CHRISTIAN LIFE, A DESIGN TO HELP OTHERS
Philemon 4-25
V:4 I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints. 6 I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.
At the time of the writing of this letter, Paul was a prisoner in Rome. He was there by
divine declaration. God used the hatred of the Jewish leaders for the Church of
Jesus Christ which Paul an apostle was a minister. Paul was imprisoned first in Jerusalem for the teaching of the Gospel. He appeals to Caesar in Rome to present his
case of innocence.
The Church in Colossae and Laodicea was established by converts of Paul after he
taught the Gospel in Ephesus. The Church at Colossae was held in the home of
Philemon. Onesimus was a slave of Philemon who ran away to Rome.
The trip to Rome was about 1200 miles partly on land and partly by sea. Assuming
12 miles per day, it would have taken 3 months to get from Colossae to Rome.
The question is how did Philemon, a slave get to know Paul? Why did a slave go
to a Roman jail? Onesimus was in debt to Philemon by theft or a loan he couldn't
pay. Where did Onesimus get the money to travel to Rome?
God does not tell us, but He made a way for Onesimus to to get to Rome and become
a servant of Paul. Onesimus served Paul long enough to become converted to
Christianity and convicted of the wrong he had done and to return to Philemon.
We have two men, one who did well with talents God blessed him with and one
who fell on hard times. One who became a lender and one who became a borrower.
Both men made their way to Christ. The road to redemption takes different paths
for different people. Those who have been redeemed, owe a debt to Christ to help
those who are in the process of being redeemed.
God has a plan of redemption for each believer. The name Philemon means
one who kisses or is affectionate. The name Onesimus means useful or profitable.
We all need each other. The affectionate one needs the useful
one.
The useful one needs affectation. God places us in positions where we
recognize and use our gifts.
Paul prayed for the usefulness of the faith of the believers. Faith and love are
action words. Faith is driven by love and love is driven by faith. We were not
placed on earth to benefit ourselves. We were placed to benefit others. A life in
Christ is manifested in how we serve others in the name of the Lord.
FORGIVENESS THE EVIDENCE OF CHANGE
V:8 Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9 yet I appeal to you based on love. I then, as Paul — an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus — 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
Onesimus' escape to Rome was a setup for Philimon's spiritual growth. It was the start
of Onesimus' conversion to Christianity. Whatever we lack in spiritual growth, God has a
plan to strengthen us. Onesimus was trained in the Gospel under the Apostle Paul and became a trusted servant of Jesus. Paul knew Onesimus would not be free until he faced and made amends with Philemon.
Paul interceded for Onesimus by appealing to the faith and love of Philemon.
Many times we hold grudges and seek revenge for the wrongs done to us disregarding
the wrongs we did to Christ and his forgiveness of our sins. We judge others by
standards we refuse to live up to.
Paul considered Onesimus his son by way of his faith in Jesus Christ. Once a slave
by man, but freed in Christ Jesus. Once useless to man, but became useful to Christ as a
testimony to the Gospel. His conversion, like ours, included spiritual gifts and talents
useful to the ministry of Jesus Christ.
RECONCILIATION, A KEY TO UNITY
V:12 I am sending him — who is my very heart — back to you. 13 I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16 no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.
No one should keep what does not belong to them, no matter how it was obtained,
Onesimus came to Rome, a fugitive from his owner, broke, irresponsible, and perhaps
in fear, and attached himself to Paul. It is believed that Paul was under house arrest
and lived in a rented apartment called the Insula Of The Ara Coeli for two years
during his first imprisonment 2 Timonty 1:17. After his conversion, Onesimus became valuable to Paul as a servant.
We are not sure when Paul found out that Onesimus was a runaway slave. But
when he did, he knew it was best to send him back with high recommendations.
Paul considered Onesimus more than a servant but his son. Paul encouraged
Philimon to considers him a brother in the Lord and not a slave. It takes a humble
spirit to forgive the wrongs of others and start a new relationship with the Lord.
WE ARE PARTNERS IN THE GOSPEL OF JESUS
V:17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back — not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. (Acts 28:30-31)
Paul a leader, a preacher, and a dear friend made his request known to Philemon
with the confidence that he would do as he asked. There are times when we have to
put the past behind us to profit the Gospel in obedience to Jesus Christ. Since all believers are partners in Jesus, there can be no unity of purpose if there is no peace in our hearts. To love, we have to see the person and not his past. We can’t see the person
if we are blinded by our own sins.
Jesus overlooked our sins and died while we were His enemy. He nailed our sins
to the cross and cleaned us with His blood. We owe the same forgiveness to others,
especially our brothers and sisters in Christ. Onesimus' escape became Philimon's
spiritual growth. The Apostle Paul became a counselor to both.
God uses others who cause us pain to grow us in Love. We are no longer slaves of
sin, but free in Jesus Christ and His brothers and sisters. We owe Jesus the same love
He shows us daily.
HOPE FOR TOMORROW
V:22 And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24 And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers.
25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
Your situation may be bad and beyond human help, but we serve a God which is our hope. Our hope is a God that answers our prayers according to His will for our lives.
Does hope work according to the prayers of others? The Apostle Paul was confident
it did. Throughout the New Testament, we find examples of individual prayers working
for the benefit of others. Four men cut a hole in the roof of a house and dropped their
friend on a mat down in front of Jesus.
Mark 2:5
When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, "Son, your sins are forgiven."
We owe a debt to those who serve the Lord to pray for their well-being. We all
stand on the prayers of family and friends and unknown Christians who pray for
our well-being. When requested we ought to provide resources and comfort
to other servants for the sake of the Gospel.
Rev. M. Mitchell
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