20.Why was it necessary for Paul to suffer the things he did?

Paul’s sufferings were necessary so that the life of Christ could flow from his personality, bringing salvation to the Gentile nations. It was Paul’s desire that the Gentiles would glorify God, realizing that Christ Himself was speaking to them through Paul.

Paul gloried in his infirmities, and he wanted the Ephesians to glory in them also so that the power of Christ would be revealed.

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 (II Corinthians 12:9).

Always bearing about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our body. For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you (II Corinthians 4:10-12).

Ephesians 3:14-21 records the prayer of Paul for the saints in Ephesus. This prayer is worth studying carefully because it reveals to us the path to maturity along which the Holy Spirit will guide each saint. The elements of the prayer teach us of the Father’s will for each of us.