Well, as I was thinking of a topic to share, knowing I'd have the first message here for the men's camping trip Wednesday night, I thought it would be appropriate to pick something that had to do with our thinking. And I thought, what better topic to speak on than the subject of having the mind of Jesus Christ. Tonight what we're going to see in Philippians chapter 2 is the example of not only the Lord Jesus Christ and His mind or mindset, but also three men who had the mind of Jesus Christ. Namely, the Apostle Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus. You know, as I think of those men, each one of them becomes for us a great teacher or example of what it means to have the mind of our Savior. To think like our Savior. and hence to live like our Savior as well and to be like Him. It's been said before that the best teacher is a good example. And one example that's a good example is worth ten instructors. As most people, frankly, would rather be shown something than just told about something. And so we have these great examples for us as far as these three men that we can learn from tonight as men of God. And I think what you're going to see tonight is that though the standard of Jesus Christ having His mindset is a supernatural one, and it's impossible in and of ourselves to have that mind of Jesus Christ, God has made it possible for us to have that mindset through the Spirit of God, through the Word of God, through the means that He supplies. And it's possible for men to actually lay hold of that mindset and live it out as we see it in the lives of these three great examples tonight. Now as we think of a passage like Philippians chapter 2, we know that it has a context. And any time we just dive right into a passage without doing a book study verse by verse, sometimes we miss the flow and the context of it all. So I want to just take a moment before we dive into Philippians 2, the latter half of the chapter, to develop what this epistle is all about. Paul is writing, this is one of his prison epistles. He's in a prison cell, probably in Rome. And he is there for the cause of Jesus Christ, having been arrested for preaching the gospel. And yet he is not sulking under the circumstance. He has joy. In fact, that word joy or the word rejoice actually that comes from that is the key term for the book of Philippians as you see that found throughout this epistle. Paul is clearly looking to Jesus Christ, wanting his life to come for Jesus Christ and finding great fulfillment in walking with Jesus Christ. And so, this epistle is really all about Christ as well as rejoicing. That's why in chapter 1, which we're going to skip over, we see that the theme is Christ our life. Remember, Paul said that I don't know what's going to happen to me circumstantially, but this I pray, that these things would turn out for my deliverance. Not just to get out of jail, but in fact, that he would be delivered from self-despair, self-occupation. That he would be delivered from a life that was fruitless and vain." And then he went on to say in Philippians 1.21, that great passage that I'm sure most of you know, for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. That was his perspective in life. Christ was his life and his all. Now we come to chapter 2 where we see In the first half of the chapter, Paul is telling the Philippian congregation that they are to put on the mind of Jesus Christ. And Christ in His example, how He was willing to come to earth, humble Himself, become obedient unto death as a bondservant, all the way to the death of the cross, so that God would then raise Him up. The Father would raise Him in glory. He became a model and an example. And then we're going to see on the heels of that, Almost in the shadows of that, three examples, Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, who do model for us the mind of Christ as well. And then in chapter 3, we see that Christ is our goal. As Paul says, not only are we justified by faith alone, but we walk by faith in Jesus Christ. And yet the goal is to be conformed more to the image of Jesus Christ, to be like Him, and to have His resurrection life in us and through us so that we would look to Him and receive a prize. And then chapter 4 is all about Jesus Christ as our sufficiency. Paul writes in that chapter that though things have been tight for him, financially speaking, he is content in Jesus Christ. Learn to be content, he says, with whatsoever things you have. And he says that God shall supply all your needs according to His riches and glory in Christ Jesus. And I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Christ is sufficient. So I ask you tonight, men. Has Christ been your life lately? Has He been your model that you've been looking to? To pattern your life after? Especially your thinking as we're going to see tonight? Has He been the goal of your life? Or is something else your goal? And have you been finding Jesus Christ to be sufficient as indeed He actually is? Now as we think of this passage in Philippians chapter 2 that we're going to study tonight, you probably are already familiar with some of the verses that precede the portion we're going to study. For it tells us to put on the mind of Jesus Christ and look not on your own things, but on the things of others. We hear that. We're reminded of that truth quite frequently. We see the great example of Jesus Christ again in His death and then His glorification. It's a great passage, the first half of Philippians chapter 2. But we're not as familiar sometimes with these three men that come after that. It's almost as though the second half of Philippians 2, which we're going to look at tonight, falls in the shadows of Jesus Christ and the cross, which is where it should be. But these three men, I believe, lived their life near to the cross, and hence in the shadow of the cross, and their life reflected the cross of their Savior and His mindset as well. So let's begin looking at chapter 2 tonight. Instead of just diving in at verse 17, let's again establish a little context here and begin in chapter 2, verse 1. Philippians 2 verse 1, it says, therefore, if there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any affection and mercy. And he's using a number of if statements. And in the Greek, it's a first class condition. If and it's assumed to be true. Is there consolation in Christ for those who suffer for Jesus Christ? That's the context here. Yes, absolutely. Is there any comfort of love? Do you know of any greater love than the love Jesus Christ has for us? No. Well, then there's comfort in that. Is there any fellowship of the Spirit? When you get a group of men like this together who are walking by means of the Spirit of God, there can be real fellowship. Not just because you have fellows together. Some people say, what is fellowship? It's a bunch of fellows in a ship going out on a boat. Well, that's not necessarily fellowship. The Bible speaks of it. It's having someone in common who is your common life, model, goal, and sufficiency. And then you can find real fulfillment and a real quality of relationship that exceeds anything this world offers. Is there any affection and mercy in Jesus Christ? Absolutely. So based on those things, he says, verse 2, fulfill my joy. And what is the joy of Paul? No doubt reflecting the joy of the Lord. By being like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind. You know, sometimes we hear today in this pluralistic world that we live in that it's good to have a diversity of opinions about beliefs. You know, I heard one person even recently commenting about something that was totally unbiblical and it was a believer in Jesus Christ. who has not walked with the Lord for some time, as far as I know, who just said, oh, yeah, so-and-so, I know you're not really going to church, you're living for the Lord, but I totally respect that. I'm thinking, totally respect that? How can you respect that if it is not the will of God? And in our world, it values diversity of opinion. And yet the Word of God says, you know what? There's one opinion I want people to conform to, and that is, thus saith the Lord. To have our thinking be God's thinking. That should be the goal of our Christian life. That's God's desire. To have the same love, the same accord, the same perspective. And really, where does the Christian life begin? Not with getting everybody to do the same thing, but to think the same thing. Starting with the Gospel. It's one way to get saved, to believe the Gospel message. And then the Word of God is to transform us thereafter. He goes on, verse 3, "...let nothing be done through selfish ambition or conceit, but in lowliness of mind, let each esteem others better than himself. Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interests of others." Wow! Now, is that really possible? Our human nature is very selfish, isn't it, men? We are by nature very self-oriented people, self-serving, and yet the Lord is calling us to something supernatural here. We don't have the ability, and that's why this perspective requires a humble posture, humility before the Lord that says, you know what? I can't do this apart from you, Lord, doing it in and through me. So I depend on you. I'm going to trust you to fulfill this in my life. And we see this humble posture reflected now in the life of the Lord Jesus Christ as well. That's why verse 5 goes on to say, Let this mind, literally this mindset, be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Now did it take humility for our Lord to come to earth, become a man, and die for us? It certainly did. He had every right to stay in heaven, the glories of heaven, in holy, eternal communion with God the Father, and not be judged for our sin and take that upon Himself. And so what the Lord is saying here is, I want you as men of God to take this mindset upon yourself, to humble yourself as well. For I say, through the grace given to me, to everyone who is among you not to think more highly of himself than he ought to think." Notice the thinking again. Romans 12, verse 3 says that. Notice the emphasis in the Word of God on thinking and humility here. Galatians 6, verse 3 says, If anyone among you thinks himself to be something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. Proverbs 26, verse 12, He who is wise in his own eyes, there is more hope for him than for A fool. There's more hope for a fool than for him. Excuse me, I read that backwards. And you get the point. I could read several other passages, but this is the mindset that the Lord wants us to have. A humble posture. And the Christian life, again, begins with a way of thinking. And that's why this is a mindset that he's after here. And how is this mindset reflected in the life of Jesus Christ? Verse 6 goes on to say, who, being in the form of God, did not consider it robbery to be equal with God. Literally, he did not consider it something to be clutched, grasped, or held on to, even though it was his right to it. He was God and is fully God. But to be regarded as God by others was not something that he demanded to be retained. He gave it up. That's the idea. Verse 7, But made himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men, and being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross. To the shameful, Example of dying as a worst criminal in that day and age. That's what crucifixion was reserved for. And Jesus Christ willingly embraced that reputation. That he would be not only killed for our sins, but put on a cross and suffer shame and degradation. And have his reputation so tarnished. This passage says that he was willing to do this as God, making himself of no reputation, taking the form of a servant. And how did he serve mankind? By becoming a man. Why did he become a man? So that he could be obedient as a servant in order to die, to be able to die. He had to become a man to be able to die. Hebrews 2.9 tells us. And what kind of death did he die? Well, not just any death, but the death of the cross. The form of punishment reserved for the worst criminals of society in that time. And so he bore not only our sins, but he bore a stigma that went with them as well. Did that take humility? Absolutely. But because he was willing to do that, verse 9 says that God raised him up. Therefore, God has also exalted him and given him the name which is above every name, that at the name of Jesus Christ, every knee should vow of those in heaven and of those on earth and of those under the earth. And every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father. You see the pattern here? That if we are willing to humble ourselves In doing the will of God, that God will raise us up. But it will be His prerogative and His timing and His way in raising us up. We are not to lift ourselves up. In fact, those who lift themselves up will be abased as God exalts the humble and He humbles the prideful and the exalted. But this passage goes on to say, in verses 12-16, that again, this is not naturally possible in ourselves. Verse 12, Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, not as in my presence only, but now much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling. And you can't work out something that's not already in you. So he says, since you have salvation, work out what's already been worked in by the Spirit of God. Walk by faith in the salvation that you have, so you would be delivered from the power of sin in your Christian life. Second tense salvation is the idea. Four, it is God who works in you both to will and to do for His good pleasure. God is at work in you to accomplish this, dear believer, and I think He does this by means of the Spirit of God and His ministry in our lives. Do all things without complaining and disputing. that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault, in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain, nor labored in vain." Now we come to the three men who have the mind of Christ, starting with the Apostle Paul. Verse 17, Paul says, 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." Do you labor for Christ? Do you take it in the neck sometimes for Jesus Christ when you witness? Do people tarnish your reputation, say things about you that perhaps they're true? Perhaps you're deserving of it, but perhaps not. Perhaps it's strictly for Jesus Christ's sake. because you follow Him. You know, Paul took it in the neck for the Lord. He suffered imprisonment as he's writing from prison. He was going to suffer eventually martyrdom here in a few years. But he viewed his sacrifice for Jesus Christ as a drink offering. A sacrificial drink offering, this passage says. What does it mean for him to pour his life out When you hear the term pour out, sometimes people think that's wasting something. You know, we pour out sometimes the grease from the roast that we cooked or something in the crock pot. We take it out and dump it somewhere. We pour things out down the drain perhaps that are old in our refrigerator, that are wasted, that we didn't use, the leftover milk or whatever it was. Paul's use of the term forout here is just completely the opposite. In fact, he uses a term that is specifically in reference to an Old Testament type of offering that was a drink offering that would be combined with the burnt offering there in the temple. Now, there were various kinds of offerings described in Leviticus and Numbers. There was the trespass offering, the sin offering, picturing our Savior's sacrifice for our sins and trespasses and so forth. The birth offering pictured the fact that our Savior would wholly and completely give Himself over in sacrifice. As the Jewish worshiper, when he walked into the temple area, he would bring his sacrifice. And the first thing, the piece of furniture he would encounter would be the brazen altar. on which the burnt offering would go. You'd hand your offering to the priest, put it on that altar, and boom! It would go up in smoke. But you could add a drink offering to that. You could pour it right over the top of that offering. And as you would pour it over the top of that burning offering, it would be mixed with that offering and the whole thing would go up in smoke. What is that picture? It's very interesting that Paul views his life that way. that he didn't want to add to Jesus Christ's death or our sins or trespasses, but he wanted his life to be poured out on top of Jesus Christ's offering. So that his life would be intermingled, lost in essence, in Christ's offering for us. Living in light of the cross. What a powerful picture. What a powerful perspective Paul had. that he viewed his own life that way. So let me ask you, dear believer, is your life being poured out or stored up? If your life were a measuring cup, how full of self would it be? Are you saving your life for something? If so, for what? Jesus Christ is our life, dear believers. Live ought to be Christ and to die ought to be gain. So what perspective must we have if we should serve the Lord with the same perspective? The perspective of Paul here. Acts 20.24 conveys this. None of these things move me. These stories of how this report of how I'm going to suffer persecution for the Lord. That doesn't move me, nor do I count my life dear to myself. not holding on to self, so that I may finish my race with joy and the ministry which I have received from the Lord Jesus to testify the gospel of the grace of God." Paul was willing to be spent gladly for the sake of others and for the furtherance of the gospel. What a great perspective. Notice in verse 17, for whose sake did he offer himself? Verse 17 says, Yes, and if I am being poured out as a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, he did this for others, not for himself. Amazing. This was truly a sacrifice. It wasn't something vain. It was for the benefit of other people. He had others in his perspective. And that was his motive. Now, as we think about all this, this is amazing, this sacrificial mindset. And you know, we've been learning about how to have this mind of Christ. But before I was saved, I used to think that I had to make some sacrifice to God. I used to think that having a relationship with the Lord was based on me giving myself to Him. And I failed to see the truth of the Gospel, that is, that He has already done something for me. Notice the direction. of God's provision and sacrifice. Isaiah 53, 5 and 6 conveys this gospel message. In reference to Christ, it says, He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the chastisement of our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray, we've turned everyone to his own way, and the Lord has laid on Him the iniquity of us all. How can we save ourselves when we're the ones going astray? It's not our sacrifice that saves. That's why Isaiah 64 says that we are all like an unclean thing and all our righteousnesses are like filthy rags. If that's how God sees us, and our righteousnesses are righteous deeds, how can we present that to God and say, here's my sacrifice, Lord, now accept me? In essence, we'd be asking God to take our filthy rags. Now he's not going to be impressed with filthy rags. So it's not our sacrifice that can save, it's only Christ's. We're also told in Romans 8.8, So then those who are in the flesh cannot, note the word cannot, please God. Without faith it's impossible to please God. So it is not human sacrifice that saves, and I'll say this too, And when it comes to pleasing God, many Christians sometimes sacrifice in their Christian lives, but if it's not done by the power of the Spirit of God to the glory of Jesus Christ, it's done for self-glorification and self-reliance, then it's just a work of the flesh. And that's not pleasing to the Lord either. And that will go up in smoke, but at the judgment seat of Christ, those works. So going back to the example of Paul, we see in verse 17 that he viewed his life as a sacrificial drink offering. And note the word joy in verse 17. As you think of the word sacrifice, would you couple it with joy in your thinking? Usually not. Usually when we think of sacrifice, we think of grumbling. We think of not doing it willingly, but rather grudgingly. Yet Paul could do this sacrifice and view his life this way because he was a true servant. He served without an expectation of recognition from others. And he didn't demand his own rights, but rather he used his rights and willingly laid them down in service for others. How could he have joy? who is walking by means of the Spirit of God in his Christian life. As he walked by faith, he saw that what he did was the will of God and had value. And though it was a sacrifice, the more he gave, the more he was blessed. And isn't that ironic? That the more we give of ourselves in the will of God, we can experience the joy that God provides and He wants us to have. If that is done in faith, it is unto the Lord. Joy. That word just really leaps out at me there. So in what ways did Paul have the mind of Christ? Well, he made himself a sacrifice. Isn't that what Jesus Christ did? He also had others in mind as he did this. Notice he said that his sacrifice, verse 17, was for their sakes, a sacrifice in service of your faith, not for himself. We also see that he did this willingly. He didn't have to do this, but he chose to. And so he did this without grumbling or complaining. And in this respect, he reflected the life of his Savior. Now going on, verse 18 says, for the same reason, you also be glad and rejoice with me. Now if you heard that somebody was going to die for Jesus Christ, perhaps somebody who was the one who had led you to the Lord, thinking of Paul's relationship to the Philippian believers. Maybe your pastor of your local church. The one who's led you spiritually. If you heard that he was going to die for Jesus Christ's sake, what would your first reaction be? Well, you'd have grief, no doubt, and that would be understandable. But Paul says here, look, I want you guys to rejoice for me and be glad. Now, that would take a supernatural mindset, wouldn't it? A supernatural perspective on things. How could Paul tell them to rejoice? Now, some people I know, some of you guys are snickering. If it was my pastor, I'd be glad if the Lord But for other reasons, I'd be glad. Why could Paul say to rejoice if the Lord were to call him home through martyrdom or something like that? Because God would be glorified, wouldn't he? In the process. That soul would be in heaven. Remember, Paul said for him to die would be gain. And that believer would receive a martyr's crown one day, the crown of life in heaven. And it would be worth it all to serve Jesus Christ that way. So we see the example of Paul. Let's move on to Timothy now and see how he had the mind of Christ. Verse 19, But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, he says. but I also may be encouraged when I know your state." Paul intended to send Timothy to Philippi to determine how they were doing spiritually. And so Timothy was to act as basically a messenger or an envoy, a representative of the Apostle Paul. What a great privilege to be used in that capacity, isn't it? As you think about that. Why was Timothy here called upon to be used to do this? Well, because he was willing to function this way. First of all, he was willing to function under Paul's authority. He wasn't bucking him. And when it comes to having the mind of Christ and even service within the local church, service for Christ, In general, it takes believers, men of God, who are willing to humble themselves and become obedient to the will of God, wherever that may lead. Even if it just starts with taking direction from your pastor teacher. You see, good followers make good leaders. Poor followers never make good leaders. And Timothy was a good follower. First of Jesus Christ and then of those appointed. to leadership like Paul. We also see that he was qualified for this responsibility because he had the right mindset. Verse 20, For I have no one like-minded who will sincerely care for your state. Now that is a sad commentary that Paul couldn't find anyone else but Timothy that he could truly rely upon who had a care for their state. Timothy had a mindset that said he cared. Verse 21, For all seek their own and not the things of Jesus Christ. He was concerned about others rather than himself. But notice where it started? In the thinking. And Paul knew because this guy thinks this way, I can count on him and rely upon him and put him into specialized service. that is absolutely needed. Reminds me of the story of the thinking of a little boy, nine-year-old boy, who had a little sister who was six years old. By the way, this isn't, you know, definitely not a commentary on my kids, but I think you can appreciate the story as you hear it. It was a six-year-old girl who became deathly ill with a dreaded disease. And to survive, she needed a blood transfusion from someone who previously conquered the same illness. The situation was complicated by her rare blood type. Her nine-year-old brother qualified as a donor, but everyone was hesitant to ask him since he was just a young boy. Finally, they agreed to have the doctor pose the question. The attending physician tactfully asked the boy if he was willing to be brave and donate blood for his sister. Though he didn't understand much about such things, the boy agreed without hesitation. Sure, I'll give my blood for my sister. That's why I say I don't think this is, you know, this is not referring to my home here. But anyway, this boy says, sure, I'll give my blood for my sister. He lay down beside his sister and he smiled at her as they pricked his arm with the needle. Then he closed his eyes and lay silently on the bed as the pint of blood was taken. Soon thereafter, the physician came in to thank the little boy. The boy with quivering lips and tears running down his cheeks asked, Doctor, when do I die? At that moment, the doctor realized that the boy thought that by giving his blood, he was giving up his life. Quickly, the doctor reassured the little boy that he was not going to die. But amazed at his courage, he asked him, why were you willing to risk your life for her? The boy replied simply, because she's my sister and I care about her. And I thought, wow. That is the kind of care that we should have for one another. brothers and sisters in Christ, having the love of Jesus Christ, the mind of Jesus Christ for one another. A willingness to lay down our lives for one another as He laid down His life for us. That's why Timothy was qualified here. In verses 22-24, it goes on to say, that he was qualified for this because he was approved in terms of his service and character, in terms of his track record already. Verse 22, But you know his 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. But I trust in the Lord that I myself also shortly may come. And what can we see from the example of Timothy? that he also demonstrated the mind of Jesus Christ. How? In at least three ways. He again emptied himself and became a bondservant, just like the Lord Jesus. He was willing to be directed by another, namely Paul, in doing the will of God. So he had a servant mentality. But it took an emptying of himself to do that, a yieldedness and a willingness to do the will of God. He also became obedient. probably unto death. And the reason why I say that is because we are told in Scripture later on, in 2 Timothy chapter 4, the last epistle Paul writes, he writes to Timothy and he says, when you come to me, Timothy, watch out for Alexander, because he did me much harm. And then we read later in the epistles of the Hebrews, the last chapter of Hebrews, that Timothy has just been released from prison. So we know that he perhaps took it in the neck for the Lord. He went to prison for sure. He was released. But then tradition tells us, and I don't know how definite this is, but tradition tells us that he later died in Ephesus at the hands of an angry mob. who were opposing his preaching of the Gospel message. It would not surprise me to learn one day in heaven that just as Paul followed the example of a Savior who was willing to die and did die for Jesus, Timothy would have done the same. Now we come to a third example. Oh, one more thing here. Timothy did this willingly again. Not under compulsion. Just like Jesus Christ. Now we come to the third example, Epaphroditus. Who though he did not die for Jesus Christ as far as we know, he came close to it. And so he's a great example of the mind of Christ as well. Verse 25, Yet I considered it necessary to send you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my needs. The one who ministered to my need." Evidently, Epaphroditus was the one who took the gift financially from the Philippian congregation and brought it to Paul in Rome. He was the trusted messenger and courier with this financial gift. And so we see that he was a trusted individual. He was evidently faithful. So that's what we know about him. that he was sent to minister to Paul. But what else do we know about him? Well, we know how he's described. He's described as somebody who is a brother of Paul in the faith. Paul probably did not lead him personally to Jesus Christ in faith, but he was a brother in Christ. He was a fellow worker. He had ministered alongside of Paul. And he was a fellow soldier. Now that's an interesting term another brother in Christ. It's one thing to be on staff, perhaps, or go on a missionary team with somebody else and say they're a fellow worker with you. Or you give them a hug and you say, how you doing, brother? When was the last time you ever put your arm around that guy and say, how you doing, fellow soldier? Why do you think Paul described Epaphroditus as a fellow soldier? because he knew this guy was in the game. He knew there was a battle going on. And he was not distracted with the affairs of life that would entangle him and trip him up from his real purpose for being here on the earth, which was to serve Jesus Christ and to give honor and glory to Him. And so he was a soldier involved in the spiritual battle. And you know, I really appreciate Brothers in Christ, who I know I'm serving with, and we have the same perspective, and we have the same common cause, and guys who are willing to stick their necks out for Jesus Christ. And Paul was thankful for Epaphroditus in this regard as well. So this is how he is described. And then going on, verse 26 says, "...since he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Evidently, word got back to Philippi that when Epaphroditus was in Rome, he was very sick. I mean, not just a cold or a flu or he had a bad hangnail or something. He was really sick. Sick to the point of possibly dying. Verse 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." Here the guy's coming to minister to me in jail, and he ends up dying to help me out, while I'm in jail and I might even die. That would be really sorrowful. Verse 28, Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, i.e., back to you in Philippi, that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such men in esteem." Now evidently he brought back this epistle to the Philippians and so he was a messenger or courier once again. But Paul says, hold such men in esteem. Why? Verse 30, because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service for me." Now, that is not a dig, I don't believe, in the end of verse 30 there, where he's saying to the Philippians, look, you haven't done enough for me, and because your service is lacking, I'm going to have him fill it up. The reason why I say that is because the exact same Greek term is used in the parallel epistle of Colossians, in Colossians chapter 1, where Paul says that in the plan of God, he was to fill up himself in his ministry what was lacking in the afflictions of Jesus Christ. Now, he's not saying by that that Christ's sacrifice wasn't sufficient or finished or complete in terms of saving us, but what he was saying is this. that God's plan for the church age is for the believer in Jesus Christ to also suffer for His sake. Philippians 1.29. And part of God's plan of good works prepared beforehand that we should walk in them is that He calls some to suffer for Christ. And so, Paul was appointed to do that. Nepaphroditus was appointed to do that as well. And that is what he's driving at here. We are to hold such an esteem. Why? Because such men have the mind of Christ. So he not only ministered to Paul, he ministered to the Philippians. And you know what? I trust he's ministering to you tonight too, as you stop and ponder his example. A great example to follow, this man of Hephroditus. So what do we see regarding him? How did he manifest the mind of Jesus Christ? Well, he thought of others first. Even when he was sick, close unto dying, he was concerned for the Philippians and what they thought. So Paul thought it a good idea to send him back to them, see him in their presence, that he is alive and whole by God's mercy. And he was willing to die in his service for Jesus Christ. And no doubt, joyfully, Paul was. Having the mind of Jesus Christ. Wow. Men, I trust that you've been challenged by this and that you can see the mind of Christ is something totally impossible for us in and of ourselves, but as we yield to the Lord and are enabled by the Spirit of God and by the grace of God, This can be true in each of our lives as well, as we focus on the Savior, Jesus Christ. Let's pray.