WEBVTT 00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:17.120 The Apostle Paul writing to the Christians in the city of Philippi, an affluent city, a Roman colony, a church that the Apostle Paul planted, a group that he was close with. 00:00:17.440 --> 00:00:25.440 We see the very tender affections that they had with each other coming out in different ways through this letter. 00:00:25.679 --> 00:00:28.239 We pick up in verse 19. 00:00:29.440 --> 00:00:42.399 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you, for I have no one like him who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 00:00:42.880 --> 00:00:47.359 For they all seek their own interest, not those of Jesus Christ. 00:00:47.679 --> 00:00:55.520 But you know, Timothy's proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 00:00:55.759 --> 00:01:06.000 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, and I trust in the Lord that I shortly, that shortly I myself will come also. 00:01:07.040 --> 00:01:22.239 I have found it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need, for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:25.840 Indeed he was ill, near to death. 00:01:26.640 --> 00:01:34.959 God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 00:01:35.280 --> 00:01:43.519 I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. 00:01:43.840 --> 00:01:56.480 So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men, for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. 00:01:58.079 --> 00:02:04.239 This is the reading of God's powerful, perfect word of God. 00:02:04.719 --> 00:02:06.239 Join me in prayer. 00:02:08.240 --> 00:02:16.960 Father, we thank you for how you used the Apostle Paul's life, Lord, in his writing, his imprisonment, his friendships. 00:02:17.439 --> 00:02:27.520 Lord, these gospel teams that literally just shook the early world, Christian world with the power of the cross. 00:02:27.840 --> 00:02:36.960 Would you please this day shake us, move us, change us with the power of the cross. 00:02:37.199 --> 00:02:39.360 We pray, Jesus, in your name. 00:02:39.680 --> 00:02:40.319 Amen. 00:02:43.280 --> 00:03:20.960 After some very picturesque language that we saw earlier in this epistle, this letter to Philippi, even in chapter 2, the incarnation of the Lord Jesus Christ, how the Son of God left heaven, all the glories of heaven to come to this earth, to die on a cross, to be raised from the dead, to ascend to God, as we read about this amazing, the most glorious word picture, I suppose we have in Scripture of the mission of Jesus Christ for people like us. 00:03:21.360 --> 00:03:34.319 And then we saw last week how because all that happened, Christ came, he is now working in us by his Spirit to will and to do God's work in our lives. 00:03:34.560 --> 00:03:38.960 And that's powerful when we open up to it. 00:03:40.080 --> 00:03:44.400 Some have said, well, isn't this passage we're looking at today rather mundane? 00:03:44.560 --> 00:03:47.039 I mean, doesn't it sound like a travelogue? 00:03:47.199 --> 00:03:48.960 You know, Paul's itinerary? 00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:51.120 Well, maybe yes and no. 00:03:51.280 --> 00:03:54.400 I mean, he's very practical, he's sharing his plans. 00:03:54.639 --> 00:03:57.199 But let me say that there's a lot more to it. 00:03:57.360 --> 00:04:00.080 There's some rich truth in this passage. 00:04:00.479 --> 00:04:07.520 What we've been saying to this point in our study of the book of Philippians is it's all about advancing the gospel. 00:04:08.240 --> 00:04:13.439 This morning we're looking at how the gospel is advanced through gospel teams. 00:04:14.240 --> 00:04:16.480 God uses teams. 00:04:16.879 --> 00:04:18.319 We're going to see that. 00:04:19.360 --> 00:04:24.560 First point this morning out of the text: gospel teams meet real needs. 00:04:25.040 --> 00:04:30.879 Now, the city of Philippi, the church in particular, Philippi, was not a particularly needy city. 00:04:31.199 --> 00:04:37.040 As far as Paul's letters go, this maybe was a little bit less needy. 00:04:37.199 --> 00:04:38.879 I mean, they weren't perfect. 00:04:39.360 --> 00:04:40.720 We've seen that already. 00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.199 They had some issues, but it was a fairly healthy church. 00:04:45.439 --> 00:04:49.920 And yet, even in this chapter, half of the chapter is devoted to needs. 00:04:50.240 --> 00:04:52.879 Let's look, first of all, at Paul's needs himself. 00:04:53.199 --> 00:04:57.120 Paul had physical needs in prison in Rome. 00:04:59.120 --> 00:05:11.519 Being in prison in Rome in the first century was not like being in prison in the United States today, where a prisoner's basic needs are met by the state. 00:05:12.079 --> 00:05:21.600 Back then, they would need the help of family and friends for food, for clothing, for reading material. 00:05:21.759 --> 00:05:27.199 I mean, that's why we find Paul asking at different times, would you please bring me these materials? 00:05:27.920 --> 00:05:29.600 It was very different. 00:05:30.160 --> 00:05:44.160 And the church at Philippi, these were the Christians that gave a very generous financial gift to Paul, knowing that he was in prison, so that he could have these things, these basic necessities. 00:05:44.399 --> 00:05:49.439 I mean, this was not just, you know, a little, a little, you know, above and beyond. 00:05:49.600 --> 00:05:53.199 This was a huge gift to Paul. 00:05:53.600 --> 00:05:56.560 He had physical needs, but he also had emotional needs. 00:05:56.720 --> 00:05:57.920 Verse 19. 00:05:58.959 --> 00:06:04.399 He says, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 00:06:05.759 --> 00:06:08.639 Paul had emotional needs, just like us. 00:06:10.160 --> 00:06:13.839 He cared deeply about these friends back in Philippi. 00:06:14.800 --> 00:06:21.279 And he was encouraged by the good news he had already received, but he was eager to hear more. 00:06:21.759 --> 00:06:27.040 All right, think about a friend who's very close to you, that maybe doesn't live here in the city. 00:06:27.279 --> 00:06:29.120 Somebody who lives at a distance. 00:06:29.680 --> 00:06:31.439 And today we're spoiled, right? 00:06:32.000 --> 00:06:36.000 I mean, some of us have FaceTimed over the Atlantic Ocean. 00:06:36.160 --> 00:06:37.759 That's kind of crazy, right? 00:06:38.160 --> 00:06:41.439 I mean, I never saw that in my day when, you know, as a kid. 00:06:42.399 --> 00:06:44.720 There's all these things that you can do today. 00:06:45.040 --> 00:06:57.519 But of course, back then, you could go weeks, you could go months, you could go years not knowing how your friend or your family member was doing. 00:06:58.240 --> 00:07:06.879 And so Paul is saying, I can't wait to get the next report about who you, my dear Christian friends, are doing. 00:07:07.360 --> 00:07:11.839 When I do, I pray that my heart will really be cheered by that news. 00:07:12.560 --> 00:07:16.959 You know, a good report can do wonders for the soul, right? 00:07:17.519 --> 00:07:18.319 A good report? 00:07:18.399 --> 00:07:24.720 If some of you have gotten a good report recently, maybe a good health report? 00:07:26.160 --> 00:07:29.279 Maybe a good uh review at work. 00:07:30.720 --> 00:07:40.319 I mean, something that, or just news about your friend or a family member, uh, a an answered prayer for health. 00:07:41.199 --> 00:07:48.240 Something that just like, wow, you know, like I do, how that can just lift up your soul. 00:07:48.560 --> 00:07:49.759 Isn't that something? 00:07:50.000 --> 00:07:52.079 I mean, it can change your day. 00:07:52.480 --> 00:07:56.720 Wow, I'm just so grateful to hear that news. 00:07:57.199 --> 00:07:59.279 Well, that was true for Paul. 00:07:59.680 --> 00:08:02.800 That was true for the Philippi. 00:08:03.040 --> 00:08:05.040 The Philippians also had needs. 00:08:05.199 --> 00:08:08.079 They were very concerned about Paul's welfare, we see. 00:08:08.319 --> 00:08:12.720 They were also concerned for their fellow member Epaphroditus. 00:08:13.839 --> 00:08:18.480 Paul says, he has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 00:08:18.720 --> 00:08:20.879 Now we're going to talk about that more later. 00:08:21.279 --> 00:08:25.600 He says later, Paul says, that you may rejoice at seeing him again. 00:08:26.240 --> 00:08:30.720 When you care deeply for other people, your emotions are stirred. 00:08:32.960 --> 00:08:47.919 The Philippians were anxious about Epaphroditis because he went on this long journey and they heard that he was quite ill, almost died, and they couldn't wait to get an update on that, on him. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:53.759 Our emotions are stirred by the people that we love deeply. 00:08:55.200 --> 00:08:56.480 Gospel teams. 00:08:57.039 --> 00:09:11.600 The Apostle Paul was a team member with Timothy, with Epaphroditus, and the three of them worked closely together on real needs, spiritual, physical, emotional needs. 00:09:11.759 --> 00:09:13.600 It made me got me wondering this week. 00:09:13.679 --> 00:09:23.519 I wonder what real needs will be met today, March 7th, by the gospel team at Alexandria Presbyterian Church. 00:09:24.159 --> 00:09:28.159 I was thinking about so many gospel teams that we have in this church. 00:09:28.320 --> 00:09:30.080 I was thinking about the greeters. 00:09:31.120 --> 00:09:32.639 Thank you, greeters. 00:09:34.000 --> 00:09:42.320 You're a warm, sincere smile and welcome is not just a token. 00:09:43.279 --> 00:09:44.799 It matters. 00:09:45.360 --> 00:09:46.960 It means a lot. 00:09:47.600 --> 00:09:48.960 Thank you, greeters. 00:09:49.200 --> 00:09:55.919 As deacons are meeting today with mercy partners, as elders, the elders' day began early this morning. 00:09:56.080 --> 00:09:59.120 We interviewed a couple new members before the first service. 00:09:59.360 --> 00:10:10.559 As elders meet and interview, as elders pray with many people today, as shepherding teams and members pray for others, as lay counselors check in with their clients today. 00:10:11.120 --> 00:10:13.120 The list goes on and on. 00:10:13.840 --> 00:10:18.720 Those of you that prepare the fellowship, the coffee and refreshments. 00:10:20.559 --> 00:10:25.279 God does his gospel work through gospel teams. 00:10:26.799 --> 00:10:28.000 He always has. 00:10:28.559 --> 00:10:30.559 And I suppose he always will. 00:10:30.799 --> 00:10:34.720 Let's say a little bit more about these gospel teams, just going deeper. 00:10:35.360 --> 00:10:36.480 About Timothy. 00:10:36.799 --> 00:10:40.559 Paul probably met Timothy on his first missionary journey. 00:10:40.720 --> 00:10:43.200 We read about it in Acts chapter 14. 00:10:44.000 --> 00:10:50.639 And so Paul was impressed at the gospel change in Timothy's life. 00:10:50.879 --> 00:10:57.279 Paul took note of how his mind and his heart opened up, how teachable he was, how humble he was. 00:10:58.720 --> 00:11:01.679 You know, you can't really teach somebody that's not humble. 00:11:02.639 --> 00:11:04.960 If they're not humble, they're not teachable. 00:11:05.600 --> 00:11:08.080 In order to be teachable, you've got to be humble. 00:11:08.320 --> 00:11:12.639 You got to know that you don't know a lot of things and to be open to that. 00:11:13.120 --> 00:11:17.440 Timothy was kind of like a rock star to Paul. 00:11:17.840 --> 00:11:21.440 And I don't think Timothy was all that impressive on the outside. 00:11:21.600 --> 00:11:25.759 We read about Timothy that Paul at one point prays for him because he was timid. 00:11:26.799 --> 00:11:37.360 I I don't think Timothy was this really confident, extroverted, you know, kind of, this guy really knows what he's doing. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:41.039 You know, he just follow him because you know he you think he knows. 00:11:41.440 --> 00:11:43.120 I don't think that was Timothy. 00:11:45.039 --> 00:11:47.200 I think Timothy was probably an introvert. 00:11:47.840 --> 00:11:50.639 I think Timothy Timothy was very humble. 00:11:51.279 --> 00:11:53.519 I think Timothy was very teachable. 00:11:55.120 --> 00:11:58.000 I think Timothy, therefore, was very usable. 00:11:59.440 --> 00:12:01.440 We talk about that a lot at APC. 00:12:02.480 --> 00:12:06.720 The most important quality in a ministry leader is character. 00:12:07.440 --> 00:12:14.960 It's not their giftedness, it's not their competency, it's not their personality. 00:12:16.000 --> 00:12:24.000 The single most important thing that you possess and or I possess that God can really use and bless is your character. 00:12:28.399 --> 00:12:32.159 Twenty-four different times Paul mentions Timothy in his letters. 00:12:32.399 --> 00:12:35.120 I mean, by far more than anybody else. 00:12:35.600 --> 00:12:37.679 Listen to this, this is what the text says. 00:12:37.919 --> 00:12:40.080 I have no one else like in verse 20. 00:12:40.159 --> 00:12:41.519 This is what it says in the Greek. 00:12:41.759 --> 00:12:46.720 I have no one else like souled. 00:12:47.039 --> 00:12:48.879 S-O-U-L-E-D. 00:12:50.639 --> 00:12:52.399 Like my soul. 00:12:52.879 --> 00:13:00.320 I have no one else on this earth whose soul so connects with my soul. 00:13:00.720 --> 00:13:02.080 And vice versa. 00:13:03.120 --> 00:13:04.960 We have the same concerns. 00:13:05.200 --> 00:13:15.519 We have the same passion for the same things, the same things that matter to us, the things that we think about, the things that we pray about, the things that we work for. 00:13:16.720 --> 00:13:19.279 Do you have somebody like that in your life? 00:13:19.519 --> 00:13:22.480 I mean, it's a wonderful thing if your spouse is. 00:13:23.360 --> 00:13:25.200 But hey, I've been a pastor for a long time. 00:13:25.360 --> 00:13:26.639 I know many, many marriages. 00:13:26.799 --> 00:13:27.600 That's not the same. 00:13:28.399 --> 00:13:29.200 It's not there. 00:13:29.840 --> 00:13:30.159 Okay. 00:13:30.960 --> 00:13:32.159 Pray for it. 00:13:32.559 --> 00:13:33.919 Yeah, pray for it. 00:13:34.159 --> 00:13:38.559 Pray that you and your spouse would be so like-minded. 00:13:39.519 --> 00:13:46.480 But don't, even if you have a great marriage and you you're like-souled with your spouse, don't stop there. 00:13:46.799 --> 00:13:48.960 I think every woman needs another woman. 00:13:49.200 --> 00:13:53.919 I think every man needs another man who's like-souled. 00:13:55.360 --> 00:13:57.919 Your hearts connect over the same things. 00:13:58.399 --> 00:14:00.559 Hopefully, especially the things of God. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:01.840 The kingdom of God. 00:14:02.000 --> 00:14:03.840 That's what Paul's saying about Timothy. 00:14:04.000 --> 00:14:05.120 That's the first thing he says. 00:14:05.279 --> 00:14:08.080 He's like my it's like my soul. 00:14:08.639 --> 00:14:12.000 The things that we go to our knees and pray about. 00:14:12.639 --> 00:14:15.840 Secondly, he says, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. 00:14:16.159 --> 00:14:18.639 Now, when he says your, he's talking about the Philippians. 00:14:20.480 --> 00:14:24.399 Timothy cares about you, Christians, and Philippi. 00:14:26.000 --> 00:14:27.600 Like nobody I know. 00:14:29.679 --> 00:14:35.440 The person who doesn't see you as a project or a problem to fix. 00:14:36.639 --> 00:14:38.639 Nobody likes to be a project. 00:14:39.360 --> 00:14:42.399 Nobody likes to be a problem that has to be fixed. 00:14:43.039 --> 00:14:51.519 I mean, the people that we're going to connect with most are the people that we feel not only get us, but the people that really love us and really care for us. 00:14:52.320 --> 00:14:55.120 They ask how we're doing and they don't do a drive-by. 00:14:55.519 --> 00:14:59.759 They actually stay there to hear the answer. 00:15:00.480 --> 00:15:04.000 And they engage in conversation. 00:15:04.960 --> 00:15:09.759 We all need a few people like that in our lives who take a genuine interest in us. 00:15:10.000 --> 00:15:14.720 Thirdly, he says, Timothy's concern for serving Jesus Christ. 00:15:15.600 --> 00:15:23.279 It seems to me that oftentimes it becomes clear along the way who is being served, whether it's Christ or you. 00:15:29.679 --> 00:15:32.639 Ministries maybe not in the name of Christ, really. 00:15:33.279 --> 00:15:44.000 You know, when we get in ministry and we do things for appearances, to be noticed, to be recognized, to serve our own ego. 00:15:44.559 --> 00:15:48.559 I mean, don't we have to confess to that stuff sometimes? 00:15:48.879 --> 00:15:50.799 Because of the flesh. 00:15:51.039 --> 00:15:53.440 And we just have to say, God, please forgive me. 00:15:53.679 --> 00:15:57.360 I want my life and my service to be about Jesus Christ. 00:15:57.600 --> 00:15:58.799 That's what Paul says about him. 00:15:58.879 --> 00:16:01.200 Timothy's concern for serving Jesus Christ. 00:16:01.360 --> 00:16:10.720 And fourthly, he said, Timothy had, who had proven himself, this is what the Greek says, his proven worth. 00:16:12.000 --> 00:16:16.159 This is a verb that was coined from the verb to put to the test. 00:16:16.720 --> 00:16:20.559 What he's saying is, Timothy had been put to the test many times over. 00:16:21.039 --> 00:16:22.960 Paul says, I've seen him in action. 00:16:23.200 --> 00:16:26.879 I've seen how God has used his life for his glory. 00:16:27.360 --> 00:16:29.679 This is a man of character. 00:16:31.039 --> 00:16:34.399 As I said earlier, character is what matters most. 00:16:37.840 --> 00:16:40.639 Did you ever hear that definition of character? 00:16:41.039 --> 00:16:44.559 The character is who you are when nobody's watching. 00:16:46.159 --> 00:16:50.720 When you know you're not doing it for appearances, whatever you're doing. 00:16:50.960 --> 00:16:52.799 You're not doing it for credit. 00:16:53.120 --> 00:16:54.960 You're not doing it to be noticed. 00:16:55.440 --> 00:16:58.480 You're doing it just because it's the right thing to do. 00:16:59.279 --> 00:17:02.159 And you're serving, you're doing it out of service to God. 00:17:02.639 --> 00:17:05.519 That's what this is about, what he's saying to Timothy. 00:17:06.079 --> 00:17:13.359 When my concern is not for my image or my reputation, but for God's glory and for the good of that other person. 00:17:15.519 --> 00:17:20.720 Then Paul says this about Timothy, as a son with a father, together in the gospel. 00:17:21.279 --> 00:17:27.839 That's probably the pinnacle of Paul's admiration for Timothy. 00:17:28.880 --> 00:17:32.559 Timothy, you you really are like my own son. 00:17:33.920 --> 00:17:36.960 I'm so encouraged to see how God has worked in your heart. 00:17:37.119 --> 00:17:40.880 I'm so encouraged to see how God is using you in gospel ministry. 00:17:43.039 --> 00:17:45.759 Paul just says all this. 00:17:55.680 --> 00:17:58.079 Teams work when teams pray. 00:17:58.480 --> 00:18:02.160 When teams don't pray, teams don't work. 00:18:05.359 --> 00:18:08.799 Jack Miller taught me that a long time ago. 00:18:10.319 --> 00:18:12.240 I never really I never heard it before. 00:18:13.200 --> 00:18:17.920 And I grew up in the church, I prayed, I I saw teams and I was a part of teams. 00:18:18.240 --> 00:18:26.160 It it never sunk into me like that until Jack said told me that one day. 00:18:26.720 --> 00:18:30.400 Teams work because teams pray. 00:18:30.720 --> 00:18:31.599 What does that mean? 00:18:31.680 --> 00:18:33.039 Let's break that down a little bit. 00:18:33.440 --> 00:18:50.160 I'm not talking about the prayer at the end of your Bible study or your C of G or having a session, an elders' meeting, or a deacon's meeting, and taking most of the time to discuss the work, try to fix the problems. 00:18:51.279 --> 00:18:59.680 You know, sometimes that happens, no doubt, in churches for an hour, two hours, three hours, or four hours, and then at the end of it, you know, you just have this little short prayer. 00:19:00.559 --> 00:19:01.680 What's that about? 00:19:02.000 --> 00:19:03.359 Let's be honest. 00:19:03.920 --> 00:19:05.680 I'll tell you what that's about. 00:19:06.640 --> 00:19:09.119 Lord, we think we've got this figured out. 00:19:10.319 --> 00:19:12.559 And now we're just going to ask you to bless it. 00:19:13.279 --> 00:19:15.039 Would you sign off on this? 00:19:17.039 --> 00:19:17.680 Hey. 00:19:19.279 --> 00:19:21.119 Don't expect much blessing. 00:19:23.119 --> 00:19:24.640 In your marriage? 00:19:25.599 --> 00:19:26.799 That's true. 00:19:27.200 --> 00:19:28.480 In your family? 00:19:30.000 --> 00:19:38.319 In your ministry teams, whether it's the worship team, whether it's the deacons, the elders. 00:19:39.680 --> 00:19:43.440 You know, I mean, as an example, I've told you, I've told you guys before this, right? 00:19:43.519 --> 00:19:45.759 The elders have been doing this for a long, long time. 00:19:46.079 --> 00:19:50.960 The first elder, all we the first hour we get together is just to study the word of God. 00:19:51.279 --> 00:19:53.839 The second hour, all we do is pray. 00:19:55.440 --> 00:19:58.240 We start business in the third hour. 00:19:58.960 --> 00:20:00.559 And God has honored that. 00:20:01.839 --> 00:20:03.920 God has absolutely honored that. 00:20:04.559 --> 00:20:07.279 What does that look like in your gospel team ministry? 00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:19.759 I'm not saying you have to do it for an hour, but what I am saying is that if whatever ministry you're involved in, if prayer is just something you tack on at the end, you're not doing it. 00:20:22.880 --> 00:20:31.839 Paul modeled this with Timothy, with apaphroditus, and the fruit was in his ministry because of that. 00:20:32.079 --> 00:20:34.319 Let's talk about Ephroditis. 00:20:34.559 --> 00:20:37.200 A Gentile from the city of Philippi. 00:20:37.680 --> 00:20:45.279 When he heard that Paul was in prison, he volunteered to take the Philippians' financial gift to Paul. 00:20:45.440 --> 00:20:46.960 Now you might think, well, that's nice. 00:20:47.119 --> 00:20:48.000 Well, wait a minute. 00:20:48.160 --> 00:20:50.319 That was an 800-mile trip. 00:20:51.759 --> 00:20:52.079 Okay? 00:20:52.960 --> 00:21:03.039 On foot, with a lot of money, there would have been the danger of robbers, just the fear exhaustion of the trip. 00:21:03.359 --> 00:21:08.400 And on the way, Epaphroditus got very, very ill and he almost died. 00:21:10.000 --> 00:21:11.759 And yet, where did it start? 00:21:12.079 --> 00:21:13.759 It started in a church. 00:21:13.920 --> 00:21:14.480 I don't know. 00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:18.960 You know, there's a really good chance that the church at Philippi was about this crowd. 00:21:19.440 --> 00:21:21.599 They didn't have mega churches. 00:21:22.000 --> 00:21:24.559 Most of their churches were fairly small. 00:21:28.720 --> 00:21:31.680 Yeah, frankly, I was surprised this morning the first service. 00:21:31.759 --> 00:21:33.920 It was a big crowd for spring forward. 00:21:35.839 --> 00:21:39.359 I don't think this church was as big as the first service crowd. 00:21:40.319 --> 00:21:43.279 There's a good chance that this church was about this size. 00:21:45.599 --> 00:21:50.559 And the need is made known to the church. 00:21:51.200 --> 00:21:57.440 The Apostle Paul, our dear friend, is in prison in Rome 800 miles away. 00:21:57.839 --> 00:21:59.200 And he has needs. 00:22:00.240 --> 00:22:05.599 Who is going to step up and volunteer for that mission? 00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:08.000 And if Aphyroditis says, what? 00:22:08.319 --> 00:22:08.960 I will. 00:22:09.680 --> 00:22:10.720 I'll go. 00:22:12.880 --> 00:22:20.319 You're talking about several months' commitment of just disrupting the rest of his life, whatever is going on. 00:22:21.119 --> 00:22:25.680 While traveling, he got very sick, almost died, but God healed him. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:33.200 And Paul sends Epaphroditus back to Philippi to carry his letter and to report to them. 00:22:33.519 --> 00:22:36.640 Three things specifically, Paul says about Epaphroditus. 00:22:36.880 --> 00:22:41.039 He's my brother, he's my co-worker, and he's my fellow soldier. 00:22:41.279 --> 00:22:45.759 When Paul said he's my brother, that was a radical concept at that time that he wrote. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:54.000 In the Roman culture, your brother was not somebody 20, 30 years younger than you. 00:22:54.559 --> 00:23:00.160 Your brother was slaves and owners didn't mix. 00:23:00.480 --> 00:23:01.039 All right? 00:23:02.480 --> 00:23:04.240 They didn't socialize. 00:23:05.680 --> 00:23:07.119 Male, female. 00:23:09.279 --> 00:23:15.519 Christianity turned the world upside down with this idea of Christian brotherhood. 00:23:15.759 --> 00:23:18.319 That the cross breaks those barriers. 00:23:20.319 --> 00:23:21.920 And that's the good news. 00:23:22.160 --> 00:23:23.519 He's my brother. 00:23:23.920 --> 00:23:28.079 Doesn't matter what the differences are in age or nationality or background. 00:23:28.240 --> 00:23:29.759 Secondly, he's my co-worker. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:31.039 We've talked about that. 00:23:31.279 --> 00:23:33.440 Thirdly, he's my fellow soldier. 00:23:33.680 --> 00:23:36.960 Do you know the Romans, at least as far as I understand through history? 00:23:37.920 --> 00:23:41.920 The Romans were the first army to march side by side in war. 00:23:42.559 --> 00:23:44.640 Before that, they fought individually. 00:23:44.799 --> 00:23:47.599 I mean, the army could go out, but the Romans really, you know, right? 00:23:47.680 --> 00:23:49.200 They conquered the world, didn't they? 00:23:49.680 --> 00:23:52.480 They fought side by side with their shields. 00:23:53.759 --> 00:24:03.680 You know, when the arrows that with pitch with fire would hit come, you know, they all had these shields together, and they just, it was, they were a fearsome army. 00:24:03.920 --> 00:24:06.880 Side by side, that's how they fought. 00:24:07.200 --> 00:24:10.480 No doubt why they were so victorious. 00:24:12.400 --> 00:24:14.319 So you know where this is going. 00:24:15.839 --> 00:24:18.240 Church of Christ, is this how we fight? 00:24:18.799 --> 00:24:22.400 Because we do have to fight the enemy. 00:24:22.720 --> 00:24:24.319 Is this how we fight? 00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:26.160 Side by side. 00:24:28.720 --> 00:24:32.720 Somebody said one time years ago, I wish I could get it out of my mind, but I can't. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:36.559 The church is the only army in the world that shoots its own wounded. 00:24:38.480 --> 00:24:41.279 Unfortunately, that's happened far too often. 00:24:43.200 --> 00:24:45.359 We shouldn't be shooting our guns at each other. 00:24:45.680 --> 00:24:47.279 We're on the same team. 00:24:47.519 --> 00:24:49.039 We're in the same army. 00:24:49.279 --> 00:24:51.519 We ought to be side by side. 00:24:52.240 --> 00:24:55.119 That's how gospel victories come about. 00:24:55.839 --> 00:25:01.680 When we serve and think and act as gospel teams and we pray together. 00:25:03.839 --> 00:25:09.440 I've been thinking this week about the APC's partnering with so many kingdom ministries over the years. 00:25:10.240 --> 00:25:12.079 Because we have a lot of gospel teams here. 00:25:12.240 --> 00:25:14.480 Cherilagua, not far from here. 00:25:14.880 --> 00:25:24.079 So many of you have been ministering there in that community with those Hispanic kids for years, and just had such an impact. 00:25:25.599 --> 00:25:31.839 Thinking about the market project that Dorothy Taft started, doing a great work. 00:25:32.960 --> 00:25:42.799 And Uganda, and just the vision, the work, the ministry for the nations that started within the last two years. 00:25:43.039 --> 00:25:47.839 Right here, ESL for so many people that are coming from other nations. 00:25:48.480 --> 00:25:55.599 Young Life, crew, so many of these ministries, countries that we've partnered with in such depth. 00:25:55.920 --> 00:25:58.400 Rwanda, Cameroon. 00:25:58.799 --> 00:26:05.359 For years we partnered with Cameroon, missionaries there, the Congo, Japan. 00:26:05.759 --> 00:26:09.359 Later this month we're going to hear from Dan Iverson. 00:26:09.599 --> 00:26:20.240 That's one of the probably the most fruitful, prosperous ministries in the PCA is the work that God has done in Japan over all these years under the leadership of Dan Iverson. 00:26:20.960 --> 00:26:22.160 Australia. 00:26:22.720 --> 00:26:24.400 The list goes on. 00:26:25.359 --> 00:26:30.240 Gospel teams partnering in kingdom ministry. 00:26:30.559 --> 00:26:33.599 That's how God works, arm in arm. 00:26:34.240 --> 00:26:36.799 I'm excited about the changes that are happening. 00:26:36.880 --> 00:26:40.079 There's a lot of change that's happening at APC right now. 00:26:43.440 --> 00:26:48.799 I think this, I I see, I see more change happening now than I have in a long, long time. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:55.440 I see I see more people being touched by the gospel than I ever have. 00:26:57.680 --> 00:26:58.799 Praise God. 00:26:59.519 --> 00:27:01.680 But I was I wasn't thinking about that primarily. 00:27:01.759 --> 00:27:07.119 I I see, I think programmatically, strategically, there's gonna be a lot of change. 00:27:07.519 --> 00:27:11.920 I think that's gonna help us to maybe be more effective. 00:27:12.079 --> 00:27:14.880 One of the areas is in the area of missions. 00:27:16.000 --> 00:27:20.720 You know, Pastor Josh is now devoted to being a pastor with missions. 00:27:20.880 --> 00:27:30.640 We and we have a new missions chairman, we have a new missions elder, and we have people like uh Dorothy Taft and Elder Nagy who have been doing this forever. 00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:33.839 Thank God for these teams. 00:27:34.640 --> 00:27:37.839 But we're gonna we're praying that we're gonna go deeper. 00:27:38.000 --> 00:27:42.480 You know how you do missions with a church of 500 is not how you do it with 50. 00:27:43.359 --> 00:27:50.559 When you're a smaller church, it's just kind of easier to do because you're small and you only have a few missionaries anyway, and everybody seems to know what's going on. 00:27:50.799 --> 00:27:54.960 We just notice that that's we we need to get better at this. 00:27:55.599 --> 00:28:02.799 At really educating the congregation of these mission partners, who they are, how can we pray for them? 00:28:03.039 --> 00:28:04.720 More trips back and forth. 00:28:04.960 --> 00:28:08.240 I mean, uh thank God for all the trips that have happened. 00:28:09.599 --> 00:28:12.319 But we don't want to we don't want to get lazy. 00:28:12.640 --> 00:28:16.319 How can we have the most fruitful gospel teams that we can have? 00:28:16.799 --> 00:28:21.119 In missions, outreach, evangelism, worship, you name it. 00:28:21.519 --> 00:28:22.319 Would you pray? 00:28:22.480 --> 00:28:25.119 Would you pray for us, the elders and the deacons? 00:28:25.519 --> 00:28:27.839 That God will show us how to do that? 00:28:28.799 --> 00:28:32.400 I'm gonna close with just the gospel victories. 00:28:33.359 --> 00:28:35.279 This one might surprise you. 00:28:35.759 --> 00:28:40.240 You might be thinking, okay, well, wait a minute, the gospel victories, how many people came to Christ in Philippi? 00:28:40.319 --> 00:28:42.240 Is Paul going to give us numbers? 00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:43.119 No? 00:28:43.440 --> 00:28:44.640 Listen to this. 00:28:45.519 --> 00:28:46.880 Verse 28. 00:28:47.920 --> 00:28:50.160 I will be less anxious. 00:28:52.559 --> 00:28:54.960 How about that for a mission report? 00:28:55.759 --> 00:28:58.319 I will be less anxious. 00:28:59.680 --> 00:29:01.440 And you might think, wait a minute. 00:29:01.680 --> 00:29:06.480 You know, is that are those the kind of missionary letters you get when you support missionaries? 00:29:07.359 --> 00:29:09.039 Thank God for your prayers. 00:29:09.119 --> 00:29:10.880 I'm less anxious. 00:29:11.920 --> 00:29:17.039 Truth be told, I think I think some of us might say, well, do I really need to continue supporting that person? 00:29:18.240 --> 00:29:20.480 But Paul's not embarrassed to say it. 00:29:21.200 --> 00:29:33.519 Because of your prayers, because of your love, because of your financial gift, because I've seen how God is using Epaphroditus in my life, because of how God's using Timothy in my life, and yours, do you know what? 00:29:33.759 --> 00:29:35.839 I am less anxious. 00:29:37.599 --> 00:29:39.519 I think that's awesome. 00:29:40.160 --> 00:29:41.759 That's real life. 00:29:43.839 --> 00:29:47.920 That's what happens when gospel teams are ministering. 00:29:49.519 --> 00:30:00.960 Knowing that Epaphroditus will be reunited with his church family, knowing that Epaphroditus was healed physically, Paul says that you may rejoice at seeing him again. 00:30:01.279 --> 00:30:03.920 What Paul's doing in his mind, he's thinking, I see it. 00:30:04.160 --> 00:30:16.799 I can't wait till Ephroditus gets back home to Philippi, and all of you see him, give him a big hug, welcome him back, and just thank God for how God has worked. 00:30:18.960 --> 00:30:24.559 We're going to close on verse 30 because it's pretty powerful. 00:30:24.960 --> 00:30:28.079 For he nearly died for the work of Christ. 00:30:28.400 --> 00:30:34.559 This next phrase, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me. 00:30:34.720 --> 00:30:36.720 Now let's start with that last line. 00:30:37.039 --> 00:30:39.440 I know you all meant well, and I thank you for your prayers. 00:30:39.519 --> 00:30:42.240 I thank you for your money, but you could only do so much for me. 00:30:42.480 --> 00:30:44.640 You didn't make the 800-mile trip. 00:30:45.920 --> 00:30:51.519 You didn't put your life in danger, like Epaphroditus did. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:57.039 He's not putting the others down, he's just saying that Epaphroditus went way above and beyond. 00:31:03.839 --> 00:31:07.680 But he risked his life to complete this work. 00:31:08.799 --> 00:31:12.000 In the Greek language, this is a compound word, para. 00:31:13.279 --> 00:31:16.480 Para, the prefix, means to come alongside. 00:31:17.440 --> 00:31:20.400 But the rest of the word is it was parabolani. 00:31:20.960 --> 00:31:22.000 Parabolani. 00:31:22.240 --> 00:31:25.839 Balani is in the Greek means a risk taker. 00:31:27.359 --> 00:31:28.640 A gambler. 00:31:29.440 --> 00:31:32.000 Think of a gospel gambler. 00:31:32.480 --> 00:31:35.279 You probably never heard that term before. 00:31:35.759 --> 00:31:39.920 Well, taking incredible risk for the sake of the gospel. 00:31:40.400 --> 00:31:44.559 I mean, putting your own life maybe in jeopardy. 00:31:44.960 --> 00:31:51.039 Going way out of your way in terms of time and effort, whatever. 00:31:51.519 --> 00:31:59.359 In the early church, there were societies of women and men who were called, guess what, the parabolani. 00:32:00.160 --> 00:32:03.039 They didn't call them the deacons or the mercy committee. 00:32:03.200 --> 00:32:05.039 They called them the parabolani. 00:32:05.839 --> 00:32:09.359 They ministered to the sick, imprisoned. 00:32:10.160 --> 00:32:18.880 Back in the city of Carthage in 252 A.D., a massive plague hit that city. 00:32:19.119 --> 00:32:19.519 Alright? 00:32:19.680 --> 00:32:21.759 We're all paying attention these days, right? 00:32:22.640 --> 00:32:28.799 The coronavirus, well, this hit that city much harder than we've seen the coronavirus hit anybody yet. 00:32:29.119 --> 00:32:30.079 Much harder. 00:32:30.400 --> 00:32:43.039