Welcome to the Kerwin Baptist Church broadcast today. Our desire is for the Word of God to be spread throughout the world, so that all may know Christ. Join us now for a portion of one of our services here at Kerwin Baptist Church, located in Kernersville, North Carolina. Book of Philippians. We'll start off with verse number eight.
The Bible says, "In verse number eight, wherefore though I might be much bold in Christ, to enjoin thee that which is convenient." Yet for love's sake, I'd rather beseech thee, being such as one as Paul, the agent, and now also a prisoner of Jesus Christ. I beseech thee for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten in my bonds, which in times past was to thee unprofitable, but now profitable to thee and to me. Whom I have sent again, thou therefore receive him, that is mine own bowels. Whom I would have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the bonds of the gospel. But without thy mind, what I do nothing, that thy benefit should be not should not be as it were of necessity, but willingly.
For perhaps he hath departed for a season, that thou shouldst receive him for ever. Not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, special to me. But how much more unto thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord? If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee aught, put that on mine account.
I Paul have written it with my own hand. I will repay it, albeit I do not say unto I do not say to thee how thou owest unto me even thine own self. Besides, we'll stop right there. I want to preach a message entitled "This I Have a Letter." I have a letter. And what we're going to do?
We're going to go through this journey of how Paul met Onesimus, the things Onesimus did, and how this relates to salvation in the Bible, in the Word of God. I have a letter, Heavenly Father. I thank you so much for the privilege. Once again, we have to be able to open the Word of God. Thank you so much for Pastor Hawtree and for his vision, his precious wife's vision to be here in in in Kernersville, North Carolina, and lead the people at Kerwin Baptist Church and be their pastor.
I pray that you would bless him and his family immensely as they're enjoying this wonderful, wonderful time. Be with them, Lord. Thank you, Lord, for the privilege we have to be able to be together to look into the Word of God, to grasp hold of some principles that would help us and stir our hearts to understand the gospel more clearly, to understand you more clearly, to see what you've done in our lives that has changed us. Not the same ever since the Savior found me. Father, I pray within these next few moments, a few nuggets of truth will pop right out at us, and we'll be able to hold onto them and plant them in our hearts, so that after we leave this place, we'd have a closer walk with you.
And Father, that we'd be able to honor you and give you all the honor and the glory and the praise, because no one here is worthy of any of it. You're worthy of it all. Thank you once again for the awesome time we have to be together as a church family. Bless. In Jesus' name, I pray, Amen.
Thank you. You can be seated. We're going to go through this journey where Paul is in Rome. Paul is in prison. He's in Rome.
He's in a a place called the Mamertine Prison. And while he's there in that prison, Paul is older.
Now let's just put it this way: the the the prisons back then aren't like the prisons we have now. Can you only imagine what it's like? Basically, the Mamertine prison there in Rome was basically a hole in the ground. That was deep down in the ground. When we had the privilege of going to Israel a couple, several years ago, before the whole a Corona thing going on, but we went to Israel.
We had the privilege of going down into the holding cell where they held Jesus near the house of Caiaphas. And so we we saw what it was like. Of course, when we saw it then, it was all clean and it was lit and it was all nice. But this particular prison, as I think about Paul being in there, I can only imagine the roaches and the and the rodents that would be moving across the floors of that prison. I can only imagine smelling the seepage and the filthiness in the walls, and it didn't have any facilities.
Or anything like that. That would be of modern day. It was all very crude and very awful and terrible. Paul is in this prison, and he's there. I can only imagine Paul.
You see, he's older now. Maybe he feels a bit of a draft, and possibly pulls a shawl up over his shoulders. He begins to reminisce and think about. The different journeys of his preaching and teaching across Asia. He remembers the time when he was going down the Damascus Road and was blinded by the light of the Lord, and where where the Lord called unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me?
He remembers that. He remembers the time when he joined up with Barnabas and others as they would make their journeys, sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ with boldness. Oh, he remembers the good times, and he remembers the bad. He remembers the times when he and Silas were thrown into the prison and were beaten just because what they wanted to do was pray and tell people about Jesus. He remembers those times.
He remembers those that have that have come and gone. You see, Demas has left it, left him now, forsaken him, loving this present world. He begins to write this letter to Timothy and explaining to Timothy about some of the things that are going on here. And and and and and and even though there are times when he's struggling, he begins to think about the love he has for Jesus Christ. Oh, what a great memories he's had!
All of a sudden, there's a commotion going on. He hears some rustling outside of the prison, and he's wondering what's happened. Many times, they would lower a soldier into this hole in the ground with a rope around their waist, and sometimes they just throw him in. I'm not exactly sure how this particular situation was, but all of a sudden, there's this person inside of this prison. I can only imagine the prison being dark, and all of a sudden, there's light as they would open up that that covering over the top of that hole, and this person ends up coming into the prison, and he and he and he rolls across the floor, and and and Paul is watching these things going on, and Paul is standing there, and this person is laying there.
As they would close the door of the prison, and once again it's dark in that prison. He sees a person laying there, and he goes over and looks at him. The person turns and looks at him, possibly wipes some blood off the side of his mouth. I don't know. What's your name, friend?
Where are you from? What are you in for? Person gets up and looks at him. He says, "My name is Onesimus, and I'm from another country." And while I was over in that other country, I stole from my master, and I escaped that country and came over here to Rome to try to get away. But the authorities have found me, and they've taken me, and they've thrown me into this prison.
And now I will surely have to pay a debt for the things that I've taken and stolen. Onesimus looks to Paul and he says, "What's your name, friend?" Where are you from? What are you in for? Paul looks at him and says, "My name is Paul, and I'm an apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ." He says, "I'm in for telling people about the love of Jesus. I'm in for telling people about a crucified Christ.
I'm in for telling people how they can go to heaven when they die. I'm in for telling people about the goodness of God." Oh, he says, "Onesimus, let me tell you something right now." The goodness of God is awesome. The the salvation of Jesus Christ is awesome. I mean, He's gone and He's prepared a place for you and for me, and you can ask Him into your heart and into your life as your personal Lord and Savior. Do you know Jesus?
He goes, No, I don't believe I do. He goes, Oh, He's the best thing that's ever happened to me. He he's created a place, a wonderful place. There's a place called heaven, and in that heaven, there's no more pain, and there's no more suffering, and there's no more sickness. There's no more cancer.
There's no more medications. There's no more things that can be wrong. It's a glorious, wonderful place. Onesimus, wouldn't you like to go to that place called heaven? Onesimus looks to Paul, and he goes, "Paul, I, I believe I would." And can you imagine what it was like in that Mamertine prison, as two men would bow their head, and Onesimus would make the transformation from death to life in Jesus Christ after they're done praying.
Paul would look to Onesimus and he'd go, Onesimus, let me ask you a question. You said you're from another country. What country are you from? He said, Well, I'm from a place called Colossi. Paul goes, Colossi.
Well, I'm familiar with Colossi. Why I've written many letters in regards to people that are over there in Colossi. You said your master was over there. Phil, your master's there in Colossi. Hey, what's your master's name?
He goes, I'm a, I'm almost ashamed, Paul, to tell you my master's name. I almost, I almost feel bad just even mentioning it. But he, he, his name is Philemon. Paul goes, Philemon. Why, I know of Philemon.
I've received invitations from Philemon that if I were to go over there and we're going to stay in Colossi, that Philemon would open his house and allow me to stay in there. Why he told me why he would bring me in like a brother beloved. He told me that he he would set the best place at the table for me. He'd give me a robe on my back and a ring on my finger and shoes on my feet. He'd give me the best room in the house.
Why I know Phile. Amen. Onesimus looks at Paul and he goes, "Paul, I'm ashamed. Philemon was my master. I was a servant in his house, and I stole from him." Then I took from him, and I escaped, and I made my way over here to Rome, and and then they caught me, and now I I don't know what's going to happen.
Paul says, "Onestimus, I'll tell you what, you've made a transformation, transformation in Jesus Christ. Here's what I'm going to do. I'm going to write a letter on your behalf. I'm going to write a letter." I'm gonna write a letter to Philemon on your behalf, and here's what that letter is gonna say. It's gonna say this.
It's gonna say, "Whom I have retained with me, that in thy stead he might have ministered unto me in the gospel. But without thy mind would I do nothing, that thy benefit should be of it were necessity, but willingly." For perhaps he hath departed for a season, that thou shouldest receive him forever, not now as a servant, but above a servant. I'm writing that letter. Here's what. Here's what's going to happen.
You need. You're going to take this letter. They're going to take you back over to Colossi, and you are going to have to face your accuser. But I want you to take this letter, and I want you to give it to Philemon. Onesimus goes, "Oh my goodness!
Thank you, thank you, Paul! Thank you." The time comes where Onesimus is taken back over to Colossi, and the next thing you know, he's standing there facing his accuser. Philemon. Philemon looks at Onesimus. Oh, Onesimus, you robber, you thief!
You've stolen from me. You've robbed from me. You've taken from me. You owe me a debt. You need to pay your debt.
Philemon, master. I'm sorry for what I did. As a matter of fact, I've changed. Why? I've joined the Kerwin Baptist Church of Rome.
Well, I'm glad you joined the church, and joining the church is a good thing. But joining the church doesn't pay you debt. You still owe a debt. You've robbed from me. You've stolen from me.
You need to pay your debt. But, but, but, Master, Master, I mean, since I've joined the church, why I put money in the offering plate?
Well, I'm glad you put money in the offering plate, and that's what you're supposed to do. You're supposed to tithe, and that's good. And of course, that's a good thing. But that doesn't pay your debt. You still owe a debt.
You've robbed from me and stolen from me. You've taken from me. You owe a debt. But Master, Master, while I was there in Rome, I started being nice to other people and treating them like a like a good neighbor should, not like State Farm, but like a good neighbor.
Well, I'm glad that you treated people nice, and I'm glad that you were good. And all those things are wonderful. That's great, but that doesn't pay your debt. You stolen from me. You rob from me.
You owe me a debt. You need to pay your debts. Oh, Nasamus goes, Master. While I was in Rome, I met someone by the name of Paul. Have you ever heard of the Apostle Paul?
Oh, Ananias! I've heard of the Apostle Paul. Why we we write letters back and forth? We we we converse once in a while. Why if he were to ever come to my house, why I'd take him in like he's part of the family.
I'd take him in like a brother beloved. Why I'd give him the best place, a best room in the house, and I'd give him the best place at the table. We'd have a big feast. I'd put a robe on his back and shoes on his feet. I'd put a ring on his finger.
Why I know. Paul, Master, when I was in prison in Rome, I met Paul, and he wrote a letter that I should give this to you. And that letter says, "For perhaps he hath departed for a season." That thou shouldest receive him for ever, not now as a servant, but above a servant, a brother beloved, especially to me, but how much more to thee, both in the flesh and in the Lord. If thou count me therefore a partner, receive him as myself. If he hath wronged thee or oweth thee aught, put that.
On mine account, and that letter is the book of Philemon.
Well, oneness of things changed now that I got this letter.
Well, I'm supposed to take you in like I would take in Paul. Oh no, no, no, Master, no, no. It's okay. I just take a place in the servants' quarters. I'll work off my debt.
I'll take care of everything, Master. Please. Oh no, no, no. That's not the way it works. You see, your debt's already been paid.
It's already covered. Why Paul says to put it on his account, and and I can't, I can't have you pay it if he's paying it, and and and it says that I'm supposed to take you. In like I would take in Paul. Why? Why?
If I were to take in Paul, I put you in the best room. Hey, everybody! Hey, hey, everybody! Look around. Hey, Onesimus!
Boy, I'll tell you what, Onesimus, if we weren't for Paul, it'd be a different story. But hey, Onesimus is here. Hey, hey, hey! Give him the best room in the house. Why?
Set him a place at the table.
Someone put a robe on his back and shoes on his feet. Hey, take I'm to take you in like I would take in Paul. A brother, beloved. No, Nessimus now is part of the family because his debt has been paid. All of a sudden, the scene changes, and you and I stand before God.
And I don't know who you are. I know many. I know many of you thank the Lord. We got a a friendship, but can I tell you something? Listen to me now.
I don't know who everybody is, but can I tell you something? Every single person in this room, and that's viewing online, will stand before God one day. We will. We're going to stand before God. I'll use my name for example.
I hear my name called, standing before God. Patrick, Walter, McCloskey, and I walk down the aisle. And God looks at me and He says, "You owe me a debt." And I look to God and I say, "But God, wait a minute." Why I've tried to be a good person. Why God, I joined the Kerwin Baptist Church.
Well, I'm glad you joined the church, and that's a good thing. But that doesn't pay you debt. You still owe me a debt. Hey, God, I mean, I put money in the offering plate every week.
Well, I'm glad you put money in the offering plate. That's a good thing. But you still owe a debt. You robbed from me. You stolen from me.
You owe me a debt. But God, I got baptized.
Well, I'm glad you got baptized. And being baptized is a good thing. But I tell you what, you still owe me a debt. If you don't pay your debt, God, I even got baptized when I was a baby. But that doesn't pay your debt, Pat.
That doesn't pay you debt.
Well, God, I mean, I've given to to different organizations to try to be a nice person and to help, and I've tried my best to be a good neighbor, and I've tried my best to be kind to other people. Why I'm a good person. Oh, Pat, I'm glad you're a good person, and those things are important. But you still rob from me. You still owe me.
You still take it from me. You owe me a debt. You owe me a debt. You need to pay your debts. And I look to God and I say, God, do you know Jesus?
And God goes, Jesus. And I say, Yes, sir. I met him when I was seven years old at a Good News Club across the street, and I've got this letter. And in that letter, it says there is therefore no condemnation to them that are in Christ Jesus. It's written right in there.
That letter says, "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life." I've got the letter, God, right here. God says, "You know Jesus?" I said, "Yes, sir. I know Him as my personal Lord and Savior. I've asked Him for giving my sin, coming to my life." And God says to me. That's good enough for me.
That pays your debt. Your debt has been paid. It's one hundred percent paid. Jesus paid the debt on the cross of Calvary. He died there over two thousand years ago to pay your debt.
Your debt has been paid, Patrick McClaskey. Hey everybody! Look who's here. Patrick's here. Hey, hey!
Show him where his match. Can you imagine? The Bible says that I will be taken into heaven like Jesus was taken into heaven after he was crucified on the cross and risen again with the Lord Jesus Christ and sits at the right hand of the Father. I get to be that same kind of person. Where I get to be there in the portals of glory.
I get to have a Mansion. I get to set a place at the table of life. I get to be there with the Lord. Hey, everybody, look who's here. Pat's here.
He knows my son Jesus. He's asked him into his heart as his personal Lord and Savior. He's been forgiven of his sin. Hey, greet Pat. He's here.
I'm to take you in, like I would take in Jesus. The debt's been paid. The debt's been paid, and it's all written down right here. I'm going to end with a little illustration. My daughter Brittany, she's 39 years old now, but I want you to imagine my daughter and I, as we when we were younger.
I would see my little Brittany. She be sitting there, five six years old.
Some of you know what this is like, and she be doodling and playing. And I would sit there and just watch her. And she be singing songs that didn't make any sense. She be making them up, and I'd watch her. Pretty soon, I look at her and I go, "Brittany, yes, Daddy, your Daddy loves you.
You know that, yes, I do, Daddy, and I love you too. You know what Daddy's going to do for you, Brittany? What? Daddy's going to take you shopping and buy you a brand new dress for me, Daddy." A brand new dress for me, Brittany. You gonna buy me brand?
You gonna take me shopping, Daddy? And we're gonna get a new dress. Oh, I can't wait. I want to go. I want to go.
Can we go right now, Daddy? Can we go? And I look at her and I go, Oh, Brittany, I, I can't go right now. I, I'm. I'll tell you what I'm gonna do.
I'm gonna take you next week. And it's going to be a daddy-daughter day, and we're going to go and buy you a brand new dress. Oh, I can't wait! That's wonderful. But Daddy, would you do one thing for me?
Well, what's that, Brittany? Would you write it down on this piece of paper right here? I look at her and I said, Brittany, why do I need to write it down? She says, because mommy says that you forget all the time.
Okay, Daddy loves Brittany and going to take her shopping to buy her a brand new dress.
Okay, there you go, Brittany. Thank you, Daddy.
Next week comes around, all of a sudden Brittany comes charging in the room. Daddy, Daddy, Daddy, Daddy. Daddy, can we go shopping? Can we go shopping? You're gonna buy me a new dress.
You remember? You're gonna buy me a brand new dress. We go shopping today. I look at her and I go, Brittany, what are you talking about? You said last week that you loved me, and you said that you were gonna take me out shopping, and you said that you were gonna buy me a brand new dress.
You did. You did. You did. Britney, I don't remember that. Oh yeah, read that, Daddy.
Daddy loves Britney. Gonna take her shopping. Buy her a brand new dress, Britney. Let's go shopping together. God wrote it down.
It's right here. Salvation isn't complicated, friend. It's simple. It's easy. It's just.
Giving your life to Him, you say, "Oh, I got to give everything up if I if I get saved." Well, I got to give everything up, and it's about what you've got to give up. It's about what Jesus wants to give to you, and that's eternal life through Him. I'm glad I've got a letter. Amen. Can we stand together, please?
Our heads are bowed, our eyes are closed. Our instrumentalists are making their way to the platform. Our heads are bowed and our eyes are closed. Maybe you're here and you're saved. I mean, you know you're going to heaven.
There's not a doubt in your mind. You trusted Jesus years ago. You trusted Jesus just recently. But you know for a fact that he's died on the cross for you. He's paid sin's debt for you.
You asked him to forgive you of your sin, and you asked him to come into your life and save you. You did that. Said, "Brother Pat, I did that. I remember that clearly. I remember the day I got saved." You raise your hand as a testimony to that.
Oh my goodness! Hands up everywhere! Praise the Lord! Boldly raising their hands. Thank you.
Thank you so much. You can put your hands down. I don't know everyone here, but I know this much: I know there's a wonderful Savior that loves you so much that He went to a cross and He paid sin's debt for you and for me. He wrote it down, and that you could call upon His name to come into your life and save you today. And I promise you, it'll be the best decision you have ever made.
I promise you that. Say, Pat, I don't know. I don't know if I'm going to heaven or not, but I sure would like to know. Would you pray with me about that decision in my life?
Now, I'm not going to embarrass you. I'm not going to come to you. I'm not going to call your name. But I'd like to pray for you. Say, Pat, I'm not sure I'm going to heaven.
Would you pray with me about that? I'm curious about it. Pray with me about that. You slip your hand up. Slip your hand up.
Be honest with the Lord now. Be honest with the Lord. All those about. Thank you for listening today. We hope you received a blessing from our broadcast.
The Kerwin Baptist Church is located at 4520 Old Hollow Road in Kernersville, North Carolina. You may also contact us by phone at 336-993-5192, or via the web at KerwinBaptistChurch.com. Enjoy our services live and all our media on our website and church app. Thank you for listening to the Kerwin broadcast today. God bless you.
