Young People's Group

“But the Lord Stood with Me …”

by Mitchell Tan
April 05, 2018

FACING THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE ALONE

Young people, do you find yourself sometimes alone as you face the challenges of life? There may be times where such situations are inevitable. There was a time when Paul had to face fierce opposition from Alexander the coppersmith alone. He greatly resisted his words (2 Timothy 4:15). Paul may have been arrested and brought before the courts.

“At my first defence no one stood with me, but all forsook me. May it not be charged against them.”
2 Timothy 4:16

At that point of time, he was all alone. None of his fellow-servants were able to be with Paul. It would seem as if he had been abandoned by all. Young people, there may be times when we may face the challenges of life alone. We may feel alone but we are never “alone”. It is in such times that the Lord can be with us in a special way.

REFLECTING ON THE LORD’S FAITHFULNESS IN BEING THERE

When everyone else was not able to be there with Paul, the Lord Jesus did not fail him. He was faithful to Paul.

1. SENSING THE PRESENCE OF THE LORD

“But the Lord stood with me”
2 Timothy 4:17

The word “stood with” in Greek is the word “paristemi”. It means to come close beside a person and to stand by him. It was a fact that the Lord Jesus was with Paul and stood by his side when no one else was there. This would not be the first time. There have been other times when Paul was all alone and the Lord came and stood by him (Acts 18:10). While in the barracks of a Roman Commander, the Lord stood by him and brought a word of encouragement to his heart. He told Paul to be of good courage and to testify for the Lord not only in Jerusalem but also in Rome (Acts 23:11). The presence of the Lord Jesus brought much comfort and encouragement to his heart.

2. BEING STRENGTHENED IN THE LORD

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me”
2 Timothy 4:17

The word “strengthened” in Greek is the word “endunamoo”. It means to be endued with strength. The Lord Jesus was the source of strength to Paul. As He stood with him in his time of need, he experienced the renewing of strength to persevere on. Paul had also written of how Timothy was to be strong in the grace that is in Christ Jesus (2 Timothy 2:1). The phrase “Be strong” also comes from the Greek word “endunamoo”. Paul understood what it meant to depend on the Lord’s grace which would bring about this strengthening.

3. SEEKING TO FOLLOW THROUGH WITH MINISTRY

“But the Lord stood with me and strengthened me, so that the message might be preached fully through me, and that all the Gentiles might hear.”
2 Timothy 4:17

With the Lord’s encouraging presence and His strengthening, the apostle Paul was able to continue with his ministry. The Lord’s purpose for him was to preach fully the gospel to all the Gentiles. Paul had already preached to many concerning the gospel. The Lord enabled him to follow through with all that he was sent to do. Let’s also seek to rely on the Lord’s promise of His presence and to follow through with what we need to do in life and in ministry. The Lord will always stand by us and enable us to press on to the end.

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