SCRIPTURAL REFERENCES
(Philemon 1:10-16) (10) "I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:" (11) "Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:" (12) "Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:" (13) "Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:" (14) "But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly." (15) "For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;" (16) "Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?"
(Philemon 1:17-21) (17) "If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself." (18) "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;" (19) "Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides." (20) "Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord." (21)" Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say."
PREFACE SUMMARY
I am pleased to share a message with you about God's boundless love for His creation, as revealed in the book of Philemon. This message is titled "A Love Letter from Jesus," and it draws a parallel between Paul's intercession on behalf of a runaway enslaved person named Onesimus and the prayer spoken by our Lord in the book of John, chapter fourteen.
This message came about as I thought about everything we encounter on life's journey. Can you agree that it seems as though we are being prepared for something greater that is somewhere in our future? Is it indisputable that a supreme being is behind the vast universe that created everything, both seen and unseen? This awesome creator is responsible for the universe and deeply interested in his most incredible prized creation—man.
The Book of Philemon, written by the Apostle Paul, is a letter that demonstrates God's love through the story of Paul and a runaway slave named Onesimus. In the letter, Paul urges Philemon, a wealthy Christian, to receive Onesimus back as a brother in Christ rather than a slave. This act of forgiveness and reconciliation highlights God's love for all people, regardless of social status or past mistakes.
Similarly, Christ's love for his church is evident in his prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane, where he asked God to receive his church the same way he would. This prayer shows the depth of Christ's love for his followers and his willingness to sacrifice himself for their salvation. It is a powerful reminder of God's love for his people and the lengths he will go to demonstrate it.
The transformation of Onesimus, as described through Paul's teachings, further emphasizes the theme of redemption and forgiveness. Once a runaway slave, Onesimus encounters the life-changing message of Christ and becomes a devoted believer. His journey illustrates the transformative power of God's grace and his profound desire for all people to experience personal growth and redemption. Onesimus is transformed and becomes a believer in Christ. This message is a testament to God's love and forgiveness and his desire for all his children to learn, grow, and become more and more like Christ.
"CHRIST'S PRAYER AND PAUL'S LETTER TO PHILEMON."
Beloved, this powerful Valentine's Day message addresses divine intercession and unconditional love, as demonstrated in Christ’s prayer to God and Paul’s letter to Philemon regarding the runaway slave Onesimus. By drawing parallels between these biblical narratives, we will highlight how God’s love extends to all, including truckers who serve as vital links in our economy and communities.
Serving more than 43 years on the open road as an over-the-road trucker, I would like to begin this part of my message by stating that Jesus Christ, the Son of God, died on the cross to save humanity from their sins. Truckers who work tirelessly to keep our nation moving are no exception to this divine grace.
In Paul’s letter to Philemon concerning Onesimus, he appeals for mercy and reconciliation rather than punishment for the runaway slave. This letter emphasizes themes of forgiveness, restoration, and the transformative power of love. Paul’s advocacy mirrors Christ’s intercessory role; both figures demonstrate a deep commitment to healing relationships, offering reassurance and comfort to all.
We can better understand God’s love for us by examining Christ’s prayer, particularly in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matthew 26:36-46). Here, Jesus demonstrates vulnerability and deep reliance on God. His prayer reflects a desire for alignment with God’s will, showcasing a model for believers today. This moment illustrates that even in times of distress, there is a call to seek divine guidance and strength, offering a sense of guidance and support to all.
When I see the innocent suffer and the wicked prosper, I catch myself with a prayer on my lips asking God, how am I, as your preacher, going to make you look good to someone in need? You were not there for the family of Lazarus when they were in desperate need, and you even missed the wake when he died.
I am reminded of an encounter with one of our drivers who claimed to be an atheist. This driver and I were delivering to the same customer somewhere in New York, and I can recall that as this driver approached my truck, I immediately noticed that he was angry.
I told him I would help him if he cleaned up his vocabulary, to which he agreed. He acknowledged that I was a preacher but very quickly informed me that he was an atheist. I began to speak to this angry trucker about our planet's existence and the solar system. To help him understand our universe's incredible complexity and precision, I explained to him some of the most amazing facts about our solar system.
Firstly, I told him that Earth is situated ideally from the sun to sustain life. This distance is not too close, where we would burn up, or too far, where we would freeze to death. Instead, it is just right. This distance is known as the "habitable zone" or the "Goldilocks zone." Scientists believe this zone is unique in our solar system and the universe.
Secondly, I explained to him that our planet is tilted at an angle of approximately 23.5 degrees. This tilt is what causes the seasons on Earth. Without this tilt, life on Earth would be very different, if not impossible.
Lastly, I told him that our planet rotates at a speed of one thousand miles per hour, completing a full revolution around the sun in twenty-four hours. This is what causes day and night. It is also worth noting that our planet is not the only one that rotates. All the planets in our solar system do so at different speeds and directions.
I revealed to him why every planet and star has its place and function in the vast universe, explaining that even Jupiter and Mars are in the right place to keep us from being bombarded by asteroids and meteorites from outer space.
God began his work on this man's soul, and he did not resist when I asked him if I could pray with him. As I began to pray with this man, it felt like a warm blanket had covered us. I took this opportunity to inform him that even though he did not believe in a God or a Devil, there was one thing for sure: there was something in this truck with us that we could not see. I suggested he try communicating with this presence and ask it to identify itself.
Sometime later, I had the privilege of meeting this driver again at a truck stop. The driver confessed to encountering the Living God and asked Him into his heart. The young atheist trucker, who had always been skeptical about the existence of a higher power, was introduced to Jesus, and his doubts dissipated as we engaged in a deep conversation about his faith.
The young driver informed me that the words I spoke to him that day resonated with him, causing him to experience a sense of peace and fulfillment that he had never felt before. He told me that his perspective on life has changed, and he has become more open-minded and receptive to the mysteries of the universe and the God who planned his life before he was born.
Saints of God and fellow peers, as I sit here today doing revivals throughout the Philippines, I wonder how one could be convinced that there is no creator or mastermind behind the vast universe, especially the unique way everything is designed to function without drifting out of orbit and ending life as we know it.
Think about it for a moment: A baby receives its fingerprints at three months in the womb—fingerprints that no one on earth has or has had. No one has brain waves that are unique in design.
After thinking about this briefly, I get excited about how much faith it would take for someone faced with the facts to say that there is no God. People who claim there is no God, no creator they will bow to when they leave this life must spend their entire lives trying to convince themselves that there is no God when, in fact, man was designed to believe in a higher power.
It is no secret that each civilization known to man has left its mark in history in terms of how it approached what it believed to be some God. Unfortunately, many believe that they must appease this unknown deity through live sacrifices or some other means, such as dance, etc.
Saints, one day, as soon as the breath we breathe leaves our body, we will enter an eternity that we may or may not be prepared for. We all know and understand that death is a reality that comes to the young as well as the old, and when the last breath leaves our bodies, we will be brought before the creator of this universe to give an account of the life that we have been blessed to enjoy. I do not know about you, but I intend to be prepared to enter this era with joy and not shame.
"PAUL INTERCEDEDS FOR ONESIMUS."
The book of Philemon begins with the aged Apostle Paul meeting a runaway slave named Onesimus in a Roman jail. However, something caught Paul's interest when he discovered who the slave's master was and that the slave owed his master some money.
After winning the runaway slave to the Lord, Paul penned a letter for him to take back to his master, Philemon. In the letter, Paul expressed his special affection for Philemon, letting him know that he was always in his prayers. Paul spoke of hearing the good things he had accomplished since his conversion, and Paul reminded him that, like Onesimus, he was saved under his ministry.
Paul pleads with his friend on behalf of Onesimus, the runaway slave. He asks his friend Philemon to receive and forgive his wrongs toward him and others, assuring him that he will settle and repay any debt the man may owe.
He informed Philemon that Onesimus had changed noticeably and that he now considered him a brother in the Lord. He reminded Philemon that God's grace can change even the vilest sinner. He informed Philemon that such a change was now evident in Onesimus and that he need not fear him ever running away or bringing harm to him or his house.
Paul expresses his deep affection for Philemon and assures him that he always prays for him. He asks Philemon to forgive Onesimus's debt and welcome him back with open arms. Paul ends his letter by emphasizing that Onesimus is no longer just a runaway slave but a fellow believer in Christ, deserving of love and acceptance.
Paul's letter to Philemon is a powerful example of the life-changing transformative power of God's grace. It shows that no one is beyond redemption and that forgiveness and reconciliation are always possible.
Through Paul's intercession, Onesimus is given a new identity and a new future, which reminds us of the depth of God's love for us to bring us fallen man, his most prized creation, back into fellowship with Himself.
"JESUS OUR MODEL INTERCESSOR."
As we study the prayer Jesus prayed in John's seventeenth chapter, we will see that Jesus asked God to strengthen, protect, sanctify, unite, and glorify those who were his from the foundation of the world.
In this chapter, the Lord intercedes to the Father as he addresses him as a holy father, asking him to glorify or strengthen him as he reminds him that he has given him power over all flesh.
Notice as the Lord humbles himself before God, praying that people might know him and Jesus Christ whom he has sent unto the world, and notice beloved as he prays that the ones that have been given unto him might know the Glory which he had with God before the foundation of the world.
Listen as he prays for those who have never seen him, asking God not to remove them from the world but to keep them from evil. Listen as the Lord prays that those he is interceding for might unite and become one with God.
Saints, just as the Apostle Paul interceded for Onesimus, the runaway slave, Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior interceded for his church, asking God to honor his supreme sacrifice and receive broken humanity the same way he would receive him.
Christ's intercession for us expresses his love and concern for our well-being. It reminds us that we are not alone in our struggles, and we can rest in knowing that we have a Savior who is always there for us, interceding on our behalf before the throne of God.
Notice how the scriptures teach us that in the fullness of time, God would send a deliverer for all humanity, and the coming deliverer would be born of a virgin and not have the blood of polluted man but have God’s blood like Adam. It was the hope and prayer of young Jewish virgins to be the one chosen to bear the promised Messiah who would bear the sin debt for all humanity.
The first book of John states that God made the world through Jesus, the Word. Jesus did not come to find a new religion but to teach us how to have a relationship with God. Near the end of his life on Earth, we find him in this blessed prayer, asking his Father to receive us as he would receive him.
Look at the love letter from Jesus's heart to God on our behalf, and may we understand and acknowledge that in Adam, we could never have gotten back into fellowship with a God who is perfect in all his ways.
I am also so grateful that he prayed for all those who have not seen him but believe that they might be with him where he is and that they may behold the Glory he had with God before the world was created to sustain life. This beloved is love worth finding. I am so thankful for the day God’s darling Son became my dying Savior.
MY CONCLUSION
We have concluded this heart-moving message, and I want to close by discussing our relationship with God. I want to discuss the need to understand and fellowship with him and how our perception of His character, attributes, and nature directly impacts how we approach Him, pray, worship, and live out our faith.
Did you know that our view of God serves as a lens through which we interpret our experiences and interactions with him? Therefore, it is crucial to cultivate a biblical and accurate understanding of God to deepen our intimacy with Him and grow in our faith.
To illustrate this message, we need to ask ourselves a fundamental question. That question would be, "Do we view God our Father as stern, like a father we have or have known here on earth who is short-tempered and unapproachable? " Or "Do we see him as the model Father Jesus referred to while reciting the Lord’s prayer, which can be found in Matthew's sixth chapter?"
As believers, we are called to view God not as a distant and unapproachable deity but as a loving Father who extends his open arms of unconditional love to us, and God's deepest desire is that we receive him in this way as a caring and compassionate Father who desires only the best for his children.
To help us understand this better, the Lord has given us a high priest in Jesus Christ who can relate to our weaknesses and struggles. As we read in the Bible, Jesus faced many trials and difficulties during his time on earth, including the agony of the cross. But even amid his suffering, Jesus never lost sight of his Father's love and care for him.
We see this most clearly in the garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed fervently for the strength to carry out God's plan for his life. Despite the immense pain and suffering he knew lay ahead, Jesus was willing to endure it all, knowing that it was the only way to reconcile the world back to God.
Let us take heart and remember that a high priest in Jesus Christ understands our struggles and is always there to help us in our time of need. May we rest assured of God's love for us, knowing that he will always guide and support us, no matter our challenges.
The holiness of God demanded that another Adam could not be created from the dust of the Earth that was cursed due to the fall in the garden. This was necessary to avoid eternal separation between man and his creator. However, God's love for humanity was so great that he sent his son, Jesus, to atone for their sins. Jesus' sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of love and humility, and it paved the way for humanity to be reconciled with God.
It is remarkable to find Jesus in the garden just hours before his arrest, praying to his heavenly father for strength. He knew what was to come—the horrors of the cross that he would have to face. At the same time, he prayed for humankind, God's greatest creation, to receive strength through his atoning work. He knew that his sacrifice would save humanity and give them the strength to endure life's challenges.
Jesus' prayer in the garden indeed expressed his love for humanity. He wanted them to be united with God, just as he was. His sacrifice on the cross was the ultimate act of love and redemption, and it is a testament to the power of selflessness and humility. Remember this powerful message and strive to live in the same spirit of love and compassion.
International Evangelist
Jerry W. Hulse, Ph.D.
Miracle Life Church International
