YOU’RE A PERSON OF POTENTIAL
Philemon 1:9-18
INTRODUCTION
A. HUMOR
1. A church service occurred during Covid-19 and only two people showed up: the preacher and a rancher. The preacher led songs, took up the offering, and then he preached for an hour and a half.
2. When they were going out the preacher asked the rancher how he liked the sermon. The rancher said in his slow drawl, “Well Pastor, when I go out to feed my cows, if only one shows up to eat, I usually don’t feed that one the full load!”
B. TEXT
1. Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10 …I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. 12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13 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. 14 But I did not want to do anything without your consent…15 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16 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. 17 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. NIV
C. THESIS
1. We’re looking at how God can release our potential and make us productive for the Kingdom.
2. The title of this message is “You’re a person of Potential!”
I. A REBELLIOUS SLAVE
A. ONESIMUS, A FIRST CENTURY SLAVE
1. This letter was sent by Paul to a believer living in Colosse, Asia Minor, whose name was Philemon. He was a prominent citizen and Christian of the city; in fact, the church met in his house (Phm. 2).
2. Evidently Paul was responsible for Philemon’s conversion as a Christian (Phm. 19). This Philemon owned a slave named Onesimus whom he undoubtedly treated well, being a prominent Christian.
3. SIDENOTE: Early Christians didn’t tackle the issue of slavery in the first century – probably because the church was so small and there was so much persecution against them. Leading a movement against slavery had to wait until Christianity was well-enough established to reshape society’s direction. But this letter shows Paul’s true feelings that slavery was wrong in the sight of God. Paul told Philemon to free Onesimus; he was his brother, not slave.
4. Although Philemon undoubtedly treated him fairly, Onesimus not only ran away, but probably stole things to finance his trip (Phm. 18) and may have wronged Philemon in other ways. According to the times, Onesimus was a robber and a fugitive, a criminal. His heart was in rebellion against that society.
B. WE TOO WERE REBELLIOUS SLAVES
1. Just as Onesimus was useless for good in his rebellious state, neither were we when were lost. We were just as much slaves, but to the devil. Jesus told us, “I tell you, everyone who sins is a slave to sin” John 8:34.
2. Paul said in Eph. 2:1-3, “As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world, …the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving [Gr. “children”] of [God’s] wrath.”
3. Paul said in another place, “For I know that in me (that is, in my flesh,) dwells no good thing” Rom. 7:18. God couldn’t use us for anything good because we were offspring of a fallen nature enslaved to sin.
4. Onesimus and US always had godly potential before we were Christians, but that potential was shackled to sin.
II. HOW ONESIMUS WENT FROM USELESS TO USEFUL
A. ONESIMUS BECOMES A MINISTER
1. The story continues. Onesimus ran away from the subcontinent of Turkey and went all the way to Rome, Italy. Somehow he ended up meeting the Apostle Paul who was a prisoner awaiting trial before Caesar and had his own rented house (Acts 28:16). Paul was lightly chained to a Roman soldier, who stayed with him.
2. Paul did have the freedom to entertain company in his house, and people frequently came to see him (Acts 28:17,30-31). Paul was there for two years before his trial. It was evidently during this time that he met Onesimus (Phm. 10).
3. Paul witnessed to him and Onesimus became a Christian (Phm. 10, “my son” was Paul’s common term for those who were saved through him).
4. All the good qualities which had lain dormant in Onesimus soon became apparent. Paul began to recognize his great potential, not only as an average Christian, but Paul saw that God had a call on his life as a minister of the Gospel (Gr. diakoneo in verse 13 means “minister”).
5. ONESIMUS means “useful.” Paul made this a word-play in verse 11, “Formerly he was ‘useless’ to you, but now he has become ‘useful’ both to you and to me.”
6. Paul wrote Philemon this letter, encouraging him to free Onesimus from slavery and let him serve Paul in the Gospel. Evidently this was done, because it’s recorded that Onesimus was sent by Paul as his fellow-worker and spokesman back to his own city of Colosse with Tychicus, another minister (Col. 4:7,9).
B. YOU HAVE TREMENDOUS POTENTIAL IN CHRIST
1. If you have become a Christian, you too have tremendous potential for God. Those gifts and callings that God placed in you from birth (“For the gifts and calling of God are without repentance” Rom. 11:29) were suppressed by sin. They lay in your life dormant waiting for the day of your “new birth” to awaken.
2. You should no longer think of yourself as connected to your past, but with a whole new future potential, just as big as the God you serve!
3. YOU ARE VALUABLE TO GOD! God has a new purpose for your life. Maybe you weren’t qualified to do much naturally, but now God qualifies you to be able to do “all things” in His Son.
4. Paul, though a murderer and blasphemer could say, “I can do all things through Christ which strengthens me” Phip. 4:13. If Paul can say that, so can you!
5. God intends for you to be USEFUL in the Kingdom. You need to expect that and seek areas you can be productive for God.
III. POTENTIAL MUST BE DEVELOPED
A. GOD EXPECTS “FRUIT” FROM US
1. In Luke 13:6-9, Jesus told about a farmer (representing God) who expected fruit to grow on a fig tree, or it must be cut down.
2. John the Baptist, speaking about people, said, “every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire” Mt. 3:10. He was referring to good works and godly character.
3. In Luke 19: 11-27, Jesus told the parable of the “minas” – about those whom God invested in. God told them to “put this money to work” (Luke 19:13), meaning their gifts and talents. Some buried their giftings – didn’t use them. Later God was very displeased with them for this. God told them they should have used them.
4. With this thought in mind, WHAT CAN WE DO TO BE USEFUL TO GOD?
B. WAYS WE CAN INCREASE OUR USEFULNESS
1. STUDY THE BIBLE
a. Paul’s instruction to Timothy was to, “Study to show yourself approved unto God, a workman that needs not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth” 2 Tim. 2:15.
b. “All Scripture…is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness, so that the servant of God may be thoroughly equipped for every good work” 2 Tim. 3:16-17.
c. Gaining knowledge of the Bible and applying it to our lives is the first step for being useful to God.
2. VOLUNTEER AT CHURCH
a. Being an active part of the local church is the next step. Submission to authority is an essential lesson. Assisting the work and helping the saints are the fruits of humility and love for God.
b. Before Timothy was invited to join the Apostle Paul’s ministry team, he had gained a good reputation at the local church (Acts 16:2). That was a prerequisite for larger usefulness.
3. BE A WITNESS FOR CHRIST
a. God expects us to witness; that’s the very reason He empowered the Church; “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, etc.” Acts 1:8.
b. The last thing Jesus told us was the Great Commission, Mk. 16:15, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.” Matthew 28:19 says, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit…”
CONCLUSION
A. ILLUSTRATION: DO WHAT YOU CAN UNTIL YOU FIND GOD’S BEST WILL
1. William Douglas was a shoemaker in the mid-1800’s who had little education and struggled financially. During his early years he had been unemployed so long that he was DOWN TO HIS LAST DOLLAR. Nonetheless he put half of it – 50 cents – in the collection basket of his church, being faithful to God and as an act of faith.
2. The next morning, he heard of a job in a neighboring town. The railroad fare to that town was one dollar. To all appearances it would have been wiser if he had kept that 50 cents.
3. However, with the half-dollar remaining he bought a ticket and rode half way to the desired place. He stepped from the train and began to walk to the town.
4. Before he had gone one block, he heard of a factory right in that town where they were employing men. Within 30 minutes, he had a job with a salary $5 more a week than he would have received had he gone on to the other town. God is faithful!
5. He later opened his own shoe factory and eventually became the largest shoe manufacturer in the world, making 3,600 shoes a day & selling them from his 55 stores across the U.S. He was elected as the 42nd governor of Massachusetts in 1905. [Paul Lee Tan, Encyclopedia of 7,700 Illus., # 1861 with added information on Douglas’ life from Wikipedia]
B. THE CALL
1. Eccles. 9:10 says, Whatever your hand finds to do, do with all your might.” Start where you are, use what you’ve got and do what you can. Be faithful in the little things and God will give you greater things!
2. The first step to gaining God’s potential is to repent of your sins and trust in Jesus Christ to save you. Would you slip up your hand if that what you’d like to do?
3. How many of you want to develop the gifts God has given you to be more fruitful? (Bible, church, witnessing, etc.)
4. How many want God’s hand on your life, like William Douglas had, to guide your life to the right place where you can do the most for God?
5. PRAYER.
