The Blessing of the Body
Notes
Transcript
Intro:
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.
Shift of gears in the letter.
Before - Unity, Humility, Selflessness, Example of Jesus to Follow, Work out Salvation so the light of Jesus shines in a dark world.
After - Watch out for the Judaizers and works based righteousness
So this section of text seems strange in some ways but I think if we see the whole flow of the letter it shows the blessing of the body.
1. Paul, Timothy and the Church (vs. 19-24)
Character of Timothy
Court date outcome for Paul to visit
Why is Paul sending Timothy?
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you.
He wants to hear how they are doing! He wants to be cheered/released from anxiety by the news of them.
What is going on!? Tell me, tell me now!
What is Paul wanting? A Testimony, a report for knowledge, to see how things are going.
This type of knowledge is so important in the Church. To know that God is at work in the lives of the people.
Text message
We need to be telling each other what God is doing and be cheered as Paul would be upon getting this report.
Paul isn’t just sending Timothy there and back to him, He is also having another man make the journey who would be returning home, Epaphroditus.
2. Paul, Epaphroditus, and the Church (vs. 25-30)
Character of Epaphroditus
he has wanted to return to when he heard your were distress over his illness
receive him and honor him because of his work and sacrifice for Christ.
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.
you rejoice
I’ll be free from anxiety about your distress
Paul shows that connection to the body effects him and the others.
We rejoice
we hurt
we are anxious
we feel pain
Christians are connected in a local Church.
Bricks in a building
Children in a family
Sheep in a flock
Eyes, ears, fingers, toes, in a body
No where in Scripture do we see that Christianity is apart from being involved in a local Church.
We cannot:
Love one another - 1 john 3:11
Greet one another - 2 Cor 13:12
Show hospitality to one another - 1 Peter 4:9
Encourage one another - 1 Thes 4:18
Be kind to one another, forgiving one another - Eph. 4:32
as a disconnected people. Paul shows that though Epaphroditus was away for a time and could not get back, his heart desired to be back with the Church and they desired to see him.
Paul has called the local Church to be a Church who looks like Jesus in the previous verses and now He is desiring to know that they are doing it in a report and experiencing it with the return of a brother.
This text shows us two things clearly:
First - Be a person who shares their stories of what Jesus is doing with other members of the body.
Second - Be connected. Show up, be involved, etc.
Prayer Request Cards for Tuesday Night.
