1. IT’S TRUE. God can take the hardest, the toughest, the meanest, and the most difficult person and transform them.
• One day they’re radically AGAINST God.
• The next day they’re radically FOR God. It’s Remarkable!
• Not just a temporary change… it’s permanent & long lasting
• The kind that makes you just scratch your head!
• But a changed life is the masterpiece of God!
A Pharisee named Nicodemus came to Jesus by night.
• There was a lot on his MIND. His life as a Pharisee, a religious ruler had become stale & dry. God seemed so distant. There was no connection, no love, no mercy.
• All he had were scrolls & scrolls of rules & regulations.
• Maybe he read Jeremiah 29:12-13 I need a real relationship.
Jer. 29.12-14 Then you will call upon Me and go and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. 13 And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart. 14 I will be found by you, says the LORD…
• Let’s pick up in John 3:1ff
• Change… Nicodemus, you MUST be Born Again.
AND SO the Church of Jesus Christ, our Church, any church is filled with men and women who have been CHANGED.
• Men & women who have been BORN AGAIN.
• Men like Onesimus… untrustworthy. A thief. A runaway.
Let’s set the scene… Paul is in prison… It’s around 60 AD
• AND there he is… singing & sharing; worshipping & writing.
• Of course he has no idea that he’s writing the NT but he’s faithful to jot down what’s on his heart.
• Notice v1, Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus. That’s right.
• He’s a prisoner of the Lord… not of Rome, not of Caesar… but Jesus has allowed this imprisonment for a reason.
SO: Paul wakes up 1 morning & has a new cell mate… Onesimus.
• Good Morning… what’s your name? Onesimus.
• Why are you here? My master in Colossae has CHANGED!
• He heard about this man Jesus and left all his false idols and he’s just changed. Jesus is all he talks about.
• His wife, his kids, they all changed too. It’s too much!
• I just couldn’t take it anymore so I ran away to Rome.
• I was picked up this morning and now I’m here in prison.
• WHAT ABOUT YOU… Why are you here? Paul begins… “Well, I was on my way to Damascus…”
This is so like God!
Here he is RUNNING AWAY from God & look where God has Him.
• RIGHT NEXT TO Paul THE APOSTLE! OH NO!!!!
• It’s great… from time to time people will be running from God right into Calvary Chapel, right into your office, right next door to your house!
Psalm 139.7-9 Where can I go from Your Spirit? Or where can I flee from Your presence? 8 If I ascend into heaven, You are there; If I make my bed in hell, behold, You are there. 9 If I take the wings of the morning, And dwell in the uttermost parts of the sea,
Have you ever noticed that when you’re running away from God?
• There are Christians everywhere! Why? Because He loves you.
Last year H&R Block offered walk-in customers a chance to win a drawing for $1 million. Glen and Gloria Sims of Sewell, New Jersey, won the drawing, but they refused to believe it when a Block representative phoned them with the good news.
After several additional contacts by both mail and phone, the Simses still thought it was all just a scam, and usually hung up the phone or trashed the special notices.
Some weeks later, H & R Block called one more time to let the Simses know the deadline for accepting their million-dollar prize was nearing and that the story of their refusal to accept the prize would appear soon on NBC’s "Today" show.
At that point, Glen Sims decided to investigate. A few days later he appeared on "Today" to tell America that he and his wife had finally claimed their million dollars.
Sims said, "From the time this has been going on, H & R Block explained to us they really wanted a happy ending to all this, and they were ecstatic that we finally
accepted the prize." God wants a similar ending as he offers salvation to every unbeliever.
• Are you running from God this morning? Are you sensing the Spirit of God speaking to you? Are you tired and weary yet?
WELL HERE is this tired & weary Onesimus, running from God, sitting with Paul, praying to commit his life to Jesus Christ.
• He gets saved just as many others did through Paul.
• But get this, the conversation eventually leads Onesimus’ past.
• Your master is who? PHILEMON! No way. He’s a friend of mine.
• What do you say Onesimus, I’ll jot a note down to Philemon and ask for some compassion, some sympathy, some help?
I. (1:1-2) Dear Philemon
1. (1) Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
a. Paul’s entire prison experience has been convicting!
b. He’s not whining or complaining… NO he’s encouraging.
c. Philemon, I’m a prisoner of Jesus here. He’s using this!
APP: May the Lord make us more like Paul:
• THAT We would live knowing that God is coordinating our life and directing all things coming our way.
IMAGINE, If he would have been pouting or sulking… Paul would have missed the opportunities God sent his way!
2. (2-4) To Philemon…
a. Now Apphia was probablby Philemon’s wife.
b. Archippus was probably their son.
c. So the Jesus was in the family here.
d. So Paul greets the whole family & the church in their house.
I LOVE THAT PHRASE… ‘to the church in your house.’
• This is more than a HOME BIBLE study as important as they are.
BY THE WAY… if you’re not involved in a home fellowship, prayerfully consider investing a night of your time with a smaller group here at the church.
• Hook in with the men or women. Come to prayer Tuesday mornings Men. Come to Saturday morning Bible studies women.
BUT… I see another insight here…
People often say, “I wish I was in the full time ministry. I wish had this responsibility or that position.”
• Well, you can be in the ministry today… AT HOME.
• You have a church RIGHT THERE in your home.
• Train your kids in the God’s Word; teach, lead, pray with them.
• Take communion with them in the front room, right in front of that TV that’s turned off! THE CHURCH IN YOUR HOME.
II. (1:4-7) A PRAYER FOR YOU
1. (4-5) I thank God for you.
a. Paul has already written the letter to Colossae and now he mentions personally to Philemon, I pray for you.
b. I’ve heard about your love and faith, and I thank God that you’re living for Jesus Christ.
NOTE: Nothing blesses me more than to hear of all the praise reports you guys share. All the great things God is doing!
• We even designate various Thursdays just so we can hear of God’s faithfulness as a church!
• In this world of doom & gloom, God’s work upon the earth is something to be mentioned over and over.
Psalm 9.1-2 I will praise You, O LORD, with my whole heart; I will tell of all Your marvelous works. 2 I will be glad and rejoice in You; I will sing praise to Your name, O Most High.
Q: AND DID you ever consider that a GREAT TIME TO PRAY for someone is when things are going well?
• We have it a little backward don’t we? We pray when there’s a crisis, a problem, a sickness and through hard times.
• Those are obvious and our prayers should continue.
• But a person is vulnerable when things are going well.
• Because that’s where Satan will attack… to try to pull down and wipe out a strong believer, a strong family.
2. (6-7) I pray that you continue to share your faith.
a. I pray that your life will be used to change many others.
b. That your life will continue to refresh us.
BY NOW… you might be thinking Paul is BUTTERING UP Philemon a little… Oh what great things in your home. We love your family. You’re ministry is changing others…
• It’s not so much BUTTERING as it is BROTHERING him up.
• Yes… Philemon was a brother in the Lord. And in order to receive his slave back w/o penalty, He had to view it as a brother in the Lord.
• He had to put on the MIND of CHRIST to receive this plea spiritually…
III. (1:8-25) A PLEA FOR ONESIMUS
1. (8-9) For Love’s Sake.
a. Philemon, we have a little problem here.
b. I know you’re a strong believer, I know you’re refreshing.
c. AND… I could command you, but instead I come to you and ask from you a spiritual favor.
d. I’m not going to pull rank… I’m not interested in bossing you around, but consider this with spiritual eyes…
e. With eyes of Love! It’s for LOVE’S SAKE Philemon.
2. (10-11) I appeal for Onesimus’ sake.
a. Did you catch that? Onesimus is a SON.
b. He’s been saved, right here in jail.
c. He was once unprofitable, but now so much more profitable!
d. Onesimus literally means ‘profitable’. In Jesus, he’s living up to his name.
NOTE: He’s playing on words here… appealing Philemon’s heart…
• If a slave will live up to his name, how much more the master?
2. (12-13) I’m sending him back to you.
a. (12) Receive him, take him back, welcome him home.
b. Take him back with my own heart. WOW!
BY NOW in the flesh perhaps Philemon was thinking: “That thief? That no good for nothing… receive him? Welcome him?”
• Church in my home… Family of believers… Jesus, are u sure?
c. (13) I would love to have him stay. You can’t be here Philemon but Onesimus is already.
d. He can help me out and serve in the ministry.
e. But he needs to be with you. The fruit of the ministry from your home and your relationship with Jesus.
SLAVERY: Many people come here and ask, “Why doesn’t Paul denounce slavery”.
• The Roman Empire at the time had some 60 million slaves.
• Men & Women treated like property and merchandise.
• But know it was the depravity of man that enslaved man.
• It was NEVER God’s will for man to enslave man.
But you’ll see that Paul’s plea is really for Philemon to do MORE than just receive him back (v16).
• The implication is that Philemon would free Onesimus.
• Paul wasn’t trying to legislate morality, but rather he was trusting in the work of the Holy Spirit to change Philemon’s heart.
NOTE: Had they tried to completely abolish slavery in that day, their effort would have been crushed and Christianity could have very easily become another social or political group.
• God doesn’t condone slavery or any other sin and provides a way out to everyone touched by it… forgiveness.
Q: NOW… Should we picket? Can a Christian petition? Should he/she be political?
A: If that’s the conviction of your heart. If that’s what the Lord has told you to do. Vote, march, write, voice your opinions.
• BUT KNOW THIS: All the picketing… all the petitioning… all the political maneuvering… outwardly.
• Will fail without a powerful prayer life inwardly.
3. (15-16) Perhaps this is God’s Plan?
a. (14) I want this to be voluntary…
b. (15) But Philemon, consider the will of God.
c. PERHAPS this is why he ran away… to get saved!
APP: We can hang that word on some of the most difficult things we’re facing…
• PERHAPS God’s working it out. PERHAPS there’s something to learn, something to glean, something to give away!
• Onesimus left for Rome a slave… but would return a brother.
• Philemon lost a servant but would soon gain an eternal friend.
AND THIS MORNING… Perhaps God is allowing the difficult decision. Perhaps your marriage struggles for a while are in God’s plan.
Perhaps your that LAYOFF is being used to build you.
Perhaps your SINGLENESS is all a part of who God wants you to be.
Perhaps… it opens a door of faith & trust in Jesus who has promised to NEVER LEAVE YOU OR FORSAKE YOU!
d. (16) Onesimus is no longer a slave… but more than a slave.
e. Philemon, take him back. He’s your brother in the Lord!
4. (17-18) Put that on my account.
a. In these 3 verses we have a beautiful picture of the gospel.
b. The good news of Jesus Christ.
Q: Can you picture Jesus saying, receive him as you would me.
• All his wrongs. All his debts. Put them on my account!
Romans 5.8 But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.
Eph. 1.6-8 to the praise of the glory of His grace, by which He has made us accepted in the Beloved. 7 In Him we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins, according to the riches of His grace 8 which He made to abound toward us in all wisdom and prudence,
Psalm 103.12 As far as the east is from the west, So far has He removed our transgressions from us.
Here’s the KEY. Paul is not suggesting to Philemon that he ignore the crimes and forget about the debt. NO.
• He says, put them on my account! I’ll pay for them.
When Jesus Christ died on the cross… our sins were imputed, or charged to His account. They were transferred and paid for.
5. (19-21) By the way, you owe me your life…
a. Refresh my heart in the Lord.
b. I’m writing this with my own hand and reminding you of how God used me in your life.
c. Let me have joy from you… do even more, let him go!
NOTE: If you’re ever going to call in a favor, do so for the sake of a soul! And that’s what Paul’s doing here…
• I’ll repay, I’ll make it even, but consider Onesimus a brother!
• V21, I know you’ll do even more.
NOTE: Right here we have another hint at the heart of Paul.
• He knew wholeheartedly slavery was from the devil.
• Stop it Onesimus, treat him right, give him freedom.
6. (22-26) Meanwhile, prepare a room.
a. I’m confident & as soon as I’m out I’m coming for a visit!
b. Philemon no doubt received and responded and lived alongside of Onesimus as a brother in the Lord.
c. Epaphras, Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke all say hello.
d. The grace of Jesus be with you, flowing through you!
FOR LOVE’S SAKE… that’s why a life is changed!
• And that’s what gives you and me a different heart for others.
