Coming through in the Clutch

“I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity” (Philippians 4:10).

There are a handful of legendary athletes who’ve earned a rep for coming through in the clutch. When their team needs a big bucket, a big hit, or a big play, they always seem to deliver. Michael Jordan drained one game-winner after another. John Elway had a stranglehold on fourth quarter comebacks. They didn’t call Reggie Jackson “Mr. October” because he loved Halloween. Timing is everything. Big players come through in big moments. 

Paul is absolutely stoked at the clutch performance by the Philippians. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly that now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had no opportunity” (v10). The apostle’s been in the slammer for about five years. He’s not sure when he’s getting out. Things were looking grim. With everything on the line, Jesus uses His church in Philippi to come through in a big way. When the opportunity to help Paul knocked, they answered. They came through in crunch time. You see, timing is everything. Big players come through in big moments.

If you’re just joining us, Paul’s joy in the joint might seem more than a bit bizarre. He drops a baker’s dozen of delight in this letter (Phil 1:3, 18 [twice], 1:25; 2:17, 18, 28, 29; 3:1; 4:1, 4 [twice], 10). The apostle’s pen oozes with joy and it happens one last time here. “I rejoiced in the Lord greatly” (v10). He may be behind bars and behind the eight ball, but he certainly hasn’t given up. In this last mention of his happiness in God, he amps it to the max by using the Greek word megalos. Sounds a lot like some sort of giant creature that attacked Tokyo in a bad sci-fi flick, doesn’t it? It actually means intensely, abundantly, and describes the upper range of the extent. You can literally translate this phrase as “I’m mega-joyful in the Lord” (v10). His joy is maxed out. Or in the words the boys of Spinal Tap, his joy goes to 11. 

What’s got Paul’s joy so jacked? It’s because Jesus has used his funky little church in Philippi to come through for him in the clutch. “Now at length you have revived your concern for me. You were indeed concerned for me, but you had not opportunity” (v10). Don’t make the mistake of thinking his friends forgot all about him for a while and suddenly remembered to give him a shout. Oh my gosh! We’ve really dropped the ball with Paul!! He probably thinks he’s fallen off our radar! Couldn’t be farther from the truth. They’ve never stopped praying for him (Phil 1:19). They’ve never stopped thinking about him (Phil 1:7). They’ve never stopped looking for ways to do something for him.

But because the Philippians are locked and loaded to help Paul, they pull the trigger when given the chance. He describes their concern for him as “revived” (v10). This is the Greek word anathallo, which means to become active again, flourish once more, bloom again. The term literally describes how plants sprout and grow quickly in the springtime. Your garden goes dormant in winter but it doesn’t die. The plants wait for warmer weather and the opportunity to turn green and blossom. Same with the Philippians intense attention on the one God used to originally plant their church. They waited and waited for the right time, wanting to do something for the apostle, like an athlete looking to make a big play in crunch time.

So what exactly have the Philippians done in the clutch to help Paul in prison? Have they helped him cook up an elaborate escape plan to spring him from the slammer? Has somebody baked him a cake with a file in it? No, instead of trying to bust him out, they’ve sent their boy Epaphroditus to be with him (Phil 2:25). The Big E didn’t arrive empty handed. He brought an important care package that Paul calls “a fragrant offering, a sacrifice accepted and pleasing to God” (Phil 4:18). It’s not like Epaphroditus could catch the next Southwest flight from Philippi to Rome either. This trip is 700 miles if going by boat and almost 1,200 miles on land. Just getting there is an adventure. That might explain why the fellow from Philippi got sick and nearly died (Phil 2:27-30)! Throw in the fact that first century prisons are nothing like correctional institutions in 21st century America. No libraries. No weightlifting. Not even any meals. Just a dungeon. If you expect to survive for any length of time, you desperately need outside help. Apparently, this help in the form of Epaphroditus arrived at just the right time. 

You may be wondering what some ancient prison visit has to do with you and me. Oh, I am SO glad you asked! Who’s on your heart? Who needs your help? Who has God placed in your life and put on your mind who’s desperate for an act of grace? Maybe they’ve just been downsized in their career. Maybe their spouse has just ditched them for a newer model. Has bankruptcy blindsided a buddy? They could be standing over the fresh grave of a lost loved one. Is someone close to you aching for a conversation with their estranged child? I may think I’m totally unqualified for Jesus to use me to help. But I would be wrong. In one of his letters to the church in Corinth, Paul writes that God helps us through our mess so that we can pass along that same help to others in their mess (2Cor 1:3-5). 

Maybe you’re not in a position to make the big play right now. In sports, someone who’s not in the game can’t hit the shot or carry the ball. First of all, you’ve got to get in the game! Following Jesus isn’t a spectator sport. Get out of the luxury box and onto the field. God doesn’t need you but your family, friends, and neighbors do. Secondly, even once your in the game, you may not immediately have the chance to make the big play. For instance, you can’t knock down the game-winning bucket if you don’t have the ball. You can’t get the clutch hit when you’re not at the plate. Until then, be ready. Look for your chance. 

The timing has to be right. When opportunity does knock, make a big play. God made THE greatest clutch play of all-time when He sent His Son to save you and me in “the fullness of time” (Gal 4:4). Talk about coming through in crunch time! He did for us what we could never do for ourselves. At the end of the game, Jesus pointed to the scoreboard. “It is finished!” (Jn 19:30). He wins it for you and me in a walk off. Now we have the honor and privilege of being used by Christ in crunch time. Big players come through in big moments.