Corrie Ten Boom, the lady who saw her family die in a Nazi concentration camp, said this: "What is a greater problem for the world --- what is a greater danger for the world --- what hurts most the Father heart of God --- a powerful atheist or a powerless Christian?" In view of the prayer of Jesus Christ it is evident that the powerless Christian is the greater problem because Satan uses a powerless Christian to keep unbelievers from becoming believers. Read the convicting prayer of Jesus for His church as proof of this: "Neither pray I for these alone, but for them also which shall believe on me through their word; that they all may be one; as thou Father are in me, and I in thee, that they also may be one in us; that the world may believe that thou hast sent me" (John 17: 20-21).

It should not be surprising that God calls disunity an abomination. There are six sins God hates but God calls number seven an abomination. "These six things doth the Lord hate; yea seven are an abomination unto him... a false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren" (Proverbs 6:16,19).

In view of this we desperately need to know how to keep the unity of the Spirit as Ephesians 4:3 commands. "Endeavoring to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace." (Ephesians 4:3). As a matter of fact, read Ephesians 4:1-2 and you’ll discover at once that unity, not union, among believers is the number one way we demonstrate how to walk worthy of the faith.

The New Testament book of Philemon lists practical ways we can keep the unity of the Spirit, so it is an excellent handbook to demonstrate "How to get along with Christians." Generally, the unbeliever is much easier to get along with because the unbeliever doesn’t have the conflict of the old sin nature versus the Holy Spirit (Romans 8:13), nor does the unbeliever know the fact that the joy of salvation can be lost (Psalm 5l:12), nor does the unbeliever know the problem of missing opportunity within the will of God (I Thess. 2:18 and I Cor. 16:9). You find a believer missing out in these areas I have just noted and you’ll find a very unhappy believer. Unhappy people cause problems. Happy people do not. I might add that only believers know divine discipline. (Psalm 32:1-4)

I have just shared four graphic Biblical reasons pointing out that unless we deal with the spiritual, there is no successful psychotherapy.

Philemon had an unprofitable servant. He wronged his master and ran away. That’s the bad news. The good news is that he heard the Gospel and came to faith in Christ. Since it is impossible for the Holy Spirit in one believer to fight the Holy Spirit in another believer (i.e. unless one of the believers is not controlled by the Holy Spirit), the Apostle Paul has the task of bringing Philemon to a realization of this and when we note how he did this, we can benefit from this great manual on "How to Get Along with Believers."

In Philemon verses 1-3, we have four major Biblical doctrines to which we can turn in order to discover how to get along with believers. Let me put it this way. Is there someone you just can’t stand? You just see them and you develop hypertension! Rather than turn to medication try doctrine (II. Timothy 3:16-17). Make a list of the doctrines in Philemon verses 1-3.

We do not read "Paul, a prisoner of Rome", but rather, "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ." Why? Remember that Paul, the Apostle, gave us Romans 8:28-29 and the reminder that conflict should cause us to say, "Lord, you are omniscient. You alone know why this is happening and because you are omnipotent you can bring me to maturity through the incident. Do it God." We must remember that nothing can happen to us without passing through the will of God (Job 1:10-12). You see, only God knows my need (Romans 8:26), so I must allow God to teach me, not my wants, but my needs and God often sends people to accomplish this. In view of that, tell someone who doesn’t like you that you thank God for them because you are discovering how to grow in grace and not groan in disgrace!

I Corinthians 12:12-13 explains the doctrine and the attitude that always (I repeat, always) results when we apply this doctrine. For example, I Corinthians 12:26 points out the result of applying the doctrine. "And whether one member suffer, all the members suffer with it; or one member be honored, all the members rejoice with it."

Now go back to the book of Philemon. "Paul, a prisoner of Jesus Christ and Timothy our brother. To Philemon, our beloved friend and fellow laborer."

Paul is simply saying, "Philemon, I understand your hostility toward your servant. However, he has come to faith in Christ. Philemon - apply the doctrine of the communion of the saints and you’ll discover what the Holy Spirit does for you only omnipotence can do!" Philemon, according to John 17:20-21 would be answering the prayer of Jesus Christ Himself and that certainly moves Christians from being powerless to being powerful!

Church buildings were not known until the third century. The organism (the body of Christ) met in homes. Today, for the most part, the organism meets in sometimes rather elegant buildings. However, remember that being a member of the organization doesn’t guarantee you’re a member of the organism. Consider the message of Galatians 3:26-27, "For ye are all the children of God by faith in Christ Jesus. For as many as have been baptized in Christ have put on Christ."

Hebrews 10:25 is a call to go to a church where the Gospel is preached (read the context). Hebrews 10:24 reminds us we need accountability as well as members of the organism to help us through the I Peter 1:7 trials. The minute I was aware of a certain church facing a crisis, I called on Songtime staff and friends at Brooklyn Tabernacle to pray. God answered and a very serious crisis was prevented! Paul wanted Philemon to know he was not alone in his dilemma. "Philemon - the church is here to help you."

Here we are told peace comes from God and also from Jesus Christ. Is this a reference to two sources? No! It is a reminder that Jesus Christ is God!