SERMONIC THEME
Opening Statement: One would think that God would make some special allowances for a man who dedicated his life to planting churches throughout the Mediterranean world. It only seems appropriate that God would have blessed this man with great health, the nicest of accommodations, a fantastic salary, and a popular position within the government. Satan should not have been allowed within a hundred miles of this guy. But it never happened. Instead, we read about a man in the New Testament who was beaten, ridiculed, imprisoned, shipwrecked, isolated, and afflicted by something he called “a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan.” Yet, his resolve never faltered and he finished fighting the good fight of faith. Perhaps, this is the reason that Peter Jennings, who was once asked whom he would like to interview among all the people in history, replied: “The Apostle Paul.” As you read through the book of Acts and the letters that he wrote, you can conclude that he had very little going for him, except for a couple of things. First, he had encountered the Resurrected Jesus and that stopped him dead in his tracks and forever changed his life’s path. Second, he did not have to do the work and fight the battles alone. God brought to him some devoted partners that stood by him in the worst of times and he is always referencing these partners in his letters. He does this in Philippians. In fact, one of the primary reasons that he wrote this book was to express appreciation for a man by the name of Epaphroditus, who suffered and endured many problem as well.
Transition: If Paul’s and Epaphroditus’ experiences are any indication, fighting battles are a normal part of the Christian experience. You’re engaged in warfare today. The church is engaged in a fight today as we endeavor to take back enemy-held territory in people’s lives. In addition, partnering with others in the fight is also a normal Christian experience. You are in a fight, but you don’t have to fight alone.
Background: A month ago, we began looking at something that I entitled Christianity in Action as it was embodied in a man by the name of Epaphroditus. Ep was a reputable and trustworthy man and he showed leadership potential. The church actually sent an offering to Paul via his hands to support Paul’s ministry efforts in Rome as well as to pay Epaphroditus’ salary to stay in Rome and be Paul’s assistant (4:14-19). Unfortunately, Epaphroditus had become physically ill after arriving in Rome. This news had gone back to Philippi. This caused Epaphroditus a lot of pain. He did not want the church to worry about his health and he wanted so much to fulfill his mission to Paul there in Rome. Paul, knowing all of this and needing to write them a letter anyway, decided to use this opportunity to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the letter as soon as he was well enough to travel. Paul knew what the Philippian believers had intended for Epaphroditus. For Epaphroditus, this whole affair could have been a potentially embarrassing situation. He had to return home without completing his term of service. To help ease this fear of embarrassment and to help answer any second-guessing on the part of the church in even sending Epaphroditus in the first place, Paul wrote a very glowing testimony for him, commending him for such incredible service.
Title: Epaphroditus – Selfless Christianity in Action!
Text: Philippians 2:25-30
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Key Word: In fact, Paul notes SEVEN wonderful CHARACTERISTICS in Epaphroditus that really clarifies what the Christian life can and should look like eventually in all of our lives.
Recitation: Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to me in my need. 2:26 Indeed, he greatly missed all of you and was distressed because you heard that he had been ill. 2:27 In fact he became so ill that he nearly died. But God showed mercy to him—and not to him only, but also to me—so that I would not have grief on top of grief. 2:28 Therefore I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you can rejoice and I can be free from anxiety. 2:29 So welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him, 2:30 since it was because of the work of Christ that he almost died. [Give him a heroes welcome. He did his job, even though he is returning home a little earlier than planned.] He risked his life so that he could make up for your inability to serve me.
Transition: The first CHARACTERISTIC that Paul notes…
OUTLINE
The Christian Life Includes Becoming a Family Together
Review: Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother… Epaphroditus practiced the ministry of presence with the Apostle and they became like family.
Transition: The second CHARACTERISTIC that Paul notes…
The Christian Life Includes Working Together
Recitation: Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker…
Review: Epaphroditus was a worker. He realized the importance of lifting the team with his giving, serving, and positive attitude.
Transition: The third CHARACTERISTIC that Paul notes…
The Christian Life Includes Fighting Some Battles Together
Recitation: Thirdly, he says "my fellow soldier." Philippians 2:25 But for now I have considered it necessary to send Epaphroditus to you. For he is my brother, coworker and fellow soldier…
Exposition: This is to say that in addition to his great relationship to Paul as a brother and in addition to his great efforts to the task at hand as a fellow worker, he is also commendable in relationship to the enemies, which fight against the ministry. And Paul is pulling Epaphroditus up, his fellow strategist and leader in the matter of spiritual warfare. Paul speaks highly of Epaphroditus and his faithfulness in service. He stood by Paul through the personal difficulties of prison when others had abandoned him.
Illustration: The description of a soldier is very important. Roman soldiers would fight in long and large battle lines, locking their shields together. I found out this week that the East Central Trojans realize the importance of and practice this concept. Number 66 (Joe Collins) tells me that when his team lines up for a field goal or extra point, the lineman reach over and grab the leg of their fellow lineman so that the line cannot be penetrated. This is the idea in Roman warfare. Once the line was formed there was no going back. In defense, the only way to break through was to kill the soldier in the front line. In offense, the soldiers would only be able to move forward side by side. Paul is stating in a powerful way the faithfulness of Epaphroditus and the importance of locking shields to fight a common enemy. He locked shields with the apostle and never retreated. Paul was eternally grateful for that.
Explanation: Epaphroditus fought loneliness for the apostle. He was there for him, even though near death himself. He fought poverty and financial despair by bringing him an offering to subsidize the ministry efforts in Rome (Philippians 4:14-19). Ep fought selfishness and poured his energy into something eternal rather than temporal. Together, there in Rome these two men along with their comrades stood shoulder to shoulder declaring to a paganistic, immoral, and confused society that there was a Creator-God who made them, who revealed Himself in the Person of Jesus, who died for their sinfulness, who resurrected and now lives in a new body called the Church, of which they were inviting others to be a part so that they could also engage in the fight to turn this world back over to the God who made it and to whom we truly belong! And this would bring a sense of significance to life and death. But despite their best efforts, Paul and his missionary team were often misunderstood and found themselves engaged in hand-to-hand combat with the enemy. The key word here is “misunderstood.” Jesus was misunderstood. Paul was misunderstood. And we will be misunderstood by a world that opposes us.
Observation: It is critically important that the world and the local community of which we are a part, knows us for the things that we are for, not necessarily the things that we are against. For many people in the world, the church is a group of people who are always against something. I want to put that to rest.
We are for love that lasts a lifetime (despite the divorce trends). We are for worship of our Creator-God (despite the plurality of world religions). We are for equipping people to do life from a Biblical perspective (despite other hedonistic, materialistc worldviews). We are for fellowship and new community in a fragmented society. We are for holiness in an impure age. We are for prayer and calling out to God. We are for evangelism and sharing the story of Christ (Jesus is the essence of spirituality – a new age smorgasbord does not help us to encounter God any more than Jesus has already.). We are for penetrating our culture in such a way that we bring God’s rule and kingdom values into our world. We are for the honor and dignity of human beings and protecting the innocence of childhood (Pornography devalues and disrespects women. It also impacts individuals, young children, and marriages.). We are for a strong and nurturing family as it has been defined in Genesis (Same sex marriages are not in God’s plan. God made Adam and Eve.). We are for honoring God with our bodies, abilities, and resources (Gambling is addictive and puts peoples personal property at risk. Drinking alcohol is habit forming and is related to many crimes. And, becoming enslaved to drugs, food, or other things has proven to be destructive of life and health.) These are some of the things that we’re for.
Now there are times when picketing, protesting, and politicking are necessary things for individual believers to engage in. We must clearly state for the record, what we are against. But we must be careful about doing these things, particularly from a corporate standpoint. I firmly believe that the church as a body, as a testimony in the community, must endeavor to stay in a position to welcome all people, regardless of political party or position on controversial issues, into it’s doors so that they can encounter Christ. While Christians don’t go around looking for a fight, one of the paradoxes of a Christian lifestyle is that we are engaged in a fight on the individual level every day! We are constantly fighting temptation and darkness. We are fighting skepticism and syncretism. We are fighting moral relativism. We are fighting alcohol abuse, pornography, divorce without biblical cause, and a multitude of other social ills. Why? Lives are being destroyed by some of these things. I think that some individuals and groups think that if they fight long enough and hard enough that eventually society and the Church will cave in and cater to their demands. Don’t do it. Fight!
Application: Do you believe in the Christian lifestyle strong enough that you will fight for it in your own life? Will you stand up against the forces of darkness? Some of you are here today and you’ve given up the fight in some key area of your life. You’ve laid down your armor and gone AWOL (absent without leave). Why don’t you pick it up again? You’re engaged in a fight and you’re defending God’s Word, His Name, His people, and your testimony. Lock shields with your brother, your sister, and move forward to reclaim territory taken by the enemy in our homes and in our world.
CONCLUSION
Invitation: Deacons come forward. Today, perhaps, coming forward would help cement your resolve to engage in the fight once more; to be called not only a “brother”, and a “coworker”, but a “warrior” or a “fellow-soldier.”
Illustration: I remember working security in Texas. We worked in two’s because it’s much safer and much easier to control situations if you have a buddy. I’ve never been a very big person and I remember feeling a little intimidated because all of my fellow-soldiers on the staff there were pretty good sized men. But I remember one ex-Marine Captain told me one day, “Joey, you would have made a great officer in the corp.” Man, that encouraged me. I wasn’t sure if anyone would want to face a car thief with me by their side. He let me know that when it was time to go to battle, he’d love to have me partnering with him to get the job done.
Application: I’d love to have you partner with me and this church to get the job done. We need some winners, some soldiers who will face the enemy and get out bed on Sunday mornings, serve in their church, support in it’s ministries, reach out to their neighbors, and stand strong in their families and communities. How about you?
