June 25, 2019: SOAP #3491:  Joel 1-3; 2Timothy 1

Scripture:  2Timothy (NIV) 1:16 May the Lord show mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. 17 On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he searched hard for me until he found me. 18 May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day! You know very well in how many ways he helped me in Ephesus.

Observation:   Onesiphorus was not an apostle, not an elder, not a deacon, not a teacher, not evangelist, not a prophet…he was a Christian!   He was a slave belonging to Philemon.  Yet, on judgment day, when rewards are being distributed, he will share in the rewards given to the Apostle Paul!!!  Onesiphorus was a helper!

Application:  Help is an interesting topic.  Basically, help is assistance.  Help is not someone carrying the whole load for all time, but someone coming along side to assist for a season.  Their assistance brings a message of encouragement.  It brings a time of relief.  It assures us that others are aware of our need and appreciate what we are doing.  Help reassures us that others also see value in what we are struggling through.

Helpers enable ministries to go further, reach more, continue longer, and bring even more glory to God!  Everyone needs help AND everyone is used by the Holy Spirit to help others.  May I be as faithful to help as I have been blessed to be helped!

Prayer:  Heavenly Father, thanks for helpers!  Thank you for the special helpers you have brought my way to accomplish my current assignment.  And, in this current assignment, thank you for using me to help others. Holy Spirit, show me those who need my help.  Amen

Pastor Leon
Making friends for time and eternity!