Sunday – December 17, 2023, Tevet 5, 5784
Greetings dear children of God and welcome back to this stirring account of intercession, love, and forgiveness in the Bible Book of Philemon. Wow, this year is nearly spent, Thanksgiving is behind us, Christmas and the New Year is coming up rapidly before us. What a wonderful time of year, especially if we keep our eye on the Truth remembering to whom we are thankful and who we are celebrating. Before we delve into our primary Bible text for this Sunday, please take a moment and share this teaching as widely as possible. One last thing, don’t forget my newest book Awake, Arise, and Triumph – Be Love as a wonderful Christmas gift for someone. Use the following link to purchase now: https://amzn.to/3MVTysq
Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text in this wonderful Book of Philemon.
Philemon 1:18-25 (MSG)
18 If he damaged anything or owes you anything, chalk it up to my account.
19 This is my personal signature—Paul—and I stand behind it. (I don’t need to remind you, do I, that you owe your very life to me?)
20 Do me this big favor, friend. You’ll be doing it for Christ, but it will also do my heart good.
21 I know you well enough to know you will. You’ll probably go far beyond what I’ve written.
22 And by the way, get a room ready for me. Because of your prayers, I fully expect to be your guest again.
23 Epaphras, my cellmate in the cause of Christ, says hello.
24 Also my coworkers Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke.
25 All the best to you from the Master, Jesus Christ!
Over the last couple of Sundays, I have been spending time on verse nineteen and the appearance that this is not consistent with love. It seems that Paul has some doubt that Philemon will respond in love toward this runaway slave, now a new brother in Christ. The Apostle Paul puts his friendship on the line as well as his name concerning any debt owed to Philemon by Onesimus. Paul even says this will be a big favor to me, and don’t forget you are doing it for Christ. He also says that he suspects Philemon will go above and beyond his request. The problem is that in the midst of this the Apostle throws in the comment that Philemon owes him his very life. Seems to me that sours the whole letter. What do you think? Let’s take a look at the Passion Translation.
Philemon 1:19 (PassionNTPsa)
19 I, Paul, have written these words in my own handwriting. I promise to pay you back everything, to say nothing of the fact that you owe me your very self.
Here as in many of the other translations the implication is that Philemon came to Christ through the Apostle Paul. It seems that he (Apostle Paul) is taking the glory that belongs to the Lord alone for himself. By the unction of the Holy Spirit the Apostle Paul penned the following verse.
1 Corinthians 3:6 (KJV)
6 I have planted, Apollos watered; but God gave the increase.
The glory of God is the manifested goodness of God and certainly we have this in all of the characters in this account, the Apostle Paul, Philemon, and Onesimus. Listen to the Lord speak through His Prophet Isaiah.
Isaiah 48:11 (KJV)
11 For mine own sake, even for mine own sake, will I do it: for how should my name be polluted? and I will not give my glory unto another.
Remember that everything in the Bible is true, it happened, it was spoken but not everything in the Bible is the Truth. One man (Jesus) was perfect in Scripture, all others were flawed to one degree or another. Even these flawed vessels were used mightily. This should give us all comfort. Well, I think I have given us all some things to think about.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here Sunday, Christmas Eve.
Authored By: Dr. David R. Wood, Bible Teacher, and Prophetic Voice
2 Chronicles 20:20 b (KJV)
20 … Believe in the LORD your God, so shall ye be established; believe his prophets, so shall ye prosper.
Ecclesiastes 12:13-14 (KJV)
13 Let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter: Fear God, and keep his commandments: for this is the whole duty of man.
14 For God shall bring every work into judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good, or whether it be evil.
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