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Now, here's today's message from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Paul's whole point is, God was the word. He was in the form of God that never changes. He divested himself of certain prerogatives, but God exalted him and gave him the name above every name that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow. Of those in heaven and those on earth.
And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.
Now let's apply that. Let that mind that I just described be in you. Where you are willing to divest yourself of certain prerogatives. In a relationship in order to serve that other person. that you are relating to.
Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus.
So, the model of the Christian life is Christ. He's the first model. There are more, by the way. Because Paul himself was a follower of Jesus Christ, and if you remember, in another letter, Paul says, Follow me as I follow the Lord. Paul uses himself as a second example.
In verse 17, of chapter two. This is sort of where we left off. Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with you all. For the same reason you also be glad and rejoice With me. Paul didn't know if he was going to live or die.
That's what this is all about. to be poured out was Speaking of a drink offering, a libation that was often poured on burnt offerings in the tabernacle or in the temple. And it was a metaphor to be used of life being poured out to death.
So, the very last letter that Paul writes, 2 Timothy chapter 4, he uses this language. I am already being poured out as a drink offering, and the time of my departure or death is at hand. I have fought the good fight. I have finished the race. I have kept the faith.
Now he says, Look, I'm in prison. Don't know if I'm going to live. Don't know if I'm going to lose my head. If I do, I'm happy. I rejoice.
I am living my life. Divesting myself, emptying myself, being lowly-minded. I'm serving the Lord. If that's what He has for me, great. If that's what He doesn't have for me, great.
So Jesus is the first model, the first example. The second is Paul.
Now there are two more that follow. There's Timothy. His protege And a guy by the name of Epaphroditis, and that's the rest of this chapter. First of all, Timothy. Verse 19, but I trust in the Lord to send Timothy to you shortly.
that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. You know, Paul. was always part of a team. When you think of Paul the Apostle, I don't know exactly how you think of Paul, but a lot of people sort of see him as a rugged individualist, doesn't really need people. He kind of works on his own.
It's just he and God, God speaks to him and he does his thing. Couldn't be further from the truth. Paul always had others with him, a team. Paul and Barnabas, Paul and Silas, Aquila and Priscilla, Apollos. Epaphroditus, many of them.
Paul was always part of a team. Two more people that he Relied on a lot, two friends were Timothy and Epaphroditus.
Now, Timothy. Timothy was born and raised in a town called Lystra. Paul went through Lystra in Asia Minor, modern-day Turkey, on his first missionary journey. That's when we believe Timothy as a child was converted to Christ. Timothy was the product of a mixed marriage.
Meaning his mother was Jewish. who became a believer in Christ. His father was an unbelieving Greek.
So he is the son of a mixed marriage. But Paul calls him my son in the faith. Paul's son in the faith.
So his grandmother was Lois, his mother was. Eunice. That's mentioned in the book of 2 Timothy. Timothy converted on the first missionary journey of Paul, as I said when he went through town, stayed in Lystra. When Paul came back through on his second missionary journey, Paul then invited him to join his team.
So from that day forward, Timothy became part of Paul the Apostle Evangelistic Crusade team. A full-fledged member, and he served with him ever since, his son in the fate. But look how he describes him. I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly. That I also may be encouraged when I know your state.
I'm going to send Timothy, he's with me in Rome, 800 miles away from you guys in Philippi. But I'm going to send him to you. Because I want to know how you guys are doing in your faith. For he says in verse 20, I have no one. Like minded who will sincerely care for your state.
It's a very unusual word that he uses here, like-minded. It's the only use of it in the entire Greek New Testament or the entire New Testament. He uses it once. And it's to speak of Timothy. The word that is translated like-minded is isopsukas.
And it literally means equal.
Sold. Equal soul. We would say soulmate. Paul writes to the Corinthians, and he says that Timothy does the same kind of work in the Lord as I also do.
So, you think of all the people Paul the Apostle knew, and he knew a lot of people, and he served with a lot of people, but of all the people, That he loved, that he served with, stalwarts in the faith. Fruitful people in the ministry, no one was quite like Timothy. There was only one person. Who was like-minded, who thought like Paul thought, who cared for people like Paul cared for people, who were motivated not by status, not by financial remuneration, just to serve the Lord. Paul said, I don't have anybody else like that except this guy.
In the Old Testament, you remember. David When he met Jonathan the son of Saul He says that David and Jonathan's heart were knit together. Very similar kind of relationship. They love the same Lord in the same manner as each other. Jonathan could see that motivation in David, he admired it.
Jonathan, David, could see that back at Jonathan.
So Equal sold, soul mate. If you find another person Who loves Jesus? As much as you love Jesus. of the opposite sex. Marry them.
I did. I found somebody who is Equal in soul to me. I took her out to dinner one time. I had known her for several months, actually, a couple of years. I had dated her, and then.
To my chagrin, dumped her. But then we were eating dinner one night, and she ministered to me the things of the Lord and what He had done in her life. And I thought, I'm an idiot. For letting her go. She is equal sold.
So I got to marry my best friend and soulmate. He continues in verse 21, for all seek their own. Not the things which are of Christ Jesus.
Now that's quite a statement. One translation says for everybody else is selfish. Except for Timothy. I don't exactly know what is in Paul's mind when he wrote this. I don't know who he's referring to.
Maybe he's thinking of those people in Philippi who were preaching the gospel for all the wrong reasons. We discussed them a couple weeks back. But all seek their own, or everyone else is selfish. They don't seek the things which are of Christ Jesus. But you know his, Timothy's, proven character, that as a son with his father, he served with me in the gospel.
Therefore I hope to send him at once. As soon as I see how it goes with me, I got to find out if I'm going to live or die, what the verdict will be. But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall come to you shortly.
So Timothy had a proven track record. Paul had utilized him before, sent him on other errands, other missions from Ephesus to Thessalonica, from Ephesus to Macedonia, a few different places.
So He mentions this: that he's reliable, he's trustworthy. Second friend that he mentions, fourth example of the model of the Christian life after Christ, after Paul, after Timothy, is verse twenty five, Epaphroditus. Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus. My brother Fellow worker and fellow soldier, But you're Messenger and the one who ministered to my need.
Now, Epaphroditus, that's not a name you hear every day, is it? Have you ever met an Epaphroditis? I never have.
Sort of sounds like a disease, right? Laryngitis, appendicitis. I got a bad case of epaphroditis. But this guy was not a disease, far from it. He was a trusted.
Friend. the Apostle Paul. He was probably a Gentile convert. We don't really know much about him. There's only two times in the entire New Testament he's mentioned.
Both of them are in the book of Philippians, chapter 2 and chapter 4. But I'm guessing he was a Gentile convert because His name, Epaphroditus, is a reference to the goddess Aphrodite. You're listening to Connect with Skip Heidzig. Every day, friends like you help connect people around the world to the life-changing truth of God's Word through clear, verse-by-verse Bible teaching. And this month, we'd like to thank you with a practical resource designed for the challenges of everyday life.
When you give, you'll receive Biblical Wisdom for Everyday Living, a collection of four lifestyle booklets from Pastor Skip Heitzig. Through Pray This Way, Technicolor Joy, Unforgiveness, Forgiveness versus Sweet Revenge, and Standing Firm in Unsettling Times, you'll discover biblical wisdom for prayer, joy, forgiveness, and finding peace when life feels uncertain. We'll send this special collection as our thanks when you give $30 or more to support Connect with Skip Heitzig. Call 800-922-1888 or visit connectwithskip.com slash offer.
Now, let's return to today's teaching. And the name Epaphroditus means related to Aphrodite. It came to mean lovely. The name means lovely, but. But it has an association with Aphrodite.
Now, you remember, Aphrodite was the Greek goddess of love and fertility. If you ever make it to Corinth in Greece, you can still see this little protrusion, this little mountain right out on the outskirts of town called the Acro Corinth. It goes 200 feet up. From the city of Corinth itself on the top. Of the Acro Corinth in the city of Corinth was a temple to Aphrodite that employed.
One thousand prostitutes. Because Aphrodite was worshipped by prostitution.
So if you came to Corinth in those days, Those 1,000 priestesses would walk the 200 feet down on the steps into the city of Corinth at night to ply their trade, and the money they got supported the work. of the Temple of Aphrodite.
So, whoever this guy is, I'm guessing he was a non-Jewish person, a Gentile convert. who had associations. His parents named him after Aphrodite. The name came to mean lovely or pleasant. But Paul calls him His brother His fellow worker?
A fellow soldier. I like this next part, but you're Messenger What does he mean? The word messenger is the word apostolos.
So it would be translated apostle. He's my brother. He's my fellow worker, but he's your apostle. You sent him out. You sent him to me.
You sent him to Rome. I'm 800 miles away. Epaphroditus. Is your missionary to Rome. and here he is with me.
Epaphroditus traveled all the way to Rome to serve the Apostle Paul while he was in prison. He was a true servant. He is an example of esteeming others better than himself.
So, Jesus Christ, Paul the Apostle, Timothy.
Now Epaphroditis. Being sent on a mission to alleviate the suffering and help Paul the Apostle. Epaphroditus believed in Something I'm going to give a term to: basin theology. Basin theology. Let me explain.
Everybody Goes and lives and works out of one of two basins. in life. Basin number one is the basin of Punches Pilot. Pontius Pilate, when Jesus came before him and he didn't know what to do with him, he wanted to acquit him, but the crowd was against Jesus.
So Pilate called for a basin of water and a towel. He washed his hands in the basin, symbolizing, I am washing myself of the responsibility. You do with him what you want. Crucify him, go ahead. That's the basin of self-centeredness.
The other is the basin of Jesus Christ. On the night Jesus was betrayed, he took a basin of water. And a towel. He girded himself with a towel. He began to wash the dirty feet of the disciples.
So You and I, we have a choice. Will we work from the basin of pilot? Self-centeredness. or from the basin of Christ ministering to one another's needs. Yeah.
That's the essence that Paul is getting to. Let nothing be done through selfish ambition, but let each esteem others better than himself. That's what Jesus did. Let that mind be in you. He was God.
He emptied himself of certain prerogatives. I follow Jesus Christ. I'm willing to die if need be. Timothy has served me in the gospel. Epaphroditus.
Your Missionary, your servant, your apostle. and the one, he says, who ministered to my need. He continues, verse 26. Since he was longing for you all. and he was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.
Apparently As soon as Paul as soon as Epaphroditus finished his eight hundred mile journey and made it to Rome, He became gravely ill, deathly sick. I say deathly sick because the word used here for sick is the same word used when Lazarus got sick. and died.
So I don't know what he came down with. If he drank the water and he got. What would you call it in Rome? Caesar's revenge?
Something afflicted him, affected him, and he got gravely sick. Then when he heard that the Philippians heard that he was sick, That's what really distressed him. Oh no, they know that I'm sick. They're going to be worried, sick about my sickness.
So he is distressed over the fact that that knowledge came to the Philippians, and they'd be worried about him.
So I love this guy. He's thinking about. Their feelings. You might say, he was longing for you all, and he was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick almost unto death.
But God had mercy on him not only on him, but but on me also. Lest I should have sorrow. Upon Sorrow.
Now wait a minute. This guy is with Paul the Apostle and he's sick? If I read my New Testament correctly, especially the book of Acts, I notice that Paul. Was able to perform many miraculous works, including. Healing of the sick.
Yet Epaphroditus was sick in Paul's presence. He's not the only one. When Paul writes his very last letter, 2 Timothy, the very last chapter, in fact, almost the very end of the book, the very last words Paul the Apostle ever penned, the third to the last sentence that Paul the Apostle ever penned, he said, I have left Trophimus sick. At Miletus He's sick. I'm Levin.
See ya. You say, well, why didn't Paul heal him? I am convinced that Paul probably did pray for both of these fellas. But God said no. Paul wasn't the healer.
Paul knew that he wasn't the one who could heal people. He didn't heal anybody. He knew that it's up to God to heal people. I can ask God to heal you. I can lay hands and ask God to heal you.
I can pray in faith that God would heal you. But the healing is not up to me or the amount of faith that I have. Ultimately, it's up to God.
So, I think he did pray for Epaphroditus. I think he did pray for Trophimus. But they weren't healed.
Sometimes I pray for people and they get better. Other times I prayed for people. And they get worse.
So, if you're thinking, oh, I have to have Pastor Skip pray for me. I'm happy to pray for you. No question. Love to do it. If you have a physical ailment and you want oil administered, we'll do the whole bit.
And God may say yes, and I hope He does. Or he'll say no, and you might die. But ultimately it's up to him. And there's nothing wrong with Even if a person has a gift or an enabling to see people heal. There's nothing wrong with using that and/or modern medicine.
Timothy is an example. Paul knew that Timothy had a weak stomach. Paul could have said, Timothy, be hailed in Jesus' name. And maybe he did pray for that. But when he writes his letter to Timothy, he says, Timothy, take a little wine.
for your stomach's infirmity. It was used as medicinal. for medicinal purposes.
So He was sick. No doubt Paul prayed for him. God said no, I said. You know, even Paul the Apostle had what he called the thorn in the flesh. And that he asked God to take it away from him three different times.
And God said, nope, nope, nope. And then finally, the Lord said, My grace is all you need. And so Paul said, okay, I can live with that. I'll rejoice in what I have. Therefore, I sent him the more eager.
Verse 28. Therefore, I sent him the more eagerly. That when you see him again, you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. Evidently Epaphroditus is better, has already been dispatched by Paul Paul has sent Timothy and Epaphroditus there when he writes this en route to Rome. And he says this, receive him therefore in the Lord.
With all gladness. And hold Such men in esteem. Because for the work of Christ He came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service. toward me. There's the beautiful principle there of respecting Leaders, respecting servants, respecting honoring.
those among us who serve, Pastor Matt brought to your attention the Servants that are working in VBS. We're asking for servants at Freedom Celebration. We're asking for servants at the Love Day here in Albuquerque. But then Once you serve, we also want to thank you and honor you. We have an axiom on this staff: we honor up, we honor down, and we honor all around.
So we honor those who are above us in the Lord and hold them in high respect and esteem, as Paul said. We honor down those who are servants in what we might say lower capacities. Honor up, honor down, and then honor all around. And then he qualifies that by saying, Because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
So Paul said, look, I knew. That you sent him to minister to me, you would be here, you would serve me yourself if you could, you couldn't.
So you sent him to Rome 800 miles. to do that in your place. And he is to be honored for his work to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.
So When you see an usher or security or a pastor. And they ask you questions like, excuse me, but what is in the purse or what is in your backpack? And you get a little bristly, like, you all have none of your business what's in my purse or my backpack. And then they say, well, now slow down a minute, pal. We'd like to see inside.
Oh, you have no listen. They're looking inside to protect you. Because some people could smuggle a weapon in. They've done it before.
So, all of that should cause a different reaction from you, one of Thank you very much for watching out for my need. I esteem you and honor you in the Lord. Keep up the great work. Instead of criticizing them, honoring them, there's a great old saying: a pat on the back. Even though it's only a few vertebrae removed from a kick in the pants.
is miles ahead in results. Give each other the love of Christ a pat on the back, a word of encouragement. It's tough enough serving the Lord in a dark world. We need all of the honoring and encouraging we can get. Yeah.
Thanks for joining us today on Connect with Skiff Heitzig. Before we go, remember, your generosity helps share God's word with people around the world, bringing biblical truth, encouragement, and hope to those who need it most. And this month we'd love to thank you for your gift of $30 or more by sending you biblical wisdom for everyday living. a collection of four lifestyle booklets from Pastor Skip Heidzig. Pray this way, technicolor joy.
Unforgiveness, forgiveness versus sweet revenge, and standing firm in unsettling times. These practical resources will help you apply God's truth to everyday challenges and grow deeper in your walk with Christ. Give today at connectwithgift.com slash offer or call 800-922-1888. We'll see you next time on Connect with Skip Heitzig. Make a connection.
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