Life in the Family of God

What was promoted months in the book of Matthew and finally concluded last week my throbbing 28 chapters another little to cut a little book and I'm going to preach the Bible in one message, you'll think I can do that were going to see if we can is like that all Philemon written by the apostle Paul and I'm 60 to 61 A.D. when he was a prisoner, probably in Rome and Paul the great theologian the brilliant missionary statesman incredible intellect and yet here is a very warm letter revealing the heart of this mighty apostle apostle Paul is writing to Philemon.

Philemon is a believer in Jesus Christ as a Christian and the church at Colossae which is present-day Turkey of the church and Colossae meets in the home of this plan. Philemon this short letter Philemon is going to be counted from Rome by two men to the Curtis and Arnesen is is mentioned in Philemon and that these two men. As Paul says in Colossians 4 also take the letter that Paul writes to the church at Colossae. What makes a very interesting and very intriguing and raises all kinds of questions in our minds and all of them with not been able to solve a sure you is that Philemon is the owner of NSM assessments as a slave and Philemon is a wealthier man clearly. He is always to accommodate the church and that he under the slavery system of the day. He owns an SMS message Mrs. name means profitable and means useful but sadly this man, this slave an SMS has not been useful to his master. Rather, he is being used less is runaway slave in some way. He wronged his master's he stole from them, but in some other way wronged him and that he finds himself in Rome as a runaway slave slavery are the most of you know was prevalent in the Roman Empire. It was an integral part of the social and economic conditions of the Roman Empire and the Romans depended on slavery took on the Empire is calculated at this time in the first century about 75% of people were slaves and slave someone who is totally under the authority of a supposedly superior human being slaves at this time came from all races, all ethnic groups and the occupied all occupations.

Don't think of slavery under the Romans as confined to those who did just the trivial menial tasks of wrongness on the case.

70 slaves are highly educated that in their positions of great influence as some of them are doctors, lawyers, administrators, and were not sure exactly what an estimate is dead but clearly he probably was to help Philemon in the running of his home as a runaway slave is in a very precarious position. Incidentally, I checked this July. Many people are in slavery today in 2022 seconds or 14 million people who were slaves in the world today with not eradicated slavery have we done 71% of the slaves are women or girls you can imagine what the what kind of life they live as slaves. SMS had met Paul in Rome, as some commentators think was apposite as I think it was probably Rome. In one sense, it doesn't matter. Paul is a prisoner. He writes as a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and in the amazing providence of God, is about wonderfully can do all things in the providence of God.

Paul, who knows, and Philemon knows of the church and Colossae. Obviously this man. The runaway from Philemon finds himself with Paul. The circumstances we don't really know Paul doesn't reveal other circumstances. But what is wonderful this man an SMS are useless man.

Probably a thief, a number of unreliable fellow a kind of Roscoe runaway and he hears the wonderful gospel of Jesus Christ.

Wonderful to know that whatever you are, whatever you've done God in his grace can reach that were singing. We remember the date of our salvation. I hope you can do that God's grace reached out and through this great apostle Paul presents the gospel to the Iceman seasonable wonderful kind of gospel. Paul presented only to wonder about that you can read in Romans and Galatians and Paul's wonderful leathers we know exactly the gospel that Paul preached the gospel of God's grace I know what would happen to an SMS I was Paul going to handle this is still a prisoner can this man who was useless now to be useful to Philemon. The answer is I think in this beautifully written little letter when we get a glimpse of the family of God call this I think the family of God.

There are many privileges in life.

Many things that you can belong to me. The greatest privilege is to be a member of a local church.

The garden's grace as we will see when we are saved doesn't leave us as individuals, long range of types is at work though God is a marvelous thing. We are all through the baptism of this credit baptized into the body of Christ and God in his grace sets up as we have here at Calvary local body of Christ's. This is the church. This is the household of God and how wonderful that we who have been saying we have been rescued. God doesn't leave you and me to flop ourselves know he brings us into this marvelous new community. This new society. The church of the living God. When we worship together as were doing when we sat up together when we do life together. When we reach islets to the unbelieving world together when what refreshment helped in the church of Jesus Christ is wonderful, isn't it. But sometimes in churches sometimes in families sometimes in relationships that attentions and this little letter. The Bible time there to Philemon just before the book of Hebrews that will help us to see the importance of two things. Many things were considered by family what want to focus on two things refreshment in the family of God and of reconciliation in the family of God in the family of God.

We are refreshed in the family of God that is wonderful reconciliation him no is Paul's letter to Philemon. His word of God to us. Philemon verse one Paul, a prisoner for Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother to Philemon. Our beloved fellow worker and apathy our sister occupants or fellow soldier and the church in your house. Grace to you and peace from God our father and the Lord Jesus Christ's could see Paul writing it. The prison I thank my God always. When I remember you in my prayers because I hear of your love, another faith that you have toward the Lord Jesus and for all the saints, and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become evident. For the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ for what I have derived much joy and comfort from your love my brother because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you. Accordingly, though I'm old enough in Christ are commanded to do what is required for lovesick. I prefer to appeal to you by Paul, an old man.

Another prisoner also for Christ Jesus. I appeal to you for my child, an SMS whose father I became in my imprisonment.

Formerly, he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me I'm sending them back to you sending my very heart. I will be glad to keep up with me in order that he might start me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel, but I prefer to do nothing without your consent. In order that your goodness might not be by compulsion but if you're on a cart for this perhaps is why he was prompted for you from a while that you might have them back forever. No longer is a Boeing seven but more than a bondservant as a beloved brother, especially to me, but have much more to you both in the flash and in the Lord. So if you consider me your partner receive him as you would receive me if he's wrong you. It's all or owes you anything charset to my accounts. I Paul write this with my one hand, I will repay it to say nothing of your owing me. Even your own self yes brother, I want some benefit from you in the Lord, refresh my heart in Christ confident of your beaches. I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I say. At the same time the pit against room for me from hoping that through your prayers. I will be graciously given to you the preface, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus sends greetings to you and so does Mark Aristarchus Dimas and Luke my fellow workers.

The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

The brilliant little you see the subtleties to see his heart of this man writing differently for the following is a something of refreshment in the family of God. If you are following closely. You saw that a couple of times refreshment in the family of God, and we have to think of what it means to be in the family of God.

It is essential in the Christian life that we understand our identity in Christ. Did you notice the patterns which Paul uses to describe others. Verse one says Timothy our brother, verse 16. Beloved brother. Verse 20. Yes brother Peter faster apathy, possibly Philemon's wife in verse two, as our sister several times. He uses this word fellow.

He talks about a fellow worker. He talks about occupants being my fellow soldier number stays here that he is an apostle is not going to use that as a word to put pressure on Philemon but he writes ahead as a brother is wonderful. Paul was an apostle, but in the family of God, such as revocable church on the same level. Paul refers to Philemon as my partner, one who is fellowship become submissive, emerging great fellowship crying and he is on that you're my partner here when I have fellowship with this man. Occupancy served in the church of God is my fellow soldier in Christ.

The preface verse 25 is Paul's fellow prisoner in Christ before man in verse 24 are my fellow workers get that you think of others.

Our world once the device is the will. People love their titles. Is there is a preen themselves within the church of Jesus Christ. This is our identity. We are brothers and sisters in Christ and also to the text in verses five and seven, Paul refers to the saints for all the saints verse by verse seven because the hearts of the city's have been refreshed through you not familiar with the New Testament using the stranger the same as someone who's died in his canonized absolutely not in the New Testament saints. As someone who is saved by the grace of God separated from the world unto Christ, we have been sanctified with me saying so if you are an authentic follower of Christ.

You are a saints, I can say I am St. John strange is a little bit doesn't saints Mary St. St. Nathaniel came and prayed. St. Chelsea Singh yourself what identity I am a saints. I am a brother in the family of God. Notice what Paul does not do what we sometimes do.

He never refers to anyone as a wretched sinner, you say well we are sinners. Be careful your identity. If you are a true follower of Jesus Christ is not sinner New Testament does not want you to think of yourself as a sinner and Romans six Paul very clearly says that through our Lord Jesus Christ, the power of sin and the dominion of sin has been broken in our lives. Yes, we are sinful. That is true. Yes it is true that as brothers and sisters in Christ as saints.

We do sin, but out identity is not as a sinner and it is as a saints number. What Paul says to the Corinthians would all kinds of nasty evil, sinful things before the convention. What does he say such where some of you but you were washed, your sanctified, you are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus and by the spirit of God you were like that you where will you wear dirty you will sinner but now in the grace of God you been washed you been sanctified, there is a dramatic difference. A dramatic change in the life of the believer here. Sometimes those who have had problems with drink are those of a problems with drugs or other issues, and they have been saved for many many years, but they still want to think of themselves as an alcoholic is a drug addict is a promiscuous person. Do not think of yourself like that that is not your identity, your identity is. You are a child of God you are a saints. Yes, I know all those of you who know me know that I sin, and if I know you I know that your sinful person but out identity is that we are saved, washed with clients use it well but were still sinners yes were still sinners, but the New Testament. Paul writes to believers say to them you terrible sinners he says listen you did look like that. But now you are and you creation in Christ. Wonderful here in the family of God, washed, sanctified, you may have been the worst center in North Carolina in your past. Think how wonderful you are totally washed your sanctified, you are justified in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ. Notice also.

Paul's tender heart universe.

In verse 10 to an SMS as my child.

I appeal to you for my child, and SMS whose father I became in my imprisonment. You see the concept in the family of God of intimacy of warmth and love. What way was Paul, the father of an SMS. It was a spiritual father is glad on that semester saving faith in Jesus Christ to the spiritual father. We talked about a mentor someone like that in your life. I trust you do I'm privileged to be a spiritual father to several I don't like them calling me father to me to feel that really old Paul does refer to himself in verse 10 is an old man was even older. Luke at some man and woman and say I'm the father have their spiritual mother's to have that relationship of guiding of praying for discipling, leaving them to Christ.

Walking with them so that they look to use a spiritual father spiritual mother. You know, your group may have come from a terrible home.

Your home may have been dysfunctional, and perhaps a relationship with your mother or your father, your brother sister was terrible.

I know some of you come from these homes, but no your saved by the grace of God.

You're now a new creation in Christ. Now you have a father in heaven who is absolutely perfect. Who loves you were saying he's been faithful to you, please, and with you, you're no different, given new identity. Lord is my heavenly father. What grace member John says in first John three verse one see what kind of love the father has given to us that we should be called children of God think of that great love that God has for you.

Not only does he love you. Not only does he say computer brings you into your very family that you and I through faith in the Lord Jesus Christ were children of God's will in the family of God. The eternal family of God is what it means to be a Christian doesn't it. Think of us here at Calvary. What about endeavors all ages since coming from all over the world. We are as we were singing pulses in Colossians 3 Christ is all and in all sucking very cautiously, but all in all the different people. Even the barbarians and the civilians in all the different groups in the first century where he went and spread the gospel. But now he says Christ is all and in all the Christ who saved you is in Christ to save you may, in the spirit of Christ, who is in you is the same spread of Christ in me the blood that saved use the same blood that washed me. Do you understand this, but Christ indwells us through his Spirit that we are brothers and sisters of the same family of God is what happens fellowship in the family of God refreshes us when you like to meet this month. Philemon mystery about a loving ability to Paul refers to them in verse one is our beloved fellow Paul says in verse seven that the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you uses in verse six, I pray that the sharing of your faith is a big one crying in the oven which we get fellowship is a man who knows about Christian Fellowship. He knows about spiritual refreshment and Paul, the great apostle asked that Philemon verse 20 will refresh my heart in Christ. I want to be with you Philemon Sabbagh answer going to spend some time with you because I wonderful you Philemon could refresh my heart feel you need refreshment should this word refresh is similar to the word of grasp of the Lord Jesus uses coming to me and I will give you rest of world is tough.

Life is tough. Life is disappointing.

Sometimes the offender was praying for some of the congregation are going through tough times and all of us experience and from time to time.

Don't wait the toughness of life standing strong for for Christ it's easy to become weak. Isn't it and what do we need we need spiritual refreshment. Some of you for physical refreshment may go to the spa may get a massage number never done that occasionally good and will go there and that she comes in should say so.

I feel so good. I like the idea of someday pummeling my back that we are, but what the spa is a place of refreshment place of Christ, you go there because you're where you put your tired, your muscles are sore and you want to be physically refreshment rested. What we do spiritually feels that actually done spiritually tired.

The answer is yes. Notice what Paul says here in verse seven. I love this for I derived much joy and comfort from your love, joy and comfort from the love of the apostle Paul knew and you needed and I needed and we find that in the family you're after their son's death last year.

Good and I praise God for our brothers and sisters in Christ. Here at Calvary who brought spiritual refreshment. We can say we derived much joy and comfort from your love.

You feel you're about to drown you feel you like to go down a dark hole. God's grace brings to us to her side, brothers and sisters who refresh us really understand the experience probably knocks but they bring joy and comfort from their love wonderful to be part of the family of God, and we say as many of you have said through these difficult times.

Could people who don't know Christ survive the fact that some of them don't become better and angry.

Then the family of God will refresh to our worshipers were doing it through serving one another to people praying for us through personal encouragement through practical kindnesses. So ask you to spend time with you.

I come here yes but is any connection with others. Life group leader community groups is not just so someone thinks is that you I believe in preaching, but we also need kind of personal touch from time to time, someone put the Ranger went pray for to invite you into your into their home for a meal to bring you a meal I note an encouragement of theirs of Scriptures and to be refreshed spiritually whenever themes today. Tim Hathaway, a person of worship priest and the during the summer is to encourage and build up one another. Refreshment is we need encouragement, but a flash spiritually when we see was going on in the family of God will refresh people's home, but we don't all have a church in her home. I don't have a church and all I Philemon did. But when good and I first got married we commented before God that her home where we stayed was going to be belonged to God, we bid both came from homes where parents are very hospitable was coming from large families, and people are invited in missionaries and evangelists brothers and sisters into our home, and we've sought in the grace of God not only to be, we ourselves refresh another people's homes, but bringing people into our home to refresh and to encourage to do that in your home, my family is wonderful. What about your single person inviting a couple whereby if you are a couple inviting a single mother someone from another country. Well, what about a window well by someone going through a tough time or someone you just me. Did you do to Charlotte and you want to refresh them one way that other ways of course, is to have them into your home. Spiritual refreshment I need spiritual refreshment.

We needed it. I thank God for this family and I'm suggesting to you that all of us from time to time are weary, spiritually dialing. We feel weak, we feel the devil is harassing us and this is why we have family of God is another one of course refreshment but also reconciliation the Pines is Philemon. But Paul is appealing to Philemon to be reconciled with this man who wronged him as he says like I understand. Formally he was useless to you but know he can be useful. Verse 12. I'm sending him back to you sending my very heart. Verse 12 – 13. I would be glad to keep it with me in order that he might start me on your behalf during my imprisonment for the gospel by preferred to do nothing without your consent. In order that your goodness not be by compulsion of your own accord was not even using apostolic authority anything listen this time to be useful to be in my imprisonment and I know you probably would agree that he can do that but he really needs to be back with you sending them back to my very heart of this verse 14. No longer is a bonsai run, but more than a bondservant as a beloved brother difficult for us to understand the relationship between slave masters then, but what Paul is saying if you receive an SMS is like receiving me that 17 of this man has any wrong put it to my car.

I'll take care of it so can you picture in this mess going back and it is fairly but no the brothers Natalie have a shared son ship equal son ship on isomers has received the same forgiveness of God as Philemon has received both are now in Christ was at my beloved brothers in this relationship of being in the family of God transcends the relationship of master and slave transfer times sends the relationship of slave and free ends.

All other distinctions that are now one in Christ not only brothers and sisters but equal brothers and sisters as Paul's argument in opening versus revision 3 with a Gentile policy and listen the Gentiles through the work of Jesus Christ are not part of the family of God.

Their part of the church. But when you do understand you Jews that they Gentiles are not equal with you wonderful, but all's youngest little boy who saved the great experience person who's walked with God. Almost all the life stand equal before Christ that she did is something very difficult. When asked you to be a reconciler peacemaker member Paul says in second Corinthians 5 that Christ has given us the ministry of reckoned conciliation, not the ministry being a troublemaker, not administrative going at islands, creating havoc, being aggressive as always those in the churches in the never happy until that in the middle of a fight always in some controversy, but always going behind someone's back and cutting them down, don't do that. But Jesus said blessed are the peacemakers for they shall be called sons. We who have known peace through Christ we who have been reconciled, should be masters at peacemaking in the world of the vision in a world of rhetoric in a world where people started each other out and write nasty comments on social media even Christians doing wrong. Someone that you need to be reconciled to your own family personal reconciled with her brother or sister. Some of you are not are not reconciled with your parents.

Some of you not record reconciled with your sons or your daughters presently are not reconciled with a brother or sister here you say. Well, that person did me wrong, all of us have been wrong.

Philemon was wrong when SMS was a runaway slave about policy is that your brother Philemon you need to you need to take him back north as a slave, but more than that, as a beloved brother of the evidence of the grace of God and that church when an SMS comes back. I can see Philemon and then SMS hugging each other's with tears in SMS saying please forgive me. I did wrong and Philemon say no. You are my beloved. What impact churches and people would understand this here is Philemon. This is the man who owned the house in which we make these have this wretched man who created all kinds of trouble for.

But now he's back reconciled on confidence that there was reconciliation. Paul says in verse 21. I'm confident that you will do even more than I say in this extra biblical evidence that an SMS became one of the great leaders in the church in Ephesus.

I would like to break bread so I have to say to again as a someone, but you need to be reconciled with the wrongdoing done wrong, but possibly you have as well and perhaps for months. Can this even years you have been away from that person. Paul writes cautiously. Verse 13.

If anyone has a complaint against another, forgiving each other, as the Lord has forgiven you, so you also must forgive visions for 30 to be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another as God in Christ has forgiven you.

There is you've received God's forgiveness. Now that forgiveness must be demonstrated to that person who has wronged. Think of fresh think of the one that of the grays when that relationship which turned sour and cause such bitterness in your heart and such alienation through the one that of the spirit of God. Your matter reconciled someone says what about slavery did why didn't Paul condemn slavery explicitly well he doesn't do so expressly but surely he undermines the dreadful practice of slavery life within these comments in his commentary says a principal is boldly enunciated, which must in the end proved fatal to come to the Lord's table. Again, these two questions for you, you refreshing others and be honest.

If you become a very selfish person. Children play following you students know many couples really wrapped up in yourself, your start your mighty life's people need refreshed but be selfish is a question to think about and can I refresh others don't sit will I need the refreshment. That's true you do is on the question you refreshing others and secondly I need to reach out to the back to reconciliation, possibly to someone in my family, someone at work. Some relationship, someone who is wrong to me to do that we were coming to the Lord's table. Think of the dozens of God's forgiveness. These clients because it is a war says were in the family of God's forgive us this day our trespasses, even as we forgive those who trespass against us is right in the Lord's prayer is throughout Scripture, God has forgiven you humble yourself.

Stop trying to vindicate yourself something to prove that human rights want everyone to know how terrible that person is going the spirit of race go in the spirit of humility go in God's help and be reckoned so pray that this church cover church is a place where people and refreshed.

I trust the Calvary church is a place of reconciliation. The world is so divided.

As we come here is not a matter of Republican or Democrat, or whether you're Caucasian or an African-American or whether you're rich or poor. Many come from the north of the South. I come from the far north becomes even further north so receive us. We know you're better but be kind to us that whoever we are becoming one and the same level and that your home this church is a place of refreshments place of reckoned silly father. We need your help for that, we confess that we are sometimes very selfish. We confess that we sometimes very slow to forgive people because we want to defend ourselves want to vindicate ourselves. What may your spirit break us and I thank you for my many brothers and sisters here at Calvary who do a magnificent job of refreshing others may that continue, we thank you come to the Lord's table for your magnificent forgiveness of us, may we be transformed to be kind tenderhearted, forgiving others, even as you in Christ has forgiven us in Christ