January 26, 2020
Morning Service

Philemon is a short letter written by the Apostle Paul during his first imprisonment (which was like house arrest).  He wrote it around the years of 61-62 AD to Philemon who lived in Colosse and hosted a church in his home.  He was a convert of Paul and possessed a strong and active faith that resulted in having a great reputation for living out what he believed.  He also was a slave owner and that is where the background to this story begins.  Slavery in this time was an accepted part of the culture.  Slavery was rarely for a lifetime as slaves could save money and buy their freedom which could also include Roman citizenship.  It was also common practice to sell yourselves into slavery for a period of time to pay a debt that you owed and could not pay.

            Onesimus had been a domestic slave of Philemon, but had ran away and possibly even stolen from him as well.  He fled to Rome where he crossed paths (no way by just coincidence) with the imprisoned Apostle Paul who led him to Christ.  A change occurred in his life and he became a great asset to Paul in his ministry there in Rome.  As some time passed, with good spiritual counsel, Paul had now convinced the now growing Jesus follower, Onesimus, that he must return and face his master and the problems he had run away from.  Paul wrote this letter not only to Philemon but to his family and the church within his home.  He knew this message needed to be heard by others as well.  This is a story of a young Christ follower owning up to his past and trying to make things right.  It is a story of his mentor who not only asks his friend’s master to forgive him, but to place all that he owes onto his account.  It is a story of a mature Christ follower being asked to forgive and embrace someone who has openly wronged him by putting his faith into action.  Have you ever been in one of these three positions?  Place yourself as Paul knowing Onesimus is profitable to you and asking him to return possibly even to a time of slavery and perhaps even death.  Think of the decision Onesimus had to make.  To truly place his faith in Christ meant he had to return and face up to and own the consequences for his mistakes.  Philemon was being placed on a stage to impact the whole community around him either in a positive or a negative way.  Life is about making some tough choices and when we are following Jesus we learn to fully trust and follow the bidding of the Holy Spirit and our heart.  The easy road is very rarely the path we must choose.  This is a story about us and becoming better together by making the tough choices in our own lives.

Phm. 1:1-7 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, (2) to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:  3) Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.  (4)  I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, (5) hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, (6) that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.  (7)  For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.

            Paul writes this not only to Philemon but he includes his family and his church in this letter.  It is very obvious that he considers Philemon a brother, friend and co follower of Jesus whom he prays for often.  In the description Paul gives it is obvious that he is active in his faith and is living out what he believes.  I think Paul has great confidence and in him trusts him enough to place him in the position to make a choice that will speak loudly to those around him.  Notice now how Paul does not assert his authority as an apostle, but pleads to Philemon as a brother to make the right choice voluntarily on his own.

 

 Phm 1:8-16 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, (9) yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you—being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ— (10) I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, (11) who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me.  (12)  I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, (13) whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel.  (14)  But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary.  (15)  For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, (16) no longer as a slave but more than a slave—a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

            As a spiritual leader Paul could have demanded that Philemon forgive Onesimus, but he does not do that. He instead makes the case for Philemon to make that choice voluntarily on his own.  It was more of the OT way to be pushed into obedience of the Law.  With the coming of the new and perfect covenant we are not forced to obey, but allowed to choose to.  God is very pleased when we display our love for Him through willful obedience not acting from being forced or out of a sense of duty or guilt.  We obey simply because we love and trust Him.  We have given Him our heart and we simply follow our heart.  Paul asks Philemon not only to forgive his former slave, but to now embrace him as a brother by his own choice; not just enough to get by but going above and beyond.  He mentions that Onesimus had “departed for a while for this purpose.”  Onesimus had been on a difficult journey that had included some very wrong choices but God had used them to fulfill a purpose; his salvation.  God loved him so much that He never gave up on him; just as He loves you as well.  Look at the difficult times God has led you through your life’s journey to bring you to where you are and now to wherever it is that He is leading you.  God has a way to take something ugly and make it beautiful.

 

Phm 1:17-22 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me.  (18)  But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.  (19)  I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay—not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides.  (20)  Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord.  (21)  Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say.  (22)  But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

            Paul displays his own faith in action as he willingly offers to place all that Onesimus owes Philemon onto his own account.  He paid a debt he did not owe for someone who was unable to pay it himself; does that sound familiar at all?  Jesus has done the same for “whosoever will believe” upon Him as Lord and Savior.  Paul here not only pleads for his brother, but “invests” in him showing true confidence that he believes in him and will go the extra mile to assure that he sticks to the path God has chosen for him.  Paul stand in the gap for his brother and willingly offers everything he can do to help him make things right.  Onesimus willingly chooses to obey Christ and humbly own up to his mistakes and seek forgiveness.  Philemon is placed in the spotlight in front of the church to make a choice from the heart that can impact many lives not only Onesimus’.  The central theme of this message could be forgiveness or even obedience.  I want to convey to you this morning that it is about choices.  Have the courage to choose to own up to your mistakes, stand up for a friend, and forgive even when it is hard.  In making those choices we glorify our Savior and that makes all of us better.  The ability and courage to make those tough choices comes from our relationship with our Savior.  We trust Him with all our heart and will follow Him wherever He leads us; even if the choice is difficult we will choose to follow.  Put God first in the choices you make and He will bless you more than you deserve.

 

Heavenly Father, our trust is in You to lead, guide and direct our path.  Please grant to us the courage and faith we need to follow.