HOW I GOT OVER!

At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me: I pray God that it may not be laid to their charge.  Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: and I was delivered out of the mouth of the lion.                      (2 Timothy 4:16, 17)

As I contemplate the last 20 years of my ministry I can never forget how the Lord got me over obstacles and hurdles time after time after time.  Accordingly I am revisiting a passage that I shared with you a year ago.  God has always been my "way-maker" in a time of trouble.  

In the passage above, Paul lets Timothy know how important it was to be faithful to the assignment of preaching the Gospel.  He let him know that he would face hardships along the way, but he should stay the course. Paul makes several points:  1.  The Lord stood with me;  2.  The Lord strengthened me; 3.  The Lord delivered me.

1.  The Lord stood with me.  Paul realized that through all of his trials, the Lord was always with him.  We have that same confidence.  No matter what comes our way, the Lord promised never to leave us nor forsake us.  His presence is comforting.  Don't underestimate it's importance.   

2.  The Lord strengthened me.  Paul had been beaten, run out of town, shipwrecked, thrown into jails and was about to be killed on Nero's chopping block.  Yet the Lord continued to strengthen him after each experience.  We will get weak sometimes.  God knows that.  But don't give up, God will strengthen us if we just stay the course.  

3.  The Lord delivered me.  Paul knew that God would always deliver him out of the mouth of the lion (Satan).  We have that same assurance.  We may have some more hurdles to conquer, but don't despair.  The same Lord that got us over in the past, will get us over in the future!

Our mission is to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  If we can be faithful to that mission, God will never leave us nor forsake us.