9th December 2023

9th December 2023


Pray (ACts)


Read (Romans 16v1-2)


Message (Scott Woodburn)


In the ancient world it wasn't a straight forward matter to send a letter to your friends or family. You and I take the Post Office for granted and there are even many other options available to send your Christmas cards over the next few weeks - but not so for Paul. The letter to the Romans wasn't popped into a red pillar box but was delivered by hand and probably by a woman named Phoebe.


As chapter sixteen begins Paul "commends" Phoebe to the Romans. This would have been a common practice in the church with Christians who had to travel from city to city taking with them a letter of commendation from their own local fellowship. In this manner, known trouble makers or preachers of heresy couldn't easily move around without challenge.


Phoebe was no trouble maker but a servant of the church at Cenchreae (pronounced Sen-Kree-Ay). Cenchreae was a Greek city just a few miles away from Corinth and it was there that Phoebe served her Saviour. Paul describes Phoebe as a servant or "diakonos" in Greek and some use this verse as a battleground over whether or not there was/is a church office called deaconess. Whatever Phoebe's role did or did not entail, she was entrusted by Paul to take his letter to Rome. Indeed, the Apostle described her as a patron of both Paul and many others (v2b). From this we can infer that Phoebe supported Paul and others financially. She loved the Lord, she served His church and she opened her bank account to the cause of Christ.


It's no wonder that Paul urged the Romans to welcome Phoebe "in a way worthy of the saints" (v2a) and to give her all the help that she needed. Phoebe wasn't to travel around the city of Rome trying to find somewhere to sleep, she wasn't to go hungry in the city and she wasn't to deliver the letter and then start straight back to Cenchreae. The Romans were to love Phoebe, feed her, give her lodgings and to do all they possibly could to make her time away from home as pleasant as possible. This is the "way worthy of the saints" and it remains (or at least it should) the manner in which we are to greet brothers and sisters from the wider church. This is Gospel hospitality and I trust we practice it often.


Yet as I consider Phoebe I can't help but think of the Godly women who have been a tremendous blessing in my life and in the churches that I have called home. I remember one lady whose encouragement was constant and it made me feel ten foot tall. Another lady prayed for me consistently throughout the final years of her life. Yet another selflessly opened her purse in support of the Gospel. I'll not mention their names. Some are in glory whilst others continue to serve, but I praise God for the Phoebes' that I have known.


Even so, one lady in particular stands like a colossus in my life. She is the most godly women I have met and yet she would be embarrassed if I ever said that out loud. She is a woman of prayer and understands what most of us haven't discovered about that gift. She longs for men and women to be saved and encouragement is never far from her lips. She is an extraordinary woman and although her name is not Phoebe, she has been a servant of the Gospel throughout her life.


Brothers and sisters, encourage women like these. They are a blessing to the church and whilst we commend them in this life a far greater reward awaits for them in glory. "Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised." (Proverbs 31v30)


Pray (acTS)


Sing


WSC


Q11 What are God’s works of providence? God’s works of providence are, his most holy, wise, and powerful preserving and governing all his creatures, and all their actions.
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