Philippians 2:25-30
"A Little Help From My Friends "

Gospelcom Bible Gateway

"²⁵Yet 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; ²⁶since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 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. ²⁸Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 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."

INTRODUCTION:

1. HAPPY 50th BIRTHDAY SKIP (July 26, 2005)!!!!!!

2. Let's take a quiz...

A. Name the 5 wealthiest people in the world.

B. Name the last 5 Hiesman trophy winners.

C. Name the last 5 Miss America contest winners.

D. Name 10 people who won Nobel or Pulitzer prizes.

E. Name the last 1/2 dozen Academy Award winners.

F. Name the last decades worth of World Series winners.

3. How did you do?

4. We won't remember yesterday's headliners.

5. The quiz continues:

A. List a few teachers that added to your journey.

B. Name 3 friends who helped you through a difficult time.

C. Name someone who taught you something worthwhile.

D. Name someone who made you feel appreciated and special.

E. Name five people you enjoy spending time with.

F. Name a half-dozen heroes that inspired you.

6. How did you do?

7. It's not the wealthiest, most credentialed people we remember, but it is the ones who care.

8. Paul wanted to make sure that the Philippians knew that Epaphroditus was this kind of person.

9. What does Epaphroditus mean? charming, handsome

10. He practiced basin theology. What is this?

A. Everyone dips from one of two basins in life.

1. Pontius Pilate dipped into a basin to wash himself regarding Jesus.

2. Jesus took a basin and served the disciples by washing their feet.

B. Epaphroditus chose Jesus' basin.

11. Genuine Christian friendship is the greatest asset in this world.

12. Nothing replaces the relationship of a Godly friend.

13. Principle begun at the beginning of the chapter: To Love, serve and prefer each other and Christ is the ultimate example. The Philippians would say of course, He's Jesus. Do you have any other examples? Timothy and Epaphroditus

I. Getting help from a choice friend 25-28

A. Read Philippians 4:15-19 Now you Philippians know also that in the beginning of the gospel, when I departed from Macedonia, no church shared with me concerning giving and receiving but you only. ¹⁶For even in Thessalonica you sent aid once and again for my necessities. ¹⁷Not that I seek the gift, but I seek the fruit that abounds to your account. ¹⁸Indeed I have all and abound. I am full, having received from Epaphroditus the things sent from you, a sweet-smelling aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well pleasing to God. ¹⁹And my God shall supply all your need according to His riches in glory by Christ Jesus. ²⁰Now to our God and Father be glory forever and ever. Amen.

B. Six Characteristics of Epaphroditus

1. He was a Christian believer (25).

a. In ancient times there were class distinctions.

b. Mutual brotherhood and sisterhood was unknown.

1. Greek, Jew, Master, slave.

2. In comes the Gospel who calls everyone brother and sister.

3. This was unheard of in this culture.

c. Our spiritual family becomes more important to us than our blood family.

d. The warmth of a spiritual brotherhood provides us with something deeper than our own.

e. Who is your spiritual brothers and sisters? Everyone who does the will of God is my brother and sister.

g. Those sitting around you are your eternal family.

2. He is a hard worker (25).

1. sunergos to work together in the same direction. People who expend energy in the same direction on the same team marching together.

2. He came 800 miles to minister with and to Paul expending energy together.

3. The church is not a spectator spirit it is a team sport.

4. The church works best with sunergos people.

5. Are you an ecclesiastical hitchhiker or sunergos?

3. He was a spiritual fighter (25).

a. He was a fellow soldier.

b. He was in a war with Paul.

c. An effective Christian is going to be a target of Satan.

d. Wherever there is great fruit there will be great opposition.

e. A great and effective door has been opened to me and there are many adversaries.

4. He was a willing messenger.

a. Apostolos- someone sent on a special task to perform the duties of the one(s) who sent him.

b. In the broad sense this would be a missionary.

c. Mark 16

5. He was a caregiver.

a. Came with a gift of money.

b. The word leitourgos - performing a sacred duty a form of worship. We get the word liturgy from it.

c. This is how God sees our ministry as a sacred task.

6. He was a sensitive encourager (26).

a. Astheneo para-plesios thanatos "Neighboring alongside death" (like Lazarus).

b. He was distressed for their sake.

C. Notice that with all of this Epaphroditus is also sick.

1. This is against "name-it and claim it" theology.

2. 3 John 2 is not a blanket promise meaning that you are lacking faith or leading a satan defeated life.

II. Giving help to a choice friend

A. The word "therefore" emphasizes a shift to the Philippians on how to treat an Epaphroditus.

B. What do we learn here?

1. Give them a glad reception.

2. Give them a bold appreciation.

C. It is possible to have a saved soul and a lost life?

D. Which basin will you choose to dip into?

E. What is the basin of Jesus Christ worth?

ACTION POINTS:

1. Find some Epaphroditus that is not on a platform and send them a card this week and encourage them.

2. Learn to be a servant.

3. Learn to bless a servant.

MEMORY VERSE FOR THIS WEEK:

Philippians 2:28-30 Therefore I sent him the more eagerly, that when you see him again you may rejoice, and I may be less sorrowful. ²⁹Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness, and hold such men in esteem; 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."