Apostle Paul regarded Epaphroditus as his brother, fellow worker, and fellow soldier, the person sent from the church in Philippi to minister to Paul’s needs. Epaphroditus was longing for his friends in Philippi and was upset because they had heard of his serious illness. Epaphroditus had nearly died. Epaphroditus was blessed with the mercy of God extended to Epaphroditus, and also to Paul so that he would not be burdened with a new sorrow in addition to the troubles he had already. Paul was eager to send Epaphroditus back to his friends in Philippi. In order to set his own mind at ease concerning the anxiety of the Philippians over the welfare of Epaphroditus. Notice the attitude of Paul toward Divine healing. Some who are teaching Divine healing today are very zealous. They would have us believe that if someone is not healed it is the fault of the sick individual, and also of those who pray for him or her. Divine healing has become a religious magic and obligation instead of a sign of the validity of the Gospel or a blessing that often accompanies our growth in the Lord. The Scriptures do not support the view that if someone is not healed immediately it is because they or we are not doing God’s will. We must learn to be patient with God and to allow Him to work with us. We cannot force healing by exercising human faith. The writer has been healed supernaturally several times, but never by attempting to produce healing through his own ability to believe. Divine healing comes to those who are serving the Lord. Consistent, diligent discipleship is more apt to obtain healing than a sudden attempt to exercise faith. The Lord heals the righteous in His time and in His way (Exodus 15:26 NIV He said, “If you listen carefully to the Lord your God and do what is right in his eyes, if you pay attention to his commands and keep all his decrees, I will not bring on you any of the diseases I brought on the Egyptians, for I am the Lord, who heals you.”).(Psalms 18:19 NIV, He brought me out into a spacious place; he rescued me because he delighted in me.).
“ God delights in His children. If we will be diligent to keep the Word of the Lord, He shall heal us. The emphasis is upon a consistent, holy walk before Him. This is not to embrace or encourage the doctrine that if we are sick it is God’s will. We are to pray repeatedly, as Paul did, that the Lord remove sickness from us. Only when we have heard from the Lord that the affliction is from Him are we to cease beseeching the Lord and accept that He is showing His strength through our weakness. People who do not ask may not obtain healing! Divine healing comes to us as we place our trust in God’s Word, asking Him repeatedly (as necessary) to heal us, meanwhile loving and worshiping Him. We have faith that God will heal us, but we do not achieve that healing by seeking to manipulate the spirit realm by our “faith.” In this episode concerning Epaphroditus, Paul reveals that Divine healing comes to us in line with the Father’s will, not by our attempt to exercise “faith.” Epaphroditus recovered because God in His love showed mercy toward him, and also toward Paul. Attempts to perform miracles in the physical realm through “faith,” apart from a life of cross-carrying obedience to Christ and a sense of the Lord’s leading and timing, have no place in the Kingdom of God. The saints in Philippi excepted Epaphroditus on his return home with all joy in the Lord. The church held Epaphroditus, with honor and they did as well with others who deserved honor in the Lord. By disregarding his own life in his efforts to give help to Paul that the Philippian Church was not able to provide. Epaphroditus demonstrated his character and love for Jesus.