by Paul EstabrooksScripture Reading: 2 Timothy 1:15-18Second Timothy is the Apostle Paul’s final written communication before his death. He waschained to a soldier in a prison house in Rome. Although he is writing to encourage hisspiritual son, Timothy, Paul reveals a great need of encouragement, himself. The long, lonelyhours and his facing almost certain death made his isolation very difficult for him. Hismessage shows that:1. EVERYONE NEEDS ENCOURAGEMENT – EVEN THESEEMINGLY STRONG AND MATURE – BUTESPECIALLY THOSE WHO SUFFER!Paul shares here the combination of pathos and joy. On the one hand, he recalls so vividlyhow everyone from the province of Asia in the western part of Asia Minor (Ephesus was itscapital) deserted him. His experience was very much like Jesus’ whose friends also forsookhim and fled.And probably for the same reason-fear! His was a political charge and it was fear for theirown safety which caused believers to abandon him. He mentions two men by name (probablywell known to Timothy) who especially disappointed him in this desertion.But on the other hand, one man was loyal to the end. His name was Onesiphorus, whichmeans “profitable” or “help-bringer”. He was obviously one of Paul’s key co-workersduring the three-year period Paul spent in Ephesus, longer than anywhere else (Acts 20:31).Paul indicates that Timothy was well aware of this. From there (Ephesus), the preaching ofthe Gospel reached every part of the province (Acts 19:10). Onesiphorus was the instrumentof encouragement to the Apostle Paul during his very trying time in the Roman prison.2. THREE WAYS TO ENCOURAGE THE PERSECUTED:In his helping Paul while in prison, Onesiphorus demonstrated three specific ways toencourage those who are suffering:A. REFRESHED ME (vs 16)Paul was appreciative that Onesiphorus “often refreshed me.” Once he found Paul’scell, he no doubt made every effort to supply Paul’ s physical and spiritual needs – aswell as social by just being there. This the prisoner could only define as “refreshing”.Illustration: Those who are persecuted are most encouraged when they learn ofbrothers and sisters praying for them. Just the knowledge of this is refreshing for theirspirits. But what solidifies the reality of prayer is when they – especially those inprison – receive cards and letters from around the world. Some prisoners have literallyreceived thousands of these letters and cards. —————————————————————————- —- Colonel David De Vinatea is in prison in Peru unjustly on a trumped up charge ofnarco-trafficking. His son Daniel informed us how encouraged his father is by thehundreds of letters he has received inside the prison. These confirm to the prisonerhow many prayers are daily offered up on their behalf. What encouragement to thelonely and isolated!B. NOT ASHAMED OF ME (vs 16)In Paul’s situation, perhaps the greatest refreshing came to him by virtue of the factthat Onesiphorus was not ashamed to identify with Paul even though that wasdangerous and he was taking his life in his hands. When all others had turned away,one man stuck “closer than a brother”. This willingness to personally identify withPaul and share the reproach of the cross brought the Apostle great encouragement.Illustration: When Brother Andrew began his ministry to the Suffering Church in EasternEurope forty-four years ago, he was often told, “Just your being here is worth tenof your best sermons!” Now he hears this same comment as he travels in the MiddleEast. Personally identifying with brothers and sisters in their suffering is a greatencouragement to them.This happens also with those who travel as Bible couriers. A group from Australiasaw a small country church during their Bible courier travels inside Vietnam. Theystopped in but the pastor-who did not speak English-was suspicious and seemedfearful. So they all knelt down and began to pray out loud in English. This so touchedthe pastor that he joined them in prayer and soon burst into tears. Later he sent them aletter that read:”It was deeply moving that you and I could pray and praise the name of Jesustogether. Although we have different languages, we can understand each other inthe love of the Lord and through the Holy Spirit.We know that you want to give our church the Bible. We praise the Lord that Herevealed our need to you…and He will help you bring the Bibles in. We have toldHim about this need and we are awaiting His answer.”C. SEARCHED ME OUT (vs 17)What Paul really appreciated was the perseverance Onesiphorus exhibited in actuallyfinding him. This was no easy task. William Barclay pictures this scene:”We seem to catch glimpses of one purposeful face in a drifting crowd, and followwith quickening interest this stranger from the far coasts of the Aegean, as hethreads the maze of unfamiliar streets, knocking at many doors, following up everyclue, warned of the risks he is taking but not to be turned from his quest; till insome obscure prison-house a known voice greets him, and he discovers Paulchained to a Roman soldier. Having once found his way Onesiphorus is not contentwith a single visit, but, true to his name, proves unwearied in his ministrations.” Illustration: Johan Companjen, president of Open Doors International visited Christiansunjustly imprisoned in Peru. He shares:”Tears filled my eyes as we sang in thecourtyard of a high security prison in Lima, Peru: “I have decided to followJesus, No turning back, No turning back!” Some prisoners had been convictedfor crimes they never committed. Others only joined the “Shining Path” armedgroup because they were pressured at gunpoint. It was an in incredibly movingexperience to visit them, encourage them and worship with them. There areabout 200 others in similar situations in different prisons across Peru. As wehugged and cried together in the courtyard of that prison in Peru, while ourbrothers thanked us profusely for supporting them, we could hear the cries ofothers from their cells. “Please help us too! We are innocent!””It breaks my heart to think of the many in this world who are in prisonunjustly. But it is comforting to know that churches in Lima and my colleaguesin Open Doors are continuing to help and encourage our brothers and sisters inPeru’s prisons.as well as other parts of our globe.”At one of Peru’s prisons, Sister Zia told me, “I have decided to follow Jesus andso I’ ve chosen to spend my life working with the women in this prison.” Thisyoung woman is not planning to ever marry. She feels God has called her towork among the hundreds of female prisoners in Lima. We saw such a differencein the faces of those who had already found the Lord while in prison. I praiseGod for women like Sister Zia, who are willing to bring the light of Jesus to thedark places of this world, at great personal cost.”3. THREE WAYS GOD BLESSES THOSE WHO ENCOURAGETHE PERSECUTED:The Bible indicates three ways God blesses those involved in His program of encouragement.They are exact parallels to the three ways of encouraging the persecuted mentioned in thetext. The third blessing is directly referred to in our text as well.A. REFRESHMENTThere is a direct correlation to refreshing others and receiving the same in return. Nodoubt this is what kept Onesiphorus going.and repeating his visits and ministry toPaul. “.he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25b)Illustration: For years Canada was a jumping off point for Bible Courier travel to Cuba.Almost weekly small groups visited believers there to encourage them by theirpresence, prayers and Bibles. The most common comment of Bible couriers upontheir return to Canada was, “You should have seen their faces!” My most commonresponse was, “You should see YOUR face right now!” Indeed the ministry ofrefreshing others brings the greatest refreshment to YOU!B. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTBecause Onesiphorus had been faithful to Paul and had not abandoned him (like theothers), Paul records his name here for posterity to see as an example of faithfulness.Likewise Jesus, talking to his disciples (who would later abandon him), commentedabout the results of denying or confessing him before others. “I tell you, whoeveracknowledges me before men, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before theangels of God. But he who disowns me before men will be disowned before theangels of God.” (Luke 12:8-9)Illustration: Recently we heard of Hussein, a Muslim prisoner in Sudan charged withmurder. In prison, he met followers of Jesus who pointed him to the way, thetruth, and the life. Hussein became an over-flowing follower of Jesus. Just daysbefore his scheduled execution, he was brought to the prison office. The authoritiespresented a tempting scenario: deny your new faith in Christ, return to Islam andyou will receive a full pardon and be set free. Hussein chose execution!C. RECOGNITIONIn verse 18, Paul says about Onesiphorus, “May the Lord grant that he will findmercy from the Lord on that day!” Paul teaches that all who have received Christand profess faith in Him WILL receive mercy from the Lord (note also verse 12).Thus this verse is generally considered to refer to very special recognition thatOnesiphorus will receive as he stand before the Lord on “that day” as a reward for hisfaithful ministry of encouragement.Illustration: Russian Christian, Nikolai Khrapov was first arrested for his Christian viewsand ministry at age 21. The horrors he encountered in the many years of prisoncamps were worse than anything he’d ever imagined. Once during his imprisonment,a guard confiscated a discovered Bible. Later when being interrogated, he told theguards, “I have three other books that you cannot confiscate:- First is the Bible that I have memorized and hidden in my heart.- Second is the Book of Life in which my name is written.- Third is God’s Book of Deeds in which He records all that I have done for Himand suffered for Him. From this record, He will reward me accordingly.”CONCLUSION:Encouragement is the act of inspiring others with renewed courage, spirit or hope. Andin humility each of us must come to the point where we acknowledge we need massivedoses of it regularly.Chuck Swindoll points out that the root word for encouragement in Hebrews 10:25 is thesame as describing the Holy Spirit in John fourteen and sixteen. He concludes, “In fact,when we encourage others, we come as close to the work of the Holy Spirit asanything we can do in God’s family.”Dr. William Barclay, also concludes, “One of the highest of human duties is the dutyof encouragement… It is easy to pour cold water on their enthusiasm; it is easy todiscourage others. The world is full of discouragers. We have a Christian duty toencourage one another. Many a time a word of praise or thanks or appreciation orcheer has kept a man on his feet.”The Suffering Church members around the world, like all Christians, are longing forencouragement. When we meet their needs, God also meets ours in a special way.******