"Being confident of this very thing, that he which hath begun a good work in you will perform it until the day of Jesus Christ:" (Philippians 1:6).
Apostle Paul gave a very stern word of assurance to the Philippians that God Who began a good work in them will finally complete it till the coming of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ.
What was the good work that God started in them? Verse five gives the answer thus:
"For your fellowship in the gospel from the first day until now;"
They partook of the fellowship of the gospel. This gospel, Apostle Paul tells us that it is God's power unto salvation to everyone that believes (Romans 1:16). It was God that stirred their lives in partaking of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ.
The salient point we need to get here is that we need to be very confident as Apostle Paul was. The strong confidence is what will help you stand strong even in the midst of hard and terrible times. The truth is that you will face hard and terrible times in this life. When Apostle Paul faced these situations, he was never moved to the point of giving up. He endured to the end. Let's look at how Paul endured the horrible times he faced;
"Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not. In Damascus the governor under Aretas the king kept the city of the Damascenes with a garrison, desirous to apprehend me: And through a window in a basket was I let down by the wall, and escaped his hands" (2 Corinthians 11:23-33).
These terrible experiences did not stop him from moving on because he was very confident of the One that began a good work in him. So, he said that none of those experiences moved him (Acts 20:23-24). He was very confident of the end that God had for Him. God is well able to bring to pass all that He began in you.
He told Jacob," And, behold, I am with thee, and will keep thee in all places whither thou goest, and will bring thee again into this land; for I will not leave thee, until I have done that which I have spoken to thee of" (Genesis 28:15).
This is the word of encouragement I'm giving you; that God will not leave you nor forsake you until He has completed all that He said concerning you.
Irrespective of the afflictions, just remain very confident in God's ability. At the divinely appointed time, you will see the manifestations of God's almightiness in your life. Nothing out there is strong enough to stand the power of God. He is the Creator and God of all creation. So, keep rejoicing in the Lord always. Keep seeing with the eyes of God. And refuse to give up. God is well able and is well reliable. Hallelujah.
God bless and keep you. Have a glorious day.
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