Dwelling Place

Guest (Male): Today, on the Dwelling Place.

Al Pittman: Ignatius said, I must reach Christ. I must reach Christ. How does that relate to us in relationship to this message? If reaching Christ means dying to myself, if reaching Christ means setting aside the offense, if reaching Christ means setting aside my pride, then so be it. I must have Jesus.

Guest (Female): Dwelling place, dwelling place, dwelling place. You are my dwelling place, dwelling place, dwelling place.

Guest (Male): Thank you for listening to the Dwelling Place, a radio ministry from Pastor Al Pittman of Al Pittman Ministries. The purpose of this radio program is to encourage you, strengthen your walk with the Lord, and grow. To support this ministry financially or learn more about the ministry, visit us online at alpittmanministries.com. That's alpittmanministries.com. Your donations keep this radio ministry going. Thank you for partnering with us. Now, here's Pastor Al.

Al Pittman: There's not two bodies of Christ or three bodies of Christ. There's only one body of Christ. Paul talks about that in 1st Corinthians. You'll turn there with me and read along with me 1st Corinthians chapter 12 verses 23 and following. Paul the apostle writes concerning the body of Christ being a living organism, a living breathing organism, a body. And this is just a part of what Paul says here, but he says in verse 23, and those members of the body which we think to be less honorable, on these we bestow greater honor. And our unrep- unrepresent- unpresentable, excuse me, parts have greater modesty.

In other words, you know, there's you know, greater modesty for certain parts of our physical body, and there's greater honor bestowed upon things that you can't see but that are important like your heart and your lungs. Amen? I mean, it's not obvious to people, you know, but those things are important to us. But our presentable parts have no need. Your arms, your hands, you know, your nose or whatever have no need, but God composed the body having given greater honor to that part which lacks it. That there should be no schism, division, dissension in the body, but that the members should have the same care for one another.

And if one member suffers, all members suffer with it. Or if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it. Now, you are the body of Christ and members individually. Amen? We are part of the body of Christ. I mean, you get in the shower, you don't stick your leg out. I'm mad at that leg, man, and you know, I'm not going to wash it today. You know, I mean, it's stupid. You wash your whole body. Amen? I mean, if you hit your hand or or or with a hit your thumb with a a hammer, your toes know about it.

Amen? Because it's one body. And if one member is suffering, we should all suffer with them and be praying for them. And if one member's rejoicing, we should all be rejoicing. We are part of the body of Christ. Paul appeals to Philemon to treat Onesimus as a valued member of the body, a valued member of the body. Only when we do that can we truly receive one another. Paul tells him to receive him. Verse 12 says, I am sending him back here back in Philemon. He said, I'm sending him back. Uh you therefore receive him.

Why? Because you value him as much as Jesus does. That is my own heart. Paul's heart is for Onesimus. Verse 13, whom I wish to keep with me that on your behalf he might minister to me in my chains for the gospel. And so Paul is sending him back even though, you know, Paul's going to miss Onesimus being there with him. He's more concerned that the church that there be restoration in the church. Cuz this is the most important thing. Our relationships are more important than Onesimus's service to Paul the apostle. Peter learned this lesson about value uh within the the church and the members of the church and on the roof of Simon the tanner and you remember the story how the the sheet came down from heaven in a vision that Peter saw.

It came down three times and it had all types of unclean animals on it. And he heard the Lord say, rise up, kill and eat. And Peter said, not so, Lord. That's always uh you know, oxymoron or whatever, you know, of saying not so, Lord. Well, if he's Lord, he told you to do something, you ought to be doing it. Right? Peter said, not so, Lord. And it happened three times. He saw this vision, this blanket coming down with these unclean animals on it and the Lord saying, rise, kill and eat. And then the Lord's the lesson was this.

The lesson is in Acts chapter 11 verse 9 where the Lord said to Peter, what God has cleansed, you must not call common. And for us to malign and to gossip about one another, to devalue another believer is to consider them common. And by extension, what we're saying is that the blood of Jesus is common. And that word common in Greek is the word and it means to be profane. So when you malign another believer, that is a part of the body of Christ. When you cut the toes off and you you you chop down another believer with your words and you treat them poorly and all that, you are actually harming yourself.

You're harming the body of Jesus Christ and by extension, you're saying the blood of Jesus is profane. Oh pastor, I've never said that. Then you need to close your mouth and stop gossiping. Unless we consider the blood of Christ to be profane. The third means by which conflict can be resolved is to have respect for authority. Verse 14, Paul says, but without your consent I wanted to do nothing that your good deed might not be by compulsion as it were, but voluntarily. What is Paul doing here? He's respecting. He's humbling himself out of respect for the fact that Onesimus is Philemon's slave.

And he said, man, I want your cooperation in this and I humble myself. I want don't want to do anything without your consent. And I think of Proverbs 15 verse 33. Proverbs 15 verse 33 says that the fear of the Lord is the instruction of wisdom. And before honor is humility. Until you've learned to honor the authority and honor and and and humble yourself, rather I should say, uh before an authority or that authority, you really haven't truly under under understand, rather, uh how to really reconcile uh relationships. Paul humbles himself uh respectfully honoring Philemon's right and authority over his slave.

And I say that you must humble yourself in order to to experience reconciliation many times because uh within the church I see today that there's a lot of folks who really don't understand authority. They don't understand the authority that God has placed within the church. They have no respect for authority. We see that in society where there's no respect for authority. Well, that has filtered in to the church. And the pastor is more of a figure head and more of a kind of a token rather than really someone who can speak into your life or someone who is speaking the word of God into your life.

A lot of people have discounted, you know, the the the role of the the pastor is just being a pastor in name only, but you've got to respect authority. You know, authority's always handed down. Amen? It's never handed up. You've got to humble yourself under authority before many times before God can restore and he can bring resolution to a situation. But we have a lot of folks in the church today is as it it was in the days of judges. In the days of judges, the Bible says everybody did what was right in their own eyes.

But God has established authority within the church. The Bible says it talks about it in Hebrews chapter 13 verse 17. It says, obey those who rule over you and be submissive for they watch out for your souls as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy. Now, those who rule over you, Paul's saying, or the writer of Hebrews, some believe it was Paul, not certain, but the writer of Hebrews says, let them do so with joy and not with grief for that would be unprofitable for you. That 's where a lot of pastors all of a sudden, you know, are greed by the people and focus on the people instead of the Lord.

Instead of feeding the sheep, they start beating the sheep. And it's not profitable for the church. And so those of us who minister the word of God, we ought to do it in humility. And those who submit ought to do it in humility. Humility both in the congregation and pulpit produces harmony within the house of God. Before honor comes humility. And so Paul humbles himself so that the Lord will be honored in this uh restoration, in this resolution of Philemon and Onesimus's life. Here's the last thing that we need to look at consider concerning conflict, how conflict can be resolved.

And that is when we leave room for the sovereignty of God. You don't tell God what he can't do. Amen. Verses 15 to 18, Paul says, for perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose. In other words, Paul is saying, man, maybe this is what God meant to do. You know, don't don't cancel the sovereignty of God even in this situation that you might receive him forever. No longer as a slave, but more than a slave, a a beloved brother, especially to me. But how much more to you both in the flesh and in the Lord.

Oh, what great joy could come out of the fact that look what God is doing, that he's reconciling you guys and now you can receive him as your brother.

Guest (Male): Amen. We hope you're enjoying today's message so far. We wanted to take a quick break to thank you for supporting the Dwelling Place. Because of you, this message and many more will reach the whole world. If you like to support this ministry, please visit us at alpittmanministries.com or mail a check to PO Box 50584 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80949. That's PO Box 50594 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80949. Again, thank you for supporting the Dwelling Place. Now, let's get back into the message.

Al Pittman: Verse 17, if then you count me as a partner a partner, receive him as you would receive me. But if he has wronged you or owes anything, put that on my tab. Paul's desire for reconciliation. You know, put it on my account, you know. I'll take care of it or whatever, but the most important thing here is that you guys need to come together because you are one in Christ, one in the Lord. But Paul is saying here to appealing to Philemon saying, leave room for the sovereignty of God. Sometimes we try to work things out on our own and we've just forgotten all about God's sovereignty.

We're doing it without faith. Paul appeals to Onesimus or or appeals to Philemon on behalf of his friend. God is sovereign over our conflict, my friends. Regardless whether it's coming from the world or it's conflict within the church, God is sovereign over our conflict. And what appears laughable, he can actually bring to pass. God, you can't do that, you know. We got to laugh at it, but God is saying there's nothing too hard for the Lord. I love the passage in Genesis chapter 18 whereby uh God is speaking. He comes down in human form and he's speaking to Abraham.

And he's telling Abraham he told Abraham once that, Abraham, you know what, you're going to have a child. Abraham at the time is probably 99 years old and then Sarah is 89 and Sprice 89. And the Lord is saying, you know, you're going to have a child. And Abraham laughs and then Sarah laughs. And I love this passage. It says, and the Lord said to Abraham, why does Sarah laugh? Saying, shall I surely bear a child since I am old? And then the Lord God says, is anything too hard for the Lord? At the appointed time I will return to you according to the time of life and Sarah shall have a son.

But Sarah denied it saying, I did not laugh. She said she had said this because she was afraid. And the Lord God said, no, but you did laugh. I love that. How God just rebukes your wife. You don't have to say nothing, guys. Just let the Lord do it. Amen. Yeah, I didn't get as much of a laugh as I thought it would, but anyway. There are times in my life when I read that passage the other day, here's the connection. When I read that passage the other day, I thought, okay, Lord, is it we need to leave room for the sovereignty of God.

Paul saying, perhaps this is what God is doing, recognizing that, Lord, you're sovereign in this situation. Many times in my life I've said I've read that passage when I was reading it the other day. I was going through a tough time and I said, Lord, if you can do anything, why haven't you done anything about this yet? Anybody ever feel that way? Says you can do anything. Nothing's too hard for the Lord. How come you haven't done anything about this? And God said, go read the passage again. And I went back to read it. And as I read the following line which says, the Lord said, at the appointed time Amen.

Sarah shall have a son. And here was my lesson. The Lord said, at my appointed time nothing is impossible. Your problem, Al, is with my timing. Amen? At the appointed time nothing is impossible. Our problem is we have a problem with God's timing. What does the Bible tell us? Ecclesiastes 3:11, he has made everything beautiful in its time. I wasn't planning. It wasn't on my daytime or day planner anything to have a stroke, a many stroke last week. But God knew. And I tell you what, you you want you want to get awaken in a revival in your life like right now, many stroke could do it.

Amen. But I look at that and I go, Lord, why? What's going on, you know? But I can see how God is using even that to refine me, to make something beautiful in its time. I want God to have done things 20 years ago or 30 years ago, but in his time he makes all things beautiful. Listen, I don't understand it all, but I know God is good. Amen? In his time he makes all things beautiful. Amen. So there's nothing impossible for God. Don't cancel out his sovereignty in your situation. Now, Paul ends his letter with an appeal for obedience on Philemon 's part verses 19 to 25.

Paul says Paul writes, 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. You owe me your life, Philemon. Paul just kind of throws that in there. Yes, brother, verse 20, let me have joy from you in the Lord. Refresh my heart in the Lord having confidence in your obedience. I know you're going to do the right thing, bro. I know you're going to do the right thing. Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you knowing that you will do even more than I say.

But meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me where I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. I'm going to be released. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you as do Mark, Aristarchus Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, and my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. The Bible tells us in James chapter 4 verse 17 as Paul appeals to Philemon's obedience to do the right thing. The Bible says to him who knows to do good and who does not do it, to him it is sin.

So you know the right thing to do, Philemon. Do the right thing. Do the righteous thing unless you should sin against the Lord. Here's the application I want to leave you with. It's just more of a thought, but could it be that our failure to overcome conflict, whether it's in our marriages or in our relationships as brothers and sisters in Christ. And I've seen a lot of conflict in the church. Could it be that our failure to overcome conflict be the result of the fact or be because of the fact that we love our lives more than we love Jesus.

That we love our own agendas, our own lives more than we love Jesus. I was reading the other day the chilling words of Ignatius of Antioch. Ignatius of Antioch, he's the one who mentioned uh the bishop of Ephesus being Onesimus that I mentioned earlier in the message. But this man Ignatius of Antioch was martyred in 110 AD at the hand of the emperor, uh Roman emperor Trajan. And he sends his final letter to his fellow believers. And this letter just points out the fact serves as a reminder to us that the most important thing in our life is not our life and our comfort, but is living a life that glorifies Jesus Christ.

And it it's just startling these words. It's just a stark reminder and I want to read them to you. This is what he said in his letter before he was martyred. He says, I implore you, be not unreasonably kind for me and have me released. Let me be food for the wild beast. Bear with me. I know what is best for me. Now, at last in face of martyrdom, I am beginning to be a disciple. And may nothing visible or invisible envy me so that I may reach Jesus Christ. Fire and cross, battles with wild beasts, mutilations, manglings, and the wrenching of bones, the hacking of limbs, the crushing of my whole body, cruel tortures of the devil.

Let these come upon me. Only let me reach Jesus Christ. Close quote. When I read those words, I thought, what about me? What about me? What about you know, am I willing, Lord, to is is reaching Jesus Christ the most important thing in my relationship with my wife, is reaching Jesus Christ the most important thing in my relationship with the church, is reaching Jesus Christ the most important thing in my life? Or do I suddenly turn around and run the other way at the slightest hint of any kind of discomfort or persecution? Ignatius said, I must reach Christ.

I must reach Christ. How does that relate to us in relationship to this message? If reaching Christ means dying to myself, if reaching Christ means setting aside the offense, if reaching Christ means setting aside my pride, then so be it. I must have Jesus. Whether I've had a stroke or anything else, I've got to have Jesus. That must be the passion of his church and the passion of our lives. In order for us to experience true restoration, resolution, where to experience the peace of his presence. God has called us to be overcomers, but it's not through loving ourselves, but it's through dying to ourselves.

Revelation 12:11, and they overcame him, that is the devil, by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony. And listen to this. And they did not love their lives to the death. Communion reminds us that his blood, the blood of Jesus makes all the difference in our relationships. The reason sometimes conflict thrives is because we haven't applied the blood. John reminds us in 1st John 1:7, but if we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another and the blood of Jesus Christ his son cleanses us from all sin.

Amen. That we might have that unity and that fellowship which can only be found in a life that is completely submitted to Jesus Christ. Father, we thank you for your word today. Pray that you would bless our time of communion as we prepare our hearts, Lord. If there's a conflict or something in our lives that we need to lay down, Father, we confess it to you right now. We ask for your healing. If you're here today and you do not know Jesus Christ as your Lord and savior, I would invite you whether you're watching online or in this auditorium upstairs in the overflow, that you would open your heart to him sincerely and pray these words.

You can repeat after me and say, Lord Jesus, I believe you are the son of God. I believe you died for my sins and I believe you are risen from the dead. Forgive me. Come into my life. I receive you this morning as my Lord and as my savior. My friend, at that very moment you pray that prayer, all conflict, all sin that has separated you from God has been forever erased because of the blood of Jesus Christ. For the rest of us, we need to if God is speaking in your heart, you need to renew our commitment to the Lord.

Ask God to help us to lay our lives down for his name's sake and for his glory. I don't know what that means for you. I know what it means for me, but we all need to do that that God might bring resolution and restoration into all of our relationships.

Guest (Female): Dwelling place, dwelling place, dwelling place. You are my dwelling place, dwelling place, dwelling place.

Guest (Male): Learn more about Pastor Al and his ministry by visiting alpittmanministries.com. Also consider supporting us financially. You can send a check to Al Pittman Ministries at PO Box 50584 Colorado Springs, Colorado 80949 or visit us online. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Your generosity keeps this radio ministry going. Lastly, we would love to hear from you. You can contact us by emailing info@alpittmanministries.com. That's info@alpittmanministries.com. We look forward to hearing from you. Again, thank you for joining us and we'll see you next time on the Dwelling Place. God bless.