For a Little While

Philemon 1-18 NLT - 1 This letter is from Paul, a prisoner for preaching the Good News about Christ Jesus, and from our brother Timothy. I am writing to Philemon, our beloved co-worker, 2 and to our sister Apphia, and to our fellow soldier Archippus, and to the church that meets in your house. 3 May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ give you grace and peace. 4 I always thank my God when I pray for you, Philemon, 5 because I keep hearing about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all of God’s people. 6 And I am praying that you will put into action the generosity that comes from your faith as you understand and experience all the good things we have in Christ. 7 Your love has given me much joy and comfort, my brother, for your kindness has often refreshed the hearts of God’s people. 8 That is why I am boldly asking a favor of you. I could demand it in the name of Christ because it is the right thing for you to do. 9 But because of our love, I prefer simply to ask you. Consider this as a request from me—Paul, an old man and now also a prisoner for the sake of Christ Jesus. 10 I appeal to you to show kindness to my child, Onesimus. I became his father in the faith while here in prison. 11 Onesimus hasn’t been of much use to you in the past, but now he is very useful to both of us. 12 I am sending him back to you, and with him comes my own heart. 13 I wanted to keep him here with me while I am in these chains for preaching the Good News, and he would have helped me on your behalf. 14 But I didn’t want to do anything without your consent. I wanted you to help because you were willing, not because you were forced. 15 It seems you lost Onesimus FOR A LITTLE WHILE so that you could have him back forever. 16 He is no longer like a slave to you. He is more than a slave, for he is a beloved brother, especially to me. Now he will mean much more to you, both as a man and as a brother in the Lord. 17 So if you consider me your partner, welcome him as you would welcome me. 18 If he has wronged you in any way or owes you anything, charge it to me.

As we walk together… to keep unity, it takes LOVE!

Philemon 23-25 NLT - Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, sends you his greetings. 24 So do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, and Luke, my co-workers. 25 May the grace of the Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit.

2 Timothy 4:9-11 NLT Timothy, please come as soon as you can. 10 Demas has deserted me because he loves the things of this life and has gone to Thessalonica. Crescens has gone to Galatia, and Titus has gone to Dalmatia. 11 Only Luke is with me…

Acts 15:36-41 NLT - After some time Paul said to Barnabas, “Let’s go back and visit each city where we previously preached the word of the Lord, to see how the new believers are doing.” 37 Barnabas agreed and wanted to take along John Mark. 38 But Paul disagreed strongly, since John Mark had deserted them in Pamphylia and had not continued with them in their work. 39 Their disagreement was so sharp that they separated. Barnabas took John Mark with him and sailed for Cyprus. 40 Paul chose Silas, and as he left, the believers entrusted him to the Lord’s gracious care. 41 Then he traveled throughout Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches there.

Their disagreement was so strong, it STRAINED their relationship to the point of SEVERING their ministry connection.

When a relationship is strained, you can find yourselves “not knowing where you stand.”

If our enemy cannot BREAK us, he will seek to weaken our CONNECTIVE RELATIONSHIPS.

If he can do THAT, he can WEAKEN the BODY of CHRIST.

When conflict occurs, one way to walk in love is to seek HEALING!

Colossians 3:13-15 NLT - Make allowance for each other’s faults, and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others. 14 Above all, clothe yourselves with love, which binds us all together in perfect harmony. 15 And let the peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts. For as members of one body you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful.

To help promote Healing: PRICE AND no HAM

P  - PROTECT   \ 

     > - Take the time to allow the damage to finish

R  - REST          /     

  H  - HEAT           \     Avoid within the first 3 days of damage

  … AVOID   A   - ALCOHOL   > - These things stimulate blood flow

M  - MASSAGE  /      The damage is not ready for it yet

God’s character is one of reconciliation but also of patience. 

Proverbs 15:18 - A hot-tempered person stirs up conflict, but the one who is patient calms a quarrel.

James 1:19 - Understand this, my dear brothers and sisters: You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry.

Genesis 27:42-44 - But Rebekah heard about Esau’s plans. So she sent for Jacob and told him, “Listen, Esau is consoling himself by plotting to kill you. 43 So listen carefully, my son. Get ready and flee to my brother, Laban, in Haran. 44 Stay there with him until your brother cools off. 45 When he calms down and forgets what you have done to him, I will send for you to come back. Why should I lose both of you in one day?”

I    - ICE                \

                              > - Avoid letting the swelling get out of control

C  - COMPRESS  /

God wants us to trust in Him with the issues and not let things become blown out of proportion … which can usually stem from anger or fear.

1 Peter 5:7 - Give all your worries and cares to God, for he cares about you.

Philippians 4:6-7 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. 7 Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus. 

E   - ELEVATE  > Put the damage above your heart

To trust GOD with our circumstances and to walk in His love and character, we have to make sure we are not allowing our own emotions and perspectives on things to be our primary view… we must look UP.

Jeremiah 17:9-10 - The human heart is the most deceitful of all things, and desperately wicked. Who really knows how bad it is? 10  But I, the Lord, search all hearts and examine secret motives. I give all people their due rewards, according to what their actions deserve.

HEALING TAKES TIME

”… Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is very useful to me for ministry.” 2 Timothy 4:11

The measure we use to walk in God's healing process and trust Him FOR THE LITTLE WHILE that it can take to mend our relationships, determines their strength going forward.