Because of the many travails Paul suffered, he was mindful of the probable effects these would have on his converts and the onus was upon him to do two things; the first was to inform them with all clarity as he wrote in:

Brothers and sisters, you need to know about the severe trials we experienced while we were in western Turkey. All the hardships we passed through crushed us beyond our ability to endure, and we were so completely overwhelmed that we were about to give up entirely. It felt like we had a death sentence written upon our hearts, and we still feel it to this day. It has taught us to lose all faith in ourselves and to place all our trust in the God who raises the dead. He has rescued us from terrifying encounters with death. And now we fasten our hopes on him to continue to deliver us from death yet again. 2 Corinthians 1:8-10 (TPT)

and the second was to pray:

My dear friends, I pray that you will remain strong and not be discouraged or ashamed by all that I suffer on your behalf, for it is for your glory. So I kneel humbly in awe before the Father of our Lord Jesus, the Messiah, the perfect Father of every father and child in heaven and on the earth. And I pray that he would unveil within you the unlimited riches of his glory and favor until supernatural strength floods your innermost being with his divine might and explosive power. Then, by constantly using your faith, the life of Christ will be released deep inside you, and the resting place of his love will become the very source and root of your life. Then you will be empowered to discover what every holy one experiences—the great magnitude of the astonishing love of Christ in all its dimensions. How deeply intimate and far-reaching is his love! How enduring and inclusive it is! Endless love beyond measurement that transcends our understanding—this extravagant love pours into you until you are filled to overflowing with the fullness of God! Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you. Ephesians 3:13-20 (TPT)

Informing them with clarity would save the converts from falling into dangerous assumptions or keep them from being taken advantage of by gainsayers that the things that befell Paul were evidence of him being in the wrong doctrine. Furthermore, it would encourage them that they could stand under the same pressure because God would not abandon them.

Paul’s encouraging response to believers is repeated in Philippians 1:27-28. He was communicating to them that ‘THE FULL EXPRESSION OF THE POWER AND LOVE OF GOD IS IN THE MIDST OF OUR TROUBLES’.

Beloved shepherd, how concerned are you for the people under your watch? How much encouragement and prayers do you offer on their behalf without making any pecuniary demands on them? This is the time to do it right! Selah


Pastor Afolabi Oladele