Lovivng, Willing, Disciplined Reconcilliation

Text: Philemon

CIT: How should Philemon receive Onesimus? He should recieve him just as if he were Paul.

CIS: Church, let’s keep the main thing the main thing: God’s wants to use to redeem the world around you in all its shapes, shades, and sizes.

SO: Apply: Examine what in your life is confusing the main thing in your life: Prejudice, Politics, Precedent.

Intro:

Does this look like me?

When AJ was born we wanted to be able to show him where he came from.

Martin Davis (35, Mulatto) is the oldest ancestor I can definitively trace my lineage, via 1870 Census Nacogdoches, TX.

He lives one house away from another Davis, G.W. Davis 1870. Many slaves didn’t move at emancipation.

1860/50 records suggest that G.W. Davis may have fathered Martin by an unnamed Black Woman slave that was near the same age as G.W.

My ancestor Martin likely celebrated the first Juneteeth. He may have rejoiced in the new freedom his faith promised him and ancestors wished for.

Today, I want to look at what the Bible has to say about what we Black Texans and now all Americans have celebrate on Juneteenth.

Our text today will be the entire book of Philemon.

Pray

Philemon 1–10 ESV

1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house: 3 Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 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. 8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment.

Context

Paul

Prisoner v.1

Old Man v.9

Appeals instead of command to do what is right v.8

Philemon

Church Leader (Collase),

Slave Owner (Wronged?),

Love/Faith/Refresher of Saints

Onesimus

Subject of Paul’s appeal

Scary, Radical Reconciliation

Philemon 8–16 ESV

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love’s sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. 13 I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, 16 no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Exp:

Paul wants Philemon to do what is right through an appeal, rather than a command.

He wants Philemon to respond willingly, not under compulsion

1 Pet 5:2 “2 shepherd the flock of God that is among you, exercising oversight, not under compulsion, but willingly, as God would have you; not for shameful gain, but eagerly;”

The result of Christian love changes an owner-slave relationship to beloved brother in the flesh and Lord relationship.

Thus Paul is sending Onesimus back to his former owner.

I wish that this said Slavery is wrong. But what does the bible show us? Christian love transcends societal norms. God’s kingdom principles trump the world.

App:

Chapel, God wants to use you to redeem the world around you no matter what shape, shade, or size they are.

But are you holding on to Prejudice? You must willingly repent of this if you are to obey the calling of God.

Let’s Keep the Main thing the Main thing.

The Main Thing is Difficult

Philemon 17–20 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.

Exp:

Paul appeals to Philemon to receive Onesimus as he would Paul.

Scholar suggest, that not only that Onesimus run away, but he even stole something from Philemon on the way out.

Though the Ante is high, Paul reminds him that is encounter with Christ is due in part because of Him and thus was also in debt to Paul

App:

Chapel, God wants to use you to redeem the world, even those who have taken something from you.

But God may not be able to use you if your politics trumps God’s kingdom principles.

Let’s keep the Main thing, the Main thing.

Confidence for Change is Guaranteed in Christ

Philemon 21–25 ESV

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.

Exp:

Paul’s a confident pastor isnt he?

Pretend that I am Paul, would you go back if I told you to?

Why is he confident

He knew the transformation of Christ in Philemon

He knew the transformation of Christ in Onesimus

He is going to come on over, eat his food, and check up on Philemon, if possible.

App:

Chapel, has God done a true work of transformation in our hearts?

Are you confident in the power of God?

So will you precedent set the standard?

How can we keep the main the the main thing, dover chapel?

The Main things for God has been to redeem humanity to himself. God wants to use you. Will you be used by Him in the way he wants to use you?

We becan confident of change when we place our trust in Christ.

When we keep the main thing the main thing, we are not going to let prejudice, politics, and precedent set the agenda. We will follow the ques of Christ and be used of God to bring more into his kingdom of freedom.