Today, in honor of International Day of Prayer for the Persecuted Church, we will stand and kneel with our brothers and sisters in Christ who share our faith but not our freedom.
Second Timothy is the Apostle Paul’s final written communication before his death. He was chained to a soldier in a prison cell in Rome. Although he is writing to encourage his spiritual son, Timothy, Paul reveals a great need of encouragement, himself. The long, lonely hours and his facing almost certain death made his isolation very difficult for him. His message shows that:
Everyone needs encouragement—even the seemingly strong and mature—but especially those who suffer.
Paul shares here the combination of pathos and joy. On the one hand, he recalls so vividly how everyone from the province of Asia in the western part of Asia Minor (Ephesus was its capital) deserted him. His experience was very much like Jesus’ whose friends also forsook him and fled.
And probably for the same reason - fear! His was a political charge and it was fear for their own safety which caused believers to abandon him. He mentions two men by name (probably well known to Timothy) who especially disappointed him in their desertion.
But on the other hand, one man was loyal to the end. His name was Onesiphorus, which means “profitable” or “help-bringer.” He was obviously one of Paul’s key co-workers during 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 of the Gospel reached every part of the province (Acts 19:10). Onesiphorus was the instrument of encouragement to the Apostle Paul during his very trying time in the Roman prison.
Three Ways the Persecuted Need Encouragement
In his helping Paul while in prison, Onesiphorus demonstrated three specific ways to encourage those who are suffering:
1. Refresh Them (verse 16)
Paul was appreciative that Onesiphorus “often refreshed me.” Once he found Paul’s cell, he no doubt made every effort to supply Paul’s physical and spiritual needs – as well as his social needs by just being there. This Paul could only define as “refreshing.”
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Those who are persecuted are most encouraged when they learn of brothers and sisters praying for them. Just the knowledge of this is refreshing for their spirits. But what solidifies the reality of prayer is when they – especially those in prison – receive cards and letters from around the world. Some prisoners have literally received thousands of these letters and cards. Colonel David De Vinatea was in prison in Peru unjustly on a fabricated charge of narco-trafficking. His son Daniel informed us how encouraged his father was by the hundreds of letters he has received inside the prison. These messages confirm to the prisoner how many prayers are daily offered up on their behalf. What encouragement to the lonely and isolated!
2. Don’t Be Ashamed of Them (verse 16)
In Paul’s situation, perhaps the greatest refreshing came to him by virtue of the fact that Onesiphorus was not ashamed to identify with Paul even though that was dangerous 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 with Paul and share the reproach of the cross brought the Apostle great encouragement.
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When Brother Andrew began his ministry to the Suffering Church in Eastern Europe in 1995, he was often told, “Just your being here is worth ten sermons!” Now he hears this same comment as he travels in the Middle East. Personally identifying with brothers and sisters in their suffering is a great encouragement to them.
This happens also with those who travel as Bible couriers. A group from Australia saw a small country church during their Bible courier travels inside Vietnam. They stopped in but the pastor – who did not speak English - was suspicious and seemed fearful. So they all knelt down and began to pray out loud in English. This so touched the pastor that he joined them in prayer and soon burst into tears. Later he sent them a letter that read:
“It was deeply moving that you and I could pray and praise the name of Jesus together. Although we have different languages, we can understand each other in the 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 He revealed our need to you...and He will help you bring the Bibles in. We have told Him about this need and we are awaiting His answer.”
3. Search Them Out (verse 17)
What Paul really appreciated was the perseverance Onesiphorus exhibited in actually finding 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 follow with quickening interest this stranger from the far coasts of the Aegean, as he threads the maze of unfamiliar streets, knocking at many doors, following up every clue, warned of the risks he is taking but not to be turned from his quest; till in some obscure prison-house a known voice greets him, and he discovers Paul chained to a Roman soldier. Having once found his way Onesiphorus is not content with a single visit, but, true to his name, proves unwearied in his ministrations…”
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Johan, a friend, visited Christians who were unjustly imprisoned in Peru. He shares: “Tears filled my eyes as we sang in the courtyard of a high security prison in Lima, Peru: “I have decided to follow Jesus, No turning back, No turning back!” Some prisoners had been convicted for crimes they never committed. Others only joined the “Shining Path” guerrillas because they were pressured at gunpoint. It was an incredibly moving experience to visit them, encourage them and worship with them.
It breaks my heart to think of the many in this world who are in prison unjustly.”
God Blesses those who Encourage the 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 the text. The third blessing is directly referred to in our text as well.
1. God Sends You Refreshment
There is a direct correlation to refreshing others and receiving the same in return. No doubt this is what kept Onesiphorus going…and repeating his visits and ministry to Paul. “…he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.” (Proverbs 11:25b)
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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 their presence, prayers and Bibles. The most common comment of Bible couriers upon their return to Canada was, “You should have seen their faces!” My most common response was, “You should see YOUR face right now!” Indeed the ministry of refreshing others brings the greatest refreshment to YOU!
Conclusion
Chuck Swindoll points out that the root word for encouragement in Hebrews 10:25 is the same 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 as anything we can do in God's family."
The Suffering Church members around the world, like all Christians, are longing for encouragement. They live in Islamic dominated countries, under dictators, in the most hostile areas of the world. A prayer, a letter, a visit, even telling others about their situations, reminds them that they are not alone.
Today, we will do our part because when we meet their needs we are continuing to follow the new commandment Jesus gave, “Love one another as I have loved you.”
