Onesimus - an example of a growing Christian

Notes from a sermon on 7 February 2010
Philemon 8 - 25

Sometimes we have to ask ourselves a question - how much have I grown as a Christian? There was the character of conscious growth in this young man from the moment he put his faith and trust in the Lord. How did his life develop, his character improve day by day? Onesimus was a slave in Philemon’s house. We are not told what happened - perhaps Onesimus just ran away but he shouldn’t have because he was his master’s property. In Rome he met the apostle Paul when he was in bonds and chains. First thing Paul speaks to him about is his own soul. That is the most important thing to talk about today. Very shortly people are going out into eternity but they are not fit for that eternity. We are born with sin in our heart. As Christ died on Calvary he shed his blood for you and me so that you and I might be fit for eternity. Onesimus came into Paul’s presence, told him about the love of the Lord and what the cross meant for him. The evidence of his growth is responsibility and attitude to his new found position. Paul is not the sort of person who speaks lightly. What the gospel did for Onesimus. Colossians 1 verse 16 “that the gospel bringeth forth fruit.” Sometimes we ask the question “are they saved?” Jesus said “by their fruits ye shall know them.” They will be recognised by what they produce.

The gospel gave him an honest character. Onesimus was dishonest. He didn’t say to his master “I am fed up and want time off.” Perhaps waiting until the darkness fell and got the opportunity to run away. Whenever Onesimus trusted the Lord something happened. He then got an honest character. If we have an honest heart we have a fruit bearing heart. In the parable of the sower Jesus spoke of all the different types of ground in which the seed fell. He comes to the ground bearing forth one hundred fold. Lifted it out of that perspective and applied it to the life of believers. The seed is the word of God. It falls into an honest and good heart. Spoke too of the soils where weeds grew and of the hard ground. The seed that fell into good ground was likened to the word falling into an honest heart. That is what Onesimus’ was. Paul told Philemon in verse 11 that Onesimus had been “unprofitable” at one time to him. Now as he was going back to Philemon Onesimus would be profitable to him. Why? God had changed his life. Here was a young man who had broken his masters promise, he had broken the confidence of his master but God has worked in his heart. The gospel is the gospel of transforming power. Paul said of it “I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ for it is the power of God unto salvation to everyone that believeth.” (Romans 1 verse 16) When God’s power comes into our lives it transforms our lives, makes us honest before people. Paul maybe had asked him “why are you here?” He owned up to everything he had done wrong. When we come and get saved we have to deal honestly with God. The Bible says “if we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.“ (1 John 1 verse 9) We cannot come to the cross hiding our sins. David tried that with Bathsheba, he had her husband killed and battled with God for 12 months until he confessed his sin before God. Onesimus had an honest heart. The gospel would make an honest character of him. The gospel makes a person honest. Philippians tells us to think about honest things. (chapter 4 verse 8) 2 Corinthians providing for honest things not only in sight of God but in man. Ephesians 6 Paul speaks of relationship there is between a servant and his master “do all things honestly not only in the sight of man but God.” (verse 7)

The gospel gave him a humble character. Not only admitted everything he did. He knew now would have to return and face the wrong he had done. Must make his way back home and clear things with his master. Paul speaks of sending him back. We have to face the hurdles of our own making. Onesimus has something to do. He must go and put it right as far as he can. He has got to try and make amends. Paul is sending him back. There has got to be a willingness on his part too. Speaks of his humbleness, that he is able to take advice. Onesimus was ready to go back and ready to make amends for the errors he had made. Remember Zacchaeus, the tax collector. He was no ordinary person - he was influential. He wore long gowns and robes and when people saw him coming down the street he was held in respect. Not well liked by his own people but he had a high position. He wanted to see Jesus so climbed up into a sycamore tree. The Lord comes and tells him to come down and take him into his home. Zacchaeus started to think of the past life he had lived and made a promise “If I have taken any thing from any man by false accusation I restore him fourfold.” (Luke 19 verse 8) He was thinking of those he had been deceitful to, those he had lied to, those he had taken by false accusation, those from whom he had taken money and promised to return to them four fold. The power of God is working in this mans life. That is what the gospel does - opens up to things we remember, we have to go back and admit our wrong. Need to sort things out and it will make us humbler.

The gospel gave him a helpful character. This young man was unprofitable, of no use to Philemon. How can he be trusted again? How can you put your weight on this young man again? Verse 16 trust him not as a servant but as a brother Paul says. This young man has grown into a person who is highly valuable in the work of God. Colossians 4 brings in the name of Onesimus “he will fill you in on all things.” Trust him to give you an honest report. God looks at us to speak well of others. Those brothers and sisters in Christ born again of the spirit of God that we might speak well and highly of them. Onesimus wasn’t going back and saying “I met Paul, I seen things in his life that shouldn’t be there.” Paul trusted him. He was a helpful character. Verse 13 here’s a young man who has learned to care for those less well of. He cared for the apostle Paul in prison. He became more open to the needs of others. Whenever we begin to see men and women as lost, going to a Christless eternity begin to do something just to see them gloriously saved that we might see those fallen by the way side. Young men helpful in things of God. Paul uses him to take the message of the gospel out and around. This young man was honest and helpful. Has God not given us honesty? Do we have humbleness? More importantly are we helpful in the work of God? Do we see the things needing to be done? Mary Magdalene in Mark 16 verse 9 “out of whom the Lord had cast 7 devils.” As you go through the scriptures we read of her serving growing into a helpful character. Mark 15 she followed Christ and ministered unto him. She was one of the last characters the Lord met at the sepulchre. Serving him to the end. Helpful. Is that where we are at today? Honest, helpful, humble?

The gospel had made him a hopeful character. Paul said in verse 15 “he departed from you for a season that you might have him for ever.” The gospel made him someone who was trustworthy. Could be depended upon in the Christian faith. We stretch ourselves up for the mark. Are we honest? Humble? Helpful? Hopeful? That people could come to you and know you are always going to be there. Trustworthy. Steadfast unmovable always abounding in the work of Christ?

Do we want to know more of God's word?

Notes from a sermon on 31 January 2010
1 Peter 1 verses 13 - chapter 2 verse 3

The apostle Paul’s greatest longing on the Christian pathway is to know more about the Lord Jesus Christ. Do we have this desire - to know more of Jesus’ word? Not only personal longing but a passionate prayer for the church. He realised a work done in Colosse by Epaphras, a faithful ministry which had resulted in new Christians. Paul knew that wasn’t the end. It was not just a matter of getting saved. There had to be a growing, a going on. He prayed that the church would know the wisdom, strength and power of God in their every day lives. Peter here says to the believers “as newborn babes desire the sincere milk of the word that ye may grow thereby.” Peter tells us here the very grounds for growth - it must be determined by a healthy appetite for God’s word - verse 2.

Desire for the word of God. That is a very natural thing as Peter tells us. Only picture he can give us is from that of a new born baby. You and I cannot fake that desire, it must be there to start with. The desire that Peter is speaking about here - it is direct. It is a response to a genuine faith in the Lord Jesus Christ. When we come to faith that desire is placed within us. A deep desire that comes from the new birth. When you and I get saved something happens within us. Peter takes this analogy of newborn baby, a desire within them for the milk to nourish it. Peter brings in the spiritual equation. There was a time when you knew you needed to be saved, when you accepted Christ as Saviour and Lord. You had a desire within you to read his word. How is the desire today for God’s word? The disciples in Acts 2 heard the word of God as a result of Peter’s preaching. The Holy Spirit came and convicted them of their sin and need of salvation. Then they followed the apostles doctrine and were longing for the word of God. Verse 2 - unadulterated milk - sincere, pure, uncontaminated. That is what we need, to long for, sometimes we are being satisfied with less. Have you a desire for the sincere milk of the word of God?

Devotion for the word of God. It is the desire that brings us to the word of God but we also need a devotion. Now the child has to develop. It cannot stay on milk, it longs, it needs strong meat. Now as he grows and gets stronger something happens. That desire becomes a devotion. Paul told the Corinthian church that they boasted of great wisdom, power and gifts. God gave these to them as well as knowledge of the word of God. Paul told them they were still babes in Christ, they hadn’t grown. We need to be developing as Christians. We need to be growing. A time when we study the word of God. There has to come a devotion - Hebrews 5 verse 12. The writer was expecting the believers to be at a different stage. They had to be moving on, devotion to know more about the word of God. As we study the word of God, God will not disappoint us. Milk is easily digested. To read the word of God takes a devotion. To dig into its pages. Paul writing to Timothy in Acts 17 saved by the grace of God, following after Paul, taking him out on missionary journeys then told to stay in Ephesus to teach them - “study to show thyself approved unto God.” You need to be a good workman. Expected him to be at a different level. More than a desire keeps us there. A sportsman in any sport takes devotion, times when has to set aside what he is doing and gives it his all. As Christians is that not true too? When we want to give to God our very best? We have to set aside time to get into God’s word. These men were devoted. Acts 6 verse 2. Something happened in the assembly of believers. Drawing them away from the duty of God - chapter 1 verse 11 man going into depths of mine searching out the gold nuggets.

A discerning for the word of God. As come to God’s word , spending time studying God’s word need the ability to apply the word of God. There is a discernment, desire for the word of God. A devotion for the word of God that we might apply what we read. Sometimes we find ourselves making the same old mistakes. Can do that spiritually speaking as well. We have to apply ourselves to wisdom. When Joshua went into the land of Canaan he was stepping into Moses’ shoes. Moses couldn’t take them into the land of blessing but Joshua could. God told him to meditate on the word of God day and night. The word of God would be his strength in the land of blessing. If we want to be in that place of blessing we have to meditate on the word of God. Joshua 1 verse 8 “this book of the law shall not depart out of thy mouth but thou shalt meditate therein day and night, that thou mayest observe to do according to all that is written therein.” James tells us the same - “But be ye doers of the word and not hearers only.” (James 1 verse 22) Not only hearers of the word but doers also. Have you got the desire for the word of God? Can you go through a day without reading God’s word? Have you a devotion for it? Setting aside other things to study it? Are we discerning or applying it to every day situations?

A dependence on the word of God. Just as the devil came to tempt Jesus he was told “Man shall not live by bread alone but by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God.” (Matthew 4 verse 4) Are we growing as Christians? Can we see the marks of growth in every aspect of our lives? Have you grown in your Christian life since this time last year?

Growing in the Lord day by day

Notes from a sermon on 24 January 2010
Colossians 1 verses 1 - 14

In this passage we read of Paul’s passion and prayer for this little church. Paul wanted to grow day by day.

Notice what he prayed for in this prayer - wisdom in their young lives - verse 9. Paul described himself in Corinthians as the “master builder”. In these verses he examines the foundation of their faith. When the engineer examines the foundations of a house there is something very revealing. Not something we really see but it is the most important part. Paul is examining the foundation of their faith. Not only the foundation but the framework before he goes on to give advice. It was not Paul’s planning in Colosse - it was Epaphras - verse 7. Paul was thanking this man because he had taught the people - verse 4. In verses 5 and 6 speaks of the hope laid up in heaven for them. Epaphras is described as a “faithful minister of Christ.” The minister of God’s word must be faithful to the Lord, to the work they have before them. As a result of Epaphras’ faithfulness many people were saved. Paul was thanking God for this young man of God who had been faithful to the Lord, to his word. Verse 8 - here was a man who didn’t go behind their backs. People were saved as a result of his work, loved to tell good things about people. A wonderful trait in someone - not scandalising. Paul is examining the foundation. He saw something about their faith but also their love for all the saints of God. Remember Jesus said in John 13 verse 35 “by this shall all men know that you are my disciples if ye have love for one another.” Epaphras had told people about the Lord. He had faithfully preached the word of God and the evidence of it was in their love for one another. They loved to be in company of each other. They wanted to encourage one another. This was the evidence of new birth. Paul saw the reality of their faith, of a new birth, of a nucleus of a new church. Verse 9 “for this cause we do not cease to pray.” Paul leaves down the pen, sets the preaching aside and gets down to prayer. Paul used the sincerity of their faith as the basis of his prayer. That was the greatest need for this little church - prayer. Paul says “I want to pray for you.” Everyone needs prayer today. We are designed for fellowship. When the Lord saves us, he brings us into fellowship with the Lord and with the body of Christ. We cannot be saved except through the Lord Jesus Christ. When we were not saved we needed the prayers of godly people, that God would open our eyes and God did. Now we are saved we still need prayer. Paul saw the need for wisdom. Remember when the children of Israel were down in Egypt for 400 years they lifted up their voices and began to pray. God sent Moses to deliver them out of Egypt. God took them a long road to where they were going just in case they would see the fight ahead of them and repent in their hearts that they had ever left Egypt. In our lives we see things that could be done quicker but God doesn’t allow that in case we meet the enemy and we turn back. Paul says we have got to pray that others would be kept in health and blessing and that they might be saved. James said “if any man lack knowledge let him ask of God.” Wisdom from God is first pure and peaceful. That is what we need today. Paul prayed for it. Have we got that wisdom in spiritual matters? That we know what God wants for us in any specific situation?

Paul prayed for witness in the church - verse 10. This is what God wants of his people. That the inner working of the heart would be manifested in that outward work. The word “filled” in verse 9 means to be controlled by. If we are filled with jealousy we are controlled by it. Paul says if we are filled with wisdom then we will be controlled by it. Walk worthily in our actions, in the work place, in the home, in the family. Paul wanted a witness in this church. Paul warned Titus that there would be those who would come into the fellowship who believed in the word of God but he said watch their actions. Growing in biblical knowledge is one thing but growing in knowledge is another thing entirely. Peter was always a person who was ready to jump in. He was the one who reached for the sword in the garden but what a difference when Pentecost came. When Peter gave his life to the Holy Spirit what a difference it made in his life. Peter told the crowd on the day of Pentecost that they were making a big mistake - they were not drunk with wine but with the Holy Spirit.

Paul prayed that they would be workers in the church. He told them later on to do all for the Lord not unto man. No matter how small or how simple a thing is to you in the eyes of others it is something important for the Lord. We are doing it for his honour and glory - there is then fruit in our lives. It will be recognised one day when we stand before the Lord in glory. Our very thoughts are recorded by God. Paul wrote to a little church to thank them for the gift they had sent - he told them he had desired not a gift but that the fruit of the spirit might abound.

Paul also prays about the worship in the church - verse 12. Don’t ever forget to praise God for what he has done in his church when that happens.

Never stop growing in your Christian Faith!

Notes from a sermon on 17th January 2010 from Philippians 3 verses 1 - 11

Chapter 3 starts with the word “finally” which really means the writer wants to sum up everything he has said to this point. In Paul’s spiritual life he never stopped growing. It is dangerous to get to a place where we feel that is it spiritually speaking - we have all that God has for us. Paul begins by speaking about himself, warning about spiritual lives then goes on to speak of himself and what he has given up in his spiritual life that he might win the Lord Jesus Christ. Verse 10 “that I might know him”. As Christians are we still growing today? Do we think we have got to the place where we think we have landed? Backsliding is a result of a lack of desire to go on with the Lord. Revelation 3 verse 17. The little fellowship at Laodicea is saying they “have need of nothing.” Can we get down before the God of heaven today and say we stand in need of nothing? The apostle Paul couldn’t do that. He had told them what he had given up, what it cost him to be a Christian but he never stopped growing. Peter speaking to Christians said we are to “grow in grace and in the knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ” (2 Peter 3 verse 18). We should be adding to our faith. Are we growing day by day? Are we in need of something today? Are we asking the Lord for it every day? Do we really want to know more about the Lord? Paul’s personal desire was to know the Lord in deeper greatest sense. Is that our desire? How does that desire manifest itself?

That Paul might share in this power - “that I might know him and the power of his resurrection”. Christianity is not a dead religion - it is a vibrant, real experience. Paul knew full well he could not live without it. The apostle Paul knew his life would benefit through the resurrection power of the Holy Spirit. On the cross of Calvary Jesus finished the work he came to do and it is finished. Jesus is risen again. God put the seal of the Lord’s atoning work by raising his son from the dead. That is the sort of power Paul benefited from. That is the power we can benefit from today. Is that our desire today? That we might know something of this resurrection power today? To overcome the battles Satan throws against us. Those early Christians when they were going out on Christ’s mission to preach and evangelise and to make disciples they were told to “wait in Jerusalem”. They were to wait for the power. Are we waiting for the power today? Have we received that power? Do we know anything of the infilling power of the Spirit? That is what we need today. In Acts 19 verse 2 the apostle Paul was coming to Ephesus when he met certain disciples and he asks them “have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed?” He wanted to see them filled from God. Their reply was “we have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost.” Their teaching hadn’t gone that far. When the apostle spoke to them and repaired the holes in their faith, what a difference that made in their lives. The Bible says 2 things happened - they spoke with tongues and also began to prophesy. Are we really sharing in this resurrection power? “Many get to Calvary but few desire to go to Pentecost” someone once said. Are you saying you can be saved and not have the Holy Ghost? To be saved means to be In repentance of sin. There is nothing half hearted about it. When we are saved we receive the Holy Spirit. Paul wrote to the Ephesians “be not drunk with wine wherein is excess but be filled with the Holy Spirit.” When filled with the Holy Spirit we receive the power of the Holy Spirit. It will cost to be filled with the Spirit of God.

That Paul might be steadfast in his sufferings. Paul didn’t want to learn this thing from a text book or a teacher. He wanted to learn them first hand - “that the sufferings of this present age are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us.” 1 Peter 5 verse 1 “The elders which are among you I exhort who am also an elder and a witness of the sufferings of Christ and also a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed.” If we could only get it into our hearts and minds in those moments leading up to the cross, in these public years in which Christ ministered, when he went his own streets and town, when people turned their back on him, those who even said he had a devil because he was able to raise the sick and the dead, then that awful night in the garden - the loneliness of it, the sufferings he experienced, is nothing compared to the sufferings of the cross. When he was spat upon, beaten and, cursed. Peter witnessed all of that. The people in the book of Acts were beaten, ridiculed and hated. Acts 5 verse 41 “rejoicing that they were counted worthy to suffer shame for his name.” Paul said in Galatians 6 verse 17 “for I bear in my body the marks of the Lord Jesus”. In Corinthians we read that Paul was beaten, whipped, held in chains but he counted it a joy, he rejoiced for this was for Christ. Imagine the ridicule he got from city to city. People called him a babbler, preached wrong doctrines, said all manner of things against him. What did Jesus say “blessed is the man when people say all manner of evil against you falsely for my sake.” (Matthew 5 verse 11) When you and I stand in glory will there be marks of the sufferings we have endured for the Lord. Will there be the marks of the pain and tears as we have prayed for others to be saved?

That Paul wanted to surrender to his death - “and the fellowship of his sufferings being made conformable unto his death.” Paul wanted to die for Christ. Would we be ready to die for Christ? Paul had been saved for 30 odd years when he wrote this letter yet was still determined to know Christ. Paul was talking here of dying daily. We have to step into the shadows and let the Lord take the main feature.

Paul wanted to be secure in the last day - “if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead.” His eyes were on the coming of the Lord Jesus Christ. As a Christian, a child of God are we waiting for that day when the Lord Jesus will come, when the shout of the archangel, the trump of God will sound, the dead in Christ will rise first, when the body and soul will be reunited. Paul could say what a day that will be - is that what we are aiming for today? Let’s reach out today. Take another step and pray for the power of God in our lives to live for Christ.

God's perfect peace Part 2

Notes from a sermon on
Philippians 4 verses 1 - 9 heard on 10 January 2010

“Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on thee: because he trusteth in thee.” Isaiah 26 verse 3

The secret of peace is to be found in none other than the Lord Jesus Christ. Isaiah wrote under the inspiration of the Holy Ghost. He wrote of the past, the present and events still to come. Isaiah was writing 700 years before the birth of Christ.

This peace is promised by the eternal God. God is someone who cannot lie. We might be in a set of conditions that are prevailing against us that no-one else knows about but Jesus says to us as we go through them “if you can keep me in your mind I will keep you in perfect peace throughout it all.” As we read the book of Isaiah we can realise that things were difficult then. There was a confusion of religious beliefs in their day. There are many who say God doesn’t exist any more, they are following all sorts of religious thoughts and beliefs that bring a certain degree of happiness. There was a carelessness in moral standards in Isaiah’s day - covetousness and greed. There was a great love for wealth in Isaiah’s day. Their consciences were completely corroded. There was a conflict of military supremacy. Assyria was at the very gates of Jerusalem. It was not an easy time for them. Maybe it is not an easy time for you. Maybe there are many confusing and conflicting thoughts in your mind. This verse of scripture gives us a promise of peace. When you accept Jesus as your Saviour you have a great peace - why - because we have been justified with God. “Therefore being justified by faith we have peace with God though our Lord Jesus Christ.” Romans 5 verse 1 As come into this world we are at enmity with God. There was nothing we could offer that would merit our salvation. God is looking at us and loving us, wanting us to be saved. The sufficiency of the sacrifice - the moment we cry out to God he gives us a great peace. We are at one with Christ. “Justified” means every sin I have committed, every wrong thought in my heart, God looks at me and says “innocent”. If it hadn’t been for that mercy I would have stood before him and he would have said “guilty”. Do you have that peace today? This is not a religious life, this is a transformed, converted, changed life. We can know that peace in our lives. Jesus told his disciples “ye will have tribulation” but he went on to say they would also have his peace. Paul told us that we will suffer for being one of Christ’s own but we can know “the peace of God that passeth all understanding.”

A peace that is precious. A thing is immediately precious when we think of who owns it, when think of where it comes from, when it is in short supply. Jesus spoke through Jeremiah the Old Testament prophet, rebuked the nation false prophets and religious leaders “you are claiming peace peace and there is no peace.” We can know the peace of God in our hearts. Remember the disciples in the boat, they tried everything in their power to get to the other side. The wind was making the waves crash against the boat. The disciples thought they were going to perish. There might be times in our lives when we are fearful. Jesus comes, steps into the little boat and says “peace be still.” Not a ripple on the waves, not an air. The disciples get their eyes on the Lord again - let’s get our eyes on the peace of God today - a peace that passeth all understanding.

A peace that is practical. Something that perhaps we never really experience until in the depths of trials and afflictions and it really works. It is practical in its application. Think of Abraham that great Old Testament prophet. God called him out of Ur. He promised him so many things - land of his own, a child in his old age. Whenever God came to him and told him to take his son to Mount Moriah and offer him on the altar of sacrifice, there would have been turmoil in his heart I am sure. Now his life would be shattered. The son would ask “I can see the wood for the fire but where’s the lamb for the sacrifice?” Abraham tells him “God will provide the sacrifice.” On the third day they reach their destination. Abraham places his son on the altar. At that moment God says “enough there’s the sacrifice behind you.” Abraham walked every step with that in his mind but all the time there was peace in his mind. “By faith Abraham when he was tried offered up Isaac and he that had received the promises offered up his only begotten son.” Of whom it was said “That in Isaac shall thy seed be called. Accounting that God was able to raise him up even from the dead from whence also he received him in a figure.” Hebrews 11 verses 17 to 19. Do I have the peace of God today if I was to face death? Have you Jesus Christ as Saviour and Lord? Are you sure of that today? If God was to hold that breath and you were to close your eyes and go out into eternity would it be absent from the body and present with the Lord? Or will it be the fires of hell for all eternity. You can be sure by putting your trust in him and him alone.