II Timothy 3:11
Paul speaks reassuringly to Timothy as he incisively prophesies about the approaching evil of the last days – “But thou hast fully known my doctrine, manner of life, purpose, faith, long-suffering, charity, patience, persecutions, afflictions which came unto me at Antioch, at Iconium, at Lystra; what persecutions I endured: but out of them all the Lord delivered me” (2 Timothy 3:10,11). Sometimes we tend to think that because we are godly, we are immune from persecutions and afflictions. At least that’s what we sometimes wish! However, in the real world of Bible-truth and Christian living, we know differently. We may try to fool ourselves, but the Word of God unequivocally teaches us from Genesis to Revelation that adversity, sometimes severe adversity, will come to all of us.
After mentioning his own experiences with persecutions and afflictions, the apostle Paul was crystal clear in reinforcing – “Yea, and all that will live godly in Christ Jesus shall suffer persecution” (2 Tim 3:12). There is no escaping it. It is indisputable, that if you are godly or desire to live the Christ-life, the enemy will pursue you with every evil intention to drive you away and to hinder your progress in God. The enemy viciously attacks on every hand and side, but just as he is intent on driving us away and pursuing us – God also deliberately pursues us to give us the victory again and again.
Paul’s testimony most powerfully attests to this truth, causing us to nod affirmatively and to even shout a loud – Amen! He deliberately reflects on those painful memories of his hardships and persecutions at Antioch, at Iconium, and at Lystra, but he also quickly interjects “. . . but out of them all the Lord delivered me” (v11).
May we never forget that the trials of our lives are majestically, counteracted and counterbalanced by His supernatural acts of deliverance. According to Psalm 44:4, our God commands or decrees deliverances, victories for His people. We triumph over every Satanic attack or onslaught in Jesus’ name. It’s tough, but we always come out victoriously. We win because in Him, we are destined to win, exclusively chosen to be victorious always. Hallelujah!
It is with great interest we observe that the apostle Paul quickly pivots to his deliverance. He says, deliverance came, but before deliverance came, I endured (I Tim. 3:10). To endure means to stick with it, go through it, hang with it, take it patiently, but it also means to bear up courageously. Before victory comes, may God help us to endure, to bear-up courageously, to hang on in there! Beloved, hold on a little while longer! Don’t give up! Don’t ever give up! Paul said, “I endured . . . The Lord delivered me” (11,12).
We remain thoroughly convinced “The righteous cry, and the Lord heareth and delivereth them out of them all their troubles” (Psalm 34:17). The Psalm further declares, “Many are the afflictions of the righteous: But the Lord delivereth him out of them all (34:19). Church of God, please know that before deliverance comes, we must endure! “. . . This day the noise of battle, the next the victor’s song . . .” Endure! Victory comes as we courageously endure!
Leroy V. Greenaway
Presiding Bishop – Northeast Region
August 7, 2021
