Philemon 1: Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.) 12 I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart.

Philemon 1: I would have been glad to keep him with me, in order that he might serve me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, 14 but I preferred to do nothing without your consent in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord. 15 For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever,

Philemon 1: no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother—especially to me, but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, receive him as you would receive me. 18 If he has wronged you at all, or owes you anything, charge that to my account.

Philemon 1: I, Paul, write this with my own hand: I will repay it—to say nothing of your owing me even your own self. 20 Yes, brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ.

Philemon 1:8-20

Introduction Philemon 1:1-2 1 Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved fellow worker 2 and Apphia our sister and Archippus our fellow soldier, and the church in your house:

Introduction Philemon 1:3-7 Opening thanksgiving in Paul’s letter points to what will follow: “love” (vv. 5, 7, 9, 16); “prayers” (vv. 4, 22); “partnership,” “partner” (vv. 6, 17); “good” (vv. 6, 14); “heart” (vv. 7, 12, 20); “refresh” (vv. 7, 20); “brother” (vv. 7, 20).

Main Idea A Christian shares God’s love with others no matter what they feel entitled to

Outline A study of each character in this story allows each of us to ask the following questions: I. PAUL – Who can you stand in the gap for others? II. PHILEMON - Can you change your perspective to love those who have wronged you? III. ONESIMIUS – Are you shying away from doing the hard thing and obediently asking for forgiveness?

I. PAUL – Who can you stand in the gap for others? Philemon 1: Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment

I. PAUL – Who can you stand in the gap for others? A. God redeems people Philemon 1:11 - Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me. B. God calls us to do the right thing (even when it may be hard) Philemon 1: I am sending him back to you, sending my very heart. I would have been glad to keep him with me C. God desires reconciliation Philemon 1: For this perhaps is why he was parted from you for a while, that you might have him back forever, no longer as a bondservant but more than a bondservant, as a beloved brother

I. PAUL – Who can you stand in the gap for others? Application: Who is God calling you to stand in the gap for?

II. PHILEMON - Can you love those who have wronged you? “A captured runaway in the first century could expect to receive anything from a brutal flogging to branding, from being sold to work on a farm to being sold to work in the galleys or mines, from crucifixion to being thrown to the wild beasts in the arena.” NIV Application Commentary, New Testament: Philemon.

Forgiveness was not the norm in Philemon’s world, but it is a fundamental requirement for Christians. II. PHILEMON - Can you love those who have wronged you?

We feel justified in holding things against those that have “taken” from us, but we must seek how God wants us to live as His children.

II. PHILEMON - Can you love those who have wronged you? “We all agree that forgiveness is a beautiful idea until we have to practice it.” C. S. Lewis

II. PHILEMON - Can you love those who have wronged you? APPLICATION: Who is someone that has wronged you that God is calling you to truly love & forgive?

III. ONESIMIUS – Are you obediently asking for forgiveness?  Paul also expects Onesimus to act from love.  Paul sends him home with a ringing endorsement, but he has no guarantee that Philemon will honor it.  Onesimus must be willing to accept with grace whatever Philemon might decide in his case

III. ONESIMIUS – Are you obediently asking for forgiveness? APPLICATION: Are you shying away from doing the hard thing and obediently asking for forgiveness? Are you justifying what we have done and not seek truly what God desires?