Philemon 4-7 says...
Today's verses are Philemon 4-7, which read,
v.4, 5 - I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;...
Paul is writing a personal letter to Philemon but it is meant to be read very publicly by his wife, son and the church of Colossae that meets in his house. Philemon and his family are converts to Christianity. Philemon is a leader in the church and his son is a fellow laborer of the gospel with the Apostle Paul. We are invited in to listen to the personal conversation between Paul the mentor and Philemon the mentored who has grown in his faith to lead others.
I picture Paul with a small piece of parchment with these names on it that he remembers in prayer on a very regular basis. Philemon is on that list. Philemon is described by Paul as someone who has love and faith in and toward the Lord Jesus and also for the saints. Philemon loves God and loves others fulfilling the two greatest commands. He is showing by this fruit of his life that he is genuinely saved. The word "toward" is a word that signifies actions taken. Philemon has been actively loving the Lord and loving His people.
v.6 - ...and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
Philemon is a part of a fellowship of believers. The word for fellowship is so much more than just a gathering of like minded people. The word signifies a belonging to each other in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul prays that they would be "effective" or powerful through something that Philemon was going to learn.
There is a good thing that Philemon is going to learn. This good thing is within Philemon because of his relationship with the Lord. As Philemon demonstrates this good thing before the fellowship of believers, it will be used by Christ to strengthen them all. It will make a difference in the whole fellowship of believers associated with Philemon for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
v.7 - For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Philemon's life of love for God and others has brought joy to Paul's life. It has brought comfort because Paul sees the fellowship of saints "refreshed" or resting in Christ because of Philemon's conduct of life that reflects Christ. Here is a man who has come to faith in Christ and doing exactly as the Scripture says through the two greatest commandments and the church is benefiting from it greatly.
Paul wants Philemon to know this before he shares with him the knowledge he yet needs to learn and practice before those who are also reading this personal letter made public. Paul wants Philemon to know that the following of this knowledge will make a big difference on those people's lives just as his other expressions of a fruitful Christian life has on them.
As a fellowship of believers, we are connected to each other more than just a name on the side of the church or on the sign out front. We are connected to each other more than sitting in the same pew or the friendly exchanges that we have with each other. We are connected through Christ and our actions have an effect on others in a profound way, the good and the bad. Do my brothers and sisters in Christ in which I am in fellowship with see obedience to God coming out of my life? Do they see and experience me even in my times of failure, getting up in obedience to God and His word?
God is writing a very personal letter to us with the grace given to us through the cross of Christ called salvation. This very personal letter is being read by others, the fellowship, in a very public way and it has a profound effect on them. Will the effect bring joy, comfort, and rest because of our obedience to God or will it bring sadness, discomfort, and unrest because of our disobedience? Your very personal faith in Christ is very public to your family and to your fellowship. Let's pray.
"Lord, I think there are many times that we think our connection with the fellowship of the saints doesn't have much impact especially when we go against Your will. When we do things that are not in glory of You, we think that it has no bearing on the rest of the group but Your word says it does. Help us to receive the knowledge given from Your word to put it into practice for our own sake and for the sake of the fellowship that You have put us in to grow and to serve. May we realize that connection even so much more this morning as we gather together. Amen."
Pastor Adam
v.4, 5 - I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers, because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;...
Paul is writing a personal letter to Philemon but it is meant to be read very publicly by his wife, son and the church of Colossae that meets in his house. Philemon and his family are converts to Christianity. Philemon is a leader in the church and his son is a fellow laborer of the gospel with the Apostle Paul. We are invited in to listen to the personal conversation between Paul the mentor and Philemon the mentored who has grown in his faith to lead others.
I picture Paul with a small piece of parchment with these names on it that he remembers in prayer on a very regular basis. Philemon is on that list. Philemon is described by Paul as someone who has love and faith in and toward the Lord Jesus and also for the saints. Philemon loves God and loves others fulfilling the two greatest commands. He is showing by this fruit of his life that he is genuinely saved. The word "toward" is a word that signifies actions taken. Philemon has been actively loving the Lord and loving His people.
v.6 - ...and I pray that the fellowship of your faith may become effective through the knowledge of every good thing which is in you for Christ's sake.
Philemon is a part of a fellowship of believers. The word for fellowship is so much more than just a gathering of like minded people. The word signifies a belonging to each other in the faith of the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul prays that they would be "effective" or powerful through something that Philemon was going to learn.
There is a good thing that Philemon is going to learn. This good thing is within Philemon because of his relationship with the Lord. As Philemon demonstrates this good thing before the fellowship of believers, it will be used by Christ to strengthen them all. It will make a difference in the whole fellowship of believers associated with Philemon for the gospel of Jesus Christ.
v.7 - For I have come to have much joy and comfort in your love, because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you, brother.
Philemon's life of love for God and others has brought joy to Paul's life. It has brought comfort because Paul sees the fellowship of saints "refreshed" or resting in Christ because of Philemon's conduct of life that reflects Christ. Here is a man who has come to faith in Christ and doing exactly as the Scripture says through the two greatest commandments and the church is benefiting from it greatly.
Paul wants Philemon to know this before he shares with him the knowledge he yet needs to learn and practice before those who are also reading this personal letter made public. Paul wants Philemon to know that the following of this knowledge will make a big difference on those people's lives just as his other expressions of a fruitful Christian life has on them.
As a fellowship of believers, we are connected to each other more than just a name on the side of the church or on the sign out front. We are connected to each other more than sitting in the same pew or the friendly exchanges that we have with each other. We are connected through Christ and our actions have an effect on others in a profound way, the good and the bad. Do my brothers and sisters in Christ in which I am in fellowship with see obedience to God coming out of my life? Do they see and experience me even in my times of failure, getting up in obedience to God and His word?
God is writing a very personal letter to us with the grace given to us through the cross of Christ called salvation. This very personal letter is being read by others, the fellowship, in a very public way and it has a profound effect on them. Will the effect bring joy, comfort, and rest because of our obedience to God or will it bring sadness, discomfort, and unrest because of our disobedience? Your very personal faith in Christ is very public to your family and to your fellowship. Let's pray.
"Lord, I think there are many times that we think our connection with the fellowship of the saints doesn't have much impact especially when we go against Your will. When we do things that are not in glory of You, we think that it has no bearing on the rest of the group but Your word says it does. Help us to receive the knowledge given from Your word to put it into practice for our own sake and for the sake of the fellowship that You have put us in to grow and to serve. May we realize that connection even so much more this morning as we gather together. Amen."
Pastor Adam
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