Epaphroditus: Brother, Companion, and Fellow Soldier

Turn your Bibles to Philippians chapter 2 if you would. Philippians chapter 2 and we'll be looking at verses 25 through30 as we continue our study through this book. In Philippians chapter 2, beginning with verse number 25. Philippians 2:25, he said, "Yet I suppose it necessary to send to you Apaprodites, my brother and companion labor and fellow soldier, but your messenger and he that ministered to my wants. For he longed after you all, was full of heaviness, because that he had we had heard that ye heard that he had been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death. But God had mercy on him. And not only him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrows upon sorrow.

I sent him therefore the more carefully that when you see him again, you may rejoice that I may be less sorrowful. Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such in reputation. because for the work of Christ who is nigh unto death, not regarding his life despite your lack of service towards me. So let me continue our study through Philippians chapter 2. Last week you saw here that he talked about uh Timothy and and how uh he could depend on him and to do things that uh well or better than he did. That's important to remember, by the way, is is when you whenever you're assigned a position in church, whether it's a Sunday school teacher or greeter or a choir member or whatever else it is, whenever you be take on that responsibility, then you need to be like Paul said to Timothy in verse number verse number 20, for I have no man likeminded who will naturally care for your sake sake for our state.

For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ. But you know the proof of him that as a son with the father he has served me with the gospel. This is a young man who when he took on that responsibility he said is mine now I have that responsibility. I need to do my best as onto the Lord and do what is being asked of me and I I appreciate those who take on their ministry. You know working with volunteer labor is not always easy because you can't hold back their paycheck. uh you uh the only paycheck they get is a is the blessings of the lord and you you need to realize that the responsibility of that as well but here again he talks about another young man and that's Apaprodites

and Apaprodites is uh first thing I want to look at here is his name uh names in the Bible are more important than they are today most of us choose names for our children by either it's uh they're named after somebody in our family or they're named after somebody famous I was named after John Wayne or they're named after uh just something that you like that name. It just kind of picked it out of the air and and uh and chose it. But in the Bible days, their names often meant something. And uh in this case, Apaprodites, his name means devoted devoted to Aphrodite. Uh he was devoted to the goddess Aphrodite.

So this tells us that he came from a pagan family, an onsave family. uh and his when he was born his mom said I want to devote him to this goddess Aphrodite and uh so that's what he was raised in and so at some point or another he came to know the Lord Jesus Christ he came to salvation and whether his family did or he did we don't know we don't know exactly how old he was when he got saved but he came out of a very pagan lifestyle and became a godly Christian as well and so when Paul describes him here in verse number 25 he said yet I suppose it necessary to send to you Apaprodites my brother and my companion in labor.

So he describes it first of all as his brother. One of the blessings of being a Christian is you have an extended family. Uh I grew up I have one brother and three sisters as well myself. And and um I I love my family but I'm not I I'm closer to some of you here in the church than I am to my own blood family. And uh we have relationships that we can develop. I grew up basically without a father. He wasn't there in my growing up years. And and so I've got many spiritual fathers that God has given me. And I'm so thankful that God provides us a family uh that we can we can enjoy and and encourage and strengthen one another.

In Romans 12 and verse number 10, the Bible says, "Be kindly affectionate one to another with brotherly love in honor of preferring one another." And and so we need to be realize that as brothers and sisters in Christ, somebody once said it this way, these are my brothers from a different mother, but the same father. Uh we have our heavenly father and through him we have that relationship that makes us brothers in Christ. I'm so thankful. One of the the special things about Ohana is we have people that come through here all the time. uh new people that are transferred in the military and new visitors and even people from the mainland and uh and and and immediately there's a connection.

We had a family here this morning from California and uh they go to a church there in San Francisco Bay area and uh immediately we had a connection. We were family. Uh that's one of the blessings of being a Christian is having that family relationship and that's why we called it Ohana Baptist Church, Family Baptist Church. And so he called Apaprodites my brother and in Christ. And uh it says in Romans 12:10 again, be a kindly affectionate one with brotherly love. The the phrase kindly affection is the idea of of being kind to one another. In 1 John 3 17 and 18, it says, "When whoso hath this world's good and seeth his brother have need and shunth the bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?

My little children, let's not love in word, neither in deep tongue, but in deed and in truth. In the Bible, when you read the word kind, what does kind mean? Kind means being useful. Being useful. We think of kindness as kind of being tender and nice to people, but it's what can I do that is going to be useful to you in your life. And and and this is what it's talking about here. You and I need to look for opportunities. What can I do for somebody else? What can I do to be a blessing to them? We talked about that some this morning. You know, I was glad when they said, "Let's go into the house of the Lord."

But in verse 9, because of the house of the Lord our God, I will seek thy good. And and so God calls us to be kindly affectionate to show kindness to one another. And so the question is, what kind of kind is kind? All right. What kind of kind is kind? In other words, as we look at these things, we want to know, what is it that I can do? What is being kind to somebody? what is it that I how can I be useful to that person? And and that's one of the things we always need to be looking for the opportunities, listening to people, watching what's going on, being aware of the needs of those around us.

When we hear a prayer request, how can I be kind to that person in their prayer request need? When we when we know somebody's deployed or somebody's spouse is away, how can I be kind to that person? How can I be kind to a a a single mom? What can I do? Maybe I can go over and and um take her kids for a couple hours and give her a break or I can take a meal over to them or I can go over and wash their car or mow their lawn and and how can I be kind to them? How can I be useful to that person? And and so it was being kind one to another and to show affection to one another. He says he says in verse 25 again that he that he called him his brother and in Romans 12:10 it says in be kindly affectioned one to another.

And and so what does it mean to be kindly affectionate one to another? 1st Samuel 18 and verse number one it says and it came to pass when he made an end of speaking unto Saul that the soul of Jonathan was knit with the soul of David and Jonathan loved him as his own soul. And one of the things we want to do as Christians is is is knit our lives together in the sense of finding things in common, find things that we can do together. One of the blessings that I think of being a part of a church is just finding people that have things that you like to do and you can do it with them. Uh we were talking to somebody this week and and and uh many things that our folks in the church like to do.

Maybe it's go hiking together or maybe it's playing basketball together. I know Ricky likes basketball. Or maybe it's going out. Some of you got motorcycles and four-wheel drive vehicles and going out and doing that together or going to the beach together. Whatever else it might be is it's it's learning how to knit our relationships, our our families and our lives together to be able to share those things together with one another as well. And and it says that we're to be kindly affectionate one another with brotherly love to love as brother. Now, I had a brother and my brother loved me. He loved to hit me.

He loved to pick on me. He loved to cause me, you know. Uh but I do know that my brother loved me. One of the one of the ways I know that is one Halloween, my brother was about 5 years older than me and I was getting ready to go out on Halloween and he came to me and he said, "Listen, if anybody tries to take your candy from them, you tell me. I I I'll go take care of them." And basically, he told me, he says, he says, "I can beat up on you, but nobody else can, you know." Uh but uh he was my brother and he loved me. and and and and what does it mean to love as brethren? Again, in 1st Samuel 18, it says that uh it came to pass when he made it end of speaking that their soul was knit together, to love one another, to have that bond that comes not just because you have things in common.

It's always nice when you find somebody that you click with. It's always nice to find somebody that you have things in common with, but you won't always find that with everybody. But we do have one thing in common and that's the Lord Jesus Christ. A and we do want to bind our lives together even when we don't have anything in common to still love one another as you love his brother. I have to love my brother because he's my brother and we ought to love each other because we're brothers in Christ who are sisters in Christ and and we we ought to love each other. But Paul also said in verse number 25, he said,"I I suppose it necessary to send you to Aaprodit.

He's my brother and companion in labor." He called Apaprodites a companion in labor. It's interesting that word companion in labor comes from the Greek word where we get our word synergy from. And you've heard of that before where you have that that connection of working together, that synergy. And and and we need to be companions in labor. Turn over to Romans chapter 16. Romans chapter 16. And look at verse number three. Romans chapter 16 and verse number three. Romans 16:3. Paul is ending his letter and he's ending it with greetings to a number of different people. In verse number three, he says, "Greet Priscilla and Aquilla, my helpers or companions in labor in Christ Jesus."

And then go down to verse number nine. Salute Urbane our helper in Christ and Estates my beloved. And then go down to verse number 21. It says Simoththeius my workfellow and Lucius and Jason and uh so Sopher my kinsman salute you. These were work fellows. These were capes in labor. Paul names 35 people in Romans 16. But only three of them he uses that word synergy with. So there was a lot of people that were were workers with him and were helping him out in different ways. But there were certain people that you could always depend on that they would help with synergy. They would they you would bond together.

Again, this way he talked about Timothy. He said, "Here's a young man that's likeminded, that will do things as good or better than I would." This this man is going to do his best in everything that he does. And that's the way we ought to be as Christians. What should we do? do it hardly as the Lord and not unto men. Uh to do it do it passionately and do our best at what we do and to have that synergy of working together. I I love working with other Christians. I love to get together with them and work on things together. I'm excited about our anniversary Sunday. I'm excited about working together with you to make it a special day in the Lord and to have that synergy.

And then back in Ephesians chapter, I'm sorry, Philippians chapter 2 and verse number 25, he goes on to say that he's a companion labor and uh he's the idea of that word companion. Before we go beyond that, look at again was what we talked about with Timothy being like-minded. But then he also goes on and says, "My fellow soldier in second turn to 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verses 1-5." 2 Timothy chapter 2 and:es 1-5. 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verse number one. The Bible says, "Thou therefore, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus, that the things that thou has heard of me among many witnesses, the same, commit thou to faithful men, who should be able to teach others also.

Thou therefore endure hardness as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that worth entangled himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who had chosen to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet he's not crowned, except he strive lawfully uh to be fellow soldiers. Uh those of you been in the military uh or are in the military, you know, there's a special bond between soldiers that work together and serve together. In Philippians chapter 1 and verse 27, it says, "Only that your conversation be as it become of the gospel of Christ, that whether I come and see or else be asked, I may hear of your affairs, that you stand fast in one spirit with one mind, striving together for the faith of the gospel."

to have that bond when you're when you're striving together for one goal, when you're out there uh doing that job that you've been called to do and and serving together, especially in the battlefield. Uh that creates a bond that's unique uh among all friendships you'll ever develop in life. Uh there's people in the military that you will always be connected with because you serve together with them. You strove together with them. And that's important. And and we need to be realize that we are fellow soldiers. We're in this battle together and and we need to strive together to win this battle. Again, this is one of the things I think is so important about the one-on-one Bible studies is that you're developing relationships with people that will be a a relationship that will last for life.

They're you're you're you're striving together to defeat the devil and to have victory in your personal walk with the Lord. And we need that in our lives as Christians. In 2 Timothy chapter 2 and verses 24- 26, 2 Timothy chapter 2:es 24- 26 says, "But foolish and unlearned questions avoid uh knowing," I'm sorry, the 2 Timothy, yeah, 2 Timothy 24, "And the servant of the Lord must not strive, but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach in meekness, instructing those that oppose themselves, if God per venture will give them repentance, the acknowledging of the truth, and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil who are taken captive by him at his will.

Uh one of the things I love about the US military is this. No man left behind. Uh we are going to do our very best to bring everybody home. Whether it's dead or alive, we're going to bring them home. And and and that is something that makes us unique among the militaries of the world is because we have that that desire to leave nobody behind. And as a church family, as a body of Christ, that's the way we need to be is that there's nobody left behind. When somebody's struggling, we are going to be there for them. When somebody's going through challenges, we're going to be there for them. We are going to make sure to help them whenever they're, you know, here talks about them taking captive their will.

We're not going to give up on them. We're we're not going to leave our enemy our our fellow soldiers behind. You know, um some militaries, they shoot their own shoulders. You know, if they're wounded, they shoot them or they leave them behind. But that should not be the way it is of Christians. And so Paul starts out here talking about Apaprodites and he describes him as a brother, as a companion in labor, a as a as a fellow soldier. And and those are important descriptions. I wonder if people can describe you in that same way. And he goes on to say, "But he was also your messenger and he that ministered to my wants."

And and so here he begin changes over says, "Now you Philippians, you're the ones that sent him unto me." U remember Paul was very close to the church of Philippi. That's the church where he was taken a prisoner and he was in jail and they were singing and praising God and God sent an earthquake and and instead of escaping they stayed there and and the eth the Philippian jailer got saved and and uh other people got saved in that city and and uh the book of Philippians was probably the book with the least problems. These were this was a church who was really doing well and I believe that they were very close to to uh to Paul and I believe Paul was very close to them.

And so when Paul was in prison uh they sent Epaprodites to say you we want you to take whatever need Paul needs and give it to him and we want you to be there to supply his needs as well. And so he called Epaprodites your messenger and your minister. Go over to third John chapter 1. Third John chapter 1 and verses 5-8. Third John chapter 1 and verses 5-8. It says, "Beloved, thou dost faithfully with whatsoever thou doest to the brethren to the strangers which have borne witness of thy charity before the church, whom that thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well.

Because that for his name's sake they went forth taking nothing of the Gentiles. We therefore ought to receive such that we might be fellow uppers to the truth. You see, we we as Christians need to be messengers and ministers to those that are serving the Lord and uh to bring them forth on their journey that nothing's wanting unto them. In Titus 3:13, it says, "Bring Zenus, the lawyer, and Apollos on their journey diligently that nothing be wanting unto them." And so God has called us to take care of those that are serving the Lord, to those that are in ministry. He's called us to help bring them forth on their journey.

The the church of Philippi said, "What can we do for Paul to help him at this time in his life?" And they sent Epaprodites, I believe, with also a love offering that we'll see about that later on. But they sent him there to Paul to say, "We're here to take care of your need and to help you on your journey in serving the Lord." Go over to Philippians chapter 4 and verses 14-1 17. Philippians chapter 4 and and beginning with verse number 14. Notwithstanding you have done well that you did communicate with my affliction. Now you Philippians know also then beginning the gospel when I departed from Macedonia, no church communicated me as concerning giving and receiving, but you only.

For even the Thessalonica, you set once again unto my necessity, not because I desire a gift, but I desire fruit that may abound to your account. You see, the Philippian church was a church that that again and again and again they went to they went out of their way to meet Paul's needs, to help him forth on his journey, to make sure that there was nothing wanting unto him. And and and our job, we're called to be ministers to the ministers. We're called to to be a blessing to those that are serving the Lord as well. And so, how can you minister to ministers? How can you minister to your pastors?

How can you minister to your missionaries and those that are serving the Lord? And the first way is by prayer. Go over to Ephesians chapter 6. Ephesians chapter 6. Look at verses 18- 22. Ephesians chapter 6, beginning with verse 18. Right at the end of the armor of God, Paul says, "Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the spirit and watching therefore therefore there unto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints." I believe that's still part of the armor of God. But then in verse 19 18 19 he says and for as for me that utters may be given unto me that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel for which I'm ambassador and bounds that that there and I may speak boldly so I ought to speak but that you may also may know my affairs and how I do.

Titicus, a beloved brother and faithful minister to the Lord, shall make known to you all things, whom I've sent unto you for the same purpose, that you might know our affairs, and that he might comfort your hearts. You see, they were they were praying for Paul. And one of the things you can pray for your pastor, you can pray for missionaries for boldness. I hope that everyone in this room prays for the preacher every Sunday morning and every Sunday night. I hope you take time to pray together. And there's a group that meets actually right before the service uh downstairs that that prays for the pastor for the service that day.

And that's important. We need your prayers not just on Sunday, but during the week while we're preparing the message, you know, if you if you pray for us on Sunday, we're already done preparing the message. Uh you you you need to start early in the week and praying for your pastors and praying for missionaries that they'll be bold in their mission fields. That to be bold in putting out the gospel to others other others across the world and and to pray for their specific needs to to know their affairs to know your pastor, to know your missionaries, to know what you should pray for them. With missionaries, you should know the missionary.

How big how big is their family? How how many kids do they have? What country are they in? What is the country like? What is the dangers that are there in that country? You know, you pray for missionaries. One missionary, you're going to pray that God would protect him from jaguars that like the animal. And the other one, you're going to pray God would protect him from jaguars like the car. You know, it just depends on where they live. And and you want to know who they are. You want to know what their needs are. You want to know what trials and and tribulations they face so you can more effectively pray for them.

And and this was the church of Philippi as they prayed for Paul and and and they wanted to make sure that they were praying for his specific needs and then also to communicate. Look at Galatians chapter 6 to Galatians chapter 6 and verse number six. Galatians 6 and verse number six. Let him that is taught in the word communicate unto him that teaches in all good things. And then verse number 10, as we have therefore opportunity, let's do good unto all all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith, uh to communicate. Now, uh it's good when you communicate uh with um missionaries and with pastors and uh I just remember sometime would you go in my office in the top tray, there's a bunch of missionary prayer letters.

Would you get those so we can have them later on? But to communicate with your missionaries and and find out what's going on in their life and what struggles they're facing and what they're dealing with. Uh we had brother Beman here for the missions conferences last year and he's back in Africa now and one of the first things they had to face when they got back there is their grill in the backyard was full of bees and uh they they tried to get them out of there and it didn't go so well and and uh then another thing that's happened with them is they they had uh they have a grain that they're growing to help feed the families and and somebody broke in and stole that grain and and just to know what their needs are and to know what's going on in their lives and and how you can better pray for them and and to communicate your appreciation to them as well.

As as a pastor, it's always a blessing when somebody comes up afterwards and said, "Pastor, that message really spoke to my heart. That message really encouraged me. Uh I'm not there to be lauded by others, but it also encourages me that I'm on the right path and I'm doing the right things and and to communicate with your pastor verbally as well." But the word communicate here is not just about saying thank you and let them know you appreciate them, but it's also about financial communication. It it's an idea of communicating with them financially. In 1 Thessalonians chapter 5 and verses 12 and 13, it says, "We beseech you, brethren, to know them which labor among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you and esteem them very highly in love for the work's sake and be at peace among yourselves."

to know them and and and to be able to verbally encourage them and and verbally uh be there to help them out where you can. And then it's financially 1 Timothy 5 17-1 18. Let the elders that rule well be counted worthy of double honor especially they who labor in the word and doctrine. For the scriptures say thou shalt not muzzle the ox and that tread out the corn at the laborers worthy of his reward. and and wherever you go and and and the thing is I know you will not many of you will not be here for more than 3 years or so and you'll go on to a new church somewhere else and so I'm sharing this with you not because I'm asking for it.

You you folks are very generous with us financially. You folks are very generous with your with your words of encouragement. I'm so blessed as a pastor and and I want to challenge you wherever you go, be sure to take time to to um encourage your pastor and and and be financially make sure they're financially taken care of as well. Uh that they're that they're worthy of that reward and and that support. And then go over to 1 Timothy chapter 1. 1 Timothy chapter 1 and look at verses 16- 18. 1 Timothy chapter 1 and verses 16- 18 the Bible says how be it for this cause I obtain mercy that in me first Jesus Christ might show all longsuffering for a pattern to them which uh should hereafter believe on him that is had ever life everlasting now unto the king eternal immortal invisible the only wise God be I'm reading in first Timothy I want second Timothy I'm sorry Second Timothy chapter 1.

Okay. 2 Timothy chapter 1 16-18. The Lord give mercy unto the house of Anespherus for he refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chain. You know, by the way, I love some of the names in the Bible. Papdites and Ticus and Onestrophice. They're just such a such cool names to have. I I wish we named our kids some of these names, but they're probably glad I didn't. But in verse 17, but when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently and found me. The Lord grant mercy un ran up to him that he may find mercy in the Lord in that day and in and how many things he minister on me at Ephesus. Thou knowest very well.

You see, here was a man, young man that said, you know what? What can I do for the pastor? What can I do for the missionary? I remember be when we started Ohana, uh we were here in Hawaii for five years at Collab Baptist Church as assistant pastor and then God called us to start a new work and so we went back to the mainland for a year to raise support as missionaries to come back and start the work. And so we were traveling all over the place speaking in churches and you know when you're traveling like that it's very life can be very difficult. We were in a in a a trailer with our two young girls at the time and and um and sometimes it was challenging to travel new places all the time and be in your car and be in hotel rooms and all the rest of it.

And and I remember how uh people would when we pull into places, people would come to us and be a blessing. I remember one place we pulled into and and and they came up and said, "Listen, um we have we have something some gifts here for you. And they had a couple of gift for my wife and they had a gift for me and they had a gift for each of our daughters. And what a blessing that was. I remember we pulled into another church and the guy came up and says, "Uh, can I have the keys to your car?" And I said, "Yeah, I guess so." He says, "I'm going to I'm going to change your tires. I'm going to rotate your tires and do a oil and lube and and just take care of your car for you."

And he took it and took care of that for us. Uh we went to another place and and they came to us and said, "Can we have your kids?" And I said, "Yes. We've been in a hotel room with those kids for too long. And like I said, you can have them. We have to get them back, you know, and and uh they said, "We're we've already arranged we've arranged to babysit your children and uh we've arranged for you guys to have a hotel to yourselves and have a little bit of break." You see, these were people that said, "What can I practically do for the man of God, for the missionary, for the pastor to be an encouragement and a help to them?"

and and and that's what God calls us to do is how can we help out those that are serving the Lord. What can we do to be a blessing to those that are serving in ministry as well? And then um that sometimes that's even looking for their wants, not just their needs. And and in 2 Samuel 23 15- 16, it says, "And David longed and said, oh that one would give me a drink of the water of the well of Bethlehem, which is by the gate." David was a fugitive. He was hiding in caves and he was longing for water from his well at his hometown. And um and and and three of the mighty men break through the host of the Philistines and drew water out of the well of Bethlehem that was by the gate and took it brought it to David.

Nevertheless, he would not drink there but poured it out unto the Lord. And and and you know here David, they they they listened to David and said, "If David wants that, we're going to get it for them." And what a blessing that was. You know, there's times that I remember I was preaching a message one time at Christmas and I I talked about how that as a kid I I never got a train set. I always every year I got up thinking this is going to be the year I'm going to get the train set and I never got it. And the next week one of the ladies in the church came to our house and they had a train set for me.

Uh it was really a blessing. Now, once I set it up and ran it around about three times around the track, I thought, why was I so anxious to have this, you know, but uh it was such a blessing that they they listened and they said, "What is it that I can do to be a blessing?" And I just want to challenge you. Again, I I'm not saying this you'll do something for me. We've got other staff members. We've got missionaries that come through. And I believe that God will bless you when you're a blessing to those that are serving him. And and that's what Apaprodites was. in the Philippians, they said, "We want to be a blessing to Paul.

We want to help him out financially through prayer practically. What can we do for him in this time in his life to be a blessing to him as well?" And then going back to Philippians chapter 2, look at verse number 26. For he longed after you all, was full of heaviness because that you'd heard that that ye heard he'd been sick. For indeed he was sick nigh unto death. But God had mercy on him and not in him only but on me also lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow. uh April was so dick he was so sick he was going to die possibly die and Paul was thinking I can't this can't happen you know and uh Paul was sorrowful and he was worried about the Philippians as well and verse 29 uh verse 28 I sent

him therefore the more carefully that when you have when he you see him again you may rejoice that may be the less sorrowful receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such reputation because for the work of Christ who is nigh unto death not regarded in his life just by your lack of service unto me. You see, folks, Philippians cared about each other. Too often, it's all about me. It ought not to be all about me. It ought to be about others. In second 2 Corinthians 12:15, it says, "I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. The more abundantly I love you, the less I be loved."

You see, too often we're loving others because we want them to love us. But the Bible tells us in Luke chapter 6, you need to love those that don't love you. You need to be kind to those that aren't kind to you. You need to be you need to be a a give to those that don't give to you because anybody can give to somebody's going to give back to them. Anybody can love those who are going to love them back. But it's giving selflessly, is giving of yourself. And the Philippians cared about Paul and they cared about Apaprodites and they were concerned for somebody besides just for themselves. We need to put others first.

Look at Philippians chapter 2 and verses 1-5. It says, "There be therefore any consolation in Christ, of any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the spirit, if any bowels and mercies, fulfill you my joy, that you be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord, of one mind. Let nothing be done through strife or vain glory, but in loneliness of mind. Let each esteem other better than themselves. Look not every man on his own things, but every man also on the things of others. Let this mind be in you which is also in Christ Jesus. It's putting others first and yourself last. What is the definition of joy?

Jesus first, others second, yourself last. And and that's what we need to learn is to be selfless, not selfish. and the church of Philippi uh their burden was for others and they cared about others and and sought out others and that's what we need to do as well. Philippians chap 28 and 29 it says rejoice with them that do rejoice and weep with them that weep and you can see this church cared so much for Paul and they cared so much for Aprodites that they were weeping for them and folks we need to weep with those that are going through trials. When you hear a prayer request, when somebody shares what's going on in their life, you need to share that burden with them.

You need to take that upon you as well and weep for them and pray for them. But we also need to rejoice with one another. It's such a blessing when you got good news to share it with somebody and to rejoice together in that good news as well. And so, Apaprodites, I think he has a lot of lessons that he can teach us. lessons about being that kind of person that's a brother in Christ a sister in Christ to build those family relationship to love as brethren to be a companion in labor to have that synergy of working together in the service of the Lord and to be a fellow soldier striving together helping in the battles of life to help win the victory.

And the Philippians were a church that cared. They cared about people and they cared especially about those that were serving the Lord. And I want to I want to be known as a church that cares about our missionaries, that cares about our evangelists, that cares about those that are serving God. Because when you care about those people, God's going to bless you when you're a blessing to them. And we need to care about others, not about us, but about each other. You know, as I've been talking to people in preparation for the anniversary Sunday, I've been trying to contact former members of the church.

And over and over again, one of the things I'll hear from them is how Ohana was so special because they feel like that was their family. They feel like those were there was a personal relationship. There was a love and a bond that was there and and that's something they carried with them even years after they've been here because that's what makes this church special. And and that's what makes you and I special in the Lord as well. And so we want to have that kind of bond and that kind of relationship like Apaprodines did as