HANDED OVER to DEATH DAILY
by David Wilkerson
Scripture: 2 Corinthians 4 v 6-12.
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. Herewas 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
ofhis 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 gazing-stock 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!
Comment from Brenda:
Persecution has a two-fold purpose. It keeps you a
humble, praying saint and it makes you very strong in your ministry.
In the "Iron Curtain" days of Communist Russia,
there was severe persecution of believers for even owning a Bible or teaching
gospel songs to children. There came a time when the persecution suddenly
ceased. The Russian government began to realise that it was causing Christians
to grow spiritual muscles.
Pastor Richard Wurmbrand was imprisoned in Siberia and
tortured daily to try to reprogramme his mind. Every day he thanked his
tormentors that he was worthy to suffer for the name of Jesus.
In that prison they had to keep finding new torturers as
every one of them got saved through this amazing man who realized he was in
that awful place to win these lost souls for Jesus.
Prayer: Heavenly Father if we are ever faced with torture
for our faith may we face it with the same grace and attitude as Paul and
Richard Wurmbrand (among many others) with the same results. In Jesus' name.
Amen.
-Source-
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