Being An Advocate For Others Series

BEING AN ADVOCATE FOR OTHERS

Philemon 1:8-21

(Antioch Baptist Church: Sunday Morning, July 6th, 2025)

Listen online at - https://youtu.be/hA3T00nqTGM?feature=shared

It’s the kind of story that makes the news; a man who had set out on a mission to destroy a church unexpectedly came to faith in Christ and as a result of his spiritual transformation he joined with the members of the church he once sought to destroy and helped them rebuild.

I am not referencing one of the many arsonists or bombers that have been active in recent years; I am actually referring to the story of the Apostle Paul. The Book of Acts and the Epistles tell of how this man who was once the greatest adversary of the Church became one of its greatest advocates. Paul testified in Galatians 1:13 about his “former life in Judaism”, he declared that he “persecuted the church of God violently and tried to destroy it.”

Acts chapter 8 tells of how the actions of Saul and his allies persecuted the Church so violently that the followers of Christ were scattered abroad. Then Acts chapter 9 chronicles the amazing conversion of Saul on the Road to Damascus. From that point forward we see how Paul labors intensely to spread the gospel, build the Church, and advance the cause of Christ.

There are many dynamic moments where we see the Apostle preaching before vast crowds, making his defense before the Sanhedrin, and boldly confronting Governors, and even Kings. As impressive as those moments are, we must not overlook the amazing work that God did through Paul in the local church. Paul was actively involved in establishing and strengthening various assemblies of Christ followers.

Paul did not start the Church at Colossae, but the book of Philemon records the fact that he was certainly invested in his brothers and sisters who worshipped there.

I believe one of the most beautiful moments of Paul’s life and ministry is the advocating work that he performed on behalf of Onesimus. The Cambridge Dictionary defines being an advocate as “speaking for, supporting, or representing a person or group of people who need extra help or protection.”

I have had many advocates who have supported and encouraged me during my time walking with Jesus. In fact, even before I came to faith in Christ I had parents, grandparents, and other family members who went to the Savior on my behalf and prayed for my salvation. Those same people (along with many others in the local church) taught me the fundamentals of the Christian faith. When I surrendered to the call to preach there were several pastors and churches that allowed me to stand and speak in their pulpits when I really had no business doing so. During my almost two decades of vocational ministry I have been blessed with a host of Saints who invested in my life and there are many who are still doing so today.

If you are a follower of Jesus you have a similar testimony. You have had many advocates and I think that there is much biblical evidence that proves that we should be an advocate for others. I would like to look at what Paul did for Onesimus and preach on the subject “Being An Advocate For Others”.

The Book that we are studying is Paul’s personal correspondence to his friend Philemon, a leader in the Colossian Church; a church that met in his own home. Onesimus was a slave who belonged to Philemon and at some point ran away from him, eventually making his way to Rome. While there he encountered the Apostle Paul who was under house arrest. Paul led Onesimus to faith in Christ and for a period of time Onesimus served Paul. It is a safe assumption that during their time together Paul taught Onesimus the fundamentals of the faith and after some time Paul convinced Onesimus of the importance of returning to Philemon and seeking forgiveness and reconciliation.

Obviously this was not an easy task for Onesimus, he was a criminal and Philemon possessed the legal right to bring legal charges against him. However, Paul did not send Onesimus back to his master empty handed; The Apostle sat down and penned this intimate and beautiful letter where he acted as an advocate on behalf of his new brother in Christ.

Paul had every right to demand that Philemon forgive his runaway slave. He possessed apostolic authority and he absolutely could have appealed to the scriptures to prove that Onesimus should be forgiven. Philemon was a Christian and His Lord and Savior taught that “if you do not forgive others their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses” (Matthew 6:15). It was Jesus who said, “whenever you stand praying, forgive, if you have anything against anyone, so that your Father also who is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses” (Mark 11:25). Furthermore, Jesus told Peter that he was required to forgive his brother even if he sinned against him four hundred and ninety times (Matthew 18:21-22).