A Prisoner for the Sake of Jesus and the Gospel

“Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ, and Timothy our brother, to Philemon the beloved and fellow laborer, and to Apphia the beloved, and to Archippus our fellow soldier, and to the church in your house.” (Philemon 1:1-2)

Paul sends greetings to Philemon, to others known to be associated with Philemon and to the believers who probably congregate at his house from himself and Timothy. It’s believed that at this point, Paul is unable to pen the letter himself and has Timothy pen it for him. Timothy also co-authored another letter giving his input to Paul’s letters in Colossians. Paul engaged the help of Timothy and others such as Silas, Erastus, Gaius and Aristarchus who were his companions and probably in the course of discussions of Christian concepts contributed to Paul’s letters. In our Scripture in his letter to Philemon, he and Timothy seem to have collaborated in writing the letter to Philemon.

Paul begins by stating he is a prisoner of Jesus Christ. There are many things he could have said of his relationship with Jesus, but what did he mean by this and why did he make this statement? This is not the first time he’s referred to himself as a prisoner of Jesus Christ. This is a statement he made in his letter to the Ephesians and in his second letter to Timothy. The MSG (Message) Bible version is a paraphrase and intents to make things a little clearer. “I, Paul, am a prisoner for the sake of Christ, here with my brother Timothy.” The life and energy of the Scriptures are more understandable to us when it’s put in our way of speaking and understanding.

Paul walked led by the Holy Spirit. It’s believed it was God’s will for him to be imprisoned in order to testify Christ to the elite Romans in Rome. Whether they believed on Jesus is one of those things we will not know until we reach heaven. But we can be sure that the Lord gave them the opportunity to hear the Gospel. So, in essence, Paul considered himself imprisoned in Rome for the sake of Christ and for the sake of the Gospel to the Gentiles.

How does knowing this effect our outlook when we are in a place where we feel uncomfortable or in a place that is even painful? The big problem I see with Christians in this day and age and one that I suffer from is that I forget my true mission. I get too involved with what is happening in the world sphere and the difficulty I am having at the moment in the world. We are so attached to this world. How can we remember that in those times that are difficult, that are painful or even dangerous if the Lord didn’t lead us there to show His glory? And instead of praying, instead of being the conqueror He died for and being victorious in the moment, we flub it in reacting and surrendering our royal status as kings and priests of the Lord and react like the world. We have so much power and authority, but we fumble through those opportunities the Lord gives us to bring Him glory and in turn react like the world. Is it lack of prayer, lack of identity with Christ or worldliness in us? We don’t look for nor want those situations, but in this world, we find ourselves in such situations. We must allow the Holy Spirit to override our flesh. At work, at school, in our cars on the road, with our families saved and not saved yet, with our neighbors and out in the stores, we must remember we are kings and priests who rule on this earth. Paul knew it. He accepted his imprisonment and was able to share the Gospel with the Jewish leaders, Roman soldiers and important people in Rome. “And when we came into Rome, the centurion delivered the prisoners to the camp commander. But Paul was allowed to dwell by himself, with a soldier guarding him. And after three days it happened that Paul called together those being chief of the Jews. And they coming together, he said to them, Men, brothers, I did nothing against the people or customs of our fathers. I was delivered a prisoner from Jerusalem into the hands of the Romans who, examining me, were of a mind to let me go because there was no cause of death in me. But the Jews speaking against it, I was constrained to appeal to Caesar; not as having anything to accuse my nation. For this cause, then, I called for you, to see and to speak with you. For I have this chain around me for the hope of Israel. And they said to him, We neither received letters out of Judea concerning you, nor have any of the brothers who came declared or spoke anything evil of you. But we think it right to hear from you what you think. For truly as concerning this sect, it is known to us that it is spoken against everywhere. And they having appointed him a day, many came to him in his lodging; to whom he expounded, testifying the kingdom of God, and persuading them the things concerning Jesus, both out of the Law of Moses and out of the Prophets, from morning until evening. And some indeed believed the things that were said, others did not believe.” (Acts 28:16-24) The soldiers also heard the Gospel as they guarded him. Being imprisoned didn’t stop him from preaching. He called the Jewish leaders to come to him in prison, and some believed.

Paul was a true follower of Jesus. He never wavered from his mission. Let’s examine our discipleship to be a better follower of Jesus, to not merely believe and surrender with our words, but with our actions whenever and wherever we may be or encounter ourselves.

Let us pray:

Father God, I recognize that I have failed following Jesus completely. Forgive me and help me to remember who I am in Jesus and why You are allowing me to roam this earth. There are future brothers and sisters who need to hear the Gospel. I repent of my lapses and ask Your divine help in walking and speaking the Gospel. This is Your Will and purpose for me. Help me to fulfill it with joy, with love and with the heavenly authority You have given me to share the Gospel of Jesus no matter what difficulty I may find myself in or in what occasions I feel pressured to attend to the circumstances rather than witnessing. Help me to remember first that I am Your witness. Put Your Word on my lips. Fill my heart with Your Word. I ask the Holy Spirit to remind me of my mission, to remind me of Your Word and to remind me of the suffering the lost will undergo if they don’t turn to Jesus. Make my heart tender to their spiritual needs and give me the wisdom to use my time with sinners for Your glory. In the Name of Jesus I pray, amen.