Deuteronomy 1:6-10
We saw how the Israelites dwelled so long in Horeb before God instructed them to leave. The Israelites saw Horeb as the only place God will always be to release his blessings to them because Horeb is Mount Sinai where Moses received the law. But God cannot be boxed. He won’t do the same thing, the same way every time and that shows his sovereignty. He has the power to choose mediums to use.
When God instructs you, don’t think the journey will be easy because it is God’s instruction. At times there are challenges. (Deut 1:19). Sometimes, on the way to our promised land, there will be wilderness experience. Same way in the journey of life, God has not promised us a trouble-free life, what he promised us is Victory. That God has spoken to you and you believe doesn’t mean you won’t pass through some wilderness experience
1 Corinthians 15:3-10
The above Scripture reveals that to advance requires labour. Paul advanced in the gospel, in writing, in teaching because he labored. The word “labour” is not the same as the one Jesus said in the scriptures, “come unto me all ye that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest.” The labour in the above Scripture is referring to weariness but the labour we are referring to is hard work.
2 Corinthians 11:22, Acts 22:17. The scriptures reveal in Acts that when Paul was laboring in prayer he fell into a trance. It is less likely for one to get into a trance when sleeping and praying, but when laboring in prayer is a lifestyle like that of Paul, doing great things would not be difficult.
Ephesians 1:15-21, 3:16 reveals the things that Paul got in the place of prayer and he prayed for Christians that what he encountered he also wished for them to encounter too. Paul had revelation in the knowledge of him, so that was why Paul desired for them to get encounters as well because if they do, it will make his work easier as a Pastor, he will not need to labour much. He laid a good example like Jesus. Paul was referenced in terms of prayer and teaching. Peter said writings were hard to understand. That shows depth.
2 Peter 3:15-16 And account that the longsuffering of our Lord is salvation; even as our beloved brother Paul also according to the wisdom given unto him hath written unto you;
As also in all his epistles, speaking in them of these things; in which are some things hard to be understood, which are unlearned and unstable, as they do also the other scriptures, unto their own destruction. I labour more abundantly, ” laboured abundantly”, was said twice by him just to show us the efficiency of labour. We are working but nothing is seen. Paul had grace and had encounters. He had them. He was the most zealous amongst the apostles. He brought the zeal he had as a Pharisee into that of God’s work. This was why people were still doubting if he was truly converted. The zeal for persecution was turned to that of the work of Christ. He got to a point where he said he would die for the gospel’s sake. He was preaching the gospel here and there. He said he must appear before Agrippa and Festus. He was the only one after Christ that said I have finished my race. He was a student of Gamaliel. While others were unlearned fishermen, he was trained. He used figures of speech. If you are not vast you may not understand his writings.
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day (KJV).
Gamaliel taught him the scripture. What he learnt was what He was teaching people. When he said I labour more, he was talking about learning.
Acts 22:3 I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day (KJV).
Acts 19:9 But when divers were hardened, and believed not, but spake evil of that way before the multitude, he departed from them, and separated the disciples, disputing daily in the school of one Tyrannus (KJV).
Galatians 1:17 Neither went I up to Jerusalem to them which were apostles before me; but I went into Arabia, and returned again unto Damascus (KJV).
2 Timothy 4:13 The cloak that I left at Troas with Carpus, when thou comest, bring with thee, and the books, but especially the parchments (KJV).
He had a parchment he used in teaching.Parchment is like animal skin which contains letters and scrolls. When he goes about teaching he goes with it. When he is reading to the audience they also have what he was reading.
Acts 28:23 And when they had appointed him a day, there came many to him into his lodging; to whom he expounded and testified the kingdom of God, persuading them concerning Jesus, both out of the law of Moses, and out of the prophets, from morning till evening (KJV).
We got to know from Jesus that Moses preached the gospel. Jesus was talking about the gospel from Psalms. He was quoting from Psalms. All these require labour. This is why for you to know and see something different it requires labour. Jesus expounded to the disciples concerning Himself from the book of Moses.
Luke 24:45-48 Then opened he their understanding, that they might understand the scriptures,And said unto them, Thus it is written, and thus it behoved Christ to suffer, and to rise from the dead the third day: And that repentance and remission of sins should be preached in his name among all nations, beginning at Jerusalem. And ye are witnesses of these things (KJV).
Jesus began to explain Genesis to Malachi. Prophets spoke about the coming of Jesus. When Jesus wanted to teach Nicodemus, he did the same. When John wanted to start his teaching he started from the prophets John 3:14
All the prophets went as far back as the old testament to teach about Jesus. The significance of this teaching impacts on every aspect of our work in the local church. We would not put in minimum effort to get extraordinary results.Paul was able to confidently say he put in so much effort than the others, and he is enjoying more grace.
The same is put before us. To advance as a ministry, labour is required. To advance we would need the grace of God. Can we be bold like Paull who said he laboured more than the other brethren. Paul was confident in his work. We are expected to bring in our best for the success of his church. Each of us will have to be committed to the work of the ministry. Paul most likely had spent hours studying for him to be able to put in that much time to teach. His labour brought about multplied grace to do much more. We are to practice what we see and learn. We should put in the required work especially in ministry.