A FEW GOOD MEN

GOOD MORNING, BIBLES OUT, JUMP RIGHT IN TODAY

SERMONS GOING TO BE A LITTLE DIFFERENT TODAY…

LAST FEW WEEKS REVIEW:

Christ likeness on display

How to live out a life worthy of the gospel (centralized theme in chapter 2)

-living in unity and service of the body

-living in obedience to Jesus and His word

ALL OF THIS IS DONE THROUGH FOLLOWING THE EXAMPLE SET BY JESUS (Humility as a servant and Obedience to the cross)

When we do this it brings 2 things…

It brings us joy …no matter our circumstances (remember Paul is in prison but has joy. Why? He is living a life worthy of the gospel)

And the second and most important thing it brings… it brings glory to God

That is our ultimate goal right???

All of our works and movements bring Glory to Jesus!!

And Paul says in 2:15 that when this happens we will “shine like lights of the world”

And the people of the world will see Gods Glory through us!!

Let the world see the hope, peace, grace, love of Jesus through the gospel by living worthy of the gospel…

We are meant to be Lights of the world…

Meant to be living examples of Jesus’s love and grace...

Its always better to have an example isn't it???

I started a diet a few weeks ago, its going well…

But i want to start working out again…

Do you know how much easier it would be if I just had like a personal trainer who lived in my house…

Just to have an example of how Im supposed to be living…

Who would like wake me up, push me into the gym, tell me what workouts to do, how many reps to do, and on occasion smack a doughnut out of my hand in a moment of weakness!!!

It would be great to have someone around you and lead you as you go on this journey to get into better shape…

Paul tells the Philippians to live a life worthy of the gospel…he gives them all the tools to do it…

BUT as we get into verses 19-30…he lets the church know…Im not just going to tell you how to do this…Im going to send you 2 men who are living this way…and they will walk amongst you and lead you

AND TODAY…as we see the traits of these two men we are going to see 6 traits we must have to be a light shining in the world…(crooked and twisted)

READ 19-30

Im going to send to you Timothy and Epaphroditus

Living examples of what it looks like to live as lights of the world

We have lot of info on Timothy…Paul gives us info on Epaphroditus…

TIMOTHY BIO

From Lystra

Probably saved during Pauls 1st mission to Lystra

Jewish Mother/ Pagan gentile Father

Timothy circumcised

Acts 16:3 “Paul wanted Timothy to accompany him, and he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in those places, for they all knew that his father was a Greek.”

Hebrews 13 lets us know he was persecuted and imprisoned just as Paul had been ( he was very influential in the spreading of the Gospel)

Left Paul in Rome after this and went to Philippi then to Ephesus, then back to Rome to Paul

Paul and Timothy very close

Pauls last letter was to Timothy, before his beheading, asking Timothy to come and be with him.

EPAPHRODITUS BIO

From Philippi

Pagan convert (is named after the pagan goddess Aphrodites)

Paul says he is sending him back to them!

Paul is putting his stamp of approval on Epaphroditus…

Letting the church know, they have a Godly man , an example of Christlike living in their midst...

As Paul describes Epaphroditus…we find the 6 traits of being a light…

And as we look at these traits we will see that both Timothy and Epaphroditus fill these traits…and we must too!!!

TO BE A LIGHT WE MUST BE:

A BROTHER

v25 “Epaphroditus my brother”

Calls Timothy his brother throughout NT

Saved Christ follower (BROTHER OR SISTER)

A member of the body of Christ

What are the markers…

Placed their faith in Jesus and Worships Him only as Lord

This transforms us into people who…

Epaphroditus is there to serve Paul and the church at Philippi (talk about this more as we continue on)

Notice also that Epaphroditus is longing for his brothers and sisters back home…

Timothy is : (v 20) concerned with the welfare of others in the body of Christ…

Paul concerned with Epaphroditus’s health, he is sick and almost dies…Paul says the Lord had mercy on not just him but Paul says also me.

Or else I would have had sorrow upon sorrow…thats how much they cared for one another

In order to be a light…you must be a saved Christ follower…

And because you are a saved Christ follower…you are concerned for the body…

Jesus tells us to love one another as He has loved us…thats how the world will know we belong to him…

These men are shining examples of just that!!!

A WORKER

Paul says next that Epaphroditus is his fellow worker…

His mission to Paul was a work to be completed…

He said the same thing of Timothy in verse 21-22.

And Paul says he is seeking the interests of Christ…

And that he served with him in the gospel…

There is often an idea that as Christ followers we are to remain still and do nothing…

Paul all throughout his epistles places a high value on working for Christ

We have talked a lot in this chapter about becoming a Christ-like servant…

Jesus humbled himself to the position of servant…

To the point where our Lord literally got down on His knees and washed the feet of His disciples…

To the point Paul says of being nailed to the cross…

He came to serve!!!

We are to do so in the same manner…

Evangelizing, Shepherding, bearing burdens, stepping in and helping physically with physical needs, financially…its hard work…

Each of us has a ministry, in the second letter to the church in Corinth, Paul calls every Christians ministry a “ministry of reconciliation”…

We have a job to do…we are called to be workers of Christ!

Our diligent work for Christ brings light to the world…

A SOLDIER

3rd trait in v25 “fellow soldier”

Soldiers go to battle together

There is an enemy and its not of flesh and blood…

Spiritual battle…

And we are given by the Lord battle gear…

Ephesians 6:11–13 “Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand firm.”

Soldiers struggle together in the fight…

As we said before in Hebrews 13 we know that Timothy has struggled in the same way Paul has

2 Timothy 2:3 “Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.”

Paul says here that Epaphroditus has struggled in the same way…

Again we see at the end of the chapter here that Epaphroditus had become seriously ill at the end of his journey…

Something tried to halt his journey to Paul, but he fought through and made it to Paul…

“God had mercy on him”

Both of these men that Paul is sending are armored up!!!

And they are fighting against evil as Paul is…

They are true soldiers…

Stand firm the bible says…when you stand firm against the world …your gonna stand out…bring light to darkness as a soldier for Christ….

A MESSENGER

We are all messengers of the gospel…

Again remember 2 Corinthians, “ministry of reconciliation”, all of us are called to be ambassadors bringing the gospel of Jesus

Both Timothy and Epaphroditus are certainly that…

But here Paul is speaking in a different sense…

Not only is Epaphroditus a messenger of the gospel…BUT als a messenger of gospel movements…

He has come here to report on HOW the gospel is moving in Philippi…

HOW GOD IS MOVING IN THE CHURCH!!!!

As he has traveled the 6 week, 800 mile journey from Philippi to Rome, a journey in which we see almost killed him…

He has done so to bring the message of Gods movement!!!

And as we saw in chapter 1…this literally lit Paul up!!!

He is overjoyed to hear what God is doing there!!

Paul says he is joyful…praising, and glorifying God for the good work that is coming out of the church!!

A MINISTER

The word minister here is translated from the greek word “lie-torg-os”

Means servant of needs

Paul doubles down here speaking again of being a servant…

To be a light God has called you to be a humble servant…

Here though Paul uses a more personal word… “he says he ministered to my needs”

Philippians 4:18 “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.”

Paul needed supply, food, money, clothing…

He asks Timothy in 2 Timothy for paper and a cloak…

Paul has needs, he is being ministered to by these men…

A TRUE DISCIPLE OF CHRIST

This trait is an over arching one in all the epistles…

A characteristic of every Christ follower who is being a light in the crooked world…

Look with me again in verse 30…READ

Pauls says Epaphroditus was willing to give everything, even his life, for the work of Christ…

We talked last week that Jesus was obedient all the way to the cross…

And we spoke about how we are also called to be obedient to God’s commands even if it means our life…

This is a living example of that…

Paul tells the church in Philippi…”YOU WANT TO BE A LIGHT?” ”BE LIKE THESE DUDES!”

Walk like them, because they are walking like Jesus!

These men are living examples of true disciples of Christ!!

AS WE ROUND OUT OUR TIME TODAY…

WHATS THE APPLICATION:? WHAT DO WE DO WITH THIS TEXT??

ASK YOURSELF: If the church needed Christ-like, people to go and set a Christ-like example to a new group of Christ followers…would you be asked to go?

When you look in the mirror do you see: a true brother/sister in Christ?

A true worker, soldier, messenger, and minister for Christ?

A TRUE DISCIPLE?

NO BIG IDEA!

PRAYER- TAKE A MOMENT TO PRAY AND SEEK THE LORD:

CONTINUE TO GROW US AND USE US GOD!

WHAT IS STANDING IN OUR WAY? WHATS PREVENTING US FROM SHINING?!?!?!

(FEAR, SUBSTANCE, ARROGANCE, SELFISHNESS, PRIDE, COMFORTABILITY)