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We want to begin today by reading from Paul’s letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 2:19-30

 

When you take a look around at what the world considers to be religious people, you will find a lot of frauds. Benny Hinn claims he can do miracles. People selling things claiming they are religious items. People claiming that they will pray for you and God will make you rich if you only send THEM a donation. The only ones getting rich are the frauds. These kinds of things have led many people who don’t know the difference to feel that  all religion consists of fraud, fear, greed, imagination, and poetry.

 

Fraud, religious scams, false teachers, false prophets, religious hucksters, charlatans, and imposters have tried to benefit and take advantage of religion for their personal gain since the beginning of time. That is true today and it was true when the New Testament was being written. Paul wrote about it in his letter to the Philippians.

Philippians 1: 17

 

Paul says that some were proclaiming Christ out of selfish ambition, rather than pure motives. All one has to do to see that they remain even today is look at Joel Osteen. We can also see that frauds are not only mentioned in Philippians, but in Galatians. 

Galatians 1: 6 - 7

 

He says that there were people in those days who were preaching a different gospel which was really not a gospel at all. We are even shown several examples of frauds, hucksters, and con-men in Acts. 

 

Paul encountered a slave-girl with a spirit of divination who was bringing her masters a huge profit by fortune telling. 

Acts 16: 16 - 18

 

We can even see the record of the seven sons of Sceva, who were trying to perform an exorcism. 

Acts 19: 13 - 16

 

And let’s not forget Simon the sorcerer, who was astonishing the people with his magic and who tried to buy the power of the Holy Spirit so he could perform real miracles. 

Acts 8: 9 - 19

 

There have always been imposters, and scam artists, and religious hucksters, and false teachers and prophets. Sadly many congregations of God’s people and many individuals have been lied to and deceived. Many have had their money stolen by some of these frauds who call themselves Christians. 

 

That same thing was happening when Paul wrote what he did in the opening passage we read from Philippians. In that passage we read are some guidelines that Paul sets forth that can keep that from happening to us today. Let’s take a look at those guidelines. 

 

Now, keep in mind that Paul is in prison in Rome, and he is concerned about the church in Philippi. In vs. 19 he wants to know about the church’s “condition” and in vs. 28 he expressly states that he is “concerned” about them. So for his own encouragement, and for his own peace of mind, Paul plans to send two men, Timothy and Epaphroditus, to encourage the brethren in Philippi. 

 

In order to reassure those brethren that Timothy and Epaphroditus were legitimate and that they were trustworthy, credible, and not just a couple of religious hucksters and imposters, and that they are not there to cause any trouble,  Paul gives his endorsement of these two. In doing this he gives us some important guidelines to keep us today from being deceived by some who are out for their own personal gain as well. 

 

These are excellent guidelines to follow when it comes to selecting a preacher, or elders, or deacons, or teachers. The reality is that the things Paul mentions here are qualities that each one of us should strive to possess. 

 

So let’s review what we read earlier.

Philippians 2: 19 - 22

 

There are two things here that will protect us as a congregation and protect you individually from those who are imposters and the first one is to check their references. Who is endorsing them? How credible is their endorsement? In this passage Paul is endorsing these two men and he has proven himself to these brethren. Paul’s endorsement legitimizes these men. 

 

I think it is interesting that before we have our car worked on, we want references. Who does good work? Who can we trust? We do the same with a plumber, or an electrician. We even do it with a doctor. So when it comes to the most important aspect of our lives, when it comes to the Lord’s church and our goal to gain the ultimate prize, shouldn’t we do the same? 

 

Before you give your money to anyone, before you hire someone, before you install someone to serve the congregation as an elder or a preacher or a deacon, or before you support a preacher, always check out their references. Who is it that is endorsing them? 

 

The second thing Paul says here is that Timothy would be genuinely concerned for their welfare. He also says that some people seek after their own interests, not those of Jesus.

Paul was concerned for these Christians in Philippi. The only one he could send was Timothy because everyone else was too busy or too afraid. It wasn’t always safe to be a Christian in the Roman Empire. However, Timothy was more concerned with the cause of Christ and with the welfare of God’s people than he was his own well-being. 

 

These people had their problems. There was persecution, mockery, and internal conflict. Some of them were coming out of pagan religions. Timothy would be there to help these people to grow in their faith and to hold firm to Christ in spite of the difficulties. His work in Philippi was not going to just be for his own advancement. He wasn’t going to use them to make a name for himself. He wasn’t going to use them as nothing more than a stepping stone to move to a more prominent position. He wasn’t going to use them to sell his books. He wasn’t using them to make a move into politics. He wasn’t using them to further his education, or pad his bank account. 

 

Timothy would have a genuine concern for the people and he would seek after their interests and not his own. Contrast that to someone like the televangelists of today. People like Creflo Dollar, Joel Osteen, and Benny Hinn. These are both individuals who are only out for themselves. 

 

The second guideline that Paul gives us to look for here is to find out how sincere they are in their concern for the congregation and for the people. Find out if they are only interested in themselves. He shows how Timothy is the answer to these concerns.  Look back at verse 22. Here Paul says that they know of his proven worth. They know that he served with Paul in spreading the gospel like a child serving his father.

 

The third guideline to protect us from imposters and hucksters is to find out what they have done in the past. Find out their history.  Paul says that Timothy has proven worth. He has proven himself in the furtherance of the gospel. 

 

Sadly, not everyone is who they appear to be and the only way you can find that out is by checking their background and finding out about their past. 

 

Paul is basically saying to check their references. Now look at what he says in verse 25.

Philippians 2: 25 

 

We see three things here. First, Paul says that Epaphroditus is his brother. This may be one of the first considerations when determining a man’s credibility. Is he a “brother in Christ?” Is he a brother in the faith? Has he been baptized? 

 

If he has not obeyed the commandments of Christ and been baptized into Christ then he is not united with you in faith. He is not a brother. Therefore he is not in fellowship with Christ or with you. 

 

Next, if he is not honest with the word of God he is not to be trusted. Paul says that Epaphroditus is his fellow worker. Epaphroditus was locked into the same yoke as Paul and pulled the same direction as Paul was pulling. Paul says he was a worker. The question that should be asked of an individual is the same one. Is he a worker? Is he going to pull the same direction as those who are serving Christ or is he going to be a hindrance? 

One individual pulling the wrong direction can hinder a congregation’s work. 

 

And then Paul says that Epaphroditus is his fellow-soldier. He was a companion in arms. He was a warrior. He was one who, in the face of many foes, would obey his Master’s commands. He was one who would stand his post even in the face of suffering. 

 

He was one who would not entangle himself in the everyday affairs of life, and who would strive to please the one who enlisted him as a soldier. Paul says that Epaphroditus is one who stands shoulder to shoulder with him in the ongoing battle for the gospel of Christ. No matter how hard the battle may be, he doesn’t run away. 

 

To sum up what Paul says here about Epaphroditus, when determining a man’s credibility we should first ask if he is a “brother in Christ”. Then is he a worker, willing to work with others, pulling in the same direction, and when the going gets tough, will he stand his post? 

 

You cannot always tell by someone’s appearance if they are sincere, honest, and credible. Today, just like it was when Paul wrote this letter to the Philippians, there are those who are imposters, hucksters, and deceivers who will take advantage of the kindness, compassion, and generosity of Christians. Congregations have been fractured by such individuals.

Members have been scammed out of large amounts of money by these con-men. 

 

For our protection Paul says to check their references. See if their concern for the congregation is sincere? Are they only serving their own interests? What have they done in the past? How willing are they to serve? Are they obedient and respectful and committed to the furtherance of the gospel? Are they a brother in Christ? Will they work? Will they work with others? And will they be good soldiers? 

 

Avoid all the religious hucksters, scammers, and frauds. All they care about is helping themselves.