paul

PAUL THE APOSTLE

Should hard, trying and difficult circumstances lead us into a spiritual wilderness of despair and depression? Not according to Paul. They should do the opposite and cause us to rejoice in the victory that is ours in Christ Jesus!

In Paul’s ministry and experiences he suffered many trials and afflictions, yet we do not see a man overwhelmed and depressed but a life lived victoriously and the trials become not reasons for complaint but testimonies to God’s power and evidence of the truth of the gospel.
Also Paul teaches us of the way of the fellowship of the sufferings of Jesus, he tells us in Philippians 1:29 that along with the privilege of believing in Christ goes the privilege of suffering with Him, and in Romans 8:18 that "the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that shall be revealed in us".
Paul’s life and testimony proves that adverse conditions do not have to lead to spiritual depression.
Read the following scriptures carefully and prayerfully asking whether in your own present circucmstances you can maintain such a strong testimony or have you fallen prey to moaning, complaining and self-pity? And be encouraged in the light of the intense sufferings that Paul faced to ask the Lord for the same victorious faith that is illustrated here.

Phil.1:12-14 - But I want you to know, brethren, that the things which happened to me have actually turned out for the furtherance of the gospel, so that it became evident to the whole palace guard, and to all the rest, that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.

2Tim.3:10-12 - But you have carefully followed my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, longsuffering, love, perseverance, persecutions, afflictions, which happened to me a Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra - what persecutions I endured. And out of them all the Lord delivered me. Yes and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.

2Cor.11:22ff ....in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often. From the Jews five times I received forty stripes minus one. Three times I was beaten with rods; once I was stoned; three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I have been in the deep; in journeys often, in perils of robbers, in perils of my own countrymen, in perils of the Gentiles, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils on the sea, in perils among false brethren; in weariness and toil, in sleeplessness often, in hunger and thirst, and fastings often, in cold and nakedness - besides the other things, what comes upon me daily: my deep concern for the churches.

2Cor.12:9,10 - And he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

1Cor.4:11-13 - To the present hour we both hunger and thirst, and we are poorly clothed, and beaten, and homeless. And we labour, working with our own hands. Being reviled, we bless; being persecuted, we endure; being defamed, we entreat. We have been made as the filth of the world, the offscouring of all things until now.

What we are seeing in Paul is the right attitude to potentially trying circumstances, his sole aim is the proclamation of the gospel despite the lack of the basic amenities of life, in human terms such afflictions as Paul faced would lead one to despair, but Paul sees in them all the mighty power of God:

2Cor.4:7-10 - But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed - always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body.

It might be said that from Paul’s perspective there should be no wilderness experiences, when a life is wholly devoted to God and obeying his will there is that confidence that all things are working for an eternal purpose. Along with the realisation that worldly and earthly pleasures are of no importance in the kingdom of God, and the knowledge that God’s work is not hindered by our personal circumstances, even when such circumstances include imprisonment and sickness, poverty, hunger and nakedness.