Paul’s Personal Experience

The beginning of his imprisonment was when he was enjoying the blessed results of God’s calling, as brought out in Ephesians, while at the close when the departure from the truth in Christ was almost overwhelming when all in Asia had turned away from him (2Tim.1:15). In this place of such loss, he was intimately supported and cheered by the Lord, and so, through his own personal experience, Christ teaches us of His faithfulness in and through the most difficult times, that He is always our guide, never our circumstances and situations (Jhn. 16:13-14).

As a prisoner in Rome, a place of loss, defeat, and betrayal, in that PLACE, he not only sees and writes of things of infinite magnitude, but he also tells us (led by his Comforter, and ours, the Holy Spirit) his own experiences at that TIME.

There is a “place” and “time” for us, all specifically designed by our Father and our God, in the perfection of His plan, based upon His love and wisdom. For Paul, personally and intimately, it was Phil. 3:10.

We can trust Him for our “place” and “time” because it has to do with His own glory and our supreme blessing—not just for ourselves alone, but for others, for the education of the angels in their conflict (Eph. 6:12; 2 Cor. 10:4 = 1Pet. 1:12), and ultimately all glory to return to Him, who is truly sovereign—truly above all those just mentioned.

We will sing and worship Him, for all eternity, the Lamb of God, His full thought, His unchanging and eternal Word (Jhn. 1:1), the fullness of God’s plan FOR EACH OF US. (Rev. 5:9,12 = Rom. 8:1-39).

Yes, truly, our God will supply ALL our NEED according to His riches and glory BY CHRIST JESUS (Phil. 4:13).