I'm looking for someone here
today. I've got a message for someone
in particular, but I really don't know who it
is. But God knows. All I know is this. that I have
a message for a sinner. God's word has nothing for good
people but condemnation. Jesus Christ had only harsh,
condemning words for the self-righteous religious people of his day on
this earth. But he had much to say to the
lowlife and outcasts of society. Hopefully, like Christ, I have
nothing for the gospel-hardened person this morning, the one
who hears the gospel message over and over, gospel after gospel
after gospel, and is never touched, never shedding a tear, but only
endures for a time, perhaps even falls asleep. I have nothing
for that person this morning. But God grant for his glory that
there will be at least one man or one woman or one boy or one
girl who hears this message in their heart this morning. So turn back to the book of Philemon
with me. A little book, but oh, so great
salvation in it. Perhaps God will take this little
book in my still small voice, I've been told that, Perhaps God will take this and give somebody the words of life
this morning. Now, the Apostle Paul was in
prison in Rome when he wrote this letter. He's writing this
letter to an old friend named Philemon. He's writing this letter. for the sake of a young slave
that was formerly in the service of Philemon. But
this young slave had run away. There are three principal characters
in this story. There is Paul, there is Philemon,
and Onesimus, Onesimus being the name of the young slave.
Now Philemon, here is a brief background of the story here.
Philemon was apparently a pretty well-off landowner. You had to
be well-to-do in these days in order to have servants. He was
a pretty well-off landowner, and he lived in the town of Colossae.
Yet he was a dearly beloved and fellow laborer with Paul in the
gospel. That's what Paul said there in
verse 1, to Philemon, our dearly beloved In other words, he was
a believer, Philemon was. He was a fine man, a good man,
a kind man, a compassionate man, as are all of God's Christ's
true disciples. And the Apostle Paul is the one
who is writing this letter to this man, Philemon. He was an
old man by this time. He is probably the one, based
upon this letter, Paul says in verse 19, you owe me even your
own self, because perhaps Philemon had heard the gospel from Paul
himself and was saved under Paul's ministry. Now Paul is in prison,
though, and he is writing to his close friend. They had become
fast friends, he and Philemon. He is writing to Philemon from
jail. And then there is this young
man named Onesimus. He is a young man, a runaway,
formerly a servant, a slave to this Philemon. And for some time he was probably
a vagabond in the city of Rome. This is where Paul was and this
is where the Lord sent Onesimus. probably roamed about the streets
for a while, having his fill of whatever, and now he sits under Paul's
ministry after the Lord had saved this young man. He's sitting
hearing the Apostle Paul preach. And perhaps this is how the story
went. Onesimus at one time lived in
the service of Philemon. The Lord saved Philemon, and
he was probably a very good master, probably a very kind and gracious
man. He was a well-off man, so he
had everything to offer to anyone that was under his care. Onesimus,
this young man who was under his service, probably had everything
he needed while with Philemon. And I'm sure Philemon didn't
hesitate to give the young man, or whoever was under his roof,
everything that he needed. Everything. He was a kind man.
He was a believer. A dearly beloved fellow laborer,
Paul calls him. And this young man, Onesimus,
was his servant. But after a while, this young
man, although he had everything he needed, he grew tired of being
in what he thought was bondage. the service of this man. He thought
his orders and his command, his expectations were too great,
too high, too hard, his rule too harsh. He began to despise
Philemon, his master, and everything about him, his friends, everyone. Everything Philemon liked, this
boy despised after a while. So at first opportunity, he ran
away. And he probably stole some money
for his journey. It says there in verse 18 that
Paul wrote to Philemon that if Onesimus owes you anything, I'll
pay it back. So he left Colossae, intending
to get as far away from Philemon as he could, far from this cruel
master of his that he thought was cruel. And he ended up in
Rome. Now, Rome is thousands of miles
away. So he went to great lengths to
escape, or to go away. And he probably went by the way
of Ephesus. Ephesus was a port city, and
you had to, pretty much had to go to Ephesus to cross the ocean
to Rome, to Italy. But he may have lived in Ephesus
a while, and you know there was a church there. The apostle himself
preached in Ephesus. There was a church there, and
this boy may have tarried there a little while, but he certainly
didn't go to church there. Well, when he got to Rome, the
big city lights, you know, of Rome, the center of the world
at that time, of society, everything, he had everything to offer to
the society, to the senses. The big city lights, he thought
he was going to have it made now. He was going to live it
up, live it up. He was going to go out and make
himself a name and be his own man. But much like it is always, he
ended up in the back alleys, ended up stealing, and probably
all sorts of things. You know, there were drinking
and drugs back then, just like there are now. He probably took
part in those sorts of things, along with all the rest of the
vagabonds running around Rome at the time. It appears to be a hopeless case,
doesn't it, this young man? Surely nothing but trouble is
going to come to this young man. Surely. That's generally the
way it is. You die like you live. That's
generally the way it is. But not this one. Not this young
man. He's one of God's chosen vessels
of mercy. God had his eye on this boy from
the very beginning. The eternal love that passes
by kings and mighty, wise men after the flesh had its eye on
this young vagabond. And one day the story may have
gone like this. One day, one Sunday morning, as believers were prone to meet
together then. as they are now, an old woman,
a poor little woman who lived in the back streets, was headed
down to the jailhouse to hear the preacher. On her way to hear the Apostle
Paul, she spotted this young man. She spotted him laying there
in the alley, and she kind of went over to
him and aroused him. She felt sorry for him and said, What
are you doing here? Wake up. And he aroused himself
and she said, what's your name? And he looked up and Onesimus,
ma'am. And she she heard that and she
thought this boy is from a good background. He's not like the
rest of them. He apparently has had some good
upbringing. He's polite. Nevertheless, he's
in this bond of iniquity. She said, young man, I'm going
down to the jail to listen to a preacher named Paul, the apostle. Why don't you come with me? And
if you come with me, we'll come home afterward and I'll feed
you some breakfast or something. And the young man heard that
name, Paul. He'd heard that name before. He'd probably heard him
preach before at Colossae, maybe at Ephesus. I don't know. Maybe
snuck in there one time or two. But he heard that name. He knew
that man. That was Philemon, his master's friend. He knew
him. But the thought of going to hear preaching on Sunday morning,
he recoiled at the idea, and he said, No, man, no thank you.
My buddies are coming by, and we're going to go run around
Rome, make an excuse, you know. Well, she went on. But something
pricked this boy's heart. And he went on down after and
kind of snuck in the back way to hear this man. You know, something
arrested his attention. Something arrested some thoughts
of home. Something struck a chord in his
heart, so he snuck down in the back way to that jailhouse, and
he went in. He went in, and he heard the
Apostle Paul. He'd probably heard him preach
before back at home, probably several times. He was probably
forced to do so, Philemon being a faithful Master, and concerned
for the eternal welfare of those that he loved, his children and
his servants, concerned about their welfare, made certain that
they were under the sound of the gospel. That's the only thing
that was going to save their souls. He knew if they were under
the sound of the gospel, there's no hope. But according to the
mandate given by Paul the Apostle through God's word, he made sure
that those under his care were under the sound of the gospel.
And Onesimus was one of them. And he heard this Apostle Paul
preach many times, many times. Well, he went in this back jail,
back door of the jailhouse, poor little cell. And there was a
group of rag-tag nobodies, you know, rag-tag people. And there the Apostle Paul was,
a simple-looking man. People say he was a short, bald-headed
man. There wasn't much appealing about
him. He didn't have charisma. He had an eye problem, most say,
and there just wasn't much to look at, just not a very dynamic
and forceful personality. But anyway, these people were
gathered around to hear this apostle. And that boy listened
while that apostle preached the gospel. And he preached the same
thing that he preached time and time again. He preached to the
majesty of God. He preached to the mercy and
the love and grace of God in sending his Son down here to
take the place of guilty, condemned, dying, unworthy sinners, and
giving them life and imputing his righteousness to them, and
taking their place and burying their sins, and then by doing
so setting them free from sin while he died under the wrath
of God. It was a message Onesimus had
heard many times before. He had heard it many times before
without effect. But this day, this day, he heard
it in his heart, and it broke his proud, rebellious little
heart. He saw himself in all his sin and his misery. He saw
himself on the road to hell itself. And he silently, back there in
the back, he silently begged God to have mercy on him. Lord,
save me, or I perish. Then, whether then or later,
the love of God, the light of the gospel, the words of life
flooded his dark little heart, and his mind, and joy unspeakable,
and the peace that only God can give, and the life-changing words
that only God can give filled that young man's heart. and it
lifted his burden, changed his mind, gave him repentance. His
mind was changed, his heart was changed, the face was even changed,
his countenance was changed. He was a new Old Messenger. The old man died right then and
there. And in that little while later, where once he stayed out all
night in revelry, He stayed up listening to the gospel. Where once he sought out the
company of the wildest sorts of men, he then sought out the
company of God's people. He said, they're going to meet
down there again. I'm going to be there. The distinguishing, far-reaching,
never-ceasing, long-searching grace of God came down to this
young boy that leaves the ninety and nine in the wilderness and
goes after the one. It came after this boy. Fetched
him like old fibbers here. And God in mercy, as he always
does, overruled this young boy's sinful ways. That way that had
him headed into the pit and certain destruction, overruled that and
brought it about for his divine purpose, saving purpose. And
I say to you parents, that sometimes the worst thing
that can happen to your children ends up being the best thing
I know from experience. Most of the time, though, it
doesn't. I had three bosom buddies that
I grew up with, three friends, my dearest of friends. Two of
them are now in prison, and one of them is dead, stabbed to death
in a fight. Most of the time, that's what
happens. You die like you live. But God... Look down here at verse 10. I want you to notice how this
letter how this is all between the Apostle Paul and Philemon.
The Apostle writes this letter to Philemon, and it's all between Paul and Philemon. The boy didn't have anything
to do with it. Look at verse 10. He writes this letter and
says, he says, I beseech thee, Philemon, for my son Onesimus,
whom I have forgotten in the bonds." Now, the Apostle Paul
was an important man by this time. He was an old man, and
he'd been in the ministry a while now, and the Lord had used him
greatly, and he was still in his service, even though in prison.
He was writing epistles and so forth. Much work to be done,
even while in prison. He had a lot to do. But he struck
up a friendship, God struck up a friendship, with this young
boy, this young runaway. He didn't have time for this
young man. He didn't have a need for this young man, that's certain.
He probably had better things to do, more important people
to deal with, than this young runaway. But nevertheless, he
wrote this letter to Philemon on behalf of this young man.
He said here in verse 11, he says, Philemon, Onesimus in time
past was to thee unprofitable, but now he's profitable to thee
and to me. Onesimus was worthless, a worthless
servant. He probably laid down on a job
after a while in rebellion, and after a while he left him. A worthless young man, worthless
to everybody around him, worthless to himself. He was his own worst
enemy. Who needs him? Who needs him? What good is he? He is not even
any good to himself. Oh, the mercy and grace of God. And this is a picture of Christ
beseeching the Father for us, for sinners. those that he's
begotten in his bonds because of hanging on that cross. He begot a people. He begat a
people. These people who were in time
past unprofitable, useless, worthless worms, worthless to everybody,
certainly to God. What's God need with us? And
worthless to ourselves. We're dragging ourselves down
into the pit by nature. But Christ did for us what we
couldn't do for ourselves. And he beseeched the Father on
our behalf. And here the Apostle Paul is
reconciling Onesimus to Philemon. And he's sending him back home
where he belongs. He's sending Onesimus back home
to Philemon where he belongs. Look at verse 12. He says, I'm
sending him back again. Thou therefore receive him. Him
that is mine own bowels, the apple of my eye right now. I've
got him in my heart. Whom I would have retained with
me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the
bonds of the gospel. But I wouldn't do anything without
your permission. Without your mind would I do nothing. That
thy benefit, that what you do, that what you reap from this
young man should not be, as it were, of necessity, but willingly. Thylemon owed the Apostle Paul
a great deal. Paul had faithfully, sacrificially
served him and preached the gospel to him for a long time. And Philemon
probably felt a special affection to the Apostle Paul, since it
was Paul that God used to give him the gospel. He felt a real
special affection for him. But Paul wanted Philemon to receive
Onesimus, not for him, Not out of constraint, not because
it was the thing to do, but for love to Onesimus. He wanted him to love Onesimus
as he did. And he further appeals to him
here in verse 15. He says, perhaps he therefore
departed for a season that you should receive him forever. Surely, Brother Philemon, he
says, the Lord in his all-wise providence has brought all this
about for the salvation of this young man's soul. Can't you rejoice
in that? Surely he left a while, but when he comes back, he's
going to be there to stay. Would you have it that way? Would
you let him go for a while for him to come back to stay? Is
it worth that? And God the Father loves the
Lord Jesus Christ. He has a special affection for
his Son, doesn't he? He loves Christ because Christ
laid down his life for his people because of that great sacrifice
that the Son made for those people. The Father really owes it to
Christ to save these people because of that sacrifice. But he doesn't
do it out of necessity. He does it for love. It was the
love of God that sent Christ in the first place, you see.
It was the love of God that sent Christ down to save those wretched
people that he didn't need. And God, in his all-wise purpose,
allows his people to sink very low in order to lift them very
high. He lifts up the beggar out of
the downhill to exalt him to be seated with Francis. And though
that black sheep wandered off, the good shepherd finds it, calls
it, picks it up, takes it home to stay. Christ said, I give
unto them eternal life, and they'll never perish now. Neither shall
any man, his rowdy buddies ain't going to take him away this time.
Neither shall any man pluck him out of my hand. The father which
has hit me is greater than all men. Now look at verse 16. He says, now receive Philemon,
the Apostle Paul says, receive him not as a servant, but above
a servant, a brother, beloved, especially to me. But how much
more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. You've spent
a lot more time with him. You've put a lot more tears in
him, a lot more prayers over this boy than I have. Oh, you
need to receive him now. And he says here in verse 17,
he says, well, verse 16, he says, How much more unto thee, both
in the flesh and in the Lord? But if thou count me therefore
a partner, receive him as myself. If you consider me your equal,
then receive this young man as if it were me coming to you.
What does the Scripture say? It says, God has made us accepted
where? In the Beloved. Christ said,
receive these people as it were me, as though they were as righteous
as me, and indeed they are. I put my righteousness on them.
I covered their sins in mine own blood. And look at verse
18, if he's wronged you, if he owes you anything, put it on
my account. I'll pay it. Whatever he owes
you, Philemon, and he owes you a lot, I know he does, went all
his life under your care and didn't give so much as a thanks,
only to run away. He owes you a lot. I know that. But you put it on
my account. I'll pay it. I know it needs
to be paid. I know you deserve thanks. You
put it on my account. I'll pay it." The psalm says,
Jesus paid it all. All the debt I owe. Sin had left
a crimson stain. but he washed it white as snow. We owe God our souls. The soul that sinneth, it must
surely die. We owe our very eternal souls
condemnation. The wages of sin is death. We've got to die. But Christ
came down here and paid the debt for us, paid the debt that we
owe God. He lived perfectly according
to God's law and satisfied God's justice, and then He satisfied
God's wrath against us by taking that punishment that we deserve.
And He gave us perfection. And now the Father accepts us
in the Beloved. Now look at verse 19. Paul says,
Now I have written this with my own hand, to be sure it's
me. I'll be assured of it. I'll repay
it. And Christ, in a covenant before the foundation of the
world, agreed to become our surety. He agreed to come and become
our surety to pay back to God everything we owe. Verse 20. Yea, brother, let me have joy
of thee in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord.
Having confidence in your obedience, I wrote unto you, you're the
sure one. And I know that thou wilt also
do much more than I tell you, than I ask of you. Much more. Oh, my. He says, I know you,
Philemon, you're merciful. You're delighted to do good.
I know you'll receive this boy back with open arms, and you'll
probably do a whole lot more for him than that. You'll probably,
like that prodigal son's father, make him a son and sit him at
your table. He doesn't deserve it. And God
Almighty delights to show mercy. He delights to show mercy. But
not only that, He's gracious. He gives the gift of His grace
of His Son freely. He doesn't require a man to pay
back his sins, all that he's done. He doesn't require that
at all. He says, No, just come on up and I'll give it to you.
Free, abundant grace. I remember after a young man, a young runaway
like this, this is my story. I remember coming back home after
a while. Something arrested me and brought
me back home to sit under the gospel. And I remember coming
back to church after being away in a far country. And I came back, as the Lord
started dealing with me, and I came back in shame, because
those people, my parents especially, and those people of that church
had been nothing but good to me, kind to me. And I came back in shame, and
I fully expected to be ridiculed and snubbed and ignored. So I
had it coming. I had it coming. It's what I
deserve. But I was received with open
arms. I was received as if nothing
ever happened. Just like nothing ever happened.
And that's the way God Almighty receives us. He doesn't bring
it back to mind. He says, thy sins and thy iniquity
I'll remember no more. Forget the things that are past.
Forget them. Christ that you're holding you're
right get those things just drop it I have. This much. You out there. Then you like you are you're
going to. That come to Christ. Lessons. That come to Christ. Staying with me now dismisses
in prayer. Our heavenly father. This book
is the Word of Life. It's the power of God Almighty. It's the way He speaks. It's
the way you speak. We beg you, we beseech you, in
the name of Christ, on behalf of sinners, that you bring them to yourself.
Bring us more closely. We've wandered. It's the power
of God, many, many promises in your Word concerning sinners.
I pray that you might apply these promises to the heart of some
sinner this morning, if not in here, then somewhere by tape
or whatever. For Christ's honor, for his glory,
for the glory of God Almighty, we pray these things. Amen. You're dismissed. Okay.