Meet Epaphroditus
Philippians 2:25-30
Joy comes from living
for and serving others, as did Jesus, Paul, and Timothy in this chapter.
Now, the example of
Epaphroditus.
Let me tell you what
the name means, in case you are thinking of naming a child.
"Charming."
v. 25 Brother, companion, soldier
There is a parallel
between this and chapter 1...
1:5
'fellowship' = brother in ch. 2
1:12 'furtherance' =
companion in labor in ch. 2
1:27c 'faith' = soldier in ch. 2
Epaphroditus was:
1. Balanced.
He was a balanced
Christian, and this is a key to successful Christian living!
Some
believers/churches are imbalanced because they emphasize fellowship over
furtherance. They are social
ministries, but not so much soul ministries.
They have regular times for fellowship, but how about furtherance
of the gospel?
Actual church report
sent to headquarters:
salvations
0
baptisms
0
new members
0
"Pray for us, that we
may remain faithful!"
Faithful to what?
Some emphasize
furtherance to the exclusion of fellowship.
If all we harp on is adding
numbers but we don't disciple and teach them, we are failures.
If we lose them out the back door as quickly as they come in the
front door, we need to rethink things.
Some emphasize
defending the faith to the exclusion of both fellowship and furtherance.
They are always looking for a fight, and for a chance to feel
superior to others through their strong stands.
They split theological hairs, and always seem to be on a crusade
of some sort. It may even be
for a good cause. But they
go overboard about it. It's
like they need a purpose to live.
We have a great purpose!
And there must be a balance to achieve it.
Now, there's a time to
defend the faith, esp. in these days we now live.
E. was a balanced
Christian.
ill.--Nehemiah rebuilt
the wall of Jerusalem
with a sword in one hand and a trowel in the other!
He knew that you can't build a wall with a sword and you can't
fight a war with a trowel.
He threw in the trowel!
1.
Balanced...
2.
Burdened.
v. 26, 27, 30a
He was burdened, not only
physically, but spiritually.
He was burdened for Paul...
...He had been the
pastor of the Philippian church, and when he heard that Paul was
imprisoned in Rome, he volunteered to
make the long, dangerous trip to be by his side and help him.
He carried with him the love offering of the church to Paul.
The text seems to
indicate that the long journey caused or worsened an illness in him, and
it was extended for a long duration...long enough for the church at
Philippi
to hear about it, and to send word back that they got the message.
Time out.
Why do Christians get sick?
Why did Paul tell Timothy to use alcohol medicinally when he had
stomach issues. Why not just
heal him?
2 Timothy 4:20
... Trophimus have I left
at Miletum sick.
Paul himself was sick
at Galatia.
Why do Christians get
sick?
Sometimes it’s a matter of…
A.
Dissipation
We squander our health
away when we don’t take care of it, and treat it like the temple of God
that it is. Christians are subject to the same kinds of abuse as
everyone else. We shouldn’t squander our health away on
cigarettes, overeating, unhealthy eating, lack of exercise, and then
when we get cancer or heart disease at a young age, blame the devil that
we got sick…it doesn’t work that way!
I love to eat, and I
will confess, I’ve eaten myself sick on a couple of occasions. I
enjoyed every bite, and then suffered all night!
And I couldn't blame that on the Lord OR the devil!
May I remind you that
your body is the temple of the Holy Spirit! And we should treat it
as such.
B.
Discipline
This is clearly the
case w/ the Corinthian Christians. They were desecrating the
Lord’s table…getting drunk at the Lord’s supper. What did Paul
say,
1 Cor. 11:30
“...for this cause, many are weak and sickly among you, and many
sleep”
He’s talking to
Christians here…and they got sick because of a problem of spiritual
discipline.
C.
Development
That was Paul’s case.
II Cor. 12
of myself I will not glory, but in mine infirmities. 6For
though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say
the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me
above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of
me. 7And lest I should be exalted above measure through the
abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the
flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted
above measure. 8For this thing I besought the Lord thrice,
that it might depart from me. 9And he said unto me,
My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength
is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather
glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.
10Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in
necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when
I am weak, then am I strong.
Paul knew the reason
for his physical sickness was to keep him humble, and to teach him more
about the grace of God.
Not trying to
oversimplify, obviously, many ailments come from the simple curse on
this planet!
E. was very sick...
v. 26 He was burdened because
they heard about his sickness, and he didn't want them to worry.
It broke his heart to know that they were troubled.
balanced, burdened...
3.
Bold.
v. 30 He moved next door to death
in order to do God's work.
Our character is what
it takes to get us to quit.
Let's go hard until we cross the finish line!
4.
Blessed.
vv. 28-29
'hold in reputation' = honor him when he gets home.
God gets the glory, but it is appropriate to treat the man of God
with honor...double honor he later says!
This chapter is
complete...all about having a submissive mind.
Living for others, serving them, and submitting to authority and
one another.
