POWER HOUR PODCAST Wednesday, September 1, 2021

Some things that have to be sorted out. So let me apologize for being a little late this evening and trust that you will have no less. iJoy as Elementary as righty prayed for, as we continue or walk through the book of Philemon, Philemon, sorry, the book of Philemon. Alright, know what I have to do is to pick up where we left off.

And so we're going to start a go back to the one of the last things we said last Wednesday evening, and we will just continue the walk.

Reset that the book.

Beginning with the first one, which is false greeting. His convert and friend. Cinnamon.

We can break that down by just reading the versus versus 123. We can read the verses and we can pluck out the important points in the three verses. No, I have clocked out these important points. I'm not saying that you can find others. I'm sure if you, you know that. The thing about the Bible is that when you begin to study the Bible, you would have heard of verse preached about for 20 years. And you would think there's nothing more in that verse that can be squeezed out about the John 3:16. I mean, everybody talks about that first and then if you go back into it and you begin to really looking ask, God to give you spiritual vision, there is something else that is hiding on the little Stone. Let, something there that you can turn over the store and then you find it. That's the sweetness of studying. The word of God. And let us never be afraid to ask God for wisdom because true wisdom and particularly when it comes to True, wisdom of God's will that has two entirely come from God. Not from your studies at the Seminary North from your experience as a member. None of those things interaction. We have Sabbath School. Those are good things, but the wisdom, the wisdom that exposes the will of God comes entirely from God. And the Bible says, You must ask and it shall be given unto us. All right, so let's jump the first three verses. Do you want to talk about Paul who describes himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus? That he talks about Timothy our brother, then there is Philemon, our beloved friend, and fellow Libra. Then Pollos Jose's to their beloved appear or fellow Soldier. Them to the church in your house. I'm in the final one. You want to look at is where he says grace to you and peace from God, our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Note. 4 describes himself as a prisoner of Christ, Jesus. I know I said last week and I'm reminding you that Paul uses the Greek word. We just translated prisoner that word, the word. He uses this. Decimals. This meals, which literally means bound or tied. Comes from the root, the Greek root deal. Paul described himself as bound to Jesus Christ of Jesus Christ. And he is graphic in how he describes himself as a prisoner. He says, I'm bound to him. And I even told you the story of how the Romans would sometimes tie the prisoner to the back of the person. He killed. So you kill a man, and his corpse is lying there. Sometimes as punishment, they would tie you or tie the dead man's body to your body. And then they would allow you to go your way but make it impossible for you to to get rid of that body after a while. When it begins to rot. Did the rotting body would begin to affect our to infect, your living body until you you're dead.

Paul says, I am bonded to Jesus Christ. My, I'm a prisoner. I'm connected to him and tighten it. I kind of do anything. Outside of his will. I kind of do anything outside of him? Commentators agreed. That's his meaning was likely to fold. 1 describing his relationship with Jesus Christ and the other describing, the state is present condition. The state he was in when he wrote This Book.

No. Toilet does not always identify himself this way, and this is an indication for us, that the fact that we believe Paul was a prisoner, a physical prisoner. We believe this. On one of the points that we can use in, in, in justifying this belief, is that Paul would introduce himself differently, on other occasions in Romans chapter 1 verse 1. He identifies himself as a bond servant. Which is not quite the same as prisoner. A bond servant or slave.

Uses the Greek word polis. in that instant in 1st Corinthians, chapter 1, verse 1, in Galatians, chapter 1, verse 1 in self as an apostle, which is an elevated office. So he's coming to you with words of wisdom, but he identifies himself as the Apostle of Jesus Christ. So it is clear that Paul's identifications. Match. The Tennille. All of his. Message.

And we will discover later on in this chapter. That Paul James an advantage by identifying himself as a prisoner. Are we going to see what I got? Vantage's? Whatever the message is going to be. There's times when he feels, you know, I'm going to be talking about this particular thing and sometimes tized his identity identification, the way he identifies himself to the message you once to bring to that body of believers.

I hope you got that. Clearly.

Right, but we not saying that this obtains in every instant or were you saying that you could see this pattern emerging sometimes?

In this, in this instant Paul calls himself, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, a prisoner of Christ Jesus. I'm bound to Christ, Jesus. I may believe that he could have chosen another way to identify himself and he was deliberate and identifying that he was a prisoner. And this has provoked, our conviction that Paul was at the time of writing.

Physically restrained. He did not have his freedom. He was writing as a prisoner. And he wanted this to be conveyed to the people.

We can also examine the possibility. And here's where I'm saying that sometimes the identification matches the tenor of the message. We can also examine the possibility that shows to expose the fact of his incarceration. He was drawing out the empathy.

A filament. Because people generally are more receptive to a more sympathetic towards persons having a difficult time. I'm particularly someone like Paul. Who had a special place in philemon's life? Philemon regarded as highly respected him and respected and he held in such high esteem to do to inform him that in this present moment. I'm a prisoner. I have lost my freedom. I'm tied up. I'm bummed.

I mostly like you to go out and come in as I please. I'm restrained for him to say that knowing her Fame and we got feelings regarding him, fall played on filaments emotions.

And and is this wrong? No, it's not wrong. Because there are times when you, you know, if if you want someone to do something that you think is in their interest to do, you're going to try every single strategy to get that person to understand how important it is. At least from your perspective, how important it is that this thing be done. So there's nothing wrong in in, in getting the person. To become sympathetic towards you. Because when the person become sympathetic towards you, he also becomes sympathetic towards your message.

Do you think Paul was enjoying being a prisoner of Christ Jesus. The real person that was hanging around him, that he enjoyed being a prisoner of Christ, Jesus.

Stream the point. That's why we said that Paul's identification of himself as a prisoner. Was likely to fold. He was making the point that I am bound to Jesus in relationship, which is what you're talking about.

I am irrevocably connected to him. I do say that this state would have. I'm superimposed itself on the physical restraint. Paul felt from being under house, arrest. So that Paul would not mind so much. The fact that he was not able to go out and come in. because, He?

Was more grateful. for the The confinement and I'm using some some some some strong words, the confinement that the relationship he had with Jesus placed on him. That's quite possible. That's quite possible. And that's one of the reasons why we even though we go through the same things that people outside of God's Church go through, we have the same hardships that they have their times and Christians are jobless there times when we are broke their times. And we're sick the times that we go through all kinds of difficulties just like everyone else. but our state in Jesus, Sort of ameliorates or it makes better. Those physical hardships that we Face the difficulties that I pass through because I am what?

I'm in Jesus. I'm being in Jesus. Easy, viruses. Great Piece update. Love. Thy law, offender. No State shall offender. No condition Shadow Phantom. I'm price that I am giving you peace that passes, all understanding that state of peace that the Christian enjoys from his imprisonment with cheese.

Deflects the pain in the hardship that you can face even from incarceration. Even from incarceration. So that's what is quite possible. That's quite possible. So then by him being in prison. He even got the opportunity to write.

Reggaeton. Being in prison. He had more time to address for have these issues or issues that he had in his mind for some time. And he wanted to address them know, he could not go anywhere. He was restrained, you know, sometimes confinement helps. Like, like Drew lock down. When we had the lockdown, we can go up and down, react. We stayed home and some people started reading that book that you wanted to read how many months ago, know you have nowhere to go. So you figured all this and you begin to read or are you may be going to go into the kitchen and do that that that particular dish that you've always wanted to do, but never had the time to do that. Many couples became closer to one another, through the log. Then Mom could no longer see things by a boy. You know, I'm busy. I have so many things to do today because he had nowhere to go. So, he was cornered. I also heard that many couples fought bitterly because of the locked up because they were not. They were existing on the on the joy of seeing each other as little as possible. But know that they were pushed together. 24/7. They they let their true feelings out. So yes, yes, who is incarceration to write? And remember what you said earlier that he did not just write this letter, but we believe you wrote to others as well. I just I'm alright, so Paul described himself, as a prisoner of Christ, Jesus.

Using just 2 words in describing Timothy. The first thing is that Paul allows Timothy a position as co-author of the letter. You didn't say I am writing this letter to you alone. He said I'm this is Paul and Timothy. He's pulling Timothy into a position of ownership of the message so that it is not a message coming from Paul only. It is also coming from Timothy. I'm right with this motto is Philemon. Anyway. Paul describes Timothy as our brother. You and me filament, this is Timothy. Our brother. He also is writing this message with me to you. Dixie some importance there.

You know, what is like is like right now if if if I have something difficult to ask of the members of this church.

If it's really difficult, I will call by my board of Elders together first. And I would prayerfully share it with the elders and be with the Wrangler written and they would ask the questions and and clear up everything that needed that needs to be clarified. And then and then was on that particular message as well. They would own it. They will adopt it. There was a pastor we stand with you. Let's go to the church with this. Lets us. Let us go to the church with this request. So does when I stand up there, I have the mike in my heart, I'm the spokesperson with my elders are sitting behind me. I'm the church knows that this is coming, not from Pastor only, but this is coming from all of them or leaders. It makes a difference. Doesn't it? Support for this flying. Remember this, this this this entire drama was quite difficult. This was a runaway slave that was going back home. Allen left. On a very, very difficult circumstances. You have no way of knowing whether his owner was still upset with him. so, so every advantage that Paul could gain by breaking down any Prejudice and anger, that Philemon would have For used it. And you can see this coming out in the way. He introduced Timothy that I am writing this message to you. But Timothy also is sending the message and Timothy clearly was someone that's on you.

Philemon. You Timothy also, so it was not one, but two of his friends that were sending the message team. It had that much more impact on him.

No.

He, when he goes on to make very clear that the letter is addressed to you Philemon. And he describes Philemon as our beloved friend and fellow liberal. So this message is coming to you Philemon, and we regard you as our beloved friend and our fellow Libra. Know the name. Philemon is a Greek name. And it means loving. Sophie anyone's name means what? Loving. Quite a nice thing to have. So you have a little baby coming up. You can name in Philemon. I don't think is going to survive class. Is first day of school is going to be difficult if you're not.

You know about then. I guess it was a good name for some, okay name. And it means it is a Greek name. Meaning loving. No, loving loving, of course. I love. Is it something that describes Christ Jesus himself?

I'm Paul in saying to fiddyment. We regard you as our beloved friend and the word beloved, the Greek word, Greek root that is used. I can power.

And joins him to Christ, Jesus.

Pause it. Just use the word beloved loosely. Because Paul bullying, you that Jesus is the center of all things. Loving. Supposed to call you. I need empathizes, the infinity one. We know your name means loving and we regard you as our beloved friend, using the Greek word. That is used, whenever the love of God is described the Greek, the Greek word that is used in the word agapao. And he use that in reference to the filament. Paul was further. Emphasizing to Philemon. I don't just regard you as a friend. I regard you as a friend in Jesus.

Is us a call. We will talk to one another as members of the church. I have many friends. I suppose, I hope. I really hope you know. The other day. I was sitting down and passing through my head since I surely. I said do I really have friends? And I'm looking around in my head and I and, you know, you guys, you work out there. You have your jobs and you have workmates people that you work with, they can become your friends. That don't. But my mother people, I work with generally are in the same Circle. My church people church members for me to have friends outside of the church. I have to deliberately go out there and talk to my neighbors or, you know, or talk to them. If I take the bus to the bus driver or at the supermarket to do, I befriend the girls who do the checking out and so on. So it's not always easy to make friends as a pastor. You have to be deliberate about it. But I'm saying to you that if I have those kinds of friends persons who are not members of the church. I would not hold them in the same regard. As I would hold you members of God's church because our friendship is not just acquaintance acquaintance with each other. Our friendship, arises out of our common love for Jesus Christ. Am I making sense for this? So your church brother or sister who sits beside you is and I'm not saying that you're better than other people. I'm just saying it's a fact of our circumstance. We are together in Christ. I'm so when I refer to one of you as my beloved. I'm you don't do that often enough, but perhaps we need to to begin doing it, but it one. So when I see Ella Mendez, I see, you know, my beloved brother. How are you? So that he knows that I am not just a brother. I'm a beloved brother with a love that is. Censored in Jesus Christ. Remember that John said in describing love John describes Jesus as love, couldn't find any other description. So he said God is love. All the talk that people talk, you know, about love and falling in love and making love and all of that. They have their own definition for that. But the real kind of love that is described in the word of God comes. Only from God. It's an honor there for the reference of one of God's children as beloved.

It's fine. So you believe that God treat us. Feel weird to say. He said that he have his regard. Various people. I got the Godfather Easter because that is true. That is true.

Yes, that's true. God has a special regard for his church. And of course, the service of God and invite says that the church might appear enfeebled and defective. In the sight of the world and she said, sometimes when you look at the church there, so many problems that you see among the members of the church, highly squabbling, and fighting among ourselves. Sometimes people come and describe the church's Loveless to buy pasta. No love no nothing. The church can see any any real of people have their concerns and they're afraid to tell others because you're not sure of what kind of reception you're going to get from them.

What what anybody says enfeebled and defective do the church appears? If it is too serious, the only object upon this Earth. Open which God bestows his Supreme regard. Only. Talk about day. Four, winds are the four Angels Holding Back The Winds of strife. Why till we have seen? Servants of God in the forehead. So you almost get the impression that the world is only surviving. Because God has a work to do with his people. Of course, the door is not closed on those who are not presently in the church. But who with who will also come and become a part of God's fold, so there's not. There's no Prejudice in this message. Because the invitation to be saved, goes to everybody. There's no exclusivity about God, anyone can become a part of God's Church. I, when you do become a part of the church, then you become a part of God's Bella. Exactly. Yes.

Yes,, I forgot that it can be a part of the family of God. That's exactly.

That's true.

You're not a man just like this evening, the inter-american program announcing the plans for training the members for Evangelistic work. The member, the church, the church has not settled until the membership are fully fully. Committed to bringing all this to Jesus Christ. So you said it, you said it right? Freeman. Or beloved friend and uses another description for Philly. One is his or fellow liberal or fellow liberal and a Greek word. That is used only brought one who works with us. Are all the Greek word for work. All right. Anthony doesn't stop there in his greeting. He goes beyond Philemon and he also greets a feel and commentators have agreed among themselves. That I feel whose name means fruitful. She is considered to be philemon's wife. So he's not just greeting. Fenomen is also reading his wife, I feel. And she also is described as a fellow liberal. Holding a leadership role in the church. Do you know one of the most beautiful sights to see a husband and wife working as a team in God's work? Have you had many examples of this in the in the world where it was? Not just the husband working. But the wife also worked alongside him. Sometimes the wife was the dominant one with Ministry with her Ministry and the husband giving support. The biblical model, you know is more day man as the leader and the wife supporting. But this is one example of it. Philemon and his wife. A few were considered fellow laborers in the work. So they were also active in the work of God. He goes further and describes another person in his greeting.

Are cheaper. An octopus was believed to be philemon's, son. So Paul is greeting, not just filament, but all the members of his household Affair, his wife and our Keepers, his son, his name. Means or meant Master of the horse Master of the horse. And there's another instance in the Bible where his name is mentioned, in Colossians 4, verse 17. Where Paul says, tell us see to it that you complete the ministry you have received in the Lord. What that means. What is that telling you? That also is a worker? This entire family. Is caught up in God's work. And this is the ideal for Christian families, isn't it? That's when they had received. The tidings of Salvation. It is not kept to him to himself in the shared with his spouse is shared with his children, in his church and even with members of his household.

You know, I like the fact that when the fourth Commandment was given in Exodus chapter 20 the Bible stresses. Remember the Sabbath day to keep it. Holy days, shalt thou Labour and do all that work on the 7th Day. Sabbath of the Lord in it that we shall not do any work.

Nor thy Sons darling. Daughters North, I

Nordyke, caca. Nor the stranger that is within thy Gates. I'm about stranger could be someone totally unrelated, who is just passing through, maybe, but is in your house, is under your roof. God's emphasis was that you have some kind of responsibility for all those that are connected to you.

Do a lot of us have given up that responsibility very easily.

Had a conversation with my sister earlier this week. And she mentioned the challenge that many Adventist parents in some places encounter these days with a teenaged children that are members of the church. And who will challenge the church's encouragement on tres? Someday been discharged encourages, its members not to wear jewelry.

Why have you not noticed that many of our people members are wearing jewelry? And are comfortable with it. Many of our women are fancy of themselves.

They could become advertising boards for some of the paint companies.

What do you do when your 15 year, old your 16 year old begins to take himself out, herself out, with chains and bangles, and earrings, and all of that. You're young Sabbath School member teenager. Do you sit down and allow them to do it because everyone else is doing it. Do you allow them to? Break the Paradigm that was set years ago. In Christian deportment set a new paradigm, Maybe. Do we keep silent? Do we just given the we just a boy and I can't force them against their will. They'll come to themselves later on. What is the first thing you need to do for free? Pray that God will give you wisdom to deal with it. You can pick up a stick and beat them. Or you should be concerned. There is. Enough evidence and you know, sometimes we study the Bible and we don't even make you inferences from versus like this. But once you spend time on a verse in the Bible and don't try to run run past it just spent time looking at that worse and it's amazing. The number of Truth, the amount of Truth. Sorry that God can just refuse to you. And one that comes out very clearly in this is that this was a man who clearly had control of his house. He commanded respect in his household. His wife worked alongside him, his son. What's an octave Minister out in the field?

I need to see this household that Paul was sending. On the CMAs. On a mission. Seeking Mercy.

Call have to remind Philemon. I know you. I know how you live. I know the kind of horse, you have I know the faithfulness of your wife. I know the faithfulness of the children. I know that you're pleasing to God in the way you conduct yourself. I bet his wife. I have no hesitation in encouraging, on the CMAs, your runaway slave to come back home to you because I know you What psychology? And not just cheap psychology. What psychology I am? I'm sure informed by the Holy Spirit.

Servant of God season psychology. Read sometimes. Opposes religion psychology is a human science, but psychology can be a powerful tool. In the hand of God's servant when it is used by the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes to get a difficult thing, done, you have to show the person that you want to do it that you are the right person to do with God has given you every bit of equipment, all the tools. You need to do that task. Or heads as we pray. By the way, thank you for the word of God. Sometimes, if you want to run and finish until just get to the end of it, Lord, but we can't because the word is so rich. It has so much to offer us. Lessons for life, lessons for living. Tonight Lord. We see even in this simple greeting. It's loaded. Every word that Paul uses is carefully, chose. I meant to have an impact on the ones to whom it is directed.

Father, I pray that we Norwin walk might be as careful as he was.

Let me encourage others that we choose words that we have asked you to bet. For the wisdom from above so that when those words come to the hearts of others there Wade. They are considered. They are ingested and they have an impact on the lives of those to whom, they are directed. So thank you Lord for the word of God. Next week by your grace, as we continue this, walk through the word, me reminds continue to open up. Maybe continue to see what it is that you want us to do. Thank you, Lord, for being with us tonight in Jesus name. I mean, Good night, everyone.

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