Are there still true Pauls around?
Those of you who regularly read the Bible and study it, must have come across the life of Paul, once named Saul (not to be confused with Saul in the Old Testament – who lived in the time era before Jesus lived his short life on earth- The Paul we refer to here was a Pharisee, an educated scholar, who passionately went after the followers of Jesus and persecuted them severely). His goal was to get rid of each one of them. His name was then Saul. Until — while on his way with an official letter to kill and put in prison all Christians in the area of Damascus — he was literally knocked of his horse. The voice he heard was: “Saul, Saul , why are you persecuting me? “The light with that voice was so strong, it blinded Paul. That was the voice of Jesus. Persecuting the very ones who were now following Him was like persecuting Jesus Himself. Saul had a powerful transformation, was restored to health and full sight and then became one of the most devoted, influential, authoritive followers of his time. And still is!
Don’t ever think, no one is watching you. Heaven and its forces are. So are Satan and his forces. Guess who wins and has the upper hand? Saul became Paul, winning many to Christ, discipling many and planting numerous churches. That came with a heavy price.
When we say we are followers of the One who gave His life for us, who are we truly following? It is easy to say and sing when we are gathered as a church or fellowship. But comes Sunday afternoon, check what you are doing. Comes Monday, where will you be seen besides your workplace if you have one and with who?
What is consuming us? Check your free time schedule, the people you hang out with, your social media status from Monday to Saturday.
Has your going to Sunday just become a religious activity, where you dress up in your best attire, put on your best face, take your best looking Bible and listen to the sermon you might or might not be interested in.
Whatever you do, check yourself of why you are doing it. Be true to yourself. Be honest and do not pretend to be one person but behind closed doors you are a total different person. Who you show yourself to be in public, should be the same as who you are at home. Can anyone walk in to your room at any time and watch what you are doing or saying? This includes your social media behaviour. Especially if we are trusted to be in a position of leadership where people are watching us and are looking to us for answers. And are trusting us that we will make good decisions that will be for their benefit. Even more if we are in any serving capacity in the Body of Christ as a whole — AKA the Church — meaning the greater Church of all those following Christ. James 3:1 should make you shudder when you take the pulpit: (TPT) My dear brothers and sisters, don’t be so eager to become a teacher in the church since you know that we who teach are held to a higher standard of judgment.
We need some Pauls today who can help the Sauls see the light.
Known as Saul his credentials were:
1) A Jewish man who was born in Tarsus, a city of Turkey.
2) Grew up in this city
3) Properly trained in the Mosaic law
4) A true Hebrew of the heritage of Israel as the son of a Jewish man from the tribe of Benjamin
5) Circumcised eight days after His birth
6) Raised in the strict tradition of Orthodox Judaism
7) Tutored by Rabbi Gamaliel according to their ancestral customs
8) Living a separated and devout life as a Pharisee
9) Could speak different languages – one of them was Judean Aramaic language
10) Extremely passionate in his desire to please God( with his own works)
11) Concerning the righteousness of the Torah, no one surpassed him; he was without a peer — had a reason to boast and impress people with his accomplishments more than others — for his lineage was perfect and he thought he was blameless (which was a standard set by the Pharisees one could reach if they kept all the rules)
12) As a fiery defender of the truth, persecuted the messianic believers with religious zeal.
Impressive list!
But this is how he identified himself after his amazing experience and was baptized as Paul.
1) All of the accomplishments that he once took credit for, he now forsook them and regarded it all as nothing compared to the delight of experiencing Jesus Christ as his Lord!
2) To truly know him meant letting go of everything from His past and throwing all His boasting on the garbage heap- like a pile of manure
3) To be enriched in the reality of knowing Jesus Christ and embrace him as Lord in all of his greatness
4) Continually longing to know the wonders of Jesus more fully
5) To experience the overflowing power of his resurrection working in Him
6) Be one with Christ in his sufferings so he would be one with Him in his death
7) Be able to experience complete oneness with Christ in his resurrection from the realm of death
8) His passion became to be consumed with Christ and not clinging to His own “righteousness” based in keeping the written Law. He now could see that his “righteousness” should be Christ’s, based on the faithfulness of Jesus Christ- the very righteousness that comes from God.
This man Paul was consumed with Christ. He had only one goal: to win as many as possible to the One who died for them so that man would get His full reward.
What are you consumed with today?
“Only one life which soon might have passed.
But only what you have done for Christ will truly last!”
Looking forward to meet the 2024 Pauls!
Blessings
Akhrienuo
