Philippians 2:27-30To: Philippians Main MenuTo: Grace Notes Home Page Philippians 2:27For indeed he was sick almost unto death, but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.God's mercy extends to many categories. Here it is to Epaphroditus' physical health. FOR INDEED HE WAS SICK ALMOST UNTO DEATH Epaphroditus was with Paul a long time. He was sick in Rome. The news traveled back to Philippi which took months and traveled back again to Rome. Their friendship was long and faithful. The word "almost" is a nautical term for a ship coming along side a dock. Death was about to come along side. He was on the point of death. Paul tells the Philippian church that "Epaphroditus almost died on me." But why did not Paul heal him? He was sick to the point of death. "Trophimus have I left at Miletus sick" (II Tim. 4:20). It was God's will for Epaphroditus to be sick. God some of his greatest grace in illness. Lazarus' sickness was for the glory of God, "This sickness is not unto death, but for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it" (John 11:4). PRINCIPLE: God is glorified in more than success, he is glorified in adversity. APPLICATION: Do we resent our set backs? Or do we look upon adversity as an opportunity to glorify God? When our business fails or we lose our health, do we show the greatness and glory of how God can take us through it? The next phrase of verse 27 is one of those great "but God's" of the New Testament. Each time a "but God" occurs it transforms the situation. Whenever we need mercy from God we need to look for the "but God." BUT GOD HAD MERCY ON HIM "But" in the Greek is a strong term of contrast. Epaphroditus was almost at the point of death--but God. God was the source of his healing. This healing was directly from God. No other agent was involved. Paul did not heal him. Evidently Paul could not heal him. God intervened directly from his sovereignty. This "but God" has to do with physical healing. God sustained him physically. He almost died. Another "but God" which is associated with "mercy" correlates with our spiritual condition, "But God, who is rich in mercy, because of His great love with which He loved us" (Eph. 2:4). The previous verses describes our desperate spiritual state then verse 4 says, "But God." God turned the situation around. NOT ONLY ON HIM BUT ON ME ALSO, LEST I SHOULD HAVE SORROW UPON SORROW It was bad enough for Paul to be imprisoned in a rat infested jail with no blankets, food or clothes. But if Epaphroditus died he would suffer yet another heavy burden. He might of even thought it was his own fault. But when God healed Epaphroditus it was a mercy on Paul as well. God did not let sorrow stack upon sorrow. God does not allow us to carry burdens more than we can bear. PRINCIPLE: God will never allow us to be put into a situation too heavy for us to bear. APPLICATION: Do we trust God to manage the adversity which come into our lives? Can we trust him to know when the load is too heavy? Do we believe that God is a God of mercy? Can we trust God to exercise that mercy when it is necessary? This verse is a praise to God for showing mercy in healing one man and emotional mercy to another. Do we trust God for both kinds of mercy? Philippians 2:28Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful.Paul had the capacity for great empathy. Empathy, as over against sympathy, is the ability to identify with the pathos (passions) of others. It is the faculty to put yourself in the place of another and consider their state of affairs. THEREFORE I SENT HIM THE MORE EAGERLY "Therefore" means as the result of God's merciful healing of Epaphroditus. The Philippians are going to have their leader and friend back. Because of the pain the Philippians felt for Epaphroditus' illness, Paul sent him back "the more eagerly." His eagerness was not because of his desire to get rid of Epaphroditus. That would have been to his own detriment. His eagerness had to do with his empathy for them. Empathy is not sympathy. Sympathy is simply feeling the emotions of another person. Empathy is the ability to identify with the state of the other person. Paul put himself in the place of the Philippians. By doing so he acted unselfishly. He sent back someone very important to him. Empathy is a sign someone is thinking of others and cares for others. THAT WHEN YOU SEE HIM AGAIN YOU MAY REJOICE It will be a great day when Epaphroditus walks into the Philippians church after being gone for so long and after almost losing his life. They thought he was dying and then he shows up in church! Beyond that, he will carry a letter (an epistle) which will become part of the Word of God. Paul anticipates great joy on their part when Epaphroditus comes home. Imagine sitting in that church when Epaphroditus read the epistle to them. What joy that must have been. AND I MAY BE LESS SORROWFUL There is something in this that will serve Paul. It is not something for him personally. Paul will be served by knowing the Philippian church will be comforted by Epaphroditus' coming. In other words, Paul's concern was not for himself but for the Philippian church. "I will be less sorrowful to know that he arrived safely back in Philippi." PRINCIPLE: Empathy is a principle of selflessness. A person who shows capacity for empathy means they think seriously about others. APPLICATION: How much time do you think about the plight of others in your sphere of influence? Do you care enough about them to put yourself in their place? Do you identify with their hurt? Do you act upon your understanding? Philippians 2:29Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness and hold such men in esteem.Because of the litany of scandal among Christian leaders in recent years, respect for the offices of ministry has plummeted. This nosedive has hurt the cause of Christ. How can we restore trust again? How are we to think about this tension between trust in leadership and the possibility of being burned again? RECEIVE HIM THEREFORE IN THE LORD WITH ALL GLADNESS Paul is sent Epaphroditus back to Philippi with the epistle to the Philippians. Upon his arrival Paul challenges the Philippians to hold this man in deference. The word "receive" means to receive kindly, to admit as a host. "When Epaphroditus comes back--host him." This word means to welcome with open arms. "Treat him as a guest. Treat him with respect." They were to receive him "in the Lord." This man represents the Lord Jesus Christ. He is part of the body of Christ. "With all gladness" is a phrase of joy. Paul identifies the attitude the church should have toward him when he returns. The word "gladness" is literally the word "joy." AND HOLD SUCH MEN IN ESTEEM The word "hold" means to have and hold implying continued holding and lasting possession. "Do not let your esteem falter. Keep as a lasting possession your honor of this man. Preserve your respect and esteem for him." "Esteem" is honor, value. This man is to be valued and cherished. The next verse tells us why we should hold such a man in high regard. He was to receive esteem because of what he did, not for who he was. How are Christians to think about leadership in an age of scandal? There is a tendency to throw a blanket of suspicion over all leaders when a leader falls. This is obviously a distortion and unfair to faithful leaders. It is our insecurity which drives this warp of what should be right thinking. However, on the other hand, Christians naiveté of leadership is no Christian value either. Any leader can fall given the right circumstances and timing in his life. That is reality. To put leadership on a pedestal is not realistic. There are leaders who are faithful. They have earned respect and should be honored for it. "And we urge you, brethren, to recognize those who labor among you, and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love for their works sake" (I Thessalonians 5:12-13). No leader can lead without respect and honor. That honor is not for his sake but for the ministry sake. PRINCIPLE: The work of Jesus Christ cannot advance without respect for the office a leader holds. APPLICATION: Are you in the process of undermining a Christian leader? If you are, you are attacking the work of Christ. If a leader is not credible we should be careful not to undermine the ministry while addressing the person. Positively, we should hold our leaders in deference, respect and honor. Without it, they cannot lead the cause of Christ vigorously. Philippians 2:30Because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me.Not many of us will kill ourselves working for the Lord. In this verse we meet a man who almost died serving the Lord. BECAUSE FOR THE WORK OF CHRIST HE CAME CLOSE TO DEATH Epaphroditus was like the apostle Paul. He risked his life for the Lord Jesus: "But none of these things move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God" (Acts 20:24). Paul predetermined in his mind to be willing to die for Christ: "For I am ready, not only to be bound (put in prison), but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus" (21:13). Paul and Barnabas are described as "Men who have risked their lives for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ" (15:26). Epaphroditus almost worked himself to death for the Lord Jesus. Today, we have many excuses for not serving the Lord: "I must take care of my family," "I have to put in many hours at work." These are standard, stock excuses. "If I have any time on the outer fringe of my time, I will give it to the Lord." "If I have any spare time I will give it to the Lord. But I rarely have any spare time though." "As soon as I retire, as soon as I am a little more healthy, I will serve God." When we retire we will be too worn out to serve him. NOT REGARDING HIS LIFE "Not regarding his life" means that he had the "No Fear" philosophy. He gambled his life for the cause of Christ. His stake was his own life. The Greek indicates he did this before coming near to death. He did not fear death before he fell sick. When his sickness became so sever that he almost died, he had no fear then either. TO SUPPLY WHAT WAS LACKING IN YOUR SERVICE TOWARD ME Epaphroditus went from Philippi to Rome to minister to Paul. The entire Philippian church could not come so they sent one of their leaders. He willing risked his life for that cause. "Toward me" is literally "face to face with me." He personally served the Lord by serving me. PRINCIPLE: If we do not serve the Lord because of fear when things are going right, we certainly will not serve the Lord under duress. If we are not afraid of death now, we will not fear any disaster that may come our way. We can serve the Lord with abandon. We will throw down our lives down as a stake. We will ante up our lives for the Lord. APPLICATION: If the Lord comes the opportunity to serve him will be gone. We might have to say to the Lord: "Well Lord, you came too soon, I did not expect you this quickly. I had good intentions but..." It may be over sooner than we think. When he comes we will "settle up." He will ask, "When did you receive me as your Savior? You have been a Christian a long time. Let us look at your service record." "Oh Lord, I didn't know you were so serious about serving you!" People who are serious about serving the Lord serve him with abandon. They do not count the cost. ---------- Copyright © 1995, Dr. Grant Richison. All rights reserved. There is no charge for Grace Notes Materials. You can help further this work by your prayer and by sending a contribution to: Grace Notes 1705 Aggie Lane Austin, Texas 78757 wdoud@bga.com Grace Notes Web site: http://www.realtime.net/~wdoud/ Anonymous FTP site: ftp://ftp.bga.com/vendors/wdoud/ Grace Notes is a ministry of Village Missions International. |
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