Two Faithful Men

If you have your bibles this morning open them up to Phil 2. Pray with me…

I want to start this morning by reading the text …

Philippians 2:19–30 ESV

19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 25 I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, 26 for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 29 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, 30 for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

If you had your ears open you might ask how can we have a sermon over something like this. There is no wonderful theological truths that we have had in these other passages, but this passage has its importance in the book of Philippians in fact I would argue that you see Pauls teachings illustrated to us by two faithful men.

We have seen the faithfulness of Paul, we have seen the faithfulness of Jesus in this book so far, but now we see the teachings of Paul being carried out by these two men.

These two men really show us what I talked about last week what Long faithful obedience looks like.

For many people seeing someone do something is what really makes them understand how to do it.

In fact my Main idea for you this morning is this…

Timothy and Epaphroditus provide us with real examples of what it looks like to live a life worthy of the gospel.

I say this because I think Paul has been carefully laying out to us several ways that we are to live worthy of gospel since this book started. And Timothy and Epaphroditus really live out the gospel, and they live it out in similar and different ways.

The Christian life is more than just reading your bible, praying, and going to church, its about those things shaping you into the character of God.

In fact I read something this week that fits into the message quite well… To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others . . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom-I'll do it. I'm ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. ... We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $1,000 bill and laying it on the table-"Here's my life, Lord. I'm giving it all." But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $1,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid's troubles instead of saying, "Get lost." Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn't glorious.

It's done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it's harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul.

Those words really hit me, because I believe this is the mindset we have to have, in fact the Christian life must be about more than belief, its our starting point but there is a call to be more like Christ, and If we look carefully at these two faithful men we can see how to better live worthy of the gospel.

Several things I want you to see this morning… I am glad Audrey could find a way to put them on the bulletin the first is this.

Christians are to be genuine.

What does it mean to be genuine? Just a few of the definitions are as following.. not fake or counterfeit.. being or reflecting the essential or genuine character of something.. not pretended; sincerely felt or expressed..

And Paul says that Timothy fits that mold very well. He is essentially Pauls right hand man he cares for others, in such a way where he puts others before himself. And he has served faithfully and Paul wants the people of Philippi to know that very thing. Timothys heart was genuine. Paul says that he cares for the peoples welfare.

Remember back in chapter 1 that Paul said there were people who were glad that Paul was in prison so their name could be known, they preached the gospel from envy and rivalry. Timothy is not like this he was genuine he cared about these peoples own welfare.

Christians are known to care about others welfare. In fact one of the commentaries I read this week gives a great example of this…

Throughout the years, the church has had many shining examples of selfless, Christ-exalting service. For instance, historians tell us that in AD 252 a plague hit Carthage, and people were leaving the city because of the threat of contamination, losing everything. The Christian leader Cyprian drew all the other Christians together in the middle of the town-in a town that persecuted Christians and blamed them for the problems--and said, "Fan out through this town to give to all according to their need."' And they would not abandon the city in the midst of the plague. The Christians earned a reputation for showing charity to all people, regardless of status or background.

This is the kind of Love and sacrifice timothy, and Epaphroditus had for the gospel. And they show us what it is like to be genuine. The world needs, and I mean needs more genuine Christians showing how Jesus lived so we can live as we talked about last week as lights of the world.

Next thing I want you to see this morning is this..

Christians are to be Hard workers.

Paul says that Timothy proved his worth. Timothy was not a man who occasionally served he was a man who was a slave to the gospel. His whole life was shaped by Jesus Christ. In fact in the introduction to this book it says that Paul, and Timothy are slaves to gospel.

The kind of worker Timothy is can best be summed up by this scholar… Paul says, “I hope … to send Timothy to you shortly” (v 19). Then he writes, “I hope to send him immediately” (v 23). Paul says “send” twice—and it almost sounds like he is going to dispatch Timothy a short distance, like across town or around the block. But this journey that Timothy is about to embark upon is one of 800 miles, in a day when travel conditions were rigorous and tiring. And then once Timothy arrives there, he is to give the report and immediately turn around and retrace his steps for the entire 800 miles back to Paul. That is a total of 1600 miles of arduous travel; yet we see that Timothy is ready to do whatever it takes in the furtherance of the gospel. He is willing to pay whatever price to extend the kingdom of God.

He would go on to say… From this, we can derive an important principle of all Christian ministry: ministry that costs nothing accomplishes nothing. There is a price for each one of us to pay in order that the word of God moves forward. What is the cost factor for you in the expanding work of the gospel? In what areas of your life do you need to step forward for the furtherance of the gospel, aware of the costs but committed to the task?

Church stop and think for a min about this church, and your own ministry are you doing what it takes to accomplish something. While God does do incredible things without us, he does incredible things when we work hard. When we earnestly work hard to expand and take the gospel to all the world. So are you working hard in your Christian life or are you just skating by. Think about that.

Paul wanted to send timothy because he was genuine and he worked hard. We need to have those qualities if we are going to glorify God, and do the work he asks us to do.

So Timothy is Genuine, hardworking, and so much more, Paul wants to send him, and he wants to come back to them when he is out of prison. Now he does not send timothy though even though he hoped to, at this time but he sends someone else. Someone they know well, and that is Epaphroditus.

Now the text says he is a brother a fellow Christian, one who is saved by God. A fellow worker, just like Timothy, but Paul says he is something else. Another way to help us live worthy of the gospel is to consider this point.

Christians are to Act like Soliders.

This is my favorite point of the day.. Lets be honest the Christian life is a battle. Paul himself in his letter to Timothy says this… 2 Tim 2:3-4

2 Timothy 2:3–4 ESV

3 Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus. 4 No soldier gets entangled in civilian pursuits, since his aim is to please the one who enlisted him.

This is how Epaphroditus lived. As one aimed to please the one who enlisted him. A good soliders number 1 responsibility is to serve the one who enlisted them.

I love the united states army’s mission it says.. The world is changing, but our mission and purpose remains constant: to deploy, fight, and win our nation’s wars by providing ready, prompt, and sustained land dominance as part of the joint force of all U.S. military. The Army’s Core Values are guiding principles to help define what being a Soldier is all about.

And those core values say.. LOYALTY- Devote yourself to the U.S. Constitution, the Army, your unit, and other fellow Soldiers. DUTY- Fulfill your responsibilities and accomplish tasks as part of a team, without taking shortcuts. RESPECT-Treat others with dignity and respect while expecting others to do the same. That’s the Soldier’s Code. SELFLESS SERVICE-Commit to going a little further, enduring a little longer, and adding to the effort in your own way. HONOR- Develop honorable habits and live up to our values in every choice you make. INTEGRITY- Stand up for what’s right, legally and morally, without doing or saying anything that deceives others. PERSONAL COURAGE- Face moral fear or adversity, while standing up for and acting upon the things you know are honorable.

And those core values made me think of what that would look like for a Christianity. If we had those same values.. but with a Christian twist.

For the Christian- Loyalty to Jesus, his church, his word, and one another. Duty- To live as God as called you, where he has called you to. Respect- Respect other people because they are made in the image of God, and all have a purpose in this life. Selfless service-Put others before your own selves, look to be Christlike in every opportunity. Even if that greatly cost you something. Honor-Learn to live as the word of God has called you so that every choice you make is Christlike. Integrity- Stand up for the Word of God, don’t look to deceive others with false truth. Personal Courage- Live as though you know God is for you, and he if he is for you, nothing can be against you. That could be a Christians code.

That last part that i just said was something Epaphroditus knew. He was so concerned with the task he had which was taking the money to Paul we see this in, Phil 4:18

Philippians 4:18 ESV

18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.

even though he was sick he wanted to fulfill his duty. And him returning home would be a welcomed sight if Paul, and Timothy could not come home.

He battled his way to the point of being on his death bed because he took his post so seriously as a Christian. He nearly died for this, and so Paul sees it as necessary that he return back to them.

What a great example to us that we should be like a good solider ready to live the post we are called to no matter what the cost. Our lives belong to the one who enlisted us, see this example as a motivation to live for him.

Not only was he a solider but he was this… Another thing you see here in the text is..

Every Christian is a minister.

We dont know the exact role Epaphroditus but we do know for a fact that he is a minster, and a messenger of the gospel. ( Not all ministers are pastors, deacons, leaders in the church, but all Christians are ministers. And as Christians we are all sent just like this man to do the work of the Lord. A Minister is essentially a servant ready to do the Lords work at every turn.

The word minister here in the text is not used many times in the new testament scholars only see it used 5 times.. They say it carries the idea of the priestly service of someone ministering in the temple by attending to Holy Things.

Some say it was also used of a servant of the king or public servant of the state.

One guy even said… This word indicates that what Epaphroditus is doing is a spiritual work; he is fulfilling a sacred calling. He is acting much as a priest would in going into the temple and offering a sacrifice. As Epaphroditus is serving Paul, he is, in reality, offering unto the Lord the sacrifice of his own life.

The 19th-century preacher Charles Spurgeon said, “If God has called you to be his servant, why stoop to be a king?”

There is a world of needs around us, and we are called by God to be his servants upon the earth. What needs do you see before you, and how can you step in and be used by God to meet those needs?

Thats a thought provoking statement isn’t it especially of what we have been discussing during our study of Philippians, that we should not trouble ourselves trying to make ourselves kings, rather we should seek to honor the true king by serving him. Because as we learned from Jesus if you remember back in Mark 10 that the greatest and highest honor in this life it to serve and not to be served..

Christians must be faithful servants and messengers of the gospel so that we can be more like Christ. Because as I just read there is a world of needs around us.. Its our role as Christians to fill those needs, thats why we have hospitals, thats why we do those clothing giveaways, and send money to the cooperative program. So we can minister to those who need it.

Epaphroditus as a minister of the gospel shows us that there is something else important about being a minister of the gospel, and that this…

Next point this morning is this…

Christians are to display their love to one another.

We see in the text this loving concern that Epaphroditus has for these people. He is sick yet he cares more about the peoples of Philippi’s well being.

The fact they they are distressed. Do you see a common theme so far in this letter and that is the people of God need to care deeply about others if they are going to model Christ likeness.

Epaphroditus himself needed the love of others, because he almost died. But God had mercy on him, and Paul. Paul loved his fellow brother in Christ so much that he was eager to send him back so they could rejoice in him having life.

The defining characteristic of every Christian should be love. I was convicted reading this week these words…

Perhaps someone has asked you, "As a Christian, what's different about your life compared to mine?" You could stop and teach them theology. ( That would be my preference… But you could also say, "Come watch me live for a month, and you can tell me. See if there's anything different." In Philippians 2:5-11 we see the theology of a Christian, but in 2:19-30 we see the type of lifestyle that should mark a genuine Christian. Would someone see Epaphroditus's type of love in you if they watched your life for a month?

Pauls point here in the text is there is something different about these men. A different kind of love, a different lifestyle that we should all model with our own lives..

Last point this morning is...

Christians are to be honored for living worthy of the gospel.

A Faithful Christian life is not easy. But the faithful of God should be honored by others. In fact Romans teaches us…

Romans 12:10 ESV

10 Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.

There is a parable found in Luke that I want to talk about if you have your bibles you can flip over to it in Luke 14. Luke 14:7-11

Luke 14:7–11 ESV

7 Now he told a parable to those who were invited, when he noticed how they chose the places of honor, saying to them, 8 “When you are invited by someone to a wedding feast, do not sit down in a place of honor, lest someone more distinguished than you be invited by him, 9 and he who invited you both will come and say to you, ‘Give your place to this person,’ and then you will begin with shame to take the lowest place. 10 But when you are invited, go and sit in the lowest place, so that when your host comes he may say to you, ‘Friend, move up higher.’ Then you will be honored in the presence of all who sit at table with you. 11 For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted.”

A life of service is what Jesus is looking for. That means using your talents, gifts, and resources to serve his church, and Epaphroditus was a man who served the church at Philippi so well that the church is called to Honor him.

This guy did not just serve when it was easy, but he served to the very point of almost dying. And he should be recognized for that very things. When we are so quick to scrutinize we should be ready to recognize and honor those who serve the Lord faithfully.

Lets come back to that main idea for a moment.

Timothy and Epaphroditus provide us with real examples of what it looks like to live a life worthy of the gospel.

Looking back at these first two chapters I want you to see that many of the things these men did mimic Jesus Christ work on earth. Timothy was a man who sought the interests of others. Just like we see in Phil 2:4

Philippians 2:4 (ESV)

4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.

He was a man who was a servant like we see in Phil 2:7

Philippians 2:7 (ESV)

7 but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of men.

Epaphroditus was obedient to death though the Lord spared him. Remember

Philippians 2:8 ESV

8 And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross.

This passage is more than just an update of two men. Though this message was hard for me to prepare.. Its a passage about two faithful men who applied the teaching of Paul to there everyday lives. Something we must be ready to do ourselves.

Are you ready to go and do what the Lord has for you even if it changes all of your life?

Last illustration today, but its a good one, that applied to an earlier illustration…

Timothy and Epaphroditus (and Paul!) give us living examples in the book of Philippians, particularly in 2:3-4. To summarize, let me repeat Paul's exhortation: "Do nothing out of rivalry or conceit, but in humility consider others as more important than yourselves." All three men show us what happens when the gospel really transforms us from the inside out: we begin to live like Jesus (2:5-11).

What about you? Is this the nature of your Christian life, a life of considering the needs of others above your own? The only way that happens is by trusting in Christ, who emptied Himself on behalf of sinful people like us, and by pursuing through the Spirit this attitude and these types of actions, which include everyday acts of love, little by little, over the long haul. Go spend some quarters today for the good of others and the glory of Jesus in the ordinariness of life.

So where are you at today? Are you one who pursues to live a genuine life for Jesus. Where you seek the interests of others, and their own wellbeing.

Do you work hard? Christians should be the most hardworking people on the planet, showing that they care about the tasks the Lord has for them.

Are you a Christian Solider. Fighting and living for the truth of the gospel.

Are you taking your role as a minister of the gospel seriously. You have people that you can pour into that noone else can do not neglect that my friends. Every one of us if we are saved is a minster.

Do you love people? Do you display that love to others in such a way that they see it.

Do you honor those who deserve it. I am fully convinced that if with we spent our time honoring those who deserved it the world and the church would be a better place.

Finally, I want you to really wrestle with what I am about to ask you… Are you living a life where others could undoubtably say this is what it must of looked like when Jesus walked the earth. x2

I know I am not there yet, but I really pray that many of the things I preached to you, I hope they become norms in my everyday life. Also for you as well.

Lastly I want to ask you today if you are not showing any of those characteristics a Christian should have are you saved? Now works do not save you, they are only evidence of being saved…

Being saved by Jesus means having the faith that he alone can take away your sin, and save you, and he does that to all who repent, and turn away from their sin, and trust in him for salvation.

we can be confident in that, because Jesus Christ did die on the cross, and rose again so we could have life in him, and all who believe in him today can be saved…

Let us pray..