Volume 4 Chapter 1 Page 8
Wednesday January 10, 2007 20 Tevet 5767 (Hebrew 4th Month)
"Advancement in God's Kingdom!"
It is evident by these scriptures, that the Apostle Paul was devoted and dedicated to the spiritual growth and wellbeing of the disciples within the church.
While imprisoned and persecuted, Paul remained steadfast to the calling of God upon his life, praying for other Believers in Christ, studying God's WORD and writing to them as inspired by Holy Spirit, for encouragement and inspiration in the ongoing work to be done in God's Kingdom.
Each day of my life, God is continually transforming me into the likeness and character of Christ, and just as Paul said in Phillipians 3:12-14,
It was not merely a great joy for Paul to pray for others, but as he says, he received great comfort from Holy Spirit, in knowing that other believers were also seeking the advancement of the gospel throughout the world, regardless of the pesecution and opposition they faced as he had.
Regardless of an earlier prophecy given to Paul, by a prophet named Agabus in Acts 21:10, that he would be bound hand and foot because of his persistance in preaching the Gospel of Christ, Paul nonetheless continued preaching and teaching up to and even after that prophecy was fulfilled by God.
Prophecies are given to believers by God's Spirit through the mouths of HIS Prophets, and many times are conditional as to their fulfillment depending upon the actions of the person who received the prophecy.
God created in each of us a will to choose, whether to accept and believe the Gospel of Christ, or to reject and deny HIM as Lord and Savior.
Paul choose to obey the calling of God upon his life, regardless of what was to come by way of persecution, because he knew what the prize for his continued Obedience and Faithfulness would be!
He prayed 2000 years ago for each of us to answer God's call, and be diligent in the Kingdom Work, as God's servant striving and laboring for an Increased Harvest, knowing the reward was far greater than any riches or wealth to be received in this world.
