Forgiveness and Value - Philemon Pt 3 The Debt is paid.

GREET EVERYONE-

Good morning loved ones!

Good morning heirs and co-heirs with Christ of God and of HIS Kingdom.

Good Morning everyone

Intro:

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

BAKE SALE

Today from 12:00 to 3:00 right here in the building will be the Matt and Carly bake sale to help them raise funds to get to Romania. SO if you have one baked bring a cake - if not bring one anyway and then come buy one and upgrade to support Matt and Carly in the calling that God has on them .

OCC

This week Wednesday the 28th Right here at 6:00 pm there is an informational meeting for our Operation Christmas Child missional outreach - This is a FANTASTIC way to accomplish two things - ONE reach your neighbors with the news of the Gospel during Christmas time and 2- take Jesus internationally Sharing Him at Christmas time with kids through out the world.

Last year - we had a 8 packing parties in different neighborhoods and landed a little over 310 boxes.

This year - I wonder if God would have us see that number multiply by 2 - and We see over 600 boxes sent from Stonewater Fellowship and neighbors brought to Jesus becasue of our faithful witness and the movement of His Spirit during this Christmas season.

Join this Wednesday night and learn how you and your family or small group can be involved reaching your neighborhood.

COMMUNION

This next Sunday is the Sunday we will come together and experience the Table of Jesus.

SO be sure to make plans as we as the church participate in doing what Jesus called us to do when we come together and remember Him and all he has done and finished for us.

ORPHAN SUNDAY

July 9th is Stoneware's Orphan Sunday - This is a great opportunity for all of us to be encouraged and introduced to one of the many ways all of us can become a solution to the orphan crisis that is in our community. 1 Hope for kids will be here, Lunch will be here - Free CPR Classes will be here.

Make plans to be here - Get the information Get some training have some lunch and be a part of the solution.

Sign up through the APP and let us know you coming

PRAYER SUNDAY

Also on July 9th is prayer Sunday - 9:00 am before worship join in on the Church Wide prayer as we entreat God as a community in prayer.

Romania Trip - July 18th we are sending another team to Romania to do VBS in both Romania and in the UKRAINE with out missions partner PIEI - Info and how to go is available on the App. or you can contact Walt Windsor our missions coordinator for details.

PRAYER TIME

Lastly this morning - I am about to take my annual time away for Study, Prayer, rest and Vacation.

and While I am away I would love to join you in prayer. When you came in and there are more available on the back tables - You hopefully recieved a small prayer care that says “ let’s pray together”

I would love to join you in what ever you are praying for! IF you would simply let me know what that is and leave the card in the offering boxes in the back or by the door. I will pray with you during my time away.

I am so honored to have already recieved cards from about 20 of you and I would love to join all of you in this.

LETS GRAB OUR BIBLES IF YOU HAVE ONE AND

Open it to Philemon vs 17 today as we come to the end of our current series, walking together through the beautiful letter from the Apostle Paul to Philemon and friends exposing what The Holy Spirit of God says to us about our Forgiveness and our Value.

PRAYER FOR THE SERIES AND THIS MORNINGS MESSAGE

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.

TRUTH

Philemon 17–25 ESV

17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account. 19 I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 21 Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 At the same time, prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that through your prayers I will be graciously given to you. 23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends greetings to you, 24 and so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my fellow workers. 25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

TENSION

There is this cultural conversation that has been happening for a few years now and it often surprises me how many people are on one side of the conversation or the other.

OF the many cultural conversations that are being had it the relief of student loan debt.

Unless you have a lot of student loan debt I am guessing that you might not be too interested in the idea that you will or could pay more in taxes so that others debt can be forgiven and wiped off the ledger and they have no responsibility.

Well let me ask you this - If I came to you and said “my brother Brandi and I have 15,000 in consumer debt and a couple of car notes, it would be great and we would really appreciate you paying that off for us”

How many would say “Absolutely my Brother, here is the check”

Reality is I would certainly not ask anyone to do and there may only be a few of you who are willing to actually think about it.

How many of us - NO SHOW OF HANDS - how many of us a s parents have rescued adult children out of their debt problems?

Let me also paint a scenario for you and get your reaction -

If I were to actually come to you and ask you to pay off my debt and you actually did so.

and a year later I came to you again and said not only do I nee you to do it again but the problem is bigger and what I need is more than the first time.

Reality is your response would be one that is based on hurt and a sense of being taken advantage of and of at the core disappointment and betrayal.

And it makes sense right - We work hard for our provision and when we think that we have been taken advantage of then we get offended.

And Really all of us at some level have a problem carying or paying anyone eles debt -

Like When people OWE us and they make promise after promise and they never get to paying it off. WE have a tenancy to allow that to have a negative effect on our relationship.

Because we all have ingrained in us all at some level the Idea that we are to be responsible for our own actions and we must carry our own load and not burden someone else with that.

I remember having a conversation with a cousin of mine that was on the progressive side of the political and economic spectrum and He was an advocate of taking from those who have an abundance and giving by taxation to those who have little.

and so what I did was simply make it a little too close to home for Him - I said - WHat was your grade point n college?

He replied “I graduated 3.9825”

I said wow that is fantastic did tat allow you to graduate with Honors like one of the loudes?

Yes SUma -

I was like wow. SO do you believe in takeing from those with abundance and giving to those who have less. and like forgiving others debt -

Absolutly - I said weell GO to the Registrars office and give up your suma cum laude honors and tell them to find the person who failed out of school and give Him half yoru grade point average so He can graduate.

My Cousin said Well maybe I don't believe in it that much.

You see at some level all of us believe in having others take their own responsibility for their own choices in education and in finances and all of the other areas of responsibility.

IN our foster care joureney I have met many many people who are or have been involved in the foster care culture at some level 0

I have met others that will point blank say to me “I could never take on the responsibility of raising someone elses kid - They should do that.

Ya know I get it - I raised 6 and am working on number 7 and eight and I had difficulty helpinig my adult kids financially and releaving them of responsibilities they took on and paying their debts 0- WE all have that sense.

HERE IS THE PROBLEM - when we take this philosophy of responsibility and of each handling his or her own debt -

WE have trouble in some small and in some large ways understanding, dealing with, Navigating the depths and the totality of the Gospel.

and in this last part of the letter to Philemon and company that Paul wrote - Paul personifies the Gospel in its entirety.

BACKGROUND AND RECAP

Paul - The Apostle Paul who wrote 13 letters of our new testament — The person who got stuck by lightening on the way to place Christians in chains and in prison who was persecuting the church so much that he would label himself biggest sinner.

But who has been completely made new by the Work of the Holy Spirit -

New Name - New Occupation - New everything.

Paul - Is under house arrest in Rome and who is making disciple and training leaders and has a co-hort of other leaders and disciple makers with him as He is under house arrest.

Writes to Philemon, A sister in the faith Apphia - A guy Named Archippus - and He also addresses this letter to the Church that meets in Philemon House.

I want you to Imagine something with me.

I want you to imagine that We are all hanging out with Philemon at his hour.

We are all together gathered for food - worship - Studying Jesus in the Old Testament - Singing Palms - Encouraging one another praying with one another and one afternoon a guy by the name of Tychicus arrives from Rome with a couple of letters

Tychicus says out loud- Philemon - this letter is to you and Apphia and Archippus and to the Church that meets in your house.

and I have one that is to the city church that I am taking to the elders to read at the next big assembly we have.

Now you know that the minute that Tychicus says “I have a letter to the Apostle Paul to the you Philemon, Apphia, Archippus and the Church that meets in your house Philemon.

You know everyone will now want to hear what the Apostle Paul has written to them .

So Imagine with me - Everyone interested in what Paul has written and Philemon now reading this letter out loud for the first time in ear shot of everyone of the church that meets in His house hears what Paul is writing to Philemon and company.

And What Paul does so perfectly is He calls Philemon into Forgiveness

He Calls Philemon into knowing the Regeneration of the Holy Spirit -

He Calls Philemon into restoration of Onesimus

He calls Philemon into Reconciliation With Onesimus

And not Just Forgiveness But total and complete forgiveness as if the offence never took place.

Not just the Idea of regeneration but that Onesimus is totally and completely new and a new person.

Not just to restore Philemon but to restore Philemon to a higher and stronger place than He was before.

And Not just to be reconciled with Onesimus but to be reconciled to where the relationship is better than it was before it was deeper than it was before it was more and higher and deeper and more significant than it was before.

He calls Philemon into the Gospel of Jesus.

And what we will unpack this morning Paul will call Philemon to Live out the Gospel in the totality of the Gospel of Jesus Christ for all the world around Philemon to see.

UNPACKING

What Paul then begins to do is lay it all out there on Philemon.

VS 17

SO Paul Begins this part of the letter after He has called Philemon into the Gospel -

He says - SO, as in “SO then” or in many other letters that Paul has written “Therefore”

Paul then places His relationship with Philemon out in front of this call to Philemon

“IF YOU CONSIDER ME A PARTNER”

Consider - in today's terms that means “to think of” Paraphrased this would read “if you think of me as your partner”

it almost has a comparative tone.

But that is not the New Testament word for Consider.

The Word Consider in the New Testament means “to possess something or someone”

So here is what Paul has just said to Philemon

If you know that I possess the position of your partner”

Not that you think of me that way but that I truly possess the position in your life as Partner?

Partner in What?

Partner = One who participates with another in a joint enterprise or effort.

The words does not have an indication of silent or absent or non-active Partner but a partner who is active in the same activity.

What is even more interesting about Paul pulling of Philemon to the Gospel - - into the depth and severity of their relationship and yet the likely hood that Paul and Philemon have never actually met is pretty high.

Partner in what?

Paul uses clearer language in his letter to the Philippian Church -

Philippians 1:3–5 ESV

3 I thank my God in all my remembrance of you, 4 always in every prayer of mine for you all making my prayer with joy, 5 because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now.

If you were Fellow Workmen - Co Laborers - Partners with Paul you were Fellow Workmen - Co Laborers and Partners in one enterprise

The Advance of the Gospel!

Paul says If I hole the Identity to you as a person that we are commonly advancing the Gospel together -

Then Receive Onesimus as you would receive me!

Now that is a pretty bold claim -

That’s like saying some really important person Like the President of the United states - Or a former one if you prefer - Calling you up and saying “I am sending you a former inmate a former prisoner - a person who has committed crimes and those crimes were against you - and He has come to faith in the Lord - This homeless former inmate and criminal -

Receive this homeless ex con the same way you would receive me -

That is the Level of Redemption.

The Level of Trust -

The Level of Reconciliation and the Level of Restoration that Paul has called Philemon into in regards to this former slave who stole and ran and was under the death penalty.

You see its a station and a new relationship that was higher and stronger and more useful than it was before.

And this is what Paul is calling Philemon into.

VS 18

Paul then gives us a complete Gospel picture -

Philemon 18 ESV

18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

Paul then takes on any and all debt that Onesimus owes Philemon -

Paul Tells Philemon - Charge that to me.

VS 19

Paul then seals the promise with His signature - and promise - and then He seemingly turns the tables when He says “To say nothing your owing me even your own self”

Now - On the surface it may seem like Philemon owes Paul a huge debt almost like Philemon did something wrong and offended Paul - Paul forgave Him and restored Him and put Him back into service.

But that is not way Paul is referring here to.

Paul's life is one that is focused on eternity with Jesus and his focus is one Christ -

Paul is reminding Philemon that it was the faithfulness and steadfastness of Paul that was the instrument that God used to bring Philemon to faith through Epaphras.

You see what Happened - Jesus saves Paul - Hits him with lighting while He was on His way to put Christians in Jail and after he had already approved of the killing of a Jesus follower named Stephen -

Paul then goes to Ephesus and spends three years there making disciples - One of those was from Colossae and after being saved goes back home to Colossae where Philemon was - Epaphras makes disciples in his home town and it is very likely that Philemon was one of those disciples that God used Epaphras to save Philemon and Paul is reminding Philemon of that fact -

VS20

He emphasizes this in vs 20 when He says “Yes i want some benefit from you in the lord - Refresh my heart in Christ.

Here is what we need to take this to understand - Paul is not saying “I am taking from you nor do I want to take from you - Like You owe me”

What Paul is saying here loved ones is extremely apostolic - Paul is saying - “the benefit I want to receive is in the Lord Jesus Christ - That you would be the instrument that God would use to refresh my heart -

and how would it logically be refreshed?

That the Gospel that saved you works in all circumstances.

It worked in Onesimus life and not I want to see it at work in your life and my hear will be refreshed in Christ -

You wee loved ones out hearts can take a beating in this life -

and when we see God transforming and changing people right in front of us - We are made new - We are refreshed and our trust in God is increased -

Vs 21

Paul then encourages with love, affirmation and sweet anticipation of the fruit that will be evident in Philemon's life and actions -

Paul says - I am confident of your obedience -

Obedience to Who -

Is Paul Saying that He is confidence in His obedience to Paul?

or is Paul saying that He is confident in Philemon's actions towards the Gospel?

It is the Gospel -

This is why he says that is knows that Philemon will do more than was has been stated in this letter.

Paul then says “prep a room for I am coming to visit if god answers your prayers”

He never get to Philemon's house.

VS23 VS24

In 23 and 24 He simply says “good by” and what is interesting is He lists the people that are with Him

Epaphras - the Guy who planted and began the disciple making movement in Colossae - who was also under arrest at the time —

Mark the cousin of a guy named Barnabas -

Aristarchus - a Macedonian guy who was in Rome from the church in Thessalonian

Demas - A guy who would later abandon the faith and fall back in love with the world as Paul would put it.

and LUKE - Dr Luke who had at this point accompanied Paul on at least ONE of his missionary journeys across the middle east and southern Europe to make disciples and plant churches -

Luke is also the faithful servant who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the Book of acts.

STICKY POINT OBED AND PRAYER TEAM

There are THREE things that we need to take home with us this morning out of this letter -

1ST

in our deep understanding of the fullness of what Jesus has done and desires for us to do -

Jesus Paid our debt - God in Christ reconciling the world to himself -

Jesus takes on Him self the very guilt that we have before God and Pays in full any and all debts that we Owe to Him - It is finished he proclaimed on the Cross.

IT is not a term that simply meant “it is complete” it means It is complete the debt has been paid completely and totally -

And not Just paid by wiped off = Were written to ZERO - The Balance Sheet of assets and Liabilities restructured to look as if the debt was never there and When we turn our life over to Jesus and Trust his completed work and receive the Holy Spirit and are made new Jesus takes us before the father and says -

“This one is mine and your Holy Spirit has made Him new and He is now useful to you Father and to me by the power of your Holy Spirit and lets put Him to work”

This is what Jesus has done and what Paul personifies and shares with Philemon towards Onesimus in this letter.

2ND

God grace and our reconciliation and our living out the gospel is messy and risky -

Our relationship with people can be difficult it can be pain-filled and it can be really really a mystery as to how God can work -

But He does and when He does we will be and we are in awe -

3RD

Paul has modeled for us the Love we are to have for one another and for those that God has placed in our path to make disciples out of.

We are to love them and share Jesus with them and see them come to faith in Him.

SO what do we do now we take this to the world around us and we walk in the fullness of God’s grace and reconciliation and we live a life fully focused on Him and His kingdom and His glory.

4TH

If we are Surrendered to Christ? IF we are filled with His spirit? If we are New Creatures - Gods workmanship created in Christ - Made Alive in Christ - IF we have been saved by Grace through faith?

We are forgiven - We are Valuable to God as his instruments to advance the Gospel - Let us get to work -

Let us know that every moment of our life is to Represent Christ and to make Him Known!

Let's get to work!

LASTLY

If we are NOT Surrendered to Christ? IF we are NOT filled with His spirit? If we are NOT New Creatures - NOT Gods workmanship created in Christ - have NOT been Made Alive in Christ - IF we have NOT been saved by Grace through faith?

We are NOT forgiven

If this is you this morning -

Hear the calling of God on your life -

Know the love of God that He has for you.

To give of Himself and take your debt on fully and remove it as if your sins never existed - God placed on His only begotten Son your guilt and your shame.

God’s desire is to make you a new creature - To save you from His wrath that is due each one of us for our rebellion against Him in the way we live.

SO what must you do to be saved from the very wrath of God?

Turn your life over to Jesus - an Act Jesus calls REPENTANCE.

Repent - Be Baptized for the forgiveness of your sins - and you will receive the Holy Spirit - Be adopted as a Child of God - Receive the gift of life with God the one who made you and created you and loves you with a love that cannot be fully understood. Be made a new creature in Christ - Be Gods workmanship and walk in the amazing works of God that he has for you.

Let us know that every moment of our life is to Represent Christ and to make Him Known!

Let's get to work!

PRAYER TEAM!