“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 1
THE NEED FOR CHURCH WORKERS
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister

In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus said to his disciples that, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest.” In so saying, He declared that there is much work to do in the kingdom of God . He affirmed that there were many individuals who needed to be saved, many individuals who should have been saved; and, the only thing separating those individuals from the salvation that He would bring into the world was laborers, or workers, who would do God's will and bring in His harvest.

The words of our Lord ring as true today as they did when He uttered them two thousand years ago. Therefore, we must needs pray this same prayer. This world, with all of its twisted thinking and perversion, is full of people who need to be saved. Some are searching for the truth. Others don't even realize that they don't know the truth, but would obey it if they only knew. We could baptize more people and retain more of the baptized; we could strengthen more marriages and help more of our single members maintain their purity; we could better attend to our senior saints and rear the little ones among us in the nurture and admonition of the Lord; we could truly be the congregation that God would have us to be if we only had more laborers.

Notice that I didn't say “if we only had more people.” We don't need to worry about numbers; if folk are working in the church, more folks will come into the church. So often, when we think of church growth, we emphasize people being added to the body. “If we had more members, our collection would increase. If we had more members, we could expand our ministries. If we had more members, we could buy a new building.” All of this may be true. Then again, it will not be true if those members will not labor long for the Lord. It is fine to pray for laborers from the outside, but what about the members we do have? We should be praying for the folk on the inside just as fervently. Quality of Christians ought to come before quantity of Christians because, if we have only a few members, and those few members are church workers, they won't be few for very long.

There are so many things that we need to accomplish as a congregation; and, in many respects, the only thing standing between us and the harvest around us is that we don't have enough church workers. “Are you a church worker?” Some of us labor long in the Lord. But, I am persuaded that many folk in the church don't really know what it means to be a church worker. Many of us don't know what a church worker looks like. Maybe we would better understand, and be more apt to become church workers ourselves, if we saw one in scripture.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 2
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

As always, the scripture is replete with examples: Timothy and Barnabas and Titus and Philip and Phebe to name but a few. But, I'd like to focus on one who, while not as well-known, was no less important to the work of the church. In writing this letter to the church at Philippi , Paul commended them for their benevolence. The Philippians had been a tremendous support to Paul and his ministry during his incarceration. They sent material support to him by a man named Epaphroditus, who actually delivered the goods, tarried with Paul for a time and now, likely along with this letter, was returning home. Through the apostle, the Holy spirit paints a clear portrait of this man and delineates some of his fine attributes. So then, let us look closely at Epaphroditus. Let us consider the portrait that the Bible paints. In so doing, I believe that we will discover “The Definition of a Church Worker.”

A Church Worker is a Christian

First and foremost, a church worker is a Christian. Look at how Paul describes this man. He was a brother in Christ: “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus, my brother,” Paul says (Phil. 2:25). One cannot be a church worker without first being a member of the Lord's church. It's not enough to be around the church. It's not enough to just come to the church building. The church is a spiritual house and, in order to work inside that house, a person must be baptized into it (Gal. 3:26-27; Acts 2:37-47). A church worker is one who has obeyed the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This may seem elementary and, at one time, it may have been unnecessary to say; however, it has to be explicitly stated nowadays because brethren are accepting folks into fellowship and putting them to work without first requiring that they obey the gospel that Peter, Paul and Philip preached. Brethren are accepting members of denominations and allowing them to lead communion and pray before their respective congregations. This service is completely vain. The people they are accepting may be working around the church, they may spend a lot of time at the church building, but they are not working “in” the church because they have never been baptized into the church.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 3
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

A Church Worker Works Cooperatively
A church worker, then, is a Christian; however, every Christian is not necessarily a church worker. Epaphroditus, Paul says, was his brother and “companion in labour,” meaning that he worked cooperatively alongside Paul in the ministry. The traditional understanding is that he was laboring in the preaching of the word with Paul. Whether this is accurate or not, Epaphroditus was working with Paul. He was not a man who thought that he could labor for the Lord off in a corner somewhere by himself. Neither was he sitting around complaining about what everyone else wasn't doing. Despite whatever work he had done individually, when the brethren were meeting to get some work done, he was right there in their midst. He rolled up his sleeves and worked with them. His efforts were coordinated with their efforts.

Some Christians believe that we can be church workers and never work with other Christians. “You go over there and do whatever it is that you're doing, and I'll stay over here and do whatever I'm doing. Don't worry about whether I'm coming back for service. Don't worry about whether I'll be at the meeting. That is my personal choice and concern.” However, the Bible doesn't support this attitude. When Jesus sent the seventy out in Luke 10, he sent them two in pairs. When Peter stood up to preach on the day of Pentecost, he did so “with the eleven” (Acts 2:14). When he went to preach to the house of Cornelius, “certain brethren from Joppa accompanied him” (Acts 10:23). In Acts 19, Aquila and Priscilla worked together to teach Apollos more perfectly. An individualistic spirit is not conducive to Christian cooperation and church workers don't subscribe to it.

Church workers labor cooperatively with brothers and sisters in Christ because they ultimately want to be found working cooperatively together with God. The two are inseparable. In 1 Corinthians 3:9, Paul said that “we are labourers together with God.” The Greek word translated “companion in labour” in verse Philippians 2:25 is the same word translated “labouring together with” in 1 Corinthians 3:9. So then, in working cooperatively with one another, both Paul and Epaphroditus were also working cooperatively with God. Christians are supposed to work together, the way Paul started out working with Barnabas, the way he worked with Silas, Timothy, Titus and Epaphroditus.

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A Church Worker is Active in the Battle Against Satan and Sin
If we are to follow Epaphroditus' example, we should recognize that he was not only a Christian brother working cooperatively with the Lord and His people, but he was also actively engaged in the war against Satan and sin. Paul calls Epapoditus his “fellow soldier” (Phil. 2:25). Here was a man on the front lines of the spiritual battle. To be a soldier alongside the apostle Paul was to be a soldier indeed. Remember that he separated from Barnabas, who was a great friend to him, because he wouldn't travel with John Mark once he perceived that John Mark was unsteady in his commitment to waging spiritual battle on the front lines (Acts 15). Because Paul recognized him as a soldier, we know that Epaphroditus was faithful and consistent under Christ and against Satan.

There is struggle involved in church work. There are significant obstacles to overcome. There is an adversary who does not sleep or relent. A church worker, then, has to stand and meet the enemy as a soldier of Jesus Christ. The Bible says that a good soldier of Christ is willing to endure hardness, which means to suffer troubles and be afflicted, so that he might please the one who chose him to be a soldier (2 Tim. 2:3-4). So then, Epaphroditus had obviously endured some things for the gospel's sake, and Paul, having observed how he handled difficulty, considered him a “fellow soldier.”

As a soldier, Epaphroditus had to have been prepared. You might remember that Paul described what being a soldier of God entailed in Ephesians 6:11-17. There, he declared that a person who hopes to successfully battle Satan must be prepared with the truth, righteous living and integrity towards God, their life having been altered by the gospel, standing ready to teach that same gospel, strengthened by faith and secure in the salvation that Jesus wrought on the cross at Calvary. Because Paul describes Epaphroditus as his “fellow soldier,” we know that this man had all of these attributes, more or less, and was actively employing them to strengthen God's kingdom and stand against the wiles of the devil.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 5
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

A Church Worker Labors Within the Local Congregation
We have observed that a church worker is a Christian working cooperatively together with the Lord and His people, actively engaged as a soldier of Christ against Satan and sin. Notice that he is also a significant contributor to the local congregation as well. Paul says that Epaphroditus was “messenger” for the saints at Philippi . The Greek word rendered “messenger” here is apostolos and is most often translated “apostle.” Epaphroditus was a man sent with orders from Philippi to strengthen Paul during his incarceration. He was a man who could be depended upon to accept important work and complete it. When that congregation needed a representative to deliver aid to Paul, Epaphroditus was the man for the job.

From his example, we learn that church workers don't avoid work. They stand up and step forward when there's work to be done. It is an oxymoron, then, for one to claim to be a church worker and not be actively engaged in the work of the local church. Showing up once or twice a week is not engagement. Epaphroditus had obviously shown himself to be faithful and committed to the local congregation at Philippi , serious about God's business and dependable in executing that business. That's the only reason that the local congregation would have selected him for this important task.

Notice also that his character for service did not change once he left Philippi . Paul says that Epaphroditus ministered to his wants, meaning that he tended to Paul's necessities. He did not decide that, because no one knew him at Rome , it was a good time to sit down and relax. Just as he had served at the congregation in Philippi, he served in the local work at Rome . Where there was a need, here was a man who rose to meet it. When Paul needed food, here was a man who would provide it. When Paul needed encouragement, here was a man who would provide it. When Paul needed a letter delivered, here was a man who would ensure that it got delivered. All of this because he was a church worker, willing and dependable in supporting the effort to advance the gospel in the particular location where he was.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 6
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

A Church Worker is Motivated by Sincere Love and Commitment
A church worker, then, is a Christian working cooperatively together with the Lord and His people, actively engaged as a soldier of Christ against Satan and sin, who willingly, dependably and consistently contributes to the work of the local congregation. Why was Epaphroditus so willing and so dependable and so consistent? Because of his love and commitment for the brethren. For everything else that a church worker is, for everything else that he does, one cannot lose sight of his motivation: sincere love and commitment for God's people. Paul says of Epaphroditus, “For he longed after you all, and was full of heaviness, because that ye had heard that he had been sick” (Phil. 2:26). The suggestion here is that Epaphroditus was in a continuing state of longing. The entire time that he was away from Philippi , he was wanting to get back to the saints there. This man loved the brethren at Philippi . He wanted to be with them more than he wanted to be with anyone.

When they were assembling for worship or to study God's word or otherwise edify themselves, Epaphroditus would have been there because he wanted to be there. He desired to be there. No one had to go looking for him. He was the one opening the building up so everyone could get inside on time, or else he was waiting on someone to come and open the door so that he could get inside on time. Paul says that he had to send Epaphroditus back because he longed for his brethren at Philippi . He longed to minster and work alongside them. This is proof of his love and commitment to them.

In this instance, his longing was multiplied because he was concerned about the well-being of the saints in Philippi . While he was in Rome , Epaphroditus became ill and nearly died. Notice that, when his own health was failing, his concern was, “How is what's happening to me affecting the congregation where I'm a member?” He had labored so long and so hard to strengthen and advance that work that he was truly a part of it even though he was physically absent. He knew that what happened to him affected everyone else. And, it concerned him that others were worrying about him. As soon as he was able, he wanted to show people that all was well with him so that they wouldn't be distracted from the work that they needed to do. A church worker himself, he didn't want others to be distracted from the work.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 7
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister

A Church Worker Values the Work Above His Own Life
So far, we have observed that, as a church worker, Epaphroditus was a Christian who worked cooperatively together with the Lord and His people, actively engaged as a soldier of Christ against Satan and sin, who, because of his sincere love and commitment for God's people, willingly, dependably and consistently contributed to the work of the local congregation. Finally, notice that he valued the Lord's harvest more than his own life. Paul says, “for the work of Christ he was nigh unto death, not regarding his life, to supply your lack of service toward me” (Phil. 2:29).

Maybe he was in poor health when he undertook the mission. Perhaps the trip was so arduous that he fell ill along the way. Maybe he was working himself to death while he was there with Paul. Either way, he was so committed and focused that he nearly died, and that willingly, trying to make up for the support that the Philippians had previously been unable to provide. Apparently, he agreed with Paul's sentiments, recorded in Acts 20:24: “neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.” This man was not concerned about losing a little sleep. He was not concerned about having to wait another hour to eat while he saw his commitment through. He did leave things undone so that someone else would take care of it.

Recreation was not more important to Epaphroditus than service to God. He wasn't just working his mouth, saying how important the work was, he was throwing all of himself into the work, thus demonstrating how important it was. The work was more important to him than was his physical life. Here was a man that was literally being faithful unto death that he might receive a crown of life (Rev. 2:10), even if it meant that he might die sooner than later in order to receive it. This man had almost literally given his life for the work of the Lord. The word translated “not regarding” means to boldly expose and put at risk. It doesn't mean that Epaphroditus didn't think about his life; it means that it's value was very low compared to the value of the work that he was doing.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 8
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

Prayerfully, the portrait is etched in your mind. Although the Bible doesn't say a great deal about Epaphroditus, we see both his character and action. Truly, he was the definition of a church worker: “a Christian who works cooperatively together with the Lord and His people, actively engaged as a soldier of Christ against Satan and sin, who, because of his sincere love and commitment for God's people, willingly, dependably and consistently contributes to the work of the local congregation, valuing the Lord's harvest above his own life.”

People like Epaphroditus are hard to find. People with his level of commitment are a shining example of how we are to live and labor in Christ. He contributed something significant to the Lord's church wherever he was. Any congregation that had Epaphroditus in its midst was stronger because of it. People of his ilk were a great asset to the first century church; and, they are a great asset to the twenty-first century church. We just need more of them, particularly men.

Unfortunately, church workers are not always fully appreciated when they are around; but they will always be missed when they are gone. In this case, a spiritual-minded man like Paul understood Epaphroditus' value before he left. That's why he begins verse Philippians 2:25 by saying, “Yet I supposed it necessary to send to you Epaphroditus.” In other words, “Under the circumstances, I feel that I have to send him back. I cannot say that I wanted to see him leave me but, under the circumstances, I felt obliged to send him to you.”

In verse 28, Paul says that “I sent him therefore the more carefully, that, when ye see him again, ye may rejoice, and that I may be the less sorrowful.” In other words, he was more diligent and quick to send Epaphroditus back to Philippi once he was able to travel again, even though he would have preferred to keep him around, because of his illness and their concern. Paul may not have been quite as quick to send Epaphroditus back otherwise. No one who recognizes the value of church workers wants to see one of them leave.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 9
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister 

The apostle encouraged the Philippian saints to recognize Epaphroditus' value and honor him accordingly. He actually instructed them on how to properly receive him. “Receive him therefore in the Lord with all gladness; and hold such in reputation” (Phil. 2:29a). Paul was essentially saying, “You should be happy to have a man like Epaphroditus in your midst and you should honor men like him while you have them.”

Because church workers are so valuable, because of their commitment to the Lord's church, because they support the work of others, because they stand on the front lines of spiritual warfare, they ought to be appreciated and treated with respect, not only after their days on the earth are done, but now, while we have them in our midst. In referring to elders, Also, 1 Thessalonians 5:13 says that we ought to esteem men very highly in love for their work's sake. Of course, the principal is applicable to anyone who does commendable works for the Lord. “Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Rom. 13:7).

For all that they do, for all of the sacrifices that they make, church workers like Epaphroditus are due great respect and honor. They should be valued. That's why, from time to time, individuals will be publicly commended for their service to the Lord and the congregation. That's why, from time to time, individuals will be given a plaque or a small celebration will be held to honor them. It's not because they are better liked than someone else; typically, it's because they work harder than most everyone else. It's because honor is due and we are to give honor to whom honor is due.

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“The Definition of a Church Worker” Phil. 2:25-30 Pt. 10
submitted by Melvin Otey, Asst. Minister

When one is honored, it doesn't that someone else's contributions are not important. No one was giving Epaphroditus a plaque when he was on his death bed in Rome serving Paul. But, we can be sure that Paul thanked him. We can be sure that Paul commended him, just as he did in this letter. Quite frankly, that is enough for a church worker because Christians don't labor to be recognized by man. We labor to store up treasure in heaven with God the Father (Matt. 6:19-20). Still, when we see folks working in the Lord's harvest, let's pat them on the back, thank them for their service, offer to lend a helping hand so that they don't kill themselves trying to serve everyone else.

That being said, we can all do a better job of being church workers ourselves. Some of us need to work more cooperatively. Some of us need to move to the forefront of the battle against Satan and sin. Some of us need to commit to laboring within the local congregation here while we are here, even though we may be from various places originally. Some of us need to grow in our understanding of what love and commitment really mean for Christians. Still others need to give spiritual labor its proper place ahead of anything else we can do in this lifetime, including taking another breath. If you recognize the areas where you need to improve, do not delay in repenting, praying about them, and bringing forth fruit meet for repentance.

If you don't know exactly what you need to do talk with your ministers and ministry leaders. Surely, they will be able to offer good and practical counsel. Offer to work alongside those whom you recognize as church workers. As you do so, your understanding of what God calls you to do and be will grow. Many times, experience is the best teacher. In any event, please don't sit idly by while the harvest surrounds us. Jesus said, “The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few; Pray ye therefore the Lord of the harvest, that he will send forth labourers into his harvest” (Matt. 9:37:38). Let us be sure that we are among those counted by the Lord as labourers.

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Are You Where You Want To Be?
submitted by Gene Cooper, Minister

Realizing 9 months of 2007 has passed us by and 3 months are ahead, now would be a good time to do some self examination. Are you where you want to be in life? Whatever your life is like, are you happy with it? If you could have projected ahead ten years ago, would this be what you wanted your life to become? If your life had to remain just as it is now, for the foreseeable future, would you be satisfied?

Probably, most of us would like to have done better with our lives than what we have done to this point. Probably, most of us would like to do better from here on. We can probably come up with all kinds of reasons. For some of us, relationships are not what we want them to be. For others, our financial picture is somewhat shakey. Some of us are not where we want to be in the job market. Still others of us have some health or physical concerns.

What about your spiritual life? Is it good, rewarding? Are you where you want to be spiritually? Are you confident of your eternal destiny? These are far more profound considerations than those previously mentioned. Again, most of us would probably like to be stronger spiritually than we are. Most of us would probably like to be more spiritually in tune with what God wants us to be. We would like for our spiritual lives to be better.

So, what are you going to do? Will you simply wish you could be stronger spiritually? Will you put it out of your mind and let another year go by without any spiritual growth? What will you do?

This is a great time to refocus. Make a commitment today to work on developing your spiritual life this coming year.
- Commit to being at church services every time they are scheduled that you can possibly make it (donʼt look for excuses to miss).
- Commit to reading the Bible through this year (just three chapters a day most days will do it).
- Give God credit by saying God more often.
- Make time to pray several times every day. Tell God you love Him.
- Purposefuly focus on your spiritual life every day.
- Commit to allowing your life to be directed and governed by spiritual values first. Try this approach to life for one year, and see if next year at this time you donʼt feel better about your life...
- Help a brother or sister in CHrist that is in need.
- Set a goal to win one soul within the next 3 months.
- Call an erring brother or sister today and ask them to come home.
- Mentor a brother or sister.
- Ask a youth, how their are doing in the Lord?
- Ask a senior saint for spiritual advice.

Are you where you want to be? What will you do about it?

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Upon What Are You Building?
submitted by Gene Cooper, Minister

In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus relates a lesson about two houses, which for all practical purposes are the same. The point of difference in Jesus' lesson is not found in the house or the elements that beat upon the house, but in what happened to the houses and why. The fact of the matter is the elements will come in some form or fashion. We will have those days of utter turmoil then we will have those days where things just can’t be any better. But during those tumultuous days, what is our house built upon? Let’s begin first and foremost with what the house is…

What is the house? The house is what constitutes the life of man. It is man's morals, heart, ambitions, seat of reason and conviction, and all that constitutes the life of man. As we build our house, our life may not seem all that much different from that of our neighbors, for both the joys and the sorrows of life fall upon the just and the unjust (Matthew 5:45). Both the wise and the foolish must deal with the natural affairs of the world. Because of this, we might reason that we are no different from the pagan. Yet, if our house is built upon the rock, we will find that when the rain descends, and the floods come, and the winds beat upon our house, it will stand..

The fool is he who does not discern that the sand, though presently peaceful, is not a permanent and sure foundation of life. To be wise, we must build our life upon the sure and solid foundation of Jesus.. What does it mean to build our house upon the rock? Jesus begins this parable by saying, "Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock." Building our house upon the rock, then, means hearing and doing the will of God. It is obedience. Obedience is doing WHAT God says. Obedience is doing ONLY what God says. Obedience is doing ONLY what God says and ONLY in the way God says to do it. Obedience is doing ALL that God says.

Let us remember, the works of the wise man and the works of the foolish. Upon what are you building?

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