From a Slave to a Brother (Philemon 16)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-24-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  From slave to brother

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 16

 

            Message of the verse:  “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.”  (NAS95)  “16 HE is no longer just a slave; he is a beloved brother, especially to me.  Now he will mean much more to you, both as a slave and as a brother in the Lord.”  (NLT)  “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)

            It is interesting that Paul did not ask Philemon to free Onesimus from being a slave but was saying that the relationship between he and Onesimus would be not only as a master to a slave, but also as a brother in the Lord. Paul was saying that Onesimus was also a brother in the Lord to him also.  He also mentioned brother in the flesh, and this does not mean ones fallen nature rather in this physical life.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Perhaps the Bible never speaks of rebellion of slaves is because of that kind of relationship we have with Jesus Christ.  Paul has written in some of his letters that he was a “bond-slave of Jesus Christ.”  Paul meant by this that he was a voluntary slave of Jesus Christ.  Slavery was so bad because it is done by people with fallen natures and not done so much between man and God. 

              It is my desire to be a slave of Jesus Christ, for by being His slave here on earth I know that I will seek to do His will and I will never be mistreated by my Master.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I need faith in the Lord not to fear, not to allow my IBS to have control of me in a way that it brings out bad stress and fear.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

 

“Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?”

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

 

Reason for the Separation (Philemon 15)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-22-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Why the Separation

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 15

 

            Message of the verse:  “15 For perhaps he was for this reason separated from you for a while, that you would have him back forever,”  (NASV95)  “15 Perhaps you could think of it this way:  Onesimus ran away for a little while so you could have him back forever.”  (NLT)

            Paul, in this verse is explaining to Philemon, that it is possible that in the providence of God that something bad, (the running away of Onesimus), would turn out to be something good, (the salvation of Onesimus.)  There are other places in the Bible that help explain this situation of something seemingly bad turn into something good.  Joseph said of his being sold into slavery by his brothers was in the very providence of God to save a whole people.  (See Genesis 50:20)  In Romans 8:28 Paul wrote that God causes all things to work together for good to those who love Him and are called according to His purpose. 

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This verse in Romans is something that I need to see in all things for it is said that God causes all things to work together for good, and not just some things to work together for good.  I cannot just pick and choose what I think is being worked out for my good for God has all things under his control.

 

The Word of God had a good reminder for my life today of something that I have learned about before.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord to keep His Word by working out all things in my life to work together for good and also to bring glory to the Lord.  To fear only the Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

 

“Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him.

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

Paul Encourages Philemon to do what is Right (Philemon 14)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-21-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Paul encourages Philemon to do right

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                         Reference:  Philemon 14

 

            Message of the verse:  “14 but without your consent I did not want to do anything, so that your goodness would not be, in effect, by compulsion but of your own free will.”  (NASB95)  “But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent.  And I didn’t want you to help because you were forced to do it but because you wanted to.”

            Paul knew that Philemon owned Onesimus and he also wanted Onesimus to minister with him so instead of using his authority of being an apostle he wanted Philemon to do what was correct of his own free will.  Paul gave him the Biblical perspective to follow and now it was up to Philemon to do so.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  The Word of God can show me the correct thing to do in certain situations but I have to yield to the Word in order to do what is correct.  I have to want what the Word teaches and then allow it to work in my heart by reading it and memorizing it and also meditating upon it and then claim it when the circumstance is right. 

 

The Word of God was instructive and convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  Again I need to go over to Wade’s house to help him on his project and I need the help of the Lord to be able to do this and not fear about it because of IBS.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

 

“Or who has given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him.

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

Paul's Difficult Decision (Philemon 12-13)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-19-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:   Paul’s difficult decision

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 12-13

 

            Message of the verse:  “12 I have sent him back to you in person, that is, sending my very heart, 13 whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;” (NASB95)  “12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.  13 I really wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf.”  (NLT)

            It seems to me that Paul had made a difficult decision here in sending Onesimus back to Philemon.  I am sure he was doing it for both the benefit of Onesimus and Philemon because they needed to get this situation resolved in the correct manner.  You can tell that it was hard on Paul because he says that he is sending back his heart with Onesimus, and also the fact that he was in prison and was being ministered to by him made it difficult too.  Paul also says that Onesimus was helping him out on behalf of Philemon.  I believe he was saying this because Onesimus was Philemon’s slave and he should get credit for him ministering to Paul.  I also believed he mentioned this so that Philemon would realize his need to forgive and be kind to Onesimus.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Similar to yesterday I see a need to be consistent in making right choices no matter how difficult they are.  I can think of going to the hospital to be with mom and my sisters on Saturday and how hard it will be on me because of IBS, but I need to do it anyway, and pray that God will give me the grace to get there and back.

 

The Word of God has given me instruction and conviction as I read it today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I need the Lord to aid me as I go to the church today to help out the WEBBS team as we do some work on the church building. 

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36:

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord”

Or who has become His counselor?”

 

“Or who has first given to Him

And it should be repaid to him?”

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

Paul's Reason for this Letter (Philemon 10:11)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-18-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  The reason for the letter

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 10-11

           

Message of the verse:  “10 I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, 11 who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me.”  (NAS95)  “My plea is that you show kindness to Onesimus.  I think of him as my own son because he became a believer as a result of my ministry here in prison.  Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us.  (NLT)

            I believe that the point for this letter is that Paul wants Philemon to treat Onesimus kindly even though he has run away from him, and could actually be put to death if Philemon would have a mind to do that.  Paul tells Philemon that Onesimus is his child, born to him while in prison.  Paul led Onesimus to the Lord while he was in prison for the cause of Christ.  In verse eleven Paul is using a play on words, for the word Onesimus means useful.  What Paul is really saying that useful use to be useless to you but not he has become useful to both of us.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Sometimes it is very difficult for me to do the right thing even thought I know that it is what I am supposed to do.  Paul makes a convincing argument for doing what is right in these two verses and throughout this letter.  Doing the right thing is always in season even though sometimes it is hard to do.

 

The Word of God was very instructive to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  I would pray that the Lord would fill me with His love for others and that He would work in my heart to make it a servant’s heart.  I pray that I would fear no one but the Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?”

 

“Or who has given first to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?”

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

For the Sake of Love (Philemon 8-9)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-17-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  For the sake of love

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 8-9

 

            Message of the verse:  “8 Therefore, though I have enough confidence in Christ to order you to do what is proper, 9 yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you --since I am such a person as Paul, the aged, and now also a prisoner of Christ Jesus.”  (NAS95)  “That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you, I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do, but because of our love, I prefer just to ask you.  So take this as a request from you friend Paul, and old man, now in prison for the sake of Christ Jesus.”  (NLT)

            At the time of this writing Paul would have been around sixty years old, he was in prison for the cause of Jesus Christ and His Gospel, and he had gone through many persecutions and hard times for the cause of Christ.  He did not complain because of these events in his life, but knew that the Lord was in control of his life and believed it a privilege to serve Christ in this manner.  He was an apostle and had authority from this position and could demand that Philemon deal kindly with Onesimus, however Paul appealed to the love that he and Philemon had for each other and for the cause of Christ.  He would not demand that Philemon do the correct thing here, but allow him to make the decision on what to do with Onesimus in this case.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  As I read this letter and the story that it contains I cannot help but think about why the Law of Moses, or really the law of God, was so ineffective when it came to having people do the right thing.  You see the law used in a sinful persons life can have the opposite effective on that person because he has a sin nature that never wants to do the correct thing.  Now when Jesus came and paid the price for the believer’s salvation the believer became a new creature and was given a new nature that always wants to do right.  Jesus gave the commandment that we should love one another and as we look at the sacrifice that He willingly paid for our sin, and because we have a new nature and the Holy Spirit living in us we can obey this commandment and others because of our love that we have for Christ and his cause.  I now have the power in my life to love others and do the right thing for the sake of love, Christ’s love.

 

The Word of God was inspirational to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I trust the Lord to allow me to get to Church and back without having a lot of trouble with my IBS.  I give myself to Him today and put on all of the spiritual armor to defeat the enemy when he attacks me.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36:  “Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

“For who has known the mind of the Lord?” Or who has become His counselor?” “Or who has first given to Him And it shall be repaid to him?”  For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.”

Philemon's love for Others (Philemon 7)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-16-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Philemon’s love for others

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 7

 

            Message of the verse:  “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.”  (NAS95)  “I myself have gained much joy and comfort from your love, my brother, because your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.”  (NLT)

            In the book of John Jesus said that He has given a new commandment and that is to love one another and in the book of 1John there is much more said about love and its affect on people so the tribute that Paul is giving to Philemon is of great importance to the very heart of God.  Paul says that he has come to have much joy and comfort in the love of Philemon and the reason for that is that how he has ministered to the hearts of the saints and have given much refreshment to them.  The word for refreshment is a military term that speaks of a marching army at rest.

            “1) to cause or permit one to cease from any movement or labour in order to recover and collect his strength

2) to give rest, refresh, to give one's self rest, take rest

3) to keep quiet, of calm and patient expectation”  This is from the Strong’s Concordance.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It is good to know more about love and the way that God moves in the hearts of His people causing them to love others with the kind of love that He has.  This is one thing that I will continue to pray about and seek God’s help in doing better at it.

 

The Word of God was inspiring to me today, as it spoke to my heart, and challenged me.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  To do better in my TV choices and to not fear anything but the Lord.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

33 Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

“34 For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His Counselor?”

 

“35 Or who has first given to Him

  And is shall be repaid to him?”

 

36 For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

 

Paul's Prayer Continues (Philemon 6)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-15-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Paul’s prayer continued

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon  6

 

            Message of the verse:  “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.”  (NAS95)  “You are generous because of your faith.  And I am praying that you will really put your generosity to work, for in so doing you will come to an understanding of all the good things we can do for Christ.”  (NLT)

            Paul is praying that Philemon will share his life and faith in a powerful way, and will do it for the sake of Jesus Christ.  I believe that Paul is saying to Philemon that he is a generous man evidenced by having a church in his home, and now I want you to show more of this generosity by forgiving Onesimus for running away from him.  This is a difficult verse for me to understand because of the different words that are in different versions.  The word for sharing in the NKJV is translated fellowship in the NAS95 and communication in the KJV.  I want to copy the Strongs wording of this word:  “2842 koinwnia koinonia koy-nohn-ee'-ah AV-fellowship 12, communion 4, communication 1, distribution 1, contribution 1, to communicate 1; 20

1) fellowship, association, community, communion, joint participation, intercourse

1a) the share which one has in anything, participation

1b) intercourse, fellowship, intimacy

1b1) the right hand as a sign and pledge of fellowship (in fulfilling the apostolic office)

1c) a gift jointly contributed, a collection, a contribution, as exhibiting an embodiment and proof of fellowship”

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Paul is talking indirectly about forgiveness in this verse and he is also talking about doing the will of Jesus Christ.  Philemon would not be doing things necessarily for himself in this case, but would be thinking for Onesimus and also doing what the Lord wanted him to do in this case.  The word joy keeps coming into my mind and a meaning of it that I have heard:  Jesus first, others second, yourself last.  This is what the Lord keeps speaking to my heart about.  I know that if I am to make this attitude part of my character then I will need to have the Holy Spirit do a wonderful work in my life to transform me further into the image of Jesus Christ.

 

I would have to say that the Word of God has brought conviction to my life today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To listen to God’s Word and His Spirit as they guide me through this day.  To only fear the Lord and nothing else.

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has become His counselor?

 

Or who has given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever.  Amen.

 

 

Paul's Prayer (Philemon 4-5)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-14-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Paul’s prayer

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 4-5

 

            Message of the verse:  “4 I thank my God always, making mention of you in my prayers,

5 because I hear of your love and of the faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints;”  (NAS95)  “I always thank God when I pray for you, Philemon, because I keep hearing of your trust in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people.”  (NLT)

            Paul has prayed like this in his letter to the Ephesians Church.  He is thankful for Philemon and for the things that he has done for the cause of Christ.  I wish to do something that I haven’t done too much while writing these spiritual diaries and that is copy from the note that is in my Macarthur study Bible.  “In the GR. Text, this verse is arranged in what is called a chiastic construction.  ‘Love’ relates to the final phrase ‘toward all the saints.’  This love of will, choice, self-sacrifice, and humility (Gal 5:22) was a manifestation of Philemon’s genuine faith ‘toward the Lord Jesus’ (cf. Rom. 5:5; Gal. 5:6; 1John 3:14) Romans 5:5 “and hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out within our hearts through the Holy Spirit who was given to us.”  Galatians 5:6 says  “For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision nor uncircumcision means anything, but faith working through love.”  1John 3:14 “We know that we have passed out of death into life, because we love the brethren. He who does not love abides in death.”  It seems to me that one of the qualities of Philemon’s life was love, a love that was given to him by the Holy Spirit and in turn given to others through his life.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  If there is one thing that I need to have manifested in my life by the Holy Spirit it is love.  As the Scripture says love covers a multitude of sins.  If a person knows that they are loved by me then they can overlook the offence’s that sometimes occur in my life towards them.

 

The Word of God has shown me today that I need to be more loving.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  “1 John 4:18 There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love.”

 

Memory verses for the week:  Romans 11:33-36

 

Oh, the debt of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God!  How unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!

 

For who has known the mind of the Lord?

Or who has been His counselor?

 

Or who has first given to Him

And it shall be repaid to him?

 

For of Him and through Him and to Him are all things, to whom be glory forever. Amen.