<html><head></head><body><div><div><div><div><br></div>Philippians 2;25-30<div><br></div><div><b>25. &nbsp;I have thought it necessary to send to&nbsp;you Epaphroditus my brother and fellow worker&nbsp;and fellow soldier, and your messenger and minister to my need,</b></div><div><b>26. &nbsp;for he has been longing for you&nbsp;all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.</b></div><div><b>27. &nbsp;Indeed he was ill, near to death. &nbsp;But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.</b></div><div><b>28. &nbsp;I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.</b></div><div><b>29. &nbsp;So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men,</b></div><div><b>30. &nbsp;for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.</b></div><div><b><br></b></div><div>The relationship between Paul and the church in Philippi was extraordinarily close. &nbsp;Although Paul’s longest tenure was in Ephesis, it would appear his warmest affections were directed toward&nbsp;Philippi.</div><div>I am sure Paul truly loved all the churches he planted in his evangelistic/teaching/Apostolic Ministry,</div><div>however,&nbsp;<span>Philippi seems to hold&nbsp;a special place in his heart.</span></div><div><br></div><div>This affection was not just one way, the church in Philippi generously and repeatedly&nbsp;supported Paul’s mission work. (see, Philippians 4;15-19). Epaphroditus was most likely a member of that congregation who was sent to Paul bringing financial support and it would seem his own person as a personal servant to Paul, brother in Christ, fellow worker, soldier, messenger, and minister to Paul’s needs.</div><div><br></div><div>Reading ‘between the lines,’ Paul most likely realized his need for&nbsp;Epaphroditus was coming to an end.</div><div>Certainly the reasons stated were of course true, Epaphroditus had been very ill, near to&nbsp;death, while serving Paul. &nbsp;The church ‘back home’ in Philippi was concerned for him, and his own heart had turned in concern for his loved ones in Philippi.&nbsp;&nbsp;Those circumstances seemed to provide Paul with a good reason to send Epaphroditus home. &nbsp;Although, I believe he was originally &nbsp;supposed to remain serving Paul indefinitely.</div><div><br></div><div>Contrast Paul’s&nbsp;release of Epaphroditus from duty, with Paul’s reaction to John Mark being home-sick.</div><div>I believe we see a more tender-hearted Paul in this. &nbsp;We are all ‘in process’, being conformed to&nbsp;Christ’s i<span>mage.</span></div><div><br></div><div>When Paul speaks of <i>‘sorrow upon sorrow’ </i>we do not know what other sufferings Paul is referring to. &nbsp;It was most likely <u>not</u>&nbsp;sadness over his own impending death. &nbsp;Paul was fully prepared to face death, he even spoke of it as being preferred over&nbsp;remaining on earth as an Apostle to the Church! &nbsp;Paul was most likely suffering with the weaknesses of God’s people as they struggled against their own carnality.</div><div>Personally, I believe the church in Corinth was a heavy concern upon his heart, they were<span>&nbsp;a messed up, fleshly church, with many problems. &nbsp;This is what it means to be a pastor and spiritual father.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Paul wanted the Philippian church to not be disappointed in Epaphroditus for coming home&nbsp;and no longer serving Paul as they intended. &nbsp;He wanted them to realize how much he had suffered on their behalf&nbsp;in his own ministry to Paul. &nbsp;Epaphroditus is recorded in history as later&nbsp;being the Bishop of Philippi and</span><span>&nbsp;honored by the Church.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Saying goodbye to loved ones is hard. &nbsp;Praise God, in Christ, all ‘goodbyes’ are only temporary. &nbsp;We look forward to the Kingdom fully realized, where there will never again be a need to say ‘goodbye.’</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span><i>“For he </i>(God the Father)<i>&nbsp;has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.” &nbsp;</i>(Ephesians 1;9&amp;10)</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Prayer: &nbsp;O most merciful Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom to not fear death or even parting, for in Christ these things have lost their power to harm us. &nbsp;In Christ we are forever in fellowship with both&nbsp;the Church on earth and in Heaven. &nbsp;Bless us to realize as we attend worship every Sunday, we are joining our voices and hearts with those who have gone on ahead of us, the are for now ‘out of sight’ but still&nbsp;truly joined with us heart to heart…through Jesus Christ we continue&nbsp;worship, serve, and pray, as one,&nbsp;Amen.</span></div><div><span><br></span></div><div><span>Love,</span></div><div><span>Dad/Baba/Eric</span></div><div><span>Grandpa Pickle Pastor</span></div><div><span>“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word. &nbsp;God’s Word is our habitation, and we are His.”</span></div><div><br><br><br><div><a href="https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&amp;c=Global_Acquisition_YMktg_315_Internal_EmailSignature&amp;af_sub1=Acquisition&amp;af_sub2=Global_YMktg&amp;af_sub3=&amp;af_sub4=100000604&amp;af_sub5=EmailSignature__Static_" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"></a><br></div></div></div></div></div></body></html>


Philippians 2;25-30
25.  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 need,26.  for he has been longing for you all, and has been distressed because you heard that he was ill.27.  Indeed he was ill, near to death.  But God had mercy on him, and not only on him, but on me also, lest I should have sorrow upon sorrow.28.  I am the more eager to send him, therefore, that you may rejoice at seeing him again, and that I may be less anxious.29.  So receive him in the Lord with all joy; and honor such men,30.  for he nearly died for the work of Christ, risking his life to complete your service to me.
The relationship between Paul and the church in Philippi was extraordinarily close.  Although Paul’s longest tenure was in Ephesis, it would appear his warmest affections were directed toward Philippi.I am sure Paul truly loved all the churches he planted in his evangelistic/teaching/Apostolic Ministry,however, Philippi seems to hold a special place in his heart.
This affection was not just one way, the church in Philippi generously and repeatedly supported Paul’s mission work. (see, Philippians 4;15-19). Epaphroditus was most likely a member of that congregation who was sent to Paul bringing financial support and it would seem his own person as a personal servant to Paul, brother in Christ, fellow worker, soldier, messenger, and minister to Paul’s needs.
Reading ‘between the lines,’ Paul most likely realized his need for Epaphroditus was coming to an end.Certainly the reasons stated were of course true, Epaphroditus had been very ill, near to death, while serving Paul.  The church ‘back home’ in Philippi was concerned for him, and his own heart had turned in concern for his loved ones in Philippi.  Those circumstances seemed to provide Paul with a good reason to send Epaphroditus home.  Although, I believe he was originally  supposed to remain serving Paul indefinitely.
Contrast Paul’s release of Epaphroditus from duty, with Paul’s reaction to John Mark being home-sick.I believe we see a more tender-hearted Paul in this.  We are all ‘in process’, being conformed to Christ’s image.
When Paul speaks of ‘sorrow upon sorrow’ we do not know what other sufferings Paul is referring to.  It was most likely not sadness over his own impending death.  Paul was fully prepared to face death, he even spoke of it as being preferred over remaining on earth as an Apostle to the Church!  Paul was most likely suffering with the weaknesses of God’s people as they struggled against their own carnality.Personally, I believe the church in Corinth was a heavy concern upon his heart, they were a messed up, fleshly church, with many problems.  This is what it means to be a pastor and spiritual father.
Paul wanted the Philippian church to not be disappointed in Epaphroditus for coming home and no longer serving Paul as they intended.  He wanted them to realize how much he had suffered on their behalf in his own ministry to Paul.  Epaphroditus is recorded in history as later being the Bishop of Philippi and honored by the Church.
Saying goodbye to loved ones is hard.  Praise God, in Christ, all ‘goodbyes’ are only temporary.  We look forward to the Kingdom fully realized, where there will never again be a need to say ‘goodbye.’
“For he (God the Father) has made known to us in all wisdom and insight the mystery of his will, according to his purpose which he set forth in Christ as a plan for the fulness of time, to unite all things in him, things in heaven and things on earth.”  (Ephesians 1;9&10)
Prayer:  O most merciful Heavenly Father, grant us wisdom to not fear death or even parting, for in Christ these things have lost their power to harm us.  In Christ we are forever in fellowship with both the Church on earth and in Heaven.  Bless us to realize as we attend worship every Sunday, we are joining our voices and hearts with those who have gone on ahead of us, the are for now ‘out of sight’ but still truly joined with us heart to heart…through Jesus Christ we continue worship, serve, and pray, as one, Amen.
Love,Dad/Baba/EricGrandpa Pickle Pastor“A chapter a day, every day, progressively, be transformed, ‘soak’ in the living Word.  God’s Word is our habitation, and we are His.”


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