Sunday – December 3, 2023, Kislev 20, 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 (KJV)
18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.
20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;
24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
We are not told how Philemon responded to the Apostles letter but I think we may all believe it was received with gladness as was the man Onesimus. Let’s take another look at verses 18-20 in The Living Bible. First a little about The Living Bible taken from a Google search. The Living Bible is a personal paraphrase, not a translation, of the Bible in English by Kenneth N. Taylor and first published in 1971. Taylor used the American Standard Version of 1901 as his base text. Now, the verses upon which we are focused today.
Philemon 1:18-20 (TLB)
18 If he has harmed you in any way or stolen anything from you, charge me for it.
19 I will pay it back (I, Paul, personally guarantee this by writing it here with my own hand) but I won’t mention how much you owe me! The fact is, you even owe me your very soul!
20 Yes, dear brother, give me joy with this loving act and my weary heart will praise the Lord.
I found verse nineteen of particular interest. Apparently, Philemon is also a spiritual son of the Apostle Paul and perhaps even borrowed money from Paul. The Apostle Paul says he won’t mention it and in so doing mentions it big time. Seems like a guilt trip, a remember what I did for you kind of statement, which by the way is not love, God type of love (agapē).
Lord willing, I will pick up right here next Sunday as we inch closer to Christmas and 2024.
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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