Sermon Tone Analysis

USEFUL OR USELESS

JOKE:

Mildred, the church gossip and self-appointed arbiter of the church’s morals, kept sticking her nose in the other members’ private lives.

Church members were unappreciative of her activities, but feared her enough to maintain their silence.

She made a mistake, however, when she accused George, a new member, of being an alcoholic after she saw his pickup truck parked in front of the town’s only bar one afternoon.

She commented to George and others that everyone seeing it there would know what he was doing.

George, a man of few words, stared at her for a moment and just walked away.

He didn’t explain, defend, or deny; he said nothing.

Later that evening, George quietly parked his pickup in front of Mildred’s house... and left it there all night!

Philemon 1:4-11 (GW) {Philemon,} I always thank my God when I mention you in my prayers because I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.

As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ.

Your love {for God’s people} gives me a lot of joy and encouragement.

You, brother, have comforted God’s people.

Christ makes me bold enough to order you to do the right thing.

However, I would prefer to make an appeal on the basis of love.

I, Paul, as an old man and now a prisoner for Christ Jesus, appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful].

I became his spiritual father here in prison.

Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.

Duct tape is a very USEFUL product

• In case your car overheats, and a hose is busted, duct tape is a temporary form of repair.

• Repair cracked windshield/window.

• For emergency tow and no rope – twist a long piece into a rope.

• Roll up some duct tape into a little roll half an inch in diameter.

Cut it in half.

Earplugs or nose plugs.

• Make a pouch and attach it to a door so you can hold stuff.

• Can be used to clean the floor when no vacuum is available

We are full of use in GOD’S KINGDOM once we are FULLY IN CHRIST

ILLUSTRATION

There are Tv shows such as Counting Cars, Fast N Loud, Over’Haulin, Monster Garage.

That takes what appears to be useless automobiles and repair them and BOOM that are amazing rides.

They are so full of Use after repaired I have seen bikes and car owners almost faint after restoration

In today’s text Philemon may have needed repaired so he could be “FULL OF USE” again

• We know Philemon was full of use he was a fellow worker of the Kingdom vs 1 says, “To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker”

• Philemon allows church in his home Wow! Dangerous remember the symbol of fish it was placed on doors in ancient time to let people know this home is Christian ich•thus [ˈikTHəs] Paul writes vs 2 “the church that meets in your home”:

• Philemon was full of Use mainly because of Forgiveness he had to forgive Onesimus

Onesimus was a slave who runaway and more than likely had stolen as well from Philemon -- HE wasn’t living up to Philemons’ EXPECTATIONS

Philemon 1:15-18 (GW) Maybe Onesimus was gone for a while so that you could have him back forever— no longer as a slave but better than a slave—as a dear brother.

He is especially dear to me, but even more so to you, both as a person and as a Christian.

If you think of me as your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me.

If he wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.

Philemon had to forgive & LET GO OF HIS EXPECTATIONS in order to be restored then he was full of use again

HAVE YOU EVER PLACED expectations ON OTHER PEOPLE -- You Know

They Don’t Act The Way You Think They Should

You Don’t Like The Way They Talk Right Now

You Think Likie The Way They Dress, Worship, Talk About Themselves

Maybe They Used To Be Here And Left But Now They’re Back -- Do You Keep Them In A Box

PAUL PLACED EXPECTATIONS ON HIMSELF

Paul may have needed repaired so he could be full of use .

How can I be a missionary if I am in Prison?

Paul writes at the beginning of the letter I Paul a prisoner of Christ Jesus

Paul could have given up I am not a missionary I am in prison but it is here in prison in Rome Paul writes The prison epistles—Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, and Philemon

Paul was useful despite imprisonments, beaten 3 times, once stoned, 3 times ship wreaked, spent a night and day a drift in the sea.

How many of us place expectations on ourselves cause of what we THINK OTHERS THINK!!!!

BUT -- LOOK AT WHAT PAUL SAYS TO PHILEMON --

1] YOU’RE FAITHFUL & YOU LOVE GOD’S PEOPLE

Philemon 1:5 (GW) I hear about your faithfulness to the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. .

FAITHFULNESS -- steady in allegiance; loyal; reliable

IN OTHER WORDS --

I don’t have to wonder if you’re going to show up

I don’t have to be concerned if you will love people properly

WITHOUT YOUR EXPECTATIONS

illustration

I don’t believe that there is anyone here that qualifies to Be GOD -- I really don’t believ that GOD has deputized anyone to ride roughshod over the Kingdom

BOTTOM LINE -- PAUL COUNTED ON PHILEMON

2] KNOW WHAT YOU HAVE IN CHRIST

Philemon 1:6 (NKJV) that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

When You Are Born Again -- You Are In Christ.

“You look a whole lot better in Christ than you do outside of Him!”

You Can Acknowledge Who You Are -- What You Have & What You Can Do IN CHRIST.

THINK ABOUT IT

Often we spend too much time focusing on our bad qualities and what is wrong with us.

If you look at what is wrong with you long enough -- it will get worse.

Paul is saying that for our faith to become effective -- we need to acknowledge every good thing that is ours in Christ.

How do you acknowledge them?

By confessing, speaking, or acting on the Word of God

You may question, “How long do I need to do this?”

For the rest of your life!

That means walk around your house laoghing at whatever the enemy or life is trying to distract you, discourage you & WORSHIP GOD!!!

Ephesians 1:3 (NKJV) Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ,

This is not something God is going to do or something that is going to happen when we get to heaven.

It is something that is ours RIGHT NOW.

All spiritual blessings belong to us RIGHT NOW.

IN OTHER WORDS -- You Enjoy Whatever Heaven Enjoys The Moment You Are In Christ.

You Are Hooked Up To Heaven: The Joy Of Heaven, The Peace Of Heaven, The Victory Of Heaven, And The Glory Of Heaven.

You Are Not Of This World.

You Have Been Born Of God! Hallelujah!

WHERE DOES ALL THIS HAPPEN?

It doesn’t happen in your body

It doesn’t happen in your mind

It doesn’t happen in your emotions

It happens in your spirit -- right down on the inside of you.

3] FROM USELESS TO USEFUL THROUGH FORGIVENESS

Philemon 1:10-11 (GW) appeal to you for my child Onesimus [Useful].

I became his spiritual father here in prison.

Once he was useless to you, but now he is very useful to both of us.

Onesimus no doubt became USEFUL because He encountered the Gospel which repaired his life

Onesimus no doubt became USEFUL because He received the FORGIVENESS of Philemon

ACTUALLY -- Onesimus means “useful” and that is what WE BECOME when we are repaired, when we acknowledge the good things within us IN CHRIST, when we forgive, when we do not give up

ENCOUNTERING GOD IN HIS WORD FREES US UP