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course of his service, helpful supporters of God’s word, and
Paul is presenting it. But we have been reminded in the course
of the revival that in this Troas situation there is a certain
depicting of conditions at the end of the time of the Spirit when
it seems that power is needed. What is in question is the
whole character of Pauline ministry. I verily believe, dear
brethren, that that is the question in these closing moments,
Pauline ministry, “the mystery of God; in which are hid all the
treasures of wisdom and of knowledge”, Colossians 2: 3. In
subtle ways the enemy is striving against that, ravaging the
saints, and seeking to obstruct what that precious line of
ministry brings in. So, Paul comes into the situation and they
were assembled to break bread. The breaking of bread has
had a remarkable place in what we often rightly speak of as
the revival. The breaking of bread has provided a rallying
point, a point at which the claims of the Lord Jesus will be
remembered, a rallying point for deep affections amongst us
all. We are to value it as such, and that into which it brings us.
Paul discoursed to them, “And he prolonged the discourse till
midnight”. We need to be ready, brethren beloved, for the
prolongation of a Pauline discourse. It is that against which the
whole armament of Satan is directed. Satan brings his whole
armament to bear in a subtle way to invalidate, if possible, and
to hinder, the working of the
heavenly line of ministry for which Paul stands. And this is
disclosed critically by the overpowering of this youth. While
Paul discoursed very much at length the youth “fell from the
third story down to the bottom”. I have to ask myself whether in
my local company there is any element that would stand in the
way of a Pauline discourse. It is a long matter, a demanding
matter, but upon what is it demanding? The strength of our
affection for Christ and for what is due to Him and precious to
Him in the assembly, that is where the point of demand comes
in and where faithfulness to Christ will stand at any cost. So
this youth was sitting at the window. Is there any one here
sitting at the window? It means that while this young man was