Paul said in 2 Cor. 11:24-27 Five different times the Jewish leaders gave me thirty-nine LASHES. Three times I was BEATEN with RODS. Once I was STONED. Three times I was SHIPWRECKED. Once I spent a whole night and a day ADRIFT at SEA. I have TRAVELED on many LONG JOURNEYS. I have faced PERILS from RIVERS and from ROBBERS. I have faced PERILS from my own PEOPLE, the Jews, as well as from the Gentiles. I have faced PERILS in the CITIES, in the DESERTS, and on the seas. And I have faced PERILS from men who claim to be BELIEVERS but ARE NOT. I have worked HARD and LONG, I have endured many SLEEPLESS NIGHTS. I have been HUNGRY and THIRSTY and have often gone WITHOUT food. I have SHIVERED in the cold, WITHOUT clothing to keep me WARM. Now, does anyone really think that God was not in control of all these circumstances? Do any of us really believe that God called Paul, and then LEFT HIM all to himself and the will of the devil?! God ALLOWED all these things to happen to Paul! And, Paul was able to bear them and even REJOICE; because, Paul truly knew, what it meant to SUBMIT to GODS SOVEREIGN WILL!! Sadly, there is a false theology that says; God doesnt allow bad things to happen to His children. My friends, it is this kind of doctrinal teaching, that causes so many to grow weary, disillusioned; and even, mad at God; because, they feel like, He has abandoned them in their time of need! Are we in His Hand or not? Then, we must trust Him! Was Paul a chosen vessel of God? Of course he was! But yet, God allowed him to suffer through many perils! During all of the terrible trials mentioned here by Paul; not once, do we hear him blaming the devil! No, just the opposite! We hear him giving glory to God! When we fall into the trap of trying to discern, what is of God or what is not of God, only by what appears to be good or bad; only by what seems to be joyous or grievous; then, more times than not, we will miss the larger, greater picture of Gods Sovereign Will for our lives! As for God, His way is perfect: the Word of the LORD is tried: He is a buckler to all those that TRUST IN HIM Ps. 18:30
Posted on: Fri, 08 Aug 2014 03:25:05 +0000
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