Welcome to “Chains of Freedom”!
Title: Receiving and Sending Epaphroditus! (missionary)
Key Verses: “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: since he was longing for you all, and was distressed because you had heard that he was sick.” Phil 2:25-26

Background: Phil 2:19-24 “like-minded”
- Timothy: Trust in the Lord Jesus v 19
- Timothy: Like-minded in faith v20
- Timothy: servant of Christ Jesus v21
- Timothy: proven character v22
- Timothy: traveler v 23-24

Framework for Today: Phil 2:25-30 “brother, worker, soldier”
1) Epaphroditus: will send to you v19 fellow – parallel, associate, equivalent
a. Fellow brother brother – relative, colleague, companion
b. Fellow worker worker – employee, hand, servant
c. Fellow soldier soldier – warrior, fighter, trooper
d. Your messenger messenger – courier, herald, go-between, envoy
2) Epaphroditus: longing for you v26
a. Distressed distress – grief, pain, stress, suffering
3) Epaphroditus: sick unto death v27
a. God showed mercy mercy – compassion, kindness, forgiveness, grace
i. On him and me
ii. Sorrow upon sorrow sorrow – grief, sadness, lament, cry
4) Epaphroditus: receive him v28-29
a. Eagerly send him
b. Rejoice with him rejoice – exalt, delight, cheer, celebrate
c. Receive him with all gladness gladness – cheerfulness, contentment, joy, pleasure
d. Hold him in esteem esteem – cherish, respect, honour
5) Epaphroditus: worker of Christ v30
a. Came close to death
b. He did not regard his own life regard – respect, affection, favour
c. He supplied what was lacking to Paul
6) Epaphroditus: served the Philippian church
a. Served well serve – work, minister, help, act

Reflections:
Paul is thanking the church for Epaphroditus, for he has truly been a fellow brother, worker, and soldier. He represented you as a church well, as a true messenger both from the church and from God. Paul was now sending him back with eagerness, gladness and exhorted the church to esteem in the Lord. He has served the Lord well to the place he was willing to give his life, so that Paul’s need could be met. We too are challenge from these Scriptures, that we also should be willing to go out and represent our home church well to others.

March 20, 2022. #724
It is time to see missionaries with a new set of EYES!