09/09/2014 - AUTHORITY OF A FATHER IN THE FAITH

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Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. Philemon 1.21

Paul’s letter to Philemon teaches us a lot about the respect and consideration we should have for those who have been used by the Lord to bring us to His Kingdom. Like in marriage, when a man leaves his father and mother to become one flesh with his wife, the person that feel’s God’s calling is attached to the Body of Christ – the Church – with the anointing that he receives.

From the union of a man and a woman comes a new family. The fruits of this relationship are under the blessing of the parents. The children can only abandon this “body” in order to constitute a new family. In the spiritual case, we can only separate from our local churches in order to accomplish a divine call. However, such a decision must be well planned and only taken once there is full assurance that it is God’s will.

In marriage, if a third person enters in the relationship, the spouse that allowed it to happen will pay a high price, for he or she will have brought madness for something that God planned to be holy and perfect (Hb 13.4). The problems that may happen in that family, the works of the devil – accidents, premature deaths, suicides, and other situations from the demon – will belong to the person that denied the Word and became an adulterer.

God has called me to undertake a mission that is compared to a spiritual body, and He used me to start it. It pleased the Lord to raise a “family” inside of the divine family. Those who have already harmed me, leading some to fall astray, becoming spiritual and natural adulterers, will be accountable for the loss they have brought to the Body of the Lord – the eternal Church of Christ. Woe to the man by whom the offense comes (Mt 18.7)!

Paul supported Onesimus when he asked Philemon to receive this former slave with fraternal love, even though he had run away from Philemon’s house. After he had met with Paul in Rome and became a Christian, Onesimus ceased being a runaway slave and became a brother in Christ of his former lord. He became Paul’s child in faith (v.12), like Philemon. Paul not only sent him back, but also proposed to pay the former slave’s debt if necessary.

The apostle remembered Philemon that he was also indebted to Paul for his life. My God! What a revelation! The Lord has used me to bring so many people to Him and they left to other places! If they had been firm in the work that I was called to do, with their tithes and offerings, I would have been able to reach all the countries in the world! Many lives have been lost and so many others have died in sin! And who will be responsible for it?

Why should some people allow themselves to be used to destroy another home? What will happen to those who are manipulated by the devil to destroy or weaken the work of God? They will certainly pay a high price!

In Christ, with love,

R. R. Soares