Transformed By Treasures

“ITS FOR YOUR OWN GOOD!”

Philemon’s Love and Faith

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, 6 and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ. 7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Phm 4–7.

Context

Colossae: A growing community of believers.

Philemon: Kind of a big deal.

Paul: Leading with love from a distance.

BIG IDEA: We are transformed by what we treasure.

Philemon was a transformed person.

Transformed Witness

4 I thank my God always when I remember you in my prayers, 5 because I hear of your love and of the faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints,

Love for God and the saints!

Faith towards God and belief in the Church’s work and purpose!

Philemon’s witness had travelled all the way to Rome.

Transformed Worldview.

and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ.

Philemon: A Transformed Person

Sharing our faith does something to us.

It causes us to understand “every good thing that is in us”.

What are those “good things”? They are the things we treasure.

Transformed by Treasuring God

And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, 10 so as to walk in a manner worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him: bearing fruit in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; 11 being strengthened with all power, according to his glorious might, for all endurance and patience with joy; 12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in light. 13 He has delivered us from the domain of darkness and transferred us to the kingdom of his beloved Son, 14 in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 1:9–14.

Transformed by Treasuring God’s People

Put on then, as God’s chosen ones, holy and beloved, compassionate hearts, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience, 13 bearing with one another and, if one has a complaint against another, forgiving each other; as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive. 14 And above all these put on love, which binds everything together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, to which indeed you were called in one body. And be thankful. 16 Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in all wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, with thankfulness in your hearts to God. 17 And whatever you do, in word or deed, do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through him.

The Holy Bible: English Standard Version (Wheaton, IL: Crossway Bibles, 2016), Col 3:12–17.

BIG IDEA: We are transformed by what we treasure.

Paul & Philemon’s Transformed Relationship.

7 For I have derived much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

Paul calls Philemon “brother”. Paul treasures Philemon.

Paul has every right to call Philemon a servant.

Instead, Paul elevates Philemon by calling him brother.

Philemon might be able to call himself Paul’s patron.

Instead, Paul lowers Philemon by calling him brother.

Paul puts Philemon at his level. Why?

Because Philemon has been faithful and loving.

Because Paul and Philemon have the same goal.

Because Pail and Philemon have been transformed by the gospel in the same way.

Love levels the playing field.

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. - Matthew 6:21

Conclusion

Paul is about to ask Philemon to do something that seems crazy.

It will be expensive.

It will make Philemon look foolish to his unbelieving peers.

It will transform his relationship with someone who hurt him.

Paul’s hope for Philemon:

It will transform Philemon as a leader: from a patron to a servant.

It will open Philemon’s eyes as he walks in the steps of Jesus.

It will bring glory to God by strengthening the unity of the church.

BIG IDEA: The Gospel will transform you. Then it will transform your relationships.

Who/what are you treasuring?

What have you been asked to do to transform your relationships?