November 27 | Pastor Jason
How long is long enough to hold a grudge?
What is the appropriate amount of time for someone to have
First Character - Paul (truth)
Philemon 1:4-6
4I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers, 5because I hear about your love for all his holy people and your faith in the Lord Jesus. 6I pray that your partnership with us in the faith may be effective in deepening your understanding of every good thing we share for the sake of Christ.
- “All his holy people” “partnership”
Philemon 1:15-16
15Perhaps the reason he was separated from you for a little while was that you might have him back forever— 16no longer as a slave, but better than a slave, as a dear brother. He is very dear to me but even dearer to you, both as a fellow man and as a brother in the Lord.
Our faith in Christ supersedes the culture we live in.
Second Character - Onesimus (repentance)
Philemon 1:12 I am sending him—who is my very heart—back to you.
Confession and Repentance are two different things.
When you come to Christ to pray for forgiveness, that’s confession. When you get up from that place of prayer and live a changed life, that’s repentance.
Repentance is not just a one-time thing.
Repentance is a
Third Character - Philemon (grace)
In any relationship breakdown, someone has been wronged and what this means is if the relationship has any hope to be
reconciled, someone must show grace by choosing to forgive.
Philemon 1:17-19
17So if you consider me a partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18If he has done you any wrong or owes you anything, charge it to me. 19I, Paul, am writing this with my own hand. I will pay it back—not to mention that you owe me your very self.
Truth, Repentance, Grace
The truth is, we all offended God with our sin. But it we’ll repent of our sin, God will pour our His grace through Jesus to us. And He will welcome us not as slaves, but as family.