1132. Paul's Pains
Paul's Pains
"And there came thither certain Jews from Antioch and Iconium, who persuaded the people, and, having stoned Paul, drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead" (Act_14:19).
The Apostle Paul suffered more than privations and more than perils, he suffered pains.
We remember how satan first requested that God should allow him to touch the possessions of Job. But, when Job's possessions were gone, Job kept his integrity. Satan, secondly, wanted to touch Job's people and deprive him of them. This was done. The fire and the whirlwind came and destroyed his sons and daughters, and Job was left alone with none but his wife, and she was more of a pest than a pleasure.
Thirdly, and last of all, the devil sought permission to put his hand on Job's person. And the devil said, then, "he will curse Thee." But the man who was true when his possessions were gone, and true when his people were gone, remained true when his person was attacked. Amid the ashes Job, scratching his sores, said: "Though He slay me, yet will I trust in Him." "In all of this Job sinned not."
1. Let us follow Paul in title pains that befell his person.
(1) At Lystra Paul was left for dead. The record is found in Acts 14. And they persuaded the multitude and having stoned Paul, they drew him out of the city, supposing he had been dead. Howbeit, as the disciples stood around about him, he rose up and came into the city. Certainly God touched the body of Paul, or, else he never could have walked to the city.
(2) At Philippi they laid many stripes upon him. Read Act_16:23. "And when they had laid many stripes upon them, they cast them into prison, charging the jailer to keep them safely: who, having received such a charge thrust them into the inner prison, and made their feet fast in the stocks."
(3) A general rescue. We cannot take time to develop each distinct time of trial and pain that befell Paul. A recapitulation of them all is found in II Corinthians. There we read "In afflictions, in necessities, in distresses, in stripes, in tumults, in watchings, in fastings." "In stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep." "'In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness." Such were the physical pains of Paul.
2. Let us follow how God made up to Paul. There are none who have suffered physically more than the Apostle Paul, and yet God always sustained and strengthened him.
(1) In 2Co_1:8-11, we read how in Asia, Paul was pressed out of measure, and above his strength, insomuch that he despaired of life, and that he had in himself the sentence of death, but we lead, "God which raiseth the dead; Who delivered us from so great a death, and doth deliver: in Whom we trust that He will yet deliver us." So Paul was never left alone. God delivered him.
(2) In 2Co_4:8-9 we read, "Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus' sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh."
What cared Paul! If he was troubled he was not distressed; if he was perplexed he was not in despair; if he was persecuted he was not forsaken; if he was cast down he was not destroyed, because God stood by him.
(3) In 2Co_12:7-9, we read of the thorn which God permitted satan to put upon His servant Paul. And for this Paul besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart, but God said, "My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness." Therefore, did Paul glory in his infirmities in order that the power of Christ might rest upon him. He took pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ's sake. He did this because he had learned that when he was weak he was strong. He knew that in his pains God always proved His grace by providing either deliverance or else strength to bear them.
Autor: R.E. NEIGHBOUR