Recently, in the Wechat account “Morning Prayer”, Pastor Zhang Zhongqiu gave the last sermon in the series “Victory in the Workplace”, with the title, “Epaphroditus was an Ordinary Person but He was not MAediocre,” based on Philippians 2: 25-30.
During that time the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in the city of Rome and confined to his rented home. He was allowed to live by himself, but with a soldier to guard him. He could not go out but others could bring in things he needed. Knowing that it was difficult for Paul to pay for daily meals and to rent a house, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to take money to him and take care of Paul’s daily life. Although his work was seemingly unimportant, he was recognized by Paul for his great dedication.
Pastor Zhang shared the following four points and taught us how an ordinary worker could make a great contribution.
Epaphroditus had a spirit of devotion.
In those days, it took about two months to walk from Rome to Philippi, a distance of 1170 kilometers. It was not an easy journey as they had to walk over mountains and take a boat to Rome. There was a lot of risk in going to help someone who was under house arrest. So the person who took money to this place must have a spirit of devotion. Epaphroditus supported Paul’s daily life and took care of him when he was ill. By serving Paul, he was indirectly involved in Paul’s ministry.
“Christians should know that in life there is no such thing as a lone ranger. God asks brothers and sisters to work together around one center. The primary and secondary work we do are all the Lord’s work.
Epaphroditus was recognized by God, Paul’s good helper, and fellow worker.
But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. (Philippians 2:25)
Paul was a learned and experienced apostle who founded the Philippian Church and suffered a lot for God. He could have gloried in his high status, but he acknowledged and praised Epaphroditus, saying, “He is my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier.” He accepted Epaphroditus as his brother, not just a co-worker, but first of all as a brother. Epaphroditus also served him with a humble heart. Though seeing Paul was down and out, in prison, without money and fallen from his previous high status and fame, he did not talk down to Paul.
Epaphroditus was a great help to Paul, and Paul was also a great spiritual inspiration to Epaphroditus. This was really valuable. You should be humble with your colleagues at work. No matter how talented you are, you should respect others who are less skilled. When evangelizing in the workplace, if others recognize your character, they may be willing to talk with you further. To be recognized is also a testimony for Jesus.
Epaphroditus served the Lord regardless of his life.
For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad, and I may have less anxiety. Because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. (Philippians 2:30)
Because Paul had appealed to Caesar, he was under house arrest, living in his rented house. If Paul was convicted and beheaded, maybe Epaphroditus would also be beheaded. So Epaphroditus was risking his life to serve Paul for Christ’s sake. On the one hand, he was brave enough to send money, on the other hand, he worked as hard as he could to support Paul in Rome. But Epaphroditus was not accustomed to Rome, became so sick that he almost died, and missed his home very much. Thankfully, God had mercy on him and healed him.
Honor Epaphroditus.
So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him. (Philippians 2:29)
Epaphroditus returned to the church in Philippi with the letter written by Paul. Paul said you should welcome him with great joy and honor him without blame. Although Epaphroditus was supposed to serve Paul till he was released from prison, he had done so much, therefore he should be honored.
Paul had great regard for his fellow worker. When he saw Epaphroditus was sick and homesick, he immediately let him go back home once he was healed. Instead of considering his own needs, he cared for his fellow worker first when finding he was in need.
God has given each of us different gifts and talents and demands different things for each of us. How can we meet God’s demands? To one he gives five talents, to another two talents and to another one talent. God demands five talents from the one who gets five, two who gets two, and one who gets one. How much has God given us? How much can we get by using it?
Don’t think that you are just an ordinary person in the workplace. An ordinary person can influence an extraordinary person. A young girl taken captive from Israel brought good news and healed Commander Naaman’s leprosy.
-Translated by Abigail Wu
得胜职场——跟平民以巴弗提学习在职场平凡却不平庸 近日，张忠秋传道在微信平台“早祷记”当中分享了最后一期的“得胜职场”，这一期分享的圣经人物是以巴弗提，题目是：以巴弗提是平民——在职场要平凡但是不平庸。 故事记载在腓立比书2章25-30节。当时保罗在罗马城下监，软禁在自己租房子里面，有租房子和日常吃饭等费用。腓立比教会知道保罗有经济上的需要，就打发以巴弗提把钱送来给保罗，并且在那里照顾保罗的日常起居。虽然他做的是非常小的工作，但是他所做的被保罗所认可，并且做出了极大的奉献。 张传道从以下四点分享了以巴弗提这个人物，让我们看到小员工在职场当中怎么过英雄式的生活。 一、 以巴弗提有奉献的心志 罗马城和腓立比城相距1170公里，需要走七八个星期。当时那个年代是非常不容易的，需要翻山越岭、坐船后才能到罗马城。并且是去监狱，去被软禁的地方，有很大的危险性，所以做这工作的人，一定要有奉献的心志。以巴弗提供给保罗足够的日用所需，并且需要照顾身体不好的保罗。他服侍保罗，就是参与保罗的宣教事工。 “基督徒在生活当中要知道，所做的任何事情上，都没有独行侠。是神借着众弟兄姐妹一起做工，有主要的工作、次要的工作，围绕一个中心，都是主的工作。” 二、 以巴弗提是神认可的，是保罗的好帮手，好同工。 然而我想必须打发以巴弗提到你们那里去。他是我的兄弟，与我一同作工，一同当兵，是你们所差遣的，也是供给我需用的。 (腓立比书 2:25) 保罗是建立腓立比教会的使徒，非常有学识，为主受苦有经验，本来可以高高在上，但他认可和抬举以巴弗提，说“他是我的兄弟，与我一同作工，一同当兵”。接纳他为自己的弟兄，不只是同工关系，把弟兄的关系在首位。以巴弗提自己在生命当中也是谦卑，有服侍的心。他不是看保罗以前有高的位置和名望而现在虎落平阳、在监狱里没有钱了，没有居高临下地和保罗相处。 以巴弗提给保罗带来很大的帮助，保罗在灵性上给以巴弗提很大的启发。这真的是很宝贵的。 在工作当中要处理好同事关系，要谦卑。无论有多大的才华，一定要尊重才能技术稍微差的人。在职场传福音的时候，如果对方他对你的人品认可，那么他就可能愿意与你深谈。被人认可，这样也是作见证。 三、 以巴弗提为服侍主不顾性命 他很想念你们众人，并且极其难过，因为你们听见他病了。他实在是病了，几乎要死。然而神怜恤他，不但怜恤他，也怜恤我，免得我忧上加忧。所以我越发急速打发他去，叫你们再见他，就可以喜乐，我也可以少些忧愁。 (腓立比书 2:28) 因他为作基督的工夫，几乎至死，不顾性命，要补足你们供给我的不及之处。 (腓立比书 2:30) 因为保罗要上告于凯撒，一直被软禁着，在自己租的房子先住着。如果保罗被定罪了，被斩头了，可能以巴弗提也要被斩头，所以以巴弗提是冒着性命危险去服侍的。他为基督的缘故不顾性命。一方面勇敢送钱去，一方面在罗马不顾辛劳，努力工作，工作量大。以巴弗提因为在罗马水土不服，病得几乎要死，并且很想念家乡。神怜悯以巴弗提，使他从疾病当中得到医治。 四、以巴弗提该被尊重 故此你们要在主里欢欢乐乐地接待他。而且要尊重这样的人。 (腓立比书 2:29) 以巴弗提带着保罗写的信回腓立比教会去。保罗说你们欢欢喜喜接待他，要尊重他，不要责备他，虽然以巴弗提的来意是服侍保罗直至出狱，但他已经付出了所以要被尊重。 保罗是非常顾念同工的，看见以巴弗提生病了、想家了，让他好了之后，马上回家。保罗所做的，不是顾及他本身需要，而是看到别人有需要的时候，关怀同工。 每个人的恩赐和才干都不一样，神对我们的要求也是不一样的，如何达到神给我们要求的程度？神给有的人给5000两，有的人2000两，有的人1000两，神给的多和少，要的也不一样，给5000，要5000，给2000的要2000，给1000的要1000。神给我们多少呢？我们使用做到多少了呢？ 不要看在职场上是小小的人物，小人物可以给大人物带来影响.乃缦将军家中掳去的小使女，被掳之地做大事情，带来福音。 http://www.gospeltimes.cn/portal/article/index/id/52986
Recently, in the Wechat account “Morning Prayer”, Pastor Zhang Zhongqiu gave the last sermon in the series “Victory in the Workplace”, with the title, “Epaphroditus was an Ordinary Person but He was not MAediocre,” based on Philippians 2: 25-30.
During that time the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in the city of Rome and confined to his rented home. He was allowed to live by himself, but with a soldier to guard him. He could not go out but others could bring in things he needed. Knowing that it was difficult for Paul to pay for daily meals and to rent a house, the Philippians sent Epaphroditus to take money to him and take care of Paul’s daily life. Although his work was seemingly unimportant, he was recognized by Paul for his great dedication.
Pastor Zhang shared the following four points and taught us how an ordinary worker could make a great contribution.
Epaphroditus had a spirit of devotion.
In those days, it took about two months to walk from Rome to Philippi, a distance of 1170 kilometers. It was not an easy journey as they had to walk over mountains and take a boat to Rome. There was a lot of risk in going to help someone who was under house arrest. So the person who took money to this place must have a spirit of devotion. Epaphroditus supported Paul’s daily life and took care of him when he was ill. By serving Paul, he was indirectly involved in Paul’s ministry.
“Christians should know that in life there is no such thing as a lone ranger. God asks brothers and sisters to work together around one center. The primary and secondary work we do are all the Lord’s work.
Epaphroditus was recognized by God, Paul’s good helper, and fellow worker.
But I think it is necessary to send back to you Epaphroditus, my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier, who is also your messenger, whom you sent to take care of my needs. (Philippians 2:25)
Paul was a learned and experienced apostle who founded the Philippian Church and suffered a lot for God. He could have gloried in his high status, but he acknowledged and praised Epaphroditus, saying, “He is my brother, co-worker and fellow soldier.” He accepted Epaphroditus as his brother, not just a co-worker, but first of all as a brother. Epaphroditus also served him with a humble heart. Though seeing Paul was down and out, in prison, without money and fallen from his previous high status and fame, he did not talk down to Paul.
Epaphroditus was a great help to Paul, and Paul was also a great spiritual inspiration to Epaphroditus. This was really valuable. You should be humble with your colleagues at work. No matter how talented you are, you should respect others who are less skilled. When evangelizing in the workplace, if others recognize your character, they may be willing to talk with you further. To be recognized is also a testimony for Jesus.
Epaphroditus served the Lord regardless of his life.
For he longs for all of you and is distressed because you heard he was ill. Indeed he was ill, and almost died. But God had mercy on him, and not on him only but also on me, to spare me sorrow upon sorrow. Therefore, I am all the more eager to send him, so that when you see him again you may be glad, and I may have less anxiety. Because he almost died for the work of Christ. He risked his life to make up for the help you yourselves could not give me. (Philippians 2:30)
Because Paul had appealed to Caesar, he was under house arrest, living in his rented house. If Paul was convicted and beheaded, maybe Epaphroditus would also be beheaded. So Epaphroditus was risking his life to serve Paul for Christ’s sake. On the one hand, he was brave enough to send money, on the other hand, he worked as hard as he could to support Paul in Rome. But Epaphroditus was not accustomed to Rome, became so sick that he almost died, and missed his home very much. Thankfully, God had mercy on him and healed him.
Honor Epaphroditus.
So then, welcome him in the Lord with great joy, and honor people like him. (Philippians 2:29)
Epaphroditus returned to the church in Philippi with the letter written by Paul. Paul said you should welcome him with great joy and honor him without blame. Although Epaphroditus was supposed to serve Paul till he was released from prison, he had done so much, therefore he should be honored.
Paul had great regard for his fellow worker. When he saw Epaphroditus was sick and homesick, he immediately let him go back home once he was healed. Instead of considering his own needs, he cared for his fellow worker first when finding he was in need.
God has given each of us different gifts and talents and demands different things for each of us. How can we meet God’s demands? To one he gives five talents, to another two talents and to another one talent. God demands five talents from the one who gets five, two who gets two, and one who gets one. How much has God given us? How much can we get by using it?
Don’t think that you are just an ordinary person in the workplace. An ordinary person can influence an extraordinary person. A young girl taken captive from Israel brought good news and healed Commander Naaman’s leprosy.
-Translated by Abigail Wu
