Epaphroditus: Worthy of Honor

Psalm of the Day: Psalm 73:1-15

Psalm 73:1–15 ESV

Truly God is good to Israel, to those who are pure in heart. But as for me, my feet had almost stumbled, my steps had nearly slipped. For I was envious of the arrogant when I saw the prosperity of the wicked. For they have no pangs until death; their bodies are fat and sleek. They are not in trouble as others are; they are not stricken like the rest of mankind. Therefore pride is their necklace; violence covers them as a garment. Their eyes swell out through fatness; their hearts overflow with follies. They scoff and speak with malice; loftily they threaten oppression. They set their mouths against the heavens, and their tongue struts through the earth. Therefore his people turn back to them, and find no fault in them. And they say, “How can God know? Is there knowledge in the Most High?” Behold, these are the wicked; always at ease, they increase in riches. All in vain have I kept my heart clean and washed my hands in innocence. For all the day long I have been stricken and rebuked every morning. If I had said, “I will speak thus,” I would have betrayed the generation of your children.

Scripture Reading: Psalm 3:1-4

Psalm 3:1–4 ESV

O Lord, how many are my foes! Many are rising against me; many are saying of my soul, “There is no salvation for him in God.” Selah But you, O Lord, are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter of my head. I cried aloud to the Lord, and he answered me from his holy hill. Selah

Sermon:

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Speaker 1

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Well, once again and as always good morning church, I was glad when they said to me, let us go and worship in the house of the Lord. Will this passage that we're looking at this morning? Philippians chapter 2 verses 25 through 30? Have a sort of special place in my heart. At the last church, I was at where I was just the little associate pastor there. This was one of the first passages that I ever had the privilege to preach to that. And in fact, I did so on Mother's Day and it turns out If you ever want to be humbled,

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Go back and listen to something that you did when you were younger and were new at something and you weren't probably very good at it. It was a fine sermon, there was no heresy or anything. But it wasn't my finest work. Let's put it that way. And so, part of my goal today is a little bit of

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Helping myself. I guess you could say. I get a second chance to to maybe try to present to you what God has said, maybe a little better even than I did last time. If we remember last week, Paul was writing and he was Telling. The Philippian church, that Timothy A man whom Paul was going to send to them, was someone that they should imitate and he gave reasons of why he was praiseworthy. He's going to do the same thing in our passage for today, but it's not for Timothy. It's for a man by the name of epaphroditus.

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Whereas most of us have heard of Timothy, I would bet very few of us have heard of epaphroditus and yet. I think that's wrong. We're commanded to do something in this passage. That means we'll have to remember him and think about who epaphroditus was Let's see if you can figure out what that is with me. Philippians chapter 2 verses 25 through 30. 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. Free has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.

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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 more sorrow upon sorrow. I am the more eager to send him therefore that you may Rejoice seeing him again and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with joy and honor such men. For he nearly died for the work of Christ. Risking his life to complete what was lacking in your service. To me. These are the words of the Lord for us this morning. Let's open with a word of prayer.

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Dear Lord, we thank you for All of the precious gifts that you give us. You think of your grace and your mercy, but especially this morning, we thank you for those people that you have placed in our lives to teach us and show us what it means to be yours to be known by you. To serve you to love you. Help us. To honor people such as this help us in your strengthen might by the work of your Holy Spirit to be and live people. To be people such as this to live lives as you have called us to may. We live lives worthy of the gospel of Christ. That's in Jesus name that we pray.

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Amen. And amen. So, here we have epaphroditus Last week when we talked about Timothy, I started a whole section who was Timothy, he was a pastor of the Ephesian church. We know about his upbringing who his mother and grandmother were how he was trained. We know a lot about Timothy's life down to intimate detail. Sometimes But I can't start this sermon the exact same way. Who was epaphroditus? It's not even a full bullet point. He was a man from caesarea Philippi who delivered a letter, and a gift to Paul. That's who we did, that's who he was and that's what he did.

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And yet we have one exhortation here. This is what this is what I like to call a one point. Sermon What is the point? Why does Paul write this section? We are to honor Such men. Epaphroditus though, we don't know much about his history who he was all, that we know of what he did. Truly is he delivered a letter It cost him a lot, it was painful and difficult, he almost died doing it but yet He was a letter deliverer with a little bit of a gift. This means he was probably trustworthy because you're not just going to send someone with stacks of cash, if you don't trust them.

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So I guess we know he's trustworthy, we know where he's from. We know his name. And yet he is a man worthy of Honor. We are called to or honor such men. Honor people who are willing to be and do and live the way that epaphroditus did. And so, then our question should be One. Okay, how can we look to see what sort of person we should honor, right? If Paul says verse 29, receive him the Lord with joy and honor such men. Well, what should we be on the lookout so that we can honor people such as that and how can we live lives worthy?

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Of such honor. Our goal should not be. The Applause and the congratulation of the world around us. Our our reward shouldn't even necessarily be the the Applause and joy of the the people around us in the church though. I think there is something good. We should desire to serve and love the church. We should desire to give for the church and that like epaphroditus did is worthy of Honor. That's not our end goal, but it's okay to say, I love the church. I love to serve the church and it's okay for the church to say, we love people who love us. It's okay to be that way.

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And so how can we live a life like epaphroditus does here? I see three things that are worthy of are honor. We should honor him for these things but also that are worthy of our imitation. The first thing I want to note, Is his resume? While we don't know details, what we do know about epaphroditus Is beautiful. Paul says, I have thought it necessary to send to you, epaphroditus. And then list. A a resume of sorts a way that we should view him in who he was, and what he did. I thought it necessary sent to you. Epaphroditus my brother.

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First and foremost, epaphroditus is a brother of Paul in Christ. He is part of the family of God. Who are the people that we as a church should honor. Believers. Now, that seems fairly commonsensical. But yet, if we look at our lives, we look at how we live and operate, How often are we? Honoring people. Who don't even meet this base, level sort of requirement. We look to the famous people politicians. We look to Hollywood actors Sports Heroes. We look to these people and they are who we honor. And yet by and large, most of them do not fulfill this most basic qualification.

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We should honor more. Or brothers and sisters in Christ. But that's just the very first part of his resume. Epaphroditus does better. I send to you, epaphrodite is my brother and fellow worker. Epaphroditus was willing to not just follow Christ, but then labor for Christ. When we think of worker, one of the first verses, we should possibly think about is Jesus. When he said, behold the fields are right for Harvest and the Harvest is plentiful. But the workers Are few epaphroditus was one of those few workers. Willing to go and do the work. That was set before him.

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Even things that are as simple as delivering a letter to Paul. Now, hold on to that. Thought as easy as delivering a letter to Paul. We'll talk about that. But if it's delivering a letter sharing Joy loving and caring for someone ministering to people in their need, it doesn't have to be huge things. But are we work? Are we working? Epaphroditus worked and he's worthy of Honor. Epaphrodite is my brother and fellow worker. And fellow Soldier. Epaphroditus fought, the fight of Faith. He was a soldier in the Army willing to labor and work though, it would cost him and be difficult. Paul sitting in prison, was keenly aware of the difference that he had with the world around him, and that he was at War, not with flesh and blood, but in the spiritual realm and yet there are soldiers for both sides in the world.

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And when Paul looked to epaphroditus, he said this man doesn't just Don't just say by Christ. It's not just my brother. He doesn't just work at it, he's willing to fight the good fight of Faith. Epaphroditus was these things. There's more. Epaphrodite is my brother. And fellow worker and fellow Soldier. And your messenger and Minister to my need. He went forward. To minister and care for Paul. All he did. Was deliver a letter and a gift. But wait. As the crow flies caesarea Philippi, where epaphroditus was from to Rome? Was over 800 miles. There were no airplanes.

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Or cars. There were highways kind of this particular Journey would be taken by boat. Through the Mediterranean Sea. Known as one of the safest and most. No, it's not how this works. It was a difficult Journey over 800 miles. For an equivalent distance. Imagine traveling from Las Cruces. 2la. By boat. Before the invention of any of our modern. Comforts and aids in making such Journeys. He was willing to sacrifice all of this to bring a letter. From the Philippian church, he's their messenger. And to bring a gift, he ministered to Paul for the church.

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His resume is one that he was willing to care and love for Paul for the sake of serving, the Philippian church that he loved and was called to, he was a worker, he was a soldier. He was a brother. He was a man Worthy. Of honor. No matter what, the job that God has set before you be it big. Like, raising your family. Or small. Delivering a letter. To serve the Lord in the way that he is called. That is the foundation of what makes someone worthy of Honor. And as we look around our church,

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This week. I had the joy and privilege. I just sat and reflected. On how wonderful it is that we have a church full of people that are worthy. Of such honor.

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I don't necessarily love to call people out by name. Yet, we're called to honor. Those who love? And care and serve. This church has wonderful Elders. Men, who I love. But who love the church? And are called and are willing to sacrifice and serve. When I had some hair brained idea like let's start doing Grace groups. They stood up and said yeah we'll help lead them. Honor such men. We have a deacon who serves selflessly. A Deacon and his wife who served selflessly doing things that most of you might not even know behind the scenes.

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We should honor such people. We have men in our church such as Terry. Terry Ulrich, who serves the Lord with prayer, his gifts of encouragement? Enjoy. We should honor. Such people. We have a gentleman who selflessly sacrifices and and serves this church in selecting songs and running practices and doing all of that. We should honor such people as Daryl. There are many people in this church, that's just the tip of the iceberg. That's the first three minutes of the people that you could sit down and think these people are worthy of honor. There's more What a joy and privilege it is that we have a church. Wherein, we see people

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That are our brothers. Are fellow workers and fellow soldiers are the ones who minister to us. Praise the Lord for that. That's his resume. But there's more to epaphroditus. The next thing I want to note. Is to see his.

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Paul thinks it's necessary. I have to send epaphroditus back.

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Well it turns out there's three reasons why Paul feels the need to send epaphroditus back. The Philippian church is worried about epaphroditus, that's one, epaphroditus is worried about the Philippian church, that's two. And it's causing Paul stress to know that the Philippian church is concerned about epaphroditus and epaphroditus is concerned about the Philippine church. So it's their love for him. His love for them and Paul's stress levels. Those are the three reasons, Paul, sends him back. Right? I I feel the need to send him back to you, why? For he has been longing for you all.

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Why? Because you have been hearing things about him. And so verse 28, I am all the more eager to send him so that you may rejoice in seeing him and I may be less anxious. But at the heart of why Palestinian here is the heart of Epaphroditus. For he has been long in verse 26. Just hear this and listen to this, he has been longing for you all. And he has been distressed. If we just stopped there. Why has epaphrodite has been distressed? Well, he was sick almost to the point of death again, traveling by boat with no doctors, no, modern hospitals, or modern medicine.

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He was really, really sick. Epaphroditus has been distressed because he was ill. No. He has been distressed because You heard he was ill. Paul verifies he wasn't you didn't hear lies, he was so sick. He almost died. But know why epaphroditus care? Why is he distressed? Because his illness is causing a burden. To his church.

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I heard you guys think I'm sick? I'll be okay. His heart was. Man, guys don't worry about me. We've seen this heart before in Philippians, when Paul says to live is Christ and die his game. Even if I have, we read this a few weeks ago, even if I've poured out like a drink offering upon the sacrificial altar of your faith. It's okay. Epaphrodite, even if I die. Taking this letter. It's okay. Don't worry about me. His heart is a servant's heart and he cares about the distress that he's causing. It's not even his fault. The distress that he's causing.

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The church that he loves. It's a sacrificial love. It's a love that cares more about the interests of others. Sure. I'm sick. But but you don't need to worry. About me. The beauty of this all. It is right for the Philippian Church to care about epaphroditus part of the way they are. Preemptively fulfilling. Paul's request to honor. Epaphroditus is by caring. It is right and good to care. But the way this care and love works is they care for him and he cares more for them. And together. Love grows. When I was first sort of getting into Ministry and learning about

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Marital counseling and how to do these things. You learn this thought, right? And this applies to marriage and we're going to take and apply to the church. So Help free advice for your marriage here. If you sit down two people, maybe you're doing premarital counseling with them. And you ask them, okay? What should be You know, the give and take in any relationship. The answer, most people will give The give and take in every relationship should be about 50, 50.

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Right? You give half the time you take half the time.

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And that's just not correct. You should give. All the time. But if a husband and a wife are both giving a hundred percent of the time that means that you are both giving and receiving a hundred percent of the time. And that is one of the most important res like ingredients in a healthy marriage.

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The same is true of the love that the church and epaphroditus have for each other. The churches gives to him. The given given gift they love and they care. They they're going to honor him, they're going to receive him with joy. They're going to do these things. They're going to give And epaphrodite is going to give and give and give to the church, not expecting, or carrying any sort of payment in return. He just gives and gives and gives And the end result is the gospels proclaimed. The end result is Paul is ministered to The end result of epaphroditus. Like, if we just sit down and think, what is the Practical tangible, end result of epaphroditus, and his sacrifice, and his, his work, and hear his heart.

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Well, because of his heart, he took the gift to Paul and because they got the gift because Paul got the gift, he sat down to write a. Thank you, note to this church. And because Paul sat down and wrote a, thank you, note to this church, it became collected and put into the holy scriptures. And so now for the past 2, 000 years, the church has been ministered to, and cared for and strengthened because epaphroditus Took a letter. Because he was willing to sacrifice because his heart was to love and serve the

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And so, he's worthy of honor.

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And finally, Let's take a moment to honor his sacrifice.

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He was willing to risk. Everything.

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He took a letter.

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That cost him. Years of his life. The journey by boat, wasn't a fast one, and he got sick, and he had to recover and then he had to travel back. It wasn't just like, hey we're gonna pop over to. Yeah. Hey, let's go to Rome for the weekend. It wasn't like that.

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It cost him. Almost his life. Indeed, he was ill near to death verse 27 but Paul says it more explicitly in verse 30. Receive him in the Lord with joy and honor such men for. He nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life. To complete what was lacking in your service? To me. He was willing to sacrifice. Everything. We should honor. Those who are willing to sacrifice. For the cause of Christ. We should honor. Those people who are willing to give of themselves their lives, their livelihood their time, but the very core of who they are.

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These are those people who are worthy of honor, I mentioned the last time I preached this it was Mother's Day. Here was my message, then I think it's a very appropriate message now.

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To all you mothers out there. And fathers people. As we raise our kids. What do we encourage them? To do and be What are the things that we encourage them to try to honor? And we first start to think of careers. What they're going to do, that's good.

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We should train our children. To live lives like epaphroditus. There's a famous quote. Nicholas Von. Zinzendorf said it ages ago.

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He said, this is how you should live your life. Preach the gospel.

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And be forgotten. At his point, I love that quote. His point is Our lives should be all about preaching the gospel and then as we go on, God's going to raise up new people to continue to preach the gospel. And my treasures are in heaven. I don't need the accolades, the rewards, the attention of people here.

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But what Paul is saying here is The job and the responsibility of the church. Is to raise people. Who preached the gospel? And our honor. And though, they die. They are not forgotten for. We will still honor. Such people.

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We should be people who are honoring, those worthy of Honor. We should be people living lives, worthy of such honor. May we all Be like, Is a two-fold application for you. Epaphroditus. Who lived a life worthy of Honor. But may we be a church who honors? The people who are worthy. Of being on, let's pray.