Sermon Tone Analysis

At St. Bede’s Episcopal Church in Santa Fe, New Mexico, there is only one door into the sanctuary.

Over that door is a hand-lettered sign that reads, “Servant’s Entrance.”

There isn’t any way in or out of that church except through the servant’s entrance!

I think that this helps us understand that as believers in Christ we are all called to serve the Lord.

In Mark chapter 10 verse 45 we see a wonderful example that the Lord gives to us.

My point is this church.

Being a servant of Christ is not an option.

It is the calling of every believer.

In my own life there are times where I can become selfish.

I don’t want to go and serve today.

This is my day off, or I wish someone else would go and help out.

So, because we all are selfish by nature, we have to cultivate the heart of a servant as we grow in Christ.

Paul, Timothy and today as we look at this man named Epaphroditus, illustrate men who had servant’s hearts.

We know that these men were focused on the Lord and serving Him.

Paul tells us that, unlike many others, Timothy was not seeking after his own interests instead of those of Jesus Christ (Philippians 2:21).

Timothy served with Paul for the furtherance of the gospel (Philippians 2:22).

Jesus Christ and the gospel were at the center of Timothy’s life.

Epaphroditus also was a faithful servant whose focus was on the things of Christ.

We know that he had pushed himself almost to the point of death to bring the gift to Paul from the Philippian church.

We don’t know all the details, but maybe he got sick on the six-week journey from Philippi to Rome and pushed himself to the point of death to reach Paul.

Or, maybe after arriving he came down with some type of illness, but he kept pushing himself in his service to Paul in the cause of the gospel.

We also know that he had a longing and concern for the church back in Philippi.

All of this reveals his servant’s heart for the things of Christ.

Let’s dive in and take a look today at what Paul tells us specifically about this man named Epaphroditus?

Look at verse 25 with me.

-Well first of all Paul tell us that he is my brother.

This does not mean that him and Paul were actually family, but that this relationship had to do with him as a believer.

Brothers in Christ.

-The second thing we know here about Epaphroditus was he was a fellow worker.

Him and Paul labored together in ministry.

There is always and importance of ministering together and not alone even though there are times we must do this.

Labor and work together with others.

-The next thing Paul mentions is that Epaphroditus is a fellow soldier.

In ministry we are fighting and waging war together in the Lord against a very real enemy.

Satan so often comes against us with the temptation to sin, for our families to be divided, our mental health, for us to fuss and fight with others.

People who are serious about the Lord, and serving in ministry always have a target on their back.

We have to armor up and stand strong in this battle.

-He is also a messenger and minister.

Paul calls Epaphroditus a “minister to my need” and tells us that he had completed by his presence what the Philippians could not do in their absence in service to Paul.

Today as we think about the example of these godly men what is the application here for us?

What do we need to understand today about having an attitude of service?

A Servant will:

1. Go anywhere God leads us.

Two different times here Paul talks about sending Epaphroditus to the Philippians.

First, we see that Paul thinks it necessary and then we see in verse 28 that he is eager to send him.

What this shows us is that Epaphroditus was willing to go and serve wherever he was needed.

Last week we learned about Timothy.

We know that it wouldn’t have been easy for Timothy to leave the side of his beloved friend in the faith in order to go to Philippi, but he was willing to go if that was God’s will.

It hadn’t been easy for Epaphroditus to leave the comforts of home and journey to Rome, but he did it.

Now, it also would be difficult for him to leave Paul and return home, but he was willing to go where the Lord wanted him.

What does this look like in our own lives?

Has there come a time in your life where you told the Lord, God where do you want me to serve?

How can I serve you?

Maybe you have not had that conversation with the Lord because you are fearful of what the answer may be.

Have there been times where you know what and where God is leading only to resist the place or the people He is calling you to serve?

2. Serve wherever we can.

I don’t know about you but there are times where people let me down.

I get frustrated and even discouraged.

I don’t want to be nice, and I surely don’t want to go and help them out or serve them.

But, as the Lord works in my life I am reminded of how many times He has given me second and third and 400th chances.

I’m reminded that I am not always easy to work with and I need people to be patient of me.

Serving and ministry can be messy at times, but we are called to go and serve others wherever we can even when it’s not easy, or the people we work with are difficult.

Timothy served Paul, but he was willing to go and serve the Philippian church if needed.

Epaphroditus served the Philippian church, and then as he was called on to take a gift to Paul, he was willing to go and serve him.

He reminds me of Philip, who was being used by God to reach great multitudes in Samaria, but who was willing to go to a deserted road where the Lord used him to reach the Ethiopian eunuch in Acts chapter 8. Ask yourself today, where is it that God is calling me to serve?

Who is it that I should serve.

-Family, a friend, or coworker?

-A local mission.

-Here in the church.

There are many ministries.

My prayer is that we would see the needs around us and be praying that God would show us where to get involved and then go and serve with all of our heart, soul, and mind.

3. Recognize and be thankful for God’s mercy.

Mercy is defined as God’s goodness toward those in misery and distress.

And this is exactly where Epaphroditus and Paul find themselves.

They were in need of God’s mercy.

I was having lunch with a friend on Friday that I had not seen in a while.

He had gotten Covid a while ago and was not doing well.

I talked to his daughter a few days before we met and she told me that her dad had almost died.

I did not know about this so it was good to see him and hear the report first hand that he was doing a lot better.

Here in verse 27 Paul tells us how severe Epaphroditus’ illness was, it was near death.

It was seriously bad!!! But, the second thing he explains is the amazing mercy of God.

We need to keep in mind here that the church at Philippi knew that Epaphroditus was sick.

They knew that it might be really bad and there was a chance this could lead to death.

Back then there was no instant message or FaceTime or cars, trains or planes.

It could take months or years to find out how your loved ones were doing.

I’m sure that this church was wondering how is he doing, could we please get an update or report on what is happening?

As Epaphroditus begins to get better Paul knew that it would be important for him to go back and now experiencing his arrival the Philippians could say that God had mercy on him.

Today, we may not think that this is a big deal with all of our medical technology, but back then fewer people recovered from sicknesses.

God did have mercy on Epaphroditus, God did a miracle in his life and healed his body.

The second area of mercy that Paul talks about here is that God had mercy on Paul as well.

God spared Epaphroditus’ life so that Paul would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

Paul had a care and love for his friend and he knew that God could choose to take Epaphroditus home to heaven.

So, Paul expressed his gratitude for the mercy that God has shown toward him as well.

Paul is great-full for his friend in the Lord and for all the help that he has been to Paul.

My point in explaining these two different situations to us is the fact that there are many times that we have experienced God’s mercy in our own lives and may have not recognized it.

God may have even spared your life in order for you to come to know him and serve him.

Let me ask you today, where has God shown His mercy to you? Has He given you another chance?

Yes!

What are you doing about it?

-Take time today to thank the Lord for His mercy.