Lesson 9

QUALITIES OF A CHURCH

Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D.

COPYRIGHT 2004

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EXPEDITED
(Phil. 2:19-30)

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.
20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state.
21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.
22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.
23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.
24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.
25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labor, and fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.
26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.
27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.
28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.
29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:
30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

19 But I trust in the Lord Jesus to send Timotheus shortly unto you, that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state.

Again, we see the close relationship between the apostle and those he ministered to. He wants to know of their state or condition, so he is sending someone to find out how they are doing.

How often I have wondered how different people I have known are doing - what the Lord is using them to do. I have contacted many to try to find out how they are doing.

If the apostle was this interested, then how much more should a pastor be interested in his people. An interest of how God is blessing, an interest in how God is using, an interest in how God is testing - an interest to KNOW his people.

I recently read a thread on an internet forum for pastors. The question was raised whether other pastors would call at the home of people that had been visiting their church. The discussion strayed somewhat to the question of whether pastors visited anyone in their homes. The large majority of pastors related that they never called on a home of a parishioner unless there was spiritual need as in a death or a birth.

I would question how a pastor can know their people as described without spending some one on one time with their folks. A pastor must know their people to encourage them in their gifts, to begin to use them in the church and to know if there are spiritual or physical needs.

I am not saying a pastor must visit every home, but another church leader that is reporting to the pastor is the minimum a pastor should allow in his ministry. Once a person is known there would not need to be a close contact schedule, but an update from time to time would be needed.

In my mind there is another application though the past is somewhat against it and many pastors would get nervous if you did it - the Sunday school teacher - especially the adult and teen teachers - how interested they should be.

I am suggesting maybe even calling on the members of your classes. Maybe take them to coffee, or just talk to one after class now and then in more than a "good morning" manner.

To know your people is to have the joy that Paul is talking about - it is also allowing the people to have this joy with you.

To know your people is to spend time with them. To know your people is to talk to them. To know your people is to listen to them. The latter requires less of the talking just in case you did not know.

Many a church leader is so bent on his own projects, goals and direction that they seldom notice the needs of the people.

It is of good note for a pastor to be closely aligned with the picture of the shepherd in Scripture. The shepherd's entire focus is on caring for the sheep - little else goes on in his mind - find new fields to graze - finding water - finding comfort and growth for the sheep. This would take away from much of the extraneous fluff of many pastorates.

20 For I have no man likeminded, who will naturally care for your state. 21 For all seek their own, not the things which are Jesus Christ's.

Kind of relates to what was just said.

Wow what a remarkable statement from the apostle Paul. "No man likeminded" refers to Timothy - how would you like to be accounted likeminded with Paul? Some honor I should think.

Let's list some ways we should be likeminded with Paul.

1. A big-time concern for the folks at the church. Not a concern that their giving to him would stop, but a concern for their welfare. Normally if the congregation’s welfare is in order their support of leadership is also sufficient.

Question. Should pastors ask for raises, should they tell the church what they are going to receive?

It seems that many today are in the gain mode rather than the service mode. They require certain things of a church before they will accept a call.

There is also a little responsibility on the churches part to see through the wants and requirements to the motivations beyond and act or not act accordingly.

A pastor I was associated with was disappointed that his church was not growing. All he could talk about was the fact that growth seemed impossible in his area. Without growth there was no reason for him to continue in the church - heaven forbid he take on the job of shepherd to care for the flock given him.

He ultimately got his big church - he accepted a call into it – he couldn't grow one so second best is to just move into one that someone else grew.

2. Ready, willing and able to do anything to see that the church will flourish.

3. Be willing to work so that the church is not burdened financially.

A pastor we knew years ago planted a church while working full time. Later in the churches life there was one point in which he was the only man in the church that was employed. The church met in his home, the church drew their spiritual life from his ministry, and many of the people ate from his labors. That is a burden for a people.

Barnes observes that this like-mindedness was probably relating to the deepness of concern that Timothy would show to the believers at Philippi. This is probably true, but the outworking of that concern and compassion might well become actions in any and more of the items already mentioned. Paul was convinced that Timothy would take on the task with the same concern and excitement as the apostle.

4. Supply only like minded men to assist a church. It is not uncommon today for leaders to recommend people that really are not likeminded with the doctrine of the group related. This is why churches are changing organizations and fellowships so often.

I would like to consider for a moment the fact that there was none other likeminded to send. This is one area where pastors tend to fall down - not of themselves - just that they have no one likeminded to fellowship with and to gain encouragement from.

This probably is true also of laypeople. They have no one likeminded to keep them on track in their day to day life.

We all need someone to compare ourselves to. Yes, Christ is our example and we need to watch Him, but it is good to have someone along side to bounce our ideas off of, to share our trials with and to get excited with.

This is just a personal note. I have seldom had this “one” that is likeminded and I have sorely missed it in my life. I have met a couple of men that were likeminded and we were quite meaningful to one another while we were able to stay together, however there has been no one on a long term ongoing basis.

If there is any way you can nurture one of these close relationships, you should do so and take the time to nurture the one that you find to come along side to be your "likeminded one."

22 But ye know the proof of him, that, as a son with the father, he hath served with me in the gospel.

When growing up I would work with my father on Saturdays around the house. He always had a project of some sort. We built things, we ran cement sidewalks, cement steps, cement slabs for the trash cans etc. Since he was paralyzed from the waist down, I did most of the running and most of the heavy work.

We were inseparable on Saturdays - all because I wanted the normal twenty-five cents that I received at the end of the day - that was my fortune! Child abuse these days - to make a kid work all day for a quarter, but for me it was adequate to my financial needs – a box of popcorn, a candy bar and ticket to the local theater! (I had to weasel a penny out of someone to get it all since the flick was sixteen cents and the popcorn and bar were ten.)

This sort of service between Paul and Timothy was the proof of Timothy's worth to Paul and to the church.

Some today want to sit in a pew and be counted worthy of serving - not so - you must serve to gain the honor of being found worthy.

At the judgment seat of the lamb we will be held responsible for how we served, not how we held down a pew. (In case you did not know, the pews in most churches are screwed to the floors so they don't need you anyway.)

23 Him therefore I hope to send presently, so soon as I shall see how it will go with me.

His sending was dependant on how something would go with him. Of course we would like to know what. It is assumed that he was waiting to see if his trial went for or against him. If for, he would be going to Philippi himself, but if against him, then Timothy would be sent.

The clear message is that Paul was dependant. IT ISN'T WRONG for a pastor to need help. Some act as though it is great sin to have assistance and on the backside of this is that some feel they are to do nothing - all is to be done by someone else.

We have noted before that we the people of the church - including the pastor - are unified. We are all to be working and ministering, not just the pastor, and not just the congregation - ALL is the Biblical view.

24 But I trust in the Lord that I also myself shall come shortly.

It is not wrong to make general plans for the future. Make them, but don't be devastated if they don't come to pass. Allow God His overriding will - follow His leading if it is counter to your proposed plan.

"Trust" has more than just the idea of trust, it also relates to something having convinced one to trust. It would seem that the Lord was that which had convinced him to "trust" in this coming trip. His faith in Christ was the basis for his trust. Not that this would guarantee his trip, but that the Lord was the basis of his decision making.

The use of this term would indicate that Paul had not only a desire, but a good feeling about his coming trip. Indeed, holding Timothy back would indicate he thought his chances were good before the court that would rule.

25 Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, and companion in labour, and fellowsoldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants.

Evidently they had sent a messenger to Paul and Paul had drafted him into his service.

Note Paul's terminology - sounds like reluctance is all over every word. Sounds like a veiled request to keep Epaphroditus to me. If you study Philemon you will find Paul was very adept at "wording to persuade" a person to do as HE desired.

"Brother" is a general term for a blood brother, associate, fellow worker, or a brother in Christ. One other usage is of a believer that is related to another by a bond of affection - this seems a fitting usage here since Paul seems to be giving this man a high ranking.

Epaphroditus means lovely - as is usual, a fitting name for a man of this caliber.

"Companion in labor" Oh how many pastors would like to know what this means. They know not what it means to have a companion in labor - they have to do it all.

This is sad but often true - their congregations expect them to do everything in the church that needs doing.

This is an important concept - work always goes better, easier and quicker when there are two or more.


When working in retail I was told too move a cash register just before I was to leave for the day. It takes an hour or two at best - I asked if I could have someone stay to help.

When I found the answer was no I knew I was looking at about double the time.

To move a unit on the third floor you had to work with wiring in the ceiling of the second floor thus requiring many trips up and down the fifteen foot ladder due to there not being anyone below to assist.

That often elusive companion was sorely missed that day.


"Fellowsoldier" also calls to mind the extra help involved in the work at hand. It is much easier to go into battle with others at your side.

"Messenger" is the Greek word normally translated apostle - one that delivers a message - used of the Twelve specifically but in a general sense of other prominent workers.

Paul makes it clear that there is a direct tie between the church and the messenger - a tie of belonging to.

Epaphroditus is only mentioned again in 4.18 as having delivered something to Paul. The King James lists him as the penman of Philippians after 4.23 but the King James is the only version that uses this statement.

"Ministered" to Paul's needs or wants - the thought of ministering to one above as to a king - the emphasis is one being busy with the needs of another - an administrative assistant of the early church might be the thought - only without a pay package.

26 For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick.

The term for heaviness is one of three terms in Greek to describe depression, heaviness or distress. Of these three this one describes the deepest level of distress - this man was really down about the church knowing of his sickness.

It is nice to know that people are concerned about your welfare but it is added weight knowing others are concerned.

Maybe a good step would be for you not to show your concern as outwardly as some do. When in the hospital our pastor drove sixty miles each way to visit - that burdened me because I knew he was swamped with other things to do and anyone that has had an operation knows that company is not the highest of priorities on the patient's list of needs.

27 For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.

It would seem that Paul was quite close to him and knew of his importance to others as well - his concern is evident - he would have had double sadness if he had died. He would not only have been loosing a good coworker, but he would have been loosing a friend as well.


It would be great to know someone was going to miss you and/or your ministry.

28 I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.

Returning him was to bring relief to both parties.

29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation:

Paul requests they hold him in high esteem or regard. It is of note that Paul encourages people to regard other people than pastors with high regard. We must assume to praise another for their importance is not wrong but to be encouraged. Not all leaders agree with the apostle here - they get upset if someone other than themselves gains glory.

30 Because for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me.

Paul tells them that ministry was the cause of Epaphroditus sickness. When was the last time you ministered so vigorously that you became ill?

There seems to be a negative aspect to Paul's comment here. It seems the congregation had been remiss in some manner in their relation to Paul.

It is possible Epahroditus was working to make money for the living costs of the pair as they ministered. Had the Philippians known of the need I would think that they would have cared for it. I do not think that Paul is being reproving here about how they cared for him since this letter was written, in part, to thank them for a gift.

APPLICATION:

1. Stedman likens this passage to the familiar verse John 1.1 "In the beginning was the word and the word was with God and the word was God." The only way God could communicate perfectly with man was to become incarnate, to become as we so that He could communicate with us on our level. He also relates this to our ability to communicate with the lost. Not that we need to become like the lost to communicate, but that as Christ lives in us we communicate with the lost through our living. God in a sense communicates with the lost via our lives and words.


That is a good application, but I am not sure his premise is quite valid in that God communicated quite well with the Old Testament saints, none of which knew Christ. God can communicate without becoming flesh - He did and often in the Old Testament.

This rather implies the application Stedman drew from his invalid observation was true. In the Old Testament the Lord communicated to the masses via a spokesman or spokespeople. He spoke directly to Adam, he spoke to Israel through Moses etc. He has never needed to become like us to communicate with us, only to save our worthless hides from hell.

2. Stedman relates of Timothy, "Timothy didn't go there to take a survey of the needs, or to analyze the problem and set up a program. He went with sympathy, to meet a genuine need. He didn't go as the Chairman of Christian Welfare. He went as a human being with a heart concern for their need. We need to get away from this kind of professional care of one another and discover again something of the selfless ministry of a Timothy."

I think that there is a valid point here. Many churches leave the concern and help to the concern and help committee - do not dare let that need stuff get out to the church body. We appoint and often pay people to show the body's concern for needs and to give assistance as the need arises.

This is not the New Testament church way. The needs were met by those finding the need. If they cannot fill the need then it is up to them to find someone that can. We had the joy of working with a man that felt this way. He even took it to the need of cleaning or repairing things around the facility. His concept is that if he saw a need it was his responsibility to take care of that need. If he walked into the library and found a mess he would automatically clean it up, if he found a broken door, he would get his tools and remedy the problem.

So in the church body, we ought to be living with this philosophy.

3. I had totally missed this passage in relation to the "gift of healing" that everyone tells us is still around. Here is Epahrodites sick near to death and Paul does not heal him. Is that not proof that Paul himself could not heal in his later ministry. Let us think about this for a moment.

In Acts we see that Paul certainly had the gift of healing: Acts 19.11 "And God wrought special miracles by the hands of Paul: 12 So that from his body were brought unto the sick handkerchiefs or aprons, and the diseases departed from them, and the evil spirits went out of them."

Yet he could not heal Timothy: I Timothy 5.23 "Drink no longer water, but use a little wine for thy stomach's sake and thine often infirmities."

Yet he could not heal Erastus: II Timothy 4.20 "Erastus abode at Corinth: but Trophimus have I left at Miletum sick."

Yet he could not heal Epahrodites: Phil. 2.27 "For indeed he was sick nigh unto death: but God had mercy on him; and not on him only, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow."

It would seem quite evident that the gift of healing was a temporary gift for the validation of the Gospel, not the restoring to health of all mankind.

There is a secondary application in relation to the sickness mentioned. Often today when a believer is taken quite ill others wonder if there is sin in the life that has brought the chastening hand of God upon the person. There is no indication that sin was a part of this man's life and there is no reason to assume that there was. When someone falls ill it is best to allow the Spirit to convict the sick and/or dieing of their sin. Don't jump to conclusions that you ought not even be considering.

4. Barnes has an extensive list of review items from this passage that would cause one to seriously think their life through and to evaluate how they are doing before God.

5. One of the points of this passage that is often overlooked is the fact that Paul took unto himself men to be coworkers in the labors of the Gospel. He was not one to hold onto his position, he was one to share the load as well as the commendation.

He was willing to delegate his authority to men that he had discipled. How many pastors today are in the business of discipling? Some, but not nearly enough. This should be part of the man's ministry. Christ discipled, Paul discipled and I would guess that Timothy and others did the same at some point in their lives.

Pastor - teacher - pew sitter, find someone that you can take under your wing to teach, to admonish and to guide as you walk together along the way with God.

6. Stedman points out that Timothy and Epahrodites had different personalities, indeed he could have included Paul as well. Three varied personalities yet one bond in common. They had said goodbye to themselves as one writer put it. They no longer existed for themselves, but they existed to be extensions of the hand of God on earth - nothing but HIS good pleasure. Death did not bother them, trial did not bother them and pain did not bother them. They were working together to further the course of God among mankind.

7. In verse 19 we see “But I trust in the Lord Jesus" which is a phrase we might miss or skip over, but it is one of the hallmarks of the Christian faith. Of course we trust in Christ for our salvation, but do we really trust Him in other areas of our life. Do we trust Him about the time of our death? Do we trust Him about the time of our marriage, or if we are to be married? Do we trust Him about how we are going to pay the bills? (Do we seek his will in stacking up those bills?) Do we trust Him to wake up in the morning? Do we trust Him with our children and their safety? Do we trust Him for leading us to the church of His choice? Do we trust Him about our jobs? Do you get the picture, Paul was trusting Christ to allow him to send someone to them - that is kind of like trusting Him in our everyday life, in our planning, in our hope and in our thoughts.

He is the One that can lead and guide us, He is the One that can protect us, and He is the One that can teach us in the Word.

We should trust Christ in the same manner that the apostle did - in every matter.

8. Note should be taken that Paul is using the men around him. He knew these men were trained and ready to assist in the ministry. Why is it that so many pastors that have good men that are capable of teaching do not use these men to assist them in the ministry rather than complaining about having to do everything themselves?

There are many churches with men that have Bible college and seminary degrees that are sitting in the pew because they are not allowed to minister. Let us consider some reasons pastors would not use talented and gifted men to their fullest extent.

a. The pastor doesn't know his people well enough to know the men are in the congregation.
b. The pastor is too insecure to allow anyone to do anything in his church. This is the "I'd rather do it myself" syndrome.
c. The pastor is too restrictive in his doctrine to allow for anyone teaching anything he does not totally agree with.
d. The pastor -- you fill in the blank.

On the other hand, to give the pastors a break, there are men that are trained and gifted yet they do not want to minister in the church. We might look at some reasons why.

a. They are totally burned out from some other ministry and they really need a break. Years ago when planting a church a family began to attend. It was evident soon that the man was well qualified to teach one of the classes that I was doing. I was working 45 hours a week and teaching five lessons a week so was looking for help.

I went to visit the man and soon asked if he would be interested. He looked me straight in the eye and said, no. He continued, "I would rather go out and slop those hogs than teach a Sunday school class." After I recovered my thoughts I asked what had happened in his life to bring him to that point. He related a long litany of situations that would have lead most of us to rather slop hogs. He was totally exhausted and ready for some feeding.

b. Some are arrogant and don't want to be seen as a part of the pastor's ministry - it might detract from who and what they are. This occurs often in seminary surroundings. A lowly pastor is not one some professors would want to associate themselves with.

While on deputation I often opened up my session to questions. One time in one of these churches I opened it up and a man in the back began grilling me on what type of churches I was going to be planting. Specifically he wanted to know if I was going to be starting "BAPTIST" churches. I told them that I would be starting baptistic type churches though not with the term Baptist in the name.

The man started into quite a little hissy fit about they only supported Baptist missionaries starting only Baptist churches. Finally to move on I closed that portion with the comment, "In Ireland most Baptist churches are Amillennial and I would not want to have people associate me with that false doctrine. End of discussion.

Later I apologized to the pastor about the way I handled it. He told me that I had done well and that this was not an abnormal occurrence in his church. He related that he had a number of seminary professors that tried to run the church, but that they would not partake in the ministry of the church.

c. Some may just be too busy to be involved in their church. They are totally and over involved in their own ministry.

I have always tried to keep enough time to minister in the church where we attended. This is in keeping with the idea that we are in a church to minister. This ministry should be on top of the normal everyday, be it ministry or full time work to support your family.

d. There may be some history of the church that the person knows that makes them want to stay away from serious involvement.

Some pastors do not want help, and often run off help that they get. There was one church where the pastor had run off four or five men that had begun to have a ministry in the pastor's church. The man was too insecure to want anyone else having a ministry with HIS people.

e. Some might not feel that they would have a freedom to teach as their conscience dictated. Some pastors are quite clear on what they believe and what they think of people that disagree with them.

f. There are just some times in life that a person feels like sitting and being fed from the Word - for whatever reason. This ought to be understood and honored. They will come forward when they are ready to minister.

9. Paul mentions "that I also may be of good comfort, when I know your state." This man was in prison, was the spiritual father of a number of churches, and he wanted to know how the church at Philippi was doing. Gill goes into quite a detail about what he could have been wondering about their state, but ended correctly in the fact that he was wondering of their ecclesiastical state, rather than their physical, business or health state. Not that those items wouldn't have been of interest, but the important part being how was the church doing, are there problems, are there gains, are things going honorably. These are items that he as their spiritual father and mentor would have been wanting to understand so that he could write with corrections, admonitions or teaching as needed.

Now, pastor do you know your church that well? Do you know the state of your people? Do you know where they are in their walk toward maturity? Do you know their state in relation to walking in the Spirit?

Many are the pastors that enquire of all the states of a person except the spiritual. They wonder at the business, at the physical maladies, and of the financial ups and downs, but totally neglect the spiritual condition of the people.

Not always because of their own neglect, but often do to the closed attitude of the congregant. A friend that pastored a small church was called out due to the near fatal car crash involving one of the church teens. The next day it was disclosed that the booze involved came from the father's liquor cabinet in his home.

The pastor went to talk to his "deacon" about his use of alcohol and its availability to his daughter. He was promptly told to leave and that this was none of his business.

Sorry folks, but the testimony of a deacon is certainly the pastor's business, indeed the testimony of anyone in the church to the lost world is the pastor's business - in fact it is the entire church's business!

10. In verse twenty-nine Paul says, "Receive him therefore." He wanted to be sure that the Philippian believers were treating his messengers properly. Not only to listen to them and to accept their teaching, but to receive them into their homes. One of the qualifications for elder is hospitality.

In the early church men that went about preaching were always housed in the homes of believers. This was just part of the normal church life. I trust that when guest speakers and missionaries come through that they are housed in the homes of believers.

I am a quiet shy person by nature and just hate to have to carry the conversation when I am with strangers. I was on deputation for five years and had many of these situations thrust upon me where I was spending time in other people's homes. It was uncomfortable, but some of the most blessed of times. To fellowship with believers that you have never met can be quite challenging to your own spiritual life and ought to be required in some manner for church members.

When missionaries come through get them into as many homes as you can. Let them be used of the Lord in this special way for the benefit of your church.

On the other hand, missionaries I trust that you will spend this special time in assisting what God might want to do in the people's lives. Don't worry about the down side of the situation, but concentrate on what the Lord might want you to do.

Now, this is free and does not relate. I have observed a number of things that can assist a missionary in this awkward situation.

a. Feed them well, but don't put pressure on to eat a lot. The pounds tend to be easy to pick up when you are spending lots of time behind the wheel and in the pew.

b. Give them their space, they need to pray, write home and relax. Give them opportunity for down time.

c. A room with a bathroom off the room is fantastic, but not required, but do relate any traffic needs that exist so he doesn't plan to use the clean up facilities at the wrong time.

d. Control your pet. Most people like animals, but not all do, and not all animal lovers want a permanent resident in their lap.

I visited a pastor that had a medium sized dog that just fell in love with me. My lap was the only place that existed in the world. He was bent on being my best bud. I would nudge him off but before I had readjusted myself he was up and in. I started sitting with my elbows raised so I could block his advances, but this dog must have been a quarter back in a former life as he could sneak in between my elbows in a moment.

Finally we settled our differences and he settled into my lap for the rest of the evening. I didn't mind a whole lot, but it wasn't all that comfortable.

e. Make arrangements beforehand with the missionary as to what will and will not be provided. Don't leave him wondering if he is welcome for meals, or whether he is to move on the next day. Let him know so that he can make his plans.

f. While on the subject, what do you think those missionaries do between Sunday and Wednesday meetings? Many sleep in their cars or drive long distances to return home. My trips took me 1200 miles from home for a month or so at a time. If it hadn't been for a friend that loaned me the church fellowship room between Sundays, I would have been living in my car most of the time.

Seldom were any arrangements made for my nights. Usually a meal was provided if I was doing two meetings in the same church, but other than that I was on my own. When going to conferences, normally sleeping arrangements were made beforehand.

g. Just make your guests comfortable and try to understand how you might feel in their situation.

In closing, imagine how much influence this guest might be on your children. Don't allow your kids to sneak off to their rooms, expose them to the possibilities of serving God. Missionaries, don't ignore those kids either, they are believers that God might use you to influence.

11. Men! Take a serious look at this passage and the relationship between Paul and Timothy and Epahrodites. Do not let this get past you. No matter if you are a pastor or missionary or a Sunday school teacher or just someone sitting in the pew. This is a grand example of godly, manly relationships. Close, agreeable and supportive. If you don't have a relationship with another man that either equals or is on the way to equaling this type of relation, start looking for someone to built that sort of relation with.

Don't pick the pastor to build a relationship with but someone that is not as mature as you are and start building him up. Be sure you are building yourself up as you go or he will catch you and things will stagnate.

Open your eyes to the possibilities of a church full of men that are building one another up on a one to one basis. Somewhere along the way all will be built up and they will find others to disciple - uuuuuppps - there is that word the Lord used in the Great commission! We are supposed to be doing this as an integrated part of our lives, yet for the most part in America we leave the discipling up to the pastor - you know - the guy that knows you are supposed to be helping him do it and he spends his time trying to get you to do your job for the Lord.

How do we disciple another? Yep, this would probably go for women as well, they will just use slightly different methods to accomplish the purpose.

a. Pray that the Lord would lead you to someone that you could spend time with challenging and discipling.

b. Pray for quite awhile before making a choice. Allow God to make the choice. His vision of what he wants to accomplish through you is much clearer than yours.

c. Take a specific amount of time weekly to meet one on one to discuss a passage that you have studied. If you like set up a curriculum or listing of what you want to cover in your studies, what you want to accomplish with this friend - again use prayer as your guide.

I'm sure there are books on the subject if you really cannot figure out what to do. I think, however with the Spirit as your teacher and your guide you can do it without the book if you try. Just cover the basics of the faith that the other man does not know.

d. Seek to share your faults and problems with him so that he will feel free to do the same with you. You don't need to air a laundry list, just seek to minister in those areas where he has problems. Share Scripture with him that relates.

e. Encourage him in any way that you can. If he is down about his job see if you cannot find some silver linings to point out.

f. As time goes along, the Spirit will lead and guide you into other areas where you can support him. Make it a friendship if possible, but that is not the key. By friendship I don't mean that fuzzy wuzzy man thing that the media portrays, but that deep down eight year old buddy type thing. That thing where you would rather spend time with the buddy than eat brownies and ice cream - well maybe not that serious, but a serious friend.

If this happens as you disciple so much the better, but it is not necessary.

g. When you see some maturity in the one you are discipling, encourage him to start doing the same with someone else. II Timothy 2.2 is the plan. Pass on what you have learned to others that they might pass it on to others.

h. Try to bring these into the church but if they are members elsewhere that is no problem.

i. Take them deep into the word. Study some doctrine together, take a book of the Bible and study it a verse or two at a time. Make your time useful to both of you.

12. Constable states "Paul did not write these words to introduce Timothy to the Philippians. They knew him well. Probably he wanted this glowing testimonial to give his original readers confidence that Timothy had their best interests at heart."

Can you relate to that pastor? Missionary? Sunday school teacher? Your attitude should be to have the people you work with to know you have "their best interests at heart." Not trying to figure out how to get more money out of them, not how to get them to do the job you want them to do, not how you can give them a guilt trip so that they do something for you.

Their best interest should be your focus. Within that focus then attempt to move them toward serving GOD to better their spiritual life. As the congregation is blessed by God see to it that you are a guide to ever increasing THEIR interests, not your own.

People in the church, in the class or Bible study should feel comfortable as a believer, not feel like they are a tool to fulfill someone else's wants or needs.

13. In relation to the sickness of Paul's friend can you imagine his feelings knowing that in a former day they had taken napkins from his body to people with all sorts of illnesses and they were healed, yet now when someone that was of great importance to him was out of his power to help.

Tell me he didn't wonder at the sovereignty of God just a little bit. Tell me that he did not wish that God would overrule the natural consequences of sin just this once to help his friend. The point is that he did not dwell on any of these thoughts for long because surely had they been long on his mind, he would have mentioned something in this letter. Something of the frustration at not being able to help, something of the desire to have this man raised up as he had seen others raised from sick beds in the past.

He did not seem to dwell long on these items as we ought not. We will naturally question God at times as well as His ways, but don't dwell long at the trough of despair, stir yourself with the glories of God and His grace and focus upon Him, not your trials and troubles in this life.

14. One further application. Paul is in prison, yet these men were comfortable going in and out ministering to him. They seemingly had little problem with placing themselves in a tenuous situation. They didn't know how it was going to go with Paul for preaching Christ, and who is to know when the bad guys decide they needed to be in prison too?

By way of loose application, might we think of those men that minister to prisoners today. I went to minister in a county jail once years ago and I don't mean to tell you it was a totally pressure free experience. I was not comfortable with the thought of going into this place, I didn't feel real comfy with the security going in and coming out. There are people that do this on a daily basis to minister to men and women in prison today.

We should thank God for what these folks are doing. There are many being saved through these ministries. There are prisoners discipling other prisoners behind prison walls.

I have been blessed to correspond with a man in prison in the south for a year or two now. It is such a blessing to see him doing things inside four walls that believers are not doing on the outside. This man is talking to prisoners and guards alike. He has been educating himself in the Bible and as such has shared his knowledge with anyone that will take a moment to talk with him. He has led people to the Lord, then he has discipled them on a one on one basis unless they are from a different section of the prison. In those cases he introduces the new convert to someone he knows will disciple him.

He isn't proud of why he is there, but figures that God has a job for him to do while there. He requests Bible studies and printed material and shares it with anyone that is interested in it. While doing all this he is working on a degree by extension from a Bible college.

Each of us should be so involved in the lives of those we mix with on a daily basis.

15. In one of my first missions conferences in Bible College one of the old missionaries told of a young student that came to him and asked what the old man's mission's retirement plan was. The old man turned to the young man and stated, "Well, we've always allowed people to be buried just outside of the mission station."

At that time it was not an uncommon attitude among the older generation of missionaries. Indeed, as I considered the topic in my mind, I came to understand that this should be the attitude of any believer, not only the missionary.

Retirement plans are not a Biblical item of concern. Paul sets our example in this text. Both Paul and Epaphroditus had this attitude and all in our own day should consider it to be the Biblical standard.

A few years later in another missions conference I met a Conservative Baptist missionary. I was rather shocked to find out that he owned a home in the Denver area that he was planning to have paid off by the time he retired.

Now, where is the Biblical line that we should draw? Is it with Paul or is it with the worldly view of retirement? Ought we be putting away in this life for the day in which we set aside our ministry to rest upon our laurels?

Some principles:

a. Allow God to lead each as individuals, but emphasis should be laid on seeking that leading by every believer whether minister or congregant.

b. Consider this passage in particular. Consider other passages relating to laying up store - and where that store is to be laid.

c. Consider other men of God and how they prepared for their elder years.

d. Consider your responsibilities to your spouse and other members of your family if they are dependent upon you.

e. Consider others in the Bible that walked with God. How did they prepare for retirement, or did they.

f. Understand that retirement is something relatively new to our world. Not too many years ago you worked till you dropped dead or could not work any more.

g. Find Scripture passages which would support "retirement" as we know it today.

h. Take all of the above and pray and think over it for an extended period of time and see if the Lord does not have some principles for you to follow.

I fear that the modern church has accepted as natural and normal the world's standard of living. We try to keep up with the lost Joneses, and we try to pattern our entire life including retirement after their pattern. We tend to look to retire and enjoy the rewards of life just like the lost do. Many pastors worry and sweat over their pay packages that are not sufficient to their plans and hopes for their own retirement.

With this being the case, why would the rest of the church be in the same boat? If the pastors are tied up in the way of the lost, they assume that it is right, thus they pass on that attitude if not “principle” of living from the pulpit. Thus we have congregations filled with people following the same pattern of life.

May each one of us take a seriously long look at the idea of retirement. In some cases physical limitations will require some to stop working, but for many there is really no need to do so.

Is it wrong to retire? Rather depends on what you find the Biblical principles teach. Please do this study for yourself and do not lean upon the wisdom or lack thereof of others.

A quick read of the following from my website might be of interest to you.

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http://www.mrdsnotes.com/topic/m00900.htm

Copyright Rev. Stanley L. Derickson Ph.D. 1996

TITLE: JOB ONE
READ: Matt. 6:21,24, & 33
At Ford, "Quality is job one!" In Christianity "Quality is also JOB ONE!"

JOB ONE IN THREE AREAS

I. WE NEED A QUALITY BANKER
II. WE NEED A QUALITY MASTER
III. WE NEED A QUALITY DESIRE

I. YOUR BANKER

When I think of treasure I naturally think of my favorite comic book hero. When I was four and five I had a long sickness that caused me to be in bed for an extended period of time. Many of my folk’s friends wanted to do something for me so many of them would bring me comic books.

The one's that I really liked and identified with were the Donald Duck comics. Not so much for Donald but more for Uncle Scrooge than anything!

Uncle Scrooge was "IT" for me. We were poor and I really could identify with Scrooge's desire for money.

I can remember him having a diving board installed in one of his safes so that he could dive into and swim in his money.

I can remember him washing his money in large laundry machines.

I can remember him leading caravans of dump trucks full of money up to his large buildings built in the form of safes.

I can remember Uncle Scrooge opening one of his safe buildings and all of the money running out all over the ground.

I can remember Scrooge having to build new and better and bigger buildings to store his money in.

We have modern day counterparts to Scrooge today in our society.

I have read articles about the rich in our world today that tell of the warehouses that they build to house all of the articles that they no longer use. Jackie Onasis was supposed to have had a warehouse in Europe for just the clothing that she no longer used.

God says, (Matt. 6:21) "For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."

He isn't saying that if you have a bank account that your heart is in the bank - No, he is talking about our temporal values and allegiances.
If we are laying up treasures in heaven then our concentration will be in the heavenlies.

If we are laying up treasures here on earth then our concentration and priorities will also be here on earth.

Let's face it, if I were Uncle Scrooge I think I would be just as the comics portrayed him - swimming in money and constantly worried about someone making off with a truckload of it!

A friend in graduate school shared a story with me. He was in a business administration class. An alumni had been asked to share of his great financial success. He came to the class and introduced his success by telling of the roll of money he carried with him. Indeed, he took it out and showed it - then passed it around. He explained that it was all $100 bills, and that money meant very little to him.

My friend said, however, that the man's eyes never left the roll of money as it went from student to student around the room.

Let's turn to Col. 3:1-4 for a moment or two.

"If ye, then, be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.

When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory."

Some items to notice:

1. THE FACTS: "If ye" is a Greek construction that has the idea in our language of "If and assumed so". If you are risen with Christ, and I assume that you are, then seek things which are above.

2. THE LOGIC: Seek things above! Why? That is where Christ our reason for existence resides!

3. THE POSITIVE: "Set your affection" above. If you really like something then be sure it is above. Your heart's desire should be above not here below.

4. THE NEGATIVE: Not here on earth.

5. THE REASON: You are dead!

Our life exists only in Christ. We have no existence here on earth. It is done and our residence is in heaven with God.

This is the Bible basis for the phrase - "you can't take it with you". My wife had an uncle that said that he was going to take it with him - he had an asbestos coffin!

6. THE REWARD: We will appear with Christ in glory.

a. TURN TO AND READ Rev. 19:11-16

b. In eternity we will reside with Him.

7. THE PREPARATION: "...Christ, who is our life...." We are to consider Christ as our entire life.
We are to be so committed to Him that we are always seeking to be more like Him and to be seeking to please Him.

II. YOUR MASTER

Now as I remember old Uncle Scrooge was in a real quandary at times with the safety of his money. He was constantly building new and better safes for his money.

He was constantly worrying about the thieves that were always trying to steal a truckload or two.
His total concentration was on the safety of that money.

God says, "No man can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one, and love the other, or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and money." Matt 6:24

We see the significance of the term "MASTER" do we not? God says that you cannot serve money and God, and He keynotes the principle with the fact that you will love one and HATE the other!

NOW

LET'S THINK ABOUT THAT FOR A MOMENT IN RELATIONSHIP TO OUR LIVES TODAY IN AMERICA!

IF WE LOVE GOD WE WILL HATE MONEY!

IF WE LOVE MONEY WE WILL HATE GOD!

hate = 3404 = miseo = "to hate" - used of "malicious and unjustifiable feelings towards others" (Vine)
This term is used in Jo. 15:18 where Jesus mentions, "If the world hate you, ye know that it hated me before it hated you." This is a real dislike to say the least!

If we were to grasp that concept and really love God we would have a very different lifestyle in Christianity in this day in America!

The idea of the construction of the text is that we cannot of our own accord serve both God and money. There is a built in impossibility in the idea. THE ONE EXCLUDES THE OTHER!

Application: Don't try for you cannot do it!

III. YOUR DESIRE

Now back to Uncle Scrooge. His entire being was keyed to his money. Even his gifts to Huey, Duey and Louie were money! He had no other desire in life. He wanted money, money and more money!
Now we can't in all honesty say that this is our desire as believers. Our consuming desire isn't usually to have and gain and hold money, HOWEVER at times in practical application and outward appearance it may well seem to the unsaved world around us that we are serving our desire for money.
We add unto our earthly possessions at a far greater rate than unto our heavenly rewards! DON'T WE!

Think about your thought life. How much time do you spend thinking of ways of using your money for the Lord's work as compared to how you are going to use your money for your own enjoyment.
Notice in Matt 6:33 that there are two things that we are to be seeking.

"But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you."

a. The kingdom of God. This is a reference to the Millennial kingdom that Christ wanted to set up for the Jews. We are to be seeking after that kingdom. For the church age believer the kingdom means that they are with the Lord already!

Our desire should be for His coming!

b. His righteousness.

Now just how do we interpret that phrase in present day America?

May I read parts of an article from Moody Monthly to show you how some Christians interpret this thought.

From Moody Monthly; July/August 1988

FOR STARTERS by Jerry B. Jenkins

SHINE ON

Item: A young man employed by a service company decided he'd rather watch the Chicago White Sox play than spend the rest of the day working.

He drove the company truck to the ball park then called his office and told his supervisor hat his early afternoon service call would take the rest of the day

Fact: The young man told me that story.

Item: A young reporter interviewed a famous personality at a downtown hotel. As the reporter was preparing to leave, the celebrity noticed his parking stub. "Let me have that stamped for you, he said. Not understanding what he meant, the reporter followed him to the front desk, where the celebrity told the clerk, "I'm parked in the hotel lot. Can you validate this for free parking?"

"You're a guest here?" the clerk asked.

The man nodded and showed his mom key to prove it. The ticket was stamped. The reporter could have parked free.

But he chose to pay instead.

Fact: The reporter told me that story

Item: A woman enjoyed lunch with an older lady and split the bill.

"Here," the older one said, "you can have the receipt for your income taxes."

"What do you mean?"

"List this as a business lunch that you paid for. You've got the receipt."

Fact: The young woman told me that story

Item: A middle-aged man had recently moved to a big city He parked at an expired meter, reasoning, "Even if I get a ticket, I'm changing my license plates soon. They'll never track me down.',

Fact The man told me that story

Item: A businessman was upset that this competition was underselling him by mail. When he received the competition's catalog, he mailed in every pre-paid business reply card and envelope they provided, but he ordered nothing. "They had to pay all that postage," he says with a smile.

Fact: The businessman himself told me that story

Item: A couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary Their son, a salesman, called in sick so he could attend the party

Fact: The couple told me that story clearly amused at their sons resourcefulness.

Item: A young woman working as a telephone installer frequently absconded phones left by customers who had moved.

She reported to her employer that the customers had taken the phones with them. She kept some of the phones, gave others to friends, and sold the rest.

Fact: She herself told me that story

The saddest facts of all:

The white Sox fan is - and was at the time of his lie. - an active, church-going Christian who is involved in training youth.

The famous personality is - and was at the time of his lie - involved in full-time evangelism.

The older lady is - and was at the time of her recommended deception of the IRS - on the full-time staff of an evangelical church.

The middle-aged man is - and was at the time he parked illegally - a pastor.

The anniversary couple is - and was at the time that they took delight in their son's lie - active in Christian work.

The telephone installer is - and was at the time of her theft a professing Christian, active in her church.

"Therefore, my dear friends... become blameless and pure, children of God without fault in a crooked and depraved generation, in which you shine like stars in the universe" (Phil. 2:12,15).

It seems that the Christian world is in a bit of a tizzy as to how they are to live before the lost!

We are to live as Christ lived! He is our example to go by!

His righteousness or righteous living is that which we are to seek in our own lives!

If we do this then He will add "all these things" to us.

WHAT A PROMISE! IF WE SEEK HIS COMING AND HIS WAY OF LIFE HE WILL GIVE US EVERYTHING WE WANT!

NO!

There is a negative and a positive side to this promise.

Negative: It is not stereos, clothes, cars, houses, horses, bank accounts etc.

Positive: It is the needs of life that is viewed in the context of the passage verse 25-32.

God does not promise the world but he promises to get us through the world!

YES, THAT PUN WAS INTENDED! HE DOES NOT PROMISE THE WORLD -- HE WANTS US TO SHUN THE THINGS OF THE WORLD NOT SEEK AFTER THEM!

CONCLUSION:
I am not asking that anyone change their attitude toward money. Just think about what we have talked about in this study and consider the things that God's Word has to say to you today. Let the Holy Spirit work in your mind and help you REALLY evaluate your priorities and commitments.

THEN CHANGE YOUR ATTITUDES TOWARD MONEY, TOWARD CHRIST, AND TOWARD LIFESTYLE - BECAUSE GOD CAUSED YOU TO HAVE A CHANGE OF HEART AND NOT BECAUSE I CAUSED YOU TO CHANGE YOUR MIND!

Let's turn to a familiar passage in I Jo. 2:15-17.

This is the Christian life in the negative nutshell. If we avoid these things then we will be on the right track to serving God.

The lust of the flesh.
The lust of the eye.
Pride of life.

Wrapped up in these three are all of the wrongs that man can get himself into.

As Dr. Stowell mentioned in one of his editorials, if the morals don't get you materialism will. I might add if these two don't get you your pride of life may well be winner!

As you enter into a certain situation or consideration and try to decide what to do run the situation or consideration through this frame of reference and see if the Lord doesn't give you some insight!

Some have said that we can be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good.

The more I study the Word and see what God's desire is for us the more I think that this statement is false.

God wants us heavenly minded. Indeed, that is what will motivate us to do the witnessing and preaching and counseling that we need to be doing.

Those that say that we can be so heavenly minded that we are no earthly good are using the phrase to say that if we dwell on the heavenly we won't do the ministry. I think that this is incorrect. If we are concentrating on the heavenly then we will naturally do the ministry.

Those that are so heavenly minded that they are no earthly good are probably the phony believers - those that put on a facade of heavenliness and never get around to living out that heavenly attitude.
As we go out into the world may we keep the world at an arms length as far as it's influence upon us.

MAY OUR BANKER BE GOD!
MAY OUR MASTER BE GOD!
MAY OUR DESIRE BE GOD!
MAY "QUALITY BE JOB ONE" IN OUR LIVES!!

Just some side thoughts to the above:

To the poor these principles can be a blessing, because they have to live this way to a point, yet to some it is a curse because they rebel against God's position for them.

To the rich these principles can be a blessing because they may choose to live according to this life, yet if they want to live unto themselves it would be a curse to them.

SO, to each and every one of us no matter our financial statement, it is the attitude with which we approach things that will determine our joy or lack of peace in relation to living these principles.