WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:00.500 Good morning. 00:00:01.740 --> 00:00:06.120 My name is Matthew Capone, and I'm the assistant pastor here at Cheyenne Mountain Presbyterian Church. 00:00:06.219 --> 00:00:08.640 And it's my joy to bring God's word to you today. 00:00:08.939 --> 00:00:12.200 A special welcome if you are new or visiting with us. 00:00:12.320 --> 00:00:13.179 We're glad you're here. 00:00:13.800 --> 00:00:16.660 And we're glad you're here not because you are filling a seat, 00:00:17.199 --> 00:00:20.740 but because we are following Jesus together as one community. 00:00:21.120 --> 00:00:23.179 And we're convinced that because of Jesus, 00:00:23.740 --> 00:00:27.160 there is no one so good that they don't need God's grace, 00:00:27.539 --> 00:00:29.719 and no one so bad that they can't have it. 00:00:30.460 --> 00:00:33.759 And so God has something to say to all of us, 00:00:33.899 --> 00:00:37.420 and all of us need to hear what God has to say to us in his word. 00:00:38.100 --> 00:00:40.980 Now, if you have been with us for a while, 00:00:41.039 --> 00:00:43.439 you know that we're going through the book of Philippians. 00:00:43.920 --> 00:00:45.780 And as I've said before, Philippians is a letter. 00:00:46.320 --> 00:00:48.240 And it's a letter written to a church. 00:00:48.240 --> 00:00:52.640 It's a church very similar to our church in a city very similar to our city. 00:00:53.420 --> 00:00:57.640 And I've said that, but I haven't talked a lot about the mechanics of the fact that it's a letter. 00:00:57.740 --> 00:00:59.420 So we've said that it's a letter over and over. 00:00:59.420 --> 00:01:01.719 I've talked about what's going on in Philippi, 00:01:01.859 --> 00:01:04.719 but we haven't talked about the letter part of the letter until now. 00:01:05.939 --> 00:01:10.180 And so how do you think a letter would make it from one place in the ancient world to another? 00:01:10.879 --> 00:01:15.480 Did Paul take out an envelope and stick this letter into it 00:01:15.480 --> 00:01:17.960 and then stick a Roman stamp on it and send it to Philippi? 00:01:19.640 --> 00:01:20.420 He did not. 00:01:20.420 --> 00:01:25.379 As advanced as the Roman Empire was, they did not have that kind of postal service and system. 00:01:25.460 --> 00:01:29.540 So they had great roads, but people had to carry letters from one place to another. 00:01:29.680 --> 00:01:33.000 And so we're going to learn about some letter logistics today. 00:01:33.560 --> 00:01:36.719 We're going to hear about a man named Timothy and a man named Epaphroditus. 00:01:37.719 --> 00:01:41.219 And the reason we're going to hear about them is because Paul needs to tell the Philippian church 00:01:41.219 --> 00:01:42.540 some very practical things. 00:01:43.379 --> 00:01:47.320 Epaphroditus was from the Philippian church, and he traveled from Philippi to Rome. 00:01:47.319 --> 00:01:48.879 And he did that for two reasons. 00:01:49.039 --> 00:01:53.259 One, to give Paul a financial gift, which we'll talk about in a few weeks when we get to chapter 4. 00:01:53.659 --> 00:01:55.079 Paul needed money. He was in prison. 00:01:55.179 --> 00:01:56.599 The Philippian church supported him. 00:01:56.699 --> 00:01:58.739 That was part of their partnership with him in the gospel. 00:01:59.379 --> 00:02:01.579 But Epaphroditus was also sent to help Paul. 00:02:01.739 --> 00:02:04.339 Paul is in house arrest in Rome. 00:02:05.280 --> 00:02:07.959 And so they think, here's this great founder of our church. 00:02:08.120 --> 00:02:09.659 Not only does he need financial resources, 00:02:09.659 --> 00:02:12.159 he also needs someone who can come alongside him and assist him. 00:02:13.379 --> 00:02:17.259 And so Paul has two main points that he wants to communicate to the Philippians here. 00:02:17.319 --> 00:02:20.099 One, my friend Timothy is going to stay with me. 00:02:20.680 --> 00:02:23.299 And point two, Epaphroditus, who you sent to help me, 00:02:23.340 --> 00:02:25.759 I'm going to send him back to you instead of letting him help me. 00:02:27.180 --> 00:02:28.419 So that's the point of this passage. 00:02:30.579 --> 00:02:32.680 So we can end the sermon, we can go home. 00:02:33.740 --> 00:02:34.060 Right? 00:02:36.579 --> 00:02:36.919 No. 00:02:36.919 --> 00:02:39.819 The question is, what do we learn from logistics like this? 00:02:39.859 --> 00:02:43.159 What do we learn from these simple details, 00:02:43.280 --> 00:02:45.879 these practical details about Paul, 00:02:45.979 --> 00:02:47.479 and the fact that he has a friend coming to him, 00:02:47.539 --> 00:02:49.020 the fact that someone needs to carry a letter, 00:02:49.139 --> 00:02:51.400 the fact that there's all these logistics involved. 00:02:54.300 --> 00:02:57.379 So many of you know that I go hiking a lot. 00:02:57.560 --> 00:02:59.599 It's one of my favorite things to do here in Colorado Springs. 00:02:59.699 --> 00:03:02.419 That'll be one of my first answers if you ask me what I do 00:03:02.419 --> 00:03:05.000 when I'm not preaching and working here at Cheyenne Mountain. 00:03:05.000 --> 00:03:08.020 And one of my favorite places to go is Cheyenne Mountain State Park, 00:03:08.139 --> 00:03:11.400 which is just 10 minutes south of here. 00:03:12.719 --> 00:03:12.840 Yeah? 00:03:14.159 --> 00:03:16.780 And if you go on, if you're like me and you've done a lot of exploring, 00:03:16.879 --> 00:03:18.979 you're familiar with the, I don't do directions super well. 00:03:21.159 --> 00:03:23.560 If you're like me, if you've explored, 00:03:23.680 --> 00:03:25.120 you're familiar with all the different trails. 00:03:25.199 --> 00:03:26.539 And if you go on the Sundance Trail, 00:03:27.520 --> 00:03:29.960 you know there's lots of different signs that you'll see as you go along, 00:03:30.219 --> 00:03:31.800 nature signs telling you about different animals. 00:03:31.800 --> 00:03:33.800 And my favorite sign is on the Sundance Trail, 00:03:33.900 --> 00:03:36.120 and it talks about what animals do in the winter. 00:03:37.780 --> 00:03:39.420 So there's different strategies animals have. 00:03:39.500 --> 00:03:40.320 The bears hibernate. 00:03:40.400 --> 00:03:41.640 Apparently the beetles hibernate too. 00:03:41.680 --> 00:03:42.240 I didn't know that. 00:03:43.020 --> 00:03:44.840 But if you go to the park, you'll see a lot of deer. 00:03:45.920 --> 00:03:47.439 And there are mule deer apparently. 00:03:47.920 --> 00:03:50.220 And the mule deer, they don't hibernate. 00:03:50.300 --> 00:03:50.780 They migrate. 00:03:52.280 --> 00:03:54.600 And so there's a little sidebar that talks about the mule deer 00:03:54.600 --> 00:03:55.920 and what they do, and it says this. 00:03:56.780 --> 00:03:59.939 Young deer learn the route to their winter range 00:03:59.939 --> 00:04:01.080 by following their elders. 00:04:01.080 --> 00:04:04.480 Then generally use the same route every year. 00:04:07.200 --> 00:04:08.480 And so the point is this. 00:04:09.120 --> 00:04:12.060 Remember last week we asked, how do we grow as Christians? 00:04:12.180 --> 00:04:14.500 And we saw that it's God that works and wills in us. 00:04:15.200 --> 00:04:17.280 And one of the ways that we grow as Christians 00:04:17.280 --> 00:04:20.720 is by following other people who know the route. 00:04:22.540 --> 00:04:24.319 One of the ways we grow as Christians 00:04:24.319 --> 00:04:26.580 is by following other people who know the route. 00:04:26.579 --> 00:04:31.319 And so explicitly, Paul is telling us about Epaphroditus and Timothy 00:04:31.319 --> 00:04:32.879 because of the logistics of his letter. 00:04:33.599 --> 00:04:37.599 But implicitly, they serve here as his sermon illustrations. 00:04:39.099 --> 00:04:41.560 So Paul's been preaching this sermon through a letter 00:04:41.560 --> 00:04:42.599 to the church in Philippi. 00:04:42.659 --> 00:04:44.459 He hasn't used really any illustrations yet, 00:04:44.500 --> 00:04:45.979 except we heard about the lights and the stars. 00:04:45.979 --> 00:04:46.919 That was sort of an illustration. 00:04:46.920 --> 00:04:50.360 But he doesn't need to tell us about these people 00:04:50.360 --> 00:04:51.500 at this point in the letter, right? 00:04:51.500 --> 00:04:52.480 He could have told us at the beginning. 00:04:52.600 --> 00:04:53.699 He could have told us at the end. 00:04:54.180 --> 00:04:57.120 But he presents Timothy and Epaphroditus to us 00:04:57.120 --> 00:04:59.680 right after he's told us about the need for humility, 00:04:59.920 --> 00:05:01.819 the need to grow as Christians. 00:05:02.879 --> 00:05:05.000 And so we first saw Christ as our example 00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:06.259 at the beginning of chapter 2. 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:08.700 And now Timothy and Epaphroditus 00:05:08.700 --> 00:05:10.439 are going to serve as examples as well. 00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:12.980 And so our question is this. 00:05:13.040 --> 00:05:14.860 As we are following people who know the route, 00:05:15.079 --> 00:05:16.620 what type of people should we follow? 00:05:18.180 --> 00:05:21.519 Who should we look to as leaders in our congregation? 00:05:21.779 --> 00:05:22.879 Who should we look to as people 00:05:22.879 --> 00:05:25.199 that we want to learn from and emulate? 00:05:26.439 --> 00:05:29.240 We're going to see from Timothy and Epaphroditus here 00:05:29.240 --> 00:05:32.019 exactly the sort of people that we're going to go after. 00:05:32.120 --> 00:05:34.879 Who do we want to learn the route from 00:05:34.879 --> 00:05:38.920 so that we can follow it year by year? 00:05:38.920 --> 00:05:41.140 We're in the book of Philippians. 00:05:41.259 --> 00:05:43.879 We're in chapter 2 and we're going to start on verse 19. 00:05:44.060 --> 00:05:45.600 It's going to be in your worship guide as well, 00:05:45.660 --> 00:05:46.600 pretty close to the back. 00:05:47.500 --> 00:05:48.960 And remember that this is God's word. 00:05:50.100 --> 00:05:53.140 And God tells us that his word is more precious than gold, 00:05:53.660 --> 00:05:54.759 even the finest gold. 00:05:55.840 --> 00:05:57.300 And it is sweeter than honey, 00:05:58.200 --> 00:06:00.420 even honey that comes straight from the honeycomb. 00:06:01.300 --> 00:06:02.259 And so we're going to read it now. 00:06:02.319 --> 00:06:04.120 Please read with me starting at verse 19. 00:06:04.920 --> 00:06:08.240 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon 00:06:08.240 --> 00:06:11.160 so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 00:06:11.960 --> 00:06:13.699 For I have no one like him 00:06:13.699 --> 00:06:16.519 who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:06:17.280 --> 00:06:19.460 For they all seek their own interests, 00:06:19.840 --> 00:06:21.220 not those of Jesus Christ. 00:06:21.860 --> 00:06:24.600 But you know Timothy's proven worth. 00:06:25.400 --> 00:06:26.920 How as a son with a father, 00:06:27.040 --> 00:06:28.540 he has served with me in the gospel. 00:06:29.379 --> 00:06:30.040 Verse 23. 00:06:30.699 --> 00:06:32.960 I hope therefore to send him just as soon 00:06:32.960 --> 00:06:34.620 as I see how it will go with me. 00:06:34.620 --> 00:06:36.040 And I trust in the Lord 00:06:36.040 --> 00:06:37.780 that shortly I myself will come also. 00:06:38.660 --> 00:06:39.259 Verse 25. 00:06:40.220 --> 00:06:42.340 I have thought it necessary to send to you, 00:06:42.420 --> 00:06:44.879 Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker 00:06:44.879 --> 00:06:46.220 and fellow soldier, 00:06:46.680 --> 00:06:49.079 and your messenger and minister to my need. 00:06:49.759 --> 00:06:51.740 For he has been longing for you all 00:06:51.740 --> 00:06:52.800 and has been distressed 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:54.560 because you heard that he was ill. 00:06:55.500 --> 00:06:57.699 Indeed, he was ill, near to death. 00:06:58.160 --> 00:06:59.639 But God had mercy on him, 00:07:00.040 --> 00:07:02.040 and not only on him but on me also, 00:07:02.040 --> 00:07:04.600 lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:07:05.319 --> 00:07:05.939 Verse 28. 00:07:06.680 --> 00:07:08.379 I am the more eager to send him therefore 00:07:08.379 --> 00:07:10.400 that you may rejoice at seeing him again 00:07:10.400 --> 00:07:12.080 and that I may be less anxious. 00:07:13.000 --> 00:07:14.960 So receive him in the Lord with all joy 00:07:14.960 --> 00:07:16.040 and honor such men. 00:07:16.480 --> 00:07:18.680 For he nearly died for the work of Christ, 00:07:19.480 --> 00:07:21.000 risking his life to complete 00:07:21.000 --> 00:07:23.220 what was lacking in your service to me. 00:07:25.120 --> 00:07:26.040 Please pray with me 00:07:26.040 --> 00:07:27.740 as we come to this portion of God's word. 00:07:27.740 --> 00:07:27.860 Amen. 00:07:32.040 --> 00:07:32.980 Dear Father in heaven, 00:07:34.240 --> 00:07:37.260 we thank you for a sunny day, 00:07:37.340 --> 00:07:38.580 for the sun that reminds us 00:07:38.580 --> 00:07:40.080 that you are the one who provides us 00:07:40.080 --> 00:07:41.000 with everything we need. 00:07:41.080 --> 00:07:42.180 You're the one who sustains us. 00:07:42.860 --> 00:07:44.260 We thank you for your word, 00:07:44.340 --> 00:07:46.320 which we need to know you and your ways. 00:07:47.960 --> 00:07:49.660 And we thank you that you've given it to us. 00:07:49.720 --> 00:07:51.259 We ask that you would help us to understand, 00:07:51.460 --> 00:07:52.900 that you would send your Holy Spirit 00:07:52.900 --> 00:07:55.740 to do what we would otherwise be unable to do, 00:07:55.900 --> 00:07:56.960 and that's to hear from you. 00:07:57.820 --> 00:08:00.140 We ask all these things in the name of your Son. 00:08:00.139 --> 00:08:01.379 Amen. 00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:06.800 So who should we follow? 00:08:08.120 --> 00:08:10.319 What type of people do we want to be looking to 00:08:10.319 --> 00:08:11.079 and looking after? 00:08:12.279 --> 00:08:13.839 Paul cuts to the chase pretty quickly. 00:08:13.959 --> 00:08:16.039 He says he's going to send Timothy to them soon, 00:08:16.099 --> 00:08:17.439 but not right away in verse 21. 00:08:18.099 --> 00:08:20.860 And then we find out why right away in verse 20, 00:08:21.060 --> 00:08:21.899 excuse me, verse 19, 00:08:22.000 --> 00:08:23.199 and then verses 20 and 21. 00:08:23.339 --> 00:08:23.539 He says, 00:08:23.539 --> 00:08:24.620 I have no one like him 00:08:24.620 --> 00:08:27.419 who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare, 00:08:27.899 --> 00:08:29.740 for they all seek their own interests, 00:08:29.740 --> 00:08:30.980 not those of Jesus Christ, 00:08:31.060 --> 00:08:33.240 but you know Timothy's proven worth. 00:08:33.899 --> 00:08:35.440 Does this sound familiar at all? 00:08:36.740 --> 00:08:39.019 Remember we talked at the beginning of chapter 2 00:08:39.019 --> 00:08:42.360 about Paul's command to seek the interests of others 00:08:42.360 --> 00:08:43.639 above your own interests. 00:08:44.500 --> 00:08:45.320 And here he says, 00:08:45.419 --> 00:08:46.899 Timothy does just that. 00:08:47.779 --> 00:08:49.639 He's genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:08:49.779 --> 00:08:51.060 He doesn't seek his own interests. 00:08:51.399 --> 00:08:52.860 He seeks those of Jesus Christ. 00:08:52.980 --> 00:08:54.720 He is, as we've talked about before, 00:08:54.919 --> 00:08:56.519 Timothy is a question person, 00:08:56.639 --> 00:08:57.700 not an answer person. 00:08:58.700 --> 00:09:00.320 Timothy's the kind of person who's shown 00:09:00.320 --> 00:09:02.259 that he cares about others more than himself. 00:09:02.420 --> 00:09:04.420 He's willing to put the needs of the community first. 00:09:04.800 --> 00:09:06.620 And he's done this for such a long time 00:09:06.620 --> 00:09:09.240 that he has proven worth in verse 22. 00:09:10.700 --> 00:09:12.120 Now what do we make of the fact that he says, 00:09:12.200 --> 00:09:13.060 I have no one like him? 00:09:13.100 --> 00:09:14.879 Is Timothy the only person 00:09:14.879 --> 00:09:18.600 that Paul knows who models this character? 00:09:18.700 --> 00:09:20.000 Is the only person in the church 00:09:20.000 --> 00:09:22.780 who's able to seek other people's interests above his own? 00:09:22.779 --> 00:09:26.699 Well, we find out in the very next section 00:09:26.699 --> 00:09:27.919 that we also have Epaphroditus. 00:09:28.039 --> 00:09:29.819 So Paul is clearly not saying literally 00:09:29.819 --> 00:09:31.360 there's no one like Timothy. 00:09:31.899 --> 00:09:33.159 He's using hyperbole here, 00:09:33.240 --> 00:09:34.120 but he's making the point 00:09:34.120 --> 00:09:35.819 that this is something that's rare. 00:09:35.919 --> 00:09:37.019 It's rare to find someone 00:09:37.019 --> 00:09:39.980 who's interested in others rather than themselves. 00:09:40.759 --> 00:09:43.339 I had a professor who loved to teach about conflict, 00:09:43.539 --> 00:09:45.039 and he talked a lot about the conflict 00:09:45.039 --> 00:09:46.299 that would happen between people 00:09:46.299 --> 00:09:47.620 who have very different personalities. 00:09:47.620 --> 00:09:49.179 And he would go through 00:09:49.179 --> 00:09:50.840 all different types of personality tests 00:09:50.840 --> 00:09:52.580 and explain how this person 00:09:52.580 --> 00:09:53.899 with this kind of way of viewing the world 00:09:53.899 --> 00:09:55.639 would come into conflict with another person. 00:09:56.279 --> 00:09:58.340 But then he would always provide this one caveat. 00:09:59.879 --> 00:10:00.539 He would say, 00:10:02.179 --> 00:10:05.840 but character trumps personality every time. 00:10:06.960 --> 00:10:08.299 And then he would pause again. 00:10:09.799 --> 00:10:10.240 And he would say, 00:10:10.320 --> 00:10:11.000 but unfortunately, 00:10:12.480 --> 00:10:14.820 character is in short supply. 00:10:14.820 --> 00:10:18.640 And so what Paul is saying is this 00:10:18.640 --> 00:10:19.660 when he talks about Timothy. 00:10:20.620 --> 00:10:23.360 Character is in short supply. 00:10:24.680 --> 00:10:25.580 It is rare. 00:10:25.680 --> 00:10:26.220 It is difficult. 00:10:26.360 --> 00:10:28.160 It's hard to find someone like Timothy 00:10:28.160 --> 00:10:30.700 who's really willing to put the interests of others 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:32.240 above his own interests. 00:10:32.379 --> 00:10:34.040 And so that's why he's the example here. 00:10:34.120 --> 00:10:36.480 That's why Paul is talking about his character 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:37.400 and his life, 00:10:37.480 --> 00:10:39.240 the fact that he's proven over time 00:10:39.240 --> 00:10:42.400 that he is willing to sacrifice and to serve. 00:10:44.820 --> 00:10:48.300 When I was in seminary, 00:10:48.820 --> 00:10:50.560 so I have two professor stories for you today. 00:10:50.680 --> 00:10:51.640 I already gave you the first one. 00:10:52.580 --> 00:10:54.900 I had a professor who told several times 00:10:54.900 --> 00:10:56.280 about his time in seminary. 00:10:56.360 --> 00:10:58.340 He had a fellow classmate of his 00:10:58.340 --> 00:11:01.120 and this classmate was incredibly dedicated. 00:11:01.760 --> 00:11:04.400 And so when it came time for graduation, 00:11:06.060 --> 00:11:07.200 you know, they give out the award. 00:11:07.340 --> 00:11:08.940 Someone gets the theology award. 00:11:09.080 --> 00:11:11.300 Someone else gets the church history award. 00:11:11.300 --> 00:11:14.240 Someone else gets the Bible award. 00:11:15.100 --> 00:11:17.680 And this student ran all of them. 00:11:18.539 --> 00:11:19.379 He ran the whole track. 00:11:19.480 --> 00:11:20.799 He won every single award. 00:11:20.879 --> 00:11:23.019 So there was not a single award left for anyone else. 00:11:26.039 --> 00:11:27.360 So of course people envied him. 00:11:27.440 --> 00:11:28.320 They were impressed by him. 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:29.139 They admired him. 00:11:32.539 --> 00:11:34.259 After graduation, the next week, 00:11:35.440 --> 00:11:37.740 this student's wife filed for divorce. 00:11:37.740 --> 00:11:44.680 And I'm not excusing his wife. 00:11:44.759 --> 00:11:46.560 I'm not saying that was the right thing for her to do. 00:11:46.680 --> 00:11:48.299 But the point of the story was this. 00:11:49.539 --> 00:11:52.440 Knowledge is necessary, but not sufficient. 00:11:54.180 --> 00:11:57.360 This student knew a lot of facts about Jesus. 00:11:59.279 --> 00:12:00.580 He had a lot of things in his head. 00:12:00.580 --> 00:12:03.120 He dedicated himself to memorizing and understanding. 00:12:04.580 --> 00:12:09.300 But he had revealed in the way he'd behaved as a husband and a father 00:12:09.300 --> 00:12:13.060 that he did not understand anything about Jesus. 00:12:14.800 --> 00:12:16.120 He had the knowledge. 00:12:18.220 --> 00:12:18.700 Factually. 00:12:18.700 --> 00:12:21.660 But he had no real knowledge. 00:12:23.520 --> 00:12:25.400 And it's not that knowledge isn't important. 00:12:25.600 --> 00:12:27.540 It's necessary, but it's not sufficient. 00:12:27.680 --> 00:12:32.240 Christian maturity does not come from winning awards in Bible knowledge. 00:12:32.240 --> 00:12:34.620 It comes from selflessness. 00:12:36.320 --> 00:12:37.419 When he says here, 00:12:37.720 --> 00:12:39.039 I have no one like Timothy, 00:12:39.299 --> 00:12:41.460 we could translate that as like-minded. 00:12:41.600 --> 00:12:44.100 It's similar language to what we saw at the beginning of chapter 2. 00:12:44.940 --> 00:12:47.419 I have no one who has the same mind as Timothy does. 00:12:47.480 --> 00:12:48.740 And remember we talked about before 00:12:48.740 --> 00:12:51.940 that this same mind is not that they agree about everything theologically. 00:12:52.600 --> 00:12:54.940 We would assume that Paul has trained Timothy, 00:12:55.080 --> 00:12:56.700 that Timothy agrees with Paul. 00:12:57.279 --> 00:12:59.480 But it's that they have the same mind relationally. 00:12:59.480 --> 00:13:03.940 They have the same mind towards other people and towards self-sacrifice. 00:13:05.680 --> 00:13:09.060 It's possible to know the gospel factually, 00:13:09.500 --> 00:13:11.379 but not know the gospel. 00:13:12.759 --> 00:13:14.840 And we've already seen that in chapter 1. 00:13:14.960 --> 00:13:16.860 Remember Paul told us that there were people 00:13:16.860 --> 00:13:18.759 who were preaching the gospel accurately, 00:13:19.200 --> 00:13:22.800 but they were doing it out of envy and ambition and selfishness. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.120 Remember he said in verses 12 through 14, 00:13:25.259 --> 00:13:28.340 he said they're preaching the gospel out of ambition and conceit, 00:13:28.340 --> 00:13:31.200 but I praise God because the gospel is being preached. 00:13:31.800 --> 00:13:33.100 And so we already have this category 00:13:33.100 --> 00:13:35.420 that it's possible to know the facts about God, 00:13:35.720 --> 00:13:38.360 but not to know God. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:41.480 It's preaching the gospel accurately 00:13:41.480 --> 00:13:43.300 versus living the gospel accurately. 00:13:44.379 --> 00:13:47.100 And Timothy here has demonstrated through his selflessness 00:13:47.100 --> 00:13:49.160 over time 00:13:49.160 --> 00:13:51.620 that he knows the gospel. 00:13:51.620 --> 00:13:54.600 He knows about Jesus' sacrifice 00:13:54.600 --> 00:13:56.019 because he sacrifices. 00:13:57.080 --> 00:13:59.659 That's the proof that he understands 00:13:59.659 --> 00:14:02.399 the reality of Jesus and his death 00:14:02.399 --> 00:14:03.480 and his resurrection. 00:14:05.259 --> 00:14:06.960 There was recently an interview 00:14:06.960 --> 00:14:09.659 with a man who's become famous just recently. 00:14:09.759 --> 00:14:10.639 His name's Jordan Peterson. 00:14:11.399 --> 00:14:14.240 I am not advocating his teaching by quoting him, by the way. 00:14:14.299 --> 00:14:15.720 He has many things to say. 00:14:15.820 --> 00:14:17.500 He's right about many things. 00:14:17.560 --> 00:14:19.060 He's very wrong about many things. 00:14:19.059 --> 00:14:21.479 And, spoiler, 00:14:21.699 --> 00:14:23.059 most of what he says about the Bible 00:14:23.059 --> 00:14:24.079 is very, very wrong. 00:14:24.759 --> 00:14:24.919 Okay? 00:14:25.259 --> 00:14:27.239 So I'm not endorsing him in any way, 00:14:27.339 --> 00:14:29.479 but he had this fascinating quote recently. 00:14:29.619 --> 00:14:30.439 A few months ago, 00:14:30.500 --> 00:14:32.019 he was on Firing Line on PBS, 00:14:33.099 --> 00:14:35.479 and the interviewer, Margaret Hoover, asked him this. 00:14:35.939 --> 00:14:36.239 She said, 00:14:36.240 --> 00:14:38.360 I want to ask you about your personal faith. 00:14:39.539 --> 00:14:40.779 Christians who watch you 00:14:40.779 --> 00:14:43.560 have listened closely over the last two years 00:14:43.560 --> 00:14:47.120 about whether you self-identify as a Christian or not. 00:14:47.960 --> 00:14:49.139 And just to provide some background, 00:14:49.259 --> 00:14:51.259 Jordan Peterson has a lot of things to say about the Bible. 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:52.440 Most of them are wrong, 00:14:52.519 --> 00:14:53.519 but since he has so much to say, 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:55.460 people are wondering about whether he's a Christian. 00:14:55.980 --> 00:14:56.980 And here was his answer. 00:14:57.740 --> 00:15:00.419 People think that what they believe 00:15:00.419 --> 00:15:02.159 is what they say they believe. 00:15:02.799 --> 00:15:03.899 I don't believe that. 00:15:03.899 --> 00:15:06.539 I believe that what people believe 00:15:06.539 --> 00:15:07.699 is what they act out. 00:15:08.819 --> 00:15:09.659 And so I said, 00:15:10.199 --> 00:15:11.740 I act as if God exists. 00:15:12.299 --> 00:15:13.519 That's a sufficient statement 00:15:13.519 --> 00:15:14.980 as far as I'm concerned. 00:15:15.959 --> 00:15:17.319 You know, what's the old saying? 00:15:18.100 --> 00:15:19.819 By their fruits, you shall know them. 00:15:20.439 --> 00:15:21.299 Same idea, right? 00:15:21.939 --> 00:15:23.179 It's a matter of action 00:15:23.179 --> 00:15:24.860 and a matter of commitment. 00:15:26.899 --> 00:15:28.699 And so as wrong as he is on many things, 00:15:28.799 --> 00:15:30.220 Jordan Peterson has caught on to something 00:15:30.220 --> 00:15:33.279 that what we believe is not so much 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:34.279 what we say we believe 00:15:34.279 --> 00:15:35.419 is what we act we believe. 00:15:36.259 --> 00:15:36.819 And this, again, 00:15:36.860 --> 00:15:38.579 is not to pit knowledge against belief. 00:15:38.699 --> 00:15:39.899 Jordan Peterson is not right 00:15:39.899 --> 00:15:40.939 in saying that it's okay 00:15:40.939 --> 00:15:42.879 not to tell people where he stands, right? 00:15:43.100 --> 00:15:44.939 But he has hit something that's true, 00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.000 which is that it's our actions 00:15:48.000 --> 00:15:49.319 that reveal our beliefs 00:15:49.319 --> 00:15:50.720 more than anything else. 00:15:51.299 --> 00:15:52.919 And so that is what Paul is telling us 00:15:52.919 --> 00:15:53.480 about Timothy. 00:15:53.740 --> 00:15:56.939 Timothy's actions have revealed his beliefs. 00:15:56.940 --> 00:15:59.380 And that's why we're told 00:15:59.380 --> 00:16:01.000 he has proven worth. 00:16:05.640 --> 00:16:07.040 And so if you remember last week, 00:16:07.080 --> 00:16:07.460 we asked, 00:16:07.620 --> 00:16:08.960 how is it that we're able to obey? 00:16:09.060 --> 00:16:09.780 What does God do? 00:16:10.240 --> 00:16:11.720 And we saw that he gives us 00:16:11.720 --> 00:16:13.420 a new will, 00:16:13.500 --> 00:16:14.760 a new ability to obey. 00:16:16.040 --> 00:16:17.560 But one of the ways he does that, 00:16:17.720 --> 00:16:19.600 some of that is through his spirit's work 00:16:19.600 --> 00:16:20.640 directly in our hearts, 00:16:21.140 --> 00:16:23.620 but a lot of it is from the people around us. 00:16:23.620 --> 00:16:27.419 Paul's presenting Timothy and Epaphroditus here 00:16:27.419 --> 00:16:28.720 as people that the Philippian church 00:16:28.720 --> 00:16:29.659 can follow after. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:32.899 And so part of God's work in our lives, 00:16:33.019 --> 00:16:34.480 part of his working and willing 00:16:34.480 --> 00:16:36.039 that we saw in verses 12 and 13 00:16:36.039 --> 00:16:38.000 is the people who are around us right now. 00:16:39.720 --> 00:16:42.299 God has provided people who know the route 00:16:42.299 --> 00:16:44.220 that we can follow. 00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:47.399 We can learn from those with proven worth. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.940 And so if you want to learn 00:16:49.940 --> 00:16:51.139 how to be an encourager, 00:16:51.139 --> 00:16:54.860 then you should probably spend some time 00:16:54.860 --> 00:16:55.720 with Paula Johnson. 00:16:57.580 --> 00:16:59.620 If you want to learn 00:16:59.620 --> 00:17:02.159 how to have empathy and compassion 00:17:02.159 --> 00:17:03.580 for other people, 00:17:04.299 --> 00:17:06.319 you're probably going to need 00:17:06.319 --> 00:17:08.220 to spend more time with Mark Fairbrother 00:17:08.220 --> 00:17:10.039 and Harvey Carlson. 00:17:11.779 --> 00:17:13.460 If you want to learn 00:17:13.460 --> 00:17:14.960 what it's like to persevere 00:17:14.960 --> 00:17:16.259 and have faith, 00:17:17.559 --> 00:17:18.700 then you should probably go 00:17:18.700 --> 00:17:20.039 to Mary Vincent's Bible study. 00:17:21.140 --> 00:17:24.360 Part of God's grace for us, 00:17:24.940 --> 00:17:26.660 his ways that he enables us 00:17:26.660 --> 00:17:27.480 and empowers us 00:17:27.480 --> 00:17:28.780 is the people around us. 00:17:29.880 --> 00:17:31.140 He gives us his spirit, 00:17:31.240 --> 00:17:32.520 but he also gives us his church. 00:17:32.620 --> 00:17:34.580 He gives us Timothys and Epaphrodituses 00:17:34.580 --> 00:17:35.880 that we can learn the route. 00:17:36.380 --> 00:17:37.520 We can learn the way 00:17:37.520 --> 00:17:38.860 to walk as Christians. 00:17:40.620 --> 00:17:42.520 And this is also why we need the church. 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:44.779 So sometimes you'll hear people 00:17:44.779 --> 00:17:45.639 say something like this, 00:17:45.680 --> 00:17:45.839 you know, 00:17:45.900 --> 00:17:47.139 I have a Bible study 00:17:47.139 --> 00:17:47.960 that I really enjoy 00:17:47.960 --> 00:17:48.579 and I really like, 00:17:48.660 --> 00:17:48.839 and you know, 00:17:48.879 --> 00:17:49.759 that's really my church. 00:17:50.119 --> 00:17:51.259 That's where I get my fellowship. 00:17:51.400 --> 00:17:52.000 Those people are the, 00:17:52.079 --> 00:17:53.500 I don't need to be somewhere 00:17:53.500 --> 00:17:54.259 on a Sunday morning. 00:17:55.339 --> 00:17:56.839 I'm in a college group, 00:17:57.059 --> 00:17:57.299 you know, 00:17:57.319 --> 00:17:58.319 with these other college students 00:17:58.319 --> 00:17:59.119 and we worship together 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:00.019 on Tuesday nights, 00:18:00.319 --> 00:18:02.740 and that's where my spiritual needs 00:18:02.740 --> 00:18:03.180 get met. 00:18:03.180 --> 00:18:06.600 But you know, 00:18:06.620 --> 00:18:08.580 it's surprising how much 00:18:08.580 --> 00:18:10.640 those groups look exactly like you. 00:18:12.440 --> 00:18:13.980 People who are similar to you 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:16.019 probably believe the same things as you. 00:18:19.400 --> 00:18:20.600 Where are you going to find 00:18:20.600 --> 00:18:21.920 Timothy and Epaphroditus? 00:18:22.860 --> 00:18:23.940 Where are you going to find 00:18:23.940 --> 00:18:25.279 people who are different from you? 00:18:25.380 --> 00:18:26.000 People who are different 00:18:26.000 --> 00:18:26.900 in terms of their age 00:18:26.900 --> 00:18:27.759 and their life stage. 00:18:28.100 --> 00:18:29.200 People who are different 00:18:29.200 --> 00:18:30.080 in terms of their knowledge 00:18:30.080 --> 00:18:30.720 and experience. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:32.360 It's going to be here in the church. 00:18:33.180 --> 00:18:34.360 One of the things I love 00:18:34.360 --> 00:18:35.180 about our church here 00:18:35.180 --> 00:18:35.700 at Cheyenne Mountain 00:18:35.700 --> 00:18:37.160 is the diversity we have 00:18:37.160 --> 00:18:38.940 of ages and generations 00:18:38.940 --> 00:18:39.920 and experiences. 00:18:41.240 --> 00:18:42.420 When you come to a church, 00:18:42.500 --> 00:18:43.759 you don't get to self-select 00:18:43.759 --> 00:18:45.420 the people who are going to be 00:18:45.420 --> 00:18:47.400 the Christians who walk alongside you. 00:18:48.279 --> 00:18:49.180 But you get to come 00:18:49.180 --> 00:18:50.440 where there's a group of people, 00:18:50.560 --> 00:18:52.120 many of whom have walked the route 00:18:52.120 --> 00:18:53.580 for a long, long time. 00:18:55.299 --> 00:18:56.920 They have what Paul says here, 00:18:56.980 --> 00:18:58.580 they have proven worth. 00:18:59.700 --> 00:19:00.420 Verse 22. 00:19:01.400 --> 00:19:03.039 You know Timothy's proven worth. 00:19:03.039 --> 00:19:05.379 He has shown again and again 00:19:05.379 --> 00:19:08.119 that he's the type of person 00:19:08.119 --> 00:19:08.799 you should follow. 00:19:09.920 --> 00:19:10.799 He's the type of person 00:19:10.799 --> 00:19:12.299 you can learn from and model. 00:19:14.940 --> 00:19:16.539 And so who should we follow? 00:19:16.599 --> 00:19:17.619 What should we be looking for? 00:19:17.700 --> 00:19:19.559 Who should we model ourselves after? 00:19:19.639 --> 00:19:21.019 Who are the leaders of our church? 00:19:22.379 --> 00:19:23.960 We should be looking for Timothys. 00:19:25.220 --> 00:19:26.639 We should be looking for people 00:19:26.640 --> 00:19:29.600 who give up, 00:19:29.660 --> 00:19:31.180 who are willing to put others 00:19:31.180 --> 00:19:31.980 above themselves 00:19:31.980 --> 00:19:33.220 that are willing to lose. 00:19:34.900 --> 00:19:36.460 If you know the qualifications 00:19:36.460 --> 00:19:38.100 for church officers 00:19:38.100 --> 00:19:39.900 that Paul gives in 1 Timothy 3, 00:19:40.480 --> 00:19:42.500 there is basically one qualification 00:19:42.500 --> 00:19:43.900 that has to do with any gift. 00:19:44.560 --> 00:19:46.220 And that's the ability to teach 00:19:46.220 --> 00:19:48.660 and it's the knowledge of right doctrine. 00:19:48.660 --> 00:19:51.860 Every single qualification 00:19:51.860 --> 00:19:52.960 he gives besides that 00:19:52.960 --> 00:19:54.660 is a qualification of character. 00:19:55.920 --> 00:19:57.400 That it is character, 00:19:57.900 --> 00:19:59.060 not gifts, 00:19:59.560 --> 00:20:01.680 that ultimately determine God's leaders. 00:20:03.060 --> 00:20:03.820 And so if we're wondering 00:20:03.820 --> 00:20:04.740 who we should follow, 00:20:04.820 --> 00:20:06.519 it's the people of proven worth. 00:20:07.480 --> 00:20:08.480 Those whose character 00:20:08.480 --> 00:20:10.240 has revealed what they believe. 00:20:10.340 --> 00:20:11.360 They have proved themselves 00:20:11.360 --> 00:20:12.779 through their selflessness 00:20:12.779 --> 00:20:14.620 rather than their rightness. 00:20:14.619 --> 00:20:17.739 They proved themselves 00:20:17.739 --> 00:20:18.739 through their selflessness 00:20:18.739 --> 00:20:20.539 rather than their rightness. 00:20:24.879 --> 00:20:26.439 Timothy is not the only person here. 00:20:26.559 --> 00:20:29.039 We have Epaphroditus in verse 25. 00:20:30.599 --> 00:20:32.299 And Epaphroditus gets a lot of titles. 00:20:32.459 --> 00:20:33.099 Did you notice that? 00:20:34.099 --> 00:20:35.279 Did you notice all the names 00:20:35.279 --> 00:20:36.039 Paul gives him? 00:20:37.619 --> 00:20:38.899 I have thought it necessary 00:20:38.899 --> 00:20:40.199 to send to you Epaphroditus, 00:20:40.319 --> 00:20:42.639 my brother and fellow worker 00:20:42.639 --> 00:20:43.899 and fellow soldier 00:20:43.900 --> 00:20:45.080 and your messenger 00:20:45.080 --> 00:20:46.600 and minister to my need. 00:20:48.560 --> 00:20:49.400 In other words, 00:20:49.519 --> 00:20:51.240 Epaphroditus is a team player 00:20:51.240 --> 00:20:52.360 kind of guy. 00:20:54.500 --> 00:20:56.180 Epaphroditus is a fellow worker, 00:20:56.460 --> 00:20:57.500 a fellow soldier. 00:20:58.160 --> 00:20:59.080 He's someone who works 00:20:59.080 --> 00:21:00.519 alongside other people. 00:21:00.700 --> 00:21:02.320 Epaphroditus is not a lone ranger 00:21:02.320 --> 00:21:03.880 going out on God's mission 00:21:03.880 --> 00:21:04.580 by himself. 00:21:06.840 --> 00:21:08.280 He's someone who's worked 00:21:08.280 --> 00:21:10.259 side by side with people in Philippi 00:21:10.259 --> 00:21:11.780 and he's worked side by side with Paul. 00:21:11.780 --> 00:21:13.480 And so Paul commends him for that. 00:21:14.900 --> 00:21:17.400 And then we see Epaphroditus' love 00:21:17.400 --> 00:21:19.040 and concern for the rest of the church. 00:21:19.140 --> 00:21:20.380 He's been longing for the church 00:21:20.380 --> 00:21:21.800 in Philippi, verse 26. 00:21:23.519 --> 00:21:24.420 Background information, 00:21:24.540 --> 00:21:26.440 Epaphroditus got very, very sick 00:21:26.440 --> 00:21:27.540 as we see her on his way 00:21:27.540 --> 00:21:28.680 to deliver the letter to Paul. 00:21:29.259 --> 00:21:30.180 So part of the reason 00:21:30.180 --> 00:21:31.480 he's sending Epaphroditus back 00:21:31.480 --> 00:21:32.620 is everyone in Philippi 00:21:32.620 --> 00:21:34.360 heard that Epaphroditus almost died 00:21:34.360 --> 00:21:35.640 and so they've been praying for him. 00:21:35.720 --> 00:21:36.460 They're concerned about him. 00:21:36.519 --> 00:21:37.540 They want to see him. 00:21:38.359 --> 00:21:39.279 And so Paul's modeling 00:21:39.279 --> 00:21:40.259 selflessness as well. 00:21:40.339 --> 00:21:41.319 This man Epaphroditus 00:21:41.319 --> 00:21:42.639 who was sent to help him, 00:21:43.379 --> 00:21:44.359 he out of his concern 00:21:44.359 --> 00:21:45.519 for the church in Philippi 00:21:45.519 --> 00:21:46.480 sends him back 00:21:46.480 --> 00:21:48.200 so that they can be reunited 00:21:48.200 --> 00:21:49.079 with Epaphroditus 00:21:49.079 --> 00:21:49.940 and know that he's well. 00:21:52.539 --> 00:21:53.319 And we find out 00:21:53.319 --> 00:21:54.480 that when he comes back, 00:21:54.539 --> 00:21:55.139 verse 28, 00:21:56.539 --> 00:21:57.700 they're going to rejoice 00:21:57.700 --> 00:21:58.559 at seeing him. 00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.759 And so they should receive him 00:22:00.759 --> 00:22:01.240 in the Lord 00:22:01.240 --> 00:22:02.740 with all joy and honor him 00:22:02.740 --> 00:22:04.899 because he risked his life 00:22:04.900 --> 00:22:06.140 to complete what was lacking 00:22:06.140 --> 00:22:07.160 in your service to me. 00:22:09.780 --> 00:22:10.860 And so Epaphroditus here 00:22:10.860 --> 00:22:11.680 is also modeling 00:22:11.680 --> 00:22:13.019 the sacrifice that we saw 00:22:13.019 --> 00:22:14.240 in Philippians 2, 00:22:14.300 --> 00:22:15.860 verses 5 through 11 00:22:15.860 --> 00:22:16.560 about Christ. 00:22:17.160 --> 00:22:18.540 There's an echo of language here 00:22:18.540 --> 00:22:20.380 that Christ gave up his life 00:22:20.380 --> 00:22:21.660 for the sake of others. 00:22:21.740 --> 00:22:22.640 And here Epaphroditus 00:22:22.640 --> 00:22:23.920 almost lost his life. 00:22:24.800 --> 00:22:26.000 That Epaphroditus too 00:22:26.000 --> 00:22:27.600 is a fellowship kind of guy. 00:22:27.700 --> 00:22:28.240 I've told you before 00:22:28.240 --> 00:22:29.460 that the book of Philippians 00:22:29.460 --> 00:22:30.240 is about partnership 00:22:30.240 --> 00:22:30.860 in the gospel. 00:22:32.120 --> 00:22:33.240 Epaphroditus is a partnership 00:22:33.240 --> 00:22:33.900 kind of guy. 00:22:35.480 --> 00:22:37.440 So Timothy is a sacrifice 00:22:37.440 --> 00:22:38.100 kind of guy. 00:22:38.200 --> 00:22:38.900 He's a selflessness 00:22:38.900 --> 00:22:39.640 kind of guy. 00:22:40.560 --> 00:22:41.600 Epaphroditus is a partnership 00:22:41.600 --> 00:22:42.160 kind of guy. 00:22:42.220 --> 00:22:43.320 He sacrifices as well, 00:22:43.380 --> 00:22:44.780 but he is eager to work with 00:22:44.780 --> 00:22:46.660 and alongside other people. 00:22:48.519 --> 00:22:49.680 And so who do we follow? 00:22:49.759 --> 00:22:50.700 What are we looking for? 00:22:50.800 --> 00:22:52.180 We're looking for Timothys 00:22:52.180 --> 00:22:53.040 who are selfless, 00:22:54.000 --> 00:22:55.180 but we're also looking 00:22:55.180 --> 00:22:56.180 for Epaphroditus' 00:22:56.380 --> 00:22:57.620 who are workers, 00:22:57.740 --> 00:22:58.440 who are partners, 00:22:59.280 --> 00:23:00.519 people who work alongside 00:23:00.519 --> 00:23:02.420 and with other people. 00:23:02.420 --> 00:23:04.960 Those are the individuals 00:23:04.960 --> 00:23:06.000 that God has given us 00:23:06.000 --> 00:23:06.519 in our church 00:23:06.519 --> 00:23:07.480 to learn from 00:23:07.480 --> 00:23:09.000 and grow. 00:23:11.800 --> 00:23:13.519 And so on the one hand, 00:23:13.580 --> 00:23:14.960 we see Epaphroditus and Timothy 00:23:14.960 --> 00:23:16.279 as our models here, right? 00:23:16.340 --> 00:23:17.080 They're selfless 00:23:17.080 --> 00:23:19.860 and partner kind of people. 00:23:19.859 --> 00:23:23.399 But it might feel like here 00:23:23.399 --> 00:23:24.319 that this is similar 00:23:24.319 --> 00:23:25.119 to what we talked about 00:23:25.119 --> 00:23:25.579 last week. 00:23:25.619 --> 00:23:26.599 Remember we talked about 00:23:26.599 --> 00:23:29.479 the lifting the car feeling, 00:23:29.599 --> 00:23:30.719 the feeling that Christian obedience 00:23:30.719 --> 00:23:32.359 is lifting a car 00:23:32.359 --> 00:23:33.159 with no jack. 00:23:33.160 --> 00:23:36.259 it's this great impossible task 00:23:36.259 --> 00:23:38.220 that God's calling us 00:23:38.220 --> 00:23:39.500 to things we're unable to do. 00:23:41.720 --> 00:23:42.740 And we've talked about 00:23:42.740 --> 00:23:43.440 the fact that 00:23:43.440 --> 00:23:45.880 the traditionally religious person 00:23:45.880 --> 00:23:47.580 says be good like I'm good. 00:23:48.440 --> 00:23:49.580 It could feel a little bit 00:23:49.580 --> 00:23:51.200 like Paul is saying, 00:23:51.279 --> 00:23:52.360 okay, Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:23:52.460 --> 00:23:53.480 be good like they're good. 00:23:55.060 --> 00:23:57.100 And it's the non-religious person 00:23:57.100 --> 00:23:58.500 that says there is no good, right, 00:23:58.519 --> 00:23:59.500 or find your own good. 00:23:59.500 --> 00:24:02.339 But it's the gospel, 00:24:02.440 --> 00:24:03.319 it's the gospel person 00:24:03.319 --> 00:24:04.140 that's able to say, 00:24:04.740 --> 00:24:05.480 no one is good, 00:24:05.539 --> 00:24:06.559 only Jesus is good. 00:24:08.140 --> 00:24:09.460 And so what Paul is saying here 00:24:09.460 --> 00:24:11.039 is not that we pull ourselves up 00:24:11.039 --> 00:24:12.000 by the bootstraps 00:24:12.000 --> 00:24:13.619 to be like Timothy and Epaphroditus. 00:24:15.279 --> 00:24:16.960 But Timothy and Epaphroditus 00:24:16.960 --> 00:24:18.559 are examples of God 00:24:18.559 --> 00:24:20.019 at work in people's lives. 00:24:20.359 --> 00:24:20.920 First of all, 00:24:21.000 --> 00:24:21.859 willing and working. 00:24:22.880 --> 00:24:24.039 So if we want to know, 00:24:24.119 --> 00:24:26.640 you know, there's lots of answers 00:24:26.640 --> 00:24:27.839 we could give to the question 00:24:27.839 --> 00:24:29.140 of how do we know God's real? 00:24:30.359 --> 00:24:31.839 There are philosophical answers 00:24:31.839 --> 00:24:32.799 we could give about 00:24:32.799 --> 00:24:33.700 why does God exist? 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:34.980 And many of those are good and helpful. 00:24:35.940 --> 00:24:36.839 But we also have 00:24:36.839 --> 00:24:39.200 a relational community answer 00:24:39.200 --> 00:24:41.700 that we can know God is real 00:24:41.700 --> 00:24:42.460 and he's at work 00:24:42.460 --> 00:24:45.000 when we see the lives around us 00:24:45.000 --> 00:24:46.539 of people who have walked with God 00:24:46.539 --> 00:24:47.460 for a long time. 00:24:48.180 --> 00:24:49.180 And they can tell us, 00:24:49.259 --> 00:24:50.220 hey, I used to be like this, 00:24:50.279 --> 00:24:51.079 but now I've changed. 00:24:51.119 --> 00:24:51.920 And the reason I've changed 00:24:51.920 --> 00:24:53.180 is because God is at work. 00:24:53.900 --> 00:24:55.079 And so what we see in Timothy 00:24:55.079 --> 00:24:55.819 and Epaphroditus 00:24:55.819 --> 00:24:56.920 are not these models 00:24:56.920 --> 00:24:58.640 that we simply pull ourselves up 00:24:58.640 --> 00:24:59.340 to meet. 00:25:00.080 --> 00:25:01.320 But we see examples, 00:25:01.520 --> 00:25:02.100 encouragements 00:25:02.100 --> 00:25:03.680 that God really is at work. 00:25:04.220 --> 00:25:06.220 He really does change people's lives. 00:25:06.580 --> 00:25:07.820 He's done it for Timothy 00:25:07.820 --> 00:25:08.720 and Epaphroditus. 00:25:10.320 --> 00:25:11.220 And secondly, 00:25:11.360 --> 00:25:12.520 he doesn't ask us 00:25:12.520 --> 00:25:14.120 to walk the walk 00:25:14.120 --> 00:25:15.200 of obedience alone 00:25:15.200 --> 00:25:15.940 by ourselves. 00:25:16.900 --> 00:25:18.160 He never asks us 00:25:18.160 --> 00:25:19.360 to pull ourselves up 00:25:19.360 --> 00:25:20.200 by our bootstraps. 00:25:20.500 --> 00:25:22.300 But he gives us 00:25:22.300 --> 00:25:24.160 Timothys and Epaphrodituses 00:25:24.160 --> 00:25:25.400 to walk with us. 00:25:25.400 --> 00:25:28.800 And so God's grace 00:25:28.800 --> 00:25:30.000 comes to us 00:25:30.000 --> 00:25:31.460 not just as he gives us 00:25:31.460 --> 00:25:32.120 his spirit 00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:33.660 to change our desires 00:25:33.660 --> 00:25:34.400 and our abilities, 00:25:35.140 --> 00:25:36.320 but his grace 00:25:36.320 --> 00:25:36.940 comes to us 00:25:36.940 --> 00:25:37.840 as he gives us 00:25:37.840 --> 00:25:38.519 each other 00:25:38.519 --> 00:25:40.080 as examples, 00:25:40.360 --> 00:25:40.920 as models, 00:25:41.040 --> 00:25:41.880 as encouragers 00:25:41.880 --> 00:25:43.480 to help 00:25:43.480 --> 00:25:45.320 along the way. 00:25:47.860 --> 00:25:48.800 I can't imagine 00:25:48.800 --> 00:25:49.259 that we would 00:25:49.259 --> 00:25:50.140 do anything 00:25:50.140 --> 00:25:50.860 but gain 00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.480 from Timothy 00:25:51.480 --> 00:25:52.940 if you were here 00:25:52.940 --> 00:25:53.519 right now. 00:25:53.519 --> 00:25:54.900 Here's a man 00:25:54.900 --> 00:25:55.279 who's willing 00:25:55.279 --> 00:25:56.720 to give himself up 00:25:56.720 --> 00:25:57.740 anything he can do 00:25:57.740 --> 00:25:58.460 for other people. 00:25:59.819 --> 00:26:00.460 Timothy wouldn't be 00:26:00.460 --> 00:26:01.420 someone to come alongside 00:26:01.420 --> 00:26:01.779 and say, 00:26:01.900 --> 00:26:02.859 be good like I'm good. 00:26:03.259 --> 00:26:04.059 Timothy would be someone 00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:05.319 who would be giving himself 00:26:05.319 --> 00:26:06.059 to others saying, 00:26:06.200 --> 00:26:06.680 no one is good 00:26:06.680 --> 00:26:07.400 but Jesus is good 00:26:07.400 --> 00:26:08.099 and I'm going to come 00:26:08.099 --> 00:26:09.180 with you and walk with you. 00:26:10.599 --> 00:26:11.839 And so that's what we do 00:26:11.839 --> 00:26:12.799 as a church here. 00:26:12.940 --> 00:26:14.039 That is how God works 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:15.180 in our lives. 00:26:16.400 --> 00:26:17.339 And so that is why 00:26:17.339 --> 00:26:18.519 we're not saying 00:26:18.519 --> 00:26:19.599 be good like Timothy 00:26:19.599 --> 00:26:20.319 and Epaphroditus 00:26:20.319 --> 00:26:20.740 are good. 00:26:21.339 --> 00:26:22.039 But Timothy 00:26:22.039 --> 00:26:22.960 and Epaphroditus 00:26:22.960 --> 00:26:23.899 show us 00:26:23.899 --> 00:26:25.259 that Jesus is good. 00:26:26.240 --> 00:26:27.240 They show us 00:26:27.240 --> 00:26:28.180 the reality 00:26:28.180 --> 00:26:28.700 that he has 00:26:28.700 --> 00:26:29.420 in people's lives 00:26:29.420 --> 00:26:30.519 that they have seen 00:26:30.519 --> 00:26:31.379 what we saw 00:26:31.379 --> 00:26:32.460 in verses 6 and 11 00:26:32.460 --> 00:26:33.339 that Jesus gave up 00:26:33.339 --> 00:26:33.819 his life 00:26:33.819 --> 00:26:35.379 and that has changed 00:26:35.379 --> 00:26:36.639 them as well. 00:26:39.799 --> 00:26:41.339 In 2009 00:26:41.339 --> 00:26:43.859 the naturalist 00:26:43.859 --> 00:26:45.099 Tristan Gouley 00:26:45.099 --> 00:26:46.420 went on a journey 00:26:46.420 --> 00:26:47.779 in the Libyan Sahara 00:26:47.779 --> 00:26:49.680 and he had two 00:26:49.680 --> 00:26:50.480 nomads with him 00:26:50.480 --> 00:26:51.139 who were guides 00:26:51.140 --> 00:26:52.940 and he's kind 00:26:52.940 --> 00:26:53.420 of a tracker 00:26:53.420 --> 00:26:54.680 and so he asked 00:26:54.680 --> 00:26:54.860 them, 00:26:55.000 --> 00:26:55.820 he had two fears. 00:26:55.960 --> 00:26:56.100 One, 00:26:56.160 --> 00:26:56.560 he was going 00:26:56.560 --> 00:26:57.400 to lose them 00:26:57.400 --> 00:26:58.220 in the desert 00:26:58.220 --> 00:27:00.440 in the Sahara 00:27:00.440 --> 00:27:01.380 and his other fear 00:27:01.380 --> 00:27:02.180 was that he would 00:27:02.180 --> 00:27:02.960 run into danger. 00:27:06.100 --> 00:27:06.920 And so at one point 00:27:06.920 --> 00:27:07.560 he talked to 00:27:07.560 --> 00:27:08.640 the older of the guide, 00:27:08.840 --> 00:27:09.360 the guide's name 00:27:09.360 --> 00:27:09.800 was Amgar 00:27:09.800 --> 00:27:10.520 and he asked him 00:27:10.520 --> 00:27:11.620 how am I not 00:27:11.620 --> 00:27:14.360 going to lose you? 00:27:14.440 --> 00:27:14.800 How am I going 00:27:14.800 --> 00:27:15.300 to know 00:27:15.300 --> 00:27:16.860 if there's danger? 00:27:16.859 --> 00:27:20.059 So the guide 00:27:20.059 --> 00:27:21.899 lifted up his foot 00:27:21.899 --> 00:27:22.439 and showed him 00:27:22.439 --> 00:27:22.959 the tracks 00:27:22.959 --> 00:27:23.339 on the bottom 00:27:23.339 --> 00:27:23.939 of his shoe 00:27:23.939 --> 00:27:25.399 and then he pointed 00:27:25.399 --> 00:27:25.939 to the tracks 00:27:25.939 --> 00:27:26.500 in the sand 00:27:26.500 --> 00:27:28.879 and he said 00:27:28.879 --> 00:27:29.240 now 00:27:29.240 --> 00:27:30.459 you will never 00:27:30.459 --> 00:27:31.000 lose me. 00:27:33.459 --> 00:27:34.399 And then later 00:27:34.399 --> 00:27:35.159 along as they were 00:27:35.159 --> 00:27:35.779 going he pointed 00:27:35.779 --> 00:27:36.879 to some wavy lines 00:27:36.879 --> 00:27:37.479 in the sand 00:27:37.479 --> 00:27:40.539 which were the tracks 00:27:40.539 --> 00:27:42.019 the pattern 00:27:42.019 --> 00:27:42.919 left by a snake 00:27:42.919 --> 00:27:43.419 that had been going 00:27:43.419 --> 00:27:44.000 through the desert. 00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:46.359 And he said 00:27:46.359 --> 00:27:47.119 do you see those? 00:27:48.359 --> 00:27:48.759 Now 00:27:48.759 --> 00:27:50.019 you will have 00:27:50.019 --> 00:27:51.200 no bad surprises. 00:27:54.480 --> 00:27:55.000 And so Amgar 00:27:55.000 --> 00:27:56.180 he never lost 00:27:56.180 --> 00:27:57.119 Tristan never lost 00:27:57.119 --> 00:27:57.819 Amgar in the desert 00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.680 he just kept following 00:27:58.680 --> 00:27:59.259 in his footsteps 00:27:59.259 --> 00:28:00.180 knowing the distinctive 00:28:00.180 --> 00:28:01.640 mark of his shoes 00:28:01.640 --> 00:28:02.220 in the sand. 00:28:04.460 --> 00:28:05.539 Brothers and sisters 00:28:05.539 --> 00:28:07.920 as we're looking 00:28:07.920 --> 00:28:09.099 and seeking 00:28:09.099 --> 00:28:09.940 to live the Christian 00:28:09.940 --> 00:28:10.720 life together 00:28:10.720 --> 00:28:13.079 we look to the 00:28:13.079 --> 00:28:14.259 distinctive mark 00:28:14.259 --> 00:28:15.960 of those around us 00:28:15.960 --> 00:28:16.899 who are selfless 00:28:16.899 --> 00:28:18.179 and partners. 00:28:20.379 --> 00:28:21.339 God gives us 00:28:21.339 --> 00:28:21.740 to them 00:28:21.740 --> 00:28:22.659 gives us to each other 00:28:22.659 --> 00:28:23.899 to help us along the way 00:28:23.899 --> 00:28:24.639 and show us 00:28:24.639 --> 00:28:25.619 the route 00:28:25.619 --> 00:28:28.139 so that we 00:28:28.139 --> 00:28:29.379 will never get lost. 00:28:30.839 --> 00:28:32.019 And so that as we 00:28:32.019 --> 00:28:33.259 stick close 00:28:33.259 --> 00:28:34.599 to those tracks 00:28:34.599 --> 00:28:36.500 and they stick 00:28:36.500 --> 00:28:37.339 close to God 00:28:37.339 --> 00:28:39.500 we can make it 00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:39.859 through 00:28:39.859 --> 00:28:40.759 together. 00:28:40.759 --> 00:28:43.099 and so those 00:28:43.099 --> 00:28:43.700 are the tracks 00:28:43.700 --> 00:28:45.019 that we follow. 00:28:45.140 --> 00:28:45.619 Those are the people 00:28:45.619 --> 00:28:46.559 we model ourselves 00:28:46.559 --> 00:28:46.940 after. 00:28:47.160 --> 00:28:48.240 Those are the people 00:28:48.240 --> 00:28:48.819 we look to 00:28:48.819 --> 00:28:49.960 as our leaders. 00:28:50.180 --> 00:28:50.960 That's the grace 00:28:50.960 --> 00:28:52.700 that God has given us 00:28:52.700 --> 00:28:54.440 as we walk together 00:28:54.440 --> 00:28:55.440 as one community 00:28:55.440 --> 00:28:56.559 following Jesus 00:28:56.559 --> 00:28:56.980 together. 00:28:58.220 --> 00:28:59.240 Please pray with me. 00:29:03.119 --> 00:29:04.200 Dear Father in Heaven 00:29:04.200 --> 00:29:07.019 we thank you 00:29:07.019 --> 00:29:07.620 for the grace 00:29:07.620 --> 00:29:08.580 that you give to us. 00:29:10.100 --> 00:29:10.740 First of all 00:29:10.740 --> 00:29:11.779 the grace in your son 00:29:11.779 --> 00:29:12.420 who came 00:29:12.420 --> 00:29:13.720 and died for us 00:29:13.720 --> 00:29:15.500 who gave up his life 00:29:15.500 --> 00:29:17.319 but secondly 00:29:17.319 --> 00:29:17.819 in the grace 00:29:17.819 --> 00:29:18.340 of each other 00:29:18.340 --> 00:29:19.220 that you've given to us 00:29:19.220 --> 00:29:19.920 you've given us 00:29:19.920 --> 00:29:21.080 the gift of the church. 00:29:22.440 --> 00:29:23.319 You've given us 00:29:23.319 --> 00:29:24.140 saints who have 00:29:24.140 --> 00:29:25.220 proven their worth 00:29:25.220 --> 00:29:25.940 who have walked 00:29:25.940 --> 00:29:26.940 for a long time 00:29:26.940 --> 00:29:27.480 and shown 00:29:27.480 --> 00:29:28.600 that they truly 00:29:28.600 --> 00:29:29.220 know you. 00:29:30.600 --> 00:29:31.240 And so we ask 00:29:31.240 --> 00:29:32.059 that you would give us 00:29:32.059 --> 00:29:34.200 the desire 00:29:34.200 --> 00:29:34.899 and the ability 00:29:34.899 --> 00:29:36.139 to follow them 00:29:36.139 --> 00:29:36.759 more and more. 00:29:37.519 --> 00:29:38.139 We ask that you'd 00:29:38.139 --> 00:29:39.019 build us and grow us 00:29:39.019 --> 00:29:39.379 together 00:29:39.379 --> 00:29:40.779 here as one community. 00:29:41.419 --> 00:29:42.659 We ask all these things 00:29:42.659 --> 00:29:43.519 in the name of your son. 00:29:44.339 --> 00:29:44.579 Amen. 00:29:46.259 --> 00:29:46.960 Please stand 00:29:46.960 --> 00:29:47.839 for our closing hymn.