A brother of great value

Philippians 2:25-30

Paul’s life is somewhat an open book, the Holy Spirit has removed the covers of Paul’s life so that we could understand and identify with this man.  In verses 25-26, he is sending back to the church at Philippi Epaphroditus, this is what he has to say about him; “I have thought it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my needs, for he has been longing for you all and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.” 

How often we read the Scripture to meet a requirement, it may be self imposed, it may be that someone who you respect said they read, the Proverbs of the day, and then a Psalms and one chapter from the New and Old Testaments, I did this for years.  By the middle of the morning I did not recall much of what I had read.  I’ve come to this understanding that it is better to read a few verses and ponder over them, than to do the other.  This is what I’ve learned today about Paul; he sees Epaphroditus of great value to himself and also to the church at Philippi.  That Epaphroditus is a brother to Paul, not by blood, but by the Spirit.  They have come together in a common goal, and are working as one.  Not only that, but Epaphroditus understands that he is in a war, and is a fellow soldier with Paul.  Yes and he is also a messenger to Paul from the church at Philippi, and he is a minister and his assignment is Paul.

Are you an Epaphroditus, or do you know anyone with this heart?  Could it be that the apostle Paul’s classification of us as a church is people who are strong, who are honored?  If so, my dear fellow soldier he is not complimenting us, look at 1 Corinthians 4:9-10, “For I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all, like men sentenced to death, because we have become a spectacle to the world, to angels, and to men.  We are fools for Christ’s sake, but you are wise in Christ.  We are weak, but you are strong.  Your are held in honor, but we in disrepute.”  Paul is not trying to degrade the church at Corinth, he saying it is of no value to be seen as wise by the world and men, but it is of great value to be seen by God as a fool for Christ, and that is why he is telling us to be imitators of him.  He goes on in verse 20, to state this great truth, “For the kingdom of God does not consist in talk but in Power.”

Once more I must remind you that we are in a war, it is not a war with Muslims, it is not a war with Conservatives or Liberals, all of the above may be tools the enemy is using, but it is a war for your heart, it is a cosmic battle and it is against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.  And it is a war that will not be won by your strength; it will only be won when we become weak.  Jesus had this to say to the apostle Paul, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9) 

I’m a bottom line kind of guy; I like being seen as wise, as accomplished, I enjoy being notice for my accomplishments, but will I trade all of that to be seen by God as a fool for Christ?  Do I want to be a talker or do I want the power of God to rest on my life?  That is the battle line, it has been draw, and it is your choice.

From the Back Porch,

Bob Rice