HANDED OVER to DEATH DAILY

HANDED OVER to DEATH DAILY
by David Wilkerson

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 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!

-Source-

http://sermons.worldchallenge.org/en/node/25328

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