The Problem Of Trouble 09/06/2020

Grace and peace to you in the name of the Father the Son and the Holy Spirit. I thank God for you and this opportunity He has given to me to share His word with you.Lord God I ask that you be with me, lead me guide me that I may say to your people that which you will have meto

When trouble comes it is often unexpected, when trouble comes we become worried and don’t know what to do. Sometimes God allows trouble to come into our lives for the better. We may not see it right away but eventually, we will.

Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker — also to Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier —and to the church that meets in your home:
Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
Thanksgiving and Prayer
I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord’s people.
Paul’s Plea for Onesimus
Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. It is as none other than Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— that I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.
I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 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. But I did not want to do anything without your consent so that any favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary. Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 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 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.
And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.
Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.
The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit (Philemon 1-25)

Greetings 1-3

Paul chose to refer to himself as a prisoner of Christ instead of being an apostle. Paul is reminding us that freedom is not an absolute right or necessity, without it people cannot fulfill their proper destiny. Because Paul was in Chains He was able to relate to Onesimus when telling Him He must give up his freedom and go back home. Paul greeted in his letter Philemon, his wife Apphia, and his son Archippus and to the church. By addressing this letter to all these people means that this was an open letter to be read to all. The subject matter had to be dealt with as a matter of the heart. Including to the Church that met in Philemon’s house. It was very necessary that his letter which was carefully constructed to be  read to all.

Prayer 4-7

Philemon was a man of great wealth who while away from home on a business trip heard Paul’s preaching and came to know Jesus in a saving relationship. Philemon was Paul’s Son in the faith because it was Paul that lead him to Christ and taught him for his ministry in the faith. Philemon became well known for his work in the church and his generosity among the people in the church. He was well known for his love of Christ. He also Had great love for Paul and admired him. Paul also knew and loved Philemon. Paul’s prayer was based on love which was developed through knowledge, knowledge that we were all in need of reconciliation. Paul knew that in order for us to have full reconciliation with God we need Jesus Christ. Just the same Paul knew that in order for men to have reconciliation with one another we need Jesus Christ. This is love in action.

Onesimus was a runaway slave who had stolen from His owner, Philemon and ran away. So he was a wanted fugitive on the run. Onesimus was not considered as a very good slave, he was unprofitable and useless as a slave.While he was on the run he was drawn to Paul perhaps because he knew how much Philemon admired Paul, When he was in need he went to Paul. Paul eventually brought Onesimus to Christ and He was also saved. Onesimus also became a son to Paul in the faith. Now Paul was the spiritual father to the slave and the slave owner. Onesimus went into service helping Paul. Once Paul found out that Onesimus was a slave owned by Philemon he knew that the only and right thing to do was for Onesimus to return to Philemon. Even though Paul wants to Keep Him in his service.

The Appeal 8-21

Paul’s appeal was not based on his apostolic authority, It was based on Love. Paul chose to use the love factor instead of his authority to order the outcome he desired.  Paul referred to Onesimus as his child, That He became his child while he was in chains a prisoner in Rome. While he was in prison Onesimus became very useful to him. He told Philemon that  formerly  Onesimus was useless to him but now he has become useful to us both.

Paul expressed his great love for Onesimus and how He would like to keep him so that he could take Philemon place to help him while he is in chains for the work of the gospel. Paul said but I don’t want to do anything without your permission, Paul didn’t want any favor done by Philemon to seem like one that was forced. Then Paul pointed out to Philemon that the reason he was separated from you might be so that you can have him back no longer as a slave but better than a slave, as a brother a fellow laborer, and a friend.

Paul said to him if you consider me as a partner then welcome him as you would me. If He Owes you anything Charge it to me I will repay. Not to mention that you yourself owe me. Paul is saying that what is important here is our relationship with Christ. Christ paid our debt and forgave us our debt to Him at the same time. Even though you owe me I don’t want that to be the basis of your decision, But our love for one another in Christ. That should take precedence. I would be proud that because of the teaching you have received from me become profitable for me in the Lord. I know that you are a good brother and that you will do even more than I asked.
We all need to open our hearts to reconciling our differences with our brothers and sisters in Jesus Christ. When others harm Us to and we become angry, God said don’t let the sun go down on your anger. Don’t carry that anger it will only harm you. Go to the Lord ask him to remove this anger from your heart, forgive your brother, your friend because of what Christ has done for you to reconcile you with God and gave you eternal life.
If you don’t know God concerning your sin this message is also for you. For God so loved the world that He gave his only begotten Son, so that whosoever believe in Him shall not perish but shall have ever lasting life (John 3:16)
For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:
But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.(Matt 6:14,15), Believe in Jesus and trust God today. Amen. Thank you Jesus.

God Bless You.