Bob Josey- Timothy and Epaphroditus servants of Jesus - Philippians 2:19-30Jun 18, 2023

SLIDES

Timothy and Epaphroditus- servants of Jesus

Philippians 2:19-30

Introduction

‌Anyone who has ever been involved in a ministry knows the importance of having dedicated believers to serve alongside them. It’s impossible to put a price tag on these relationships and the worth an individual has as a co-laborer with them for Jesus. ‌Co-laborers not only help us, but they encourage us, pray for us, provide wisdom, and guidance, motivate us, and give us constructive criticism when needed.

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I did two internships in seminary. A year in a pastoral internship and two years in an evangelism internship. Both internships were invaluable. It was the men who mentored me that made the internships invaluable. They were experienced men who loved the Lord and the ministry.

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I mentored a young man for ten years. He was a Bible College student from Russia who started out as my interpreter. He knew nothing about Jewish people and how to minister to them. He has been in full time Jewish ministry for approximately 20 years.

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In the last several weeks we have studied two men who were servants of God and examples for us. Jesus was the ultimate servant of God and example for us. Paul was the second example for us that we discussed. Today we will discuss two more servants of God who are also examples of how to be a servant and dedicated to the Lord. They were co-laborers with Paul in God’s vineyard. Paul mentored these two me.

Paul had men and who helped him in his ministry. They encouraged him, prayed for him, comforted him, and brought him joy. But the two we will discuss today were extra special to him and to whom he was very close. He mentored both of them. One was Timothy and the other was Epaphroditus. Both of them were servants of and dedicated to Jesus and to Paul. They are examples for us today as they have been to believers for two thousand years.  So, let’s see what we can learn from these two men.

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Let’s begin with Timothy. ‌Timothy was a native of Lystra and a third-generation Christian. Timothy’s mother was Jewish woman and his father a Greek. His mother is identified as Eunice and his grandmother as Lois—both believers. He grew up knowing the sacred writings.

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At Lystra, Paul chose Timothy to accompany him on his second missionary journey. He was likely selected due to his outstanding character. Paul listed six complementary words and phrases in verses 19-24 to describe his relationship with Timothy. They are:

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Fellow worker (in God’s vineyard)

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Brother (in Christ)

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Bond-servant (together with Paul)

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Beloved and faithful child in the Lord

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Son (a close relationship)

Kindred Spirit (one who is of likeminded and with whom one has much in common)

‌Coequal in the Lord’s work (having the same rank or importance. This is Paul being humble. Paul was an apostle and wrote inspired Scripture.)

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A. Timothy  Philippians 2:19-24

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19 But I hope in the Lord Jesus to send Timothy to you shortly, so that I also may be encouraged when I learn of your condition.

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In this verse Paul is using the word hope that’s different from the one we normally use that means a confident expectation. The word hope used here means to look forward to something in view of the measures one takes to ensure fulfillment. One expects it to happen but cannot be dogmatic. He has prayed about it and trusted the Lord.

The primary purpose of Timothy's visit was to learn the condition of the believers in the Philippian church and to report back to Paul what he found. Paul wants to be encouraged by what he hears from Timothy’s visit, especially about their strides for unity. This valuable information would enable Paul to pray for, minister to, and lay plans to help this church better. Paul would send Timothy sooner rather than later.

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20 For I have no one else of kindred spirit who will genuinely be concerned for your welfare.

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Since Timothy was so valuable to Paul in Rome while he was in prison, he probably wished he could send someone else instead of Timothy but there was no one else who had a kindred spirit like Timothy had. The term kindred spirit is an interesting word. It is only used once in Scripture and means one who is of likeminded and with whom one has much in common.

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It’s really interesting to me that out of all the individuals whom Paul led to the Lord and discipled, Timothy was the only one Paul wanted to send. He knew him well know that Timothy really loved and cared for the believers in Philippi‌

Do you think it easier to minister to and have fellowship with those whom you know or those whom don’t not? ‌‌

21 For they all seek after their own interests, not those of Christ Jesus.

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We know that Paul in Philippians 2:4 and in several verses in 1 Corinthians encouraged believers to put the interests and welfare of others above themselves. But in verse 21 Paul stated that they were not putting their interests above that of Jesus’. Therefore, if they were putting interests above Jesus’, then they would probably put their interests above those of the Philippian believers. The word seek in this is verse is a continuous action verb. They were continually putting their interests about Jesus. It was not an occasional thing.

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‌Jesus while on He was on the earth, ministered to the disciples, but He also ministered to the sick, the dying, the poor, the outcast, etc. He ministered to people who did not like Him We are Jesus’ ambassadors on the earth. We represent Him. When we minister to people, believers and unbelievers, we are ministering for Him. I want to encourage all of us, for the time we have remaining on this earth, to prioritize our time and resources to ministering in Jesus’ name to those in need, believers and unbelievers.

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‌22 But you know of his proven worth, that he served with me in the furtherance of the gospel like a child serving his father.

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23 Therefore I hope to send him immediately, as soon as I see how things go with me;

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24 and I trust in the Lord that I myself also will be coming shortly.

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In contrast to most of the believers whom Paul had led to the Lord, Timothy had demonstrated his worthiness as a servant of Christ and of Paul over more than 10 years. He had served as the apostle's fellow worker and Paul was his protégé. Paul was trusted in the Lord that he be freed soon so he could return to Philippi, but until that happened, he would send a believer in Jesus whom he trusted and mentored but also considered his spiritual son. Several weeks ago we discussed that Paul expected to be released. One reason he wanted to go was to help the Philippians disunity problem.

‌B. Epaphroditus  Philippians 2:25-30

Epaphroditus is mentioned twice in the New Testament—both times in the Letter to the Philippians (Phil 2:25; 4:18). Epaphroditus seems to have functioned as a leader in the church in Philippi. Let’s now see what Paul says about Epaphroditus.

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25 But I thought it necessary to send to you, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;

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As Paul had complementary words and phrases to describe his relationship with Timothy, he also had some to describe his relationship with Epaphroditus. They are:

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My brother (in Christ)

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Fellow worker (in God’s vineyard)

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Fellow soldier (for the gospel and battling evil)

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Your messenger (same Greek word translated Apostle - sent one) Please note that Epaphroditus was the Church at Philippi’s representative to Paul. He was the proxy for the Church at Philippi.

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Your minister to my need (not referring to a formal minister but one engaged in personal service such as an aide or assistant)

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Epaphroditus was not the personal assistant to a president of a large, influential cooperation or even a small business, he was the personal assistant to someone in a Roman prison and walked 800 miles to do that. How exciting! To me it would have been very exciting to be the personal assistant to the probably the greatest Apostle and Christian who had ever lived who was the author of thirteen inspired New Testament Books, evangelist, church planter, counselor, etc.

‌26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.

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Even though he was the assistant to this great servant of the Lord, he longed to return to his home in Philippi. The word “longing” is an interesting word. The term longing means to have a strong desire for something because of a need. While Epaphroditus was serving in prison, he became very sick. The word sick means a debilitating illness and as we shall see that he almost died from this illness. When Epaphroditus heard that his church family in Philippi learned he was very sick, he was distressed and longed to go home. Because of this, Paul decided that he needed to go home to his church family who could minister to his needs.

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27 For indeed he was sick to the point of death, but God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, so that I would not have sorrow upon sorrow.

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The God that we serve is a God is a God of mercy. God showed mercy on Epaphroditus while he was near death. Mercy is God being compassionate when people face a dire need. The term mercy is found 61 times in the Old Testament and 72 times in the New Testament and the synonym for mercy is compassion and it is found 93 times in Old Testament and 18 times the New Testament. There are so many instances and circumstances in both Testaments when we see God mercy given to those in need who were undeserving.

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A mother once approached Napoleon seeking a pardon for her son. The emperor replied that the young man had committed a certain offense twice and justice demanded death. “But I don’t ask for justice,” the mother explained. “I plead for mercy.” But your son does not deserve mercy,” Napoleon replied. “Sir,” the woman cried, “it would not be mercy if he deserved it, and mercy is all I ask for.” Well, then,” the emperor said, “I will have mercy.” And he spared the woman’s son.

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How many times have each of us received God’s mercy and compassion? Take a minute and ruminate on that!

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This made me think of the Sonnet # 43 “How Do I Love Thee” by William Shakespeare. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways. I have thought all these years that Sonnet was written by William Shakespeare when in reality it was written by Elizabeth Barrett Browning in the 19th century.

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But God not only showed mercy on Epaphroditus but also on Paul. The purpose of God showing Paul mercy concerning the healing of Epaphroditus was so that Paul no more sorrows or pains in his heart than he already which was plenty indeed. Sometimes when have so many burdens to contend with that God shows us mercy by not giving us more that we would have to deal with. This is something else thank about and praise the Lord for.

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28 Therefore I have sent him all the more eagerly so that when you see him again you may rejoice and I may be less concerned about you.

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After God shown both Epaphroditus mercy by healing him and Paul mercy by not putting more grief on him that he already had, Paul wasted no time in sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi. Even though Paul needed someone in Rome to minister to him while he was in prison, he knew that the believes at Philippi needed him more. Paul was not selfish about sending him back to Philippi. Paul practiced what he preached. He thought of the needs Epaphroditus and those of the believers at Philippi before he thought of his own. Paul had two purposes for sending Epaphroditus back to Philippi. One, Paul knew that the believers at the church at Philippi needed some joy in their lives. He knew that when Epaphroditus returned to Philippi, they could rejoice that he was healed. The second purpose for sending him back to Philippi was that Paul would have less stress in his life worrying about them because Epaphroditus was there to help lead the Philippian church again.

‌29 Receive him then in the Lord with all joy, and hold men like him in high regard;

‌30 because he came close to death for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete what was deficient in your service to me.

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Lastly, Paul instructed the church a Philippi to rejoice when Epaphroditus returned home and to hold him in high esteem because he almost died exposing himself to danger while doing the Lord’s while work ministering to him. Since Epaphroditus made the 800-mile journey to minister to Paul as the church’s representative, Paul instructed the believers at the Philippian church to respect and honor him. When missionaries or missionary families go to dangerous mission fields to spread the gospel, they should be honored and held at high for what they had done for Jesus Christ.   

If we compare ourselves to Paul, Timothy, and/or Epaphroditus, most of us would fall short. These men were dedicated and servants of the Lord. On one hand we should learn from the dedicated ministries of these men because they have so much to teach us. But on the other hand, we must evaluate any ministry we have to the spiritual gift resources God has given us. We do not have to travel 800 miles to minister to someone, when there are so many believers and unbelievers to minister in walking or a short driving distance from where we live.

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As we observe the life of these three men from Scripture, we know that sacrificial giving of ourselves or our resources is “until it hurts.” This is sacrificial giving. Most of us do not even come close to knowing what this experience means. Even though we give to Lord’s work, we still know where the next meal is coming from. We’ve always been quite sure that the next paycheck will arrive on time. And even if we get in a financially bind, most of us have a good credit rating at the bank or borrow it from a friend or relative. Of course, few of us ever experience real inconvenience because we have given to help the work of Christ—either financially or through human effort.

I am not sure, then, that what most of us have done can really be called New Testament sacrifice—at least as compared with the experience of Paul, Timothy, Epaphroditus, and the Philippian Christians. Few of us have had “severe trials” and “extreme poverty” for our ministry for Jesus.

Should we be ashamed? Not necessarily. We are a blessed people: we should rejoice and praise God. Paul said, “I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well-fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want” (Phil. 4:12).

But if there is a specific need (and there always is), and if there is an opportunity to give for the Lord work or help someone in need, should help. But if we are unwilling to do our part, then perhaps we should evaluate our Christian commitment and thankfulness to God for what we have in Christ Jesus.

So let us rejoice in our “plenty.” But let us also use our plenty to glorify God by helping others in need and those on the mission fiels!

SELAH!