What Is Having A Good Testimony

A Good Testimony

Book of 3 John Verse 1-14

The most important thing we can have after our salvation is, having the testimony of Jesus Christ!

The next most important thing is, that we and all Christians work together in the name of Jesus Christ!

We do this by being obedient to our Lord and Savior!

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

If we cannot be the legs and arms to do these things Jesus asked us to do, then we have to be the pocketbook and the prayer warriors.

We all have a job in this salvation plan of God!

We will do this thing by allowing the Holy Spirit to have complete control of our being!

We will see in this small book of the Bible that John was writing to a faithful witness of the early Church.

Remember John always writes to the Church and this time John gets personal and writes to the servants of the Lord Jesus.

This brother in Christ called Gaius is to be an example to all believers!

We do not know anything about this man Gaius, because all we need to know about this brother in Christ is, that he had a good testimony!

What do we know about this period of Church history? All the Apostles were dead, but John, and John was near 100 years old and would not be alive much longer and the followers of Satan saw this time as the greatest time to attack the Church and to wipe out the Christian Church and all her followers.

We can see that the world did not yet understand the power of God and the Church is still standing for some 1900 plus years and will stand until the Lord comes to retrieve His Church!

No doubt that this man Gaius was being watched by the Apostle John so the Holy Spirit directed John to give us these words.

*****3Jn 1:1 The elder unto the wellbeloved Gaius, whom I love in the truth.

In these first words we can see that Gaius was "well beloved". No doubt that he was loved by the Church and maybe more than one Church as it will appear that Gaius may have been an evangelist, traveling from one place to another.

John's intent or the Holy Ghost's intent here, is that Gaius was well beloved of our Heavenly Father.

We might ask why, but we will see that Gaius was walking in the image of Jesus Christ. This man had a good testimony!

We must understand that we cannot have a testimony until we have been tested by the commandments of God!

The Bible is a "Testimony" of the sovereign will of Jehovah, God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Spirit.

The "Gospel" is the special witness of the testimony of the riches of God's "Grace" in Christ Jesus to the Church and to all people.

What is to be the testimony of each Christian?

Psa 119:1 Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the LORD.

Psa 119:2 Blessed are they that keep his testimonies, and that seek him with the whole heart.

Psa 119:3 They also do no iniquity: they walk in his ways.

Psa 119:4 Thou hast commanded us to keep thy precepts diligently.

Psa 119:5 O that my ways were directed to keep thy statutes!

Psa 119:6 Then shall I not be ashamed, when I have respect unto all thy commandments.

Psa 119:7 I will praise thee with uprightness of heart, when I shall have learned thy righteous judgments.

Psa 119:8 I will keep thy statutes: O forsake me not utterly.

Psa 119:9 Wherewithal shall a young man cleanse his way? by taking heed thereto according to thy word.

Psa 119:10 With my whole heart have I sought thee: O let me not wander from thy commandments.

Psa 119:11 Thy word have I hid in mine heart, that I might not sin against thee.

Psa 119:12 Blessed art thou, O LORD: teach me thy statutes.

This must be the basis for our Testimony

In fact this entire 119nth Psalm should be the testimony of each Christian!

When this is our own "testimony" we will prosper here on earth and our soul will prosper throughout eternity!

*****3Jn 1:2 Beloved, I wish above all things that thou mayest prosper and be in health, even as thy soul prospereth.

To have a personal relationship with our Heavenly Father and His Son, through the Holy Spirit, is to know how wonderful our future will be.

At the same time, knowing about our precious future gives us the ability to make the right choices in this life.

The most important choice was that choice to have a personal relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ!

Gaius was such a man who loved the Lord. Gaius had accepted the call of the Lord. Gaius was the beloved of the Lord, in fact the well beloved of the Lord and we will be to when we have a good testimony!

What did Jesus say to us all?

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:23 Jesus answered and said unto him, If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him.

It seems that Gaius was struggling with his health at this time and John did as we all should do he was being an encourager and also a prayer warrior for his brother in Christ.

Sometimes we need to be reminded of how much our soul will prosper throughout eternity even while in this life we are suffering just like all others suffer with different ailments that are common to all humans.

Gods care and God's guidance would always be a part of his life!

God's love would never diminish!

The reality of his salvation would always be with him!

As prayer warriors we should all pray that our brothers and sisters in Christ to prosper as well in this life and they will in their eternal life.

We should pray for their good health, for the longer we serve the Lord the more opportunities there will be for us to earn rewards.

We should not just pray for those we know but for every child of God to live long and prosperous lives, while still standing firm on the promises of God and the truth of God.

True peace in this life can come only by the Lord Jesus Christ!

Tit 3:8 This is a faithful saying, and these things I will that thou affirm constantly, that they which have believed in God might be careful to maintain good works. These things are good and profitable unto men.

We can only prosper in Heaven if we serve the Lord Jesus Christ in this life.

This is the truth of God!

*****3Jn 1:3 For I rejoiced greatly, when the brethren came and testified of the truth that is in thee, even as thou walkest in the truth.

What is the truth? When we have a strong testimony for the Lord it will show!

Gaius walked in the truth of the Lord Jesus Christ and it was noticeable.

Gaius walked in the truth of all the Word of God and it was noticeable.

John had spent much time in his books teaching us about false teachers, but Gaius was a teacher of the truth and it was noticeable.

Those that heard him preach, knew they were receiving the truth!

Gaius took his stand on the truth of God even in places where false teaching was happening.

Today when we hear false teachers and false Christians stand up and try to teach us what "thus sayeth the Lord", we must not sit idle and do nothing.

Gaius took his stand for the truth and other Christians saw him take a stand for the truth.

We already know that much false teaching was taking place as the world was trying to destroy the early church as all the Apostles had been murdered but the Apostle John.

Gaius stood on the truth of God as taught by the Apostles. Some called it the Apostles Doctrine, which was of course the Doctrine of Jesus Christ, according to the truth of all the Word of God!

So where do we begin in the truth?

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

Joh 14:9 Jesus saith unto him, Have I been so long time with you, and yet hast thou not known me, Philip? he that hath seen me hath seen the Father; and how sayest thou then, Shew us the Father?

Joh 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.

Joh 14:11 Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.

Without the truth of our Savior, we will never have a relationship with God the Father!

As far as the Apostle John was concerned there is no greater truth anywhere!

*****3Jn 1:4 I have no greater joy than to hear that my children walk in truth.

It is probable that John had led Gaius to the Lord.

Gaius had been taught the truth and Gaius had remained in the truth and had actually grown in the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

Today I do not doubt that many know the truth of God, but it is obvious that the Church has become silent!

Those who take the Word of God and twist it into a lie are many, and yet the Church remains silent.

There are not many like Gaius today to stand for the truth and other Christians notice his stand.

What does God say?

Eph 6:10 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.

Eph 6:11 Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.

Eph 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Eph 6:13 Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

When are we going to stand with Gaius?

*****3Jn 1:5 Beloved, thou doest faithfully whatsoever thou doest to the brethren, and to strangers;

3Jn 1:6 Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:

3Jn 1:7 Because that for his name's sake they went forth, taking nothing of the Gentiles.

1) We must be loyal to the all the truth of God. We cannot pick and choose which parts of God's Word we will use, and we will not use!

2Pe 1:19 We have also a more sure word of prophecy; whereunto ye do well that ye take heed, as unto a light that shineth in a dark place, until the day dawn, and the day star arise in your hearts:

2Pe 1:20 Knowing this first, that no prophecy of the scripture is of any private interpretation.

2Pe 1:21 For the prophecy came not in old time by the will of man: but holy men of God spake as they were moved by the Holy Ghost.

2) We must be loyal to our duty of serving the Lord.

It is our duty to obey our Lord and our King!

Joh 14:15 If ye love me, keep my commandments.

Joh 14:21 He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.

3) We must be loyal to the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ!

Mat 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.

Mat 28:19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:

Mat 28:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen.

4) We must do all these things remembering the love God had shown to us!

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Mat 22:40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.

We must serve God better today than we did yesterday and this must be our goal every morning as we awaken to a new day!

We go out every day doing the best we can, not for our own praise, but for the praise of God!

We must ask ourselves daily are the things we do worthy of us or are they acceptable to God!

We must ask ourselves are we seeking our own glory or are we seeking the glory of God!

Gaius helped believers but he also helped total strangers.

Gaius was an evangelist at a time when evangelists were not welcomed in most churches.

It’s not hard to see that Gaius preached the truth and just as today the truth is not preached in many churches and Gaius would not be welcomed.

In fact Jesus Christ would not be welcomed in the Church of today!

We are never to fear the truth of God in fact, we had better fear those who twist the Word of God into a false message that can rob us of the salvation plan of God!

What do we know of our Lord? We know that He would never stay in one place, but He would travel from place to place.

We all have a place in the work God has given us to do!

Eph 4:10 He that descended is the same also that ascended up far above all heavens, that he might fill all things.)

Eph 4:11 And he gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers;

Eph 4:12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:

When we know our calling, then we need to be busy in our calling!

The Church is to serve in the name of Jesus Christ.

These Evangelists are to serve in the name of Jesus.

These Missionaries are to serve in the name of Jesus.

Gaius served in the name of Jesus Christ the only Savior!

We must all remember it is not about money. If the Church would just obey the truth of God money would never be an obstacle!

We are to contribute ourselves! This what we do when we give our tithe and offerings!

We must all know that we are to be fellow helpers of the truth!

This man Gaius is an example for us in all these things and the Holy Spirit gave this example for to the Apostle John.

Gaius was a living example of a true Christian!

As Gaius traveled from church to church, it was the church that should have provided his support.

Monies given by non-Christians usually come with a cost, or a request to go against the Word of God!

This is the biggest reason the church has moved away from the truth.

The Church has been swayed by money given that allows that giver to have his or her way in the Church.

This not the way Church is to operate!

What does God say?

Luk_16:13 No servant can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.

If the truth of the Gospel offends some in the church, then so be it. We must not veer from the truth of God!

*****3Jn 1:8 We therefore ought to receive such, that we might be fellowhelpers to the truth.

We become fellow helpers of the truth, when we yield ourselves to the influence of the truth!

Gaius was doing all he could to help traveling missionaries and evangelists and as he traveled himself, this was his message!

When we do not have that little extra that could help some missionary then we certainly need to offer some prayer time for that ministry remembering, we need to live the "Gospel" so that our prayers reach into Heaven.

If we are partakers of the "Grace" of God, then certainly we need to share that "Grace" with all others!

The truth is a precious treasure that we must not try to keep to ourselves! The truth is to be shared!

The truth of Jehovah God is all the truth we need, and this truth will never change!

The Gospel is taught of God to be shared:

Joh_6:45 It is written in the prophets, And they shall be all taught of God. Every man therefore that hath heard, and hath learned of the Father, cometh unto me.

The Love of God is taught of God to be shared:

1Th 4:9 But as touching brotherly love ye need not that I write unto you: for ye yourselves are taught of God to love one another.

John now changes gears and tells us someone in the Church who is not a good example to follow.

*****3Jn 1:9 I wrote unto the church: but Diotrephes, who loveth to have the preeminence among them, receiveth us not.

3Jn 1:10 Wherefore, if I come, I will remember his deeds which he doeth, prating against us with malicious words: and not content therewith, neither doth he himself receive the brethren, and forbiddeth them that would, and casteth them out of the church.

One of the greatest problems in our churches today is, church leaders who divide the church.

These are those who change the Word of God into a lie.

If we all practiced the truth of God, the Church would never be divided!

These are those who twist the Word of God into something that becomes false.

A divisive leader will gather those around him who follow him, and reek havoc, on those, who try to remain in the truth of God.

We see today that many denominations have allowed divisive leaders to come out on top!

Diotrephes refused to recognize the Apostle John as the Elder of the Church, and thought of himself as the true leader of the Church.

He refused to honor the truth of God! So much so, that even in his old age the Apostle John would travel to the location of this man to set him straight.

We do not see much of this anymore.

The Church has become so timid, that the Church refuses to take a stand on the truth!

Diotrephes was standing in the way of Church growth and God's truth, and he was allowing his pride to rule his actions, rather than the Word of God.

He wanted to be recognized as greater than the Apostles.

He wanted the people to come to him for answers.

He wanted the people to seek his opinion.

He wanted all church ministries to be approved by him.

He wanted to sit in the judgment seat.

He wanted to have say so in all matters of the Church.

He wanted the right to approve or disapprove all things of the Church.

Notice how easily he attempted to move Jesus outside the Church, knocking to get back in.

Rev 3:14 And unto the angel of the church of the Laodiceans write; These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, the beginning of the creation of God;

Rev 3:15 I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot.

Rev 3:16 So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth.

Rev 3:17 Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked:

Rev 3:18 I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see.

Rev 3:19 As many as I love, I rebuke and chasten: be zealous therefore, and repent.

Rev 3:20 Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.

Rev 3:21 To him that overcometh will I grant to sit with me in my throne, even as I also overcame, and am set down with my Father in his throne.

Though their names have changed, there are many such men as Diotrephes in the church today!

Mat 23:10 Neither be ye called masters: for one is your Master, even Christ.

Mat 23:11 But he that is greatest among you shall be your servant.

Mat 23:12 And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be abased; and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

What is the means to rebuke such men?

*****3Jn 1:11 Beloved, follow not that which is evil, but that which is good. He that doeth good is of God: but he that doeth evil hath not seen God.

Diotrephes had criticized the epistles of the Apostle John, but the Church is to follow all the Epistles of the New Testament without questioning the authority of the Apostles and the other writers because it is the Holy Spirit who has preserved these words for the entire Church.

The one thing we are to be sure of is, if it goes against the Word of God it is definitely evil, and the Church must not follow anyone who teaches against the written Word of God.

We are to support traveling missionaries and evangelists who preach and teach the truth. Those who reject Jesus must be rejected by the Church!

A divisive leader is never to be followed, in fact they need to be rebuked and if they will repent then they can stay, but if not, they need to be cast out of the Church.

Luk 17:1 Then said he unto the disciples, It is impossible but that offences will come: but woe unto him, through whom they come!

Luk 17:2 It were better for him that a millstone were hanged about his neck, and he cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of these little ones.

Luk 17:3 Take heed to yourselves: If thy brother trespass against thee, rebuke him; and if he repent, forgive him.

Luk 17:4 And if he trespass against thee seven times in a day, and seven times in a day turn again to thee, saying, I repent; thou shalt forgive him.

Rom 12:9 Let love be without dissimulation. Abhor that which is evil; cleave to that which is good.

1Th 5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

There was another godly leader who John knew stood for the truth and the Church needed to know that some of the traveling men were true men of God!

*****3Jn 1:12 Demetrius hath good report of all men, and of the truth itself: yea, and we also bear record; and ye know that our record is true.

The name Demetrius, was a well known name in Rome, with many generals using that name, so this Demetrius could very well have been a Roman converted to Christianity and would certainly have been treated as an enemy to any Judaizers but Gaius should receive him as a brother in Christ and a true man of God.

Diotrephes would certainly have rejected this man!

The Apostle John knew this man Demetrius very well.

Just like Gaius, Demetrius had a strong testimony among all believers inside the Church and outside the Church.

Just like Gaius, Demetrius had a strong testimony among all the Church leaders.

Just like Gaius, Demetrius had a strong testimony of what a true Christian should be.

Why were these things true? Because Demetrius walked in the truth of God and he was not afraid to take a stand for the Lord.

Rom 1:8 First, I thank my God through Jesus Christ for you all, that your faith is spoken of throughout the whole world.

Rom 16:19 For your obedience is come abroad unto all men. I am glad therefore on your behalf: but yet I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple concerning evil.

1Ti 3:7 Moreover he must have a good report of them which are without; lest he fall into reproach and the snare of the devil.

It would take more than just this letter to straighten out this church that was being divided by Diotrephes so the Apostle wrote the last words to us that he would ever write as he was to journey in the name of the Lord to save one more church from false doctrine.

*****3Jn 1:13 I had many things to write, but I will not with ink and pen write unto thee:

3Jn 1:14 But I trust I shall shortly see thee, and we shall speak face to face. Peace be to thee. Our friends salute thee. Greet the friends by name.

In the last days of John, he encouraged us to know just how important it is to have a good testimony.

Today there are even more Diotrephes in our churches who refuse to allow anyone one to come in and preach the truth.

We don't have the Apostle John to travel from church to church to rebuke those who teach a false doctrine.

Divisions in the Church will drive away the Spirit of God.

Division in the Church will open the door to envy in the Church.

Division in the Church will open the door to malice in the Church.

So, there is nothing sweeter than Christian fellowship.

We should get to know each other enough that we know each other by name.

In the world we as Christians may not have many friends, but in the church, we can have many true friends!

John could have written many more things on this day, but he chose to travel to this place and gather together with his Christian family and speak of love and not division.

Speak of the truth of God and not some false gospel.

The one thing we as Christians need today, is to have a good testimony for the Lord Jesus Christ all our remaining days!

Amen

Let's Pray!

Brotherly Love

Increasing in Brotherly Love

Book of Philemon

We think of the Apostle Paul as a great Christian, if not the greatest Christian who has ever lived, but it is a fact that this man named Philemon was counted as a great Christian by the Apostle Paul!

Philemon was a Christian, probably led to the Lord by the Apostle Paul.

Philemon was probably a native of Colossae and he had started a church in his own house.

Philemon was a respected member of society but he also held a prominent place in the Christian community.

No doubt that Philemon held some office in the church, some say he even became bishop of Colossae and was murdered by Nero but there is not much proof of this.

It is certain that Philemon would provide for any of the saints as they passed through this city!

It seems that Onesimus was Philemon's runaway slave at one time and it is in his behalf that the Apostle Paul wrote this epistle.

This epistle that can teach us of how Christians should handle some of the things from our past and uphold our integrity before other Christians and even more so before those who are lost.

We must remember if you call yourself Christian, you place a target upon your back for this lost world to shoot their fiery darts!

It is probable that the Apostle Paul was imprisoned in Rome when he wrote this epistle and it maybe that Paul wrote this epistle with his own hands because it was a personal plea from one Christian to another Christian.

*****Phm 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, unto Philemon our dearly beloved, and fellowlabourer,

Phm 1:2 And to our beloved Apphia, and Archippus our fellowsoldier, and to the church in thy house:

Phm 1:3 Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul was a prisoner at this time in Rome, where he wrote or at least dictated may of his epistles.

Paul was a prisoner to Nero on the outside but Paul was a prisoner of Jesus Christ on the inside!

We can see that Timothy had joined Paul while he was imprisoned in Rome.

To be a Christian is to be a prisoner of Jesus Christ because He purchased us from the slave market of Sin!

In our own way, we should all resemble Philemon and be fellow-laborers with the Apostle Paul in the cause of Jesus Christ!

Paul may have never been to Colossae but Paul knew this family very well.

Apphia was the wife of Philemon.

Archippus was the son of Philemon and was saved and working in his own ministry.

Most all Christians of that day gathered in the home of the Pastor and Philemon had begun a church in his own home.

And of course, all things still come by the "Grace", the unmerited favor of God through the Lord Jesus Christ!

We can be sure that the Apostle Paul had his own prayer list and he also tried to keep up with the happenings of every church that was planted and was surviving at this time.

Not one Christian is of more importance than any other but we all have our prayer list just as the Apostle Paul.

*****Phm 1:4 I thank my God, making mention of thee always in my prayers,

Phm 1:5 Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints;

Phm 1:6 That the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you in Christ Jesus.

If we have a personal relationship with our Father in Heaven and His Son, Jesus, and are filled with His Holy Spirit, then we can also say, "I thank my God".

If we have none of these things then we are only thanking the devil who is laughing at you all the time!

We must realize that there is a God and we must get up close and personal with Him, and that can only be accomplished by accepting the Lord Jesus Christ as your "personal" Savior!

Joh 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.

Joh 14:7 If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him.

We should always pray for those who are called into the ministry and for those who have needs that only God can fill!

Jas 5:13 Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.

Jas 5:14 Is any sick among you? let him call for the elders of the church; and let them pray over him, anointing him with oil in the name of the Lord:

Jas 5:15 And the prayer of faith shall save the sick, and the Lord shall raise him up; and if he have committed sins, they shall be forgiven him. Jas 5:16 Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.

There can be no doubt that even when Paul was imprisoned, he did his very best to keep up with all the churches that had been planted and he had heard nothing but good news from the church in the home of Philemon.

It should be clear to us that if you are a child of God, then you are also a saint of God and this happened as soon as the Holy Spirit moved in!

Rom 1:7 To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, "called to be saints": Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.

The child of God, "born again" of Jesus Christ, does not need some committee, or the Pope, the laying on of hands, or any man to decide if they are a saint of God!

Philemon had a testimony so strong that even the Apostle Paul thanked God for fulfilling the purpose God had for him!

Our greatest purpose in the work of God is to communicate our faith to others! (we are all in this together)

Col 1:10 That ye might walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work, and increasing in the knowledge of God;

Col 1:11 Strengthened with all might, according to his glorious power, unto all patience and longsuffering with joyfulness;

Do you want to humble yourself? Look in the mirror and ask yourself, "am I walking worthy of the Lord?"

According to the Apostle Paul, remember who is led by the Holy Spirit to say all these words, Philemon was doing this thing!

Philemon walked worthy of the Lord after his salvation!

In other words, Philemon understood what the Lord Jesus Christ has commanded us all to do!

Mat_5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

We use that phrase "servants of the Lord" but we must clearly understand our servitude to the Lord is being a servant to one another!

We are to be good "stewards" of the "Grace" of God!

When we face the Lord at the "judgment seat of Christ" we will see that the Lord has considered how we have accomplished these things!

All the "gifts" of God are to be shared with our brothers and sisters and our share of God's "grace" shown to whosoever will listen!

We are always to be "refreshing" when we come together with fellow our brothers and sisters in Christ!

*****Phm 1:7 For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.

The truth is we can never know how far an act of love may travel!

Many of those in Colossae had witnessed the ministry of Philemon and these acts of kindness had traveled across the Sea to Rome and refreshed the spirit of the Apostle Paul who was bound in prison.

We as Christians can also be refreshed when we hear the good works of other Christians from far off places.

I love to hear the good news of our missionaries when they report the good things Christ has accomplished!

Another man once wrote:

We learn about Christ, by giving to others.

We receive from Christ, by sharing with others.

By emptying ourselves, we can be filled with Christ.

The poorer we make ourselves in giving, the richer we are in the gifts of Christ.

To be charitable, is to know more of the wealth of Christ.

Those that know the most of Christ, are not the Bible scholars, but those who move in generosity among mankind especially amongst the saints of God!

We are servants to the Lord by serving others especially to the Church, the Body of Christ!

Gal 6:9 And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.

Gal 6:10 As we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men, especially unto them who are of the household of faith.

We should be able to rejoice when we see blessings given to other children of God!

We should rejoice when we hear the good news of that missionary we support.

We must especially rejoice for each lost soul that comes to know the Lord Jesus Christ as their personal Savior!

If Heaven rejoices for every saved soul, then why would we not join in?

Rejoicing is a sign that our "faith" was real.

Rejoicing is a sign that our prayers are answered.

Rejoicing is a sign that God is fulfilling the promises He has made!

The Apostle Paul could rejoice knowing that even while he was bound, the Word of God could not be bound!

We must rejoice because we are all brothers and sister in Christ, who are all doing "one work" in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ!

So now Onesimus.

*****Phm 1:8 Wherefore, though I might be much bold in Christ to enjoin thee that which is convenient,

Phm 1:9 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.

Phm 1:10 I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds:

Onesimus, whose name means "useful", had at one time been a slave in the house of Philemon, maybe before Philemon had come to know the Lord himself.

He had escaped and without a doubt had also robbed Philemon and had ended up in Rome.

We know that God works in mysterious ways and God had directed Onesimus to cross the path of the Apostle Paul.

Paul is saying that as a man, he had no business getting involved in the workings of a slave and his master but as one Christian to another Christian by Jesus Christ , who is all our Master and as an Apostle called of the Lord, he did have the authority of the Lord in such matters.

Paul is saying even with this authority, it was best to honor Christian friendship as brothers with the same Lord!

We should never make demands of our brothers and sisters in Christ!

Paul laid all these things out before he made his request to Philemon.

We cannot demand that other Christians do the same as we would do. We can try to keep each other on the right path of Jesus Christ!

Notice how gently and humbly Paul approaches his brother in Christ.

The greatest truth of each Christian is that once the Lord Jesus Christ has forgiven us of our sins, how can we as Christians continue to condemn one another? Christ never condemned anyone that loved Him. Those that reject the love of God condemn themselves!

Who are we to question the work of the Lord Jesus Christ?

It is for love's sake that we deal with one another!

1Jn 4:7 Beloved, let us love one another: for love is of God; and every one that loveth is born of God, and knoweth God.

1Jn 4:8 He that loveth not knoweth not God; for God is love.

1Jn 4:9 In this was manifested the love of God toward us, because that God sent his only begotten Son into the world, that we might live through him.

1Jn 4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn 4:11 Beloved, if God so loved us, we ought also to love one another.

It seems that we forget that as Christians we are never to tear down one another but rather to build up!

Onesimus was a slave not only to Philemon but in the eyes of the law and in the eyes of the law, he had no rights at all!

The slave once escaped did not even have the right of asylum.

Until his death, Onesimus would always be a slave!

An escaped slave, in his despair would normally flee to a friend of his master, not to hide, but to seek intercession on his behalf.

Every slave needed an intercessor! (Sounds familiar)

We were all slaves to sin and separated from our God with no means within ourselves to make things right so we needed an Intercessor and that Intercessor is the Lord Jesus Christ!

Isa 59:16 And he saw that there was no man, and wondered that there was no intercessor: therefore his arm brought salvation unto him; and his righteousness, it sustained him.

There was no one upon this earth who could intercede on behalf of us so the Lord God came Himself, "his arm brought salvation to him"!

The Lord Jesus Christ had been the Intercessor for Onesimus to return him to the good "Grace" of God and the Apostle Paul would intercede for Onesimus between him and Philemon.

The slave of Philemon was now a profitable servant for the Lord and for the Apostle Paul.

Onesimus had not only delivered this epistle named Philemon but he had also assisted Tychicus in delivering the epistle to the Colossians.

Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

We know that all the epistles were read in every church but Paul first sent this epistle to Philemon.

It was the Apostle Paul who had led Onesimus to the Lord even while Paul was imprisoned in Rome!

Another name for Onesimus was "profitable"!

*****Phm 1:11 Which in time past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me:

I think it is important to mention that slavery was never introduced by the Jews. Slavery already existed in the world of that day and God, through Moses had laws regulating its existence and its evils and restricting its duration.

It should also be important to know that slavery in America was never introduced by Americans.

It was the Afro people who introduce slavery to America, capturing and selling them own selves!

Slavery still runs rampant throughout this world. The most valuable source in this evil world is not drugs but human trafficking!

Nowhere in the Scriptures does God endorse slavery. In fact, stealing a human being to make them a slave was a capital crime for any Jew!

Deu 24:7 If a man be found stealing any of his brethren of the children of Israel, and maketh merchandise of him, or selleth him; then that thief shall die; and thou shalt put evil away from among you.

This law was not only for the Jew but for the Gentile:

Exo 21:16 And he that stealeth a man, and selleth him, or if he be found in his hand, he shall surely be put to death.

Anyone that was treated as a servant had to be paid and treated humanely!

Lev 25:39 And if thy brother that dwelleth by thee be waxen poor, and be sold unto thee; thou shalt not compel him to serve as a bondservant:

Lev 25:40 But as an hired servant, and as a sojourner, he shall be with thee, and shall serve thee unto the year of jubile:

Lev 25:41 And then shall he depart from thee, both he and his children with him, and shall return unto his own family, and unto the possession of his fathers shall he return.

In fact, any person who had sold themselves into servanthood for a price could redeem themselves or they could be redeemed by family or friends which was encouraged by the Word of God,

When we study these things out in God's Word, we find that the Lord Jesus is in "type" our "Redeemer" who purchased us all from the slave market of sin!

Obviously, the Gentile laws about slaves, differed from the Word of God, but God still expects everyone who places their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ to be obedient to all laws but first placing the Word of God as the supreme law of their life even if it conflicts with man's law!

Now back to Onesimus.

In the Gentile nations (God said heathens) there may have been value in a slave because they were purchased but there was no profit in them.

They served till they died or became useless. A slave in bondage did not ever increase in value! The only value was the work that they performed and that decreased as they aged.

Onesimus had escaped and fled from his bondage and had even robbed Philemon of something of some small value.

As Onesimus had fled to Rome, God placed the Apostle Paul in his path and Onesimus called on the Lord Jesus Christ, was washed in the blood of Jesus and was saved and restored to God.

Now could he be restored to Philemon?

There is no Christian who is hopeless and every Christian has great value in the eyes of God and that value increases as we get busy in the work of God!

Mat_6:19 Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal:

Mat_6:20 But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:

A Christian who begins to be good to himself will then good for others!

Mat 22:37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

Mat 22:38 This is the first and great commandment.

Mat 22:39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Onesimus was "born again" and a changed man!

Jesus Christ changes lives. Jesus takes a good for nothing sinner and makes them useful.

Jesus Christ takes a nothing and makes a something, just as in the act of creating our world when He made our world out of nothingness!

Onesimus had wronged Philemon and it was important to make things right with Him!

*****Phm 1:12 Whom I have sent again: thou therefore receive him, that is, mine own bowels:

Phm 1:13 Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel:

Phm 1:14 But without thy mind would I do nothing; that thy benefit should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.

Onesimus had traveled with Tychicus who carried the epistle to the Colossians but also the epistle to Philemon, not because Onesimus would not have delivered this epistle but because Tychicus could be another witness to the conversion of Onesimus.

It is said that Tychicus also carried the epistle to Ephesians at this same time. Tychicus was not a Colossian himself.

Col 4:7 All my state shall Tychicus declare unto you, who is a beloved brother, and a faithful minister and fellowservant in the Lord:

Col 4:8 Whom I have sent unto you for the same purpose, that he might know your estate, and comfort your hearts;

Col 4:9 With Onesimus, a faithful and beloved brother, who is one of you. They shall make known unto you all things which are done here.

Paul sent Onesimus to be at the mercy of his offended master.

Philemon, without consent of the law could treat his slave as he pleased and he held the power of life and death in his own hands.

That's what we all do when we bow our knees and repent before the Lord, who also has the power of life and death of us all but He also holds the power of eternal life and eternal death.

A slave who robbed his master and then fled from his master was sentenced to death and we already know the wages of sin is death!

Rom 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.

These are some of the things that make the epistle of Philemon such a great book of the Bible.

Onesimus had become very dear to the Apostle Paul, just as we have to our Father in Heaven toward His spiritual children!

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Onesimus would have been a great help to Paul while he was imprisoned but Paul deemed it more important for him to return to Philemon who he had wronged.

Paul said of himself "Paul the aged" and with his bad health it was certain that he needed some help and Paul knew that if Philemon had been in Rome, he would have gladly stayed with Paul and been his help and so stated.

We can just imagine the Holy Ghost working on Paul as even in prison, he was more in bonds to the "Gospel" of Jesus Christ and in his own way, was spreading the Word of God to the far reaches of the world in the only way that was available to him at that time.

The words of Paul by the Holy Spirit added to all the other Scriptures inspired by the Holy Spirit were the hope of Israel but more important the hope of the entire world!

2Ti 3:16 All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness:

2Ti 3:17 That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works.

Just as Paul's purpose was to bring the "Gospel" to the Gentiles, before Onesimus could go further in his own ministry it was his duty to return to Philemon.

In a sense Onesimus needed the permission of Philemon before he could be of service to the Apostle Paul and at the same time Paul was not asking for his return.

This was not a test for Philemon! This was a chance to show his willingness to show his goodness as a Christian.

For Philemon to get a blessing from the Lord, he could not show the appearance of restraining Onesimus as a slave but as a willing brother in Christ to share the work of the Lord.

It is important for us to restrain from all appearance of any evil doings!

1Th_5:22 Abstain from all appearance of evil.

Paul, it should appear that Onesimus was a brother who had departed for a period and had come back home.

We all know the importance of the parable of the "Prodigal Son"!

We were all prodigals before we met Jesus Christ! Onesimus was no different!

These are the thoughts that Paul was teaching to Philemon and more important to all Christians everywhere!

*****Phm 1:15 For perhaps he therefore departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him for ever;

Phm 1:16 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?

One of the greatest problems of Christianity is "forgiveness". We seem to have very little problem accepting the stranger who we know nothing about their past but we struggle sometimes to forgive those, who God has forgiven but we know a lot about their sinful past.

In this sense, we are just hypocrites.

Mat 7:1 Judge not, that ye be not judged.

Mat 7:2 For with what judgment ye judge, ye shall be judged: and with what measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you again.

Mat 7:3 And why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but considerest not the beam that is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:4 Or how wilt thou say to thy brother, Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye; and, behold, a beam is in thine own eye?

Mat 7:5 Thou hypocrite, first cast out the beam out of thine own eye; and then shalt thou see clearly to cast out the mote out of thy brother's eye.

When God has forgiven someone, then who are we to say we will not forgive them!

We also know we should be able to see the truth of them by their works!

We cannot work our way into Heaven but we are to be obedient to the Lord after we are saved and promote the "Gospel" in every way we can.

It is these works after salvation that works toward our perfection!

Jas 2:17 Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone.

Jas 2:22 Seest thou how faith wrought with his works, and by works was faith made perfect?

We may think we can have a good relationship with just about anyone but in truth there should no relationship that can be as close as that one between brothers and sisters in Christ!

Amo 3:3 Can two walk together, except they be agreed?

Two people that know and have accepted the Word of God as the inerrant truth, can certainly agree on most everything and develop a good relationship and it should be or "it must" be the same for the entire Christian community.

This is where God's people have failed the most today!

Everyone wants to interpret the Word of God in their own fashion and ignore what God has really said! It is what God has said that is the truth not those who twist the Word of God into something false!

Onesimus was prepared to accept whatever relationship Philemon offered and Paul was pleading on behalf of Onesimus that his relationship with the Lord would bring about a renewed personal relationship.

Two people with a personal relationship with the Lord should have no problem having a personal relationship with each other!

After all, it is the Lord Jesus Christ who is pleading with God and who intercedes on our behalf so that we can have that personal relationship with our God, our Father in Heaven.

Why cannot we do the same for each other!

When we are in the Lord, we are to give our flesh to the Lord as His servant. Not a servant to Him, but a servant to the Church and to one another!

If Philemon counted the Apostle Paul as his partner in the "Gospel" then he should count Onesimus as a partner in the "Gospel" also!

*****Phm 1:17 If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself.

Phm 1:18 If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;

Paul was an Apostle of the Lord with all the powers of an Apostle yet he never tried to abuse this power.

God has this simple rule for us all to follow in those who are called to be the Christian leaders.

Heb_13:7 Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation.

We are to follow them in "faith" while considering their conversation to see if it lines up with the Word of God!

If it truly lines up with the Word of God then we are to be obedient to those who have rule over us!

Caution: We are never to take the Word of God out of context! We must never allow this power to be abused in any way!

We must also remember once we have been forgiven we are wrong if we are not just as forgiving!

Mat 6:14 For if ye forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you:

Mat 6:15 But if ye forgive not men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses.

Philemon certainly did not have to submit to the wishes of the Apostle Paul but in this case Paul was right and again God has given us a great example of the Christian life!

Then Paul said, "If he hath wronged thee, or oweth thee ought, put that on mine account;"

There is no doubt that Onesimus had robbed his master and then run away and therefore he certainly had an unpaid debt.

Even we as Christians deserve the debt of our brothers and sisters or of anyone else to us, to be repaid!

God says thou shall not steal and these laws still hold true! We are never to take something that belongs to others!

Paul said he would assume any debt that Onesimus owed to Philemon.

The truth is we all had a debt we could not pay and the Lord Jesus Christ told our Father in Heaven, "just put that on My account"!

1Jn_4:10 Herein is love, not that we loved God, but that he loved us, and sent his Son to be the propitiation for our sins.

1Jn_2:2 And he is the propitiation for our sins: and not for ours only, but also for the sins of the whole world.

We all faced the wrath of God and by the death of Jesus Christ, "in our place", we that believe have been reconciled to God!

Rom_5:10 For if, when we were enemies, we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being reconciled, we shall be saved by his life.

Paul was saying to Philemon, we as Christians all have this same ministry toward one another.

2Co_5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

If Paul could not live what He preached, then none of His epistles could be accepted as the truth.

If is the same with Christ Jesus, if He did not fulfill all the prophecies of the Old Testament and walk in innocence upon this earth, then the Bible would be only an old history book.

If it was the same for Paul and the same for our Lord we can be sure it is the same for us all!

Mat_5:16 Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.

These are simple things that cost us blessings with the Lord but they ruin our testimony as Christians.

To be Christian is to be like Christ and making Him our Lord!

Joh_13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for so I am.

If Christ is our Lord then we need to obey the things He has told us to do! (Simple as that)

Luk_6:46 And why call ye me, Lord, Lord, and do not the things which I say?

Again, we should understand the outcome of Onesimus was in the hands of Philemon according to the laws of the land at that time regarding slaves.

Paul dearly wanted to Philemon to make the Christian decision, as the Lord has already justified both Onesimus and Philemon and their sins blotted out in Heaven!

*****Phm 1:19 I Paul have written it with mine own hand, I will repay it: albeit I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self besides.

Phm 1:20 Yea, brother, let me have joy of thee in the Lord: refresh my bowels in the Lord.

Phm 1:21 Having confidence in thy obedience I wrote unto thee, knowing that thou wilt also do more than I say.

As far as Paul was concerned this epistle to Philemon was also an "IOU"!

Paul made sure his signature appeared on this document as proof of his intent to repay Philemon for his losses.

Paul wrote to Philemon with ink.

The Lord Jesus Christ wrote to His Father in Heaven with His Own Blood!

Act_20:28 Take heed therefore unto yourselves, and to all the flock, over the which the Holy Ghost hath made you overseers, to feed the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood.

The truth is, in the Colossae of that day, no one in that day would want to be caught with a lawless slave and yet Paul said this is my partner.

The greatest truth in this epistle besides our debt to Christ is, just how much do we owe that person that led us to the Lord!

Another thing Paul was saying that the "born again" man who had returned to Philemon would now not only be profitable to Philemon but also profitable to the Lord!

In truth Onesimus was so much better a slave when he returned to Philemon and he was of so much greater value, that , a debt could be said to be owed to the Apostle Paul.

Again, a true born-again Christian who is now in harmony with our Father in Heaven is of such a great value that the Father may owe a debt to the His Son, Jesus.

Joh 17:4 I have glorified thee on the earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do.

Joh 17:5 And now, O Father, glorify thou me with thine own self with the glory which I had with thee before the world was.

Joh 17:22 And the glory which thou gavest me I have given them; that they may be one, even as we are one:

Heb_1:4 Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they.

And the Father will allow the Church to share in that inheritance and in the glory of Christ!

Heb_9:15 And for this cause he is the mediator of the new testament, that by means of death, for the redemption of the transgressions that were under the first testament, they which are called might receive the promise of eternal inheritance.

If there is one thing we lack today besides "faith" then it would be "confidence" in our brothers and sisters to do the right thing every time!

If there is one thing that each new child of God needs, it is to be received by his brothers and sisters in Christ!

We must also understand that Paul was not accusing Philemon of anything. Paul was trying his best to show his confidence in Philemon and that he would do the right thing.

We must all hope for the best outcome as each child of God goes through the burdens of the world but a brother or sister in Christ should never be one of those burdens.

We are not to think bad about our Church family without true biblical evidence!

A godly love will always cause the right actions!

1Co 13:4 Charity suffereth long, and is kind; charity envieth not; charity vaunteth not itself, is not puffed up,

1Co 13:5 Doth not behave itself unseemly, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil;

1Co 13:6 Rejoiceth not in iniquity, but rejoiceth in the truth;

1Co 13:7 Beareth all things, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things.

As we can see the Apostle Paul had much more love for each child of God than we can imagine.

It was important to Paul that each child of God do their best to show the love of God in everything they did!

It is important for us to know that no one is excluded from the "Grace" of God, except those who exclude themselves!

No one is excluded from the glory world except those who exclude themselves!

The Lord God Almighty is standing with arms open to receive all those who call upon His name and only those who reject the Word of God will miss His embrace as of a loving Father!

And Paul begins to close:

*****Phm 1:22 But withal prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you.

We know that without "faith" we cannot please God.

Heb 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

We already know that the Apostle Paul accepted the will of God and moved to wherever the Holy Ghost moved him. Paul had his own plans changed many times, the Macedonian call being the most well-known.

Here the Apostle Paul was showing Philemon his "faith" in answered prayer.

If by prayer Paul was released from prison, he would have loved to come to Colossae just to see the good works of Onesimus!

God had other plans!

In fact, Paul had a great desire to visit all his friends one more time before his death.

Some say after this imprisonment Paul spent some time in Greece, Spain, and Asia Minor before returning to Rome and to his death.

Some say Paul was never liberated and was just put to death in Rome.

Paul realized his time was short before his Roman trip even began!

Act 20:25 And now, behold, I know that ye all, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more.

It was in Rome where we hear the last words from Luke.

It is the Book of 2 Timothy that we hear the last of Luke, who kept us informed of the travels of the Apostle Paul. We can just imagine the health of the Apostle Paul by the fact the Luke, also a physician, traveled with him.

2Ti 4:9 Do thy diligence to come shortly unto me:

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

2Ti 4:11 Only Luke is with me. Take Mark, and bring him with thee: for he is profitable to me for the ministry.

2Ti 4:12 And Tychicus have I sent to Ephesus.

And Paul closes this epistle to his dear friend.

*****Phm 1:23 There salute thee Epaphras, my fellowprisoner in Christ Jesus;

Phm 1:24 Marcus, Aristarchus, Demas, Lucas, my fellowlabourers.

Phm 1:25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen.

Epaphras not imprisoned in Rome but still a fellowprisoner in Christ.

It is Epaphras who is believed to be the missionary who had planted the church in Colossae.

This Marcus is the probably the same Mark that was sent home by Paul and the means of the dispute between Paul and Barnabas.

We know this because it was Peter who had led this Marcus to the Lord at a young age, probably a teenage.

1Pe 5:13 The church that is at Babylon, elected together with you, saluteth you; and so doth Marcus my son.

Aristarchus had been traveling with Paul since his time in Thessalonica.

Demas with Paul now, at this time is the same Demas who had forsaken Paul.

2Ti 4:10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

If the Book of Philemon was written after 2 Timothy then it appears that Demas has been restored, there is no way of actually knowing.

This Lucas is the same as Luke the physician, who wrote the Books of Acts and the Book of Luke and possibly was the writer who wrote down the words of Paul for the Book of Hebrews,

Without the "Grace" of God, supplied through the Lord Jesus Christ, and powered by the Holy Spirit, then there could be no Church!

The true Church consists of those who assemble to worship Jehovah God, who have accepted His Dear Son, the Lord Jesus Christ as their Savior and are now in the power of the Holy Spirit.

All others are just fakes!

Amen.

Let's Pray!