If you are going to do something significant for God, you have to throw yourself into the call of God and do what is needed, regardless of whether or not it’s convenient. It should be more valuable and important than any comfort or personal desire. Like Paul, you must be willing to do anything required or go to any length to do what God asks.
The enemy is not going to stand silently by. If God asks you to do something that takes you outside your comfort level, don’t question and complain about it. When you do, you refuse to exercise your faith. You won’t do anything significant for God— at least not until you change your attitude.
“And from the days of John the Baptist until now the kingdom of heaven suffers violence, and the violent take it by force” (Matthew 11:12).
The Kingdom of God suffers violence at the hands of the enemy. You must be more determined than the enemy’s deceptions, hindrances, barriers, and accusations. What is the vision God has given you? That vision isn’t going to come easily. Satan will come against it in any way he can. That vision must be more important than your need to feel safe and secure. You must be willing to do anything needed to see that it succeeds. When you’re determined to pursue God’s purpose at all costs, you’ll push through hard times and gain ground for the Kingdom of God.
In 2 Corinthians 11:23, Paul reveals his determination to finish God’s call, regardless of what he has to do and regardless of the challenges he has to overcome: “Are they ministers of Christ?—I speak as a fool—I am more: in labors more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequently, in deaths often.”
Paul tells us that, in addition to working hard, he has been physically beaten as he pursued his God-given task of spreading the Gospel. He has received “stripes above measure.”
The Greek word for stripes is “plege” and means “to smite, hit, wound, or violently strike.” The words “above measure” are from the Greek word “huperballo” and means “above and beyond the range of what is normal.”
Paul’s beatings were beyond what we could imagine. They beatings were frequent, cruel, and brutal. But Paul never allowed this intense cruelty to affect his commitment to the task God had given him. You must be more determined than anything the devil brings against you. However, you aren’t strong enough to withstand the devil’s attacks alone; you can overcome them with the power of the Holy Spirit.
Paul tells us that he has been “in prisons more frequent.” The Greek word “plulake” for prison means “a heavily fortified place of containment.” A prison was a small, dark chamber where the most dangerous prisoners were heavily guarded. This is what Paul consistently endured. If going to jail meant that he would accomplish his calling, that was what he was willing to do. He was ready to undergo any inconvenience, pay any price, and go to all lengths to do what God asked of him.
Paul also says that in addition to the beatings and imprisonments he endured, he was “in deaths often.” The Greek word “thanatol” means “deaths.” Paul actually faced physical “deaths” regularly. “When he wrote “I die daily” in 1 Corinthians 15:31, he meant more than just dying to self. He was constantly confronted with the possibility of death. Paul never wanted to face death daily. It was just part of his call to spread the Gospel to the Gentiles. However, he faced it bravely. Rather than retreating, he kept moving forward to fulfill his purpose.
If Paul been less committed, only a few of these hardships would have stopped him. But because he was completely focused and determined to finish the work God had given him, he pushed beyond each beating, imprisonment, and fear of death. And because of his commitment, we received the Gospel. At the end of his life, he could say, “I have finished my course” (2 Timothy 4:7).
The Holy Spirit who empowered Paul to overcome each of these hardships is the same Holy Spirit who is available to help you. You don’t have to give up in defeat. If you choose to use the power that is available to you, the Spirit of God will strengthen you and give you victory over any difficulty the enemy uses against you.
The time has come for the faith we have often taken for granted to become our life. Look and listen. We are in the last of the last days. God has granted you the privilege to be a part of such a time as this. Just as Paul, you have a purpose to spread the Gospel of Grace in whatever way God has called you.
You have the resurrection power of God inside of you (Romans 8:11). Yield to His power, and you’ll be supernaturally strengthened to overcome every hindrance and barrier. If you embrace God’s power, He’ll give you everything you need to endure and succeed in your purpose. Be determined to hold on to God’s call and to move forward in the power of the Holy Spirit so that one day, you can also say, “I have finished my course.”
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