Faithful to Christ beyond being shamed for His testimony.

2 Timothy 1:8-18

Click for a description of the mark of the beast.
Click for a description of the image of the beast.

“Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God…” 2 Timothy 1:8

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that feeling shame, being embarrassed, and being humiliated keeps us away from sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ. The beast that gives people what to think and feel is notorious for making people feel humiliation and shame for living for Jesus Christ. Today’s culture serves the beast and by what they are given to speak and do makes people feel shame and humiliation for not living living for the collective “good” of the community. Our Lord Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” Luke 9:23

Our Lord Jesus was born in a barn, with animal waste everywhere, and the manger was a feed trough, “And she brought forth her firstborn Son, and wrapped Him in swaddling cloths, and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.” Luke 2:7 Jesus was raised in a bad neighborhood, “Philip found Nathanael and said to him, “We have found Him of whom Moses in the law, and also the prophets, wrote—Jesus of Nazareth, the son of Joseph.” And Nathanael said to him, “Can anything good come out of Nazareth?” John 1:45-46 He was basically homeless, living from place to place, “And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.” Luke 9:58 Jesus was considered to be a bad person, rebel, and criminal, “For I say to you that this which is written must still be accomplished in Me: ‘And He was numbered with the transgressors.” Luke 22:37

Jesus said, “…blessed is he who is not offended because of Me.” Matthew 11:6 The Holy Spirit says to us, “…share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God.”

“…who has 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 to us in Christ Jesus before time began, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Savior Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality to light through the gospel…” 2 Timothy 1:9-10

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that our status in life makes no difference when it comes to being called to live for Jesus Christ. After all, from the verses above, we see how Jesus was somebody today’s culture totally isolates and abandons from their culture. They consider Him to be an undesirable “element” of their society. But, it is not according to our worldly status and works that we are called to the ministry of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, but according to His purpose and grace that we receive through our faith in Him.

Our Lord Jesus has appeared to us by our born-again experience, an undeniable change of life. He is our Savior who has abolished death to bring eternal life to light through His Gospel. “Most assuredly, I say to you, he who hears My word and believes in Him who sent Me has everlasting life, and shall not come into judgment, but has passed from death into life.” John 5:24

“…to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason 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 what I have committed to Him until that Day.” 2 Timothy 1:11-12

Before Paul was born-again, his life was completely opposite of the life of Jesus Christ. Paul was accepted by society as a rising star among the Pharisees [Acts 22:3] and as Roman citizen [Acts 22:25-28]. Paul persecuted those living in the way of Christ, rounded them up, had them put in prison, and voted to have them killed. After Paul was born-again, he was made to feel shame, embarrassment, and humiliation by the Jewish and Roman culture he left behind. By Jesus Christ, Paul became a preacher, an apostle, and a teacher of the every people he once detested. For that reason, Paul suffered terribly, nevertheless he was not ashamed. Paul was confident in his faith in Jesus Christ and was persuaded that Jesus was able to keep what he committed to the Lord until His return.

“Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.” 2 Timothy 1:13-14

The Holy Spirit speaks those words to us, Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from Christ Jesus, in faith and love. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who lives in you.”

“This you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me, among whom are Phygellus and Hermogenes.” 2 Timothy 1:15

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that some people will turn away from us for living for Jesus Christ. They are those who fear the beast that has power over physiology to give people what to speak, do, think, and feel. That beast gives breath to the image of the beast by speaking and living through people everywhere. By what they are given to say and do , they are groomed to the mark, name, and number of the beast.

“The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me, and was not ashamed of my chain; but when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously and found me. 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 1:16-18

Onesiphorous is also mentioned here, “Greet Prisca and Aquila, and the household of Onesiphorus.” 2 Timothy 4:19

The Holy Spirit is letting us know that we have brothers and sisters across the globe that are faithful to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Few but faithful. They are not ashamed of their born-again experience, which is the testimony of Jesus living within our heart. They are refreshing to the Lord, and if they could, they would seek out brothers and sisters in Christ. Onesiphorus was not afraid to support and visit Paul when Paul was in a Roman prison, a time when Christians were being severely persecuted. Christians were even thrown into a Roman coliseum, with hungry lions, for spectators to watch the mauling.

With Paul, we say, The Lord grant to them that they may find mercy from the Lord in that Day—and we know very well how many ways they minister to our Lord Jesus Christ.

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“….to you who do not hold to her teaching and have not learned Satan’s so-called deep secrets,“
‘I will not impose any other burden on you, except to hold on to what you have until I come.’”
“I am coming soon. Hold on to what you have, so that no one will take your crown.”
Revelation 2:24-25, 3:1