Sermon Tone Analysis
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It may be hard to imagine at this point, but think of a hot 90 degree day in July in the garden, at camp, or the workplace.
You are looking for something to refresh you in the midst of the heat.
There are many things that you can enjoy (meat, sweets, etc), but there are very few things that refresh like a nice cold glass of water.
This is the picture used in Proverbs 25:13- “Like the cold of snow in time of harvest Is a faithful messenger to those who send him, For he refreshes the soul of his masters.”
Consider first the contradiction of this proverb.
The messenger who adapts the message of his master to the whims of those to whom he is sent, or gives the message with a different attitude than the one who sent him would be like drinking a glass of hot water on hot day.
The master of this messenger is very apprehensive about what his servant will say or do.
However, the messenger who takes notes, clarifies the message he is given, shares the attitude of the one who sent him, and does not vacillate at all with the intended message is very refreshing to his master.
In our passage this morning, we see Paul discussing the plans of three messengers that he intends to send to the Philippians (himself, Timothy, and Epaphroditus).
The natural question would arise as to why God would choose to have Paul include this in Scripture.
Are these details important?
Let’s back up a little to see if these details are important.
Put yourself in the setting where all the players are working together beautifully in the first two quarters of a game.
In the third quarter someone throws a bad pass, another turns the ball over.
You huddle them together to straighten things out.
Team member start complaining and verbally attacking each other.
Something like this is happening in Philippians.
Paul tells them about the cause of the gospel and their citizenship in God’s kingdom and exhorts them to strive together for this cause and not be frightened by their opponents.
He discloses that the secret to this living is humble thinking and living- each one is not looking out for his own interest but the interests of others.
The possibility and example for this kind of living is found in the humility of Christ.
So, dear Philippian people keep obeying.
Don’t live selfishly by complaining about how things are not working according to your liking.
Your steadfastness in the middle of difficulty is what God is using to display His glory in a messed up world.
Paul has this message to share with the Philippians, but he can’t be with them because of his imprisonment.
Who could he send the Philippians with the same care that he would have?
Paul is going to speak of two messengers that he plans on sending.
Without reservation Paul can send these men because they will not seek their own interests but will genuinely care for the needs of the Philippians.
Through these examples in this letter God will graciously correct us about how often our interaction with others is often driven by our own advancement.
He will then show us: “Here is how my messenger will interact and even be impacted by the needs of others.”
As we listen to this passage may we carefully observe the tone of voice, the expressive hands, the deliberating moves so that we may faithfully show them to God’s people and be the refreshment to our Lord.
Prayer
What characterizes these faithful messengers who don’t look out for their own interests?
His moves at the command of His God
He plans but his plans are in deference to Christ.
His interests in the people are in conformity with Christ’s
He tell the Philippians to receive Epaphroditus as they would receive Christ.
As I am interacting with people, I have this question before me, how am I representing the interests, the sovereignty, and the commitment of my God.
Transition: Let’s look to Timothy’s description to observe even further the characteristics of a faithful messenger
He is relationally committed
The like-minded condition is that with Paul.
He is one-hearted with Paul.
1.
The needs of people affect Timothy
Clarify that Timothy is not the only individual who does this.
He is uniquely one with Paul.
2. He will not be looking for ways to advance his own name when he is with people.
He will be concerned about the fame of Christ.
3. Relationship is built one interaction at a time.
It is not just their on the rescues and the celebrations.
It is not just there when the reception is going well.
4. His service has the dearness of a father and son
Transition: So why didn’t Paul send him right away?
It seems that this dependable, like-minded individual was indispensable to Paul.
In what one sense that statement is not true, for no man is indispensable.
But what makes one so vitally important in the toughest of circumstances- one who was relationally committed like Timothy
Illustration of comments I have heard about impacting speakers:
They played every game with the kids and served as a waiter at 75% of the meals.
They went down the slip n slide with us
They actually talked to me and showed interest in me.
Application of Relational Commitment:
Commitment to not talk about you but with you.
When I do talk about you to others, it will be with the goal of seeking how to better understand my need of growth and how to better love you.
When I talk about you in a sinful way, I will seek forgiveness.
Commitment to understand before answering.
Commitment to not flatter, impress with big acts but sacrificially serve with 1,000 small acts.
Commitment to be much more than a reference, customer, fellow-member, inspector, but one who is genuinely concerned for others.
Commitment to be around enough (in meeting together or through means of letters, phones, facebook) to know the joys and burdens of the body of Christ.
He makes himself dispensable
When you hear dispensable you may think of something that can be thrown away.
Dispensable does not refer to value.
Look at the value Paul places on Epaphroditus.
Epaphroditus is not just fulfilling a function.
He is a comrade in the cause
Brother- closeness, the one who does the will of my Father is my brother
Fellow- worker- the work is done alongside one.
The work is greater than one’s own cause.
One is joining together with God in a work that endures forever.
Fellow-soldier- in other literature this term was used as a title of honor for a soldier.
The title honor was on par with the commander in chief.
The fellow-soldier knows there is a battle in the cause of the gospel and engages with his brother in praying, sharing burdens, and removing what may cause his brother to stumble
Messenger and minister to my need- One is sent to convey the resources and message of another.
Epaphroditus was sent on behalf of those who could not go.
Far from carrying out a menial task; He is carry out a spiritual service.
In the imagery of two men rowing down a river in a canoe- the canoe is simply a tool for the task.
The fellow- rower is the one who has the same destination, seeks to row together, and encourages the other to keep going.
Transition: Dispensable does not refer to his value.
It rather refers to the way in which he give himself away for others.
Look at verse 26-28, why does Paul think it necessary to send Epaphroditus back to the Philippians.
2. He gives himself away for the joy of others.
Epaphroditus experiences an anxiety about how the Philippians sorrow over his condition.
Paul himself was facing sorrow over Epaphroditus condition.
They are both concerned at how the Philippians are doing.
2:29-30
He is willing to leave home, risk his own life to care for the needs of a prisoner and minister on behalf of others.
When one does this, we see once again that he becomes indispensable.
To a church that Paul is needing to correct about their unity and self-centeredness, he declares: receive him in the Lord (As you would the Lord, because of Christ).
He may not have completed the work intended, but he has not failed on the mission.
Conclusion:
The cautions of giving myself away for the needs of others
Viewing myself as their savior- I can fix your problems.
Stepping in to try and fix everything for them.
Giving out advice as though I were the final authority
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