Servants Worth Imitating, Honoring, and Sending

Pastor Chad A. Miller
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Paul’s strategically placed travelogue includes Timothy and Epaphroditus. These men are held up as Christlike examples worth watching and following - living out the Gospel and characteristics building up to this passage.

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Philippians 2.19-30

Philippians 2:19–30 ESV
19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, so that I too may be cheered by news of you. 20 For I have no one like him, who will be genuinely concerned for your welfare. 21 For they all seek their own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. 22 But you know Timothy’s proven worth, how as a son with a father he has served with me in the gospel. 23 I hope therefore to send him just as soon as I see how it will go with me, 24 and I trust in the Lord that shortly I myself will come also. 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, 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. 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.

Noted Characteristics about Timothy:

Will do the work
Like-minded
Seeks interests of Jesus Christ
proven character (qualified to lead)
reputation proceeds him
served…in the Gospel
teachable/respectful
like close family

Noted Characteristics about Epaphroditus

The name “Epaphroditus,” which was common in the era, is derived from “Aphrodite” (the Greek mythical goddess). His family may have worshiped this goddess, and he was likely a Gentile convert (O’Brien, Epistle, 329). What happens when Jesus transforms an idol worshiper? We read about it here.
brother
coworker
fellow-soldier
messenger (from Phillipians)
minister (to me from you)
longs for contact / connection
empathetic to your circumstance
human (sick, sad, nearly died)
God’s mercy kept him & Paul
so that Philippians’ sorrows weren’t added to

These are Servants worth IMITATING.

Like-minded
Genuinely concerned for the Church
Seeking after Christ’s interest before their own
Possessing Proven Character
These men were shining examples of what we’ve previously discussed…what we read earlier in the service.
Philippians 2:1–5 ESV
1 So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy, 2 complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind. 3 Do nothing from selfish ambition or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves. 4 Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others. 5 Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus,
Timothy:
What kind of leader do you follow?
What kind of leader will you be?
Follow compassionate servant-leaders who are following Christ, like Timothy. Listen to these types of leaders. Hear their hearts. Watch their lives. And if you become a leader, be this type of leader. Don’t insist on the finest accommodations. Don’t become self-absorbed. Don’t live for the admiration of others.
Look to the interests of others for the glory of Christ.
Epaphroditus:
How will you suffer? How will you serve when you’re not out front? Epaphroditus is wonderful model of Christ-like ministry in a suffering servant.

These are Servants worth HONORING.

In the Greek & Roman society, shame and honor played a huge role. Much of the Middle East still is today.
Honor is a commodity to be given or withheld.
Thanksgiving Turkey illustration (ADAPTED FROM High Definition Commentary: Phillipians)

Even though this value system doesn’t play a big role in our culture, it is nonetheless present. Imagine having a huge gathering of family and friends over for a Thanksgiving feast. Everything is ready, all the seats are filled, and all that’s left is to bring out the turkey. Now imagine that as you’re carrying the turkey in, you trip over the cat, completely dump the turkey on the floor, and end up landing on top of it, pulverizing it into an inedible mess. How would you react in that situation (other than wanting to kill that cat)? Yes, there is the task of carrying the turkey that was left incomplete, but you’d likely feel something more. There would be the embarrassment of not seeing the cat and falling. There would be shame and mortification of having invited people who expected a wonderful meal, and then having nothing but potatoes and cranberry salad to offer them. Imagine how the guests would feel. Not only would they be disappointed, but they would probably be embarrassed for you. They might not even know how to respond. Do they tell a joke? Do they offer to help clean up, or would that just make matters worse?

Let’s take a look at this through the lens of shame and honor. The person who dropped the turkey would definitely feel a sense of shame, but he or she would not be alone. Their spouse would feel the same as well. Is their family going to be remembered every Thanksgiving as the ones who ruined the turkey in front of their guests? Will the relatives harass them for years? What will this event do to the host’s or hostess’ confidence? How long would it be, if ever, until they would invite a large group over again? Okay, we may not fall on the sword or jump out of a window when we make big mistakes, but we can understand the shame it can bring. We can imagine how we would carry the dishonor with us. Now let’s go back and revisit the scenario recounted in Philippians 2:25–30.

Philippians 2:25–30 ESV
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, 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. 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.
Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Paul Commands a Warm Welcome (vv. 29, 30)

Epaphroditus represents a category of people who are to be honored. If we have read Paul correctly, it is not only the up-front people, those with the more public gifts, who are to be honored but also those who regardless of their gifts live out the example of Christ. By holding up Epaphroditus, Paul contradicted the Greco-Roman culture’s, and also our modern culture’s, rewarding those who seek prestige and position.12 This ought to lay the ax to those of us who define success in the evangelical community as a kind of lordship: sitting in the honored seat, being the feted guest at luncheons, speaking to vast throngs, building monuments, naming buildings after ourselves, collecting honorary titles.

Honor that is deserved is not sought
Honoring Christ in serving is our aim
He gets the glory, we get the joy
Proverbs 21:21 ESV
21 Whoever pursues righteousness and kindness will find life, righteousness, and honor.
Proverbs 29:23 ESV
23 One’s pride will bring him low, but he who is lowly in spirit will obtain honor.

These are Servants worth SENDING.

EPAPHRODITUS (Not a church leader) SENT
Preaching the Word: Philippians—The Fellowship of the Gospel Chapter 13: A Man to Honor (Philippians 2:25–30)

In 2:25–30 we learn that the Philippians had decided to express and confirm their fellowship with Paul by taking up an offering for him and dispatching an envoy to make the 800-mile trek to Rome and pay Paul’s prison expenses and minister to his needs. This was crucial because the Roman prison system didn’t provide for food, clothing, or medical care.

Timothy was sent to Pastor the church at Ephesus. He was a church leader.
Epaphroditus was not a church leader in that way…But he led and served well. He was entrusted make this 800-mil trek to minister to Paul’s needs: food, clothing, medical care.
Paul was a former persecutor…Matthew a tax collector…do I need to continue?
Paul is listing these two men here at this odd place in his letter - the travelogues are usually toward the end of the letter - to dispel the Super Saint status…he’s shouting FOLLOW JESUS, WITH HUMILITY…You can do this!
This is not based on TALENT, SOCIAL STATUS, or ABILITY…But on the power of God to transform the lives of men and women and boys and girls, EQUIP them to do His Work, His Way so He gets all the glory.
We think about what we’ve read recently, it’s tempting to think, “well that sounds good, but I could never do all that...”
- Real Living = Living for Christ
- Living Out the Gospel Together
- Believing & Suffering Well
- Gaining the Mind of Christ
- Working Out The Gospel
- Not Grumbling and Disputing
We can read passages and characteristics like these and easily think of Paul.
We can also think of Timothy and Epaphroditus.
We can certainly think of the Zooks as well.
But it includes us as well…it’s not only DESCRIPTIVE of THEM, it’s DESCRIPTIVE of US too! These things are the disciplined fruits of those who are passionately following Christ - loving God with all their heart, mind, soul, and strength!
“Everything you ought to do, you can do!” - Vance Havner
2 Peter 1:3–4 ESV
3 His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of him who called us to his own glory and excellence, 4 by which he has granted to us his precious and very great promises, so that through them you may become partakers of the divine nature, having escaped from the corruption that is in the world because of sinful desire.
Like you, I want Grace Covenant to be a place where we are all committed and engaged in the work of MAKING DISCIPLE-MAKING DISCIPLES for Jesus:
Worship
Community
Missions

CLOSING ILLUSTRATION

ILLUSTRATION REGARDING SPENDING YOUR LIFE FOR CHRIST.
Fred Craddock once said, To give my life for Christ appears glorious. To pour myself out for others . . . to pay the ultimate price of martyrdom—I’ll do it. I’m ready, Lord, to go out in a blaze of glory. . . . We think giving our all to the Lord is like taking a $l,000 bill and laying it on the table—“Here’s my life, Lord. I’m giving it all.” But the reality for most of us is that he sends us to the bank and has us cash in the $l,000 for quarters. We go through life putting out 25 cents here and 50 cents there. Listen to the neighbor kid’s troubles instead of saying, “Get lost.” Go to a committee meeting. Give a cup of water to a shaky old man in a nursing home. Usually giving our life to Christ isn’t glorious. It’s done in all those little acts of love, 25 cents at a time. It would be easy to go out in a flash of glory; it’s harder to live the Christian life little by little over the long haul.
(Quoted by Darryl Bell, “Practical Implications of Consecration” - Merida, Tony. Exalting Jesus in Philippians (Christ-Centered Exposition Commentary) (p. 119). B&H Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.
What is your next step to move toward this kind of service for our King?
FIRST STEP: Salvation? Baptism? Membership?
NEXT STEP: Community?
Sunday School
Our Men’s & Women’s Groups will be restarting soon
We’ll have Small Groups / Covenant Groups soon
NEXT STEP: Serving? Missions?
Let’s chat...
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