Praying Paul's Letters: Lesson 3

Pastor’s Bible Class

Thomas Road Baptist Church

Praying Paul’s Letters

Dr. Elmer L. Towns

Lesson 3

March 9, 2008

A. WHAT LETTERS MEAN

1. Tremendous cost. Pony Express.

2. Death. Civil War secrets.

3. Authority. The king’s seal.

4. Sentimental. Read a love letter two dozen times.

5. Monetary. Today’s copy of John Wesley letter.

6. Dear John. Discouraging.

7. Intercepted. The prince of Persia withstood 21 days.

8. Lost. Waiting for a check in the mail.

B. WHY PAUL WROTE EPHESIANS

1. Wrote from the richest and most powerful city, i.e., Rome.

2. The theme of Ephesians; The wealth, walk, and warfare of believers.

3. The great theme of our wealth comes from Jesus promise. “Ye in Me, and I in you” (John 14:20).

a. “I in you” means Christ indwells us. “That Christ may dwell in your heart by faith” (3:17).

b. “Ye in Me” means our position in Christ in His exalted place before the Father. “Raised us up together and made us sit together in heavenly places in Christ Jesus” (2:6).

4. Paul gave a compelling reason to live holy. “Walk worthy of the vocation wherewith you are called” (4:1).

5. Paul warned. “We are fighting . . . against persons without bodies – the evil rulers of the unseen world, those mighty satanic beings are great evil princes of darkness . . . against huge numbers of wicked spirits” (6:12, LB).

6. No complaints or corrections mentioned in this letter.

7. A teaching letter. “When this epistle is read among you, cause it to be read also in the church of the Laodiceans . . . read the epistle from Laodiceans” (Col. 4:16).

C. WHY PAUL WROTE I THESSALONIANS

1. Paul commends them. “You become followers of us and the Lord” (1:6). “You become an example” (1:7, LB). “The Word of the Lord has spread out from you to others everywhere” (1:8, LB).

2. Paul challenges them to discipline and holiness. “Possess his vessel” (4:4). “God hath not called us to uncleanness, but unto holiness” (4:7).

a. Decide to be sexually pure. “Abstain from fornication” (4:3).

b. Learn self control. “Possess his vessel” (4:4).

c. Establish standards. “No man goes beyond” (4:6).

3. Paul taught them about the rapture, but some had died. “I want you to know what happens to a Christian when he dies . . . so you will not be full of sorrow” (4:13, LB).

a. When Jesus arose, Christians were in Him (4:14).

b. At death, Christian spirits go to be with the Lord (II Cor. 5:8).

c. Dead Christian’s bodies will sleep in the earth (4:14).

d. The Lord will descend with a shout (4:16).

e. The dead will rise first (4:16).

f. Next live Christians will be caught up i.e., rapture (4:17).

g. Both will live forever with the Lord (4:17).

D. WHY PAUL WROTE PHILEMON

1. Paul wrote to a rich slave owner in Colosse about his slave Onesimus who had robbed him and ran away to Rome. Paul met him in Rome, led Onesimus to Christ and now was doing “house work” for Paul.

2. Paul had led Philemon to Christ (v. 19).

3. Paul encountered Onesimus in Rome and led him to Christ. “Whom I have begotten in my bonds” (v. 10).

4. The letter asked Philemon to take him back.

a. Onesimus had been serving Paul (v. 13).

b. Paul wanted to keep him (v. 14).

c. Paul wants Philemon to forgive Onesimus (v. 15).

d. Reminds Philemon that Onesimus in now profitable (v. 11).

e. Paul will pay for lost items (v. 14).

f. Paul asks to receive Onesimus as me (v. 17).

5. A picture of our redemption. We are Onesimus who has robbed the Father and ran away into sin. Paul is a picture of Christ who asks forgiveness for us, and pays the sin debt to the Father. We now have the privilege of serving Christ.

If you have never really accepted Jesus as your personal Savior, would you do it right now? Do not delay or put it off. If you would like to receive Christ by faith, pray this simple prayer in your heart:

Dear Lord, I acknowledge that I am a sinner. I believe Jesus died for my sins on the cross, and rose again the third day. I repent of my sins. By faith I receive the Lord Jesus as my Savior. You promised to save me, and I believe You, because You are God and cannot lie. I believe right now that the Lord Jesus is my personal Savior, and that all my sins are forgiven through His precious blood. I thank You, dear Lord, for saving me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

If you prayed that prayer, God heard you and saved you. I personally want to welcome you to the family of God and rejoice with you.