8 We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; 9 persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed—
struck down, but not destroyed [ruined]—
“Struck down” means that enemies of Paul’s gospel team hunted them down and harmed them. They suffered physical violence from their enemies; however, God was with them even during this adversity. Their opponents never reached the point of destroying the team’s ministry. They were knocked down but not out.
No one could drive the gospel team from the field of battle. No matter what conflict came, God was with them through it all.
PRINCIPLE:
Victory is not what we experience but how we experience it.
APPLICATION:
Biblical victory is not an escape from problems in ministry but how we trust God through it all. The demands of ministry require divine enablement. We do not find comfort in conquest but in how we handle difficulties in ministry.
