Congregation,
please welcome Paul, formally Saul of Tarsus, as today’s guest speaker: “Before
my message I would like to share my testimony. I am a slave of Jesus Christ. I have lost everything this life values, its
power, position, wealth and influence, along with the glittering babbles of
pride and self-dependence. All of this I consider to be as dung, worthless
refuse, compared to the priceless privilege, surpassing worth, and supreme
advantage of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, to know the transforming fellowship
of sharing in His sufferings. I have been scourged like our Savior five
times, beaten with rods three times, stoned for death once, shipwrecked at sea
three times and beaten countless times in cities where I have planted churches.
I have been in danger from robbers, fought with wild animals, frequently
imprisoned, and suffered constant hardships including lack of shelter,
weariness and toil, sleeplessness, hunger and thirst, and even nakedness. I
have as my constant companion a demonic being... a messenger from satan, whose
singular responsibility is to torment me with suffering and persecution. All of
this has left me physically weak and infirm, and I have diseased eyes which
require me to dictate all my letters. I have come to understand God allows in
His wisdom what He could easily prevent in His power: His resurrection power
dwells upon me because of my physical weakness and suffering. Therefore I am
well pleased and take pleasure in infirmities,
insults, hardships, persecutions, perplexities, distresses, afflictions and
adversity, for they are really only light afflictions preceding God’s glory. I rejoice
in my suffering... glory in adversity, filling up in my flesh what is lacking
in the afflictions of Christ, for I have been made to understand that
troubles and affliction and hardship produce patient unswerving endurance which
develops maturity of God’s character in me... approving my faith... trying my
integrity. I find myself in a state of constant joyful confident hope in
eternal salvation... as Christ’s life flows out of me... as His love is
lavishly poured into my heart by the Holy Spirit. Yes, I rejoice in suffering. The title of my message is The Crucified
Life.” The point…
WOULD HE BE WELCOME???
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