07-01-09

INTRODUCTION:

I.    SEEING DEATH FROM THE WORDS OF JESUS - LUKE 16:19-31
A.    View of Death from Old Testament Perspective
-as we mentioned last week, there was an unfolding over the ages as to the nature of what happened to a person when they died
-death in Scripture is more accurately a separation rather than an annihilation
-when a person died physically they usually never came back to life (there are a very few exceptions in the Old Testament)
-there was the belief in a resurrection of the body since earliest times; Job himself spoke of that hope
-yet the overriding belief was that the soul of the person was resting until that day when there would be a resurrection of the just and the unjust
-the world of the dead was called Sheol in the Hebrew language; Hades in Greek
-Sheol was like a holding cell so to speak; death had dominion over every man
-death was seen as the great leveler; kings and paupers were on the same level then; the righteous and the wicked were housed there
-there was no activity of fellowship with God for the righteous; no punishment yet for the wicked; just a resting until the day when all would be resurrected and judged according to their works
Job 14:13-15
13 “Oh, that You would hide me in the grave, That You would conceal me until Your wrath is past, That You would appoint me a set time, and remember me! 14 If a man dies, shall he live again? All the days of my hard service I will wait, Till my change comes. 15 You shall call, and I will answer You; You shall desire the work of Your hands. NKJV
Job 19:25-27
25 For I know that my Redeemer lives, And He shall stand at last on the earth;  26 And after my skin is destroyed, this I know, That in my flesh I shall see God, 27 Whom I shall see for myself, And my eyes shall behold, and not another. How my heart yearns within me! NKJV
Isa 38:9-20
9 This is the writing of Hezekiah king of Judah, when he had been sick and had recovered from his sickness:
10 I said,”In the prime of my life I shall go to the gates of Sheol; I am deprived of the remainder of my years.” 11 I said,”I shall not see Yah, The Lord in the land of the living; I shall observe man no more among the inhabitants of the world. 12 My life span is gone, Taken from me like a shepherd’s tent; I have cut off my life like a weaver. He cuts me off from the loom; From day until night You make an end of me. 13 I have considered until morning — Like a lion, So He breaks all my bones; From day until night You make an end of me. 14 Like a crane or a swallow, so I chattered; I mourned like a dove; My eyes fail from looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; Undertake for me!
15 “What shall I say? He has both spoken to me, And He Himself has done it. I shall walk carefully all my years In the bitterness of my soul. 16 O Lord, by these things men live; And in all these things is the life of my spirit; So You will restore me and make me live. 17 Indeed it was for my own peace That I had great bitterness; But You have lovingly delivered my soul from the pit of corruption, For You have cast all my sins behind Your back. 18 For Sheol cannot thank You, Death cannot praise You; Those who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your truth. 19 The living, the living man, he shall praise You, As I do this day; The father shall make known Your truth to the children.
20 “The Lord was ready to save me; Therefore we will sing my songs with stringed instruments All the days of our life, in the house of the Lord.”  NKJV

B.    View of Death from Jesus’ Perspective - Luke 16:19-31
-the overall purpose of this illustration was to convince the Pharisees that even if He rose from the dead, their unbelief wouldn’t change
-they became so engrossed in the obedience of all the little insignificant ceremonial rites and oral traditions that they missed the purpose of the Law and Prophets: to make known the coming Messiah who would rise from the dead
-there are some tremendous implications to this illustration that Jesus used
-first of all, remember that Jesus would never use a lie to illustrate a truth; on top of this is the mention of Lazarus’ name, which never occurs in a parable
-this is not the same Lazarus that is mentioned in the Gospel of John which was yet alive; the Lazarus in this parable had already died
-notice some of the implications of this illustration
-although the rich man had a luxuriant burial showing high honor among men, he ended up in an dishonorable position in the after-life
-Lazarus was carried by the angels to Abraham’s bosom; the mention of angels is plural; they are heavenly ushers for those who shall be heirs of salvation
-no mention is made of angels escorting the rich man to the place of torment
-we know that Abraham’s bosom was a place of comfort for Lazarus
-since Abraham is called the father of those who are considered righteous by believing the promises of God, it must be concluded that Lazarus was a man of faith although dirt poor
-Lazarus being in Abraham’s bosom is a reference to the same kind of comfort a child would receive snuggling up to his mom or dad after a crisis
-the fact that the rich man experienced torment and Lazarus experienced comfort proves that there is a conscious life beyond the grave capable of such feelings
-the world of the dead (Hades) is now being understood as having two compartments: one for those who die in unbelief and one for those who die in faith of the coming Messiah
-Hades is different than Gehenna, which was created for the devil and his angels
-Hades is like a holding cell, waiting for the final judgment; the judgment of the wicked will cause them to be escorted to eternal separation and punishment in Gehenna
-also notice that the rich man lifted up his eyes and saw Abraham afar off and Lazarus in his bosom
-this implies that there is the ability to see and to recognize people that you used to know while alive on the earth, and to understand the difference between what one is experiencing in torment compared to one in comfort
-when the rich man cried out to Abraham and spoke what he did, it implied that both had the ability to speak and to communicate rational thoughts
-there is also the request for mercy in the torment which was denied; they had set their eternal future by their manner of life while on earth
-then a fascinating bit of information is included: this great gulf or chasm that was fixed and unchangeable between the two locations
-there would be no parole or gradual movement out of one toward the other, and no visitation rites
-we also understand from this illustration of our Lord Jesus that there is memory of former family members in the after-life as well as their manner of life
-the implication is that the rich man’s brothers knew of Lazarus, and his returning to them from the dead would certainly bring about changes in their life
-this would also indicate that their lives were very similar to the rich man’s life and were headed to the same place of torment when they died
John 11:25-26
25 Jesus said to her, “I am the resurrection and the life. He who believes in Me, though he may die, he shall live.  26 And whoever lives and believes in Me shall never die. Do you believe this?” NKJV

C.    View of Death from the Apostles’ Perspective
1 Cor 15:35-57
35 But someone will say, “How are the dead raised up? And with what body do they come?” 36 Foolish one, what you sow is not made alive unless it dies. 37 And what you sow, you do not sow that body that shall be, but mere grain — perhaps wheat or some other grain.  38 But God gives it a body as He pleases, and to each seed its own body.
39 All flesh is not the same flesh, but there is one kind of flesh of men, another flesh of animals, another of fish, and another of birds.
40 There are also celestial bodies and terrestrial bodies; but the glory of the celestial is one, and the glory of the terrestrial is another. 41 There is one glory of the sun, another glory of the moon, and another glory of the stars; for one star differs from another star in glory.
42 So also is the resurrection of the dead. The body is sown in corruption, it is raised in incorruption. 43 It is sown in dishonor, it is raised in glory. It is sown in weakness, it is raised in power. 44 It is sown a natural body, it is raised a spiritual body. There is a natural body, and there is a spiritual body. 45 And so it is written, “The first man Adam became a living being.” The last Adam became a life-giving spirit.
46 However, the spiritual is not first, but the natural, and afterward the spiritual. 47 The first man was of the earth, made of dust; the second Man is the Lord from heaven. 48 As was the man of dust, so also are those who are made of dust; and as is the heavenly Man, so also are those who are heavenly. 49 And as we have borne the image of the man of dust, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly Man.
50 Now this I say, brethren, that flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God; nor does corruption inherit incorruption. 51 Behold, I tell you a mystery: We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed —  52 in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet. For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible has put on incorruption, and this mortal has put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written: “Death is swallowed up in victory.”
55 “O  Death, where is your sting?  O Hades, where is your victory?”
56 The sting of death is sin, and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ. NKJV
2 Cor 5:1-8
1 For we know that if our earthly house, this tent, is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. 2 For in this we groan, earnestly desiring to be clothed with our habitation which is from heaven, 3 if indeed, having been clothed, we shall not be found naked. 4 For we who are in this tent groan, being burdened, not because we want to be unclothed, but further clothed, that mortality may be swallowed up by life. 5 Now He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who also has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6 So we are always confident, knowing that while we are at home in the body we are absent from the Lord. 7 For we walk by faith, not by sight. 8 We are confident, yes, well pleased rather to be absent from the body and to be present with the Lord. NKJV

II.    SHOW AND TELL - 2 KINGS 20:12-13; 2 CHRON. 32:31
A.    The Visiting Dignitaries - 2 Kings 20:12; 2 Chron. 32:31
-Berodach-Baladan was the king over the province of Babylon near the lower Mesopotamian valley; Assyria had rule over this area until recently
-the Babylonians were known for their astronomy and astrology, looking to the heavens for signs and indications for daily life and direction
-I believe there were a few reasons why these messengers were sent to Hezekiah
-first of all the text tells us that they had heard that Hezekiah had been sick; it appears that his sickness was just after the victory over the Assyrians
-it would have taken at least three months for these messengers to make their way to Jerusalem; they came bearing a present to Hezekiah
-this must have been quite an honorable thing for him to receive; Babylon had just thrown off the Assyrians for the time being
-but the second reason they came was because of the sundial movement
-2 Chron. 32:31 tells us that they sent to Hezekiah to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land; this implies more than a miraculous healing
2 Chron. 32:31 However, regarding the ambassadors of the princes of Babylon, whom they sent to him to inquire about the wonder that was done in the land, God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart. NKJV
-the third reason they were there probably centered on an attempt to gain support from Hezekiah in a potential military overthrow of the Assyrians
-they had heard of the unbelievable victory that Hezekiah had accomplished by 185,000 Assyrian soldiers being killed all at once
-they wanted Hezekiah to join them in an alliance to finish off the Assyrians
-this could explain the behavior of Hezekiah in showing them all his resources

B.    The Volume of His Assets - 2 Kings 20:13
-there is no mention of Hezekiah going to the Lord and asking counsel about these messengers
-he was so taken aback by the honor that he just opened his world to them unrestricted;
-remember the statement in 2 Chron. that we just read: God withdrew from him, in order to test him, that He might know all that was in his heart.
-Hezekiah had trusted the Lord in the past in dealing with the Assyrian crisis; it appears that he is now looking to his physical resources to prove that he has the means to support such a joint endeavor against the Assyrians

III.    Sobering Prophecy - 2 Kings 20:14-21
A.    The Coming of the Prophet Isaiah with Questions - 2 Kings 20:14-15
-I believe Hezekiah should have gone to Isaiah for counsel before opening his house to these foreigners
-remember what happened with the men from Gibeon who came to Joshua feigning themselves to be from a far country
-notice Hezekiah’s answer to Isaiah; in it we can see how taken aback he was by their visit
-simple questions, but revealing of the attitude and blindness of Hezekiah

B.    The Coming Captivity Upon Judah by Babylon - 2 Kings 20:16-21
-at this point in history it was almost an unbelievable thought that little Babylon would not only conquer the Assyrians, but turn into a world empire
-in less than 125 years this prophecy would find it’s final fulfillment
-Babylon took captives over three stages: the first was in 606 BC when Daniel and his friends were taken
-the second was a bit later when Ezekiel was taken
-the third and final captivity was in 586 BC when the city of Jerusalem and its temple were destroyed
-Hezekiah’s attitude toward the prophecy shows his dulled spiritual sensitivities
-outwardly he submitted to the truth of the prophecy; but inwardly he was just glad his own hide would be spared
-not much concern for the future of his kingdom

INTRODUCTION:
-this is a short letter of 335 Greek words; in it we find a practical illustration of forgiveness and how God can make a formerly useless life into one that is useful both to God and man
-just to summarize the letter, Philemon lived in the city of Colossae, about 12 miles south of Laodicea; Laodicea was situated along the main Roman road from Syria to Ephesus
-although it is believed that Paul never actually visited Colossae on his missionary journeys, somewhere along the way he met Philemon and brought him to faith in Christ
-Philemon and his wife Apphia were now believers, along with whom many Bible commentators say was their son, Archippus
-Philemon hosted the gathering of believers in his home there in Colossae; he also had a bondservant named Onesimus; his name means ‘useful’ or ‘profitable’ in Greek
-the occasion for this letter to Philemon was the return of this bondservant who had run away from Philemon and had made his way to Rome
-there is an implication in the letter to Philemon that Onesimus had caused damage to his master by pilfering or breaching some contractual arrangement
-certainly Onesimus was not living up to the meaning of his name; it could be said that his offenses showed him to be a ‘useless’ man, instead of a ‘useful’ man
-but while at Rome Onesimus somehow ended up being brought to Paul who was then under house arrest because of the gospel; yet Paul had the freedom to receive visitors
-Paul led Onesimus to faith in Christ, and began discipling him in his new life
-Onesimus made himself available to Paul to serve him in menial tasks, probably bringing food or sending messages to and from the Apostle
-as Paul was writing the epistle to the Colossian church, the Holy Spirit began convicting Onesimus to return to Philemon’s house, humble himself and face the music
-according to Roman law the potential for punishment on a runaway slave could range from beating to crucifixion; this was determined by the master
-Paul sends this letter appealing to Philemon to receive back Onesimus as a brother in Christ, much more than a mere piece of property
-Paul even signed a promissory note in the middle of this letter to personally pay any damages incurred by Onesimus in his flight from Philemon’s house
-Onesimus is sent back to Colossae with another messenger, Tychicus; they together carried the scroll to the Colossian church as well as this personal letter to Philemon
-this morning I’d like to consider what the life experience might have been like for Onesimus during this whole ordeal
-I want to break it into three major phases of his life experience: his life before the journey to Rome, the outcome of his journey to Rome, returning to the household of Philemon
-I believe his journey to faith in Christ and his return to Colossae mirror most of our lives as believers in Jesus Christ
-I want to consider his life before he escaped to Rome from Philemon’s house; then the dawning of the truth of the gospel upon his heart through the Apostle Paul
-then coming to the decision to return back to Philemon and face the music, so to speak
-it is quite possible that a few of you here today are right at the same point as Onesimus: it is time to surrender your life to Christ and let Him take control of everything in your life
-read Philemon; pray

I.    BEFORE THE JOURNEY TO ROME
A.    Living Under Servitude in the Roman Empire
-whenever the Roman army conquered a land, they would bring the captives back to Rome and parade them in the streets
-actually there were three sources of slaves during the Roman times: captives from war, being born of a slave mother, and being sold to pay a debt
-they would be put on the auction block and sold to the highest bidder
-those with little education or physical stamina were sold for 400 days wages
-those with high education and skills were sometimes sold for an amount up to 50,000 days wages!
-many of the Roman gladiators were slaves who brought much income to their masters through their endeavors
-it was no small investment to purchase a slave to do the task of the estate
-during the Roman Empire, slaves were counted as a person’s property, although a little higher than an animal
-they could not enter into a marriage unless their master approved; then all of the children born to that family were owned by the master
-they could be subpoenaed to testify in court; some were given a small amount of money with which they could save up and purchase their own freedom
-the quality of their life depended upon their master; unfortunately Roman law was lax as to the treatment of slaves; it was up to the master’s discretion

B.    Living Under Philemon
-Onesimus was a common name among slaves; the name means ‘useful’; he was a bondservant in the house of Philemon
-it is highly likely that Onesimus had been serving in that situation for many years; we don’t know how Philemon treated him in those early days
-remember that Philemon wasn’t a Christian in those days; there may have been some harsh or unfair treatment that came down upon Onesimus
-resentments and bitterness could easily have built up in the heart of Onesimus
-then one day Philemon came home a different person; he had been brought to faith in Jesus Christ; this affected his entire household
-if indeed Apphia was Philemon’s wife, she came to faith as well; if Archippus was Philemon’s son, then he repented and trusted Christ for his salvation
-Onesimus watched all of this and resisted giving his heart to Christ
-“After all,” he may have thought. “It may be fine for them but I’ve got my own beliefs and issues.”
-then the other believers in town began to congregate at Philemon’s home
-Onesimus served them, watched them, listened to them; yet he still did not yield to their gospel or to the witness of their love
-I wonder what it was like for Onesimus to be in the middle of serving this group of passionate, dedicated Christians? still, he resisted what he was seeing
-it seems that something else was occupying his mind: finding a way to leave secretly and hide himself in the myriads of homeless in the city of Rome
-the bitterness of slavery and the unfairness of life may have so consumed his heart and mind that all he could think about was escape
-but he had to find cash somewhere for the boat trip to Rome
-maybe he had been sent on an errand by Philemon to make a deposit and absconded with the money; we don’t know for sure
-why would he want to leave such a wholesome environment of love and truth?
-the first few verses of the letter to Philemon testify of the kind of character now exuding forth from this man; he was full of love and compassion
-yet there must have been this bitterness that had grown in the heart of Onesimus; it blinded him from seeing the truth of the gospel
-so he secretly took off and headed to Rome

II.    BROUGHT TO FAITH IN CHRIST
A.    The Journey to Rome
-it is likely that Onesimus had never met Paul; but I’m sure he had heard all about him
-we don’t know if he purposed to see Paul in jail; but as a runaway slave it would seem that he wouldn’t put himself in that position of getting near a jail
-Rome had myriads of homeless who lived on the streets; Onesimus could easily hide in the masses and figure out how to create a new life for himself
-but like the prodigal son in the parable taught by our Lord Jesus, it could be that he had either spent or lost all his resources
-then remembering the conversations and prayers back at Philemon’s house over the Apostle in jail in Rome, he found a way to his rented house
-maybe he ran into someone from the Christian community there in Rome who brought him to see Paul
-either way God in His own sovereignty and providence caused Onesimus to see Paul there in jail and Paul led him to faith in Christ Jesus
-there is something that happens when you surrender your life to Christ; this is true for everyone: there is a lifting of the burden of your sins from the soul
-there is this real sense of freedom from an internal slavery of the soul to sin
-Onesimus ran from his troubles; he thought that getting away from the outward oppression of slavery would bring him that sense of freedom
-but he found that his real bondage was an internal slavery to sin itself; and there was no escaping that
-no amount of running away from the injustices of life could change that condition
-when he surrendered to God by trusting in the person and work of Jesus Christ instead of trusting in his own good works, the Holy Spirit entered his heart
-there came a washing of the soul by the Holy Spirit; there can the reality of being adopted into the family of God to now become an heir of all things
-a slave under Roman law could own nothing; now he found he was going to inherit all things in Christ Jesus!
-there was a new hope and purpose for his life, which had become so useless and unprofitable both to man and to God
-why do I say ‘useless’ to God?
Rom 3:10-12
10 As it is written: “There is none righteous, no, not one; 11 There is none who understands; There is none who seeks after God. 12 They have all turned aside; They have together become unprofitable; There is none who does good, no, not one.” NKJV
-the world tells us that all men are basically good; just give them enough education, enough behavioral therapy, enough altered living conditions, enough self-esteem, enough opportunity and encouragement
-all these ideas are good in and of themselves; but they cannot erase the reality of man’s inability to be good according to the standard of a holy God
-man’s sin nature disqualifies himself for heaven; then the sinful thoughts, attitudes, words and actions that come out from that nature add to the condemnation before God
-the world says all men are basically good; God says that all men are basically evil and saturated in sin
-this is why it would take God Himself to come to earth and meet His own standard of holiness and righteousness for men
-He would offer forgiveness and justification–a pronouncement of ‘not guilty’–upon any and all who would believe this gospel with all their heart
-this is what happened with Philemon, Apphia, Archippus–this is what happened with Onesimus

 B.    The Joy of New Life in Christ
-Onesimus’ life changed from one which was useless to one which was useful
-he found himself hanging on every word of the Apostle; it is highly likely that Paul began a discipleship with Onesimus, drawing from the indications in the letter to Philemon
-Onesimus made himself useful to Paul by carrying out errands and just making himself available for whatever was helpful to Paul and those with him
-the burden of sin had been lifted and this new sense of freedom was unlike anything he ever had experienced or hoped to experience
-there was this tremendous discovery by Onesimus of the things spoken by the Lord Jesus and by the Apostle Paul

Matt 20:26-28
26 Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you, let him be your servant.  27 And whoever desires to be first among you, let him be your slave —   28 just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give His life a ransom for many.” NKJV
John 8:34-36
34 Jesus answered them, “Most assuredly, I say to you, whoever commits sin is a slave of sin.  35 And a slave does not abide in the house forever, but a son abides forever.  36 Therefore if the Son makes you free, you shall be free indeed. NKJV
Gal 3:28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. NKJV
Gal 4:6-7
6 And because you are sons, God has sent forth the Spirit of His Son into your hearts, crying out,  “Abba, Father!” 7 Therefore you are no longer a slave but a son, and if a son, then an heir of God through Christ. NKJV
1 Cor 7:22 For he who is called in the Lord while a slave is the Lord’s freedman. Likewise he who is called while free is Christ’s slave. NKJV
2 Cor 5:17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. NKJV

III.    BACK TO PHILEMON’S HOUSE
A.    Conviction of Wrong’s Committed
-the more Onesimus learned about the gospel and witnessed once again the love and purity of the lives of believers there in Rome, the more he began to think about what he had done that brought him there
-God receives us as we are in the midst of all we have done, whether right or wrong; His love is unconditional; He begins that healing of the soul
-but there comes that time when there must be a face-to-face with the damage caused to others because of our old sins
-there must at least be an attempt to ask forgiveness knowing that we have sinned against them; whether they forgive us or not is not our business
-it is a humbling of self before God, an owning up to the wrongs and sins committed against others, an opportunity for fresh cleansing of the soul
-yes, in God’s eyes, those sins are completely forgiven; they are washed away never to be brought up against us again
-but a part of repentance includes owning up to what we have done and making restitution where needed
-it happened with Onesimus, as Paul was needing to write an epistle to the church there in Colossae, as well as the epistle to the Ephesian church
-when you read these epistles and come to the sections on his counsel to masters and slaves who have come to faith in Christ, you need to remember that Onesimus’ situation was right there before Paul
-it is no wonder that the section in Colossians on masters and servants was so much longer than that to husbands and wives, children and parents
-what about your life? you have been brought to faith in Christ; all your sins have been forgiven past, present and future
-you were like Onesimus, who once was useless but now are useful to God and to man because of the new life in Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit
-yet when you sin there is the need to own up to your actions against God and against man; this is right where some believers don’t finish the work
-they rarely ask forgiveness for their offenses against others; they pretend that it doesn’t really matter as long as they don’t do it again, or at least not very often again
-but I believe there is very something needful for us in actually going to the person offended and asking their forgiveness
 Matt 5:23-26
23 Therefore if you bring your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you,  24 leave your gift there before the altar, and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother, and then come and offer your gift.  25 Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison.  26 Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. NKJV

B.    Coming Face to Face with Philemon
-I do not believe that Paul forced Onesimus to go to Philemon; I believe from the indications within the letter that Onesimus himself knew this to be right
-making restitution for the money stolen would have been nearly impossible for him to pay back to Philemon; but this is where Paul himself stepped in
Philem 17-20
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. 20 Yes, brother, let me have joy from you in the Lord; refresh my heart in the Lord. NKJV
-so Onesimus, together with the messenger Tychicus, brought the epistle-scroll of Colossians to the church there, together with the letter to Philemon
-not only were these scrolls delivered, but the epistle-scroll to the Ephesian church was delivered as well since they had to go by Ephesus
-how awkward must it have been for Onesimus to knock on Philemon’s door and present himself! how many thoughts of what would happen as the result
-at the very worst, he could be crucified for what he had done; but if what Paul had affirmed in his letter were true of Philemon, what would that look like?
-he had to leave the outcome into the hands of God and just let go
-Onesimus had come to the point in his life where he was ready to face whatever repercussions would happen; it was now up to the mercy of God
-what about you? is there a need to humble yourself and face up to the repercussions of your past sins?
-yes, they all are forgiven in heaven’s court; but there are the ramifications of the damaged relationships here on earth that need to be faced
-the one’s you’ve sinned against may never come to the place of forgiveness or reconciliation; they may never be the friend again that you once had
-but you do what’s right in the sight of God and let Him take care of it
-maybe you are on the run right now from an outward situation that you just can’t handle anymore
-like Onesimus, there may be this bitterness and resentment in your heart that blinds you to your own sin
-what is really needed though is true freedom on the inside; there needs to be that brokenness of soul brought about by the conviction of the Holy Spirit
-God is leading you to repentance and cleansing through surrender to His Son, Jesus Christ; will you come?

INTRODUCTION:

I.    HEZEKIAH’S SICKNESS - 2 KINGS 20:1-11
A.    The Sickness v. 1
-Hezekiah had been a faithful man; there had not been another like him in Judah’s history, nor would there be another like him
-he was a man who relied upon the Lord and had a close relationship with the Lord as shown by his prayer life
-he faithfully held to the Lord in the midst of some of the most trying times in Judah’s history; he was a real man of true leadership and integrity
-it seems that his sickness befell him at a time maybe shortly after the departure of the Assyrian army
-I wonder if the intensity of the trial of faith took its toll on him physically; stress can do that in the natural scope of things
-as we will see there was this ‘boil’ as it was described that had a direct connection to him dying; maybe it was a cancerous tumor; we don’t know
-but his life was waning away and he was near death; it was at this time that Isaiah the prophet was sent to him with the prophecy concerning his death
- “set your house in order, for you shall die, and not live”; why would the Lord give this message to Hezekiah?
-for one thing it may have been a gracious way of helping him set things up in righteousness for the next king
-it may have been a test of his heart, making manifest things that were deep down in his soul; terminal illness does that to a person
-the prophecy was not meant to be a condemnation, but a preparation, not only for Hezekiah, but for Isaiah as well

B.    The Sadness vv. 2-3
-if you haven’t ever been told you have a terminal illness, you can fully understand what happens inside a person
-there is the disbelief and denial, there is the anger at your life being taken from you; there is the bargaining and deal making
-there is the depression that sets in as the reality sinks in deeply
-ultimately there will come an acceptance of the reality (hopefully) that you are going to see Jesus in a few moments
-we must remember that the view of death and the life after death in the Old Testament times was a very limited, general view
-Jesus, as well as the Apostles, have opened up so much understanding concerning what will happen at the point of death and beyond
-as we will see later on in our study, Isaiah will include Hezekiah’s full prayer he prayed to the Lord during this time
-Hezekiah had a clear conscience before the Lord concerning the record of his life; yet even that couldn’t console him during his time of grief
-living with a clear conscience doesn’t mean you don’t sin; it means that you deal with sin quickly and decisively; you hide nothing from the Lord or others
-but having said that, there can come events into your life that absolutely knock out your knees from under you
-they can come upon you so suddenly that you don’t have time to process them except for the grace of God

C.    The Salvation vv. 4-11
-actually, the answer to Hezekiah’s prayer came fairly quickly from the Lord; there was the promise of healing, the prescription for healing and the prophecy of his future 15 years
-figs were usually used medicinally to draw out infection from a boil; but it must be concluded that this was a divine directive more than a normal medicinal remedy
-remember that figs were used symbolically to represent the nation of Israel; Hezekiah was ‘the leader of My people’ as the prophecy said
-he certainly was among the good figs and not the rotten ones!
-this sundial of Ahaz was of Babylonian origin, probably found in Damascus by Ahaz when he went there and observed the altar to the foreign god
-it is believed to have been a series of steps or degrees on each side of a pole that measured the hours as the sun rose and set
-some commentators have thought that each of the steps represented half hour increments;
-if this sign was given, say, one hour before sunset (6 pm), then the shadow would have been brought back to noon!
-it is believed that the messengers from Babylon came to Jerusalem to see King Hezekiah because of this phenomenon

II.    HEZEKIAH’S PRAYER - ISAIAH 38:9-22; 2 CHRON. 32:24-30
A.    Anguish of Soul - Isaiah 38:9-14
- “in the prime of my life…” Hezekiah was 25 years old when he became king; he reigned 29 years in all; he was 54 years old when he finally died
-subtract 15 years and that would make him around 39 years old at this time
-Sheol: the world of the dead for both the righteous and the wicked; the Greek word is Hades
-this prayer gives us some idea of the incomplete belief at the time of existence for the soul in Sheol
-all the enjoyments of physical life in the Lord’s presence would be cut off
-there was such an oppression that hung over Hezekiah’s soul on the news of his impending death by the word of the Lord
- “undertake for me!” is a phrase that is best translated in the Amplified Bible:
Isa 38:14 Like a twittering swallow or a crane, so do I chirp and chatter; I moan like a dove. My eyes are weary and dim with looking upward. O Lord, I am oppressed; take my side and be my security [as of a debtor being sent to prison]. AMP

B.    Answer to Prayer - Isaiah 38:15-22
-let’s take a look at how the Amplified Bible puts this section:
Isa 38:15-20
15 But what can I say? For He has both spoken to me and He Himself has done it. I must go softly [as in solemn procession] all my years and my sleep has fled because of the bitterness of my soul.
16 O Lord, by these things men live; and in all these is the life of my spirit. O give me back my health and make me live!
17 Behold, it was for my peace that I had intense bitterness; but You have loved back my life from the pit of corruption and nothingness, for You have cast all my sins behind Your back.
18 For Sheol (the place of the dead) cannot confess and reach out the hand to You, death cannot praise and rejoice in You; they who go down to the pit cannot hope for Your faithfulness [to Your promises; their probation is at an end, their destiny is sealed].
19 The living, the living — they shall thank and praise You, as I do this day; the father shall make known to the children Your faithfulness and Your truth.
20 The Lord is ready to save (deliver) me; therefore we will sing my songs with [my] stringed instruments all the days of our lives in the house of the Lord. AMP

B.    The Pride After the Healing - 2 Chron. 32:24-30
-vv. 25-26 gives us a little insight as to what took place during the remaining 15 years; unfortunately after he was healed, his heart was lifted up in pride
-he grew very wealthy and flourished in his kingdom; he even commissioned that tunnel be chiseled out of the limestone to bring water down underground to the pool of Siloam at the southern end of the city of David
-Proverbs 25-29: proverbs of Solomon which the men of Hezekiah collected and added to the book
-somehow he lost his perspective of the benefits granted to him by the Lord
Ps 103:1-5
1 Bless the Lord, O my soul; And all that is within me, bless His holy name! 2 Bless the Lord, O my soul, And forget not all His benefits: 3 Who forgives all your iniquities, Who heals all your diseases, 4 Who redeems your life from destruction, Who crowns you with lovingkindness and tender mercies, 5 Who satisfies your mouth with good things, So that your youth is renewed like the eagle’s. NKJV
-but he did humble himself before the Lord for the pride of his heart; yet there would come judgment upon Judah in the future
-one final thing: Hezekiah fathered a son during these 15 extra years; that son was named Manasseh; he was 12 when he became king after Hezekiah
-Manasseh was one of the worst if not THE worst king Judah ever had; we should call him ‘Dennis the Menace’

06-21-09 Father’s Day

INTRODUCTION:
-postcards are open letters that anyone can read; usually they are just a quick note mentioning the location visited on vacation or just a bit of updated information on the sender
-but we have in our Bibles a ‘holy postcard’, a very short epistle of 25 verses, that centers on one of the most important aspects of our life as a Christian: forgiveness
-when someone defrauds you or crosses you or causes your family financial loss, it stirs up some of the most strong emotional reactions we will ever experience
-this is where the genuineness of our faith is tested to its core; Satan uses these events to lock down believers in Christ into bitterness, hatred and malice, shutting off God’s love
-our sins against the Creator of the Universe cause us to deserve separation from Him for eternity
-but God has shown His unconditional love to us in that while we were still living in sin, He sent His only begotten Son, Jesus, to bear the sins of the entire human race
-this was so He could offer forgiveness to all people; when we trust Christ for our salvation, our record of sins was blotted out in the heavenly record
-living in the constant reality of the magnitude of His forgiveness toward us helps us to release those who have sinned against us–but it still is a choice on our part to do so
-why do we hold people in unforgiveness? one reason is that we want to see them suffer for what suffering they have caused us or our families
-another reason is that we don’t want them to get off scott free without being punished for the hurt we have felt
-sometimes the shame and embarrassment brought to our person or our family becomes an unpardonable sin to us, one that no amount of pleading on their part can undo
-some of our hurts though are initiated by our own unrealistic expectations we have put upon others that they either had no idea about or were totally unable to meet
-Satan is right there to lock us up either way and cause the love of God to stop flowing forth from our lives; in this way he hinders the witness of the true gospel of Jesus Christ
-I’m bringing all this up because this brief epistle touches upon these very dynamics and challenges us to deal with our own issues of unforgiveness toward others
-the Apostle Paul was in Rome when he wrote this little postcard to Philemon
-he was under house arrest for causing unrest in Jerusalem; Acts 21-28 record the events that led to this; all Paul was doing was seeking to share Christ with his fellow Jews
-by the time this postcard epistle was penned, Paul had been incarcerated for about four years
-first of all, he had been jailed for two years on the coast of Israel at Caesarea
-when he had appealed to Caesar over a political attempt to undermine his case, he was then sent to Rome under house arrest until his case could be heard before Caesar
-although he was under house arrest he was given liberty to receive all who came to him
-while in Rome Paul came into contact with someone from the city of Colossae in Asia Minor
-we don’t know if he brought him to Paul, or if this man sought him out on his own
-but the man’s name was Onesimus; Paul knew him by way of his dear friend, Philemon and his wife Apphia; the church at Colossae met in his home
-as a matter of fact Epaphras, the pastor over this church, had come to Rome searching out Paul on other matters; then Epaphras was arrested and put in prison
-Archippus was now overseeing the church in the absence of Epaphras
-getting back to this Onesimus that had come into contact with Paul, he was the bondservant of Philemon and Apphia; he served in their home
-therefore he must have served during those gatherings of the believers each week and heard the gospel many times; yet, he resisted that message time and again
-finally he apparently made a plan to escape the living situation; this would involved stealing quite a bit of money from his master to pay his way over to Rome
-apparently he had caused some damage and financial trouble for Philemon and had run away
-bondservants were looked upon as chattel–property–back in those days; a run away slave could get the death penalty for harming his master in any way
-Onesimus ran, headed to Rome where many vagrants ended up; I’m sure he ran out of money eventually; it was then that he went to visit Paul in his hired house
-Paul led him to a saving knowledge of the Lord Jesus and Onesimus continued there helping out Paul in various ways
-next week we will spend some time examining Onesimus’ life situation and many of the dynamics that could have surrounded his life before and after becoming a Christian
-Paul had written an epistle to the Colossian group of believers to encourage them in their faith and correct some of the false ideas that were making their way into the group
-by the time Paul finished the letter he knew that Onesimus was going to head back to Colossae; so he pens this personal epistle to his friend and son in the faith, Philemon
-by the way, Philemon means ‘friendly’ in Greek
-so Paul has his companion Tychicus deliver the letter to the Colossians, while Onesimus travels with him to Colossae and delivers Paul’s letter to Philemon
-read Philemon 1-25; pray

1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our beloved friend and fellow laborer, 2 to the beloved Apphia, Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house: 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.
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 —  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.
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.

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.
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.

22 But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.

23 Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, 24 as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers.
25 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. NKJV

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