Why did Paul endure beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, and hardship?
Paul endured beatings, shipwrecks, imprisonment, cold, and thirst solely for the sake of taking the Gospel to a lost world. He gladly accepted his infirmities so the power of Christ might rest upon him, caring nothing for power, circumstance, or political clout, wanting only to be a nobody God could use.
Les teaches that Paul went through constant misuse, beatings, shipwreck, imprisonment, cold, misery, heat, and thirst, yet he endured it all only for the sake of taking the Gospel to a lost world. That was all he could think about. In II Corinthians 12:9, Paul says he would rather glory in his infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon him. He was not wishing for power, circumstance, or political clout; he cared for none of that. As long as he could be a nobody, God could use him. Les also explains the insurmountable odds Paul faced when he entered strange territory among pagan Gentiles who knew nothing of the God of this Bible, and among little Jewish communities in cities such as Antioch, Derbe, Lystra, Ephesus, Philippi, Thessalonica, Berea, Athens, and Corinth, which were abject pagan places.
And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.