Message summary: We will consider Phygelus and Hermogenes today and Onesiphorus on Monday. All three were real people in Paul's life and represent real people in our lives and how we are treated and how we treat one another.

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"You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes" (2 Timothy 1:15). "For Demas, in love with this present world, has deserted me and gone to Thessalonica (2 Timothy 4:10). "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!" (2 Timothy 4:16).

I (Stephen) am part of a small team of teachers at our Crossroads Adult Bible Fellowship class of about seventy students at Calvary Church. As a class we are generally older adults in our 60's and 70's and most of us have walked with the Lord for many years.

We are studying 2 Timothy and this coming Sunday I will be taking a teaching turn and the text I share is from chapter 1, verses 13-18.

Well this is a somewhat difficult passage since most of it deals with three otherwise unknown individuals; Phygelus, Hermogenes and Onesiphorus. I am committed that all Scripture is useful so I have sought to find meaning and practical teaching for our class and for today's daily encouragement message.

We will consider Phygelus and Hermogenes today and Onesiphorus on Monday. All three were real people in Paul's life and represent real people in our lives and how we are treated and how we treat one another.

All we know about Phygelus and Hermogenes is in this single verse, "You are aware that all who are in Asia turned away from me, among whom are Phygelus and Hermogenes". The context and later contrast with Onesiphorus indicates they had not stood up for or with Paul in his time of trial. They may have been embarrassed or fearful that it was just too great a cost, perhaps not only for themselves but their families as well.

This was a very painful rejection for Paul. What a way for these men to be remembered not in an unnamed group, but by specific name! Notice these aren't popular male names like other Bible characters like Paul, Stephen or John. In fact I've never met anyone with these names. Later in chapter four Paul also wrote about Demas who deserted him.

Stop and consider the pain of rejection you have personally experienced. Most of us have had people like Phygelus and Hermogenes in our lives. I sure have but I won't use their names! Imagine Paul's pain and disappointment when he wrote this. And yet later, perhaps having these men in mind, his forgiving heart is revealed when he wrote, "At my first defense no one came to stand by me, but all deserted me. May it not be charged against them!" (2 Timothy 4:16).

Lessons for us in 2024:

1) We have all likely had experiences similar to Paul being rejected at a time of need.

2) Similar to Paul and earlier Jesus on the Cross and Stephen while being stoned we should have a redemptive, forgiving outlook to those who have rejected us, "May it not be charged against them!"

3) We should examine our lives to see that we don't reject others in their time of need. Upon examination if God reveals to us that we have been guilty of such an offense, let us do what we can to make amends for failing a friend in their time of need.

Be encouraged today, Hebrews 3:13

Stephen & Brooksyne Weber

"I'm Accepted" Listen on YouTube  DeGarmo & Key  Preparing this message I recalled this old song from the 80's or 90's.

"This House Is Yours"  Listen on YouTube   Prestonwood Worship  Brooksyne shared this song with me since the choir is preparing to sing it next month.

Follow-up to yesterday's message on "Educated Into Imbecility".

We should have provided the definition for "Imbecility" which is "the quality or state of being very stupid or foolish : utter foolishness" (from Merriam-Webster).

Several interesting responses from yesterday's message:

1) Jesse had a guest yesterday on the Old Windmill Farm who was a professor of geology at a top rated college. Jesse asked him his view of the flood and he told him that he had rejected the Biblical account. He also told Jesse he had been a Christian growing up but had rejected that as well. That brings to mind our Lord's solemn words in Mark 8:36.

2) Another friend shared the challenge of working with young high school students in a vocational setting and how they have exceptional difficulty in reading, following simple directions, even making change from a $5 bill and conversing intelligently, (and the list goes on).

3) A pastor friend shared: "Amen, and very relevant. 'Educated into imbecility = the proper English way'. 'You gotta go to college to be that stupid = the proper American way'".

Note: Of course this isn't true for all who pursue higher education and learn skillsets such as engineering, medical and so forth. But attempts at worldly indoctrination permeate virtually all public education.

4) Nigel, who along with his wife Laifong attended the church we served in New England recalled singing "Praise The Lord" as a soloist while we were there and he shared this more recent version by Russ Taft backed by the Gaither Homecoming Singers.  Listen on YouTube I learned that Russ Taft is just one year older than me!