On the night before Jesus was crucified, Peter was confronted three times. Three times he was accused of being associated with Jesus and the disciples, and three times he denied it. The last time, to emphasize his point, he used an oath—swearing and disavowing any connection to Jesus.

Later, we see Peter’s boldness on the day of Pentecost when he stands up and preaches to the people, and thousands are swept into the kingdom of God. It’s an amazing moment. We might look at that and think, “Well, there you go. Now that he’s empowered by the Holy Spirit, he’ll never act ashamed again.”

But then we encounter Paul’s account in Galatians of an experience he had with Peter:

“When Peter came to Antioch, I opposed him to his face because he stood condemned. For he regularly ate with the Gentiles before certain men came from James. However, when they came, he withdrew and separated himself because he feared the circumcision party. Then the rest of the Jews joined his hypocrisy so that even Barnabas was led astray by their hypocrisy.”

It happened again. And the truth is, it can happen to anyone. It can happen to you. It can happen to me. We lack boldness. We’re fearful of confrontation. We become more self-conscious than Christ-conscious.

Has that ever happened to you?

The Timeless Challenge

One reason people find bold witnesses inspiring is because they’re fearless in their convictions and testimony of Jesus Christ. There’s something inside us that says, “I wish I was that way. I wish I was bold like that.”

As kingdom people, Scripture says we are to always be ready to give an answer or defense for the truth we believe and the hope we have, even in a world hostile to it. And boldness in a hostile world is a challenging thing.

Listen to these words:

“In certain circles of society, it is rare nowadays to meet with anybody who believes anything. It is the philosophical, the right, the fashionable thing nowadays to doubt everything which is generally received. Indeed, those who have any creed whatever are by the liberal school set down as old-fashioned dogmatists, persons of shallow minds, deficient in intellect, and far behind their age. The great people, the people of thought, the people of high culture and refined taste consider it wisdom in these days to cast suspicion upon revelation and sneer at all definiteness of belief. Ifs and buts and perhaps are the supreme delight of this period.”

A recent quote? No—that was Charles Spurgeon in 1870.

There’s nothing new under the sun. In all times, in all ages, the world needs kingdom people with unashamed and courageous hearts who declare the truth.

Three Times: Ashamed

Three times in the first chapter of 2 Timothy, the word “ashamed” appears:

  • Verse 8: “So don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner, Timothy.”
  • Verse 12: “I am not ashamed because I know whom I have believed.”
  • Verse 16: “May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains.”

When Paul says to Timothy, “Don’t be ashamed of the testimony of Christ,” he’s not accusing Timothy of being ashamed. He’s simply saying, “Don’t go there, son. Don’t let that happen to you. Don’t become ashamed.”

And we can be sympathetic to Paul’s experience. Look at verse 15: “You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me.” And in chapter 4: “At my first defense, no one stood by me.”

Paul’s Accusations

What was Paul being accused of? Why was he in prison? We don’t know with absolute certainty, but we do know the kinds of things Christians were being accused of in that day:

  • Atheism – because they didn’t believe in or bow down to the pantheon of Roman gods
  • Cannibalism – because behind closed doors they spoke of eating flesh and drinking blood
  • Hating humanity – because they wouldn’t tell people to just pursue pleasure without consequence

And as always, there were Jewish agitators aligned against Paul.

Paul was on trial, and no one wanted to be associated with him. This is absurd when you think about it. Paul was a Roman citizen, and the law allowed him to have an attorney or counselor. The law allowed him to call witnesses to vouch for him. But he was without financial resources. He couldn’t hire an attorney. No one helped. The Christians didn’t help him. No one came to vouch for him, to tell the truth about what he was doing.

Now, to be fair, some who would have come couldn’t because of their circumstances or distance. But the clear indication is absolute desertion. “At my first defense, no one stood by me, but everyone deserted me.”

Spurgeon remarked: “Poor soul. He served his God and worked himself down to poverty for the church’s sake. Yet the church has forsaken him. How great must have been the anguish of the loving heart of Paul at such ingratitude.”

Some commentators suggest this was Paul’s Gethsemane moment—not that he suffered in the same way or to the same measure that our Savior did, but like the Savior, he was suffering, he was alone, and he prayed forgiveness for his enemies: “May it not be counted against them” (2 Timothy 4:16).

The Greater Comfort

Paul may not have had comfort from his fellow Christians, but there was an even greater comfort. We see it in chapter 1, verse 8:

“So Timothy, don’t be ashamed of the testimony about our Lord or of me, his prisoner. Instead, Timothy, share in suffering for the gospel, relying on the power of God.”

Timothy, if you’re called to suffer, here’s something you need to know—and I’m experiencing it firsthand: you can rely in that moment on the power of God in your suffering.

In verse 12, Paul declares: “And this is why I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.”

Paul was deserted by men, but not by God.

Notice he doesn’t say, “I know what I have believed.” He says, “I know whom I have believed.”

A Relationship with a Person, Not a Book

Christians, regardless of what much of the culture may think, are not a people who have a relationship with a book. We’re not. We love that book. That book speaks to us, reveals to us, edifies us, and instructs us in all good things. But that book matters nothing if it’s not pointing to the person of Jesus Christ.

We have a relationship with the living Jesus that the book testifies to.

Consider the two disciples walking on the road to Emmaus after the resurrection. They were sad and bereft when a stranger fell in with them and asked, “Why so glum? What’s going on?”

They responded in disbelief: “Have you been hiding under a rock? Are you the only person in Jerusalem who doesn’t know what’s been going on? There was a man named Jesus. He was a prophet, mighty in power. God was with him. We had hoped he was the one, the Messiah. But they crucified him and buried him. It’s been three days, and we heard someone say he’s risen from the dead, but we don’t know what to believe.”

Jesus—though they didn’t recognize him—began to speak to them about the Scriptures. It was dark, evening. No torches, no scrolls, no Bible apps. Jesus, the Word, began to explain what had to happen, the truth about the Messiah—that he would die and be raised again.

They arrived at their destination, and the stranger was going to walk on. They insisted: “No, no, stay with us. It’s too late, too dark, too dangerous.”

He sat down with them at the table, and as he broke bread, their eyes were opened. “It’s Him!” And he was gone.

They looked at each other and said, “Didn’t our hearts burn within us? Didn’t our hearts burn within us as Jesus spoke to us, as the living Word spoke to us?”

So moved were they that they said, “We’ve got to get right back on the road. Forget the danger. Forget the dark. Forget that it’s seven miles back to Jerusalem. We’ve got to go back and find everybody and tell them we’ve seen the risen Christ. Our hearts are on fire, and we’ve got to go tell somebody about the living Jesus.”

You know why Buddhists never have an experience of Buddha? Because he’s dead. All they have is a book.

You know why Muslims never have an experience of Muhammad? Because he’s dead. They only have an experience with a book.

The founder of Christianity is not dead. He’s alive.

When we surrender our lives to Him, His Spirit takes up residence within us. He’s the pilot light—always there, always on. You’re not always thinking about that pilot light until it gets cold and suddenly you hear whoosh—the flames erupt to warm the house. When it’s off, it’s off, but the pilot light never goes out.

Jesus is the pilot light of our souls. Oh God, set our hearts aflame. Set us on fire, Lord Jesus.

Even though the Apostle Paul was in that damp and cold prison cell, the flame was on. Jesus was present to him. “I know whom I have believed, and he is able.”

A Gospel Break

The gospel was ever on Paul’s lips. That’s why he wrote in Romans, “I’m not ashamed of the gospel, for it’s the power of God unto salvation.”

Let’s take a gospel break. Look at verse 9:

“He has saved us. He called us with a holy calling, not according to our works—aren’t you glad?—not according to our merit, but according to his own purpose and grace.”

Can I ask you, friends—aren’t you just a little amazed? Aren’t you amazed that you are part of God’s purpose? You didn’t become part of His purpose because you got saved and shaped up and worked hard and got better. You were part of His purpose.

He continues: “His purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus.” Remember Ephesians 2: “By grace you’re saved through faith, and that not of yourselves; it’s the gift of God, not of works, lest any man should boast.”

God’s purpose was to save you, and He provided the grace to accomplish it. And He did so before time began.

Believer, God knew your name before time as we know it began—His eternal purpose, His eternal glory.

Then he says, “Here’s the proof” (verse 10):

“This has now been made evident through the appearing of our Savior, Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel.”

Here’s the proof: Our leader is not in a grave. He’s abolished death. Death will never have the final word in your life or mine. It never will, because Jesus has abolished its ability to finish us off. He is the risen Jesus who has brought light and immortality to you and to me.

“For this gospel I was appointed a herald, apostle, and teacher. And that is why I suffer these things, but I am not ashamed.”

The Lord Stood With Me

Look at chapter 4, verse 16:

“At my first defense, no one stood by me. Everyone deserted me. May it not be counted against them. But the Lord—but the Lord—stood with me.”

In that prison cell, before the bench of the law, the Lord stood with Paul. Why? “So that I might fully preach the word and all the Gentiles might hear it. And so I was rescued from the lion’s mouth.”

He didn’t have anybody speak up for him, but he spoke up for Jesus.

“The Lord will rescue me from every evil work and will bring me safely—no matter what happens, no matter how I go—the Lord will rescue me and will bring me safely into his heavenly kingdom. To him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.”

That’s an unashamed man.

The Contrast: Desertion and Devotion

Look back at chapter 1, verse 15:

“You know that all those in the province of Asia have deserted me, including Phygelus and Hermogenes.”

Why does he mention those names? They’re forgotten to history. There’s no record of these men. Why mention them? They must have been well known to the church at that time. It’s almost as if Paul is saying, “Including—can you believe this?—Phygelus and Hermogenes. They deserted me.”

But there was one bright light.

Verse 16:

“May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus because he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. On the contrary, when he was in Rome, he diligently searched for me and found me. May the Lord grant that he obtain mercy from him on that day. You know very well how much he ministered at Ephesus.”

Here’s a precious friend. He was from Ephesus and was likely a deacon in the church there. His name, Onesiphorus, in Greek means “profit bearer.” And he certainly was profitable—he brought something to Paul’s experience.

“He often refreshed me.”

The Greek word for refresh means “to cool again.” The Amplified Bible says, “bracing me like fresh air.”

Aren’t we glad? Don’t we thank God for Christians who are a breath of fresh air in our lives? Do you have people like that—people who are a breath of fresh air when you’ve been around them, especially in your hours of trial?

Be a Breath of Fresh Air

Church, let me suggest that if the Holy Spirit is a flame in our hearts, if the pilot light is lit, if the light is on, then we will never succumb to being ashamed of anyone in our fellowship.

We will not be content to let others sit on the sidelines because they may be:

  • A little awkward
  • A little opinionated
  • On some spectrum
  • Not part of our group

No. That’s not how the church functions.

We will not be ashamed of each other’s weaknesses. We will not be ashamed of each other’s sin struggles, baggage, or hurts. We will open our arms to one another and commit ourselves to refreshing others.

“He often refreshed me.”

You know, it takes effort to be an Onesiphorus. It takes effort.

Scripture says he “searched diligently” for Paul. Do you know how many prisoners there were in a huge city like Rome at that time? The Paul who was famous among the churches was now in some unmarked, undesignated cell in a vast city. But that did not deter Onesiphorus. He searched and asked and worked at it. He went door to door, jail after jail: “I’ve got to find my brother Paul. I know he needs me.”

How easy it is to choose not to make that phone call, to not ask someone to coffee, to avoid meeting someone new on a Sunday morning. Keep your head down, get out the door. Just come on Sunday and not risk sitting next to anybody in a small group, Bible study, or ministry. It’s easy.

It takes work. It takes effort to be an Onesiphorus.

But there’s always somebody. Somebody in your church needs a breath of fresh air. I guarantee it. Somebody needs someone to come up and say:

  • “Hello, welcome!”
  • “I’m sorry I don’t know your name—tell me your name.”
  • “I’m so-and-so. So glad you’re here.”
  • “Have you been coming long?”
  • “How are things going? How are you doing?”

Someone just needs someone to be a breath of fresh air:

  • “It’s so good to see you again.”
  • “It’s so good to have you with us.”
  • “It’s so good to have you as part of our church family.”

There’s someone who needs the cool breeze of love in their lives—not just in church, but perhaps in your family, extended family, or neighborhood. People are hurting everywhere. People are suffering everywhere.

Bestow More Abundant Honor

It’s a tendency, even among God’s people, to want to hide the person who’s less attractive, less likable, less honorable, a little embarrassing, a little awkward. But Paul says in Corinthians, “No, no, no. On these we bestow more abundant honor.”

If you’re someone who has a lot of people who are a breath of fresh air in your life, you’re enjoying that. You have the attention of people. People know you.

Paul says, “Listen, here’s how we’re going to operate, church. We’re not just going to clump together and heap good stuff on one another with those we’re comfortable with. We’re going to reach out to those who are on the edge, those who don’t seem to connect, those who don’t know how to join up, those who don’t know how to get into the group. We’re going to open ourselves up. We’re going to open that door and reach out. We’re going to bestow more abundant honor on them so that there might be an equality of that honor being spread among all of us.”

There are people in need of your love.

Jesus said, “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Paul prayed for mercy to be shown to Onesiphorus and his household. Maybe the words of Jesus were in his heart when he did. May the words of Jesus be in our hearts today: “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

Jesus Is Not Ashamed

In the book of Hebrews, it speaks about Jesus and says this about Him:

“Therefore, he is not ashamed to call them his children. He is not ashamed to call them his brothers and sisters. Saying, ‘Here I am in the midst of my family, lifting my voice in praise—I and my children.'”

Jesus is not ashamed of you.

Let that truth sink deep into your soul. Jesus, who knows everything about you—every struggle, every failure, every weakness—is not ashamed to call you His own.

May we live as unashamed people, not because of our own courage or strength, but because we know whom we have believed. May we be flames of love and hope in a world that desperately needs to see the living Christ. And may we be like Onesiphorus—searching diligently for those who need a breath of fresh air, never ashamed to stand with our brothers and sisters, even in their darkest moments.

To Him be the glory forever and ever. Amen.