"Standing Together!"
Captivated by Christ: An expository sermon series on Paul's Letter to the Church in Philippi (message #19)
Pastor Jerry Ingalls
August 29, 2010
Our Scripture lesson for today is found in Philippians 2:25-30 (NIV). The Word of God, “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. 26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. 27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. 28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety. 29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 30 because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me.” [prayer]
As we learned last week, verses 19-30 provide a historical narrative into the time and setting of Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi. Paul is writing personal comments as well as providing two examples for the Christ-followers in Philippi to follow.
After teaching what it looks like to be a person who lives there life in a manner worthy of the gospel of Jesus Christ, he then gives the examples of Timothy and Epaphroditus. Paul has expressed the importance of emulating Jesus Christ, of following his own example, and now highlights these two disciples. The first was Timothy who was with Paul when he founded the church in Philippi in 49 AD. The second was Epaphroditus, a man from their own community, whom they had sent out to Rome to care for Paul’s needs while he was in chains for the gospel awaiting Caesar’s verdict.
Last week we learned from Paul’s writing aboutTimothy, so let’s see what we can learn from the example of Epaphroditus in this section of Paul’s letter. First, FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST STAND TOGETHER WITH RESPECT FOR EACH OTHER!
Paul described in Philippians 2:25, "But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger [apostolos], whom you sent to take care of [leitourgos] my needs."
What is Paul talking about when he says, “But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus”?
To understand this we need to examine the historical context regarding Epaphroditus. Paul states in Philippians 4:18, "I have received full payment and even more; I am amply supplied, now that I have received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent. They are a fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.”
Epaphroditus was sent by the Church in Philippi to do two things. First, as we read in 4:18, to hand carry financial gifts that would provide for Paul’s needs while he was under arrest in Rome awaiting trial. Second, as we read in 2:25, he was to minister to Paul (the Greek word is leitourgos which literally means, ‘to provide religious services’) on behalf of the Church in Philippi. He was to be their ambassador of love and service.
One of the main purposes of Paul’s letter to the Church in Philippi was to personally thank his friends for their generous gift and provision in his time of great need. Paul believed that their sacrifice of both the gifts and Epaphroditus’ service set them apart as truly following Jesus Christ. As he stated in 4:18, there gifts were a “fragrant offering, an acceptable sacrifice, pleasing to God.” Epaphroditus’ offering was his very life to serve Paul as long as Paul needed him while he was in jail!
The Church in Philippi showed great respect to Paul, the great apostolic leader and missionary. And we would expect that due to Paul’s position as an apostle, but what is more illuminating is how Paul wrote back to them with such great respect for Epaphroditus, their messenger to him. Paul used the Greek word apostolos, which means “messenger”. This term, in Christian circles, was set aside for the eye witnesses of Jesus Christ who were called by God to teach what Jesus taught and to build the church. Paul, who describes himself elsewhere as the least of the apostles, shares this prestigious title with Epaphroditus.
With the use of both Greek words leitourgos and apostolos, Paul is emphasizing the critical importance of Epaphroditus’ love of God demonstrated by his obedience to utilize his spiritual gifts where they were needed the most, even though that put him in a dangerous and life threatening situation. Paul’s use of apostolos is more focused on the function of the gifts than on the title of the position.
Paul demonstrates his collegial mindset toward the other Christ-followers in 2 Corinthians 8:23. He says, "As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brothers, they are representatives [apostolos] of the churches and an honor to Christ."
We see similarities in this passage to our Scripture lesson. Paul calls them brothers showing kinship and brotherly love as fellow Christ-followers. They have been adopted by faith in Jesus Christ into the same church family! They are fellow workers, demonstrating that they are bound together by their common labors for the gospel of Jesus Christ. Paul also calls Epaphroditus a fellow soldier which I believe demonstrates Paul’s respect for Epaphroditus to leave Philippi and travel to Rome and selflessly care for Paul to the point of facing death.
In Paul’s correspondences he does not stop by only giving praise to a few select men. Paul makes it a point to show respect for both men and women who exhibit leadership in the body of Christ. In a very important section of Scripture, Romans 16, Paul states, "Greet Priscilla and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus. They risked their lives for me. Not only I but all the churches of the Gentiles are grateful to them” (Romans 16:3-4).
The respect we show to one another should be modeled after that of the Apostle Paul, who did not hold back respect because of gender, nationality, age, or any other man-made distinction. Paul stood together with his fellow Christ-followers because of their common love and service to the Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!
Do you have respect for your fellow workers of the gospel? Even when they look different or dress different or worship different or go to a different church?
The second teaching point we learn from Paul’s words regarding Epaphroditus is, FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST STAND TOGETHER WITH COMPASSION FOR EACH OTHER!
Paul described more of the historical situation in Philippians 2:26-28, "For he [Epaphroditus] longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety."
Here we learn about the historical context, Epaphroditus got very sick to the point of death. This news got back to the Church in Philippi and then back again to Rome. This shows the duration of time that Paul was in jail as well as the frequency of travelers who must have carried news of the growing church to Paul. Epaphroditus did not die, but upon getting well, he felt overwhelmed by the news that his sending church was worried about him.
It’s an amazing character who was more worried about his home church’s concern for his health, than his own situation. This is the attitude of Jesus Christ who put the needs of others before his own! And we do not just see that modeled by Epaphroditus here, we also see it in Paul’s desire to send him home. Paul, thankful to God’s mercy for Epaphroditus’ recovery, was then ready to send him back to Philippi so that he would not risk getting sick again.
For Paul, if Epaphroditus were to die it would be “sorrow upon sorrow.” That is an amazing line in this letter because it shows how much suffering Paul is going through, yet throughout this letter one of the major themes is Joy and the Christian mandate to rejoice in all circumstances! Paul’s own perseverance through suffering gave him great compassion for other people’s pain and suffering. He chooses to comfort others through the comfort he received from God!
Paul declares this heart of God in 2 Corinthians 1:3-4, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves have received from God."
These are not idle words for Paul, some distant theological treatise. Rather, this is how Paul lives and how he teaches us to live. As you experience the mercy and compassion of our loving Heavenly Father, then you are to return that comfort to people who are going through trouble. You are to stand with them in difficult time by being compassionate!
Paul is not alone in teaching this virtue. Listen to these words by the Apostle Peter from 1 Peter 3:8, "Finally, all of you, live in harmony with one another; be sympathetic, love as brothers, be compassionate and humble."
Paul greatly values his brother in Christ, this fellow worker, fellow soldier, and messenger sent with a gift to care for his needs while in chains for Christ. But, even though he greatly values him he realizes that the right thing to do is return him to Philippi to show compassion on both the church and their messenger. He could keep Epaphroditus with him, but instead he gives them comfort. This is an example to us of an act of Christ-centered love from a man in chains awaiting a trial that could lead to his own death.
How has God comforted you during times of challenge and crisis? Are you compassionate toward people going through hard times? How are you actively giving comfort to a family in need right now?
The third and final teaching point we learn from Paul’s words regarding Epaphroditus is, FOLLOWERS OF JESUS CHRIST STAND TOGETHER AT ANY COST FOR THE WORK OF JESUS CHRIST!
Paul finishes his discussion of Epaphroditus in Philippians 2:29-30 stating, "Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor men like him, because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking [paraboleuomai] his life to make up for the help you could not give me."
Paul knows that Epaphroditus is being sent home before his mission was completed. He knows that many of the more critical people (not compassionate!) in the Church in Philippi might judge him as a failure or second guess his story of why he was home from the mission field. So, Paul concludes with words of respect and compassion that emphasize that he is a hero of the faith because he was willing to leave his hometown and risk his life for the work of Jesus Christ. Paul is instructing the church to not give him a hard time or question his character, but to throw him a party and honor him as they would honor Paul himself. Paul explains, he is your apostle, a fellow worker and soldier, my brother!
Paul states that we must honor people like him and stand together with them, because he was willing to risk his life for the work of Jesus Christ. Honor this man because he loved Jesus Christ so much that he was willing to model his life, his attitude and actions, after the life of Jesus Christ.
What was the example of Jesus Christ that we emulate? Paul stated in Philippians 2:8, "And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death—even death on a cross!"
Honor this man because he loved Jesus Christ so much that he was obedient to his teachings and lived a selfless life. In the Gospel of Luke 14:27, Jesus declared without disclaimer, "And anyone who does not carry his cross and follow me cannot be my disciple."
Are you willing to stand together and carry your cross? Do you love Jesus Christ so much that you are willing to model your life after his? Are you willing to take Jesus Christ at His word and follow His teachings?
At what cost do you follow Jesus Christ? At what cost do you NOT follow Him?
The Greek word paraboleumai translated “risking” is a gambling term. It means ‘to take a calculated risk’ as you do when you gamble. Epaphroditus laid it all on the line and risked everything, not so that he could win a financial reward, but because he was willing to risk everything for the promises of God made true in Jesus Christ! Not promises that He could see with His eyes, but ones that he risked everything for by faith! As Christ-followers, the prize we stand together for at any cost is the inheritance of the Kingdom of God; this Kingdom is the word of Jesus Christ!
We have one purpose in life and we must be willing to risk all that we have on the God who loves us so much that He gave His one and only son to die for our sins so that if we believe in His Name, then we will be saved and never perish…we inherit the Kingdom of God when we put all our chips on Jesus Christ! Nothing held back; only one way forward!
There are a lot of things you can live for in this life, but if I were a betting man, I would say there is only One we should bet everything on.
Are you hoping in someone or something else in this life to complete you, or are you ready this morning to put all your chips on Jesus Christ?
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