A CLEAN SLATE is the beginning of a clean heart.
Philemon 1:8-21 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, 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. *********** 17 If then you count me as a partner, receive him as you would me. Although Paul sent Onesimus back to Philemon, he was not going to force him on Philemon. He wanted Philemon to receive him not because he said so but because his spirit led him to receive him back. That same spirit that was placed in all of us that we may discern the truth in all things. Paul was saying to Philemon, “Look at Onesimus! Is this the same man that left you?” Onesimus was a slave and thief and so he carried a bad reputation. His character was severely flawed. But now Paul is speaking of a different Onesimus. Onesimus the new man. Onesimus with a CLEAN SLATE. Jesus even remove the bondage of slavery off of him and made him their brother. If that’s not a promotion nothing is!!! It didn’t matter what he had done in the past. He had been forgiven. And he really only had to go back so that others would be a witness to how salvation through Jesus Had changed him. He had become a new creation and not only that but he had also become a help to the kingdom. Verse 15 and 16 says, “For perhaps he departed for a while for this purpose, that you might receive him forever, 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.” Not just any brother, but a beloved brother. So Paul is announcing that there was a purpose in everything that Onesimus had done to Philemon. Just as there was purpose in him running away. So he’s telling him to accept him. Accept him in the spirit. That’s how special you are to the kingdom. Onesimus tried to flee from his sins but because God had a PLAN for his life he ended up running into Paul. Paul moving under the instructions of the Holy Spirit took Onesimus under his wing bringing forth his deliverance from sin. Not only that but he trained him to be a disciple. He trained him to be useful to the kingdom. This is what it is all about. Everything that we do is training so that we will become useful to the kingdom of God. Training to be able to share this God News which is the news of salvation with others. You may be called to do it in a big way or you may be called to do it in a small way. “I planted, Apollo watered, God got the increase.” So you will be either a planter or a waterer in some form or other. And when we follow the plan for our lives others will receive their salvation and they will also receive their CLEAN SLATE. If you've never said it before, or maybe you just need to back track and get back on the right path and rededicate your life, pray this Prayer of Salvation now and receive your promotion. Dear heavenly Father, I come to you in the name of Jesus.I acknowledge to You that I am a sinner, and I am sorry for my sins and the life that I have lived; I need your forgiveness. I’m ready for your forgiveness. I believe in my heart that your only begotten Son, Jesus shed His precious blood on the cross and died for my sins, and I am ready to turn from my sin. You said in Your Word, that if we confess the Lord our God and believe in our hearts that God raised Jesus from the dead, we shall be saved. (Romans 10:9) Right now I am confessing Jesus as the Lord of my life and in my heart, I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead. I accept Jesus as my own personal Savior and according to His Word, right now, this very moment, I AM saved. Lord God transform my life so that I may bring glory and honor to you alone and not to myself. I thank you Jesus for dying for me and giving me life everlasting. Amen. Now shout CLEAN SLATE! Love you all and always praying for you my Brothers and Sisters in Christ! Be blessed! Evangelist Cheryl Davies www.fearnotministries.com www.facebook.com/fearnotministries #CleanSlate, #Salvation, #SavedByGrace, #JesusIsLord
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