PHILEMON

Chapter 1

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STUDY:

  • Verse 6: "...and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective..."        Do you share your faith with others?  Have you seen fruit from sharing Jesus?  Although we might not always see people come to know Christ through our testimonies or from sharing the gospel, we should see evidence of God working through us at some level.  If we are vessels for honorable use (2 Timothy 2:21), then we will be used by God, and His desire is that all would know Him through a relationship with Jesus.  Although it is completely by the Holy Spirit that one is saved, we can be apart of His work.  Even if you don't see a person transformed because of God working through you have faith and pray that God is continuing His work in that person, in His timing and way.   I ask that you pray, along with Paul, that the sharing of your faith would be effective.  It's not about the words you say, it's not about where you take them to share the gospel, it's not about how much faith you have- it's about His timing, Him speaking through you, and what His will is.  If we try to do it without Him,  it will fail.  If we try to do it in our timing, it will fail.  Trust in Jesus, and ask to join Him in the opportunities where HE is at work, instead of hoping He will come to the rescue when YOU'RE at work.  

  • Verse 7: "...because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed through you."        Do people feel refreshed in their faith when they spend time with you, or do they feel condemned, judged and heavy with baggage?   Pray about that.   Ask the Lord, "are others refreshed in their faith by me?"  Let us encourage one another and love one another!

  • Verse 14: "...your goodness might not be by compulsion but of your own accord."        Do you do good because you have to or because you want to?  Is the good works that you do because you want others to praise you and approve of you, or because you want the praise and approval of Jesus?  In Titus 3:8, it says to devote yourselves to good works.  Paul doesn't instruct them to do that under compulsion, but if you follow Jesus, good works is the output of a relationship with Him.  When good works come out of you, it is evidence that the Holy Spirit is doing a good work in you.  The two go hand-in-hand.  If you find yourself doing good things, so that others' will praise you or approve of you, please pray and ask that God would re-direct your reasoning.  We all are selfish and proud, and sometimes our exaltation is put before Jesus' exaltation.  This is sin.  Let us repent, ask Jesus for forgiveness and let our love and devotion for Him produce good works through us, so that He alone is glorified!

Read my thoughts on this chapter:

HIGHLIGHTED TEXT:

"...and I pray that the sharing of your faith may become effective for the full knowledge of every good thing that is in us for the sake of Christ."  {Verse 6}

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