WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:27.679 Well, we're going through the book of Philippians a few verses at a time, 00:00:27.679 --> 00:00:29.440 and this book has four chapters. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:35.060 Today we come to the end of chapter 2, and it's really a wonderful place to pause as we'll 00:00:35.060 --> 00:00:39.460 take a couple weeks and prepare our hearts for the coming of Christ. 00:00:39.640 --> 00:00:40.859 That's what Advent means. 00:00:41.480 --> 00:00:48.260 So we prepare for the second coming of Christ by celebrating His incarnation, His first coming. 00:00:48.799 --> 00:00:58.359 So for today, our sermon text is Philippians chapter 2, beginning at verse 25 through 30. 00:00:59.439 --> 00:01:10.179 I'll read this trusting that it is God's inspired, inerrant, infallible, clear, trustworthy word. 00:01:10.519 --> 00:01:13.560 It's God's authoritative word for us as people. 00:01:13.560 --> 00:01:19.040 Philippians chapter 2, starting at verse 25. 00:01:19.040 --> 00:01:27.620 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, fellow soldier, 00:01:28.400 --> 00:01:34.880 but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need, since he was longing for you all 00:01:34.880 --> 00:01:38.300 and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 00:01:38.299 --> 00:01:41.599 For indeed, he was sick, almost unto death. 00:01:42.079 --> 00:01:48.500 But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:01:49.519 --> 00:01:54.859 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, 00:01:55.700 --> 00:01:58.539 and I may be less sorrowful. 00:01:58.540 --> 00:02:05.620 Receive him, therefore, in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in high esteem. 00:02:06.620 --> 00:02:11.879 Because for the work of Christ, he came close to death, not regarding his life, 00:02:12.300 --> 00:02:16.420 to supply what was lacking in your service toward me. 00:02:17.140 --> 00:02:18.319 This is the word of the Lord. 00:02:19.740 --> 00:02:20.740 Thanks be to God. 00:02:20.800 --> 00:02:21.379 You may be seated. 00:02:21.379 --> 00:02:26.699 The grass withers, the flower fades, but the word of the Lord stands forever. 00:02:28.519 --> 00:02:29.159 Let's pray. 00:02:41.939 --> 00:02:47.159 Lord, we ask that by the power of your Holy Spirit, you will illumine your scripture to us, your people. 00:02:47.159 --> 00:02:52.159 I pray that you will help me as I open up these verses and these words, 00:02:52.900 --> 00:02:56.900 that we can get the meaning of your Holy Spirit when you breathed out the scripture, Lord. 00:02:57.259 --> 00:03:01.840 And that that same Holy Spirit who gave us your word will minister it to your people. 00:03:02.340 --> 00:03:06.259 We pray, Lord, that you will make it clear, that you will apply it to our lives. 00:03:06.719 --> 00:03:11.819 We pray that you'll use your word, Lord, in this simple, ordinary means of grace 00:03:11.819 --> 00:03:15.919 to conform us more and more into the image of Jesus Christ. 00:03:15.919 --> 00:03:19.059 We thank you, Lord, for his perfect righteousness. 00:03:19.439 --> 00:03:25.379 We thank you for how Christ gives us the mind of God through the ministry of the Holy Spirit. 00:03:25.839 --> 00:03:30.979 And you cause us to think and to live according to the kingdom of heaven 00:03:30.979 --> 00:03:35.039 because of the finished work and the person of our Lord Jesus. 00:03:35.479 --> 00:03:37.979 Please do this for your glory today, Lord, we ask. 00:03:38.419 --> 00:03:38.679 Amen. 00:03:38.679 --> 00:03:38.839 Amen. 00:03:38.840 --> 00:03:38.920 Amen. 00:03:42.759 --> 00:03:47.379 Well, for some of you, you're catching up to where we are in this study of Philippians. 00:03:48.759 --> 00:03:54.980 Paul is in prison in Rome, and he's sending a letter back referring two men. 00:03:55.240 --> 00:03:57.480 He's referred Timothy, which we saw last week. 00:03:57.560 --> 00:04:00.860 Now, this week he refers a second man, Epaphroditus. 00:04:00.860 --> 00:04:05.620 This passage is describing to the Philippian church one of their own. 00:04:06.140 --> 00:04:09.260 It's describing a man who Paul wants them to honor. 00:04:10.100 --> 00:04:11.500 And he wants to give them context. 00:04:11.740 --> 00:04:13.980 Why is it that he's going back now? 00:04:14.800 --> 00:04:20.139 Why is it that this man was sent by them to Paul, and now he's returning? 00:04:20.620 --> 00:04:25.560 So he's answering some questions that they'll have when Epaphroditus returns to Philippi. 00:04:25.560 --> 00:04:34.759 With that context in mind, I picture Paul hearing of some of the challenges and the struggles of the church in Philippi, 00:04:35.339 --> 00:04:42.019 and he wants them to not be so focused on their problems in their immediate setting right now. 00:04:42.759 --> 00:04:44.340 There's some conflict. 00:04:45.420 --> 00:04:52.360 There are challenges and disunity, and there's increasing persecution across the Roman Empire with Nero now as the Caesar. 00:04:52.360 --> 00:04:58.460 And Paul, he wants to say, look, church, your minds need to be lifted up. 00:04:59.000 --> 00:05:01.360 Don't be stuck so much in the problems of the world. 00:05:01.759 --> 00:05:02.580 Lift your minds. 00:05:03.139 --> 00:05:05.780 There's a higher kingdom. 00:05:06.939 --> 00:05:13.819 And the way he does this is by affirming in one of their own what it is that a Christian can have, 00:05:13.939 --> 00:05:16.280 even in this life, in the middle of all that struggle. 00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:19.160 And as sending Epaphroditus back with this letter, 00:05:19.160 --> 00:05:23.160 he's calling the whole church to remember who you are in Christ. 00:05:25.560 --> 00:05:32.320 Isn't it so true that we can be caught up in our problems and our own immature pet peeves and problems 00:05:32.320 --> 00:05:35.760 that they really distract us and take over our mind? 00:05:36.620 --> 00:05:39.100 That reminds me of a soccer team I was on. 00:05:39.680 --> 00:05:43.120 We were so immature, annoying each other, not playing as a team. 00:05:43.120 --> 00:05:46.519 And our coach brought everybody into a classroom, 00:05:46.819 --> 00:05:52.660 and he put on a short five-minute session of a professional soccer team in England. 00:05:53.340 --> 00:05:55.280 Just watch how these guys train. 00:05:56.180 --> 00:06:00.920 And I remember still now what it was like to go from watching five minutes of Liverpool, 00:06:01.280 --> 00:06:05.420 doing the training session with the cones, a very simple, basic drill, 00:06:05.720 --> 00:06:08.899 and then a bunch of us immature guys going back out onto the field. 00:06:08.899 --> 00:06:12.239 But you know what? We practice at such a higher level, 00:06:12.579 --> 00:06:16.579 just having watched a really strong example of what's possible. 00:06:17.779 --> 00:06:21.599 And this is what Paul, I believe, is doing for the church in Philippi. 00:06:23.219 --> 00:06:25.339 So my encouragement for us is this. 00:06:27.399 --> 00:06:32.859 The mind of Christ in the believer, it makes you into something more than you are. 00:06:33.339 --> 00:06:34.539 That's what I want to walk through. 00:06:35.120 --> 00:06:37.659 Six effects of the mind of Christ. 00:06:37.660 --> 00:06:40.480 What the mind of Christ makes of you. 00:06:41.260 --> 00:06:45.200 Number one, the mind of Christ makes enemies into brothers. 00:06:46.000 --> 00:06:49.680 The mind of Christ makes enemies into brothers. 00:06:50.600 --> 00:06:52.480 I want to point this out with two things. 00:06:52.620 --> 00:06:55.160 First is the meaning of the name Epaphroditus. 00:06:55.740 --> 00:06:59.100 The second is the mission of this man called Epaphroditus. 00:07:00.520 --> 00:07:03.540 This is the only place in all the Bible where this name is used. 00:07:03.540 --> 00:07:06.240 So we can't really get any other clues from somewhere else. 00:07:07.660 --> 00:07:14.340 We know that Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of fertility, beauty, sensuality. 00:07:15.420 --> 00:07:19.860 And the Roman version of the Greek goddess Aphrodite was Venus. 00:07:21.080 --> 00:07:23.620 And do you remember how Timothy and Paul, 00:07:23.840 --> 00:07:28.020 they got beat up and humiliated in Corinth more than anywhere else? 00:07:28.019 --> 00:07:32.060 Well, you know what goddess was the protector of the city of Corinth? 00:07:32.439 --> 00:07:33.419 It was Aphrodite. 00:07:34.159 --> 00:07:39.719 And it was the temple and the worship, prostitution in the temple of Aphrodite that they were preaching against, 00:07:39.839 --> 00:07:41.560 calling people to believe in the true God. 00:07:42.079 --> 00:07:43.199 And they were beat up. 00:07:43.680 --> 00:07:45.279 And they were humiliated. 00:07:45.599 --> 00:07:47.259 And they were made to be extremely weak. 00:07:47.259 --> 00:07:49.939 And the church in Corinth is tangled up in that. 00:07:50.279 --> 00:07:55.560 Well, that's just one example because all of these Roman cities with this very strong Greek heritage, 00:07:56.019 --> 00:08:00.000 they held Aphrodite up as their primary goddess. 00:08:01.000 --> 00:08:07.259 And so the name Epaphroditus, it comes from the Aphrodite. 00:08:07.259 --> 00:08:18.560 The prefix epa or epi, it means before Aphrodite, devoted to Aphrodite, or of like charm as Aphrodite. 00:08:19.920 --> 00:08:26.240 It's possible that Epaphroditus' parents were not pagan worshipers of Aphrodite, 00:08:26.360 --> 00:08:28.159 but it's very likely that they were. 00:08:28.579 --> 00:08:33.019 These were Greek worshipers of an awful goddess. 00:08:33.879 --> 00:08:36.379 And they were wanting her blessings on their son. 00:08:37.259 --> 00:08:40.120 That's who Epaphroditus was from his name. 00:08:40.679 --> 00:08:43.460 Now remember who Paul was before he got saved. 00:08:43.899 --> 00:08:44.799 His name was Saul. 00:08:45.200 --> 00:08:47.580 He was a Pharisee of Pharisees. 00:08:48.179 --> 00:08:52.840 He was at the top of keeping all of the exterior laws. 00:08:52.939 --> 00:08:56.159 No one could be more of a legalist than Saul. 00:08:57.159 --> 00:08:59.460 So for Saul, someone who is a Gentile, 00:09:00.200 --> 00:09:05.299 not just a Gentile, but a worshiper and from a family who loves Aphrodite, 00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.159 this was extremely offensive. 00:09:07.259 --> 00:09:12.379 Saul, before he knew the Lord Jesus Christ and had the mind of Christ, 00:09:12.460 --> 00:09:15.779 would have seen this man and said, 00:09:15.899 --> 00:09:17.539 you are a Gentile dog. 00:09:18.259 --> 00:09:21.039 This is the type of man Saul would have wanted to spit on the ground, 00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:22.659 just at the thought of this man. 00:09:23.620 --> 00:09:28.080 Well, notice in verse 25 how Paul has the mind of Christ, 00:09:28.159 --> 00:09:32.620 and it makes him view this former enemy into something else. 00:09:32.620 --> 00:09:35.419 He calls him my brother. 00:09:37.740 --> 00:09:38.679 Isn't that beautiful? 00:09:39.519 --> 00:09:43.360 The gospel of Jesus Christ transforms Saul into Paul, 00:09:44.080 --> 00:09:47.879 and Epaphroditus into the brother in Christ. 00:09:47.879 --> 00:09:50.759 To be a brother means you have the same family. 00:09:51.399 --> 00:09:52.939 We share a same family name. 00:09:53.580 --> 00:09:57.559 We're baptized into the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. 00:09:57.899 --> 00:10:00.279 And all those other points of difference, they fade away. 00:10:00.679 --> 00:10:01.379 We are brothers. 00:10:01.539 --> 00:10:03.620 We are united in Christ. 00:10:03.620 --> 00:10:10.720 Philippians 4.16 gives us an insight into this man's mission. 00:10:11.399 --> 00:10:14.419 We saw his name, the meaning of his name, but what was his mission? 00:10:14.539 --> 00:10:16.179 Why had he gone to Rome? 00:10:16.980 --> 00:10:17.940 Could you turn there with me? 00:10:18.000 --> 00:10:20.279 Philippians 4.16. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:22.279 Philippians 4.16. 00:10:22.279 --> 00:10:23.779 Flip it a page back. 00:10:25.039 --> 00:10:27.699 Paul is writing to the church in Philippi and reminding them, 00:10:29.139 --> 00:10:33.079 even when Paul was in Thessalonica, another Greek city, 00:10:33.519 --> 00:10:38.480 the Philippian church sent aid again for Paul's necessities. 00:10:39.980 --> 00:10:41.699 He says in verse 18, 00:10:41.700 --> 00:11:05.180 So his mission was to carry from Philippi six to nine months of travel by road 00:11:05.180 --> 00:11:10.340 all the way to Rome a financial gift to provide for Paul's provisions. 00:11:10.340 --> 00:11:13.540 And Paul says his mission was successful. 00:11:13.960 --> 00:11:14.940 I received this gift. 00:11:15.060 --> 00:11:16.620 I have all that I need and I abound. 00:11:17.660 --> 00:11:20.200 Epaphroditus brought to me what you sent. 00:11:20.420 --> 00:11:21.280 That was his mission. 00:11:22.340 --> 00:11:26.519 We also get an insight into how these support, 00:11:26.759 --> 00:11:28.320 you know, these gifts within the church, 00:11:28.399 --> 00:11:31.040 the broader church were shared among congregations. 00:11:31.600 --> 00:11:36.100 Could you turn to Acts chapter 11 next to get this insight? 00:11:36.100 --> 00:11:36.159 Right. 00:11:38.920 --> 00:11:43.759 So picture this ancient world, Asia Minor, Europe, 00:11:43.940 --> 00:11:45.320 all the way back to Jerusalem. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:53.440 And in Acts 11, we read how gifts were generated by an individual congregation. 00:11:55.080 --> 00:11:59.040 So in the New Testament, a gathering of God's people like what we have here, 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:00.279 this is a congregation. 00:12:00.279 --> 00:12:03.419 And even in Revelation, Jesus writes to the seven churches. 00:12:03.559 --> 00:12:05.019 They're each an individual church. 00:12:06.159 --> 00:12:12.019 In Acts 11, verse 29, we see how it's the congregation that generated a gift. 00:12:12.879 --> 00:12:17.759 That gift was then carried to its recipient by a company of travelers. 00:12:18.399 --> 00:12:21.399 And when that financial gift arrived at a different congregation, 00:12:21.579 --> 00:12:25.759 it was received by the elders on behalf of that congregation. 00:12:25.759 --> 00:12:29.919 So look at Acts 11, in verse 29. 00:12:30.120 --> 00:12:35.019 We read the disciples of Jesus in this city called Antioch. 00:12:35.879 --> 00:12:39.120 They determined everyone according to his ability. 00:12:39.819 --> 00:12:43.179 So the congregation determined to give a gift. 00:12:43.559 --> 00:12:44.019 How much? 00:12:44.139 --> 00:12:45.679 Well, each one according to their ability. 00:12:46.179 --> 00:12:48.919 So there's a liberty among the believers in a congregation. 00:12:49.580 --> 00:12:54.120 But they were the ones who determined to send relief to the brothers living in Judea. 00:12:54.120 --> 00:12:59.360 So from Asia Minor all the way over to Israel, to Judea. 00:12:59.639 --> 00:13:06.299 And they did so, sending it to the elders of this church in Judea by the hand of Barnabas and Saul. 00:13:07.120 --> 00:13:12.080 So they were the ones to collect it, receive it, travel together, transport it all the way. 00:13:12.440 --> 00:13:16.080 Then the elders of the other congregation received it on behalf of that church. 00:13:16.879 --> 00:13:19.480 And that was the mission of Epaphroditus. 00:13:19.480 --> 00:13:25.759 He was the one, in this case, receiving the gift to carry it all the way to meet Paul's needs in prison. 00:13:27.340 --> 00:13:28.940 So Epaphroditus was one of their own. 00:13:29.039 --> 00:13:30.080 He was from Philippi. 00:13:31.300 --> 00:13:33.240 We don't know this, but it's possible. 00:13:33.360 --> 00:13:37.659 You think, who is it that would be freed from a congregation to make a long journey like that, 00:13:37.920 --> 00:13:41.980 and then to not only deliver it, but to stay there and continue serving that person? 00:13:41.980 --> 00:13:50.060 Some scholars have said a likely candidate is someone like a retired Roman soldier who would be able to protect the money, 00:13:50.440 --> 00:13:55.240 who would have a little bit more availability and the financial freedom to make such a mission. 00:13:56.620 --> 00:14:02.820 We don't know that for sure, but we do know that Epaphroditus was sent under the authority of this congregation of Philippi 00:14:02.820 --> 00:14:08.060 as their ambassador, as the one who has an important mission to fulfill on their behalf. 00:14:08.059 --> 00:14:15.359 Some of you might be thinking, how can God use someone like me? 00:14:16.679 --> 00:14:20.399 In Epaphroditus, without having any more insights into his background, 00:14:20.879 --> 00:14:26.139 I hope you'll be encouraged by his example because your parents maybe didn't know the Lord, 00:14:26.879 --> 00:14:32.939 or maybe there's things from your background that you feel like you are coming out of extreme darkness, 00:14:33.199 --> 00:14:35.979 and there's no way God could use you for a significant mission. 00:14:35.980 --> 00:14:43.879 In Epaphroditus, we know that the Lord used him and was honoring him in this act of service on behalf of the church. 00:14:44.920 --> 00:14:51.360 The Lord Jesus Christ made both Epaphroditus and Paul dedicated disciples and brothers, 00:14:51.659 --> 00:14:53.740 no longer enemies, but brothers. 00:14:54.720 --> 00:14:58.740 If you belong to Jesus Christ, you're a brother of Christ. 00:14:59.580 --> 00:15:03.200 Those who belong to him are your brothers and sisters, and that's how we view one another. 00:15:03.200 --> 00:15:09.020 Well, number two, the mind of Christ makes the church need one another. 00:15:10.080 --> 00:15:13.820 The mind of Christ makes the church need one another. 00:15:14.820 --> 00:15:20.400 This goes against everything in our individualistic culture today, doesn't it? 00:15:20.420 --> 00:15:23.000 Where it's all about self-reliance, self-sustaining. 00:15:23.879 --> 00:15:27.960 But if you're a Christian, you belong to a church that needs one another. 00:15:27.960 --> 00:15:30.660 Look at verse 25 again. 00:15:31.019 --> 00:15:35.300 Paul said, I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus. 00:15:36.780 --> 00:15:38.639 Paul considered this necessary. 00:15:39.320 --> 00:15:43.759 He says, Epaphroditus was your messenger, the one who ministered to my need. 00:15:44.980 --> 00:15:49.100 Paul is setting this tone of, I have needs, and you sent him to meet my needs, 00:15:49.180 --> 00:15:53.080 but I'm sending him back because it's necessary now for your need as well. 00:15:53.080 --> 00:16:02.420 In verse 26, Paul says, he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 00:16:03.520 --> 00:16:09.080 So there's some information that the church in Philippi has that Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus have. 00:16:09.840 --> 00:16:12.639 And Paul's trying to clear up all the waters here. 00:16:13.920 --> 00:16:16.220 Some have said it's a really far way away. 00:16:16.340 --> 00:16:18.220 How could all this knowledge be shared? 00:16:18.220 --> 00:16:23.480 You know, how could the church in Philippi know that Epaphroditus was so sick and then be so worried? 00:16:23.840 --> 00:16:27.220 How could Epaphroditus and Paul and Timothy know that they were that worried? 00:16:27.980 --> 00:16:34.259 Well, at the end of Romans, Paul addresses Jews that were in Rome but traveling back all the way to Jerusalem. 00:16:34.840 --> 00:16:39.600 And we know that the Romans built this paved road called the Via Ignatia. 00:16:40.660 --> 00:16:45.100 And this is the road that you could travel on a horse, most likely, or even by foot, 00:16:45.100 --> 00:16:47.720 or really like breaking it up into sections. 00:16:48.220 --> 00:16:49.920 Six to nine months of travel. 00:16:50.480 --> 00:16:55.920 But we know that there were Romans who did business with Asia Minor all the way into Jerusalem as well. 00:16:56.279 --> 00:16:58.080 So this Roman Empire was united. 00:16:58.200 --> 00:17:03.080 And there were Christians traveling all along this road, making stops at the congregations as they went. 00:17:03.560 --> 00:17:05.980 So when we realized the geographic setting, 00:17:06.299 --> 00:17:12.019 it would not be difficult to understand that these believers that are traveling for business or otherwise, 00:17:12.019 --> 00:17:16.660 they're able to pass messages on from one congregation to the other. 00:17:17.879 --> 00:17:23.379 Another scholar pointed out how the fact that Epaphroditus was carrying money from Philippi to Rome, 00:17:23.779 --> 00:17:27.240 it can lead us to understand that most likely he would not have done that alone. 00:17:27.660 --> 00:17:32.119 You're going to have at least one other person with you to help keep those funds secure. 00:17:32.119 --> 00:17:36.059 So to get the timeline in our minds, 00:17:36.199 --> 00:17:40.279 Epaphroditus is on this mission from Philippi to Rome, gets very sick. 00:17:41.699 --> 00:17:45.799 And Paul says he's at the point of death, but he pressed on and he did fulfill the mission. 00:17:46.379 --> 00:17:49.559 He brought all that was needed for Paul on behalf of the Philippians. 00:17:50.399 --> 00:17:55.739 Paul wants now the church to know that he did fulfill his mission and you need him. 00:17:55.740 --> 00:18:01.359 But because he was so sick, Paul says, I'm going to have sorrow upon sorrow if I lose Epaphroditus 00:18:01.359 --> 00:18:08.620 because he was making this dangerous journey at his own cost of his own health to bring this to me and take care of me. 00:18:11.519 --> 00:18:13.460 So you get the picture of the church here. 00:18:13.980 --> 00:18:16.440 The church in Philippi, they need encouragement. 00:18:17.200 --> 00:18:19.859 They need a man like Epaphroditus back in their ranks. 00:18:20.980 --> 00:18:22.920 Paul, he needs their support. 00:18:23.339 --> 00:18:24.160 He needs company. 00:18:24.160 --> 00:18:27.759 He needs friendship and he needs partners in the ministry as well. 00:18:28.400 --> 00:18:30.380 Paul is very happy to admit his needs. 00:18:30.900 --> 00:18:35.140 And he wants the Philippian church to know Epaphroditus is worried about your needs. 00:18:36.320 --> 00:18:40.720 There's a parallel with a letter that was found in the ancient Roman world. 00:18:41.060 --> 00:18:42.880 It was from a soldier to his mother. 00:18:43.200 --> 00:18:45.019 And it's almost the same Greek language. 00:18:45.900 --> 00:18:50.880 The soldier was sick and word got to his mother that he was very sick on the battlefield. 00:18:51.000 --> 00:18:53.080 So this soldier writes a letter and he says, 00:18:53.079 --> 00:18:55.899 Mother, don't grieve my illness. 00:18:56.119 --> 00:19:01.220 Because when I found out that you were grieving my illness and I got better, I was grieving for you. 00:19:01.500 --> 00:19:03.679 I was so worried that you were worried about me. 00:19:04.240 --> 00:19:05.759 That's the language among the church. 00:19:05.939 --> 00:19:10.460 They're so in tune and they're caring so much for one another's needs. 00:19:10.460 --> 00:19:16.380 In verse 25, we have another title for Epaphroditus. 00:19:16.500 --> 00:19:23.640 Not only was he Paul's brother, the next one I want to point out is that Paul refers to Epaphroditus as your messenger. 00:19:24.640 --> 00:19:25.660 Your messenger. 00:19:25.660 --> 00:19:36.000 That word is referring to a person who was sent on a naval or military expedition to plant the flag of the empire. 00:19:36.519 --> 00:19:39.820 The word is actually apostle with a lowercase a. 00:19:40.680 --> 00:19:44.480 So Epaphroditus was an apostle of the church in Philippi. 00:19:44.480 --> 00:19:48.200 What this means is he was under their authority. 00:19:48.720 --> 00:19:50.180 Their congregation had prayed. 00:19:50.700 --> 00:19:51.779 They had tested him. 00:19:52.339 --> 00:19:57.579 They had determined and then delegated, you will be the one on behalf of this congregation that we will send. 00:19:59.799 --> 00:20:03.059 And he was sent to minister to Paul's need. 00:20:03.059 --> 00:20:08.279 We know from scripture that a prisoner, if left on their own, would die very quickly. 00:20:08.859 --> 00:20:11.859 We get an insight in Acts 24 verse 23. 00:20:12.859 --> 00:20:17.779 A centurion was told that he should, that Paul should be kept in custody, 00:20:17.960 --> 00:20:23.720 but have some liberty that none of his friends should be prevented from attending to his needs. 00:20:23.919 --> 00:20:26.279 That was a different imprisonment, but it gives you the insight. 00:20:26.279 --> 00:20:32.700 The Roman centurion says we need to let his friends come care for his need or else a prisoner would die. 00:20:33.059 --> 00:20:42.359 Well, church, I hope one reason that you are part of this congregation is because you have needs 00:20:42.359 --> 00:20:46.480 that only this congregation or a biblical congregation can minister to, 00:20:46.940 --> 00:20:49.720 and because this congregation has needs. 00:20:50.539 --> 00:20:53.460 This church needs you, each one of you. 00:20:54.559 --> 00:20:58.700 When you're not with God's people, I hope you know we miss you. 00:20:59.519 --> 00:21:00.679 We care for you. 00:21:01.220 --> 00:21:02.319 We worry about you. 00:21:02.319 --> 00:21:06.559 We will keep bugging you, checking in on you, reaching out to you, 00:21:06.559 --> 00:21:15.000 because to have the mind of Christ is to accept and welcome this truth that the church needs one another. 00:21:15.240 --> 00:21:15.439 Amen? 00:21:17.039 --> 00:21:19.500 Some of you have shared how during the pandemic, 00:21:20.579 --> 00:21:24.819 and in one case, without any relatives nearby and sickness in the family, 00:21:24.819 --> 00:21:29.059 how lonely it was to not be part of a congregation, 00:21:29.059 --> 00:21:30.899 to not be part of a church. 00:21:31.619 --> 00:21:32.819 What a great reminder. 00:21:32.960 --> 00:21:36.799 We need that reminder that the church needs you and you need the church, 00:21:37.000 --> 00:21:39.439 and no one here should ever feel alone. 00:21:40.159 --> 00:21:43.539 And even though imprisonment is different, you know, than this ancient world, 00:21:44.099 --> 00:21:49.139 man, when someone in the church is in need or is lonely or is sick or is in the hospital, 00:21:49.140 --> 00:21:52.540 or there might be another pandemic or something like that, 00:21:52.780 --> 00:21:53.860 let us remember this. 00:21:53.940 --> 00:21:55.440 The church needs one another. 00:21:55.560 --> 00:21:58.920 We need to show this love and this care within the church. 00:21:59.800 --> 00:22:01.780 Paul encouraged the church in Thessalonica. 00:22:01.920 --> 00:22:04.840 He said in 1 Thessalonians 4, 9 and 10, 00:22:04.839 --> 00:22:10.159 Concerning brotherly love, you have no need that I should write to you, 00:22:10.399 --> 00:22:15.099 for you yourselves are taught by God to love one another. 00:22:16.179 --> 00:22:18.959 If you're a Christian, you're taught that by God himself. 00:22:19.839 --> 00:22:22.699 And indeed, you do so toward all the brethren. 00:22:23.980 --> 00:22:27.720 But we urge you, brethren, that you increase more and more. 00:22:28.599 --> 00:22:31.639 See, God teaches you to love one another, and we urge each other, 00:22:31.980 --> 00:22:33.439 let's grow in that more and more and more. 00:22:33.440 --> 00:22:38.420 The mind of Christ makes the church need one another. 00:22:39.180 --> 00:22:40.720 The third evidence is this. 00:22:41.340 --> 00:22:46.960 The mind of Christ matures you into a self-sacrificing soldier. 00:22:48.059 --> 00:22:53.420 The mind of Christ matures you into a self-sacrificing soldier. 00:22:54.600 --> 00:22:56.140 Do you want to see a mature Christian? 00:22:56.980 --> 00:23:00.580 What you're seeing is a self-sacrificing spiritual soldier. 00:23:00.579 --> 00:23:05.980 Epaphroditus, on this mission, it turned out to be life or death. 00:23:07.019 --> 00:23:08.859 Look at verse 27. 00:23:10.759 --> 00:23:13.399 Paul says he was sick almost unto death. 00:23:13.699 --> 00:23:14.759 And then look at verse 30. 00:23:15.859 --> 00:23:18.559 For the work of Christ, he came close to death, 00:23:19.639 --> 00:23:20.819 risking his life. 00:23:21.559 --> 00:23:27.240 Three times this life or death self-sacrificial mission is highlighted. 00:23:27.240 --> 00:23:32.319 Paul wants this church in Philippi to see Epaphroditus that way. 00:23:32.980 --> 00:23:36.680 This man put his life on the line for Christ and his mission. 00:23:39.799 --> 00:23:45.559 One commentator thought perhaps the church in Philippi would feel like this mission had failed. 00:23:45.559 --> 00:23:50.259 It was our desire as a church to leave Epaphroditus there caring for Paul's needs. 00:23:50.639 --> 00:23:51.740 And now he had to send him back. 00:23:51.839 --> 00:23:52.279 We failed. 00:23:53.599 --> 00:23:56.700 So he asked the question, Moises Silva, did the mission fail? 00:23:57.379 --> 00:23:59.460 The answer is absolutely not. 00:24:00.019 --> 00:24:05.159 We can infer that Epaphroditus got very sick while traveling with the gift for Paul. 00:24:05.359 --> 00:24:06.779 But he did press on. 00:24:07.039 --> 00:24:09.779 He could have stopped, turned around, cut it short. 00:24:09.899 --> 00:24:10.839 He did press on. 00:24:11.059 --> 00:24:13.339 And he risked his own life and he fulfilled the mission. 00:24:13.339 --> 00:24:20.019 And Paul wants to honor him in return and give this commendation letter back to them. 00:24:20.759 --> 00:24:22.659 You're receiving a hero. 00:24:23.480 --> 00:24:29.439 It would be the equivalent in our military of sending someone back with a purple heart. 00:24:30.619 --> 00:24:32.779 This is a soldier who earned it. 00:24:33.759 --> 00:24:35.879 And you need to honor them as such. 00:24:36.579 --> 00:24:39.619 Receive him back as a hero because that's what he is. 00:24:39.619 --> 00:24:44.059 The way Paul honors him is because he uses five titles. 00:24:45.259 --> 00:24:49.000 We've already seen the title brother and messenger. 00:24:49.739 --> 00:24:56.219 In verse 25, he's also called my minister, co-worker, and fellow soldier. 00:24:56.220 --> 00:25:04.460 Paul knew that this church, this audience in Philippi, had this Greco-Roman background. 00:25:04.779 --> 00:25:11.339 And they valued titles of soldiers who had earned something on a military or a civil campaign. 00:25:12.759 --> 00:25:15.880 And to honor those who achieved something great for the kingdom, 00:25:16.059 --> 00:25:20.120 they would publicly celebrate the titles of the person 00:25:20.119 --> 00:25:24.819 by putting them on inscriptions that would then be displayed throughout Roman colonies. 00:25:26.299 --> 00:25:30.479 So you can almost picture Epaphroditus' big announcement back to the church. 00:25:31.099 --> 00:25:33.239 Here he is, church, receive this man. 00:25:34.039 --> 00:25:35.919 Epaphroditus, your messenger. 00:25:37.439 --> 00:25:38.779 The crowd goes wild. 00:25:39.179 --> 00:25:40.059 My minister. 00:25:40.059 --> 00:25:40.139 My minister. 00:25:41.139 --> 00:25:42.099 The brother. 00:25:43.259 --> 00:25:43.959 Co-worker. 00:25:44.719 --> 00:25:45.639 Fellow soldier. 00:25:45.640 --> 00:25:45.759 Order. 00:25:46.960 --> 00:25:50.580 See, for Christians, it's saying this is what the world values. 00:25:50.860 --> 00:25:51.740 Here's the reality. 00:25:51.940 --> 00:25:52.940 Here's the greater kingdom. 00:25:53.300 --> 00:25:55.580 We belong to the kingdom of King Jesus. 00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:03.380 Someone pointed out those last three, the brother, co-worker, fellow soldier. 00:26:04.240 --> 00:26:05.900 The order is not accidental. 00:26:06.220 --> 00:26:07.780 This is an ascending order. 00:26:08.400 --> 00:26:11.040 In other words, one builds on the next. 00:26:11.039 --> 00:26:14.519 By referring him first to brother, 00:26:16.299 --> 00:26:23.680 it's a strong sibling bond forged in the shared work and over conflict for the gospel. 00:26:24.980 --> 00:26:27.399 And because of that strong partnership, 00:26:28.299 --> 00:26:30.500 being a brother in Christ, 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:32.440 the other titles follow. 00:26:34.359 --> 00:26:39.339 Effective team ministry requires this brotherly family foundation. 00:26:39.339 --> 00:26:42.459 It's out of a deep personal bond. 00:26:42.740 --> 00:26:47.599 That has to come first before there can be effective co-laboring. 00:26:49.439 --> 00:26:52.099 That is the next title, which is fellow worker. 00:26:52.459 --> 00:26:56.859 And Paul calls 16 different individuals my fellow workers in the New Testament. 00:26:57.919 --> 00:27:01.779 This is unprecedented in the use of Greek until Paul. 00:27:01.779 --> 00:27:04.619 But by using this title, fellow worker, 00:27:05.779 --> 00:27:11.440 it literally means we are side-by-side laboring toward a common purpose. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:15.680 It's a perfect description of that ministry that they share. 00:27:17.839 --> 00:27:21.639 And we don't know whether Epaphroditus was a retired soldier, 00:27:21.839 --> 00:27:24.359 but we do know that at this prison in Rome, 00:27:24.819 --> 00:27:28.319 Paul's ministry was in a large part to the Praetorian guard 00:27:28.319 --> 00:27:30.519 and to the house of Caesar. 00:27:30.519 --> 00:27:33.819 And to be a co-laborer in this important mission, 00:27:33.940 --> 00:27:35.799 in this opportunity that God has brought him, 00:27:36.200 --> 00:27:37.900 Epaphroditus was the perfect man. 00:27:38.920 --> 00:27:41.019 He was very sick, but the Lord spared his life, 00:27:41.119 --> 00:27:41.740 showed him mercy, 00:27:42.039 --> 00:27:43.559 and now he got to labor with Paul, 00:27:43.980 --> 00:27:45.579 sharing the gospel to these guards, 00:27:45.700 --> 00:27:47.519 these Romans in Caesar's household, 00:27:47.639 --> 00:27:48.440 along with Timothy. 00:27:48.799 --> 00:27:50.539 What a wonderful opportunity. 00:27:51.579 --> 00:27:53.440 So brother, co-worker, 00:27:53.779 --> 00:27:56.440 and the last title is fellow soldier. 00:27:56.440 --> 00:28:01.720 Literally, that is my together warrior. 00:28:02.759 --> 00:28:04.220 My together warrior. 00:28:04.700 --> 00:28:06.880 It's a term that was not original to Paul, 00:28:07.460 --> 00:28:10.100 but it's what Roman foot soldiers were called 00:28:10.100 --> 00:28:12.920 by their commanding officer to show them honor. 00:28:13.799 --> 00:28:14.980 My together warrior. 00:28:15.400 --> 00:28:17.360 It meant that a simple foot soldier 00:28:17.360 --> 00:28:20.740 was on equal ground with the commanding officer. 00:28:20.740 --> 00:28:24.759 Here's one who served on the front line with me. 00:28:25.160 --> 00:28:26.160 He had my back. 00:28:26.720 --> 00:28:28.039 He's my together warrior. 00:28:28.819 --> 00:28:30.880 And that's what Paul calls Epaphroditus. 00:28:31.339 --> 00:28:32.240 What a great honor. 00:28:32.240 --> 00:28:38.799 Well, we know that as soldiers in the battle 00:28:38.799 --> 00:28:41.759 with King Jesus as the commander of the Lord's army, 00:28:42.500 --> 00:28:44.759 our battle is not against flesh and blood, 00:28:45.480 --> 00:28:48.420 but our battle is against the principalities of darkness. 00:28:49.380 --> 00:28:51.539 In 2 Corinthians 10.4, Paul wrote 00:28:51.539 --> 00:28:54.819 that the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, 00:28:55.420 --> 00:28:59.240 but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds. 00:29:00.559 --> 00:29:01.880 Isn't that a great picture? 00:29:02.500 --> 00:29:04.480 Paul and Rome under house arrest 00:29:04.480 --> 00:29:06.240 with Epaphroditus and Timothy, 00:29:07.299 --> 00:29:09.599 side by side on their knees, 00:29:10.480 --> 00:29:14.000 praying mightily for the kingdom of God to advance, 00:29:14.660 --> 00:29:16.720 praying for the needs of the church in Philippi, 00:29:17.220 --> 00:29:18.680 praying for the Praetorian Guard, 00:29:19.039 --> 00:29:20.299 for all Caesar's household, 00:29:20.700 --> 00:29:22.799 for the church in Rome with all of its problems, 00:29:23.460 --> 00:29:26.359 battling on their knees in prayer together. 00:29:26.359 --> 00:29:30.439 Because the mind of Christ matures you 00:29:30.439 --> 00:29:33.279 into a self-sacrificing soldier. 00:29:34.879 --> 00:29:37.279 The fourth evidence is that the mind of Christ 00:29:37.279 --> 00:29:41.859 makes your life intertwined with the condition of the church. 00:29:41.859 --> 00:29:45.879 The mind of Christ in you makes your very life 00:29:45.879 --> 00:29:48.979 intertwined with the condition of the church. 00:29:50.259 --> 00:29:53.959 In verse 26, Epaphroditus was longing for you all. 00:29:55.099 --> 00:29:56.279 And he was distressed 00:29:56.279 --> 00:30:00.200 because he knew the Philippians were worried about him. 00:30:03.240 --> 00:30:04.619 He's worried about the church. 00:30:04.940 --> 00:30:06.799 The church is worried about his condition. 00:30:07.220 --> 00:30:08.299 It's so intertwined. 00:30:08.359 --> 00:30:09.519 It's like one in the same. 00:30:09.519 --> 00:30:16.680 Isn't that true that the body is only as well as each member? 00:30:19.619 --> 00:30:21.259 You've heard it said that a mother 00:30:21.259 --> 00:30:24.660 is only as happy as her saddest child, right? 00:30:26.359 --> 00:30:30.639 Well, a good shepherd is only at rest 00:30:30.639 --> 00:30:32.359 as his most troubled lamb. 00:30:33.079 --> 00:30:33.980 You know, Jesus said, 00:30:34.680 --> 00:30:36.960 I'm going to go find that one lost lamb that's straying. 00:30:37.420 --> 00:30:38.220 I'm going to bring him back. 00:30:38.220 --> 00:30:40.620 So here's a church, a congregation in Philippi, 00:30:40.740 --> 00:30:42.600 but Epaphroditus is not well. 00:30:43.279 --> 00:30:46.059 And their well-being is intertwined with his condition. 00:30:47.059 --> 00:30:51.360 And then he's distressed for them, longing for them. 00:30:51.360 --> 00:30:54.700 That word distressed is a very unique verb. 00:30:56.160 --> 00:30:58.680 The only other time it's used in the Bible 00:30:58.680 --> 00:31:00.740 is in the Garden of Gethsemane 00:31:00.740 --> 00:31:03.700 when Jesus himself was distressed 00:31:03.700 --> 00:31:08.019 because he's taking on the sin of his church. 00:31:08.220 --> 00:31:12.980 To go pay the price that the church could never pay on its own. 00:31:14.339 --> 00:31:18.480 Jesus was described as sorrowful and very heavy. 00:31:19.480 --> 00:31:22.720 And it can't be an accident that Paul's using that same word distressed 00:31:22.720 --> 00:31:25.839 to describe the soul of a Christian 00:31:25.839 --> 00:31:29.380 so intertwined with the well-being of their home church. 00:31:29.380 --> 00:31:31.900 full of heaviness. 00:31:34.700 --> 00:31:38.900 How do we share that type of heart and mind for God's people? 00:31:39.100 --> 00:31:39.960 It's not natural. 00:31:40.840 --> 00:31:43.180 How do we grow to be more like Christ 00:31:43.180 --> 00:31:45.520 and loving his church so much? 00:31:46.840 --> 00:31:48.580 Well, we learn to pray from Christ 00:31:48.580 --> 00:31:50.640 from the word. 00:31:51.000 --> 00:31:52.700 John 17 verse 24. 00:31:52.700 --> 00:31:54.340 Remember how Jesus prayed, 00:31:54.340 --> 00:31:59.380 Father, I desire, I desire that they, the church, 00:31:59.880 --> 00:32:03.279 whom you gave to me, may be with me where I am, 00:32:03.559 --> 00:32:07.000 that they may behold my glory which you have given me. 00:32:07.860 --> 00:32:11.380 So there's Jesus in Gethsemane, distressed, 00:32:11.380 --> 00:32:15.240 and he's praying, longing for the church to be with Christ 00:32:15.240 --> 00:32:20.420 in heaven and to enjoy the glory of Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. 00:32:21.200 --> 00:32:22.660 So we can pray the same. 00:32:22.820 --> 00:32:25.920 Maybe this is how Epaphroditus, Paul, and Timothy prayed. 00:32:26.020 --> 00:32:28.440 Father, I long to be with your people. 00:32:29.640 --> 00:32:33.100 We long to behold your glory in Jesus Christ together. 00:32:33.099 --> 00:32:36.079 And the more we pray for God's glory 00:32:36.079 --> 00:32:37.980 to be shared among his people, 00:32:38.059 --> 00:32:40.579 the more his love for one another will grow. 00:32:42.359 --> 00:32:45.779 In verse 27, we read that Epaphroditus was sick 00:32:45.779 --> 00:32:49.379 almost unto death, but God had mercy on him, 00:32:49.899 --> 00:32:52.459 not only on him, Paul wrote, but on me also, 00:32:53.019 --> 00:32:55.459 lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:32:56.719 --> 00:33:00.179 In other words, if God would have allowed Epaphroditus to die, 00:33:00.180 --> 00:33:03.259 Paul, who was already having sorrow 00:33:03.259 --> 00:33:05.019 over the problems of the church in Rome 00:33:05.019 --> 00:33:08.039 and his own imminent death 00:33:08.039 --> 00:33:11.620 and the afflictions he was at in the last part of his life, 00:33:12.060 --> 00:33:15.360 to lose Epaphroditus, a brother, a fellow soldier, 00:33:15.440 --> 00:33:16.820 would have been an even worse sorrow. 00:33:17.960 --> 00:33:19.779 But the Lord had mercy on him. 00:33:21.720 --> 00:33:26.140 It's interesting that God had used Paul to heal the sick 00:33:26.140 --> 00:33:27.860 and to perform these mighty signs. 00:33:27.859 --> 00:33:30.859 That was as he was planting the church 00:33:30.859 --> 00:33:33.319 in places that were dark and had no church presence. 00:33:33.740 --> 00:33:35.319 Well, now there's a church in Philippi. 00:33:35.599 --> 00:33:36.839 There's a church in Rome. 00:33:37.759 --> 00:33:40.699 God in his providence didn't pour out these healing gifts, 00:33:40.779 --> 00:33:42.259 though God could do that at any time. 00:33:42.759 --> 00:33:44.079 But it was God's mercy, 00:33:44.939 --> 00:33:46.619 either through miracle or medicine 00:33:46.619 --> 00:33:49.079 or just the natural course of God's order, 00:33:49.639 --> 00:33:51.379 that Epaphroditus did not die. 00:33:52.000 --> 00:33:52.559 He got better. 00:33:53.759 --> 00:33:55.379 It wasn't through a miraculous sign 00:33:55.379 --> 00:33:56.979 that God did through Paul in this case. 00:33:57.859 --> 00:34:00.139 So anytime one of us gets better 00:34:00.139 --> 00:34:02.219 or we get healed, 00:34:03.240 --> 00:34:04.979 it's a sign of God's mercy. 00:34:05.419 --> 00:34:06.839 And we need to give him all the credit. 00:34:07.099 --> 00:34:09.039 Isn't it amazing that our bodies heal at all? 00:34:09.960 --> 00:34:11.579 We do need to feel that. 00:34:12.119 --> 00:34:14.139 And just as Paul was concerned 00:34:14.139 --> 00:34:17.239 and having sorrow at the thought of losing Epaphroditus, 00:34:17.480 --> 00:34:19.500 it's right for us to feel those emotions, 00:34:19.900 --> 00:34:21.279 but to trust the Lord. 00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:24.560 And when he does spare our lives a little bit longer 00:34:24.560 --> 00:34:26.140 to give him the glory, 00:34:26.260 --> 00:34:28.180 it's his mercy to spare us. 00:34:31.140 --> 00:34:33.700 The Lord willed that Epaphroditus should live on. 00:34:34.760 --> 00:34:36.180 In verse 28, Paul said, 00:34:36.280 --> 00:34:37.540 therefore I sent him. 00:34:38.060 --> 00:34:40.860 He's using a aorist or like past tense 00:34:40.860 --> 00:34:43.580 because they're going to be reading the letter. 00:34:43.579 --> 00:34:46.000 So when Epaphroditus gets there with the letter, 00:34:46.099 --> 00:34:49.039 they can read Paul sent him in the past tense. 00:34:49.779 --> 00:34:50.299 Verse 28, 00:34:50.420 --> 00:34:52.420 I sent him the more eagerly 00:34:52.420 --> 00:34:54.279 that when you see him again, 00:34:54.759 --> 00:34:55.719 you may rejoice 00:34:55.719 --> 00:34:57.719 and I may be less sorrowful. 00:34:58.460 --> 00:34:59.719 Well, just as they were worried, 00:35:00.119 --> 00:35:01.900 now if Epaphroditus does come back, 00:35:01.980 --> 00:35:03.139 they will be able to rejoice. 00:35:03.679 --> 00:35:05.619 And Paul, knowing that they will be rejoicing, 00:35:06.119 --> 00:35:07.400 he will be even less sorrowful 00:35:07.400 --> 00:35:09.639 or share in part of their rejoicing. 00:35:09.639 --> 00:35:12.719 So the church and the individuals are so intertwined, 00:35:12.799 --> 00:35:14.739 whether we're up or we're down, 00:35:15.420 --> 00:35:17.920 your life is so closely knit 00:35:17.920 --> 00:35:19.839 to the condition of the church 00:35:19.839 --> 00:35:22.119 when you share the mind of Christ. 00:35:27.440 --> 00:35:29.159 How the church is doing 00:35:29.159 --> 00:35:31.859 is how the Christian should be doing. 00:35:34.519 --> 00:35:36.039 Have you thought about that? 00:35:36.039 --> 00:35:39.400 Like someone asks you, 00:35:39.460 --> 00:35:40.239 how are you doing? 00:35:40.579 --> 00:35:41.639 My answer should be, 00:35:41.779 --> 00:35:43.239 well, how is the church doing? 00:35:43.440 --> 00:35:45.199 That's how I'm doing to an extent. 00:35:45.380 --> 00:35:46.219 And the other way is true. 00:35:46.360 --> 00:35:47.900 Well, how is the church doing? 00:35:48.360 --> 00:35:49.619 Well, we think of individuals. 00:35:49.779 --> 00:35:50.900 You know, how is this individual doing? 00:35:51.380 --> 00:35:52.179 That's the church. 00:35:52.259 --> 00:35:53.239 That's how we're all doing. 00:35:54.380 --> 00:35:55.980 That's how intertwined it is 00:35:55.980 --> 00:35:57.759 to be part of God's church. 00:35:58.619 --> 00:35:59.599 I think for this reason, 00:35:59.599 --> 00:36:01.739 we also realize what a blessing it is. 00:36:02.300 --> 00:36:03.139 And in our lives, 00:36:03.179 --> 00:36:04.880 we've experienced a little bit of everything, 00:36:04.880 --> 00:36:05.360 I'm sure, 00:36:06.019 --> 00:36:07.119 but what a blessing it is 00:36:07.119 --> 00:36:08.280 to be in a church 00:36:08.280 --> 00:36:09.380 and how important it is. 00:36:09.660 --> 00:36:11.260 A church that desires first, 00:36:11.640 --> 00:36:12.500 the mind of Christ. 00:36:13.579 --> 00:36:14.019 Second, 00:36:14.820 --> 00:36:16.539 a genuine care for one another 00:36:16.539 --> 00:36:17.700 because how we're doing 00:36:17.700 --> 00:36:18.420 is how I'm doing 00:36:18.420 --> 00:36:20.760 and a church that is joyful. 00:36:22.320 --> 00:36:23.579 What a blessing that is. 00:36:23.660 --> 00:36:24.920 The more joyful of a church 00:36:24.920 --> 00:36:25.760 you can be part of, 00:36:26.079 --> 00:36:27.500 and this is Christian joy 00:36:27.500 --> 00:36:28.260 through suffering, 00:36:28.640 --> 00:36:30.220 not dodging the suffering, 00:36:30.860 --> 00:36:32.400 but the more joyful the church is, 00:36:32.440 --> 00:36:33.559 the more joyful you will be. 00:36:33.559 --> 00:36:35.460 What a blessing that is. 00:36:36.860 --> 00:36:37.639 The mind of Christ 00:36:37.639 --> 00:36:39.179 makes your life intertwined 00:36:39.179 --> 00:36:41.099 with the condition of the church. 00:36:42.500 --> 00:36:44.079 The fifth evidence is this, 00:36:44.159 --> 00:36:45.000 that the mind of Christ 00:36:45.000 --> 00:36:47.579 makes you joyfully embrace 00:36:47.579 --> 00:36:49.599 Christ-like soldiers. 00:36:50.320 --> 00:36:51.320 The mind of Christ 00:36:51.320 --> 00:36:53.239 makes you joyfully embrace 00:36:53.239 --> 00:36:54.699 Christ-like soldiers. 00:36:55.980 --> 00:36:56.960 In verse 28, 00:36:57.079 --> 00:36:57.420 Paul wrote, 00:36:57.539 --> 00:36:58.759 that I sent him more eagerly, 00:36:59.139 --> 00:37:00.279 that when you see him again, 00:37:00.340 --> 00:37:01.179 you may rejoice. 00:37:01.179 --> 00:37:02.000 Verse 29, 00:37:02.579 --> 00:37:03.460 receive him, 00:37:03.859 --> 00:37:04.239 therefore, 00:37:04.480 --> 00:37:05.039 in the Lord 00:37:05.039 --> 00:37:06.839 with all gladness 00:37:06.839 --> 00:37:09.960 and hold such men 00:37:09.960 --> 00:37:11.279 in esteem. 00:37:12.879 --> 00:37:13.759 Receive him, 00:37:14.299 --> 00:37:15.119 in verse 29, 00:37:16.359 --> 00:37:17.960 allow him back in. 00:37:18.519 --> 00:37:19.539 Take him back 00:37:19.539 --> 00:37:20.399 as one of your own. 00:37:20.919 --> 00:37:21.639 Accept him 00:37:21.639 --> 00:37:23.579 as this honorable soldier 00:37:23.579 --> 00:37:25.159 that I've given to you. 00:37:25.159 --> 00:37:28.579 You sent him to be a blessing 00:37:28.579 --> 00:37:29.379 and a gift to me, 00:37:29.500 --> 00:37:31.239 I'm sending Epaphroditus back 00:37:31.239 --> 00:37:32.259 to be a blessing 00:37:32.259 --> 00:37:33.960 and a gift to you. 00:37:34.379 --> 00:37:35.739 Embrace this gift. 00:37:36.199 --> 00:37:38.239 Don't reject this brother. 00:37:40.039 --> 00:37:40.619 He's saying, 00:37:40.980 --> 00:37:42.420 what I'm saying of Epaphroditus 00:37:42.420 --> 00:37:43.980 is true of every other brother 00:37:43.980 --> 00:37:44.539 and sister 00:37:44.539 --> 00:37:46.119 who shares the mind of Christ, 00:37:46.219 --> 00:37:47.119 who grows to be 00:37:47.119 --> 00:37:48.659 a Christ-like soldier. 00:37:49.460 --> 00:37:51.440 Don't reject such brothers 00:37:51.440 --> 00:37:52.279 and sisters 00:37:52.280 --> 00:37:53.480 in the ministry. 00:37:54.480 --> 00:37:55.519 Don't push away 00:37:55.519 --> 00:37:56.280 a co-laborer 00:37:56.880 --> 00:37:58.000 who God intends 00:37:58.000 --> 00:37:58.740 to be a partner 00:37:58.740 --> 00:37:59.780 and a gift. 00:38:00.780 --> 00:38:01.680 Don't be cold 00:38:01.680 --> 00:38:02.460 or distant 00:38:02.460 --> 00:38:04.480 toward a Christ-like soldier, 00:38:04.960 --> 00:38:05.560 but do, 00:38:06.000 --> 00:38:06.640 verse 29, 00:38:07.100 --> 00:38:07.940 receive him. 00:38:08.900 --> 00:38:09.620 Embrace him, 00:38:09.740 --> 00:38:10.060 therefore, 00:38:10.420 --> 00:38:11.220 in the Lord 00:38:11.220 --> 00:38:13.380 with all gladness. 00:38:13.380 --> 00:38:16.039 It's so simple, 00:38:16.180 --> 00:38:17.640 but it's also so rare 00:38:17.640 --> 00:38:18.320 in the church, 00:38:18.360 --> 00:38:18.740 isn't it? 00:38:19.820 --> 00:38:21.440 We so quickly want to 00:38:21.440 --> 00:38:23.300 create our own little silos 00:38:23.300 --> 00:38:25.119 and the kingdom of Christ 00:38:25.119 --> 00:38:25.940 can easily become 00:38:25.940 --> 00:38:27.599 a bunch of fiefdoms of man, 00:38:28.019 --> 00:38:30.200 but we get a taste of this, 00:38:30.720 --> 00:38:33.000 what it's like to share a joy 00:38:33.000 --> 00:38:34.160 and a good report. 00:38:36.320 --> 00:38:37.559 When we had our missionary 00:38:37.559 --> 00:38:39.059 come from North Africa, 00:38:40.059 --> 00:38:41.440 I won't say more details 00:38:41.440 --> 00:38:43.000 because it's for their protection, 00:38:43.159 --> 00:38:44.099 but you know, 00:38:45.200 --> 00:38:46.940 that's a Christ-like soldier. 00:38:48.019 --> 00:38:49.019 And what a joy 00:38:49.019 --> 00:38:49.679 for us to be able 00:38:49.679 --> 00:38:50.820 to share a meal 00:38:50.820 --> 00:38:52.039 or have them in your home 00:38:52.039 --> 00:38:54.079 or hear their stories, 00:38:54.280 --> 00:38:55.039 how they're doing, 00:38:55.599 --> 00:38:56.460 to embrace 00:38:56.460 --> 00:38:57.659 a Christ-like soldier 00:38:57.659 --> 00:38:58.980 warmly, 00:38:59.159 --> 00:39:00.320 receiving them with joy. 00:39:00.860 --> 00:39:02.179 We get a taste of this 00:39:02.179 --> 00:39:03.079 as well. 00:39:05.360 --> 00:39:06.099 Could you turn 00:39:06.099 --> 00:39:07.320 to Philippians 4, 00:39:07.440 --> 00:39:08.039 verse 10? 00:39:08.039 --> 00:39:08.099 Can you turn 00:39:08.099 --> 00:39:09.320 to Philippians 4, 00:39:09.320 --> 00:39:10.000 verse 10? 00:39:11.440 --> 00:39:12.639 Paul says, 00:39:12.920 --> 00:39:13.860 receive him therefore 00:39:13.860 --> 00:39:14.659 in the Lord 00:39:14.659 --> 00:39:15.980 with all gladness. 00:39:17.880 --> 00:39:19.300 We see in Philippians 4, 00:39:19.380 --> 00:39:19.920 verse 10, 00:39:20.420 --> 00:39:21.300 Paul's own example. 00:39:22.400 --> 00:39:22.700 He said, 00:39:22.860 --> 00:39:23.619 I rejoiced 00:39:23.619 --> 00:39:24.659 in the Lord greatly 00:39:24.659 --> 00:39:26.500 that now at length 00:39:26.500 --> 00:39:27.599 you have revived 00:39:27.599 --> 00:39:28.760 your concern for me. 00:39:29.079 --> 00:39:29.920 You were indeed 00:39:29.920 --> 00:39:30.840 concerned for me, 00:39:31.099 --> 00:39:32.700 but you had no opportunity. 00:39:33.920 --> 00:39:34.420 And then you said, 00:39:34.480 --> 00:39:35.400 Epaphroditus 00:39:35.400 --> 00:39:37.380 and the financial gift, 00:39:37.460 --> 00:39:37.900 that's great, 00:39:37.900 --> 00:39:39.200 but you showed 00:39:39.200 --> 00:39:40.480 by sending this man 00:39:40.480 --> 00:39:41.360 your love for me. 00:39:41.960 --> 00:39:42.240 So, 00:39:42.400 --> 00:39:43.340 I rejoiced 00:39:43.340 --> 00:39:44.159 when Epaphroditus 00:39:44.159 --> 00:39:44.720 got here. 00:39:45.300 --> 00:39:46.099 I want you to do 00:39:46.099 --> 00:39:47.039 the exact same thing. 00:39:47.320 --> 00:39:48.440 I'm sending him back 00:39:48.440 --> 00:39:49.220 and I want you 00:39:49.220 --> 00:39:50.260 to embrace him 00:39:50.260 --> 00:39:51.220 and rejoice 00:39:51.220 --> 00:39:52.079 in the Lord 00:39:52.079 --> 00:39:53.200 at this gift. 00:39:53.760 --> 00:39:54.340 Take him 00:39:54.340 --> 00:39:55.740 as a token 00:39:55.740 --> 00:39:56.539 of my love 00:39:56.539 --> 00:39:57.360 for you. 00:39:59.740 --> 00:40:00.539 And we're told 00:40:00.539 --> 00:40:00.900 to hold 00:40:00.900 --> 00:40:02.179 not only Epaphroditus, 00:40:02.340 --> 00:40:03.720 but all such men 00:40:03.720 --> 00:40:05.139 in esteem. 00:40:05.139 --> 00:40:07.859 We are to hold 00:40:07.859 --> 00:40:08.980 Christ-like soldiers 00:40:08.980 --> 00:40:10.859 as ones who are 00:40:10.859 --> 00:40:11.759 dear to us. 00:40:13.199 --> 00:40:14.119 These are honor, 00:40:14.400 --> 00:40:14.759 worthy, 00:40:15.279 --> 00:40:15.619 noble, 00:40:16.119 --> 00:40:16.639 valued, 00:40:17.199 --> 00:40:17.759 prized, 00:40:18.179 --> 00:40:18.679 precious, 00:40:19.719 --> 00:40:20.079 saints. 00:40:22.859 --> 00:40:24.099 Isn't that so different? 00:40:24.599 --> 00:40:25.900 The culture of a church 00:40:25.900 --> 00:40:27.920 that has the mind of Christ 00:40:27.920 --> 00:40:28.960 compared to the world? 00:40:28.960 --> 00:40:31.940 The world takes glory 00:40:31.940 --> 00:40:32.619 for self, 00:40:33.079 --> 00:40:34.500 pushes teammates down, 00:40:35.039 --> 00:40:35.880 self-promotes. 00:40:36.539 --> 00:40:37.440 I just described 00:40:37.440 --> 00:40:38.360 this past week 00:40:38.360 --> 00:40:38.699 at work 00:40:38.699 --> 00:40:39.380 for many of you. 00:40:40.380 --> 00:40:41.320 The church is not 00:40:41.320 --> 00:40:41.740 the world. 00:40:41.820 --> 00:40:43.059 The church has the mind 00:40:43.059 --> 00:40:43.519 of Christ 00:40:43.519 --> 00:40:44.119 being worked 00:40:44.119 --> 00:40:44.920 into us. 00:40:46.599 --> 00:40:47.780 Romans 12, 10, 00:40:47.860 --> 00:40:48.240 we're told, 00:40:48.539 --> 00:40:50.760 be kindly affectionate 00:40:50.760 --> 00:40:52.080 to one another 00:40:52.080 --> 00:40:53.640 with brotherly love 00:40:53.640 --> 00:40:55.140 in honor, 00:40:55.340 --> 00:40:56.260 giving preference 00:40:56.260 --> 00:40:57.220 to one another. 00:40:57.320 --> 00:40:58.260 As another translation 00:40:58.260 --> 00:40:58.800 put it, 00:40:59.160 --> 00:41:00.300 outdo one another 00:41:00.300 --> 00:41:01.640 in showing honor. 00:41:02.380 --> 00:41:03.520 That's how the church is. 00:41:03.980 --> 00:41:05.120 Because the mind of Christ 00:41:05.120 --> 00:41:06.720 makes you joyfully embrace 00:41:06.720 --> 00:41:08.780 Christ-like soldiers. 00:41:10.340 --> 00:41:11.240 Well, the sixth 00:41:11.240 --> 00:41:12.260 and final evidence 00:41:12.260 --> 00:41:12.800 for today 00:41:12.800 --> 00:41:13.580 from this passage 00:41:13.580 --> 00:41:14.960 is that the mind of Christ, 00:41:15.960 --> 00:41:17.980 it makes you give your life 00:41:17.980 --> 00:41:19.540 for the work of Christ. 00:41:19.539 --> 00:41:21.599 To put it another way, 00:41:21.699 --> 00:41:22.639 the mind of Christ 00:41:22.639 --> 00:41:24.820 makes you minister 00:41:24.820 --> 00:41:26.239 like Christ. 00:41:27.920 --> 00:41:29.539 We read in verse 29 00:41:29.539 --> 00:41:31.699 that Epaphroditus 00:41:31.699 --> 00:41:32.900 came close to death, 00:41:33.619 --> 00:41:35.380 risking or not regarding 00:41:35.380 --> 00:41:36.099 his life. 00:41:36.739 --> 00:41:37.380 Why was it? 00:41:37.860 --> 00:41:39.139 Last part of verse 29, 00:41:39.800 --> 00:41:41.559 for the work of Christ. 00:41:42.800 --> 00:41:44.820 By taking this gift 00:41:44.820 --> 00:41:45.960 and being there, 00:41:46.300 --> 00:41:47.420 a presence of ministry, 00:41:47.599 --> 00:41:48.420 accompanying Paul, 00:41:48.420 --> 00:41:49.579 this is the work 00:41:49.579 --> 00:41:50.500 of Christ himself. 00:41:51.139 --> 00:41:51.740 Whatever you do 00:41:51.740 --> 00:41:52.579 for the least of these, 00:41:52.659 --> 00:41:53.500 you did it for me, 00:41:53.619 --> 00:41:54.180 Jesus said. 00:41:54.840 --> 00:41:56.280 This is the work of Christ. 00:41:57.079 --> 00:41:57.800 And in verse 30, 00:41:57.860 --> 00:41:58.920 he did this to supply 00:41:58.920 --> 00:41:59.780 what was lacking 00:41:59.780 --> 00:42:00.780 in your service 00:42:00.780 --> 00:42:01.780 toward me. 00:42:02.059 --> 00:42:02.639 In other words, 00:42:02.800 --> 00:42:03.700 it was impossible 00:42:03.700 --> 00:42:04.880 for the whole church 00:42:04.880 --> 00:42:05.539 at Philippi 00:42:05.539 --> 00:42:06.740 to be present 00:42:06.740 --> 00:42:08.000 and minister to Paul. 00:42:08.200 --> 00:42:09.079 But they want to. 00:42:09.400 --> 00:42:09.980 They know that's 00:42:09.980 --> 00:42:10.800 the work of Christ. 00:42:11.380 --> 00:42:12.680 So what they couldn't do, 00:42:12.740 --> 00:42:13.360 what was lacking 00:42:13.360 --> 00:42:14.019 on their part, 00:42:14.019 --> 00:42:16.559 one man got to stand 00:42:16.559 --> 00:42:17.460 and do it 00:42:17.460 --> 00:42:18.599 as a service 00:42:18.599 --> 00:42:19.719 in their place. 00:42:20.179 --> 00:42:20.960 That word service 00:42:20.960 --> 00:42:21.860 in verse 30, 00:42:23.460 --> 00:42:24.420 it might be translated 00:42:24.420 --> 00:42:25.059 ministry. 00:42:27.000 --> 00:42:28.159 When Plato uses 00:42:28.159 --> 00:42:29.000 this Greek word, 00:42:29.719 --> 00:42:30.860 he describes a service 00:42:30.860 --> 00:42:31.820 that a citizen 00:42:31.820 --> 00:42:32.659 undertakes 00:42:32.659 --> 00:42:33.639 to administer 00:42:33.639 --> 00:42:35.420 at his own expense. 00:42:36.759 --> 00:42:37.960 This word service 00:42:37.960 --> 00:42:38.639 or ministry 00:42:38.639 --> 00:42:39.679 is also used 00:42:39.679 --> 00:42:41.059 to describe 00:42:41.059 --> 00:42:42.159 the work of priests 00:42:42.159 --> 00:42:43.239 in the Old Testament. 00:42:44.139 --> 00:42:45.159 So when the New Testament 00:42:45.159 --> 00:42:45.839 is describing 00:42:45.839 --> 00:42:46.759 the Levites 00:42:46.759 --> 00:42:47.460 and the priests 00:42:47.460 --> 00:42:49.079 working and moving 00:42:49.079 --> 00:42:49.819 all around the temple, 00:42:49.940 --> 00:42:50.659 getting everything ready 00:42:50.659 --> 00:42:51.879 so that the people of God 00:42:51.879 --> 00:42:53.219 can be in his presence 00:42:53.219 --> 00:42:54.460 and know that their sins 00:42:54.460 --> 00:42:55.119 are pardoned, 00:42:55.319 --> 00:42:56.099 they can glorify 00:42:56.099 --> 00:42:57.239 and worship their God, 00:42:57.799 --> 00:42:59.159 that's a liturgy. 00:42:59.759 --> 00:43:00.759 The word for ministry 00:43:00.759 --> 00:43:01.839 is where we get 00:43:01.839 --> 00:43:02.799 the term liturgy. 00:43:04.359 --> 00:43:05.139 So what he's saying 00:43:05.139 --> 00:43:05.579 is this, 00:43:05.679 --> 00:43:06.559 that Epaphroditus 00:43:06.559 --> 00:43:07.799 was doing the work 00:43:07.799 --> 00:43:08.420 of Christ 00:43:08.420 --> 00:43:10.019 and he was providing 00:43:10.019 --> 00:43:10.859 a service, 00:43:11.059 --> 00:43:11.639 a ministry, 00:43:11.639 --> 00:43:13.159 a liturgy for me 00:43:13.159 --> 00:43:14.420 as a priest 00:43:14.420 --> 00:43:15.980 that you have sent. 00:43:16.659 --> 00:43:17.379 He was doing 00:43:17.379 --> 00:43:18.639 priestly work. 00:43:19.799 --> 00:43:21.219 So what this teaches us 00:43:21.219 --> 00:43:22.839 is that all ministry 00:43:22.839 --> 00:43:24.199 in Christ's name, 00:43:24.460 --> 00:43:25.559 the ministry of Christ, 00:43:26.219 --> 00:43:27.900 it's priestly work. 00:43:28.960 --> 00:43:30.420 To be very specific, 00:43:31.619 --> 00:43:32.440 when each of you 00:43:32.440 --> 00:43:33.759 helps to put these chairs 00:43:33.759 --> 00:43:34.980 back off to the side, 00:43:35.400 --> 00:43:37.299 you are doing priestly work. 00:43:38.379 --> 00:43:39.440 It's a ministry. 00:43:39.859 --> 00:43:41.179 It's part of our liturgy. 00:43:41.639 --> 00:43:43.019 It's the same Greek word. 00:43:43.819 --> 00:43:44.619 When we're practicing 00:43:44.619 --> 00:43:45.259 for music, 00:43:45.379 --> 00:43:46.319 when we're praying 00:43:46.319 --> 00:43:47.139 for one another, 00:43:48.079 --> 00:43:48.960 when we're praying 00:43:48.960 --> 00:43:49.659 for this church 00:43:49.659 --> 00:43:51.059 or for the Holy Spirit's work, 00:43:51.599 --> 00:43:52.579 praying for the lost, 00:43:53.119 --> 00:43:53.799 setting up, 00:43:53.960 --> 00:43:54.539 tearing down, 00:43:55.559 --> 00:43:56.279 buying groceries 00:43:56.279 --> 00:43:57.420 for our fellowship meal 00:43:57.420 --> 00:43:58.639 or buying groceries 00:43:58.639 --> 00:43:59.319 and cooking a meal 00:43:59.319 --> 00:44:00.299 to host someone else 00:44:00.299 --> 00:44:01.259 at your home, 00:44:01.659 --> 00:44:02.900 when you're cleaning, 00:44:03.119 --> 00:44:03.900 when you're dishing out 00:44:03.900 --> 00:44:04.279 the food, 00:44:04.420 --> 00:44:05.219 serving one another, 00:44:05.219 --> 00:44:08.379 all of this is priestly work, 00:44:08.599 --> 00:44:09.319 one to another. 00:44:12.679 --> 00:44:13.859 So the mind of Christ 00:44:13.859 --> 00:44:15.359 that makes you give your life, 00:44:15.480 --> 00:44:16.699 risking your own very life, 00:44:16.959 --> 00:44:17.980 serving in the simple, 00:44:18.980 --> 00:44:19.799 ordinary ways 00:44:19.799 --> 00:44:21.639 for the glory of God 00:44:21.639 --> 00:44:22.579 in His church. 00:44:22.579 --> 00:44:25.179 The image here 00:44:25.179 --> 00:44:26.840 is of a tabernacle 00:44:26.840 --> 00:44:28.559 full of priests 00:44:28.559 --> 00:44:30.179 performing what God 00:44:30.179 --> 00:44:31.259 has ordained them to do 00:44:31.259 --> 00:44:32.319 so that God 00:44:32.319 --> 00:44:33.340 will bless His people 00:44:33.340 --> 00:44:34.559 and dwell among them 00:44:34.559 --> 00:44:35.659 like He promised to do. 00:44:36.699 --> 00:44:37.599 In London, 00:44:38.380 --> 00:44:39.099 Charles Spurgeon 00:44:39.099 --> 00:44:39.799 and their 00:44:39.799 --> 00:44:41.199 Reformed Baptist congregation, 00:44:42.199 --> 00:44:43.239 as they built up 00:44:43.239 --> 00:44:43.799 this church 00:44:43.799 --> 00:44:44.219 where they got 00:44:44.219 --> 00:44:45.039 to worship in, 00:44:45.099 --> 00:44:46.599 it's still a faithful, 00:44:46.759 --> 00:44:47.000 biblical, 00:44:47.219 --> 00:44:48.420 confessional church today. 00:44:48.420 --> 00:44:49.840 The name was given 00:44:49.840 --> 00:44:50.639 to this building, 00:44:51.280 --> 00:44:53.180 Metropolitan Tabernacle. 00:44:54.000 --> 00:44:54.900 Big city, 00:44:55.260 --> 00:44:56.300 but it's a tabernacle. 00:44:56.840 --> 00:44:57.680 It's that image of 00:44:57.680 --> 00:44:59.079 here are ones 00:44:59.079 --> 00:45:00.139 who are fellow workers, 00:45:00.300 --> 00:45:00.940 co-laborers, 00:45:01.119 --> 00:45:02.019 ministering together 00:45:02.019 --> 00:45:03.639 like a nation of priests 00:45:03.639 --> 00:45:05.159 for the glory of God. 00:45:06.480 --> 00:45:08.639 These are Christ-like soldiers 00:45:08.639 --> 00:45:09.880 serving one another. 00:45:10.400 --> 00:45:11.220 They're on their knees 00:45:11.220 --> 00:45:12.639 doing battle and praying. 00:45:14.860 --> 00:45:15.420 And I'll tell you, 00:45:15.460 --> 00:45:15.920 these days, 00:45:16.159 --> 00:45:17.159 I've complained 00:45:17.159 --> 00:45:18.019 to several of you 00:45:18.019 --> 00:45:19.920 I think is probably 00:45:19.920 --> 00:45:20.719 my own flesh 00:45:20.719 --> 00:45:21.639 and tiredness maybe, 00:45:21.820 --> 00:45:23.860 but I was just 00:45:23.860 --> 00:45:25.639 having trouble 00:45:25.639 --> 00:45:28.759 not envying the world, 00:45:28.940 --> 00:45:29.219 you know, 00:45:29.259 --> 00:45:29.639 basically, 00:45:30.179 --> 00:45:31.039 and not wanting 00:45:31.039 --> 00:45:33.940 things to come, 00:45:34.380 --> 00:45:34.619 you know, 00:45:34.639 --> 00:45:35.259 so hard. 00:45:35.960 --> 00:45:38.000 But the more I prayed 00:45:38.000 --> 00:45:39.119 and the more I trusted 00:45:39.119 --> 00:45:39.639 in God, 00:45:40.059 --> 00:45:40.900 He reminded me 00:45:40.900 --> 00:45:42.940 of this truth 00:45:42.940 --> 00:45:43.480 that to be 00:45:43.480 --> 00:45:44.719 a Christ-like soldier, 00:45:45.440 --> 00:45:46.019 it means that 00:45:46.019 --> 00:45:46.780 you're surrounded 00:45:46.780 --> 00:45:49.720 with God's elite. 00:45:50.120 --> 00:45:50.240 You know, 00:45:50.280 --> 00:45:51.220 these are the ones 00:45:51.220 --> 00:45:52.000 who have the mind 00:45:52.000 --> 00:45:52.519 of Christ. 00:45:52.620 --> 00:45:53.240 They're getting trained 00:45:53.240 --> 00:45:54.120 by Christ Himself. 00:45:54.880 --> 00:45:55.740 These are the soldiers 00:45:55.740 --> 00:45:56.660 you want to be with. 00:45:57.800 --> 00:45:59.180 And lean and mean 00:45:59.180 --> 00:45:59.780 is the army. 00:46:00.620 --> 00:46:01.040 Remember, 00:46:01.180 --> 00:46:01.860 Gideon soldiers, 00:46:02.019 --> 00:46:02.940 here's the thousands 00:46:02.940 --> 00:46:03.880 coming out 00:46:03.880 --> 00:46:04.500 to volunteer, 00:46:05.040 --> 00:46:05.780 but you look out 00:46:05.780 --> 00:46:06.400 and these are not 00:46:06.400 --> 00:46:07.060 true soldiers. 00:46:07.400 --> 00:46:07.920 These don't have 00:46:07.920 --> 00:46:08.560 that mindset 00:46:08.560 --> 00:46:09.160 of a soldier 00:46:09.160 --> 00:46:09.860 at all times. 00:46:10.400 --> 00:46:11.160 And what does God do 00:46:11.159 --> 00:46:12.199 is he removes 00:46:12.199 --> 00:46:13.879 hundreds of them. 00:46:14.179 --> 00:46:14.839 He narrows it down 00:46:14.839 --> 00:46:16.059 to just about 300. 00:46:16.639 --> 00:46:17.619 But these are the ones 00:46:17.619 --> 00:46:18.480 that at all times 00:46:18.480 --> 00:46:19.480 they know who they are. 00:46:20.179 --> 00:46:22.739 They're a self-sacrificing soldier. 00:46:23.379 --> 00:46:24.079 And you wouldn't trade 00:46:24.079 --> 00:46:24.899 that for anything. 00:46:25.440 --> 00:46:26.480 Gideon would much rather 00:46:26.480 --> 00:46:27.359 have the Lord 00:46:27.359 --> 00:46:28.619 with a small band 00:46:28.619 --> 00:46:30.059 of spiritual soldiers 00:46:30.059 --> 00:46:31.019 and do battle 00:46:31.019 --> 00:46:32.920 than to have the numbers 00:46:32.920 --> 00:46:33.659 and go the way 00:46:33.659 --> 00:46:34.619 of might and power 00:46:34.619 --> 00:46:35.539 of the world. 00:46:36.539 --> 00:46:37.299 What a blessing 00:46:37.299 --> 00:46:38.819 that we get to have 00:46:38.820 --> 00:46:41.000 a church full of priests 00:46:41.000 --> 00:46:42.720 and Christ-like soldiers. 00:46:44.780 --> 00:46:45.960 Well, you might be wondering, 00:46:46.100 --> 00:46:46.980 did Epaphroditus 00:46:46.980 --> 00:46:48.180 make it safely back 00:46:48.180 --> 00:46:48.780 from Rome 00:46:48.780 --> 00:46:49.580 all the way 00:46:49.580 --> 00:46:50.539 to Philippi? 00:46:51.539 --> 00:46:52.059 And you know 00:46:52.059 --> 00:46:52.800 the answer, right? 00:46:53.740 --> 00:46:54.760 He did because 00:46:54.760 --> 00:46:56.080 the proof is in your hands. 00:46:56.660 --> 00:46:57.260 The Philippians 00:46:57.260 --> 00:46:58.260 received this letter. 00:46:58.780 --> 00:47:00.019 God used Epaphroditus 00:47:00.019 --> 00:47:01.420 to preserve Scripture. 00:47:02.480 --> 00:47:03.240 The Holy Spirit 00:47:03.240 --> 00:47:03.940 breathed out 00:47:03.940 --> 00:47:04.559 this letter 00:47:04.559 --> 00:47:05.559 through Paul 00:47:05.559 --> 00:47:06.220 and Timothy. 00:47:07.300 --> 00:47:07.920 Can you imagine 00:47:07.920 --> 00:47:08.800 if you're in Philippi, 00:47:08.820 --> 00:47:10.440 and it probably 00:47:10.440 --> 00:47:11.100 wasn't this 00:47:11.100 --> 00:47:12.260 like picturesque, 00:47:12.400 --> 00:47:13.519 but so to speak, 00:47:13.620 --> 00:47:15.200 there's the Via Ignatia. 00:47:15.300 --> 00:47:16.039 There's this road 00:47:16.039 --> 00:47:18.160 coming from the west 00:47:18.160 --> 00:47:19.559 and there's the silhouette 00:47:19.559 --> 00:47:21.580 of Epaphroditus. 00:47:22.080 --> 00:47:22.940 He's returning. 00:47:23.360 --> 00:47:23.880 Will the church 00:47:23.880 --> 00:47:25.019 receive him with joy? 00:47:26.080 --> 00:47:27.039 And in his pouch 00:47:27.039 --> 00:47:28.140 is this letter. 00:47:28.660 --> 00:47:29.300 It's the Scripture 00:47:29.300 --> 00:47:30.260 that God Himself 00:47:30.260 --> 00:47:30.920 breathed out 00:47:30.920 --> 00:47:32.140 that would be preserved 00:47:32.140 --> 00:47:33.000 and circulated 00:47:33.000 --> 00:47:34.539 among all of the churches. 00:47:34.539 --> 00:47:37.860 from Paul and Timothy 00:47:37.860 --> 00:47:39.619 to all the saints 00:47:39.619 --> 00:47:40.599 at Philippi 00:47:40.599 --> 00:47:42.219 with elders and deacons. 00:47:43.139 --> 00:47:43.779 Grace to you 00:47:43.779 --> 00:47:44.320 and peace. 00:47:48.320 --> 00:47:49.579 Philippians 2.5, 00:47:49.699 --> 00:47:50.099 we're told, 00:47:50.320 --> 00:47:51.000 let the mind 00:47:51.000 --> 00:47:52.659 which also was 00:47:52.659 --> 00:47:53.599 in Christ Jesus, 00:47:54.360 --> 00:47:55.079 and now we've seen 00:47:55.079 --> 00:47:56.059 in these three examples, 00:47:56.219 --> 00:47:57.159 that mind of Christ 00:47:57.159 --> 00:47:58.420 was in Paul 00:47:58.420 --> 00:47:59.860 being poured out. 00:48:00.279 --> 00:48:01.279 It was in Timothy 00:48:01.280 --> 00:48:03.140 and having a love 00:48:03.140 --> 00:48:04.320 for the church 00:48:04.320 --> 00:48:05.780 and it was in Epaphroditus. 00:48:06.720 --> 00:48:07.640 Here's another 00:48:07.640 --> 00:48:09.140 illustration 00:48:09.140 --> 00:48:10.160 of what Paul 00:48:10.160 --> 00:48:10.840 has been preaching 00:48:10.840 --> 00:48:11.980 and it's the life 00:48:11.980 --> 00:48:12.780 of this man, 00:48:13.040 --> 00:48:13.880 Epaphroditus. 00:48:14.920 --> 00:48:15.500 And the church 00:48:15.500 --> 00:48:16.920 could celebrate 00:48:16.920 --> 00:48:17.680 what Paul wrote 00:48:17.680 --> 00:48:18.960 in Romans 10.15, 00:48:19.120 --> 00:48:19.720 how beautiful 00:48:19.720 --> 00:48:20.360 are the feet 00:48:20.360 --> 00:48:20.760 of those 00:48:20.760 --> 00:48:21.560 who preach 00:48:21.560 --> 00:48:22.200 the gospel 00:48:22.200 --> 00:48:23.180 of peace 00:48:23.180 --> 00:48:24.820 to be reconciled 00:48:24.820 --> 00:48:25.340 with God 00:48:25.340 --> 00:48:26.260 and who bring 00:48:26.260 --> 00:48:27.220 glad tidings 00:48:27.220 --> 00:48:28.620 of good things. 00:48:29.620 --> 00:48:30.160 So church, 00:48:30.260 --> 00:48:31.000 I say to you, 00:48:31.280 --> 00:48:32.420 the same encouragement. 00:48:32.920 --> 00:48:33.940 Let each one of you 00:48:33.940 --> 00:48:35.460 have the mind 00:48:35.460 --> 00:48:36.019 of Christ, 00:48:36.580 --> 00:48:37.060 urging you 00:48:37.060 --> 00:48:37.680 more and more 00:48:37.680 --> 00:48:38.019 and more 00:48:38.019 --> 00:48:40.380 to not look out 00:48:40.380 --> 00:48:41.380 for our own interests 00:48:41.380 --> 00:48:42.580 but also the interests 00:48:42.580 --> 00:48:43.300 of others 00:48:43.300 --> 00:48:45.060 in lowliness of mind. 00:48:45.180 --> 00:48:45.720 Let us each 00:48:45.720 --> 00:48:46.580 esteem others 00:48:46.580 --> 00:48:47.500 better than ourselves 00:48:47.500 --> 00:48:48.680 and let us 00:48:48.680 --> 00:48:50.060 fulfill Christ's joy 00:48:50.060 --> 00:48:51.480 by being like-minded, 00:48:51.960 --> 00:48:52.920 having His love, 00:48:53.360 --> 00:48:54.360 being of one accord 00:48:54.360 --> 00:48:55.640 and of one mind. 00:48:56.540 --> 00:48:57.240 Let's pray. 00:48:57.239 --> 00:49:00.979 Father, 00:49:01.059 --> 00:49:01.519 we thank You 00:49:01.519 --> 00:49:02.519 for Your faithfulness. 00:49:03.279 --> 00:49:03.659 Thank You 00:49:03.659 --> 00:49:04.899 for how Your Holy Spirit 00:49:04.899 --> 00:49:07.099 applies 00:49:07.099 --> 00:49:08.559 what Jesus Christ 00:49:08.559 --> 00:49:09.359 accomplished, 00:49:10.219 --> 00:49:10.959 how You put 00:49:10.959 --> 00:49:11.759 the mind 00:49:11.759 --> 00:49:13.099 of Christ Himself, 00:49:14.079 --> 00:49:15.059 God in the flesh, 00:49:15.719 --> 00:49:16.399 into the lives 00:49:16.399 --> 00:49:16.979 of Your people. 00:49:17.979 --> 00:49:18.699 Please make us 00:49:18.699 --> 00:49:19.319 more and more 00:49:19.319 --> 00:49:19.699 and more 00:49:19.699 --> 00:49:20.959 like Your Son. 00:49:21.459 --> 00:49:21.859 Thank You 00:49:21.859 --> 00:49:22.479 that we do this 00:49:22.479 --> 00:49:22.919 together, 00:49:23.919 --> 00:49:24.719 that You do this 00:49:24.719 --> 00:49:25.619 through Your church, 00:49:25.619 --> 00:49:26.500 through one another. 00:49:27.039 --> 00:49:27.339 Amen.