Untitled Sermon

Also, thank you for those that called this past week concerning the DOMA bill, the Defense of Marriage Act. The Senate passed that overwhelmingly. If you notice at the end, they didn't put into the Equal Non-Discriminatory Act. That's really an act from the pit of hell. They took that out and made it a separate act that they voted on. That one barely was defeated, 50 to 49.

So it's going to come up again. You can watch for it. And we'll try and keep you alert so that to that, when it does come up, you can be alerted to that to be able to call your senators and your representatives. But a temporary victory. With these victories, let me kind of digress just a minute because as we get into the study, I'll talk about this a little more.

I don't know what your philosophy is as far as your Christianity is concerned, but if it's turning the world around for Jesus, you have been deceived. That is not our job. That is not our calling. We are not called to go out and turn the world around for Christ. We are simply, we're not called to go out and defeat the enemy. We have not been called to go out and defeat the enemy.

That's not in here. We have been called specifically to go out and proclaim the gospel, to tell people about Jesus Christ. That's it. That's our calling. If you're looking at the idea that somehow we're going to go out and there is another segment of Christianity that is very militant where this is concerned. Some are extremely militant. They're called part of the dominionist theology, part of kingdom now theology.

Their belief is we're to go out as Christians and take over. The governments of the world and establish peace by force, bring people under the idea of a Christian community, a Christian global community by force. That's a dominionist theory. That's not part of scripture. That's not there. That will not happen until Jesus Christ returns visibly bodily to the earth, puts down the kingdoms that happens at the end of the seven year creative great tribulation at the battle of Armageddon and establishes his kingdom upon the earth.

Until that time, we are simply to live our lives for Jesus Christ as in a godly way, set apart unto him and go out and tell other people about Jesus. Now we can affect our communities. We can affect our businesses. We can affect our schools where we live, but not with the idea that we're going to turn this thing all around for Christ. So this, like with DOMA and all was a temporary victory, and we should seek to stand for those principles for biblical principles, but don't get disappointed as things start getting better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better and better.

Getting hairier and these things come up again and they'll be battling again. And the enemy is moving at this time to seek to dominate and to move God out of the picture. And that's part of the plan. We don't roll over and play dead. We don't just sit there and do nothing. We take a stand, but you leave it in the hands of God. He's going to move. He's moving all the pieces into the Middle East and into our country.

The Bible says that that promotion doesn't come from the east or the west or the south. Promotion comes from the Lord. So whoever gets elected. This year is the one that God intended. It doesn't mean we just roll over and don't vote. It means we're used by God to go and seek to promote righteousness. But all the pieces are being moved by God's hand into this final world scenario.

And so our hands are to be open regarding the holding of things here because we're leaving here soon. And so anticipate leaving, anticipate the catching up, anticipate the rise of the enemy, the rise of the ungodliness. But don't roll over. Don't play dead. Take a stand against it. But don't get the false notion that we are out here to turn the world around for Jesus Christ.

That's not our call. Live for him. Tell others about him and expect him at any moment. That's what we're called to do. Okay. So we pray for Israel. We pray for one another where that's concerned. We seek to be about his business where that's concerned. And we come to Philippians chapter 2 in this area of appreciating one another. That's all part of this. That's all part of maintaining a strong, stable fellowship where the love of God can.

So that the message of Christ can get out so that the gospel can be proclaimed. It's all part of these last days. It's all we're not, you know, people say, well, I want to get back into last days and study the book of Revelation and Ezekiel and all. And he's doing Daniel and finishing that ready to go into Ezekiel on Sunday nights. We just finished a two year study in the book of Revelation.

This is not just just jointed from that. This is all last day stuff. Talk about strategic. If you have a church where people are appreciating one another, where the love of God. Is moving in a dramatic way. Evangelism is a byproduct. Evangelism happens when the church is excited and on fire and ministering in that way. So I'm excited. Just start with that. Philippians chapter 2.

We're going to read the whole chapter to start this morning. Just to remember again where we've come from. Philippians chapter 2 verse 1. If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ. If any comfort from his love. If any fellowship with the spirit. If any tenderness and compassion. Then make my joy complete by being like minded. Having the same love.

Being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. But in humility consider others better than yourselves. Each of you should look not only to your own interests but also to the interests of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus. Who being in very nature God did not consider equality with God something to be grasped.

But made himself nothing. Taking the very nature of a servant. Being made in human likeness. And being founded. In appearance as a man. He humbled himself. And became obedient to death. Even death on a cross. Therefore God exalted him to the highest place. And gave him the name that is above every name. That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. In heaven and on earth and under the earth.

And every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. To the glory of God the Father. Therefore my dear friends. As you have always obeyed. Not only in my presence. But now much more in my absence. Continue to work out your salvation with fear and trembling. For it is God who works in you to will. And to act according to his good purpose. Do everything without complaining or arguing.

So that you may become blameless and pure. Children of God without fault. In a crooked and depraved generation. In which you shine like stars in the universe. As you hold out the word of life. In order that I may boast on the day of Christ. That I did not run or labor for nothing. But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering. On the sacrifice and service coming from your faith.

I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon. That I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. I have no one else like him who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. For everyone looks out for his own interests. Not those of Jesus Christ. Excuse me. But you know that Timothy has proved himself.

Because as a son with his father. He has served with me in the work of the gospel. I hope therefore to send him as soon as I see how things go with me. And I am confident in the Lord. That I myself will come soon. But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus. My brother. My fellow worker and fellow soldier. Who is also your messenger. Whom you sent to take care of my needs.

For he longs for all of you and is distressed. Because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill. And almost died. But God had mercy on him. And not on him only. But on me. Also on me. To spare me sorrow upon sorrow. And therefore I am all the more eager to send him. So that when you see him again. You may be glad. And I may have less anxiety. Welcome him in the Lord.

With great joy and honor. And honor men like him. Because he almost died for the work of Christ. Risking his life to make up. For the help you could not give me. There were a couple of news items this week. That really caught my attention. One I heard on the radio. It was during the UPI segment on Love 88. And I try and catch those. Because it is a real good quick update.

For about two or three minutes. On what is going on in the country. The only problem was. I was driving at the time. And this came on. And I wanted to make note of it. And so I don't remember where this particular incident happened. But it said that two students were released to the custody of their parents. After being charged. With a plot to murder their teacher.

The two came to school armed with a loaded gun. And knives. These students were in the fourth grade. Another item from Gary Bauer. Who was the president of the Family Research Council. Quote. A new report out Tuesday on parental attitudes about drug use is sobering. He says. It shows that baby boomer parents. Who tried drugs themselves. During the 60s and 70s.

Tend to be unconcerned when their own kids use drugs. 49% of baby boomers tried drugs. 51% did not. In many cases. Those 49% are apparently sending a mixed message. About drug use to their children today. Thankfully the study by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse. Also tells us. What works to stop drug use. Children are much less likely to try drugs.

If number one. They attend church regularly with their parents. Number two. They are taught that drug use is morally wrong. And number three. They eat dinner with their families. Six. Or seven times a week. In other words. He says. It's family values. And moral renewal. That make the difference. The two most mocked concepts. Among America's elites. End quote.

Two different scenarios involving children. Now I don't know the family situation. Or background of the two. The two fourth graders that came to school. Armed and ready to murder their teacher. What on earth could have provoked them to do that? What has moved them to look at violence. As an adequate response to a desperate situation. Where you look around you and our entire society is programmed that way.

Everything that. Especially young people. Everything the young people watch on MTV. Beavis and Butthead. Well that's a wholesome show. The movies out today. From Schwarzenegger to Seagal. Is based on the concept of revenge. That if you don't do it nobody else will. That they've got to be taught a lesson. No appreciation. I don't know. I don't know the family background of these two kids.

I don't know. You know. If they were shown appreciation by their parents. Or by other other adults around them. I don't know that. But it's obvious from the second report. That that kind of thing works. Spending time as a family around the dinner table. Interacting in that. Building up. Taking the time to build up our children. Showing them the appreciation.

That's necessary. Works. Statistically backed up. So it should be no great revelation. That that's what Paul's telling us to do here. And that that's what's necessary in the church. In a day when violence seeks to dominate. When the enemy seeks to prevail. Against the things of God. That one of the strongest things we can do. Is appreciate one another. Take time to show that appreciation to one another.

It makes a difference. And Paul has been demonstrating that. In the closing verses of chapter 2. As we look at what it means to have the mind of Christ. So that we might rejoice in the Lord. That's what chapter 2 is all about. Learning to rejoice in the Lord. As we have the mind of Christ. And having the mind of Christ. Begins with a submission to the will of God.

Jesus showed us that. Verses 5 through 11. A sacrifice of ourselves. Jesus did it to the point of death on a cross. For the benefit of others. That God might lift us up. Raise us up to whatever position he desires in his time. In due time. And Paul has shown us that. In this first part of our study. In verses 19 through 24. As we look to Timothy. Paul demonstrated himself.

A submission to the Lord. I don't know if I can come to you or not. I want to come. My plans. Verse 24. Are to come as soon as I can. I'm confident in the Lord of that. But nevertheless. I don't know. The future Paul said. I'm submitted to the Lord. I'm going to send Timothy to you right now. And we saw last time. That that submission to the Lord. Is primary.

In our having the mind of Christ. As well as our being able to show. Appreciation for other people. You may appreciate people around you. From family members. To fellowship. To those you work with. Maybe you've got an ideal boss. Your kids are great. But we need to show this appreciation. We need to commend. As part of an active ingredient of love. Within the fellowship today.

And that begins as we submit ourselves to the Lord. Paul did that. He sacrificed for the benefit of others. In the showing of appreciation. Remember we talked last time. About his sending of Timothy and Epaphroditus. The two guys that are his. His stabilizing factor there in Rome. The two guys that he can be himself with. And share with. He's sending them. He's removing them from his presence.

And sending them to the Philippians. And that's got to be hard on Paul. It's a sacrifice to him to do that. It's a sacrifice for you and I. To show appreciation to one another. Because we've got to take a moment. And not consider ourselves. And put somebody else in the forefront. And consider them. And put out effort from ourselves. To show them appreciation.

It's a sacrifice. So he submitted himself to the Lord. It was a sacrifice for him to do it. And finally he spoke. And he spoke commending words. Not condemning words. It's the same word. But the letters are moved around a little. He spoke commending words. Not condemning words of Timothy. Remember he could have spoken. About Timothy's shortcomings. And his weaknesses.

But he didn't. He just highlighted Timothy's character. And he does so again here with Epaphroditus. In verses 25 through 30. Now remember what we've learned. When God says something more than once. When God repeats himself. God is repeating himself here in this section. He's using two different individuals. But he's doing the same kind of thing twice. I don't believe that verses 20 or 19 through 30.

Are just some insignificant verses. Tacked on at the end of a chapter. I don't believe. This is just a salutation. And a oh by the way. Friends are coming kind of thing. As part of the body of a normal letter. I believe this is the word of God. And even those verses are the word of God. No less important or serious or severe. As anything that's preceded. Or will come after them.

They're just as important. And we need to consider those. And look at that. God's repeating himself twice here. I'm sending Timothy. I'm sending Epaphroditus. There's a reason for that. And we need to really take time to consider it. Because it's an example of our showing. Appreciation for one another. Both Timothy and Epaphroditus have the mind of Christ. That we're learning about in this chapter.

That that Paul has talked about in the first 11 verses. They demonstrate it. And if Timothy is a demonstration of what character is all about. And Epaphroditus is a demonstration of what sacrifice is all about. In having the mind of Christ. Jesus was one who could not be accused of fault. There was no fault in him. He was also one who sacrificed more than anyone else in the world.

He gave up his very life so that we could have life. And in Timothy and Epaphroditus you see those two reveal that mind of Christ. As far as character that's unquestionable. And as far as sacrifice that is supreme. As supreme as it can get. And in verse 25 beginning with verse 25 here. We see Paul's description of Epaphroditus. Let's look at this together. Paul says I think it's necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus.

My brother fellow worker and fellow soldier. Who is also your messenger. Whom you serve. Whom you sent to take care of my needs. Now let's ask a question. Why didn't Paul just say. I think it's necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus. Who is your messenger. Whom you sent to take care of my needs. Why does he say those other things? Are they important? Is he just being a nice guy by saying those things?

Or is there some significance to his commendation of Epaphroditus that we need to consider? Well let's choose C. That's what we need to look at. There's something significant or he wouldn't have said it. He's inspired by God the Holy Spirit to say it. To write it. So it's significant. And bears our consideration. My brother. My fellow worker. And my fellow soldier.

Let's look at my brother first. My brother. What's Paul emphasizing when he says Epaphroditus my brother? He's emphasizing his relationship to Epaphroditus through the blood of Christ. And he's saying that's extremely important in understanding how to appreciate one another. And there's lots of families that are here together in our fellowship. There are a lot of families.

I mean blood related families. Moms and dads and sons and daughters and brothers and sisters. All of the same family that worship here with us at Calvary Chapel. But the significance. The significance of this is. Is that you and I are related by blood. And that's the blood of Jesus Christ. And that blood relationship really supersedes or goes beyond and above the natural blood relationship family that we have here.

And those of you that have been a Christian for any length of time at all can attest to that fact. That you feel closer in most cases to many who are blood related through Christ rather than blood related through natural family. And that's natural. Because we are brothers and sisters. We're literally that in Christ. We're living that out partially. When we see him face to face it will be fully realized.

That's what's exciting is we communicate the gospel and talk to people about becoming part of the family of God. In this day and age there are people like these fourth grade kids who very possibly came from broken homes. Who don't know the blessing of family relationships. Who don't know the blessing of a family of God that you when you come to Christ you've inherited a whole lot of brothers and sisters.

I'm an only child. I didn't have any growing up. I made friends. But I didn't know the closeness of a brother or a sister. Until I came to Christ. And in Christ now are friends who are closer than a brother. And that's you. And we need to realize that when we're talking about showing appreciation to one another. Because the people that are here and in the body of Christ are not just people that come and just take up seats.

We're related. And I know how you and I are. We do things for family that we normally won't do for anybody else. Because it's family. I'll go do that. I'll get out there and help you move furniture. Or, you know, go shingle a roof. Because it's family. That I won't just do for friends. But because you're family, you know. I'll take you in if you need a place to stay because you're family.

You know, right? There's some other things too that because you're family I don't want anything to do with you. Right? But for the most part. The idea of family is because you're family. I'll walk that extra mile. I'll take that extra step. I'll give that extra hand or whatever. That's the concept here. As we see ourselves as brothers and sisters in Christ.

And not just people that came in and are taking up pew space. We're related. We're all part of the body of Christ. So Paul's not demonstrating any hierarchical positioning here. Or any discriminatory positioning here. You know, I'm from a different part of town. Or I'm something in the church. Paul's an apostle. We'll find out Epaphroditus is called an apostle as well.

But none of that's mentioned. None of that's brought up. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, sees Epaphroditus as his brother. And that's important. And it's important as you and I consider. One another to show appreciation for one another. That we see one another that way. And not just people that go to Calvary Chapel. But my brother and sister in Christ. And remember, if it doesn't work in the fellowship, it doesn't work out there.

It works here. And like a ripple, ripples out to there. But you don't go out there seeking to try and establish that. It's established first in the body of Christ. And then ripples out to affect the rest of the world. So that's a beginning point. That's a necessary beginning point in our showing appreciation. Right there, along with submitting yourself to the Father.

Submitting yourself to God's will. Is realizing that we are related brothers in Christ. Secondly, he says, my fellow worker. My fellow worker. Now again, he's not emphasizing that my mission is more important than Epaphroditus. Or I've got a bigger job because I'm the apostle to the Gentiles. And all Epaphroditus is, is a messenger from Philippi. He sees them as equal.

They are equal in their relationship. They are equal. They are equal in their work. He's a fellow worker. A co-laborer with him. They are serving Christ together. And that's important for us to see. We are one body. As believers in Jesus Christ, we are one body. With every other fellowship in this community, in this state, in this country, and in the world, we are part of one body.

Now people, here's another thing. Along with spouting off on all this stuff about false concepts in Christianity. As far as the return of Christ and our purpose in the world. Let me throw another one out at you. There's a lot of people that despise denominations. They say denominations are not biblical. Let me throw you a curveball. I believe denominations are biblical.

I believe denominationalism isn't. My allegiance is not to a denomination or a group. My allegiance is to the Lord. Now that's where we've fallen short with denominations as we've moved into denominationalism. And we begin to break off and see this one segment of the body of Christ as being exclusive. And absolutely correct. That's denominationalism. Denominations, all they signify are different parts of the body of Christ.

We are a different part. You come to Calvary because there are certain things you like about Calvary Chapel. Maybe it's the worship. Maybe it's the way we go through the Word of God. Maybe it's the fellowship that we have. An openness or something that's different. Doesn't mean we're absolutely exclusive. We're the only ones got it. See? We can come in ties.

Or we can come in shorts. And a t-shirt. Barefooted. Sandals. Dressed shoes. Whatever. We accept each other in Christ because we're brothers in Christ. That doesn't say that we're any better than any other part of the body. We're all not an eye. Or not an ear. Or not a toe. We're all different parts. Now I don't know what part we are. We're probably a belly button or a toe jam or something like that.

But we're a different part of the body. We need the other parts of the body. We need that interaction. We need to see ourselves as fellow workers with the same occupation. Telling people about Jesus. Jesus Christ. Bringing them into the kingdom of God. Whether they fellowship over there or over here or over there. It makes no difference. As long as we're sharing with people about Jesus Christ.

And about the good news of the love of God and the grace that he gives us through Christ. That's our function and purpose. And we need. See? It's wrong for us to think we need to bring us all together under one thing. So that we can all be one thing and drop all the denominational titles. Because then we're seeking to be an ear. Or an eye. And you can't. Listen.

You can't bring our Catholic brothers and sisters. And our Episcopal brothers and sisters. And our Presbyterian brothers and sisters. And our Methodist brothers and sisters. And our Charismatic brothers and sisters. And our Pentecostal brothers and sisters. And our Holiness brothers and sisters. All together for a continued time of worship. Without asking somebody to sacrifice something of their style and attitude and principle of worship.

And if we do that. Then we're saying that this one thing is right. And these are not. And that's not what we read in here. We are all parts of the same body. Functioning in a different way. In a different style. The goal is Jesus Christ. And him only. Jesus Christ and him crucified. That's the goal. When we deviate from that. Whether we're Presbyterians or Pentecostals or Calvary chapels.

We've deviated out of what God's called us to do. And see. That's when we can get away and get into denominationalism. Now the reason I'm emphasizing this is to try and help us see a unity in the spirit. Yet with our individualism. You see. One. And yet several. See there's another concept that we see in the Bible like that. It's called the Trinity. One. And yet several.

All one. But several distinct. Three distinct personages of the Godhead. We demonstrate that when the church ministers. When it's functioning correctly. Now the reason I'm bringing all this out is see. Paul is the apostle to the Gentiles. Epaphroditus is more than likely a Gentile. A Gentile pastor of this church. Very probably. Paul is a Jewish. Believer. Totally at odds with one another.

In life. But in the brotherhood of Christ. Fellow workers. There's no odds. There's nothing set at odds here. They're working together. Our Awana group has combined with First B. So that we can maintain Awana in this area. That's great. There's no striving for that. Today. John over at First B. John Penfield sent out a letter. That they were wanting to sponsor.

A citywide youth rally because this Wednesday is see you at the pole and the kids are going to be going around the flagpole this Wednesday at 630 to pray to pray for their school and the teachers and their fellow students to come to know Jesus Christ and he wanted to have a citywide rally together and they were going to provide pizza and pop and get together and and have fun and with all the youth groups and then pray for all of the kids this week and and Alan called when he we got the letter and Alan called said we'll be there and here's how many kids we got coming. And John called back this last week and said I'm sorry we're going to have to cancel for Sunday.

He said I got so many letters and so many phone calls from other churches in this city that said what are you doing. That's our youth group night. You're trying to infringe upon our youth group. You know this is our little community of believers over here. Stay away. You're just trying to try and trying to proselytize us over into this one group. That's that's wrong.

We are fellow workers. We're not trying to get everybody in town to go to Calvary Chapel or to First B or to assembly or wherever. We're just wanting to tell them about Jesus. You see. And then now we can work together. And somehow Epaphroditus and Paul did that in spite of the fact that Epaphroditus was a Philippian and Paul was a Benjamite. They were able to put that aside for the sake of the gospel.

And so should we. This is why it's that important. That's why he says this. He's my fellow worker. He doesn't bring out that he's a Philippian that he could have been involved in idol worship up there that he could have been a male prostitute. Who knows. He's my fellow worker. He's also my fellow soldier. My fellow soldier. Please see that we are in a battle.

Please understand when you came to Jesus Christ, you chose sides and you have an enemy. Paul tells Timothy in 2 Timothy chapter 2 verse 3, Suffer hardship with me as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. So we're in a battle.

And we are to see ourselves as warring together. Now, your enemy is not the people in this room. Your enemy is not the people in any of the other churches in this community. Listen. Your enemy is not. The people in the world. The unsaved. They are loved by God. You are sent to bring them home. They are not the enemy. But who do we shoot at all the time? Well, we start shooting at each other in here.

Well, so-and-so did this. And I didn't really like it. And I know they were really out to get me. And I'm going to tell some other people about that. And we end up shooting each other in here. And then it goes out there. And we get out there and we start shooting everybody out there. Well, the bosses are real jerks, you know. And these teachers. I'm going to kill them.

See? More than likely. And we say, how could those fourth graders do that? I'll bet you 10 to 1, they go to church. I'll bet you they're in some church somewhere. See, what do they have example before them? Infighting. Backbiting. Gossip. Grumbling. Complaining. Because we're all the enemy. If you don't see things my way, go along with me. I'm going to talk about you.

And talk about you to others in here. And I'll go talk about you to others out there. And then everybody's the enemy. Not so. Not so. We are warring together against a common enemy. He is a spiritual enemy. He is the fallen angel Lucifer. Also called. And when he fell, he took a third of the angelic realm with him. So they are fallen angels. Also referred to as demons.

They influence us. That's all they do. Is influence us. They can afflict to a certain extent. But we worry more about the affliction that they can cause. Rather than the frustration that they cause in our own lives. You see, they battle us in the mind. In our own minds. Your biggest enemy. Listen. Your biggest enemy is you. Because all Satan has to do is push your button.

All he's got to do is get in there in that area of your flesh. That you have not brought under the submission of Christ. That you have not brought under control. And push that button. And you will lash out at everybody but yourself. And then sometimes he gets you to the point where you're so frustrated with yourself. That he gets you to think about killing yourself.

That's when you've run the full circle. When you've lashed out at everybody. And there's nobody left to lash out at. Then finally, rather than seeing that that is the enemy tactic. You lash out at yourself. And the ultimate end is suicide. We're in a war. We've been going through the book of Ephesians on Wednesday nights. Do you. You know, a lot of people know chapter six.

Talks about the armor of God. Putting on the armor of God. But they look at it as I'm going to put the armor of God on. So that I can go out there in the world. And fight the enemy wherever he is. Well, if you read Ephesians in context from chapter one, two, and three. You find that chapters one through three tell us what God has already done for us. Chapters four and five tell us what we are to do in response to what God has done for us.

As you come into chapters four and five. It also brings out that. That keeping in your mind. What God has done and responding then as to what you should do is a conflict because we have an enemy who battles with our flesh and so you come to chapter six to put the armor of God on why so that that flesh can be put under the power of the spirit so that I can remember what God has done for me so I can do what he's called me to do in the light of what he's done for me.

So the armor of God is for your benefit because the enemy is battling you in your mind. See and all those elements of the armor have to do with your mind. And if you want to come to Ephesians study on Wednesday nights, we'll work through that as we get into chapter six. We're in chapter five right now, but that's the battlefield. That's what we're fighting against.

We need to realize we're in the midst of that battle. And so he says to him, he's my fellow soldier. We're not shooting each other. We're not fighting against each other. We are fighting together. We're warring together as we seek to tell people about Jesus Christ. Now in affirming and in appreciating each other. You got to see each other as that. You see, I don't care what each other's done to each other here.

We are brothers in Christ. We are fellow laborers in Christ. We are fellow soldiers in Christ. Now, as in any war, there will be times when we have friendly fire. You're so scared or so overcome by the enemy and so frustrated at times that you just point a gun and pull the trigger. And we end up shooting each other. We end up saying things against each other.

We end up hurting each other. And we really didn't mean to, but it just happened. It doesn't mean we're the enemy. It means in love, I come to you and I love you anyhow, even though I've been wounded. Because we're still fellow soldiers together. Was Paul hurt by Timothy? I don't know of any father-son relationship where there hasn't been harsh words, where there haven't been hurts that have happened.

I don't know of any. Paul doesn't bring him out because he's a godly man. Timothy doesn't bring him out because he's a godly man. But I'm sure they haven't. But they loved one another. They bore with each other. They endured those hardships together as good soldiers. Paul told Timothy to do. Why did he tell Timothy that at that time? Just to digress for a second.

Because Timothy was now in the Ephesian church. And he was the elder of that church or the pastor of that church. And he's probably writing to Paul and saying, These guys, they're shooting at me. They're telling me stuff they don't like about me. They want me to do things this way. And they're, what do I do? And Paul says, endure hardship as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.

You're going to take some flack. You know what flack is? Those of you that are old enough to remember World War II. And the bombers as they'd fly over the targets. Enemy guns would fire. Shells that would go up and explode and throw shrapnel out seeking to shred planes. That's flack. They weren't shooting particularly at anything. They just shoot it up and wherever it exploded, they hoped they hit something.

Well, you and I are going to take flack in the service of God. But we need to endure through that time as a good soldier. Let me, we'll move on quickly. To encourage each other, to appreciate each other, to submit to the will of God, we need to see each other as these three things. Brothers in Christ, fellow workers, fellow soldiers. Epaphroditus is shown. Here in verse 25, Paul takes and shows us his relationship to the Philippians as well.

I think it's necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, who is also, or my brother, my fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. He was their messenger. He was the messenger from the Philippian church to Paul. The word for messenger there is the word apostolon in the Greek, which is the word for apostles.

So Epaphroditus was the Philippian. The apostle or the sent out one. Now, whether or not he was considered as one of the 500 apostles, I don't know. I doubt it. It was evident, though, that he was one that was sent out by the Philippians to Paul with their financial gift. Now, as you go back to the book of Acts and you read through the section on Paul's receiving this gift, it was a gift that the Philippians sent to Paul.

The Philippian church, remember, was a poor church and they didn't have a lot. But they took an offering just like we did this morning for the group that's coming in. And they sent Epaphroditus with that. Offering to Paul to say, here, Paul, this is for you. This is to help minister to your needs. We know you've got needs down there. We don't know what they are, but here's to help minister to those particular needs.

And Epaphroditus gets there and he sees what's going on with Paul. And none of that's mentioned. We're just left to assume that conditions were pretty bad, even though Paul, you know, you read this first part because in this section, Paul is a prisoner in his own house. He's bought a house in Rome and he's a prisoner there and he's in chains with a Roman guard.

But you think, well, he's in his own house. He had Psalms. Some form of, you know, luxury or whatever. Not so. It was difficult for Paul. And whatever the conditions were, when Epaphroditus gets there with the offering, it's evident to him that the offering is not going to be enough. I mean, just to give you this token offering is not enough. And so it's on Epaphroditus' heart to stay there.

And it says here to communicate their love, to communicate their love. Look at verse 26. For he longs for all of you in his distress because you heard he was ill. Indeed, he was ill and almost died, but God had mercy on him and not him only, but on me also to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Verse 30. Because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help that you could not give me.

He ministered to Paul. He saw that Paul had needs that were greater than that offering that he's bringing and he sought to minister to those personally. Now, in doing that, he ended up getting sick. And whether or not, again, we're not told what the sickness is. Maybe he had a stress. He was under stress, you know, and had the effects of a stress attack. Maybe he had a heart attack.

We don't know. We don't know what the conditions were. But the conditions were such that he gave himself to God, submitted himself to the Lord in order to minister to Paul's needs. Someone other than himself. And to what extent? To the same extent that Jesus did when he went to the cross. Suffering death if necessary. And in verse 30, he says it involved risking his very life.

That's the sacrifice, again, in appreciating others. Submission to the Lord. The sacrifice for the sake of others. Seeing each other as brothers and sisters in Christ. Fellow workers with Christ. Fellow soldiers. Fighting the same battle. Verse 27 says, But God had mercy on him. God had mercy on him. And not on him only, but also on me to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

God healed Epaphroditus. But I want you to know something. It evidently was not the result of Paul's gift of healing. And we see this often through Scripture here. As Paul left Miletus, or Trophimus, at Miletus sick. He tells Timothy to take a little wine for your stomach illness and your often infirmities. Your often infirmities. Your often sicknesses. He doesn't say, Paul, there's somebody there with a gift of healing.

Go there. Find him. And he'll pray for you and you'll be healed. Paul himself left Trophimus at Miletus sick. Well, if Paul is a great healer and had the gift of healing, which I believe that he did. How come he didn't just heal him? It's because the gift of healing was not used the way we see it misused today. It was as God directed and not everybody was healed.

And so we see it here. He was not healed immediately. Why? Why? I believe so that Paul and Epaphroditus could experience what we've been learning in these first two chapters. That for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. Whatever is necessary. Lord, if I'm to die, Epaphroditus probably prayed. Let me die as in service to you. If he's to die, Paul probably prayed.

Then let him die as a drink offering to you. I'll miss him. He's been a great help to me and it will cause sorrow upon sorrow. But whatever is necessary, they both surrendered to that. Later on in chapter four, Paul will say, I have learned in whatsoever state that I'm in therewith to be content. We'll see that when we get to that. But all of this is not just a verse that you memorize and say, well, I know that verse.

No, you don't know that verse until God brings you through and you learn to trust him. And then you can say, I've learned. I've learned more than just the verse that says that. I have now learned. And that takes a process of time. Epaphroditus and Paul both experienced that. And God spared Paul, verse 27, sorrow upon sorrow from keeping Epaphroditus from dying.

But Paul, again, was submitted to the will of God in that. Just totally submitted to the will of God. Look at verse 30 again. Just consider it just for a second, if you would. Because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me. I want you to see Epaphroditus' sacrifice as being directed two ways. He was sacrificing for Paul, but he was also sacrificing on behalf of the Philippians.

He was sacrificing his own life, risking it in some way to minister to Paul's needs. But he was also sacrificing it on behalf of the Philippians. Because somehow he knew if they could see what Paul's going through, they would do this. They can't. They can't come. I'm here. I will do it. Now, that's what you and I do as part of the body of Christ. You see? Because we're in.

We're in. We're in different areas where all of us can't be. But we need to see these areas where we're called on to sacrifice and minister to others and realize if the fellowship could be here, they'd do it too. But they can't be. And I'm here, so I'll do it, Lord. I'll do it as unto you for their sake and for this individual's sake. So there's a motivation there for Epaphroditus and his ministry.

Not only to meet Paul's needs, but also so that the Philippians would get the credit for it. He loved his Philippian church that had sent him down there. Verse 26. It says, Paul says, He longs for you. He longs for you. The words there literally mean he is sick in himself for you. He's sick in himself for you. In other words, he's homesick. He's homesick. Have you ever been away from home for a lengthy period of time?

Your first week away, you tough it out. Your second week away, you like to crawl home no matter how far away you are. And the longer you're away from home, the more that cry for home just builds up inside. And it can literally incapacitate you if you just focus on. The text so reads, and one of the commentators brought out that it is possibly this homesickness

that incapacitated Epaphroditus. Very possibly that's the sickness. I don't know. We don't know. But he longed for them so much. He so much wanted to be with them that he was sick in himself. And in verse 28 where Paul sends, he says he sends them, he's sending him back to them so that when you see him again, you may be glad and I have less anxiety. Paul is saying, you know, it's really making me.

Anxious. I'm worrying about him and worrying about you, worrying about him. And you know, you need to see each other so that you can quit worrying about each other. And I don't have to worry about both of you. He says, so it's better for him to come to you and you both not have to worry about each other than me sitting here worrying about him and worrying about you, worrying about him

and worrying about how you're doing because you're worried about him and he's worrying about you and he's sick and he's, you know, so I'll send him back to you so that you guys can get together. Then in verse nine, he says, welcome him home in the Lord with great joy. And it's almost as Paul is sensing. The fact that if it was homesickness that made him ill and the Philippians know it and the Philippians might be saying, well, Epaphroditus, you know, you're not strong enough.

You know, you're just a weenie down there. You can't take care of it. And Paul's anticipating that. And he's saying, hey, welcome him home with great joy. He's been, he's, and then he's even goes beyond it. He says, and honor men like him. I'm the one sending him home. He's homesick for you, but he'd stay here till death to serve me. I'm sending him home. So honor men like him because they sacrifice for others.

Because they submit it to the will of God, because they, they understand what this appreciation is. They understand what it is to appreciate it. And I want you to appreciate him in the same way that he's appreciated me and I've appreciated him. Two examples of showing appreciation, two examples that deal with submitting themselves to God, two examples that show sacrifice for the sake of others, even unto the point of death.

Two examples where we're, we're seeing that these are brothers, that these are fellow workers, that these are fellow soldiers. And the. And they're being sent to show appreciation for others. It's important. It's strategic. It's strategic in the life of Paul at this particular time. It's strategic for us now in the times in which we this brothers and sisters, we have got

to quit rumbling and complaining and, and filling that void where we say, we're not going to grumble and complain anymore. We need to fill that now with showing appreciation for one another. Work at showing appreciation for one another because we're brothers and sisters in Christ, because we are fellow laborers together with the purpose of telling other people about Jesus so they can come into the kingdom of God. And we're warring at that same time together against a common enemy who wants to destroy us by just spinning his little finger in the midst and causing us to turn and fire at each other.

We need to show appreciation for one another. We need to see it and the world needs to see it. These fourth grade boys need to see it. The fourth grade kids we have here need to see it. The kids at the coffee shop need to see it. The community needs to see it. And it's not seeing it. There's a whole generation of young people growing up today that are not seeing it.

All they're seeing is denominationalism. They're not seeing the love of Christ. Father help us because the enemy seems to have a major foothold and we can be so focused on turning the country around for Christ that we fail to see that the battle is in our own lives, in our own midst, in our own minds. So help us Lord to have the mind of Christ that we might learn to rejoice in the Lord.

Help us to submit ourselves to your will for whatever's necessary, that we sacrifice for the sake of others by not grumbling or complaining but by seeking to show appreciation for one another. For it's in Jesus' name that we pray. Amen. Let's stand.