Bethany Independent Presbyterian Church

Myanmar

WEEKEND PASTORAL LETTER 5 April 2020

WEEKEND PASTORAL LETTER 5 April 2020

 

Dear Brethren,
MEDITATION
15  This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are
Phygellus and Hermogenes.

16  The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus,
for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain;

17  but when he arrived in
Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me.

18  The Lord grant to him that he
may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and you know very well how many ways
he ministered to me at Ephesus.
2 Timothy 1:15-18

 

OBSERVATION AND INTERPRETATION
1. Two groups of people were noted
a) The first group: Those who had turned away
i) Location: Asia Minor
ii) There were those who had turned away from Paul
iii) Two names were noted (Phygellus and Hermogenes)
b) The second group: Those who were loyal
i) Paul commended them highly
ii) Onesiphorus was singled out for special mention

2. The good deeds of Onesiphorus
a) He often refreshed Paul
i) He supported Paul financially
ii) He was a great help to the apostle Paul
b) In Rome
i) Paul was in prison

ii) He searched for Paul till he found him
iii) He was not ashamed to be identified with the fact that Paul was in
chains
c) In Ephesus
i) He also ministered to Paul
ii) He was such a blessing to the apostle

3. Blessings prayed for
a) That God would grant mercy
b) That God would remember all his kindness

 

APPLICATION TO LIFE AND MINISTRY
1. The danger of becoming unfaithful
a) Paul experienced this
b) The heart can become unfaithful
c) Let us guard our hearts most6 carefully
2. The blessing that we can be to people
a) Onesiphorus was an outstanding example
b) Let us be challenged to emulate good examples we read in the Scriptures

May the Lord strengthen our hands so that we can remain faithful and steadfast to the
very end!

 

Prayerfully,
Pastor Charles Tan