Sunday – October 15, 2023, Tishrei 30, 5784
Greetings brothers and sisters in the Kingdom of God and welcome back this study of the Book of Philemon. You have likely noticed that the individual teachings, not just of this series, but in general are trending shorter. We are in a sound bit, microwave, generation, a shorter teaching may enhance digestibility, and may increase readership. The main theme of the Book is intercession (intervention, mediation, arbitration, negotiation) and upon that I will focus. As with any Book of the Bible there are lots of Truths spoken of but I will do my best to stick with intercession. What a wonderful gift given to mankind.
Please take a moment to share this teaching, all of this Ministry’s teachings, as widely as possible. Thank you so much for sharing. Your sharing is vital to the dissemination of the Truth, the Gospel, the Good News. Now, let’s turn our attention to our primary Bible text from, you guessed it, Philemon. Please be sure you are reading out loud, yes out loud. You know why.
Philemon 1:3-7 (KJV)
3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
Last week I noted that speaking of love and faith in the salutation was common for the Apostle Paul. It seemed in those cases to play a role in what was to be communicated. As if they were mature enough to receive the message. What about you and me? Once again, I want to encourage those who do not have my book on love to get it at once. There are links below for my books. Many exclaim that they love the Lord but where is the fruit. Excitement, tears, motion, loudness, boldness are all given as evidence of love (agapē) but it is not. Get the book and study it! Now let’s take a look at verse six in the Gods Word version as we proceed through this one-chapter Book/letter. God’s Word version is a balance between word-for-word and thought-for-thought translation or version of Scripture.
Philemon 1:6 (GW)
6 As you share the faith you have in common with others, I pray that you may come to have a complete knowledge of every blessing we have in Christ.
Here we perhaps get some clarity on the use of the word faith. We might have someone ask us; “what faith are you”. They are asking our denomination, what we believe. In the KJV the word “communication” can man participation or partnership. The Apostle is telling Philemon that the more he participates the more he will come to understand all the blessings in Christ Jesus but also all the “every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus”. I hope we can all agree we are blessed beyond measure now and forevermore. The Apostle Paul is about to intercede with Philemon for another individual they both know and have experience with. Quite different experience.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Sunday. Remember the Lord is good and don’t forget, intercede for all in your circle, your jurisdiction.
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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