1 00:00:01,120 --> 00:00:03,840 Well, hey, happy Friends Day. So glad you're here. 2 00:00:04,000 --> 00:00:06,720 Are you glad you're here? All right, we'll tell someone 3 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:07,800 you're glad you're here. Come on. 4 00:00:07,800 --> 00:00:10,600 It's a good day. You're in the right place today. 5 00:00:12,240 --> 00:00:16,360 Hey, whether you are a first time guest, I want you to know 6 00:00:16,360 --> 00:00:19,200 that you are welcome here and you are a friend. 7 00:00:19,400 --> 00:00:22,280 Or whether you've been coming to church here for 60 years. 8 00:00:22,680 --> 00:00:23,960 Thank you for coming to Friends Day. 9 00:00:23,960 --> 00:00:26,040 You're still our friend. We love you. 10 00:00:26,040 --> 00:00:27,640 It's a great opportunity to be together. 11 00:00:27,640 --> 00:00:31,280 And I, I say this a lot, but I want to say it again, that that 12 00:00:31,280 --> 00:00:33,800 this is one of the best places you could possibly be this 13 00:00:33,800 --> 00:00:35,480 morning. Not because we're better than 14 00:00:35,480 --> 00:00:38,200 all the other churches or anything, but because the God 15 00:00:38,200 --> 00:00:42,920 that created everything is here and loves you and wants to draw 16 00:00:42,920 --> 00:00:44,920 you to him today. And so praise Lord, we get to be 17 00:00:44,920 --> 00:00:46,280 here. As I was thinking about Friends 18 00:00:46,280 --> 00:00:50,400 Day, we're we're starting a new series in the Letter of 19 00:00:50,400 --> 00:00:53,640 Philemon. It is a letter that is 1 chapter 20 00:00:53,640 --> 00:00:55,800 long. It's 25 verses and we're going 21 00:00:55,800 --> 00:00:57,720 to spend 4 weeks in those 25 verses. 22 00:00:57,720 --> 00:01:00,360 The biggest challenge for me is not preaching the entire thing 23 00:01:00,640 --> 00:01:04,360 every single week, but but it is worthy of being preached and, 24 00:01:04,360 --> 00:01:07,000 and so today we're going to focus on a little part of it. 25 00:01:07,000 --> 00:01:09,160 But as I was thinking about Friends Day and I was thinking 26 00:01:09,160 --> 00:01:13,000 about this message, 2 characters came to my mind. 27 00:01:13,840 --> 00:01:19,000 Two really good characters from a movie that came out a long 28 00:01:19,000 --> 00:01:21,720 time ago, I think maybe 30 ish years ago. 29 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:27,120 And and that movie was The Lion King and the characters are 30 00:01:27,120 --> 00:01:29,400 Timon and Pumbaa. How many, you know, Timon and 31 00:01:29,400 --> 00:01:31,920 Pumbaa, that kind of some of the fun characters. 32 00:01:31,920 --> 00:01:34,760 Now, I'm guessing most of us have have seen that movie. 33 00:01:34,760 --> 00:01:38,120 And the reason they came to my mind is #1 it's Friends Day. 34 00:01:38,120 --> 00:01:41,840 But, but we're talking about the body of Christ today. 35 00:01:41,840 --> 00:01:45,720 And, and Timon and Pumbaa were kind of outsiders. 36 00:01:46,360 --> 00:01:49,880 They, they found themselves outside of, you know, the main 37 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:52,520 society, the main group of animals and, and they stayed to 38 00:01:52,520 --> 00:01:55,000 themselves and they felt like outcasts and they were 39 00:01:55,280 --> 00:01:58,040 disconnected. And I want to say this on 40 00:01:58,040 --> 00:02:01,960 friends Day, maybe some of you feel that like in your heart, 41 00:02:01,960 --> 00:02:04,680 maybe you feel like that's you. Maybe you feel like you're not 42 00:02:04,680 --> 00:02:06,520 connected. You don't have a family, you 43 00:02:06,520 --> 00:02:08,199 don't have a place that you belong. 44 00:02:08,639 --> 00:02:11,920 I got good news. You're in the right place today 45 00:02:12,800 --> 00:02:17,000 and you belong here. You belong in God's family. 46 00:02:17,560 --> 00:02:20,560 And so today we're going to be looking at Philemon. 47 00:02:20,560 --> 00:02:21,880 I'm I'm going to do something crazy. 48 00:02:21,880 --> 00:02:24,600 I'm just going to read the entire chapter every week of 49 00:02:24,600 --> 00:02:27,160 this series. So get ready to stand for just a 50 00:02:27,160 --> 00:02:31,880 few more, you know, minutes here staying with me, and we'll read 51 00:02:31,880 --> 00:02:33,880 Philemon. So this is Paul's letter to 52 00:02:33,880 --> 00:02:36,760 Philemon. And listen, if you're new here, 53 00:02:36,760 --> 00:02:39,520 we stand just because we believe this is God's word. 54 00:02:39,520 --> 00:02:41,800 It's written by a bunch of different people a long time 55 00:02:41,800 --> 00:02:45,120 ago, but we believe that God inspired it and directed it. 56 00:02:45,320 --> 00:02:48,520 And as much as God inspired and directed it, that God wants to 57 00:02:48,520 --> 00:02:52,960 speak to us today through it. And so my prayer is that God 58 00:02:52,960 --> 00:02:54,720 will speak to us. Here it is. 59 00:02:54,720 --> 00:02:59,280 We're going to read the whole chapter on Philemon starting 60 00:02:59,280 --> 00:03:02,920 here at first. One, Paul, a prisoner of Christ 61 00:03:02,920 --> 00:03:07,200 Jesus, and Timothy, our brother. To Philemon, our dear friend and 62 00:03:07,200 --> 00:03:10,280 fellow worker. Also to Afia, our sister and 63 00:03:10,280 --> 00:03:14,120 Archipus our fellow soldier, and to the church that meets in your 64 00:03:14,120 --> 00:03:17,360 home. Grace and peace to you from God 65 00:03:17,360 --> 00:03:19,520 our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 66 00:03:20,240 --> 00:03:23,520 I always thank God when I as I remember you in my prayers 67 00:03:23,960 --> 00:03:27,440 because I hear about your love for all His holy people and your 68 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:32,000 faith in the Lord Jesus. I pray that your partnership 69 00:03:32,080 --> 00:03:36,280 with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your 70 00:03:36,280 --> 00:03:40,040 understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of 71 00:03:40,040 --> 00:03:43,360 Christ. Your love has given me great joy 72 00:03:43,360 --> 00:03:46,360 and encouragement, because you, brother, have refreshed the 73 00:03:46,360 --> 00:03:50,840 hearts of the Lord's people. Therefore, although in Christ I 74 00:03:50,840 --> 00:03:54,160 could be bold and I could order you to do what you ought to do, 75 00:03:54,800 --> 00:03:58,480 yet I prefer to appeal to you on the basis of love. 76 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:03,400 It is as none other than Paul, an old man, and now as also a 77 00:04:03,400 --> 00:04:07,560 prisoner in Christ Jesus, that I appeal to you for my son 78 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:11,760 Onissimus, who became my son while I was in chains. 79 00:04:12,240 --> 00:04:17,440 Formerly he was, Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has 80 00:04:17,440 --> 00:04:19,519 become useful both to you and to me. 81 00:04:19,519 --> 00:04:23,920 I am sending him, who is my very heart back to you. 82 00:04:24,680 --> 00:04:27,520 I would have liked to have to keep him with me so that he 83 00:04:27,520 --> 00:04:30,160 could take your place in helping me while I'm in change for the 84 00:04:30,160 --> 00:04:32,120 gospel. But I did not want to do 85 00:04:32,120 --> 00:04:36,560 anything without your consent, so that any favor you do would 86 00:04:37,000 --> 00:04:40,680 you do would not seem forced, but would be voluntary. 87 00:04:41,400 --> 00:04:44,960 Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little 88 00:04:44,960 --> 00:04:49,520 while was that he might, that you might have him back forever, 89 00:04:49,840 --> 00:04:54,400 no longer as a slave, but better than as a slave, as a dear 90 00:04:54,400 --> 00:04:56,960 brother. He is my he is very dear to me, 91 00:04:56,960 --> 00:04:59,840 but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in 92 00:04:59,840 --> 00:05:04,840 the Lord. So if you consider me a partner, 93 00:05:05,400 --> 00:05:07,960 welcome him as you would welcome me. 94 00:05:08,440 --> 00:05:12,280 If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, then charge 95 00:05:12,280 --> 00:05:16,320 it to me. I, Paul, am writing this with my 96 00:05:16,320 --> 00:05:18,200 own hand. I will pay it back. 97 00:05:18,560 --> 00:05:21,080 Not to mention that you owe me your very self. 98 00:05:21,080 --> 00:05:23,440 That's a great line there. Not to mention you owe me. 99 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:27,960 I do wish brother, that I may have some benefit from you and 100 00:05:27,960 --> 00:05:30,800 the Lord. Refresh my heart in Christ. 101 00:05:31,360 --> 00:05:35,360 Confident of your obedience, I write to you knowing that you 102 00:05:35,360 --> 00:05:40,280 will do even more than I ask. And then one more thing, prepare 103 00:05:40,280 --> 00:05:43,560 a guest room for me, because I hope to be restored to you in 104 00:05:43,560 --> 00:05:47,480 answer to your prayers. Epaphras, my feather, my fellow 105 00:05:47,480 --> 00:05:50,680 prisoner in Christ Jesus sends you greetings, and so do Mark, 106 00:05:51,320 --> 00:05:55,600 Aristarchus, Dimas, and Luke, my fellow workers, the grace of the 107 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:58,120 Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. 108 00:05:58,360 --> 00:06:01,080 You can have a seat. All right, I know that was long 109 00:06:01,080 --> 00:06:03,320 and we're going to get through it over the next 4 weeks. 110 00:06:03,320 --> 00:06:04,480 We're going to work through that whole thing. 111 00:06:04,480 --> 00:06:08,000 I just felt like I'd rather not pick and choose little parts of 112 00:06:08,000 --> 00:06:09,160 it. I want to read the whole thing 113 00:06:09,160 --> 00:06:11,000 every week just so you get the full context. 114 00:06:11,400 --> 00:06:13,080 But, but let me tell you what's happening here. 115 00:06:14,280 --> 00:06:16,360 Paul is writing this to Philemon. 116 00:06:16,360 --> 00:06:20,920 Philemon was a member of the church in Colossi and and 117 00:06:20,920 --> 00:06:23,200 Philemon was probably a pretty wealthy man. 118 00:06:23,200 --> 00:06:26,880 He was a member of the church and Paul's writing him back from 119 00:06:26,880 --> 00:06:29,520 prison, and Paul has made a new friend. 120 00:06:29,520 --> 00:06:33,200 Now that new friend is Onissimus, who used to be a 121 00:06:33,200 --> 00:06:39,840 slave of Philemon. Now this is a interesting 122 00:06:39,840 --> 00:06:44,520 situation because Onissimus, who was a slave of Philemon, did 123 00:06:44,520 --> 00:06:49,240 something wrong. He in some way cheated or stole 124 00:06:49,240 --> 00:06:51,640 from Philemon. Most people think he stole from 125 00:06:51,640 --> 00:06:56,320 him, and then he ran away and escaped and went off other 126 00:06:56,320 --> 00:06:58,920 places. But at some point Paul, Paul and 127 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:03,160 Onissimus ended up in prison together, and Onissimus had a 128 00:07:03,160 --> 00:07:06,760 change of heart and became a follower of Christ. 129 00:07:07,320 --> 00:07:10,600 And so now Paul is riding back to Philemon. 130 00:07:10,600 --> 00:07:13,280 Now imagine this. We've got some pretty big hurt 131 00:07:13,280 --> 00:07:18,400 here, pretty big stuff. Paul is writing back and trying 132 00:07:18,400 --> 00:07:23,800 to bring reconciliation and trying to bring unity between 133 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:27,840 Philemon and Onissimus and all the people, the church. 134 00:07:28,120 --> 00:07:29,560 That's the context for this letter. 135 00:07:29,560 --> 00:07:31,480 It's pretty big stuff. Now listen, today we're not 136 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:33,840 going to get real deep into the reconciliation part. 137 00:07:34,040 --> 00:07:36,600 Today. I want to focus on two things. 138 00:07:36,600 --> 00:07:40,800 Number one, I want to focus on what we're invited into, what we 139 00:07:40,800 --> 00:07:45,880 are called to, and #2 what that means for our relationships with 140 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:48,600 each other and how we view each other. 141 00:07:49,200 --> 00:07:51,640 The first part I want to talk about is what we're called into. 142 00:07:51,640 --> 00:07:57,080 In verse 6, Paul says, I pray that your partnership with us in 143 00:07:57,080 --> 00:08:01,920 the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of 144 00:08:01,920 --> 00:08:04,560 every good thing we share for the sake of Christ. 145 00:08:05,320 --> 00:08:08,720 Your love has given me great joy and encouragement because you, 146 00:08:08,720 --> 00:08:12,360 brother, have refreshed the hearts of the Lord's people. 147 00:08:12,960 --> 00:08:14,960 Paul introduces here an important concept. 148 00:08:14,960 --> 00:08:18,680 So, so at the outset, we understand this letter is a 149 00:08:18,680 --> 00:08:22,880 difficult letter to write. He's asking something huge of 150 00:08:22,880 --> 00:08:25,600 Philemon. He's asking reconciliation, but 151 00:08:25,600 --> 00:08:33,240 he starts with this statement. I pray that our partnership, I 152 00:08:33,240 --> 00:08:37,799 pray that our partnership, that your partnership with us in the 153 00:08:37,799 --> 00:08:41,520 faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of 154 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:42,840 every good thing we share in Christ. 155 00:08:42,840 --> 00:08:45,320 The word that he uses there is the word Koinonia. 156 00:08:45,560 --> 00:08:48,360 And the word Koinonia it, it means it's more than just hey, 157 00:08:48,360 --> 00:08:52,960 we attend the same church. It's more than just hey, we work 158 00:08:52,960 --> 00:08:56,400 together. The word your partnership with 159 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:02,280 us implies this deep, deep bond. Koinonia means fellowship. 160 00:09:02,280 --> 00:09:04,680 It means communion, It means unity. 161 00:09:04,680 --> 00:09:08,920 It means participation together. It means sharing a common 162 00:09:08,920 --> 00:09:13,640 purpose, a common goal. And so Paul is saying right here 163 00:09:13,640 --> 00:09:16,080 at the beginning, he's writing this tough letter and he's 164 00:09:16,080 --> 00:09:20,880 saying right at the beginning, hey, we are in a Koinonia 165 00:09:21,480 --> 00:09:24,360 partnership, reminding him right up front. 166 00:09:24,360 --> 00:09:27,800 Guys, listen, can I tell you today that maybe you came to 167 00:09:27,800 --> 00:09:29,400 church and you don't know why you're here? 168 00:09:29,760 --> 00:09:32,040 Maybe you came and you thought you came for one reason or 169 00:09:32,040 --> 00:09:33,640 another. I want to tell you today that 170 00:09:33,640 --> 00:09:37,960 God is inviting you into something so much better than 171 00:09:37,960 --> 00:09:41,320 just attending a church. God is inviting you into 172 00:09:41,320 --> 00:09:44,120 something so much better than just getting some new friends on 173 00:09:44,120 --> 00:09:48,000 friends Day. God is inviting you to a deep 174 00:09:48,440 --> 00:09:54,680 Koinonia fellowship, a unity, a communion with others. 175 00:09:56,080 --> 00:09:58,160 That's what we're called to guys. 176 00:09:59,080 --> 00:10:01,680 And see our, our culture is very individualistic. 177 00:10:02,720 --> 00:10:05,760 Most of the commercials are about individualism and your 178 00:10:06,120 --> 00:10:10,480 choice and, and most of us, even in our faith, have become kind 179 00:10:10,480 --> 00:10:15,160 of individualistic in our faith. Well, I accept Christ as my 180 00:10:15,160 --> 00:10:19,000 Savior and then I do my best to live in a relationship with him. 181 00:10:19,000 --> 00:10:21,880 And, and so it becomes a very individualistic thing. 182 00:10:22,360 --> 00:10:24,720 But, but I want you to understand Paul is saying, no, 183 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,480 no, no, no, no. When, when you accept Christ as 184 00:10:27,480 --> 00:10:31,720 your savior, when you become a Christian, you're no longer on 185 00:10:31,720 --> 00:10:34,360 your own. You're a part of something 186 00:10:34,360 --> 00:10:37,920 bigger than yourself. You're a part of the body of 187 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,720 Christ. Yes, the decision to follow 188 00:10:41,840 --> 00:10:47,000 Jesus is your decision. God is pursuing you. 189 00:10:47,240 --> 00:10:50,680 His grace and His Spirit are working to draw you to Him. 190 00:10:50,880 --> 00:10:53,520 But you personally have to make that decision. 191 00:10:53,720 --> 00:11:00,240 But once you do, you enter into a family, the body of Christ. 192 00:11:00,240 --> 00:11:05,200 You are no longer on your own, a lone wolf doing it on your own. 193 00:11:05,440 --> 00:11:07,560 You are a part of the body of Christ. 194 00:11:08,880 --> 00:11:13,480 Listen, you cannot be holy apart. 195 00:11:13,480 --> 00:11:16,200 You cannot be righteous. You cannot be who God calls you 196 00:11:16,200 --> 00:11:19,280 to be apart from the body of Christ. 197 00:11:19,280 --> 00:11:24,280 Holiness requires love and unity with the body of Christ. 198 00:11:24,840 --> 00:11:27,360 And so Paul, I mean, Paul is a genius in this letter. 199 00:11:27,360 --> 00:11:31,400 This is a master class of, of, of reconciliation. 200 00:11:31,640 --> 00:11:35,280 He's he starts off and just says, Hey, remember Philemon, 201 00:11:35,280 --> 00:11:38,200 that you're a part of something bigger than yourself. 202 00:11:39,200 --> 00:11:43,360 This is bigger than just you. You are a part of a partnership 203 00:11:43,680 --> 00:11:47,320 In, in first Corinthians 12, Paul says, just as the body, 204 00:11:47,320 --> 00:11:48,800 this is another way he talks about it. 205 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:50,120 And this is another long scripture. 206 00:11:50,120 --> 00:11:52,600 Bear with me here. He says just as a body, though 207 00:11:52,600 --> 00:11:59,080 one has many parts, but all its many parts form 1 body, so it is 208 00:11:59,080 --> 00:12:04,240 with Christ. For we are all baptized into one 209 00:12:04,240 --> 00:12:09,040 by one spirit as to form 1 body, whether Jews or Gentiles, slave 210 00:12:09,040 --> 00:12:12,800 or free, as we are all given the one spirit to drink. 211 00:12:12,800 --> 00:12:16,760 Even so the body is not made-up of one part but of many. 212 00:12:16,760 --> 00:12:18,680 And, and then he goes on. He says if the foot should say, 213 00:12:18,680 --> 00:12:20,600 well because I'm not a hand, I'm not a part of the body. 214 00:12:20,600 --> 00:12:23,320 He says that's not true, we are all part of the body. 215 00:12:23,320 --> 00:12:26,960 We need each other and, and, and going down further, he says in 216 00:12:26,960 --> 00:12:30,800 verse 18, but in fact God has placed the parts of the body, 217 00:12:30,800 --> 00:12:34,960 every one of them just as he wanted them to be. 218 00:12:35,680 --> 00:12:37,880 If we were all one part, where would the body be? 219 00:12:38,600 --> 00:12:42,480 But we are all parts as it is. There are many parts but one 220 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:45,760 body. Verse 21 he says, the eye can't 221 00:12:45,760 --> 00:12:47,200 say to the hand, I don't need you. 222 00:12:47,200 --> 00:12:49,360 The head cannot say to the feet, I don't need you. 223 00:12:49,360 --> 00:12:52,040 On the contrary, those parts of the body that seem to be weak or 224 00:12:52,040 --> 00:12:54,320 indispensable, we need each other. 225 00:12:54,880 --> 00:12:57,840 And then at the bottom he says in 26, If one part suffers, 226 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:00,720 every part suffers with it. If one part is honored, every 227 00:13:00,720 --> 00:13:04,640 part rejoices with it. Now you are the body of Christ 228 00:13:06,040 --> 00:13:07,960 and each one of you is a part of it. 229 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,000 So I mean, I know I'm just hammering this in here. 230 00:13:13,240 --> 00:13:15,760 You are invited into something huge today. 231 00:13:16,800 --> 00:13:20,840 Not just to say I'm a Christian, not just to say, hey, I'm a part 232 00:13:20,840 --> 00:13:23,160 of a church. I go to Westchester, I go to 233 00:13:23,160 --> 00:13:26,680 wait, whatever. You are invited into the 234 00:13:26,680 --> 00:13:35,680 fellowship, the body of Christ, a deep unity, a deep family. 235 00:13:36,680 --> 00:13:39,320 He, he goes on. He says, I pray that that this 236 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:42,600 partnership, that this Koinonia partnership may be effective in 237 00:13:42,880 --> 00:13:47,120 deepening your understanding of every good thing that we share 238 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:49,360 for the sake of Christ. I love this. 239 00:13:49,480 --> 00:13:53,960 He says that, that as you are partnered with me, if you, as 240 00:13:53,960 --> 00:13:57,520 you're in the Koinonia relationship, as we are unified 241 00:13:57,520 --> 00:14:01,880 and working together, you should see the good more and more. 242 00:14:01,880 --> 00:14:05,680 You should understand God's goodness more and more. 243 00:14:06,320 --> 00:14:11,320 There was a study in the early 2000s and and that study says 244 00:14:11,320 --> 00:14:17,680 that you form relationships quicker based on a mutual 245 00:14:17,680 --> 00:14:20,240 dislike or hate for something else. 246 00:14:22,120 --> 00:14:26,320 That's that's real, that people form quicker relationships, 247 00:14:26,320 --> 00:14:32,200 quicker bonds based on common things that they disagree with 248 00:14:32,200 --> 00:14:36,080 or hate or dislike, whether it's a person or a thing that that's 249 00:14:36,080 --> 00:14:37,520 actual. I mean that like, you can go 250 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,120 look it up. It's from 2006. 251 00:14:39,440 --> 00:14:42,000 And there were studies that show that we formed that quicker. 252 00:14:42,000 --> 00:14:45,120 And what Paul is saying is that's not the way. 253 00:14:46,040 --> 00:14:51,520 Sure, we may find people that we bond with over what we dislike 254 00:14:51,520 --> 00:14:55,960 or who we dislike or what what we are against. 255 00:14:56,680 --> 00:15:01,680 What Paul is saying is you are invited to the Koinonia 256 00:15:01,680 --> 00:15:05,720 Fellowship, the body of Christ, and the deeper you get in with 257 00:15:05,720 --> 00:15:08,480 the body of Christ, the more you're going to be unified, the 258 00:15:08,480 --> 00:15:12,840 more you're going to see his goodness and His grace at work. 259 00:15:14,080 --> 00:15:19,160 God is good, he says. I pray that this partnership may 260 00:15:19,160 --> 00:15:23,560 be effective in deepening your understanding of every good 261 00:15:23,560 --> 00:15:26,280 thing we share for the sake of Christ. 262 00:15:27,000 --> 00:15:31,160 Listen, we may, it may be easier and, and listen, it is. 263 00:15:31,160 --> 00:15:34,400 I see it in the church. Sometimes people that are 264 00:15:34,400 --> 00:15:36,800 negative find people that are negative to buddy up with. 265 00:15:38,160 --> 00:15:42,000 As a leader, I can tell you that it's I, I see it all the time. 266 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,800 People that don't like the leader tend to buddy up with 267 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,280 people that don't like the leader. 268 00:15:48,480 --> 00:15:49,920 Can I tell you that's not the way? 269 00:15:52,120 --> 00:15:55,760 Can I tell you we're invited to something better than that, that 270 00:15:55,760 --> 00:16:00,200 we're invited to a unity and a love and a grace that's built on 271 00:16:00,200 --> 00:16:03,240 God's goodness. And so before he gets into the 272 00:16:03,240 --> 00:16:05,400 nitty gritty of this, and we're not going to get into the nitty 273 00:16:05,400 --> 00:16:08,120 gritty too much today, we're we're going to this series, make 274 00:16:08,120 --> 00:16:09,880 sure you come back. It's really important. 275 00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:15,440 But before he gets into the nitty gritty, he says, I hope 276 00:16:16,440 --> 00:16:20,240 that our partnership helps you see what's good and what's right 277 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:25,160 as as Christians, we are identified and defined by what 278 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,560 unites us, not by what separates us. 279 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:32,880 That's who we're called to be people of love and grace and a 280 00:16:32,880 --> 00:16:35,040 people who come together on a Sunday morning and don't say, 281 00:16:35,320 --> 00:16:36,880 man, we don't like this about our world. 282 00:16:36,880 --> 00:16:39,480 We don't like that a people who come together and say God is 283 00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:42,080 good and we are blessed to be here. 284 00:16:42,080 --> 00:16:45,080 Guys, you are invited into that. So, so that's the first thing. 285 00:16:45,720 --> 00:16:49,040 That's what you're invited into. That's the first thing, that the 286 00:16:49,040 --> 00:16:52,880 second thing is how it changes our relationships. 287 00:16:53,720 --> 00:16:55,200 Now, there's a problem there, right? 288 00:16:55,200 --> 00:16:57,640 Because Paul is writing to Philemon. 289 00:16:58,200 --> 00:17:00,640 Philemon had a slave named Onissimus. 290 00:17:00,640 --> 00:17:03,840 And just let me get off on a little bit of a tangent here. 291 00:17:03,840 --> 00:17:07,800 I know that it's a little bit tricky because obviously we know 292 00:17:07,800 --> 00:17:10,760 that slavery is wrong. And I haven't studied the 293 00:17:10,760 --> 00:17:13,240 insurance and outs of that day and what slavery meant. 294 00:17:13,240 --> 00:17:14,839 Maybe I should have. But. 295 00:17:14,839 --> 00:17:17,880 But I want you to know that that what sometimes we look at 296 00:17:17,880 --> 00:17:20,240 Scripture and we say, well, there's slavery in the Bible. 297 00:17:20,240 --> 00:17:23,079 What? Yeah, but I want you to know 298 00:17:23,079 --> 00:17:29,160 that God is not for it and that God always calls us to a holy 299 00:17:29,160 --> 00:17:31,200 and righteous love for each other. 300 00:17:31,200 --> 00:17:34,400 And you're going to see that in this text that that God is not 301 00:17:34,400 --> 00:17:37,360 saying, hey, it's OK to to make him your slave. 302 00:17:37,360 --> 00:17:40,240 But God is calling us to something so much more. 303 00:17:40,480 --> 00:17:43,960 And so the first part is what we're called into what what we 304 00:17:43,960 --> 00:17:46,080 are invited into. You are invited into the 305 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:49,800 Koinonia fellowship with Jesus Christ and with His body. 306 00:17:50,440 --> 00:17:53,120 The second is what that means for our relationships with 307 00:17:53,120 --> 00:17:57,160 others. I was singing that Timon and 308 00:17:57,160 --> 00:18:00,720 Pumbaa. They were outcast, right? 309 00:18:02,360 --> 00:18:04,640 They sang fun songs. You like their songs, right? 310 00:18:04,920 --> 00:18:06,840 Those are some of the highlights of The Lion King. 311 00:18:07,760 --> 00:18:11,440 But they were smelly. They were not accepted. 312 00:18:11,680 --> 00:18:14,640 They couldn't go into the mainland because they knew that 313 00:18:14,840 --> 00:18:17,520 they wouldn't be accepted there. They were on the outskirts. 314 00:18:17,520 --> 00:18:23,080 And then something changed. They met Simba and all of a 315 00:18:23,080 --> 00:18:28,760 sudden they were friends with the soon to be king and 316 00:18:28,760 --> 00:18:34,480 everything changed. That's the story of Onissimus. 317 00:18:35,560 --> 00:18:37,320 Let me let me pick it up in verse 9. 318 00:18:38,160 --> 00:18:40,880 I said it. It is as none other than Paul, 319 00:18:40,880 --> 00:18:43,480 an old man and also a prisoner in Christ Jesus, that I appeal 320 00:18:43,480 --> 00:18:46,120 to you for my son Onissimus. Listen to how he talks about 321 00:18:46,120 --> 00:18:47,960 him. Just just catch how he talks 322 00:18:47,960 --> 00:18:50,600 about him. That I appeal to you for my son 323 00:18:51,120 --> 00:18:56,480 Onissimus, who became my son while I was in chains formerly. 324 00:18:56,720 --> 00:19:01,760 Formerly he was useless to you, but now he has become useful 325 00:19:01,760 --> 00:19:06,480 both to you and to me. I am sending him who is my very 326 00:19:06,480 --> 00:19:10,560 heart back to you. I would have liked to have keep 327 00:19:10,560 --> 00:19:13,560 him, to keep him with me so that he could take your place in 328 00:19:13,560 --> 00:19:15,400 helping me while I'm in chains for the gospel. 329 00:19:15,400 --> 00:19:19,440 But I did not want to do anything without your consent so 330 00:19:19,440 --> 00:19:22,160 that any favor you do would not seem forced, but would be 331 00:19:22,160 --> 00:19:26,160 voluntary. And, and this is audacious right 332 00:19:26,160 --> 00:19:28,720 here. He says perhaps the reason he 333 00:19:28,720 --> 00:19:32,240 was separated from you for a little while was so that you 334 00:19:32,240 --> 00:19:37,120 might have him back forever, no longer as a slave, but better 335 00:19:37,120 --> 00:19:42,400 than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me, but even 336 00:19:42,400 --> 00:19:46,400 dearer to you both as a fellow man, as a brother in the Lord. 337 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:48,000 All right, so 4 things I want to see. 338 00:19:48,000 --> 00:19:49,080 I'll work through them pretty quick. 339 00:19:49,240 --> 00:19:52,280 Four things I want us to see about the way that Paul, the way 340 00:19:52,280 --> 00:19:57,400 that the Koinonia Fellowship changes the way we see others. 341 00:19:57,760 --> 00:20:02,560 So I told you Onissimus was a slave of Philemon and he did 342 00:20:02,560 --> 00:20:04,440 something wrong. He stole from him. 343 00:20:04,440 --> 00:20:07,840 He cheated him in some way, and then he ran away. 344 00:20:08,760 --> 00:20:12,200 Paul writes back. And he says, I'm writing on 345 00:20:12,200 --> 00:20:15,680 behalf of Onissimus, who is my son. 346 00:20:17,600 --> 00:20:20,960 The truth of the matter is Onissimus was kind of like the 347 00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:24,960 outcast. He was a person that was a 348 00:20:25,040 --> 00:20:28,000 criminal. And in fact, let me just share 349 00:20:28,000 --> 00:20:32,800 this the the penalty for a slave in that day running away, the 350 00:20:32,800 --> 00:20:38,120 penalty could be as harsh as crucifixion on a cross, one of 351 00:20:38,120 --> 00:20:42,080 the worst penalties. That's how serious his crime 352 00:20:42,080 --> 00:20:45,640 was. And Paul writes back to Philemon 353 00:20:45,920 --> 00:20:50,920 and he says, I'm writing you on behalf of Onissimus, who is now 354 00:20:50,920 --> 00:20:55,640 my son. Now he's not saying like he's my 355 00:20:55,640 --> 00:20:58,640 biological son. What he's saying is Onysmus 356 00:20:59,000 --> 00:21:02,760 through, through the grace of God, Onysmus ended up probably 357 00:21:02,760 --> 00:21:05,800 in prison with Paul. That's more than likely what 358 00:21:05,800 --> 00:21:08,120 happened. And then through the ministry of 359 00:21:08,120 --> 00:21:12,320 Paul, Onysmus came to accept Christ and his heart and his 360 00:21:12,320 --> 00:21:17,680 life were changed. And in that moment, he became 361 00:21:18,640 --> 00:21:23,280 family with Paul. Oh guys, this is so good. 362 00:21:24,440 --> 00:21:26,520 First off, I got to give you the good news of the gospel. 363 00:21:29,200 --> 00:21:31,680 Sorry I cry if you're new. I cry sometimes because this is 364 00:21:31,680 --> 00:21:36,840 just too good. The good news today is this, 365 00:21:37,680 --> 00:21:39,760 that it doesn't matter where you've been and what you've 366 00:21:39,760 --> 00:21:43,360 done. Remember a second ago I told you 367 00:21:43,360 --> 00:21:47,400 that his penalty could be as harsh as death on a cross? 368 00:21:48,640 --> 00:21:50,520 Can I tell you the great news of the gospel? 369 00:21:51,320 --> 00:21:56,360 That Jesus Christ, the Son of God, came to earth as a man 370 00:21:57,560 --> 00:22:00,040 walked this earth. There's proof he walked this 371 00:22:00,040 --> 00:22:02,960 earth. And guess what he did? 372 00:22:04,000 --> 00:22:10,040 He died on a cross, not because he deserved it, but because 373 00:22:10,040 --> 00:22:13,840 Onissimus deserved it. Because you deserve it. 374 00:22:15,000 --> 00:22:20,520 Because I deserve it. Maybe you don't feel like you 375 00:22:20,520 --> 00:22:24,320 deserve it, but the truth is we've all done things we're 376 00:22:24,320 --> 00:22:27,920 ashamed of. We've all hurt people. 377 00:22:30,200 --> 00:22:33,440 Let's be honest, we've all done some pretty bad things and 378 00:22:33,440 --> 00:22:36,120 thought some pretty bad things and maybe said some pretty bad 379 00:22:36,120 --> 00:22:43,680 things because of the work of Jesus Christ on the cross today 380 00:22:43,680 --> 00:22:50,840 you were invited to salvation, into life, and you no longer 381 00:22:52,800 --> 00:22:56,520 have to be a criminal. You no longer have to be an 382 00:22:56,520 --> 00:23:01,080 outcast. Jesus invites you into his 383 00:23:01,080 --> 00:23:06,160 family. John 316 You probably heard it 384 00:23:06,160 --> 00:23:08,240 before, for God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, 385 00:23:08,240 --> 00:23:11,040 that whosoever believes in him shall not perish, but have 386 00:23:11,040 --> 00:23:14,160 everlasting life, John chapter one verse 12 says. 387 00:23:14,160 --> 00:23:16,720 Yet to all who did receive him, that's Jesus. 388 00:23:17,000 --> 00:23:20,520 To those who believed in his name, he gave the right to 389 00:23:20,520 --> 00:23:24,120 become children of God, children born not of natural descent, nor 390 00:23:24,120 --> 00:23:27,200 of human decision or a husband's will, but born of God. 391 00:23:27,360 --> 00:23:30,920 The good news today is this, no matter where you've been, no 392 00:23:30,920 --> 00:23:33,840 matter what you've done, today you are invited. 393 00:23:34,560 --> 00:23:37,480 And through the work of Jesus Christ on the cross, he paid for 394 00:23:37,480 --> 00:23:41,200 any and all sins that you've committed. 395 00:23:42,120 --> 00:23:50,440 And today you, you can be a part of the family, You can have 396 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:53,640 life. Another really cool thing about 397 00:23:53,640 --> 00:23:57,720 this text, the name Onissimus, you know what it means. 398 00:23:58,400 --> 00:24:01,760 It means useful. And Paul uses this little word 399 00:24:01,760 --> 00:24:04,320 play. He says he used to be useless, 400 00:24:05,320 --> 00:24:09,760 now he's useful. The idea here is that when God 401 00:24:10,080 --> 00:24:14,440 saves us and redeems us, we become who we were created to be 402 00:24:14,440 --> 00:24:18,080 in the 1st place. People that actually live. 403 00:24:20,920 --> 00:24:24,880 Cheating, stealing, running, that's not life. 404 00:24:26,320 --> 00:24:29,240 Onissimus was created to be a child of God. 405 00:24:31,120 --> 00:24:33,600 You were that. Now you're this. 406 00:24:33,600 --> 00:24:36,640 Listen, if you're here today and, and you've never heard the 407 00:24:36,640 --> 00:24:39,120 good news of the gospel, I got good news. 408 00:24:39,120 --> 00:24:41,640 Yes, you've messed up. Yes, you've blown it. 409 00:24:41,640 --> 00:24:44,200 You know it better than I do. You know your deepest, darkest 410 00:24:44,200 --> 00:24:47,040 secrets. The good news is that Jesus paid 411 00:24:47,040 --> 00:24:50,000 for every single one of your flaws, every single one of your 412 00:24:50,000 --> 00:24:55,120 sins on the cross. And he invites you today to be a 413 00:24:55,120 --> 00:24:58,320 part of the family to coin an EA fellowship. 414 00:24:58,320 --> 00:25:02,240 The second statement he makes in verse 12, he says, I'm sending 415 00:25:02,240 --> 00:25:06,960 him who is my very heart back to you. 416 00:25:08,080 --> 00:25:11,880 This is important. So not only is Onis miss his 417 00:25:11,880 --> 00:25:14,600 son, I mean, now he's saying I'm sending him. 418 00:25:14,600 --> 00:25:18,040 And not only is he my son, but he is my very heart. 419 00:25:18,040 --> 00:25:19,920 He goes on. He says, I wish I didn't have to 420 00:25:19,920 --> 00:25:22,920 send them back to you, but I have to because things have to 421 00:25:22,920 --> 00:25:26,680 be made right. And so Paul says, I'm sending my 422 00:25:26,680 --> 00:25:33,240 very heart back to you. What does this mean for our 423 00:25:33,240 --> 00:25:37,680 relationships with each other #1 it means that that anybody who 424 00:25:37,680 --> 00:25:41,360 accepts Jesus as their Savior becomes a brother or sister in 425 00:25:41,360 --> 00:25:45,160 Christ to you and I. But it's so much better than 426 00:25:45,160 --> 00:25:45,880 that. Guys. 427 00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:51,200 God invites us into Koinonia Fellowship that we would not 428 00:25:51,200 --> 00:25:55,040 just know each other, that we would not just attend the same 429 00:25:55,040 --> 00:26:00,080 church, but that we would be drawn together in a deep, deep 430 00:26:00,240 --> 00:26:03,480 love for each other. Paul says I'm sending my heart 431 00:26:04,000 --> 00:26:06,640 back to you. Onissimus is not just saved. 432 00:26:06,640 --> 00:26:09,560 He's not just a Christian now, he is a brother. 433 00:26:09,680 --> 00:26:12,640 He is a son to Paul and he says he is my heart. 434 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:17,400 I love that guy. Guys, we don't always get it 435 00:26:17,400 --> 00:26:21,120 right in the church, do we? And the truth is when we're not 436 00:26:21,120 --> 00:26:23,560 living obedient and faithful to and, and if you're new here 437 00:26:23,560 --> 00:26:25,760 today, let me just acknowledge something to you. 438 00:26:25,760 --> 00:26:27,440 You know this, but I'll acknowledge it. 439 00:26:27,440 --> 00:26:30,960 The church is not perfect and none of us in here are perfect. 440 00:26:32,040 --> 00:26:34,520 And sometimes we don't do it right. 441 00:26:35,200 --> 00:26:37,480 Sometimes we don't live the right way. 442 00:26:37,480 --> 00:26:39,280 Sometimes we don't treat each other right. 443 00:26:39,440 --> 00:26:41,960 And when that happens, things can get pretty messy. 444 00:26:43,400 --> 00:26:49,000 But God calls us to a deeper bond, to a deep love and unity. 445 00:26:49,000 --> 00:26:50,880 And here's the beauty of the church. 446 00:26:51,320 --> 00:26:56,160 We're not perfect, but we're all drawn together by a God who is, 447 00:26:57,480 --> 00:27:04,120 and he calls us to love. And this week, I spent hours in 448 00:27:04,120 --> 00:27:10,200 hospital rooms with wonderful, wonderful people of God, 449 00:27:11,760 --> 00:27:17,640 brothers and sisters in Christ. I spent time in my car. 450 00:27:17,640 --> 00:27:21,120 I spent time at a dinner table. I spent time all over the place 451 00:27:21,120 --> 00:27:24,840 with the body of Christ. And I got to tell you, it's such 452 00:27:24,840 --> 00:27:28,600 a great blessing. You guys are a great blessing. 453 00:27:29,160 --> 00:27:31,440 Now, some of you may be sitting there and thinking, no, people 454 00:27:31,440 --> 00:27:34,200 are annoying. Are you thinking that it's OK, 455 00:27:34,240 --> 00:27:36,880 You can don't nod your head, you know, don't tell on yourself. 456 00:27:38,120 --> 00:27:42,880 Yeah, people when they're selfish people when they're 457 00:27:42,880 --> 00:27:46,120 living for their their own desires and interest, it can be 458 00:27:46,120 --> 00:27:49,520 pretty tough. But when we walk in true 459 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:54,320 fellowship with each other and coin any a fellowship, guys, we 460 00:27:54,320 --> 00:27:58,000 have a blessing unlike any other that we can walk together with 461 00:27:58,000 --> 00:28:01,440 people that maybe we don't have a lot in common with, maybe we 462 00:28:01,440 --> 00:28:05,280 haven't shared a lot of life with, but we can have a 463 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:08,760 fellowship that blesses us just through and through. 464 00:28:08,760 --> 00:28:12,720 Paul says. I'm sending you my very heart. 465 00:28:13,600 --> 00:28:17,680 Listen, there's plenty that can divide us, but through God, 466 00:28:17,800 --> 00:28:19,920 we're drawn together. Look around you. 467 00:28:20,080 --> 00:28:22,320 Go ahead, look around. Let's get some participation. 468 00:28:22,320 --> 00:28:24,520 Make sure you're with me here. Look around. 469 00:28:24,520 --> 00:28:26,600 Look at the people around you. I got good news. 470 00:28:28,360 --> 00:28:33,200 You get to be in fellowship with these wonderful people, and 471 00:28:33,200 --> 00:28:36,760 they're wonderful. It could be difficult sometimes, 472 00:28:39,000 --> 00:28:43,560 but because of the grace of God, these are wonderful people and 473 00:28:43,560 --> 00:28:46,280 it's such a blessing to get to worship with here you here 474 00:28:46,280 --> 00:28:47,560 today. All right, let's let's move on. 475 00:28:47,560 --> 00:28:50,320 The the third part is in verse 15. 476 00:28:50,320 --> 00:28:52,280 And this is where it gets really crazy. 477 00:28:53,080 --> 00:28:55,240 Paul. I mean, this is audacious. 478 00:28:55,240 --> 00:29:00,240 He says perhaps the reason that Onissimus was separated for you 479 00:29:00,240 --> 00:29:04,280 from a little while was that you might have him back forever, no 480 00:29:04,280 --> 00:29:07,920 longer as a slave, but better than a slave as a dear brother. 481 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,280 Now, I'm just going to put myself in Philemon shoes here. 482 00:29:12,920 --> 00:29:16,480 Perhaps the reason that this happened, and Philemon's 483 00:29:16,480 --> 00:29:19,320 probably thinking, no, the reason this happened is because 484 00:29:19,320 --> 00:29:22,040 he's a jerk. He stole from me. 485 00:29:22,040 --> 00:29:25,080 He ran away. That's why this happened. 486 00:29:25,080 --> 00:29:28,120 Paul says, no, no, no, no. I want you to see the bigger 487 00:29:28,120 --> 00:29:32,520 thing that's happening here, that God's doing something. 488 00:29:33,240 --> 00:29:36,440 He says perhaps the reason that he was separated from you. 489 00:29:36,440 --> 00:29:40,560 Perhaps the reason that all this happened was that you might have 490 00:29:40,560 --> 00:29:46,400 him back forever as he, you know, the slave relationship. 491 00:29:46,400 --> 00:29:49,200 And once again, this is not in any way condoning, but that's a 492 00:29:49,200 --> 00:29:52,160 temporary thing. And, and Paul says, maybe God's 493 00:29:52,160 --> 00:29:55,080 bringing you something better, something that's eternal. 494 00:29:55,800 --> 00:30:00,000 And then he goes on and he says no longer as a slave, but better 495 00:30:00,000 --> 00:30:05,800 than a slave, as a dear brother. See, Philemon probably thought 496 00:30:05,800 --> 00:30:09,120 long and hard and he probably had spent many hours and maybe 497 00:30:09,120 --> 00:30:12,720 nights thinking about what he lost when he lost his slave. 498 00:30:12,720 --> 00:30:18,080 And what Paul's saying is you don't understand God's doing 499 00:30:18,080 --> 00:30:21,400 something better. And and you shouldn't be worried 500 00:30:21,400 --> 00:30:24,280 about getting a slave back. You should be thrilled that you 501 00:30:24,280 --> 00:30:28,200 get the opportunity to get a dear brother, a brother. 502 00:30:28,520 --> 00:30:33,040 I was thinking about the, the the imagery of the body and how 503 00:30:33,040 --> 00:30:35,960 the body all works together when your legs hurting. 504 00:30:36,600 --> 00:30:39,520 If, if something's wrong, if if your legs broken or something's 505 00:30:39,520 --> 00:30:43,120 hurting, maybe you use one of those things that you put under 506 00:30:43,120 --> 00:30:44,240 your arm. What is it? 507 00:30:45,240 --> 00:30:46,720 Yeah, I know. I'm just trying to get you 508 00:30:46,720 --> 00:30:47,840 involved. A crutch. 509 00:30:47,840 --> 00:30:49,720 Yes, crutches. I really do. 510 00:30:49,720 --> 00:30:51,440 I promise. Got a few in my house. 511 00:30:52,320 --> 00:30:56,600 And I was thinking about that. You know, that's really helpful. 512 00:30:57,160 --> 00:31:01,080 When your legs hurt and you can make a crutch do what you wanted 513 00:31:01,080 --> 00:31:03,320 to do. For the most part, you can use 514 00:31:03,320 --> 00:31:06,480 it. It becomes like a substitute for 515 00:31:06,480 --> 00:31:09,760 your leg when your leg isn't isn't healthy or working well. 516 00:31:09,760 --> 00:31:18,960 But but the truth of the matter is, it's better if everything's 517 00:31:18,960 --> 00:31:22,600 working right. And in that, you know, you could 518 00:31:22,600 --> 00:31:25,800 wish back for that crutch, but why would you wish for that back 519 00:31:26,320 --> 00:31:28,960 when God wants to give you something so much more? 520 00:31:30,080 --> 00:31:32,240 He says I got something better for you. 521 00:31:33,800 --> 00:31:37,440 I've got a dear brother in Christ, guys. 522 00:31:37,640 --> 00:31:44,360 Sometimes we see each other as maybe tools or, you know, things 523 00:31:44,360 --> 00:31:47,240 that we use or just relationships that can be useful 524 00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:49,040 to us. I think God has something so 525 00:31:49,040 --> 00:31:52,680 much better for us. God wants to give us dear 526 00:31:52,680 --> 00:31:56,720 brothers and sisters in Christ that we share life with. 527 00:31:57,200 --> 00:32:01,320 He goes on and he says he is very dear to me, but he's even 528 00:32:01,320 --> 00:32:04,480 more dear to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother and 529 00:32:04,480 --> 00:32:06,760 the Lord. This is an important point here. 530 00:32:07,120 --> 00:32:09,040 Paul is saying, I love Onis, miss. 531 00:32:09,040 --> 00:32:10,800 He's already said he's like my son. 532 00:32:11,040 --> 00:32:13,680 He said he's my very heart. I'm sending him to you. 533 00:32:14,120 --> 00:32:16,840 And then he says, I think God's doing something here. 534 00:32:17,040 --> 00:32:21,080 And then he says, you know he's very dear to me, but I believe 535 00:32:21,080 --> 00:32:24,480 he's even more dear to you. Let's talk about that. 536 00:32:26,160 --> 00:32:32,520 When there's difficulty, when we go through something and we come 537 00:32:32,520 --> 00:32:36,320 out on the other side of it, we're better, right? 538 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:40,440 As a married man, my wife and I have been through many things 539 00:32:40,440 --> 00:32:44,640 together, and our love is deeper today because of the things 540 00:32:44,640 --> 00:32:48,920 we've gone through together. The fights, the disagreements, 541 00:32:49,400 --> 00:32:52,880 the difficult times, we've grown in them. 542 00:32:53,520 --> 00:32:55,640 And that's true not just for husbands and wives. 543 00:32:55,640 --> 00:32:58,480 That's true for for good friends, that's true for family, 544 00:32:58,480 --> 00:33:01,800 that's true for Co workers. When we go through difficulty, 545 00:33:01,800 --> 00:33:06,040 even when it's difficulty with each other, God can do something 546 00:33:06,040 --> 00:33:10,320 incredible and we can come out the other side healthier and 547 00:33:10,320 --> 00:33:18,480 deeper than we were going in. And so Paul says, I think God's 548 00:33:18,480 --> 00:33:22,880 up to something here. I think he's giving you a dear 549 00:33:22,880 --> 00:33:26,440 brother. And I think if you will follow 550 00:33:26,440 --> 00:33:31,040 through on forgiveness and reconciliation, you will view 551 00:33:31,040 --> 00:33:36,320 him as dearer than I ever could. Guys, you're invited into 552 00:33:36,320 --> 00:33:38,840 something today. So here's the deal. 553 00:33:38,840 --> 00:33:43,880 Worship team, come on up. We're going to get into the 554 00:33:43,880 --> 00:33:46,640 reconciliation part. Please please please please 555 00:33:46,640 --> 00:33:49,880 please don't miss the rest of the series. 556 00:33:50,360 --> 00:33:53,120 I haven't gotten real deep into it today, but we need it. 557 00:33:53,960 --> 00:33:57,080 We all do. Every single one of us needs it. 558 00:33:59,760 --> 00:34:04,200 But today I just wanted to talk about the fellowship staying 559 00:34:04,200 --> 00:34:07,840 with me. I think there may be three types 560 00:34:07,840 --> 00:34:14,520 of people in this room. 1 would be the person that maybe is 561 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:18,600 hearing the invitation into the family of God for the first 562 00:34:18,600 --> 00:34:23,080 time, maybe the invitation for salvation for the first time, or 563 00:34:23,080 --> 00:34:26,000 maybe somebody who's never accepted that invitation. 564 00:34:26,000 --> 00:34:28,960 And maybe you're here and you feel like Timon and Pumbaa that 565 00:34:29,120 --> 00:34:32,360 hey, you know, you're just kind of on the outside and you don't 566 00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:35,480 have a place or a family. And I just want to tell you once 567 00:34:35,480 --> 00:34:45,960 again that there is a God that loves you so much that he sent 568 00:34:45,960 --> 00:34:49,320 his one and only son to die on a cross to pay for your sins. 569 00:34:50,320 --> 00:34:53,280 The worst things you've ever done that the price is paid for. 570 00:34:53,480 --> 00:34:58,160 And today, if you've never accepted the gift of grace, you 571 00:34:58,160 --> 00:35:01,480 can do it. And all it takes is a surrender 572 00:35:02,760 --> 00:35:08,520 to say, God, I believe in you. I thank you for your salvation 573 00:35:08,520 --> 00:35:11,320 and I receive it. Forgive me of my sins. 574 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:15,440 I want to walk with you today if that's you may be the response. 575 00:35:15,440 --> 00:35:17,320 And then there are altars up here and they're covered in 576 00:35:17,320 --> 00:35:19,640 confetti and that's OK. These aren't a place of shame. 577 00:35:19,880 --> 00:35:22,240 These are a place of victory and grace. 578 00:35:22,280 --> 00:35:26,440 And I want you to know that God is here today. 579 00:35:26,440 --> 00:35:30,400 If God is speaking to you and if you've heard that message and 580 00:35:30,400 --> 00:35:34,520 you want to receive salvation today, you can have it just by 581 00:35:34,520 --> 00:35:37,360 saying, Lord, I surrender, forgive me. 582 00:35:38,080 --> 00:35:41,760 The price is already paid. Maybe there's some people in 583 00:35:41,760 --> 00:35:46,320 here that you're being called to a deeper Koinonia fellowship. 584 00:35:47,640 --> 00:35:50,240 Maybe you're, you're already a believer, but you just feel like 585 00:35:50,240 --> 00:35:52,080 you're disconnected. You feel like you've been 586 00:35:52,080 --> 00:35:54,000 guarded. You feel like you've been closed 587 00:35:54,000 --> 00:35:55,760 off. And maybe today you just need to 588 00:35:55,760 --> 00:35:58,800 open your heart and say, God, I'm here for all of it. 589 00:35:58,800 --> 00:36:01,440 I want to be a part of your body. 590 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:07,240 I want you to transform me. Maybe there's somebody here 591 00:36:07,240 --> 00:36:09,200 today that have a real issue with someone. 592 00:36:11,040 --> 00:36:13,720 Maybe there are some Philemon's in here that have been wronged 593 00:36:13,720 --> 00:36:20,280 in a major way and today you need reconciliation. 594 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:26,360 Today we respond to God's word. And the beautiful thing is the 595 00:36:26,360 --> 00:36:29,960 God that created the entire universe, the God that sent his 596 00:36:29,960 --> 00:36:34,000 one and only Son Jesus to the cross to die and pay for our 597 00:36:34,000 --> 00:36:37,040 sins. He's here and His Spirit is 598 00:36:37,040 --> 00:36:42,360 moving and whatever it is he's speaking to you about, he wants 599 00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:46,680 to bring life and healing and transformation. 600 00:36:46,680 --> 00:36:48,920 So we're going to sing 2 songs. As we sing those, you're welcome 601 00:36:48,920 --> 00:36:51,760 to come to an altar. Once again, there's no shame in 602 00:36:51,760 --> 00:36:53,680 it. It's a, it's a victory thing. 603 00:36:54,520 --> 00:36:55,760 You're welcome to pray where you are. 604 00:36:55,760 --> 00:37:00,360 You're welcome to go find someone, pray with them, talk to 605 00:37:00,360 --> 00:37:03,880 them. But today we are invited, every 606 00:37:03,880 --> 00:37:08,600 single one of us, and to coin any of fellowship and to 607 00:37:08,600 --> 00:37:12,120 salvation and the family of Godfather speak to us and help 608 00:37:12,120 --> 00:37:15,600 us to respond to you now in Jesus name, Amen.