Fill on the radio, friends, greetings in the Savior's precious day, with a welcome to the broadcast today, and our continued exposition of the second chapter in the Philippian episode that was written by Paul the Apostle, written to the Gentiles and the Philippian saints in particular. We have chiefly emphasized that in chapter two, we see Christ himself as he lived upon the earth, the lowly servant of God as the perfect pattern for every believer. As we begin our study today in verse seventeen of this chapter and go down to the end, there are three other persons that are brought to our retention. They were three wonderful witnesses for the Lord who also present an example for we who are believers to emulate. First there is Paul himself, the beloved apostle who wrote the epistle, as you may read in verses seventeen and eighteen. Then we shall find there is Timothy or Timotheus, as we read in verses nineteen through twenty-four. Then there is a saint by the name of Epaphroditus, another companion of Paul, as we can read in verses twenty-five through thirty. First, may we refer to the apostle himself. In verses seventeen and eighteen, though the dear apostle was facing the threat of execution by wicked Nero, the emperor of Rome, that blessed person who was the prisoner of the Lord, he expresses his joy in being able to sacrifice his life for the sake of his fellow believers at Philippi. The loving ministrations of faith in the gospel, toward Paul by those Philippian saints made him willing to lay down his life for them as a sacrifice. You that may have carefully read the epistle know that in chapter four that which provoked the letter was a gift coming from the Philippian believers to meet the needs of the beloved apostle who was in prison. But again and again They had been faithful ministering to his need, and those loving ministrations in the fellowship of the gospel caused Paul to be willing to pour out his life as a sacrifice for their sake. What an example, and what an encouraging example, is Paul. God grant that we shall follow in his steps. Our second example is Timothy in verses nineteen through twenty-four. He is the next witness for us to be like. No verse twenty what Paul says about him. I have no man like-minded who will naturally care for your state. You find from the context there were others who were seeking their own interests, who were not serving the Lord, nor glorifying Christ, but serving themselves. But Paul's spiritual son Timothy was the blessed exception. to the Christians who were self-seeking and who were concerned about their own interests in life. Timothy was in perfect and full fellowship with Paul the Apostle. He was like-minded. He proved himself completely and cared genuinely for the Philippian saints. They knew the proof of Timothy's faithfulness. And one thing stands forcefully before us. Paul and Timothy illustrate what it means to be like-minded, having the same love, being of one accord and of one mind, as Paul exhorted us in Philippians chapter two and verse two. My beloved, may I just say humbly, but emphatically, we Christians ought to be like Paul and Timothy, even though Paul loved Timothy so greatly, found him such a comfort to him during his imprisonment. He was willing to send Timothy to the help of the Philippian saints, still hoping that he himself would see them very soon. But our third example is Epaphroditus, in verses twenty-five through thirty. This servant of God also shows the mind of Christ. And note the character of this servant of God as Paul writes, He is my brother, my companion in labor. my fellow servant or fellow soldier, but your messenger, and he that ministered to my wants. Epaphroditus must have been a special messenger who had been sent by the Philippians to help Paul. Perhaps he had carried the gift for the apostle and to the apostle. But he undoubtedly brought that gift from them to the Lord's servant, a prisoner, the prisoner Paul in Rome. But will you please know how well Paul speaks of him, my brother, my companion in labor, my fellow soldier, as well as your messenger, and he ministered to my wants. My how the dear great apostle Paul appreciated whatever was done for him by those who faithfully sought to help. But then we must go on, for there is more revealed about Epaphroditus in verses twenty-six and twenty-seven. Undoubtedly, he was taken violently and seriously ill in the carrying out of this service, and for the work of Christ, says Paul. He was nigh unto death in verse twenty-seven. He did not think of his own life. How like the Lord Jesus, Epaphroditus was in this fact, forgetful of self. And certainly Paul was glad to be able to write, though he was violently and seriously ill, God had mercy upon him. The saints said Philippi had undoubtedly heard of the dangerous illness. They were greatly grieved and in like manner. Epaphroditus was greatly distressed when they had heard of his illness. So Paul sends him back to Philippi that the saints may rejoice and be less sorrowful. Oh, may I point out, what mutual love and feelings prevail between these servants of God and these saints of God? Can I repeat it again? Would to God he was present today among the saints? The saints at Philippine with Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus were welded together in loneliness and mind and love and humility. And what a joy it was to see such a testimony. And thus we can rejoice they manifested the Christ-likeness of the Savior who was their pattern. So we may indeed thank God for these experiences of Paul and Timothy and Epaphroditus. All showing they possess the mind of Christ. Remember Paul's exhortation in chapter two and verse five? Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus. Certainly we can see the testimony of these three men. Paul, Timotheus, Epaphroditus manifested the mind of Christ. Oh, that all of us possess. as believers the same mind as they did today. Christ only Christ, in his humility and holy service, is a pattern. Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus were seeking to follow his steps. Christ was their pattern for Christian experience. My fellow believer, I humbly but earnestly pray that this will be true for you and me. But my unsafe friend, who may be listening, Perhaps you may have been, and I know that you could be, disappointed by some Christians, and their failure to be like Christ. May I advise you, my friend, if I'm saved, don't place your eyes upon them. The perfect pattern for you to look at, the perfect man for you to look carefully at, is Christ. He alone is such. And please let me ask you, Who went to the death of the cross to save you? Not Paul, not Timothy, not Epaphroditus, great as they were, nor any other Christian. And I say frankly, it is not what you think of Christians that is the important matter for you to consider. But what do you think of Christ? If all Christians are a disappointment and were to be, Christ is never that. Thank God, if you may know some Christians, you can commend. But remember, there is no Christian, not even the best one, who could ever save you. For neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none of the name under heaven given among men whereby we must be saved. Acts chapter four in verse twelve wrote the Apostle Peter. Now may I state bluntly, no matter whom you look to, Peter cannot save you, the Pope cannot save you, the Bishop cannot save you, the priest cannot save you, the preacher cannot save you, the elder cannot save you, the deacon cannot save you, the Sunday school teacher cannot save you, if they are true to God's Word, each one should tell you Christ is the only one who can save you. Even brother cannot save. Muhammad cannot save. Confucius cannot save. Name every religious leader. There's only one Savior. And he is a perfect Savior. All of the rest of us are not perfect. But my friend, may I urge you to make sure that you come to Christ. Let me quote the word of God again. For salvation you are positively, absolutely, Shut up, completely isolated, to take Christ. Here are the words of Peter again. Acts four twelve. Neither is there salvation in any other, for there is none of the name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved. Name all the names you wish. None of them can save you. Only Christ. And I invite you, my unsaved listener, will you not come to Christ? He has made a promise that he will not fail to keep. If you're wondering if he will receive you, then listen to these words that he said. Him that cometh unto me, I will in no wise cast out. John six thirty-seven. There you have the assurance, if you come to Christ, He'll never turn you away. All I can say and advise to do is this. Why not try it? Come today. Oh, beloved and blessed Father, we thank thee for the chapter we have covered, the second chapter of the Philippine epistle, where we have seen Christ, the perfect example, as well as the perfect Savior. And we thank thee for those servants Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus, whom we can be like to. But we pray for our dear friends, all of us who are saved, will seek to be like Christ. And our sinner friends come to Christ today in his worthy name. Amen.