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[0:00] Turn with me in your Bibles, if you will, again to Philippians chapter 2. Philippians chapter 2. We'll be considering verses 19 through the end of the chapter at verse 30.

[0:16] Before we read God's Word again, let us ask His help in prayer. Our Lord and our God, this is Your Word. We pray that You would help us to bow under it.

[0:30] And that You would help us to understand it. And that Your Spirit would work in us that we might be changed. That You would be pleased to hearten and strengthen us and grant us grace.

[0:43] For we look to You, the author and finisher of our faith. It's in Christ's name we ask this. Amen.

[0:54] Philippians 2, verse 19 through verse 30. This is the Word of the Lord. I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.

[1:12] 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. 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.

[1:30] 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 necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.

[1:53] 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 on him only, but also on me to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

[2:11] 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 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.

[2:34] Thus far, the words of the Lord. We count the cost in almost every aspect of life. If you're going to go and buy a new house, you want to know how much it's going to cost.

[2:49] Or a new car. If you're looking at a house, you want to know how much it's going to cost. And then you're going to sort of weigh the cost versus how valuable it is to you. You want to know, does it have a nice garden?

[3:01] Does it have the rooms that I want or the kitchen that I'm looking for? And typically, if something is more valuable to you, you're willing for it to cost more. My suspicion is that most of you would pay more to go have a ski holiday in the Swiss Alps than you are to go ski over by Asda.

[3:22] It's not that there's anything wrong with skiing by Asda, but to you, it's much more valuable to go to Switzerland and ski in the Alps. We count the cost in every facet of life.

[3:37] But many of us are reluctant to talk about counting the cost of discipleship. I mean, when was the last time that you were sharing the gospel or talking about the cost of discipleship?

[3:50] When was the last time you were telling someone, we need to deny ourselves and take up our cross and follow Him? Now, why is that? Why are we sort of reluctant sometimes to talk about the cost of discipleship?

[4:06] Well, my suspicion is that perhaps we're reluctant to talk about it because we have forgotten how truly valuable and worthy of our everything the gospel is, how valuable our God truly is, how worthy He is of everything that we are.

[4:28] Perhaps we don't want to talk about the cost of discipleship because we have forgotten how great and glorious our God really is. And in our passage tonight, we see this life worth living and we see this death worth dying, but before we do, we must put it all in perspective.

[4:48] We need to start by seeing in this passage our sovereign and kind God. And it's through those lenses that by God's grace we might be stirred to live a life worth living and die a death worth dying.

[5:01] But the first thing we see in this passage is a sovereign and kind God. You see it in verse 19, verse 21, verse 24, and verse 27. This sovereign and kind God.

[5:13] Verse 19, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you. Verse 21 says, for everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.

[5:27] Verse 24, it talks about, it says, and I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon. And then again in verse 27, indeed he was ill and almost died, but God had mercy on him.

[5:40] And not only on him, but also on me to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. In this text, you sort of come to this reading in your English Bible.

[5:51] I hate to break it to you, but the divisions, you know, where it says in your Bible, Timothy and Epaphroditus, that's not in the original Greek. But you come along, they're very helpful, they're good tools to look at, but you come along and you see this Timothy and Epaphroditus heading.

[6:05] And you go, I know what that's about. And you can just sort of bump right along. And you can sort of miss the fact that God and Christ is throughout this passage.

[6:18] That this passage is full of this sovereign and kind God. It's certainly about Timothy and Epaphroditus to be sure, but throughout everything that's taking place here is this sovereign and kind God.

[6:34] Let me illustrate it to you this way. I'm sure you've been to a child's birthday party before. Maybe it's a three-year-old. And all of these other three-year-olds are bringing these presents that are from them.

[6:45] These three-year-olds without jobs, without any means of income. They come and they take these presents to them and it's from little Billy or whomever. Now what is actually taking place, yes, the child is doing well by giving the gift, but what is actually taking place is there's a parent behind that child or a grandparent or a guardian or something, and they're giving the present actually.

[7:06] And the child is just merely delivering it. And I want to suggest to you that that's what we need to remember when we come across these great men like Timothy and Epaphroditus. We need to remember, yes, these were great gifts to the church, but they're gifts from God.

[7:23] Yes, these men were remarkable, yes, but they're gifts from God to His church. He is behind these wonderful gifts.

[7:34] It's the author and perfecter of our faith. It's the one who is the true gift giver that we need to see in this passage first. Timothy and Epaphroditus were doing great things, but behind every action is this sovereign and kind God.

[7:53] Verse 19 says, I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon and that I also may be cheered when I receive news about him. And then he says something similar in verse 24, and I'm confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.

[8:08] In the Lord, I hope in the Lord. I am confident in the Lord. Paul is putting his hopes and his dreams under the sovereignty of the Lord.

[8:22] I'm hoping in the Lord. I'm confident in the Lord. It's similar. I take it to be similar to when James says that don't boast about the plans that you're going to make, that I'm going to do this today or tomorrow.

[8:36] But say, if the Lord is willing. Paul says, I hope in the Lord to send Timothy to you. He's recognizing here that all our hopes and all our plans, all our desires, everything that we will do and everything that we want to do comes under the sovereignty of this God.

[8:56] I hope in the Lord. Lord willing, I will send it to you. And I think that this isn't particularly important for us to remember as we read this passage.

[9:08] I mean, it's a pretty easy thing to say. Well, God is sovereign, right? God is in control of the circumstances. But what if you're in prison and you're chained to a Roman guard? That's where Paul was when he's writing this epistle.

[9:20] He's in jail. He's in jail. And yet he's trusting the Lord. He's bowing before God's sovereignty.

[9:31] He knows that, yes, the Romans have him for now, but if God wills for him to die in that Roman prison, then he will die in that Roman prison. But if God chooses to set him free, then all of Rome could not hold him there.

[9:45] He knows that this God is sovereign. This God is ruler over everything. And he says this in the midst of prison. It's easy to say when you're driving down the road in a car that works fine and everything's going well.

[10:01] It's easy to say standing around talking to a friend when everything is perfect in your life. But when things have seemed to have fallen apart, when you're suffering for your faith, when you're chained to a Roman guard, I think it's a remarkable confession to recognize how the sovereignty of God keeps coming out in this epistle.

[10:18] Things have not spun out of control. Yes, he is suffering. Yes, things are difficult. But God is seated upon the throne, not Caesar. God is seated upon the throne.

[10:31] And Paul is recognizing that when in verse 25 of chapter 1, he says, convinced of this, I know that I will remain. He's wrestling with whether he should go or stay.

[10:42] Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and will continue with all of you for your progress and joy and faith so that through my being with you, again, your joy in Christ will overflow on account of me.

[10:52] He's sort of wrestling through this desire to go and be with the Lord and wrestling with this desire to stay with the church. And yet throughout this epistle, he's bowing before the sovereignty of God.

[11:05] But he's bowing before the sovereignty of God. He hopes in the Lord to send Timothy. He trusts in the Lord that he will visit them, that he will continue on for their faith.

[11:17] He's recognizing God's sovereignty. In verse 27, we see God's sovereignty again. In verse 27, he says, indeed, he was ill, talking about Epaphroditus, and almost died, but God had mercy on him.

[11:30] And not only on him, but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Do you see how easy it is to miss? You sort of can be reading along, and you think, okay, Epaphroditus was sick, but he got better, and everything's great.

[11:43] And here it is, Paul is saying, God had mercy on him and also on me. God is sovereign over sickness.

[11:55] That's the implication. God is sovereign over death. Isn't death sort of the... It's the thing we can't conquer in life, isn't it?

[12:08] I mean, with all of our medical advances, with everything that we have learned, everything that we've been able to do in this world, you're still going to die unless the Lord comes quickly.

[12:21] You're still going to die. We cannot beat this thing called death. And yet God is sovereign over it. He is ruler over it. Indeed, he was ill and almost died, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but also on me.

[12:35] It was God who spared Epaphroditus. God is sovereign over sickness and over death, and I think that we need to remember that, don't we?

[12:48] Because it's hard when death hits you quickly. It's hard when a loved one gets terminally ill. We have to stop and realize that God is sovereign over all of these things, these things that are so much more powerful than we are, these things that we cannot control.

[13:10] God is seated upon his throne. But, you know, it's not enough to have a sovereign God, is it? I mean, yes, it's good to have a sovereign God, but this all-powerful and great and glorious God, but not only do we have this sovereign God, but we have this God who is kind.

[13:30] You know, Hitler was powerful. Stalin was powerful. But this God is all-powerful, and yet this God is kind.

[13:45] This God is merciful. This God cares for his people. In verse 27, Paul says that God had mercy on him, on Epaphroditus, and not only on him, but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.

[14:01] This sovereign God who is seated upon his throne. This God who flicked the planets out into the universe. This God who spoke into darkness and brought forth light.

[14:12] This God who has done all of these glorious things when you sit on a cliff and look out over the sea. When you see a storm rise. When you look at the ocean. This God who did all of these things cares for his servant Epaphroditus.

[14:25] This God who has done everything so great and so gloriously. Who does not change. Who does not falter. Who does not weary. Who does not slumber. He cares for the weakness of the Apostle Paul.

[14:39] So that he would not have sorrow upon sorrow. God knows our limits. And he cares. Isn't that so comforting?

[14:55] That this sovereign God would care for us. That he would know our limits. That he would put a limitation to the temptations that we face like he says in 1 Corinthians 10.

[15:07] That God will provide a way out. That this God knows that we are but dust. That this sovereign God knows our feeble frames.

[15:23] This sovereign God cares for his people. And back in verse 21 we see some more of God's concern for his people.

[15:37] He says, For everyone looks out for his own interest. Not those of Jesus Christ. Everyone else seeks their own interest, Paul says.

[15:49] Everyone looks out for his own interest. Not those of Jesus Christ. But here Timothy is different. And what is Timothy doing? What are the interests of Christ? What is Christ concerned about? What does that look like?

[16:01] How is he seeking the interests of Christ? He's seeking the good of others. I know that people always say that this is the epistle of joy.

[16:15] And there's a lot of joy in it. But I have to agree with those people that think that this epistle is about counting others. It's more important than yourself. Because that's what Christ did.

[16:25] And that's what Paul is telling us to do. And he says that Timothy. Timothy seeks the interest of Christ.

[16:36] And that results in service to his people. Christ is concerned for his people. By Timothy seeking the interest of Christ. It was manifested in his seeking the good of others around him.

[16:50] What does he say in the beginning of chapter 2? We read it earlier. Do nothing out of selfish ambition. Verse 3. Or vain conceit.

[17:01] But in humility consider others better than yourself. Each of you. Verse 4. Should look not only to your own interests. But also to the interest of others. Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.

[17:14] Who being in the very nature God did not count equality with God. Something to grasp. But made himself nothing. Paul is talking about us having this mind of Christ.

[17:24] Where we look to the interest of others. Where we seek the good of those around us. You know it's popular to say sometimes. That if you're too heavenly minded you'll be of no earthly good.

[17:39] It doesn't really make any sense. Because if you're actually heavily minded. Then you would be of the most earthly good. Because Christ is concerned about his people. God is concerned about his people.

[17:50] Christ says he will build his church. And the gates of hell will not prevail against it. Christ cares for his people. You can't seek the interest of Christ.

[18:04] Without seeking the good of others. Without seeking the salvation of others. Christ is concerned for his people. See Christ. Left glory.

[18:15] And humbled himself. And became obedient unto death. Even death on a cross. For sinners like you and me.

[18:27] That's what we were talking about this morning. He did this for others. He didn't need to do this. It wasn't just some sort of active boredom. Or some need on his behalf.

[18:41] We were the ones in need. And he came and did it for us. And Paul says now that he has ascended to glory.

[18:52] And seated at the right hand of God. And though Christ has cried out. It is finished. Jesus Christ. Is not finished with us.

[19:04] Paul goes on to say. Work out your fear. Your salvation with fear. And trembling. For it is God who works in you. To will and to act according to his purpose.

[19:17] Christ cried out on the cross. It is finished. But my brothers and sisters. You need to take heart. Because Jesus Christ is not finished with you. His work of growing his church.

[19:29] His work of sanctification. Of making you more like Jesus. Is not finished. It is finished. But Christ is not finished. With you.

[19:42] Paul says in Philippians. But grace was given to each one of us. According to the measure of Christ's gift. Therefore it says. When he ascended on high. He led a host of captives.

[19:52] And he gave gifts to men. In saying he ascended. What does it mean? But that he also descended. Into the lower parts of the earth. He who descended is the one. Who also ascended far above.

[20:03] All the heavens. That he might fill all things. And he gave the apostles. The prophets. The evangelists. The pastors. And teachers. To equip the saints. For the work of ministry. For the building up.

[20:15] Of the body of Christ. He's saying that Christ ascended in his glory. And he's still giving gifts to his church. He's raising up people. To serve his people. Christ cried out.

[20:25] It is finished. But Jesus Christ. Is not finished with you. And my suspicion is. Is that you need to know that. Because if you're anything like me. You kind of look up here at this.

[20:37] This this verse. Work out your salvation. With fear and trembling. For it is God. Who works in you. And you can sort of look at that. And say you know. I've got the fear and trembling down.

[20:49] Because when I look at my life. I seem to be making very little progress. Isn't it discouraging. How we can sort of fight. And fall before the same sins.

[21:00] Again and again and again. And every time you feel like. You sort of make a little bit of progress. In the faith. You realize that you're back at square one. Maybe it's pride. Maybe it's lust.

[21:12] Maybe it's a whole host of things. You know what your struggles are. And you know the things. Maybe it's yelling at your kids. Or not. Or taking your spouse for granted. Or sloughing off at work. Or whatever it is.

[21:22] That you struggle with. It's those sins that we continue to fight. And we continue to fall before. And we can sort of begin to feel like.

[21:33] We're alone in this battle against sin. Yes we know that our sin has been dealt with. At the cross of Jesus Christ. But we're here. And we're now.

[21:43] And we're struggling. And sometimes you can get discouraged. And you need to know. That it is finished. That Jesus Christ is not finished with you.

[21:57] Christ is still concerned for his people. You know to be quite honest with you. The love that Timothy and Epaphroditus.

[22:09] As great as it was. Doesn't really do a whole lot for me. It's amazing. Yes. But they've been dead for a long time. But what absolutely astounds me.

[22:21] Is that this God. Would choose. To look upon us. That this God. Would continue. To be patient with us. And fight with us. Against our sin. Each and every day.

[22:32] And work in us. And be patient with us. And that's what absolutely astounds me. And that's why I think we have to stop. At this passage. And we have to look. And see this sovereign. And kind.

[22:43] God. That. That. Is what's truly amazing about grace. Isn't it? That God would choose. To look upon us. And it's.

[22:55] It's through these lenses. I think. That we can. Now consider. A life worth living. And. And a death worth dying. And. We see a life worth living. In verses 19 through 24. I hope in the Lord Jesus.

[23:06] 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.

[23:17] Not those of Jesus Christ. But you know that Timothy. Has proved himself. Because as a father with his. As a son with his father. He has served with me. In the work of the gospel. I hope therefore.

[23:29] 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. It's this. This life worth living. It's this. This life of service. Isn't it?

[23:40] That's what. He's talking about. That Timothy did. Timothy was living. This. This life of service. A couple of years ago. I was. An intern for. For Ligon Duncan. Some of you may.

[23:50] Know who he is. He's a minister. Back. Back. Where I'm from. And. I had been treated. Quite unfairly. By someone. And we were talking about it. And Ligon. After.

[24:01] Sort of helping me explain. Why this person. Did what they did. And. And. Why they acted that way. Towards me. And some of the struggles. That this person. Faces. And he looked at me. And he said something.

[24:11] That I don't think. I'll ever forget. He said. You know Nick. He said. All of us want to be servants. But none of us want to be treated like one. And. What Ligon was trying to tell me was.

[24:25] If you're going to be a servant of Christ. You better be prepared. To be treated like one. Now we don't really. That doesn't really make you excited. Does it?

[24:35] It doesn't make you sort of want to run out. And sort of. Seize the world. No. None of us want to be treated. Like servants. And maybe that's why. Sometimes we don't. We don't want to live a life for others.

[24:47] Maybe that's why. Sometimes we hold back. Because we really are afraid. That. That we'll be stepped on. That we'll be taken advantage of. That we won't be. Be looked after. Perhaps that's.

[24:59] Our greatest. Objection. To. To seeking the interest of others. Seeking the interest of Christ. But. Living. For others.

[25:10] Seeking the interest of Christ. This. This selfless life. This life of service. Is a life that is truly. Worth living. Paul says. He. He hopes to send Timothy. So that he might be cheered.

[25:21] By the news. That he. He hears of the Philippians. And. And then. Verses. 21 through 23. He talks about how. How. Timothy's. Service. How. How. Everyone looks out for their own interests.

[25:33] Not those of Christ. But Timothy has. Proven himself. What's. Commendable. About Timothy's life. As we said earlier. Is. Is that he's. He's seeking the interest of Christ. That he's.

[25:43] He's not seeking his own interests. I mean. How. How do you seek the interest of Christ. How do you serve this God. This great and glorious God. He says. If I was hungry.

[25:54] I wouldn't tell you. This God. He doesn't slumber. He doesn't sleep. Christ. Yes. He became flesh. And he knows what it's like to live in this world. But he's.

[26:04] Glorified. He's exalted. He doesn't. He doesn't need our help. He doesn't need food. He doesn't need water. How. How can you serve this God. God. He doesn't need us. You serve.

[26:18] Christ. By serving his people. Because we do get tired. Don't we? And we do get sleepy.

[26:30] We do get. Hungry. We do get thirsty. We do have needs. You serve. Christ. By looking to the interests of those. Around you. Sharing the gospel.

[26:42] Looking for. For things that you can do for others. You. You think I'm crazy? Well. Matthew 25 says. When asked. Lord. When did we ever do any of these things for you?

[26:52] Remember the sheep and the goats. The. The goats are on one side. The sheep are on the other. And the sheep say. Lord. Lord. When did we do anything for you? And. He says. Lord.

[27:02] When did we see you hungry. Or thirsty. Or in prison. Jesus replied. What you did to the least of these. You did. Unto me. This life of service is lived.

[27:17] Towards others. The exalted Christ. Doesn't need our help. And that's good news. But his people do. Paul commends Timothy.

[27:29] Because he. He was seeking the interest. Of Christ. He wasn't seeking. His own interest. He's. He's seeking the interest of Christ. Christ. And I think we have to stop.

[27:40] Don't we? And we have to ask ourselves. What are. What are we living for? Or what are we seeking?

[27:54] Whose kingdom are we trying to build? Is it Christ? Christ. Or is it ours? Christ. Paul.

[28:07] Paul. Commends Timothy. For his service here. Seeking the interest of Christ. Looking to others. What are we living for? You say.

[28:19] Well I'm not. I'm not called to be. Timothy. Well. No you're not. But here. Paul. Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit. Is saying. This is a commendable life. This is good.

[28:30] What he has done. And we have to stop. And ask ourselves. If we seek the interest of Christ. Seeking the interest of Christ. Means that you'll seek. To glorify God.

[28:40] In everything that you do. It doesn't mean. That you stop. Secular employment. It doesn't mean. That it's wrong. To be a real estate agent. Or. A car salesman. Or any number of things.

[28:50] It doesn't mean. That it's wrong. Seeking the interest of Christ. But it does transform. The way in which we go. About those duties. Doesn't it? It does put them in perspective. Getting ahead.

[29:01] May not be as important. As we thought it was. Especially if it means. Stepping on someone else. Paul says that Timothy. He's unique.

[29:13] Everyone else. Seeks their own interest. But. Timothy sought the interest of Christ. You see. You can't serve two masters.

[29:24] Can you? It's true. But a life. Lived. Seeking the interest of Christ. Is a life. Lived. In light of eternity. Because.

[29:38] If you're looking to the interest of others. It doesn't mean. That you're going to get a good share. Of all the nice things of life. It's okay if you do. And God may be gracious. And give those things to you. It's not bad. To.

[29:48] To have money. And to have nice things. It's. It's not bad. But we have to remember. That if we're going to truly. Look. To the interest of Christ. And look to the interest of others.

[30:01] Then we have to be prepared. To live. A life. Strictly for eternity. Because you may not. Get the things. Of this life. You may get stepped on.

[30:13] Along the way. But so we have this. This is this life worth living. We have this sovereign and kind God. This. This life worth living. But then we have this. This death worth dying. We see it in verses 25.

[30:24] Through 30. But I think it is necessary. To send back to you. Epaphroditus. My brother. Fellow worker. And fellow soldier. Who is also your messenger. Whom you sent. To take care of my needs.

[30:34] 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 only. Not on him only. But also on me.

[30:44] To spare me sorrow. Upon sorrow. 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.

[30:55] With great joy. 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. It's this. This death worth dying.

[31:07] I remember a story. Of a lady. Who was from a Muslim country. And she came to the United States. To study. She was converted. During her time there. She was baptized. And at a certain point.

[31:18] She returned to her home. To visit her family. As she was held up. At immigration. Or customs. Or wherever. When she arrived in the country. She was held up for a while.

[31:29] Asked a lot of questions. But her father was a man. Of considerable influence. And so. She was let go. After a lot of questioning. When she arrived. At her parents home.

[31:41] Her dad wasn't there. But her uncle was. Her uncle began to. To question her. Heatedly. About her experience. In the States. And about her conversion.

[31:52] To Christianity. About her baptism. And as he did. He became. Angry. He began to beat her. And beat her. And beat her.

[32:03] And as he raised a chair. Over his head. To finish her off. Her father came in. At the last moment. Restrained. His brother. And she lived.

[32:13] Through the experience. She was able to return. To the States again. Where she was learning. New Testament Greek. So that she could translate. The New Testament. In. In the language.

[32:24] Of her people. And she was asked. By a pastor. What in the world. Were you thinking. While your uncle. Held this chair. Over your head. To finish you off.

[32:34] After giving you. Such a beating. And she said. The only thing. I could keep thinking. Was is that. That this God. Has a God. That this man. Has a God.

[32:45] That he would kill for. But I have a savior. That I would die for. It's this. This death. Worth dying. Paul sees.

[32:56] Something commendable. In this. This near death. Experience. Of Epaphroditus. He says. That. That. That. That the. Philippians. Need to. Praise. Such men.

[33:06] Receive them. With. With great joy. And honor. Men like him. Because he almost died. For the work. Of Christ. Paul. Epaphroditus. Was apparently. He was.

[33:17] He was sent. With this gift. To the apostle Paul. The Philippians. Had some sort of gift. Offering. And they sent it to. The apostle Paul. And along the way. Epaphroditus. Gets. Sick.

[33:29] It appears. That he probably. Just had. Some sort of. Ordinary bug. I mean. I know. We think of. Risking your life. For Christ. As involving. Sort of. Cannibals. Eating you. Or. Or spears.

[33:39] Or something. Some remote beach. Where. You know. No one. Has ever. Heard the gospel. Before. And we. That's kind of. How we typically. Think of. Of. Sacrificing our lives. For Christ. But. But Paul says.

[33:49] That. Epaphroditus. Risked his life. And. And. And. There doesn't appear. To be any. In the text. There's no indication. That there was persecution. Involved. Or anything. He just simply got sick.

[34:00] And almost died. And Paul says. This man risked his life. For the gospel. He almost. Died. For the gospel. For what was lacking. In. In the Philippian service.

[34:12] To the apostle Paul. And he says. This is. This is praiseworthy. This is. This is an honorable thing. You should honor such men. Maybe. Epaphroditus. Wouldn't have gotten sick.

[34:23] If he would have stayed home. You know. It seems. The. The. The him getting sick. And almost dying. Seems to be linked to the fact. That he went. So it seems to be that.

[34:35] Perhaps. He risked his life. In some way. Risks his health. In this. In this. Act of service. To the church. For the cause. Of Christ. For the work. Of Christ. Perhaps.

[34:47] He would have. He would have. Been okay. If he had stayed home. What would we have said. To Epaphroditus. Paul says. Praise such men. Who risked their health. For the gospel. Of Jesus Christ.

[34:59] But I wonder. If that would be our reaction. I've heard it so many times. You know. Calvin worked too hard. Or such and such missionary. Died.

[35:09] Because they didn't plan it out. Well enough. Everyone knows. You don't just do that. But Paul says. That Epaphroditus.

[35:20] Risked his life. And it was commendable. You might be sitting there. Thinking. Well. We just can't fly off our handle. And just do crazy things.

[35:31] Can we? You know. We have to. We can't just suspend judgment. And reason. And just. Just go and live. Out and out. And not think about the consequences. Of what. Might take place.

[35:42] Well yeah. You're right. But my suspicion is. That. That. That. Is not our struggle. I mean. When was the last time. You just went crazy for Jesus.

[35:53] And you just did something. Completely outlandish. And risked your health. And your life. And your limb. For the gospel of Jesus Christ. When was the last time. That you just. Flew off your handle. And made. A rash judgment.

[36:06] Risking your life. Now that's. That's not our struggle. Is it? Our struggle. Is that we are. Way too good. At justifying.

[36:17] Our quiet. And simple. Lives of ease. That's our struggle. Isn't it? Paul says.

[36:27] This man. Risks his life. For the work of Christ. And it is commendable. It's this. It's this death. Worth dying. This man.

[36:39] Was willing to die. For something. That truly matters. If it. If it. If it. If it were not so. Then. Paul wouldn't have said. It was commendable. This is the word of God. That it says.

[36:50] Epaphroditus's. Act of service. Was commendable. The Philippians. Should honor such men. He risked his life. For the gospel. He risked his life.

[37:00] For something. That truly matters. You see. You only get one life. To live. Don't you? Death. And you only get one death. To die. And how are you going to spend it?

[37:17] The world. Holds before you. Countless things. And says. This. Is worth living for. This. Is worth dying for. This is. This is worthy of your life. This is worthy of your death.

[37:28] But all the treasures. And all the causes. Of the world. Pale. Completely pale.

[37:39] In comparison. To the wonderful. Opportunity. To live your life. For Christ. Seeking the interest of Christ.

[37:50] And lay down your life. For Christ. If that's what you're called to do. Yes. The cost of discipleship. Is great. But Paul says that. The trials that we face. In this life. Are absolutely nothing.

[38:01] Compared. To the glory. Which is ours. In Christ Jesus. Is Paul making light. Of our struggles? Of course not. Now what he's telling you. Is. Is that these trials.

[38:11] That are so. Terrible. At times. Are absolutely nothing. Nothing. By comparison. To the weight. Of glory. That is ours. In Christ Jesus. It's that much better.

[38:26] But you can give. All your possessions. Possessions. You can give your life. To the fire. You can. You can. Live a life. For other people. And if you're not resting. And trusting in Jesus Christ.

[38:37] Alone to save you. Then. You won't get into heaven. It won't be enough. You can do all of these. Great things. But if. If you're not resting.

[38:48] In the precious. Merit of Jesus Christ. Then it will. Not be enough. But if. You do believe. In the Lord Jesus Christ. Then you will be saved.

[39:00] And you will be set free. To strive. By the power of the Holy Spirit. That dwells in you. To live a life. Worth living. Each and every day. And when the time comes.

[39:13] That you might die. A death. Worth. Dying. See my friends. There is. There is hope. In this battle against sin.

[39:24] Because it is finished. But Jesus Christ. Is not finished. With you. Let's pray. Let's pray.