Philemon

 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother,

While writing this, Paul was restrained within the four walls of a Roman
prison cell. More importantly, he had willingly offered himself to be a
prisoner of Christ Jesus. That meant that he had decided to position
himself with people, within the structure of authority set in the
Scriptures. He would submit to those above him and take responsibility
for those under him. He would also deny himself to do according to
GOD’S will in every situation, obeying the voice of the Holy Spirit. Thus
he would abide IN CHRIST! 

Christ above him, Christ beneath him;

Christ before him, Christ behind him;

Christ in him, Christ around him

Therefore Paul was bearing the fruit of the Spirit and was able to speak
about joy, love and faith. The evidence of the fruit of his ministry  extending
beyond the prison walls and down generations is this very blog I am able to write and
you are reading!!

 I am the vine, you are the branches. 

He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit;

 for without Me you can do nothing.

John 15:5

O Lord, You are the portion of my inheritance and my cup;

 You maintain my lot. 

The lines have fallen to me in pleasant places; 

Yes, I have a good inheritance.

Psalm 16:5-6

***

 To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 

to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, 

and to the church in your house: 

The above could be a family. Father, mother and Archippus being the son. 

They were hosting the believers’ meeting which was the Church. 

Obviously the whole family was serving the LORD. 

In Colossians 4:17 Paul sends a message to Archippus:

 And say to Archippus, 

"Take heed to the ministry which you have received in the Lord, 

that you may fulfill it."

Colossians 4:17

 Again I say to you that if two of you agree on earth concerning anything that they ask, 

it will be done for them by My Father in heaven.

 For where two or three are gathered together in My name, 

I am there in the midst of them."

Matthew 18:19-20

***

Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

What Paul had received, he could offer to others.

Grace and peace are freely given to us from GOD through the LORD JESUS.

 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out demons. 

Freely you have received, freely give.

Matthew 10:8

***

 I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,

Praying for one another is an important part of the Christian life.

It is good to have a planned prayer life, 

but also important to be sensitive to the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

***

 hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus 

and toward all the saints, 

Knowing the persons and having information of

their situation helps us to pray specifically.

Philemon was a loving man of faith.

***

that the sharing of your faith may become effective 

by the acknowledgment of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

Our prayer for each other should be that

The LORD’S name should be glorified through each one.

Faith should be lived out in good works.

 Let your light so shine before men,

 that they may see your good works 

and glorify your Father in heaven.

Matthew 5:16

***

For we have great joy and consolation in your love, 

because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother. 

When we are tired and dehydrated, 

we are physically refreshed by a cup of water.

Similarly, our soul is refreshed by the love of GOD,

Which is poured into our heart.

Philemon was a channel of GOD’S love.

 Now hope does not disappoint, 

because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts 

by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.

Romans 5:5

***

Therefore, though I might be very bold in Christ 

to command you what is fitting, 

yet for love's sake I rather appeal to you-

-being such a one as Paul, the aged, 

and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ-

- I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, 

Although Paul could have written to the younger Philemon

With the tone of a command,

He decides to appeal with the tone of gentleness as the aged

And humility as a prisoner.

***

whom I have begotten while in my chains,

While the apostle Paul was in prison, 

He got to know Onesimus whom he brought to the LORD.

While Paul was physically in chains,

He was spiritually free.

Onesimus was physically free

But bound spiritually.

Paul saw Onesimus set free 

Through prayer and by sharing the Gospel

Of the LORD JESUS.

The command from GOD to Adam & Eve at the beginning of time

Re-echos to us now,

“Be fruitful and multiply.” 

Let us take every opportunity to 

Bring people to the LORD.

 Then God blessed them, and God said to them, 

"Be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it; 

have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, 

and over every living thing that moves on the earth."

Genesis 1:28

Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, 

baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,

 teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you;

 and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." Amen.

Matthew 28:19-20

*** 

who once was unprofitable to you, 

but now is profitable to you and to me.

When Onesimus was a slave of Philemon,

He pilfered from him

And then ran away from him.

Since being born again,

He had changed.

One who brought loss,

Had now become one who would bring profit!

 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away; 

behold, all things have become new.

2 Corinthians 5:17

*** 

I am sending him back.

Although Paul was instrumental

In seeing Onesimus changed

And knowing that he would be profitable to him,

He does the right thing in sending him back to his rightful owner.

That is restitution.

Do we do the right thing in such situations

With people or property?

*** 

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. 

GOD did not make man as a robot.

Man has a free will to make decisions.

Every person has the right to make decisions

And has to face the consequences.

We can choose to obey GOD

Or disobey Him.

***

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--a beloved brother, 

especially to me but how much more to you, 

both in the flesh and in the Lord.

The position of Onesimus with Philemon had changed

Since He was born into the Kingdom of GOD.

There would be a relationship of ‘Forever Love’!

They would be brothers in Christ.

*** 

If then you count me as a partner, 

receive him as you would me. 

Paul, as a close friend of Philemon,

Is making a plea to him 

To receive Onesimus on his behalf.

***

But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my account.

Paul was playing the role of an intercessor

And a redeemer.

He was willing to pay back what Onesimus owed Philemon

So that they could be reconciled.

Do we have opportunities to play such a role,

Not just financially, but to humble ourselves to ask for forgiveness

On behalf of someone,

For the sake of reconciliation?

***

 I, Paul, am writing with my own hand. 

I will repay--not to mention to you that you owe me even your own self besides. 

Paul has obviously been a great spiritual blessing 

To Philemon.

Yet he was willing to pay him back on behalf of Onesimus.

***

Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord;

 refresh my heart in the Lord. 

As previously stated, Philemon was known to be one 

who refreshes others with the love of the LORD.

Paul was calling on his strength 

To once again refresh his heart 

By answering his plea 

On behalf of Onesimus.

***

Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you,

knowing that you will do even more than I say. 

GOD gives to us more than what we ask or imagine.

 Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly 

above all that we ask or think, 

according to the power that works in us,

Ephesians 3:20

***

But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me,

 for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. 

Paul expresses his desire to visit Philemon.

Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, 

Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.

Epaphras was probably very involved in the Church in Colosse.

The others were mutual friends.

***

The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

The apostle Paul begins and ends the letter with 

The impartation of GOD’S grace.

Philemon 1:1-25

This book brings out the message of breaking of relationship, forgiveness, restitution, restoration, intercession and redemption.

Just as Onesimus, a slave, wronged his master Philemon, all of us as sinners have wronged the LORD Who is our Creator, Master and Lord. We have taken His love and grace for granted. We have run away from Him to live our lives according to our will and become separated from Him.

Paul who is literally a prisoner in a Roman jail, refers to himself as a prisoner of the LORD JESUS, plays the role of a mediator and becomes instrumental in seeing Onesimus restored to Philemon. The LORD JESUS, the Son of GOD, like the apostle Paul, was obedient to the Father even to the point of death on the cross. He became the Mediator for all mankind to be restored to the Father.

Just as Paul made a plea to Philemon to receive Onesimus who had caused loss to him and ran away from him, JESUS continues to plead the Father as the Intercessor, to receive us, who are sinners, who caused loss and ran away from Him.

Paul also offered to pay back Philemon, what Onesimus had taken from him. As sinners, we stand condemned and worthy of eternal punishment before the Holy and Just GOD. The LORD JESUS took the punishment for all our sin by coming down in human form, unjustly suffering as a criminal and dying on the cross, taking on himself the curse of the sin of mankind. He has fully paid up for our restoration to our Heavenly Father! Since He paid for our redemption from the hand of the enemy of our soul, He is our Redeemer.

Just as the LORD JESUS continues as Intercessor at the right hand of the Father, He requires us as His children to be intercessors on earth. We need to stand in the gap on behalf of others in prayer and intercession, pleading the blood of JESUS to cover their sin and bring salvation and restoration.

Paul saw Onesimus restored to GOD first and then restored to his master. We need to look for opportunities to restore people to GOD and then to one another in their relationships. We are called to be such ambassadors for GOD. 

 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus:

 that if One died for all, then all died;

 and He died for all, 

that those who live should live no longer for themselves,

 but for Him who died for them and rose again. 

Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. 

Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, 

yet now we know Him thus no longer. 

Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, 

he is a new creation; 

old things have passed away; 

behold, all things have become new. 

Now all things are of God, 

who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, 

and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 

that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, 

not imputing their trespasses to them, 

and has committed to us the word of reconciliation. 

Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, 

as though God were pleading through us: 

we implore you on Christ's behalf, 

be reconciled to God. 

For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, 

that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.

2 Corinthians 5:14-21

Virus

Virus

If you fear the virus,

you are a slave to the virus

and the virus will destroy you!

If you fear GOD,

and submit to GOD,

He will destroy the virus

and save you!!

INFLUENZA and INFLUENCE

INFLUENZA and INFLUENCE

While the coal smoke and the war in Europe no doubt cast
a pall, a still more ominous cloud loomed near, for 1918
was to be a time of plague in Berkeley and around the
world, the year of the so-called Spanish influenza.

A flu epidemic had emerged there in January 1918 that
was like nothing ever seen before. Author John M. Barry
wrote, “the strongest, the healthiest, the most robust
people in the county—were being struck down as suddenly
as if they had been shot. 

In fact it was one of the worst pandemics in modern
history, killing more people in 24 weeks than AIDs would
in 24 years. It infected one-third of the world’s population,
and global death toll estimates range from 50 to 100
million. In the U.S., the flu cut the average lifespan by 12
years, from 51 to 39.

Most died of pneumonia, a bacterial infection that attacked
flu-stricken lungs, but the flu itself could kill outright as well
—and quickly, often just a few days after the onset of
symptoms. These included the usual—cough, fever,
headaches—but also severe hemorrhaging. Patients often
bled from their ears and nose. Their lungs filled with a
bloody froth and their skin changed color as oxygen failed
to circulate through their airways. Some called it the blue
death or the purple plague.

The flu killed both high and low, young and old. It killed
migratory workers in their camps and soldiers in the
trenches. It swept immigrant communities and elite college
campuses. It killed the painters Egon Schiele and Gustav
Klimt. It took the life of George Freeth, the father of modern
surfing. It killed the president of Brazil, the prince of Sweden,
and the queen dowager of Tonga. It killed Frederick Trump,
Donald Trump’s grandfather, and Phoebe Hearst, the great
patroness of the University of California.

Anne Porter’s beautiful, fugue-like novella Pale Horse, Pale
Rider. “It’s as bad as anything can be,” a soldier in that story
says of the flu. “All the theaters and nearly all the shops and
restaurants are closed, and the streets have been full of
funerals all day and ambulances all night.” Porter’s title
comes from a passage in the Book of Revelation about the
fourth horseman of the Apocalypse. “And I looked, and
behold a pale horse: and his name that sat on him was
Death….”

Such statistics only serve to obscure the true depth of the
tragedy, however, as some individuals must have
experienced the epidemic as a kind of personal
Armageddon.

Stone wrote to her daughters, “I always think of a song
Ferris Hartman used to sing, ‘I had a little bird whose
name was Enza, I opened the door and InfluEnza [sic]’!
and wish he had not opened the door!!’” The grim little ditty
was apparently making the rounds. Like “Ring Around the
Rosie,” children chanted it as they skipped rope.

By April the disease was gone. As with the war, the curse
had somehow lifted. Out flew Enza.

Under an electron microscope flu viruses are revealed to be
generally spherical in shape. The virions, as virus particles
outside a cell are called, consist of a nucleic acid core
enclosed in a protein coat that is spiked with glycoproteins
—specifically, hemagglutinin and neuraminidase. These are
the familiar H and N used to describe the various subtypes
of flu. (Today we know that the 1918 flu was of the
type H1N1.) These proteins are often described as the keys
that allow the virus to, first, penetrate the cells, and later,
to make their escape. One key to get in, another to get out.
While inside, the invaders hijack the cell’s machinery to
replicate themselves, creating a whole army of viruses to
attack us.

Thankfully, our cells are not defenseless. In fact, a battle is
constantly being fought between our immune systems and
the invading pathogens.

The enemy of our soul, the devil, is like the enemy of our body,
the virus. He comes in through subtle deceptive ways.

The devil got access into Eve and Adam’s lives through
deception like sweet Enza.

That turned the heart of man from GOD and caused spiritual
death to the human race.

GOD has given us a remedy through the LORD JESUS, Whose
blood cleanses us from sin and revives us again. Unlike Enza, the
LORD knocks on the door of our heart and gives us the choice to
open.

"Most assuredly, I say to you, he who does not enter the
sheepfold by the door, but climbs up some other way, the same
is a thief and a robber. But he who enters by the door is the
shepherd of the sheep.

John 10:1-2

 The thief does not come except to steal, and to kill, and to destroy.
I have come that they may have life, and that they may have it
more abundantly.

John 10:10

 Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice
and opens the door, I will come in to him and dine with him, and
he with Me.

Revelation 3:20

As I am writing this blog, World health authorities are expecting the corona viral infection to become pandemic! Most people are fearful and many are in panic. The physical consequence is sickness and if severe, physical death. 

There is however a greater and more serious situation in the spiritual realm. The corona virus resembles a crown under the electron microscope. Spiritually, crown depicts the mind. There are many spiritually deceptive teachings spreading across the world, bringing confusion into the mind of Christians and non Christians. Like the virus, those who are deceived, become carriers, exposing others to the demonic teachings. They are speaking and writing words that are false. They perform great signs and wonders, causing people to believe in them. They cause our ears to hear and eyes to see falsehood. People get lured into the path of unrighteousness. Those who get infected by the demonic stronghold become spiritually sick and if not set free, succumb to eternal death! 

 For false christs and false prophets will rise and show great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. See, I have told you beforehand. 

Matthew 24:24-25

 But there were also false prophets among the people, even as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Lord who bought them, and bring on themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their destructive ways, because of whom the way of truth will be blasphemed. By covetousness they will exploit you with deceptive words; for a long time their judgment has not been idle, and their destruction does not slumber.
2 Peter 2:1-3 

Beloved, I now write to you this second epistle (in both of which I stir up your pure minds by way of reminder), that you may be mindful of the words which were spoken before by the holy prophets, and of the commandment of us, the apostles of the Lord and Savior, knowing this first: that scoffers will come in the last days, walking according to their own lusts,
2 Peter 3:1-3 

GOD'S love is the essence of the the Gospel of the LORD JESUS CHRIST. 

The essence of the false teachings which are infused in subtle ways is the lust of the world. This is a competitor to GOD'S love and hinders us from receiving GOD'S pure love into our hearts.

Do not love the world or the things in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world--the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life--is not of the Father but is of the world. And the world is passing away, and the lust of it; but he who does the will of God abides forever.
1 John 2:15-17 

 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. He who does not love does not know God, for God is love.
1 John 4:7-8 

Let us be diligent to keep our spiritual health by feeding well on the word of GOD and breathing the pure air of prayer, being in communion with the Holy Spirit. Let us be hygienic and not allow our mind to get corrupted by lust which is promoted in subtle ways by the false teachers. Let our minds be washed clean by the washing of water by the word of GOD. Let us also take every opportunity to expose the false teachings and pray and intercede for each other to be kept by the power of GOD through His grace.

Knowing the Truth, receiving the Truth and following the Truth is the only way out of this deceptive destruction. The LORD JESUS is the Truth.

We need to be careful not to catch the virus and not to pass on any virus that we may be carrying, to others. We need to be even more diligent not to be influenced by false teachings but rather influence others to walk the path of righteousness and point others to the Savior and LORD JESUS through our lives and words.

 Then Jesus spoke to them again, saying, "I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life."

And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free."

And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever. Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed.
John 8:12,32,35-36