Winter 2003
Our Being Emptied of Self
John W Follette

The Apostle Paul can be used as an illustration of the process of our being emptied of all self ability and will, that we might more completely become the expression of the life of our Lord. In his conversion, God accomplished a feat within Paul which could take us many years to attain. Paul immediately surrendered his will, “Lord, what will You have me do?” Even though he did this, there remained in him a strong, natural spirit.

Time and again, we find Paul going through a process of testing and reduction. This was not to cause him to yield his will, but because he had so completely yielded his will, the desire and intent of the Lord was to take him further. In each of the trying experiences that Paul endured, his natural spirit was giving way - breaking and melting, until at the close of his life, we find in Paul a yieldedness and mellowness which enabled him to pour out his life with heavenly joy.

“I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have
kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of
righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give
to me on that Day, and not to me only, but also to all who
have loved His appearing.” II Tim 4:7-8 NKJV.

Consider some of the experiences that led to this testimony.

“... In labors more abundant, in stripes above measure,
in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five
times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten
with rods. once was I stoned. Thrice I suffered shipwreck,
a night and a day I have been in the deep.”

“In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of
robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils
by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the
wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false
brethren.”

“In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in
hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and
nakedness. Besides those things that are without,
that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all
the churches.” II Cor 11:23-29.

Is not this a very real picture of what it means to be reduced to utter dependence and trust? Consider Phil 4:11.

“Not that I speak in respect of want: for I have learned
in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content.”

This word “content” is often considered to mean that Paul became indifferent to his surroundings and adjusted best he could. But the correct meaning is quite different, “in whatsoever state I am, therein to be independent.” How very different.

Paul did not allow the trial to overcome him; rather, he became its master. Yet, he allowed it to deal with and remove from deep within him all desire to justify himself. Whenever any aspect of the trial rose up to torment or fret him, he melted and silenced it in worship and thanksgiving.

We should consider how we might more gracefully gain a victory over those things that rob us of our total trust and dependence upon our Lord. First, we should consider that the Lord may use people, or even the enemy, as instruments to form the trial, and that its only purpose is to perfect us for a higher purpose.

“His Lord said unto him, Well done, thou good and faithful servant:
you have been faithful over a few things, I will make you ruler over
many things: enter thou into the joy of your Lord.” Matt 25:21.

Now, we also can testify;

“Behind my back I fling,
Like an unvalued thing
My former self and ways,

“And reaching forward far,
Now I seek the things that are
Beyond time's lagging days.”