This morning we continue our series “Grace that is Simply Amazing” by continuing to learn more about the amazing life of the Apostle Paul. I feel led to share one more message about Paul’s conversion experience before we move on. I have already shared with you that the Lord said to Ananias, “Go, for Saul is my chosen instrument to take my message to the Gentiles and to kings, as well as to the people of Israel. And I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” I want to focus in on the words, “I will show him how much he must suffer for my name’s sake.” As I have already emphasized in this series, you must understand the setting. Paul was about to receive the assignment to preach the Gospel to the Gentiles at a time and place when it was going to cost him dearly. Let’s look at what Paul later said he had to endure to fulfill his life’s assignment. Paul was:
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Given 39 lashes with a cat of 9 tails five times. If you have seen the movie “The Passion of the Christ,” then you know how hard it was to even watch Jesus receive 39 lashes ONCE, much less five times.
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Beaten with rods three times. I was hit by a stick once, by mistake, and it hurt. I could not imagine what it would feel like to intentionally be beaten with rods, by grown men, three different times.
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Stoned once. Believe me, once is enough. This is not just being hit by a rock by mistake, but rather being intentionally pummeled by grown men with big stones. This normally kills people, but Paul survived it, because God was not through with him.
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Shipwrecked three times. After the second time I would not get on a boat with Paul. Paul was on a naval vessel that went down at sea on three different occasions and on one of them he wound up spending an entire night and a day in the open sea, holding on to a piece of the ship.
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Constantly on the move. Paul’s assignment in life kept him moving from place and to place and it cost him dearly in personal relationships. Paul never married, because he gave Himself completely to the Lord for His assignment.
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In and out of prison. Paul wrote many of his letters from prison. Not from a nice office, not with the help of his secretary and not with the assistance of an editor. No, Paul was writing from Jail and even though he was enduring much personal pain, he kept focusing on his assignment from the Lord and not his personal pleasure.
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A Soldier for Christ. Paul endured hunger, thirst, perilous times and treacherous people, all to complete his life’s purpose (see 2 Cor 11:23-27).
Paul held on to the end. In his last letter he said, “I have fought a good fight, I have finished my course, I have kept the faith” (2 Tim 4:7). He knew what his assignment was and he also knew when it had been completed. Paul did not live much longer after writing this letter. In this same letter he said to his spiritual son Timothy: “You then, my son, be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus… Endure hardship with us like a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” What was Paul doing? He was helping Timothy get mentally and spiritually prepared for the challenges he would face on the road to fulfilling his own life’s assignment. Paul was not alone in this mindset. James said, “Take the old prophets as your mentors. They put up with anything, went through everything, and never once quit, all the time honoring God. What a gift life is to those who stay the course! You’ve heard, of course, of Job’s staying power, and you know how God brought it all together for him at the end” (5:10,11).
So what does this mean to you today? A few things:
1. God will give you supernatural grace (empowerment) to fulfill His Kingdom plans and purposes for your life.
2. God will never cause you to face something you don’t have the grace for.
3. God will never allow you to face something that is going to crush you.
4. If you could not handle it, you would not be facing it.
5. If you are facing it, then: 1) you have grace for it and 2) God trusts you with it.
6. You will be amazed at what you can accomplish when you submit to God’s plan, because once you do, His grace will be on you to do more than you ever thought you could.
Closing Confession: Father, I thank You for the example of Paul and I apply what I learn from Paul in my own life. Paul endured things that should have and would have killed the average human, but Paul never gave up because You were with him and You graced him to endure all he did. You gave Paul a very hard assignment and along with the assignment, You gave him the grace to complete it, even though he had to face seemingly insurmountable opposition. Paul was able to do it, because he did not face his challenges with his own strength. Paul relied on Your grace and I shall do the same. I declare by faith that I shall complete my assignment while I am in the land of the living. I shall not die until You are done with me. I am determined to arrive at Your desired destination for my life and even if I have to face hard opposition to get there, I declare that I will, because I am not pursuing my purpose alone. You are ON me, IN me, WITH me and FOR me. You gave me the purpose, You gave me the Grace for the purpose and it is by Your Grace that I shall fulfill it. You will never allow me to face something I don’t have the grace for. If I am facing it, You trust me with it. Thank You Father for empowering me to overcome every challenge, win every battle and endure all the hardship I shall endure on the road to fulfilling my purpose. No matter what I face in life, I face it knowing that I have GRACE FOR IT! I declare this by faith! In Jesus’ name. Amen.
This is Today’s Word! Apply it and Prosper.
