Be
Not Ashamed
(Exhortation - September 2004)
Paul’s first experience preaching to both Jew and Gentile at Ephesus had been both positive and joyful. In fact, so effective was the work that Luke records: “And this continued by the space of two years; so that all they which dwelt in Asia heard the word of the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks” (Acts 19:10).
Eventually Paul left in order to consolidate the results of his preaching in the surrounding areas. On the return journey as he made his way back toward Jerusalem, he stopped off at Miletus: “And from Miletus he sent to Ephesus, and called the elders of the church” (Acts 20:17). When they were assembled Paul delivered a stirring exhortation reminding them of the truths they had received, warning them of difficulties to come and urging them to continue in the faith. Prior to his leaving and boarding the ship the most poignant scene took place: “And when he had thus spoken, he kneeled down, and prayed with them all. And they all wept sore, and fell on Paul’s neck, and kissed him, sorrowing most of all for the words which he spake, that they should see his face no more. And they accompanied him unto the ship” (Acts 20:36-38).
And most likely it was here that Paul parted from Timothy leaving him to take over the responsibility of preaching and shepherding the flock at Ephesus.
Letters to Timothy
The first letter to Timothy from the apostle was one of instruction and
encouragement: “That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave
thyself in the house of God, which is the church of the living God, the
pillar and ground of the truth” (I Tim. 3:15). The letter ends
with the admonition: “O Timothy, keep that which is committed
to thy trust…” (I Tim. 6:20).
Like Timothy, we have been given a great treasure. We are in effect analogous to a bank that has been entrusted with a valuable deposit. As in the parable of the talents we are expected to keep, guard and add interest to the things of the truth until the Master returns.
The tenor of the second letter was very different. Paul had been removed from his own hired house to a Roman dungeon where he awaited death by execution. Nevertheless, confidence and assurance in the promises of God shines throughout the letter from the opening greeting: “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life which is in Christ Jesus” (II Tim. 1:1).
A source of strength
As Paul awaited his own death, no doubt meditating upon the last hours
of the Lord Jesus gave him strength and courage. For not only was Jesus
aware of his impending death, he also understood that it was to be achieved
by the cruelest of methods. Jesus, knowing full well that the bread represented
the body he was about to willingly surrender, and the wine the blood that
would soon be shed, the Lord actually gave thanks saying: “This
is my body which is given for you…This cup is the New Testament
in my blood, which is shed for you” (Lk. 22:19-20).
Being fully persuaded of these things, Paul urgently sought to strengthen and prepare Timothy, his beloved son in the faith, to carry on without him. The younger man was no stranger to the persecutions experienced by his friend and teacher: “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions, which came unto me at Antioch, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me” (II Tim. 3:11).
Here was Paul, a prisoner awaiting death, paradoxically saying that he had been delivered! He wanted Timothy (and all those who would afterward read his words) to understand that the life of a disciple of Christ is not easy. Trials and afflictions will be part of the spiritual journey toward deliverance from the shackles of mortality. Mercifully, God does not leave His loved ones to struggle along in fear and weakness: “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind” (II Tim. 1:7).
Precious truths had been entrusted to Paul and in response the apostle trustingly deposited his life into the hands of the Lord. It mattered not that Phygellus and Hermogenes had turned away (II Tim. 1:15), because: “The foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his” (II Tim. 2:19).
Love is not ashamed
Earlier Paul had stated that he was not ashamed of his beliefs (II Tim.
1:12). Dramatically altered circumstances had only served to reinforce
these sentiments. There is something very moving in his appeal to Timothy
to resist being ashamed not only of the doctrines but also of him: “Be
not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his
prisoner” (II Tim. 1:8).
Now in absolute faith, Paul cited the example of someone who would have been well known to Timothy, Onesiphorus, who was not ashamed of either the gospel or the one who had taught him: “The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: but, when he was in Rome, he sought me out very diligently, and found me. The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day: and in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, thou knowest very well” (II Tim. 1:16-18).
Whether the journey from Ephesus to Rome was undertaken for the direct purpose of visiting his imprisoned mentor or whether, as some think, Onesiphorus was a merchant of Ephesus visiting the busy capitol city on business, is a matter of speculation. What is known, however, is that once in Rome, it became a high priority for this brother to locate and visit the apostle Paul, in order to provide him with much-needed succor and encouragement. We can only imagine that reunion: Paul in chains, Onesiphorus tired out from the long search of the various prisons. The joy of both must have been unrestrained but for Paul, it was a great comfort. He was virtually alone, for Demas had forsaken him and gone to Thessalonica, Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia, only the faithful Luke remained with him.
Faith in action
Although Onesiphorus is not a major player in the New Testament, he is
definitely an example of faith in action and one that we would do well
to emulate. Obviously, we cannot visit Paul in Rome, but we can be alert
to the needs of our brethren and sisters and exert ourselves to help.
Remember what we do to others is a way of serving our Lord: “Inasmuch
as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have
done it unto me” (Matt. 25:40).
Some feel that Paul’s request that the Lord be merciful to the house of Onesiphorus was an indication that Onesiphorus had died and Paul, fearing that his family might be destitute, was asking for a blessing upon them. Maybe searching for the prisoner Paul had alerted the soldiers of Nero to the fact that Onesiphorus was a Christian, leading to his subsequent capture and death. Or perhaps he returned to Ephesus and died peacefully. Whatever the truth of the matter, this new brother put into practice the precepts of his faith and thus could expect the loving approbation of Christ: “For I was an hungered, and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me in: naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me…” (Matt. 25:35-36).
It is good to consider these worthies of old who unashamedly labored for their Lord under the threat of persecution and to be thankful that we live in a society that is more tolerant. Nevertheless, there are times when the nonchalance and ridicule of those to whom we preach is hard to take. But we never need to be ashamed of the wonderful truths we seek to impart.
Let us take courage from the one we have come to remember this morning, who unashamedly subjected himself to open scorn and derision for our sake: “Who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is set down at the right hand of God. For consider him that endured such contradiction of sinners against himself, lest ye be wearied and faint in your minds” (Heb. 12:2-3). His atoning blood covers all our sins; therefore we can take the exhortation of the apostle John to heart: “And now, little children, abide in him; that, when he shall appear, we may have confidence, and not be ashamed before him at his coming” (I Jn. 2:28).
Martyn Lawrence