When you live and preach the
Gospel in volatile regions of the world, you deal with
issues that believers in more civilized nations never
have to think about. Some of these challenges simply
go with the territory of working on the front lines of
the Gospel, and there is nothing that can be done to
change it. This is why God gives special grace to
people whom He sends to difficult parts of the world.
His grace empowers them to successfully live, preach,
and minister in environments that others would
consider chaotic and even bordering on the insane.
On occasion, representatives of other very large
ministries have come to the other side of the world to
look at our work. After seeing what we have
accomplished and obtaining a better understanding of
the many problems we face in fulfilling our divine
assignment, they leave amazed that we are able to do
what we do. But we are able to do it only because
we're recipients of God's graceand anointing.
Without these two factors, it would be impossible to
make such a major impact. All the glory goes to
Jesus!
One of the issues we have faced is the criminal
element that exists in the vast expanse of the former
Soviet Union. Because the region is so huge, it is
very difficult for the government to control the
"mafia" that works in every area. Thus, many parts of
this precious nation where God has called us is
controlled by hoodlums and bandits. These criminals
try to invade every sphere of life and get their hands
into everyone's pockets. Several times these very
dangerous criminals have attempted to beset our own
organization. But as we listened to the voice of the
Holy Spirit and carefully obeyed His promptings, God
enabled us to circumvent meticulously laid plans that
the devil was inspiring these thieves to execute
against us. Had these plans worked, it would have
robbed us of ministry finances and seriously affected
our ministry. But thanks be to God, we successfully
survived each of these planned attempts to destroy our
ministry!
The situation I just related to you is not something
you probably have to think about in your city or town.
You live in a civilized system where police are
available to help and where the mafia doesn't hide in
the shadows, devising sinister plans to take advantage
of you. But for people who live in other, less
civilized parts of the earth, such criminal activity
is part of the norm of life that must be dealt with,
considered, and taken into account when making plans.
When the apostle Paul wrote to us about the things he
endured as he traveled to take the Gospel to new
places, he let us know that thieves and bandits were
also a constant concern to him and to his fellow
travelers. He wrote that they were "in perils of
robbers."
In Perils of Robbers
I want you to notice that the apostle Paul uses the
Greek word kindunos for the second time in
this text. As noted in yesterday's Sparkling Gem,
it is the Greek word for extremely dangerous.
Paul faced many dangers as he went about fulfilling
his ministry, but one danger he constantly faced as he
traveled was the threat of robbers. The word "robbers"
is the Greek word lestes. It refers to a
plunderer, robber, highwayman,
or bandit. This was a bad breed of bandits who
were very cunning in their thievery of others and who
used weapons and violence to achieve their wicked
ends.
In the ancient world, robbers and thieves hid in the
ditches and caves along roads that led from city to
city - particularly along main routes of travel. This
is why some Greek expositors translate the word
"robbers" as "highwaymen." This term especially
applied to bandits who ambushed those who traveled by
roads. Considering how frequently Paul and his
companions walked, we can easily see why Paul faced
"perils of robbers." This gives a whole new idea to
the phrase "highway robbery"!
Just imagine for a moment that you are traveling to
the farthest ends of the earth by foot. You are
physically carrying everything you need for that
journey. The luggage piled on your back is filled with
the clothing and cash you need for your journey. You
know that pillaging, predatory plunderers are hidden
in the ditches and caves along the roadside as you
pass by, just waiting for the right prey to come by.
You also know that these bandits are famous not only
for stealing, but for wounding and killing their
victims. Yet there is no other road for you to take if
you are going to get where you need to go.
We can be sure that Paul and his traveling companions
were alert the whole time they traveled on those
roads. They most certainly took authority in the
Spirit and bound the evil forces influencing the
bandits who lay in the ditches and caves, waiting for
them to come along. But because Paul uses the word kindunos
("perils"), we know this was an extremely
dangerous predicament.
Yet even this danger was not strong enough to stop
Paul from doing the will of God. He and his companions
exercised authority in the Spirit and courageously
walked on, traveling through regions so dangerous that
others dared not even venture there.
You may not live in regions of the world where you
have to think about highway robbers, members of the
mafia, and other criminal elements, but God might be
calling you to venture into new areas of ministry or
business that seem to entail risks and dangers. You
may feel like there are hidden dangers awaiting you at
every turn. In these cases, don't allow yourself to
retreat in fear! You must do your best to faithfully
follow God's call. Use the common sense God has given
you; gird yourself with the power of the Holy Spirit;
and head in the direction where God is calling you.
It doesn't matter how difficult the task is that lies
before you - if God is the One leading you, you can do
it. God isn't going to give you an assignment you
can't do. Remember, many others have had to fight the
same fight of faith before you. They have faced the
same questions you face. They have walked the same
road you are walking. They followed the call of God,
and they victoriously accomplished God's plan. If
those believers could do it, so can you!
So put fear aside, and get ready for a journey of
faith. Think soberly and stay alert as you let the
Holy Spirit lead you down the path toward your
destination, allowing nothing to deter you from your
goal. As you do these things, the day will come when
you produce more fruit for the Kingdom than ever
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