I wonder if we do that????
Philemon
1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,
To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to 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, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.
8 Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ to command you what is fitting, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you--being such a one as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-- 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.
17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. 18 But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account. 19 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. I will repay--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. 21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. 22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.
23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. 25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
NKJV
This passage here always stands out foremost to me:
Philemon 4-7
4 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6 that the sharing of your faith may become effective by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus. 7 For we have great joy and consolation in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. NKJV
Paul was transparent about representing his heart toward Philemon. He was thankful for the opportunity to meet him, speak about Jesus to him, and then help him in his walk with the Lord. Paul was expecting the communication of that faith in Philemon to grow and be imparted to others. That acknowledgement, that acknowledging was the recognizing Paul saw in Philemon.
This man had done such a good job in his works as to represent Jesus to others that was to Paul something that the man had to be praised. Every thing this man did for others was because of the faith he held in the Lord. His Christian character proved he "operated in God's love"!
Oh, the refreshing we could bring to others, if only we would tell them of Jesus and of the salvation available.
Philemon 10-16
10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to you, but now is profitable to you and to me. 12 I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. 14 But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. 15 For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 16 no longer as a slave but more than a slave--a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. NKJV
Paul was sending someone to Philemon and the young man was Onesimus. Because of the love for God and to Paul, Onesimus was being sent to Philemon. We are to love those begotten of God, those who follow God closely, living by faith in Jesus and allowing the Holy Spirit to rule there. Bearing the image of Christ is what each of us must do. And in that we are loved by every Christian. Those who will not love know not Jesus or His Father, God.
Prayer is evident in the fruits found in Philemon. His love and faith shine, are communicated without constraint to others. Everything we do for God must be born in Him, flow through us, and be communicated without for the glory and to the glory of God. It is "good men" who will do this!
It is seen in both a life of prayer and praises to God.
As the "servants" of God we are a treasure in a family. As the servant, they make and keep their time and all their trust in Him will promote their good. Management is done well when God is kept 1st. It is not in our visions, our dreams, or our plans, but is established when we remain to carry out what God asked of us to do. If we are His hands, His feet and His mouthpiece, do we speak as God would speak or does it appear more our own promotion time in our own interests?
Paul must have trusted Philiemon to a great degree and now he was sending Onesimus to him. Verse 12 mentions that Paul wanted Philemon to receive Onesimus with the love Paul had for him. There was to be no resentments with anyone, there was to be forgiveness to those who would have injured and offended them.
In considering the letter to Philemon, we must understand that this is "a spiritual brotherhood". Of late that is what the Lord relates to me. We are to speak "spirit to spirit". For if the kingdom of God has come to us truly, then we speak as Jesus spoke, we act as Jesus acted, and we pray like Jesus prayed! Speaking, praying and helping another only strengthens us more.
It is in that discharging of a duty for another saint that came through Jesus, is that grace shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. His eyes are ever on the "faithful".......and those believing who have placed their trust in Him walk in the perfect way.
Onesimus was to receive the same regard and Paul sent him to Philemon because he would need someone to exhort him often. The outward good extended in love will not mean as much as that which is of the spiritual, comes from the Father Who is Spirit and brings good that is life, love and power of the Holy Spirit in our lives. For that love, a joy remains, gives long after we have "left the building or the area we give the Lord to others".
If you find one throwing a tantrum, give them to God. If you find one throwing up on you by their own negativity remarks and attitude walk away. For those who love, will always love no matter what, and they will not appear as "control tower".
In God's kingdom there are no special interest groups. It is all the "kingdom" all the time "kingdom" without hesitation.
Our dependence is to be on God Who is the Creator and created much within our hearts to live life fully for Him. In that walk there will be opportunities come to reach others and will be increased as we are faithful with that part. Surely others should see Jesus in us. It is in our trust and hope in Him that we will pursue that kind of love that comes from God to give to others. And trusting God is always about communicating to HIM in prayer. It is that fervent effectual prayer of the righteous which avails much AND GIVING OF MUCH THANKS!
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