We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends Philippians 2:19-30 NKJV

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Dwain Ferguson
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1 Message for THE LORD'S DAY EVENING, April 10, 2016 Christian Hope Church of Christ, Plymouth, North Carolina by Reggie A. Braziel, Minister MESSAGE 9 in Philippians Sermon Series ( Living The Joy-Filled Life ) We Get By With A Little Help From Our Friends Philippians 2:19-30 NKJV If you would, please open your Bibles to Philippians chapter two and just hold your place, we'll get to our scripture text in just a few moments. Friendships are one of the greatest treasures we have in this life! Unfortunately in this fast-paced, hectic society we live in one of the things that is missing most in our lives is true, genuine friendships. In fact, according to a recent Gallup poll, Americans are among the loneliest people in the world. While we are among the world's richest people when it comes to income and material possessions, we are among the world's poorest when it comes to close friendships. Friendships take time, and energy, and effort to cultivate. This is why so many of us neglect this critically important area of our lives. The Bible places a strong emphasis on the value of friendships: PROVERBS 17:17 (NKJV) A friend loves at all times, and a brother is born for adversity. PROVERBS 27:17 (NKJV) As iron sharpens iron, so a man sharpens the countenance of his friend. (One more on next page)

2 ECCLESIASTES 4:10-12 (NKJV) For if they fall, one will lift up his companion. But woe to him who is alone when he falls, For he has no one to help him up. Again, if two lie down together, they will keep warm; But how can one be warm alone? Though one may be overpowered by another, two can withstand him. And a threefold cord is not quickly broken. If you use Social Media such as FACEBOOK or Twitter or you send text messages on your cell phone, you know a lot of communication these days is done through abbreviations rather than words. One of the most commonly used abbreviations in text messaging is B F F. BFF stands for what? Best Friends Forever. (repeat) As we turn our thoughts now to our scripture text in Philippians chapter two, Paul is going to tell us about two of his BFF's...two of his Best Friends Forever. One of those is Timothy. The other is a man by the name of Epaphroditus. *********************************************************************

3 First, Paul tells us about... I. Timothy: Paul's Son-In-The-Faith (vs ) Scripture: PHILIPPIANS 2:19-24 (NKJV) 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are of Christ Jesus. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. 24 But I trust in the Lord that I myself shall also come shortly. 1. We learn in Acts 14 that Paul had met this fine young man named Timothy while on his first missionary journey. 2. Timothy was the son of a Jewish mother and a Gentile father, but Paul not only considered young Timothy to be one of his very best friends, he considered him to be his son in the faith. v. 22 But you know his proven character, that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. II Timothy 1:2 (NKJV) To Timothy, a beloved son.

4 3. When Paul traveled to Philippi the first time, young Timothy was with him. In fact, this was Timothy's very first missionary journey. 4. We are told in Acts that over the course of the next several years, Timothy went back to visit the Church at Philippi several times. Timothy would visit the Church in Philippi on several occasions after that over the course of the next several years; so obviously the Church at Philippi was quite familiar with this fine young man. 5. Now get the picture of what is going on here. Paul is sitting in prison in Rome. He knows there is a very real possibility he could be martyred and never see the Philippians Christians again in this life. Out of his concern for the well-being of their Church, Paul feels compelled by the Holy Spirit to send someone to minister to the Church of Christ at Philippi. Paul didn't even have to think long and hard about who to send. The choice was obvious! I will send my Son in the faith TIMOTHY! 6. It is obvious Paul had the utmost confidence that Timothy was the right man for this job. (A) First of all, Paul had confidence in Timothy's CONCERN.. (vs. 19,20) 19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, that I also may be encouraged when I know your state. 20 For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state.

5 Now this is interesting. While imprisoned in Rome, Paul had made many Christian friends. In fact, in Romans 16 Paul mentions twenty six of his Christian friends in Rome by name. Why didn't he send one of them to Philippi? He tells us why in verse 20, For I have no one like-minded, who will sincerely care for your state. What Paul is saying is, I don't have the confidence that any of my dear Christian friends here in Rome would have the same concern for the Church in Philippi that I have. Their primary concern is for their fellow Christians here in Rome That is why I plan to send Timothy to you shortly, because I am confident he has the same concern, love and affection for you that I have. (B) Secondly, Paul had confidence in Timothy's CHARACTER.. (v.22) v. 22 But you know his proven character; that as a son with his father he served with me in the gospel. ILLUSTRATION: I have certainly made my fair share of mistakes in the ministry over the past thirty eight years. One of my most regrettable mistakes was recommending a friend of mine to my dad to become his Youth Minister in the Church where my dad was preaching at that time. I had worked with this youth minister in Church camp and on several projects together in our area of central Illinois. While we weren't close buddies, I thought I knew his character pretty well. As it turned out I didn't know this guy as well as I thought I did.

6 A year or two after this guy went to the Church where my dad was preaching, some very serious character issues surfaced and this youth minister aligned himself with a group of troublemakers who ended up splitting the Church wide open. I have regretted ever recommending that guy to my dad ever since. Thankfully it wasn't like that with young Timothy. Of Timothy, Paul said, But you know his proven character. In other words, You know what this young man is well-qualified. You know his work ethic, you know his integrity, you know his commitment to faithfully preach and teach the gospel of Jesus Christ. Because Paul and Timothy had worked side by side in Philippi like a father and son, Paul had full confidence that sending Timothy to help the Philippian Church was just like being there himself. (C) Thirdly, Paul had confidence in Timothy's COMMITMENT (vs. 23, 24) v. 23 Therefore I hope to send him at once, as soon as I see how it goes with me. v. 24 But I trust in the LORD that I myself shall also come shortly. Remember Paul is in prison and he still doesn't know if he will be martyred. That's why he says he hopes to send Timothy immediately as soon as he sees how it goes with him.

7 In v. 24 Paul expresses his confidence that he will be released from prison. But one thing he is sure of is Timothy's commitment to look after the spiritual well-being of the Church in Philippi regardless of whether or not Paul is released from prison. 7. Knowing his circumstances may prevent him from going back to Philippi, Paul knew he could get by with a little help from his dear friend Timothy, his son-in-the- faith. As we move on to verses Paul introduces us to another of his dear friends who had been tremendous help in his ministry, and that is... II. Ephaphroditis: Paul's Brother-In-Christ (vs ) PHILIPPIANS 2:25-30 (NKJV) 25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.

8 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 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. 1. While Timothy's name is mentioned throughout the New Testament, the name of Epaphroditus is only mentioned here in Paul's letter to the Philippians. 2. Epaphroditus was a member of the Church of Christ in Philippi. That was his home Church. Some commentators believe Epaphroditus was an elder or deacon in the Church at Philippi. 3. Notice in v.25 the terms Paul uses to describe the special friendship he had with Epaphroditus. (A) He is my BROTHER (v.25) Paul regarded all Christians as brothers and sisters in Christ, but the term brother here also refers to a special bond that existed between Paul and Epaphroditus. (B) He is my FELLOW-WORKER WORKER (v.25) Although Epaphroditus wasn't a preacher like Timothy, he was fully committed to using his Godgiven gifts and abilities to help Paul in his ministry any way he could, as we will see in just a few moments.

9 (C) He is my FELLOW-SOLDIER (v. 25) Paul only uses this term one other time in his writings. In Philemon verse 2 he refers to Archippus as a a fellow soldier. Paul sees Epaphroditus as one who is wellseasoned and battle-hardened in the faith. When Paul had been in Philippi before, Epaphroditus hadn't sat back and done nothing. He had been right there on the front-lines of the battle helping Paul in his ministry every way he could. He is my brother...my fellow worker...and my fellow- soldier. But then notice what Paul says next in v.25, but he is your messenger and the one who ministered to my need. Here is where we learn just how deep of a friendship existed between Paul and Epaphroditus. 4. When the Church at Philippi learned that Paul was in prison in Rome and facing a trial before Caesar they became deeply concerned for Paul's well-being. They realized that Paul had worked as a tent maker to earn money, but because he was in prison he wasn't able to do that, so they sent Paul a love offering of money. Now remember in those days they couldn't wire the money to Paul. Someone was going to have to personally travel over 800 miles and deliver it to Paul in person. Epaphroditus volunteered to be their messenger.

10 5. Keep in mind travel in those days was not like it is today. Epaphroditus couldn't catch a flight out of Philippi International Airport to Rome. He had to travel by boat, which meant it would take weeks or months. Something else to consider is that in our day and time when we travel to foreign countries we get shots and vaccinations to keep us from picking up certain diseases. They didn't have that in Paul's day, which meant Epaphroditus was risking the possibility of getting sickness or disease on this journey. 6. Well sure enough that is what happened. Somewhere along his journey to Rome, Epaphroditus became deathly sick and as Paul says in verse 27 if it had not been for the mercy of GOD Epaphroditus would have died. Word had gotten back to the Church at Philippi that something had happened to Epaphroditus and they became deeply concerned. Remember there were no cell phones...no text messaging...and no s back then, so they didn't know if Epaphroditus was dead or alive. Those were some very anxious days in the Church at Philippi. 7. Eventually Epaphroditus became well enough to travel on to Rome and deliver the monetary gift from the Church at Philippi. And when it was time for Epaphroditus to return to Philippi, Paul used him as his personal messenger to deliver this letter to the Philippian Church that we are studying here tonight. 8. Epaphroditus was such a dear friend to Paul that he risked his own life to help Paul in his time of need.

11 C O N C L U S I O N If there is one thing we can learn from tonight's message it is this: In the Christian life, we all get by with a little help from our friends. The LORD never intended for us to make this journey to heaven by ourselves. Along the way we must rely on the help and strength of our dear Christian friends to encourage us and strengthen us and stand with us. Paul got by with a little help from Timothy and Epaphroditus. Who has helped you in your walk with Christ? Who has been the greatest source of encouragement and strength to you? Who is that one dear Christian friend you know you could turn to for help no matter what you're going through? Why not send them a card or letter this week to thank them for what they mean to you. Do you remember that beautiful song Michael W. Smith recorded back in the 80's called Friends? The chorus went like this: And friends are friends forever If the Lord's the Lord of them And a friend will not say "Never" Cause the welcome will not end Though it's hard to let you go In the Father's hands we know That a lifetime's not too long To live as friends Yes, it is true: We all get by with a little help from our friends!

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