Epaphroditus - A Brother, Servant and Soldier
Epaphroditus – A Brother, Servant and Soldier
How do we see and view one another? I hope it is same as Apostle Paul embraced Epaphroditus as a brother, a fellow worker/servant and a soldier of Christ. Are you a brother/sister/servant/soldier?
Recap. Paul is in prison under house arrest for preaching the Gospel of Christ. His beloved friends from Philippi were very concerned and sent Epaphroditus (Bro Epa) to check on Paul and bring gifts of refreshment and upkeep. Paul is now sending Epa back to the Philippians to report of his condition. Brother Epa is now the letter carrier of this Epistle of Philippians we are reading. Hear Paul tell it in Philippians 2:25-30:
“25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For 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. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me”.
What does it take to be a brother, servant and soldier? These are all names Jesus earned for us. He died on the cross to secure our inclusion into the family of God. Thus, whoever believes in Jesus and has trusted Him is a brother/sister in Christ. More than anything else brothers/sisters have God as their Father. What a privilege. Are you a brother or sister? I don’t mean if you do go to church or live in America (or any other so-called “Christian nation”? None of that makes you a brother or sister in Christ.
Bro Epa must have been a trusted brother to be sent by the Philippians. Some will take the money and food and go hang out in a different part of town or country. Can you be trusted with wealth for God’s people? God sees the heart. He will entrust wealth to those who will use it for Him and not spend it just on yourself.
The Lord is looking for brothers/sisters who will be “pass on”. They receive and pass on to others for the spread of the Gospel. They are always pointing people to Jesus using what they own and have. Are you a brother/sister indeed?
Notice how brothers care for brothers. Paul was very concerned about Epa’s health and probably pleaded with God to spare him. “ 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also” vs.27.
Paul felt the human pain and compassion just like Jesus for bro Epa. We must care enough not to pity but to pray and commit people to God who can do something about their situation. He prayed for bro Epa and sent him back to the Philippians and to his family for more healing and relaxation. May we see others’ pains and pray not gossip about them. A brother/sister can use your prayer today. Please pray.
A servant is a disciple of Christ. You cannot belong to Jesus and not have the same DNA of servanthood that He had. Being a servant is not just a nice thing to be. It is the attitude/mind of Christ. We all want to lead but Jesus is looking for servants. “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all”. Mark 9:35
Brother Epa was a true servant willing to serve his local body of Christ but also willing to serve Paul. He definitely was not looking out for his own interests but interests of others.
Nothing that you and I do is insignificant if done for Jesus and as unto the Lord. Brother Epa, was a letter carrier that has changed the whole World. What if he did not take care and lost this letter that you and I are reading –Letter to the Philippians?
God knows your job title and where you are working whether at home or outside the home. He has placed you where you are for now and it is only there that you can make a difference. It is not in our hands to choose where we serve and how we serve. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” and unto the Lord.
As a soldier of Christ, brother Epa took risks and willing to die or imprisoned if necessary. It was a dangerous mission to visit Paul not knowing what will happen to the messenger. A soldier is compelled by the object of the mission and nothing else. The mission was very clear – to help spread the Gospel by bringing food and refreshment to Paul and to see how he was doing. What is your mission? Can you say “my mission is to love my Jesus so much that I will spread the gospel and draw people to Christ by so and so… that I do?
How many of us want to serve and be soldiers? Yes, you are a brother and sister in Christ? Is that all? There are family chores to do in every family. Don’t just sit and watch TV in the family room.
Let’s find someone we can be a brother/sister, servant and soldier to. You can serve wherever you are and God is helping us to “will and to do His good pleasure”. Amen.
How do we see and view one another? I hope it is same as Apostle Paul embraced Epaphroditus as a brother, a fellow worker/servant and a soldier of Christ. Are you a brother/sister/servant/soldier?
Recap. Paul is in prison under house arrest for preaching the Gospel of Christ. His beloved friends from Philippi were very concerned and sent Epaphroditus (Bro Epa) to check on Paul and bring gifts of refreshment and upkeep. Paul is now sending Epa back to the Philippians to report of his condition. Brother Epa is now the letter carrier of this Epistle of Philippians we are reading. Hear Paul tell it in Philippians 2:25-30:
“25 Yet I considered it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, but your messenger and the one who ministered to my need; 26 since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 27 For 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. 28 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. 29 Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 30 because for the work of Christ he came close to death, not regarding his life, to supply what was lacking in your service toward me”.
What does it take to be a brother, servant and soldier? These are all names Jesus earned for us. He died on the cross to secure our inclusion into the family of God. Thus, whoever believes in Jesus and has trusted Him is a brother/sister in Christ. More than anything else brothers/sisters have God as their Father. What a privilege. Are you a brother or sister? I don’t mean if you do go to church or live in America (or any other so-called “Christian nation”? None of that makes you a brother or sister in Christ.
Bro Epa must have been a trusted brother to be sent by the Philippians. Some will take the money and food and go hang out in a different part of town or country. Can you be trusted with wealth for God’s people? God sees the heart. He will entrust wealth to those who will use it for Him and not spend it just on yourself.
The Lord is looking for brothers/sisters who will be “pass on”. They receive and pass on to others for the spread of the Gospel. They are always pointing people to Jesus using what they own and have. Are you a brother/sister indeed?
Notice how brothers care for brothers. Paul was very concerned about Epa’s health and probably pleaded with God to spare him. “ 27 For indeed he was sick almost unto death; but God had mercy on him, and not only on him but on me also” vs.27.
Paul felt the human pain and compassion just like Jesus for bro Epa. We must care enough not to pity but to pray and commit people to God who can do something about their situation. He prayed for bro Epa and sent him back to the Philippians and to his family for more healing and relaxation. May we see others’ pains and pray not gossip about them. A brother/sister can use your prayer today. Please pray.
A servant is a disciple of Christ. You cannot belong to Jesus and not have the same DNA of servanthood that He had. Being a servant is not just a nice thing to be. It is the attitude/mind of Christ. We all want to lead but Jesus is looking for servants. “And He sat down, called the twelve, and said to them, “If anyone desires to be first, he shall be last of all and servant of all”. Mark 9:35
Brother Epa was a true servant willing to serve his local body of Christ but also willing to serve Paul. He definitely was not looking out for his own interests but interests of others.
Nothing that you and I do is insignificant if done for Jesus and as unto the Lord. Brother Epa, was a letter carrier that has changed the whole World. What if he did not take care and lost this letter that you and I are reading –Letter to the Philippians?
God knows your job title and where you are working whether at home or outside the home. He has placed you where you are for now and it is only there that you can make a difference. It is not in our hands to choose where we serve and how we serve. “Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might” and unto the Lord.
As a soldier of Christ, brother Epa took risks and willing to die or imprisoned if necessary. It was a dangerous mission to visit Paul not knowing what will happen to the messenger. A soldier is compelled by the object of the mission and nothing else. The mission was very clear – to help spread the Gospel by bringing food and refreshment to Paul and to see how he was doing. What is your mission? Can you say “my mission is to love my Jesus so much that I will spread the gospel and draw people to Christ by so and so… that I do?
How many of us want to serve and be soldiers? Yes, you are a brother and sister in Christ? Is that all? There are family chores to do in every family. Don’t just sit and watch TV in the family room.
Let’s find someone we can be a brother/sister, servant and soldier to. You can serve wherever you are and God is helping us to “will and to do His good pleasure”. Amen.
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