Spontaneous Love
Philemon

Intro:
Good morning.

Our reference scripture for the lesson today is Philemon. This letter was written on behalf of Onesimus who was Philemon’s runaway slave. Please turn your Bibles to the book of Philemon. I will quote from the New King James and paraphrase some.

A man sees a sign in front of a house: "Talking Dog for Sale." Curious he stops and rings the bell. The owner tells him the dog is in the backyard. The man goes into the backyard and sees a black mutt just sitting there. "You talk?" he asks. "Yep," the mutt replies. The man asks; "So, what's your story?"

The mutt looks up and says, "Well, I discovered this gift pretty young and I wanted to help the government, so I told the CIA about my gift, and in no time they had me jetting from country to country, sitting in rooms with spies and world leaders, because no one figured a dog would be eavesdropping. I was one of their most valuable spies eight years running. The jetting around really tired me out, and I knew I wasn't getting any younger and I wanted to settle down. So I signed up for a job at the airport to do some undercover security work, mostly wandering near suspicious characters and listening in. I uncovered some incredible dealings there and was awarded a bunch of medals. Had a wife, a mess of puppies, and now I'm just retired."

The guy is amazed. He goes back in and asks the owner what he wants for the dog. The owner says, "Ten dollars." The guy says, "This dog is amazing. Why on earth are you selling him so cheaply?" The owner replies, "He's such a liar. He didn't do any of that stuff."

We could take the point, that apparently there are some old dogs that can learn new tricks. There are people who can learn a new way of life. There are many people, whose lives have been turned around and changed, and they have to learn new ways to live.

I. The letter to Philemon is interesting, it is the only individual or private letter written by Paul that we know of and is written to tell Philemon of the conversion of Onesimus and to make a plea for him. Through the kindness shown Onesimus we have revealed to us the great kindness of the Apostle's heart. He speaks to Philemon not as an apostle in authority, but as a friend to a friend. The letter is of great value as showing the power of the gospel to win and transform a poor servant and to soften the sometimes harsh relations between the different classes of ancient society.
A. In Philemon 1:1 Paul’s salutation is; “To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house:” Paul is writing to a Christian and probably a Christian household.
B. You remember how Apostle Paul’s life changed when he had an encounter with the Lord Jesus? We will read in this book that Onesimus’ life changed too. Their lives didn’t just change temporarily, their lives changed for good. Paul’s life changed so much it took a full 180 degree turn. Paul had his eyes opened and he preached to the Galatian church in Galatians 6:7 – “Do not be deceived, God is not mocked; for whatever a man sows, that he will also reap.”
C. You remember what Paul sowed before he encountered Christ. Now Paul sowed with the seeds of love and life, and he harvested love and life from others. This was very evident in the life of Onesimus. Paul was reaping the benefits of sowing the seeds of the gospel with Onesimus.
D. That’s why Paul says, in verses 10-13 - “I appeal to you for my child Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my imprisonment, who formerly was useless to you, but now is useful both to you and to me. I have sent him back to you in person, that is, {sending} my very heart, whom I wished to keep with me, so that on your behalf he might minister to me in my imprisonment for the gospel;”
E. With all that in mind Paul is going to teach us today how our love towards others should be spontaneous. He is going to share with us how God may send someone to us or away from us, and we don’t even realize it is part of God’s plan. He is also going to teach us how an everyday nobody can become a valued trusted friend.
II. Starting again at verse 12 - Philemon 12-16 – “I am sending him back. You therefore receive him, that is, my own heart, whom I wished to keep with me, that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. But without your consent I wanted to do nothing, that your good deed might not be by compulsion, as it were, but voluntary. For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, no longer as a slave but more than a slave, as a beloved brother, especially to me but how much more to you, both in the flesh and in the Lord.”
A. Have you had times in your life when you are talking to someone about Jesus and you think to yourself, why do I bother?
B. Those who give lessons, privately, here or in the classroom, sometimes wonder if anyone is listening to what is being said. In our lives when we talk to people there are going to be times like that.
C. It is true that there will to be times when no one listens to you. Parents experience this. Then there are going to be times when someone will listen and you know they are listening because their lives end up reflecting what they have learned. Paul says in 1 Corinthians 15:58 – “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that your labor is not in vain in the Lord.”
D. Who knows what can come out of a simple talk with someone about Jesus. Who knows if people are listening to what you are saying, but don’t stop talking about Jesus. Paul says, “That your labor in the Lord is not in vain.” Your labor will be rewarded. Paul’s labor was rewarded in the form of Onesimus. The seeds that Paul had sown in Onesimus began to show fruit.
III. There was a little boy who came running into his house one day and said, “Mommy, there’s a boy in the woods and he’s teasing me.” His mother said, “What do you mean?” He said, “I said hello and then he said hello, I asked, who are you? And he asked who are you? I said, what is your name and he said what is your name.” The little boy told his mother that he got mad and jumped over the fence and went into the woods to find him but couldn’t. The boy shouted; “I’ll punch you on the head and he said he would punch mine.” The little boy’s mother said, “Son, that is just your echo, if you had said, “I love you; it would have said I love” back.”
A. If someone tells you that they hate you, you usually want to hate them back. On the other hand if someone tells you they love you, you want to do what is right so that they will continue to love you. Not only did Onesimus accept the love that God had to offer him, but he also had a choice to do the right thing and go back and share that love with Philemon.
B. Paul says in verse 12 “I am sending him--who is my very heart--back to you.” Paul was doing the right thing by sending a runaway servant back and so was Onesimus. Paul goes on to say in verses 13-14 “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 will be spontaneous and not forced.”
C. Continuing to paraphrase He’s is saying, “Listen Philemon, I’ve sent Onesimus back to you but to tell you the truth, it feels like I’m cutting my right arm off doing it. I wanted so much to keep him here as a stand in for you, to help me out while I’m in this jail for the sake of the gospel.” He’s saying, “He didn’t want to do anything behind Philemon’s back or make him do something that he hasn’t agreed to.”
IV. Paul wanted to do the right thing. He wanted to do the right thing by God’s standards not human standards. Human standards would say if you do something wrong, just ignore it. God’s standards say if you do something wrong, then you confess your sins to each other. Human standards say if someone hits you, then you hit them right back. God’s standards say if someone hits you, you turn the other cheek. Human standards say if someone causes you pain, take them to court and get as much as you can out of them. God’s standards say if someone causes you pain, you forgive them.
A. 2 Corinthians 8:20-21 - “avoiding this: that anyone should blame us in this lavish gift which is administered by us providing honorable things, not only in the sight of the Lord, but also in the sight of men.” Romans 12:17 - says, “Repay no one evil for evil. Have regard for good things in the sight of all men.”
B. We are a walking, talking advertisement for our Lord and savior Jesus Christ. Remember, the people of the world don’t often read the Bible, but they do read your life. Maybe we will get ridiculed for telling the truth all the time. Maybe we will get mocked for having such high standards.
C. There will be times when we will get praised for having those standards. We will make a good example for Christianity when we give the shopkeeper the money back because they have given us too much change. We’ll be a good example for Christ when we hand in a lost wallet.
D. When we are an example for Christ like that, people are going to take note. People are going to notice we never even thought twice about handing in that wallet. We never even give it a second thought about owning up to our own mistakes. The reason we never give it a second thought is because we have a higher standard to live up to. That higher standard is love.
V. There was a worried housewife who sprang to the telephone when it rang and listened with relief to the kindly voice in her ear. "How are you, darling?” the voice said. "What kind of a day are you having?" "Oh, mother," said the housewife, breaking into bitter tears, “I’ve had such a bad day. The baby won't eat and the washing machine broke down. I haven't had a chance to go shopping, and besides, I've just sprained my ankle and I have to hobble around. On top of that, the house is a mess and I'm supposed to have two couples to dinner tonight."
A. The mother was shocked and was at once all sympathy. "Oh, darling," she said, "sit down, relax, and close your eyes. I'll be over in half an hour. I'll do your shopping, clean up the house, and cook your dinner for you. I'll feed the baby and I'll call a repairman I know who'll be at your house to fix the washing machine promptly. Now stop crying. I'll do everything I can. In fact, I'll even call George at the office and tell him he ought to come home and help out for once."
B. "George?" said the housewife. "Who's George?" "Why, George! Your husband! … Is this 719-223-1374? "No, this is 719-223-1375." "Oh, I'm sorry. I guess I have the wrong number." There was a short pause and the housewife said, "Does this mean you're not coming over?"
C. The point being -- that is what our love should be like, spontaneous. It’s the type of love that goes into autopilot. It’s the type of love that sees a need and then goes on to help that need. It’s the type of love that sees their brother struggling with sin and wants to help them. It’s the type of love that just wants to do the right thing.
D. That’s the type of love Paul is looking for from Philemon. That spontaneous love. That love which still gives you free will and is not something forced. Paul did the right thing by sending Onesimus back to his master.
E. Onesimus did the right thing by voluntarily going back to his master. Philemon needs to do the right thing now by accepting Onesimus back, not because he has to, but because it is right. Which brings me to the next point.
F. Just because someone leaves you, no matter how much it hurts, it may be part of God’s plan. That’s the apostle Paul tells Philemon in verse 15, “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever,” In other words maybe the reason Onesimus left was because God had plans for him.
G. Maybe Onesimus didn’t think he was of much use to Philemon, so he would be better off going somewhere else. Maybe he was always restless in Philemon’s home and he just wanted to get away. Whatever happened before, he wants to stay with Philemon for good now.
VI. Sometimes God has to wake people up to get them to go where he wants them to go. For example, do you remember Jonah? God told him to go to Nineveh and peach repentance, but he didn’t want to go to Nineveh because he thought the people there weren’t good enough to be saved.
A. God supplied the first submarine, a big fish to swallow Jonah and take him to Nineveh. When he was spewed out of the fish’s mouth, he preached the word of God and the people repented and were saved from God’s anger. God can use all sorts of ways to get His will done.
B. Do you remember Joseph? His brothers were jealous because of the attention their brother was getting from their father. They were much troubled by the dreams Joseph had as well. They threw him in a pit. Then they sold him to some Ishmaelites who took him to Egypt. When his brothers went to Egypt a few years later for food because of a famine, they didn’t recognize Joseph.
C. The Bible says in Genesis 45:4-8 - “Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come close to me." When they had done so, he said, "I am your brother Joseph, the one you sold into Egypt! 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 not be 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.” [para]
D. Joseph said, “Listen this was part of God’s plan.” You see, we do not always see the big picture that God sees. We only see what looks like the obvious. Like the Bible says in Romans 11:33 “Oh, the depth of the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How unsearchable his judgments, and his paths beyond tracing out!” [para]
E. Job 36:26-29 - “How great is God--beyond our understanding! The number of his years is past finding out. "He draws up the drops of water, which distill as rain to the streams; the clouds pour down their moisture and abundant showers fall on mankind. Who can understand how he spreads out the clouds, how he thunders from his pavilion?” [para]
VII. The Bible asks the question, “Who can understand God? He is beyond our understanding.” Joseph and his brothers didn’t know it was part of God’s plan until they met him again. Joseph understood what happened, and so did the apostle Paul, who was forever learning God’s ways. He knew it was for the best that Onesimus returned to his master. He knew it was part of God’s plans.
A. Maybe that’s why Jesus told the man to “Let the dead bury their own dead, but you go and preach the kingdom of God.” Maybe that’s why He tells some people to give up their jobs and go to Bible school. Maybe that’s why you are here today, serving the Lord in Chardon.
B. Paul says to Philemon in verses 15-16, “Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back for good-- 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 man and as a brother in the Lord.” [para]
C. In the nineteenth century a preacher named Spurgeon told of a simple countryman who took his gun to the gunsmith for repairs. After examining it, the smith said: 'Your gun is in a very worn-out, ruinous, good-for-nothing condition. What sort of repairing do you want for it?' 'Well,' said the countryman, 'I don't see as I can do with anything short of a new stock, lock, and barrel. That ought to set it up again.' 'Why,' said the smith, ‘that is the same as a new gun.' 'Ah,' was the reply, 'I never thought of that. It strikes me that's just what I do want, a new stock, lock and barrel. Since that's about equal to a new gun altogether, that's what I'll have.'
D. The preacher went on; ‘That is just what God says concerning our condition, we need to be 'A new man altogether'.
E. Onesimus’ life had become a new life, the old being put away. His life was changed for the better. Paul said to Philemon, “He is not just your slave now, he’s better than that, he’s better than a slave, he’s your brother now.” Paul says, “Listen, Onesimus is dear to me but even dearer to you. You are going to see a big change in this man’s life, you are going to see a dramatic difference in his work for you.”
F. The reason Philemon is going to see a big dramatic difference is because Onesimus is in Christ now and his whole attitude, to his life and to his master, has changed. The cross of Jesus Christ is the great equalizer. It makes all men equal, because all are saved by the blood, which was shed at Calvary.
VIII. The precious blood of Jesus Christ was shed for all. Galatians 3:28 says, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.”
A. Philemon and Onesimus know this, -- when you become a Christian you need to learn a new way of life. You need to learn a whole different attitude towards others. As Philippians 2:5 tells us, “Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus.”
B. Onesimus had to learn another new attitude too, the kind of attitude that Paul talks about in Ephesians 6:5-8 - “Servants, be obedient to those who are your masters according to the flesh, with fear and trembling, in sincerity of heart, as to Christ; not with eyeservice, as men-pleasers, but as servants of Christ, doing the will of God from the heart, with good will doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men, knowing that whatever good anyone does, he will receive the same from the Lord, whether he is a slave or free.”
C. Onesimus wasn’t going to serve Philemon like he used to. Oh no! He was going to obey Philemon with respect and fear. He was going to serve him with a sincere heart just like he would Christ. He wasn’t going to sneak outside now and then for a break when Philemon wasn’t watching.
D. The reason he was going to everything this way is because he is not working for Philemon any more, he’s working for Jesus. The reward he gets from Jesus will far out-weigh anything he will get from Philemon. There’s a lesson here for us all.
IX. A preacher in the UK told the story of a young man in the stone works who was suddenly told to do a piece of carving. The man on the job had been taken ill, and the task had to be finished on time. The young man did not know what the stone was for, but he went at the work in his accustomed painstaking way. He chiseled out a stem here, a leaf there, and flowers above. The master workman approved the job, and the stone left the works.
A. Some months passed. Then one day the young man was walking through a great new building in that the city that had just been completed. He came to the most prominent pillar, a handsome column crowned with a piece of lily work. "Why," he exclaimed, "that's my bit of work!" And taking off his cap, he gazed at it and said reverently, "Thank God, I did that job well!" The preacher overhead the young man's remark, and saw the light in his eyes. Asking about it the young man told him the story. The preacher said “I knew, if I had never known before, that work is a holy thing. Right wages and just treatment for workmen are proper adjuncts, but above and beyond them your bit of work is holy to you”.
B. That reminds me of Colossians 3:17 – “… whatever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” In that one verse the apostle includes what we say and how we act. Our relationship with Christ is not about following a set of rules, it is about our attitude of always doing our best for Christ.
C. You can really enjoy your work even when the boss is not the best. The reason you can enjoy your work is because you are working for the Lord. You don’t want to take days off work, pretending you are ill. You don’t want to take a quick break, when your boss is out. You will want to work to the best of your ability because you are working for the Lord.
D. You know Christians should stand out a mile in a work place. Because Christians are the ones that should always be honest. Christians are the ones who should be trusted to do a job well, even when the boss is out of town.
E. That is the new Onesimus, who is standing at his master’s door saying, “Whatever you say, I will do, I won’t try and run away again, I’m here to serve you wholeheartedly, as though I was serving our Lord and savior Jesus himself.”
F. I don’t want us to think for a moment that Philemon does not have something here too. He also has some attitudes to remember, Paul says in Ephesians 6:9 - “And you, masters, do the same things to them, giving up threatening, knowing that your own Master also is in heaven, and there is no partiality with Him.” Colossians 4:1 - says, “Masters, give your servants what is just and fair, knowing that you also have a Master in heaven.”
G. Both of those passages contain an admonishment that all masters, bosses or people who have others working under them must never forget. That is this, “You too have a master.” and his name is Jesus Christ. Philemon needed to remember this attitude. The attitude that tells Philemon “God has no favorites”. The attitude that says “he has to provide all his servants with what is right and fair”.
X. You see that’s what Jesus does for a person. He helps them change their attitudes, when they want their attitudes to be changed. He helps them change their life styles, if they want their lifestyles to be changed. The reason people want to change is because it all comes back to one common denominator. God!
A. If you’re not a Christian this morning then Jesus can do that for you too. Because the Bible says in Romans 5:8 - “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” Now just think about that verse for a minute. “While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”
1. Is God saying that because I am a sinner, Christ died for me? Yes! He’s saying that but he’s saying more than that!
2. Is God saying that Christ died because of my sin? Yes! He’s saying that but he’s saying even more than that! What is he saying then?
3. He is saying that even when we were going about our daily lives without even a thought about God, Christ Jesus died for us.
4. He is saying that even before I thought about God, Jesus Christ died for me.
B. Even when you didn’t hand in that wallet you found in the street, Jesus died for you. He’s saying even when a bunch of sinners like us, didn’t care about God, Jesus Christ died for us anyway. Whether we wanted him to or not. That’s what he’s saying.

CONCLUSION:
If you’re not a Christian today you may be wondering why these people around you come here every week to worship God. The simple answer is Jesus Christ died for them. When you begin to understand what that means, you will be able to understand why the lives of many Christians in the world have changed so dramatically.

Paul was a changed man after obeying the gospel, and obeying his new master he was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. Onesimus was a changed man and wanted to do what was right after he obeyed the gospel and obeyed his new master and was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. Philemon was a changed man and he too obeyed the gospel and his new master, when he was baptized for the forgiveness of his sins. If you are not a Christian today, then you too, can be a changed person by obeying the gospel and being baptized for the forgiveness of your sins.

Reference Sermon
Mike Glover