{"id":8003,"date":"2015-07-21T19:42:11","date_gmt":"2015-07-21T23:42:11","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8003"},"modified":"2016-12-27T12:56:30","modified_gmt":"2016-12-27T16:56:30","slug":"philemon-forgiveness-and-dr-pepper-71915","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/pitmanumc.org\/wp\/?p=8003","title":{"rendered":"Philemon, Forgiveness, and Dr. Pepper (7\/19\/15)"},"content":{"rendered":"

What does forgiveness do for you?\u00a0 And what does that have to do with Dr. Pepper???\u00a0 Pastor Jim’s sermon on July 19 2015 tied it all together.\u00a0 Click on the following “Play” button, scroll down, and follow along (this recording is from the 9:30 service)…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Our scripture was the book of Philemon… yep- the whole “book” (actually it’s a short letter).\u00a0 Open the below drop down box and look over Philemon’s shoulder as he reads this letter from Paul…<\/em><\/span><\/p>\n

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Philemon<\/span><\/span><\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t

1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy.<\/span>\nI am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, <\/span><\/p>\n

2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house.<\/span><\/p>\n

3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace.<\/span><\/p>\n

4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, <\/span><\/p>\n

5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. <\/span><\/p>\n

6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. <\/span><\/p>\n

7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people.<\/span><\/p>\n

8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. <\/span><\/p>\n

9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me\u2014Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. <\/span><\/p>\n

10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. <\/span><\/p>\n

11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. <\/span><\/p>\n

12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart.<\/span><\/p>\n

13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. <\/span><\/p>\n

14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. <\/span><\/p>\n

15 It seems Onesimus ran away for a little while so that you could have him back forever. <\/span><\/p>\n

16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord.<\/span>\n17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. <\/span><\/p>\n

18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me. <\/span><\/p>\n

19 I, Paul, Write This With My Own Hand: I Will Repay It. And I Won’t Mention That You Owe Me Your Very Soul!<\/span><\/p>\n

20 Yes, my brother, please do me this favor for the Lord’s sake. Give me this encouragement in Christ.<\/span><\/p>\n

21 I am confident as I write this letter that you will do what I ask and even more! <\/span><\/p>\n

22 One more thing\u2014please prepare a guest room for me, for I am hoping that God will answer your prayers and let me return to you soon.<\/span>\n23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers.<\/span><\/p>\n

25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.<\/span><\/p>\n

Holy Bible, New Living Translation \u00ae, copyright \u00a9 1996, 2004 by Tyndale Charitable Trust. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers. All rights reserved.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n

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Abraham Lincoln, when an attorney, was approached by a wealthy man who passionately insisted on bringing a lawsuit for $2.50 against an impoverished debtor.\u00a0 Lincoln tried to discourage him, but the man was bent on restitution.\u00a0 <\/span><\/p>\n

When he saw that the man would not change his mind, Lincoln agreed to take the case and asked for a legal fee\u00a0 of $10. which the plaintiff paid.\u00a0 Lincoln then gave half the money to the defendant, who willingly confessed to the debt and paid the $2.50!<\/span><\/div><\/div>\n

Grace… NOT restitution, brings restoration.\u00a0 Bible teacher and preacher Harry Ironside was once asked what his most favorite sermon was.\u00a0 He replied that it was a sermon on Philemon entitled, “Charge that to My Account<\/span><\/em><\/strong>“.<\/p>\n

Like Lincoln… like the renowned teacher Harry Ironside… like Jesus- we are called to an attitude where we allow others to “Charge that to my account.<\/span><\/em><\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Paul tells Philemon that he will pay for any damages caused by Onesimus.\u00a0 Jesus tells the Father that He will pay for the damages caused by us!<\/p>\n

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Philemon Had True Faith<\/span><\/h3>\n

In verses 4-7, Paul describes Philemon as one who has a faith which is loving and generous.\u00a0 Philemon somehow refreshes the Christians who are touched by him.\u00a0 Philemon had a true faith.\u00a0 But Paul was putting him in a position where he had to test his true faith by forgiving his runaway slave.<\/p>\n

True faith demands intentional forgiveness.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

The late Scottish theologian William Barclay wrote (in his commentary on Philemon)<\/p>\n

Philemon was a man whose faith in Christ and whose love to reach the brethren (everyone) knew, and the story of them had reached even Rome where Paul was in prison.<\/span><\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

It was dangerous to be a Christian in Philemon’s time.\u00a0 And yet he bore the fruits of Jesus Christ as he worked to refresh and encourage Christians.<\/p>\n

Love,\u00a0 hospitality, and generosity were all the gifts and graces that defined Philemon.\u00a0 Paul wrote about these qualities in Romans 12:12-19.\u00a0 Here’s how Eugene Peterson paraphrased this passage…<\/p>\n

12 Be alert servants of the Master,\u00a0 cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder.\u00a0 Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

14 Bless your enemies; no cursing under your breath.\u00a0 Laugh with your happy friends when they’re happy; share tears when they’re down.\u00a0 Get along with each other; don’t be stuck-up. Make friends with nobodies; don’t be the great somebody.<\/span><\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

17 Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone.\u00a0 If you’ve got it in you, get along with everybody.\u00a0 Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”<\/span><\/em><\/strong>
\n(from THE MESSAGE: The Bible in Contemporary Language \u00a9 2002 by Eugene H. Peterson. All rights reserved.)<\/span><\/p>\n

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We also see this in:<\/p>\n\n\t\t\t

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