Ephesians Lesson 38 of 39 part 4

Philemon 1:8-10

"Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient, Yet for love’s sake I rather beseech thee being such an one as Paul the aged, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son (in the faith) Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:"

In other words, because of Paul’s witnessing while in prison, he was somehow able to get this Gospel across to Onesimus. He was enabled by God to persuade Onesimus of the Truth, to convince him, this is to say cause him to have a change of heart. To receive the Light of Life in a dark and often a dingy place of resentment and bitterness which resides within mans heart. The same kind of thing we see in the hearts of individuals caught by police, in programs of crime and violence and law enforcement. This is also the state of the worlds church, it is the villein that these programs portray because of the depravity into which it now exists. We know this because of what the Lord Jesus told us would be known of them, they resist His Spirit within those who have become His disciples. When He said that they (the Israelite Priest-hood and those bond by Religion) hated Him and would also hate His disciples because they bear His Truth and Life of Light. The Light which exposes error and will destroy death. 

Philemon 1:11

"Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:"

Paul tells Philemon that this man in the past was unprofitable. Why? Because he had fled his place of service, and he had also no doubt stolen something from Philemon. But now since he has become a believer, Onesimus has become profitable to Paul as well as Philemon. That is what God's Salvation does for people. But as stated, we all must first acquire His Redemption, before we can pass through the corral gate into His Salvation, wherein we are become, in a process of perfection unto the mature man in and through Christ. For it is herein that we learn more and deeper things of Christ, which those who have received the right to become a son, only see as throw a veil. The veil being the man of flesh, mans own imaginations, the voice of the flesh, the darkness of evil, and the dwelling place of Satan-child. This child is increased in strength through Religion as he learns how to effectively resist the strong man within.

Philemon 1:12-18

"Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels (heart or innermost being). 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 (or agreement) would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly. 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? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee, (and we’re pretty sure he did) or oweth thee ought,(for anything he might have stolen, Paul says,) put that on mine account;"

So these two people, slave master and his slave, are brought back together in the bonds of love because of the intercessory work of the Apostle Paul, who cooperated and was in agreement with the work of God by the Holy Spirit. Coming back to Ephesians chapter 6. We see that even though we are no longer under the economy of slavery (to the Law) today out in the work place of the world we have the masters and the hireling. And it is about the same set of circumstances today as it was then. A believer who is a owner and the boss over people should constantly reflect his Christianity. He should reflect his love received from the Lord as well as his love for the people, for both are to operate as one, to those who are under him. And for the most part we do not find this happening. Ether in the church or out of it....at times they seem to be worlds apart and this is not to be. This is the underling, hidden theme of Philemon.

Ephesians 6:8

"Knowing that whatsoever good thing any man doeth, the same shall he receive of the Lord, whether he be bond or free."

And again the Scripture says over and over that God is no respecter of persons. It does not impress God if a believing man is over a thousand people any more than a servant who is a believer, because in Christ we have that unity, of oneness. We are all servants of Christ, as He is of the world. To aid us in the understanding who the Lord is we will look at John's account of the garden tomb with Mary in chapter 20.

RABBONI—MY MASTER
John 20:11-16

"But Mary stood without at the tomb weeping. Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto Him, Rabboni, which is to say, Master."

We are not to hold to the old things that have passed away but that which is NEW! Mary looked for Jesus in the way He HAD been, just like people look for Him where He has been, not Where and Who He is NOW!

2Corinthians 5:17

"Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new."
Galatians 6:15

"For in Christ Jesus neither circumcision availeth any thing, nor uncircumcision, but a new creature."
People go back to look for Him in a stable full of animals. He is no longer there, nor is He still a baby!! He is not walking around on the earth giving His message, He already gave it!! He is not on the cross dead anymore and, as Mary saw and testified, HE ISN'T IN THE GRAVE!! He is sitting at the Right Hand of the Throne of Grace, waiting for us to give up your old life through death, to take on His New Life and allow Him to be MASTER of that New Life!!
Nor is He still in the Old Testament Prophecy! He is come and gone, so we can stop looking for Him there. That was a foretelling of His coming.
He is not in the rites, rituals and ordinances of Judaism that most churches attempt to immolate, because in them all we do is sacrifice Him over and over and over instead of sacrificing your life of "SELF" for Him!!
You want to celebrate His Life? Then stop playing the harlot as Israel did and is still doing!!! Let Him be MASTER!!!