“A Season of Corporate Prayer and Fasting”

As you may know, in June we began
A Season of Prayer and Fasting as a Congregation.

We ask that you take time each day to join your
Bethel Family in seeking God through prayer and fasting.
Please speak to God as to how He would direct you
personally to participate with your brothers and
sisters at Bethel during this season of fasting. 

Prayer emphasis for Sunday, August 22 - Saturday, August 28
This week we are considering the prayers of Philemon 1:4-7

Sunday, August 22
Today’s Reflection
Read the Paul’s short letter to Philemon and then reflect on the notes below to lead you to a time of prayer.
This, the shortest of Paul’s letters, is addressed to Philemon, Paul’s ‘dear friend and fellow-worker.’ The occasion of the letter can be worked out from its contents. A slave named Onesimus had wronged his owner, Philemon, who was a Christian living at Colosse. It is assumed that Onesimus had stolen something and then run away to disappear in the subculture of Rome. Here he came into contact with Paul (in prison) who led Onesimus to faith in Christ. Seeing he had no right to retain Onesimus, Paul sent him back to Philemon together with this accompanying letter. Using carefully chosen words Paul asked that Philemon might welcome his slave just as he would receive Paul himself. While the decision was to be Philemon’s entirely, Paul was confident that his friend would respond in a godly manner and believed that he would do even more than he requested. *
Today’s Prayer Focus Beginning with thanksgiving, ask God to show you how He is working through the “happenstances of life” to bring your friends and loved ones to a personal faith in Jesus Christ.

Monday, August 23
Today’s Reflection
Read Paul’s letter to Philemon, focusing your heart on his prayer in v4-6 Each of Paul’s letters, except Galatians, includes an expression of thanksgiving at the opening.
The words, “I always thank my God as I remember you in my prayers,” are almost the same ones Paul used in his other prison epistles (Eph. 1:15-16; Phil. 1:3-4; Col. 1:3-4). v4-6 is the shortest thanksgiving section of all and was intended to prepare the way for the specific matter with which the letter is primarily concerned, namely, Paul’s request concerning Onesimus. Giving thanks is uppermost in the Apostle's mind as he begins the passage. Paul told when he gave thanks - “always;” and to whom -“God;” and for whom - “you,” that is, Philemon. Stressing the consciousness of a personal relationship to God, Paul adds the pronoun my (Rom. 1:8; Phil. 1:3), declaring that he relates to the God as his “Father” through Jesus Christ (3). Always suggests “regular” rather than “unceasing” thanksgiving and is explained by the following - “as I remember you in my prayers.’’ *
Today’s Prayer Focus Give thanks today for your brothers and sisters at Bethel, knowing that you share in the common salvation God has provided through a living relationship with the Lord Jesus Christ.

Tuesday, August 24
Today’s Reflection Read Paul’s prayer for Philemon and center your heart on v5 In v5 Paul tells the reason for his giving of thanks – “because I hear about your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints.”
Paul may have heard about Philemon’s faith in Christ and love for the saints from Onesimus and Epaphras (v23). The coupling of faith in Christ and love for the saints was also true of the Ephesians (Eph. 1:15), the Colossians (Col. 1:4), and the Thessalonians (1 Thess. 1:3; 2 Thess. 1:3). These attitudes, faith and love, were directed primarily toward (pros) Christ, but found their outworking in (eis) the church. The theological order is first faith then love, the fruit of faith. It is clear that Philemon's love was of a very practical nature in that he “refreshed” the people of God through his words and work (v7). Because his faith in Christ produced this kind of love for all the saints, Philemon should now include in his love, Onesimus, who had now become a follower of Jesus Christ and his brother in the faith (16). * *
Today’s Prayer Focus Pray that you will be enabled by the Holy Spirit to “flesh-out your faith” through practical expressions of love toward others, especially toward the members of your Bethel Family.

Wednesday, August 25
Today’s Reflection
Read Paul’s prayer for Philemon and prayerfully consider v6 Paul’s thanksgiving leads directly to his request — a petition concerning Philemon’s generosity.
It is as if Paul could not give thanks for his friend without interceding for him. It was the apostle’s great desire that Philemon understand and experience the treasures that belonged to him as a believer. Philemon’s faith had already been active; Paul now wants it to be ‘effective’ in relation to Onesimus. His request is that Philemon’s generosity might result in some action in the case of Onesimus. In the end, this would help Philemon come to a deeper understanding and appreciation of all the blessings that belonged to him (and all others who are incorporated) in Christ. When we act upon our faith by being liberal and generous in sharing our love, it helps to deepen our understanding of all that God has provided for us through the work of His Son. *
Today’s Prayer Focus Ask God to help you to activate and apply your faith today to a particular situation that calls for the expression of His love in and through your life.

Thursday, August 26
Today’s Reflection
Reread Paul’s prayer in Philemon 1:4-6 focusing particularly on v6 Paul’s prayer was that Philemon would be active in sharing his faith (literally “active in the sharing,” hē koinōnia).
The relationship of the second clause to the first is difficult to translate. The NIV words “so that you will have” are simply the one Greek word en (“in”). This hints that the first clause results from the second. In other words, as Philemon gained a fuller understanding of the blessings he has in Christ, he would then become more active in sharing Him with others. That is, he would share Christ in (i.e., in the sphere of) his full understanding of his blessings. In other words, the more a believer comes to comprehend all he has in Christ, the more eager he is to share Christ with others. The “full understanding” is the Greek word epignōsei, which is mentioned in Paul’s prayers in each of the other prison epistles (Eph. 1:18; Phil. 1:9; Col. 1:9). How grateful we are that we can grow into a “full understanding!” *
Today’s Prayer Focus Ask the Lord to give each of your brothers and sisters at Bethel a full understanding of the blessings He given them in Christ.

Friday, August 27
Today’s Reflection
Read Paul’s letter to Philemon, and prayerfully focus your heart on v6 & 7.
Philemon’s love resulted in joy and encouragement for Paul, for Philemon had refreshed the hearts of the saints. This word, “refreshed” (anapepautai, cf. v. 20) is the word the Lord used in Matthew 11:28, “Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” ( anapausō - “I will refresh you” ). Philemon, having been spiritually “refreshed” by Christ, could now be used by the Lord to refresh others. “Hearts” is not the normal Greek word kardia for heart, but is splanchna (literally, “inner parts of the body”). This speaks to the deep inner parts of life where the emotions are felt. Paul used the same word again in v12 and 20. We are not to fear we might be “too emotional” in our response to God or to others, for the true Christian life is one that can be touched at its deepest point emotionally and lived out of a overflowing heart of love for the Lord, the Church and the lost. *
Today’s Prayer Focus Ask God to use you today to refresh someone through the active expression of your faith evidenced by a specific act of sacrificial love.

Saturday, August 28
Today’s Reflection
Read Paul’s prayer for Philemon and meditate prayerfully on v6 & 7. Philemon was a man who witnessed with his life as well as with his lips.
The sharing of his faith was underpinned by his living; he had a good testimony outside as well as inside the church. Philemon was using his gifts wisely and willingly in the work of the kingdom of Christ; something that resulted in others being refreshed in heart (v. 7). Paul finds ‘great joy and consolation’ from knowing of Philemon’s ministry (the word ‘consolation’ is from the Greek meaning ‘comfort’ or ‘help’). Philemon was an example to other believers in that he had given rest to the weary, shown generosity to others and had refreshed the hearts of his brothers and sisters in Christ. When Christians go out of their way to show love and concern to others, it has a profound effect for the cause of Christ. All in all, Philemon was a winsome and faithful believer who Paul could count on to do the right thing.
Today’s Prayer Focus Pray that your testimony will be such that it causes believers and unbelievers to be thankful that you have some connection and influence in their lives.

Take time each day to join your Bethel Family in seeking
God through prayer and fasting, giving special attention
to each daily prayer focus and reflections.