First Christian Church

By Bruce Humes

Pastor

The apostle Paul in his second epistle to Timothy wrote in chapter 4, verses 17-18: “But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that the Gentiles might hear. Also, I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion. And the Lord will deliver me from every evil work and preserve me for his heavenly kingdom. To him be glory forever and ever.”

This epistle was written in Rome, where the apostle Paul was imprisoned for preaching the Gospel. He was fully aware that his execution could come at any time. The word “strengthened” used in the Scripture means “empowered,” so even while awaiting his execution, Paul was empowered to preach the message of good news to the Gentiles. This is what God called Paul to do: “But the Lord said to him, (Ananias) Go, for he (Paul ) is a chosen vessel of mine to bear my name before the Gentiles, kings, and the children of Israel. For I will show him how many things he must suffer for my name’s sake” (Acts 9:15-16).

Paul was a new creation in Christ after his conversion, and he suffered much throughout his ministry for the cause. He was eventually martyred for his ministry.

The same strength that empowered Paul through all his suffering and delivered him from the mouth of the lion (meaning mortal dangers) and all other evil works is the same strength that believers have today. In Philippians 4:13, the apostle Paul wrote, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”

The Greek “through” behind the statement “I can do all things” is “to have strength” in all that the Lord wills me to do. And it is Christ who gives strength to do those things. Christ is the one who will strengthen believers today through suffering, testing and the mouth of the lion, just as he did with Paul while he sat in that Roman prison awaiting execution.

The apostle Peter writing to believers of the dispersion in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bithynia, wrote in 1 Peter 5:10, “But may the God of all grace, who called us to his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you.”

We can read this as if he were talking to us today, trusting that after we suffer for a while, we will be perfected, established in our faith and strengthened to the point we are capable of doing all that Christ wills us to do for him. We can say what both Paul and Peter said: “To him be the glory and dominion forever and ever.”

If you want to speak to someone at the church or if you have a need, call the church office at (562) 431-8810.