Welcome to Covenant of Hope Ministries and our Sunday sermon. You will normally see us posted in written and live form on Sunday. I am Rev. Laura A. Neff. Our ministry was built on the truth of God’s love. It doesn’t conform to society’s wishes. This ministry shares the Word of God, the Spirit of Christ Jesus. Those who know me well will recognize that there are definitive differences in the creation of every sermon from this point forward. It is God’s will that has brought this to be. We wish only that God’s truth will be shared within His words as brought to us by the Spirit as it fills my heart, mind, and soul to be shared with my hands, but with His words alone. We are starting something new this week with a Zoom session for the ministry since the Facebook Live is not working the way it was.
You will find us in the following location: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Rev. Laura’s other sites: Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Prayer List: We have many on our prayer list. Some wish to remain anonymous, and others only wish to have their first names mentioned. Our prayer list grows or changes every week. This is our current list.
- Please pray for Evangelist Cal Jennings who has been suffering greatly with his health. May the Lord bring his spirits up and help heal him.
- Pray for my brother’s support dog, MacTavish, who, according to the vet will not be with us much longer. Pray for my brother and sister-in-law too, this is going to be very rough for all of them.
- Please keep several friends and other family members in prayer for their trials and tribulations. They have each requested to remain anonymous for the time being. One who has been in quite a lot of distress over the past month or more due to chaos happening in their life. One who was just robbed and threatened on Friday. One who has just recently gotten out of the hospital, may they get well quickly. Another pair who have had serious issues with pain levels in recent weeks and months. May their pain ease sooner rather than later.
- Pray for a friend of mine who lost his father last night.
- Pray for the economy around this world as inflation and supply chains suffer from extremely high prices for fuel.
- Pray for the family, friends, and colleagues of all the people who have been killed injured or scared to pieces in vehicle crashes and more this past week, including the migrants in the semi down in Texas, and a bare minimum of seven car crashes as well, one of those just a few blocks from my workplace on Friday.
- Pray also for others who have lost their lives around this world, including several in a boat wreck here in Savannah, Georgia last week.
- Be thankful for each day we live as we do not know what tomorrow brings.
- Pray for our nations that the voice of God be heard through the Spirit.
- Pray for our friends and families that their tomorrows bring blessings and
pray our own be the same.
- Pray for those suffering as a result of the terrors that have occurred just this past week around this world.
- Pray for our sick and wounded that they may heal.
- Pray that everyone in the USA stays safe during the 4th of July Independence Day celebrations today and tomorrow.
Prayer: Father in heaven, our prayer today is to have the Spirit bring healing to each of our bodies, minds, spirits, and souls. We pray for enlightenment and understanding while studying Your Word. We thank You for these awesome gifts and the many more You have brought us. May our fears be drawn fully out of us. May those wishing us harm be calmed and kept away. Help us to see the many gifts Your love brings and the unknown locations it might be found. May our pain and sorrow be eased. May peace be brought from our hearts and shared with others. May Your gifts of love shine through us toward others. We pray for the poor, the sick, the sorrowful, the wounded, and the frightened. We pray for the soldiers, the Samaritans, the children, and the rest. We pray in thanksgiving for every gift brought us. We pray that every tomorrow would bring good things. For each of these we pray in Your Holy Name, through our Savior Jesus Christ, and the gift of the Holy Spirit, Amen and so it shall be.
Opening Song: Newsboys ~ We Believe https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WjZ01FcK0yk
Sermon: Today we complete our
study of Philemon. Paul is asking his fellow Christian to bring a former
prisoner into his home, not as a slave as he had once been, but as a free man,
whose beliefs matched those of Paul and should do so for Philemon as well. Here
is where we begin today.
Philemon 1:10-12 KJV – I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds: Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me: Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:
NIV – that I appeal to you for my son
Onesimus, who became my son while I was in chains. Formerly he was useless to
you, but now he has become useful both to you and to me. I am sending him—who
is my very heart—back to you.
In this moment, Paul is reflecting on a discussion between
Jesus and the twelve Apostles back in the Gospel of Matthew. Jesus speaks and
reminds his followers that the way people are treated reflects back on those
who give such treatment. It’s the reason Paul was insistent on Philemon not
treating Onesimus as a slave or servant, but as an equal, since he was as much
a human being as Philemon was, and as all of us would be this far in the
future.
Matthew 25:30 KJV – And cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
NIV – And throw that
worthless servant outside, into the darkness, where there will be weeping and
gnashing of teeth.’
We
see a similar view of this through the eyes of the Gospel writer Mark here in
this next supporting verse.
Mark 11:25 KJV – And when ye stand praying, forgive, if ye have ought against any: that your Father also which is in heaven may forgive you your trespasses.
NIV – And when you stand
praying, if you hold anything against anyone, forgive them, so that your Father
in heaven may forgive you your sins.
Forgiveness works in several ways. First, it’s not easy
to forgive and forget in this world we live in, past or present. We see that
fact every day. Note, Jesus didn’t say to forget the wrongs that have been
done. Nor did He say to stew on them for a lifetime. He wants us to realize and
recognize injustices of every shape and description and work toward rectifying
those wrongs, in our hearts, our conscious, unconscious, and subconscious mind,
all the way to our soul. This is no easy task even in this world today. There
are billions of injustices done in this world. Paul was working to get Philemon
to understand what he saw between Onesimus and Philemon, as opposed to what
should have been, with both being Christians.
Philemon 1:13-14 KJV – Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel: But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
NIV – I would have liked to keep him with me
so that he could take your place in helping me while I am in chains for the
gospel. But I did not want to do anything without your consent, so that any
favor you do would not seem forced but would be voluntary.
It is hard, for too many, to simply accept what should be
right. In the case of Onesimus and Philemon, who were once servant and master,
it was easily as difficult as if they were employee and employer in any number
of occupations. It’s not easy to see the world from the viewpoint of an
employer and then suddenly as the one employed. Where one may see it as
progress, another might see it as failure if things do not go the way they are
supposed to from the beginning through to the end. Shortcomings are universal,
they have no age limit, no price range, no stature in society, or any of those.
Shortcomings in all forms and formulas affect everyone universally. We see it
in the supply chain failures in this world even today. We see it
technologically, and in any other points of view you want to note. This is why
we work so hard to study Scripture to help us catch our own shortcomings and do
something about them. Here is what Paul shares in Ephesus.
Ephesians 4:1 KJV – I, therefore, the prisoner of the LORD, beseech you that ye walk worthy of the vocation wherewith ye are called,
NIV – As a prisoner to the LORD, then, I urge
you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received,
If you’re going to walk the walk, you have to know how to
talk the talk as well. You can’t have one without the other. Jesus knew this,
and His Apostles and Disciples learned it well, even in the short few years of
Jesus’s lifetime here on this earth as a man among men. We all learn a trade
and learn how to work in a group of any size. In that process, we learn what
unity in the workplace is all about. This premise should work in the household
as well, but there are still those who lack the understanding of the Word in
order to implement it into their daily lives. Practice, that’s what Paul is
reminding Philemon to do. Practice the right way, and, even if you slip up in
the smallest way, you can still catch yourself and work to get better at it. In
this case, it’s learning that equality is something that started out in the
very beginning from Adam and Eve, they were the ones to fail to see that the
pair were equal halves of the other. That failure in their realization has
affected humanity ever since. That’s why Jesus came to this earth as a human
being and did what He did, lived how He lived, and proved who He is as He was
and will always be. Paul is showing that, even in the passage of time, the old
feelings tend to persist. It takes more than a single reminder to change
someone’s perspective, and we see it here in these next two verses.
Philemon 1:15-16 KJV – For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever; 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?
NIV – Perhaps the reason he was separated
from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— no longer
as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me
but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Whenever someone goes away for a while to achieve
something they want to achieve, it’s not always easy to simply welcome them
back into your life. We have heard, all of us at some point in life, if it is
meant to be it will be. This is what Paul is sharing. Philemon is no longer the
owner of Onesimus, he is his equal. Without doubt, in those days, that was a
hard pill to swallow. Ninety-nine percent of the time, class and stature were
more important than anything in the world. Unfortunately, there are those who
are still stuck in this mindset here and now. We go all the way back to the
scroll of Genesis and the story of Joseph and the children of Jacob to prove
this fact.
Genesis 45:5-8 KJV – Now therefore be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves, that ye sold me hither: for God did send me before you to preserve life. For these two years hath the famine been in the land: and yet there are five years, in the which there shall neither be earing nor harvest. And God sent me before you to preserve you a posterity in the earth, and to save your lives by a great deliverance. So now it was not you that sent me hither, but God: and he hath made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house, and a ruler throughout all the land of Egypt.
NIV – And now, do not be distressed and do
not be angry with yourselves for selling me here, because it was to save lives
that God sent me ahead of you. For two years now there has been famine in the
land, and for the next five years there will be no plowing and reaping. But God
sent me ahead of you to preserve for you a remnant on earth and to save your
lives by a great deliverance. So then, it was not you who sent me here, but
God. He made me father to Pharaoh, lord of his entire household and ruler of
all Egypt.
We sometimes have to revisit the past in order to prepare
ourselves for the future. This is something Jesus did with His Apostles, with
the Pharisees and Sadducees, and all the rest. It is something God did with the
prophets and kings throughout Scripture. This is what Paul shares next with
Philemon.
Philemon 1:17-18 KJV – If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;
NIV – So if you consider me a partner,
welcome him as you would welcome me. If he has done you any wrong or owes you
anything, charge it to me.
We all are partners in Christ, connected to Christ
through our faith, our belief, and our following of that faith and belief. We
can’t simply walk away from the others who are doing the same, regardless that
their paths are different from our own, or their stature is either greater or
less than ours either way. Money, stature, good looks, none of that matters to
God. What matters to God, as Paul shares with Philemon, is the spiritual heart
we each are willing to share with others around us, to build each other up as
opposed to tearing us down. It works for Jew or Gentile, man or woman,
regardless of all the rest. That’s what Paul and Jesus share here.
Ephesians 3:6 KJV – That the Gentiles should be fellowheirs, and of the same body, and partakers of his promise in Christ by the gospel:
NIV – This mystery is that through the gospel
the Gentiles are heirs together with Israel, members together of one body, and
sharers together in the promise of Christ Jesus.
Matthew 10:40 KJV – He that receiveth you receiveth me, and he that receiveth me receiveth him that sent me.
NIV – Anyone who
welcomes you welcomes Me, and anyone who welcomes Me welcomes the One who sent
Me.
Remember, all the way back, way, way back in Genesis,
when Cain slew Abel? Well, the rest of humanity came from him. They didn’t have
the same guidance as the remaining sons and daughters of Adam and Eve,
including Seth, had. So, they are not recognized as equals by the Jews. It was
shared that way for thousands of years. Yet, Jesus taught the Gentiles, and
insisted that His followers do the same. Paul and the others ensured that it
was made so. Here Paul is working to close out his letter to Philemon. He’s
offering a gentle reminder that we all should be friends, and all should follow
Jesus as Jesus taught us to. Again, he proves that practice makes perfect.
Philemon 1:19-20 KJV – 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. Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.
NIV – I, Paul, am writing this with my own
hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self. I do
wish, brother, that I may have some benefit from you in the Lord; refresh my
heart in Christ.
Paul wants Philemon to know that this is coming straight
from him, not as hearsay. He wants this realization to prove that the teaching
moment provided by this very letter were intended solely to be impressed upon
Philemon through Paul alone. In this, Paul was using a familiar path toward
understanding of Scripture. He did so with the citizens of Corinth and
Philippi, and other places as well, shared here in these supporting verses.
1 Corinthians 4:15 KJV – For though ye have ten thousand instructers in Christ, yet have ye not many fathers: for in Christ Jesus I have begotten you through the gospel.
NIV – Even if you had ten thousand guardians
in Christ, you do not have many fathers, for in Christ Jesus I became your
father through the gospel.
2 Corinthians 3:2 KJV – Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men:
NIV – You yourselves are our letter, written
on our hearts, known and read by everyone.
Philippians 1:8 KJV – For God is my record, how greatly I long after you all in the bowels of Jesus Christ.
NIV – God can testify how I long for all of
you with the affection of Christ Jesus.
One of the hardest parts of teaching the Gospel and
Scriptures breathed by God to be written where we can read them, is physically
being everywhere we want to be while spreading the Gospel, spreading the Word
of God, to as many as will listen. This is something every single pastor,
minister, apostle, has struggled with at one time or another. Paul is no
different in that respect. Philemon had a lot to learn and this short letter
only brought as much as Paul could manage from a distance. Paul wants Philemon
to know that he is stronger in faith than Philemon would realize. Yet, his
failures were impeding that realization, and being face to face might rectify
this, but that is an unknown.
Philemon 1:21-22 KJV – Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say. But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.
NIV – Confident of your obedience, I write to
you, knowing that you will do even more than I ask. And one thing more: Prepare
a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in answer to your
prayers.
Being confident in his writing and the adherence to the
teaching is Paul’s fondest hope for Philemon. He shares this with many others
who are disciples of Christ as Paul reaches out to those in Corinth and
Philippi and as the gospel writer Luke reaches out to all of the Apostles as
well. Were they listening and hearing? History will decide that question. Are
we listening and hearing? Only we each would know that one.
2 Corinthians 8:22 KJV – And we have sent with them our brother, whom we have oftentimes proved diligent in many things, but now much more diligent, upon the great confidence which I have in you.
NIV – In addition, we are sending with them
our brother who has often proved to us in many ways that he is zealous, and now
even more so because of his great confidence in you.
Acts 28:23 KJV – And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening.
NIV – They arranged to meet Paul on a certain
day, and came in even larger numbers to the place where he was staying. He
witnessed to them from morning till evening, explaining about the kingdom of
God, and from the Law of Moses and from the Prophets he tried to persuade them
about Jesus.
Philippians 1:25 KJV – And having this confidence, I know that I shall abide and continue with you all for your furtherance and joy of faith;
NIV – Convinced of this, I know that I will
remain, and I will continue with all of you for your progress and joy in the
faith,
The last few verses are closing out this short letter to
Philemon in Colossae. Paul is again working to impress upon this man that there
is more to life than money and power. There is more to life than what we see in
front of us every day. There is so much more. This is exactly what Jesus wants
us to strive for, to reach toward that something more.
Philemon 1:23-25 KJV – There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus; Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.
NIV – Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ
Jesus, sends you greetings. And so do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas and Luke, my
fellow workers. The grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.
As with all letters, there is always a final salutation, a farewell, and Paul is consistent with all of his letters written as these would share.
Colossians 1:7 KJV – As ye also learned of Epaphras our dear fellowservant, who is for you a faithful minister of Christ;
NIV – You learned it from Epaphras, our dear
fellow servant, who is a faithful minister of Christ on our behalf,
Colossians 4:10 KJV – Aristarchus my fellowprisoner saluteth you, and Marcus, sister's son to Barnabas, (touching whom ye received commandments: if he come unto you, receive him;)
NIV – My fellow prisoner Aristarchus sends
you his greetings, as does Mark, the cousin of Barnabas. (You have received
instructions about him; if he comes to you, welcome him.)
2 Timothy 4:22 KJV – The Lord Jesus Christ be with thy spirit. Grace be with you. Amen.
NIV – The Lord be with your spirit. Grace be
with you all.
The truth is important, and pursuing that truth through the Word of God, through our lives every day, is as important as anything in this world would be. Finding our Spiritual Truth, our Spiritual Self, is extremely important. That is the reason we are studying the Word in the methods that we are, so we can see God’s Word for what it is, TRUTH. While we do so, and persistently, consistently do so, we are bringing our hearts, our minds, our spirits, and souls into alignment with God’s Unconditional Love. Now that’s something to think about as we pray in the prayer that Jesus taught us saying:
Our Father, which art in heaven,
Hallowed be thy name.
Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, in earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.
And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is the
kingdom, and the power, and the glory, for ever. Amen.
(Matthew 6:9-13)
Closing Song: Keith & Kristyn Getty ~ The Lord Is My Salvation https://youtu.be/MzZaeKr3PD4
~ Shalom ~
Rev. Laura A. Neff
Facebook & Blogspot & Twitter & Linkedin
Evangelist Calvin Jennings
Covenant of Hope Ministries Main Site: http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Scripture Excerpts: The New Open Bible Study Edition: Copyright © 1990: Thomas Nelson Publishers, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright © 1982: E. E. Gaddy and Associates, Inc.
Scripture Excerpts: Holy Bible: Copyright ©circa 1890-1910: International Bible Press, The John C. Winston Co.; Philadelphia, PA, USA
Sermon or Study Copyright © 2022 http://www.covenantofhopeministries.blogspot.com
Our mission for Covenant of Hope Ministries is not to exploit fear, but to conquer it, and overcome all that is created through fear together as the bringers of the light of Jesus found in the midst of darkness.
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