Episode Transcript
WEBVTT
1
00:00:01.879 --> 00:00:06.040
Well, if you're able, please
remain standing and let's hear God's Word from
2
00:00:06.040 --> 00:00:20.910
Philippians Chapter Two, Verses Nineteen through
thirty, Philippians two, nineteen through thirty.
3
00:00:23.260 --> 00:00:26.100
I hope in the Lord Jesus,
to send Timothy to you soon,
4
00:00:26.940 --> 00:00:30.620
so that I too may be cheered
by news of you, for I have
5
00:00:30.780 --> 00:00:35.460
no one like him who will be
genuinely concerned for your welfare, for they
6
00:00:35.500 --> 00:00:40.210
all seek their own interests, not
those of Jesus Christ. But you know,
7
00:00:40.409 --> 00:00:44.409
Timothy's proven worth. How, as
a son with a father, he
8
00:00:44.530 --> 00:00:48.850
has served me in the Gospel.
I hope, therefore, to send him
9
00:00:49.369 --> 00:00:52.479
just as soon as I see how
it will go with me, and I
10
00:00:52.640 --> 00:00:57.640
trust in the Lord that shortly I
myself will come also. I have thought
11
00:00:57.640 --> 00:01:03.119
it necessary to send to you epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow
12
00:01:03.200 --> 00:01:07.150
soldier and your Messenger and minister to
my need, for he has been longing
13
00:01:07.269 --> 00:01:11.349
for you all and has been distressed
because you heard that he was ill.
14
00:01:12.269 --> 00:01:18.030
Indeed, he was ill, near
to death. God had mercy on him,
15
00:01:18.030 --> 00:01:22.980
and not only on him, but
on me also, lest I should
16
00:01:22.980 --> 00:01:26.859
have sorrow upon sorrow. I am
that more eager to send him there,
17
00:01:26.980 --> 00:01:32.219
for that you may rejoice at seeing
him again and that I may be less
18
00:01:32.219 --> 00:01:37.609
anxious. So receive him in the
Lord with all joy and honor such men,
19
00:01:38.409 --> 00:01:41.969
for he nearly died for the work
of Christ, risking his life to
20
00:01:42.090 --> 00:01:47.480
complete what was lacking in your service
to me and God bless his word to
21
00:01:47.519 --> 00:02:02.269
us. You may be seated.
Well, these verses we have some travel
22
00:02:02.390 --> 00:02:10.430
logistics, we have some commands and
instructions about comings and goings, very personal
23
00:02:10.629 --> 00:02:16.699
instructions from Paul to the Philippians involving
some particular people, two men, Timothy
24
00:02:16.740 --> 00:02:22.659
and Epaphroditus, men that were living
at this particular time. We're known to
25
00:02:23.139 --> 00:02:28.300
both Paul and the Philippians, but
not known except through the pages of scripture,
26
00:02:28.979 --> 00:02:35.050
to us. Now these kinds of
passages often occur at the end of
27
00:02:35.169 --> 00:02:42.650
Paul's letters and for that reason some
people think, wrongly, that this is
28
00:02:43.530 --> 00:02:49.000
indication that this letter has been compiled
to get together in some strange and odd
29
00:02:49.080 --> 00:02:54.520
way, that some redactor did didn't
realize or didn't respect the fact that Paul
30
00:02:54.520 --> 00:03:00.870
ended his letter at Verse Thirty in
Chapter Two and then added on some other
31
00:03:00.990 --> 00:03:06.990
kind of thing piecing these things together. But if you pay attention to these
32
00:03:07.189 --> 00:03:12.189
verses, you see very quickly that
it's much more than travel logistics or some
33
00:03:12.469 --> 00:03:16.379
basic instructions. And even in those
when we have them at the ends of
34
00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:21.659
Paul's letters or in the middle or
whatever the case may be, we find
35
00:03:21.780 --> 00:03:25.580
that if we pay attention, they're
never there in a kind of random way
36
00:03:25.620 --> 00:03:30.530
or for no purpose. I'm all
of God's Word is profitable for teaching,
37
00:03:30.729 --> 00:03:38.689
reprove correction and training in righteousness,
including passages like these, but you have
38
00:03:38.810 --> 00:03:43.199
to pay attention. You have to
think about what Paul, or whoever the
39
00:03:43.360 --> 00:03:49.360
author is, is doing. How
is it he is I'm weaving these instructions
40
00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:53.919
that are to be carried out by
these particular people in a particular time and
41
00:03:53.039 --> 00:03:59.830
place. How those instructions apply to
us, particular people in a particular time
42
00:03:59.870 --> 00:04:04.310
and place? We have no timothy
to receive. He's dead, same with
43
00:04:04.349 --> 00:04:11.060
Epaphroditus, same with Paul. And
yet there are there are instructions here and
44
00:04:11.659 --> 00:04:16.699
even examples that go much broader and
do instruct us in a number of things.
45
00:04:18.540 --> 00:04:23.779
To see how these things are woven
together, how these five how these
46
00:04:24.060 --> 00:04:29.089
instructions here to the Philippians about these
two men are connected with the rest of
47
00:04:29.170 --> 00:04:31.730
the book. I want to do
a little bit of review with you and
48
00:04:31.889 --> 00:04:36.410
see how Paul is bringing this particular
section of the letter to a close.
49
00:04:39.240 --> 00:04:43.439
The this section that I just mentioned
starts back in chapter one of verse,
50
00:04:43.879 --> 00:04:47.079
Verse Twenty Seven, one, verse
twenty seven, and he says this.
51
00:04:48.480 --> 00:04:55.269
Only let your manner of Life Be
Worthy of the Gospel of Christ, so
52
00:04:55.389 --> 00:04:58.910
that, whether I come to come
and see you or an absent, I
53
00:04:59.029 --> 00:05:02.029
may hear that you are standing firm
in one spirit and one mind, striving
54
00:05:02.709 --> 00:05:06.899
side by side for the faith of
the Gospel. He goes on from there,
55
00:05:08.339 --> 00:05:12.180
but focusing on just that first part, this one thing I want to
56
00:05:12.259 --> 00:05:15.740
tell you just this. Only let
your manner of Life Be Worthy of the
57
00:05:15.860 --> 00:05:20.930
Gospel. This is how Paul begins
on this section that goes all the way
58
00:05:20.970 --> 00:05:27.209
up to this point that we've read
this evening. He begins by saying that
59
00:05:28.089 --> 00:05:33.129
because of God's salvation, because of
this good news about Jesus Christ coming into
60
00:05:33.129 --> 00:05:38.839
the world and dying for sinners like
me, like you, because of that
61
00:05:39.199 --> 00:05:44.839
news, our lives should be lived
in a particular way. Our lives should
62
00:05:44.839 --> 00:05:48.759
be lived in a way that's worthy
of God revealing himself in the world.
63
00:05:49.870 --> 00:05:57.550
In other words, when God sheds
this or makes manifest a salvation as great
64
00:05:57.589 --> 00:06:03.540
as this, we should respond not
only in believing the good news about Jesus
65
00:06:03.860 --> 00:06:10.060
and his salvation, the salvation that
he brings, not only believing it,
66
00:06:11.019 --> 00:06:15.899
but in acting in accordance with it. There is this way in which scripture
67
00:06:15.939 --> 00:06:20.410
is so clear on this point,
that faith in Jesus always flows forth in
68
00:06:20.649 --> 00:06:29.250
actions, Christian actions, Christ like
actions, and it's because of that that,
69
00:06:29.449 --> 00:06:35.600
after this instruction, I'm soon Paul
gives us testimony about our savior.
70
00:06:35.680 --> 00:06:41.480
He talks to us about Jesus,
he gives us his example and shows us.
71
00:06:41.800 --> 00:06:44.879
This is the what he this is
what he did, this is the
72
00:06:44.959 --> 00:06:47.750
humility he bore forth. This is
the on the way in which he came
73
00:06:47.829 --> 00:06:53.509
into the world. We read it, for example, in verse five,
74
00:06:54.430 --> 00:06:56.829
he says, though he was in
the form of God, he did not
75
00:06:57.350 --> 00:07:02.620
count equality with God a thing to
be grasped, but emptied himself, taking
76
00:07:02.699 --> 00:07:08.500
on the form of a servant,
being born in the likeness of men and
77
00:07:08.660 --> 00:07:13.300
being found in this humble form,
this human form, he humbled himself by
78
00:07:13.379 --> 00:07:17.930
becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross. Well,
79
00:07:17.970 --> 00:07:21.930
this is our great hope, isn't
it? This is our very salvation.
80
00:07:23.089 --> 00:07:26.569
This is the very reason that we
live the lives that we do,
81
00:07:27.529 --> 00:07:31.000
that we seek to please and honor
God. But it does also, of
82
00:07:31.079 --> 00:07:36.600
course, a great example to us
of how we ought to live. So,
83
00:07:38.199 --> 00:07:41.519
to go back Paul Again, is
saying we are to live our lives
84
00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:46.069
in a manner worthy of this Gospel, worthy of this salvation, and he
85
00:07:46.110 --> 00:07:50.110
gives some specifics about that. How
do we live a life, manner,
86
00:07:50.870 --> 00:07:55.310
life in a manner worthy of the
Gospel of Christ? Well, he tells
87
00:07:55.310 --> 00:08:00.220
us in Verse Twenty Seven. He
says we are to stand firm in one
88
00:08:00.339 --> 00:08:05.259
spirit, with one mind, striving
side by side for the faith of the
89
00:08:05.339 --> 00:08:09.420
Gospel. What do you see,
very briefly, what do you see in
90
00:08:09.579 --> 00:08:15.730
a passage like that? You see
unity, you see direction and you see
91
00:08:15.850 --> 00:08:20.329
courage. You see unity in the
way that they are standing side by side
92
00:08:20.449 --> 00:08:24.730
for the faith of the Gospel.
That's what it means to live a life,
93
00:08:24.970 --> 00:08:28.240
a man in a way, in
a manner worthy of the Gospel.
94
00:08:28.000 --> 00:08:33.320
It's not just to live our lives
individually in a way wholly to God,
95
00:08:33.919 --> 00:08:39.240
but together, corporately as the body
of Christ, he says, we are
96
00:08:39.320 --> 00:08:43.750
to stand firm in one spirit.
There is to be this unity, but
97
00:08:43.870 --> 00:08:48.309
also direction. We're not just standing
together huddling like a bunch of chicks to
98
00:08:48.429 --> 00:08:54.669
sort of wandering around collecting themselves together. We do it with a purpose,
99
00:08:54.950 --> 00:09:00.779
moving forward, with a particular goal
and sight and vision in mind. And
100
00:09:00.899 --> 00:09:03.980
he says what that is. Side
by side for the faith of the Gospel.
101
00:09:05.620 --> 00:09:07.340
And he's given a number of examples
of this too, hasn't he,
102
00:09:09.019 --> 00:09:13.929
such as sending out epaphroditus with this
gift of sending and helping Paul in his
103
00:09:15.049 --> 00:09:20.929
Apostolic Ministry, providing for the means
for these ministers to go forth and to
104
00:09:20.009 --> 00:09:26.919
spread the Gospel. But there's also
in addition to unity and direction, there's
105
00:09:26.039 --> 00:09:31.000
courage. It comes out even more
clearly in Verse Twenty Eight, Again Chapter
106
00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:37.240
One, he says, and not
frightened in anything by your opponents. Even
107
00:09:37.440 --> 00:09:41.870
suffering, he says in Verse Twenty
Nine, is not to be feared but
108
00:09:43.029 --> 00:09:48.309
considered something akin and on the something
on the same level as the as a
109
00:09:48.389 --> 00:09:54.659
gift of God. So this is
what living life in a Christian way is
110
00:09:54.779 --> 00:10:00.379
like. It's what it means means
unity, it means direction, it means
111
00:10:00.419 --> 00:10:03.179
having courage, even in the face
of opponents, in the face of suffering.
112
00:10:05.620 --> 00:10:11.769
Now the converse is also true,
and you get the specifics there in
113
00:10:11.850 --> 00:10:18.649
chapter two, verses three through four. Instead of standing in addition or complementing,
114
00:10:18.809 --> 00:10:26.120
standing firm and together, we are
to do nothing from selfish ambition or
115
00:10:26.240 --> 00:10:33.960
conceit, but in humility, count
others more significant than yourselves. Let each
116
00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:37.269
of you look not only to his
own interests, but also to the interests
117
00:10:37.309 --> 00:10:45.549
of others. When we see ourselves
in Christ, it means seeing our pride
118
00:10:45.710 --> 00:10:52.820
slain. It means rejoicing in seeing
our pride slain. It means rejoicing and
119
00:10:54.059 --> 00:10:58.899
being able to get on our knees
and wash the feet of others, to
120
00:10:58.179 --> 00:11:03.409
care and love for those in need. To See ourselves in Christ, to
121
00:11:03.809 --> 00:11:11.330
know the Gospel, is to see
self ambition tossed aside and to praise God
122
00:11:11.610 --> 00:11:18.090
for it, to finally be free
of oneself so that we might worship God
123
00:11:18.250 --> 00:11:28.000
and serve one another. Paul adds
another specific to that in verse twelve of
124
00:11:28.320 --> 00:11:33.549
Chapter Two. He summarizes some of
these things and an adds one thing to
125
00:11:33.669 --> 00:11:37.750
it. He says as you have
always obeyed. So now, as not
126
00:11:37.950 --> 00:11:41.629
only in my presence but much more
in my absence, work out your own
127
00:11:41.710 --> 00:11:48.299
salvation with fear and trembling, in
light of the Gospel of Christ, in
128
00:11:48.419 --> 00:11:52.500
light of everything that God has done
for us, in saving us from our
129
00:11:52.580 --> 00:11:58.860
selfishness and saving us from our pride
and saving us from our brokenness as a
130
00:11:58.019 --> 00:12:05.169
people, as humanity, and bringing
us together, uniting us together in holy
131
00:12:05.289 --> 00:12:11.490
and even holy spiritual love. We
have much to be prayed we have meet
132
00:12:11.490 --> 00:12:16.039
much to be thankful for, but
also to stand before God in fear and
133
00:12:16.240 --> 00:12:24.120
trembling for all that he has done. He adds more specifics to this in
134
00:12:24.200 --> 00:12:28.799
verse fourteen. No grumbling or disputing, but like shining stars in the darkness
135
00:12:28.840 --> 00:12:35.669
of the world, instead of arguing
and complaining and tarnishing the Gospel Message by
136
00:12:35.710 --> 00:12:39.629
which we have been saved, we
are to offer our lives up to God
137
00:12:39.909 --> 00:12:46.179
as a sacrifice of worship. Even
in the midst of suffering, even in
138
00:12:46.259 --> 00:12:50.779
the midst of suffering one another,
even in the midst of our disunity and
139
00:12:50.899 --> 00:12:56.659
our disagreements and our struggles, we
are called to offer ourselves up to God
140
00:12:58.730 --> 00:13:05.850
and in doing so we become like
bright lights in the sky. So,
141
00:13:05.970 --> 00:13:11.210
as we hear these various things again, just summarizing and tying them all together
142
00:13:11.289 --> 00:13:18.320
in a brief way, we have
before US instructions, clear and beautiful instructions,
143
00:13:18.360 --> 00:13:24.279
about how we live our lives as
Christians. We live our lives as
144
00:13:24.360 --> 00:13:30.309
those who have been Gospel fied,
to make up a word, as those
145
00:13:30.429 --> 00:13:35.549
who have been changed in this way
by the Gospel, by this news that
146
00:13:35.590 --> 00:13:39.389
has come, news that has not
only come to our ears in just a
147
00:13:39.590 --> 00:13:45.700
hearing way, but has come to
our hearts and changed, changed them the
148
00:13:46.059 --> 00:13:52.019
spirit of God working in us to
believe, to hope and to see one
149
00:13:52.100 --> 00:13:56.250
another in a new light. We
live our lives as those who have been
150
00:13:56.370 --> 00:14:05.529
Gospel fied. But it means also
not trekking out apart on our own,
151
00:14:05.570 --> 00:14:11.679
away from Christ and his body,
but striving for unity, group, courage
152
00:14:11.759 --> 00:14:18.840
and direction because of the Gospel and
for the Gospel. So this is what
153
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:24.159
Paul has been telling us, this
is what he's been opening up been explaining
154
00:14:24.309 --> 00:14:30.269
to us in various ways. Now, Paul, it may seem that Paul
155
00:14:30.309 --> 00:14:35.470
has kind of left all this behind
for the sake of these travel logistics,
156
00:14:35.470 --> 00:14:39.899
but, as I've said, he
of course, has not. What has
157
00:14:39.940 --> 00:14:46.139
he done? Well, he's given
us, in addition to the example of
158
00:14:46.220 --> 00:14:50.860
Christ and an existion to his own
example, which we've touched on before,
159
00:14:52.740 --> 00:14:58.049
he now gives us these examples of
these two men, Timothy and epaphroditus.
160
00:14:58.129 --> 00:15:03.570
He gives this these examples, as
a way to fill out and explain and
161
00:15:03.129 --> 00:15:07.679
inspire perhaps even the way forward and
the kind of life that he is calling
162
00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:15.240
us to live. Personally, I
found the very helpful to have role models
163
00:15:15.279 --> 00:15:18.639
in my own life, people that
I know and I look up to and
164
00:15:18.799 --> 00:15:26.309
say that is someone to worth following, and I think that's true for all
165
00:15:26.389 --> 00:15:31.830
of us. It's so helpful to
not only hear a command be wise,
166
00:15:33.950 --> 00:15:39.539
be loving, but to see it
in action, but to see it in
167
00:15:39.700 --> 00:15:45.860
action, to see it lived out
in the all the complications of life.
168
00:15:46.659 --> 00:15:48.899
Sometimes we draw directly from it and
we say, Oh, I saw ah
169
00:15:48.980 --> 00:15:52.409
how she did that, I saw
how he did that, I can do
170
00:15:52.610 --> 00:15:58.929
the same thing. But sometimes it's
not even as simple as that. Sometimes,
171
00:15:58.009 --> 00:16:02.850
as we say, it's sort of
thinking of ourselves in that person's shoes,
172
00:16:03.769 --> 00:16:07.399
kind of situating ourselves and we say, okay, this is a holy
173
00:16:07.600 --> 00:16:11.279
person, this is a person who
knows what it means to live their lives
174
00:16:11.759 --> 00:16:17.559
in a manner worthy of the Gospel. What would they do? What would
175
00:16:17.559 --> 00:16:22.710
they do in this kind of situation? These examples that Paul gives us here
176
00:16:23.710 --> 00:16:30.070
is yet another one of God's blessings
to us. It's yet another one of
177
00:16:30.110 --> 00:16:34.740
the ways that God teaches us.
The Word of God says that Christ and
178
00:16:34.860 --> 00:16:41.860
his ascension poured out gifts on his
church, and those gifts are apostles and
179
00:16:41.019 --> 00:16:48.970
prophets and evangelists and teachers, men
like Timothy and epaphroditus. These gifts,
180
00:16:48.090 --> 00:16:55.049
these men holy examples in the world
and in our lives to show us the
181
00:16:55.169 --> 00:17:00.480
way forward. And that's exactly what
we see here in these in these two
182
00:17:00.480 --> 00:17:07.480
men, in Philippians too, and
Timothy and epaphroditus. Let's take them each
183
00:17:07.519 --> 00:17:15.039
in turn and and see what we
can learn. First, Timothy. Paul
184
00:17:15.079 --> 00:17:18.390
says that he hold to send Timothy
to them. Timothy, as we know
185
00:17:18.549 --> 00:17:22.869
from here and from other places in
scripture, was one of Paul's some companions
186
00:17:23.029 --> 00:17:27.390
and and fellow workers, but he's
very close to him as well. He
187
00:17:27.430 --> 00:17:34.859
knew him for a long time and
had mentored him and excuse me obviously thought
188
00:17:34.900 --> 00:17:41.619
very highly of him, but notice
why he thinks highly of Timothy. Notice
189
00:17:41.660 --> 00:17:47.609
the kind of works that Timothy is
going about doing and striving after. Paul,
190
00:17:47.650 --> 00:17:52.049
amidst all the people that are persecuting
him and troubling him, says,
191
00:17:52.170 --> 00:17:56.690
and Verse Twenty, I have no
one like him who will be genuinely concerned
192
00:17:57.250 --> 00:18:03.079
for your welfare. Do you see
what the Apostle of God prizes? He
193
00:18:03.279 --> 00:18:11.599
prizes this one not because he's wealthy
or because he's fabulously smart or is able
194
00:18:11.720 --> 00:18:19.390
to do some amazing things, but
because he is genuinely concerned for the your
195
00:18:19.549 --> 00:18:26.349
welfare. He loves the PHILIPPIANS FROM
HIS HEART. That is something to be
196
00:18:26.549 --> 00:18:30.259
prized. Paul says, I have
no one like this, and he gives
197
00:18:30.460 --> 00:18:34.019
the opposite, as we sort of
saw before. He says, for they
198
00:18:34.019 --> 00:18:41.650
all seek their own interests, not
those of Jesus Christ. Isn't that interesting
199
00:18:41.769 --> 00:18:47.490
how he parallels those two things?
There that Timothy genuinely is concerned for the
200
00:18:47.569 --> 00:18:53.369
interest of the Philippians, which Paul
Parallels with not seeking his own interests but
201
00:18:53.529 --> 00:18:59.920
those of Jesus Christ. It is
to say that Timothy, in pursuing Jesus
202
00:18:59.960 --> 00:19:04.720
Christ, is at the same time
pursuing Christ's people. To pursue Christ's people
203
00:19:04.960 --> 00:19:11.869
is to pursue Jesus Christ. It
is his body after all. Is How
204
00:19:11.950 --> 00:19:15.390
the scripture speaks of it and how
we speak of it. He then says
205
00:19:15.390 --> 00:19:19.509
in Verse Twenty Two, you know
Timothy's proven worth. How has a son
206
00:19:19.670 --> 00:19:26.579
with a father. He has served
with me in the Gospel. Timothy is
207
00:19:26.660 --> 00:19:32.019
a hard worker and has treated Paul
very well. Learned from him, grown
208
00:19:32.180 --> 00:19:37.059
in, grown from him and his
teaching, for the purpose not of just
209
00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:44.609
becoming a appallite but of serving together. That unity right, even like a
210
00:19:44.809 --> 00:19:53.480
father and a son together moving forward. In the Gospel. Then epaphroditus.
211
00:19:56.079 --> 00:20:03.400
He calls epaphroditus my brother, my
fellow worker and fellow soldier and your Messenger
212
00:20:03.839 --> 00:20:11.549
and minister to my need. What
probably happened here is that epaphroditus, as
213
00:20:11.589 --> 00:20:17.390
he was going from the Philippians to
Paul, got really sick on the way
214
00:20:18.230 --> 00:20:22.180
and on that way met some kind
of messenger who went back to the Philippians
215
00:20:22.220 --> 00:20:27.420
and told them epaphroditus is really sick. Epaphroditus continues on his journey to go
216
00:20:27.700 --> 00:20:32.140
see Paul, but then, by
the time he gets there, they get
217
00:20:32.180 --> 00:20:37.930
word that the Philippians not only know
that epaphroditus is sick, but that he's
218
00:20:37.970 --> 00:20:41.250
very sick and they are very worried. They've sent him out to go take
219
00:20:41.289 --> 00:20:45.490
care of this need and and now
they hear that he is sick. And
220
00:20:45.569 --> 00:20:48.450
Paul says, yeah, he was
sick. Indeed, he almost died.
221
00:20:51.319 --> 00:20:57.720
Mentions it twice. The the longer
passage with more details comes in verse thirty.
222
00:20:59.680 --> 00:21:04.069
He says he nearly died for the
work of Christ, risking his life
223
00:21:04.670 --> 00:21:10.630
to complete what was lacking in your
service. To me, I'm Paul is
224
00:21:10.750 --> 00:21:18.069
not chastising the Philippians here, but
he's simply saying epaphroditus was sent out to
225
00:21:18.509 --> 00:21:25.819
do a service and he was committed
to fulfill that fulfill that service again for
226
00:21:26.059 --> 00:21:30.539
the sake of the Gospel. You
hear how all of these people, in
227
00:21:30.619 --> 00:21:33.930
various ways, are living their lives
in a way that is honoring to God.
228
00:21:34.089 --> 00:21:41.730
On Epaphrodite is risking his life for
the sake of ministering the Paul for
229
00:21:41.970 --> 00:21:48.920
serving alongside him as a fellow worker
and fellow soldier. Notice also not only
230
00:21:48.000 --> 00:21:53.559
epaphroditus is hard work this kind of
direction and courage that we talked about earlier,
231
00:21:55.279 --> 00:22:00.480
but again also that unity and love
in verse. Twenty six for he
232
00:22:00.599 --> 00:22:04.430
has been longing for you all and
has been distressed because you heard that he
233
00:22:04.589 --> 00:22:11.349
was ill. He's distressed because they're
distressed and they're distressed because he's sick,
234
00:22:11.509 --> 00:22:18.099
and everybody's worried, but it's out
of love, right. There's genuine concern
235
00:22:18.339 --> 00:22:23.059
for each other, there's genuine knowledge
of the and unity among the among one
236
00:22:23.099 --> 00:22:30.289
another, and so Paul, I'm
desiring to be a blessing to them and,
237
00:22:30.490 --> 00:22:34.650
having received the gift that they had
sent, even though epaphroditus is very
238
00:22:34.690 --> 00:22:41.009
valuable to him, ascends him back. And here you see Paul's love.
239
00:22:41.809 --> 00:22:45.240
You see Paul's love as well.
He's just he has timothy, the only
240
00:22:45.440 --> 00:22:51.400
one who is of help to him, and here he's just received epaphroditus,
241
00:22:51.440 --> 00:22:56.640
a fellow worker, a fellow soldier, someone who's genuinely concerned about the right
242
00:22:56.839 --> 00:23:00.430
things and doing the right things and
is a man even willing to risk his
243
00:23:00.509 --> 00:23:04.549
own life. And here's Paul in
jail, hoping to get out soon,
244
00:23:04.750 --> 00:23:10.269
but not nest, not knowing that
with any guarantee and he sends both of
245
00:23:10.349 --> 00:23:15.339
these encouragers and helpers back to the
Philippians. Why? For their sake,
246
00:23:17.420 --> 00:23:22.099
you see, how this, the
Church of God is, is all together,
247
00:23:23.299 --> 00:23:27.890
bowing down to one another, not
in worship but in service and in
248
00:23:29.089 --> 00:23:36.930
love, seeking to serve one another, seeking the other's interests. And so
249
00:23:37.130 --> 00:23:41.599
in these two examples, and Timothy
and epaphroditus, and implicitly in Paul and
250
00:23:41.960 --> 00:23:48.559
somewhat in the Philippians, we begin
to see these these rich, full blooded
251
00:23:48.680 --> 00:23:52.720
examples of what it means to live
life in the Church with this kind of
252
00:23:52.319 --> 00:24:02.349
Gospel, Unity, Gospel, direction
and courage, mission love, things that
253
00:24:02.910 --> 00:24:10.500
sometimes bring us much persecution, excuse
me, and even death. But never
254
00:24:10.579 --> 00:24:15.259
mind it, never mind them,
the Christian says, for the sake of
255
00:24:15.420 --> 00:24:21.099
the Gospel, for the sake of
telling others about Jesus, for the sake
256
00:24:21.180 --> 00:24:26.490
of growing together in unity and love. It's more than worth it. It's
257
00:24:26.569 --> 00:24:30.289
more than worth it because of what
our God has done and the way that's
258
00:24:30.329 --> 00:24:36.529
that he blesses us through it.
Now, of course, would make sense
259
00:24:36.609 --> 00:24:41.839
for Paul to say to receive these
men with rejoicing and with joy, and
260
00:24:41.920 --> 00:24:45.359
he does that in Verse Twenty Nine. And it would also make for a
261
00:24:45.440 --> 00:24:48.359
sense for him to say that they
should be honored, but he doesn't say
262
00:24:48.400 --> 00:24:56.509
that exactly. Instead, he says
receive him. That is epaphroditus in the
263
00:24:56.630 --> 00:25:02.109
Lord, with all joy and honor
s such men. Here we see that
264
00:25:02.829 --> 00:25:07.180
these this command or these examples given
are not just for the Philippians and these
265
00:25:07.339 --> 00:25:11.579
particular men, but there's something to
here, to be learned after on buy
266
00:25:11.660 --> 00:25:18.019
all of us to honor these kinds
of people, to be joyful about having
267
00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:22.769
them in our myths, to to
strive to be like them and be them
268
00:25:22.809 --> 00:25:30.970
ourselves. In these verses we hear
what it is to be prized among God's
269
00:25:30.049 --> 00:25:37.480
people. It is not to be
that someone with great authority or power,
270
00:25:37.240 --> 00:25:41.720
it is not to be someone who
a bullies people or has a lot of
271
00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:48.759
control or is very knowledgeable in all
things, but it is to be one
272
00:25:48.880 --> 00:25:52.549
who's filled with love, and genuine, genuine love and service for others,
273
00:25:53.910 --> 00:26:00.390
not for the sake of gaining credibility
or points with God or being puffed up,
274
00:26:00.549 --> 00:26:03.900
but for the sake of the Gospel, for the sake of what God
275
00:26:04.059 --> 00:26:11.099
has done for us self. Sacrifice
for the sake of the Gospel wholly living,
276
00:26:11.259 --> 00:26:15.019
courage and love for the brothers.
These are the things that God calls
277
00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:22.289
us to honor, to see and
to strive after. With these kind of
278
00:26:22.369 --> 00:26:26.089
examples before us and, of course, others that perhaps you are thinking of
279
00:26:26.809 --> 00:26:34.039
people in your own lives, let
us respond not with hard hearts and heavy
280
00:26:34.079 --> 00:26:41.680
feet, but let us respond with
faith. Let us respond and seeing the
281
00:26:41.799 --> 00:26:45.920
good gifts that God is giving us, to seeing the gospel not only preached
282
00:26:47.079 --> 00:26:51.670
but lived out in the lives of
our brothers and sisters, and not only
283
00:26:51.789 --> 00:26:55.630
see it and honor it and praise
God for it, but to do the
284
00:26:55.750 --> 00:27:00.150
same. We hear of these examples, when we hear of the Gospel,
285
00:27:02.099 --> 00:27:08.460
respond. Go to your sister and
serve her, go to your brother and
286
00:27:08.660 --> 00:27:15.730
meet his need and love. Strive
to be people like Timothy and epaphroditus and
287
00:27:15.849 --> 00:27:22.450
Paul. Follow in their way and
follow with confidences, because their way is
288
00:27:22.849 --> 00:27:30.200
a gospel way. Paul will say
this explicitly later on in chapter three,
289
00:27:30.319 --> 00:27:33.640
verse Seventeen, and will revisit some
of these things when we get there,
290
00:27:33.759 --> 00:27:37.759
but I'll tell read it to you
now. He says, Brothers, join
291
00:27:37.039 --> 00:27:44.950
in imitating me and keep your eyes
on those who walk according to the example
292
00:27:45.470 --> 00:27:49.430
you have in us. You See, then, we don't need to be
293
00:27:49.549 --> 00:27:56.710
ashamed at honoring and esteeming those who
honor and esteem Christ and his ways.
294
00:27:57.029 --> 00:28:03.099
We need not be ashamed at imitating
them and others like them. Why?
295
00:28:03.380 --> 00:28:08.539
Because it in doing so we are
honoring and esteeming our Lord, because he
296
00:28:08.859 --> 00:28:15.250
is, after all, the one
they are following. These men and women
297
00:28:15.650 --> 00:28:18.490
that God gives to us in our
lives, that point the way forward,
298
00:28:18.609 --> 00:28:25.289
that point us to Jesus, are
ones to be followed, because they're pointing
299
00:28:25.529 --> 00:28:30.559
in the right direction. Of course, we don't worship them or or idolize
300
00:28:30.640 --> 00:28:37.960
them, but we do follow after
them. It is God, Paul reminds
301
00:28:37.000 --> 00:28:41.269
us in verse thirteen of Chapter Two, who works in us, to will
302
00:28:41.349 --> 00:28:45.390
and to work for his good pleasure. When we see him working in our
303
00:28:45.430 --> 00:28:51.109
brothers and sisters, when we see
examples like Timothy and Paul and epaphroditus,
304
00:28:52.230 --> 00:28:56.500
we are right to give praise to
God who is working in them, remembering
305
00:28:56.579 --> 00:29:00.099
also what Paul said in chapter one, verse six, that he who began
306
00:29:00.339 --> 00:29:06.460
a good work in us will bring
it to completion. It's true that we
307
00:29:06.500 --> 00:29:10.890
can follow after men, worshiping and
idolizing them, and we must not do
308
00:29:11.130 --> 00:29:15.609
that. To do that would be
to fail to follow the example that they
309
00:29:15.609 --> 00:29:18.970
are setting. But at the same
time, we must not learn, or
310
00:29:19.009 --> 00:29:23.400
we must not fail to learn from
the living examples that God gives us to
311
00:29:23.480 --> 00:29:30.440
lead, to lead us in the
right ways, to go back to where
312
00:29:30.440 --> 00:29:36.039
we began. Christ gives these gifts
to us. He gives, in our
313
00:29:36.200 --> 00:29:41.430
lives and in the pages of scripture, people to point the way, to
314
00:29:41.589 --> 00:29:47.990
point the way to the Gospel and
to the way of Gospel Living, to
315
00:29:48.190 --> 00:29:52.299
show us what it means to believe
in Jesus Christ and to live our lives
316
00:29:52.380 --> 00:29:59.539
in a manner worthy of that belief, of that good news. May God
317
00:29:59.740 --> 00:30:03.900
grant us that kind of faith,
that kind of ability to see and to
318
00:30:04.019 --> 00:30:11.369
know who to follow and who to
strive to be like. Let us pray
