WEBVTT 00:00:00.980 --> 00:00:07.060 Amen. Well, let's take our Bibles and we'll open them up this morning again to the book of Philippians. 00:00:07.419 --> 00:00:15.780 Book of Philippians. Our sermon text this morning is chapter 2 and we'll go from verse 19 all the way through to verse 30. 00:00:15.900 --> 00:00:22.660 Philippians 2, 19 through 30. And when you found it, if you would, let's stand in honor of the reading of God's Word this morning. 00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:41.079 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 00:00:41.859 --> 00:00:46.060 For I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:00:46.060 --> 00:00:50.460 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 00:00:50.659 --> 00:00:56.579 But you know Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 00:00:56.579 --> 00:01:01.259 I hope, therefore, to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me. 00:01:01.460 --> 00:01:04.579 And I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 00:01:05.799 --> 00:01:11.620 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, 00:01:12.140 --> 00:01:14.420 and your messenger and minister to my need. 00:01:14.759 --> 00:01:18.939 For he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:01:19.879 --> 00:01:21.920 Indeed, he was ill, near to death. 00:01:21.920 --> 00:01:28.719 But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:01:29.640 --> 00:01:35.340 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 00:01:36.000 --> 00:01:39.920 So receive him in the Lord with all joy and honor such men. 00:01:40.480 --> 00:01:47.219 For he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. 00:01:47.219 --> 00:01:49.879 Father, we thank you for your word. 00:01:50.920 --> 00:02:00.180 We thank you for this moment where we can sit under the preaching of your word and hear from you and learn and grow in our desire for you and our love for you. 00:02:00.319 --> 00:02:04.659 And so we pray that that's what would happen now as we walk through this passage together. 00:02:05.000 --> 00:02:05.799 We pray this in Jesus' name. 00:02:06.480 --> 00:02:06.719 Amen. 00:02:07.879 --> 00:02:08.759 You may be seated. 00:02:08.759 --> 00:02:08.840 Amen. 00:02:11.099 --> 00:02:16.599 Well, several months ago, I had the opportunity to attend a service at another church. 00:02:16.679 --> 00:02:18.159 Those are rare opportunities. 00:02:18.359 --> 00:02:22.019 Normally, I'm here with you all where I want to be, where I should be. 00:02:22.099 --> 00:02:34.139 But I had the opportunity to go, and so I went, thinking that I was just there to attend as a fly on the wall and to observe and really not be too engaged with what's going on. 00:02:34.139 --> 00:02:37.299 I just wanted to go and to be a part of the service. 00:02:37.500 --> 00:02:41.759 But very quickly, I realized, for one thing, I was very underdressed. 00:02:43.139 --> 00:02:44.199 Very underdressed. 00:02:44.319 --> 00:02:51.339 But as I came to my seat, I was greeted by a woman who saw me and made a beeline right for me. 00:02:51.539 --> 00:02:54.479 And she hugged my neck, and she welcomed me there. 00:02:54.579 --> 00:02:57.599 And she asked me, she said, are you the pastor of Seaweed Bay? 00:02:58.639 --> 00:03:00.679 And I said, yes, ma'am, I am. 00:03:01.159 --> 00:03:02.719 She said, oh, I'm so glad that you're here. 00:03:02.719 --> 00:03:05.919 Come here, I want to introduce you to my pastor. 00:03:06.039 --> 00:03:14.659 And she took me, and she introduced me to her pastor, who also shook my hand and greeted me with a big hug and said how glad and happy he was to have me there. 00:03:15.180 --> 00:03:20.879 And then he took me to a back room, back off the side, behind the sanctuary, behind the stage. 00:03:21.039 --> 00:03:26.860 And in that back room was a group of other pastors that they had collected during their time there. 00:03:26.860 --> 00:03:37.080 And I sat there and mingled with the other pastors, talked with them, got to know them until maybe it was about five minutes before the service was set to begin. 00:03:37.280 --> 00:03:42.040 And so I excused myself, and I went and got a sip of water and found my seat. 00:03:42.180 --> 00:03:45.120 And I took my Bible and my things down, and I sat down. 00:03:45.120 --> 00:03:47.680 But I didn't get to sit down from the hall. 00:03:48.000 --> 00:03:52.240 The pastor came up, and he lifted me up out of my seat. 00:03:52.439 --> 00:03:55.920 And I've never seen this happen before, and I haven't seen it happen since. 00:03:56.020 --> 00:04:08.219 But the church was going to proceed around the sanctuary and march themselves down through the center aisle and then find their spaces and go where they were going to go as the service began. 00:04:08.219 --> 00:04:10.919 And he wanted me to lead the procession. 00:04:12.439 --> 00:04:13.400 I said, okay. 00:04:13.560 --> 00:04:21.139 I didn't know exactly what to expect, but I got up, and he had me second in line right there behind the speaker for the evening. 00:04:21.300 --> 00:04:23.740 And I marched us right down the middle aisle. 00:04:23.879 --> 00:04:27.240 And then again, I sat down in my seat, but not for long. 00:04:28.319 --> 00:04:34.220 Because by the time the pastor came by, he again lifted me up and pointed me up onto the stage. 00:04:34.220 --> 00:04:38.620 And the whole time I'm saying, I'm underdressed. 00:04:39.180 --> 00:04:40.220 I'm unprepared. 00:04:40.380 --> 00:04:42.120 I'm not sure exactly what's going on here. 00:04:42.180 --> 00:04:44.120 But he wanted me up on the stage. 00:04:44.180 --> 00:04:52.200 So up on the stage I went, and I sat right there on the stage in a special seat for the duration of the service. 00:04:53.160 --> 00:04:57.140 And I'll tell you, as I processed on the way home after this is all said and done, 00:04:57.180 --> 00:05:01.920 as I processed exactly what I had just been through, I'll tell you what stood out to me. 00:05:01.920 --> 00:05:12.300 Despite the differences and maybe how we might do church, what stood out to me was that they had in place a culture of honor in their church. 00:05:13.580 --> 00:05:14.819 They didn't know me. 00:05:15.520 --> 00:05:21.520 All they knew was that I was a brother and a fellow minister of the gospel in another area and another community. 00:05:21.519 --> 00:05:26.479 And they wanted to show me honor, not for anything in me necessarily, 00:05:26.740 --> 00:05:32.240 but because we are fellow laborers linking arms together to advance the gospel of Christ. 00:05:33.019 --> 00:05:38.240 And as I look at our passage this morning, as I studied Philippians this week, 00:05:38.419 --> 00:05:44.979 what I see is Paul is trying to implement this same sort of culture of honor here in the church at Philippi. 00:05:44.980 --> 00:05:51.080 Paul is here in house arrest, you remember, and he's sending down the road two servants. 00:05:51.259 --> 00:05:54.840 He's making some travel plans to send Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:05:54.939 --> 00:06:00.379 and he wants to make sure that when they arrive that they're welcomed with a big hug around their neck. 00:06:01.040 --> 00:06:04.600 That they are received with joy when they arrive there. 00:06:05.020 --> 00:06:06.920 That they're honored when they come. 00:06:07.180 --> 00:06:07.879 And why? 00:06:07.879 --> 00:06:11.719 Well, it's because these two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:06:11.920 --> 00:06:17.079 are prime examples of everything that Paul has been talking about up to this point. 00:06:18.060 --> 00:06:21.199 Just to refresh your mind of the context here, where we've been, 00:06:21.319 --> 00:06:30.040 Paul has been urging the church in Philippi and us to live lives worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:06:30.920 --> 00:06:35.939 He's been encouraging them to serve others like Christ Jesus has served you. 00:06:35.939 --> 00:06:42.000 He's been encouraging them and us to live out the salvation that God's given us in Christ. 00:06:42.120 --> 00:06:44.219 And so now it's as if Paul looks around and he says, 00:06:44.339 --> 00:06:47.800 well, who can I point to as good examples of who's living this out? 00:06:48.300 --> 00:06:53.800 He doesn't have to look too far because right in front of him are Timothy and Epaphroditus. 00:06:54.740 --> 00:07:00.079 What we're going to see this morning are two examples of faithful service to Christ. 00:07:00.860 --> 00:07:05.259 These are two examples of faithfulness in gospel ministry. 00:07:05.259 --> 00:07:09.099 And these are two examples of men who are worthy of honor. 00:07:09.279 --> 00:07:12.259 We have Timothy first and then second Epaphroditus. 00:07:12.899 --> 00:07:15.519 So let's look first at what Paul says about Timothy here. 00:07:15.620 --> 00:07:16.560 Look with me to verse 19. 00:07:19.019 --> 00:07:21.259 What's honorable about Timothy? 00:07:21.399 --> 00:07:22.939 Paul says in verse 19, he says, 00:07:22.939 --> 00:07:35.459 Now you have to kind of read in between the lines here to try and understand what's going on. 00:07:35.519 --> 00:07:42.420 But it seems to me like the best way to understand this is that the Philippian church wanted to see Timothy. 00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:44.839 Paul is in prison. 00:07:44.980 --> 00:07:46.439 He's there. 00:07:46.579 --> 00:07:47.300 He's locked up. 00:07:47.300 --> 00:07:50.819 And so Timothy, in other words, was their next best option. 00:07:50.980 --> 00:07:57.000 And so possibly they asked, maybe through Epaphroditus as he came and visited Paul, 00:07:57.139 --> 00:07:59.379 they asked that they might see Timothy. 00:07:59.840 --> 00:08:02.780 And so Paul here, he says, yes, you can, but not yet. 00:08:02.779 --> 00:08:11.219 And the reason isn't because Timothy's not helpful or maybe that he's in some sort of trouble or anything like that. 00:08:11.279 --> 00:08:17.279 The reason that he's going to send him not yet is because, Paul says, I need him here. 00:08:18.759 --> 00:08:19.919 He says in verse 23, 00:08:20.119 --> 00:08:24.779 I hope to send him to you soon, but after I see how things are going to go with me. 00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:29.619 In other words, I need to let things resolve here for a little bit and I need him here. 00:08:29.620 --> 00:08:39.480 The fact was, Paul had formed such a special relationship with Timothy that in his moment of deepest need under house arrest, 00:08:39.700 --> 00:08:44.779 not sure whether he's going to live or whether he's going to die, he wanted Timothy there by his side. 00:08:45.919 --> 00:08:49.399 Timothy here, he's a model, I think, of Christian friendship. 00:08:50.779 --> 00:08:51.779 Christian friendship. 00:08:51.960 --> 00:08:54.720 He's like a son with a father, Paul says. 00:08:54.720 --> 00:08:59.259 It's not just that Timothy is useful to Paul, although he was. 00:08:59.680 --> 00:09:05.820 Paul is relationally close to Timothy and he wants him there with him in his hour of need. 00:09:05.899 --> 00:09:09.399 And let me just say, church, we need friends like this, don't we? 00:09:10.759 --> 00:09:15.940 We need friends like this who aren't just useful to us, what we can get from them, 00:09:15.940 --> 00:09:21.240 but friends that we know are for us, are there with us in our times of need, 00:09:21.320 --> 00:09:25.940 and that we want to be walking alongside us in our deepest and our darkest moments. 00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.080 That's what Timothy is here for Paul. 00:09:29.220 --> 00:09:33.880 Not only this, Paul says Timothy is a model of selfless love. 00:09:34.920 --> 00:09:36.680 It's a model of selfless love. 00:09:36.800 --> 00:09:37.720 Paul says in verse 20, 00:09:37.720 --> 00:09:43.500 I have nobody here like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:09:43.740 --> 00:09:46.340 And then he throws somebody else under the bus here. 00:09:46.420 --> 00:09:49.480 I'm not sure exactly who he's talking about, but he says, 00:09:49.580 --> 00:09:52.779 well, they all seek their own interests, not the interest of Christ. 00:09:53.680 --> 00:09:57.480 And it could be that he's referencing, again, these teachers from chapter 1, 00:09:57.540 --> 00:10:02.540 you remember, who were preaching Christ out of selfish ambition to harm Paul, 00:10:02.639 --> 00:10:03.680 to harm his ministry. 00:10:04.300 --> 00:10:06.960 Regardless, he says, Timothy's not like that. 00:10:07.720 --> 00:10:13.440 Timothy is not just seeking to gain his own influence and his own popularity. 00:10:13.660 --> 00:10:19.379 Timothy, I have nobody here like him who's going to be genuinely concerned for your interest. 00:10:19.620 --> 00:10:21.100 He's a model of selfless love. 00:10:22.139 --> 00:10:26.180 And you remember, this sort of selfless love is at the very heart of what it means 00:10:26.180 --> 00:10:28.320 to live out your identity as a Christian. 00:10:28.460 --> 00:10:30.500 You remember the call from the past few weeks. 00:10:30.639 --> 00:10:34.639 He called us, let your life be worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:10:34.639 --> 00:10:40.299 Complete my joy, he says in chapter 2, by being of the same mind, 00:10:40.679 --> 00:10:45.519 having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 00:10:45.639 --> 00:10:49.259 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility, 00:10:49.860 --> 00:10:52.500 count others more significant than yourselves. 00:10:53.319 --> 00:10:55.679 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, 00:10:55.799 --> 00:10:58.259 but also to the interests of others. 00:10:58.319 --> 00:11:02.600 He says, I don't know of anybody around here who's living that out more than Timothy. 00:11:02.600 --> 00:11:05.560 Timothy, he's doing it. 00:11:06.320 --> 00:11:08.720 He is working out his salvation. 00:11:09.000 --> 00:11:13.879 And in doing this, Timothy ultimately, he's a model of Christ-likeness. 00:11:15.240 --> 00:11:20.259 The reason why Timothy is so selfless and so others-focused 00:11:20.259 --> 00:11:23.440 and so concerned with their welfare above his own 00:11:23.440 --> 00:11:29.399 is because Timothy has seen and experienced the selfless love of Christ Jesus for him. 00:11:29.399 --> 00:11:35.539 Timothy knows Jesus who, though he was in the form of God, 00:11:35.620 --> 00:11:38.659 did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, 00:11:38.759 --> 00:11:43.199 but emptied himself by taking the form of a servant. 00:11:43.459 --> 00:11:46.379 Timothy knows Jesus who came in human flesh. 00:11:47.459 --> 00:11:50.220 Timothy knows Jesus who humbled himself, 00:11:50.439 --> 00:11:53.799 and he knows Jesus who went to the cross for our sake. 00:11:53.919 --> 00:11:55.399 Timothy gets it here. 00:11:55.399 --> 00:11:59.100 He gets it that if Jesus had loved him like that, 00:11:59.159 --> 00:12:02.079 if Jesus gave himself away, his life away for him, 00:12:02.299 --> 00:12:05.139 well, then he can turn around and give his life away for others. 00:12:05.819 --> 00:12:09.259 If Jesus has loved him like that, well, he can love others. 00:12:09.340 --> 00:12:11.679 He can give his life away for their good. 00:12:12.399 --> 00:12:14.980 He can count others more significant than himself. 00:12:14.980 --> 00:12:20.039 Those who know Christ want to be like Christ. 00:12:21.399 --> 00:12:26.360 Those who've received Christ want to give Christ to others. 00:12:26.480 --> 00:12:29.759 Those who love Christ want to imitate Christ. 00:12:30.480 --> 00:12:35.940 Those who have been served by Christ want to turn around and serve others with the love of Christ. 00:12:36.019 --> 00:12:37.379 That's what it means to be a Christian. 00:12:38.659 --> 00:12:42.420 You first allowed the king to serve you and wash your feet, 00:12:42.419 --> 00:12:44.799 and then Jesus says, you go and do likewise. 00:12:45.599 --> 00:12:46.459 That's my disciples. 00:12:46.659 --> 00:12:47.439 That's what it means. 00:12:47.659 --> 00:12:50.919 That's what it looks like to live out your salvation. 00:12:52.159 --> 00:12:55.599 Timothy here, he's a model of Christ likeness. 00:12:55.659 --> 00:12:57.099 But not only that, last one here. 00:12:58.399 --> 00:12:59.219 Paul says, 00:12:59.679 --> 00:13:02.500 Timothy's worth has been proven, 00:13:03.500 --> 00:13:06.159 been tested over time. 00:13:07.319 --> 00:13:11.299 Timothy is a model of proven faithfulness. 00:13:11.299 --> 00:13:13.539 In other words, he's not a rookie here. 00:13:14.579 --> 00:13:15.579 Verse 22, he says, 00:13:15.679 --> 00:13:18.459 You know Timothy's proven worth. 00:13:19.539 --> 00:13:24.279 How as a son with a father, he has served with me in the gospel. 00:13:24.459 --> 00:13:26.699 Let's zoom out for a minute and think about 00:13:26.699 --> 00:13:30.399 how Timothy has served with Paul in the gospel. 00:13:31.599 --> 00:13:34.219 Timothy and Paul have known each other at this point in the story. 00:13:34.359 --> 00:13:37.819 Timothy and Paul have known each other for about 10 years now at this point. 00:13:37.820 --> 00:13:40.660 And I think it's helpful to remember some of his story. 00:13:40.879 --> 00:13:44.680 The first time that we see Timothy is all the way back in Acts chapter 16. 00:13:44.940 --> 00:13:45.879 And you might remember the story. 00:13:46.000 --> 00:13:47.140 You can flip there if you'd like to. 00:13:47.720 --> 00:13:50.080 Paul is making his way through. 00:13:50.240 --> 00:13:51.540 He's advancing the gospel. 00:13:51.800 --> 00:13:54.660 He's about to embark on his second missionary journey. 00:13:54.820 --> 00:13:58.020 And he comes to a place called Derbe and Lystra. 00:13:58.220 --> 00:14:01.640 And it says that there's a disciple there named Timothy. 00:14:01.639 --> 00:14:06.620 And at this point, even already, his reputation has preceded him. 00:14:06.699 --> 00:14:10.439 It says that other disciples in the area are speaking well of Timothy. 00:14:10.620 --> 00:14:12.659 He's already got a track record of faithfulness there. 00:14:12.840 --> 00:14:15.759 But let me tell you, that's about to be battle-tested real quick 00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:17.139 because, listen to this, 00:14:17.620 --> 00:14:19.439 Paul takes Timothy with him, 00:14:19.480 --> 00:14:21.600 and the very first thing he does, 00:14:21.659 --> 00:14:23.899 it's in the same verse right there, it says this. 00:14:24.399 --> 00:14:24.699 It says, 00:14:24.699 --> 00:14:26.840 Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, 00:14:26.980 --> 00:14:29.980 and he took him, and he circumcised him. 00:14:31.639 --> 00:14:33.960 Y'all think about that for a minute. 00:14:34.559 --> 00:14:35.580 Men, okay? 00:14:35.960 --> 00:14:37.059 Men, think about that. 00:14:38.100 --> 00:14:42.720 If that's not a test of your willingness to be serious about the mission of the gospel, 00:14:42.860 --> 00:14:43.740 I don't know what is. 00:14:44.860 --> 00:14:48.279 And Paul says Timothy has proven his faithfulness. 00:14:48.360 --> 00:14:49.399 I believe him. 00:14:50.559 --> 00:14:51.980 So Paul scoops up Timothy. 00:14:52.279 --> 00:14:53.259 He takes him with him. 00:14:53.360 --> 00:14:55.879 They go together to a place called Philippi, 00:14:55.879 --> 00:15:00.740 and together they plant the church in Philippi. 00:15:00.740 --> 00:15:04.320 And they move on to Thessalonica, 00:15:04.560 --> 00:15:08.159 and together they plant the church in Thessalonica. 00:15:08.519 --> 00:15:11.600 Timothy gets to sit in and have a front-row seat, 00:15:11.720 --> 00:15:13.200 as Paul explains, 00:15:13.460 --> 00:15:17.620 and reasons with the Thessalonians about the death and resurrection of Christ. 00:15:17.720 --> 00:15:19.960 He has a front-row seat to these lessons. 00:15:21.259 --> 00:15:23.500 And then together they go to Berea, 00:15:23.500 --> 00:15:26.500 and they get to see the Jews there receive the word with gladness, 00:15:27.200 --> 00:15:30.419 and examine the scriptures to see if what they're saying is true. 00:15:30.639 --> 00:15:33.840 And it says that Timothy, he wanted to stay back in Berea, 00:15:33.919 --> 00:15:34.679 and so he does. 00:15:34.879 --> 00:15:36.620 And Paul goes on to Athens, 00:15:36.720 --> 00:15:38.980 but Paul's not there five minutes before he says, 00:15:39.059 --> 00:15:40.159 I need Timothy with me. 00:15:40.960 --> 00:15:41.919 And he sends word. 00:15:42.059 --> 00:15:43.460 Acts 17, verse 15. 00:15:43.620 --> 00:15:45.019 He sends word and says, 00:15:45.279 --> 00:15:48.279 get Timothy to come back with me as soon as possible. 00:15:48.279 --> 00:15:53.199 See, this guy, he's not just an extra mouth to feed. 00:15:53.419 --> 00:15:55.360 He's not just extra baggage for Paul. 00:15:55.480 --> 00:16:00.000 He is a vital part of the life and ministry of the Apostle Paul. 00:16:01.519 --> 00:16:03.319 They were together in Corinth. 00:16:03.699 --> 00:16:05.439 They were together in Ephesus. 00:16:05.720 --> 00:16:09.759 Timothy was right there alongside the Apostle Paul, 00:16:09.860 --> 00:16:12.179 so that now at this point, ten years later, 00:16:12.279 --> 00:16:13.699 Paul can look back and he says, 00:16:13.700 --> 00:16:15.900 you know Timothy's proven worth. 00:16:17.180 --> 00:16:21.860 He's got a track record of faithfulness we've served together. 00:16:22.060 --> 00:16:22.800 And so Paul says, 00:16:22.980 --> 00:16:25.560 you will get to see him eventually, 00:16:25.879 --> 00:16:27.860 but not yet. 00:16:28.840 --> 00:16:30.160 I need him here. 00:16:31.240 --> 00:16:32.180 I need him here. 00:16:32.280 --> 00:16:34.420 Instead, here in verse 25, 00:16:35.400 --> 00:16:39.360 instead, I'm going to send you Epaphroditus. 00:16:40.300 --> 00:16:42.900 Look there with me to verses 25 through 30. 00:16:42.899 --> 00:16:44.899 We see Epaphroditus. 00:16:45.579 --> 00:16:49.740 And I think it's kind of hard to miss the tone here. 00:16:50.899 --> 00:16:53.240 Again, we're reading in between the lines here, 00:16:53.340 --> 00:16:56.679 but again, I think it seems like the best way to understand this 00:16:56.679 --> 00:16:59.919 is that the Philippians really wanted to see Timothy. 00:17:01.039 --> 00:17:03.059 They preferred to see Timothy. 00:17:03.179 --> 00:17:04.259 They'd love to see Paul, 00:17:04.339 --> 00:17:05.279 but if they can't get Paul, 00:17:05.440 --> 00:17:06.740 then send us Timothy. 00:17:06.960 --> 00:17:09.879 And so they sent Epaphroditus down the road 00:17:09.880 --> 00:17:12.020 to go minister to Paul's needs 00:17:12.020 --> 00:17:14.440 so that hopefully they could free up Timothy 00:17:14.440 --> 00:17:16.500 to come and see them. 00:17:17.400 --> 00:17:18.380 But here Paul says, 00:17:18.480 --> 00:17:20.500 well, I can't send Timothy to you. 00:17:20.560 --> 00:17:21.040 Not yet. 00:17:21.080 --> 00:17:21.420 Not yet. 00:17:21.460 --> 00:17:22.060 I need him. 00:17:22.120 --> 00:17:22.900 So verse 25, 00:17:23.040 --> 00:17:25.200 I've thought it necessary to send you. 00:17:25.620 --> 00:17:26.120 Drum roll. 00:17:26.560 --> 00:17:28.100 You get Epaphroditus back. 00:17:28.099 --> 00:17:32.839 So maybe to prepare the Philippians 00:17:32.839 --> 00:17:35.379 in case they were going to be disappointed 00:17:35.379 --> 00:17:38.439 or even just to help pour Epaphroditus' pride, 00:17:39.719 --> 00:17:41.019 Paul makes it clear here 00:17:41.019 --> 00:17:42.419 that this guy, Epaphroditus, 00:17:42.519 --> 00:17:44.500 he's nothing to turn your nose up at. 00:17:45.819 --> 00:17:49.419 And he is just as much a minister of the gospel as I am. 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:51.759 He's just as much worthy of honor. 00:17:51.899 --> 00:17:54.799 And so receive him in the Lord, verse 30. 00:17:54.839 --> 00:17:55.899 Don't grumble about it. 00:17:55.900 --> 00:17:58.019 Receive him with all joy and, in fact, 00:17:58.500 --> 00:18:00.720 honor such men. 00:18:02.000 --> 00:18:04.540 Honor such men. 00:18:04.700 --> 00:18:06.580 So let's see why. 00:18:06.740 --> 00:18:08.140 Now, admittedly, 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:10.100 we don't know as much about Epaphroditus 00:18:10.100 --> 00:18:11.580 as we do about Timothy. 00:18:11.680 --> 00:18:13.420 We see Timothy all through the New Testament. 00:18:13.580 --> 00:18:15.120 We just have a very small window 00:18:15.120 --> 00:18:17.600 into the person of Epaphroditus. 00:18:17.720 --> 00:18:20.060 But we do, I think, have a few clues here 00:18:20.060 --> 00:18:20.860 into his character. 00:18:21.019 --> 00:18:23.519 For one, I think it's clear that he's trustworthy. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:26.019 He's trustworthy. 00:18:26.299 --> 00:18:27.319 Well, why do I say that? 00:18:27.420 --> 00:18:30.099 Well, apparently the Philippian church thought so. 00:18:31.279 --> 00:18:33.859 They sent somebody down the road 00:18:33.859 --> 00:18:35.920 all the way from Philippi to Rome 00:18:35.920 --> 00:18:38.359 with a big bag full of money to give to Paul. 00:18:38.440 --> 00:18:39.639 And who did they trust to do it? 00:18:40.539 --> 00:18:42.160 They trusted Epaphroditus. 00:18:43.019 --> 00:18:44.960 They entrusted him with the funds 00:18:44.960 --> 00:18:46.980 and the resources of the church. 00:18:47.099 --> 00:18:47.680 Not only that, 00:18:47.720 --> 00:18:49.619 he's a messenger of the Philippian church. 00:18:49.619 --> 00:18:52.939 They trusted Epaphroditus to represent them 00:18:52.939 --> 00:18:54.799 and their words and their heart 00:18:54.799 --> 00:18:55.599 and their sentiment 00:18:55.599 --> 00:18:57.699 all the way down the road to Paul. 00:18:57.779 --> 00:18:59.319 Who did they send as their representative? 00:18:59.500 --> 00:19:00.899 They sent Epaphroditus. 00:19:01.019 --> 00:19:02.659 He's a trusted servant. 00:19:04.139 --> 00:19:04.939 Not only that, 00:19:04.979 --> 00:19:06.159 I think we can tell here 00:19:06.159 --> 00:19:08.859 that Epaphroditus must have been bold. 00:19:10.059 --> 00:19:11.179 Must have been bold. 00:19:11.319 --> 00:19:14.000 I mean, who is willing to travel that long road 00:19:14.000 --> 00:19:14.899 with all that money? 00:19:16.159 --> 00:19:17.119 That's dangerous. 00:19:17.339 --> 00:19:18.839 That's not a safe journey to make. 00:19:18.839 --> 00:19:20.659 There's danger at every corner, 00:19:20.779 --> 00:19:22.419 but they sent Epaphroditus. 00:19:23.799 --> 00:19:26.179 Epaphroditus was willing to walk into Rome 00:19:26.179 --> 00:19:27.419 as a Christian 00:19:27.419 --> 00:19:30.179 and to be publicly identified with a prisoner 00:19:30.179 --> 00:19:31.919 who might well be executed. 00:19:32.720 --> 00:19:33.740 They say, that's my friend. 00:19:34.480 --> 00:19:35.659 I'm here to support him. 00:19:35.740 --> 00:19:36.819 I'm here to be with him. 00:19:37.779 --> 00:19:41.059 Epaphroditus, he's a bold servant of the gospel. 00:19:41.179 --> 00:19:43.759 We can tell that just from the circumstances here. 00:19:43.839 --> 00:19:46.779 But Paul, he describes him here in verse 25 00:19:46.779 --> 00:19:49.779 with three images that I want us to focus in on 00:19:49.779 --> 00:19:51.920 because these three descriptions, 00:19:52.259 --> 00:19:56.799 I think, are three ways that we ought to understand ourselves, 00:19:56.940 --> 00:19:58.980 view ourselves in Christ as Christians, 00:19:59.139 --> 00:20:02.700 but also three images that we ought to think of each other 00:20:02.700 --> 00:20:04.700 in the church this way. 00:20:05.359 --> 00:20:08.220 This is how we ought to view one another in the church. 00:20:08.299 --> 00:20:09.200 Look there to verse 25. 00:20:09.200 --> 00:20:09.720 You'll see it. 00:20:10.240 --> 00:20:11.380 He calls him a brother, 00:20:12.140 --> 00:20:13.660 a fellow worker, 00:20:14.039 --> 00:20:15.860 and a fellow soldier. 00:20:16.519 --> 00:20:17.000 You see that? 00:20:18.120 --> 00:20:19.259 He is a brother, 00:20:20.000 --> 00:20:21.340 he is a worker, 00:20:21.759 --> 00:20:24.279 and he is a soldier. 00:20:24.440 --> 00:20:25.500 He is family, 00:20:26.580 --> 00:20:28.500 he's a co-laborer, 00:20:28.600 --> 00:20:31.240 and he's in the same war here. 00:20:31.240 --> 00:20:35.579 He and I are of the same family, 00:20:35.700 --> 00:20:36.700 with the same objective, 00:20:36.900 --> 00:20:38.240 and we fight the same fight. 00:20:39.019 --> 00:20:40.339 So let's look at each one, 00:20:40.420 --> 00:20:41.079 and as we do, 00:20:41.160 --> 00:20:42.500 I just want you to ask yourself, 00:20:42.839 --> 00:20:45.400 do I see myself like this? 00:20:45.460 --> 00:20:46.039 And secondly, 00:20:46.380 --> 00:20:47.259 in the church, 00:20:47.359 --> 00:20:49.579 do we see one another like this? 00:20:49.660 --> 00:20:51.620 Okay, so the first one here is family. 00:20:52.819 --> 00:20:53.259 Family. 00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:55.339 Do you realize, Christian, 00:20:55.440 --> 00:20:57.240 that if you are in Christ, 00:20:57.319 --> 00:20:59.519 the moment you put your faith in Christ, 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.740 when you hear the gospel, 00:21:01.460 --> 00:21:03.660 that God's own son has lived and died, 00:21:03.759 --> 00:21:04.940 and risen in your place, 00:21:05.559 --> 00:21:07.920 when you put your faith in the son of God, 00:21:08.039 --> 00:21:08.579 John 1, 00:21:08.639 --> 00:21:09.339 it tells us that, 00:21:09.759 --> 00:21:10.839 all who receive him, 00:21:10.900 --> 00:21:11.960 who believe in his name, 00:21:12.039 --> 00:21:15.619 are given the right to become children of God. 00:21:15.900 --> 00:21:18.200 That is unfathomable good news. 00:21:19.740 --> 00:21:21.099 Sinners, like me, 00:21:21.879 --> 00:21:23.960 are rescued out of our sin and shame, 00:21:24.079 --> 00:21:24.960 out of the darkness, 00:21:25.539 --> 00:21:27.559 out of belonging to this present evil age, 00:21:27.559 --> 00:21:32.059 and we are now adopted into the family of God. 00:21:32.579 --> 00:21:33.679 If you're in Christ, 00:21:33.779 --> 00:21:35.019 you're a child of God, 00:21:35.460 --> 00:21:36.379 which means, 00:21:36.740 --> 00:21:39.220 when you look horizontally at your brother and sister, 00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:40.759 in the same row as you, 00:21:41.059 --> 00:21:42.279 if you are in Christ, 00:21:42.359 --> 00:21:44.659 you got a big old family of brothers and sisters, 00:21:44.659 --> 00:21:45.960 who are also in Christ. 00:21:46.039 --> 00:21:46.879 That's the church. 00:21:48.659 --> 00:21:51.159 Do you see yourself as family? 00:21:51.339 --> 00:21:52.460 Not only that, church. 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:53.660 He says, 00:21:53.740 --> 00:21:57.940 we need to see ourselves as co-laborers in the gospel. 00:21:59.180 --> 00:22:02.380 Co-workers in the gospel. 00:22:03.420 --> 00:22:05.640 Trying to accomplish a goal together. 00:22:05.720 --> 00:22:07.579 Not just coming together for family meals, 00:22:07.700 --> 00:22:08.779 that's what we're doing right now. 00:22:09.200 --> 00:22:09.360 Okay? 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:11.799 Not just coming together for family meals, 00:22:11.940 --> 00:22:13.660 but gathering together, 00:22:13.799 --> 00:22:14.460 and then scattering, 00:22:15.480 --> 00:22:17.039 wherever the Lord would send us, 00:22:17.079 --> 00:22:18.779 to accomplish the task. 00:22:18.779 --> 00:22:18.859 Ask. 00:22:20.180 --> 00:22:20.839 Paul knows, 00:22:20.920 --> 00:22:21.359 he understands, 00:22:21.440 --> 00:22:22.940 there's a mission to be accomplished. 00:22:23.139 --> 00:22:25.859 He's given his life to spread the gospel, 00:22:26.019 --> 00:22:26.859 to plant churches, 00:22:27.039 --> 00:22:28.279 to equip the saints, 00:22:28.379 --> 00:22:30.299 to see non-believers come to faith, 00:22:30.339 --> 00:22:32.180 and to see believers come to maturity. 00:22:32.700 --> 00:22:33.200 And he says, 00:22:33.279 --> 00:22:35.559 Epaphroditus is right there with me in this. 00:22:36.559 --> 00:22:39.119 He is linking arms with me. 00:22:39.200 --> 00:22:41.519 He is laboring alongside me. 00:22:41.819 --> 00:22:44.279 Receive him like you would receive me, 00:22:44.379 --> 00:22:47.379 because he is a fellow worker with me in the gospel. 00:22:47.380 --> 00:22:48.460 He is family, 00:22:48.720 --> 00:22:50.540 and he is a fellow worker. 00:22:50.720 --> 00:22:51.140 And so church, 00:22:51.220 --> 00:22:51.860 ask yourself, 00:22:52.220 --> 00:22:53.260 if you are family, 00:22:53.640 --> 00:22:55.400 are you working? 00:22:57.040 --> 00:22:58.300 If you're family, 00:22:58.760 --> 00:23:01.820 are you laboring for the advance of the gospel? 00:23:01.960 --> 00:23:04.220 And are you doing it together? 00:23:05.740 --> 00:23:07.860 And we're about to celebrate Thanksgiving, 00:23:08.400 --> 00:23:09.300 this upcoming week. 00:23:09.360 --> 00:23:12.540 Many of you will gather and eat with family. 00:23:12.640 --> 00:23:13.560 You know what you call people, 00:23:13.780 --> 00:23:15.660 that just come to the family meal, 00:23:15.660 --> 00:23:18.120 but don't actually do any of the work around the house. 00:23:19.920 --> 00:23:22.779 Y'all might have a few words for them that I won't say here. 00:23:24.000 --> 00:23:26.000 But it's probably one of two things. 00:23:26.300 --> 00:23:27.580 They're either children. 00:23:28.720 --> 00:23:31.040 Children don't do much work around the house. 00:23:31.180 --> 00:23:33.040 They receive the food, 00:23:33.279 --> 00:23:35.200 but they don't normally do the dishes. 00:23:35.600 --> 00:23:36.640 They might be children, 00:23:36.840 --> 00:23:38.880 or they might be a guest. 00:23:38.880 --> 00:23:42.300 You don't make your guests do the dishes, 00:23:42.420 --> 00:23:42.720 do you? 00:23:43.520 --> 00:23:44.560 Sometimes, maybe. 00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:46.780 They're not expected to normally. 00:23:46.940 --> 00:23:47.660 They're either children, 00:23:47.860 --> 00:23:48.800 or they're a guest. 00:23:48.920 --> 00:23:49.480 Well, church, 00:23:49.540 --> 00:23:51.340 the same thing is true in the family of God. 00:23:52.380 --> 00:23:54.200 If you are a part of the family, 00:23:54.360 --> 00:23:56.620 and yet you're not putting your hand to the plow, 00:23:57.140 --> 00:23:58.740 eager to advance the gospel, 00:23:58.920 --> 00:24:00.660 wanting to be a part of the mission, 00:24:00.880 --> 00:24:02.180 of the Great Commission, 00:24:02.320 --> 00:24:03.220 linking arms together, 00:24:03.220 --> 00:24:06.079 it may be that you are spiritually young, 00:24:07.079 --> 00:24:08.660 spiritually children. 00:24:09.039 --> 00:24:09.940 You're new. 00:24:10.079 --> 00:24:11.079 You're young in the faith. 00:24:11.220 --> 00:24:13.000 Spiritual children come in all shapes, 00:24:13.140 --> 00:24:14.620 sizes, and ages in the church. 00:24:15.440 --> 00:24:18.539 Or it may be that you're a guest. 00:24:19.700 --> 00:24:22.380 You're not yet part of the family. 00:24:23.380 --> 00:24:24.279 If it's the first, 00:24:24.440 --> 00:24:26.059 if you're a child in the faith, 00:24:26.120 --> 00:24:29.180 well, the call for you is to mature in the faith, 00:24:29.940 --> 00:24:32.200 to continue to grow in Christlikeness, 00:24:32.200 --> 00:24:33.200 and maturity, 00:24:33.480 --> 00:24:35.759 to put your hand to the plow together as a church. 00:24:35.900 --> 00:24:37.000 And if it's the second, 00:24:37.100 --> 00:24:40.900 the call for you is to repent and believe the gospel of Jesus Christ, 00:24:40.980 --> 00:24:42.200 that you too might be saved. 00:24:43.100 --> 00:24:46.980 That you too might be adopted into the family of God. 00:24:48.460 --> 00:24:49.660 Paul says we're family. 00:24:49.819 --> 00:24:51.700 He says we're co-workers. 00:24:51.840 --> 00:24:53.100 And then he gives one more image here. 00:24:53.160 --> 00:24:58.819 He says we are our fellow soldiers in a spiritual war. 00:25:00.400 --> 00:25:01.500 Is that how you see yourself? 00:25:02.980 --> 00:25:04.500 Is that how you see one another? 00:25:06.240 --> 00:25:14.840 It's so easy to forget that what exists out there is not all that, 00:25:15.220 --> 00:25:18.360 that is not only just what we can see with our eyes and touch with our hands. 00:25:18.359 --> 00:25:23.359 There's a very real spiritual battle going on at all times under the surface. 00:25:23.579 --> 00:25:25.000 And so we need to ask ourselves, 00:25:25.119 --> 00:25:26.839 are you fighting the battle? 00:25:27.639 --> 00:25:29.459 And are you fighting it together? 00:25:30.759 --> 00:25:34.339 Do you see yourselves as soldiers in a spiritual battle? 00:25:34.419 --> 00:25:36.299 That's how Paul sees Epaphroditus. 00:25:36.419 --> 00:25:38.899 He's a man worthy of honor as a brother, 00:25:39.639 --> 00:25:40.619 as a co-worker, 00:25:41.359 --> 00:25:42.259 and as a soldier. 00:25:42.459 --> 00:25:43.099 Not only this, 00:25:43.099 --> 00:25:43.599 one more. 00:25:44.259 --> 00:25:45.439 One more reason here. 00:25:45.559 --> 00:25:48.119 Paul says Epaphroditus is worthy of honor. 00:25:48.899 --> 00:25:53.679 He says Epaphroditus is a picture of godly love. 00:25:55.019 --> 00:25:58.480 The picture of godly love. 00:25:58.559 --> 00:25:59.839 Look there with me to verse 26. 00:25:59.839 --> 00:26:02.240 Paul says, 00:26:02.619 --> 00:26:03.799 He, Epaphroditus, 00:26:03.899 --> 00:26:05.720 has been longing for you all 00:26:05.720 --> 00:26:07.720 and has been distressed 00:26:07.720 --> 00:26:09.779 because he heard that he was ill. 00:26:10.939 --> 00:26:12.779 Indeed he was near to death, 00:26:12.899 --> 00:26:14.839 but God had mercy on him, 00:26:14.899 --> 00:26:15.859 and not only on him, 00:26:15.939 --> 00:26:16.879 but on me also, 00:26:17.019 --> 00:26:19.039 lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:26:19.939 --> 00:26:21.779 I am the more eager to send him, 00:26:21.939 --> 00:26:22.179 therefore, 00:26:22.299 --> 00:26:24.419 that you may rejoice at seeing him again, 00:26:24.420 --> 00:26:27.200 and that I may be less anxious. 00:26:27.380 --> 00:26:29.759 I think it's clear that Epaphroditus loves Paul. 00:26:31.080 --> 00:26:33.080 He came all this way 00:26:33.080 --> 00:26:34.600 to minister to the needs of Paul. 00:26:34.700 --> 00:26:36.539 He braved the dangers of the road, 00:26:36.740 --> 00:26:38.539 braved the dangers of the city, 00:26:38.720 --> 00:26:41.360 to come and to minister to the needs of the apostle Paul. 00:26:41.440 --> 00:26:42.160 He loved Paul. 00:26:43.460 --> 00:26:44.880 I think it's clear that Epaphroditus 00:26:44.880 --> 00:26:46.560 loves the Philippian church. 00:26:46.660 --> 00:26:47.440 You hear that, don't you? 00:26:47.560 --> 00:26:49.180 And the way he speaks about them. 00:26:49.440 --> 00:26:51.420 He's longing for you all. 00:26:51.480 --> 00:26:52.360 He's distressed. 00:26:52.360 --> 00:26:53.680 Do you hear why he's distressed? 00:26:55.140 --> 00:26:57.960 It's because they heard that he was sick. 00:26:59.360 --> 00:27:01.660 Here's Epaphroditus on his deathbed, 00:27:01.740 --> 00:27:03.519 and he's worried about the Philippians 00:27:03.519 --> 00:27:05.060 hearing that he's sick. 00:27:06.600 --> 00:27:08.720 I think of Miss Linda. 00:27:10.279 --> 00:27:12.120 We went to go visit her in the hospital 00:27:12.120 --> 00:27:13.480 several months ago, 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:15.019 and she was sick. 00:27:16.140 --> 00:27:18.140 Very, very, very sick. 00:27:18.259 --> 00:27:20.000 And as I went to go speak with her, 00:27:20.000 --> 00:27:21.380 you know what she wanted to talk about? 00:27:22.539 --> 00:27:22.940 You. 00:27:24.420 --> 00:27:25.620 She was concerned for you. 00:27:25.720 --> 00:27:27.000 She even apologized, 00:27:27.300 --> 00:27:28.060 if you can believe it, 00:27:28.080 --> 00:27:30.400 that she had been caught up on her birthday notes 00:27:30.400 --> 00:27:31.460 and her birthday cards 00:27:31.460 --> 00:27:34.560 and her love letters to you all. 00:27:34.620 --> 00:27:36.880 She was concerned for you. 00:27:37.100 --> 00:27:38.560 That's gospel love. 00:27:41.400 --> 00:27:42.580 Epaphroditus loves Paul. 00:27:42.680 --> 00:27:44.360 He loves the Philippians, 00:27:44.359 --> 00:27:47.539 and I think it's clear where all of that type of love comes from. 00:27:47.539 --> 00:27:51.099 Because Epaphroditus loves Christ. 00:27:52.500 --> 00:27:56.339 He loves the glory of King Jesus 00:27:56.339 --> 00:28:01.839 to the point where he is willing to risk everything and die. 00:28:01.959 --> 00:28:03.059 And he nearly did die, 00:28:03.179 --> 00:28:04.219 Paul says in verse 30, 00:28:04.459 --> 00:28:05.579 for the work of Christ. 00:28:05.699 --> 00:28:09.659 He's risking his life to complete what's lacking in your service to me. 00:28:09.660 --> 00:28:12.540 Epaphroditus is who he is 00:28:12.540 --> 00:28:15.279 because of the love of Christ for him. 00:28:16.920 --> 00:28:17.940 Both of these men, 00:28:18.080 --> 00:28:20.320 Timothy and Epaphroditus, 00:28:20.700 --> 00:28:22.140 they are who they are 00:28:22.140 --> 00:28:24.700 because they have been radically transformed 00:28:24.700 --> 00:28:26.240 by the grace of God 00:28:26.240 --> 00:28:27.720 in the gospel of Jesus Christ. 00:28:29.080 --> 00:28:30.660 They love the Lord, 00:28:31.400 --> 00:28:33.720 and so they are who they are. 00:28:33.720 --> 00:28:35.019 So, Paul says, 00:28:35.079 --> 00:28:35.900 for these reasons, 00:28:36.059 --> 00:28:36.740 receive him, 00:28:37.539 --> 00:28:38.819 joyfully welcome him, 00:28:38.900 --> 00:28:41.640 and honor such men. 00:28:41.779 --> 00:28:43.400 So here's what I want us to do, church. 00:28:44.539 --> 00:28:49.500 I want to close by applying this to us, 00:28:49.519 --> 00:28:52.259 and I have six applications here for us as we close. 00:28:53.339 --> 00:28:55.500 The first is straight from the text, 00:28:55.640 --> 00:28:56.259 which is this. 00:28:56.680 --> 00:28:58.120 Church, honor such men. 00:29:00.259 --> 00:29:02.200 Honor such men. 00:29:02.200 --> 00:29:03.539 You think about the type of people 00:29:03.539 --> 00:29:05.720 that our culture honors, 00:29:05.920 --> 00:29:07.160 that the world celebrates. 00:29:07.319 --> 00:29:08.539 It's the strong, 00:29:08.720 --> 00:29:09.940 and the popular, 00:29:10.380 --> 00:29:11.420 and the successful, 00:29:11.700 --> 00:29:12.319 and the beautiful, 00:29:12.539 --> 00:29:13.100 and the rich. 00:29:13.420 --> 00:29:14.380 In the church, 00:29:14.900 --> 00:29:16.799 we are called to give honor 00:29:16.799 --> 00:29:17.819 where honor is due. 00:29:17.940 --> 00:29:18.539 And Paul says, 00:29:18.620 --> 00:29:20.660 you honor men like this. 00:29:21.779 --> 00:29:24.960 Honor men who are in love with the Lord, 00:29:25.100 --> 00:29:26.500 who model selfless, 00:29:26.660 --> 00:29:27.920 sacrificial love. 00:29:28.640 --> 00:29:31.480 Honor men who are eager to serve. 00:29:32.980 --> 00:29:35.420 Who give away their lives for the sake of Christ. 00:29:35.620 --> 00:29:37.660 Outdo one another in showing honor, 00:29:37.840 --> 00:29:38.799 Paul says in the words. 00:29:39.860 --> 00:29:40.740 Church, let's build, 00:29:40.880 --> 00:29:42.160 and let's foster, 00:29:42.299 --> 00:29:44.860 let's encourage a culture of honor right here. 00:29:45.000 --> 00:29:45.539 See you back. 00:29:45.660 --> 00:29:46.400 Honor such men. 00:29:46.620 --> 00:29:46.920 Second, 00:29:47.880 --> 00:29:49.420 imitate such men. 00:29:51.080 --> 00:29:52.759 Imitate such men. 00:29:52.900 --> 00:29:54.100 The danger, I think, 00:29:54.099 --> 00:29:56.859 and building a culture of honor 00:29:56.859 --> 00:30:00.259 is if you lift guys like this up on a pedestal 00:30:00.259 --> 00:30:00.899 and think that, 00:30:01.019 --> 00:30:03.899 well, these people are superhuman in some way. 00:30:05.079 --> 00:30:07.599 I can never be and do what they are 00:30:07.599 --> 00:30:08.899 and what they do. 00:30:09.019 --> 00:30:09.299 Well, listen, 00:30:09.399 --> 00:30:10.939 they are incredible examples, 00:30:11.159 --> 00:30:14.659 but Timothy and Paul and Epaphroditus, 00:30:14.939 --> 00:30:16.079 these are just people. 00:30:17.419 --> 00:30:19.359 These are people who have been shaped 00:30:19.359 --> 00:30:21.179 by the grace of God. 00:30:22.019 --> 00:30:23.219 And so as we honor them, 00:30:23.299 --> 00:30:26.979 we're meant to also aspire to be like them. 00:30:27.819 --> 00:30:28.839 To look around you 00:30:28.839 --> 00:30:31.339 and see models of men and women 00:30:31.339 --> 00:30:32.879 who are running hard after Christ 00:30:32.879 --> 00:30:33.199 and say, 00:30:33.259 --> 00:30:35.079 God, would you make me like that? 00:30:35.939 --> 00:30:37.419 Would you make me like Paul? 00:30:37.919 --> 00:30:40.000 Would you make me like Timothy? 00:30:40.259 --> 00:30:42.579 Would you make me like Epaphroditus? 00:30:43.139 --> 00:30:44.639 Run hard and imitate 00:30:44.640 --> 00:30:47.100 those who are following Christ. 00:30:47.500 --> 00:30:49.880 Third, invest in such men. 00:30:51.280 --> 00:30:53.600 Invest in such men. 00:30:53.860 --> 00:30:56.660 Raise up such men. 00:30:58.000 --> 00:31:00.460 Disciple such men. 00:31:01.340 --> 00:31:04.320 Church, we need more disciple makers 00:31:04.320 --> 00:31:06.500 who will do what Paul did for Timothy 00:31:06.500 --> 00:31:06.840 and say, 00:31:06.920 --> 00:31:07.700 come on, come with me. 00:31:08.660 --> 00:31:09.580 Come sit with me 00:31:09.580 --> 00:31:11.220 while I go labor, 00:31:11.360 --> 00:31:12.140 while I go teach, 00:31:12.220 --> 00:31:13.240 while I go argue, 00:31:13.240 --> 00:31:14.640 while I go present the gospel. 00:31:14.779 --> 00:31:16.000 Come with me. 00:31:16.099 --> 00:31:17.220 Plant this church with me. 00:31:17.279 --> 00:31:19.440 We need more disciple makers. 00:31:23.339 --> 00:31:24.640 We need men and women 00:31:24.640 --> 00:31:26.680 who will invest themselves 00:31:26.680 --> 00:31:29.579 in raising up leaders in the church 00:31:29.579 --> 00:31:31.480 who not only focus on their own growth, 00:31:31.559 --> 00:31:32.920 but they begin to instead 00:31:32.920 --> 00:31:34.700 focus on the growth of others. 00:31:35.259 --> 00:31:36.579 And if you want to grow 00:31:36.579 --> 00:31:38.079 in your walk with Christ, 00:31:38.200 --> 00:31:39.660 if you're wanting to aspire 00:31:39.660 --> 00:31:41.079 to grow up in maturity, 00:31:41.299 --> 00:31:42.900 look around you at somebody 00:31:42.900 --> 00:31:44.540 who is where you want to be 00:31:44.540 --> 00:31:45.380 and you go tell them, 00:31:45.440 --> 00:31:47.100 I want you to take me with you. 00:31:49.300 --> 00:31:51.560 Imitate and invest in such men. 00:31:51.800 --> 00:31:52.300 Number four, 00:31:52.460 --> 00:31:52.720 women, 00:31:53.480 --> 00:31:56.019 find and date and marry such men. 00:31:58.019 --> 00:31:58.880 And men, 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:03.580 find and date and marry such women. 00:32:03.579 --> 00:32:07.139 Don't date somebody 00:32:07.139 --> 00:32:08.419 mainly just because of 00:32:08.419 --> 00:32:09.779 how cute they are 00:32:09.779 --> 00:32:10.899 or how funny they are 00:32:10.899 --> 00:32:12.539 or how much you get along. 00:32:13.000 --> 00:32:14.960 Go marry an Epaphroditus. 00:32:16.720 --> 00:32:17.799 Find you a Paul. 00:32:18.819 --> 00:32:19.960 Find you a Timothy 00:32:19.960 --> 00:32:21.919 or the female equivalent. 00:32:23.199 --> 00:32:24.339 Find a mate, 00:32:24.439 --> 00:32:24.980 a partner 00:32:24.980 --> 00:32:27.220 who is on fire 00:32:27.220 --> 00:32:28.359 for the glory of God 00:32:28.359 --> 00:32:29.519 and the gospel of Christ. 00:32:29.519 --> 00:32:32.220 So you might run out 00:32:32.220 --> 00:32:33.559 from that same target together. 00:32:35.359 --> 00:32:36.200 Number five, 00:32:36.339 --> 00:32:38.339 parents and grandparents, 00:32:40.000 --> 00:32:41.539 raise such men, 00:32:42.460 --> 00:32:43.599 such women. 00:32:45.000 --> 00:32:45.879 Raise your children 00:32:45.879 --> 00:32:47.720 to be Epaphroditus. 00:32:49.000 --> 00:32:49.960 Raise your children 00:32:49.960 --> 00:32:51.039 to be Timothy. 00:32:52.240 --> 00:32:53.240 Raise your children 00:32:53.240 --> 00:32:55.000 to be Paul. 00:32:55.160 --> 00:32:56.559 And we don't speak about this, 00:32:56.619 --> 00:32:57.019 but you remember 00:32:57.019 --> 00:32:57.859 Timothy's background. 00:32:57.859 --> 00:32:59.439 We hear it in 2 Timothy. 00:32:59.639 --> 00:32:59.919 He says, 00:33:00.059 --> 00:33:02.000 I'm reminded of your sincere faith, 00:33:02.740 --> 00:33:03.779 a faith that dwelt 00:33:03.779 --> 00:33:04.899 in your grandmother, 00:33:05.240 --> 00:33:06.139 Lois first, 00:33:06.919 --> 00:33:08.359 and also dwelt in your mother, 00:33:08.539 --> 00:33:09.240 Eunice, 00:33:09.759 --> 00:33:10.979 and now I'm sure 00:33:10.979 --> 00:33:12.359 dwells in you. 00:33:12.500 --> 00:33:13.939 Timothy was the product 00:33:13.939 --> 00:33:15.579 of two faithful, 00:33:16.019 --> 00:33:16.539 praying, 00:33:16.879 --> 00:33:17.740 godly women 00:33:17.740 --> 00:33:19.679 who raised their grandchild 00:33:19.679 --> 00:33:20.379 and their child 00:33:20.379 --> 00:33:21.699 up to know the scriptures 00:33:21.699 --> 00:33:23.419 and to love the Lord 00:33:23.419 --> 00:33:24.199 with all his heart 00:33:24.199 --> 00:33:25.000 and all his mind 00:33:25.000 --> 00:33:26.139 and all his soul 00:33:26.139 --> 00:33:27.159 and all his strength. 00:33:27.160 --> 00:33:28.600 And then they were able 00:33:28.600 --> 00:33:29.800 to deploy him 00:33:29.800 --> 00:33:30.960 out into the world 00:33:30.960 --> 00:33:31.600 to shoot him out 00:33:31.600 --> 00:33:32.440 like an arrow 00:33:32.440 --> 00:33:33.340 into the world. 00:33:35.800 --> 00:33:36.880 Parents and grandparents, 00:33:37.160 --> 00:33:38.400 our aim is not just 00:33:38.400 --> 00:33:39.300 to raise healthy, 00:33:39.440 --> 00:33:40.080 happy children. 00:33:41.720 --> 00:33:43.800 Our aim is to raise 00:33:43.800 --> 00:33:44.400 and to shape 00:33:44.400 --> 00:33:44.980 men and women 00:33:44.980 --> 00:33:45.880 who love the Lord 00:33:45.880 --> 00:33:48.019 and who understand 00:33:48.019 --> 00:33:48.980 the mission 00:33:48.980 --> 00:33:50.200 and who would give 00:33:50.200 --> 00:33:50.800 their lives 00:33:50.800 --> 00:33:51.880 for the sake of Christ, 00:33:52.060 --> 00:33:52.580 men and women 00:33:52.580 --> 00:33:53.360 who are worthy 00:33:53.360 --> 00:33:54.580 of honor. 00:33:54.579 --> 00:33:55.279 So lastly, 00:33:55.419 --> 00:33:55.960 number six, 00:33:56.039 --> 00:33:57.460 application number six. 00:33:58.379 --> 00:33:58.699 Church, 00:33:58.779 --> 00:33:59.799 would you pray 00:33:59.799 --> 00:34:00.819 for such men? 00:34:03.220 --> 00:34:05.099 Pray for such women. 00:34:06.799 --> 00:34:09.340 This is spiritual work 00:34:09.340 --> 00:34:10.159 and it can only happen 00:34:10.159 --> 00:34:11.219 by the grace of God 00:34:11.219 --> 00:34:12.639 at work in us, 00:34:12.739 --> 00:34:13.099 but church, 00:34:13.219 --> 00:34:15.099 I want our fellowship, 00:34:15.380 --> 00:34:16.219 our pride, 00:34:16.319 --> 00:34:17.199 our congregation 00:34:17.199 --> 00:34:19.639 to be full of Paul's 00:34:19.639 --> 00:34:20.539 and Timothy's 00:34:20.539 --> 00:34:21.779 and Epaphroditus's. 00:34:21.779 --> 00:34:21.960 Amen? 00:34:22.419 --> 00:34:22.819 Amen. 00:34:24.219 --> 00:34:25.439 Would you begin praying 00:34:25.439 --> 00:34:26.859 for one another 00:34:26.859 --> 00:34:27.819 that God would do this 00:34:27.819 --> 00:34:28.239 in us? 00:34:29.519 --> 00:34:30.980 That God would bring 00:34:30.980 --> 00:34:31.980 to us men 00:34:31.980 --> 00:34:32.939 and women like this 00:34:32.939 --> 00:34:33.579 and that God 00:34:33.579 --> 00:34:34.539 would look around you 00:34:34.539 --> 00:34:35.159 wherever the Lord 00:34:35.159 --> 00:34:36.179 might lay on your heart 00:34:36.179 --> 00:34:37.380 that God would shape 00:34:37.380 --> 00:34:38.699 your brother and sister 00:34:38.699 --> 00:34:39.239 in Christ 00:34:39.239 --> 00:34:40.380 to be your friends. 00:34:42.279 --> 00:34:42.940 Would you pray, 00:34:43.719 --> 00:34:43.900 God, 00:34:43.960 --> 00:34:44.920 make us like Timothy, 00:34:45.759 --> 00:34:47.179 make us like Epaphroditus 00:34:47.179 --> 00:34:47.860 and ultimately, 00:34:48.139 --> 00:34:48.279 Lord, 00:34:48.360 --> 00:34:50.119 make us like Christ 00:34:50.119 --> 00:34:51.960 that he belongs 00:34:51.960 --> 00:34:52.840 all glory 00:34:52.840 --> 00:34:54.559 and all honor 00:34:54.559 --> 00:34:56.279 and all praise. 00:34:56.719 --> 00:34:57.639 Let's do that now. 00:34:57.779 --> 00:34:58.039 If you would, 00:34:58.099 --> 00:34:58.480 let's bow. 00:34:58.820 --> 00:34:59.480 Pray, Father. 00:34:59.480 --> 00:34:59.559 Father, 00:34:59.699 --> 00:35:04.179 we see examples 00:35:04.179 --> 00:35:04.799 like this 00:35:04.799 --> 00:35:05.399 in Scripture 00:35:05.399 --> 00:35:06.679 and we think 00:35:06.679 --> 00:35:08.239 that can never be me, 00:35:08.379 --> 00:35:08.839 a father. 00:35:09.500 --> 00:35:10.519 How wrong that is. 00:35:13.000 --> 00:35:14.039 It's impossible 00:35:14.039 --> 00:35:15.199 in the flesh, 00:35:15.319 --> 00:35:16.839 but by your grace 00:35:16.839 --> 00:35:18.059 at work in us, 00:35:18.179 --> 00:35:18.419 Lord, 00:35:18.739 --> 00:35:20.059 you might shape us 00:35:20.059 --> 00:35:21.559 to be like Christ 00:35:21.559 --> 00:35:22.299 and so we pray 00:35:22.299 --> 00:35:23.119 that's what you would do 00:35:23.119 --> 00:35:23.819 for this church. 00:35:25.119 --> 00:35:25.399 God, 00:35:25.460 --> 00:35:26.839 would you raise up 00:35:26.839 --> 00:35:27.579 disciples, 00:35:27.579 --> 00:35:28.219 men and women 00:35:28.219 --> 00:35:28.940 who would run hard 00:35:28.940 --> 00:35:29.559 after you, 00:35:30.259 --> 00:35:30.879 men and women 00:35:30.879 --> 00:35:32.419 who desire to know you 00:35:32.419 --> 00:35:33.199 and make you know. 00:35:34.179 --> 00:35:34.399 Father, 00:35:34.480 --> 00:35:36.219 would you make this church 00:35:36.219 --> 00:35:37.339 full of Timothy's 00:35:37.339 --> 00:35:37.899 and Paul's 00:35:37.899 --> 00:35:39.000 and Epaphroditus's 00:35:39.000 --> 00:35:41.119 for the sake of your glory 00:35:41.119 --> 00:35:42.339 here in all and all 00:35:42.339 --> 00:35:42.599 I do. 00:35:42.719 --> 00:35:43.799 I pray in Christ's name. 00:35:44.579 --> 00:35:44.819 Amen.