“Not Ashamed” 2 Timothy 1:1-18

Well take your copy of God’s Holy Word and turn with me to 2 Timothy, 2 Timothy as we begin the second epistle of Paul to Timothy as he wrote this letter to give instruction, kind of the old guy to the young guy. But there’s also going to be a little bit more here is instruction to the church.

And this particular letter, though, it bears a lot of resemblance to First Timothy. And there’s going to be some of the same basic concepts and so forth. This particular letter is much more personal. I don’t want to say it gets down to the nitty and gritty, but it is very much more personal where Paul really shows his deep love for Timothy. It is personal with respect to the usages of names. Just here in the first chapter, it’s going to mention Timothy and Paul himself. and then two, three other guys actually. One personally and in a good sense and then two not so much where there was a bit of a problem, but it’s very, very personal.

In fact, in the original language, it is so personal that there have been those who I would just refer to them as critics. They just look for anything wrong in the Bible that they can, that they just say, well, this is so typical of Paul to be so chummy or so. Well, just personal that they don’t think he even wrote the book, and that kind of is hard when the first word in the English translation is Paul. And then it goes on, Paul, an apostle, just in case you thought he’s talking about another Paul, Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus.

So we will just take the Bible text at its word and say this is the apostle Paul writing to verse two, Timothy, a beloved son. And then that’s a right there. He gives way to the fact. I really love this boy. I love him. He’s a beloved one. He’s a loved one. And he’s like my son. And so it’s going to be very, very personal in that particular way. And the message is going to come of the book across very much that way. And as we come back and take a look at this first chapter, we’ll be able to notice those particular things. Well, as we as a local church are going through, I wanna say a transition, but I guess in a sense that it is, we’re going through some exciting days, some uncharted waters, and that doesn’t mean that those are scary waters. I mean, you know, every time you put a boat in and you go a new direction, it’s uncharted, and it can be exciting, and you go through these kind of things.

It causes a lot of reflection. And I’ve been doing a lot of reflection, and when you’re sitting on the beach looking at the Atlantic Ocean, and man, after a hurricane, it was really turned up and churned up. Big waves, a lot of beach erosion, but just on the Atlantic side, there was some major changes of the beach. But it causes you, as you are sitting there and I think that expand of water just makes you kind of think and to contemplate. And I was doing a lot of that, reflecting over a lot of things. And things over in my life that I’ve been sorry about. And I think the earliest thing that I was sorry about was when I was in kindergarten. I went way back.

Well, it’s not as far back as some of you. or as some of you might think, but it was back there. So I was, and this was in Dayton, Ohio, and I was maybe six, eight blocks away from the elementary school and it was all uphill. Now, it was downhill. It’s not the uphill both ways, six feet of snow every day. But it was uphill and and so forth. But my mom and my mom was 43 when I was born. So she was a little bit protective over this little munchkin boy. And so she would walk me to kindergarten. Well, as you know, a little boy doesn’t want his mommy to walk him to kindergarten. And so I remember that day that I, when I first broke my mother’s heart, at least the first one I remember, that I broke my mother’s heart and I said, could you walk behind me? So they won’t know you’re my mom, because I’m a big boy now. It’s a guy thing, what can I say? And then there came the day when I said, mom, Could you just not walk me? I can actually do this now. And because, as she interpreted it, and unfortunately, probably in that boyish way, not with any animus, but I was ashamed of her. Or I was ashamed, not so much of her, but I was ashamed to be seen with her in public walking me. And that shame.

You know, I didn’t interpret it how that could be hurtful or what damage that could do. And of course, the mother’s love goes beyond a little boy not wanting to be seen with his mom, but wanting to be seen, you know, in that in an OK way. And so that ended up being OK. But then I remember another time reflecting over my life when shame was there only this time. And I did share this with the congregation many, many years ago. But it was after visiting Shepherd’s Home, which back in that day, the Shepherd’s Home was a home for the mentally disabled, a lot of Down syndrome children. But this was of adults. And as you know, that oftentimes those women who give birth to Down syndrome children tend to be older themselves.

Well, as medicine has increased and so forth, and Down syndrome children were taken care of, that they live longer. In fact, they were outliving their parents. And so this home was created to help those adults that were in Down syndrome. Now, I’m going to put in a parenthesis here. We don’t have as many, we don’t have this problem as much in today’s day and age because so many Down syndrome children are aborted. if that is determined before their birth, they are aborted. And I just want to say they’re just killing them off. These are human beings, and I have and have had in my lifetime, and I’m very proud to say that I’ve had a lot of Down syndrome, both children and adults, probably more adults, that have been my friends. And so this whole idea of being able to abort children that have Down syndrome because they carry an extra chromosome, I think that’s horrendously terrible. End of parenthesis.

But we went up there, and I love that ministry and so forth, but we went to downtown Wisconsin. I think it was Milwaukee, Wisconsin with them on a field trip. And I was part of a mission strip. And so we went and we sat on the bus. And like I said, Emily was one, our two girls adopted Emily in the shepherd’s home. And as we homeschooled, but then also as a family, we adopted Emily and Emily had come stayed with us. She was here when the handbell choir and it was a glorious time. But on that trip into Milwaukee, I was walking along holding hands with adult Down syndrome. And when people in downtown Milwaukee would look at them, there was a sense of disgust, a sense of shame.

But I also looked at some of the Down syndrome adults and they had their head down. And I asked him, why did you put your head down? And he says, well, we’re kind of ashamed. I said, ashamed for what? And that is when I took that word to be ashamed with a new dimension and actually became quite angry. How dare anyone look down at a down syndrome? And that’s when I think a major change in my adult life took place then. We need to accept people for where they are. And the shame that things like that can bring And that was a terrible thing.

But then there have been those within church history. John Hus being one. In 1415, he was a pastor in Prague. He was known as the morning star of the Reformation. He was being burned at the stake for preaching the gospel, preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. And after they had done so much to him, and physically, and as they were burning him to the stake, at the stake, or upon a stake, and the fires were lapping up his body and writhing in pain, no doubt. But this is what he quoted, Psalm 25, verse one. To you, O Lord, I lift up my soul. O my God, I trust in you. Let me not be ashamed. Let not my enemies triumph over me. So this idea of our shame, not only of a mom, but that some people act like they’re ashamed of God.

The great gospel, according to the Apostle Paul, Romans. And in that, for I am not ashamed of the gospel. And he goes on and he talks about shame in chapter one in First Corinthians as well. and that the gospel is the power of God unto salvation. But sometimes people act like they’re ashamed of Jesus Christ. They want to put a distance between them. They’re afraid of identity. I never felt so proud as to be identified with Down syndrome because I was holding hands with Down syndrome adults. There was no shame. I wanted that identity. But then we know that shame can bring such emotional responses where Peter was ashamed of the Lord, denied him three times.

But then when that was taken care of and he was forgiven, then look at him on the day of Pentecost and the powerful preaching that he did early in the early church. Well, what I want us to do is to come to Second Timothy. And I guess I want to say this right up front. You cannot properly understand. Second Timothy. If you don’t see, first of all, the personal love between Paul and Timothy.

But also, you cannot properly understand this book if you don’t understand the day and age in which it was written. The Apostle Paul, as he finished up First Timothy, was expecting a release. Apparently, he was released. He did some traveling. Between 1st Timothy and 2nd Timothy, the book of Titus was written, another pastoral epistle. There’s, I don’t know, I guess you could call it a bit of an upbeat. Things were looking good. Paul had been released from prison. But then some extenuating circumstances had taken place.

Nero, the Roman emperor, He was a scoundrel from just from the get go. He was a terrible man. And at one point there was a tremendous fire. Most believe that he’s the one who said it. And much of Rome was burned and he blamed the Christians. There was a tremendous hatred of the Romans because of that. Even if they figured that Nero was doing it, they didn’t want to get killed because he was quite capable of doing that. that they would identify with Nero and tremendous persecution came against the church. Now this is like between the years 62 AD to 64 AD to as late as 67 AD and Christianity was really taking it on the chin. And when I say that, I’m not even coming close. This was the time that Christianity was made religio illicita, meaning an illegal religion. Christians were being sought. They were being put to death. And things became really, really bad. I mean, I have to sometimes to jerk back to reality.

We sometimes get so caught up in our own election process that we almost get to the point, oh no, if so and so wins the election, it’s all over. It is nothing compared to Nero being in office. Christianity completely illegal and Christians being killed all over the place. And so it was really bad. That’s the context of Second Timothy. Things had really changed. To become a Christian really, really started to cost Christians. It was a letter that is full of trial. There was a trial in Rome that no one understood, that everyone understood that trials against Christians was a foregone conclusion of being guilty, that the days were growing worse and worse. And Christians would be tempted to surrender and or to deny Christ or to act as if they were ashamed of Christ. and people were falling, falling off the bandwagon of Christianity to save their own skin. Now in light of that, Paul is in prison. He’s writing his last will and testament as what this book has been called.

He’s writing to Timothy, the, His only hope at that point, and we’ll see how real that was, but his only hope in the ministry Christianity has only well, the crucifixion you go back is less than 40 years. Since the death, burial, resurrection and 40 years or less, probably more like 35, 30, 36, 37, maybe. But so Christianity is brand new and he’s writing to Timothy. And he’s going to use this word to be ashamed within this passage. He’s also going to be very tender, but he’s also going to show forth how much he has been hurt. Because people are turning away from him. In that light. Socially. Life is dark. And Paul pens this from prison. Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ, by the will of God, according to the promise of life, which is in Christ Jesus to Timothy, a beloved son, grace, mercy and peace from God, the Father, And Christ, Jesus, our Lord.

Now, there’s so much doctrine in that, but I’m just going to leave that as an epistolary greeting. A lot like First Timothy, a few changes and a Sunday school class or a Bible study can talk about those. But this now again, Paul’s in prison. I thank God whom I serve with a pure conscience. as my forefathers did, as without ceasing, I remember you in my prayers, night and day, greatly desiring to see you.” Now, they had been separated, and throughout this letter, Paul is gonna say several times, Timothy, I wanna see you. Timothy, I need to see you. Timothy, I want to be with you and in present. And let me just say this so that we don’t miss it. Going through the ministry by yourself, solo, is not the will and plan of God. There have been pastors sometimes that they are they just feel all alone and so forth. And and in that I mean that the Elijah complex and I’m alone left and Paul or God had to open up his eyes and show him. No, no, no. I got other knees that haven’t bowed.

But this is beginning to show, even at this point, but just that I remember you in my prayers day and night, greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears, that I may be filled with joy. I know you love me. And we’re in this together because Paul had that special love for the church at Ephesus. When I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which first dwelt in your grandmother, Lois, and your mother, Eunice, I am persuaded in you also. See, now there’s that personal note. He’s remembering family. That just shows, it sets the atmosphere and the tenor of what’s going on. But then we see this word, all of that is preparatory. And then there are two words that are important here, verse six and verse eight, both start with the same word, therefore. Now that’s usually a wrap up or beginning a purpose clause. The purpose clause actually begins at verse eight, but this one is, he’s getting to it, but it will support verse eight. Therefore, I remember you, I remember your genuine faith, therefore, I remind you.

Now let me just pause. Therefore, I remind you, go back and look at verse three. I remember you, verse four, greatly desiring to see you being mindful of your tears. Verse five, and when I call to remembrance. See, he’s meditating, he’s in prison. He’s meditating, thinking about life and what’s going on. The church is heavily persecuted. There’s things coming on. What advice is Paul now going to give to Timothy in his second letter when it looks like he’s going to die later on? He’s going to say, my time of departure is at hand. I’m going to be dying here real soon. What is on the heart of the apostle Paul, one who was appointed, called of God? What message does he want the church to hear? And he gives it right to the young preacher who’s going to continue after he’s dead and gone. Verse six, therefore, I remind you, stir up the gift of God which is in you. It was the founder of the Salvation Army who said, well, if you ever worked around a fire, you know that if you want a good strong fire, you got to stir it up some. You got to fan the flame. That would be the Greek here. The first thing is he says, you don’t cower away. OK, maybe your presidential person doesn’t get in. You’re going to allow that affect your Christianity. Fan the flame. Be a stronger Christian.

Now, it may cost you. It did them. And then he introduces a word called a martyr, who’s a person who’s basically murdered for his faith. But now notice what he says, OK, therefore, I remind you, stir up, fan the flame. But it’s interesting where he goes. Which is in you, how’d he get it? Or when was it recognized? Through the laying on of my hands. Through your nation. Now, that doesn’t mean that the laying on the hands converged, conversed him something like next, Lord willing, next Sunday when we have a laying on service for Ben and for John, we’re not gonna electrify them. They better hope. No, just kidding. You know, they need to. But it is a recognition of something. The layman’s for God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

So he mentions those particular thing, but stir up the gift. Don’t cower. Don’t let the joy, or if you take those three things that God’s given us, one, his spirit. You know, God hasn’t given us a spirit of fear, but he has given us the spirit of power. He’s given us the power, the spirit of love. And a spirit of a sound mind, later on he’s gonna talk about, and you’re gonna stir that up by looking at sound doctrine. That’s why we’re gonna be questioning these men this evening. Because Paul was interested in the perpetuity of the gospel in sound doctrine that is preached through a sound life, through a man who was recognized by the laying on of hands which was done in the authority of a local church by elders so that you can protect this thing that we call Christianity and absolute truth. That’s why it’s important. That Timothy was not all by himself, that he was he had these other things, but he was reminded by Paul to stir it up.

Now, what’s interesting is, is you would tend to think that was the setting of what the the the first chapter and the purpose statement of the book was all about. But it’s not because as you go on in verse eight, it says, therefore. And I looked at that and I says, usually you don’t see two, therefore, sentence sentences together. And that’s it’s not a mistranslation at verse eight. I’m sorry, at verse six. But verse eight is quite clear. Therefore. OK, if you want to know how you can do all of this and stir it up and I mean, this is what he’s shooting for. Therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. One of the things, as the old guy to the young guy giving the advice. Don’t you ever become ashamed of Jesus Christ? is the Son of God, Jesus Christ, our Lord, we must always be ready to take the bullet for Him.

Now, in this generation in the United States of America, we’ve not been called upon too much to do that. I don’t know that that’s always gonna stand. But I think it’s probably coming more and more. And as I look at the book of the revelation, it seems like it’s going to get really, really bad. Worse than this, worse than what we got now. It’s going to get bad. Stir up the gift. You were called of God. And so men, John and Ben, and this recognition do realize that there is a gift. and that you are called upon to stand, having done all to stand, stand therefore, is what the scriptures would proclaim.

So therefore, do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord. But he goes on, and this just shows, again, not so much as a doctrinal treatise, though it is that, but it shows the personal aspect. Don’t be ashamed of our testimony of the Lord, nor of me, his prisoner. And now we begin to see what was going on in Paul’s life. He’s saying, don’t be ashamed of me because I’m a man in chains. Don’t be ashamed of me, his prisoner. I have proven myself and I am here unjustly That is, I don’t deserve this, but justly, it’s because I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ and I will preach him.

So that’s what he goes on to say. For he says, nor of me, his prisoner, but share with me in the sufferings for the gospel according to the power of God. And then we have this statement that is worthy of all preaching, and I’ll probably come back to sometime, who has saved us and called us a holy calling not according to works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given to us in Christ Jesus before time began. That is a liturgy of soteriology of the doctrine of salvation. It just ties it all together.

The sovereignty of God, the inability of man to save himself. So much could be said there. But it’s just part of a sentence, verse 10, but has now been revealed by the appearing of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has abolished death and brought life and immortality of life through the gospel to which I was appointed a preacher, an apostle and a teacher of the Gentiles. For this reason, I suffer these things. For truth. Nevertheless, I am not ashamed. You see, that’s how we started and that’s how we know this is the theme of what chapter one is about. I’m not ashamed. Why? We sang the song. I’m not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and I am persuaded that he is able to keep that which I’ve committed unto him against that day. Other ways to stir up the gift and to not be ashamed, hold fast the pattern of sound doctrine or sound words which you have heard from me. Don’t go around after every whim, change of doctrines, further revelation. It’s a healthy doctrine.

Stand firm. That’s a reason why the questions that will be asked tonight are going to be questions that are orthodox, biblical Christianity. We don’t want any wavering. If a new man is going to be ordained, whether it be of a staff pastor or of a non staff pastor or an elder, The doctrine doesn’t change. We don’t go easy. We’re not looking for some new fangled way of things like that. We want to know that a man holds to the firm foundation of sound words as committed there. The pattern of sound words which you have heard from the Apostle Paul delivered once into the saints and a love which is in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.

Now, from that point to the end of the chapter, he gives us two illustrations. Well, actually, three illustrations, two illustrations, one good, one good and two that were bad. This, you know, that all those in Asia have turned away from me. And that’s why I said you cannot properly understand this book if you don’t get it. Christians. Had now come to the point that they were ashamed of the Apostle Paul. Paul said, I’m not ashamed of Jesus Christ. Timothy, I don’t think that you’re ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ, but you need to stir the gift. You need to make sure that you are firm in your love and commitment and preaching and the sound words of the Lord Jesus Christ. But all of Asia have left me. Paul had been deserted. People were ashamed of him. They’ve all turned away from me. Among whom?

Now, I don’t know, you know, sometimes you think, wouldn’t it be nice to have your name in the Bible? Well, if you want your name in the Bible, be careful where you want it. Yeah, this is not the place. I’ve had actually people tell me that we should not point out false teachers by name. I guess the Apostle Paul was of a different opinion, because we know about a coppersmith that had, we know of a guy who was a magician, and we know their names, and we know these two guys, among whom, well, who are these whoms? These whoms are the ones in Asia that had turned away from, you know, Phygelus and Hermogenes. And. He was feeling the weight. Of Christians being ashamed of him. And then he goes with a positive one, however. The Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me.

Now, some have said, if you notice, refresh me past tense, that may be that may mean that Paul wasn’t expecting ever to see him again. Others believe that he had remained faithful to the end and that he was one of the martyrs. I’m not going to enter into that. I’m just saying he was not ashamed of the Apostle Paul. And he was not ashamed of my pain, of my chains. But when he arrived in Rome, he sought me out very zealously, and he found me. In other words, he was faithful. And the Lord grant to him that he may find mercy from the Lord in that day. You know very well how many ways he ministered to me at Ephesus. And so it just points the whole likelihood of what Paul had gone through through the enabling ministry of this one named Onesiphorus. Paul was not ashamed of his sufferings because he trusted in Christ. because of the commitment that had been given unto him, verse 12. He was not ashamed because he had held to sound doctrine, the pattern that he was passing on to Timothy. Don’t look for a new way, preach the gospel and stand for Christ. The deposit as well, given by God, verse 14. And remained faithful as this one who, who, Onesiphorus that, had sought Paul out.

Now, just to show a little bit more of how this come about, go back to chapter four. There’s going to be other charges and some things that will be done. But again, you cannot get away. Just verse eight. Of chapter four, it says, finally, there’s laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous judge will give to me on that day, and not only me, but all who have loved his appearing, that is to the faithful.

But then look at verse nine. Be diligent to come to me quickly. He wants to see Timothy. He needs Timothy. For Demas has forsaken me. Having loved this world, he has departed for Thessalonica. Crescens for Galatia. Titus for Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me. Get Mark and bring him with you, for he is useful for me for the ministry. Titicus I have sent to Ephesus. Bring the cloak which I left with Carpus at Troas when you come, and the books, especially the parchments. Alexander the coppersmith, he did me much harm. May the Lord repay him according to his works. That’s called imprecatory. You also must beware of him, for he has greatly resisted our words. At my first defense, no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them. You see, do you hear the heart of the apostle Paul? I think that’s one reason why in the sense of plurality of eldership and that it’s helpful because then you’re not taking it all alone and there is that mutual support. That these are ordainment that have the laying on of hands and that they, as it were, can support one another in the midst of all of what is going on.

So Paul, in the writing of his last will and testament, takes chapter one to really set it up. The setup is, this world is no friend to grace. Even Christians, professing Christians, they will leave you in the apostolic age. If not, if then, how much more even in today? And they will. But Paul really wanted Timothy. Please come and see me. Bear these things. I need to see you. Come quickly. Everybody has forsaken me. We need to stand together. But Timothy, I’m going to be dying. You need to stir the gift. Remember your calling. Remember, this world is going to do all that it can to destroy the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Be willing to die. And we can stand together. For the testimony of truth and the glory of God must shine no matter what.

The story is told. I’ve shared this. It was many, many years ago about the Boxer Rebellion. This was in 1899 to 1900. Extreme nationalist Chinese had were were on the rampage against Christians. And this was a day and age in which there were missionaries in China. And on this particular day, the extremist went around to a a compound where Christians and some students were hideout were there. They surrounded all of that area except for one area of exit. And they told them that it’s all closed off except for this one door. And if you and this is the only way out. And then they drew in the dirt as the picture of a cross or just say they, you know, did a furrow and then crossed it on the sign of the cross. And they said that to come out. If you come out this one exit. And if you scuff your feet, showing disgust and shame for the cross. We will let you go. But if you don’t, we’ll kill you on the spot. Well, as the account goes, I found this in several different places, because this is a very strong eye-opening situation.

The first seven came out of the compound, went to the area where the cross was, and they scuffed their feet. And then the soldiers, I guess, would replace them. The first one, the second, third through the first seven. Well, in the compound at that particular day, there were 92 people there. The eighth person to come out was a girl. I don’t know her age, don’t know anything about her outside. The fact that it seems to be that it was a young lady. She came out. She stood at the head of the cross. She walked around. They shot her. She said, I am not ashamed of my savior, and I will not do that. Number eight, oh, that was eight. Number nine, and they don’t identify him, young or old or anything. Number nine comes out, walks around, shot. Number 10, walks around, shot. My brethren, we need each other. We need to prod one another. Your faithfulness will encourage another one.

You see, what I find interesting about a story like that, all the good people, all the people who wear the white hats, they’re all dead in a pile. By the world standards, you know, Boy, they were the dumb ones. It’s the year 2024, and we’re still talking about them. And for us, there are heroes. John Huss. Lord, I will not be ashamed. He died that day. 2024, we’re still talking about him. He was the the morning glory, as it were, the morning star of the Reformation. Oh, it took some time. Martin Luther came along. You see. God wants faithfulness. He wants God’s people to stir up the gift, it may cost you your life. But here, Paul said, and the real issue.

One of the strong and main issues of Second Timothy, Chapter one, was he said, don’t be ashamed of the Lord Jesus Christ. Stir up the gift that is recognized through local church involvement, laying on hands in Timothy’s case, but by way of application is all who named the name of Christ. Brethren, faithfulness observed tends to breed more faithfulness. And when we lack faithfulness, and that’s one reason why when some of our leaders fall into sin, it hurts so bad. And people just have hard times reconciling it into their head. The reason why now we just know that it happens, but because that’s not the way it’s supposed to be in true biblical Christianity. We need men and women. Who are willing to say, I am not ashamed of Jesus Christ, the son of God. He’s my Lord and he’s my savior. And I will not deny him.

Well, at the end of the life of the Apostle Paul, all Asia, it had appeared now that’s hyperbole. And I know that because, well, Asia did hear the gospel and they’re still hearing the gospel. But it appeared that so many were turning from Christ. If you’re here today and you know Jesus Christ. Stir up your backbone and remain firm and strong for him. If you’re here today and you do not know Christ is your own personal savior. You need to come to him by faith. Confess your sins repent of them turn from them and trust him. Oh, you may live because you’ve scuffled the cross. But you know what? There’s a worse ending to those who deny.

Let’s pray. Our Father in heaven. The choice seems so clear and yet to so many. They will not give you the glory. They will not bow the knee. They say if Jesus is here, then they want to be somewhere else. Father, even in the words of the Apostle Paul, may they come to a saving knowledge of you and cause your spirit to cause them to repent before they die. Father, we don’t know the future and what’s going to transpire. But Father, as we as a local church, have a sense of plurality of eldership, and then those who hold that position, we want them to be able to articulate the truths of your most holy word so that they can keep the truth, stand for the truth, to stand for the truth at all costs, trusting you for the end result. Give us Christian Strong backbones for your glory for we ask it in Jesus name and for his sake. Amen.