Sunday – October 8, 2023, Tishrei 23, 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 and a shorter teaching may enhance digestibility. As you have noted this examination of Philemon will be a multiweek study. 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.
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.
As we leave verse four heading into verse five, we see that the Apostle Paul has heard something about those to whom this letter is addressed, principally Philemon. He heard that Philemon and the others had love (agapē) and faith toward the Lord and all saints. Did you notice the word “all” in “all saints”? Have you noticed some saints are more difficult to love than others? Don’t lie now. Do you have my book on love? Remember Godly love which we have in our spirit man, one of the fruits of our spirit, is not an emotion. Godly love is not touchy feely, flesh is. We love God and people by first obeying Scripture, being selfless, and walking in Blood Covenant. Get my book, Awake, Arise, and Triumph – Be Love, it is available in softcover, e-book, and audible. The Apostle is referring primarily to Philemon’s love for the Lord which is also manifesting towards other people. Of course, our faith, Philemon’s faith, their faith, was in God. The Apostle Paul commonly notes that he has heard of their faith and love when writing to others, the various Churches.
Ephesians 1:15 (KJV)
15 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,
Colossians 1:4 (KJV)
4 Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints,
Love and faith are a wonderful foundation upon which to build and mature. Faith and love run together. We can only have as much love as we have faith and visa versa. Remember love is the power of faith.
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Sunday.
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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