Philemon 22 "... prepare me also a lodging: for I trust that through your prayers I shall be given unto you. "

"There is a gentle compulsion in this mention of a personal visit to Colossae. The apostle would thus be able to see for himself that Philemon had not disappointed his expectations." J.B. Lightfoot - Colossians to Philemon - Zondervan 1961

Even though Philemon could be trusted to do what was right - it is human to procrastinate:

	DELAY in doing the right thing can involve us in doing what is wrong.
	DELAY shows we have a problem with what is expected of us.
	DELAY can be evidence of our lack of discipline, and poor stewardship.
	DELAY can in some cases be direct disobedience to God.
	DELAY indicates a lack of diligence in seizing opportunities of service.
	DELAY indulged develops laziness, and as a consequence renders us useless.
	DELAY is overcome by taking realistic steps to attain our goal.

Prayer about something that needs to be done will impart strength and persistence to accomplish it. Having motivated the doing of a good work, like Paul, we should speed the doing of it by "gentle compulsion", and encourage prayer to that end.

By including the greetings of Epaphras his fellows prisoner (Philemon 23 ) and other fellow workers, is a means of assuring Philemon that Paul's plea and purpose has the full support of recognised leadership. When leaders act in unity their own solidarity is reflected among the Lord's people.

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EPAPHRAS
- his evangelistic and pastoral work at Colosse, and the intimate knowledge Philemon had of him, would greatly influence him. Philemon would be emotionally touched at the reminder that Epaphras was suffering for the gospel, being alongside Paul as a prisoner, "in Christ Jesus". In Epaphras, Philemon has a role model of one who not only rejoiced in the truth but was willing to suffer for the truth.

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MARK
- now a mature fellow labourer of the apostle Paul, would be known to Philemon as one who had intimate knowledge of the Lord Jesus, making his association with Paul's plea to him, very valuable.

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ARISTARCHUS
- would stand high in Philemon's opinion because of his stick ability in his relationship with Paul (Colossians 4:10 ), which flowed out of Aristarcus's loyalty to God. He served God, not for money, position, nor for his own self-interest (Matthew 6:24 ). He was to Philemon, a living example of loyalty to brothers in Christ.

Proverbs 17:17 "A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity."

This Aristarchus kind of friendship Philemon was now to show to his new brother in Christ, Onesimus. What kind of friend are you? The greatest evidence of genuine friendship is loyalty (1 Corinthians 13:7 ).

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DEMAS
- at this time an honoured co-labourer with Paul, so would carry some weight in the influencing of Philemon. It should be remembered that Demas served the apostle Paul and with the apostle. Serving others is the mark of true leadership.

Matthew 20:25-26 "... the princes of the Gentiles exercise dominion over them, and they that are great exercise authority upon them. ²⁶ But it shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be great among you, let him be your minister; "

Instead of using people we are to serve them. In serving God the most ordinary service has dignity. One of the present rewards of faithful service is the influencing of others to become faithful servants.

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LUKE
- a leader known as the beloved physician and evangelist (Colossians 4:14 ), exemplified compassion and mercy in serving others. The mention of Luke's greeting would confirm to Philemon the right attitude to show towards Onesimus.

	Christ's compassion in leaders produces a forgiving attitude, not the hardness of officiousness.
	Christ's compassion moves leaders to go the extra mile in personal service beyond the intimate related group, and beyond the people with whom they are comfortable, and beyond the expected, even when there will be no proper recognition.
	Christ's compassionate mercy in action in leaders reaches out to the undeserving, because they are made sensitive to their needs and concerns, irrespective of who they are or what their status happens to be.

This kind of leadership, known to Philemon, would strengthen his decision to do more than Paul asked of him. The spirit of Jesus in leadership is irresistible.

Philemon 25 "The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen."

(Galatians 6:18; Philippians 4:23; 2 Timothy 4:22 NIV ).

The beauty of the born again life is His grace lived in the renewed human spirit. Paul desired all believers to know the freshness and power of the Lord's grace in the inner man.

His joy, favour, kindness, aid is for me, ever ready in its availability. He is for my spirit so that more and more my spirit becomes like His lovely Spirit. By His grace with my spirit I am being conformed to the likeness of God's Son (Romans 8:29 ). In Jesus the grace provision provides freely all things (Romans 8:32 ). The Lord Jesus is against the world, the flesh and the devil. Therefore I have His might with my spirit against these foes. My spirit can know His strengthening against the soulish flesh, making me an overcomer. Real covenant fellowship is enjoyed in personal experience, because He is for my spirit and my spirit is for Him.

His grace freed my spirit in receiving His salvation from death in trespasses and sins (Ephesians 2:1 ) He made alive!

Ephesians 2:5 "... (by grace you have been saved),"

	AS TO MY EXPERIENCE His grace with my spirit frees my spirit from being brought back under the bondage of soulish fleshly desires.
	AS TO MY EMANCIPATION His grace with me makes effective the division of soul and spirit by the sword of the Word of God. (Hebrews 4:12 ).
	AS TO MY ENVIRONMENT In His grace my spirit is free, and fortified so that in freshness I can worship, serve, and please Him (John 4:24 ).
	AS TO MY EMBRACING Having His grace with me daily and continuously, I take hold on His strengthening freedom from bondage to the flesh - By embracing the energy of His grace I sow to the Holy Spirit and not to the will of the flesh (Galatians 6:8 ).
	AS TO MY ENABLEMENT His grace with my spirit makes me an overcomer (Romans 6:14 ). The law condemns and has no power to enable the sinner to overcome. Grace enables us to master sin and more, (Titus 2:12 NIV) It teaches us to say 'No' to ungodliness and worldly passions, and to live self-controlled and upright lives in this present age.

He clothes my spirit with the nature of His grace.

His nature is declared as gracious

Exodus 22:27 "... And it shall come to pass, when he crieth unto me, that I will hear; for I am gracious. "

His nature is described as gracious

Nehemiah 9:17 "... but thou art a God ready to pardon, gracious and merciful, slow to anger, and of great kindness, ..."

Jonah 4:2 "... You are a gracious and merciful God, slow to anger and abundant in lovingkindness, One who relents from doing harm."

His grace with my spirit fashions it to His own nature. Fashioning mine into a forgiving spirit - a hearing spirit - a merciful spirit - a patient spirit - a compassionate spirit - known for lovingkindness - a giving spirit (2 Corinthians 8:1,2,7,9 ).

	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON Him and His grace with joy (Psalm 104:34; 1 Peter 5:10; Philippians 4:4; ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON the Word and promise of His grace (Psalm 19:10; Jeremiah 15:16; Romans 4:16; Luke 24:32 ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON the ready response of His grace (Hebrews 4:16 ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON the grace of His love, mercy and faithfulness (Psalm 100:5 ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON the good things received by grace (Romans 8:32; Romans 12:6 ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON the sufficiency of His grace (2 Corinthians 12:9 ).
	MY SPIRIT FEEDS ON His strengthening grace (Hebrews 13:9 ).

Hebrews 13:9 "Do not be carried about with various and strange doctrines. For it is good that the heart be established by grace, not with foods which have not profited those who have been occupied with them."

The Lord's grace with Philemon's spirit would work in him growth and development of the fruit of the Spirit, and work out through him Christlike action in doing good, the kind that would make Onesimus a real beneficiary. In our unsaved state we were unprofitable. Now saved and having the Lord's grace with our spirits, we are being made profitable to Him:

Ephesians 2:10 "For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them."

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QUESTIONS FOR GROUP INTERACTION

1. How would you interpret and apply Paul's reference to his soon visit to Philemon? (Philemon 22 ).
2. How important would it be to Philemon to learn that other leaders were united with Paul in his appeal? (Philemon 23-24 ).
3. Do you pray for the freshness and power of the Lord's grace to be with the spirit of each believer? (Philemon 25 ). Can you explain what it means?