Having confidence in your obedience, I write to you, knowing that you will do even more than I say. But, meanwhile, also prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you. Epaphras, my fellow prisoner in Christ Jesus, greets you, as do Mark, Aristarchus, Demas, Luke, my fellow laborers. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. Philemon 1:21-25

As we are coming to the end of this epistle, the Apostle Paul is ending it with “Having confidence in your obedience” Paul is very sure that Philemon and the Church will do the right thing, to restore Onesimus as a brother in Christ, why? Because this Church is led by the Holy Spirit, and Paul knows all of them very well. In fact, Paul is so confident in them he states “knowing that you will do even more than I say”

Churches are going to be tested, Satan is going to try and divide the body of Christ, we must cling to the precious word of God “ Forgive one another as Christ has forgiven you” (Ephesians 4:32)  The Apostle Paul knows this Church is truly led by the Holy Spirit, truly obedient to Christ, truly bow a knee to our Father in Heaven. How many Churches have split apart over simple disagreements? 

Here’s an interesting statement Paul makes “prepare a guest room for me, for I trust that through your prayers I shall be granted to you” Its historically documented that Paul was imprisoned by Rome twice, when Paul wrote this during his frist imprisonment, he was released and probably eventually visited the Church of Colossae. Paul was sure that through the prayers of the Church, he would be released and be able to visit them one more time, and the Holy Spirit was right!

Next the Apostle Paul closes with mentioning so well know Christians and some maybe not so well known Christians. Epaphras, who is also mentioned in the Epistle of Colossians (Colossians 1:7, 4:12) was said to be probably the one who planted the Church in Colossae and preached the gospel to the people of the area. Epaphras was also believed to have traveled to Rome to visit Paul in prison to update him on anything going on, it was also believed he was a Gentile

Of course we all know Mark (known as John Mark) author of the Gospel of Mark, and Dr. Luke (author of Gospel of Luke) And probably the lesser known Christians, Aristarchus, we known as a fellow servant with Paul, more well known from the book of Acts 19, who was arrested with Paul during the riot in Ephesus

Then the Apostle Paul ends with an encouraging reminder “the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit” Reminding the Church, they are not just followers of Christ but Born Again in Christ, regenerated by the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father, Amen!