Thrive Ministries International

Paul begins to bring restoration to a relationship. He is not ordering Philemon but is appealing to him in love as a man that should be respected.

Joy and encouragement come when a person is loved with God's kind of love. They are also refreshed as believers when love is present.

Our fellowship comes from our faith. It becomes active and full of energy when we know with certainty what has been placed in us by Christ Jesus

Paul thanks God for Philemon and prays for him because Philemon loves and has faith in the Lord and people.

There was a church that met in Philemon's house. Paul also tells us that both grace and peace come from God our Father and Jesus Christ.

Apphia and Archippus are with Philemon. Little is known about them. They were both believer and were active in the church. Paul mentions them personally because of their importance in the church.

Paul introduces himself and Timothy as the writers of this letter. Philemon is a believer and Paul loves him. Philemon is also a worker in the Kingdom of God.

The book of Philemon is many times ignored yet it is filled with an amazing teaching on relationships.

The people in the church need to learn to engage in morally good works. When they do they will meet the pressing needs of the church. They will be fruitful in their lives.

Artemis and Tychicus were two important and trustworthy people. Paul is sending them to Crete to relieve Titus so he could come and see Paul. The church needs to make sure that traveling ministers have their needs met.

Stay away from and do not associate with people who have been warned to not cause division in the church. These people are turned inside out and are sinning. They are condemned by the church because of their actions.

We need to stay away from controversial teaching, genealogies that make us feel more important, fighting and quarrels about religion. They do not produce anything worthwhile in our lives

We must be confident in what we believe and speak the Gospel with confidence. This will produce good works in believer which are morally good and useful for all men.

The Holy Spirit is working with Jesus to make us new. The Holy Spirit is given to us in abundance. Because we are made justified we inherit the eternal life of God.

He saved us!! Not because we tried to do good things. But because of His pity on us. He made us new by the work of the Holy Spirit.

Thank God things changed. The kindness and goodness of God and His special affection for us was revealed to us and we were free.

We were once controlled by lust and pleasure. Our lives were given to hostility towards others and envy and hatred toward others.

What were we like before we became believers? Paul describes us as foolish, disobedient and deceived.

Believers need to stop using words to destroy someone. We need to be a person who can live in peace and be gentle.

We need to be subject to civil authorities and rulers by being obedient to them. We need to be ready to do good.