Gratitude for Co-Workers

Do you have anyone in your life that you take for granted?

You just assume that they will be the same today, and you don’t really have to do much with that relationship?

Of course you do…we all do this…

I know for me, the prime suspect here is my wife…my goodness do I take all that she does for granted…

We could spend the next 40 minutes of me confessing how this week I’ve done that very thing…

But the same can be said of those serving in the local church.

It can be easy for us to not only take one another for granted, but to not even consider what it means to be in community…

With that in mind please turn in your bible to Philippians 2:25–30, which is on page 154

Read Phil 2:25-30

With our time this morning let’s look at…

3 Keys to viewing each other with Gratitude

It all starts when we…

I. Think of each other in a Christ Centered way (v25)

Paul says…

Philippians 2:25 - 25 But I thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger and minister to my need;

As MacArthur points out…The name Epaphroditus means “belonging to,” or “favored by Aphrodite,” the Greek goddess of love (whom the Romans called Venus), indicating that, like Timothy, he was probably born and educated in Greek culture. The name was common and later came to mean “loving,” or “lovely.”

Another commentator points out….

Although Epaphroditus bore the name of a Greek goddess, he had the character of Christ, who took the form of a servant and was obedient to death (2:7–8). Paul’s preeminent desire to know Christ leads him to see the story of Christ reenacted in the service and suffering of Epaphroditus.

I would like us to take time to break down these five different ways that Paul describes Epaphroditus as they are helpful ways for each one of us to think about not only our roles in the local church, but how we should consider one another.

As I work through these five different ways, I would ask YOU to consider, what are some of the implications and applications of us thinking about one another this way?

One way to answer that question is…why is Paul doing what he is doing? Why he is choosing these five attributes to highlight…what is his goal?

My Brother

If you have been around this church for any amount of time, you know that we consider ourselves a family. Part of being in a family is having brothers and sisters…and that is a joy for sure.

The picture of family is one of the most common and powerful ones found in the NT.

“So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are fellow citizens with the saints, and are of God’s household,” (Ephesians 2:19, NASB95)

“but in case I am delayed, I write so that you will know how one ought to conduct himself in the household of God, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and support of the truth.” (1 Timothy 3:15, NASB95)

“For it is time for judgment to begin with the household of God; and if it begins with us first, what will be the outcome for those who do not obey the gospel of God?” (1 Peter 4:17, NASB95)

And here is it no different. Paul considers Epaphroditus his brother in the faith, and that is not just a cute way of refereeing to him.

Paul also refers to him as…

Fellow Worker

Again, just like brother, this was a common way to refer to another brother in Christ.

Romans 16:9 - 9 Greet Urbanus, our fellow worker in Christ, and Stachys my beloved.

Romans 16:21 - 21 Timothy my fellow worker greets you, and so do Lucius and Jason and Sosipater, my kinsmen.

Colossians 4:11 - 11 and also Jesus who is called Justus; these are the only fellow workers for the kingdom of God who are from the circumcision, and they have proved to be an encouragement to me.

1 Thessalonians 3:2 - 2 and we sent Timothy, our brother and God’s fellow worker in the gospel of Christ, to strengthen and encourage you as to your faith,

Philemon 23–24 - 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.

Romans 16:3 - 3 Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow workers in Christ Jesus,

Philippians 4:2–3 - 2 I urge Euodia and I urge Syntyche to live in harmony in the Lord. 3 Indeed, true companion, I ask you also to help these women who have shared my struggle in the cause of the gospel, together with Clement also and the rest of my fellow workers, whose names are in the book of life.

Obviously the gospel is a labor of love and work. In fact, many of the parables that Christ tells about the kingdom of God involve some level of work that is done by his follower

Fellow Soldier

This next one is a bit different than the former two…however, we see this one all over the NT as well.

“and to Apphia our sister, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:” (Philemon 2, NASB95)

“Suffer hardship with me, as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” (2 Timothy 2:3, NASB95)

And why would they think of themselves as soldiers?

“For though we walk in the flesh, we do not war according to the flesh, for the weapons of our warfare are not of the flesh, but divinely powerful for the destruction of fortresses.” (2 Corinthians 10:3–4, NASB95)

Now with this next one, Paul gets a bit more specific as to why Eparphdoties was involved with Paul in the first place…he calls him….

Your Messenger

It is important to point out that Epaphroditus was sent by the Philippians to minister to Paul and help Paul as He ministers to others…We know that specifically because of

Philippians 4:18 18 But I have received everything in full and have an abundance; I am amply supplied, having received from Epaphroditus what you have sent, a fragrant aroma, an acceptable sacrifice, well-pleasing to God.

2 Corinthians 8:23 - 23 As for Titus, he is my partner and fellow worker among you; as for our brethren, they are messengers of the churches, a glory to Christ.

So he was on mission, he was doing the thing the church asked him to do…and in response Paul saw him as a

1. 1. Minister to my need;

Paul was stuck in Prison and…well, there were needs. The church at Philippi, through their messenger Eparapditus, sought to minister to those needs.

It is one thing however for the church to take up a love offering, but it’s quite another, in those days to deliver it.

The other day we took a special love offering for our missionaries in Ukraine.

I was so encouraged that our church family gave almost $40,000 to meet those needs…but did anyone like deliver that gift the way that happened here?

No, we wired the money and they received it.

Imagine if we had to send Pastor Nitzschke/Birk on a plane to bring them a suitcase full of cash…

We would be praying for him for sure…and thankful that Pastor Nitzschke/Birk was willing to do that!

Now, I asked you to be thinking…OK, if these are the titles that Paul uses to describe Epaphroditus

My Brother

Fellow Worker

Fellow Soldier

Your Messenger

Minister to my need;

Paul has spent time putting down these labels…what are some of the applications for me? I asked you to be thinking about it…so how are you doing on that?

Well…if you are running short on ideas….then let me prime the pump for a minute:

Minister of Need—the Christian Church is all about this…we are people that rise to meet needs, especially in the household of God.

“So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith.” (Galatians 6:10, NASB95)

I know that my family has been blessed so many times by this very church family who has sought to minster to needs…I know that we have seen it time and time again.

That is in part why we built this facility and why Faith does so much of what we do with outreach…we want to meet needs.

We believe that if we can start the conversation with someone about “Why do you love me.” As we are meeting needs…we will have the great opportunity to tell folks about Christ.

As I mentioned, so many of you are great about meetings needs…but if you are feeling the…we’ll I have not been apart of what he is talking about…then put your ear to the ground…be ready…

I opened our time by asking if you have ever been guilty of just not even thinking about what others are up to…and o boy is this an area for sure…

When need comes up…do you just assume that someone else will take it?

Or, when someone does volunteer, do you rejoice…or just assume…yeah, that is probably good that they do that.

The point is twofold:

• We are all called to be meeting needs

• When we see others meeting needs…do we just assume, yeah…that was for them to do anyway😊

Remember, that first title he gave as “brother”…

Now you can’t do this if you are not doing the part that we talked about in the beginning…you have to be apart of the family.

There are three really simple applications here.

• You have to be saved…if you are not saved…if you have not trusted in the D\B\R of Christ to satisfy God’s wrath which comes from you living a sinful live…and his blood to cleanse you from your unrighteousness. Then you are not part of God’s family.
  
  If you are not part of God’s family…today is a great day to join!
  
  

• If you are saved, but you are not part of the local church…meaning, you are not a formal member…then you are…well, how to put it nicely…you are in a spot that Paul would just not be able to get his head around….you are saved but not part of the church…
  
  My encouragement to you, if you are a Christ, but not a member of this church…is to attend the Intro to Faith that is coming up on March 30 [insert Intro Slide—please get for Lauren N.]

Here is just a quote for you to think about as you consider would Intro to Faith be for you…

He cannot have God for his father who has not the church for his mother--Cyprian

• If you are saved, you are part of the local church…then my application for you is to take this relationship seriously. If you are looking for a good book to read that will help you consider how you should be thinking about this…I would strongly recommend when the church was a family.

[please insert picture of the cover] When the Church Was a Family: Recapturing Jesus' Vision for Authentic Christian Community: Hellerman, Joseph H.: 9780805447798: AmazonSmile: Books

I am sure you have found this…it can be the easiest to take family members for granted who live in your own home…

Are you working to ensure that instead of taking this family that you have for granted…that you are asking yourself…how do I cultivate that type of authentic relationship?

Fellow Worker

Well, I think that this one is fairly convicting for many of us…are you actually working?

You don’t get to claim…fellow worker if you are not…well…working 😊

It is my belief that the church…this very church…has a place for everyone to be a worker

We don’t want to be a church where 90% of the work is done by 10% of the people…and by God’s Grace we are not that…not even close.

But I would say…that for some listening to this message…church consists of showing up either right as the service starts and leaving during the announcement time….

Now, I love you…we all love each other…but being in the church is more than attending the worship service on Sunday morning…it’ is laboring alongside another for the proclamation of the gospel…for the accomplishment of the mission.

Is there evidence that you are working?

Can others look around at you and say…ah…my fellow worker…thank you for laboring so hard with me

If there is no one that can look at you and call you their fellow worker….then let’s change that this week.

There might be all sorts of reasons that come across your mind when you consider working and why that might not be for you…

Here is my suggestion….fire your defense team…fire that voice that is telling you….here are the 101 reasons why you are not to be working...let others do the work...or you can do it another day...or during another season.

OK, we are going to run out of time…because there is a lot more text here for us to cover…but he also mentions that he is a fellow soldier.

If one of the ways that we should consider ourselves, and consider another is a soldier…what are the implications?

QUESTION FOR US: Do soldiers live different in war time than they do during peace time?

Do you need me to pull up pictures of Ukraine to help answer that question?

Of course they live differently….brothers and sisters…we are in the middle of a war…does your life reflect that?

Does your movie choices, spending habits, serving…etc. does it look like you are living in wartime?

Are you trying to encourage your brothers and sisters to wartime living?

Or, when you see them fighting a battle…perhaps it is with some sin…are you jumping in?

One of the favorite quotes that I picked up over the years…and I don’t remember where…is that Christians Don’t fight fair.

Meaning, when we are in this spiritual battle…we call in re-enforcements.

Are you quick to jump into the fight with someone else?

Conversely…does your heart long for peacetime? Does your heart long for Heaven when the war is over?

I’m often reminded of C.S. Lewis’ quote

If you read history you will find that the Christians who did most for the present world were precisely those who thought most of the next. It is since Christians have largely ceased to think of the other world that they have become so ineffective in this.- C.S. Lewis- Mere Christianity

That should hit us right between the eyes this morning….are you living like a soldier who is at war?

OK, we also see here that part of what it looks like to have gratitude is to…

II. Cultivate a genuine care for each other (v26-27)

It helps us to hone in on the care for one another emphasized in this text.

Philippians 2:26–27 - 26 because he was longing for you all and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick. 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.

Just think about…

Epaphroditus care for the Philippians and their care for him

Just look at what is happening in our text…

The church sends Epaphroditus to deliver this gift to Paul and something happens that leads to Epaphroditus getting sick.

This is, by the way, one of the reasons that we, as a church are a secessionist church. We believe that the miraculous sign gifts that were present at the birth of the church, such as tongues and healings…were dying out…and everyone knows it.

Epaphroditus nearly dies in going to meet the needs of Paul

We see a similar thing mentioned by Paul in 2 Tim…which was written, may believe, just two years later

“but Trophimus I left sick at Miletus.” (2 Timothy 4:20, NASB95)

If the sign gifts were still active today…then they would have been active in Paul’s day…then why was he not using them to help those closest to him as they were gravely ill?

The only logical answer is…they were dying out…because they were no longer needed to authenticate the message of the Gospel…the message of Christ was taking hold, and the need for miracles was not what it once was…

Back to our text…the point is…this church was very concerned for the man that they sent to minster to Paul…and he was concerned for them…because he knew…that they knew…he was sick.

Did you catch that? Epaphroditus was concerned because he knew that the church at Philippi was aware of how bad things had gotten for him and he wanted to alleviate their distress.

Pastor Birk and I will be heading on a Biblical Counseling Trip tomorrow…we are flying to Gaum…and it is going to take us a long time to get there…in fact…22 hours of flying.

During that time…we won’t really be in contact with folks…and we will end up on the other side of the planet…so pray for us as we go to teach God’s word there…

But imagine if something happened when we were enroute…either to us, or in life in general…

What is the first thing that you all would want to know…ARE YOU OK!

Right, it would be eating at you to know…OK, something happened, how are they doing!

Now, in our day and age…we have all sort of tools to communicate around the globe…but that was not true back then…the last that the church had heard…Epaphroditus was not doing well.

So, they are all really concerned for each other…which gets back to that family relationship….they love each other dearly…

I also think that this is a good spot to highlight a very important nugget that will not come up in this text.

Paul rejoices because of the mercy that was show to Epaphroditus…so that he would not have…sorrow upon sorrow…

Nowhere else in the NT is sorrow upon sorrow used…and I think at least one thing we can say is this:

Philippians as a book is all about joy and thanksgiving in the midst of hard circumstances…you have heard us say that a bunch of times this year.

HOWEVER! It is OK to admit that there are hardships…Paul is thankful for how God is using the challenging things in his life and he can see how it is being used to advance the kingdom…but how does he also interpret this….as a sorrow.

Peter O’Brien says this, “The second λύπην (sorrow) refers not to the sorrow Paul experienced over Epaphroditus’ critical illness, for even after the latter’s departure he expects some anxiety to remain (c.f. 2:28). Rather, it is the sorrow resulting from his captivity and from being surrounded by adversaries.” The New International Greek Testament Commentary, Peter O’Brien, Page 339

He can be both sad about some of the things that is happening…and rejoicing and trusting in God.

I say all of that, because I want to remind us that we can be like that too.

So often we feel that we have to pick a side….and I am so very guilty of this too…you are either thankful or your are sorrowful…

You are either trusting in God fully or…well you are not.

Paul doesn’t spend much time here…but I think there is a very important nugget for us….there is sorrow in his heart.

He is thankful that God is doing everything, he is trusting…but he is not pretending like his heart is not heavy and hurting.

Brothers and sisters, it is a great reminder for us, in the midst of our hardships…we can both rejoice and have a heavy heart…we can be thankful and cry out to God…we can have sorrow and joy at the same time.

We also see in our text that there is….

The Philippians care for Epaphroditus

Paul’s care for Epaphroditus and the Philippians

There is genuine care by Paul for these folks…this isn’t just him saying things…Paul cares a lot for both Epaphroditus and the church at Philippi.

I think that is clear at least in one way…Paul is sending Epaphroditus back to the Philippians.

Just pause and consider for a moment, you are in jail and this young man has come to minster to you, how eager would you be for him to go back home?

And yet, Paul is putting into practice what he had talked about earlier in this very chapter…

“Do nothing from selfishness or empty conceit, but with humility of mind regard one another as more important than yourselves;” (Philippians 2:3, NASB95)

Paul was considering everyone else’s needs above his own…living out what he taught.

Lastly, a way that we show gratitude is that we

III. Hold Gospel partners in High Regard (v28-30)

Philippians 2:28–30 - 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. 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.

First, this is as good of time as any to share something that I have seen lived out in our congregation over the last year.

There is a group of ladies in our church that have labored faithfully to seek to encourage your pastors…and I can tell you that it has worked.

Just look at the cards that I myself have received….

[insert picture that I attached that has cards]

I mean talk about showing, literally, thanksgiving! It has been such a warmth and encouragement to myself and the other Pastors to receive such kind expressions over the last few months.

What does Paul say that the church should do when Epaphroditus returns?

Receive him then in the Lord with all joy

The phrase means, “to give an enduring welcome as a brother in the Lord”

O’Brien, on why Paul includes this write,

“Paul wants the Philippians to welcome Epaphroditus wholeheartedly…the inclusion may suggest that the apostle thought that their attitude could e otherwise, perhaps because they thought Epaphroditus had failed to fulfill his commission. However, they are to welcome him gladly, for it was Paul who sent him home.” NIGTC, O’Brien, P. 341

So, Paul is ensuring that the record is set straight…and then he says to

Hold men like him in high regard;

Most translations say, “honor” when talking about the dynamic that Paul is describing…he is saying, you ought to honor and respect your brother for his service.

That is a regular theme throughout the scriptures…that those who labor in ministry ought to be honored…

The scriptures are clear, that we should show another honor…

“Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor.” (Romans 12:10, ESV)

But, there is a special place for showing honor to those who labor in direct advancement of the gospel…

“But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another.” (1 Thessalonians 5:12–13, NASB95)

Now, I’m going to unpack this a bit for us by way of application…but can we all agree that I didn’t just pick this as our passage today…

Meaning…it wasn’t like Josh had some things he was wanting to say…so he chose this passage….this was the next passage that was setup for our us to study…

So it is not like I have an ax to grind or anything like that…it’s not as if…I wonder who upset Josh this past week…

Let me pause and ask you…when you see someone serving faithfully…does your heart jump to honoring them?

For example, when you think about your deacon…the work that they do in caring for the members of the church…attending and participating in leadership meetings, laboring, often, behind the scenes…when you talk with a deacon…do you have in your mind.

“I need to make sure that I show these men honor?”

Or, are you quick to jump to a complaint?

Or when it comes to the many other brothers and sisters who are faithfully serving around here making Sunday morning possible…are you quick to honor them?

It is always remarkable to me who so often those who complain the most are those who serve the least…those who have strong thoughts and opinions about how worship should go, how children’s ministries should be run…how the youth group should function… can be those who do the very least.

We believe in progressive sanctification…that is part of why our church is working through the strategic ministry plan process right now.

We want your thoughts, and now we want you to rank how important the initiatives are that were assembled…but part of that process is making sure that we show honor and respect for each others…speciallyy those who have been serving in the trenches for a long time.

So, Paul says to honor Epaphroditus…what does that look like for us to do today? Let me give you three things to consider….

• I think that there is a mindset that we should consider….when you are dealing with someone who has labored faithfully…then you should ensure that you have a perspective that is thankful and appreciates the years of faithful service.

• When it comes to communication with such persons…the way in which you communicate should indicate that you are showing them honor…are you going asking questions?
  
  Does your tone and even your demeanor indicate that you are showing them honor?

• Are you seeking to commend them for what they have done in the past? Meaning, there might be some things that you need to communicate with them about because problems are for fixing…but have you sought to bathe that communication in gratitude?

Lastly, in our text Paul takes time to…

1. 1. Recognize the risk of Gospel Ministry

Obviously Christian missions was a lot more dangerous back then than it is today…

We live in the USA where there is no risk, generally of life, for being a preacher or serving in Children’s ministries on Sunday morning.

However, that was obviously not the case back then…and it was clear by Epaphroditus’ near death experience…that Paul wanted them to recognize this.

I think for us, one of the ways that this text can impact us first by considering our missionaries around the world…

As a church, we finally support and send men and women all over the world for the proclamation of the gospel…may of them, literally, are in physical danger for preaching the good news…nothing that we know about here.

Perhaps, one of the best things you could do with your week is to contact Pastor Aaron Birk, and ask him for a missionary that you could take time to learn about, to encourage, and to even pray for on a regular basis.

There are men and women literally in the world risking their lives for the gospel, like Epaphroditus did, and perhaps God would want us to recognize that today…and do something about that…

So back to that opening, question….well, I guess more of a group confession…we all have people in our lives that we take for granted.

We looked at Paul’s description of Epaphroditus and I saw how Paul sought to show him honor for the roll that he had fulfilled.

Each of those descriptor are important ones for us to consider…and that for those who are serving in the trenches…who are working hard for the proclamation of the gospel…we should be careful to ensure that we all show them honor…

Matthew 16:24–25 - 24 Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25 “For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it.