Receive Him with All Joy

Driving home: So when we use the terminology, one picture is worth a thousand words, we mean simply that having a replica in a visible representation is often more helpful, than a mere verbal description.

Martin uses the common saying to illustrate how a visual representation makes comprehension easier than a verbal description, setting up the idea of Epaphroditus as a 'verbal picture' of a true servant of Christ.

Now I would be very surprised if there is anyone here this morning, from the youngest to the oldest, who has not heard at least once and probably many times the little saying, one picture is worth a thousand words. Now I don't know if our English friends, say one photograph is worth a thousand words, but I have had them look at me wondering what in the world I was talking about when I talked about a picture, but we here in American East say, one picture is worth a thousand words. Now when we use that saying, or when we hear it used, what is the intention of its use?

1:48 - 2:33 Read in full sermon

In this part of the sermon: Martin explains that their duty extends beyond Epaphroditus to 'hold such in honor,' meaning to give a place of estimation, affection, and attitude commensurate with proven worth…

Martin recounts preparing a formal tribute for his parents' 50th wedding anniversary, where he publicly honored them, explaining that this act exemplified what it means to 'hold in honor' by giving them a place commensurate with their proven worth.

It was my joy yesterday at a family gathering, the first one in which all ten of my parents' children were together in ten years. And I was asked several weeks ago to prepare a formal tribute on the occasion of their fiftieth wedding anniversary.

16:59 - 17:16 Read in full sermon

Driving home: There was an element of holy recklessness about this man Epaphroditus, he was willing to hazard his life for the sake of the Lord Jesus Christ and for his work.

He explains that the word 'hazarding his life' comes from the gambling world, illustrating Epaphroditus's willingness to put his life down as stakes for Christ's work, showing his holy recklessness.

But now in the course of that mission, he took some unusual risks. Notice the text. Paul says, because for the work of Christ he came nigh unto death, hazarding his life. And as I intimated a few weeks ago, this word for hazarding his life is a word from the gambling world.

20:39 - 21:05 Read in full sermon

Driving home: here's one whose love for Christ almost consumed him one whose knowledge of Christ compelled him to go beyond the mere limits of expected duty and service one from whose life there was a fragrance that is only smelt in t…

Martin critiques the common television portrayal of a 'reverend' as soft-handed, saccharine, and effeminate, contrasting it with the 'military hardness' and 'reckless gambler' spirit seen in Epaphroditus, to define true ministerial excellence.

All one need do is tune in to the few programs that are still acceptable on television such as Little House in the Prairie and one or two others. And whenever they typecast a reverend one gets an idea of the notions people have as to what makes a good parson. He's usually soft-handed. You can never picture him rearing back in his hind legs.

25:13 - 25:40 Read in full sermon

The point: If in the days of your preparation God doesn't give you a heart big enough to rejoice at the fellow who gets better grades than you do who can preach better than you do who can pray with greater fluency than you and if y…

He describes preachers who are jealous of others' success or praise, criticizing their homiletics or exegesis, as an example of a 'shriveled heart' that cannot rejoice in greater gifts, contrasting it with Paul's rare virtue of praising fellow servants.

on the part of the apostle Paul there was no exclusiveness there was no spirit of rivalry he was glad to praise his fellow servants though he stood head-in-cheek shoulders above them in gift and grace and experience and many other things and sad to say that's a rare grace in the Christian church preachers abound they can be found by the dozens and the hundreds who are afraid to share the love and esteem of their people with anyone else let a preacher come into their pulpit whose ministry is so blessed that the people get excited and suddenly the eyes of the preacher

35:13 - 35:57 Read in full sermon

The point: How do you feel you young parents when somebody's praising somebody else's kids about the same age as yours can you say isn't that wonderful that so and so's kids or do you feel a little bit piqued and annoyed and say ye…

Martin extends the application of rejoicing in others' virtues to parents, asking if they can genuinely praise other children without feeling 'piqued and annoyed,' demonstrating the relevance of Paul's rare grace.

how do you feel you young parents when somebody's praising somebody else's kids about the same age as yours can you say isn't that wonderful that so and so's kids or do you feel a little bit piqued and annoyed and say yes but my children hmm you see how relevant this text is Paul exemplifies a rare grace it is that grace of being willing more than willing counting it is to command whatever God had done in the life of another and to do it with joy

38:08 - 38:52 Read in full sermon

The point: You fathers you men in your position of administrative headship is it something more than simply trying to love your wife and nurture your kids is it loving your wife for his sake nurturing your children for his sake is …

He uses the example of people impudently referring to the president as 'Ronnie' to illustrate the fallacious notion that equality negates the necessity of giving honor, arguing that respect for authority figures is still biblically mandated.

within and without the church it's the notion that equality in one area negates the necessity for giving honor in another you see the idea that one man one vote we're all free men we live in the day when everybody's on a first name basis people are impudent enough to refer to the president as Ronnie well if his wife wants to call him that that's her privilege but to you and to me he's Mr. President ah you say that's old stuffy stuff out of the past no it isn't until God erases Romans 13 7 honor to whom honor is due both within and without the church

42:31 - 43:15 Read in full sermon