Life of Paul, a Surrendered Life

I have have had this passage in the back of my mind for a few weeks, not sure how to preach it. I knew it was important, and then it finally clickd.

One of the most powerful lessons from Paul is how he answered the call of Christ.

One of the most powerful lessons from Paul is how he answered the call of Christ.

His story is unique and specific, but there are also things we can gleam.

If you remember these words in

Acts 9:15–16 ESV

But the Lord said to him, “Go, for he is a chosen instrument of mine to carry my name before the Gentiles and kings and the children of Israel. For I will show him how much he must suffer for the sake of my name.”

: 17-Surrendered to the calling--generally & specifically

Acts 9:17–22 ESV

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

Surrendered to the calling--generally & specifically

From the inception the call, the message, and the place was veyr clear

Acts 9:17–22 ESV

So Ananias departed and entered the house. And laying his hands on him he said, “Brother Saul, the Lord Jesus who appeared to you on the road by which you came has sent me so that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” And immediately something like scales fell from his eyes, and he regained his sight. Then he rose and was baptized; and taking food, he was strengthened. For some days he was with the disciples at Damascus. And immediately he proclaimed Jesus in the synagogues, saying, “He is the Son of God.” And all who heard him were amazed and said, “Is not this the man who made havoc in Jerusalem of those who called upon this name? And has he not come here for this purpose, to bring them bound before the chief priests?” But Saul increased all the more in strength, and confounded the Jews who lived in Damascus by proving that Jesus was the Christ.

We often think of Paul as an amazing evangelist & apostle. But I think we overlook his gifts as a shepherd to the people which he was called.

Not simply an evangelist (a facet) primarily a minister and gifted with the grace (the charis) of being a shepherd.

I could go throughout the letters of the new testament and give you examples of his charis (grace) as a shepherd, but the one that stands out the most is 2 Corinthians.

2 Corinthians 11:20–31 ESV

For you bear it if someone makes slaves of you, or devours you, or takes advantage of you, or puts on airs, or strikes you in the face. To my shame, I must say, we were too weak for that! But whatever anyone else dares to boast of—I am speaking as a fool—I also dare to boast of that. Are they Hebrews? So am I. Are they Israelites? So am I. Are they offspring of Abraham? So am I. Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant? If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. The God and Father of the Lord Jesus, he who is blessed forever, knows that I am not lying.

2 corinthians 11:20

Hear the love and care. Hear the passion; hear the desire for those whom he has shared life; he has invested not just in them, but in so manner others in answering the call of Christ. This is a man who is compelled to protect, to nurture, and to guide a group of people.

The word that keeps coming to mind when I look at Paul and what can be learned from him is the way he responds to the call of Christ.

He knew what it was (to make know the gospel)

He knew to whom he was to go (the gentiles)

He knew what he was to say (Jesus is the Son of God and He is resurrected)

BUT he had a choice to follow the invitation and calling of Christ.

One of the most difficult things for a person is to understand and identify who they are

Surrendered to the calling--generally & specifically

Knew what it was and to whom and what he was to say

-challenge in our culture. identity is a big issue.

-For a Christian this should not be an issue.

(Language of Corinthians)

Christian Faith: Who you are is linked to Jesus Christ.

I am

How have you responded to Christ & how has been unfolded in you?

How have you responded to Christ & how has been unfolded in you?

I am called to be a minister (vocationally)

Personally

This has been an ongoing struggle. I want to be in control and in the driver seat. But this week I have been reminded of who I am in Jesus Christ.

I am called to be a minister (vocationally)

Specifically in this season (which may last my entire life) I am a pastor

The specific way I express that calling and to a people is as a shepherd (that is my gift & grace & philosophy)

Karen is my life partner to journey with

The kids are entrusted into my care, to be a good steward, and to impart into them the ways of zchrist (word, deed, practice)

Other relationships--family, community, friends, networks of support to keep me present and grounded

But in all this, I have a daily choice to respond. In the Christian faith we call this choice to respond to Christ as a choice to surrender.

This is is one of the primary postures that I see evident in Paul.

Paul was a surrendered follower of Jesus

When Paul asked the question who am I? His life was an answer—I am the Lord’s

Surrendered

Paul lived the surrendered life in how he lived out His calling? As an apostle and as a messenger of the gospel.

--acts 9

He lived the surrendered life in the people and places he went

--acts 20

He lived the surrendered life in the way he communicated the gospel

-- (I want to know Christ, I count everything as loss)

The reality of that statement is lived out in relationship with Christ. It has the capacity & intent to flow into every facet of my life. But only as I surrender.

The reality of that statement is lived out in relationship with Christ. It has the capacity & intent to flow into every facet of my life. But only as I surrender.

As it flows into us & through as God is revealed in us.

What we can learn from the Apostle Paul?

He was called to the ministry, to make known the message of JEsus to the people of the Roman empire called the Gentiles.

He was Christ's alone.

Who he was, Christ's alone. That gave life, meaning, purpose, direction, and message to everything.

That gave life, meaning, purpose, direction, and message to everything.

To be surrendered is a moment and a way of being. It's lived out on a regular basis, an unfolding reality

This is a difficult task for humanity, especially Americans in the 21st c.

The only right we have, that thing inherent to us as humans is the freedom to choose.

Life immitating art (life given meaning through art. Art is the medium and means of life)

What is found in life and nature is not what is really there, but is that which artists have taught people to find there, through art.

An example by Oscar Wilde: although there has been fog in London for centuries, one notices the beauty and wonder of the fog because "poets and painters have taught the loveliness of such effects...They did not exist till Art had invented them.

There is a lot of truth in this. We often notice the value of something until someone assigns value.

When it comes to humanity and our world, I was say that God is inviting us to imitate Christ.

The way that we imitate Christ is through surrendering to the will & ways of Christ. This ongoing process and posture has the capacity to give meaning, essence and purpose to everything we say and do.

The life example of the Apostle Paul reminds us that when we say yes to Jesus we are embarking on a journey of daily moments of surrendering to the will and ways of God

Only happens thru surrender