1. Philemon 1 “Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” - 1 Cor. 4:17.
The Type of Christ!
Philemon 1
“Therefore I urge you, imitate me.” - 1 Cor. 4:17.

2. Philemon 1-6
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.

3. Philemon 7-12
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,

4. Philemon 13-18
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.

5. Philemon 19-25
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. 3 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.

6. Two patterns of life that exhibits “Christ-like character”
Apostle Paul Testifying about Philemon’s Christ-like character.
Apostle Paul Demonstrating Christ-like character.

7. Philemon’s – Christ-like Character
a. He ignored his PRIVACY – “…, and to the church in your house:” - Phile. 2
The early Church really demonstrated this openness to the Body of Christ, in Rom 16:5, “Likewise greet the church that is in their house.…”; 1 Cor 16:19, “…, with the church that is in their house.” And in Col 4:15 “…the church which is in his house.”
Opening up their house – was opening up their lives. This is a Christ-like character which Christ Himself demonstrated to us. In Philip. 2:7, “but made Himself of no reputation, taking the form of a bondservant, and coming in the likeness of men.”

8. Philemon’s – Christ-like Character
b. Full of Faith And Love – “hearing of your love and faith which you have toward the Lord Jesus and toward all the saints,” – Phil 5
If there is or have ever been something to live for as believers is “FAITH and LOVE!” Apostle Paul in many occasions testified of the believers Faith in the Lord Jesus and their Love for all the saints – Gal. 5:6; Eph. 1:15 and Col. 1:4.
Jesus Christ was FULL of FAITH and LOVE of God for the world – therefore, in Philp 2:8 “And being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself and became obedient to the point of death, even the death of the cross.”
Apostle Paul prayed in Eph. 3:17 “that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love,”

9. Philemon’s – Christ-like Character
c. He Lived His Faith – “that the sharing of your faith may become effective … because the hearts of the saints have been refreshed by you, brother.” Phile 6-7.
The faith we have in Christ is not an abstract or mirage but REAL! The Bible says Faith without works is a dead faith – James 2:17. Our faith must work and change lives.
Philemon communicated his faith by living RIGHT to refresh the saints in love. He followed after Christ as He lived His Faith out to the world. Just as the Church in Acts 4:34-35.
The Bible says in Acts 10:38, “how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

10. Philemon’s – Christ-like Character
d. He Can Be Trusted! – “But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you.” Phile 22.
It’s very unfortunate to know that, many believers today cannot be trusted in job or business. Most of them are seen as the laziest at job or business organization.
Apostle Paul testified about Philemon as a dependable brother in support and prayer!
Jesus Christ is our TRUSTED Friend! He is the Friend that sticks closer than a brother. – Pro. 18:24. Every promise of Him, He honored and even those yet to be honored shall be honored!

11. Apostle Paul’s – Christ-like character
a. Acknowledging Fellow Laborers – “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:” Phile 1-2.
Apostle Paul really appreciates the labor of the other saints and called them brothers. Apostle Paul used the phrase very often in most of his epistle 2 Cor 1:1; Col 1:1; 2 Th 1:1; Phi 2:25; 2 Ti 2:3-4.
Acknowledging one another is CONSIDERING one another! In Hebrew 10:23–25, the Bible says “And let us consider one another in order to stir up love and good works…
We (individually and collectively) NEED encouragement to BUILD us up! The Bible says in Prov. 27:17, “As iron sharpens iron, So a man sharpens the countenance of his friend.”

12. Apostle Paul’s – Christ-like character
b. Always Praying For The Fellow-laborers – “…  I thank my God, making mention of you always in my prayers,” Phile 3-4.
Always praying – been FAITHFUL in PRAYERS! How FAITHFUL are we in PRAYERS? In Rom 12:12, the Bible says “..., continuing steadfastly in prayer.”
The Church of Jesus Christ is BUILT on PRAYER! When we fail to PRAY as a Church and for the Church, the Church will FAINT! Jesus Christ said in Luke 18:1, “Then He spoke a parable to them, that men always ought to pray and not lose heart,”
HEART of Prayer of Epaphras in Colo 4:12 “12 Epaphras, who is one of you, a bondservant of Christ, greets you, always laboring fervently for you in prayers, that you may stand perfect and complete in all the will of God.”
Jesus PRAYED for the CHURCH whiles on EARTH and HE is STILL praying for us – Rom 8:34, “Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.”

13. Apostle Paul’s – Christ-like character
c. Pleaded And Ready To Bear The Cost of The Fellow-laborer – “…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. ….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...” Phile
All these are SUMMED-UP in 2 Cor. 5:18-21, “Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.”

14. What can we learn from these TWO characters Apostle Paul and Philemon?
Conclusion
What can we learn from these TWO characters Apostle Paul and Philemon?
Both of them could be TRUSTED! Jesus can count on them to RECONCILE the world to Himself!
How about us?
Can you be TRUSTED? Can I be TRUSTED as a FAITHFUL Ambassador for Jesus Christ?
2 Peter 3:5-8 is TRUE and it will come to PASS! “For this they willfully forget:…”
Therefore, to the SAINTS, “Behold, I am coming quickly! Hold fast what you have, that no one may take your crown.” – Rev. 3:11. - Imitate Christ!
To the unbelievers, “If anyone does not love the Lord Jesus Christ, let him be accursed. O Lord, come!” Maranatha – 1 Cor. 16:22. – Accept Christ!