Philemon

Philemon

Having finished the book of Romans, we now come to another of Paul’s letters – the shortest one, in fact, consisting of only 1 chapter. In this book, we see Paul writing a letter to his brother Philemon, urging him to accept back his wayward slave, Onesimus, who had apparently fled from his master and somehow found himself with Paul in prison, where he became a Christian and even helped Paul a lot. Paul sensed that it was the correct thing for Onesimus to go back and be reconciled with his master, and it was indeed a brave thing to do, for in normal circumstances, a master would treat a traitorous slave most severely. In view of the longevity of this letter, it would certainly appear that Philemon did just that, and welcomed Onesimus back into the home as a long, lost brother. In a way, the story of Onesimus is like that of our own. Starting off life, we like Onesimus, actually belong to God, but because of our disobedience and selfishness, we run away from God and His will. However, just as Onesimus met Paul, we met Jesus, and our lives were changed, no longer useless, but useful. And just like Paul sent Onesimus back to his master, Philemon, Jesus sends us back to our Master, our God in Heaven, giving us His full approval and commendation. 

Studying in detail this letter, we can also find many useful lessons for our daily lives:-

 1Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

   To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker,

1.      How did Paul see himself?

Paul saw himself as a prisoner of Christ Jesus. Figuratively, Paul was in prison because of his preaching of the gospel of Jesus. In another sense, he was also a prisoner of Christ Jesus in the sense that he had resolved to not to anything contrary from the will of Christ. To him, to live is Christ…. If we truly learnt to live life as prisoners and slaves of Jesus Christ, we would truly live life very differently!

2. How did Paul see Philemon?

Paul saw Philemon as his dear friend and fellow worker. Firstly, in every church, friendship and relationship is very important, and it is good for us to strengthen the fellowship aspect among the believers. Secondly, work and teamwork is also very important, a joint effort among brothers and sisters towards a common goal. Thirdly, we are all fellow workers, fellow colleagues in serving God. No one should think he is better than his brother. We are all members of one body.

2to Apphia our sister, to Archippus our fellow soldier and to the church that meets in your home:

3.      How did Paul describe Archippus?

Paul described Archippus as a fellow soldier. We are all soldiers, we are at war against the kingdom of darkness. Every time, we proclaim the gospel, do good works, pray and intercede, and seek to live a life of obedience, we are attacking the kingdom of the evil one. Hence, we need to stand guard, be alert, and ready to spread light wherever we can in the world that God has called us to live.  

4.      What is the importance of grace and peace in our lives?

3Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Grace and Peace are important blessings of God that He showers upon us everyday. God’s grace is His undeserved favor which we receive in so many ways, that we so often take for granted. Our whole world around us would collapse if God withdrew His grace from us. As Jesus said, God cause His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. Life itself is possible only because of God’ grace. Hence, we also need to learn to be gracious to others, not to treat them as their sins deserve, but to forgive and let go and bless those who do not deserve it. Peace too, is such an important blessing from God. Sometimes, when we wake up in the morning, we may feel bored or “leceh” about having to go to work, and we take for granted the peace that we have. Imagine the father who just lost his job or a man with a serious criminal charge over his head, or a lady who just found out she had a critical illness. Imagine the lack of peace they would experience. We really need to learn not to complain. Instead, we should thank God for the peace He gives us and bless others with God’s peace.

 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.

5. What was Paul thankful to God for? What did Paul remember to do?

Paul was thankful to God because he heard about their faith in Jesus and their love for all the saints. First and most important is our personal faith and relationship with Jesus. That must go well before all else. Secondly, our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is very important and the symbol of our faith. It is the will of our Lord Jesus that they will know we are Christians by our love!

Paul remembered Philemon and friends in his prayers. It is very important to keep each other in prayer. Prayer covers us, protects us and heals us through God’s grace.

6I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of every good thing we have in Christ. 7Your love has given me great joy and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the hearts of the saints.

6. Why did Paul pray that Philemon and friends would be active in sharing their faith? Why did Paul feel great joy and encouragement?

Paul prayed that Philemon and friends would be active in sharing their faith so that they would have a full understanding of every good thing they had in Christ. Most of us often wonder how people can just spend their whole lives for charity, like Mother Theresa, and countless other aid workers. However, many of them have actually found that the joy that they receive from helping people far outweighs any money or pleasure or entertainment that they can possibly get in the world. In the same way, there is no greater joy than to see a sinner saved, when we feel the joy of rejoicing with heaven over every single lost sheep that was found. Most of us find it very hard to share our faith. We are afraid to offend people, or be ridiculed, but the truth is, we should not do it in our own strength, but actively pray that we may have opportunity to share our faith in different ways in the strength and wisdom of God.

Paul felt great joy and encouragement because Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints. In providing hospitality to the brothers and sisters by opening his home, Philemon was refreshing the hearts of the saints. We too need to learn to open our homes, especially to fellow brothers and sisters and show hospitality to one another, refreshing one another in the Lord.

Lessons:

Ø  If we truly learnt to live life as prisoners and slaves of Jesus Christ, we would truly live life very differently!

Ø  In every church, friendship and relationship is very important, and it is good for us to strengthen the fellowship aspect among the believers.

Ø  Work and teamwork is important, a joint effort among brothers and sisters towards a common goal. we are all fellow workers, fellow colleagues in serving God.

Ø  No one should think he is better than his brother.

Ø  As soldiers, we need to stand guard, be alert, and ready to spread light wherever we can in the world that God has called us to live.

Ø  We need to learn to be gracious to others, not to treat them as their sins deserve, but to forgive and let go and bless those who do not deserve it

Ø  We should appreciate God for the peace He gives us and bless others with God’s peace.

Ø  Our personal faith and relationship with Jesus is most important. That must go well before all else.

Ø  Our love for our brothers and sisters in Christ is very important and the symbol of our faith.

Ø  It is very important to keep each other in prayer. Prayer covers us, protects us and heals us through God’s grace.

Ø  Actively pray that we may have opportunity to share our faith in different ways in the strength and wisdom of God.

Ø  Learn to open our homes, especially to fellow brothers and sisters and show hospitality to one another, refreshing one another in the Lord.

Memory Vs: 4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers
Paul's Plea for Onesimus

 8Therefore, although in Christ I could be bold and order you to do what you ought to do, 9yet I appeal to you on the basis of love. I then, as Paul—an old man and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus— 10I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 11Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me.

 12I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you. 13I would have liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the gospel. 14But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any favor you do will be spontaneous and not forced. 15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.

 17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. 20I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ. 21Confident of your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask.

 22And one thing more: Prepare a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your prayers.

 23Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you greetings. 24And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my fellow workers.

 25The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.