Wham-Bam ... Down You Go Paul !

[Bruce S]

Charles Swindoll wrote a very moving book on the Apostle Paul that I've been thinking about this morning.

I mean, put yourself there. YOU are the Adolph Hitler of the day, the MAN, the guy that will end the heresies of Y'shua and his followers. Persecution and imprisionment are your tools of choice, up to, and including, assisting in the stoning of believers. You are totally committed, you are right, you WILL end this thing. It is your destiny....

Then BANG, something miraculous happens. Your day is ruined. You have your main opponent smite you down, you are defeated, broken and told that the very thing you lead your life for, ending the heresy, is the thing you are now commanded to support. Yes, Adolph Hitler now goes out to convert the world FOR his former enemies.

Despite unbearable opposition, beatings, stonings, shipwrecks, prison and unending scorn, you carry out the mission to the piont of death.

Man. When I put myself into that scenario, it humbles me, blows me away. I wonder if I could be that man, I doubt that I have the courage and fortitude.

That story is one of the key reasons I came to believe, it is SO REAL and flys into the face of reality, that it had to be completely true. Walking away from family, community, friends, and what you thought was your life's work, to revert, convert, and change the world forever is so moving that to this very moment I'm in awe.

For me, the Christian life is somewhat like that. Sudden change, renouncing former vices, likes, people, ideas, and values. Going out into the world alone, to spread my story where I can. Not anything like Paul had to endure, at least not yet, but I'm asked to put myself at personal risk for this mission, and I have, and have suffered scorn, rejection, humiliation and recriminations for my new found faith.

Does anyone have anything to add to my feelings this morning? Does the work of Paul affect you as much as me?

 

[SavedByGrace3]

Then BANG, something miraculous happens. ...

Man. When I put myself into that scenario, it humbles me, blows me away. I wonder if I could be that man, I doubt that I have the courage and fortitude.....

I agree. I was not looking for a saviour, and it was many years before I even understood what it was I was saved from. I was saved out of the midst of the occult. I was getting into a thing called Eckankar... Then one day I read a tract by Bill Bright, and I just knew what I was reading was true. Something just said to me "Yes... this is it!!"

 

[Bruce S]

I was saved from booze, it was killing me, ruining my life, the repercussions of my drinking and ego are still here, may take me down financially, take years to overcome. Legal issues for years now, and most likely, years to come. But I have no desire to drink, want to change, and have changed. For me, that is miraculous, I would be dead today without the change Jesus and God and the Holy Spirit and the wonderful people in the world that stood by me to the point of despair.

 

[kimber1]

i soooo agree with you bruce. i look at the story of Saul's conversion as so much hope for any unbeliever out there. God worked a miracle in his life. He took this guy who persecuted and condemned Christains and humbled him in such an amazing way to make him one of the most devout , "on-fire" Christians that there ever was!!!

 

[Bruce S]

i soooo agree with you bruce. i look at the story of Saul's conversion as so much hope for any unbeliever out there. God worked a miracle in his life. He took this guy who persecuted and condemned Christains and humbled him in such an amazing way to make him one of the most devout , "on-fire" Christians that there ever was!!!

What is most inspiring to me, is that Paul did NOT GET a good life out of the deal, all HE got was pain and suffering, no earthly delights for the true conversion. We are all told that do the right thing and God will reward you, and the prosperity message being taught today might be real for many, for me, it hasn't unfolded this way. I see all these Christians amazed at how God has blessed them, cars, houses, success. I know that this is great for them, I want them to have all this. I just take heed that for Paul, HIS rewards were not earthly, his punishment was a life of pain and suffering for the message of Jesus, I just pray that this will not be the way things play out in my conversion process, if it be so, so be it, but OUCH, I don't want a Paul life...

 

[ZiSunka]

The grace of God sustained Paul through all that. I'm sure Paul was strong to begin with, but even he admits that it was the grace of God that made it possible for him to bear it all.

 

[Bruce S]

there were several things in Acts that inspire me, one when Peter and some others were beaten, told not to talk about Jesus anymore, left the beating and went right back into the Temple with the Good News.

Paul had nothing but trouble, tossed out of city after city, shipwrecks, beatings, and on and on. They never, ever wavered, they went on, most to gruesome deaths. I doubt I could, missionaries today are being killed, abducted, raped. All to spread the word. And all WE have to do it talk to people. Makes me feel like a sluggard for the Lord.

 

[eldermike]

I just finished teaching through the book of Acts. It was in my small group of mature Christians. The goal was discovery and application. Why were these men so purposeful? What kept them from going back to the world. We focused on Paul for the most part as does the book of Acts. Here is what we came up with: This was a key passage in our conclusion.

AC 16:6 Paul and his companions traveled throughout the region of Phrygia and Galatia, having been kept by the Holy Spirit from preaching the word in the province of Asia. 7 When they came to the border of Mysia, they tried to enter Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus would not allow them to. 8 So they passed by Mysia and went down to Troas. 9 During the night Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him, "Come over to Macedonia and help us." 10 After Paul had seen the vision, we got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called us to preach the gospel to them.

1) Paul did have a will and a personal plan but was not a slave to it. Verse 6 and 7 reveals that if we will listen, God will revise our plan. (Remember I said mature Christians in my group, saying they were in God's will is not enough for this group, they know better, it's finding God will as we go! and that's the best we will ever do)

2) Verse 8, (very important) They changed dirrection but kept going!

3) Verse 9 and 10, Because they kept going the answer came.What we discovered about Paul was a Biblical "waiting on God". You wait as you go!

I have not read the book you mentioned but I will read it.

Thanks Eldermike

 

[Bruce S]

I have not read the book you mentioned but I will read it.

Thanks Eldermike

Amazon: here is a review:

[font=verdana,arial,helvetica][size=-1]Reviewer: PAUL PEREZ from CHESAPEAKE, VA United States [/size][/font]I have had few heroes in my life. This book has brought one home to me. I hung on every word. My book is filled with tabs and notes. The world of Paul is not so much different from what we live today. Searching for God and the Truth, this one book has given me new hope and reinforced the faith I am growing in. Charles Swindoll was able to blend his experience and the experience of others in the study of Paul without distorting the word of God. At the end of 22 chapters I found a new beginning to my life.

[font=verdana,arial,helvetica][size=-1]Reviewer: A reader from huntsville, al United States [/size][/font]This book really tells it like it is and points out that Church has strayed from the example of Paul teaching the Gospel, pure and unadulterated: Now churches water down the message and show movie clips, skits, etc...hoping to get a profession of faith based on a less-than-full understanging of the Gospel.

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0849917492/qid=1062099778/sr=8-2/ref=sr_8_2/103-9823142-3825452?v=glance&s=books&n=507846

Moving, powerful, pertinant. A KEEPER.

 

[BarbB]

I started the book and left it in Florida when I came to NJ for the summer. I eagerly anticipate starting it over!

Paul is such an example for all of us latterly converts. I ridiculed my born-again brother and sis-in-law, trying to turn Mom and Dad away from their worship (AG) and to some extent I succeeded. M&D were Presbyterians and were embarrassed by the more physical AG worship. Luckily all has been forgiven! So I feel a real conviction for mission somehow. Hope I have the courage of Paul if I need it. I'm at the point of waiting upon the will of God!!! Learning patience!

I really got upset by the thread on Paul's ministry in apologetics. Cried a few tears over that one and finally got out. I've not checked on it today. Why would they post like that - conviction?

Thanks for the post, ElderMike - I'm going to pray over that one!

 

[Serapha]

What is most inspiring to me, is that Paul did NOT GET a good life out of the deal, all HE got was pain and suffering, no earthly delights for the true conversion. We are all told that do the right thing and God will reward you, and the prosperity message being taught today might be real for many, for me, it hasn't unfolded this way. I see all these Christians amazed at how God has blessed them, cars, houses, success. I know that this is great for them, I want them to have all this. I just take heed that for Paul, HIS rewards were not earthly, his punishment was a life of pain and suffering for the message of Jesus, I just pray that this will not be the way things play out in my conversion process, if it be so, so be it, but OUCH, I don't want a Paul life...

Hi there!


Ya know... God never promises us a rose garden on this earth, all He promises is eternal life in His presence. John was the apostle whom Jesus loved, and tradition teaches that John was boiled in oil. If the apostle whom Jesus loved was boiled in oil, why should I expect to walk free of persecution?


~malaka~