Sermon Tone Analysis

Philemon #1

Philemon 1-7

A Faithful Saint

We spent the last few weeks in the Book of Titus.

For the next few weeks we’re going to look at a letter to one man about another man.

We are going to learn about a man named Philemon and his Onesimus.

But really we are going to learn about Christ and ourselves.

This letter seems like a simple act by Paul to intercede for one who had made some mistakes and wanted to make it right.

However, this letter is so much more.

Paul is perhaps at his best in this little correspondence.

Under the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, he shows us some beautiful truths.

Paul led an amazing life for Christ in the short time of service to God. he had a clear mission to take the Gospel to the Gentile world and he made use of every opportunity, good and bad, all modes of travel, citizenship, education, experience, as well as his Spiritual Gifts to take the Gospel to the world.

He led people Christ, planted churches, spoke before crowds, and to Kings and Emperors.

His mission and travels took him to Ephesus.

He led people to Christ and planted churches there.

He also developed close relationships with some of the people he led to Christ and worked alongside.

When you have that kind of relationship, you become concerned for their families and lives and your opinions, words, and instructions have weight.

That is true of nearly every pastor.

And of course there is a unique bond with your 1st Spiritual leader, even if they have moved on.

So, is the case here with Paul and Philemon.

Philemon had most likely come to faith during Paul’s ministry in Ephesus in Acts 19 which tells us that his work there caused the gospel to be spread throughout the whole province of Asia, which is the area around Turkey today.

Philemon was living in Colossae.

He became the host home for the church.

Their first pastor was probably Epaphras, who is mentioned later in the letter when we find out that he is with Paul in Rome where he was under house arrest.

Philemon and his wife Apphia hosted the church meetings in their homes and perhaps their son was Archippus who had become the pastor or at least an elder/leader of the church.

We will learn about these men as we go along, but realize that Paul is under house arrest.

He is chained to a Roman guard every day but has some freedom to entertain visitors, write letters and minister while he awaits his trial.

From Rome, Paul sends two letters to Colossae.

One is to the whole church, the book of Colossians, and the other letter is much more personal to Philemon.

These letters come by two messengers according to Colossians 4:7-9, Tychicus (too-khee-kos) and Onesimus.

Onesimus is a central character to this letter and Philemon knew him well.

We’ll learn more about him later.

But for today let’s learn what we can about Philemon.

Begin reading with me

*READ vv 1-7*

Outside of what I have already told you, we know little to nothing much of this man Philemon.

Some things we know we may not like.

Legends or Traditions tell us he became a Pastor in Gaza.

We are also told by tradition that he was martyred by Nero with his wife and son.

But none of that is for certain.

What we DO know, he was a man of influence and thus probably of wealth.

He came to faith in Christ under the preaching of Paul.

He was a leader of the church in Colossae which met in his house.

However, we ALSO know that he had slaves in his household, like much of the Roman empire.

To say that slavery was widespread is a vast understatement as millions of slaves were in the region.

Italy alone in the first Century was estimated to have 2 million slaves in a population of 6 million people.

Why would a Christian have slaves?

Sometimes when we come to Christ, it takes a while to go from where we are to where we should be in Christ.

The practice of slavery is central to this story.

Some wonder why the Bible didn’t speak directly to abolition of such practices.

But the Bible IS very clear on many passages about the treatment of slaves, but Jesus Christ didn’t have a political message nor did the Apostles but the principles in their teachings laid the groundwork for political change and human rights.

We will get to the rest of the story, by and by … but, let’s see what kind of man Philemon had become and what we can copy from him to be what God wants us to be.

Paul was about to drop a heavy challenge in Philemon’s life.

He was about to give him a chance to show who he had become in Christ and go against the normal reaction to life and what is wrong and right.

Let me tell you that your next assignment from God may be directly connected to who you are now and the character God has developed in you.

So who was Philemon?

You would interested to know that The Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod actually recognizes Philemon and Onesimus as “Saints” and celebrate them in the month of February.

While we don’t recognize special saints, Philemon was a Faithful Saint and shows us what one is, 4 things quickly that a faithful saint has

!

*1.

Faith in The Lord*

The first two qualities of a faithful saint, we sometimes get out of order and it creates problems.

Paul says Philemon is commended because he has a reputation for faith in the Lord and a love for all the saints.

Can I say that often we admit that we love Jesus and then we use people or maybe I can say that we love Jesus but we place our faith in people.

I’m not completely sure why that is but it is a sign of spiritual immaturity.

We place our faith in people, leaders, friends, pastors, etc.

Yet then when they don’t do what we want or need, we are crushed or discouraged.

Could it be that we are angry with ourselves for not doing what we should.

Or could we be angry with God for not doing what we wanted.

Or, perhaps, we feel that God let us down because he had a different plan than we?

Part of the problem with our consumer mentality is that we want the church to hand feed us, meet every one of our felt needs and relational needs.

We want them to raise our children, fix our marriage, give us entertainment, and we want to know how it will all work out.

First of all, folks, if your faith is in this Pastor, I will let you down.

If you have faith in this church, its leaders, or ministries, we will let you down.

Secondly, if you can see it, touch it, explain it, or understand it, then it is not faith.

Third, and most importantly, you should place your faith in the Lord!

If your faith is in God and you know he has called you to this body of believers then you can follow this Pastor and serve the Lord in this body and trust your leaders.

If they don’t live up to your complete expectations it is OK because you’re faith is in the Lord.

One more thing, it is more, than just believing something is factual or right.

the Biblical word for Believe and Faith are really inextricable and often just a translating of the same word.

You cannot have Biblical Belief without putting the full weight of your faith into it.

If I stretched a cable on the roof of our building and ran it to the roof of the Grocery Store across the street; if I then told you stories of the years I spent in the circus as a tightrope walker; if I then walked from here to there 100 times and you saw it; and then I put 200 pounds on my back and carried it across, then I carried a person over and back; if you had heard stories from all the people who had done it and you can KNOW even BELIEVE that I can, it is not REAL belief unless you join me.

Until you get on my back and walk with me, you don’t believe.

Until your faith is fully vested in me you don’t really believe.

And I would even say that if you pile up marshmallows on the ground or a parachute on your back in case I let you down, you don’t have faith.

My point is HAVE FAITH IN GOD … don’t trust me, don’t have a back-up plan.

Trust his plan, trust the church he has placed you in, because ultimately you are trusting God … we used to sing

Have faith in God, He’s on his throne

Have faith in God, He watches o’r his own

He cannot fail, He must prevail

Have faith in God, have faith in God

If you have faith in the Lord, fully weighted in him, then you can face any trial and you can

!

*2.

Love All the Saints*

Could it be that the biggest barrier to us loving one another is our faith isn’t fully weighted on the Lord?

Perhaps you trusted someone and they let you down and your love for them wanes.

Then you are afraid to trust someone else and your giving of love is based on your level of faith.

People wonder sometimes, “how can you keep on loving people who have wronged you?” “ How can you take a chance on loving others?”

It is because of two things.

FIRST, my faith is fully placed on the Lord and he has never failed me.

Oh I fail him and sometimes I fail to understand his purposes, plans, and procedures but my faith is still IN the Lord

SECOND, I can LOVE when I understand the depth of his love for me.

Think about his love.