Text: Philemon 1-6, 9

1, Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2, And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

3, Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

4, I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

5, Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

6, That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

9, Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

Introduction:

Paul is writing to Philemon about a mutual friend Onesimus, who had done wrong to Philemon, But now saved and helpful to Paul. Paul wants Philemon to forgive him and let him return, not as a servant but as a brother.

Philemon 10-12, 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:

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?

We are never told if he does what Paul asks, let us consider the person of Philemon.

    1.      The Christian Family

Philemon 1-2

1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

2 And to our beloved Sister Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

    a.       Prisoner, Brother, Labourer, Sister Solder

    b.       The family: Husband – Philemon, Wife – Apphia, Son – Archippus

What joy to know that our family knows the Lord. What concern when they don’t.

    c.       The House Church

    2.      God is Great

Philemon 3

Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

    a.       Grace and peace: to us and to others

It is a matter of great joy and comfort to see men grow in graces as they do in years, and to increase in heavenly things as they multiply their days.

    b.       God our Father

A preacher (Mr. Pentecost) inquired of a two young Ladies if they were Christians. One replied, "I hope so"; the other answered, "Sometimes I think I am, and sometimes I think I am not." Mr. Pentecost said: "If I met your father in Boston and told him that I had met a young lady at Wellesley College who said that she thought that you were her father, what would he think?" The tears streamed over her cheeks as she replied, "Do you mean to say that it is our privilege to call God our Father in the same way as our earthly father?" This circumstance was the means of leading her to Christ.

    c.       Jesus Christ our Lord

    3.      Praying to God on behalf of others

Philemon 4

I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

    4.      Love and Faith

Philemon 5

Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

    a.       Love toward Lord Jesus

    b.       Faith toward Lord Jesus

    c.       Love toward Others

    d.       Faith toward Others

    5.      Sharing Our Faith

Philemon 6

That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

And I pray that as you share your faith with others it will grip their lives too, as they see the wealth of good things in you that come from Christ Jesus.

TLB

    6.      Closing

So do you think Philemon did what Paul asked?

Philemon 9

Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.

    a.       What is your testimony