THE TEST FOR THE FINEST
Reading: Phi 2:19-30
Randy Bataanon
The Living Word Christian Church in Kuwait
Training, discipline excellence and reliability, were among the characters that categorize the finest from the standard. God called us to be the head and not the tail. He wants us to excel in whatever endeavors we are doing for him. This kind excellent spirit elevated Daniel from the other governors and princess
Dan 6:3 Then this Daniel was preferred above the presidents and princes, because an excellent spirit [was] in him; and the king thought to set him over the whole realm.
Jesus taught us to do everything for the glory of God. So, if we are serving the King of kings and Lord of Lord, we have to give our very best because He deserves no less than the finest of our service. Now let us follow the example of two disciples who have the best qualities of the soldier of Christ. Let us read our text today:
Php 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon, that I also may be cheered when I receive news about you.
Php 2:20 I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare.
Php 2:21 For everyone looks out for his own interests, not those of Jesus Christ.
Php 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself, because as a son with his father he has served with me in the work of the gospel.
Php 2:23 I hope, therefore, to send him as soon as I see how things go with me.
Php 2:24 And I am confident in the Lord that I myself will come soon.
Php 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs.
Php 2:26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.
Php 2:27 Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow.
Php 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad and I may have less anxiety.
Php 2:29 Welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honour men like him,
Php 2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ, risking his life to make up for the help you could not give me.
As a teacher and mentor, Apostle Paul found two among his students as qualified and fitted for the work. He describe Timothy by saying “I have no one else like him” and Epaphroditus by telling Philippians to “honor men like him”
Discipleship is character development. Its goal is stated in “Php 2:5 “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus:” I agree with one preacher who said: God is more concern with our character than our comfort. He is more concerned with our holiness than our happiness. And He is more interested with us as a person than our possessions.
If you want to join the elite rank of God’s finest disciples, then you have to pass these four IQ test. (I - QUESTIONS)
1. THE TEST OF COMMITMENT (INVOLVEMENT?)
Timothy and Epahroditus have something in common. It is their willingness to go whenever their leader sends them to go.
Php 2:19 I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you soon…
Php 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus….
We are living in a generation that hate responsibilities and ignore commitments. People don’t want to be personally involved to anyone. They can send their money as contributions sometimes. They can attend church service if they have the mood. They offer their help for sometimes. But if it involves personal commitment, they will surely find it difficult to do.
In the contrary, our Lord Jesus said that the mark of discipleship is love and we cannot love without involvement. “John 13:35 By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
The captain of our salvation has already commissioned us to go. “Mar 16:15 He said to them, Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”
Commitment is a question of involvement. You cannot be committed unless you become involve. Let us follow the example of the prophet Isaiah when he answer the call of God.
“Isa 6:8-9 Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, Whom shall I send? And who will go for us? And I said, Here am I. Send me! He said, Go and tell this people:…”
I believe that God has a personal calling for each and every one of us and obedience to His call is an evidence of our maturity. Sometimes God may lead us to the place that we didn’t want to go. As a matured Christians, we defy all hardship, we ignore personal risk, we jump and say goodbye to our comfort just to follow Christ our Lord. Why? Because we are follower of One who left the comfort of heaven and was sent by His father to join us in our battle and commit his life for us.
2. THE TEST OF COMPASSION (INTEREST?)
Timothy stand head and shoulder compare to others. Paul has a very exceptional comment about him. It is as if he examines all the believers that he knows and then he concluded that he has no student like him. But how he became different from the others? Well, it is not because of his intellectual knowledge or ability. Our text has the answer. “Php 2:20 I have no-one else like him, who takes a genuine interest in your welfare. “
Paul admonished the Philippians church to honor men like Epaphroditus. But what make him to be among the men of honors? Again it is not because of his special ability but because he is a man who has compassion and genuine interest for the people who are in need of his help.
“Php 2:25 But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus,… whom you sent to take care of my needs.”
Epaphroditus have the best excuse to at least forget the welfare of others because he was ill. Others would have thought about his situation when they are sick. But not Epaproditus, he is more concern with the anxiety that the news of his illness made to the brethren in Phillipi rather than his physical condition.
“Php 2:26 For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill.”
3. TEST OF CONSISTENCY (INTEGRITY?)
Paul described Timothy as the one who has proven integrity. “Php 2:22 But you know that Timothy has proved himself,…” It means that he is consistent in his faith and ministry. He accompanied Paul in almost all his entire missionary journey and suffer the same persecution that Paul experience and yet he did not gave up. And when the time come that he should stand alone on his own feet far from his dear mentor, he continue his ministry without any hesitation. He is an example of consistency and integrity in the service for Christ.
Epaphroditus is not well known to most of us. There is not book written in His name and he does not belong to the well known apostles. However, Paul gave him a distinct recognition as among the men of honor “Php 2:30 because he almost died for the work of Christ,…” This is the perfect example of consistency and integrity.!
4. THE TEST OF COOPERATION (IDENTIFICATION?)
Timothy share with Paul through thick and thin, through joys and sorrows, through riches and poverty, through sickness and health.
“Php 2:22 But you know that Timothy…. has served with me in the work of the gospel.”
Epaphroditus share with Paul in all kinds of situations. He share with him in the house, in the work, in the battle and even in fulfilling their responsibilities to bring the good news of Christ as His gospel messenger.
“Php 2:25 … Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow-worker and fellow-soldier,…”
As an example of cooperation and partnership, Paul consider Epaphroditus as:
a. My Brother- (Partner in care) this imply his personal care and compassi.on as a member of one family. He shows us the wonderful picture of what a brother should be in the time of great persecution, trouble and need. He risks his own life, defy his own health for the sake of his brother Paul and the Philippians brethren
b. Fellow-worker – (Partner in work) this imply his teamwork with other believers who share the same task in God’s vineyard. With humble submission, he submitted himself to the decision of brethren when he was sent to assist and help Paul who is in prison, and even when he was again sent by Paul to Philippians. He obeys without any complaint because he always do his task for the Lord powered by his love for the brethren.
c. Fellow-soldier – (Partner in battle) this implies his willingness to fight for the cause of God’s kingdom. Indeed, he is a true soldier of Christ, who is willing to die for the sake of God’s glory.
d. Your messenger – (Partner in responsibility) this imply his single-mindedness in fulfilling his task in carrying God’s message. No doubt, he is successful in carrying the message of care and compassion through his willing sacrifice.
If you have been blessed, encouraged or inspired by this sermon then it’s your turn to be an encouragement too. You can do it by sending email to this contributor at spy2rb@yahoo.com or post comment on the discussion box below.
