Philemon

Paul is writing to one of his sons in the Lord by the mane of Philemon. v1b He says writing to our beloved brother, friend and co-worker in the vineyard of God. You have to pray knowing that your prayers are being effective. But you must know that everyone prays but the difference is there are prayers that reach God. The effective prayer of a righteous man avails much.This is a letter that was delivered by Onesimus who was a ran away slave of Philemon. He meetsPaul in Rome and his life was transformed after receiving Jesus as his Lord and Saviour. Paul sends him back to his master, a slave who ran away had to beaten or marked as a person who could not be hired or demoted depending on the crime a death penalty could also be passed. Paul says Onesimus was useless but now he is useful to me and to you as well. Paul appeals to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus as a brother. Paul takes advantage of the deeper relationship he had with Philemon. He establishes the relationship that he had with Philemon. This is very key in prayer, you can always pray to a God whom you know. Where there is no relationship itis very hard for dialogue to take place.When my wife comes to me to ask about anything she is banking on a relationship that we have which is beyond brother and sister in the Lord. Her relationship affords her the opportunityto ask for some things that others will never dare to ask. There is a relationship that you must develop with God in order to access some things that not all of us will access. Jews approached Godas God but Jesus approached God as his father hence he had a different access to what they had.On the basis of that special relationship there is a special door that opens that not everyone else willhave. Paul establishes his relationships by startingthe letter by saying to our beloved friend.Philemon is a type of God the father. Paul then says to him before introducing his story, he does not talk about Onesimus. He first of all praises Philemon for his love towards the saints. Paul takes advantage of the love and care that Philemon had toward the saints. Paul says we know and understand your love.Anytime you want to pray to God and you do notknow the love God has towards you, you will lack confidence to pray for it. My wife approaches me on the basis that she knows I love her. Love does not disappoint, it is not irritated. She approaches me as honey, and sweetie and immediately I want to prove my sweetness to her. That is why women must learn to speak to their husbands.John 11:3The sisters appealed to Jesus on the basis of his love for Lazarus and said Lord the one whom youlove is sickJohn 11:35-36God loves you so much that when you call him hewill answer and will never allow anyone to misuse you.Love is the character of God. When you have knowledge of God’s character you can approach him with confidence. Love dominates all of God’s other characteristics. Mary knew God’s love, Bartimaeus knew God’s mercy, both of them approached him taking advantage of his character.Eph 3:14-The love of God surpasses knowledge. Be grounded in His love, be rooted in His love. God’s love has dimensions. You are not too deep in sin you are still redeemable. It doesn’t matter what you did or how deep you are the love of God will catch you there. There is no sin to black that the blood of Jesus cannot wipe, no crime too severe that the blood of Jesus cannot erase. There is still so much love in him for you. Paul says when sin increased the grace of God abound even more. The love of God is deeper than the ocean higher than the mountain. Pray that your eyes maybe opened to understand the love of God for you. You need revelation to understand His love and how much he values you. If you knew how much he loves you, you would pray with joy and not condemn yourself. God loves us he will never giveus a stone when we ask for bread. When you understand the love of God you are filled with all of God’s fullness.1 john 3:1It was a miracle for me to be a child of God. The ultimate expression of God’s love was he gave us Jesus, His very best. Love that is never expressed is cruelty. If you love then express it. Love has to be expressed. God so loved you he moved, but you are moved by a chocolate. I am in God’s heart because he gave me what was in his heart. He gave his best for me and so I am the best. Stop crying over lost opportunities and people who left you; you are valuable to God. If the whole world hates you God still loves you. Approach God in his love, speak of how good, kind and great he is then introduce your story.God gave you the best and everything that comes with the best. When you buy a car you getthe radio and tyres and all things that are needed for a car. When you received Jesus you received everything that comes with Jesus.My God what a message from God?We must know that God loves us dearly, deeply and without limit and his love is never ending towards us.I feel bold to approach my Father in prayer.Our God is a good God.Let us pray for the servants of God in the city ourDPs Luvy and Praise Mlilo, wonderful servants of God and for the patriarchs Ezekiel and Eunor the apostles of our time.Our God is a good God.Matthew 7:11 “If you then, evil as you are, know how to give good and advantageous gifts to yourchildren, how much more will your Father Who is in heaven [perfect as He is] give good and advantageous things to those who keep on asking Him!”