Forgiveness and Value - Philemon - Pt 2 - Redeemed - Reconciled, Restored - The Gospel.

GREET EVERYONE-

Good morning Loved ones

Good morning Adopted Ones

If I have not had a chance to meet you; My name is Scott and I am a follower of Jesus and have the privilege of serving Him as the Lead Pastor among the people of Stonewater Fellowship.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

A couple of things to lay before everyone this morning -

HAPPY FATHER DAY

- To all the fathers - and to all that fathers that will be fathers one day - Blessings to you guys.

BAKE SALE -

Matt and Karley and family are gettin gready to head to Romania to serve Jesus as Stonewater Missionaries with our ministry partners there PIEI - So plan on going to their community bake sale Next Sunday a t Brooksher Brothers from noon to 3 right after worship.

PRAYER

This Next Sunday the 25 of June a couple of Sundays later on the 9th -are our prayers Sundays - Join in at 9:00 for church wide prayer! as we pray for the lost - Pray for our culture and community - Pray for our church family, unity with in the church, and the advance of the Gospel - just receive in prayer what God wold have for us.

mark your calendars This next Sunday and again on July 9th.

ORPHAN SUNDAY

Also on July 9th is Stonewater Fellowships Orphan Sunday - John Wilhelm and the crew form our ministry partners one hope will be here - John will bring a message - and after we will have info on How anyone can be involved at different levels of serving our orphans in our community. Free CPR Classes and Lunch will be provided - So mark your calendars.

There is an app for that and please register for lunch on the app.

PRAYER CARDS

Here in a few weeks I will be taking my annual Study, prayer and vacation break - During that time I will be spending some time in solitude and in prayer and I would love to pray with you while I am away.

Complete one of the cards that was handed to you on your way in that Says “Pastor Prayer Time” allow me the prevelidge to join you in prayer as I pray during my time.

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to the beautiful and one of the smallest letters in the new testament Philemon and verses 8  today as we expose from the Bible what Jesus says about our forgiveness and our value in our series - Titles Forgiveness and Value - Walking together through this beautiful letter written by Paul and recieved by Philemon, friends and the church that met in Philemon house.

GREET THE LOST OR UN-CHURCHED

IF this is the first time you have come to a worship gathering f the church or it has been a really long time since you have been to a worship gathering; and the reason is becasue you feel out of place becasue you think we are good people and you are not so good - and you struggle with the question How can God forgive me and if they only knew what I have done? and these questions of forgiveness have caused doubt or fear or uncertainty or questions, insecurities about God, the struggles in life and all that -

I want you to know a couple of things this morning - 1st you are surrounded by people who have out sinned you 10-1 - so don't let these pretty faces fool you.

2nd is you are in great company -you have way more in common with us that you might imagine and we are really glad you are hear.

3rd is - You are not hear by accident - God has directed your path through out your whole life or you to be here at this very moment and He wants to speak something to you this morning - You are not here by accident or coincidence. God has all of here this morning together for a reason.

PRAYER FOR THE SERIES

Simple - That everyone of us would know the fullness of our forgiveness - that our forgiveness is complete and total and the debt has been paid it is covered

someone else took it and we are set fee -

not that we would know it as we know a set of facts but that we would act on it and live that way and testify that way -

Act on it becasue we are valued - Valued by God the one who created us and wants to use us - Where our lives reflect the joy of spending everything on God and being spent by God as we serve him with ZEAL to have a front row seat on what God does and can do through the gospel becasue Jesus Changes Everything.

PRAYER FOR THE MESSAGE

I have prayed and prayed and prayed over this message that God would have for us this morning. My prayers have been simply this that we would know and understand and walk in the fullness of forgiveness -

You see when we struggle with forgiveness and we don't walk in the fullness of it - We hear these words - You cant’ You too slow - Your too dumb - you cant and wont and its too much for you to understand - Your clearly not qualified - You have done too many bad things - You still owe - Until your debt id paid you cant -

my Prayer for all of us is that we would know that is not from God - Any time we hear those kids of words spoken to ourselves form the spirit or in our own thoughts - That is the enemy talking and those types of messages are from the pit of hell - My prayer for all of us this morning is that our ears would only hear the voice of God that is either calling us to faith - a full trust in God. or as his children we would hear of the fullness of our reconciliation to God.

TRUTH -

lets read the scripture this morning. The Holy Spirit of God says that faith, Trust in God comes by hearing and hearing by the word

So as we read the words lets listen to the word.

Philemon 8–16 ESV

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

TENSION

How many of us struggle from time to time with temptation?

Here is what I mean when I say Struggle - We look back at our life and we can see God working and we can know the moment we heard God’s call and we can know that there was a moment when we repented of our life and surrendered to Jesus in repentance and we can hear the voice of a pastor or other church members or even our parents say “you got saved today”

And we hear messages and we read our bibles and we get the message loud and clear that Jesus changes everything.

And Yet - as we walk through this life - There is an old sin - something that I used to actually do - Calling my name back into it over and over and over again.

And my struggle comes into my mind in a couple of ways — 1 - I actually think about doing it again. I actually think maybe just maybe there is a way i can do this thing and nobody will know - Then the spirit of God manifests itself in conviction and you put on the breaks. or maybe you don't.

2nd is whether you step off into that temptation or not you begin to think to your self - Does Jesus really change everything becasue so far he hasn't changed that in me!

How many of us struggle with some of this kinds of things - from big gigantic issues and big stuff all the way to little things that you know are not pleasing to God.

There are a couple of Problems that happen when we struggle with this and the problem really come to us in the form of questions. and not that we shouldn't every have questions - not only will we have questions but it is good to ask them so we know the truth. So a couple of questions that arise out of this that is we don't actually ask them of God and of the Scriptures and they go unanswered we will find ourselves sidelined and parallelized in doubt and uncertainty.

Questions like - Am I saved? Does the Holy Spirit of God really regenerate me? Why does this temptation still exist? What do I fail over and over and over?

Here is the more severe question - IF it hasn’t changed me completely and I still struggle and I have doubts about me what about everyone else? Are they really made new and how do I trust them?

The Problem that this created in us it that it undermines our Trust of the work of God in ourselves and consequently others and it removes from our lives and our experience in this life of the very Love of God that Jesus has for us - is in us - and wants to expand through us.

Let me say this again- These types fo question will be in our life from time to time - and if we allow those questions to continue to go unanswered we will apply those doubts ultimately to God’s working in our lives and the lives of others so much so that we will become paralyzed and sidelined and we will begin to think of ourselves as useless and others in the same way and what will be severely diminished from our life and experience is the love of God that Jesus has for is - The Love of God that Jesus has placed in us - and the Love of God that Jesus wants to expand through us to others.

When that happens our life of faith is filled with skepticism and we approach relationship with other brothers and sisters in Christ with that same skepticism and whats even more damaging is that we approach the lost with fear and uncertainty.

Our faith and trust then is turned to how people act and behave and not to God.

and wen it comes to the lost we end up not sharing the Gospel and we don't make disciples possibly becasue we have become convinced that we are not useful to God until all these questions and issues are resolved in our life and in the life of others we worship with.

Loved ones - Nothing could be further from the truth!

BACKGROUND -

Paul - The Apostle Paul who was according to His own testimony -

was appointed to the service of Jesus, even though Paul was a former blasphemer, persecutor, and insolent opponent to Jesus, the advancement of the Gospel and the very bride of Christ the Church it self. Paul then also says: “He received mercy because he had acted ignorantly in unbelief, and the grace of Jesus overflowed for him with the faith and love that are in Christ Jesus.”

Paul the proclaims the Gospel when He says “that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom Paul declares himself to be the biggest sinner of all.”

How can you be the biggest sinner of all? Opposing the advance of the Gospel - Opposing Jesus - That is certainly implied in Paul's testimony.

Paul then says:

He received mercy for this reason, that in Paul, as the biggest sinner, Jesus Christ might display his perfect patience as an example to those who were to believe in him for eternal life.

Paul would also say this about himself - I do not understand my own actions - I do not do what I want to do but the very thing I hate - I have the desire to do what is right but not the ability to carry it out. I do not do the good that I want but the evil that i do not want is what I keep doing - and what i see is war being waged against my mind and my flesh.

Paul asks the question - Who will save me form this body of death.

ANSWER - Thanks Be to God through our Lord Jesus Christ!

Paul then comes back and says - Therefore there is now NO condemnation fro those who are in Christ Jesus.

SO This is Paul - Who had a full and complete grasp of the life transforming gospel of Jesus facilitated by God through the complete and finished work on the Cross that Jesus had finished

Paul knew what that meant for Paul and everyone who followed Jesus - and Philemon was one of those followers.

Philemon was a slave owner - what that more than likely meant in the first century was that Philemon employed people - He employed people at his home to do things that He didn't want to do - and those people lived in His house and were part of Philemon’s expanded; what the bible means when it uses the term “household” his OIKOS -

The Employment of people in this capacity was regulated by Roman and Jewish law - There were things that Employees and Employees could and could not do.

and Just to be clear - There are a few differences in the Employee and employee relationship back then and today =

Today we can quit - Then Not so much- -

Today we can get promoted - back then usually stuck.

Today we go home at the end of our work day = Then you lived where you worked and you were on call 24-7-365.

Today your employer can write you up or terminate your employment - Back then Employer could send you to another employer or could have you imprisoned and the only way they could beat you is oif you were not a roman citizen.

So Philemon is a Salve Employer and he has had a problem with one of His hired hands. One of his hired hands named Onesimus

Onesimus has made some bad choices. He has violated the rules of His employment and apparently done so in a significant way - Possibly stolen some things of great value fro Philemon.

He has left Philemon home under secrecy and traveled all the way to Rome. Some 1300 miles and by foot.

Loved ones - You and I both know that if you are going to travel 1300 miles away from your employer on foot you have done some bad thnigs against your boss.

I want you to think about how serious this was for Philemon.

Onesimus was part of the Household. Loved and cared for. Philemon was a believer in Jesus and lived as a church leader and loved people and even those under his employment care. Onesimus was trusted and cared for by Philemon and Onesimus betrayed him and took advantage of his kindness and stole from him and left him and the rest of his household -

This is by all means a criminal act a sin against Roman Law and Jewish Law and against Philemon himself and every other person connected to Philemon's household.

Onesimus is a dead man walking - Dead in His criminal Act - It just hasn’t caught up with Him yet.

He get to Rome and meets Paul and things change. Onesimus is disciples unto salvation Paul and company as Paul is under house arrest awaiting trial.

And After Paul speaks of his love and affection for Philemon, Apphia, Arrchipus and the church that meets in Philemon house. Paul lives out the Gospel personally towards Onesimus.

UNPACKING

Philemon 8–9 ESV

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus—

Paul opens this part of the Letter with the Heart of God towards all people. Paul is the church planting leader - Paul is the man who lead other men who lead the church. Paul is a leader of leaders as He follows Jesus.

Paul was called as an Apostle - Apostle with a big A - and Bid A apostles came with three things - 1- direct eyewitness of the risen Jesus - 2- Signs and wonders - these guys could have miraculous stuff happen on demand and 3 they had authority given to them by Jesus.

What these guys did is they were obedient to the command of Jesus - went around the world doing what Jesus commands all of us to Do and that is proclaiming the Gospel, making disciples, teaching and equipping others to do the same. the Other thing these guys did wile making disciples is planting churches.

We do not have big “A” Apostles today - we have two things - We have the Scriptures which is the God breathed word of God and as such has authority in our life and in the life of every human. AS such the Bible reveals to us God and His instruction so that we can believe in all that God teaches, obeyed in all that God requires, and trusted in all that God promises.

SO Paul, as a Big A apostle speaks with and writes with and deals with leadership authority that God and people give Him.

He is Bold in Christ Jesus.

and He says : I can command you to do what I think is required but becasue we love each other I am choosing the best rout for the church and for our relationship as brothers in Christ - LOVE -I am choosing something better and that is - for the sake of our love for each other and for all the saints - I appeal to you to do what is required -

Appeal - To Call to, to Invite or invoke by imploration, to exhort or intreat to pray.

Paul says: I could command you to do what is required and I am brave enough to do it. But instead becasue we love each other - I Pray and Implore you to do what is required -

What is Required? - We will unfold the fullness of what is required in a minute but in Short - What is required of Philemon? is a complete changing of how Philemon identifies Onesimus.

Philemon 10 ESV

10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.

Paul Lays out exactly what His Appeal to Philemon is -

He is Imploring Philemon for a person who Paul Identifies as His child - His off spring - His Spiritual Fruit. How do we know this? How do we know that Paul did not like legally adopt Onesimus as His child? Well, in the spiritual way Paul did adopt him.

Paul was a disciple maker - Paul understood the assignment of Every Jesus follower to go and make disciples our of anyone, any where and any time. SO Paul being in prison awaiting trial mattered not - Paul was going to make disciples.

This is the aspect of producing fruit - Paul became the spiritual father whom Jesus created a Spiritual Son to Paul and Paul a father to Him.

Paul took Onesimus under his tooteleage to grow him and to teach him to obey just like Jesus said we are supposed to.

Philemon 11 ESV

11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)

Here is what happened to Onesimus - Disciples by Paul unto Repentant Salvation -

New Creature - Save by Grace through Faith and New Identity and ReGenerated by the Power of the Holy Spirit - Gods workmanship created in Christ Jesus in order to walk in the good works that God had prepared for Onesimus before hand that He would actually walk in them.

and in vs 11 Paul identifies Onesimus as just that - Useless to useful! -

Philemon 12–14 ESV

12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord.

Paul in vs 12 says he sends Onesimus back to Philemon with his very heart - Paul love the saints - Paul love people who love the saints - Pauls affections for Onesimus are as one has for the closest of brothers and as a Father has for His son -

Paul the vouches for Onesimus - in Vs 13 - I would keep him here with me to serve me here on your behalf - in other words as your gift to me as I am imprison and can use the help for the Gospel -

vs 14 Paul then says - But I choose to do nothing without your consent so the any thing you give to me - your goodness - is not compelled or mandated becasue we needed him

In other words Paul is saying we could have kept him and you would have been made to accept that - But Paul sends Onesimus back to get Him set free - Paul has given Philemon all the power and all the choice -

I want you to use Him and allow him to be useful for the advancement of the gospel out of your own accord.

Philemon 15–16 ESV

15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Paul then give the sovereign divine reason that Onesimus may have done what Onesimus has done.

May of us look at the mess that we have made of things and the mess that others in our life and theirs and we lament - and we should!

It was certainly Sad that Onesimus betrayed his household, his family to the point of being a dead man walking - sot hat he would feel the need to run 1300 miles away

BUT GOD -

You see what Onesimus meant for evil God meant for Good and God used the mess of Onesimus to bring him to a place and to a person who would be used by God to lead Him to Jesus - And Everything Changed.

What Paul has Just encouraged Philemon about Onesimus is there was an is a reason for Philemon's heartache over Onesimus -

God wanted Onesimus to be His child - God wanted Onesimus to be used in the Kingdom -

God wanted Onesimus to be in the family of faith

God wanted Onesimus to restored, redeemed, recovered and reconciled not only to Himself but also to His family - His household - His OiKOS -

STICKY POINT DJ AND PRAYER TEAM

Loved ones-

This is Jesus in our life - Jesus meets us where we are as we are sunning away from God - He makes us new He regenerates us - we become new creatures - We become the very heart beat of Jesus the Affection of Him - He presents us to God washed in his perfection and He says to God - Recieve my brother and count Him useful -

SO this morning when the doubts come -

Know that we have been redeemed - Know that we ave been recovered - Know that we have been reconciled back to God by the finished work of Jesus on the cross - and our Trust in Him and In His Resurrection.

and For Anyone who is not a follower of Jesus - If you have not fully trusted in the death of Jesus as the only thing that can remove the penalty of Sin against you and trust in the Resurrection of Jesus as the defeat of death for you and validation that Jesus is God in the flesh -

Hear the call of God this morning - God is wanting to save you from His wrath - He is wanting to save you for Himself - He is wanting to give you a new life and a new purpose and a new and everlasting relationship with Himself that was opened to you by Himself when He took on flesh and dwelt among us and then took the penalty and our guilt on the cross of Calvary for us.

What must one do to be saved - Hear the call of God on your life - Know the Holy Spirit of God is giving you the gift to trust all that God has and is doing - and act on that trust and repent - Turn your life over to Jesus and let him make you new.

Trust that now matter what you have done - Not matter what you struggle with no matter how big the questions are no matter how much you have rebelled and denied and no matter how far you have run - Gods desire is that you would return back to Him - that he has led you hear today to hear His call come to Him.

APPLICATION OR IMAGINE

PRAYER TEAM!