00:12:10.639 --> 00:12:13.860 He loved those people. 00:12:13.860 --> 00:12:16.659 He took a genuine interest in those people, 00:12:16.800 --> 00:12:19.019 which meant he would deal with them 00:12:19.019 --> 00:12:21.759 in the most positive, 00:12:22.379 --> 00:12:25.980 get the job done way possible. 00:12:27.019 --> 00:12:28.580 One thing that prevents us 00:12:28.580 --> 00:12:30.659 from being genuinely concerned about others 00:12:30.659 --> 00:12:33.940 is that we're too genuinely concerned 00:12:33.940 --> 00:12:35.379 about just us. 00:12:36.820 --> 00:12:39.340 That's why Paul gave this command back 00:12:39.340 --> 00:12:41.300 in chapter two, verses three and four. 00:12:41.379 --> 00:12:41.680 Look at it. 00:12:41.679 --> 00:12:43.039 He told this to the whole church. 00:12:44.039 --> 00:12:46.339 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, 00:12:46.539 --> 00:12:47.239 but in humility, 00:12:47.399 --> 00:12:49.679 count others more significant than yourselves. 00:12:50.259 --> 00:12:53.599 That each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:12:53.719 --> 00:12:54.819 but also to the interests of others. 00:12:55.139 --> 00:12:56.139 Paul doesn't say, 00:12:56.359 --> 00:12:56.679 don't care, 00:12:56.839 --> 00:12:58.279 don't take care of your own affairs. 00:12:58.539 --> 00:13:00.059 No, we have responsibility. 00:13:00.379 --> 00:13:01.779 It's part of our Christian responsibility 00:13:01.779 --> 00:13:03.859 to be good managers of our lives, 00:13:03.919 --> 00:13:05.599 our homes, everything. 00:13:06.279 --> 00:13:07.879 We've got to look out for our own interests 00:13:07.879 --> 00:13:10.299 as part of our Christian stewardship. 00:13:10.299 --> 00:13:12.819 But not just our own interests. 00:13:13.679 --> 00:13:14.359 Look at it. 00:13:14.740 --> 00:13:18.000 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:13:18.359 --> 00:13:19.679 but also to the interests of others. 00:13:20.019 --> 00:13:21.559 But here in verses 20 and 21, 00:13:22.719 --> 00:13:25.839 I want you to see that Paul is saying something 00:13:25.839 --> 00:13:28.959 that at least to me is very surprising. 00:13:29.620 --> 00:13:30.179 Look at this. 00:13:30.179 --> 00:13:33.639 For I have no one like him 00:13:33.639 --> 00:13:37.039 who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare, 00:13:37.639 --> 00:13:41.879 for they all seek their own interests, 00:13:42.519 --> 00:13:44.099 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:13:45.239 --> 00:13:48.559 Who is they all? 00:13:50.620 --> 00:13:53.120 Who's Paul referring to? 00:13:53.120 --> 00:13:57.279 Well, let's recall something we've learned 00:13:57.279 --> 00:13:58.500 in a previous study 00:13:58.500 --> 00:13:59.960 as we've been going through Philippians. 00:14:00.879 --> 00:14:02.139 Paul is writing from Rome 00:14:02.139 --> 00:14:05.039 where he is a prisoner awaiting trial before Caesar, 00:14:05.860 --> 00:14:07.340 but he's under house arrest. 00:14:07.679 --> 00:14:10.240 He's allowed to live in his own rented home, 00:14:10.360 --> 00:14:12.159 and people are free to come and go 00:14:12.159 --> 00:14:13.820 for him to teach, 00:14:13.919 --> 00:14:17.200 for them to bring him food and other necessities. 00:14:17.899 --> 00:14:19.000 You can read about that 00:14:19.000 --> 00:14:20.720 at the very end of the book of Acts, 00:14:20.720 --> 00:14:22.440 at the end of Acts chapter 28. 00:14:23.820 --> 00:14:25.800 Paul also wrote letters 00:14:25.800 --> 00:14:29.040 to the church at Ephesus and Colossae, 00:14:30.040 --> 00:14:31.200 Ephesians and Colossians, 00:14:31.980 --> 00:14:35.060 and the letter to the man Philemon 00:14:35.060 --> 00:14:38.259 while he was imprisoned here in Rome. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:41.560 Philippians, Ephesians, Colossians, and Philemon. 00:14:41.639 --> 00:14:43.980 They're the four prison letters of Paul 00:14:43.980 --> 00:14:45.379 that he wrote from Rome. 00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:50.180 So, when Paul says, 00:14:50.720 --> 00:14:53.080 he has no one like Timothy, 00:14:53.820 --> 00:14:58.680 because they all seek their own interests, 00:14:59.680 --> 00:15:04.019 he can only be referring to two groups of people. 00:15:04.899 --> 00:15:09.259 First, he's talking about the leaders for sure, 00:15:09.460 --> 00:15:12.820 and most likely other members of the church at Rome. 00:15:13.820 --> 00:15:15.240 He's under house arrest. 00:15:15.420 --> 00:15:16.300 People can come and go. 00:15:16.500 --> 00:15:16.980 They do. 00:15:16.980 --> 00:15:19.320 Who will be taking care of Paul in Rome? 00:15:19.440 --> 00:15:20.659 The church at Rome. 00:15:21.300 --> 00:15:21.740 Obviously. 00:15:23.159 --> 00:15:24.620 Who else could it be? 00:15:25.220 --> 00:15:29.659 Well, it may be he's referring to some of his associates. 00:15:30.840 --> 00:15:34.220 He named some of them at the end of his letter to Philemon. 00:15:34.340 --> 00:15:34.899 Look at this. 00:15:36.500 --> 00:15:38.200 At the very end, Philemon is just one chapter, 00:15:38.340 --> 00:15:39.120 so there's only verses. 00:15:39.120 --> 00:15:41.060 He says, 00:15:41.060 --> 00:15:43.740 Epaphras, that's not Epaphroditus. 00:15:44.580 --> 00:15:47.340 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, 00:15:48.019 --> 00:15:49.659 sends greetings to you, 00:15:50.379 --> 00:15:52.899 and so do Mark, the writer of the gospel, 00:15:54.000 --> 00:15:56.820 Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, 00:15:58.159 --> 00:16:00.139 another writer of the gospel, 00:16:00.539 --> 00:16:01.679 my fellow workers. 00:16:01.679 --> 00:16:07.339 Now, Paul is in prison in Rome under house arrest 00:16:07.339 --> 00:16:09.819 for two years or more, 00:16:09.939 --> 00:16:11.179 it says in the book of Acts. 00:16:11.819 --> 00:16:12.899 These individuals, 00:16:13.599 --> 00:16:14.579 and there would be more, 00:16:15.339 --> 00:16:16.479 they would have come and gone. 00:16:17.719 --> 00:16:19.959 It says Aristarchus, or Epaphras, 00:16:20.019 --> 00:16:20.939 is my fellow prisoner, 00:16:21.459 --> 00:16:24.159 but most of them had the freedom to come and go. 00:16:24.159 --> 00:16:30.839 We can automatically eliminate Mark and Luke 00:16:30.839 --> 00:16:32.159 as being selfish, 00:16:33.639 --> 00:16:35.559 so selfish he couldn't send them to Philippi, 00:16:36.019 --> 00:16:39.279 because they were faithful to the end of Paul's life, 00:16:39.699 --> 00:16:41.100 according to Paul's last letter. 00:16:41.199 --> 00:16:41.719 Look at this. 00:16:42.100 --> 00:16:43.079 It's in 2 Timothy 4. 00:16:44.019 --> 00:16:45.399 Luke alone is with me. 00:16:45.759 --> 00:16:47.559 Get Mark and bring him with you, 00:16:47.659 --> 00:16:50.959 for he is very useful to me for ministry. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:54.680 2 Timothy is his last letter. 00:16:55.720 --> 00:16:57.060 He's in prison another time. 00:16:57.500 --> 00:16:59.580 He's in a real dungeon-type prison this time. 00:16:59.759 --> 00:17:00.920 He's awaiting execution. 00:17:01.160 --> 00:17:02.139 He knows the end's here. 00:17:02.420 --> 00:17:03.180 This is where he said, 00:17:03.460 --> 00:17:04.500 I fought a good fight, 00:17:04.620 --> 00:17:05.559 I finished the course, 00:17:05.799 --> 00:17:06.660 I've kept the faith. 00:17:06.920 --> 00:17:08.000 He knows he's gonna die. 00:17:08.860 --> 00:17:11.740 And there with him at the very end is Luke, 00:17:12.920 --> 00:17:15.299 and he wants Mark to come, 00:17:15.600 --> 00:17:17.240 because he's useful to me. 00:17:17.240 --> 00:17:20.319 But there's one of those guys, 00:17:20.319 --> 00:17:22.740 that's listed at the end of Philemon, 00:17:23.700 --> 00:17:26.139 who might have been one of the selfish ones 00:17:26.139 --> 00:17:27.480 that Paul didn't have any confidence in. 00:17:27.700 --> 00:17:28.839 His name was Demas. 00:17:30.200 --> 00:17:33.299 He eventually quit on Paul. 00:17:33.500 --> 00:17:34.019 Look at this. 00:17:34.700 --> 00:17:36.079 Again, at the end of 2 Timothy. 00:17:36.759 --> 00:17:39.720 For Demas, in love with this present world, 00:17:40.059 --> 00:17:43.659 has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica. 00:17:43.659 --> 00:17:46.679 Paul's at the end of his life. 00:17:47.740 --> 00:17:48.960 He's needing friends. 00:17:49.079 --> 00:17:49.980 He's wanting friends. 00:17:49.980 --> 00:17:50.880 Luke's there with him. 00:17:50.940 --> 00:17:52.000 He wants Mark to come. 00:17:52.940 --> 00:17:54.519 And one of the guys that he trusted, 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:55.620 that he invested in, 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:57.480 that he thought was his friend, Demas, 00:17:58.440 --> 00:17:59.759 he took off. 00:18:00.839 --> 00:18:01.480 Deserted him. 00:18:02.660 --> 00:18:03.700 Paul knew what it was like 00:18:03.700 --> 00:18:05.819 to have somebody turn their, 00:18:06.039 --> 00:18:08.240 to have someone just turn their back on him, 00:18:08.660 --> 00:18:10.519 to betray him, to desert him. 00:18:10.519 --> 00:18:13.480 Here's the point we need to understand. 00:18:13.480 --> 00:18:18.059 Paul had no one to send to the Philippian church 00:18:18.059 --> 00:18:20.599 except Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:18:20.680 --> 00:18:21.400 as we'll see in a moment, 00:18:22.140 --> 00:18:26.299 because he knew that no one else cared about that church 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:32.519 enough to go and help them the right way. 00:18:32.519 --> 00:18:35.619 And the only people Paul can be talking about 00:18:35.619 --> 00:18:38.779 are Christians in the church at Rome 00:18:38.779 --> 00:18:42.639 and some of his own personal assistants. 00:18:44.660 --> 00:18:45.500 Now think about that. 00:18:45.500 --> 00:18:50.819 Doesn't that really just show us 00:18:50.819 --> 00:18:53.259 how hard it is 00:18:53.259 --> 00:18:55.799 for most Christians, 00:18:55.920 --> 00:18:56.779 most of us, 00:18:57.460 --> 00:19:00.059 to overcome our self-centered ways? 00:19:00.460 --> 00:19:02.099 It's just so ingrained in us. 00:19:02.559 --> 00:19:03.539 I'm going to take care of me, 00:19:03.680 --> 00:19:04.400 mine, mine. 00:19:04.400 --> 00:19:08.620 It's just contrary to human nature 00:19:08.620 --> 00:19:11.560 to take a genuine interest 00:19:11.560 --> 00:19:14.080 in other people's welfare 00:19:14.080 --> 00:19:15.720 and actually, 00:19:16.240 --> 00:19:17.620 with compassion, 00:19:18.340 --> 00:19:19.300 do something to help them. 00:19:20.420 --> 00:19:22.400 How can we overcome such selfishness, 00:19:23.000 --> 00:19:23.560 you and me? 00:19:24.560 --> 00:19:25.880 Well, Paul tells us the first step, 00:19:25.960 --> 00:19:27.480 it's in verse 21, look at this. 00:19:28.200 --> 00:19:30.280 For they all seek their own interests, 00:19:30.860 --> 00:19:33.500 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:19:35.300 --> 00:19:38.400 Timothy was the self-giving person that he was 00:19:38.400 --> 00:19:40.960 because he was more concerned about 00:19:40.960 --> 00:19:42.759 pleasing the Lord 00:19:42.759 --> 00:19:44.940 than pleasing himself. 00:19:46.900 --> 00:19:47.940 As Timothy thought about, 00:19:48.580 --> 00:19:49.280 you know, 00:19:49.940 --> 00:19:51.400 why he was on earth, 00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:52.560 what his purpose was, 00:19:53.420 --> 00:19:55.720 he really wanted to know and do God's will 00:19:55.720 --> 00:19:59.280 before 00:19:59.280 --> 00:20:03.200 just doing his own will. 00:20:03.200 --> 00:20:05.680 That's the key for us as well. 00:20:07.299 --> 00:20:09.559 We will never take a genuine interest 00:20:09.559 --> 00:20:10.440 in other people 00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:13.819 until we first have a genuine interest 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:15.200 in our Lord Jesus Christ. 00:20:16.539 --> 00:20:18.480 In the book of 1 John, 00:20:18.559 --> 00:20:19.660 the fourth chapter, 00:20:20.620 --> 00:20:21.140 John 00:20:21.140 --> 00:20:23.680 makes several statements 00:20:23.680 --> 00:20:26.559 to try to help us understand 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:28.779 that if we really love God, 00:20:28.880 --> 00:20:30.400 we'll love God's people. 00:20:30.400 --> 00:20:32.400 I want you to look at an example 00:20:32.960 --> 00:20:34.600 in 1 John chapter 4, 00:20:35.360 --> 00:20:37.420 verses 7 and 8. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:40.080 I said John 1 on the screen is 4, okay. 00:20:41.800 --> 00:20:42.400 Beloved, 00:20:42.880 --> 00:20:44.200 let us love one another, 00:20:44.740 --> 00:20:46.460 for love is from God. 00:20:46.820 --> 00:20:49.160 And whoever loves has been born of God 00:20:49.160 --> 00:20:50.620 and knows God. 00:20:51.700 --> 00:20:53.140 Anyone who does not love 00:20:53.140 --> 00:20:55.300 does not know God 00:20:55.299 --> 00:20:56.960 because God is love. 00:20:59.700 --> 00:21:01.139 John's helping us see that 00:21:01.139 --> 00:21:03.019 a love for God, 00:21:03.139 --> 00:21:04.659 a love for our Lord 00:21:04.659 --> 00:21:07.259 is a prerequisite 00:21:07.259 --> 00:21:10.460 for developing the kind of love 00:21:10.460 --> 00:21:11.720 that will really help us 00:21:11.720 --> 00:21:13.299 take an interest in 00:21:13.299 --> 00:21:14.839 other people. 00:21:14.839 --> 00:21:17.559 So let's think about it. 00:21:18.399 --> 00:21:19.139 If you are, 00:21:19.480 --> 00:21:19.940 let's just be, 00:21:20.000 --> 00:21:20.599 and let's be honest, 00:21:20.639 --> 00:21:21.419 you'll be honest with you. 00:21:21.920 --> 00:21:22.800 If you're just basically 00:21:22.800 --> 00:21:24.120 a selfish person, 00:21:25.660 --> 00:21:28.600 and some people are, 00:21:30.120 --> 00:21:31.680 you know it's not good, 00:21:32.039 --> 00:21:32.820 but you're just basically 00:21:32.820 --> 00:21:33.519 a selfish person. 00:21:33.580 --> 00:21:34.240 If you know that, 00:21:35.640 --> 00:21:37.039 and the truth is, 00:21:37.600 --> 00:21:39.980 you don't have a whole lot 00:21:39.980 --> 00:21:40.640 of concern 00:21:40.640 --> 00:21:42.840 for the well-being 00:21:42.840 --> 00:21:43.500 of other people. 00:21:43.500 --> 00:21:47.720 And you're even less interested 00:21:47.720 --> 00:21:49.539 in going out of your way 00:21:49.539 --> 00:21:52.500 to serve other people. 00:21:53.920 --> 00:21:55.019 If that's you, 00:21:55.779 --> 00:21:56.440 selfish, 00:21:58.059 --> 00:22:00.680 just not all that concerned about, 00:22:01.160 --> 00:22:03.119 don't even notice people that much. 00:22:03.700 --> 00:22:05.140 And you're really not going to go 00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:06.000 too far out of your way 00:22:06.000 --> 00:22:06.759 to help anyone. 00:22:08.220 --> 00:22:09.539 Your greatest problems 00:22:09.539 --> 00:22:11.039 in your personal relationship 00:22:11.039 --> 00:22:11.759 with God 00:22:11.759 --> 00:22:14.839 because if you really 00:22:14.839 --> 00:22:15.720 had the relationship 00:22:15.720 --> 00:22:16.000 with Him 00:22:16.000 --> 00:22:17.200 where you loved Him, 00:22:19.140 --> 00:22:20.460 you'd love other people. 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:22.240 That's what John is saying. 00:22:23.680 --> 00:22:24.960 So if that describes you, 00:22:25.079 --> 00:22:26.059 talk to God about it 00:22:26.059 --> 00:22:26.900 if it bothers you. 00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:29.339 If you know 00:22:29.339 --> 00:22:30.799 there is sin in your life 00:22:30.799 --> 00:22:31.480 that you need to confess 00:22:31.480 --> 00:22:33.019 about that selfishness, 00:22:33.980 --> 00:22:34.619 confess it. 00:22:36.859 --> 00:22:38.039 Change your mind. 00:22:38.039 --> 00:22:41.779 Draw close to the Lord 00:22:41.779 --> 00:22:43.119 and renew your commitment 00:22:43.119 --> 00:22:43.720 to Him 00:22:43.720 --> 00:22:46.019 to follow, 00:22:46.159 --> 00:22:47.000 to obey Him. 00:22:49.259 --> 00:22:50.220 It might be that you need 00:22:50.220 --> 00:22:51.000 to just ask God 00:22:51.000 --> 00:22:51.740 to help you to 00:22:51.740 --> 00:22:55.299 help you to see people more. 00:22:56.440 --> 00:22:57.039 I don't mean 00:22:57.039 --> 00:22:58.619 actually literally see them, 00:22:59.539 --> 00:23:00.579 but the people in your home 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:01.039 that you live with, 00:23:01.079 --> 00:23:01.700 people that you work with, 00:23:01.740 --> 00:23:02.500 people you go to school with, 00:23:02.819 --> 00:23:03.920 to notice 00:23:03.920 --> 00:23:06.159 when something's not quite right. 00:23:06.160 --> 00:23:08.040 You can see it in their face. 00:23:08.220 --> 00:23:08.860 You can hear it in the tone 00:23:08.860 --> 00:23:09.480 of their voice. 00:23:09.740 --> 00:23:11.240 They're acting a little bit odd. 00:23:14.000 --> 00:23:14.440 Notice, 00:23:15.200 --> 00:23:17.820 care enough to inquire 00:23:17.820 --> 00:23:19.480 what's going on. 00:23:19.740 --> 00:23:20.580 Is there a problem? 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:22.960 And listen. 00:23:24.420 --> 00:23:26.060 And if you can help them, 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:27.820 do it. 00:23:27.900 --> 00:23:28.560 Even if it means 00:23:28.560 --> 00:23:31.060 interrupting your plans, 00:23:32.560 --> 00:23:34.120 inconveniencing yourself, 00:23:34.119 --> 00:23:38.339 and as you think about this, 00:23:38.539 --> 00:23:39.739 always the first place 00:23:39.739 --> 00:23:40.979 to begin is in your home. 00:23:42.619 --> 00:23:43.679 Learn to see 00:23:43.679 --> 00:23:45.459 in your family members 00:23:45.459 --> 00:23:47.279 needs. 00:23:48.899 --> 00:23:50.500 Take an interest in them. 00:23:52.779 --> 00:23:53.819 Forget yourself 00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.679 and focus on 00:23:54.679 --> 00:23:56.799 how can I meet 00:23:56.799 --> 00:23:57.919 my spouse, 00:23:58.079 --> 00:23:58.599 my child, 00:23:58.699 --> 00:23:59.559 my parents' 00:24:01.119 --> 00:24:01.599 need. 00:24:01.599 --> 00:24:04.299 Faithful Christians 00:24:04.299 --> 00:24:05.240 genuinely care 00:24:05.240 --> 00:24:05.819 about other people. 00:24:06.019 --> 00:24:06.359 Also, 00:24:06.859 --> 00:24:07.519 faithful Christians 00:24:07.519 --> 00:24:09.339 display proven character. 00:24:10.000 --> 00:24:10.719 Faithful Christians 00:24:10.719 --> 00:24:12.879 display consistent character. 00:24:14.219 --> 00:24:14.779 Growing, 00:24:15.039 --> 00:24:15.599 developing character. 00:24:16.779 --> 00:24:17.480 Look at verse 22. 00:24:18.279 --> 00:24:18.839 But you know 00:24:18.839 --> 00:24:20.259 Timothy's proven worth, 00:24:20.879 --> 00:24:21.819 how as a son 00:24:21.819 --> 00:24:22.379 with a father 00:24:22.379 --> 00:24:23.179 he has served 00:24:23.179 --> 00:24:23.759 with me 00:24:23.759 --> 00:24:24.859 in the gospel. 00:24:25.500 --> 00:24:26.399 The emphasis here 00:24:26.399 --> 00:24:26.879 is on how 00:24:26.879 --> 00:24:27.399 Timothy 00:24:27.399 --> 00:24:29.939 proved his worth 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:30.539 to Paul 00:24:30.539 --> 00:24:31.680 over time 00:24:31.680 --> 00:24:33.039 by the way 00:24:33.039 --> 00:24:33.779 that he worked 00:24:33.779 --> 00:24:34.460 with him 00:24:34.460 --> 00:24:36.920 like a child 00:24:36.920 --> 00:24:38.820 with his father. 00:24:39.220 --> 00:24:39.440 Now, 00:24:39.519 --> 00:24:40.240 as parents, 00:24:41.100 --> 00:24:41.759 and for some 00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.600 of us in here, 00:24:43.000 --> 00:24:43.519 we've got to think 00:24:43.519 --> 00:24:44.539 a long ways back, 00:24:44.980 --> 00:24:45.740 but as parents, 00:24:45.960 --> 00:24:46.380 with children 00:24:46.380 --> 00:24:47.019 living at home, 00:24:48.019 --> 00:24:49.340 sometimes we ask them 00:24:49.340 --> 00:24:50.059 to help us 00:24:50.059 --> 00:24:50.880 do some things. 00:24:51.019 --> 00:24:51.600 Maybe to help us 00:24:51.600 --> 00:24:52.480 work in the yard, 00:24:53.980 --> 00:24:54.779 clean the house, 00:24:56.259 --> 00:24:56.860 look after 00:24:56.860 --> 00:24:57.620 a little brother 00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:58.279 or sister. 00:25:00.059 --> 00:25:01.099 If you're a child, 00:25:01.219 --> 00:25:01.579 you tell them 00:25:01.579 --> 00:25:01.919 to do that, 00:25:01.959 --> 00:25:02.339 you ask them 00:25:02.339 --> 00:25:02.739 to do that, 00:25:03.539 --> 00:25:04.299 they fuss, 00:25:04.459 --> 00:25:05.019 they gripe, 00:25:05.199 --> 00:25:05.859 they complain 00:25:05.859 --> 00:25:06.639 the whole time. 00:25:07.599 --> 00:25:08.819 You get no joy 00:25:08.819 --> 00:25:09.319 out of it, 00:25:09.359 --> 00:25:09.599 do you? 00:25:11.099 --> 00:25:11.939 You don't want to, 00:25:12.179 --> 00:25:12.979 you don't only want 00:25:12.979 --> 00:25:13.719 to work with them 00:25:13.719 --> 00:25:14.079 like that, 00:25:14.119 --> 00:25:14.439 you don't want 00:25:14.439 --> 00:25:15.319 to be around them. 00:25:16.319 --> 00:25:17.919 And boys and girls 00:25:17.919 --> 00:25:18.539 and teenagers, 00:25:18.779 --> 00:25:19.479 you may not 00:25:19.479 --> 00:25:20.279 understand that, 00:25:20.859 --> 00:25:21.539 but when you act 00:25:21.539 --> 00:25:22.159 like a jerk, 00:25:22.259 --> 00:25:23.019 your parents really 00:25:23.019 --> 00:25:23.539 don't want 00:25:23.539 --> 00:25:24.439 to be around you. 00:25:26.279 --> 00:25:27.099 That's a fact. 00:25:28.099 --> 00:25:28.419 Some of them 00:25:28.419 --> 00:25:28.939 are too nice 00:25:28.939 --> 00:25:29.659 to tell you that, 00:25:29.719 --> 00:25:30.359 but I'm telling you 00:25:30.359 --> 00:25:30.479 that, 00:25:30.519 --> 00:25:31.179 that's how they feel. 00:25:35.759 --> 00:25:36.379 It's true. 00:25:38.319 --> 00:25:39.000 And if that's 00:25:39.000 --> 00:25:39.759 how they are, 00:25:40.799 --> 00:25:41.539 you certainly 00:25:41.539 --> 00:25:42.659 are not proud 00:25:42.659 --> 00:25:43.299 of them 00:25:43.299 --> 00:25:45.059 for acting 00:25:45.059 --> 00:25:45.699 that way. 00:25:46.039 --> 00:25:46.339 In fact, 00:25:46.399 --> 00:25:47.419 you'd be ashamed 00:25:47.419 --> 00:25:48.799 for somebody 00:25:48.799 --> 00:25:49.879 to come by 00:25:49.879 --> 00:25:51.459 and see, 00:25:51.639 --> 00:25:52.279 know how, 00:25:52.979 --> 00:25:53.219 that they're 00:25:53.219 --> 00:25:53.879 that selfish, 00:25:54.000 --> 00:25:54.899 they're that lazy, 00:25:55.619 --> 00:25:56.099 or they're 00:25:56.099 --> 00:25:57.319 that disrespectful. 00:25:57.619 --> 00:26:00.019 But if you 00:26:00.019 --> 00:26:00.759 ask your child 00:26:00.759 --> 00:26:01.299 to help you 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:01.799 with something, 00:26:02.179 --> 00:26:03.179 and they work, 00:26:04.000 --> 00:26:04.759 they're pleasant, 00:26:05.339 --> 00:26:05.899 they got a good 00:26:05.899 --> 00:26:06.319 attitude, 00:26:07.319 --> 00:26:08.119 you get a lot 00:26:08.119 --> 00:26:08.659 of joy out 00:26:08.659 --> 00:26:09.159 of just being 00:26:09.159 --> 00:26:10.000 around them. 00:26:11.679 --> 00:26:12.339 And you're 00:26:12.339 --> 00:26:13.199 proud of them. 00:26:15.039 --> 00:26:16.159 You're proud 00:26:16.159 --> 00:26:17.059 to say that 00:26:17.059 --> 00:26:18.379 your son or daughter 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.559 helps you 00:26:19.559 --> 00:26:20.299 this way, 00:26:20.459 --> 00:26:21.459 and it just 00:26:21.459 --> 00:26:22.079 means more 00:26:22.079 --> 00:26:22.479 than you'll, 00:26:22.719 --> 00:26:23.379 boys and girls, 00:26:23.539 --> 00:26:23.819 teenagers, 00:26:23.939 --> 00:26:24.419 it means more 00:26:24.419 --> 00:26:24.799 than you'll ever 00:26:24.799 --> 00:26:25.039 know. 00:26:27.359 --> 00:26:28.079 Paul was 00:26:28.079 --> 00:26:29.200 a proud 00:26:29.200 --> 00:26:30.460 spiritual father 00:26:30.460 --> 00:26:31.460 because of the 00:26:31.460 --> 00:26:31.960 way Timothy 00:26:31.960 --> 00:26:32.859 worked with him 00:26:32.859 --> 00:26:33.899 and demonstrated 00:26:33.899 --> 00:26:34.440 a real 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:35.119 Christ-like 00:26:35.119 --> 00:26:35.720 attitude 00:26:35.720 --> 00:26:37.379 as he went 00:26:37.379 --> 00:26:38.059 about his work. 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:39.740 Now, 00:26:39.819 --> 00:26:40.299 if we're all 00:26:40.299 --> 00:26:40.579 honest, 00:26:40.659 --> 00:26:41.159 we've got to admit 00:26:41.159 --> 00:26:41.839 we've got a long 00:26:41.839 --> 00:26:42.460 way to go 00:26:42.460 --> 00:26:43.440 to develop 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:44.500 true Christ-like 00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:44.899 character. 00:26:45.079 --> 00:26:45.899 No Christian, 00:26:46.000 --> 00:26:46.619 no Christian 00:26:46.619 --> 00:26:47.579 in this world 00:26:47.579 --> 00:26:49.839 arrives 00:26:49.839 --> 00:26:51.299 at fully 00:26:51.299 --> 00:26:51.940 mature 00:26:51.940 --> 00:26:52.759 Christ-like 00:26:52.759 --> 00:26:53.200 character 00:26:53.200 --> 00:26:53.500 as long 00:26:53.500 --> 00:26:53.740 as they're 00:26:53.740 --> 00:26:54.140 alive. 00:26:54.640 --> 00:26:55.559 We're all 00:26:55.559 --> 00:26:56.240 in some 00:26:56.240 --> 00:26:57.340 state of 00:26:57.340 --> 00:26:58.140 process. 00:26:59.700 --> 00:26:59.880 But you 00:26:59.880 --> 00:27:00.080 know, 00:27:00.940 --> 00:27:02.400 don't worry 00:27:02.400 --> 00:27:02.819 about that. 00:27:04.740 --> 00:27:05.440 Christ-like 00:27:05.440 --> 00:27:05.980 character 00:27:05.980 --> 00:27:07.319 is a 00:27:07.319 --> 00:27:07.960 lifelong 00:27:07.960 --> 00:27:09.240 process 00:27:09.240 --> 00:27:10.720 for every 00:27:10.720 --> 00:27:11.380 single 00:27:11.380 --> 00:27:12.420 Christian 00:27:12.420 --> 00:27:12.759 in this 00:27:12.759 --> 00:27:13.160 world, 00:27:13.880 --> 00:27:14.539 including 00:27:14.539 --> 00:27:15.779 Timothy. 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:18.500 Timothy's 00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:18.860 character 00:27:18.860 --> 00:27:19.539 development, 00:27:20.380 --> 00:27:21.059 it began 00:27:21.059 --> 00:27:21.340 young. 00:27:21.380 --> 00:27:21.660 Here's the 00:27:21.660 --> 00:27:21.960 good thing, 00:27:21.980 --> 00:27:22.420 it began 00:27:22.420 --> 00:27:22.840 young. 00:27:23.580 --> 00:27:24.259 Paul tells 00:27:24.259 --> 00:27:24.700 us, 00:27:24.920 --> 00:27:25.779 again in 00:27:25.779 --> 00:27:26.519 2 Timothy, 00:27:26.980 --> 00:27:27.640 first part 00:27:27.640 --> 00:27:28.440 of the 00:27:28.440 --> 00:27:29.100 first chapter, 00:27:30.080 --> 00:27:30.519 that Timothy 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:31.200 had a 00:27:31.200 --> 00:27:31.620 Christian 00:27:31.620 --> 00:27:32.180 mother and 00:27:32.180 --> 00:27:32.660 grandmother 00:27:32.660 --> 00:27:33.759 who influenced 00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:34.000 him. 00:27:35.220 --> 00:27:35.500 Timothy 00:27:35.500 --> 00:27:36.060 had a good 00:27:36.060 --> 00:27:36.920 start to 00:27:36.920 --> 00:27:37.220 life. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:38.240 He grew 00:27:38.240 --> 00:27:38.500 up in a 00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:38.740 Christian 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.000 home. 00:27:39.120 --> 00:27:39.320 Now, 00:27:39.460 --> 00:27:39.620 it doesn't 00:27:39.620 --> 00:27:39.900 say anything 00:27:39.900 --> 00:27:40.200 about a 00:27:40.200 --> 00:27:40.660 father or 00:27:40.660 --> 00:27:41.000 grandfather, 00:27:41.420 --> 00:27:41.660 but his 00:27:41.660 --> 00:27:42.100 mother was 00:27:42.100 --> 00:27:42.460 a Christian, 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:43.259 his grandmother 00:27:43.259 --> 00:27:43.900 was a Christian, 00:27:44.080 --> 00:27:44.640 and they had 00:27:44.640 --> 00:27:45.860 great influence 00:27:45.860 --> 00:27:46.200 on him. 00:27:46.259 --> 00:27:46.600 They got him 00:27:46.600 --> 00:27:47.120 started off 00:27:47.120 --> 00:27:47.440 right. 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:47.860 Let's just 00:27:47.860 --> 00:27:48.320 pause here 00:27:48.320 --> 00:27:48.700 and say, 00:27:50.259 --> 00:27:51.060 every Christian 00:27:51.060 --> 00:27:51.580 parent and 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:52.079 grandparent in 00:27:52.079 --> 00:27:52.519 this room, 00:27:52.919 --> 00:27:54.960 we need to 00:27:54.960 --> 00:27:56.639 take note of 00:27:56.639 --> 00:27:57.199 how Timothy 00:27:57.199 --> 00:27:57.759 got to where 00:27:57.759 --> 00:27:58.419 he was by 00:27:58.419 --> 00:27:58.720 having such 00:27:58.720 --> 00:27:59.699 a good start 00:27:59.699 --> 00:28:00.359 in life. 00:28:01.419 --> 00:28:02.019 The most 00:28:02.019 --> 00:28:02.439 important thing 00:28:02.439 --> 00:28:02.859 we can do 00:28:02.859 --> 00:28:03.179 for our 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:03.699 children or 00:28:03.699 --> 00:28:05.259 grandchildren is 00:28:05.259 --> 00:28:06.199 to teach and 00:28:06.199 --> 00:28:06.879 model for 00:28:06.879 --> 00:28:08.460 them what it 00:28:08.460 --> 00:28:09.039 means to live a 00:28:09.039 --> 00:28:09.559 faithful Christian 00:28:09.559 --> 00:28:09.960 life. 00:28:10.960 --> 00:28:11.119 Now, 00:28:11.179 --> 00:28:12.059 I know as 00:28:12.059 --> 00:28:12.500 parents and 00:28:12.500 --> 00:28:12.879 grandparents, 00:28:13.059 --> 00:28:13.460 there's a lot 00:28:13.460 --> 00:28:13.919 of things we 00:28:13.919 --> 00:28:14.740 need and want 00:28:14.740 --> 00:28:15.240 to teach our 00:28:15.240 --> 00:28:15.519 children, 00:28:15.740 --> 00:28:16.059 and that's 00:28:16.059 --> 00:28:16.339 true. 00:28:16.339 --> 00:28:17.859 But there's 00:28:17.859 --> 00:28:18.599 nothing more 00:28:18.599 --> 00:28:19.279 important for 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.899 us as parents 00:28:19.899 --> 00:28:20.399 and grandparents 00:28:20.399 --> 00:28:22.319 to teach and 00:28:22.319 --> 00:28:22.759 then to back 00:28:22.759 --> 00:28:23.500 it up by the 00:28:23.500 --> 00:28:23.819 way that we 00:28:23.819 --> 00:28:26.839 live, how to 00:28:26.839 --> 00:28:27.259 live as a 00:28:27.259 --> 00:28:27.919 faithful Christian 00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:29.519 in this world. 00:28:31.419 --> 00:28:31.599 You know, 00:28:31.659 --> 00:28:32.399 Timothy was like 00:28:32.399 --> 00:28:34.019 us in that he 00:28:34.019 --> 00:28:34.679 didn't always live 00:28:34.679 --> 00:28:35.259 up to what he 00:28:35.259 --> 00:28:35.699 knew. 00:28:37.240 --> 00:28:37.779 Isn't that true 00:28:37.779 --> 00:28:38.199 for you? 00:28:39.980 --> 00:28:41.139 Do you live up 00:28:41.139 --> 00:28:42.720 to all you know 00:28:42.720 --> 00:28:45.619 to live as a 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:45.959 Christian? 00:28:48.159 --> 00:28:48.839 Don't look at 00:28:48.839 --> 00:28:50.000 me like, you 00:28:50.000 --> 00:28:50.219 know, you 00:28:50.219 --> 00:28:50.639 don't know. 00:28:50.739 --> 00:28:51.239 You know. 00:28:51.399 --> 00:28:52.059 You know a 00:28:52.059 --> 00:28:52.659 whole lot more 00:28:52.659 --> 00:28:53.199 than you're 00:28:53.199 --> 00:28:54.259 living right now. 00:28:54.339 --> 00:28:54.679 You and me, 00:28:54.759 --> 00:28:55.539 everybody does. 00:28:57.359 --> 00:28:58.139 And Timothy, 00:28:59.059 --> 00:29:01.139 he didn't, he 00:29:01.139 --> 00:29:02.059 wasn't always the 00:29:02.059 --> 00:29:02.799 model guy. 00:29:03.459 --> 00:29:04.279 He had to be 00:29:04.279 --> 00:29:04.859 encouraged. 00:29:05.039 --> 00:29:05.799 He had to be 00:29:05.799 --> 00:29:07.359 prodded at times 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:08.399 by Paul. 00:29:08.819 --> 00:29:09.559 We learned from 00:29:09.559 --> 00:29:10.339 Paul's letters 00:29:10.339 --> 00:29:11.639 that Timothy 00:29:11.639 --> 00:29:12.399 needed to be 00:29:12.399 --> 00:29:13.799 challenged, 00:29:14.559 --> 00:29:15.319 encouraged, 00:29:15.619 --> 00:29:16.579 because he had 00:29:16.579 --> 00:29:17.159 a tendency to 00:29:17.159 --> 00:29:18.339 be shy, 00:29:19.159 --> 00:29:19.599 hesitant, 00:29:20.859 --> 00:29:22.159 afraid even. 00:29:22.719 --> 00:29:23.199 Look at this. 00:29:23.239 --> 00:29:23.619 Here's a good 00:29:23.619 --> 00:29:24.659 example of how 00:29:24.659 --> 00:29:26.239 Timothy didn't live 00:29:26.239 --> 00:29:26.739 up to everything 00:29:26.739 --> 00:29:27.839 he knew to do 00:29:27.839 --> 00:29:28.439 and he had to be 00:29:28.439 --> 00:29:28.839 prodded. 00:29:28.919 --> 00:29:29.379 Look at this. 00:29:30.159 --> 00:29:30.939 For this reason, 00:29:31.319 --> 00:29:32.639 I remind you to 00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:33.979 fan and to flame 00:29:33.979 --> 00:29:34.959 the gift of God 00:29:34.959 --> 00:29:35.639 which is in you 00:29:35.639 --> 00:29:36.059 through the laying 00:29:36.059 --> 00:29:36.659 on of my hands. 00:29:37.459 --> 00:29:38.759 If the flame was 00:29:38.759 --> 00:29:40.039 always burning 00:29:40.039 --> 00:29:40.759 brightly, he 00:29:40.759 --> 00:29:41.099 wouldn't have been 00:29:41.099 --> 00:29:41.679 told that. 00:29:41.680 --> 00:29:43.080 For God gave 00:29:43.080 --> 00:29:43.700 us a spirit 00:29:43.700 --> 00:29:44.779 not of fear 00:29:44.779 --> 00:29:45.600 but of power 00:29:45.600 --> 00:29:46.039 and love 00:29:46.039 --> 00:29:46.519 and control. 00:29:46.880 --> 00:29:47.320 Sometimes he 00:29:47.320 --> 00:29:47.960 didn't have that 00:29:47.960 --> 00:29:49.120 so he needed 00:29:49.120 --> 00:29:49.660 to hear that. 00:29:50.100 --> 00:29:50.700 Therefore, do not 00:29:50.700 --> 00:29:51.700 be ashamed of 00:29:51.700 --> 00:29:52.220 the testimony 00:29:52.220 --> 00:29:53.440 about our Lord 00:29:53.440 --> 00:29:54.700 nor of me as 00:29:54.700 --> 00:29:55.140 prisoner. 00:29:55.900 --> 00:29:56.740 What did he do? 00:29:57.779 --> 00:29:58.400 How had he 00:29:58.400 --> 00:29:58.880 acted? 00:29:59.080 --> 00:29:59.560 How had he 00:29:59.560 --> 00:30:00.299 sort of cowed 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.100 down somewhere? 00:30:03.100 --> 00:30:04.019 But share in 00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:04.900 suffering for the 00:30:04.900 --> 00:30:05.700 gospel by the 00:30:05.700 --> 00:30:06.420 power of God. 00:30:07.060 --> 00:30:07.759 Timothy was in 00:30:07.759 --> 00:30:09.180 some ways 00:30:09.180 --> 00:30:11.560 unique, but in 00:30:11.560 --> 00:30:12.140 most ways he 00:30:12.140 --> 00:30:12.580 was just like 00:30:12.580 --> 00:30:12.920 us. 00:30:13.340 --> 00:30:13.779 He had the 00:30:13.779 --> 00:30:14.620 unique privilege 00:30:14.620 --> 00:30:15.840 of learning 00:30:15.840 --> 00:30:16.220 from the 00:30:16.220 --> 00:30:16.820 apostle Paul. 00:30:18.779 --> 00:30:19.320 What a 00:30:19.320 --> 00:30:19.840 privilege. 00:30:20.880 --> 00:30:21.180 But he was 00:30:21.180 --> 00:30:21.840 like us in 00:30:21.840 --> 00:30:22.240 that he had 00:30:22.240 --> 00:30:22.980 to be involved 00:30:22.980 --> 00:30:23.759 in the personal 00:30:23.759 --> 00:30:25.080 spiritual disciplines 00:30:25.080 --> 00:30:26.060 that God uses 00:30:26.060 --> 00:30:26.440 to develop 00:30:26.440 --> 00:30:27.160 Christlike character 00:30:27.160 --> 00:30:27.680 in every Christian. 00:30:27.880 --> 00:30:28.600 He had to pray. 00:30:28.779 --> 00:30:29.140 He had to spend 00:30:29.140 --> 00:30:29.700 time with God 00:30:29.700 --> 00:30:30.120 in prayer. 00:30:30.440 --> 00:30:31.200 He had to read 00:30:31.200 --> 00:30:32.259 the scriptures 00:30:32.259 --> 00:30:33.140 that he had 00:30:33.140 --> 00:30:33.940 and listen to Paul 00:30:33.940 --> 00:30:34.460 as he taught 00:30:34.460 --> 00:30:35.220 what we call 00:30:35.220 --> 00:30:35.840 the New Testament. 00:30:36.660 --> 00:30:37.420 He had to worship. 00:30:37.960 --> 00:30:38.279 He had to be 00:30:38.279 --> 00:30:38.799 involved in 00:30:38.799 --> 00:30:39.339 ministry. 00:30:40.720 --> 00:30:41.259 He needed 00:30:41.259 --> 00:30:41.819 fellowship with 00:30:41.819 --> 00:30:42.359 other Christians. 00:30:43.180 --> 00:30:43.799 If you're serious 00:30:43.799 --> 00:30:44.139 about wanting 00:30:44.139 --> 00:30:44.639 to grow, 00:30:45.639 --> 00:30:46.440 to develop 00:30:46.440 --> 00:30:47.519 true Christlike 00:30:47.519 --> 00:30:48.119 character, 00:30:48.899 --> 00:30:49.460 then cooperate 00:30:49.460 --> 00:30:49.940 with God 00:30:49.940 --> 00:30:50.399 as he works 00:30:50.399 --> 00:30:50.720 in you, 00:30:50.839 --> 00:30:52.359 giving you 00:30:52.359 --> 00:30:52.779 the desired 00:30:52.779 --> 00:30:53.359 ability to do 00:30:53.359 --> 00:30:53.599 that. 00:30:54.259 --> 00:30:54.779 Spend time 00:30:54.779 --> 00:30:55.000 with him 00:30:55.000 --> 00:30:55.460 every day 00:30:55.460 --> 00:30:56.539 in prayer. 00:30:57.019 --> 00:30:57.639 Talk to him. 00:30:59.279 --> 00:30:59.819 Read his 00:30:59.819 --> 00:31:00.159 word. 00:31:00.519 --> 00:31:01.220 Listen to him. 00:31:02.259 --> 00:31:02.799 Get involved 00:31:02.799 --> 00:31:03.139 in the life 00:31:03.139 --> 00:31:03.980 of our church. 00:31:05.680 --> 00:31:06.440 Be involved 00:31:06.440 --> 00:31:07.359 in worshiping 00:31:07.359 --> 00:31:07.859 God and 00:31:07.859 --> 00:31:08.460 participate. 00:31:09.480 --> 00:31:09.839 Prepare 00:31:09.839 --> 00:31:10.259 before you 00:31:10.259 --> 00:31:10.500 come. 00:31:10.579 --> 00:31:10.799 Put your 00:31:10.799 --> 00:31:11.259 heart into 00:31:11.259 --> 00:31:11.559 it. 00:31:12.759 --> 00:31:13.339 Get to 00:31:13.339 --> 00:31:13.980 know people. 00:31:14.259 --> 00:31:14.519 Develop 00:31:14.519 --> 00:31:15.139 relationships. 00:31:15.960 --> 00:31:16.399 Experience 00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:16.879 Christian 00:31:16.879 --> 00:31:17.379 fellowship. 00:31:18.839 --> 00:31:19.419 Get involved 00:31:19.419 --> 00:31:19.879 in some kind 00:31:19.879 --> 00:31:20.339 of ministry. 00:31:20.599 --> 00:31:21.159 Use what 00:31:21.159 --> 00:31:21.659 God's given 00:31:21.659 --> 00:31:22.359 you to serve 00:31:22.359 --> 00:31:23.359 other people. 00:31:24.579 --> 00:31:24.919 Faithful 00:31:24.919 --> 00:31:25.379 Christian 00:31:25.379 --> 00:31:28.019 living or 00:31:28.019 --> 00:31:28.399 faithful 00:31:28.399 --> 00:31:29.019 Christians 00:31:29.019 --> 00:31:30.539 display 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:32.000 growing, 00:31:32.500 --> 00:31:33.139 overall 00:31:33.139 --> 00:31:34.039 consistent, 00:31:34.599 --> 00:31:35.839 proven character. 00:31:35.839 --> 00:31:36.839 faithful 00:31:36.839 --> 00:31:38.980 Christians 00:31:38.980 --> 00:31:39.299 are willing 00:31:39.299 --> 00:31:39.480 to 00:31:39.480 --> 00:31:40.559 sacrificially 00:31:40.559 --> 00:31:41.339 serve 00:31:41.339 --> 00:31:41.500 in 00:31:41.500 --> 00:31:41.919 ministry. 00:31:42.720 --> 00:31:43.319 Epaphroditus, 00:31:43.619 --> 00:31:44.159 he was 00:31:44.159 --> 00:31:44.759 involved in 00:31:44.759 --> 00:31:45.959 active service 00:31:45.959 --> 00:31:47.279 to the Lord 00:31:47.279 --> 00:31:48.019 and to Paul. 00:31:48.119 --> 00:31:48.379 Look what it 00:31:48.379 --> 00:31:48.720 says in verse 00:31:48.720 --> 00:31:49.159 25. 00:31:49.159 --> 00:31:50.139 I have 00:31:50.139 --> 00:31:50.519 thought it 00:31:50.519 --> 00:31:51.019 necessary to 00:31:51.019 --> 00:31:51.519 send to you, 00:31:51.639 --> 00:31:52.139 Epaphroditus, 00:31:52.220 --> 00:31:52.819 my brother and 00:31:52.819 --> 00:31:53.399 fellow worker and 00:31:53.399 --> 00:31:53.980 fellow soldier, 00:31:54.379 --> 00:31:55.419 and your messenger 00:31:55.419 --> 00:31:56.319 and minister to 00:31:56.319 --> 00:31:56.779 my need. 00:31:57.419 --> 00:31:57.899 He was a 00:31:57.899 --> 00:31:58.799 messenger from the 00:31:58.799 --> 00:31:59.459 Philippian church. 00:31:59.579 --> 00:31:59.720 I mean, 00:32:00.400 --> 00:32:01.440 he was from 00:32:01.440 --> 00:32:01.900 Philippi. 00:32:02.259 --> 00:32:03.100 He was saved, 00:32:04.259 --> 00:32:05.220 grew up as a 00:32:05.220 --> 00:32:06.000 Christian in that 00:32:06.000 --> 00:32:06.600 church, 00:32:07.440 --> 00:32:08.779 and they sent 00:32:08.779 --> 00:32:10.240 him to Rome 00:32:10.240 --> 00:32:11.559 with a gift of 00:32:11.559 --> 00:32:12.480 money to meet 00:32:12.480 --> 00:32:13.299 Paul's needs. 00:32:13.380 --> 00:32:14.039 It talks about it 00:32:14.039 --> 00:32:14.779 in chapter 4, 00:32:14.840 --> 00:32:15.480 verse 18, 00:32:15.900 --> 00:32:16.620 and then to stay 00:32:16.620 --> 00:32:17.319 there and help 00:32:17.319 --> 00:32:18.620 Paul in whatever 00:32:18.620 --> 00:32:19.539 he needed help 00:32:19.539 --> 00:32:20.100 doing. 00:32:21.380 --> 00:32:21.900 Well, 00:32:22.700 --> 00:32:23.340 he served 00:32:23.340 --> 00:32:24.519 sacrificially almost 00:32:24.519 --> 00:32:24.960 to the point of 00:32:24.960 --> 00:32:25.440 death in doing 00:32:25.440 --> 00:32:25.579 that. 00:32:25.620 --> 00:32:26.059 Look at this, 00:32:26.240 --> 00:32:26.759 verse 30. 00:32:27.160 --> 00:32:27.720 For he nearly 00:32:27.720 --> 00:32:28.740 died for the 00:32:28.740 --> 00:32:29.400 work of Christ. 00:32:29.460 --> 00:32:30.420 Somewhere along 00:32:30.420 --> 00:32:30.700 the way, 00:32:30.759 --> 00:32:31.519 he became sick. 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.319 He almost died. 00:32:34.000 --> 00:32:34.600 But the way 00:32:34.600 --> 00:32:35.360 Paul describes 00:32:35.360 --> 00:32:35.799 this, 00:32:36.940 --> 00:32:37.720 he didn't use 00:32:37.720 --> 00:32:38.519 his sickness 00:32:38.519 --> 00:32:39.720 as severe as 00:32:39.720 --> 00:32:40.059 it was. 00:32:40.259 --> 00:32:40.860 He didn't use 00:32:40.860 --> 00:32:42.120 it as an 00:32:42.120 --> 00:32:42.819 excuse to 00:32:42.819 --> 00:32:43.160 quit. 00:32:44.640 --> 00:32:45.400 Once he got 00:32:45.400 --> 00:32:45.980 well, 00:32:47.180 --> 00:32:49.059 he was back 00:32:49.059 --> 00:32:49.539 at it. 00:32:50.100 --> 00:32:50.620 And Paul was 00:32:50.620 --> 00:32:51.100 going to send 00:32:51.100 --> 00:32:53.240 him home and 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:54.360 carry this letter 00:32:54.360 --> 00:32:55.319 to the Philippians 00:32:55.319 --> 00:32:56.500 with him. 00:32:57.860 --> 00:32:58.740 Paul also 00:32:58.740 --> 00:32:59.440 holds Epaphroditus 00:32:59.440 --> 00:32:59.940 Epaphroditus as 00:32:59.940 --> 00:33:00.640 a model of a 00:33:00.640 --> 00:33:01.299 faithful Christian 00:33:01.299 --> 00:33:02.820 who deserves to 00:33:02.820 --> 00:33:03.320 be honored. 00:33:03.440 --> 00:33:03.940 Look at this. 00:33:04.480 --> 00:33:05.200 So receive him 00:33:05.200 --> 00:33:05.580 and the Lord 00:33:05.580 --> 00:33:06.620 with all joy 00:33:06.620 --> 00:33:08.660 and honor such 00:33:08.660 --> 00:33:09.340 men. 00:33:10.779 --> 00:33:11.500 If we were 00:33:11.500 --> 00:33:12.279 looking to send 00:33:12.279 --> 00:33:14.700 someone from our 00:33:14.700 --> 00:33:15.779 church on a 00:33:15.779 --> 00:33:16.519 mission trip 00:33:16.519 --> 00:33:18.539 to deliver money 00:33:18.539 --> 00:33:19.700 and supplies to 00:33:19.700 --> 00:33:20.160 a certain 00:33:20.160 --> 00:33:21.299 missionary somewhere 00:33:21.299 --> 00:33:23.680 in South America, 00:33:23.820 --> 00:33:23.980 say, 00:33:23.980 --> 00:33:26.660 and we want you 00:33:26.660 --> 00:33:27.160 to take the 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.799 stuff and we 00:33:28.799 --> 00:33:29.140 want you to 00:33:29.140 --> 00:33:30.700 stay there for 00:33:30.700 --> 00:33:31.380 a week to 10 00:33:31.380 --> 00:33:32.400 days because 00:33:32.400 --> 00:33:33.279 these missionaries 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:33.940 we're sending you 00:33:33.940 --> 00:33:35.000 to, they've got 00:33:35.000 --> 00:33:36.059 a project that 00:33:36.059 --> 00:33:36.960 they really need 00:33:36.960 --> 00:33:38.779 your help and 00:33:38.779 --> 00:33:39.240 it's going to 00:33:39.240 --> 00:33:39.900 really take, 00:33:40.059 --> 00:33:40.420 you know, you've 00:33:40.420 --> 00:33:41.240 got to put your 00:33:41.240 --> 00:33:41.960 whole heart, soul, 00:33:42.019 --> 00:33:43.039 mind, energy into 00:33:43.039 --> 00:33:43.220 it. 00:33:43.579 --> 00:33:44.200 They really need 00:33:44.200 --> 00:33:44.519 your help. 00:33:45.660 --> 00:33:46.460 We've got a 00:33:46.460 --> 00:33:47.220 missions development 00:33:47.220 --> 00:33:48.019 council to try to 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.799 coordinate all this 00:33:48.799 --> 00:33:49.220 kind of stuff. 00:33:49.220 --> 00:33:50.819 If we got that 00:33:50.819 --> 00:33:52.259 request and they're 00:33:52.259 --> 00:33:52.900 in their meeting 00:33:52.900 --> 00:33:53.519 and they're thinking 00:33:53.519 --> 00:33:55.059 who could we send 00:33:55.059 --> 00:33:55.900 would your name 00:33:55.900 --> 00:33:56.420 come up? 00:33:59.559 --> 00:34:00.360 Some of you, 00:34:01.360 --> 00:34:01.940 your name would 00:34:01.940 --> 00:34:03.240 come up because 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:03.839 you're a faithful 00:34:03.839 --> 00:34:04.500 Christian and they 00:34:04.500 --> 00:34:05.019 would automatically 00:34:05.019 --> 00:34:05.759 think of you. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:07.660 But if your name 00:34:07.660 --> 00:34:08.480 wouldn't come up, 00:34:09.619 --> 00:34:10.579 do you want it to? 00:34:11.980 --> 00:34:12.659 I know some people 00:34:12.659 --> 00:34:13.880 say, nope, I don't. 00:34:15.699 --> 00:34:16.579 But for those of you 00:34:16.579 --> 00:34:17.019 who would say, 00:34:17.019 --> 00:34:18.760 I want it to. 00:34:19.219 --> 00:34:22.019 What would you 00:34:22.019 --> 00:34:23.019 have to change? 00:34:23.639 --> 00:34:24.119 What needs to 00:34:24.119 --> 00:34:24.619 happen in your 00:34:24.619 --> 00:34:26.599 life for you to 00:34:26.599 --> 00:34:27.480 start being the 00:34:27.480 --> 00:34:28.439 faithful Christian 00:34:28.439 --> 00:34:30.259 that would cause 00:34:30.259 --> 00:34:31.199 people to think 00:34:31.199 --> 00:34:33.719 you'd be the one 00:34:33.719 --> 00:34:34.379 to represent our 00:34:34.379 --> 00:34:35.079 church and serve 00:34:35.079 --> 00:34:35.579 like that? 00:34:36.839 --> 00:34:37.519 I want to close 00:34:37.519 --> 00:34:38.239 by changing the 00:34:38.239 --> 00:34:38.739 subject now. 00:34:40.179 --> 00:34:41.299 What will be said 00:34:41.299 --> 00:34:42.519 in your obituary 00:34:42.519 --> 00:34:43.699 about the way you 00:34:43.699 --> 00:34:44.519 lived as a 00:34:44.519 --> 00:34:44.839 Christian? 00:34:44.839 --> 00:34:46.659 When we die, 00:34:47.839 --> 00:34:48.599 somebody, 00:34:49.219 --> 00:34:50.959 probably somebody 00:34:50.959 --> 00:34:51.659 in your family, 00:34:51.739 --> 00:34:52.039 at least they're 00:34:52.039 --> 00:34:52.539 going to help, 00:34:53.000 --> 00:34:54.799 but when you die, 00:34:55.239 --> 00:34:55.919 an obituary is 00:34:55.919 --> 00:34:56.199 going to be 00:34:56.199 --> 00:34:56.519 written. 00:34:57.319 --> 00:35:00.079 Now, I want you 00:35:00.079 --> 00:35:00.359 to understand 00:35:00.359 --> 00:35:00.679 something. 00:35:01.399 --> 00:35:02.019 It's none of my 00:35:02.019 --> 00:35:03.000 business what kind 00:35:03.000 --> 00:35:03.719 of obituary you 00:35:03.719 --> 00:35:03.980 have. 00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:05.559 If you've got the 00:35:05.559 --> 00:35:06.679 money and it costs 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:09.399 over $5 per column 00:35:09.399 --> 00:35:11.019 line in Greenville 00:35:11.019 --> 00:35:12.500 News, if you want to 00:35:12.500 --> 00:35:14.179 spend $10,000, but 00:35:14.179 --> 00:35:15.379 two pages about your 00:35:15.379 --> 00:35:16.819 entire life as an 00:35:16.820 --> 00:35:18.019 obituary, good for 00:35:18.019 --> 00:35:18.260 you. 00:35:18.380 --> 00:35:18.880 I think your 00:35:18.880 --> 00:35:19.700 family is dumb as 00:35:19.700 --> 00:35:20.280 dirt to do 00:35:20.280 --> 00:35:20.940 something like that, 00:35:21.140 --> 00:35:21.980 but good for you. 00:35:23.920 --> 00:35:24.860 But of all the 00:35:24.860 --> 00:35:25.340 things they're going 00:35:25.340 --> 00:35:26.100 to say about you, 00:35:27.380 --> 00:35:28.180 here's my point. 00:35:28.860 --> 00:35:29.800 What are they going 00:35:29.800 --> 00:35:32.880 to say about how 00:35:32.880 --> 00:35:34.320 you lived as a 00:35:34.320 --> 00:35:35.900 Christian in this 00:35:35.900 --> 00:35:36.220 world? 00:35:37.740 --> 00:35:40.720 Here's how I and 00:35:40.720 --> 00:35:41.240 the other members 00:35:41.240 --> 00:35:43.280 of my family 100% 00:35:43.280 --> 00:35:43.680 agreed. 00:35:43.679 --> 00:35:44.960 here's how I 00:35:44.960 --> 00:35:45.679 described my 00:35:45.679 --> 00:35:46.559 mother's Christian 00:35:46.559 --> 00:35:48.159 life in her 00:35:48.159 --> 00:35:48.799 obituary. 00:35:49.699 --> 00:35:50.839 I cut and pasted 00:35:50.839 --> 00:35:51.059 it. 00:35:52.699 --> 00:35:53.519 Dot was a member 00:35:53.519 --> 00:35:54.419 of La France First 00:35:54.419 --> 00:35:55.899 Baptist Church where 00:35:55.899 --> 00:35:56.980 she had served as a 00:35:56.980 --> 00:35:57.739 Sunday school teacher 00:35:57.739 --> 00:35:58.399 and assistant 00:35:58.399 --> 00:35:59.419 treasurer for many 00:35:59.419 --> 00:35:59.919 years. 00:36:00.519 --> 00:36:01.419 She demonstrated a 00:36:01.419 --> 00:36:02.719 true servant's 00:36:02.719 --> 00:36:04.500 spirit as she always 00:36:04.500 --> 00:36:05.319 put others before 00:36:05.319 --> 00:36:07.179 herself and tirelessly 00:36:07.179 --> 00:36:08.599 sought to meet the 00:36:08.599 --> 00:36:09.599 needs of her family 00:36:09.599 --> 00:36:10.359 and others in the 00:36:10.359 --> 00:36:10.759 community. 00:36:11.379 --> 00:36:12.259 Dot had a special 00:36:12.259 --> 00:36:13.599 gift of lovingly 00:36:13.599 --> 00:36:14.279 and patiently 00:36:14.279 --> 00:36:15.739 caring for several 00:36:15.739 --> 00:36:17.659 members, several 00:36:17.659 --> 00:36:18.519 family members over 00:36:18.519 --> 00:36:19.400 the years who 00:36:19.400 --> 00:36:20.039 suffered from 00:36:20.039 --> 00:36:20.920 Alzheimer's. 00:36:21.480 --> 00:36:22.259 People in her 00:36:22.259 --> 00:36:23.400 church, people 00:36:23.400 --> 00:36:24.039 around that 00:36:24.039 --> 00:36:25.440 community, everybody 00:36:25.440 --> 00:36:28.099 in my family, 100% 00:36:28.099 --> 00:36:28.739 of the people who 00:36:28.739 --> 00:36:30.119 knew her would read 00:36:30.119 --> 00:36:31.420 that and would agree 00:36:31.420 --> 00:36:32.259 to every word. 00:36:32.940 --> 00:36:33.719 Everybody who knew 00:36:33.719 --> 00:36:34.739 her knew she was a 00:36:34.739 --> 00:36:35.679 sinful person like 00:36:35.679 --> 00:36:36.219 everybody else. 00:36:36.460 --> 00:36:37.440 She had her flaws, 00:36:37.559 --> 00:36:38.420 don't misunderstand. 00:36:39.739 --> 00:36:40.539 But she lived a 00:36:40.539 --> 00:36:41.699 faithful Christian life. 00:36:41.699 --> 00:36:45.539 And this is just how 00:36:45.539 --> 00:36:47.939 we described it in her 00:36:47.939 --> 00:36:48.519 obituary. 00:36:50.239 --> 00:36:52.079 How do you want to be 00:36:52.079 --> 00:36:54.759 described in your 00:36:54.759 --> 00:36:58.279 obituary in terms of 00:36:58.279 --> 00:36:59.899 the kind of Christian 00:36:59.899 --> 00:37:02.619 life you lived? 00:37:02.619 --> 00:37:06.539 Well, since you're 00:37:06.539 --> 00:37:07.920 alive right now, 00:37:08.759 --> 00:37:09.739 regardless of what's 00:37:09.739 --> 00:37:10.739 happened in the past, 00:37:12.119 --> 00:37:13.299 you can, from this 00:37:13.299 --> 00:37:14.139 day forward, you can 00:37:14.139 --> 00:37:17.139 finish well and have 00:37:17.139 --> 00:37:19.699 a description of being 00:37:19.699 --> 00:37:20.719 a faithful Christian put 00:37:20.719 --> 00:37:21.460 in your obituary. 00:37:21.460 --> 00:37:25.519 I want to encourage you 00:37:25.519 --> 00:37:25.980 right now. 00:37:26.980 --> 00:37:28.579 Do you think about how 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.559 you have and are 00:37:29.559 --> 00:37:31.380 living as a Christian? 00:37:33.119 --> 00:37:34.460 Ask God to either help 00:37:34.460 --> 00:37:36.139 you continue to be 00:37:36.139 --> 00:37:39.280 faithful or get more 00:37:39.280 --> 00:37:42.039 serious about living a 00:37:42.039 --> 00:37:42.800 faithful life. 00:37:42.800 --> 00:37:42.860 Christian life. 00:37:44.860 --> 00:37:48.420 Or if necessary, call 00:37:48.420 --> 00:37:49.720 upon Jesus to save you 00:37:49.720 --> 00:37:50.600 and ask him to help you 00:37:50.600 --> 00:37:51.560 to start living a 00:37:51.560 --> 00:37:52.140 Christian life. 00:37:53.220 --> 00:37:54.160 But bottom line, 00:37:55.140 --> 00:37:56.080 faithful Christian 00:37:56.080 --> 00:37:57.720 living does involve 00:37:57.720 --> 00:37:59.519 showing genuine concern 00:37:59.519 --> 00:38:00.220 for other people, 00:38:01.440 --> 00:38:02.960 demonstrating consistent 00:38:02.960 --> 00:38:04.519 Christian character over 00:38:04.519 --> 00:38:07.640 time, and serving the 00:38:07.640 --> 00:38:09.800 Lord and other people in 00:38:09.800 --> 00:38:12.440 in self-giving sacrificial 00:38:12.440 --> 00:38:13.160 ministry. 00:38:13.800 --> 00:38:14.920 Let's pray together. 00:38:15.820 --> 00:38:18.320 Father, show us now how 00:38:18.320 --> 00:38:21.380 we should respond so that 00:38:21.380 --> 00:38:23.700 we can leave here knowing 00:38:23.700 --> 00:38:26.920 that by your grace, we're 00:38:26.920 --> 00:38:29.660 on the path of living as 00:38:29.660 --> 00:38:31.560 faithful Christians. 00:38:32.840 --> 00:38:33.660 Let's just, in an attitude 00:38:33.660 --> 00:38:34.720 of prayer, listen to the 00:38:34.720 --> 00:38:36.640 Lord and respond to him.