WEBVTT

00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:29.980
 Amen.

00:00:30.000 --> 00:00:35.140
 We start our meetings of an evening, or normally we start this week, we read it at the end,

00:00:35.259 --> 00:00:37.399
 by reading a chapter of the Westminster Confession of Faith.

00:00:37.780 --> 00:00:41.740
 And we're up to chapter 30, which is a chapter of Church Discipline.

00:00:42.700 --> 00:00:45.759
 And we read it in our meeting this week.

00:00:46.899 --> 00:00:54.980
 And I know the Westminster Confession quite well, and yet I was incredibly struck by the words of that chapter.

00:00:55.879 --> 00:00:58.700
 In fact, I spent the rest of the weekend reading around it.

00:00:59.580 --> 00:01:07.760
 And I feel convicted that maybe we as a church, and certainly I have not taught you as a congregation on church discipline,

00:01:08.400 --> 00:01:09.439
 as we should have.

00:01:10.420 --> 00:01:13.859
 And it is a remarkable chapter, I'm not going to tell you about it, I want you to go home and read about it.

00:01:14.359 --> 00:01:19.780
 But it is an incredible chapter, which I think is very, very helpful to the church in this country.

00:01:19.780 --> 00:01:26.900
 One of the problems with church discipline in the UK is if somebody is put under church discipline,

00:01:27.120 --> 00:01:30.140
 and they disagree with it and don't like it, what happens?

00:01:30.799 --> 00:01:35.000
 Well, they normally, ordinarily go to the church five minutes down the road.

00:01:35.000 --> 00:01:43.819
 The church sometimes, occasionally, gives me a ring or checks, but very often more than often doesn't.

00:01:44.620 --> 00:01:49.760
 And so actually, church discipline has become, not impossible, but very, very difficult.

00:01:49.760 --> 00:01:54.460
 So churches like ours, I think, have thought well, bury it.

00:01:56.020 --> 00:01:57.780
 And that is to the detriment of the church.

00:01:58.660 --> 00:02:01.680
 It's to the detriment of the church because the church is a remarkable thing.

00:02:01.680 --> 00:02:07.220
 And I think Philemon teaches us that maybe in a way that no other book does.

00:02:08.099 --> 00:02:12.719
 Because it teaches us about our fellowship in the faith.

00:02:13.460 --> 00:02:18.640
 It teaches us about our participation in the faith.

00:02:19.620 --> 00:02:24.540
 Your sharing in the faith that it may become effective.

00:02:24.700 --> 00:02:27.939
 That's what Paul's prayer for the Philemon's was.

00:02:27.939 --> 00:02:34.199
 As we saw last time in verse 6 of this letter, his prayer for Philemon, his dear friend,

00:02:34.900 --> 00:02:38.919
 and the host of the gathering of the church in Colossae,

00:02:39.919 --> 00:02:43.419
 he prays that the effectiveness of the fellowship of the believers,

00:02:44.500 --> 00:02:50.240
 the fellowship, partnership that the believers share, would be seen.

00:02:51.400 --> 00:02:57.159
 And I would argue that the fellowship that the believers share is seen most clearly in difficult situations.

00:02:57.939 --> 00:03:03.859
 Where this fellowship changes things in unexpected ways.

00:03:04.979 --> 00:03:10.280
 There is, the background to this letter, a very difficult situation in the Colossian church.

00:03:11.439 --> 00:03:16.599
 And on the day that this letter to Philemon was read out before the believers gathered in his house,

00:03:17.599 --> 00:03:19.639
 it's still a running sore.

00:03:19.639 --> 00:03:23.539
 We fear that Philemon's confidence, or Paul's confidence,

00:03:23.679 --> 00:03:27.739
 that Philemon's participation in the faith would be effective

00:03:27.739 --> 00:03:33.159
 because of Philemon's track record in the fellowship of the believers.

00:03:33.259 --> 00:03:34.059
 Look at verse 7.

00:03:34.399 --> 00:03:40.359
 For I have derived much comfort and much joy from your love, my brother,

00:03:40.360 --> 00:03:45.100
 because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you.

00:03:45.340 --> 00:03:49.540
 Philemon was a man who cared for his fellow Christians,

00:03:49.680 --> 00:03:55.340
 and he cared deeply in his words and his acts, and I have no doubt in his prayers.

00:03:56.360 --> 00:04:02.260
 He cared about other people's welfare, especially their faith in the Lord Jesus,

00:04:03.000 --> 00:04:05.420
 their love for one another, their hope.

00:04:05.419 --> 00:04:11.699
 And Paul had little doubt that Philemon's fellowship of the faith would be effective

00:04:11.699 --> 00:04:16.219
 in this difficult matter that the letter was now going to raise with him.

00:04:17.319 --> 00:04:18.339
 How does this work?

00:04:18.539 --> 00:04:20.099
 How does the fellowship of believers,

00:04:21.319 --> 00:04:23.279
 the fellowship of believers in the faith,

00:04:23.399 --> 00:04:25.639
 how does this fellowship become effective,

00:04:26.000 --> 00:04:27.740
 particularly in difficult situations?

00:04:27.740 --> 00:04:32.120
 By difficult situations, I mean,

00:04:32.420 --> 00:04:34.519
 if it were not for the fellowship of believers,

00:04:34.660 --> 00:04:36.199
 things would be really different.

00:04:37.439 --> 00:04:42.259
 We do not see the power of the fellowship of believers

00:04:42.259 --> 00:04:47.540
 simply when like-minded people share a great deal in common,

00:04:48.139 --> 00:04:50.879
 and they enjoy one another's company and friendship.

00:04:51.600 --> 00:04:52.759
 Now, there's nothing wrong with that.

00:04:52.759 --> 00:04:55.399
 There is nothing wrong with like-minded people

00:04:55.399 --> 00:04:59.399
 who share a great deal in common, enjoying each other's company.

00:05:01.360 --> 00:05:05.579
 But I want to argue that isn't really what the biblical idea of fellowship is about.

00:05:06.519 --> 00:05:08.740
 That will always be part of fellowship, won't it?

00:05:09.959 --> 00:05:13.219
 But the fellowship of the faith, fellowship in the faith,

00:05:13.360 --> 00:05:15.500
 in Christ, is much more powerful than that.

00:05:16.699 --> 00:05:21.300
 It's more than new mates, it's more than new friends I make at church.

00:05:21.300 --> 00:05:24.340
 And I want us to see, and I want us to know,

00:05:24.439 --> 00:05:27.040
 the power of the fellowship in difficult situations.

00:05:28.379 --> 00:05:30.280
 The situation in Colossae on that day,

00:05:30.340 --> 00:05:31.920
 when this letter was being read out,

00:05:32.379 --> 00:05:35.259
 was at the extreme end of difficulty.

00:05:36.639 --> 00:05:38.500
 We heard the story last time, two weeks ago.

00:05:38.900 --> 00:05:41.300
 Philemon was the man from Colossae,

00:05:41.900 --> 00:05:43.460
 who the Apostle Paul had led to faith,

00:05:43.720 --> 00:05:44.780
 some years earlier in Ephesus.

00:05:45.740 --> 00:05:48.000
 Paul is now at the house arrest in Rome,

00:05:48.319 --> 00:05:50.199
 where he'd met Anasimus.

00:05:50.199 --> 00:05:54.379
 The slave who'd run away from Philemon's household.

00:05:55.339 --> 00:05:57.599
 And we learn a little bit more about the difficulties

00:05:57.599 --> 00:05:59.879
 between Anasimus and Philemon in a few moments.

00:06:00.300 --> 00:06:02.819
 But Paul has now led Anasimus

00:06:02.819 --> 00:06:07.360
 to the same faith in Christ Jesus as Philemon had.

00:06:08.159 --> 00:06:11.639
 These three men are all believers in Christ Jesus.

00:06:11.639 --> 00:06:16.779
 These three men are in the fellowship of the faith.

00:06:16.779 --> 00:06:20.779
 And how is the fellowship of the faith going to be effective among them?

00:06:21.399 --> 00:06:25.680
 The Apostle, the slave, and the master.

00:06:26.779 --> 00:06:28.740
 Now let's take up the letter where we left it,

00:06:28.819 --> 00:06:29.879
 remembering two things.

00:06:29.879 --> 00:06:33.339
 We are to imagine that it's being read out aloud

00:06:33.339 --> 00:06:35.879
 before the whole gathering of believers in Philemon's home.

00:06:36.759 --> 00:06:37.300
 We saw that.

00:06:37.360 --> 00:06:38.699
 We alluded to that from verse 2,

00:06:39.439 --> 00:06:41.100
 and from verse 8 onwards,

00:06:42.100 --> 00:06:43.420
 down at least verse 21.

00:06:43.519 --> 00:06:45.300
 The person being addressed there is Philemon,

00:06:45.959 --> 00:06:46.659
 in the singular.

00:06:46.660 --> 00:06:49.320
 So I'm taking it up from verse 8.

00:06:50.700 --> 00:06:54.380
 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ

00:06:54.380 --> 00:06:57.740
 to command you to do what is required,

00:06:58.220 --> 00:07:01.700
 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you.

00:07:02.680 --> 00:07:06.360
 I, Paul, an old man, and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus,

00:07:06.480 --> 00:07:08.980
 I appeal to you for my child Anasimus,

00:07:09.480 --> 00:07:12.160
 whose father I became in my imprisonment.

00:07:13.420 --> 00:07:16.060
 Formerly, when he was with you before,

00:07:16.860 --> 00:07:17.760
 Anasimus was useless.

00:07:19.020 --> 00:07:21.500
 But now he is indeed useful to you and to me,

00:07:21.720 --> 00:07:23.040
 and I am sending him back to you,

00:07:23.100 --> 00:07:24.700
 sending my very heart.

00:07:25.260 --> 00:07:27.140
 I would have been glad to keep him with me,

00:07:27.400 --> 00:07:29.820
 in order that he might serve me on your behalf,

00:07:29.940 --> 00:07:31.420
 doing my imprisonment for the gospel.

00:07:32.660 --> 00:07:34.720
 But I prefer to do nothing without your consent,

00:07:34.800 --> 00:07:37.560
 in order that your goodness might not be by compulsion,

00:07:37.700 --> 00:07:38.600
 but of your own accord.

00:07:39.400 --> 00:07:40.740
 For this reason, perhaps,

00:07:40.860 --> 00:07:43.320
 is why he was parted from you for a little while,

00:07:43.379 --> 00:07:44.900
 that you might have him back forever.

00:07:44.899 --> 00:07:47.120
 No longer as a bondservant,

00:07:47.199 --> 00:07:48.620
 but more than a bondservant,

00:07:48.719 --> 00:07:49.679
 as a beloved brother.

00:07:50.779 --> 00:07:51.819
 Especially to me.

00:07:52.959 --> 00:07:54.079
 But how much more to you,

00:07:54.239 --> 00:07:55.099
 both in the flesh,

00:07:56.099 --> 00:07:57.379
 and in the Lord.

00:07:57.379 --> 00:08:02.120
 Those who share faith in Christ Jesus,

00:08:03.379 --> 00:08:04.459
 I hope that's you tonight,

00:08:05.519 --> 00:08:08.620
 are brought into a very remarkable relationship,

00:08:08.980 --> 00:08:10.100
 with one another.

00:08:10.100 --> 00:08:12.920
 It is not a little thing,

00:08:13.520 --> 00:08:16.680
 to be a believer in the Lord Jesus Christ,

00:08:17.580 --> 00:08:19.340
 and to be in the fellowship of faith.

00:08:21.800 --> 00:08:23.700
 And to witness this particular example,

00:08:23.879 --> 00:08:25.320
 of the fellowship of faith at work,

00:08:25.360 --> 00:08:26.360
 and becoming effective,

00:08:26.580 --> 00:08:29.439
 we need to see the various relationships involved.

00:08:30.640 --> 00:08:31.180
 So first of all,

00:08:31.220 --> 00:08:33.560
 look with me on Paul's relationship to Philemon.

00:08:33.559 --> 00:08:37.599
 And Paul draws two aspects of that friendship.

00:08:38.699 --> 00:08:39.799
 Firstly, in verse 8,

00:08:40.419 --> 00:08:41.059
 accordingly,

00:08:41.479 --> 00:08:42.979
 he's drawing a conclusion,

00:08:43.719 --> 00:08:45.019
 from what we saw last time,

00:08:45.079 --> 00:08:47.419
 which is Paul's prayer in verse 6,

00:08:47.939 --> 00:08:49.959
 and his confidence in verse 7.

00:08:50.299 --> 00:08:50.759
 Verse 8,

00:08:50.839 --> 00:08:51.339
 accordingly,

00:08:51.479 --> 00:08:53.000
 though I am bold enough in Christ,

00:08:53.079 --> 00:08:55.559
 to command you to do what is required.

00:08:58.559 --> 00:08:59.739
 Paul is the apostle.

00:08:59.740 --> 00:09:03.799
 That is of course how he introduced himself,

00:09:03.899 --> 00:09:04.159
 isn't it?

00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:05.580
 In the book of Colossians.

00:09:06.899 --> 00:09:08.960
 He is moreover the person who brought

00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.899
 Christ to Philemon,

00:09:11.320 --> 00:09:12.940
 and Philemon to Christ.

00:09:13.259 --> 00:09:15.940
 And as an apostle of Christ Jesus,

00:09:16.060 --> 00:09:16.799
 by the will of God,

00:09:17.139 --> 00:09:18.840
 Paul was never timid,

00:09:18.940 --> 00:09:20.379
 was he of unchanging instructions,

00:09:20.799 --> 00:09:21.419
 and warnings,

00:09:21.659 --> 00:09:22.320
 and rebukes,

00:09:23.120 --> 00:09:24.060
 and even commands,

00:09:24.139 --> 00:09:25.320
 when the occasion warranted it.

00:09:26.600 --> 00:09:28.960
 And this occasion did warrant some of those things.

00:09:28.960 --> 00:09:31.700
 But one of the marvels of this little letter,

00:09:31.860 --> 00:09:34.420
 is how Paul holds back.

00:09:35.460 --> 00:09:38.740
 He holds back from explicitly telling Philemon

00:09:38.740 --> 00:09:39.540
 what he should do.

00:09:41.000 --> 00:09:42.860
 He refers to this point,

00:09:43.280 --> 00:09:43.639
 doesn't he,

00:09:43.820 --> 00:09:45.560
 to what is required.

00:09:46.360 --> 00:09:47.500
 What is fitting.

00:09:48.440 --> 00:09:49.240
 What is proper.

00:09:49.320 --> 00:09:50.879
 He doesn't actually indicate clearly,

00:09:50.980 --> 00:09:51.879
 just what that is.

00:09:52.940 --> 00:09:54.080
 He simply indicates,

00:09:54.180 --> 00:09:54.400
 doesn't it,

00:09:54.440 --> 00:09:54.820
 clearly,

00:09:54.980 --> 00:09:56.580
 that there is something he's hoping,

00:09:56.580 --> 00:09:59.639
 and he's expecting Philemon will do.

00:10:00.879 --> 00:10:02.379
 And we might feel it might be a lot easier,

00:10:02.480 --> 00:10:03.100
 for all concerned,

00:10:03.180 --> 00:10:04.900
 if Paul had just come out and told Philemon

00:10:04.900 --> 00:10:05.759
 what he expects of him.

00:10:05.800 --> 00:10:06.280
 But he doesn't.

00:10:07.139 --> 00:10:08.720
 It certainly makes life a lot easier

00:10:08.720 --> 00:10:09.960
 for preachers and commentators,

00:10:10.160 --> 00:10:11.320
 and PhD students.

00:10:11.440 --> 00:10:12.400
 There's a lot of speculation,

00:10:12.920 --> 00:10:14.000
 and a lot of guesswork,

00:10:14.360 --> 00:10:15.980
 and papers and books have been written,

00:10:16.080 --> 00:10:17.540
 trying to work out in verse 8,

00:10:17.539 --> 00:10:19.620
 what is required,

00:10:19.719 --> 00:10:20.959
 what that means at the end.

00:10:23.480 --> 00:10:24.139
 I think in some ways,

00:10:24.179 --> 00:10:25.379
 that's one of the keys to the letter.

00:10:26.459 --> 00:10:27.980
 Because Paul had good reason

00:10:27.980 --> 00:10:31.039
 for not simply telling Philemon what to do.

00:10:31.839 --> 00:10:32.919
 Though he could have done that,

00:10:33.000 --> 00:10:33.719
 look at verse 9.

00:10:34.759 --> 00:10:36.099
 Yet for love's sake,

00:10:36.319 --> 00:10:39.459
 I prefer to appeal to you.

00:10:41.459 --> 00:10:42.779
 He's a brother, isn't he?

00:10:42.779 --> 00:10:44.679
 I, Paul, an old man,

00:10:44.740 --> 00:10:48.240
 and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus.

00:10:50.360 --> 00:10:52.819
 You see, our fellowship in the faith

00:10:52.819 --> 00:10:55.360
 does not become effective through commands.

00:10:57.339 --> 00:10:59.100
 That's not to say there's no place for commands

00:10:59.100 --> 00:11:00.740
 in church life and in the Christian fellowship.

00:11:01.939 --> 00:11:03.579
 But in the Christian fellowship,

00:11:03.759 --> 00:11:06.360
 there is something better than commands.

00:11:07.399 --> 00:11:10.279
 There's something bigger than commands.

00:11:10.279 --> 00:11:14.279
 There's something more powerful than commands.

00:11:16.100 --> 00:11:19.459
 I appeal, says Paul.

00:11:20.620 --> 00:11:21.879
 I appeal.

00:11:23.039 --> 00:11:24.459
 I encourage.

00:11:25.819 --> 00:11:27.120
 I exhort.

00:11:28.600 --> 00:11:31.720
 And the reason is for love's sake.

00:11:32.659 --> 00:11:33.799
 Because of love.

00:11:36.159 --> 00:11:37.860
 Philemon's love for God's people,

00:11:37.860 --> 00:11:39.500
 he's already spoken about that in

00:11:39.500 --> 00:11:42.680
 verse 5 and in verse 7.

00:11:43.600 --> 00:11:45.379
 And Paul's love for Philemon

00:11:45.379 --> 00:11:47.620
 is mentioned in verse 1, isn't it?

00:11:49.379 --> 00:11:51.720
 Our beloved fellow worker.

00:11:52.899 --> 00:11:55.000
 It's implied in verse 7.

00:11:56.100 --> 00:11:56.860
 My brother.

00:11:56.860 --> 00:12:01.700
 Those who share faith in Christ

00:12:01.700 --> 00:12:03.580
 know the love of God.

00:12:04.860 --> 00:12:06.879
 And so they are to love one another.

00:12:07.259 --> 00:12:08.980
 Paul and Philemon did

00:12:08.980 --> 00:12:11.980
 because of love, says Paul.

00:12:12.060 --> 00:12:13.899
 I prefer to appeal to you.

00:12:15.259 --> 00:12:17.379
 And so to underline the lack of coercion.

00:12:17.379 --> 00:12:18.960
 He answers in verse 9,

00:12:19.399 --> 00:12:21.259
 I, Paul, an old man,

00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:25.460
 am now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus.

00:12:25.460 --> 00:12:28.700
 It's the second time he refers to his imprisonment.

00:12:28.759 --> 00:12:30.060
 And he answers age.

00:12:31.700 --> 00:12:33.720
 He is not coming down

00:12:33.720 --> 00:12:35.180
 on Philemon

00:12:35.180 --> 00:12:36.879
 with a heavy hand.

00:12:38.019 --> 00:12:39.840
 This is an old man speaking

00:12:39.840 --> 00:12:41.780
 and an old man in chains.

00:12:43.759 --> 00:12:44.920
 And just by the way, isn't it,

00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:45.980
 for those of us who are elders,

00:12:47.360 --> 00:12:49.460
 there's only three of us here tonight.

00:12:50.620 --> 00:12:52.040
 Hopefully a few more in the future.

00:12:52.039 --> 00:12:54.879
 We are significantly less important

00:12:54.879 --> 00:12:56.139
 than the Apostle Paul, aren't we?

00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:00.139
 And we are much less in a position

00:13:00.139 --> 00:13:01.759
 than to be given commands.

00:13:03.599 --> 00:13:04.480
 And we would do well

00:13:04.480 --> 00:13:05.819
 to take note of Paul's manner

00:13:05.819 --> 00:13:06.519
 at this point.

00:13:07.439 --> 00:13:08.120
 There is,

00:13:08.740 --> 00:13:09.819
 and there may well be a time

00:13:09.819 --> 00:13:11.259
 and a place to wield authority,

00:13:11.459 --> 00:13:12.279
 but that was never

00:13:12.279 --> 00:13:13.860
 Paul's preferred way.

00:13:15.099 --> 00:13:16.219
 And it should never be

00:13:16.219 --> 00:13:17.519
 our preferred way either.

00:13:17.519 --> 00:13:19.100
 Because of love,

00:13:20.100 --> 00:13:21.000
 verse 9,

00:13:21.120 --> 00:13:22.079
 for love's sake,

00:13:22.199 --> 00:13:24.220
 I prefer to appeal to you.

00:13:25.840 --> 00:13:26.519
 And still we wait

00:13:26.519 --> 00:13:27.639
 for exactly what he wanted

00:13:27.639 --> 00:13:28.980
 Philemon to do.

00:13:29.279 --> 00:13:31.019
 The first hint comes in verse 10,

00:13:32.460 --> 00:13:33.159
 where Paul speaks

00:13:33.159 --> 00:13:34.439
 of a second relationship.

00:13:35.480 --> 00:13:36.259
 I appeal to you

00:13:36.259 --> 00:13:37.559
 for my child Onesimus,

00:13:37.620 --> 00:13:38.840
 whose father I became

00:13:38.840 --> 00:13:39.620
 in my imprisonment.

00:13:39.679 --> 00:13:40.899
 So let's see Paul's relationship

00:13:40.899 --> 00:13:41.740
 with Onesimus.

00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:43.319
 In the original,

00:13:43.439 --> 00:13:44.259
 he doesn't actually

00:13:44.259 --> 00:13:46.139
 mention the name

00:13:46.139 --> 00:13:46.879
 until the very end

00:13:46.879 --> 00:13:47.439
 of the sentence.

00:13:47.879 --> 00:13:48.519
 So he says,

00:13:48.819 --> 00:13:49.759
 I appeal to you

00:13:49.759 --> 00:13:51.000
 for my child,

00:13:51.120 --> 00:13:52.519
 whose father I became

00:13:52.519 --> 00:13:53.980
 in my imprisonment,

00:13:54.399 --> 00:13:55.000
 Onesimus.

00:13:56.899 --> 00:13:57.759
 But I can't imagine

00:13:57.759 --> 00:13:59.539
 the awkward silence

00:13:59.539 --> 00:14:01.500
 in the church fellowship

00:14:01.500 --> 00:14:03.179
 and the mention

00:14:03.179 --> 00:14:03.819
 of that name.

00:14:05.480 --> 00:14:05.960
 Everyone knew,

00:14:06.059 --> 00:14:06.220
 everybody.

00:14:07.299 --> 00:14:08.000
 Everyone knew,

00:14:08.080 --> 00:14:08.480
 no doubt,

00:14:08.580 --> 00:14:09.220
 of the escape

00:14:09.220 --> 00:14:10.500
 from Philemon's household

00:14:10.500 --> 00:14:11.600
 and perhaps

00:14:11.600 --> 00:14:12.279
 of the robbery.

00:14:13.500 --> 00:14:14.419
 And his presence

00:14:14.419 --> 00:14:15.740
 with Paul's envoy,

00:14:15.740 --> 00:14:16.320
 Tychicus,

00:14:16.759 --> 00:14:17.360
 must have caused

00:14:17.360 --> 00:14:18.000
 quite a stir,

00:14:18.080 --> 00:14:18.379
 wasn't it,

00:14:18.379 --> 00:14:19.019
 when the two of them

00:14:19.019 --> 00:14:20.039
 arrived in Colossae.

00:14:21.240 --> 00:14:22.019
 There must have been

00:14:22.019 --> 00:14:22.980
 some tension

00:14:22.980 --> 00:14:24.720
 and some difficulty

00:14:24.720 --> 00:14:26.919
 with Onesimus' presence

00:14:26.919 --> 00:14:27.700
 in the gathering

00:14:27.700 --> 00:14:28.799
 when that first letter

00:14:28.799 --> 00:14:29.379
 was read out.

00:14:29.600 --> 00:14:30.220
 You can imagine

00:14:30.220 --> 00:14:30.980
 the nudges

00:14:30.980 --> 00:14:32.639
 and the whispers

00:14:32.639 --> 00:14:34.340
 and the wide eyes,

00:14:34.480 --> 00:14:35.100
 the wonders

00:14:35.100 --> 00:14:36.460
 on people's face.

00:14:38.200 --> 00:14:39.180
 The look of utter

00:14:39.180 --> 00:14:39.960
 bewilderment

00:14:39.960 --> 00:14:40.740
 on those people

00:14:40.740 --> 00:14:41.320
 who'd never even

00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:42.700
 heard of Onesimus

00:14:42.700 --> 00:14:43.120
 and who've come

00:14:43.120 --> 00:14:43.960
 to the church recently.

00:14:43.960 --> 00:14:46.820
 They hear

00:14:46.820 --> 00:14:47.639
 Paul had written

00:14:47.639 --> 00:14:48.259
 with Tychicus,

00:14:48.400 --> 00:14:49.100
 I have sent you

00:14:49.100 --> 00:14:49.700
 Onesimus,

00:14:49.780 --> 00:14:50.420
 our faithful

00:14:50.420 --> 00:14:51.120
 and beloved

00:14:51.120 --> 00:14:51.600
 brother,

00:14:51.900 --> 00:14:53.019
 who is one of you.

00:14:56.300 --> 00:14:57.100
 But whatever people

00:14:57.100 --> 00:14:57.980
 may or may not

00:14:57.980 --> 00:14:58.480
 have guessed

00:14:58.480 --> 00:14:59.980
 about Paul's

00:14:59.980 --> 00:15:00.879
 letter to Philemon,

00:15:01.200 --> 00:15:02.019
 this now is the

00:15:02.019 --> 00:15:02.960
 first hint

00:15:02.960 --> 00:15:03.980
 that it has to do

00:15:03.980 --> 00:15:05.040
 with Onesimus.

00:15:05.039 --> 00:15:07.759
 But not to put

00:15:07.759 --> 00:15:08.459
 a too fine

00:15:08.459 --> 00:15:08.959
 point on it,

00:15:09.019 --> 00:15:09.899
 Onesimus represents

00:15:09.899 --> 00:15:10.599
 a very difficult

00:15:10.599 --> 00:15:11.139
 situation.

00:15:13.120 --> 00:15:14.179
 What Paul wants

00:15:14.179 --> 00:15:15.039
 to underline

00:15:15.039 --> 00:15:16.079
 about Onesimus

00:15:16.079 --> 00:15:16.599
 at this point

00:15:16.599 --> 00:15:17.299
 is that Paul

00:15:17.299 --> 00:15:17.939
 had brought him

00:15:17.939 --> 00:15:19.000
 to faith in Christ,

00:15:20.459 --> 00:15:21.839
 to new birth.

00:15:23.319 --> 00:15:23.980
 He is therefore

00:15:23.980 --> 00:15:25.099
 Paul's child

00:15:25.099 --> 00:15:26.099
 in his imprisonment

00:15:26.099 --> 00:15:26.919
 and Paul had

00:15:26.919 --> 00:15:28.059
 become his father

00:15:28.059 --> 00:15:29.219
 by being instrumental

00:15:29.219 --> 00:15:30.240
 in him receiving

00:15:30.240 --> 00:15:30.959
 new life.

00:15:32.039 --> 00:15:32.799
 He had left

00:15:32.799 --> 00:15:34.099
 Colossae as a criminal.

00:15:34.100 --> 00:15:35.840
 and he was

00:15:35.840 --> 00:15:36.279
 returning

00:15:36.279 --> 00:15:37.779
 a different man.

00:15:39.639 --> 00:15:40.159
 Just notice

00:15:40.159 --> 00:15:40.860
 how he's described.

00:15:41.159 --> 00:15:41.700
 It goes on

00:15:41.700 --> 00:15:42.480
 in verse 11

00:15:42.480 --> 00:15:42.980
 doesn't it,

00:15:43.000 --> 00:15:43.879
 to say formerly

00:15:43.879 --> 00:15:45.080
 he was useless

00:15:45.080 --> 00:15:45.899
 to you,

00:15:46.639 --> 00:15:47.779
 but now he is

00:15:47.779 --> 00:15:48.399
 indeed useful

00:15:48.399 --> 00:15:49.639
 to you and to me.

00:15:51.100 --> 00:15:52.000
 His name is

00:15:52.000 --> 00:15:52.779
 Onesimus

00:15:52.779 --> 00:15:53.440
 which means

00:15:53.440 --> 00:15:54.060
 literally

00:15:54.060 --> 00:15:54.899
 useful

00:15:54.899 --> 00:15:56.960
 or profitable.

00:15:57.980 --> 00:15:58.620
 It's a common

00:15:58.620 --> 00:15:59.379
 name for slaves

00:15:59.379 --> 00:15:59.879
 in those days.

00:15:59.960 --> 00:16:00.279
 It was probably

00:16:00.279 --> 00:16:01.759
 given to them

00:16:01.759 --> 00:16:02.540
 by their masters

00:16:02.540 --> 00:16:03.060
 in the hope

00:16:03.060 --> 00:16:03.580
 that they'd make

00:16:03.580 --> 00:16:04.020
 some money

00:16:04.020 --> 00:16:06.000
 in the hope

00:16:06.000 --> 00:16:06.320
 that they would

00:16:06.320 --> 00:16:06.900
 live up to it.

00:16:07.280 --> 00:16:07.920
 But apparently

00:16:07.920 --> 00:16:09.080
 this Onesimus

00:16:09.080 --> 00:16:09.800
 had not

00:16:09.800 --> 00:16:10.860
 lived up to his name.

00:16:12.460 --> 00:16:13.180
 And here's just

00:16:13.180 --> 00:16:14.100
 a little glimpse

00:16:14.100 --> 00:16:14.560
 isn't it

00:16:14.560 --> 00:16:16.420
 into Onesimus'

00:16:16.560 --> 00:16:17.139
 life before

00:16:17.139 --> 00:16:18.020
 he was a Christian.

00:16:18.860 --> 00:16:19.780
 Into the earlier

00:16:19.780 --> 00:16:20.800
 relationship there was

00:16:20.800 --> 00:16:21.780
 between this slave

00:16:21.780 --> 00:16:23.600
 and his master.

00:16:24.000 --> 00:16:25.320
 He was useless.

00:16:27.040 --> 00:16:27.520
 Perhaps he was

00:16:27.520 --> 00:16:28.080
 a troublemaker,

00:16:28.259 --> 00:16:29.100
 perhaps he was lazy,

00:16:29.360 --> 00:16:29.800
 perhaps he was

00:16:29.800 --> 00:16:30.379
 insolent,

00:16:30.540 --> 00:16:30.940
 perhaps he was

00:16:30.940 --> 00:16:31.580
 dishonest.

00:16:31.580 --> 00:16:32.980
 perhaps he was

00:16:32.980 --> 00:16:34.240
 all those things.

00:16:36.879 --> 00:16:37.860
 We have every

00:16:37.860 --> 00:16:38.660
 reason to think

00:16:38.660 --> 00:16:39.400
 that Philemon

00:16:39.400 --> 00:16:40.500
 certainly after

00:16:40.500 --> 00:16:41.259
 his conversion

00:16:41.259 --> 00:16:42.040
 he would be

00:16:42.040 --> 00:16:42.879
 a fair and

00:16:42.879 --> 00:16:44.080
 a just master.

00:16:45.139 --> 00:16:45.960
 He would know

00:16:45.960 --> 00:16:46.740
 very well

00:16:46.740 --> 00:16:47.340
 that he had

00:16:47.340 --> 00:16:48.300
 a master in

00:16:48.300 --> 00:16:48.940
 heaven before

00:16:48.940 --> 00:16:49.480
 whom he should

00:16:49.480 --> 00:16:50.280
 give account to.

00:16:50.800 --> 00:16:51.460
 But apparently

00:16:51.460 --> 00:16:52.420
 Onesimus was

00:16:52.420 --> 00:16:52.960
 a very

00:16:52.960 --> 00:16:54.160
 unsatisfactory

00:16:54.160 --> 00:16:54.680
 slave.

00:16:54.679 --> 00:16:57.979
 It is possible

00:16:57.979 --> 00:16:58.279
 isn't it

00:16:58.279 --> 00:16:58.939
 that Philemon

00:16:58.939 --> 00:16:59.539
 would not have

00:16:59.539 --> 00:17:00.159
 been very

00:17:00.159 --> 00:17:01.019
 distressed

00:17:01.019 --> 00:17:02.299
 when he ran

00:17:02.299 --> 00:17:02.819
 away.

00:17:05.299 --> 00:17:05.639
 I don't know

00:17:05.639 --> 00:17:06.259
 whether you've

00:17:06.259 --> 00:17:06.619
 got work

00:17:06.619 --> 00:17:07.099
 colleagues like

00:17:07.099 --> 00:17:07.279
 that.

00:17:08.000 --> 00:17:08.799
 I haven't got

00:17:08.799 --> 00:17:09.200
 work colleagues

00:17:09.200 --> 00:17:09.519
 like that.

00:17:11.119 --> 00:17:11.839
 But you know

00:17:11.839 --> 00:17:12.399
 how it is in the

00:17:12.399 --> 00:17:12.599
 office.

00:17:12.720 --> 00:17:13.240
 When somebody

00:17:13.240 --> 00:17:14.339
 is just better

00:17:14.339 --> 00:17:14.819
 when they don't

00:17:14.819 --> 00:17:15.259
 turn up.

00:17:15.399 --> 00:17:16.119
 The office is a

00:17:16.119 --> 00:17:16.599
 much happier

00:17:16.599 --> 00:17:17.039
 place when

00:17:17.039 --> 00:17:17.319
 they're not

00:17:17.319 --> 00:17:17.679
 around.

00:17:19.179 --> 00:17:19.559
 And maybe it

00:17:19.559 --> 00:17:19.919
 was like that

00:17:19.919 --> 00:17:21.440
 for Philemon

00:17:21.440 --> 00:17:22.640
 because previously

00:17:22.640 --> 00:17:23.640
 he was

00:17:23.640 --> 00:17:24.720
 useless.

00:17:28.720 --> 00:17:29.519
 But Paul

00:17:29.519 --> 00:17:30.220
 insists that

00:17:30.220 --> 00:17:30.580
 the man

00:17:30.580 --> 00:17:31.200
 returning to

00:17:31.200 --> 00:17:31.820
 Colossae is a

00:17:31.820 --> 00:17:32.480
 different man.

00:17:33.340 --> 00:17:34.039
 Now he is

00:17:34.039 --> 00:17:34.900
 useful.

00:17:36.259 --> 00:17:37.240
 Both to you

00:17:37.240 --> 00:17:38.120
 and to me.

00:17:38.480 --> 00:17:38.900
 More about his

00:17:38.900 --> 00:17:39.519
 usefulness in a

00:17:39.519 --> 00:17:39.720
 minute.

00:17:41.400 --> 00:17:42.200
 Now I know

00:17:42.200 --> 00:17:42.759
 we have some

00:17:42.759 --> 00:17:43.299
 difficulties with

00:17:43.299 --> 00:17:43.980
 this because of

00:17:43.980 --> 00:17:44.519
 the serious

00:17:44.519 --> 00:17:46.120
 problem that we

00:17:46.120 --> 00:17:46.519
 have with

00:17:46.519 --> 00:17:46.880
 slavery.

00:17:47.340 --> 00:17:47.700
 And we give

00:17:47.700 --> 00:17:48.299
 some thought to

00:17:48.299 --> 00:17:48.700
 those issues

00:17:48.700 --> 00:17:49.059
 when we look

00:17:49.059 --> 00:17:49.539
 to Colossae

00:17:49.539 --> 00:17:50.759
 chapter 3.

00:17:50.759 --> 00:17:51.539
 I'm not going

00:17:51.539 --> 00:17:51.980
 to revisit

00:17:51.980 --> 00:17:52.740
 that tonight.

00:17:53.140 --> 00:17:53.480
 You can get

00:17:53.480 --> 00:17:54.140
 the sermon

00:17:54.140 --> 00:17:54.519
 and listen

00:17:54.519 --> 00:17:55.160
 to that again.

00:17:56.200 --> 00:17:56.700
 But I do

00:17:56.700 --> 00:17:57.220
 think this

00:17:57.220 --> 00:17:57.879
 issue,

00:17:58.480 --> 00:17:59.480
 issue raised

00:17:59.480 --> 00:18:00.119
 by slavery

00:18:00.119 --> 00:18:01.240
 makes Philemon

00:18:01.240 --> 00:18:01.859
 a really

00:18:01.859 --> 00:18:02.839
 powerful case

00:18:02.839 --> 00:18:03.200
 study.

00:18:04.420 --> 00:18:05.279
 A powerful

00:18:05.279 --> 00:18:05.900
 case study

00:18:05.900 --> 00:18:06.759
 in the power

00:18:06.759 --> 00:18:07.059
 of the

00:18:07.059 --> 00:18:07.379
 Christian

00:18:07.379 --> 00:18:07.779
 fellowship.

00:18:09.039 --> 00:18:09.579
 Because here

00:18:09.579 --> 00:18:10.599
 we see two

00:18:10.599 --> 00:18:11.119
 men who have

00:18:11.119 --> 00:18:12.279
 not just

00:18:12.279 --> 00:18:13.619
 become Christians

00:18:13.619 --> 00:18:14.900
 but two

00:18:14.900 --> 00:18:15.500
 men who have

00:18:15.500 --> 00:18:16.220
 a very

00:18:16.220 --> 00:18:16.819
 difficult

00:18:16.819 --> 00:18:17.400
 history.

00:18:18.660 --> 00:18:19.259
 The useless

00:18:19.259 --> 00:18:20.539
 slave and

00:18:20.539 --> 00:18:21.200
 his master

00:18:21.200 --> 00:18:22.240
 are they

00:18:22.240 --> 00:18:22.519
 are now

00:18:22.519 --> 00:18:23.180
 both believers

00:18:23.180 --> 00:18:23.700
 in Jesus.

00:18:25.240 --> 00:18:25.960
 And how

00:18:25.960 --> 00:18:26.319
 will the

00:18:26.319 --> 00:18:26.819
 fellowship of

00:18:26.819 --> 00:18:27.559
 faith work?

00:18:29.319 --> 00:18:29.879
 Well Paul's

00:18:29.879 --> 00:18:30.359
 appeal is not

00:18:30.359 --> 00:18:30.779
 finished.

00:18:32.259 --> 00:18:33.319
 He clearly

00:18:33.319 --> 00:18:34.099
 wants

00:18:34.099 --> 00:18:35.480
 Philemon

00:18:35.480 --> 00:18:37.779
 to be under

00:18:37.779 --> 00:18:39.019
 no misapprehensions

00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:39.619
 about his,

00:18:39.659 --> 00:18:40.460
 that is Paul's

00:18:40.460 --> 00:18:41.099
 relationship with

00:18:41.099 --> 00:18:41.659
 Onesimus.

00:18:42.000 --> 00:18:42.619
 You see verse

00:18:42.619 --> 00:18:43.599
 12, I am

00:18:43.599 --> 00:18:44.299
 sending him

00:18:44.299 --> 00:18:45.159
 back to you.

00:18:46.119 --> 00:18:46.659
 Sending

00:18:46.660 --> 00:18:47.740
 my very

00:18:47.740 --> 00:18:48.400
 heart.

00:18:50.400 --> 00:18:51.420
 That is the

00:18:51.420 --> 00:18:52.279
 fellowship of

00:18:52.279 --> 00:18:53.200
 the faith at

00:18:53.200 --> 00:18:54.420
 work already.

00:18:56.259 --> 00:18:57.019
 Let's put the

00:18:57.019 --> 00:18:57.680
 difficulties between

00:18:57.680 --> 00:18:58.940
 Philemon and Onesimus

00:18:58.940 --> 00:18:59.660
 to one side for a

00:18:59.660 --> 00:19:00.140
 woman and let's

00:19:00.140 --> 00:19:01.140
 consider Paul and

00:19:01.140 --> 00:19:01.759
 Onesimus.

00:19:03.140 --> 00:19:04.540
 Consider the

00:19:04.540 --> 00:19:06.180
 improbability of

00:19:06.180 --> 00:19:06.880
 the Jewish

00:19:06.880 --> 00:19:07.640
 prisoner from

00:19:07.640 --> 00:19:09.340
 Rome and the

00:19:09.340 --> 00:19:10.620
 fugitive Gentile

00:19:10.620 --> 00:19:11.200
 on the run.

00:19:11.200 --> 00:19:13.559
 The slave

00:19:13.559 --> 00:19:15.700
 and the Jewish

00:19:15.700 --> 00:19:16.460
 prisoner finding

00:19:16.460 --> 00:19:17.360
 anything at all

00:19:17.360 --> 00:19:18.240
 in common and

00:19:18.240 --> 00:19:19.319
 yet Paul says

00:19:19.319 --> 00:19:20.500
 he is my

00:19:20.500 --> 00:19:21.880
 very heart.

00:19:23.620 --> 00:19:24.779
 The affection

00:19:24.779 --> 00:19:25.600
 of Paul the

00:19:25.600 --> 00:19:26.500
 apostle for

00:19:26.500 --> 00:19:27.180
 Onesimus the

00:19:27.180 --> 00:19:28.360
 slave was deep

00:19:28.360 --> 00:19:29.940
 and strong and

00:19:29.940 --> 00:19:30.380
 that is the

00:19:30.380 --> 00:19:31.940
 fellowship of the

00:19:31.940 --> 00:19:32.680
 faith at work.

00:19:34.299 --> 00:19:34.660
 And further

00:19:34.660 --> 00:19:36.299
 verse 13 he

00:19:36.299 --> 00:19:37.220
 says I would

00:19:37.220 --> 00:19:37.680
 have been glad

00:19:37.680 --> 00:19:38.240
 to keep him.

00:19:39.319 --> 00:19:39.900
 I would have been

00:19:39.900 --> 00:19:40.460
 glad to keep him

00:19:40.460 --> 00:19:41.019
 with me in order

00:19:41.019 --> 00:19:41.500
 that he might

00:19:41.500 --> 00:19:42.220
 serve me on your

00:19:42.220 --> 00:19:43.059
 behalf during my

00:19:43.059 --> 00:19:44.000
 imprisonment for

00:19:44.000 --> 00:19:44.400
 the gospel.

00:19:46.420 --> 00:19:47.980
 Paul was

00:19:47.980 --> 00:19:49.000
 certainly not

00:19:49.000 --> 00:19:50.000
 sending Onesimus

00:19:50.000 --> 00:19:50.859
 back to Philemon

00:19:50.859 --> 00:19:51.240
 because he

00:19:51.240 --> 00:19:51.700
 wanted to.

00:19:52.879 --> 00:19:53.660
 If it were a

00:19:53.660 --> 00:19:54.339
 matter of Paul's

00:19:54.339 --> 00:19:55.539
 preference he

00:19:55.539 --> 00:19:56.119
 would have kept

00:19:56.119 --> 00:19:56.799
 Onesimus with

00:19:56.799 --> 00:19:57.559
 him.

00:19:58.379 --> 00:19:59.299
 He'd been caring

00:19:59.299 --> 00:20:00.059
 for Paul in some

00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:00.599
 way during his

00:20:00.599 --> 00:20:01.420
 imprisonment but

00:20:01.420 --> 00:20:02.519
 more likely given

00:20:02.519 --> 00:20:03.160
 the words that

00:20:03.160 --> 00:20:04.099
 Paul actually

00:20:04.099 --> 00:20:05.779
 uses here Onesimus

00:20:05.779 --> 00:20:07.220
 was helping Paul

00:20:07.220 --> 00:20:08.480
 in gospel work.

00:20:08.599 --> 00:20:09.139
 Can you see that?

00:20:09.240 --> 00:20:09.599
 During his

00:20:09.599 --> 00:20:10.440
 confinement in Rome

00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:10.920
 they were

00:20:10.920 --> 00:20:12.180
 working together.

00:20:12.500 --> 00:20:12.840
 They were

00:20:12.840 --> 00:20:13.779
 laboring together

00:20:13.779 --> 00:20:14.380
 in the gospel.

00:20:14.840 --> 00:20:15.140
 And they were

00:20:15.140 --> 00:20:15.660
 working together

00:20:15.660 --> 00:20:16.100
 well.

00:20:18.840 --> 00:20:19.480
 Onesimus was

00:20:19.480 --> 00:20:20.799
 indeed useful to

00:20:20.799 --> 00:20:21.539
 Paul in the

00:20:21.539 --> 00:20:23.240
 sense he was

00:20:23.240 --> 00:20:23.920
 standing in for

00:20:23.920 --> 00:20:24.720
 Philemon so to

00:20:24.720 --> 00:20:24.980
 speak.

00:20:26.360 --> 00:20:26.920
 Because you

00:20:26.920 --> 00:20:27.620
 remember that

00:20:27.620 --> 00:20:28.380
 Philemon in all

00:20:28.380 --> 00:20:29.140
 probability had

00:20:29.140 --> 00:20:30.200
 served like this

00:20:30.200 --> 00:20:30.820
 with Paul in

00:20:30.820 --> 00:20:31.140
 Ephesus.

00:20:31.140 --> 00:20:34.980
 So let's

00:20:34.980 --> 00:20:36.200
 thirdly see Paul

00:20:36.200 --> 00:20:37.280
 and Philemon's

00:20:37.280 --> 00:20:37.720
 relationship

00:20:37.720 --> 00:20:38.340
 concerning

00:20:38.340 --> 00:20:39.080
 Onesimus.

00:20:43.120 --> 00:20:43.600
 Paul's

00:20:43.600 --> 00:20:44.180
 relationship to

00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:44.700
 Onesimus was

00:20:44.700 --> 00:20:45.380
 not the only

00:20:45.380 --> 00:20:46.200
 reality of the

00:20:46.200 --> 00:20:46.720
 fellowship of the

00:20:46.720 --> 00:20:47.020
 faith.

00:20:48.620 --> 00:20:49.200
 We've already

00:20:49.200 --> 00:20:49.880
 seen something of

00:20:49.880 --> 00:20:50.520
 Paul's relationship

00:20:50.520 --> 00:20:51.740
 to Philemon and

00:20:51.740 --> 00:20:54.200
 his relationship

00:20:54.200 --> 00:20:54.900
 to Onesimus

00:20:54.900 --> 00:20:55.420
 that is of

00:20:55.420 --> 00:20:56.080
 consequences.

00:20:56.300 --> 00:20:56.620
 So Paul

00:20:56.620 --> 00:20:57.180
 continues in

00:20:57.180 --> 00:20:57.980
 verse 14.

00:20:57.980 --> 00:21:00.059
 But I

00:21:00.059 --> 00:21:00.900
 prefer to do

00:21:00.900 --> 00:21:01.559
 nothing without

00:21:01.559 --> 00:21:02.220
 your consent

00:21:02.220 --> 00:21:02.880
 in order that

00:21:02.880 --> 00:21:03.519
 your goodness

00:21:03.519 --> 00:21:04.740
 might not be

00:21:04.740 --> 00:21:06.079
 by compulsion

00:21:06.079 --> 00:21:07.500
 but of your

00:21:07.500 --> 00:21:07.920
 own accord.

00:21:08.019 --> 00:21:08.539
 Or back when

00:21:08.539 --> 00:21:08.940
 we started

00:21:08.940 --> 00:21:09.519
 on again in

00:21:09.519 --> 00:21:10.059
 verses 8 and

00:21:10.059 --> 00:21:10.339
 9.

00:21:10.480 --> 00:21:11.180
 Paul did not

00:21:11.180 --> 00:21:12.279
 want Philemon's

00:21:12.279 --> 00:21:13.039
 hand to be

00:21:13.039 --> 00:21:14.559
 forced either

00:21:14.559 --> 00:21:15.299
 by apostolic

00:21:15.299 --> 00:21:15.740
 command,

00:21:15.920 --> 00:21:16.500
 verse 8,

00:21:16.740 --> 00:21:17.480
 or by an

00:21:17.480 --> 00:21:18.019
 apostolic

00:21:18.019 --> 00:21:18.819
 pre-emptive

00:21:18.819 --> 00:21:19.180
 action,

00:21:19.339 --> 00:21:20.099
 verse 4,

00:21:20.700 --> 00:21:21.259
 14.

00:21:23.200 --> 00:21:24.259
 What Philemon

00:21:24.259 --> 00:21:24.519
 did,

00:21:24.660 --> 00:21:25.240
 literally the

00:21:25.240 --> 00:21:25.759
 good thing,

00:21:25.819 --> 00:21:26.160
 was to come

00:21:26.160 --> 00:21:26.480
 from his

00:21:26.480 --> 00:21:26.920
 heart,

00:21:27.200 --> 00:21:27.680
 not from

00:21:27.680 --> 00:21:28.160
 forced

00:21:28.160 --> 00:21:28.840
 necessity.

00:21:31.340 --> 00:21:31.820
 Now I

00:21:31.820 --> 00:21:32.120
 wonder whether

00:21:32.120 --> 00:21:32.580
 you're beginning

00:21:32.580 --> 00:21:33.019
 to see how

00:21:33.019 --> 00:21:33.519
 the fellowship

00:21:33.519 --> 00:21:34.160
 of the faith

00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:35.160
 becomes effective.

00:21:36.900 --> 00:21:37.500
 It's being

00:21:37.500 --> 00:21:38.279
 effective,

00:21:38.480 --> 00:21:39.120
 being gradually

00:21:39.120 --> 00:21:39.799
 filled in for

00:21:39.799 --> 00:21:39.920
 us.

00:21:40.060 --> 00:21:40.539
 We still

00:21:40.539 --> 00:21:41.039
 haven't heard

00:21:41.039 --> 00:21:42.060
 exactly what

00:21:42.060 --> 00:21:42.980
 Paul expects

00:21:42.980 --> 00:21:43.440
 or wants

00:21:43.440 --> 00:21:44.320
 Philemon to

00:21:44.320 --> 00:21:44.420
 do.

00:21:44.779 --> 00:21:45.180
 He just

00:21:45.180 --> 00:21:45.600
 calls it

00:21:45.600 --> 00:21:46.400
 in verse 14

00:21:46.400 --> 00:21:46.940
 that good

00:21:46.940 --> 00:21:47.380
 thing.

00:21:49.420 --> 00:21:50.060
 Which may

00:21:50.060 --> 00:21:50.600
 well remind

00:21:50.600 --> 00:21:51.120
 us of verse

00:21:51.120 --> 00:21:51.519
 6,

00:21:51.620 --> 00:21:51.880
 where the

00:21:51.880 --> 00:21:52.200
 fellowship

00:21:52.200 --> 00:21:52.700
 of the faith

00:21:52.700 --> 00:21:53.060
 becomes

00:21:53.060 --> 00:21:54.080
 effective in

00:21:54.080 --> 00:21:54.460
 the knowledge

00:21:54.460 --> 00:21:55.140
 of every

00:21:55.140 --> 00:21:55.960
 good thing

00:21:55.960 --> 00:21:57.259
 that is

00:21:57.259 --> 00:21:57.519
 in us

00:21:57.519 --> 00:21:57.799
 with a

00:21:57.799 --> 00:21:58.579
 view of

00:21:58.579 --> 00:21:58.840
 Christ.

00:21:58.980 --> 00:21:59.539
 That might

00:21:59.539 --> 00:22:00.340
 remind us

00:22:00.340 --> 00:22:01.019
 of the

00:22:01.019 --> 00:22:01.799
 prayer in

00:22:01.799 --> 00:22:02.100
 Paul's

00:22:02.100 --> 00:22:02.620
 other letters

00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:03.259
 that believers

00:22:03.259 --> 00:22:03.640
 would be

00:22:03.640 --> 00:22:04.220
 filled with

00:22:04.220 --> 00:22:04.620
 the knowledge

00:22:04.620 --> 00:22:05.140
 of God's

00:22:05.140 --> 00:22:05.460
 will so

00:22:05.460 --> 00:22:05.660
 that they

00:22:05.660 --> 00:22:05.920
 would bear

00:22:05.920 --> 00:22:06.299
 fruit.

00:22:07.259 --> 00:22:07.880
 In every

00:22:07.880 --> 00:22:08.340
 good word.

00:22:08.400 --> 00:22:08.579
 But we

00:22:08.579 --> 00:22:08.940
 still don't

00:22:08.940 --> 00:22:09.200
 know.

00:22:10.340 --> 00:22:10.980
 We still

00:22:10.980 --> 00:22:11.220
 don't know

00:22:11.220 --> 00:22:12.059
 precisely what

00:22:12.059 --> 00:22:12.640
 it was that

00:22:12.640 --> 00:22:13.039
 Paul was

00:22:13.039 --> 00:22:13.480
 expecting

00:22:13.480 --> 00:22:14.120
 Philemon to

00:22:14.120 --> 00:22:14.220
 do.

00:22:14.620 --> 00:22:15.059
 The point

00:22:15.059 --> 00:22:15.600
 however is

00:22:15.600 --> 00:22:15.840
 that the

00:22:15.840 --> 00:22:16.480
 good thing,

00:22:17.740 --> 00:22:18.360
 whatever it

00:22:18.360 --> 00:22:19.019
 might be,

00:22:20.019 --> 00:22:20.700
 must come

00:22:20.700 --> 00:22:21.640
 from Philemon's

00:22:21.640 --> 00:22:22.079
 believing

00:22:22.079 --> 00:22:22.539
 hearts.

00:22:22.539 --> 00:22:22.799
 Can you

00:22:22.799 --> 00:22:23.139
 see that?

00:22:23.960 --> 00:22:24.799
 Not by

00:22:24.799 --> 00:22:25.359
 believing

00:22:25.359 --> 00:22:26.119
 compulsion

00:22:26.119 --> 00:22:28.299
 if it's

00:22:28.299 --> 00:22:28.519
 going to

00:22:28.519 --> 00:22:28.819
 be for

00:22:28.819 --> 00:22:28.980
 the

00:22:28.980 --> 00:22:29.319
 fellowship

00:22:29.319 --> 00:22:29.659
 of the

00:22:29.659 --> 00:22:29.899
 faith

00:22:29.899 --> 00:22:30.299
 to become

00:22:30.299 --> 00:22:30.740
 effective.

00:22:31.079 --> 00:22:31.819
 It must

00:22:31.819 --> 00:22:32.960
 be of

00:22:32.960 --> 00:22:33.619
 his own

00:22:33.619 --> 00:22:34.119
 accord.

00:22:36.339 --> 00:22:36.899
 Now before

00:22:36.899 --> 00:22:37.539
 Paul actually

00:22:37.539 --> 00:22:38.220
 tells Philemon

00:22:38.220 --> 00:22:38.480
 what he

00:22:38.480 --> 00:22:39.079
 expects of

00:22:39.079 --> 00:22:39.259
 him,

00:22:39.319 --> 00:22:39.500
 and he

00:22:39.500 --> 00:22:39.639
 actually

00:22:39.639 --> 00:22:39.839
 will

00:22:39.839 --> 00:22:40.139
 before

00:22:40.139 --> 00:22:41.139
 the

00:22:41.139 --> 00:22:41.339
 day

00:22:41.339 --> 00:22:41.460
 is

00:22:41.460 --> 00:22:41.700
 out,

00:22:42.059 --> 00:22:42.339
 let's

00:22:42.339 --> 00:22:42.500
 see

00:22:42.500 --> 00:22:42.960
 Paul

00:22:42.960 --> 00:22:43.740
 Philemon

00:22:43.740 --> 00:22:44.000
 and

00:22:44.000 --> 00:22:44.460
 Anasimus

00:22:44.460 --> 00:22:44.740
 and the

00:22:44.740 --> 00:22:44.960
 Lord.

00:22:45.059 --> 00:22:45.180
 He's

00:22:45.180 --> 00:22:45.539
 got one

00:22:45.539 --> 00:22:45.759
 more

00:22:45.759 --> 00:22:46.319
 observation.

00:22:48.399 --> 00:22:48.879
 Anasimus

00:22:48.879 --> 00:22:49.399
 may well

00:22:49.399 --> 00:22:49.700
 have been

00:22:49.700 --> 00:22:50.180
 useless

00:22:50.180 --> 00:22:50.839
 previously.

00:22:51.039 --> 00:22:51.339
 He may

00:22:51.339 --> 00:22:52.059
 well have

00:22:52.059 --> 00:22:52.339
 caused

00:22:52.339 --> 00:22:52.679
 some

00:22:52.679 --> 00:22:53.259
 difficulty

00:22:53.259 --> 00:22:54.159
 for Philemon

00:22:54.159 --> 00:22:55.359
 by his

00:22:55.359 --> 00:22:55.579
 running

00:22:55.579 --> 00:22:55.959
 away.

00:22:56.279 --> 00:22:56.559
 He may

00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:56.959
 well have

00:22:56.959 --> 00:22:57.279
 stolen

00:22:57.279 --> 00:22:57.539
 him.

00:22:57.619 --> 00:22:57.959
 And all

00:22:57.959 --> 00:22:58.240
 of these

00:22:58.240 --> 00:22:58.579
 actions

00:22:58.579 --> 00:22:59.139
 were wrong,

00:22:59.519 --> 00:23:00.059
 but Paul

00:23:00.059 --> 00:23:00.679
 knew who

00:23:00.679 --> 00:23:01.159
 it was

00:23:01.159 --> 00:23:01.819
 that rules

00:23:01.819 --> 00:23:02.240
 over the

00:23:02.240 --> 00:23:02.799
 affairs of

00:23:02.799 --> 00:23:03.059
 men and

00:23:03.059 --> 00:23:03.259
 women.

00:23:05.099 --> 00:23:06.240
 We cannot

00:23:06.240 --> 00:23:07.000
 infallibly

00:23:07.000 --> 00:23:08.059
 discern his

00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:08.619
 purpose,

00:23:10.059 --> 00:23:10.679
 particularly

00:23:10.679 --> 00:23:11.419
 with events

00:23:11.419 --> 00:23:12.039
 that are

00:23:12.039 --> 00:23:12.559
 involved in

00:23:12.559 --> 00:23:13.079
 wrong human

00:23:13.079 --> 00:23:13.419
 actions.

00:23:13.519 --> 00:23:13.939
 We can't

00:23:13.939 --> 00:23:14.299
 discern.

00:23:16.480 --> 00:23:17.000
 Sometimes,

00:23:17.159 --> 00:23:17.559
 and especially

00:23:17.559 --> 00:23:18.059
 with the benefit

00:23:18.059 --> 00:23:18.459
 of hindsight,

00:23:18.839 --> 00:23:19.399
 we can't

00:23:19.399 --> 00:23:20.000
 guess what

00:23:20.000 --> 00:23:20.720
 God's purpose

00:23:20.720 --> 00:23:21.379
 was for us

00:23:21.380 --> 00:23:21.840
 in the hard

00:23:21.840 --> 00:23:22.620
 situations that

00:23:22.620 --> 00:23:23.480
 life brings.

00:23:25.260 --> 00:23:25.480
 And so

00:23:25.480 --> 00:23:26.060
 Paul continues

00:23:26.060 --> 00:23:26.900
 in verse 15

00:23:26.900 --> 00:23:27.320
 for he says,

00:23:27.380 --> 00:23:27.700
 for this

00:23:27.700 --> 00:23:29.380
 perhaps is

00:23:29.380 --> 00:23:29.680
 why he

00:23:29.680 --> 00:23:30.140
 was parted

00:23:30.140 --> 00:23:30.580
 from you

00:23:30.580 --> 00:23:31.880
 for a

00:23:31.880 --> 00:23:32.100
 while,

00:23:32.160 --> 00:23:32.420
 that you

00:23:32.420 --> 00:23:32.900
 might have

00:23:32.900 --> 00:23:33.540
 him back

00:23:33.540 --> 00:23:34.980
 forever,

00:23:36.260 --> 00:23:36.680
 and no

00:23:36.680 --> 00:23:37.760
 longer as a

00:23:37.760 --> 00:23:38.700
 bond servant,

00:23:40.060 --> 00:23:40.820
 but more

00:23:40.820 --> 00:23:41.260
 than a bond

00:23:41.260 --> 00:23:41.620
 servant,

00:23:41.620 --> 00:23:42.180
 as a beloved

00:23:42.180 --> 00:23:42.540
 brother,

00:23:43.540 --> 00:23:44.300
 especially to

00:23:44.300 --> 00:23:44.900
 me, but how

00:23:44.900 --> 00:23:45.500
 much more to

00:23:45.500 --> 00:23:46.040
 you, both in

00:23:46.040 --> 00:23:46.620
 the flesh and

00:23:46.620 --> 00:23:47.380
 in the Lord.

00:23:47.420 --> 00:23:47.720
 It's an

00:23:47.720 --> 00:23:48.160
 extraordinary

00:23:48.160 --> 00:23:48.780
 thing that has

00:23:48.780 --> 00:23:49.100
 happened.

00:23:49.099 --> 00:23:51.379
 the useless

00:23:51.379 --> 00:23:52.319
 slave was

00:23:52.319 --> 00:23:53.039
 lost to

00:23:53.039 --> 00:23:53.459
 Philemon

00:23:53.459 --> 00:23:53.819
 for a

00:23:53.819 --> 00:23:54.119
 time.

00:23:55.980 --> 00:23:56.359
 It's not

00:23:56.359 --> 00:23:56.599
 at all

00:23:56.599 --> 00:23:57.019
 clear to

00:23:57.019 --> 00:23:57.299
 me that

00:23:57.299 --> 00:23:57.639
 Philemon

00:23:57.639 --> 00:23:58.159
 was particularly

00:23:58.159 --> 00:23:58.579
 anxious to

00:23:58.579 --> 00:23:58.799
 have him

00:23:58.799 --> 00:24:01.079
 back, but

00:24:01.079 --> 00:24:01.519
 God's

00:24:01.519 --> 00:24:02.000
 purpose in

00:24:02.000 --> 00:24:02.359
 this may

00:24:02.359 --> 00:24:02.679
 well have

00:24:02.679 --> 00:24:03.259
 been precisely

00:24:03.259 --> 00:24:04.039
 that Philemon

00:24:04.039 --> 00:24:04.459
 would have

00:24:04.459 --> 00:24:04.959
 Onesimus

00:24:04.959 --> 00:24:05.759
 back forever,

00:24:06.240 --> 00:24:08.039
 but not as

00:24:08.039 --> 00:24:08.539
 a slave.

00:24:10.119 --> 00:24:10.740
 That would

00:24:10.740 --> 00:24:11.439
 not be the

00:24:11.439 --> 00:24:11.819
 defining

00:24:11.819 --> 00:24:12.480
 relationship

00:24:12.480 --> 00:24:12.859
 between

00:24:12.859 --> 00:24:13.299
 these two

00:24:13.299 --> 00:24:13.599
 men.

00:24:15.899 --> 00:24:16.519
 That would

00:24:16.519 --> 00:24:17.019
 not be the

00:24:17.019 --> 00:24:17.639
 relationship that

00:24:17.639 --> 00:24:18.219
 would go on

00:24:18.220 --> 00:24:18.700
 forever.

00:24:20.140 --> 00:24:20.600
 The

00:24:20.600 --> 00:24:21.160
 relationship that

00:24:21.160 --> 00:24:21.539
 would go on

00:24:21.539 --> 00:24:21.960
 forever is

00:24:21.960 --> 00:24:22.160
 that they

00:24:22.160 --> 00:24:22.380
 would be

00:24:22.380 --> 00:24:22.700
 beloved

00:24:22.700 --> 00:24:23.200
 brothers,

00:24:24.640 --> 00:24:25.039
 just as

00:24:25.039 --> 00:24:25.200
 he had

00:24:25.200 --> 00:24:26.019
 become to

00:24:26.019 --> 00:24:26.339
 Paul.

00:24:27.440 --> 00:24:27.980
 A loved

00:24:27.980 --> 00:24:28.519
 brother in

00:24:28.519 --> 00:24:29.279
 the flesh

00:24:29.279 --> 00:24:30.100
 and in

00:24:30.100 --> 00:24:30.620
 the Lord.

00:24:31.860 --> 00:24:32.120
 And that

00:24:32.120 --> 00:24:32.360
 is not

00:24:32.360 --> 00:24:32.860
 just in the

00:24:32.860 --> 00:24:33.240
 spiritual

00:24:33.240 --> 00:24:33.740
 sense, but

00:24:33.740 --> 00:24:33.980
 in the

00:24:33.980 --> 00:24:34.740
 reality of

00:24:34.740 --> 00:24:35.019
 human

00:24:35.019 --> 00:24:35.539
 relationships.

00:24:36.000 --> 00:24:36.480
 These two

00:24:36.480 --> 00:24:37.360
 men were

00:24:37.360 --> 00:24:38.059
 now to be

00:24:38.059 --> 00:24:38.380
 loved

00:24:38.380 --> 00:24:38.900
 brothers to

00:24:38.900 --> 00:24:39.380
 one another.

00:24:41.259 --> 00:24:41.759
 And that

00:24:41.759 --> 00:24:42.200
 is the

00:24:42.200 --> 00:24:42.700
 fellowship of

00:24:42.700 --> 00:24:43.039
 the faith

00:24:43.039 --> 00:24:43.539
 at work.

00:24:45.380 --> 00:24:45.880
 So what

00:24:45.880 --> 00:24:46.140
 is it

00:24:46.140 --> 00:24:47.059
 exactly Paul

00:24:47.059 --> 00:24:48.159
 hoped Philemon

00:24:48.159 --> 00:24:48.659
 would do

00:24:48.659 --> 00:24:49.440
 with all

00:24:49.440 --> 00:24:50.079
 that preparation

00:24:50.079 --> 00:24:50.639
 he's now

00:24:50.639 --> 00:24:51.039
 about to

00:24:51.039 --> 00:24:51.379
 tell him.

00:24:51.500 --> 00:24:51.639
 And he

00:24:51.639 --> 00:24:52.000
 does so

00:24:52.000 --> 00:24:52.379
 from verse

00:24:52.379 --> 00:24:52.879
 17.

00:24:54.940 --> 00:24:55.500
 Now I

00:24:55.500 --> 00:24:55.700
 don't know

00:24:55.700 --> 00:24:55.940
 whether we're

00:24:55.940 --> 00:24:56.059
 going to

00:24:56.059 --> 00:24:56.399
 come back

00:24:56.399 --> 00:24:56.599
 to the

00:24:56.599 --> 00:24:56.879
 rest of

00:24:56.879 --> 00:24:56.980
 this

00:24:56.980 --> 00:24:57.200
 letter,

00:24:57.259 --> 00:24:57.460
 but I'm

00:24:57.460 --> 00:24:57.619
 going to

00:24:57.619 --> 00:24:57.899
 read it

00:24:57.899 --> 00:24:58.079
 to you

00:24:58.079 --> 00:24:58.339
 and you'll

00:24:58.339 --> 00:24:58.819
 get the

00:24:58.819 --> 00:24:59.279
 gist of it.

00:24:59.539 --> 00:25:00.299
 Verse 17.

00:25:01.419 --> 00:25:01.940
 So if you

00:25:01.940 --> 00:25:02.619
 consider me

00:25:02.619 --> 00:25:03.639
 your partner,

00:25:03.919 --> 00:25:04.639
 again that's the

00:25:04.639 --> 00:25:05.519
 fellowship word,

00:25:05.619 --> 00:25:06.460
 so keen to

00:25:06.460 --> 00:25:08.240
 Philemon,

00:25:09.179 --> 00:25:10.539
 receive him

00:25:10.539 --> 00:25:11.879
 as you

00:25:11.879 --> 00:25:12.740
 would receive

00:25:12.740 --> 00:25:13.200
 me.

00:25:13.399 --> 00:25:13.539
 That's

00:25:13.539 --> 00:25:13.799
 something,

00:25:13.940 --> 00:25:14.200
 isn't it?

00:25:14.200 --> 00:25:16.880
 If he's

00:25:16.880 --> 00:25:17.279
 wronged you

00:25:17.279 --> 00:25:17.700
 at all or

00:25:17.700 --> 00:25:18.059
 owes you

00:25:18.059 --> 00:25:18.519
 anything,

00:25:18.660 --> 00:25:19.140
 charge that

00:25:19.140 --> 00:25:19.940
 to my

00:25:19.940 --> 00:25:20.400
 account.

00:25:22.640 --> 00:25:22.900
 And I

00:25:22.900 --> 00:25:23.140
 think we're

00:25:23.140 --> 00:25:23.460
 all to

00:25:23.460 --> 00:25:24.519
 understand that

00:25:24.519 --> 00:25:25.539
 Onesimus has

00:25:25.539 --> 00:25:26.400
 wronged Philemon.

00:25:27.620 --> 00:25:28.380
 I, Paul,

00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:29.200
 write this with

00:25:29.200 --> 00:25:29.940
 my own

00:25:29.940 --> 00:25:30.400
 hand.

00:25:31.700 --> 00:25:32.120
 I will

00:25:32.120 --> 00:25:33.039
 repay it to

00:25:33.039 --> 00:25:33.620
 say nothing of

00:25:33.620 --> 00:25:34.380
 your owing me,

00:25:34.500 --> 00:25:35.160
 even your own

00:25:35.160 --> 00:25:35.440
 self.

00:25:35.940 --> 00:25:36.340
 Yes,

00:25:36.559 --> 00:25:36.779
 brother,

00:25:37.779 --> 00:25:38.860
 I want some

00:25:38.860 --> 00:25:39.740
 benefit from

00:25:39.740 --> 00:25:40.480
 you in the

00:25:40.480 --> 00:25:40.840
 Lord.

00:25:41.920 --> 00:25:42.799
 Refresh my

00:25:42.799 --> 00:25:44.180
 heart in

00:25:44.180 --> 00:25:44.960
 Christ Jesus.

00:25:46.080 --> 00:25:46.600
 Confident of

00:25:46.600 --> 00:25:47.140
 your obedience,

00:25:47.279 --> 00:25:47.799
 I write to

00:25:47.799 --> 00:25:47.920
 you,

00:25:47.960 --> 00:25:48.279
 knowing that

00:25:48.279 --> 00:25:48.660
 you will

00:25:48.660 --> 00:25:49.120
 do even

00:25:49.120 --> 00:25:49.640
 more than

00:25:49.640 --> 00:25:50.140
 I say,

00:25:50.259 --> 00:25:50.720
 at the same

00:25:50.720 --> 00:25:50.980
 time,

00:25:51.060 --> 00:25:51.320
 provide a

00:25:51.320 --> 00:25:51.740
 guest room

00:25:51.740 --> 00:25:52.019
 for me,

00:25:52.299 --> 00:25:52.580
 for I'm

00:25:52.580 --> 00:25:53.060
 hoping that

00:25:53.060 --> 00:25:53.640
 through your

00:25:53.640 --> 00:25:54.460
 prayers,

00:25:57.019 --> 00:25:57.480
 and now he

00:25:57.480 --> 00:25:58.200
 breaks back

00:25:58.200 --> 00:25:58.560
 into the

00:25:58.560 --> 00:25:58.880
 pruer,

00:25:58.980 --> 00:25:59.160
 and he's

00:25:59.160 --> 00:25:59.400
 got the

00:25:59.400 --> 00:26:00.519
 whole group

00:26:00.519 --> 00:26:01.299
 in mind,

00:26:01.700 --> 00:26:02.320
 through your

00:26:02.320 --> 00:26:02.720
 prayers,

00:26:02.799 --> 00:26:03.120
 I will be

00:26:03.120 --> 00:26:03.660
 graciously

00:26:03.660 --> 00:26:04.320
 given to

00:26:04.320 --> 00:26:04.700
 you.

00:26:05.380 --> 00:26:05.500
 The

00:26:05.500 --> 00:26:05.840
 path for

00:26:05.840 --> 00:26:05.900
 us,

00:26:05.960 --> 00:26:06.320
 my fellow

00:26:06.320 --> 00:26:06.799
 servant in

00:26:06.799 --> 00:26:07.299
 Christ Jesus

00:26:07.299 --> 00:26:07.600
 sends

00:26:07.600 --> 00:26:08.060
 feet into

00:26:08.060 --> 00:26:08.259
 you,

00:26:08.320 --> 00:26:08.560
 and so

00:26:08.560 --> 00:26:08.700
 does

00:26:08.700 --> 00:26:08.980
 Mark,

00:26:09.060 --> 00:26:09.200
 our

00:26:09.200 --> 00:26:09.660
 starkest

00:26:09.660 --> 00:26:09.920
 demons,

00:26:10.060 --> 00:26:10.279
 live to

00:26:10.279 --> 00:26:10.420
 my

00:26:10.420 --> 00:26:10.680
 fellow

00:26:10.680 --> 00:26:11.100
 workers.

00:26:11.960 --> 00:26:12.140
 The

00:26:12.140 --> 00:26:12.520
 grace of

00:26:12.520 --> 00:26:12.740
 the Lord

00:26:12.740 --> 00:26:12.980
 Jesus

00:26:12.980 --> 00:26:13.560
 Christ be

00:26:13.560 --> 00:26:13.900
 with your

00:26:13.900 --> 00:26:14.320
 spirit.

00:26:15.940 --> 00:26:16.540
 There is a

00:26:16.540 --> 00:26:17.020
 little footnote

00:26:17.020 --> 00:26:17.540
 to the story

00:26:17.540 --> 00:26:17.900
 that I want

00:26:17.900 --> 00:26:18.160
 to finish

00:26:18.160 --> 00:26:18.420
 with.

00:26:20.340 --> 00:26:20.800
 But I'm

00:26:20.800 --> 00:26:22.380
 pretty sure

00:26:22.380 --> 00:26:22.759
 that the

00:26:22.759 --> 00:26:23.620
 survival of

00:26:23.620 --> 00:26:24.300
 this letter

00:26:24.300 --> 00:26:26.740
 is evidence

00:26:26.740 --> 00:26:27.360
 enough that

00:26:27.360 --> 00:26:27.900
 Philemon

00:26:27.900 --> 00:26:28.420
 heeded the

00:26:28.420 --> 00:26:28.740
 appeal.

00:26:30.900 --> 00:26:31.140
 I don't

00:26:31.140 --> 00:26:31.420
 think we'd

00:26:31.420 --> 00:26:32.040
 have it if

00:26:32.040 --> 00:26:32.480
 Philemon

00:26:32.480 --> 00:26:33.540
 hadn't acted

00:26:33.540 --> 00:26:34.259
 on this.

00:26:35.920 --> 00:26:36.140
 And

00:26:36.140 --> 00:26:36.420
 indeed,

00:26:36.520 --> 00:26:37.220
 history has a

00:26:37.220 --> 00:26:38.160
 very tantalising

00:26:38.160 --> 00:26:38.960
 fact that we

00:26:38.960 --> 00:26:39.620
 cannot be

00:26:39.620 --> 00:26:40.440
 certain to

00:26:40.440 --> 00:26:41.120
 connect with

00:26:41.120 --> 00:26:41.500
 this.

00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:43.660
 But at the

00:26:43.660 --> 00:26:44.100
 beginning of

00:26:44.100 --> 00:26:44.500
 the second

00:26:44.500 --> 00:26:45.059
 century,

00:26:45.200 --> 00:26:45.580
 right at the

00:26:45.580 --> 00:26:45.960
 start of the

00:26:45.960 --> 00:26:46.559
 second century,

00:26:46.680 --> 00:26:47.080
 there was a

00:26:47.080 --> 00:26:47.519
 bishop of

00:26:47.519 --> 00:26:48.620
 Ephesus named

00:26:48.620 --> 00:26:50.660
 Onesimus.

00:26:52.420 --> 00:26:53.000
 And it

00:26:53.000 --> 00:26:53.400
 could be a

00:26:53.400 --> 00:26:54.080
 most remarkable

00:26:54.080 --> 00:26:54.900
 conclusion to

00:26:54.900 --> 00:26:55.279
 one of the

00:26:55.279 --> 00:26:55.920
 Bible's most

00:26:55.920 --> 00:26:56.960
 amazing stories.

00:26:58.779 --> 00:26:59.559
 But whether or

00:26:59.559 --> 00:26:59.779
 not the

00:26:59.779 --> 00:27:00.420
 Ephesus bishop

00:27:00.420 --> 00:27:01.779
 was Onesimus,

00:27:01.900 --> 00:27:02.960
 something remarkable

00:27:02.960 --> 00:27:03.539
 happened at

00:27:03.539 --> 00:27:04.059
 Colossae.

00:27:05.220 --> 00:27:05.500
 The

00:27:05.500 --> 00:27:06.120
 fellowship of

00:27:06.120 --> 00:27:06.500
 faith,

00:27:07.600 --> 00:27:07.700
 the

00:27:07.700 --> 00:27:09.080
 participation of

00:27:09.080 --> 00:27:09.860
 faith in

00:27:09.859 --> 00:27:10.879
 Christ Jesus,

00:27:11.399 --> 00:27:12.119
 sharing in

00:27:12.119 --> 00:27:12.559
 that most

00:27:12.559 --> 00:27:14.099
 profound of

00:27:14.099 --> 00:27:14.859
 all human

00:27:14.859 --> 00:27:15.639
 experience,

00:27:16.259 --> 00:27:16.619
 became

00:27:16.619 --> 00:27:17.059
 effective.

00:27:19.419 --> 00:27:20.199
 And once

00:27:20.199 --> 00:27:21.000
 we see

00:27:21.000 --> 00:27:21.539
 this,

00:27:22.979 --> 00:27:23.799
 we cannot

00:27:23.799 --> 00:27:24.799
 rest content

00:27:24.799 --> 00:27:26.359
 with our

00:27:26.359 --> 00:27:27.179
 fellowship in

00:27:27.179 --> 00:27:27.759
 the faith that

00:27:27.759 --> 00:27:28.279
 we have at

00:27:28.279 --> 00:27:29.199
 IBC just

00:27:29.199 --> 00:27:30.479
 being friendships

00:27:30.479 --> 00:27:31.599
 that may well

00:27:31.599 --> 00:27:32.039
 have happened

00:27:32.039 --> 00:27:32.919
 anyway for

00:27:32.919 --> 00:27:33.479
 like-minded

00:27:33.479 --> 00:27:34.039
 people with

00:27:34.039 --> 00:27:34.479
 much in

00:27:34.479 --> 00:27:35.079
 common enjoying

00:27:35.079 --> 00:27:35.519
 each other's

00:27:35.519 --> 00:27:35.839
 company.

00:27:36.179 --> 00:27:36.799
 That is not

00:27:36.799 --> 00:27:37.240
 church.

00:27:38.459 --> 00:27:38.779
 Of course,

00:27:38.819 --> 00:27:39.059
 there's nothing

00:27:39.059 --> 00:27:39.519
 wrong with

00:27:39.519 --> 00:27:39.759
 that.

00:27:39.859 --> 00:27:42.859
 But the

00:27:42.859 --> 00:27:43.199
 fact that

00:27:43.199 --> 00:27:43.379
 there are

00:27:43.379 --> 00:27:44.000
 no slave

00:27:44.000 --> 00:27:44.339
 masters

00:27:44.339 --> 00:27:45.059
 listening today

00:27:45.059 --> 00:27:45.379
 to my

00:27:45.379 --> 00:27:45.819
 knowledge,

00:27:46.500 --> 00:27:46.919
 and no

00:27:46.919 --> 00:27:47.339
 runaway

00:27:47.339 --> 00:27:47.879
 slaves,

00:27:49.519 --> 00:27:49.819
 and the

00:27:49.819 --> 00:27:50.179
 fact that

00:27:50.179 --> 00:27:50.579
 we feel

00:27:50.579 --> 00:27:51.740
 so removed

00:27:51.740 --> 00:27:52.279
 from the

00:27:52.279 --> 00:27:52.579
 particular

00:27:52.579 --> 00:27:53.079
 situation

00:27:53.079 --> 00:27:53.819
 represented

00:27:53.819 --> 00:27:54.240
 here in

00:27:54.240 --> 00:27:54.639
 this letter

00:27:54.639 --> 00:27:55.439
 does not

00:27:55.439 --> 00:27:56.299
 mean for a

00:27:56.299 --> 00:27:56.919
 moment that

00:27:56.919 --> 00:27:57.379
 we can

00:27:57.379 --> 00:27:57.819
 remain

00:27:57.819 --> 00:27:58.819
 unaffected

00:27:58.819 --> 00:27:59.339
 by this

00:27:59.339 --> 00:27:59.759
 word.

00:28:01.659 --> 00:28:02.539
 Because let

00:28:02.539 --> 00:28:03.279
 us see that

00:28:03.279 --> 00:28:04.399
 our fellowship

00:28:04.399 --> 00:28:05.019
 in the

00:28:05.019 --> 00:28:05.719
 faith at

00:28:05.719 --> 00:28:06.219
 work,

00:28:06.719 --> 00:28:07.679
 at work in

00:28:07.680 --> 00:28:08.420
 the difficult

00:28:08.420 --> 00:28:09.320
 situations

00:28:09.320 --> 00:28:10.820
 that life

00:28:10.820 --> 00:28:11.720
 brings along,

00:28:11.720 --> 00:28:13.519
 in the

00:28:13.519 --> 00:28:14.560
 relationships in

00:28:14.560 --> 00:28:15.180
 church life

00:28:15.180 --> 00:28:15.720
 that are to

00:28:15.720 --> 00:28:16.180
 say the

00:28:16.180 --> 00:28:17.519
 least awkward

00:28:17.519 --> 00:28:18.700
 between people,

00:28:18.700 --> 00:28:21.160
 people who have

00:28:21.160 --> 00:28:22.100
 good reasons

00:28:22.100 --> 00:28:22.900
 not to get

00:28:22.900 --> 00:28:23.360
 along,

00:28:25.360 --> 00:28:26.019
 people who you

00:28:26.019 --> 00:28:26.560
 might have an

00:28:26.560 --> 00:28:27.900
 unfortunate history

00:28:27.900 --> 00:28:28.440
 with.

00:28:29.960 --> 00:28:30.920
 Our fellowship

00:28:30.920 --> 00:28:31.539
 in the faith

00:28:31.539 --> 00:28:32.700
 has yet more

00:28:32.700 --> 00:28:33.640
 wonderful work

00:28:33.640 --> 00:28:34.240
 to accomplish

00:28:34.240 --> 00:28:35.039
 amongst us.

00:28:36.799 --> 00:28:37.660
 And let our

00:28:37.660 --> 00:28:38.259
 fellowship in

00:28:38.259 --> 00:28:38.599
 the faith

00:28:38.599 --> 00:28:39.500
 become more

00:28:39.500 --> 00:28:40.160
 and more

00:28:40.160 --> 00:28:40.700
 effective.

00:28:41.859 --> 00:28:42.620
 Let's pray.