PHILEM 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our
fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
It is ok to have a church in a house. The church
is not the building. A church is a called out assembly for the purpose of
worshipping and serving the Lord. The people are the church and not the
building. A church can meet in a barn or in a field under a tree. In
fact J. Frank Norris started with 13 members and had to meet in a mule barn.
God blessed and in about 2 years he had around 1,000. You do not have to
have a fancy building.
It was common for churches to meet in homes in the
first centuries. And later when being persecuted by Rome they even met in
grave tunnels. A building does not make a good church. What makes a
good church is a group of spiritual Christians who are on fire for God and love
the Lord. And Jesus said that love to Him is tied to obeying Him.
John 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.
Is it ok to have a nice building? Of course.
Can God use a building to help reach people for the gospel? Of course He
can and He does. Is everyone that has a big building in the will of God?
No. There are many groups with big buildings that teach contrary to the
Word of God.
In short, don't judge a church by their building.
Judge them by their obedience to the Lord's commandments. Do they go soul
winning? Do they use music with melody? Do they teach the whole
counsel of God? Do they live a life that is separated from the world?
Are their affections set on things above? Do they refuse to walk with
false teachers? And so on.
Thought On This Chapter
PHILEM 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I
have begotten in my bonds:
PHILEM 1:11 Which in time past was to thee
unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
While Paul was in prison a man named Onesimus came to
see him. What did Paul do? He gave him what the man needed most.
Paul gave him the gospel and he gets saved. In verse 10 Paul calls him his
son whom I have begotton. It is a way of saying that he got born again.
He is now a new creature, a baby Christian, and Paul was the one that led him to
the Lord.
Verse 11 shows that Paul knew of this man in the past.
Most likely this is why Onesimus came to see Paul. He was on the run and
thought that Paul could help him in some way. Paul did help, but no doubt not in
the way that he thought. Paul did not help him run. Paul got him
saved, changed his life and then sent him back. Paul says of this man, in
time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
Before salvation this man was not a help to anyone. But he is changed now.
Onesimus goes back a changed man. Changed for all eternity. Praise
the Lord for the saving, life changing, power of the gospel. Amen.
PHILEM 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellow-labourer,
PHILEM 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:
PHILEM 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
PHILEM 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
PHILEM 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;
PHILEM 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.
PHILEM 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.
PHILEM 1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,
PHILEM 1:9 Yet for love's sake I rather beseech thee, being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ.
PHILEM 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:
PHILEM 1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:
PHILEM 1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
PHILEM 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:
PHILEM 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
PHILEM 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;
PHILEM 1:16 Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, specially to me, but how much more unto thee, both in the flesh, and in the Lord?
PHILEM 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.
PHILEM 1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
PHILEM 1:19 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.
PHILEM 1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
PHILEM 1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.
PHILEM 1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
PHILEM 1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellow-prisoner in Christ Jesus;
PHILEM 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellow-labourers.
PHILEM 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
General Information About the Book of Philemon.
The book of Philemon illustrates the intercession of
Jesus on behalf of believers who were slaves to sin.
The key verse is Phm 1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or
oweth [thee] ought, put that on mine account;
Our sin was put on Jesus' account.
This book teaches us that Christian principles need to
be applied to social relationships.
This short book illustrates the principles of
forgiveness and intercession.
This book shows Paul's concern for individuals, that he
is concerned for slaves as well as masters, and that he would follow-up after
winning souls.
Thought on this Chapter
PHILEM 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,
This is a good example for us to follow. Paul remembered this brother
always in his prayers. You will find Paul mentioning many people that he
prayed for daily. It becomes obvious that Paul had to spend much time in
prayer.
PHILEM 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus,
and toward all saints;
Paul starts out in verse four saying, "I thank my God". Then he adds some
information in between commas and then in verse 5 we have what Paul was thanking
God for. Paul was thankful for hearing about this mans love and faith
toward the Lord and all the saved. (If you are saved, you are a saint
according to the Bible definition). We should also be thankful for the
faith and love of our brothers and sisters in Christ, and we should not neglect
thanking God for it. We should also tell them about it like Paul is doing
here.
