The Fellowship of the King, Part 2: Saved to Serve - Philippians 2:25-30

 

THE FELLOWSHIP OF THE KING, PART II: Saved to Serve

Philippians 2:25-30

Introduction: In the Lord of the Rings trilogy each character had a role to fulfill if the mission was to succeed. Last week, in Part 1 of the “Fellowship of the King,“ we saw that We too have been called into the Fellowship, tasked with carrying out God’s mission as a disciple who makes disciples. Epaphroditus was not a Paul, or even a Timothy, but he was a faithful servant… “The Fellowship of the Ring” was a great story, but the “Fellowship of the King” is a world-changing mission. In this “Fellowship” we all have a role to fulfill,  a contribution to make to the unfolding plan of God. We are a team – each of us unique, different, and gifted, to complement one another and to serve together in God’s mission. You were created by God and uniquely gifted to fulfill a specific and important role in His mission in the world. God uses ordinary people like us in the extraordinary program of building His church. We won’t be Paul, or Timothy, or Epaphroditus for that matter. But we can be the faithful follower God created us to be, humbly serving Christ in the place He has strategically placed us. It’s not always easy. There will be a cost, but joy comes in the morning!

       As we read this passage, we’ll see that Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to minister to Paul in his imprisonment. Part of what Paul is doing in this letter is thanking them for their ongoing partnership in the Gospel. He alluded to that in the first chapter (1:5), here in this context (2:25) and will elaborate a bit more toward the end of the letter. We see in Philippians 4:15-19,

¹⁵ And you… know that in the beginning of the gospel, when I left Macedonia, no church entered into partnership with me in giving and receiving, except you only… you sent me help for my needs once and again.  ¹⁷ Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that increases to your credit.  ¹⁸ I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.  ¹⁹ And my God will supply every need of yours according to his riches in glory in Christ Jesus.

They had been supporting Paul in his ministry seemingly from his time with them in Acts 16. In his current imprisonment, their representative, Epaphroditus, brought their gift to Paul, at the cost of his health. We don’t know what happened, but in the midst of his mission he fell sick and nearly died. And now, having recovered, he was distressed that the Philippians had heard and were concerned for his welfare. Therefore, Paul determined to send him back to the Philippians, apparently carrying this letter.

The BIG Idea: A balanced, faithful Christian life may bring hardship, but it will bring joy!

I. A balanced and Faithful Servant of Christ (25). Notice the series of titles that Paul uses to describe Ephaphroditus…

²⁵ I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need…

      Here Paul points to Epaphroditus, another example of a spiritual servant, one who had come from the church in Philippi. He wasn’t an apostle like Paul, we don’t know if he served as an elder like Timothy, perhaps he was a deacon, but whether or not he held an official position, he was one who was trusted and respected both by the Philippian church and by Paul.  Ray Prichard suggests…

Epaphroditus was a leader in the church at Philippi who was sent by the church with a gift for Paul. His name is not mentioned elsewhere in the New Testament. He doesn’t seem to have been a preacher in the usual sense of the word. He fits more into the mold of a deacon—a godly layman willing to serve, willing to go, and willing to risk everything for the cause of Christ.

“Comfort” and “Security” are things that most people value highly, and not many are willing to sacrifice – to take a personal risk. Discipleship is not going to be easy. Notice the titles of a Christian that Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus, I don’t think we see a descriptive series of titles quite like this anywhere else in a single verse of Scripture…

     “My brother” – Paul is not looking upon Epaphroditus merely as a church acquaintance, but as family, as his “brother.” And we are a family! Look to your left and to your right –Look ahead a couple of pews and across the aisle – you are surrounded by brothers and sisters!  It may be that this is the key to thinking of the needs of others, of counting them more important than yourself. For who would you lay down your life? If you are married, for your spouse. If you have children, you would give your life to save theirs. You willingly sacrifice your comfort to help them. If we get it in our head, and in our heart, that we are brothers and sisters, then we will more easily not only look out for our own interests, but also for the interests of others.

       Paul also calls Epaphroditus his “fellow worker” or “co-worker.”  Many of you serve together – VBS and AWANA are examples of team ministry: some tell Bible stories others help with crafts – some do games with the kids, others give them snacks – Teamwork, that is God’s design. Whether in outreach or encouraging one another, we all are here in this world because God has chosen to include us in his mission.

       Epaphroditus is also called Paul’s “fellow soldier” – this term reminds us that we are in a spiritual battle – we wrestle against spiritual forces of wickedness in high places – we have an adversary, the Devil, who is going about like a roaring lion - but we are reminded also as David said, “The Battle is the Lord’s!” As Paul also said, Greater is He who is in us than he who is in the world! And, If God be for us, who can stand against us?

       “[Y]our messenger” – one sent with a mission, representing the church. This is the word apostolos¸ from which we get our English word, “apostle.” When used of Paul and the twelve it usually has a technical meaning, they were “apostles of Jesus Christ.” They were sent and commissioned by Him, and so they represented Him and brought His word to the early church. They were his authorized representatives. Epaphroditus was not an apostle in that technical sense, but here is a “messenger,” a representative, of the Philippian church. He brought their gifts and ministered to Paul as their envoy.

       “…the one who ministered to my need…” He was also sent as a “minister”, a “servant” to minister to the needs of Paul.  This word “servant” is one that appears only five times in the NT, but was consistently used in the Septuagint to speak about the priestly service of the Levites and priests. It is a “spiritual service of worship.” From this Greek word we get the English word, “liturgy.” Paul viewed Epaphroditus’ help to him as a spiritual service, essentially serving God by serving others. We can easily forget how important it was to Paul to have friends help him during his four years of imprisonment, two years in Caesarea followed by two more years in Rome. Besides the physical needs of sufficient food, clothing and the like, the emotional support of knowing that someone is there, watching out for you to the best of their ability no doubt was a great comfort.

       We have great nurses here in the US committed to helping patients (though at times they are understaffed!). In our church we have several nurses, both retired and active. In many countries, if you go to a hospital, especially a public hospital, you need someone there with you to minister to your needs and to watch out for your interests. In some countries that is also true for prisoners. In some Brazilian prisons they won’t get soap or medicine, or even clothing, unless a friend or family member brings it to them. It seems that might have been the situation in the Greco-Roman world of the first century. Without an Epaphroditus, a prisoner like Paul would have little hope. The good news for believers: God has a plan, and He is working out in history. By grace you are a part of that plan. *A balanced, faithful Christian life may bring hardship, but it will bring joy!

II. Faithful servants will share in the suffering of Christ (26-27, cf. 30).

  ²⁶ …for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.  ²⁷ Indeed he was ill, near to death. But God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow… ³⁰ for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

       “he was longing for you…”  We sometimes forget that these biblical names in the narrative of Scripture represent real, historical people.  They had feelings, they had family and friends.  There were no international flights, no internet, etc…  To be separated for weeks or months, meant something… Epaphroditus went, and even extended his time with Paul, and it seems, became very sick and nearly died.  Many of you have traveled internationally, as have we. If you are going to certain areas of the world, particularly tropical countries and countries of the third world, you may be required to take various vaccinations against diseases to which you have not had the chance to build an immunity. We had to get several before going to Brazil. Epaphroditus did not have such things available to him. In addition, it was an 800mile trip from Philippi to Rome, which itself could have brought danger to his life, yet he went. Look out not only on your own personal interests, but also the interests of others. He made it to Paul, but at some point fell desperately sick.

       Notice the kind of person he was: it wasn’t his own discomfort or suffering that bothered him, but the fact that he knew they – the Philippians – were worried about him when they received word of his sickness. His love for his church family was such that he wanted to travel to be with them so that he could relieve their concerns, he  “…was distressed because you had heard he was sick…” Think about that – Epaphroditus was distressed that they were worried about him… We may like a little attention and sympathy when we are sick! He did not want them to worry, he wanted to alleviate their concerns.

     “…He was ill to the point of death…” (27; cf. v.30, 2:8). The phrase “Near to death” appears only here in the NT, but the parallel phrase in v.30, “…he nearly died…” occurs twice in the NT, here, and in 2:8. There it is referring to the death of Christ, “...he became obedient to the point of death, even death on the cross…” It is such a rare phrase, only occurring in these two verses right in this near context, that it is hard not to see an intentional parallel by Paul between the death of Christ, and the “near death experience” of his faithful servant Epaphroditus. He had the attitude of Jesus, and was obedient, and it nearly cost him his life.

       Jesus spoke quite a bit to His followers about the cost of discipleship. If you want to be his disciple, “…take up your cross, and follow…” They knew what Jesus was saying. The cross was not a religious symbol, it certainly wasn’t a piece of jewelry. It was an emblem of suffering and shame. It was where condemned criminals were put to death, in a most humiliating and tortuous way. In the upper room Jesus warned his disciples of the hatred of the world, He said in John 15:18-20,  

¹⁸ "If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you.  ¹⁹ If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.  ²⁰ Remember the word that I said to you: 'A servant is not greater than his master.' If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.

And so, John said in I John 5:13, “Do not be surprised, brothers, that the world hates you.” If the world hated Jesus, it will likewise hate His followers. Jesus said, “In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world!” That points to the BIG Idea in our passage, *A balanced, faithful Christian life may bring hardship, but it will bring joy!

III. We should rejoice in the faithful service of others (28-30).

²⁸ I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.  ²⁹ So receive him in the Lord with all joy, and honor such men,  ³⁰ for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service to me.

       “Receive him then in the Lord with all joy…”  Paul is commending Epaphroditus to them as a proven faithful worker.  He is urging them to receive him back joyfully. The theme of “joy” again! He is calling them to rejoice in God’s blessing, your friend is healed, and he is back with you! It strikes me that we naturally, in the midst of a crisis, cry out to God for help. Peter walking on the water, sees the waves and begins to sink. Lord save me! No time to think, it’s the reaction of faith in a moment of need. Yet it seems easier to forget to give thanks and rejoice in God’s answers! Ten lepers healed, only one returns to give thanks. Too often I have been one of the nine. And you?

      “…hold such men in high regard…”  There should be a bond, Christian love, a mutual respect, in the “Fellowship of the King.” God himself has put this team together.  Not that he needs us, but he has chosen to use us!  That means we should respect one another. God saw the value, the importance, of each one of us. We have value because God values us! Ray Pritchard asked how many would respond to a position advertised like this:

Wanted: Understudy for well-traveled but trouble-prone missionary. Must be able to suffer illness and hardship without complaining; to travel to distant countries and be separated from your loved ones for long periods of time; to teach and be taught; to evangelize, organize, and be flexible when nothing goes right. Must put up with low pay, long hours, high stress levels, and intense opposition. Often attacked, occasionally stoned, beaten weekly, frequently arrested. Interested applicants should contact the Apostle Paul.

Missionary recruiters might try that – would that bring a pile of resumes? I don’t think so! But it might find a missionary recruit with a servant’s heart who will love the people!

       Note that phrase in verse 30—"risking his life.” The Greek verb means “to expose oneself to danger, to risk, or to gamble.” It was used of people who spoke up for their friends at the risk of their own safety and security. According to one commentary I read, during the time of Constantine – there arose societies of Christian men and women who called themselves “The Parabolani,” meaning “the riskers” or “the gamblers.” They ministered to the sick, the imprisoned, and the outcasts. They saw to it that martyrs received honorable burial. One writer notes that in A.D. 252

…the city of Carthage had a terrible plague and the heathen were so frightened of the germs that were in the bodies of the dead that they literally bagged them somehow and hurled them out of the city, not wanting to touch them for burial.  Cyprian the Christian bishop gathered the congregation of the believing church together and the church members took their bodies and in a gracious act of human kindness buried the dead bodies of the plague-stricken people.  And according to the historians as well, they nursed even the sick people, coming close enough to them to touch them in that plague-infested city, risking their lives to save some in the city and God used them as a tremendous potential, as a tremendous force really to reach people for Christ because of their love.

What are we willing to risk for Christ? Are we willing to step out of our comfort zone for the sake of the gospel? Or as Paul would say, will we “consider others as more important than ourselves”? Epaphroditus did that. How then should we live?

What is God saying to me in this passage? A balanced, faithful Christian life won’t be easy, it may bring hardship, but it will bring joy!

What would God have me to do in response to this passage?

1)  We are not Paul, Timothy or Epaphroditus. But God has chosen us for the Fellowship of the King. We are called not to take up a ring, but to take up a Cross and follow Him. Will we carry out His mission in the world, starting right here in our neighborhood, and in the place he has each of us? It won’t be easy, but it will bring joy!

2) Remember the context… Jesus left heaven, took the form of a servant, and became obedient to the point of death, even death on the Cross. Paul told the Philippians, have this mind in you, which is yours in Christ Jesus. We’re saved to serve. We are here, on assignment. Have we truly offered ourselves as a "living sacrifice" to God? One way we do that is consider others more important than ourselves, and to do what is best for them. Do we have concern for the spiritual condition of others to the extent that we will love them enough to try to meet their needs and help them find joy in the Lord?  AMEN.