KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:18 KJV “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.”

​

Onesiphorus is revealed in the key scripture as very faithful in his service of the man of God. It says  that he had been faithfully ministering to the man of God even when he was at Ephesus. Apostle Paul, in appreciation of his faithful service, prayed for God’s mercy on him on that day. What day was he referring to? In Luke 21:36, the Lord asked believers to watch and pray to escape the wrath coming on the earth. Luk 21:36 KJV” Watch ye therefore, and pray always, that ye may be accounted worthy to escape all these things that shall come to pass, and to stand before the Son of man.” Paul’s prayer for Onisiphorus was that he might obtain mercy to escape that coming wrath and to stand before the Son of Man. This is at the end of the age.

​

Dear reader, Onesiphorus’ service has won him that great request for mercy on the last day. What are you doing for the Lord? How faithful are you in serving the brethren? God is faithful and would always reward your efforts. Heb 6:10 KJV “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.” Dear one, never grow weary in the service of the people of God. There are some instrumentalists in certain denominations who receive no remuneration and so  may be feeling disappointed and wishing to give up. God rewards faithfulness. Gal 6:9 KJV “And let us not be weary in well doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not.”

​

Now, to those who minister directly to servants of God, keep being faithful. Your service can give you access to partake of the blessings of that man of God. You stand in a position to receive a transfer of the grace on that servant of God. Joshua diligently served Moses and God graced him powerfully to take over from himJos 1:1 KJV” Now after the death of Moses the servant of the LORD it came to pass, that the LORD spake unto Joshua the son of Nun, Moses’ minister, saying,” .2Ki 3:11 KJV” But Jehoshaphat said, Is there not here a prophet of the LORD, that we may enquire of the LORD by him? One of the king of Israel’s servants answered and said, “Here is Elisha, the son of Shaphat, who poured water on the hands of Elijah.”

Elisha diligently served Elijah, and  that gave him access to receive a double portion of the grace on Elijàh’s life.

​

THOUGHT: FAITHFUL SERVICE PAYS DEARLY

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

1Co 15:58 KJV “Therefore, my beloved brethren, be ye stedfast, unmoveable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, forasmuch as ye know that your labour is not in vain in the Lord.”

​

Heb 6:10 KJV” For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:17 WEB” but when he was in Rome, he sought me diligently and found me.”

​

In our previous study, we learnt about God’s blessings on Onesiphorus when he ministered to Apostle Paul. Today, we look at what he did or his acts of love towards the apostle Paul. Onesiphorus came  from Ephesus to Rome . In our modern era, it is travelling from Turkey to Italy. He might have left  purposely to look for Paul. He might also have gone to Rome to do another business, yet he decided to find Paul and show him the love of God.

​

May we take a further analysis of his action? He got to Rome, where Paul was held in prison.Ĥe decides to put aside whatever he came to do in Rome, but went round looking for him. Paul was a prisoner, and Onesiphorus  could have been ashamed of his condition, but identified with him. This was an act of great love. He made sure that Paul was refreshed. This could mean he visited him a number of times to see him. I also believe he did not go there empty-handed.  Onesiphorus gave to meet  his needs. Apostle Paul testified  that he refreshed him.

​

Dear one, how much are you showing practical love towards the brethren in need? Who are the brethren in need? Dear one, you do not have to travel to the next town to find a brother in need. Just look close to your church, and you will find a brother whose faith may be failing because of challenges and neglect. There are many who have not been coming to church ,please these are the brothers and sisters in need. As Onesiphorus searched till he found Paul, make a search for such brothers or sisters and go feed them with the word. They may also have other needs; you can find out what to do about them. If it is beyond your ability, look out for others to join you to help. This is another form of follow-up. There are people in the prison of life. They need someone to visit them. It is you and me. They need help

​

Paul was an Apostle, yet he was in prison and needed someone to reach out to him and refresh him. Many of our brethren are missing from church, who are held bound in the prison of life. They need someone to find them out. Some of them need prayer support to help them out. Please be like brother Onesiphorus and start  interceding  for such brethren. If no one goes in search for them, they may fall out of the faith. Look out for them. Jesus resurrection and his appearing to the disciples was a form of follow-up on them to refresh and strengthen them. Remember in John 21, Peter decided to stop the work to go back into his old job of fishing. The Lord came around to the shore and ministered unto them. If no one went, they would drift into oblivion.

​

THOUGHT: YOUR ACT OF LOVE AND CONCERN MAY DO SO MUCH TO SAVE  ONE WHO IS GETTING LOST.

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Joh 21:4 WEB But when day had already come, Jesus stood on the beach; yet the disciples didn’t know that it was Jesus.”

​

Gen 3:8 KJV And they heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the cool of the day: and Adam and his wife hid themselves from the presence of the LORD God amongst the trees of the garden. And the LORD God called unto Adam, and said unto him, Where art thou?

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:16 WEB “May the Lord grant mercy to the house of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain,”

​

Scripture has consistently revealed a number of persons who rendered service to men of God, and that resulted in great blessings to them. I wish to state that in recent times, a number of people have unfortunately developed a very strong resentment towards men of God who are making great impacts. Their worry is that these men are too wealthy, living rich at the expense of the poor. Is that the truth? If you happened to be very close to them, you would learn that some of them hardly eat or sleep well at night, coupled with the great sacrifices of giving to the poor and needy.

​

Please, dear reader, the Lord Jesus himself described how much those who forsake all to follow him would be blessed. Mar 10:29-30 WEB “Jesus said, “Most certainly I tell you, there is no one who has left house, or brothers, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or land, for my sake, and for the sake of the Good News, but he will receive one hundred times more now in this time: houses, brothers, sisters, mothers, children, and land, with persecutions; and in the age to come eternal life. ” So long as this man of God is sincere in his walk with God, keep loving him,for it would be to your good.

​

Apostle Paul talked about Onesiphorus. He said this man was not ashamed of Paul’s chains or his imprisonment but refreshed him. He willingly  ministered to Paul, although he was in prison . Paul called for the blessing of his family. He asked  for mercy for the whole of his family. Now just observe how Paul expressed greetings to the following brethren 2Ti 4:19 WEB Greet Priscila and Aquila, and the house of Onesiphorus. He instructed that Priscilla and Aquila be greeted for him. For Onesiphorus, he requested that his house be greeted. The rewards of his service extended to his family. To all those who are faithfully serving the servants of God, you are accruing blessings for your entire family or household.

​

History is replete with stories of family lines that have produced great men and women in our societies because their parents served the Lord God by Ministering to his servants. The following is what God speaks of the upright who serve Him diligently. Psa 112:2-3 WEB” His offspring will be mighty in the land.   The generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in his house.   His righteousness endures forever.” I have encountered certain families that are so blessed ,and the secret of their blessing is that their parents served the Lord by serving his servants.

​

THOUGHT: JUST AS THERE ARE GENERATIONAL CURSES, THERE ARE ALSO GENERATIONAL BLESSINGS THROUGH SERVING GOD

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Isa 61:9 KJV” And their seed shall be known among the Gentiles, and their offspring among the people: all that see them shall acknowledge them, that they are the seed which the LORD hath blessed.”

​

Isa 65:23 KJV” They shall not labour in vain, nor bring forth for trouble; for they are the seed of the blessed of the LORD, and their offspring with them.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:14 KJV “That good thing which was committed unto thee keep by the Holy Ghost which dwelleth in us.”

​

Apostle Paul once again tells Timothy to keep or guard that good thing that was committed to Him. 1Ti 4:14 KJV “Neglect not the gift that is in thee, which was given thee by prophecy, with the laying on of the hands of the presbytery.” Our key scripture is an emphasis on what Paul  had  earlier said to Timothy. We may not be able to identify what particular gift or good thing the bible was talking about, since it was not clearly stated in any of the letters to Timothy.  What we can know about the gift is that it is a good thing.

​

Every child of God has a good gift from God. Some of us have supernatural gifts, talents ,ministerial gifts, and there are also common gifts ( common means every Christian has it) like the gift of the  Holy Spirit,the gift of  eternal life, and the gift of righteousness. There are some people  with special gifts,but  there are also  some brethren who do not have any special gifts, or in a more elaborate way, there are people who are not aware of any special gifts, but everyone has these common gifts. These are the gift of eternal life , the gift of the Holy Spirit and the gift of righteousness. Our call is to keep these good gifts through the power of the Holy Spirit.

​

The Holy Spirit helps us to keep these gifts through our fellowship with Him. Please note that every one of these gifts comes from Him( Holy Spirit). A very strong relationship with the Holy Spirit would sustain and strengthen the gifts. Fellowshipping with the Spirit begins with setting yourself apart from all unholy ways. The next is to seek the Lordship of the Lord Jesus over your life. Then you commit yourself to prayer ,studying the word . The stronger our fellowship with the Holy Spirit, the stronger these gifts are preserved, and they function through us.

​

THOUGHT:THE HOLY SPIRIT IS THE LORD OF EVERY GIFT, SO SUBMIT TO HIM

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Act 8:17 WEB” Then they laid their hands on them, and they received the Holy Spirit.”

​

Act 9:31 WEB” So the assemblies throughout all Judea, Galilee, and Samaria had peace and were built up. They were multiplied, walking in the fear of the Lord and in the comfort of the Holy Spirit

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:13 ISV Hold on to the pattern of healthy teachings that you have heard from me, along with the faith and love that are in the Messiah Jesus.”

​

Over the years, it has become a known fact that false teachers are more dangerous than false prophets. A false  prophecy may normally affect  a generation ,a period or an event, while a false teaching can be trans generational. Arius, who lived between 256 and 336 AD, taught  that the Lord Jesus was a created being who was not co- eternal, or coequal with God, but was the highest of God’s creation. This is the very teaching the Jehovah’s Witnesses hold about Jesus today. Just consider  the multitudes that this erroneous doctrine has ruined. It is therefore a very important instruction given to Timothy and, by extension, to all pastors and Christians as well that they keep to sound doctrine.

​

It is, therefore, very proper for every pastor or presenter of the word of God to hold on to very sound doctrines.

​

What is the cause of wrong, erroneous doctrine? Most wrong doctrines proceed from error in the interpretation of the scriptures. These often come from the following reasons.

​

1. Interpreting the scriptures from a preconceived  idea without observing the scriptures fairly, critically, and in an unbiased way. If one reads the scriptures through the lens that Jesus is just a created being, one would interpret the scriptures from that point of view.

​

2 Secondly, people interpret  wrongly  because they do not read extensively to have a conclusive thought of the passage in question. They only have part of the whole thing. For example, in Ecclesiastes 3:19 the bible states that just as animals die ,so does man die,and there is one breath in each of them, giving man no preeminence above beasts. This is the interpretation given by Jehovah’s Witnesses. Reading further in the next two verses, it is explained that man’s spirit goes upwards while that of the beast goes downwards.

​

3 Another reason why people go into error is when they carry certain doctrines too far or to the extreme limits. Any teaching taught without  a balance can veer into error.

​

4 The next source of error is teachings that claim to be a new revelation that no one has taught before. Such teachings come with lots of excitement to the proponents of these teachings. The  excitement can make them overlook certain simple truths that could have kept them from continuing in that line of thought.

​

What then is the way out of such erroneous teachings? The way out is always within the listed causes. If one carries a doctrine to its extremes, then he or she must avoid that and  stay within a balanced approach. Pray that the Holy Spirit would always help you to hold to sound doctrines.

​

THOUGHT:DOCTRINAL ERRORS COULD BE AVOIDED BY BEING FAIR IN YOUR INTERPRETATIONS

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

2Pe 3:16 KJV “As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which they that are unlearned and unstable wrest, as they do also the other scriptures

​

2Pe 2:1 KJV But there were false prophets also among the people, even as there shall be false teachers among you, who privily shall bring in damnable heresies, even denying the Lord that bought them, and bring upon themselves swift destruction. scriptures, unto their own destruction.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:12 KJV” For the which cause I also suffer these things: nevertheless I am not ashamed: for I know whom I have believed, and am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I have committed unto him against that day.”

​

Most of us have wondered how the first-century Christians faced persecution so fearlessly. Most of them kept a joyful face and worshipped the Lord even at the point of being burnt at the stake. The lions that were unleashed on them did not take away their certainty of meeting their Saviour so joyfully. It is reported that among many reasons, this was the major reason the early church grew in numbers.

​

The persecutors and the many in the grand arena could not come to terms with people who were being tortured, yet they never cursed, but met their death joyfully. What on earth could have made such people so certain of a better tomorrow after their departure?  The answer is simple: they knew their God. Indeed, those who do know their God shall wax strong  and do  exploits. Dan 11:32

​

Apostle Paul also testified that he knows the one to whom he has committed his life. Do you also know the Lord enough to totally place your trust in Him? To know  God does not depend on God. He has revealed Himself abundantly in life circumstances all around us. He has revealed Himself in the bible, the word of God. He has unarguably revealed Himself in Jesus. In this era, God has been performing miracles of diverse kinds among His children.

​

To know him, you have to decide to  accept all these abundant revelations He has made about Himself. The next thing to do is to be a practitioner of the word. The Lord said,Joh 14:21 KJV “He that hath my commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me: and he that loveth me shall be loved of my Father, and I will love him, and will manifest myself to him.” As you encounter Him in various  ways, you would have a first-hand experience of his power.

​

In the last part of our key scripture, apostle Paul said he is persuaded that the Lord God is able to keep that which he has committed unto Him, against that day. Paul has totally placed his life into the Lord’s hands. He said for me to live is Christ and to die is gain. The true essence of knowing God is to place your life in his hands. The meaning of living on this earth should be to honour his name. Life to you should no longer be about what would make you happy, but what makes Jesus happy. This is what would make you truly fulfilled

​

THOUGHT:KNOW THE LORD, AND EVERYTHING ABOUT THE CHRISTIAN FAITH  WOULD BECOME MEANINGFUL TO YOU

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Phi 3:10 KJV” That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death.”

​

1Co 8:3 KJV” But if any man loves God, the same is known of him.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:10 KJV” But is now made manifest by the appearing of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath abolished death, and hath brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

​

Man was created never to die. Through the sin of Adam, man died both spiritually and physically. Man did not know of spiritual death nor physical death. All these came by as a result of the fall of man. God said to Adam, Gen 2:17 KJV”, But of the tree of the knowledge of good and evil, thou shalt not eat of it: for in the day that thou eatest thereof thou shalt surely die.”

​

The Lord said,’On the day you eat of the tree of knowledge  of good and evil, you shall die’.On that day, they died because they realised they were naked. This was a spiritual death. Spiritual death is a separation of the spirit of God from a man.

Secondly, after a number of years, they died physically. Physical death is a separation of the spirit and soul from the physical body. Jas 2:26 KJV “For as the body without the spirit is dead, so faith without works is dead also”.

​

Every man born into this world is spiritually dead. Rom 5:12 KJV” Wherefore, as by one man sin entered into the world, and death by sin; and so death passed upon all men, for that all have sinned.

​

Death is always a separation. Eternal death, which is the worst one, is the eternal separation from God. Our Lord Jesus died for mankind so we would partake of eternal life. This life makes the Christian forever united to God. The Christian is forever alive unto God because he has received eternal life. Death is abolished to the Christian, for he would live in God’s presence, whether in this life or after death.

​

In the gospel of John 6, the Lord explained  the truth about immortality. Let’s take some of the scriptures to understand.

​

Joh 6:51 KJV “I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.

​

Joh 6:53 KJV Then Jesus said unto them,

Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except ye eat the flesh of the Son of man, and drink his blood, ye have no life in you.

​

Joh 6:54 KJV” Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

​

In verse 49, the Lord made reference to the fathers who ate manna and are dead. These people, although they died physically, never had eternal life. Eternal life makes a man live forever in the presence of God even after this life.

​

In verse 51, He taught that those who partake of his flesh or believe in Him will never die. What did he mean by this?

In verse 53 ,this living forever was the eternal life that they would have in them.

​

Verse 54 clarified what he was teaching.

​

He said those who eat His flesh and drink His blood, which also means those who believe in Him, have eternal life, and He will raise them  up on the last day. This means  they would be raised from the dead on the last day.

​

It is eternal life that we have in him that  2 Timothy says Jesus has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light.

​

THOUGHT:JESUS THROUGH HIS DEATH HAS ABOLISHED DEATH AND BROUGHT LIFE AND IMMORTALITY LIGHT

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Joh 11:25-26 KJV Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believeth thou this?”

​

Joh 6:54 KJV” Whoso eateth my flesh, and drinketh my blood, hath eternal life; and I will raise him up at the last day.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:9 KJV” Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

​

God called us out of the world to be set apart unto  Himself. The word Church ,means the called out ones. The Christian must know that there is no ground for him or her to live like the people of this world. 2Ti 2:4 KJV” No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier.” To entangle oneself with this world is to live like the people of this world against God’s expected standards. The Christian must have a mindset void of mischief and corruption.

​

Being born again begins from the cross. It is death to the flesh and all its lust. Gal 5:24 KJV” And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts.” An unholy lifestyle is a life ruled by the flesh. The Christian is no longer in the flesh; he is a man of the spirit. That is, he lives within the confines of the scriptures, Rom 8:9 KJV “, But ye are not in the flesh, but in the Spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you. Now, if any man has not the Spirit of Christ, he is none of his.”

​

The Christian is holy by virtue of the Holy Spirit in Him. This is the reason we are called the Holy ones, or saints. It is in this light that the Christian must pursue holiness, or, in a practical expression, manifest his holiness in the way he lives.

​

Dear child of God, leading a holy life should not be a struggle. You’ve got to take the above explanations coupled with a genuine fear of God to live to honour the Lord. 2Co 7:1 KJV” Having therefore these promises, dearly beloved, let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.” The fear of God is the motivation for  living an upright life.

​

Joseph  ran away from evil because of his fear of God. This is true wisdom. Forsaking evil always endears the favour of God. When Daniel refused to defile himself with the portion of the King’s meat. Daniel 1:8-12 The result was a ten times excellence in wisdom ,handsomeness, and God’s presence with them.

​

THOUGHT: HOLINESS IS THE TRUE LIFE OF POWER AND HONOUR

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Psa 5:7 KJV “But as for me, I will come into thy house in the multitude of thy mercy: and in thy fear will I worship toward thy holy temple.”

​

Isa 35:8 KJV” And a highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein.”

KEY  SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:9 KJV “Who hath saved us, and called us with a holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the world began,”

​

Our key scripture is a very loaded one. It says we are saved by grace and called   with a holy calling. This seems to be a very simple statement, yet it  is worth so much. There  are countless religious groups, yet none of them is saved by grace. Every one of them is counting  on how much their good work or righteousness would outweigh their sins. The question is, is God a holy God? Would  a Holy God accept any form of defilement in heaven? God is a holy God and would accept a completely pure, sinless man in His kingdom. How can this be possible? It is only the blood of Jesus that can wash  a man completely of every sin and present him blameless before God. Col 1:22 KJV” In the body of his flesh through death, to present you holy and unblameable and unreproveable in his sight:”

​

Please, if you are practising any other kind of faith, then  consider the following illustration. If a clean barrel of water has a drop of faeces in it, would it still remain pure? Dear one, no man can be saved by his works. Isa 64:6 KJV” But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousnesses are as filthy rags; and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.” There is no salvation in any other except  our Lord Jesus.Acts 4:12

​

Dear one, religion offers  doctrines and laws, but Jesus offers life. He said

“…. I came that you might have life and have it more abundantly” John 10:10b. Anyone who bows to the Lordship of Jesus receives true peace. One simple test to check if you are saved or not is to ask yourself”,whether you have peace or not” Today is your day of salvation. Do not be confused, the blood of Jesus is God’s only provision to cleanse men  from all our sins.

​

THOUGHT:IT IS IMPOSSIBLE FOR ANY MAN TO BE SAVED WITHOUT FAITH IN JESUS CHRIST

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Joh 3:16 KJV “For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.”

​

Joh 3:18 KJV “He that believeth on him is not condemned: but he that believeth not is condemned already, because he hath not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.”

KEY SCRIPTURE:2Ti 1:8 KJV “Be not thou therefore ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me his prisoner: but be thou partaker of the afflictions of the gospel according to the power of God.”

​

In our previous study, we were exhorted  not to be ashamed of the gospel. The scripture says further that he should be a partaker of the afflictions of the gospel. The gospel is God’s truth to save a dying world from the lies of the devil. Satan raises all kinds of opposition against the advancement of the gospel. This calls for the making of  a number of sacrifices. It is these sacrifices that constitute the afflictions of the gospel.

​

Money plays a very big role in sending forth the message of the gospel. To preach on television. It takes money. To travel to new towns, cities or villages, there would be a need for money. We have to make great sacrifices financially. The spread of the gospel involves travelling into new terrains, which may not have certain basic necessities of life, like a good source  of  water . If these comforts are not readily available, you must  still stay there to share the gospel with them.

​

Apostle Paul said the following  to the brethren he went to strengthen as follows: Acts 14:22 KJV Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God. The Lord said the servant is not greater than his master in John 15:20: “Remember the word that I said unto you, The servant is not greater than his lord. If they have persecuted me, they will also persecute you; if they have kept my saying, they will keep yours also. “All these statements go to show that to get the gospel across, there is an enduring of some challenges  or persecutions.

​

THOUGHT:THE ADVANCEMENT OF THE GOSPEL WOULD FACE OPPOSITIONS, BUT WE MUST ENDURE TO WIN

​

FURTHER STUDIES

​

Rom 8:18 KJV” For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.”

​

1Pe 4:13 KJV” But rejoice, inasmuch as ye are partakers of Christ’s sufferings; that, when his glory shall be revealed, ye may be glad also with exceeding joy.”