What Would You Do For It?

"²⁵ But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; ²⁶ because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. ²⁷ For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. ²⁸ Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. ²⁹ Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; ³⁰ because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me."

Philippians 2:25-30

 

Good Morning Beloved,

 

Welcome! 

Welcome to worship this Lord's Day!

 

We would like to welcome our beloved brothers and sisters from Belgium, Egypt and South Korea.

It's such a blessing to know the Word of God is continuing to spread through the world.

We're so glad to have all of you here with us today!

 

Mark Twain once said "Few things are harder to put up with than the annoyance of a good example."

When the church in Philippi became aware of Paul's situation, they were deeply troubled by it and decided they wanted to help him. Being imprisoned, he was no longer able to support himself in the ministry. So they sacrificially collected a gift of love from the believers, to send to Paul. Epaphroditus took the money to Paul, however, there was more to it than that. They had instructed him to stay on and be a servant to Paul in the area in his personal matters.

 

Let us bow our heads in prayer.

 

Heavenly Father, 

 

Thank You for this much needed Word today. For helping us "get it," and asking us what we are willing to do to keep it. For making us understand, that though something is given freely, someone else pays the cost. Thank You for Your Son Jesus Christ, Who paid the price for us, so that we would receive salvation at His expense. Father I pray that You would help us in our service of Jesus Christ to be sacrificial. To be faithful, willing to lay it all on the line for the Gospel. And may we do it with humility and without complaint. May it all be for Your glory.

In Jesus' name

Amen

Today's Message - What Would You Do For It?

 

Open with me your Bibles to the book of Philippians, as we come to the ending verses of Philippians 2, verses 25-30. We have the example of Epaphroditus. I believe it to be a most excellent example of what is expected of us today. Some of you may never have heard of Epaphroditus. That is likely because he is only mentioned here in Philippians chapter 2 and then again briefly in Chapter 4. However, Epaphroditus gives us a great example of Christian dedication and commitment. And he had become a key Christian in the church, a sacrificial man who has left his home, his ministry, his wife and children to serve the Apostle Paul. I encourage you to read along with me as we get this text set in our mind. Philippians 2:25-30

 

"But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need; because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you. Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard; because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me."

 

We know that Epaphroditus was pagan, though we don't know from where, and we know he was converted to Christ, though we don't know in what way. Though it may have been when Paul first founded the church in Philippi. He must have been a godly man, with outstanding character or the church would not have sent him to Paul. He clearly had the heart of a servant, or they wouldn't have sent him to Paul. And we determine he was a humble serving godly man. But also, we can determine he was a man of great courage, because he knew what he was walking into. He knew how the Romans felt about Paul for bringing Christianity to Rome, and he knew that Paul may lose his life, while in prison. And if that were to happen, it stands to reason, they would have at least considered taking the lives of those who served alongside of him.

 

In verse 25, Paul writes "But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need,"

 

Paul gives Epaphroditus five titles, in this one verse.  He calls him my bother and fellow worker, he's also talking in terms of the ministry, Epaphroditus serving alongside of Paul. Paul is not looking down on him, but eye to eye, in gracious humility. 

 

So Paul had found Epaphroditus faithful and he gives him several great titles. He is my brother. He is a fellow worker. He is a fellow soldier. He is a messenger. He is ministering to Paul's need. The use of the word "my," tells us Paul is speaking in a very personal way, a beloved brother of Paul. His brother in Christ. Jesus had made it clear that all who come into the fellowship of Christ can call themselves brothers and sisters in Christ. We use that term yet today.. We call someone a brother or sister in Christ. Unfortunately, we also use the term brother when we have forgotten their name, but brother should exhibit the way we look at a person. The way we love a person in the fellowship of Jesus Christ. That is why Paul used the title, brother for Epaphroditus; he called him a brother, a brother in Christ.

 

Paul calls Epaphroditus a fellow worker. Paul, this great worker himself, could call Epaphroditus a fellow worker. It was likely that the reason that Epaphroditus was to the point of death was because he was serving Paul in the Roman dungeon. It was a health risk to do the kind of exhausting work that it would require to carry the letter from Philippi to Rome and then serve Paul in prison. It would take great commitment to do this exhausting work. So Paul could call Epaphroditus his fellow worker because of the great work he had done.

 

Then he calls him my fellow soldier, at least the word my is implied here. I believe this indicates Epaphroditus must have faced some conflict in the ministry while in Rome. Some sort of battle, so as Paul was battling some opposition, its likely so was he. He could call Epaphroditus this because he was obedient like a soldier. Epaphroditus was trained and ready to serve, a great soldier of Jesus Christ.

 

He is your messenger, a simple term, right? Well, from your perspective, maybe so. From my perspective, I see something a bit more here. The word messenger, is the Greek word "apostolon,"one sent on a mission, a messenger. However, it also means apostle. Some have asked, "You mean like the twelve Apostles?" In a sense

Let me explain. The twelve are unique. Unique in the sense they are the Apostles of Jesus Christ, you need to understand the distinction.

 

Let's look at Galatians chapter 1, verse 1. No need to turn there, I'll just read it to you. "Paul, an apostle (not sent from men nor through human agency, but through Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised Him from the dead)"

 

Only a few, the eleven plus Matthias and Paul, were selected by the Lord Jesus Christ. Notice Paul does not say of Epaphroditus, he is the Apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ, but rather, he says he is your apostle. This is the distinction. Apostles with the upper case letters were those sent by Christ. The apostles with the lower case letters were those sent by the church. He is not that uniquely called and foundational Apostle chosen by the Lord Jesus Christ. He is an apostle sent by the church. That's a critical distinction to understand. 

Then in in verse 27 how much Paul relied on this servant. If Epaphroditus would have died it would for Paul, have added sorrow upon sorrow. Paul expresses his sorrow here in the book of Philippians, the book of Joy. He had sorrow through his imprisonment and if Epaphroditus were to die it would have added more sorrow for him. That is because Epaphroditus was such a faithful servant.

Here was Epaphroditus, a man not gifted as a prophet, he did not write any books of the New Testament. There is nothing special mentioned about Epaphroditus. The only thing we know is that Epaphroditus was a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. It wasn’t his title or position that brings out his special recognition here. It was only his faithful commitment to Jesus Christ.

In verse 26, "because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick." Paul uses the word "adēmonōn." It can be the product of disappointment or sorrow, grief or shame. It's that chaotic state of restlessness and confusion. So Paul is saying here, You had heard that he was sick, he knew you'd be sad and your sadness has greatly distressed him. Hard to believe isn't it?

 

Because we live in an emotionally unattached society. People today are more attached to their material possessions than they are people. People care more about money than they do their own families. However, the unique bond the church in Philippi had with him, was rich, deeply connected, so much so, that he was completely stressed out that they were worried about him. Beloved, you'd be hard put to find that kind of relationship today.

 

As a footnote, this is the same word Jesus used in Matthew 26:38 when He said "My soul is deeply grieved, to the point of death; remain here and keep watch with Me." It's a very heavy distress.

 

Verse 27, we're told how much Paul relied on this servant. If Epaphroditus would have died it would for Paul, have added sorrow upon sorrow. Paul expresses his deep sorrow here in the book of Philippians, the book of Joy. He had sorrow through his imprisonment and if Epaphroditus were to die it would have added even more sorrow for him. That is because Epaphroditus was such a faithful servant.

I don't know about you, but I find it to be refreshing to have someone held up as an example of Christian commitment who is not some kind of superstar. Paul has used Christ, and we acknowledge that Christ is the greatest example of all times in Christian commitment. Yet, we ourselves know, we can never measure up to Christ’s example. I mean, even Paul’s example is so lofty, so far beyond what we could live up to.

So it is refreshing to have an example like Epaphroditus. Someone ordinary like we are. Yet he is a remarkable example of Christian commitment because Epaphroditus was faithful. That is the key to commitment, faithful service to Jesus.

So Paul writes in verse 28, "Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly, so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you." 

Paul is saying "I'm sending him to you, because I'm more concerned about your joy than mine. Paul says in spite of all he means to me. And when I receive word that you have seen him, and you've rejoice, I will be less concerned about you.

Epaphroditus was really a great example. Paul says in verse 29, "Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold people like him in high regard." And honor men like him. What a great commendation. We can look at Epaphroditus as an example of faithful commitment. The work of Christ is carried on by the faithful few. I have heard it said that eighty percent of the work of Jesus Christ is carried on by twenty percent of Christ’s’ followers. Those are the few, the faithful, who are really committed to the cause of Christ. 

 

Why should they honor him? Paul says in verse 30 "because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to compensate for your absence in your service to me." He was sick, close to death. I do not believe he was speaking in terms we use today. I don't believe Paul is talking about a physical sickness, like when someone has the flu. The word Paul uses is "ēsthenēsen," it means weak, feeble. It comes from the root word "asthenés" meaning without strength. Paul says he was sick and came close to death for the work of Christ. It's a weakness that comes from putting yourself in a vulnerable position in your work for Christ. So I believe this has to do with martyrdom. The Romans hated Paul for bringing the gospel to Rome. Epaphroditus was weak, feeble from battling a spiritual battle. He was battling against an ungodly people in an ungodly society.

 

At the end of verse 30, he writes "to compensate for your absence in your service to me." What on earth does he mean by that? Its pretty simple, they were deficient in service because they were too far away. So they sent Epaphroditus to do what Paul needed. What the church couldn't. And in the process of serving Paul, he was risking his life. 

I'm sure it was no small matter to be attending to Paul in the needs he had in the Roman prison. You are putting your life on the line when you care for somebody that is about to be executed, preaching the gospel to a society that literally hates you, persecutes you and imprisons you. We need people today who are willing to take risks. The gospel will not get to the difficult places unless people are willing to take some risks.

There are some things in our Christian life that will take such commitment that we have to lay our very life on the line and trust God with that. That is what Epaphroditus did. It says he was risking his own life. The words mean he gambled with his life. He was willing to sacrifice his own life to be a dedicated servant of Jesus.

In Closing...

 

Epaphroditus certainly was one of those faithful few. He stands as a shining example to challenge us to rise to the occasion to be a faithful servant of Jesus Christ. He laid his life on the line for his work for Christ. You already know our Lord Jesus Christ was willing to lay his life on the line for you and I. This is the commitment, the call to sacrificial commitment in service to Jesus Christ. We need to serve in such a way that we, like Epaphroditus, that we would be willing to lay our lives on the line, to sacrifice for our brothers and sisters in need. All for the sake of Christ.

 

When I look at my own role as Pastor, I believe my first responsibility is to be a faithful servant to Christ, to stand in the example of Epaphroditus. But my next responsibility is to help those who will also stand in commitment to Jesus Christ and to stay faithful, and that means even when the going is difficult. In the face of adversity and persecution, insults. I believe that it may soon come to that in our society. We're seeing evidence of the workings of that now. It's been happening all around the world, and now it's come to our backyard. We may soon have a choice to make, like those in the early church.

Jesus Himself said in Matthew 16:25, "For whoever wants to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it."

You know, there is no question that Jesus was the greatest teacher of all times. He was the greatest leader. Yet even Jesus Christ saw the masses turn away from him. Jesus focused on a small group of disciples because that was His plan to train up a few dedicated workers to turn this world upside down. The message of the gospel has carried on by the works of a few, not because of the masses. And it continues to go on because of the faithful few that are dedicated and committed to sharing it for the cause of Christ.  

I really want you to get this today. Nobody was concerned with themselves. The church was concerned about Paul. Epaphroditus was concerned about the church, because they were concerned about him. Paul concerned about both Epaphroditus and the church. Because of their love for Christ, they loved one another, just as Christ commanded them to love, deeply, sacrificially, loving others as themselves.

We see by their examples what they were willing to do for Christ, for one another and for the gospel. What are you willing to do for it?

Beloved, I believe, this is what we need today. That is the crying need of the hour. For more people to be faithful like that. Paul and Epaphroditus were both caring and loving the church and they were caring and loving them, sacrificially. What we don’t need the is masses that turned away from each other and Christ. What we need are more with a true Christian commitment. Then we can go out as an army of God and reach this community with the message of the Gospel. Then people will look at us and see a clear example of what it means to be faithful and committed to the cause of Christ. 

 

May it be so...

 

And now may the Lord bless you and keep you;

the Lord make His face shine upon you,
And be gracious to you;

The Lord lift up His countenance upon you,
And give you peace.

Now and forever, in Jesus' name
Amen

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