The Secret Weapon: Acts 20:24
“But I do not consider my life of any account as dear to myself, so that I may finish my course and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify solemnly of the gospel of the grace of God.” Acts 20:24
Paul was not sharing lofty words. This was his secret weapon. It disarmed both sin and Satan. It took the sting out of ridicule and rejection. Hunger, disease, sickness and poisonous snakes were no threat to him. Affliction, persecution and treats of physical harm did not alarm him. Why? Because his secret weapon nailed fear to the cross.
This is what Jesus taught in Matthew 16:24-26; “24) Then Jesus said to His disciples, “If anyone wishes to come after Me, he must deny himself, and take up his cross and follow Me. 25) For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it; but whoever loses his life for My sake will find it. 26) For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what will a man give in exchange for his soul?” When you die to self then you are truly ready to live unto Christ and others without fear. There is nothing more to loose. When you live for self, then worry, fear and anxiety will be your constant companion. Every decision, step or possible venture in life will be measure by your own perceived gain or loss.
Jesus said; “28) Do not fear those who kill the body but are unable to kill the soul; but rather fear Him who is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.” (Matthew 10:28) The context goes on to say, then you will be able to discover God’s love, care and provision for you. When you accept His responsibility for your life then you will be flooded with love, joy and peace despite your outward circumstances.
Paul was walking by faith in the spirit and not living according to the flesh. Full surrender to this principle is liberating. It changes everything. It changes your perspective, values, pleasures and mindset. Pleasing God becomes your focus and not self. Faith floods your life as fear evaporated. Worry and anxiety shrink away and are replaced with bold confidence.
No, Paul was not indulging in lofty speech. He was verbalizing the secret weapon that lifts every fully surrendered believer beyond the grips of mediocrity. Paul was fully reconciled with his future because he was fully surrendered to the love, goodness, providence and will of God.
This principle was the fuel behind his words in Romans 8:37-39; “37) But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. 38) For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, 39) nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Daily Bible Commentary By Terry Baxter: Cofounder of GoServ Global
