Impressions from Philippians 2:25-30

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, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill. 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. I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious. So receive him in the Lord with all 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. (Philippians 2:25-30 ESV)

Lesson Focus: It’s about doing all of our life together.

The Example of Epaphroditus*

A. He was a balanced Christian (v. 25).
He was a brother, which means he knew the fellowship of the Gospel; a companion in labor, which tied him to the furtherance of the Gospel; and a fellow soldier, which means he knew how to battle for the faith of the Gospel.

How easy it is for Christians to get out of balance!

"My life is miserable. White people had made it miserable. There was this emptiness. Not knowing, God had a plan for this stubborn, prejudice, hateful, unbelieving evil. Do you think that there is anything on this earth that can change that type of prejudice? Well I'm here to tell you, I ran into Jesus Christ. What God said is, 'Let me tell you something, boy.' And you know, God can call you boy, that's fine with me. He says, 'I died for whites too.' And if God died for everyone, who am I to have a prejudice thought toward any of God's creatures."

- Rev. Ken Hutcherson, Antioch Bible Church

   
B. He was a burdened Christian (vv.26-27).
He had the submissive mind and thought of others, not self. Though he was sick, and almost died, his burden was for Paul and the church back at Philippi.

C. He was a blessed Christian (vv. 28-30).
What a blessing Epaphroditus was to Paul! How he must have encouraged Paul in those difficult days as they prayed and labored together. He was also a blessing to his own church. He made it possible for the Philippians to share in Paul’s important ministry. Moreover, Epaphroditus is a blessing to us today! Here we are, centuries later, studying his character and benefiting from his life and ministry!

Faithful servants of Christ:
 “Receive him in the Lord” is Paul’s admonition. See 1Th_5:12-13. “Hold such in reputation” (Php_2:29) in no way contradicts Php_2:7, “made Himself of no reputation.” The phrase in Php_2:7 literally means that Christ emptied Himself. Paul told the church to show proper honor to their leader because he “gambled his life” (Php_2:30, “not regarding his life”) for their service to Paul.

Paul, Timothy, and Epaphroditus had the submissive mind, the mind of Christ. And we receive this mind only as we allow the Spirit and the Word to work in our lives (Php_2:12-13).

Impression: The mind of Christ was taking over Paul’s whole being in ever increasing measure. Jesus clearly affected those around Paul. “Lord, let it be so for us as well.”

* directly from Warren Weirsbe’s Expository Outlines