Wednesday – 1/29/2014

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Speakers:

• Robin Atherton
• Ann Eutsler
• Megan Atherton

Scriptures used:

• Philemon 1
• Matthew 18:21-35

Subject:

• This is a great book of exortation.  Every word spoken to Philemon exhorts Philemon to good things in Christ Jesus.
• It starts out “a prisoner of Jesus Christ”, a bond slave of his own free will to Jesus Christ is writing to Philemon who was an owner of a slave Onesimus.
• Paul is a slave to the Lord by choice and His will has chosen to walk in that.
• This is a letter from Paul and Timothy to Philemon, laboring in the same gospel.
• Tradition believes that Apphia and Archippus are wife and son of Philemon.
• Paul extends grace and peace to them, as an apostle of the Lord he is able to do this because of his position of Apostle.
• He mentions always having him in his prayers.
• Our service to God is our service to others.
• The commandments that the Lord gave is testified that Philemon is doing these things yet Paul’s prayer for Philemon is that it MAY become effectual, in spite of all the testimonies he has of Philemons walk with the Lord.
• A word from your authority acknowledging that they know you will do the right thing is sometimes an encouragement that enables you to go forward and do what is right, where you may have thought yourself not able to do so but because of the encouragement you can.  It is a great exhortation.
• Exhortation is also that we call one another forward in doing those things that we are to do in spite of how we feel about it.
• Bowels as mentioned in this chapter means heart.
• Fellowship is food for the soul.
• Philemon is being exhorted to have a right expectation toward Onesimus.
• The love mentioned in this chapter is yet again about Agape love.
• He is asked to receive him as if it was Paul.
• A runaway slave was not necessarily a joyful time, there was a punishment involved.
• We might not have slaves who run away and have done us wrong, but all of us have wronged others and been wronged and yet it’s not something to hold against a person.  Paul says in Philemon 1 verse 15  “For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;”.
• It’s a big deal for him to have gone back because sometimes the punishment was death.  It’s courage and obedience that he was walking in to go back.
• In Christ they are equals, they are brothers in the Lord.  If you are in agreement with me in Christ Jesus, receive him as you would me.
• It is possible that he stole from him and yet Paul says he will repay it.  Philemon owes Paul his life, as we owe those who lead us to Jesus our lives.
• Anything we hold against another is nothing when compared with what the Lord has forgiven us from, our sin.
• We need to forgive and move on, don’t hold it against another person.
• Refreshing his heart in the Lord is to set it at ease, because of the situation and the hope of what it will be … it will be a place for him to be more than Paul says.  He has a confidence in that.
• Grace covers sin and that’s what we all have to stand in because we are all sinners and that’s what gives us the right and ability to go forward in Him rather than being beholden to our flesh.
• Matthew 18 reminds us how we should treat others.  v21 Then came Peter to him, and said, Lord, how oft shall my brother sin against me, and I forgive him? till seven times?  22  Jesus saith unto him, I say not unto thee, Until seven times: but, Until seventy times seven.
• The Lord forgives, we too need to forgive truly and fully.