An Important Lesson from Paul and Trump
I am in no way comparing Donald
Trump with the great Apostle. I am merely pointing out a characteristic in Trump
that was highlighted by Paul in his letter to the Philippian believers.
This characteristic came
alive in my heart New Years Eve while enjoying a quiet time of prayer and fellowship
with the Lord. When I asked if there was anything He wanted to say about 2025, I
was immediately drawn to Paul’s exhortation in Philippians 4:12-14 about the importance to, “Press On!”
Paul
“Pressed On” through Every Trial and Difficulty
In Philippians 3:12-14, Paul delineates how this
was so important in his own life. He wrote this while
under house arrest in Rome, chained to a Roman soldier. He said,
Not that I have already
attained, or am already perfected; but I press on that I may lay
hold of that for which Christ Jesus has laid hold of me. I do not count myself
to have apprehended, but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are
behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward
the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.
The word “press” in this
passage is from the Greek word diokow, which is a very intense word that
means to "chase," "pursue," and "hunt down." In vs.12, he tells what he is pursuing.
It is to lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus had laid hold of him.
Christ Jesus had laid
hold of Paul for a purpose and he is now pressing on to lay of that purpose,
which is his Divine destiny and calling. To fulfill his Divine destiny, he must
continually “press on” and not yield to the attacks, challenges, and
disappointments. Consider some of the things from which Paul had to press on.
In Antioch Pisidia he was persecuted and expelled from that region (Acts 13:50). He pressed on!
In Iconium he had to flee a mob that wanted to kill
him (Acts 14:5-6).
In Lystra he was stoned, dragged out of the city and
left for dead (Acts 14:19).
In Philippi he was arrested, publicly beaten and
jailed with his feet in stocks
(Acts 16:22-24).
In Thessalonica he had to leave town at night to escape
a vicious mob
(Acts 17:5-10).
In Jerusalem he was attacked by a mob but then rescued by the Romans who sent him to Rome for trial where he was placed under house arrest, chained to a Roman guard (Acts 21:30-31; 28:17-31). He pressed on!
As Paul Pressed On He Saw the Hand of God at Work
It was from this Roman
imprisonment that Paul wrote the Philippian letter exhorting his readers (and us) to
press on. As he pressed on through each challenge and difficulty, he saw God
work mightily all along the way.
For example, when he and
Silas prayed and sang praises to God at midnight in the Philippi jail, a mighty earthquake came that shook the foundations of the prison, caused everyone's chains to fall off, and opened every prison door.
There was also a spiritual earthquake with the jailer and his entire household
turning to Christ as well as many of the prisoners who refused to leave the
presence of Paul and Silas, even when all the prison doors were opened.
Now under house arrest in Rome,
he is guarded by the elite Roman unit known as the Praetorium, which also was
assigned to guard Caesar’s palace and household. A rotation of these soldiers was
chained to Paul 24/7 but he was free to receive visitors and write letters
(Acts 28:30-31).
It is obvious that many
of these guards are coming to Christ and spreading the word about why Paul is
incarcerated—because of his faith in Jesus Christ. Paul spells this out in chapter
one where he says that the things that have happened to him have turned out
to the furtherance of the Gospel.
Then, in his closing, he says
to the Philippian believers, All the saints greet you, but especially those
who are of Caesar’s household (Philippians 4:22). Because Paul continued to
press on through every challenge and difficulty, there are now Christians in
Caesar’s household.
Trump
Pressed On
Whether or not you voted
for Donald Trump, you cannot help but admire his resilience, perseverance, and “never
quit” attitude. He "pressed on" through two impeachments, numerous lawsuits and indictments,
his home being raided by the FBI, continual attacks and smears by the media,
two assassination attempts, and so much more.
While many would have
given up along the way, he pressed on, won an overwhelming victory in November
and is now the 47th president and far more popular than he was
during his first term.
Final
Exhortation
So, no matter what kind
of disappointment you experienced in 2024, you must press on in 2025. No matter
what kind of loss you suffered in 2024, you must press on in this New Year. As we
press on in 202,5 I believe God will surprise us with unexpected blessings and breakthroughs,
for Ephesians 3:20 says, Now to Him who able to do exceedingly, abundantly
above all we can ask or think, according to the power that works in us.
Dr. Eddie Hyatt is a revivalist, Bible teacher, and revivalist historian. He is the founder of the "1726 Project" whose purpose is to educate the nation regarding America's overt Christian birth. He has written over 20 books, including 1726: The Year that Defined America, which documents how the First Great Awakening had a direct bearing on both the founding of America and the ending of slavery on this continent.
