A Time for Restoration

Such a Time as This  •  Sermon  •  Submitted   •  Presented   •  46:48
0 ratings
· 9 views
Files
Notes
Transcript
Handout

Introduction

Today I want to do a somewhat book overview of this short letter from Paul to a man by the name of Philemon. Let’s look first at some of the attributes of this man Philemon:
Philemon was a man of God (v1)
His conversion implies it’s tied to Paul’s ministry (v19)
He had a church in his house (v2)
He had great love and faith to Christ and the brethren (v5-6)
He ministered to the saints (v7)
He also had a slave - his name was Onesimus
Onesimus had apparently stolen from Philemon and fled unto Rome.
Now, in our society today, if you should happen to mention that someone held slaves, they are automatically looked upon as though they are lower than dirt. But I want you to withhold that opinion for a few moments concerning this man Philemon.
In ancient days, slavery was not only accepted by society, but many slaves were so by choice. They’d incurred debts and would sell themselves - or their children - into slavery to clear the debt.
In addition, many were considered semi-free in that they had responsibilities to their masters, but lived much like a worker in a job. They had some freedom to come & go and such.
(Ill.) In that sense, most of us would be considered slaves or servants to our employers.
The Title of this message is ‘A Time for Restoration’. Onesimus is estranged from his master. He’d sinned against him, and Paul was working to reconcile this relationship. What we have in this book is a beautiful picture of a backslidden servant restored unto a right relationship unto God.
In like fashion - there’s many servants of our LORD Jesus Christ who have wandered away. Many who have taken from their Master and fled off into a far country. Now I know ‘New Years’ is coming up where many make resolutions. I want to say this today - there’s a little Onesimus in all of us - some more than others. Many of us have strayed away to some degree, but the Time for Restoration isn’t found in a ‘New Years Resolution’ in a few weeks, - it’s found at the altar of God today!
The first thing that we will examine is the Separation

I. Separation

It’s apparent that at one time, Philemon and Onesimus were together. They had a relationship.
It was not an equal relationship - but a relationship none-the-less. Onesimus was the servant to Philemon, who was at Colosse, but was at the writing of this letter, fled to Rome - where he met and was converted by Paul.
But let’s look first at what caused the Separation
He Rejected His Authority
As I have stated, but needs be made clear, Onesimus and Philemon were not on the same level. One was servant to the other. Philemon was Onesimus’ authority. We have no way of knowing the circumstances to which this arrangement was made, but it was made none-the-less.
And somewhere along the way, Onesimus rejected the Authority that Philemon had over him.
Church, in like manner, you and I are not equal with God - in NO WAY are we equal, or even close - but we’re speaking specifically concerning authority.
(Ill.) Much as a private and the President are not equal in authority, or a student and the principle are not equal in authority - you and I are not equal in authority with God!
Many Christians suffer confusion about the relationship between man and God.
(Ill.) We have the ‘Jesus take the wheel’ mentality - in that we want control of our lives until it’s out of control - then we ‘allow’ God to take His seat of governance and guidance.
We pray as if God owes us something. We treat God as He is OUR servant!
What is a symptom of a person backsliding on the LORD? When they reject His authority that He has over their life. If you’re a Christian, YOU ARE NOT YOUR OWN! YOU BELONG TO THE LORD! 1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “What? know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? For ye are bought with a price: therefore glorify God in your body, and in your spirit, which are God’s.”
He Rejected his Authority
He Refused His Responsibilities
Another thing that we know about this man Onesimus is that he refused to tend to his responsibilities.
What were his responsibilities? I don’t know - but I do know that by him fleeing the master and going off into a far country, he was refusing to do them.
Church, as Christians - indebted to God, HIS property - we all have responsibilities. We all may not have the same responsibilities, but we all have them.
(Ill.) Maybe God hasn’t called you to preach or pastor a church. Maybe he hasn’t called you to the mission field. But let me ask you this: What HAS God called you to do as a Christian? Are you doing them?
There’s a universal call to every Christian - go and tell.
(Ill.) What’s your testimony like? Are you telling others about Christ?
What is a symptom of a backslidden Christian? One who is Refusing his Responsibilities unto his Master!
He refused his Responsibilities
He Raised Himself with Pride
Here was the real culprit. Pride.
You see: Rejecting your Authority is just a symptom; Refusing your Responsibilities is a symptom - the real problem is pride.
I believe pride is essence of human Adamic nature and is in every one of us to some degree.
I believe pride to have sent more people to Hell than false doctrine or religion.
Consider the religious lot in Jesus’ day: John 12:42–43 “Nevertheless among the chief rulers also many believed on him; but because of the Pharisees they did not confess him, lest they should be put out of the synagogue: For they loved the praise of men more than the praise of God.”
Pride is what damned man in the garden
Genesis 3:6 “And when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was pleasant to the eyes, and a tree to be desired to make one wise, she took of the fruit thereof, and did eat, and gave also unto her husband with her; and he did eat.”
Pride is what caused Satan to rebel
Isaiah 14:14 “I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the most High.”
Pride is the epitome of wickedness - yet man typically sees it as a ‘secondary’ sin.
Of the seven things the LORD hates, look at the first: Proverbs 6:16–19 “These six things doth the Lord hate: Yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, And hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, Feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, And he that soweth discord among brethren.”
Before murder even!
How is there contention? Proverbs 13:10 Only by pride cometh contention: But with the well advised is wisdom.” - ONLY by Pride!
Pride is an abomination to the LORD: Proverbs 16:5 “Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord: Though hand join in hand, he shall not be unpunished.”
And we must also understand church, that there is a price to pride: Proverbs 16:18 “Pride goeth before destruction, And an haughty spirit before a fall.”
We rebel against God because of Pride!
We reject God’s Authority over us because of Pride!
We refuse our Responsibilities because of Pride!
Onesimus left his master - ultimately because of Pride. The same reason, you and I will backslide on God!
We see the Cause for Separation in Onesimus first. Secondly, I want to examine Affirmation

II. Affirmation

As mentioned, Philemon - the servants master - is a picture of God. God the Father specifically. What is it that we see in this text about Philemon that can tell us about the God we serve?
His Authority was Acknowledged (v12)
Notice this church: Paul doesn’t say ‘Onesimus - you shouldn’t be a servant unto Philemon. That ain’t right! Let’s just hide you away and correct this injustice!’. No - PAUL IS SENDING HIM BACK!
The reason Paul is sending Onesimus back, is because Onesimus BELONGS to Philemon.
Again, I don’t know the circumstances that Onesimus became the servant of Philemon, all I know is that he WAS and Paul acknowledged that truth!
Church listen, contrary to this circumstance, if you’ve been born again, I can tell you exactly why you are the servant - the slave - of God.
First: He is your Creator.
God being the Creator of all, is OVER and has AUTHORITY over all! Isaiah 45:23 “I have sworn by myself, The word is gone out of my mouth in righteousness, and shall not return, That unto me every knee shall bow, Every tongue shall swear.”
Secondly, for the Christian - He is our Saviour!
Romans 14:8 “For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord’s.”
We Christians are under the authority of God, which means we’re accountable unto God!
(Ill.) This principle follows us through life. I challenge any one of you to go to your employment and just do things however you want to for a while. You’ll find out sooner or later that you’re under another’s authority!
We see the Philemon’s Authority was Acknowledged
His Love was Avowed (v5)
Avowed (def) To declare openly
We see Philemon’s love directs in two different directions:
His Love of Christ
His Love for the Saints
In the same manner, the love of the Father is directed both unto Christ - His Begotten Son, and the Saints - sons of God by the Spirit of adoption.
(Ill.) Jesus tells the story of the ‘prodigal son’. One thing that we know for certain is that whether the son was in the house, or in a far country - the father loved his son!
In the same way, no matter where you’re at - no matter what you’ve done - God loves you! He loves you with a love that is never ending! The height, depth, width, breadth cannot be measured!
Paul said: Romans 8:38–39 “For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
His Love is Avowed
His Grace was Assured (v21)
Paul says that he ‘knows’ he will not do only what he’d asked, but more!
(Ill.) Going back to the prodigal son - what did the prodigal hope for when he returned? (To be treated as a servant). But how did the father treat him? As a son - and more! He gave him a ring, robe, shoes, killed the fatted calf!
Listen church, God’s Grace is Sufficient!
We know that if you will just come home, you’re find the Father waiting with outstretched arms!
His Grace was Assured
We see what Caused the Separation, then the Affirmation that he would receive by repentance, lastly,

III. Restoration

What was required for this relationship to be restored?
Through Intercession
All this time, we’ve been speaking about Philemon and Onesimus. But there’s one who’ve we’ve not spoken about at all hardly and his name is Paul!
It’s Paul who is interceding on behalf of Onesimus! Paul here is a picture of Jesus!
Jesus plays multiple roles: Prophet, Priest and King
A Prophet is one who speaks God’s Word UNTO men
A Priest is one who intercedes to God on BEHALF of men
King is one who is LORD OVER men
Right now in this role we see Jesus is the Priest. He is working on man’s behalf to fix the relationship between men and God.
1 John 1:8–2:2 “If we say that we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say that we have not sinned, we make him a liar, and his word is not in us. My little children, these things write I unto you, that ye sin not. And if any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous: And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.”
Restoration comes through Intercession - through forgiveness found in Christ!
Through Imputation
Imputation (def) The act of reckoning something to another’s account
Look carefully at the principle that we see Paul speak of: Philemon 18 “If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;”
Paul says - ‘His sins be on me’
Do you know what Jesus says - ‘His sins be on me’!
Isa. 53 is a wonderful chapter fortelling of the work of Christ. But listen to this these two verses: Isaiah 53:11–12 “He shall see of the travail of his soul, and shall be satisfied: By his knowledge shall my righteous servant justify many; For he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore will I divide him a portion with the great, And he shall divide the spoil with the strong; Because he hath poured out his soul unto death: And he was numbered with the transgressors; And he bare the sin of many, And made intercession for the transgressors.”
Restoration is made through Imputation - our sins upon Christ
Through Recognition
Onesimus was faced with a choice. He could either recognize / acknowledge his sin and repent (change his mind & direction) and go back unto his master - or refuse.
Church, if you’re Onesimus today - if you’re the servant whose strayed away - you got to admit that! You got to own up to that!
This is where PRIDE BECOMES YOUR BIGGEST ENEMY!
The fact of the matter is you’re going to play one of two parts: You’ll either be the Pharisee or the publican.
Both went to the temple as sinners. One came away forgiven experiencing the forgiveness & righteousness of God, while the other continued in his own self-righteousness.
You must recognize where you are TRULY. You need to look at your life HONESTLY if you’re to enjoy Restoration!
Through Recognition
Through Submission
Take the message and do something with it.
Paul apparently sent this letter to Philemon by the hand of Onesimus (v12)
(Ill.) Put yourself in Onesimus’ shoes for a moment. Paul has given you this letter and instructed you to go back to Philemon. You have a choice to make. Do you go? Do you humble yourself and admit your sin and humbly seek forgiveness and trust in the word of Paul and Grace of Philemon? Or continue to be a disobedient, and unprofitable servant?
My position in this message is this: I am giving you in the stead of Christ this message. You have a choice. What will you do with it? Will you in humility come to the altar and seek restoration so that you will be a profitable servant, or will pride keep you from enjoying it?
The choice is yours. Restoration will only come through Submission

Conclusion

Related Media
See more
Related Sermons
See more
Earn an accredited degree from Redemption Seminary with Logos.