The godly apostle Paul was full of the Holy Spirit and
revelation knowledge. He prayed fervently and walked daily in intimate
communion with Jesus. Yet he admitted he was continually buffeted, defamed,
despised and reviled. He was gossiped about, his character was attacked, and
his name was reproached.
Paul suffered so much so often, even his spiritual children
wondered why he constantly faced trouble and persecution. Every time they saw
him, his face was bruised, his bones were broken, or his body was covered with
marks. Of course, this hurt Paul deeply. Here was a powerful, sincere preacher
of God's grace and deliverance and everywhere he turned, he was reviled and
defamed.
The apostle said he had one friend left, Onesiphorus, who
“was not ashamed of my chain [bonds]” (2 Timothy 1:16). Paul said of his
friend, “This man is not ashamed of my imprisonment. He knows better than to
think there's some hidden sin in my life!”
Paul also said he was encouraged by a group of believers who
“had compassion of me in my bonds” (Hebrews 10:34). He was saying, “These
people feel what I'm feeling.” They stood by Paul in his trials because they
themselves had been “made a gazingstock both by reproaches and afflictions . .
. whilst ye became companions of them that were so used” (verse 33). These
believers had become the apostle's “companions in afflictions” because the same
thing that was happening to Paul had happened to them!
I know a deeply spiritual minister who endured years of
satanic buffeting and persecution from other believers. Every time I saw him,
he asked me to pray for him about his troubles. I gladly complied but over
time, as his trials persisted, I grew bothered. Finally, I asked him
point-blank: “I don't understand why you're always so harassed. You're one of
the godliest pastors I know. You're intimate with the Lord, always in prayer,
continually studying His Word. Why would He allow you to face such constant
trouble?”
But now I understand that this godly minister was handed
over to death situations daily because he was full of resurrection life. God
wanted to use him in a mighty way so He kept handing him over to death in every
area of his life. God wanted nothing to remain that would hinder the beautiful
manifestation of Christ in him.
Satan was set on destroying Paul because he knew a great
manifestation of Christ was about to shine forth in his life!
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