The document summarizes passages from the Book of Philemon and discusses themes of God's providence, the importance of sharing one's testimony, and substitution or standing in another's place. It also touches on themes of loving one's family while transitioning from control to counsel, and moving from self-reliance to trusting in Christ when facing family difficulties or discouragement.

1. CAN YOU SEE GOD
WORKING IN YOUR
LIFE / FAMILY? Part 3
Sunday, September 2, 2012

2. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
3
Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. 4 I
thank my God, making mention of you
always in my prayers, 5 hearing of your
love and faith which you have toward the
Lord Jesus and toward all the saints, 6
that the sharing of your faith may
become effective by the
acknowledgment of every good thing
which is in you in Christ Jesus.

3. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
7
For we have great joy and consolation in
your love, because the hearts of the
saints have been refreshed by you,
brother.
8
Therefore, though I might be very bold in
Christ to command you what is fitting, 9
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
—

4. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
10
I appeal to you for my son Onesimus,
whom I have begotten while in my
chains, 11 who once was unprofitable to
you, but now is profitable to you and to
me.
12
I am sending him back. You therefore
receive him, that is, my own heart, 13
whom I wished to keep with me, that on
your behalf he might minister to me in
my chains for the gospel.

5. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
14
But without your consent I wanted to do
nothing, that your good deed might not
be by compulsion, as it were, but
voluntary.
15
For perhaps he departed for a while for
this purpose, that you might receive him
forever, 16 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.

6. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
17
If then you count me as a partner,
receive him as you would me. 18 But if
he has wronged you or owes
anything, put that on my account. 19 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.

7. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
20
Yes, brother, let me have joy from
you in the Lord; refresh my heart in
the Lord.
21
Having confidence in your obedience,
I write to you, knowing that you will
do even more than I say.

8. The Book of Philemon
We identified 3 great themes from
this book:
1. Providence
Jesus will orchestrate amazing
things—providence—to
demonstrate how much he loves
you, and others. We have to be
open and ready to see him

9. The Book of Philemon
2. Everyone has a story!
Effective sharing of your faith
includes telling others how God
has worked in your life!

10. The Book of Philemon
3. Substitution: standing in
the place of another
Jesus took our place in death,
so we could enjoy His place in
life.

11. Standing in the
Place of Another

12. The Passion: The Heart
of a Father and Mother

13. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
Philemon 1:10
M p le a is tha t y o u s ho w kind ne s s
y
to O ne s im us . Ithink o f him a s m y
o wn s o n be c a us e he be c a m e a
be lie ve r a s a re s ult o f m y m inis try
he re in p ris o n.

14. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
Verse12
Ia m s e nd ing him ba c k to y o u, a nd with
him c o m e s m y o wn he a rt.
Verse17
So if y o u c o ns id e r m e y o ur p a rtne r,
g ive him the s a m e we lc o m e y o u wo uld
g ive m e if Iwe re c o m ing .

15. The Book of Philemon (New King James
Version)
Verses 18-19
I he ha s ha rm e d y o u in a ny wa y o r
f
s to le n a ny thing fro m y o u, c ha rg e
m e fo r it. I Pa ul, write this in m y
,
o wn ha nd writing : " Iwill re p a y it. "
A Iwo n't m e ntio n tha t y o u o we
nd
m e y o ur ve ry s o ul!

16. The Passion: The Heart of a Father and
Mother
Our love opens our heart for our
family: this vulnerability, in turn,
also opens us up for tremendous
pain, grief, and disappointment.

17. The Passion: The Heart of a Father and
Mother
When we respond outside the
Grace of God to our pain, deep
discouragement and even
bitterness can easily fester and
damage our souls.

18. The Process: From
Loving Control to Loving
Counsel

19. The Process: From Loving Control to Loving
Counsel
The process of moving from a
position of control to a position of
counsel (influence), from childhood
to adulthood, is a difficult transition!

20. The Process: From Loving Control to Loving
Counsel
Verse 8 Tha t is why Ia m bo ld ly
a s king a fa vo r o f y o u. Ic o uld
d e m a nd it in the na m e o f Chris t
be c a us e it is the rig ht thing fo r y o u
to d o , but be c a us e o f o ur lo ve [fo r
lo ve ’s s a ke ], Ip re fe r jus t to a s k
y o u. So ta ke this a s a re q ue s t fro m
y o ur frie nd Pa ul, a n o ld m a n, no w

21. The Process: From Loving Control to Loving
Counsel
This process happens through
teaching, example, relationship
development, and mentoring.

22. The Prayer: Moving
from Self-Reliance
to Christ-Reliance

23. The Prayer: Moving from Self-Reliance to Christ-Reliance
Your Heavenly Father loves you
and your children more than you
can imagine!
Matthew 7:11 I y o u s inful p e o p le
f
kno w ho w to g ive g o o d g ifts to y o ur
c hild re n, ho w m uc h m o re will y o ur
he a ve nly Fa the r g ive g o o d g ifts to
tho s e who a s k him .

24. The Prayer: Moving from Self-Reliance to Christ-Reliance
An awareness of our weaknesses
and inabilities prompts us to turn to
Jesus for help!
The promises of God’s Word
qualify us for His help and His
grace to work in our families!

25. The Prayer: Moving from Self-Reliance to Christ-Reliance
Discouraged About
Family?
Pray…
1. Jesus, I feel so discouraged!

26. The Prayer: Moving from Self-Reliance to Christ-Reliance
2. When I was far from You and
unable to help myself, you pursued
me to show me Your love (Romans
5:6 Fo r whe n we we re y e t witho ut
s tre ng th, in d ue tim e Chris t d ie d fo r
the ung o d ly . ) Please do the same
for _______.

27. The Prayer: Moving from Self-Reliance to Christ-Reliance
3. Jesus, show ________ Your
love!
4. I am trusting in You, Lord, to
work out Your will in his/her life!