Be the One

Introduction

Your darkest hour…when was it? Has it came yet? Was it the loss of a job? a parent? a spouse? a child? In that moment did you feel abandoned? Was their anyone that came to you and ministered to you? Have you ever been the one that reached out to someone in their darkest hour? Or have you been guilty of ignoring the pain and hurt of others due to busyness, fear, shame, rejection, etc?

In our text, Paul is at his darkest hour, facing his death sentence and finds himself left high and dry? Have you ever been there before? Are you there right now?

Focus Passage

2 Timothy 1:15–18 Wordstudy KJV

15 This thou knowest, that all they which are in Asia be [turned away from] me; of whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes. 16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he [sought me out] [very diligently,] and found me. 18 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.]

Outline

Left High and Dry (v.15)

Paul, finding himself in prison on death row was bad enough, but to be found there without any support, had to be the worst. How many of us have found ourselves in a desperate situations, possibly the darkest hour of our lives, if not at least for that season, and we left high and dry by every person we loved, cared for, and in vested our lives into? We were were abandoned? We were alone? We were to the point of not evening wanting to live? We know that this was such a time for Paul. In his darkest hour, when he needed support and encouragement above all...

1. Paul was abandoned…He was left high and dry - ‘...turned away from me...’

A. Paul was abandoned by those he knew - ‘...among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes’

We do not know who Phygelus and Hermogenes were. They could have been leaders. They could have been fellow ministers. They could have been those that were teaching false doctrines in the church at Ephesus. We just do not know. What is certain is that Paul knew them and Timothy knew them. These were men that evidently had a personal relationship with Paul and they abandoned him in his darkest hour.

B. Paul was abandoned by those he had invested in - ‘…all they which are in Asia...’

When Paul mentions the churches of Asia, this is not just some random notation. This region was a vast region in which Paul fought to evangelize in. This was the province of Asia which comprised of districts like Lydia, Mysia, Caria, and Phrygia. Paul wished to spread the gospel in this region during his second missionary journey but the Spirit forbid him from doing so.

Acts 16:6 Wordstudy KJV

6 Now when they had [gone throughout] Phrygia and the region of Galatia, and were forbidden of the Holy Ghost to preach the word in Asia,

However, the same Holy Spirit of God that forbid him during his second missionary journey, now allowed him to evangelize the whole area during his third missionary journey, which was on his way to be martyred (Acts 19). From the very center of the capital of Asia Minor, Ephesus, for three years in tears, Paul evangelized this area.

Acts 20:31 Wordstudy KJV

31 Therefore watch, and remember, that by the space of [three years] I ceased not to warn every one night and day with tears.

2. Paul was in his darkest hour and was alone

Paul was in a time of great spiritual, mental, emotional, and physical stress. When was at his weakest and in his darkest hour, all had abandoned him. As we look at Paul’s situation, we realize just how bleak this season of life was.

His fellow worker, Demas, had abandoned him for the world. His other fellow workers had to leave and pursue further ministry and mission work throughout other areas

2 Timothy 4:10 Wordstudy KJV

10 For Demas hath forsaken me, having loved this present world, and is departed unto Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus unto Dalmatia.

False teachings were running amuck in the church and cause others to falter in the faith

2 Timothy 2:17–18 Wordstudy KJV

17 And their word will eat as doth a canker: of whom is Hymenaeus and Philetus; 18 Who concerning the truth have erred, saying that the resurrection [is past] already; and overthrow the faith of some.

He was on his green mile awaiting a certain execution via Nero, most widely accepted via beheading

3. Those that rejected Paul in his darkest hour ultimately rejected the Lord

2 Timothy 4:16 Wordstudy KJV

16 At my first answer [no man] [stood with] me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be [laid to their charge.]

Paul’s desire and passion was to be preaching the gospel and reaching a lost and dying world for Christ. He wanted to continue to minister to the saints of God and the lost alike. However, this was not to be. He was in his darkest hour, imprisoned, alone, abandoned, and facing what he knew would be his certain death. He, in this moment, called upon Timothy to not be ashamed of him nor his chains, but to be faithful until the end and continue to fight the good fight of faith.

And when Paul felt that all hope was gone, all encouragement was gone, and no one would be sent of God to support him, encourage him, and fight with and for him, God sent one, Onesiphorus.

Be the One (vv.16-18)

2 Timothy 1:16–18 Wordstudy KJV

16 The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus; for he oft refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain: 17 But, when he was in Rome, he [sought me out] [very diligently,] and found me. 18 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.]

When Paul thought that there was no one that cared, no one that would be bothered if he was alive or dead. When he felt that everyone was ashamed of him because of his imprisonment and did not care of his condition, one was there. There was one man that was not ashamed of him. There was one man that was willing stand for him and with him, even it meant being imprisoned and losing his own life. He truly was a friend that stuck closer than a brother. His name was Onesiphorus. His name meant, profit bearing. He truly was a great blessing of Paul and profited him much. When everyone else had turned their back on Paul, Onesiphorus stood in the gap. This man, who had ministered to and along side Paul while he was in Ephesus, in how many things he ministered unto me at Ephesus, now was willing to search for and serve Paul while he was in prison at Rome.

It is my challenge to you that you would be the one. You would be the one that stood in the gap of those suffering for the sake of the Gospel. You would be the one that is a friend that sticks closers than a brother. You would be the one that fights to come to the aide of a brother in need. You would be the one that seeks the one that is in their darkest hour and be the light of Christ that shines in their darkness. I challenge you to be the one.

1. I challenge you to be the one that is not ashamed of one in their darkest hour - ‘and was not ashamed of my chain’

2. I challenge you to be the breath of fresh air in the life of one in their darkest hour - ‘for he oft refreshed me’

As a pastor is so refreshing to have members that assist me in the ministry of the church. It so refreshing as a pastor, when things are needed to be done, that people volunteer to step up and get it done. As a pastor, it is refreshing when I don’t have to beg people to serve in VBS, beg to help teach a class or fulfill a need in the church. It is refreshing as a pastor to know that there are certain ones that I know I can talk to and who want go to shout all that was told. As a pastor is refreshing to know that there are those that recognize when things are hard, I’m tired, exhausted, and just need a word of encouragement or an additional prayer.

How many times, as a father, a husband, a son, have I needed someone to come along side me and pick me up when I was down? How many times have I needed someone to come and tell me it was going to be okay? How many times have I needed someone to just listen and give me a shoulder to lean on and an arm to left me up? How refreshing it is when in your darkest hour, there is one that is there. That one is not there to add to your struggles, your fall, your pain, but there to simply give you a hand up when most would rather give you shove down. What a breath of fresh air, when someone comes at your darkest hour and says, I’m here. Oh, how many today in a lost and dying world need that same breath of fresh air.

3. I challenge you to be the one that does not give up till you have come to the aide of one in their darkest hour - ‘But, when I was Rome , he sought me out very diligently , and found me’

4. I challenge you to be the one that prays for God’s blessing upon the one that came to you in your darkest hour - ‘The Lord give mercy unto the house of Onesiphorus…The grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day’

When Paul began to pray for Onesiphorus, it was not just for him, but for his family too. He prayed for a present blessing over Onesiphorus’ family. He wanted God’s blessing to not only be upon the one who had helped him, in this his darkest hour, but also for his family. He not only prayed for God’s present blessing of Onesiphorus’ family, but prayed that God’s mercy would fall upon him, when he entered the presence of God on the final day. Let us not just remember those who have been our aide in the darkest hours we have faced, but let us also pray for their family, their home.

Conclusion

As we face the days ahead, I believe we are on the cusp of some of the darkest hours the church as seen in present history. As we face this season ahead, let us be the one that stand in the gap and ministers to other believers in their darkest hour. As we see those around us, those of the household of faith and those without, let us be the one that comforts them, encourages them, is truly a breath of fresh air to them.

We are called to be the light of the world. We are called to be salt in a tasteless world. We are called to be good news givers. Let us be the one that tells others of the love, sacrifice, and forgiveness of Jesus Christ. For the Gospel message is a breath of fresh air to a lost and dying soul. If you do not know Jesus, I would love to share with you that which will refresh your soul more than you will ever know. As Jesus tells his disciples...

Matthew 11:28–30 Wordstudy KJV

28 Come unto me, all ye [that labor] and [are heavy laden,] and I will [give you rest.] 29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.

Matthew 11:29 Wordstudy KJV

29 Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.