1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:03,809 Marcel: My name is Marcel Hall and I'm going to have the honor and privilege 2 00:00:03,809 --> 00:00:05,280 to be able to speak God's word. 3 00:00:05,490 --> 00:00:08,910 Uh, this morning, uh, my wife and I, we help lead, uh, 4 00:00:08,940 --> 00:00:13,110 here in Orange County Church, specifically our North OC ministry. 5 00:00:13,110 --> 00:00:17,759 And, uh, we're grateful it, it is coming up on 10 years since we moved to Orange 6 00:00:17,759 --> 00:00:19,560 County, which is pretty incredible. 7 00:00:19,740 --> 00:00:20,820 Uh, many faces. 8 00:00:20,820 --> 00:00:25,470 Remember when we came in, it does not feel like 10 years, but it has been. 9 00:00:25,470 --> 00:00:26,970 That means you are getting old. 10 00:00:27,029 --> 00:00:27,990 That's what that means. 11 00:00:28,020 --> 00:00:30,330 I do wanna thank the AV team. 12 00:00:30,510 --> 00:00:34,230 Uh, they get here really early and, uh, thank Seth and the guys as well 13 00:00:34,230 --> 00:00:37,590 who work for the, uh, uh, uh, for, uh, for the school district here 14 00:00:37,710 --> 00:00:39,000 for all your guys' support and help. 15 00:00:39,000 --> 00:00:41,340 Thank you so much for all that you do. 16 00:00:41,730 --> 00:00:45,930 Uh, I, I, looking in on my desk the other day, had to find some 17 00:00:45,930 --> 00:00:50,310 paperwork, and I found a letter that I had written to someone. 18 00:00:50,790 --> 00:00:55,650 It was, uh, he used to be a teenager who I used to, uh, mentor a little bit, 19 00:00:56,010 --> 00:00:58,470 and, uh, he had went to the military. 20 00:00:58,770 --> 00:01:01,320 And when I found out and talked to him in a while, and so I found 21 00:01:01,320 --> 00:01:03,660 out, I wrote him a letter, but they didn't know where he was stationed. 22 00:01:04,470 --> 00:01:07,979 So I filled out the letter, I wrote the letter, I put the stamp, and I said, 23 00:01:07,979 --> 00:01:09,840 Hey, let me know where to send it. 24 00:01:10,470 --> 00:01:12,270 And his mom said, yeah, we'll do that. 25 00:01:13,289 --> 00:01:15,690 And, uh, she never did send it. 26 00:01:15,690 --> 00:01:17,340 And I put it somewhere on my desk. 27 00:01:17,340 --> 00:01:20,970 And if you see my desk, sometimes there's some other papers that, let's just say 28 00:01:20,970 --> 00:01:27,690 someone put stuff on top of, I won't say who that someone is, but the, the, 29 00:01:27,690 --> 00:01:29,670 the, the envelope stayed under them. 30 00:01:29,789 --> 00:01:32,610 And then I, I, I called one day and I talked to the mom. 31 00:01:32,610 --> 00:01:34,289 I said, Hey, I still don't have the address. 32 00:01:34,410 --> 00:01:35,430 You know, it's been a long time. 33 00:01:35,430 --> 00:01:38,670 I don't even know how long it's been, like, oh, he's already out of the service. 34 00:01:40,080 --> 00:01:41,880 I said, man, it's been that long. 35 00:01:42,660 --> 00:01:43,950 I said, how did that happen? 36 00:01:43,950 --> 00:01:45,090 And, you know, there's some other stuff. 37 00:01:45,090 --> 00:01:47,640 I think he got, you know, it was early, actually, uh, left early. 38 00:01:47,640 --> 00:01:48,899 It wasn't like a full three years. 39 00:01:49,229 --> 00:01:52,320 And, uh, and so I, I put it down and I said, well, I, I don't know. 40 00:01:52,320 --> 00:01:53,789 I'll send it to him someday. 41 00:01:54,030 --> 00:01:57,660 And so I'm looking the other day and, uh, and I look and I find this letter 42 00:01:58,200 --> 00:02:00,960 and like, man, I never sent this letter. 43 00:02:01,575 --> 00:02:06,405 It is the lost letter, the forgotten letter that I had, and, and, and we're 44 00:02:06,405 --> 00:02:10,634 actually going to do something here with some, some forgotten letters that we're 45 00:02:10,634 --> 00:02:14,955 gonna study out for the next four weeks here, what I call the forgotten letters. 46 00:02:15,735 --> 00:02:18,675 And these aren't necessarily forgotten because they're in a Bible or they're 47 00:02:18,675 --> 00:02:19,935 misplaced or something like that. 48 00:02:19,935 --> 00:02:24,435 These are letters that don't get a lot of love on Sundays, and we're gonna study Y 49 00:02:24,435 --> 00:02:27,315 Em in second, John, third John, and Jude. 50 00:02:27,945 --> 00:02:30,015 Some of you're like, I never even heard of those. 51 00:02:30,045 --> 00:02:31,905 That's why we call 'em the forgotten letters. 52 00:02:32,595 --> 00:02:35,595 And so when was the last time you heard a sermon outta one of these books? 53 00:02:37,185 --> 00:02:37,995 Been a long time. 54 00:02:37,995 --> 00:02:38,295 Has it? 55 00:02:38,805 --> 00:02:41,085 So I was like, I don't know if I ever have, we had a quote 56 00:02:41,085 --> 00:02:42,735 earlier, uh, from Philemon. 57 00:02:42,735 --> 00:02:43,454 Some of you're like, who? 58 00:02:45,495 --> 00:02:49,425 And so we're gonna study these things out and that it's gonna be a fantastic time. 59 00:02:49,425 --> 00:02:52,215 And you know, part of the reason that these are forgotten, if you 60 00:02:52,215 --> 00:02:54,345 will, is that these are the shortest. 61 00:02:54,690 --> 00:02:58,170 Letters are the shortest books in the New Testament, and they 62 00:02:58,170 --> 00:03:00,029 all have just one chapter. 63 00:03:00,600 --> 00:03:03,779 So if someone ever says, Hey, I was reading chapter three of Third 64 00:03:03,779 --> 00:03:07,890 John, you know they are lying because there is no chapter three. 65 00:03:07,980 --> 00:03:08,519 Okay? 66 00:03:09,119 --> 00:03:11,459 And so these are short, these are one chapters. 67 00:03:11,549 --> 00:03:13,859 And so we're gonna go through them and today we're gonna look 68 00:03:13,859 --> 00:03:15,570 at the first one, Philemon. 69 00:03:15,855 --> 00:03:17,865 And so let's go ahead and let's go to God in prayer. 70 00:03:17,865 --> 00:03:20,625 God, thank you so much already for what we've been able 71 00:03:20,625 --> 00:03:22,454 to experience this morning. 72 00:03:22,454 --> 00:03:25,965 Experience you by singing out, being reminded of the powerful and the 73 00:03:25,965 --> 00:03:31,454 wonderful name of Jesus, being able to be stirred and be able to commune with you. 74 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,700 God, and then also to hear your testimony through, uh, uh, or Carla's 75 00:03:35,700 --> 00:03:39,810 testimony about how you have changed not only her life, but her family's life. 76 00:03:40,140 --> 00:03:43,020 God, we've been able to be enriched by Travis and his sharing. 77 00:03:43,020 --> 00:03:45,870 And now God, we are excited to hear from your word. 78 00:03:45,870 --> 00:03:48,210 Please minister to us today. 79 00:03:48,540 --> 00:03:51,750 We please remove any and every obstacle. 80 00:03:52,110 --> 00:03:55,500 Father from that will prevent us from being able to connect with 81 00:03:55,500 --> 00:03:59,579 you, grow in our faith, and be transformed as we receive your word. 82 00:03:59,579 --> 00:04:00,840 We pray in the name of Jesus. 83 00:04:01,155 --> 00:04:01,755 Amen. 84 00:04:02,954 --> 00:04:05,114 Now to give some context. 85 00:04:05,700 --> 00:04:09,150 The Bible is broken up, and I know most, most of us know this, but 86 00:04:09,150 --> 00:04:13,109 I wanna help all of us out here into two pretty much divisions. 87 00:04:13,109 --> 00:04:16,680 You have the Old Testament, which is prior to Jesus' life in ministry on earth. 88 00:04:16,680 --> 00:04:19,350 And then you have the new, uh, testament, which is Jesus' 89 00:04:19,350 --> 00:04:21,329 life on earth and afterwards. 90 00:04:21,510 --> 00:04:25,680 And if you were to be really simple, there's three types of, uh, 91 00:04:25,680 --> 00:04:27,930 written writing styles in the Bible. 92 00:04:27,930 --> 00:04:30,360 And so you have a history book style, which is kind of 93 00:04:30,360 --> 00:04:31,650 going, here's what happens. 94 00:04:31,965 --> 00:04:34,935 And then you have poetry, and that's where you find the Psalms 95 00:04:34,935 --> 00:04:36,405 and Proverbs and Ecclesiastes. 96 00:04:36,645 --> 00:04:38,265 And then you have letters. 97 00:04:38,565 --> 00:04:41,865 And these are letters written to either individuals or churches. 98 00:04:41,865 --> 00:04:43,460 And most of the New Testament. 99 00:04:43,650 --> 00:04:49,500 It is comprised of letters that were written to individuals or to the church. 100 00:04:49,500 --> 00:04:54,359 And so we're gonna go ahead and look at the, uh, letter of Phil Philemon here. 101 00:04:54,359 --> 00:04:58,440 And so we wanna give a little background here as we study this out. 102 00:04:58,500 --> 00:05:01,140 And so the author is the Apostle Paul. 103 00:05:01,200 --> 00:05:02,820 He's, uh, he's in prison. 104 00:05:02,820 --> 00:05:08,219 He is on house arrest at this time, more than likely between 80, 60 to 62 in Rome. 105 00:05:08,429 --> 00:05:09,599 And this is what, uh. 106 00:05:09,875 --> 00:05:12,995 Scholars called the prison epistles, and so he wrote several 107 00:05:12,995 --> 00:05:14,435 letters while he was imprisoned. 108 00:05:14,915 --> 00:05:17,045 The main character, there's a, there's a number of people that 109 00:05:17,045 --> 00:05:20,375 are gonna be mentioned, but the main characters in the letter are 110 00:05:20,375 --> 00:05:25,235 Paul the Apostle, who intercedes on the behalf of a guy named OSUs. 111 00:05:25,415 --> 00:05:28,775 And then there's Philemon, who is a Christian leader in the city of 112 00:05:28,775 --> 00:05:32,435 Colossae, and he's actually the host of a church that meets in his home. 113 00:05:32,645 --> 00:05:36,185 So he is more than likely a wealthy Christian because he is able 114 00:05:36,185 --> 00:05:38,075 to house, uh, that many people. 115 00:05:38,075 --> 00:05:39,605 Then there's a guy named Onesimus. 116 00:05:39,870 --> 00:05:44,940 Who's actually the, uh, slave of Philemon, and so he ran away. 117 00:05:44,940 --> 00:05:50,010 We don't know all the particulars, but he became a Christian actually with Paul. 118 00:05:50,100 --> 00:05:55,380 And now Paul is sending Philemon back, or excuse me, sending one 119 00:05:55,440 --> 00:05:57,180 on this miss back to Philemon. 120 00:05:59,400 --> 00:06:00,240 So you guys get there. 121 00:06:00,930 --> 00:06:02,789 Alright, so now here's the purpose. 122 00:06:02,789 --> 00:06:07,080 Paul writes this letter to Urge Philemon to receive on this myth, not as a slave, 123 00:06:07,320 --> 00:06:10,229 but as a beloved brother in Christ. 124 00:06:10,590 --> 00:06:13,260 And the letter calls for forgiveness, mutual respect and 125 00:06:13,260 --> 00:06:16,049 love within the Christian community. 126 00:06:16,169 --> 00:06:20,340 And so this is going to, uh, set us up so we can have an understanding. 127 00:06:20,340 --> 00:06:23,250 And what I also love about what we're gonna do over the next four 128 00:06:23,250 --> 00:06:24,990 weeks, but in particular today. 129 00:06:25,905 --> 00:06:31,934 Is we are going to be able to experience how you and I should go about reading 130 00:06:31,934 --> 00:06:33,344 our Bibles and our devotionals. 131 00:06:34,905 --> 00:06:37,215 And so I know a number of us, we can teach a class on how to 132 00:06:37,215 --> 00:06:38,385 read a Bible and that's awesome. 133 00:06:38,385 --> 00:06:39,645 Some of us, we don't know what to do. 134 00:06:39,645 --> 00:06:41,505 When we read, we're like, I don't know what this says. 135 00:06:41,505 --> 00:06:42,765 I don't know how this applies to me. 136 00:06:43,395 --> 00:06:45,104 And so here's what we first need to do. 137 00:06:45,104 --> 00:06:47,474 We first need to understand what is it that we're reading. 138 00:06:48,900 --> 00:06:49,530 We didn't understand. 139 00:06:49,530 --> 00:06:50,430 Is this a letter? 140 00:06:50,430 --> 00:06:51,360 Is this a history book? 141 00:06:51,360 --> 00:06:51,960 Is this poetry? 142 00:06:51,960 --> 00:06:56,100 Because we will interpret and we will receive God's message in a different way. 143 00:06:56,550 --> 00:07:00,930 You guys get what I'm saying here, and so we also need to understand, okay? 144 00:07:00,960 --> 00:07:01,440 Okay. 145 00:07:01,770 --> 00:07:05,400 When you are reading a letter, there's some things you have to 146 00:07:05,400 --> 00:07:07,050 understand as you're reading a letter. 147 00:07:07,890 --> 00:07:13,890 One is that you can never fully know all the context of the letter 148 00:07:13,950 --> 00:07:15,090 because you weren't a part of it. 149 00:07:15,390 --> 00:07:16,200 You get what I'm saying? 150 00:07:16,950 --> 00:07:18,510 I'm looking at my boy Gene right here. 151 00:07:18,510 --> 00:07:23,520 So if I wrote a letter to Gene and I read this letter to everybody, you would have 152 00:07:23,520 --> 00:07:25,200 a good idea of what I'm talking about. 153 00:07:25,200 --> 00:07:28,050 But what if I threw in some inside jokes in there? 154 00:07:28,950 --> 00:07:30,270 Would you be able to capture all that? 155 00:07:30,990 --> 00:07:31,890 No, you wouldn't. 156 00:07:31,890 --> 00:07:32,430 Right? 157 00:07:32,670 --> 00:07:37,920 And so as you read the letters, we can't fully get all of the context because 158 00:07:37,920 --> 00:07:39,750 we don't know all the particulars. 159 00:07:40,020 --> 00:07:43,740 But what God wants us to do is he wants us to take the principles. 160 00:07:44,355 --> 00:07:45,435 That we see. 161 00:07:45,705 --> 00:07:50,265 See how it applies to our lives, and then apply it to our lives going forward. 162 00:07:50,265 --> 00:07:51,225 You guys get me here. 163 00:07:51,225 --> 00:07:55,815 Yeah, and so this is important here as we read so we can speculate. 164 00:07:56,055 --> 00:08:00,225 There's some things that seem to be more than likely or probable, but 165 00:08:00,255 --> 00:08:04,305 some things we don't know what the a hundred percent certainty how it was. 166 00:08:04,305 --> 00:08:05,295 You guys get what I'm saying? 167 00:08:05,625 --> 00:08:10,125 But that's okay because the point is that we grab the P principles 168 00:08:10,335 --> 00:08:14,385 and the lessons that God wants us to take from these letters. 169 00:08:14,385 --> 00:08:15,525 Church, are you with me here? 170 00:08:16,155 --> 00:08:17,745 Alright, let's go ahead and let's get into it. 171 00:08:17,745 --> 00:08:18,974 Now, here's what I need for you to do. 172 00:08:19,125 --> 00:08:24,015 I need for you to note and take note, what principles and what takeaways do you grab 173 00:08:24,135 --> 00:08:27,044 from this letter from Paul to Philemon. 174 00:08:27,044 --> 00:08:27,284 Okay. 175 00:08:27,284 --> 00:08:28,935 So go ahead, pull out your phone. 176 00:08:28,935 --> 00:08:32,235 I know most of us don't take physical notes anymore, but go ahead and get 177 00:08:32,235 --> 00:08:37,424 ready here to write down what is it that stands out to you in this letter. 178 00:08:37,573 --> 00:08:39,975 And so we're gonna read Philemon chapter one. 179 00:08:41,640 --> 00:08:42,600 There's only one chapter. 180 00:08:43,380 --> 00:08:46,200 See, y Okay, you, you gotta catch on that. 181 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:46,830 All right, here we go. 182 00:08:46,980 --> 00:08:48,150 Philemon, chapter one. 183 00:08:48,150 --> 00:08:48,720 You guys with me? 184 00:08:48,720 --> 00:08:49,200 Church? 185 00:08:49,620 --> 00:08:50,220 Let's go ahead. 186 00:08:50,220 --> 00:08:51,210 Let's get into it here. 187 00:08:51,210 --> 00:08:51,540 All right. 188 00:08:51,540 --> 00:08:57,780 It says Paul, a prisoner of Christ, Jesus, and Timothy, our brother to Philemon, 189 00:08:57,780 --> 00:09:00,450 our dear friend and fellow worker. 190 00:09:00,630 --> 00:09:05,460 So we believe that Paul met Philemon, uh, probably maybe an Ephesus. 191 00:09:05,460 --> 00:09:06,090 We're not sure. 192 00:09:06,390 --> 00:09:09,480 And so scholars, we we're speculating here, but we know from this letter 193 00:09:09,540 --> 00:09:13,230 that they had a great friendship and that they were workers in the gospel. 194 00:09:13,410 --> 00:09:18,780 And this is also to Appian and believe it's probable that that was his, his 195 00:09:18,780 --> 00:09:23,550 wife, our sister and octopus, and probably his son, our fellow soldier, 196 00:09:23,550 --> 00:09:29,070 and to the church that meets in your home, grace and peace to you from God, 197 00:09:29,070 --> 00:09:32,040 our father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. 198 00:09:32,819 --> 00:09:37,110 I always think my God, as I remember you and my prayers, because I hear 199 00:09:37,110 --> 00:09:42,329 about your love for all his holy people, and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 200 00:09:42,660 --> 00:09:47,189 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening 201 00:09:47,189 --> 00:09:51,750 your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 202 00:09:51,930 --> 00:09:56,430 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you brother have 203 00:09:56,430 --> 00:10:00,420 refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. 204 00:10:01,305 --> 00:10:05,025 Therefore, now whenever you see therefore in the scriptures, what does that mean? 205 00:10:05,025 --> 00:10:07,545 You need to know what happened B before, right? 206 00:10:08,025 --> 00:10:09,225 And so what he just say? 207 00:10:09,225 --> 00:10:12,285 He says, Hey man, I, I pray that, that word, were united in things. 208 00:10:12,285 --> 00:10:16,635 We're united in this faith that you'll, you'll grow in a gr deeper understanding. 209 00:10:16,965 --> 00:10:20,025 And some call it being active in share in your faith that it, 210 00:10:20,025 --> 00:10:21,675 it will produce something great. 211 00:10:21,675 --> 00:10:24,704 And hey, I know how much you love God's people. 212 00:10:25,215 --> 00:10:29,325 And so therefore, because of that, because of who you are, what my prayers 213 00:10:29,325 --> 00:10:34,605 for you here is what I'm gonna ask or call you to and your attention. 214 00:10:34,605 --> 00:10:40,425 Although in Christ, I could be bold in order you to do what you ought to do. 215 00:10:40,665 --> 00:10:44,895 Yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. 216 00:10:45,795 --> 00:10:51,165 It is none other than Paul, an old man, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus 217 00:10:51,345 --> 00:10:53,655 that I appeal to you from my son Onesimus. 218 00:10:54,480 --> 00:10:58,950 And again, it's, it seems more than likely that that Onesimus became a disciple 219 00:10:58,950 --> 00:11:04,560 of Jesus with Paul over in Rome, who became my son while I was in chains. 220 00:11:04,860 --> 00:11:11,490 Formally, he was useless to you, but now he's become useful both to you and me. 221 00:11:11,580 --> 00:11:13,800 The word, the name Onesimus means useful. 222 00:11:13,980 --> 00:11:16,140 So Paul has a little play on words here. 223 00:11:16,650 --> 00:11:18,030 Before he was useless. 224 00:11:18,120 --> 00:11:19,590 Now he's living up to his name. 225 00:11:19,590 --> 00:11:20,610 He's being useful. 226 00:11:22,290 --> 00:11:23,130 We continue. 227 00:11:24,209 --> 00:11:26,459 And he says, I'm sending him now. 228 00:11:26,459 --> 00:11:27,420 This is big. 229 00:11:28,290 --> 00:11:29,579 I am sending him. 230 00:11:30,719 --> 00:11:34,800 So again, to give some context here, the scholars, uh, uh, uh, throughout 231 00:11:34,800 --> 00:11:38,790 history have said probably at least a third of the Roman population 232 00:11:38,790 --> 00:11:41,069 of the Roman Empire were slaves. 233 00:11:42,120 --> 00:11:43,410 That's a pretty high number. 234 00:11:44,280 --> 00:11:48,120 And so slavery and, and so when we read slaves sometimes in the Bible, we 235 00:11:48,120 --> 00:11:53,010 tend to take our understanding of the Atlantic slave trade and we apply it. 236 00:11:53,535 --> 00:11:56,805 To the slave situation of the old, of the New and Old 237 00:11:56,805 --> 00:11:58,605 Testament, but it was different. 238 00:11:59,715 --> 00:12:03,584 So a number of people actually sold themselves into slavery 239 00:12:04,574 --> 00:12:06,765 because they were maybe in debt. 240 00:12:07,035 --> 00:12:10,845 So I owe a lot of money to doca here, and I'm like, DOCA, I can't pay for it. 241 00:12:10,965 --> 00:12:12,645 She's like, well, what you gonna do about it? 242 00:12:12,645 --> 00:12:14,295 I was like, well, I'll become your slave. 243 00:12:15,314 --> 00:12:16,155 She's like, okay. 244 00:12:17,535 --> 00:12:21,165 And so someone even use this as a way to climb up the social ladder. 245 00:12:21,630 --> 00:12:25,530 Because you could actually have some, some property you can actually grow, 246 00:12:25,770 --> 00:12:30,030 grow up the social ladder, and many people would buy their freedom back 247 00:12:30,540 --> 00:12:32,189 and now be in a different position. 248 00:12:32,670 --> 00:12:33,599 So slavery is different. 249 00:12:33,599 --> 00:12:36,089 Now, there was also many bad parts of slavery. 250 00:12:36,300 --> 00:12:39,329 There's ownership and so we're, we're not saying that slavery was this great 251 00:12:39,329 --> 00:12:43,589 option, but it's important that we don't insert what our understanding 252 00:12:43,589 --> 00:12:46,109 is to the scriptures because then we can get things mixed up. 253 00:12:46,109 --> 00:12:47,099 You guys get what I'm saying here? 254 00:12:47,130 --> 00:12:47,189 Yeah. 255 00:12:48,570 --> 00:12:49,950 And so, but here's the thing. 256 00:12:49,950 --> 00:12:54,360 He says, I am sending him, here's the risk that's involved. 257 00:12:54,689 --> 00:12:57,330 Paul's sending Onesimus back to Philemon. 258 00:12:57,480 --> 00:12:59,939 We don't know if he's still a slave owner at this time or not. 259 00:12:59,939 --> 00:13:00,870 We, we don't know. 260 00:13:01,680 --> 00:13:06,000 But if he goes back what a slave owner can do with the runaway 261 00:13:06,000 --> 00:13:08,820 slave, he can do a number of things. 262 00:13:09,240 --> 00:13:11,400 And what he can do is he can flog him. 263 00:13:12,510 --> 00:13:13,860 He can brand him. 264 00:13:14,670 --> 00:13:19,170 Put him in chains or even kill him via crucifixion. 265 00:13:20,610 --> 00:13:23,790 So being sent back, there's a lot to this. 266 00:13:24,930 --> 00:13:26,010 It's a huge risk. 267 00:13:26,010 --> 00:13:26,939 Would you agree? 268 00:13:28,620 --> 00:13:33,329 I'm sending him, who is my hearts back to you. 269 00:13:34,140 --> 00:13:38,250 I would've liked to keep him with me so that he could take your place in helping 270 00:13:38,250 --> 00:13:41,189 me while I'm in chains for the gospel. 271 00:13:42,045 --> 00:13:45,345 But I did not wanna do anything without your consent so that any 272 00:13:45,345 --> 00:13:49,515 favor you would do would not seem forced, but would be voluntary. 273 00:13:50,265 --> 00:13:53,775 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that 274 00:13:53,775 --> 00:13:55,665 you might have him back forever. 275 00:13:55,815 --> 00:13:58,575 No longer as a slave, but better than a slave. 276 00:13:58,665 --> 00:14:05,445 As a dear brother, he is very dear to me, but even dear to you both as a 277 00:14:05,445 --> 00:14:08,775 fellow man and as a brother in the Lord. 278 00:14:09,989 --> 00:14:15,150 So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 279 00:14:15,660 --> 00:14:20,160 If he had done any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 280 00:14:20,459 --> 00:14:25,079 I Paul, in writing this with my own hand, I will pay it back. 281 00:14:25,319 --> 00:14:27,209 Not to mention that you owe me your very self. 282 00:14:27,239 --> 00:14:28,410 Yeah, that's what Travis was talking about. 283 00:14:29,910 --> 00:14:34,050 I do wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord. 284 00:14:34,349 --> 00:14:35,819 Refresh my heart in Christ. 285 00:14:36,540 --> 00:14:38,460 Confident of your obedience. 286 00:14:38,730 --> 00:14:42,810 I write to you knowing that you'll do even more than I ask. 287 00:14:44,370 --> 00:14:48,270 And one thing more, prepare a guest room for him because I hope to be restored 288 00:14:48,270 --> 00:14:50,250 to you and answer to your prayers. 289 00:14:50,610 --> 00:14:55,440 So, so Philemon has been praying for Paul, a path Forus, my fellow prisoner 290 00:14:55,440 --> 00:14:57,840 in Christ Jesus sends you greetings. 291 00:14:57,840 --> 00:15:04,050 As so do Mark R Star, Deus and Luke, my fellow workers, the 292 00:15:04,050 --> 00:15:05,790 grace of the Lord Jesus Christ. 293 00:15:06,074 --> 00:15:08,444 Be with your spirits. 294 00:15:12,885 --> 00:15:13,935 So we have this letter. 295 00:15:14,324 --> 00:15:19,755 Paul writes to his pal, his friend, one of his, one of his good old road 296 00:15:19,755 --> 00:15:25,395 dogs if Yian, and he says, Hey, I'm sending back your former slave to you. 297 00:15:26,265 --> 00:15:28,574 He's a chance for man now. 298 00:15:28,965 --> 00:15:32,895 And I'm sending him back that he won't be your slave, but he will be your brother. 299 00:15:33,375 --> 00:15:33,854 Continue. 300 00:15:33,854 --> 00:15:35,745 Pray for me that I'll get outta this situation. 301 00:15:35,745 --> 00:15:37,334 I'll see you soon. 302 00:15:38,055 --> 00:15:40,604 Oh, and everybody else sends their greetings as well. 303 00:15:41,474 --> 00:15:44,594 And so here's the question, and I want you to go ahead and write this down 304 00:15:44,594 --> 00:15:47,925 here, and I want you to take a minute or two with the people around you. 305 00:15:48,045 --> 00:15:51,344 What principle, principles or lessons stand out to you in this letter? 306 00:15:53,250 --> 00:15:54,300 What stood out to you? 307 00:15:54,300 --> 00:15:56,940 What principles, what lessons stand out to you? 308 00:15:56,970 --> 00:16:00,660 Go ahead and write it on down and then I want you to go ahead and, uh, give you a 309 00:16:00,660 --> 00:16:02,610 couple minutes to share with each other. 310 00:16:02,730 --> 00:16:04,890 What are the things that you wrote down that stood out to 311 00:16:04,890 --> 00:16:06,750 you from the letter to Philemon? 312 00:16:06,750 --> 00:16:07,800 You guys with me here? 313 00:16:08,310 --> 00:16:09,640 Alright, and those are online. 314 00:16:09,660 --> 00:16:09,990 Go ahead. 315 00:16:09,990 --> 00:16:12,120 You can type it in the chat right there and you can get 316 00:16:12,120 --> 00:16:13,780 some, discussion going that way. 317 00:16:14,269 --> 00:16:14,869 All right. 318 00:16:15,919 --> 00:16:17,329 If you didn't finish, that's okay. 319 00:16:17,329 --> 00:16:19,039 Afterwards, you can go ahead and share. 320 00:16:19,219 --> 00:16:21,439 Let's get a couple people, let's get a couple people. 321 00:16:21,439 --> 00:16:24,739 What was it, something maybe you heard or, or stood out to you? 322 00:16:24,949 --> 00:16:27,199 Uh, from this letter to Philemon, here we go. 323 00:16:27,409 --> 00:16:28,609 Let's get a couple people to share. 324 00:16:28,699 --> 00:16:29,119 Okay. 325 00:16:29,119 --> 00:16:32,239 And so when Paul says, Hey, I could command you, but I appeal to you on 326 00:16:32,239 --> 00:16:34,309 the basis of love, is there a persona? 327 00:16:34,309 --> 00:16:36,109 Do we have an environment, an aura? 328 00:16:36,229 --> 00:16:38,899 And do we express our love to those that we connect with? 329 00:16:38,899 --> 00:16:39,589 Okay, cool. 330 00:16:39,589 --> 00:16:40,069 Awesome. 331 00:16:40,069 --> 00:16:40,819 All right, there you go. 332 00:16:40,819 --> 00:16:41,449 Yes, over here. 333 00:16:41,719 --> 00:16:46,130 Okay, so he said, he mentioned redemption, forgiveness, and, and even a, a, a, 334 00:16:46,135 --> 00:16:50,659 a glimpse of Jesus and, and, and, and how this can, can, can lead us to 335 00:16:50,719 --> 00:16:52,399 how Jesus does this for us as well. 336 00:16:52,399 --> 00:16:52,669 Okay. 337 00:16:52,669 --> 00:16:53,239 All right, Nick. 338 00:16:53,569 --> 00:16:56,059 And so there's a lot of faith that you see in there. 339 00:16:56,269 --> 00:16:59,909 Uh, Paul had to have faith in Christ that, uh, that that, that Philemon 340 00:16:59,929 --> 00:17:04,009 will hear this correctly and that he can actually be persuaded or changed 341 00:17:04,159 --> 00:17:07,519 in his thinking there as opposed to how we can think people can't change. 342 00:17:07,608 --> 00:17:09,378 So there's a lot of good stuff right there. 343 00:17:09,378 --> 00:17:09,799 Right. 344 00:17:09,979 --> 00:17:12,559 I'm sure you maybe shared something that was slightly different or. 345 00:17:12,934 --> 00:17:13,204 Whoa. 346 00:17:13,204 --> 00:17:14,013 I didn't think about that. 347 00:17:14,013 --> 00:17:15,184 But I see that now. 348 00:17:15,184 --> 00:17:18,544 Again, as we read our Bibles, we read it, we understand what we're reading, 349 00:17:18,574 --> 00:17:24,574 and then we go, oh, what are some of the principles that God's word has? 350 00:17:25,263 --> 00:17:28,114 And this is how we should read our Bibles in our devotional times. 351 00:17:28,324 --> 00:17:29,044 What is it here? 352 00:17:29,044 --> 00:17:31,714 Because if we just read it, you said, I don't know, it's just a letter. 353 00:17:31,774 --> 00:17:33,184 But know when we take a step back away. 354 00:17:33,244 --> 00:17:36,574 No, there's some principles here that apply to mankind. 355 00:17:37,564 --> 00:17:38,824 Now, let's continue here, here. 356 00:17:38,854 --> 00:17:40,234 Here's something that stood out to me. 357 00:17:40,234 --> 00:17:42,784 I wanted to share, uh, the things that stood out to me. 358 00:17:42,784 --> 00:17:43,654 Can I do that? 359 00:17:44,074 --> 00:17:47,194 It really doesn't matter what you said because I was still gonna do it anyway. 360 00:17:47,254 --> 00:17:48,034 You know what I'm saying? 361 00:17:49,474 --> 00:17:51,694 So, unless Seth cut the mic off on me. 362 00:17:51,694 --> 00:17:53,254 But even then I'd be like, I'm gonna say it. 363 00:17:53,254 --> 00:17:53,944 You know what I'm saying? 364 00:17:53,944 --> 00:17:57,004 So, but here's something that stood out to me is this is the 365 00:17:57,004 --> 00:17:58,924 kingdom of God versus the world. 366 00:17:59,764 --> 00:18:01,414 There's a stark contrast. 367 00:18:01,954 --> 00:18:06,424 To how the citizens in the kingdom of God are as opposed to the world 368 00:18:06,424 --> 00:18:08,344 and how it thinks and behaves. 369 00:18:09,394 --> 00:18:10,984 Now the kingdom of God, what does that mean? 370 00:18:10,984 --> 00:18:12,394 That that's where God rules. 371 00:18:12,394 --> 00:18:15,544 And so yes, that includes the church, but it's where God reigns. 372 00:18:15,694 --> 00:18:20,644 And so as a citizen in the kingdom of God, there's a stark contrast 373 00:18:20,794 --> 00:18:24,304 when you compare it to how the world thinks and how the world believes. 374 00:18:25,054 --> 00:18:29,044 There's a difference in relationships and reconciliation, forgiveness, 375 00:18:29,104 --> 00:18:31,114 and also just how we live. 376 00:18:31,324 --> 00:18:33,664 And so I wanna talk about these real quickly here. 377 00:18:33,874 --> 00:18:35,884 Number one, we see relationships. 378 00:18:36,394 --> 00:18:39,964 We see love, we see mutual respect. 379 00:18:40,204 --> 00:18:44,674 We see Paul's depth of love for his brothers in Christ. 380 00:18:45,034 --> 00:18:47,344 On myth man, that's like my son. 381 00:18:48,364 --> 00:18:50,614 Hey Philemon, may you, man, we've been together. 382 00:18:50,614 --> 00:18:52,084 I pray for you all the time. 383 00:18:52,204 --> 00:18:54,034 You see a depth of love. 384 00:18:55,219 --> 00:18:58,579 That's communicated in the passage there and, and there's, there's not 385 00:18:58,579 --> 00:19:01,459 this, Hey, you're just my Christian friend or somebody I went to church 386 00:19:01,459 --> 00:19:04,999 with, but you are my brother in Christ. 387 00:19:05,059 --> 00:19:06,889 And so Paul loves them so much. 388 00:19:06,889 --> 00:19:11,599 He's like, I love you and I love him, but I need this to be reconciled. 389 00:19:12,229 --> 00:19:14,209 I can't have my buddies like this. 390 00:19:14,749 --> 00:19:16,519 The kingdom of God isn't like that. 391 00:19:17,209 --> 00:19:18,979 There's not divisions in sides. 392 00:19:19,009 --> 00:19:19,099 Yes. 393 00:19:19,969 --> 00:19:22,009 And so I want you guys to be together. 394 00:19:22,009 --> 00:19:25,789 You see the love, you see the respect, Hey, I could, I do 395 00:19:25,789 --> 00:19:27,889 have a spiritual authority. 396 00:19:28,189 --> 00:19:31,099 I do have that, but I don't wanna use that. 397 00:19:31,909 --> 00:19:34,549 What I wanna do is I wanna pee on the basis of love. 398 00:19:35,119 --> 00:19:38,089 Your love for all the saints that you already displayed, your 399 00:19:38,089 --> 00:19:40,909 relationships you already have, the relationship you have with me. 400 00:19:42,604 --> 00:19:44,584 I wanna appeal to that. 401 00:19:44,644 --> 00:19:46,324 There's no manipulation. 402 00:19:46,504 --> 00:19:48,604 He even offers to pay for an SMUs. 403 00:19:48,664 --> 00:19:50,734 Hey, whatever he owes you, I'll pay for you. 404 00:19:50,794 --> 00:19:51,994 And I'm in prison. 405 00:19:52,804 --> 00:19:54,034 How much money this man got? 406 00:19:56,194 --> 00:19:57,334 He's like, I'll pay for it. 407 00:19:57,334 --> 00:20:00,514 And some believe that the way, because it says he is written off and he owes money. 408 00:20:00,664 --> 00:20:03,754 Some believe that on this mess might have actually stole from Philemon. 409 00:20:04,714 --> 00:20:06,004 So just imagine that. 410 00:20:06,784 --> 00:20:09,004 Hey, look, I'll pay you back whatever he stole from you. 411 00:20:10,819 --> 00:20:15,289 And you see this love in a truthful speech again, Hey, remember how 412 00:20:15,289 --> 00:20:16,459 you do owe me your life Now? 413 00:20:16,519 --> 00:20:18,169 Maybe he saved his life literally. 414 00:20:18,709 --> 00:20:21,949 Maybe it's just he helped him find salvation, or maybe it's an inside 415 00:20:21,949 --> 00:20:23,119 thing that we don't know about. 416 00:20:23,569 --> 00:20:25,279 Maybe that's what they used to always joke about. 417 00:20:25,279 --> 00:20:27,619 Like, Hey man, you, I owe you my life. 418 00:20:27,979 --> 00:20:30,349 Hey, remember you used to say that you owe me your life? 419 00:20:31,249 --> 00:20:32,479 And so there's truth. 420 00:20:33,064 --> 00:20:36,544 And sharing her past, which is a stark contrast to way the world is the 421 00:20:36,544 --> 00:20:41,254 way you and I used to be or the way we can be naturally, which includes 422 00:20:41,254 --> 00:20:46,324 lies in our relationship, looking at relationships for selfish gain or 423 00:20:46,324 --> 00:20:50,974 hierarchy in relationships when we're in the world, but the kingdom of God. 424 00:20:50,974 --> 00:20:56,944 We relate to each other not as friend, but as brother and sister in Christ. 425 00:20:58,234 --> 00:21:01,234 We also see in this area of reconciliation. 426 00:21:02,239 --> 00:21:04,939 Again, it's possible that he, he, he robbed him. 427 00:21:04,939 --> 00:21:05,599 We don't know. 428 00:21:05,599 --> 00:21:11,569 Or, but, or he didn't pay off his debts to Philemon maybe, maybe on this 429 00:21:11,569 --> 00:21:13,099 Miss Ode, and he didn't pay it off. 430 00:21:13,099 --> 00:21:16,039 He didn't work enough and he left whatever the case is. 431 00:21:16,159 --> 00:21:18,319 But we see, hey, Paul is thinking here. 432 00:21:18,469 --> 00:21:20,839 We gotta have this be reconciled. 433 00:21:21,619 --> 00:21:24,079 He can stay with me and we don't have to have a problem. 434 00:21:24,079 --> 00:21:27,379 He's not probably gonna see me in Rome, but he is like, no, this isn't right. 435 00:21:28,339 --> 00:21:30,739 We need to make sure that this is reconciled. 436 00:21:31,474 --> 00:21:37,504 Not just forgiven, but reconciled where we can have peace and that we can have 437 00:21:37,504 --> 00:21:40,714 a mutual affection for one another. 438 00:21:41,494 --> 00:21:42,994 That's what the desire is. 439 00:21:42,994 --> 00:21:47,644 That's what not only the ask is, but there's an expectation that Philemon, 440 00:21:47,824 --> 00:21:52,504 what Philemon would, would be merciful forgive and will go even beyond that. 441 00:21:53,404 --> 00:21:54,214 Did you catch that? 442 00:21:55,234 --> 00:21:57,049 I know you'll do even more than I ask. 443 00:21:58,114 --> 00:22:02,644 I'm asking you to take him back, but I know who you are and the way we are in the 444 00:22:02,644 --> 00:22:07,024 kingdom of God, you'll do even more than that because that's who you are, Philemon. 445 00:22:08,644 --> 00:22:13,984 And so we see this reconciliation to make sure it's right, but onesimus, 446 00:22:14,014 --> 00:22:18,034 him being humble enough and going, I need to go and make this right. 447 00:22:19,384 --> 00:22:22,924 So yes, there's a call for Philemon, but what about that call for animus? 448 00:22:23,344 --> 00:22:26,134 Hey, you can go back and you can literally be killed for this move. 449 00:22:27,499 --> 00:22:32,929 And it's more than likely that he's the one that actually gave the 450 00:22:32,929 --> 00:22:34,699 letter to the church in Colossae. 451 00:22:34,729 --> 00:22:36,619 'cause this is where they probably were in Colossae. 452 00:22:36,619 --> 00:22:39,139 So they believe that Colossians was written and then either right 453 00:22:39,139 --> 00:22:42,319 with it, or maybe right afterwards was this letter from Philemon. 454 00:22:42,469 --> 00:22:46,219 And so it's possible, or maybe even probable that Onesimus is 455 00:22:46,219 --> 00:22:47,629 right there handing it to Philemon. 456 00:22:49,399 --> 00:22:50,719 Awkward. 457 00:22:51,559 --> 00:22:55,429 You know, just imagine when Philemon sees it, like, hold up, is it? 458 00:22:56,104 --> 00:22:57,274 Is that on missus right there? 459 00:22:58,414 --> 00:23:01,324 Maybe he heard like, oh, you've been a Christian, but man, we gotta talk. 460 00:23:02,164 --> 00:23:03,094 Or maybe he didn't even know. 461 00:23:03,094 --> 00:23:08,074 He's like, man, this dude has the audacity to run up upon my church, into my home. 462 00:23:08,494 --> 00:23:12,034 And then, you know, if I, I mean on this one, like, uh, read this 463 00:23:12,034 --> 00:23:14,764 letter first and then let's talk. 464 00:23:16,054 --> 00:23:17,884 You can just imagine how that was. 465 00:23:18,124 --> 00:23:21,784 But this Ms knows, you know what, in the kingdom of God, we do things differently. 466 00:23:23,464 --> 00:23:24,934 We're gonna be reconciled. 467 00:23:25,354 --> 00:23:26,494 I'm gonna do what's right. 468 00:23:26,494 --> 00:23:29,044 Yes, I've done it wrong, but I'm gonna make it right. 469 00:23:29,914 --> 00:23:31,984 You see, reconciliation happens in the kingdom. 470 00:23:32,824 --> 00:23:36,214 That's not what happens in the world in any era or any part of the world. 471 00:23:36,244 --> 00:23:38,074 That's not normal, that's not natural. 472 00:23:39,154 --> 00:23:41,944 But in the kingdom of God, it's the expectation. 473 00:23:42,874 --> 00:23:45,544 You know, the world demands punishment, retaliation, or 474 00:23:45,544 --> 00:23:47,014 distance, and that's my challenge. 475 00:23:47,014 --> 00:23:49,234 I can forgive you, but I'm like, I'm cool on you. 476 00:23:49,234 --> 00:23:49,894 From now on. 477 00:23:50,794 --> 00:23:52,684 I forgive you, but man, I just don't wanna see you. 478 00:23:52,684 --> 00:23:53,734 I just don't want to talk to you. 479 00:23:53,734 --> 00:23:54,304 Really like that. 480 00:23:55,234 --> 00:23:55,984 That's my challenge. 481 00:23:55,984 --> 00:23:59,794 That's my sin that I have to battle, and that's how we are in the world. 482 00:23:59,794 --> 00:24:04,084 The world says, you owe me, but the kingdom, God says, I forgive you. 483 00:24:06,724 --> 00:24:07,834 There's a difference. 484 00:24:08,884 --> 00:24:13,414 The kingdom God leads to forgiveness, restoration, healing, and unity. 485 00:24:15,004 --> 00:24:17,674 We also see the effects of grace. 486 00:24:18,874 --> 00:24:21,484 We see the effects of grace. 487 00:24:21,574 --> 00:24:23,914 You know, all have received grace. 488 00:24:24,484 --> 00:24:32,044 In this all have been transformed by grace and all respond to God's grace. 489 00:24:32,944 --> 00:24:34,624 Paul has been transformed. 490 00:24:34,774 --> 00:24:38,674 He received God's grace in his life, and now what's he doing? 491 00:24:38,704 --> 00:24:42,544 He's trying to help Philemon and Onesimus find even more grace. 492 00:24:43,714 --> 00:24:46,684 Hey, Onesimus, I, I, I, I, I want you to find more grace from 493 00:24:46,684 --> 00:24:48,574 your brother, Philemon Philemon. 494 00:24:48,604 --> 00:24:53,434 I want you to extend Grace to your brother in Christ right there. 495 00:24:53,434 --> 00:24:53,464 I. 496 00:24:54,739 --> 00:24:57,499 Onesimus, he's been transformed by grace. 497 00:24:57,529 --> 00:25:04,279 He's no longer useless, but he's useful for God and God's people and because 498 00:25:04,279 --> 00:25:09,109 of the grace that he's received, Hey, you need to go and make things right. 499 00:25:09,109 --> 00:25:11,389 I'm gonna go and make things right. 500 00:25:11,504 --> 00:25:14,029 Philemon's been transformed by grace. 501 00:25:14,179 --> 00:25:18,379 He's saved, and now he's a servant to God's people and the 502 00:25:18,379 --> 00:25:20,719 grace is now expected of him. 503 00:25:21,589 --> 00:25:25,609 And for him to extend it to his brother in Christ. 504 00:25:26,629 --> 00:25:28,999 And you know, Philemon, what do you think? 505 00:25:28,999 --> 00:25:29,779 You think he did it? 506 00:25:31,969 --> 00:25:32,779 Of course he did it. 507 00:25:32,839 --> 00:25:34,249 We wouldn't have this letter if he didn't. 508 00:25:36,049 --> 00:25:38,149 We hear a whole different story about this dude, Philemon. 509 00:25:38,149 --> 00:25:40,729 Remember that dude, Philemon, he'd be one of the bad Examplers. 510 00:25:40,729 --> 00:25:41,689 Don't be like Phil Lehman. 511 00:25:43,549 --> 00:25:44,809 He'd be all over there. 512 00:25:45,249 --> 00:25:46,294 But they wouldn't have had it. 513 00:25:46,504 --> 00:25:48,874 And so again, what happened with the letters is that they would 514 00:25:48,874 --> 00:25:51,454 receive 'em, they would share 'em, and then they started copying them 515 00:25:51,604 --> 00:25:54,694 so they could be distributed to all the brothers and sisters in Christ. 516 00:25:55,414 --> 00:25:56,644 And so, yes, Philemon did it. 517 00:25:56,644 --> 00:25:57,874 Why did he do it? 518 00:25:57,874 --> 00:26:00,484 Because of the grace he received. 519 00:26:02,614 --> 00:26:04,144 Now, if he didn't, 520 00:26:06,364 --> 00:26:10,054 if he didn't, and he stopped being a true Christian. 521 00:26:10,129 --> 00:26:14,359 Yeah, he stopped being a citizen in the kingdom of God, and he has 522 00:26:14,359 --> 00:26:21,019 reentered the empire of the world because he's holding on to bitterness. 523 00:26:22,399 --> 00:26:30,379 He's holding onto what feels natural and what comes when we act as if 524 00:26:30,379 --> 00:26:32,839 Jesus is not king of our lives. 525 00:26:35,959 --> 00:26:37,579 But see, love reconciliation. 526 00:26:37,579 --> 00:26:39,349 They aren't theories or suggestions. 527 00:26:39,859 --> 00:26:44,929 But they're the reality in the kingdom of God, and they live differently because 528 00:26:44,929 --> 00:26:46,729 of this grace that they experience. 529 00:26:46,879 --> 00:26:52,789 They live abnormal to what the Roman and Jewish society would think at that time. 530 00:26:52,849 --> 00:26:55,789 If somebody were to read that letter back then they say, are you crazy? 531 00:26:55,789 --> 00:26:57,349 Why would you do such a thing? 532 00:26:57,559 --> 00:27:00,859 Because I'm a child of God, because I submit to the 533 00:27:00,859 --> 00:27:02,929 lordship of Jesus in my life. 534 00:27:02,944 --> 00:27:03,154 That's right. 535 00:27:04,894 --> 00:27:05,884 I mean, imagine this. 536 00:27:06,064 --> 00:27:09,964 They had slaves and slave owners in the house worshiping God together. 537 00:27:13,024 --> 00:27:15,394 They were having fellowship and there was no hierarchy. 538 00:27:15,484 --> 00:27:17,464 There was mutual love and respect, 539 00:27:20,434 --> 00:27:25,474 and you see this grace through Jesus generated a new way of living. 540 00:27:26,074 --> 00:27:28,744 The way they thought about life was different. 541 00:27:29,254 --> 00:27:32,374 The way they lived their lives were different. 542 00:27:34,219 --> 00:27:39,079 It was now under the lordship of Jesus. 543 00:27:40,759 --> 00:27:42,619 And so insist used to be useless. 544 00:27:42,619 --> 00:27:45,739 Now he's useful, he's helping Paul, he's helping churches. 545 00:27:45,769 --> 00:27:47,059 He's helping others. 546 00:27:48,649 --> 00:27:51,709 It says that he delivered the church, uh, the letter to the 547 00:27:51,709 --> 00:27:53,389 church, uh, the Colossians church. 548 00:27:53,479 --> 00:27:54,829 So now he's a benefit. 549 00:27:54,949 --> 00:27:58,129 And with him, we have the benefit of reading the book of Colossians. 550 00:28:01,084 --> 00:28:06,514 We see Paul, he tried to stop the spread of the gospel to now becoming a 551 00:28:06,514 --> 00:28:11,314 Christian and then dying for his faith, and also writing 13 letters of the New 552 00:28:11,314 --> 00:28:17,914 Testament, which you and I get to enjoy, appreciate, and grow from, transformed 553 00:28:17,914 --> 00:28:23,914 by Grace Philemon using his wealth in service and in love to God's people. 554 00:28:23,974 --> 00:28:25,804 Let's use our house. 555 00:28:28,024 --> 00:28:30,364 And he has a reputation for serving. 556 00:28:31,684 --> 00:28:35,074 You know, disciples live differently and handle situations differently 557 00:28:35,194 --> 00:28:37,354 than what, what's normal in society. 558 00:28:38,344 --> 00:28:38,884 That's what we do. 559 00:28:38,884 --> 00:28:44,974 In the kingdom of God, this is normal, but to everybody else, that's odd and strange. 560 00:28:44,974 --> 00:28:45,994 That's not what we do. 561 00:28:47,314 --> 00:28:51,694 That's what we do because we serve the king most high. 562 00:28:51,694 --> 00:28:51,814 Amen. 563 00:28:53,134 --> 00:28:54,184 So here's the question. 564 00:28:55,294 --> 00:28:58,174 How does God want you to apply the principles of this letter? 565 00:28:59,494 --> 00:29:02,314 Again, when we get into the word, we figure out what are we reading? 566 00:29:02,374 --> 00:29:03,664 Hey, what is the message? 567 00:29:03,754 --> 00:29:06,844 Well, how does that apply to me and my life today? 568 00:29:08,014 --> 00:29:13,714 What do I take away from this and how do I insert into my life going forward? 569 00:29:14,644 --> 00:29:17,794 And so does your life reflect these principles? 570 00:29:17,794 --> 00:29:20,824 Does your life reflect the principles that stood out to you as you 571 00:29:20,824 --> 00:29:22,384 were sharing with one another? 572 00:29:23,569 --> 00:29:25,129 Maybe it's relationships. 573 00:29:25,729 --> 00:29:26,779 Do you have them? 574 00:29:27,799 --> 00:29:28,939 Are they of depth? 575 00:29:29,509 --> 00:29:30,739 Are they spiritual? 576 00:29:31,729 --> 00:29:37,399 Are they binding in a, in a never an ending conviction that 577 00:29:37,399 --> 00:29:39,679 we will ride or die together? 578 00:29:41,269 --> 00:29:44,179 Are they loving or are they withholding? 579 00:29:45,409 --> 00:29:47,539 Are your relationships are where you are serving? 580 00:29:47,539 --> 00:29:49,399 Are you waiting to be served? 581 00:29:50,389 --> 00:29:52,189 Do you have a God-given respect? 582 00:29:52,879 --> 00:29:56,119 Or judgmental hearts in your relationships. 583 00:29:57,409 --> 00:30:00,739 Reconciliation, are you holding a grudge? 584 00:30:01,579 --> 00:30:06,079 You know, you need to forgive, but the natural thing is to hold on to that 585 00:30:06,079 --> 00:30:10,924 bitterness or is there a situation where you need to make things right? 586 00:30:12,024 --> 00:30:17,239 You know what you did and, but you haven't gone and made things right. 587 00:30:18,514 --> 00:30:23,104 Maybe it's yet your job, maybe it's your roommate, a sibling, a 588 00:30:23,104 --> 00:30:25,894 parent, a child, or your spouse. 589 00:30:27,544 --> 00:30:32,314 Does it reflect the kingdom of God or does it reflect the world? 590 00:30:33,844 --> 00:30:35,584 What about the ways in which we're living? 591 00:30:35,944 --> 00:30:40,294 Are you living different than you did before you knew Jesus or the same? 592 00:30:41,434 --> 00:30:42,754 I appreciate Carla sharing. 593 00:30:42,814 --> 00:30:45,394 Hey, our marriage was, was a train wreck. 594 00:30:45,739 --> 00:30:47,539 We weren't even sure if it was gonna happen. 595 00:30:47,539 --> 00:30:48,319 Continue. 596 00:30:48,379 --> 00:30:49,879 What do we do with the child? 597 00:30:49,939 --> 00:30:52,969 And now she stands before you and her son is in the second row and 598 00:30:52,969 --> 00:30:54,619 she's talking about, it's transforms. 599 00:30:55,579 --> 00:30:59,389 The family now sees this after many years, Hey, can we get some advice? 600 00:31:00,469 --> 00:31:04,549 So there's a clear difference from before and after Christ. 601 00:31:05,689 --> 00:31:09,469 And so let me ask you, is there a difference right now before 602 00:31:09,469 --> 00:31:11,839 you knew Jesus and today? 603 00:31:14,104 --> 00:31:15,544 Is there a difference? 604 00:31:15,724 --> 00:31:19,354 You know, Jesus didn't die and raise so that we would live the same way and 605 00:31:19,354 --> 00:31:21,094 have the same worldview as the world. 606 00:31:21,814 --> 00:31:23,104 That wouldn't make any sense. 607 00:31:24,184 --> 00:31:25,264 He didn't do that. 608 00:31:26,464 --> 00:31:28,324 And it all comes down to this question. 609 00:31:28,834 --> 00:31:32,464 Are we gonna be citizens in the kingdom of God or are we gonna 610 00:31:32,464 --> 00:31:34,354 be natural citizens in the world? 611 00:31:35,914 --> 00:31:38,044 Because it comes down to that. 612 00:31:39,244 --> 00:31:43,444 You know, disciples of Jesus live like God is the king of our world. 613 00:31:43,474 --> 00:31:48,694 Not our feelings, not our opinions, not a Reddit article, and, and for 614 00:31:48,694 --> 00:31:51,394 sure not some TikTok influencer. 615 00:31:53,224 --> 00:31:55,624 We think, and we live differently. 616 00:31:56,794 --> 00:32:01,984 We deny ourselves of sin because of the forgiveness we have received. 617 00:32:02,824 --> 00:32:07,864 We sacrifice convenience for the sake of love that we have received. 618 00:32:08,659 --> 00:32:11,689 We extend grace to those who are undeserving because 619 00:32:11,689 --> 00:32:15,139 Jesus extended grace to us. 620 00:32:16,009 --> 00:32:20,149 We pour out ourselves to the church, to those who are lost 621 00:32:20,239 --> 00:32:21,769 and to those who are needy. 622 00:32:21,829 --> 00:32:22,099 Why? 623 00:32:22,099 --> 00:32:29,959 Because God cares for all of those, and anything less is not Christian. 624 00:32:32,029 --> 00:32:36,229 It's who we are and it's what we do. 625 00:32:37,569 --> 00:32:41,884 Because We are citizens in the kingdom of God. 626 00:32:45,124 --> 00:32:48,604 Some here you've never made that decision or you've never lived the life. 627 00:32:49,894 --> 00:32:50,824 I'm gonna be honest with you. 628 00:32:51,844 --> 00:32:54,274 I had to learn this myself 24 years ago. 629 00:32:55,774 --> 00:32:56,644 You're not a real Christian. 630 00:32:58,299 --> 00:33:01,024 If you never made a decision where Jesus was gonna be Lord, 631 00:33:01,084 --> 00:33:02,224 you were gonna think differently. 632 00:33:02,224 --> 00:33:03,514 You were gonna behave differently. 633 00:33:03,754 --> 00:33:04,564 You're not a Christian. 634 00:33:05,509 --> 00:33:08,239 I don't say this to shame, I say this to be honest, because God is 635 00:33:08,239 --> 00:33:09,469 calling you to become a Christian. 636 00:33:10,579 --> 00:33:17,119 God is calling you in grace to make that decision so that you can live as a child 637 00:33:17,299 --> 00:33:19,249 and as a citizen in the kingdom of God. 638 00:33:20,029 --> 00:33:25,849 Some of here, you're no longer living this out, you once were, and maybe you 639 00:33:25,849 --> 00:33:29,479 completely abandoned it or, or you're just realizing, you know, my life doesn't 640 00:33:29,479 --> 00:33:30,949 really reflect the kingdom of God. 641 00:33:30,949 --> 00:33:31,909 It reflects the world. 642 00:33:33,019 --> 00:33:35,869 But you're on dangerous ground of losing your connection to God. 643 00:33:36,589 --> 00:33:41,269 The call for you today is to repent today, not tomorrow, not Tuesday, not Thursday. 644 00:33:41,929 --> 00:33:42,859 This very hour. 645 00:33:43,759 --> 00:33:45,079 And get the help that you need. 646 00:33:45,769 --> 00:33:47,209 We all help each other out. 647 00:33:48,499 --> 00:33:54,289 Some of us, hey, we've been faithful to God, and, and, and, and we know it. 648 00:33:54,289 --> 00:33:56,809 We can say with conviction and we can stand confidently and God 649 00:33:56,809 --> 00:33:58,399 would testify to and say yes. 650 00:33:58,459 --> 00:34:01,579 And I wanna encourage you, stay faithful and keep going. 651 00:34:03,844 --> 00:34:06,784 Don't say, well, let me just slow down a little bit, or let me pat myself on the 652 00:34:06,784 --> 00:34:10,504 back note, you are responding to God's grace in your life, so keep moving forward 653 00:34:11,284 --> 00:34:15,873 and then help others to connect with God's grace that's offered to them as well. 654 00:34:17,074 --> 00:34:18,154 I wanna get real practical. 655 00:34:18,154 --> 00:34:19,594 Church, are you still with me here? 656 00:34:20,824 --> 00:34:24,094 I like to have action steps for the week here, so let's just do it this week here. 657 00:34:24,094 --> 00:34:26,764 All right, ask yourself and answer this question this week. 658 00:34:27,079 --> 00:34:28,369 And please make sure you do this. 659 00:34:28,369 --> 00:34:32,059 What principle from Philemon applies to my life this week? 660 00:34:32,869 --> 00:34:34,458 So maybe again, it was something you shared. 661 00:34:34,458 --> 00:34:37,279 Maybe it was relationships, reconciliation, the effects of 662 00:34:37,279 --> 00:34:38,659 grace, whatever the case may be. 663 00:34:38,869 --> 00:34:40,728 Ask yourself that question. 664 00:34:41,359 --> 00:34:46,219 What principle from Philemon applies to my life this week? 665 00:34:46,668 --> 00:34:48,619 And then do this, answer this question. 666 00:34:48,799 --> 00:34:53,329 What specific action will I take to live out that principle this week? 667 00:34:54,768 --> 00:34:55,699 'cause again. 668 00:34:56,464 --> 00:34:59,224 When you read God's Word, alright, let me understand. 669 00:34:59,224 --> 00:35:00,004 What am I reading? 670 00:35:00,004 --> 00:35:04,204 Okay, here's the message that we see that, that, that, that God 671 00:35:04,204 --> 00:35:06,424 has here as it applies to my life. 672 00:35:06,484 --> 00:35:08,344 Now here's what I'm gonna go do with that, 673 00:35:10,474 --> 00:35:14,074 and that's how we take in God's word. 674 00:35:14,854 --> 00:35:16,444 And so why do these things? 675 00:35:16,444 --> 00:35:17,074 Well? 676 00:35:17,314 --> 00:35:20,524 Because it'll align you with God's will for your life this week. 677 00:35:21,754 --> 00:35:25,714 I heard this phrase many years ago, and I say it and I'm a full believer in this 678 00:35:25,714 --> 00:35:30,094 phrase, being at the center of God's will is the safest place you can be. 679 00:35:31,894 --> 00:35:36,214 Being right at the center of God's will, it's the best place you can be. 680 00:35:37,624 --> 00:35:41,464 The blessings that come, the fruit of it, and, and the fruit that you're able to, or 681 00:35:41,464 --> 00:35:43,834 the blessing you're able to be to others. 682 00:35:45,454 --> 00:35:48,814 Also, God wants you to apply his word to your life, and this is where 683 00:35:48,814 --> 00:35:50,404 the transformation takes place. 684 00:35:50,884 --> 00:35:54,784 Not from just reading, not from just studying, not for just agreeing and 685 00:35:54,784 --> 00:36:00,514 liking it, but you actually living it out will transform your life. 686 00:36:01,054 --> 00:36:04,864 And so if we do this this week, God will take steps in the transformation 687 00:36:04,864 --> 00:36:10,084 this week in our lives Forgotten letter. 688 00:36:10,804 --> 00:36:11,764 It's for us today. 689 00:36:11,914 --> 00:36:16,354 And in God's love and in God's grace, he has a message for your soul. 690 00:36:16,444 --> 00:36:17,014 This hour. 691 00:36:17,014 --> 00:36:19,894 May you receive it and may you apply it. 692 00:36:20,704 --> 00:36:24,904 Philemon Philemon, there's at least one theme that we know of. 693 00:36:24,904 --> 00:36:27,034 Do you see the Kingdom of God versus the world? 694 00:36:27,244 --> 00:36:32,644 We see it in relationships, reconciliation, and the effects of grace. 695 00:36:32,854 --> 00:36:35,704 We close out with this desire and this prayer as well. 696 00:36:36,244 --> 00:36:39,454 I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective 697 00:36:39,454 --> 00:36:43,234 in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share. 698 00:36:43,294 --> 00:36:44,494 For the sake of Christ. 699 00:36:44,674 --> 00:36:49,534 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 700 00:36:49,564 --> 00:36:50,014 Amen.