WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:07.320 It's been my privilege over the years to be involved with different parts of this church, 00:00:07.400 --> 00:00:14.700 with John Gemmel for many years, with Graham, actually Ali Chalmers is one of my students 00:00:14.700 --> 00:00:18.420 at Faith Mission a few years ago, and Peter also attended the course. 00:00:18.519 --> 00:00:23.300 So it's just a privilege to be involved with different preachers from different kinds of 00:00:23.300 --> 00:00:28.339 churches and different situations, and also to be involved in teaching at Faith Mission 00:00:28.339 --> 00:00:31.399 and also at Edinburgh Theological Seminary. 00:00:31.600 --> 00:00:35.759 I'm sure you'll enjoy Daniel, who's the Old Testament professor this evening. 00:00:35.960 --> 00:00:37.340 So we come to God's Word. 00:00:37.399 --> 00:00:39.539 Let's just pray briefly and ask God to speak to us. 00:00:41.980 --> 00:00:45.840 Gracious God, we pray that you might, by your Spirit, take your Word, 00:00:47.019 --> 00:00:52.260 use it to comfort the disturbed and to disturb the comfortable. 00:00:53.900 --> 00:00:57.340 And may we be ready and willing to respond to whatever you might say to us. 00:00:57.340 --> 00:01:00.400 And we pray in Jesus' name. Amen. 00:01:03.180 --> 00:01:12.540 Almost three weeks ago, on July the 11th, 2017, a 93-year-old Scotsman died in a hospital 00:01:12.540 --> 00:01:15.500 in a town in North India. 00:01:16.320 --> 00:01:21.340 I think you'll look in vain to find any record in the Scotsman or in any other media, 00:01:21.340 --> 00:01:30.719 but Andrew McCabe was a remarkable man, among the finest Christians I've ever been privileged 00:01:30.719 --> 00:01:31.880 to encounter. 00:01:32.880 --> 00:01:36.680 He was born in a missionary family that originally came from Dalkeith, 00:01:37.740 --> 00:01:43.540 and Andrew was commissioned as a missionary from Charlotte Chapel in 1950. 00:01:43.540 --> 00:01:47.760 And so for 67 years of his life, 00:01:48.460 --> 00:01:54.840 he devoted himself to providing hope to tens of thousands of young boys 00:01:54.840 --> 00:01:58.960 from impoverished backgrounds in India and also in Nepal, 00:01:59.800 --> 00:02:01.860 through schools that he established. 00:02:01.859 --> 00:02:07.959 He believed the only difference between a street kid in Calcutta and a privileged child 00:02:07.959 --> 00:02:09.039 was opportunity. 00:02:10.219 --> 00:02:14.259 However, what underpinned all of this was his Christian faith. 00:02:15.000 --> 00:02:19.579 Awarded somewhat to his surprise in MBE by the Queen in 1992, 00:02:20.280 --> 00:02:21.740 he told me the story of what happened. 00:02:21.819 --> 00:02:22.039 He said, 00:02:22.039 --> 00:02:25.000 I was told that when I went in there, I was not to say anything. 00:02:25.120 --> 00:02:25.919 I was just to bow. 00:02:26.259 --> 00:02:29.359 And if Her Majesty wanted to say anything to me, that was her prerogative. 00:02:29.759 --> 00:02:31.840 Otherwise, bow, get your award, and get out. 00:02:33.099 --> 00:02:37.439 He had apparently the longest conversation of any of those who were awarded anything that day. 00:02:37.519 --> 00:02:41.560 And Her Majesty spent quite a lot of time talking to him about the boys in India 00:02:41.560 --> 00:02:43.759 and asking what their needs were. 00:02:44.539 --> 00:02:45.319 And Andrew said, 00:02:45.319 --> 00:02:46.120 I told her, 00:02:46.560 --> 00:02:50.159 Your Majesty, these boys need education, 00:02:50.159 --> 00:02:51.919 but most of all, 00:02:52.319 --> 00:02:53.359 they need Jesus. 00:02:54.439 --> 00:02:55.759 And what he believed, 00:02:55.840 --> 00:02:56.719 he lived out. 00:02:57.759 --> 00:02:59.919 My wife and I witnessed this firsthand. 00:03:00.519 --> 00:03:02.439 We traveled with him through the jungles 00:03:02.439 --> 00:03:05.919 on the border with Nepal in northwest Bihar, 00:03:06.020 --> 00:03:08.019 which is the poorest state in India, 00:03:08.400 --> 00:03:10.840 seeing how he related to the people 00:03:10.840 --> 00:03:13.819 and the great love and esteem in which he was held. 00:03:14.419 --> 00:03:18.400 Countless numbers of boys received a Christian education. 00:03:18.400 --> 00:03:24.200 We will never forget watching 3,000 boys in a school playground at assembly. 00:03:24.760 --> 00:03:28.719 Boys from Christian, Muslim, Hindu, tribal backgrounds 00:03:28.719 --> 00:03:32.520 reciting together in English the Lord's Prayer. 00:03:33.540 --> 00:03:41.319 Many of the boys went on to careers as doctors, teachers, bankers, army, government officials, 00:03:41.520 --> 00:03:43.400 pastors, many other careers. 00:03:43.400 --> 00:03:45.539 Indeed, I think somewhat wonderfully, 00:03:46.020 --> 00:03:48.659 the doctor who treated him in the hospital in Fisabad 00:03:48.659 --> 00:03:51.759 and his final illness was one of his own boys 00:03:51.759 --> 00:03:54.599 who had grown up in the home he had provided. 00:03:55.680 --> 00:03:56.020 You see, 00:03:56.259 --> 00:03:58.780 the great thing about Andrew was 00:03:58.780 --> 00:04:03.939 his Christian service was matched by his Christ-like character. 00:04:04.900 --> 00:04:07.879 And there was no credibility gap between the two. 00:04:07.879 --> 00:04:10.840 Now, I know that over these past weeks, 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:12.699 you've been studying this little letter 00:04:12.699 --> 00:04:15.819 in the New Testament, part of the Bible, 00:04:16.259 --> 00:04:18.079 written by a Christian missionary 00:04:18.079 --> 00:04:19.159 named Paul, 00:04:19.339 --> 00:04:21.100 who was on trial for his life. 00:04:21.860 --> 00:04:23.959 He addresses this letter to these Christians 00:04:23.959 --> 00:04:26.399 in the Greek city of Philippi, 00:04:26.480 --> 00:04:27.740 which was a Roman colony 00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:29.300 in that Greek setting, 00:04:29.860 --> 00:04:31.120 which had come into being 00:04:31.120 --> 00:04:32.779 when Paul had visited the city 00:04:32.779 --> 00:04:33.779 on one of his journeys 00:04:33.779 --> 00:04:36.179 and preached the good news to them. 00:04:37.279 --> 00:04:39.639 And he is keen to remind them 00:04:39.639 --> 00:04:41.979 that what they believe 00:04:41.979 --> 00:04:44.959 must be matched by how they behave. 00:04:46.299 --> 00:04:49.179 How their talk is to be matched by their work. 00:04:50.439 --> 00:04:51.439 And if you have a Bible, 00:04:51.519 --> 00:04:53.739 it would help to turn to Philippians 00:04:53.739 --> 00:04:55.719 and look at chapter 2. 00:04:56.199 --> 00:04:58.279 Let's just touch on what you looked at last week. 00:04:58.339 --> 00:05:01.119 I listened to Graham's great message last week 00:05:01.120 --> 00:05:03.480 from the first part of the chapter. 00:05:04.000 --> 00:05:06.000 So if you've got a Bible or a phone, 00:05:06.060 --> 00:05:08.360 I'm very suspicious about phones in church, 00:05:08.899 --> 00:05:10.500 that people are reading the Bible 00:05:10.500 --> 00:05:12.139 or are they looking at text messages. 00:05:12.399 --> 00:05:13.800 I'm trusting you here 00:05:13.800 --> 00:05:15.639 that you're reading the Bible. 00:05:16.120 --> 00:05:18.319 So Philippians 2. 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:20.259 Things have changed, haven't they? 00:05:20.319 --> 00:05:22.120 I'm getting old. 00:05:23.459 --> 00:05:24.439 Look at what he said. 00:05:24.519 --> 00:05:27.300 Do everything without complaining or arguing 00:05:27.300 --> 00:05:30.699 so that you may become blameless and pure 00:05:30.699 --> 00:05:33.139 children of God without fault 00:05:33.139 --> 00:05:35.659 in a crooked and depraved generation 00:05:35.659 --> 00:05:39.360 in which you shine like stars in the universe 00:05:39.360 --> 00:05:43.240 as you hold out the word of life. 00:05:43.360 --> 00:05:46.339 Here we find a picture and a challenge to them 00:05:46.339 --> 00:05:48.019 and it's a challenge to us 00:05:48.019 --> 00:05:51.099 if we claim to be followers of Jesus. 00:05:51.699 --> 00:05:52.639 The challenge is this, 00:05:52.699 --> 00:05:55.060 I want to leave with you to focus on and develop, 00:05:55.439 --> 00:05:59.019 is that we're to shine like stars in the universe. 00:05:59.019 --> 00:05:59.959 If you have a modern version, 00:06:00.060 --> 00:06:01.500 it says shine like stars in the sky, 00:06:01.599 --> 00:06:02.879 which is just the same, 00:06:02.979 --> 00:06:03.959 but I kind of like universe. 00:06:04.219 --> 00:06:07.599 But anyway, shine like stars in the universe. 00:06:07.740 --> 00:06:09.199 If you look at the night sky, 00:06:10.159 --> 00:06:13.359 you will see that some stars shine more brightly 00:06:13.359 --> 00:06:14.879 than others. 00:06:14.879 --> 00:06:17.879 Some shine very faintly against such a black, 00:06:18.100 --> 00:06:20.259 dark background, indistinct. 00:06:23.100 --> 00:06:26.159 And some Christians shine more brightly than others. 00:06:27.100 --> 00:06:30.060 Some, sadly, are hardly distinguishable 00:06:30.060 --> 00:06:31.959 against the background in which we live, 00:06:32.199 --> 00:06:34.699 which is becoming, I believe, increasingly dark. 00:06:36.180 --> 00:06:41.480 Others, like Andrew McCabe, shine brightly, 00:06:42.279 --> 00:06:43.100 stand out clearly. 00:06:43.100 --> 00:06:46.000 So, what are the characteristics 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:48.420 of a shining star in the church? 00:06:49.720 --> 00:06:51.900 In this next section, as we come to it now, 00:06:52.400 --> 00:06:55.560 I'm to suggest that Paul describes two men 00:06:55.560 --> 00:06:57.860 who are known to these Christians in Philippi 00:06:57.860 --> 00:06:59.879 who are shining examples, 00:07:00.060 --> 00:07:03.379 two stars who shine more brightly than the rest. 00:07:04.100 --> 00:07:05.840 Paul describes the first one of them 00:07:05.840 --> 00:07:06.760 as one of a kind. 00:07:06.920 --> 00:07:08.500 He says, I've no one else like him. 00:07:09.140 --> 00:07:11.180 He says, of the other, he's extremely valuable, 00:07:11.180 --> 00:07:13.000 should be held in the highest honor. 00:07:13.079 --> 00:07:16.060 So, let's look at these two shining stars 00:07:16.060 --> 00:07:17.939 in Philippians 2, 19 to 30. 00:07:18.800 --> 00:07:20.139 What I want us to do 00:07:20.139 --> 00:07:22.800 is to look at each one of them 00:07:22.800 --> 00:07:26.240 and compare, maybe even contrast, 00:07:26.360 --> 00:07:27.800 our own attitude and behavior 00:07:27.800 --> 00:07:31.420 and ask if we too are shining brightly. 00:07:31.420 --> 00:07:33.680 So, let's look at the first section. 00:07:34.420 --> 00:07:36.560 And Paul mentions here a man named Timothy 00:07:36.560 --> 00:07:39.460 who he describes, I want to suggest, 00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:41.040 as the soulmate. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:43.100 Look at verses 19 to 24. 00:07:44.620 --> 00:07:47.900 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon 00:07:47.900 --> 00:07:51.580 that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. 00:07:51.939 --> 00:07:53.360 I have no one else like him 00:07:53.360 --> 00:07:56.360 who will show genuine concern for your welfare. 00:07:56.360 --> 00:07:59.160 For everyone looks out for his own interests, 00:07:59.300 --> 00:08:00.960 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:08:01.639 --> 00:08:03.939 But you know that Timothy has proved himself 00:08:03.939 --> 00:08:06.280 because as a son with his father, 00:08:06.660 --> 00:08:09.060 he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 00:08:09.460 --> 00:08:11.020 I hope, therefore, to send him 00:08:11.020 --> 00:08:13.960 as soon as I see how things go with me. 00:08:14.160 --> 00:08:15.860 And I'm confident in the Lord 00:08:15.860 --> 00:08:19.340 that I myself will come soon. 00:08:19.819 --> 00:08:21.319 Timothy, if you don't know the Bible, 00:08:22.040 --> 00:08:23.460 if you do, just a bit of review, 00:08:23.459 --> 00:08:26.680 is a younger man who's been Paul's closest colleague 00:08:26.680 --> 00:08:28.239 for many years. 00:08:28.319 --> 00:08:30.060 He was the product of a mixed marriage. 00:08:30.799 --> 00:08:32.720 His mother was a Christian Jewess. 00:08:33.120 --> 00:08:34.899 His father was a Greek. 00:08:35.460 --> 00:08:37.480 Timothy came from a town called Lystra, 00:08:38.000 --> 00:08:40.740 a town in the highlands of the Roman province of Galatia. 00:08:40.840 --> 00:08:43.139 I like maps if you don't just ignore that. 00:08:43.759 --> 00:08:45.899 But Lystra is right in the middle of there. 00:08:46.259 --> 00:08:49.740 And it's likely that when Paul first visited this town 00:08:49.740 --> 00:08:50.559 on his journey, 00:08:50.559 --> 00:08:53.399 that Timothy maybe became a Christian 00:08:53.399 --> 00:08:56.439 through hearing Paul preach the good news about Jesus. 00:08:56.439 --> 00:08:59.099 Because Paul describes him as his son. 00:08:59.299 --> 00:09:00.679 He's not literally his son. 00:09:01.079 --> 00:09:02.559 He's his son in the faith. 00:09:03.799 --> 00:09:06.399 And a few years after this first journey that Paul took, 00:09:06.739 --> 00:09:08.039 he took another journey, 00:09:08.139 --> 00:09:10.519 which is commonly known as Paul's second missionary journey. 00:09:11.119 --> 00:09:13.839 And there's the map there going the opposite direction. 00:09:14.279 --> 00:09:15.399 When he came to Lystra, 00:09:15.539 --> 00:09:18.159 he discovered that Timothy was maturing, 00:09:18.159 --> 00:09:19.600 developing in his faith, 00:09:20.600 --> 00:09:21.860 well respected, 00:09:22.299 --> 00:09:24.799 and he invited him to join his missionary team. 00:09:25.339 --> 00:09:27.779 And so Timothy joined Paul's missionary team 00:09:27.779 --> 00:09:29.519 and they traveled on further over. 00:09:29.600 --> 00:09:32.600 They crossed over into Europe for the first time 00:09:32.600 --> 00:09:33.719 with the good news of Jesus. 00:09:34.279 --> 00:09:35.600 And the first place they came to 00:09:35.600 --> 00:09:36.919 where they preached the good news 00:09:36.919 --> 00:09:39.199 was this town called Philippi. 00:09:39.339 --> 00:09:42.679 So the people in Philippi knew who Timothy was. 00:09:42.819 --> 00:09:44.879 Now, here we are a dozen years later. 00:09:44.879 --> 00:09:48.500 Timothy has become Paul's right-hand man. 00:09:49.939 --> 00:09:52.899 He's been entrusted with several important commissions. 00:09:53.340 --> 00:09:56.740 And so Paul is about to send him back to Philippi. 00:09:58.019 --> 00:10:00.700 And Paul explains why he's the right man for the job. 00:10:01.100 --> 00:10:02.379 The only man who fits the bill. 00:10:02.439 --> 00:10:03.059 Look what he says. 00:10:03.120 --> 00:10:05.360 He says, this thing is working here. 00:10:05.740 --> 00:10:08.080 He says, Timothy is one of a kind. 00:10:08.259 --> 00:10:11.159 He says, I have no one else like him. 00:10:11.320 --> 00:10:13.480 The word translated there, like him, 00:10:13.480 --> 00:10:14.700 is an unusual word. 00:10:14.779 --> 00:10:16.180 It's only found here in the New Testament. 00:10:16.360 --> 00:10:17.080 The Greek word, I mean. 00:10:17.680 --> 00:10:20.420 It literally means of equal soul. 00:10:23.000 --> 00:10:24.700 Paul says Timothy is the only person 00:10:24.700 --> 00:10:26.220 who has the same soul, 00:10:26.340 --> 00:10:29.259 the same essential passions, concerns, 00:10:29.700 --> 00:10:30.920 attitude, ambition. 00:10:31.720 --> 00:10:33.779 That's why I've described him as his soulmate. 00:10:34.259 --> 00:10:36.480 And Paul describes two particular ways 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:39.480 in which Timothy shows this scene in his life. 00:10:39.539 --> 00:10:42.100 The first is focusing on the needs of others. 00:10:42.100 --> 00:10:43.659 He says, I have no one else like him 00:10:43.659 --> 00:10:46.740 who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 00:10:47.200 --> 00:10:50.480 The word translated genuine is in Greek Genesis. 00:10:50.940 --> 00:10:52.340 It's to do with your nature. 00:10:53.480 --> 00:10:54.320 Something natural. 00:10:54.399 --> 00:10:55.519 But in Timothy's case, 00:10:55.659 --> 00:10:57.500 it is something supernatural. 00:10:58.100 --> 00:10:59.120 When you become a Christian, 00:10:59.220 --> 00:11:00.240 when you turn from your sin, 00:11:00.480 --> 00:11:01.680 you put your faith in Jesus, 00:11:01.840 --> 00:11:03.300 God puts his spirit within you. 00:11:03.519 --> 00:11:05.759 You're born again of the spirit of God. 00:11:05.879 --> 00:11:08.060 And the Holy Spirit begins to produce 00:11:08.059 --> 00:11:09.479 the fruit of the spirit. 00:11:11.719 --> 00:11:13.579 And one sign is that it turns 00:11:13.579 --> 00:11:15.279 our natural self-interest, 00:11:15.379 --> 00:11:16.579 looking out for number one, 00:11:17.579 --> 00:11:20.259 to that of the welfare of other people. 00:11:21.359 --> 00:11:23.339 In fact, the New Testament constantly says 00:11:23.339 --> 00:11:24.379 one of the hallmarks 00:11:24.379 --> 00:11:26.279 that you are a genuine Christian, 00:11:26.399 --> 00:11:28.219 that God is at work in you by his spirit, 00:11:28.839 --> 00:11:30.899 is that you have a genuine concern 00:11:30.899 --> 00:11:33.219 for the welfare of other people. 00:11:33.220 --> 00:11:35.620 And especially fellow Christians. 00:11:35.759 --> 00:11:36.680 But not exclusively. 00:11:37.500 --> 00:11:39.460 That should be a characteristic of Christians 00:11:39.460 --> 00:11:41.040 in any local church. 00:11:41.500 --> 00:11:45.180 Now, that's what it should be like. 00:11:45.340 --> 00:11:46.580 But Paul goes on to say, 00:11:47.519 --> 00:11:48.860 it's not what everyone's like. 00:11:48.960 --> 00:11:51.220 He says, for everyone looks out 00:11:51.220 --> 00:11:52.279 for his own interests, 00:11:52.420 --> 00:11:54.700 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:11:55.660 --> 00:11:57.120 One commentator writes, 00:11:57.420 --> 00:11:59.180 the general run of Christians, 00:11:59.300 --> 00:12:00.740 as far as Paul saw them, 00:12:00.740 --> 00:12:03.860 put themselves first and Jesus next. 00:12:03.960 --> 00:12:05.940 But it was not so with Timothy. 00:12:06.580 --> 00:12:08.659 And that was why Timothy stood out for the rest 00:12:08.659 --> 00:12:10.580 and could be described as a soulmate, 00:12:10.700 --> 00:12:13.259 sharing a similar attitude to that of Paul. 00:12:13.519 --> 00:12:14.539 Now, let's pause a moment, 00:12:14.600 --> 00:12:15.700 be practical and direct. 00:12:17.120 --> 00:12:19.100 If Paul was writing about this church, 00:12:19.159 --> 00:12:20.480 and I only know one or two of you, 00:12:20.480 --> 00:12:24.700 so I'm not pointing the finger at someone 00:12:24.700 --> 00:12:25.840 I've just suddenly heard about, 00:12:25.980 --> 00:12:26.879 you know, been told about, 00:12:26.960 --> 00:12:28.440 but let's be direct. 00:12:28.440 --> 00:12:31.700 And what proportion of us would be in the category 00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:34.840 of those who look out for their own interests, 00:12:35.380 --> 00:12:37.080 not those of Jesus Christ? 00:12:37.320 --> 00:12:38.000 Some of us? 00:12:38.940 --> 00:12:39.580 The majority? 00:12:39.720 --> 00:12:40.180 A minority? 00:12:40.980 --> 00:12:43.540 How many Timothys are there among us 00:12:43.540 --> 00:12:46.260 who genuinely concern for one another, 00:12:46.800 --> 00:12:48.720 not primarily our own needs? 00:12:50.160 --> 00:12:51.520 So Paul says he's like that, 00:12:52.320 --> 00:12:54.120 focusing on the needs of others, 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:55.159 but he also says, 00:12:56.039 --> 00:12:59.460 he shares a common concern, 00:12:59.879 --> 00:13:01.440 slaving in the work of the gospel. 00:13:01.720 --> 00:13:04.000 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, 00:13:04.840 --> 00:13:07.960 the word is used of proved an experience, 00:13:08.299 --> 00:13:10.220 because as a son with his father, 00:13:10.919 --> 00:13:12.940 he has served with me in the work of the gospel. 00:13:13.539 --> 00:13:14.600 Paul says, in fact, 00:13:15.179 --> 00:13:16.659 Timothy is my son in the faith, 00:13:16.740 --> 00:13:18.500 and he shares with me in the family business. 00:13:18.500 --> 00:13:22.440 But this is not the kind of business 00:13:22.440 --> 00:13:25.600 in which son and his father sit in a plush office 00:13:25.600 --> 00:13:27.440 and employ other people to do all the work, 00:13:28.519 --> 00:13:29.720 the hard and menial task. 00:13:30.080 --> 00:13:30.700 No, Paul says, 00:13:31.220 --> 00:13:32.259 Timothy has served with me, 00:13:32.340 --> 00:13:33.659 the Greek word is literally, 00:13:33.840 --> 00:13:34.840 slave with me. 00:13:36.840 --> 00:13:38.419 And the work in which they are involved 00:13:38.419 --> 00:13:39.620 is the work of the gospel, 00:13:40.580 --> 00:13:43.100 making the good news of Jesus known to all. 00:13:43.100 --> 00:13:46.240 And the very nature of this work 00:13:46.240 --> 00:13:47.340 means that you have to adopt 00:13:47.340 --> 00:13:49.320 the attitude of that of Jesus himself, 00:13:50.399 --> 00:13:52.159 the attitude and practice of slaves, 00:13:52.700 --> 00:13:53.960 those who have no rights, 00:13:54.060 --> 00:13:55.540 but slave for their master 00:13:55.540 --> 00:13:57.060 to whom they belong. 00:13:57.740 --> 00:13:59.860 Now, Timothy has seen what this is like for Paul. 00:14:00.080 --> 00:14:02.500 On the first visit Paul made to Timothy, 00:14:02.960 --> 00:14:03.680 to Lystra, 00:14:04.139 --> 00:14:05.420 he would have seen how Paul, 00:14:05.580 --> 00:14:06.700 after preaching the gospel, 00:14:07.800 --> 00:14:08.540 was stoned, 00:14:09.060 --> 00:14:10.220 dragged outside the city, 00:14:10.300 --> 00:14:11.139 and left for dead. 00:14:11.139 --> 00:14:13.080 Thankfully, he survived, 00:14:13.179 --> 00:14:15.159 but such things were the common experience 00:14:15.159 --> 00:14:18.159 of Paul and of all who joined him. 00:14:19.179 --> 00:14:21.519 So Paul reminds the Christians in Philippi 00:14:21.519 --> 00:14:22.879 that Timothy had proved himself. 00:14:23.019 --> 00:14:23.960 He'd shown his mettle 00:14:23.960 --> 00:14:26.199 as he had slaved alongside Paul, 00:14:26.679 --> 00:14:28.179 co-slaves in the service 00:14:28.179 --> 00:14:30.039 of their master, Jesus Christ. 00:14:30.379 --> 00:14:31.019 And Paul says, 00:14:31.080 --> 00:14:32.539 he's therefore the ideal person 00:14:32.539 --> 00:14:33.600 to come and visit you. 00:14:34.500 --> 00:14:36.519 Now, the job description 00:14:36.519 --> 00:14:38.379 has not changed in 2,000 years. 00:14:38.379 --> 00:14:41.240 The terms and conditions 00:14:41.240 --> 00:14:44.000 for a slave and servant of Jesus Christ 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:45.580 is gospel work, 00:14:45.620 --> 00:14:47.740 and I tell you that gospel work is hard 00:14:47.740 --> 00:14:49.500 and it is costly. 00:14:51.500 --> 00:14:53.379 For you abandon your rights 00:14:53.379 --> 00:14:55.480 for those of the gospel 00:14:55.480 --> 00:14:57.439 and the Savior whose gospel it is. 00:14:58.019 --> 00:14:59.360 So again, let me practical. 00:15:00.139 --> 00:15:00.879 Let me ask you, 00:15:00.919 --> 00:15:02.860 as I ask myself as I prepare this, 00:15:02.860 --> 00:15:05.060 what is it costing you 00:15:05.060 --> 00:15:06.240 to serve Christ? 00:15:07.379 --> 00:15:08.879 Or have you opted out? 00:15:10.620 --> 00:15:11.600 Well, we all want to know, 00:15:11.639 --> 00:15:13.200 as Paul puts it later in chapter 3, 00:15:13.320 --> 00:15:15.840 then we all want to know Christ 00:15:15.840 --> 00:15:17.139 and the power of his resurrection. 00:15:17.419 --> 00:15:18.759 But along with it, 00:15:19.600 --> 00:15:21.620 we're a little more apprehensive 00:15:21.620 --> 00:15:24.440 about sharing in the fellowship 00:15:24.440 --> 00:15:25.399 of his sufferings, 00:15:25.500 --> 00:15:27.620 becoming like him in his death. 00:15:28.259 --> 00:15:29.419 What did Jesus become like? 00:15:29.480 --> 00:15:30.759 Well, if you've been following this series, 00:15:31.060 --> 00:15:33.100 just a reminder of how the chapter begins. 00:15:33.639 --> 00:15:35.220 He talks about the way of Christ. 00:15:36.139 --> 00:15:36.560 And he says, 00:15:36.620 --> 00:15:38.980 notice the relationship to one another. 00:15:39.139 --> 00:15:41.820 In your relationships with one another, 00:15:42.700 --> 00:15:45.060 have the same mindset as Christ Jesus, 00:15:45.220 --> 00:15:47.200 who, being in very nature God, 00:15:47.299 --> 00:15:49.960 did not consider equality with God. 00:15:49.960 --> 00:15:51.759 Something to be grasped at, 00:15:52.899 --> 00:15:55.060 to be used to his own advantage. 00:15:55.639 --> 00:15:57.119 Rather, he made himself nothing 00:15:57.119 --> 00:15:59.039 by taking the very nature of a servant, 00:16:00.219 --> 00:16:01.519 being made in human likeness, 00:16:01.619 --> 00:16:03.039 being found in appearance as a man, 00:16:03.059 --> 00:16:03.939 he humbled himself 00:16:03.939 --> 00:16:05.899 by becoming obedient to death, 00:16:05.979 --> 00:16:07.319 even death on the cross. 00:16:07.739 --> 00:16:09.059 So again, to be practical, 00:16:09.599 --> 00:16:10.479 what are your plans? 00:16:10.599 --> 00:16:11.759 Are you sitting there saying, 00:16:12.199 --> 00:16:13.799 I'm here, here am I, Lord, 00:16:13.859 --> 00:16:14.779 whatever you want me to do, 00:16:14.819 --> 00:16:15.379 I'm available. 00:16:16.219 --> 00:16:17.179 I'll serve anywhere. 00:16:17.379 --> 00:16:17.939 I'm wanted. 00:16:17.939 --> 00:16:19.859 Whether it's got a title or not, 00:16:20.579 --> 00:16:22.159 whether it's seen or not seen, 00:16:22.239 --> 00:16:24.399 I'm prepared to serve others 00:16:24.399 --> 00:16:26.579 and be a slave in the work of the gospel. 00:16:27.000 --> 00:16:28.039 Or are you thinking, 00:16:28.159 --> 00:16:29.059 and as I get older, 00:16:29.159 --> 00:16:30.879 I find what a temptation it is. 00:16:31.000 --> 00:16:32.840 Some of you who are my age, 00:16:33.000 --> 00:16:34.579 or maybe even older, who knows. 00:16:35.480 --> 00:16:38.959 Now is the chance to let someone else take over. 00:16:40.059 --> 00:16:41.220 I deserve a break. 00:16:41.480 --> 00:16:43.799 It'll be a relief not to have to be here every week 00:16:43.799 --> 00:16:44.899 to teach those children, 00:16:45.340 --> 00:16:46.120 count that money, 00:16:46.299 --> 00:16:47.199 steward of that door, 00:16:47.199 --> 00:16:48.419 make that coffee, 00:16:48.980 --> 00:16:50.039 attend that meeting. 00:16:50.360 --> 00:16:52.899 I'm looking forward to retirement. 00:16:52.899 --> 00:16:55.379 I'm glad to hear that Ian is not retiring. 00:16:56.179 --> 00:16:57.819 He's just being, 00:16:58.159 --> 00:16:58.439 what's, 00:16:58.559 --> 00:16:58.899 you say, 00:16:58.980 --> 00:16:59.959 retire as a retread. 00:17:00.100 --> 00:17:00.699 I think it's no way. 00:17:01.699 --> 00:17:02.019 So, 00:17:02.659 --> 00:17:04.160 now you're Timothy. 00:17:05.059 --> 00:17:06.460 Paul plans to send Timothy 00:17:06.460 --> 00:17:08.900 as his valued representative 00:17:09.500 --> 00:17:10.980 to the church in Philippi 00:17:10.980 --> 00:17:11.920 for their soulmates. 00:17:12.279 --> 00:17:12.839 But he says, 00:17:13.099 --> 00:17:14.400 Timothy can't leave immediately. 00:17:14.740 --> 00:17:16.859 We need to wait the verdict of the court 00:17:16.859 --> 00:17:18.720 because Paul is on trial for his life. 00:17:19.960 --> 00:17:21.019 He will be needed. 00:17:21.019 --> 00:17:21.660 Instead, 00:17:21.839 --> 00:17:22.160 Paul says, 00:17:22.200 --> 00:17:23.700 I'm going to send someone straight away. 00:17:23.819 --> 00:17:23.920 So, 00:17:24.339 --> 00:17:25.180 turn back to the Bible 00:17:25.180 --> 00:17:26.700 and here we have the second person, 00:17:27.460 --> 00:17:28.819 a man called Epaphroditus, 00:17:28.940 --> 00:17:30.879 who I've described as the risk taker. 00:17:31.019 --> 00:17:32.079 I'll explain why in a moment. 00:17:33.599 --> 00:17:35.639 Verse 25, 00:17:35.839 --> 00:17:37.059 but I think it's necessary 00:17:37.059 --> 00:17:38.240 to send back to you 00:17:38.240 --> 00:17:39.319 Epaphroditus, 00:17:39.460 --> 00:17:39.960 my brother, 00:17:40.099 --> 00:17:40.619 co-worker, 00:17:40.700 --> 00:17:41.480 and fellow soldier, 00:17:41.599 --> 00:17:42.960 who is also your messenger, 00:17:43.539 --> 00:17:44.339 whom you sent 00:17:44.339 --> 00:17:45.859 to take care of my needs. 00:17:46.200 --> 00:17:47.539 For he longs for all of you 00:17:47.539 --> 00:17:48.359 and is distressed 00:17:48.359 --> 00:17:49.639 because you heard he was ill. 00:17:49.640 --> 00:17:50.160 Indeed, 00:17:50.340 --> 00:17:51.900 he was ill and almost died. 00:17:52.220 --> 00:17:53.700 But God had mercy on him 00:17:53.700 --> 00:17:55.100 and not on him only, 00:17:55.560 --> 00:17:56.440 but also on me 00:17:56.440 --> 00:17:58.360 to share me sorrow upon sorrow. 00:17:58.780 --> 00:17:59.040 Therefore, 00:17:59.220 --> 00:18:00.259 I am all the more eager 00:18:00.259 --> 00:18:01.020 to send him 00:18:01.020 --> 00:18:02.660 so that when you see him again, 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.520 you may be glad 00:18:03.520 --> 00:18:05.520 and I may have less anxiety. 00:18:05.780 --> 00:18:06.280 So then, 00:18:06.640 --> 00:18:07.960 welcome him in the Lord 00:18:07.960 --> 00:18:09.259 with great joy 00:18:09.259 --> 00:18:10.780 and honor people like him 00:18:10.780 --> 00:18:12.759 because he almost died 00:18:12.759 --> 00:18:13.980 for the work of Christ. 00:18:14.780 --> 00:18:15.800 He risked his life 00:18:15.799 --> 00:18:17.740 to make up for the help 00:18:17.740 --> 00:18:18.819 you yourselves 00:18:18.819 --> 00:18:20.539 could not give me. 00:18:21.440 --> 00:18:22.440 Of all the churches 00:18:22.440 --> 00:18:23.279 that Paul founded, 00:18:23.680 --> 00:18:24.940 only this one church 00:18:24.940 --> 00:18:25.720 in Philippi 00:18:25.720 --> 00:18:27.919 supported him financially 00:18:27.919 --> 00:18:30.440 in his missionary endeavors. 00:18:31.059 --> 00:18:31.919 And when the Christians 00:18:31.919 --> 00:18:33.680 in Philippi learned 00:18:33.680 --> 00:18:34.919 that Paul was 00:18:34.919 --> 00:18:37.759 a prisoner in chains in Rome, 00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:39.460 they decided to send him 00:18:39.460 --> 00:18:40.379 some practical help. 00:18:40.440 --> 00:18:41.000 Now, you need to know 00:18:41.000 --> 00:18:41.879 a bit about the background. 00:18:42.019 --> 00:18:42.599 In those days 00:18:42.599 --> 00:18:43.619 when you were put in prison, 00:18:43.619 --> 00:18:46.019 they didn't put TVs 00:18:46.019 --> 00:18:47.000 in your prison cell 00:18:47.000 --> 00:18:48.359 or give you nice meals 00:18:48.359 --> 00:18:49.299 and other meals 00:18:49.299 --> 00:18:51.079 or reasonable meals anyway. 00:18:51.759 --> 00:18:52.500 There were no amenities 00:18:52.500 --> 00:18:54.159 provided by the authorities. 00:18:54.639 --> 00:18:55.619 Relatives and friends 00:18:55.619 --> 00:18:56.500 had to bring in 00:18:56.500 --> 00:18:58.079 food and provisions for you. 00:18:58.979 --> 00:19:00.259 If you didn't have any friends, 00:19:00.679 --> 00:19:02.319 you suffered or even starved. 00:19:03.159 --> 00:19:04.539 And even if you had friends, 00:19:04.619 --> 00:19:05.939 they might be somewhat reluctant 00:19:05.939 --> 00:19:07.939 to identify with someone 00:19:07.939 --> 00:19:09.599 who was on trial before Caesar 00:19:09.599 --> 00:19:11.079 for a capital offense. 00:19:11.379 --> 00:19:12.659 But the Philippian Christians 00:19:12.660 --> 00:19:13.400 were not worried 00:19:13.400 --> 00:19:14.320 about such things. 00:19:14.740 --> 00:19:15.779 Instead, they determined 00:19:15.779 --> 00:19:16.360 this church, 00:19:16.400 --> 00:19:17.400 and it's a wonderful thing, 00:19:17.820 --> 00:19:18.519 they got together 00:19:18.519 --> 00:19:19.120 and decided, 00:19:19.259 --> 00:19:19.940 we're going to send 00:19:19.940 --> 00:19:20.740 a gift to Paul 00:19:20.740 --> 00:19:21.620 and we're going to send 00:19:21.620 --> 00:19:22.620 one of our members 00:19:22.620 --> 00:19:23.880 with the gift 00:19:23.880 --> 00:19:25.160 to give it to him. 00:19:25.440 --> 00:19:26.759 And so they chose 00:19:26.759 --> 00:19:27.779 one of their members, 00:19:27.880 --> 00:19:29.620 a man named Epaphroditus. 00:19:29.820 --> 00:19:30.860 Now, unlike Timothy, 00:19:31.120 --> 00:19:32.100 we know nothing else 00:19:32.100 --> 00:19:32.660 about Epaphroditus. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:34.600 It's quite a common name 00:19:34.600 --> 00:19:36.440 or the shortened form Epaphras. 00:19:36.920 --> 00:19:37.600 We know nothing 00:19:37.600 --> 00:19:39.060 about this Epaphroditus 00:19:39.060 --> 00:19:41.040 except what is found here. 00:19:41.039 --> 00:19:43.480 He's named Epaphroditus 00:19:43.480 --> 00:19:45.700 after the Greek goddess 00:19:45.700 --> 00:19:46.980 of love, Aphrodite. 00:19:47.759 --> 00:19:48.680 Presumably, he came 00:19:48.680 --> 00:19:49.720 from a Greek background 00:19:49.720 --> 00:19:50.460 like that. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:51.960 His name, the name means 00:19:51.960 --> 00:19:54.240 charming, lovely, amiable, 00:19:54.619 --> 00:19:55.899 and it suited him well. 00:19:56.319 --> 00:19:57.279 And the task of which 00:19:57.279 --> 00:19:58.019 he was assigned 00:19:58.019 --> 00:19:59.339 also suited him well. 00:19:59.819 --> 00:20:01.460 For we learn that Epaphroditus 00:20:01.460 --> 00:20:02.339 was not the type 00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:02.799 who settled 00:20:02.799 --> 00:20:04.059 for a comfortable existence, 00:20:04.480 --> 00:20:05.480 but rather we learn 00:20:05.480 --> 00:20:06.319 in verse 30 00:20:06.319 --> 00:20:08.539 that Epaphroditus, 00:20:08.700 --> 00:20:09.839 he risked his life 00:20:09.839 --> 00:20:11.460 to make up for the help 00:20:11.460 --> 00:20:12.619 you could not give me. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:13.299 Now, again, 00:20:13.639 --> 00:20:14.240 the word here, 00:20:14.419 --> 00:20:15.259 translated risk, 00:20:15.419 --> 00:20:16.799 is a very unusual word. 00:20:16.960 --> 00:20:17.720 Again, it's another 00:20:17.720 --> 00:20:18.399 of these words 00:20:18.399 --> 00:20:19.559 that's only found here 00:20:19.559 --> 00:20:20.879 in the New Testament. 00:20:21.039 --> 00:20:21.700 What you have to do 00:20:21.700 --> 00:20:22.399 if you're a student 00:20:22.399 --> 00:20:23.339 of the Bible, 00:20:23.460 --> 00:20:24.079 you have to find 00:20:24.079 --> 00:20:24.779 other literature 00:20:24.779 --> 00:20:26.299 from the first century 00:20:26.299 --> 00:20:27.240 written in Greek 00:20:27.240 --> 00:20:28.039 to try and work out 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:28.700 what it means. 00:20:29.419 --> 00:20:30.079 Its meaning is 00:20:30.079 --> 00:20:30.720 somewhat obscure, 00:20:30.879 --> 00:20:31.819 but most people think 00:20:31.819 --> 00:20:33.839 it refers to a gambler 00:20:33.839 --> 00:20:35.279 staking everything 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.619 on the shake of a dice. 00:20:37.759 --> 00:20:38.159 Now, 00:20:38.759 --> 00:20:39.500 gambling with dice 00:20:39.500 --> 00:20:40.599 is not a practice 00:20:40.599 --> 00:20:41.339 that is endorsed 00:20:41.339 --> 00:20:42.059 in the Bible, 00:20:42.519 --> 00:20:43.619 not least because 00:20:43.619 --> 00:20:44.619 you're risking money 00:20:44.619 --> 00:20:45.879 on an uncertain outcome. 00:20:46.199 --> 00:20:47.000 But the gamble 00:20:47.000 --> 00:20:48.439 that Epaphroditus takes 00:20:48.439 --> 00:20:49.359 is commendable 00:20:49.359 --> 00:20:51.379 because what was at stake 00:20:51.379 --> 00:20:53.059 was of the utmost importance 00:20:53.059 --> 00:20:54.240 and the outcome 00:20:54.240 --> 00:20:55.879 is sure to be favourable. 00:20:56.179 --> 00:20:57.019 So what risk 00:20:57.019 --> 00:20:58.379 did Epaphroditus take? 00:20:58.439 --> 00:20:59.019 In these verses 00:20:59.019 --> 00:21:00.220 we see that, 00:21:00.359 --> 00:21:00.919 first of all, 00:21:01.399 --> 00:21:02.099 he took a risk 00:21:02.099 --> 00:21:03.459 to his physical health 00:21:03.460 --> 00:21:05.019 his sickness. 00:21:06.440 --> 00:21:07.759 Read in the verse there, 00:21:08.319 --> 00:21:09.579 indeed he was ill. 00:21:10.720 --> 00:21:11.900 Somewhere on the journey 00:21:11.900 --> 00:21:12.480 to Rome, 00:21:13.319 --> 00:21:14.160 carrying this gift 00:21:14.160 --> 00:21:14.700 for Paul, 00:21:15.559 --> 00:21:16.860 or maybe after he arrived, 00:21:17.000 --> 00:21:19.000 Epaphroditus got seriously ill. 00:21:19.559 --> 00:21:20.120 We don't know 00:21:20.120 --> 00:21:20.920 what the problem was, 00:21:20.960 --> 00:21:21.440 all we know 00:21:21.440 --> 00:21:21.940 is that it was 00:21:21.940 --> 00:21:22.620 life-threatening. 00:21:24.160 --> 00:21:24.360 Now, 00:21:24.420 --> 00:21:24.840 there must have been 00:21:24.840 --> 00:21:25.920 a strong temptation 00:21:25.920 --> 00:21:26.779 to turn back 00:21:26.779 --> 00:21:27.319 in the face 00:21:27.319 --> 00:21:28.380 of such adversity 00:21:28.380 --> 00:21:31.019 or to return home 00:21:31.019 --> 00:21:32.039 as soon as he arrived. 00:21:32.539 --> 00:21:33.380 But Epaphroditus 00:21:33.380 --> 00:21:34.100 was determined 00:21:34.100 --> 00:21:35.420 to fulfil his commission 00:21:35.420 --> 00:21:37.040 no matter what the cost, 00:21:37.220 --> 00:21:38.140 even if it cost him 00:21:38.140 --> 00:21:38.520 his life. 00:21:38.520 --> 00:21:39.720 And as it turns out, 00:21:39.740 --> 00:21:40.240 as we read, 00:21:40.340 --> 00:21:41.220 indeed he was ill, 00:21:41.700 --> 00:21:42.460 almost died, 00:21:42.540 --> 00:21:43.920 but God had mercy on him, 00:21:44.260 --> 00:21:45.560 not on him only, 00:21:45.680 --> 00:21:46.520 but also on me 00:21:46.520 --> 00:21:47.480 to share me sorrow 00:21:47.480 --> 00:21:48.220 upon sorrow. 00:21:48.740 --> 00:21:49.540 As with the illness, 00:21:49.640 --> 00:21:50.420 we have no idea 00:21:50.420 --> 00:21:51.200 how he recovered. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:53.279 But whatever the means, 00:21:53.420 --> 00:21:54.500 Paul attributes it 00:21:54.500 --> 00:21:55.539 to God's mercy. 00:21:56.100 --> 00:21:57.220 Still the case today 00:21:57.220 --> 00:21:58.420 with any healing, 00:21:58.779 --> 00:22:00.160 whether directly from God, 00:22:00.640 --> 00:22:01.900 naturally through the body's 00:22:01.900 --> 00:22:02.700 healing processes, 00:22:02.860 --> 00:22:03.420 or medically, 00:22:03.880 --> 00:22:04.460 through the skill 00:22:04.460 --> 00:22:05.539 of doctors and nurses, 00:22:06.019 --> 00:22:07.360 God is the author of life. 00:22:07.440 --> 00:22:08.980 He's also the author of death. 00:22:09.920 --> 00:22:11.160 What is important to see 00:22:11.160 --> 00:22:12.200 is that Epaphroditus 00:22:12.200 --> 00:22:14.440 was prepared to take this risk, 00:22:15.160 --> 00:22:17.120 his life for the sake of Christ, 00:22:17.119 --> 00:22:18.759 because he was following 00:22:18.759 --> 00:22:20.559 in the footsteps of Christ. 00:22:22.159 --> 00:22:24.399 The Scottish professor 00:22:24.399 --> 00:22:25.939 William Barclay comments 00:22:25.939 --> 00:22:27.000 that in the early centre 00:22:27.000 --> 00:22:27.739 of the church, 00:22:27.839 --> 00:22:29.179 there were a group of Christians 00:22:29.179 --> 00:22:30.919 who adopted this name 00:22:30.919 --> 00:22:31.579 for themselves. 00:22:31.739 --> 00:22:32.619 They called themselves 00:22:32.619 --> 00:22:34.119 the risk takers. 00:22:35.379 --> 00:22:36.539 Let me read what he says. 00:22:36.939 --> 00:22:37.679 It was their aim 00:22:37.679 --> 00:22:38.679 to visit the prisoners 00:22:38.679 --> 00:22:39.539 and the sick, 00:22:40.019 --> 00:22:41.359 especially those who were ill 00:22:41.359 --> 00:22:42.139 with dangerous 00:22:42.139 --> 00:22:43.859 and infectious diseases. 00:22:44.739 --> 00:22:46.559 And he says in AD 252, 00:22:46.559 --> 00:22:49.059 plague broke out in Carthage. 00:22:49.659 --> 00:22:50.379 The people there 00:22:50.379 --> 00:22:51.480 threw out the bodies 00:22:51.480 --> 00:22:53.039 of the sick and dying 00:22:53.039 --> 00:22:53.899 into the streets 00:22:53.899 --> 00:22:55.019 and fled in terror. 00:22:55.940 --> 00:22:57.399 Cyprian, the Christian bishop, 00:22:58.500 --> 00:23:00.139 gathered his congregation together 00:23:00.139 --> 00:23:01.539 and put them to work 00:23:01.539 --> 00:23:02.359 burying the dead 00:23:02.359 --> 00:23:03.460 and nursing the sick 00:23:03.460 --> 00:23:04.960 in the plague-ridden city. 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:06.740 And by so doing, 00:23:06.799 --> 00:23:07.899 at the risk of their lives, 00:23:07.960 --> 00:23:08.759 they saved the city 00:23:08.759 --> 00:23:09.480 from destruction. 00:23:09.859 --> 00:23:10.740 He then concludes, 00:23:11.339 --> 00:23:13.339 in all Christians, 00:23:13.339 --> 00:23:14.099 there should be 00:23:14.099 --> 00:23:15.779 an almost reckless courage 00:23:15.779 --> 00:23:16.879 which makes them ready 00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:18.220 to gamble with their lives 00:23:18.220 --> 00:23:19.240 to serve Christ 00:23:19.240 --> 00:23:21.480 and to serve others. 00:23:23.319 --> 00:23:25.319 Is it a justifiable risk? 00:23:25.859 --> 00:23:27.220 Only if we believe 00:23:27.220 --> 00:23:28.339 that the gospel 00:23:28.339 --> 00:23:29.399 is the power of God 00:23:29.399 --> 00:23:30.119 for the salvation 00:23:30.119 --> 00:23:31.299 of everyone who believes, 00:23:31.700 --> 00:23:32.759 Romans 1.16. 00:23:33.299 --> 00:23:34.559 And only if we believe, 00:23:34.660 --> 00:23:35.319 as Paul does, 00:23:35.359 --> 00:23:36.579 as we've studied previously, 00:23:36.879 --> 00:23:38.779 that for me to live is Christ 00:23:38.779 --> 00:23:40.480 and to die is gain. 00:23:41.099 --> 00:23:41.960 For the Christian, 00:23:42.399 --> 00:23:44.500 it's a win-win situation, 00:23:45.139 --> 00:23:45.899 whether you live 00:23:45.899 --> 00:23:47.799 or whether you die. 00:23:49.039 --> 00:23:49.859 And Epaphroditus 00:23:49.859 --> 00:23:50.539 was prepared 00:23:50.539 --> 00:23:51.539 to take that risk. 00:23:51.799 --> 00:23:53.379 But notice the second risk 00:23:53.379 --> 00:23:54.960 that was also involved here, 00:23:55.039 --> 00:23:57.539 not only to his physical health, 00:23:57.599 --> 00:23:58.019 his sickness, 00:23:58.200 --> 00:23:58.779 but also, 00:23:58.899 --> 00:23:59.759 you can miss this, 00:23:59.839 --> 00:24:01.599 but also to his emotional health, 00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.799 his sensitivity. 00:24:04.240 --> 00:24:05.139 Somehow, perhaps, 00:24:05.379 --> 00:24:06.200 with a messenger 00:24:06.200 --> 00:24:07.700 going back in the opposite direction 00:24:07.700 --> 00:24:08.840 to Philippi, 00:24:09.240 --> 00:24:10.220 the church there 00:24:10.220 --> 00:24:11.480 learned that Epaphroditus 00:24:11.480 --> 00:24:12.740 was desperately sick. 00:24:13.519 --> 00:24:13.840 And so, 00:24:13.940 --> 00:24:15.200 when Epaphroditus learns 00:24:15.200 --> 00:24:15.860 they know this, 00:24:15.920 --> 00:24:16.860 he feels it deeply. 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:18.900 For he longs for all of you 00:24:18.900 --> 00:24:19.759 as distressed 00:24:19.759 --> 00:24:21.080 because he heard you, 00:24:21.779 --> 00:24:22.319 he heard, 00:24:22.460 --> 00:24:23.799 you heard he was ill. 00:24:24.940 --> 00:24:26.660 The word translated longs 00:24:26.660 --> 00:24:28.500 is one of deep desire, 00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.480 not just homesickness, 00:24:30.580 --> 00:24:31.220 but a deep, 00:24:31.720 --> 00:24:33.360 gut-wrenching feeling within. 00:24:33.799 --> 00:24:34.900 And the word distressed, 00:24:34.900 --> 00:24:36.280 again, a very interesting word. 00:24:36.400 --> 00:24:37.980 It is only used elsewhere 00:24:37.980 --> 00:24:38.840 in the New Testament 00:24:38.840 --> 00:24:40.160 on one other occasion. 00:24:40.759 --> 00:24:41.720 The word distressed 00:24:41.720 --> 00:24:42.940 is the word used 00:24:42.940 --> 00:24:44.700 to describe the agony of Jesus 00:24:44.700 --> 00:24:46.660 in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:48.180 when he faced death himself 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.140 and we're told, 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.000 sweat as it were, 00:24:50.080 --> 00:24:51.259 great drops of blood. 00:24:51.880 --> 00:24:53.740 That's in Matthew 26, 37 00:24:53.740 --> 00:24:56.100 and the parallel in Mark 14, 33. 00:24:56.740 --> 00:24:57.040 You see, 00:24:57.340 --> 00:24:58.820 Epaphroditus is one of those 00:24:58.820 --> 00:24:59.860 rare people 00:24:59.860 --> 00:25:01.960 who feels what other people feel. 00:25:01.960 --> 00:25:03.980 He's distressed 00:25:03.980 --> 00:25:05.539 when other people are distressed. 00:25:05.680 --> 00:25:07.380 It's another Christian trait. 00:25:07.819 --> 00:25:08.779 And while there is clearly 00:25:08.779 --> 00:25:09.799 a physical risk 00:25:09.799 --> 00:25:10.840 to serving Christ, 00:25:11.640 --> 00:25:12.220 there is always 00:25:12.220 --> 00:25:13.360 an emotional risk 00:25:13.360 --> 00:25:14.900 if you take the risk 00:25:14.900 --> 00:25:16.079 of involving yourself 00:25:16.079 --> 00:25:17.460 with other people. 00:25:17.579 --> 00:25:18.440 I've been involved in 00:25:18.440 --> 00:25:19.759 Christian ministry 00:25:19.759 --> 00:25:20.640 overseas 00:25:20.640 --> 00:25:21.720 and in this country 00:25:21.720 --> 00:25:22.720 for, well, 00:25:22.840 --> 00:25:23.819 a good part of my life 00:25:23.819 --> 00:25:24.680 for 50 years. 00:25:25.259 --> 00:25:26.079 And one of the great, 00:25:26.079 --> 00:25:26.980 great challenges 00:25:26.980 --> 00:25:29.400 is involving yourself 00:25:29.400 --> 00:25:30.440 with other people. 00:25:30.940 --> 00:25:32.019 There is an emotional 00:25:32.019 --> 00:25:32.819 involvement. 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:35.180 There is an emotional demand. 00:25:37.000 --> 00:25:37.839 It's very painful. 00:25:38.279 --> 00:25:38.960 And I tell you, 00:25:39.319 --> 00:25:41.059 if you are in full-time ministry, 00:25:41.220 --> 00:25:42.779 in so-called full-time ministry, 00:25:43.220 --> 00:25:43.980 the great danger 00:25:43.980 --> 00:25:44.819 is to treat it 00:25:44.819 --> 00:25:46.180 as a professional thing. 00:25:47.120 --> 00:25:48.120 But you can't do that 00:25:48.120 --> 00:25:49.019 in Christian ministry. 00:25:50.059 --> 00:25:51.319 If you're going to be genuine 00:25:51.319 --> 00:25:52.079 about being involved 00:25:52.079 --> 00:25:52.880 in Christian ministry, 00:25:53.099 --> 00:25:54.799 it means emotional pain. 00:25:55.799 --> 00:25:56.839 And there's only one way 00:25:56.839 --> 00:25:57.440 to avoid it, 00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.339 which is to avoid 00:25:58.339 --> 00:26:00.000 involving yourself 00:26:00.000 --> 00:26:01.519 with people emotionally. 00:26:04.799 --> 00:26:05.859 And some of us feel 00:26:05.859 --> 00:26:06.559 this more deeply 00:26:06.559 --> 00:26:07.200 than others. 00:26:08.180 --> 00:26:08.940 I have a wife 00:26:08.940 --> 00:26:10.079 who is a very good counselor. 00:26:10.240 --> 00:26:11.240 Sometimes I have to stop 00:26:11.240 --> 00:26:12.659 talking to too many people 00:26:12.659 --> 00:26:13.859 because it just 00:26:13.859 --> 00:26:15.299 emotionally exhausts her. 00:26:16.039 --> 00:26:17.059 It's just so painful. 00:26:18.379 --> 00:26:19.000 I have to be honest, 00:26:19.000 --> 00:26:19.659 I'm a sort of guy 00:26:19.659 --> 00:26:20.399 who can switch off 00:26:20.399 --> 00:26:21.460 and put it somewhere 00:26:21.460 --> 00:26:22.419 in the back of my mind. 00:26:23.200 --> 00:26:23.799 But when someone 00:26:23.799 --> 00:26:26.839 someone talks deeply to you 00:26:26.839 --> 00:26:27.399 and talks about 00:26:27.399 --> 00:26:28.500 some of the pain and agony 00:26:28.500 --> 00:26:29.220 and whatever it is 00:26:29.220 --> 00:26:29.819 they're going through, 00:26:30.279 --> 00:26:31.480 it's a very painful 00:26:31.480 --> 00:26:32.980 and demanding experience. 00:26:34.399 --> 00:26:35.339 It was a risk 00:26:35.339 --> 00:26:36.220 that Epaphroditus 00:26:36.220 --> 00:26:37.359 was prepared to take. 00:26:37.419 --> 00:26:38.539 I wonder if you and I are. 00:26:41.559 --> 00:26:42.859 But Paul is very concerned 00:26:42.859 --> 00:26:44.799 as he sends Epaphroditus back 00:26:44.799 --> 00:26:46.159 that the church there 00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:47.000 don't regard him 00:26:47.000 --> 00:26:48.180 as some kind of failure. 00:26:49.419 --> 00:26:50.379 And so he commends 00:26:50.379 --> 00:26:51.519 Epaphroditus, 00:26:51.639 --> 00:26:52.579 uses three lovely 00:26:52.579 --> 00:26:53.980 increasing terms 00:26:53.980 --> 00:26:54.799 to describe him. 00:26:54.839 --> 00:26:55.179 He says, 00:26:55.179 --> 00:26:56.139 he's my brother, 00:26:57.379 --> 00:26:59.339 one with whom I'm joined 00:26:59.339 --> 00:27:00.439 in the deepest affection. 00:27:01.059 --> 00:27:02.299 He's my fellow worker, 00:27:03.399 --> 00:27:05.379 one who served with me 00:27:05.379 --> 00:27:06.419 in the work of the gospel. 00:27:07.179 --> 00:27:09.539 And he is my fellow soldier, 00:27:10.099 --> 00:27:11.419 a comrade in arms 00:27:11.419 --> 00:27:14.039 who has fought side by side 00:27:14.039 --> 00:27:15.679 with me against the force of evil. 00:27:16.980 --> 00:27:17.699 Epaphroditus says, 00:27:17.779 --> 00:27:17.939 Paul, 00:27:18.059 --> 00:27:19.279 he's fulfilled his commission 00:27:19.279 --> 00:27:20.559 so when he gets back, 00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:22.159 give him a warm welcome. 00:27:23.460 --> 00:27:24.819 Welcome him in the Lord 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:26.319 with great joy 00:27:26.319 --> 00:27:28.240 and honor men like him. 00:27:29.379 --> 00:27:29.699 In fact, 00:27:30.019 --> 00:27:31.039 think about this. 00:27:31.980 --> 00:27:33.299 Epaphroditus is going to go back 00:27:33.299 --> 00:27:34.199 and he's the postman 00:27:34.199 --> 00:27:34.960 who's going to carry 00:27:34.960 --> 00:27:36.259 this letter of the Philippians 00:27:36.259 --> 00:27:36.859 back home 00:27:36.859 --> 00:27:38.059 and he's going to talk about him 00:27:38.059 --> 00:27:38.740 in the very letter 00:27:38.740 --> 00:27:39.939 that he's carrying back home. 00:27:43.079 --> 00:27:44.199 And sometimes, 00:27:44.819 --> 00:27:46.720 wounded soldiers 00:27:46.720 --> 00:27:48.980 with physical and emotional scars 00:27:48.980 --> 00:27:50.359 return home 00:27:50.359 --> 00:27:51.879 to a deafening silence. 00:27:53.879 --> 00:27:55.139 Sometimes our missionaries 00:27:55.139 --> 00:27:55.979 come home 00:27:55.979 --> 00:27:58.719 to a deafening silence. 00:27:59.599 --> 00:28:00.419 Many years ago, 00:28:00.459 --> 00:28:01.079 when I was a missionary, 00:28:01.879 --> 00:28:02.599 having come home, 00:28:02.659 --> 00:28:04.500 I heard a Christian counselor, 00:28:04.639 --> 00:28:04.879 a doctor, 00:28:05.000 --> 00:28:06.179 a missionary for 30 years 00:28:06.179 --> 00:28:08.159 called Marjorie Foyle 00:28:08.160 --> 00:28:09.920 and she wrote a remarkable book. 00:28:10.000 --> 00:28:11.160 I was just looking on the internet 00:28:11.160 --> 00:28:13.220 and it's been reissued. 00:28:13.340 --> 00:28:14.759 It was first published in 1987. 00:28:15.420 --> 00:28:16.160 The book is called 00:28:16.160 --> 00:28:17.180 Honorably Wounded 00:28:17.180 --> 00:28:19.340 and she talks about those 00:28:19.340 --> 00:28:20.300 in Christian service, 00:28:20.400 --> 00:28:21.180 not just missionaries, 00:28:21.320 --> 00:28:22.900 but in Christian service 00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.820 who've been hurt 00:28:23.820 --> 00:28:25.140 and scarred 00:28:25.140 --> 00:28:26.940 sometimes by the experiences 00:28:26.940 --> 00:28:27.900 that they have 00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:29.140 encountered. 00:28:29.140 --> 00:28:30.860 and she says, 00:28:30.960 --> 00:28:32.140 we should esteem them highly 00:28:32.140 --> 00:28:33.060 and care for them, 00:28:33.880 --> 00:28:34.800 not ignore them. 00:28:35.660 --> 00:28:36.820 Give them a warm welcome. 00:28:39.240 --> 00:28:40.100 Don't leave it 00:28:40.100 --> 00:28:41.200 until the funeral service. 00:28:42.560 --> 00:28:44.120 I often take funeral service. 00:28:44.220 --> 00:28:45.780 I've got a file this big 00:28:45.780 --> 00:28:47.740 since I've been in Edinburgh, 00:28:47.880 --> 00:28:49.240 probably 200 funerals. 00:28:50.200 --> 00:28:50.759 And quite often 00:28:50.759 --> 00:28:52.060 when you describe someone 00:28:52.060 --> 00:28:52.980 at a funeral service, 00:28:53.320 --> 00:28:54.259 people say, 00:28:54.340 --> 00:28:55.440 I wish he or she 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.120 could have heard that. 00:28:56.119 --> 00:28:59.319 And there is a place 00:28:59.319 --> 00:29:01.519 to honour one another, 00:29:01.779 --> 00:29:02.679 to esteem people, 00:29:02.739 --> 00:29:03.439 just to express 00:29:03.439 --> 00:29:04.399 our appreciation. 00:29:04.859 --> 00:29:06.039 It's good that you've 00:29:06.039 --> 00:29:07.199 prayed already for your team 00:29:07.199 --> 00:29:08.339 who are going to join you here. 00:29:09.059 --> 00:29:10.219 I'll keep praying for them. 00:29:10.719 --> 00:29:12.019 Keep appreciating them. 00:29:13.399 --> 00:29:14.299 Don't end up 00:29:14.299 --> 00:29:15.279 a certain person 00:29:15.279 --> 00:29:16.279 when we came to 00:29:16.279 --> 00:29:16.939 Charlotte Chapel. 00:29:18.719 --> 00:29:19.299 It's a kind of 00:29:19.299 --> 00:29:20.500 cultural thing said, 00:29:21.279 --> 00:29:22.459 don't expect anyone 00:29:22.459 --> 00:29:23.819 to thank you for anything here. 00:29:23.899 --> 00:29:25.159 Just assume you're doing fine, 00:29:25.239 --> 00:29:26.099 otherwise we'll let you know 00:29:26.099 --> 00:29:26.319 know. 00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:31.839 It wasn't always like that. 00:29:31.959 --> 00:29:33.399 It's improved over the years, 00:29:33.500 --> 00:29:34.639 but be careful. 00:29:36.379 --> 00:29:37.079 So here we have 00:29:37.079 --> 00:29:38.839 Timothy the soulmate, 00:29:38.939 --> 00:29:40.399 Epaphroditus the risk taker. 00:29:40.879 --> 00:29:41.839 And after this, 00:29:41.959 --> 00:29:42.779 there's Paul himself. 00:29:42.899 --> 00:29:44.559 He doesn't explicitly mention, 00:29:45.019 --> 00:29:46.480 but he's part of that same 00:29:46.480 --> 00:29:48.259 fraternity, 00:29:48.379 --> 00:29:49.959 how he relates to these men 00:29:49.959 --> 00:29:50.879 and how he relates 00:29:50.879 --> 00:29:52.199 to the church in Philippi, 00:29:52.199 --> 00:29:53.519 which shows that he practices 00:29:53.519 --> 00:29:54.439 what he preaches 00:29:54.440 --> 00:29:56.019 and he feels 00:29:56.019 --> 00:29:57.620 what they feel. 00:29:57.820 --> 00:29:58.980 He feels the same kind 00:29:58.980 --> 00:30:00.019 of anguish and sorrow. 00:30:00.299 --> 00:30:01.779 You see that emotional intensity 00:30:01.779 --> 00:30:02.320 in Paul, 00:30:02.940 --> 00:30:03.900 which you don't sometimes 00:30:03.900 --> 00:30:04.980 see in other places. 00:30:06.120 --> 00:30:07.480 In the Bible speaks today, 00:30:07.580 --> 00:30:08.460 commentary on Philippians. 00:30:08.559 --> 00:30:09.519 If you're following this series, 00:30:09.600 --> 00:30:10.360 it's one of the best 00:30:10.360 --> 00:30:11.759 commentaries by Alec Matea. 00:30:11.759 --> 00:30:13.019 Quite straightforward. 00:30:13.740 --> 00:30:14.039 He says, 00:30:14.099 --> 00:30:15.259 What Paul was inspired 00:30:15.259 --> 00:30:16.799 to imply about himself 00:30:16.799 --> 00:30:18.900 and to state concerning 00:30:18.900 --> 00:30:19.859 the other two 00:30:19.859 --> 00:30:21.700 reveals them as men 00:30:21.700 --> 00:30:22.920 who have taken the example 00:30:22.920 --> 00:30:25.000 of the Lord seriously. 00:30:25.579 --> 00:30:26.160 He goes on, 00:30:26.400 --> 00:30:28.400 The Lord so consecrated himself 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:29.879 in obedient service to God 00:30:29.879 --> 00:30:31.500 that he poured himself out 00:30:31.500 --> 00:30:32.640 for the benefit of others. 00:30:33.059 --> 00:30:34.819 They so consecrated themselves 00:30:34.819 --> 00:30:36.759 to God that self was subdued 00:30:37.299 --> 00:30:38.859 in the service of other Christians. 00:30:39.180 --> 00:30:40.180 And here's a key phrase, 00:30:40.180 --> 00:30:42.860 The Lord is the Christian's model. 00:30:43.500 --> 00:30:46.259 They are model Christians. 00:30:47.019 --> 00:30:49.060 They are model Christians. 00:30:49.220 --> 00:30:49.860 So I'm nearly through, 00:30:49.960 --> 00:30:51.279 but let me finish with 00:30:51.279 --> 00:30:53.279 two questions. 00:30:54.340 --> 00:30:55.039 Question one. 00:30:56.620 --> 00:31:00.580 Am I a model Christian? 00:31:01.920 --> 00:31:03.640 Now I know what most of us say 00:31:03.640 --> 00:31:04.480 in this circumstance. 00:31:04.560 --> 00:31:05.440 If I came to you and said, 00:31:05.640 --> 00:31:06.660 Are you a model Christian? 00:31:06.720 --> 00:31:07.240 You would say, 00:31:07.460 --> 00:31:08.580 Oh, don't follow me. 00:31:08.580 --> 00:31:09.220 Follow Christ. 00:31:10.180 --> 00:31:12.299 Paul says, 00:31:12.860 --> 00:31:14.920 Follow me as I follow Christ. 00:31:18.160 --> 00:31:20.640 Am I a model Christian? 00:31:21.240 --> 00:31:21.860 I don't mean, 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:23.560 Yeah, I'm a perfect Christian. 00:31:23.660 --> 00:31:24.860 You want to see the best example 00:31:24.860 --> 00:31:25.600 of perfection. 00:31:25.779 --> 00:31:26.240 Here I am. 00:31:26.820 --> 00:31:28.160 No, but am I walking 00:31:28.160 --> 00:31:29.060 in the way of Christ? 00:31:29.140 --> 00:31:30.259 Am I following Christ? 00:31:30.539 --> 00:31:31.799 Am I serving Christ? 00:31:31.920 --> 00:31:32.920 Am I living other people? 00:31:33.259 --> 00:31:34.720 This is a very practical section, 00:31:34.820 --> 00:31:35.120 isn't it? 00:31:35.119 --> 00:31:37.359 If not, 00:31:38.179 --> 00:31:40.119 if against a dark background, 00:31:40.239 --> 00:31:41.599 you are indistinguishable 00:31:41.599 --> 00:31:42.979 from anyone else. 00:31:45.119 --> 00:31:47.399 If someone was told me, 00:31:48.039 --> 00:31:49.159 a Christian said, 00:31:50.000 --> 00:31:51.399 I've just discovered 00:31:51.399 --> 00:31:52.779 that someone in my work 00:31:52.779 --> 00:31:53.359 is a Christian 00:31:53.359 --> 00:31:55.019 and then I never would have guessed. 00:31:55.899 --> 00:31:57.379 That's pretty scary, isn't it? 00:31:57.380 --> 00:31:59.620 That gets about you? 00:32:01.020 --> 00:32:02.540 If we are indistinguishable, 00:32:02.660 --> 00:32:04.380 maybe some of us here this morning, 00:32:04.480 --> 00:32:05.320 maybe one or two of us, 00:32:05.340 --> 00:32:05.840 I don't know. 00:32:06.540 --> 00:32:07.540 Second question is, 00:32:07.580 --> 00:32:08.240 am I a Christian? 00:32:09.880 --> 00:32:10.500 Because you see, 00:32:10.580 --> 00:32:11.920 if you've turned from your sin 00:32:11.920 --> 00:32:12.920 and put your faith in Christ, 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:13.960 if God is at work in you 00:32:13.960 --> 00:32:14.580 by his spirit, 00:32:15.000 --> 00:32:15.980 then he should be producing 00:32:15.980 --> 00:32:17.560 the same kind of characteristics 00:32:17.560 --> 00:32:19.120 that we see in Timothy 00:32:19.120 --> 00:32:20.040 and Epaphroditus 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.259 in Paul, 00:32:21.599 --> 00:32:22.960 those characteristics 00:32:22.960 --> 00:32:23.839 should be growing 00:32:23.839 --> 00:32:24.559 and increasing 00:32:24.559 --> 00:32:25.680 in Christ's likeness 00:32:25.680 --> 00:32:26.799 and if that's not the case, 00:32:27.359 --> 00:32:28.180 maybe this morning 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.079 you need to put your faith 00:32:30.079 --> 00:32:32.180 in the Lord Jesus Christ. 00:32:33.220 --> 00:32:34.579 This is the challenge 00:32:34.579 --> 00:32:35.359 to us all. 00:32:36.379 --> 00:32:37.659 The challenge we began with 00:32:37.659 --> 00:32:40.319 is to shine like stars 00:32:40.319 --> 00:32:42.159 in the universe. 00:32:43.200 --> 00:32:44.059 I'm going to finish 00:32:44.059 --> 00:32:44.740 with a prayer. 00:32:44.899 --> 00:32:45.019 Now, 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:46.859 this is an interesting prayer. 00:32:47.000 --> 00:32:48.420 This is a prayer 00:32:48.420 --> 00:32:49.259 by John Wesley, 00:32:49.259 --> 00:32:50.559 founder of Methodism. 00:32:50.759 --> 00:32:51.339 I would hate you 00:32:51.339 --> 00:32:51.960 me saying that. 00:32:54.359 --> 00:32:56.400 My father's family 00:32:56.400 --> 00:32:57.700 are all from a Methodist background. 00:32:57.879 --> 00:32:58.579 I began preaching 00:32:58.579 --> 00:32:59.640 as a young man 00:32:59.640 --> 00:33:00.559 in Methodist churches 00:33:00.559 --> 00:33:02.579 and they have 00:33:02.579 --> 00:33:03.759 a covenant prayer 00:33:03.759 --> 00:33:04.859 that they use 00:33:04.859 --> 00:33:05.920 to renew their covenant 00:33:05.920 --> 00:33:06.779 before God. 00:33:07.720 --> 00:33:08.400 I'm going to read 00:33:08.400 --> 00:33:09.220 the words of it. 00:33:09.720 --> 00:33:11.559 It's quite a sobering prayer. 00:33:12.799 --> 00:33:13.440 We're going to use it 00:33:13.440 --> 00:33:14.119 as a final prayer 00:33:14.119 --> 00:33:15.000 before I hand back to Ian 00:33:15.000 --> 00:33:15.759 for a final song. 00:33:16.680 --> 00:33:17.559 I'll put the words 00:33:17.559 --> 00:33:18.160 on the screen 00:33:18.160 --> 00:33:18.740 because I think 00:33:18.740 --> 00:33:19.259 it's important 00:33:19.259 --> 00:33:19.740 that you see 00:33:19.740 --> 00:33:20.599 what you're going to pray 00:33:20.599 --> 00:33:21.359 if you want to say 00:33:21.359 --> 00:33:22.380 Amen at the end of it. 00:33:23.279 --> 00:33:24.240 We could all stand up 00:33:24.240 --> 00:33:24.799 and say it together 00:33:24.799 --> 00:33:26.480 but maybe that's... 00:33:26.480 --> 00:33:27.859 Let's just read it. 00:33:27.960 --> 00:33:28.480 Okay, here's it. 00:33:31.859 --> 00:33:32.680 Read it slowly. 00:33:32.680 --> 00:33:33.079 Lord, 00:33:33.279 --> 00:33:34.819 I am no longer my own 00:33:34.819 --> 00:33:35.539 but yours. 00:33:36.660 --> 00:33:38.259 Put me to what you will. 00:33:39.880 --> 00:33:41.599 Rank me with whom you will. 00:33:43.240 --> 00:33:44.120 Put me to doing. 00:33:45.500 --> 00:33:46.640 Put me to suffering. 00:33:46.640 --> 00:33:49.759 Let me be employed for you 00:33:49.759 --> 00:33:52.320 or laid aside for you. 00:33:53.420 --> 00:33:54.540 Exalted for you 00:33:54.540 --> 00:33:57.100 or brought lobe for you. 00:33:58.200 --> 00:33:59.320 Let me be full. 00:34:00.400 --> 00:34:01.380 Let me be empty. 00:34:02.520 --> 00:34:03.700 Let me have all things. 00:34:03.840 --> 00:34:04.960 Let me have nothing. 00:34:06.160 --> 00:34:07.880 I freely and wholeheartedly 00:34:07.880 --> 00:34:09.160 yield all things 00:34:09.160 --> 00:34:10.880 to your pleasure 00:34:10.880 --> 00:34:12.559 and disposal. 00:34:12.559 --> 00:34:14.199 And now, 00:34:14.880 --> 00:34:16.500 glorious and blessed God, 00:34:17.059 --> 00:34:18.920 Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, 00:34:20.099 --> 00:34:20.920 you are mine 00:34:20.920 --> 00:34:22.799 and I am yours. 00:34:23.960 --> 00:34:24.779 So be it. 00:34:26.019 --> 00:34:26.719 And the covenant 00:34:26.719 --> 00:34:27.920 now made on earth, 00:34:28.920 --> 00:34:30.139 let it be ratified 00:34:30.139 --> 00:34:31.679 in heaven. 00:34:31.679 --> 00:34:32.960 Amen. 00:34:33.960 --> 00:34:35.000 Amen. 00:34:36.079 --> 00:34:37.179 Amen.