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Bibleline Bibleline, here got to word on Bibleline, here got truth on Bibleline. Welcome to Bibleline with Dr. Ralph Yankee Arnold, pastor of Calvary Community Church in Tampa, Florida, clearly declaring the Gospel of Jesus Christ through the radio and the internet. Your regular prayers and monthly support make it possible for Bibleline to continue on the air. and reach us toll free at 1-800-576-3771. Online donations Jeannie made by clicking on the donations link on the BibleLineMinistries.org homepage. We pray that you will enjoy our commitment to the clear gospel of Jesus Christ and that today’s concluding message of this teaching will be a blessing to you and your family.

Look in 1 Peter chapter 2, 1 Peter chapter 2, First Peter chapter two and verse 18. He’s telling us a little bit about doing well, doing the right things. Then he says in verse 18, servants, be subject to your masters with all fear, not only to the good and the gentle, but also to the forward. Now you can see the word two, word toward and forward, to and from. And whenever you see those two words, those who to truth and from truth, there’s Adamant who are not doing according to truth.

And they can defraud you. They wrong you. You still treat them right. You still do right. If you do right only because people are doing you right, what reward should you get? As he says in the book of Matthew chapter 5, what have you done if you simply love those who love you? It’s when you love those who don’t love you. Now you’re doing something. Now you’re going above something. So when you understand that, you understand a little bit more about where Paul’s coming from because the book of Follyman.

And look in verse 1. In verse 1 Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ. He was a bond slave and he’s also called a prisoner a do-loss. He says, Paul a prisoner of Jesus Christ and Timothy our brother unto Philemon our daily beloved fellow labor. Now Paul believes and calls you know Timothy and Philemon, we are our brothers. These are ours. I mean we are brothers in the Lord. And so he’s recognized now Paul had a great impact upon Philemon.

And so he kind of mentions that a little bit as goes along here. And then he says this, not only the word our brother there, but in verse two and our beloved Alphea and our Chippos, our fellow soldiers and to the church in thy house. So here’s a man who has a church in his house. He’s a leader, he’s a good man, a godly man, and he has two things in his favor. One is faith and one is love.

And so he demonstrates that. So you look down there in verse five, he said, now I thank God because of you, and I make mention of you in my prayers, but then in verse five, hearing of, see that word, thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus and toward all saints. Now faith is the source from which love is derived. See if you have faith in what God’s word says, then it teaches you to love one another.

So your faith in the Lord is so important and faith in doctrine because you see, we don’t just love according to feelings. If you wait till you have the feelings, you’re gonna be greatly deceived. We are to love people because God has commanded us to love. So see in our minds we think, well, if I don’t love you, I don’t love you, I just don’t love you. Love is a command. You’re told to do that. Love one another. Husbands love your wife.

That’s a command. It means that you love is a choice. Love not the world. Set your effects and some things about it. See, you can choose what to love and you can choose what not to love. And so your obedience to God, if I love God and God says, love your wife, then I have to provide and take care and protect and feed and all the things God wants me to do, then I do that. Why? Because I love God.

And so your faith in what God says is the basis for your love for one another. And so, Philemon had love because of his faith. If you want to grow in love, grow in your faith in what God says to do, and it’ll work. Now look what else he says here. You see, faith has this object in the Lord, but love is directed by two all of God’s people. So when he makes this statement here and toward all saints, he’s going to let Filey Man know.

I’m going to ask you to do something that’s beyond just loving the saints. There’s a guy that used to work for you and he ran away and he wind up in jail and guess who was in jail. Paul was. Paul went to jail. Well lo and behold, here’s on this and he’s in jail and Paul leads him to Christ. He trusts the Lord. teaches him. And one of the other books it talks about in the last chapter about the God using this man named Onesimus.

And he had also brought back no doubt a couple of the books and maybe Ephesians and Colossians and the book of Philemon. He wrote, came back with these letters and God used this young man. But he had maybe wrong but Paul didn’t say he did. He says if he has wronged you, if, he says just put it on my tab. I’ll take care of it. But there’s something that Paul is doing. It’s kind of like he’s setting them up.

I told you all this before. We used to have a bowling alley. And years ago, they didn’t have these automatic pin setters. The only thing was automatic is you. You got in there and you had to stand inside and you got onto the side of that thing and they’d throw that ball down there and they had a thing up there. You could see them but they couldn’t see you. And And that ball come down there and just throws those pins everywhere and they’re just flying.

And you try not to get killed. Then afterwards, you got down there and you set up those pins, moved the bad ones out of the way and you reset some of the ones right in the right spot, then you get back up out of the way and then here comes it again. Why do you set those pins up? So you can knock them down. He’s going to set them up so you can knock them down. He’s got something you’re going to hit him with.

He was a good man, a godly man, and Paul knows that you owe me, but he doesn’t want to use that, but he wants to let him know that he could, but he’s not going to. The way he works it is awesome. But look what he says here in verse 6. Now Paul says to Falim and I have one more, and this is an effectual illustration for us to show God’s love. Now this is the real test. See Paul is letting Falim and…

one thing to love all of those that are so lovable and you got a church in your house and everything’s going great and what we have heard about your love and your faith I mean you made an impact he said but I got something else for you so he made this statement here looking verse 6 that the communication of thy faith may become effectual by the acknowledging of every good thing which is in you, in Christ Jesus. In other words, God wants us to demonstrate our love and our faith in every way.

And this is like, I’ve got one more good idea for you. One more way, what about a slave? What about somebody that worked for you and he ran off? Now there’s somebody that you get a chance to demonstrate really the Christian faith. Now in our Christian life, So easy to be nice, kind to those who are nice and kind, isn’t it? But do you ever have somebody that’s not nice and kind, that’s just mean and cantankers? And you want to be the same way back to him.

Look what he says. In verse seven he says, for we have great joy and consolation in thy love because the bowels of thy saints are refreshed by the brother. In other words, your love is so encouraging. Your love is so encouraging. And it’s like, I’m going to ask you a request, and I want you to, well, I want you to cheer me up. Remember, where’s Paul? He’s in prison. And I want you to cheer me up. I want to know that you’re going to do this, but I already know that you’re going to do it.

And you’re going to even do more than I’m asking you to do. This is what he says to him. Now, if you get this letter and you read it, how could you let Paul down. How could you not do what Paul wanted to have done? So he says in verse 8, so Paul has set him up. Instead of saying, you owe me Paul request. He says, wherefore though I might be much bold in Christ, to enjoin thee that which is convenient.

In other words, it’s a lot easier on me just to say do this and order him and boss him around. But that’s not what Paul won. He wants him to do it because he really wants to do it. Because Paul is using, you know, we’ve heard about your great faith and your love to all the same. Well, here’s one more. I’ll run away slave. And I’m going to send him back to you. And I want you to receive him just as though you were receiving me.

He’s coming in my stead. So he says here in verse 9, yet, for love’s sake, I’d rather be the same. seat stay. Being such as one as Paul, you’re on the line this. I don’t like it, but you’re on the line. Paul the aged. And now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. And he was a real prisoner. He really was. He was a love slave of the Lord, but he was also in jail. He says, I be seat stay for my son.

Means he led him to the Lord. Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds. While I’m in jail, I got a young man to trust Christ as Savior, and he’d been teaching him the Word. He says, when you had him, when you had him as a slave, he was, he was no use to you. He was unprofitable. He said, but now, see there in verse 11, which in time pass was to you the unprofitable, but now profitable to you and to me.

Now he’s valuable. I was talking to Freddy Cole yesterday on the phone. I think it was yesterday. And I told him, I says, you sent about three or four guys down here. And I says, and they didn’t know anything. We’ve trained him and sent him back to you. Now don’t mess him up. Didn’t I tell him that?

He says, they were all straightened up before they got down there. So we had a little fun on the phone. And I just thought, because I was asking them a request. it’s not that you owe me anything, but you know you are one of our missionaries and you know we have been supporting you quite well, but now I don’t want there to be any pressure put upon you whatsoever because I remember the story of Philemon, but anyway, Luke, when he says here in verse 12, whom I have sent him back to you again, thou therefore receive him that is mine own bowels, In other words, as though it was me in tender mercies, whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead, he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel.

In other words, I wouldn’t mind keeping him here so that he can minister in your place. As though you were here, he would be taken your place. But I’m gonna send him back to you. In verse 14, but without thy mind, in the words without your permission, I won’t do that. But without thy mind, what I do nothing, that thy benefit should not be as though you had to. As it were of necessity, but willingly. I want you to do this willingly.

This is why it’s such an effective illustration on going beyond just loving those that are lovable, or somebody, this is somebody who has wronged you. How do you receive them? How do you treat them? Anyway, look at this. He says here in verse 15, for perhaps he therefore departed for a season that thou should have received him forever. In other words, he left you for a little while, but you’re gonna get him for a big while. He can come back and be more valuable to you than when he was before.

So he says in verse 16, not now as a slave, but above us slave, above us servant, a brother beloved, especially to me. But how much more under the, both in the flesh and in the Lord? In other words, you’re getting a saved man back who knows the Lord, loves the Lord, wants to walk with the Lord and think of how much more valuable he is to you now. I think anybody who comes here from wherever they come, we got Connor back there.

I think he’s back there. Yeah, he’s sleeping. Got Connor back there. He came to us and we hope that whenever he leaves, he leaves Richard. We hope that he has learned something while he’s here. That’s questionable, I know. But he’s back there right now learning how to do the sound system. Ain’t that good? I think it’s great. John John goes back, I want him to go back richer than when he came. We were hoping that we’re putting enough good stuff into him that he increases in value and that he becomes a blessing to wherever he goes.

And so we got to tell him up there, look, please take John and use him. Please take John and use him. We’re sending them back to you. He was no good here. No. We want you to use him. I want him to be a blessing to you. Now look at the next statement. verse 17, if, now it’s two ifs and these two words, if, if they’ll count me, therefore a partner. I want you to treat him as a brother.

Receive him as myself. In other words, if you think you and me, we’re in the same ministry, we’re partners for the cause of Christ. And he’s valuable also. So if you can receive me, I want you to receive him. You think Paul’s using any leverage here or anything? I think maybe a little bit, huh? And then he says there in verse 8, if he has wrong V or O of the aught, put that on my account, like, He’s in person and he’s going to pay for it.

Yeah, right. But he also scares finally him into death. He told him and says, look, I’m planning on coming to see ya. By the way, I’m coming to see ya. He’s out of your know that. Well, I just know that. Cause I’ve already read another verse. You haven’t read it yet. See you in verse 22. But with all prepare me also a logic. What would that mean? I’m coming. I’m coming. Let’s him know that Paul’s coming. So if Paul is coming, the great apostle Paul, what do you think you’re gonna do with Onesimus?

You think you would say, no, I’m not gonna do it. Or do you think you’re gonna show him love like you would the apostle Paul? I think so. See there in verse 19, when it talks about, now this is a good illustration, put that on my account. If he is wrong, put it on my account. This is what Jesus is like saying. If they wrong, you just put that on my account. I’ll pay for it. So he says here in verse 19, I, Paul, have written it with my own hands.

I will repay it. I’ll bid. I do not say to thee how thou owe us unto me even thine own self beside. I see humor in some of this. I really do. It’s not just that it’s just words, or it’s like Paul says, I’m not going to say anything about what you owe me. Well, what’s he doing? He’s doing it. I mean, the man must have read Del Carnegie’s book on how to win friends I’ve influenced. Is that how that book goes?

How to win friends and influence people? How to win friends I’ve influenced. Ha, funny. So he says here in verse 20, Yay, brother, let me have joy of the in the Lord. Refresh my bowels in the Lord. In other words, do me a favor, cheer me up. Make me glad that I did what I did, and I sent him back to you. And he’s going back richer. And you may have lost him for a little while, but he’s gonna come back good.

This is what I wanted some of them to know, it’s up there in Freddy Call and the people at Northside Baptist Church. You may have, let us have these guys for a little while, but I think they’re gonna go back richer and do a greater job. If they had stayed, I don’t think they would do as much. But I think they’ll do a better job in the long run. Don’t you agree with that, John? Sir. You better agree with that.

I’m not saying you owe me. In verse 21, having confidence in thy obedience, I wrote unto thee, knowing that thy will also do more than I say. You see anything in that verse? Is there a vote of confidence that he really believes this is going to produce results, having confidence in thy obedience. How can you let him down? How can you let a man down? It’s right to you like that. And Paul, a man in prison. But you know, he might have just looked at that guy and says he’s just a man in prison.

He’s not worth talking to him. But Paul talked to him and he trusts Christ as Savior. didn’t know when he started probably witnessing to him that, you know, he was a runaway slave from a close personal friend of the Apostle Paul. Sometimes you find out there might be some people you can’t reach. Don’t worry about it. Just reach the ones you can. Sometimes the one you do reach will wind up reaching the ones you couldn’t reach. Don’t it make sense?

So while Paul was in prison, God I might win souls. I want you to take your Bible and turn to the book of Romans in chapter 12 and we’ll close there but I want you to see this. Romans chapter 12, I’ve done this before and I want to do it one more time because I believe that this is something so important for all of us to keep in mind. When it says in Romans chapter 12 verse 1, I beseech you therefore brethren.

That you win souls by the mercies of God. That you win souls. That you present your bodies a living sacrifice. Why? That you might win souls. Holy. Why? That you might win souls. Acceptable unto God. That you might win souls. Which is your reasonable service. That you might win souls. Be not conformed to this world. Why? That you might win souls. but being transformed by the renewing of your mind. Why? That you might win souls. That you may prove what is good.

Why? That you might win souls. And acceptable. Why? That you might win souls. And perfect. Why? That you might win souls. The will of God is that you might win souls. You see, you can put that in a lot of places and it’ll make sense to your purpose in life. So regardless of what you do, we may have a Christmas music that we put on, but the purpose is to win some souls. We don’t know that we just keep planting seeds.

This is like I had a guy come to see me yesterday. And he, him and his wife sat down in, and his name is Dave Adams. Dave Adams. And so anyway, I’m sitting there talking to them, and they said, we was over there in Orlando, and they saw Mary over there. And they told me, he says, that Mary’s something else. I perked up, I want to know what did she do?

And it says, it didn’t matter where they went. She’s passing out tracks, you know, like she’s supposed to and talking. And passing, they said, we were ashamed that we weren’t doing it. So Mary, that’s, I told them, I said, a lot of women in our church do that. You don’t have to be a preacher, but you can show us some seeds. You can leave a track. Betty likes leaving that little card. You know, that thing is doing a thing.

She wants some more of them. But she enjoys passing those things out and leaving somebody because that’s just another way that she can do it. But pass out tracks. You ought to always carry something with you. If you can, at least you can just drop seeds, handfuls on purpose. Read the book of Ruth and you’ll find out handfuls on purpose. Anyway, there’s a sermon there somewhere. There is, there’s a sermon there. Anyway, now you know about Onesimus. Look up here, this is you and me.

This is how we explain the gospel. You ought to learn how to do this by now. You ought to be able to do it in your sleep. I thought it was so funny the other night. And he tells me he does this, and that’s Lynn. He goes to bed and he plays the CD because he can go right to sleep with me talking. But he was dreaming, he was dreaming that I was witnessing to him and then he kept trying to say something and then I wouldn’t shut up.

He said, every time I try to say something, he would just keep on talking. And then he woke up and realized, he’d been listening to that CD. I really didn’t know if I was having a compliment or, you know, this is you and me. Wallet represents sin. We all have sin on us. God loves us. Now he hates our sin, but he loves us. And for us to pay for sin is eternal separation from the Lord in a place called hell.

God loves us once as to go to heaven. But to go to heaven you have to be perfect. And nobody is perfect. Nobody is good enough. I’ve had people say, you mean I’m not good enough? That’s it. You’re not good enough. No you’re not. And everybody always wants to think they’re good enough. No, you’re not good enough. Like I wanted to sing in the choir. Oh, I’m not good enough. I want to sing a special. You’re not good enough.

I want to go to heaven. You’re not good enough. But they can get done out of shape quick. Anyway, God loves us, but He hates our sin because we sin, we have to be turnily separated from God. God will not let one sin into heaven. So the Bible says we’ve all sin, we’re all condemned. And the Bible says you cannot earn eternal life, you cannot work your way to heaven. And if we die without doing something about this, we’re going to be turnily separated from God in hell.

The sin represents Jesus Christ. He’s the Lord God and the flesh came into the world because well he loved us, but he hates our sins. He took the sin, paid for the only cross, came back from the dead. And God said if we believe he did it for us, he’d put the payment on account. We get to go to heaven on what Christ did for us. It’s a simple illustration, but it helps people to see, to understand. But whatever you do, if you don’t do this, at least give them a track.

So seeds. And remember everything that we do, What’s the purpose of college? What are we trying to teach kids to be? So honors. If you don’t want to be a soul, then they’ll need to be there. It’s just that simple. If that’s not what our purpose is in gold is, why do it? There’s gonna be a reason, one that drives us more than anything else in the whole world. We don’t change. It really blessed my little pea-picking heart whenever Jesse told me.

He says, I don’t her listen to that. Dr. Stanford, little 26 minute video. He said three times. He’s on the verge of dedication. But it’s just just plain simple. It just brings it back to what is the purpose? And I wish we had more people that would understand this. I really do. Let’s pray, shall we? Every head bound, every eye closed, no one looking around. If you’re here tonight and you’ve never trusted Christ as your Savior, I pray that you would.

And also if you’re watching by the internet, the best thing you can do, the wisest thing you could ever do. Men had to be a fool to turn down a free gift. And if you’ll trust Christ as your Savior, God said He would save you, give you eternal life and you can know that you’re going to heaven because Christ paid for all of your sins. The only reason you might as going to heaven because we believe Christ paid for our sins.

So therefore I don’t have to pay for them. Not pray that you believe that. But also each one of y’all that’s in this room understand how important it is. Don’t start drifting. Stay on course. Finish your race. Finish well. Remember what the purpose and goal is. We like to find house five because we want to draw people in. We want people on the internet, the YouTube. We get people probably three or four a day that trust the Lord somewhere in the world just because of the work that’s been done in that area.

And how many from the radio ministry, I don’t know, they had a couple of trusts of the Lord from a one, a couple of trusts of the Lord from the ranch the other night. Then those that go Friday night so went in, They had some trust in the Lord. But see, there’s a reason for doing it. The reason we give our money is so we can try to keep the buses running, the lights on, the insurance paid, all these things.

What’s wherever our hands find us to do to do it with all our might? Father, we thank you again for your blessings. Thank you for your love for us. And we pray that we will learn to love one another as we should, and not to be a respecter of persons, as we learn from tonight about Paul talking to if I laymen about a love slave. And Father, we just want to have an impact in people’s lives and help us to remember the purpose to go.

Bless this church. We ask your blessings upon those that are facing surgery this week and some next week, from next month. But Lord, we just want your will to be done in our lives. And we’re going to go from one thing to the next. We know that. But help us to realize you walk us through it and us to trust you. Thank you for this church, what it stands for, and for the gospel’s sake. Christ in the Repraying. Are you a new listener to Bibleline?

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The mailing address is 4811 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. Again, don’t forget to include your mailing address, and God bless you and thank you for listening to Bibleline. Thanks for joining us on Bibleline. If you are in the area, we welcome you to visit us. The address for Calvary Community Church is 4081 George Road, Tampa, Florida, 33634. and now a closing thought from Pastor Arnold. Friend, one day it will happen. The trumpet will sound, and we will be changed.

Caught up to meet the Lord in the air. So live today and every day. Believing that the Lord is coming soon, just keep looking up.