Closing Remarks of Paul to Philemon (Philemon 23-25)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 12-01-02

 

My Worship Time                                          Focus:  Paul’s closing remarks to Philemon

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 23-25

 

            Message of the verse:  “23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you,

24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow workers.  25 The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  (NAS95)  “Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings.  So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.  The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.”  (NLT)

            Paul, as his practice, mentions names at the end of his letters and this letter is no exception.  He mentions Epaphras who was probably in prison with him at this time, he is the one who started the church at Colosse and this is where Philemon lived.  Aristarchus was a traveling companion of Paul’s and was in the riot mentioned in the book of Acts that happened at Ephesus.  Luke is the famous Dr. Luke who wrote the Gospel of Luke and the book of Acts, and he to was a traveling companion of Paul.  Paul also mention Demas who latter deserted him, (see 2 Timothy 4:10.)  John Mark is also mentioned and it could be that the reason Paul mentions him is because of the problems that he and Paul had on Paul’s second missionary journey.  Paul had to work through his problem with Mark, as he did and latter says that Mark was profitable to him.  This could encourage Philemon to do the same with Onesimus.  Verse twenty-five is similar to closing verses that Paul has written in other letters where he prays that the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.  It is wonderful to have the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ minister to our spirits.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Paul mentions a lot of people in his letters, especially in the closing portions of his letters and at times it is easy to just read their names and go on to the next verse without thinking too much about them.  However I am sure that God knows all about these people and the contributions that they have made for the cause of Christ in their life times as believers.  God knows about all people, good or bad, and it strikes me that I too should learn more about people too.  People that God brings into my life, and not just tell them about myself, but listen to their stories, their struggles and good times, to befriend them for the cause of Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God did bring conviction to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  By the grace of the Lord I will become a better listener to others for the cause of Christ, which is the best cause of all.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

Paul's Confidence in the Lord (Philemon 21-22)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-30-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Paul’s confidence in the Lord

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 21-22

 

            Message of the verse:  “21 Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, since I know that you will do even more than what I say. 22 At the same time also prepare me a lodging, for I hope that through your prayers I will be given to you.”  (NAS95)  “I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more!  Please keep a guest room ready for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.”  (NLT)

            Paul speaks of the confidence that he has in Philemon to do the right thing concerning Onesimus.  He not only believes that he will do what is right but even do more that Paul has asks of him.  This could mean that Paul would not hold any grudges against Onesimus or that he would allow Onesimus to work with him in the ministry of the Church, or maybe to forgive someone else who he needs to forgive who has wronged him.

As I read verse twenty-two it occurs to me that there must have been many people who were praying for Paul while he was in prison, and I am sure that Philemon was one of them because of what Paul says in this verse.  Paul had confidence in the Lord that He would allow Paul to be acquitted of the charges and be able to continue with his ministry.   Philemon knew that Paul would then come and see him then this may also influence him to do the correct thing concerning Onesimus.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Verse twenty-one reminds me of a verse in the book of Ephesians where it is said of God that He will do exceedingly, abundantly more that we can ever ask of think of.  Paul had confidence in Philemon that he would do more than he would ask him to do and this speaks to my heart that I too should do more than is ask of me for the cause of Christ, just as the Lord does more than I as Him to do for He knows what I truly need to cause me to continue to become more like Jesus Christ.

 

The Word of God was convicting and uplifting to me today, as well as instructive.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  I want to trust the Lord to help get me through the stress, (for me), of going to the wedding this morning and then to the resection that follows.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.   

Encourage my Heart in Christ (Philemon 20)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-29-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Encourage my Heart in Christ

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 20

 

            Message of the verse:  “20 Yes, brother, let me benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in Christ.”  (NASB95)  “Yes dear brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake.  Give me this encouragement in Christ.”  (NLT)

            The KJV translates the word benefit as joy and so Paul wants Philemon to make the godly decision of being kind to Onesimus and thus it would bring joy to him.  He calls Philemon “brother” in this verse and this is because he is benefiting from the grace of God and is also a fellow minister for the cause of Christ.  This will be a no loose situation for Philemon if he forgives Onesimus and it will be a great encouragement in the Lord to Paul while he is in prison for the cause of Christ.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Some of the themes that run through this short letter are love and obedience to the Lord for the cause of Jesus Christ.  I would pray that I too would be obedient to the cause of Christ even in the seemingly little things of everyday life.

 

The Word of God was refreshing to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  As we get together with Sandy’s parents and with our son Dave I would pray that things would go well in all aspects of our lives today.  May the Lord bless our family today as we get together to be thankful for His goodness to us.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

 

 

Paul will repay Philemon (Philemon 19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-28-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  I will repay you

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 19

 

            Message of the verse:  “19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).”  (NAS95)  “I, Paul, write this in my own handwriting:  ‘I will repay it.’  And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!”  (NLT)

            There is some speculation as to whether Paul wrote this whole letter in his own handwriting or whether just this portion of it.  The NLT must believe that it was only the small portion saying, “I will repay it.”  I do not think that is the most important thing that can be learned by this letter.  Paul was not in anyway acting in a not so serious manner in this verse where he writes that he will repay Philemon for anything that is owed to him by Onesimus.  Paul worked as a tent maker so that he would not be a burden to the churches that he ministered to and other churches gave him money for the cause of Christ, so he could have paid Philemon if he insisted.  As far as Paul mentioning to Philemon that he owed Paul his very soul, I believe that he is surely speaking about the fact that Paul led Philemon to the Lord.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This verse teaches me that that I am to be honest in dealing with hard things because they are the right things to do.  Paul was very honest with Philemon and wanted him to do the right thing in this instance for the glory of the Lord.

 

The Word of God was convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  I want to be able to enjoy this wonderful holiday today in a way that will be pleasing to the Lord.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

 

Paul will repay Philemon (Philemon 19)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-28-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  I will repay you

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 19

 

            Message of the verse:  “19 I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand, I will repay it (not to mention to you that you owe to me even your own self as well).”  (NAS95)  “I, Paul, write this in my own handwriting:  ‘I will repay it.’  And I won’t mention that you owe me your very soul!”  (NLT)

            There is some speculation as to whether Paul wrote this whole letter in his own handwriting or whether just this portion of it.  The NLT must believe that it was only the small portion saying, “I will repay it.”  I do not think that is the most important thing that can be learned by this letter.  Paul was not in anyway acting in a not so serious manner in this verse where he writes that he will repay Philemon for anything that is owed to him by Onesimus.  Paul worked as a tent maker so that he would not be a burden to the churches that he ministered to and other churches gave him money for the cause of Christ, so he could have paid Philemon if he insisted.  As far as Paul mentioning to Philemon that he owed Paul his very soul, I believe that he is surely speaking about the fact that Paul led Philemon to the Lord.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  This verse teaches me that that I am to be honest in dealing with hard things because they are the right things to do.  Paul was very honest with Philemon and wanted him to do the right thing in this instance for the glory of the Lord.

 

The Word of God was convicting to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  I want to be able to enjoy this wonderful holiday today in a way that will be pleasing to the Lord.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10:  “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.”

 

Charge it to Me (Philemon 18)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-26-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Charge it to my account

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference  Philemon 18

 

            Message of the verse:  “18 But if he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge that to my account;”  (NAS95)  “If he has harmed you in any way or stolen anything from you, charge me for it.”  (NLT) 

            Starting out with the word “but” means that there is a contrast between the two verses.  So if Philemon believes that he has a charge against Onesimus, Paul tells him to charge them against himself.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  Again I see Paul handling this incident in his life like the Lord Jesus Christ and that is the way that all of us believers are to handle these types of situations.  When things come up in life the first thing I should think about is how would Jesus handle this situation and then do as He would do after all believers are the body of Christ while upon this earth.

 

The Word of God was challenging to me today.

 

My Steps of Faith For Today:  Again as this busy week continues with us having to go to different functions it puts fear into my heart concerning problems with IBS.  I want to trust the Lord to help me get through these situations and to do them for they are the right thing to do.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Ephesians 2:10

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.

Partners for Christ (Philemon 17)

SPIRITUAL DIARY FOR 11-25-02

 

My Worship Time                                                      Focus:  Partners for Christ

 

Bible Reading & Meditation                                     Reference:  Philemon 17

 

            Message of the verse:  “17 If then you regard me a partner, accept him as you would me.”  (NASB95)  “So if you consider me your partner, give him the same welcome you would give me if I were coming.”  (NLT)

            In this section, verses 17-22, Paul is encouraging Philemon to be obedient.  He says in verse 17 that he wants Philemon to accept Onesimus as it were Paul himself coming to visit him.  Paul is being like the Lord Jesus Christ who took our sins upon Himself at the cross so we could be partners with Him for the cause of Christ.

 

            Spiritual meaning for my life today:  It seems to me that the theme of this short letter is forgiveness.  As a believer this should be in my heart and I should be ready to forgive.  Paul was being like the Lord Jesus Christ in this case as he would gladly have taken to his account the wrong that Onesimus had done.  This is a quality that I too need to have in my life and it can only be there by the working of the Holy Spirit in my life to produce that kind of fruit.

 

The Word of God has challenged my heart today.

 

My Steps of Faith Today:  To trust the Lord through these problems that I am having with IBS.  To give myself to Him as a living sacrifice holy and acceptable unto Him.

 

Memory verse for the week:  Eph. 2:10

 

For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand that we should walk in them.