Paul: The Pattern

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INTRO

*IL* many stories of great conversions --

-Mel Trotter - who stole the shoes from casket of little girl to buy a drink – became director of a rescue mission in Grand Rapids MI in 1900

-Robert Ingersoll sat talking with a fellow-infidel who suggested that a stirring story could be written about life of Jesus -- Ingersoll challenged the man to write it -- paint Jesus as a man - tear down the lies that he was divine - God -- the man began to write a book -- Lew Wallace found himself facing the greatest life ever lived and before he completed the book (Ben Hur) -- he was forced to conclude that "VERILY, this was the Son of God"

-will find that many sources list the conversion of Paul as the most notable conversion in Bible & possibly of all time

-Paul -a persecutor of Christians who turned preacher of the gospel

-antagonist toward God's people who turned apostle of God

-hater of God who became perhaps most influential Christian of history

-so passionate - He wanted Christ to be magnified whether by life / death

-murderer who said - * For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethren, my kinsmen according to the flesh:

-Paul was changed life–shows what happens when there is genuine conversion

1. heart changes - * A new heart also will I give you,& a new spirit will I put within

2. hate replaced with love -- ...the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by...

3. affections change -- Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.

4. habits change -- Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new.

5. thoughts change -- Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, honest, just, pure, lovely, of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on…

6. you grow up -- When I was a child, I spake as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.

7. mind that once rejected truth now seeks to know and accept truth

8. emotions that used to love evil / hate rghtsns - now love R and hate E

9. will that directed you to sin now directs you into humble submission to God

-Paul tells us in of turning his back on all that was “good” in the world and counting it dung in order to SERVE the LORD

-suggest – that YOUR story of conversion is remarkable one – and now you have the same privilege Paul had ---- to SERVE THE GOD WHO SAVED you

*IL – I was saved at 6 yrs of age – VW – Springdale BC – Boaz, AL

-in the light of Paul's Conversion – let’s look at ONE of his testimonies

-want us to see tonite the wonderful privilege that is ours to serve THE KING

-he gave it everywhere he went – before Jews & Gentiles / kings / Caesar

-how did he view his life & ministry? his conversion? his OPP to serve GOD?

-in this testimony, we learn valuable truths @ our own conversion/testimony

1. The necessity of GRATITUDE v12 And I thank…

-Paul was quick to realize he was where he was ONLY because of Jesus Christ

v15b …Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief.

-Paul was well aware that Jesus alone was resp. & all he accomplished for God was because on that notable day – the LORD JESUS struck him down – saved him

*IL* look at a person and say - "He sure is good Christian" -- TRUTH IS – ANYTHING good that comes of our lives is because of CHRIST

-the BEST Christian you know is still a NOBODY – a SINNER saved by grace

-the BEST Christians you know are those who acknowledge GOD

*IL* in our very self-centered "me" - "my rights" generation -- it is very unpopular to say that man is a creature with a wicked heart --

-you and I will never be able to testify of the grace of God like Paul until we look and at ourselves and ask "who do I have to thank for what I am and where I am?" -- I HAVE JESUS CHRIST / ALONE to THANK!

-Paul’s life was ANCHORED / GUIDED by this deep sense of gratitude

-Paul had a deep and abiding sense of gratitude for what God had done for him

-GRATITUDE affects your perspective (complaining) / personality (sharp, rude)

-many would SAY “oh yes I am grateful” – but a prideful, self-serving, demanding spirit reveals an UNGRATEFUL HEART

*IL – Bob Jones Sr – “When gratitude dies on the altar of a man’s heart…”

-Paul knew it was grace & grace alone

-there must be EVER-PRESENT sense of a grateful heart…acknowledging God

*IL – if I asked you to tell me the gospel – many would start with this phrase – God came to this earth in the person of Jesus Christ – YOU HAVE SAID more with that simple statement than you will EVER comprehend…the incarnation…

-Jesus became a HUMAN – had a body, feelings, emotions. He had a job - served an apprenticeship, became a carpenter. He suffered as a man, felt pain, endured hardships – NEVER used His deity to escape his humanity. GOD BECAME A MAN!!!

-w/o Jesus Christ - you and I have no testimony to give

-“THANK YOU LORD” ought fall from our lips more than any other phrase

2. The TRUST of the gospel

v11 -- gospel committed to me v12 -- he put me in ministry

* But none of these things move me, neither count I my life dear unto myself, so that I might finish my course with joy, and the ministry, which I have received of the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God.

-Paul knew God had given him more than a free ticket to Heaven -- but a task

-you and I are saved -- FOR SERVICE – COMMISSIONED by GOD

-those who are saved and sitting are MISSING out on great opp

-God intended for to be saved and SERVING

-let me say that your involvement in service is:

1. a command of the Lord – it is a resp -- GIVEN to you by the Lord

2. IS NOT AFFECTED by the obedience or disobedience of any other

-others may choose to sit -- but I must choose to serve

* At my first answer no man stood with me, but all men forsook me:… 17 Notwithstanding the Lord stood with me, and strengthened me; that by me the preaching might be fully known, and that all the Gentiles might hear: …

-Paul had a passion to SERVE –

Not slothful in business; fervent in spirit; serving the Lord;

-whatever others may do -- I must see that God saved me -- entrusted me with the gospel and commissioned me to tell it --- get busy with it

-IF YOU ARE NOT IN STEP WITH THE MISSION OF GOD – THEN YOU ARE NOT IN STEP WITH GOD AT ALL ----

-don’t dare to think you are being a good Christian, faithfully serving, doing your part while you sit on the sidelines with NO INVOLVEMENT in the mission of God – NO part in anything that does anything to bring people into the kingdom of God

-WHOLE PURPOSE of your CONVERSTION/TESTIMONY is that God desired to bring you INTO a MINISTRY – COMMITTING to you A TRUST – how are you handling that???

(1. necessity of gratitude 2. trust of the gospel)

3. The POTENTIAL of a life

v12 ...he counted ME faithful (trustworthy) ?????? think about that ??????

-count -- same word as -- count it all joy when ye fall...

-means to "credit" -- consider it a joyful thing even tho it does not make sense

-God saw what Paul COULD be / WOULD be – NOT just what he was

-God saw Paul as a faithful apostle BEFORE Paul ever began the ministry

-say it like this -- GOD put FAITH in PAUL !!!!!

-God counted that Paul would respond with fervency in service TO the Lord just as he had in persecution AGAINST the Lord

*IL* -- Andrew brought Simon Peter to Jesus – Thou art Simon the son of Jonas, but thou shalt be called Cephas, which is by interpretation, A stone.

-think --- what an honor / what grace – for GOD to put faith in YOU !!!

*IL – when I say “the potential of a life” – WHO do you think of? – a young man in college? - a young lady just moving into adulthood & desire to serve God???

-WHAT ABOUT YOU????!!!!????!!!!

-remember, Paul is giving his own testimony – this is INTROSPECTIVE

*IL* -every time God burdens you for a task – He is putting FAITH in you

-this word “ministry” not limited to pastor / msnry – but to ANY kind of svc

-has idea of “servant, carrying out the commands of another”

-we are ALL appointed to ministry – to faithfully carry out Christ’s commands

-you are WHERE you are and WHAT you are because GOD has worked in your life to bring you here – GOD IS ALWAYS AT WORK / GOD IS ALWAYS PRESENT -- GOD has put FAITH in you – GOD BROUGHT YOU HERE – this point in your life

1. can you look back and see the hand of God in your life?

-THIS question is not so hard to answer….

-maybe you had/have parents who encouraged you/taught you

-maybe a friend who encourages you spiritually

-maybe a pastor who won you to Christ / grown under the preaching

-YOU HAVE TO be partially blind NOT to see how God has led you……

-BUT HERE IS THE HARDER QUESTION TO FACE / DEAL WITH…

2. CAN YOU look at the present and SEE what God wants you to BECOME?

-DON’T RELEGATE this perspective to just the PAST… what about NOW??

-are you allowing God to make you what HE ENVISIONED for you?

-are you surrendered to HIS will / leading NOW ????

-WHAT does God want from you NOW ???

-salvation is NOT the END of what God wants – it is the BEGINNING!!

-cannot sit down as if God has no more to do with you –

-you have NOT arrived – you are still on a JOURNEY with the Lord

-NOT JUST where He has brought you FROM – but WHAT HE IS BRINGING YOU TO–what is God doing with you? leading you? what does He want with you?

-CAN NEVER STOP WITH JOY in your own salvation without considering the PURPOSE FOR IT – WHAT DOES GOD WANT WITH YOU NOW????

*IL – Hudson Taylor – Brighton Beach – 1000’s rejoicing in their own salv…

-EASIER to see what God is doing in life of others – but WHAT ABOUT YOU?

-we need to thank God that He sees what we CAN BE -- AND we must be willing to let Him KEEP WORKING / MOLDING / SHAPING / GROWING

-look at Paul's description of himself in v13

a. blasphemer -- same word used in to describe the rampant evil that will characterize last days -- to speak openly and loudly against God and his people

*IL* remember at stoning of Stephen – have no recorded words of Paul – but they laid coats at his feet -- according to Paul – he was NOT a silent participant -- but... a blasphemer

-Paul was abusive - reviling - trying to destroy God's people

b. persecutor -- does not mean he just laughed at the Christians -- meant that he actively pursued -- went out of his way to do injury the disciples of Christ

* As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison.

* "And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord...."

* And I persecuted this way unto the death, binding and delivering into prisons both men and women.

* For ye have heard of my conversation in time past in the Jews' religion, how that beyond measure I persecuted the church of God, and wasted it:

c. injurious -- one who does wrong to others simply b/c it brings them pleasure

*IL* we think we have been persecuted because family members don't agree with our stand -- Paul actively tried to harm -- INTENDED personal injury & hurt to people of God

-and point here is -- GOD saw the persecuting Saul as the faithful apostle Paul

-you and I can take heart that we probably cannot be accused of what Paul was guilty of -- BUT AT SAME time remembering -- WE HAVE the same wicked heart Paul had -- and our wickedness before God is no less wicked than Paul's was

*IL* Sam Houston – following the Alamo in March 1836, he was the U.S. congressman who led the armies of Texas during the revolution against Mexico - later became president of Republic of Texas. Late in life, he was saved in a small Baptist church. When he was baptized in a nearby river, the pastor said, "Sam, your sins have all been washed away." Houston replied, "Then God help the fish."

-none of us can claim any better past than what Paul had

* As it is written, There is none righteous, no, not one: 11 There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. 12 They are all gone out of the way, they are together become unprofitable; there is none that doeth good, no, not one. 13 Their throat is an open sepulchre; with their tongues they have used deceit; the poison of asps is under their lips: 14 Whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness: 15 Their feet are swift to shed blood: 16 Destruction and misery are in their ways: 17 And the way of peace have they not known: 18 There is no fear of God before their eyes.

-that has to be OUR testimony --- description of US before we were saved

-any sin against God is a wicked sin -- and all sin deserves hell

-Paul was not proud of his past -- I imagine as Paul wrote this -- his eyes were probably filled with tears of regret -- "I was a blasphemer..."

*IL* have you ever wept over yrs wasted ?? grieved over days outside Christ ??

(1. necessity of gratitude 2. trust of the gospel 3. Potential of a life)

4. The Power of Grace v14

-"why, Paul thot, would God count me trustworthy enough to put me in ministry?

-I know --- it was because of my zeal / standing in religious community ….. NO

**ALL because of God's amazing grace"

v6-9 – Paul refers to the law which can NEVER save anyone – the law reveals your INABILITY to save yourself --- “

-you may give a sterling story of a life of good character, fine citizenship, kindheartedness, good family, honest life ---- IT STILL TOOK GRACE to save you!!

-Paul's heart as wrote -- tears of regret / tears of gratitude

-uses two words to describe HOW God delivered him

v13 mercy - not giving us what we deserve * But God, who is rich in mercy,

v14 grace -- giving what we do not deserve * …where sin abounded, grace

-he was aware of his own depravity and true condition before God

-notice the humility that resulted from true realization of what God had done

-v12 …and I thank God v13 I was a blasphemer...unworthy of anything

-v15 ...I am the chief of all sinners ---------------- v14 ...but the grace...

*IL – man gave testimony of getting saved at a particular church – the pastor said, “was it the good preaching?” – he said, “no I don’t remember the message” – I came to Christ because the congregation was singing How Great Thou Art, and when it came to the part – “And when I think that God his son not sparing, sent him to die, I scarce can take it in. That on the cross, my burden gladly bearing, He bled and died to take away my sin.” I looked down the pew from me at a man whose eyes were closed, he was singing at top of his voice, and tears were running down his face. He was enraptured with the grace of God – I decided I wanted to know the God who can be worshipped like that.

-Paul did not blame what he was on anyone else -- he owned it – “that was me” – but look what GOD DID FOR ME!!

-what caused Paul to realize the truth about himself??? – BECAUSE HE SAW HIMSELF for what he was and HE SAW THE GRACE OF GOD – saw what GOD HAD DONE FOR HIM – changing his wicked heart / turning his life around – saving him from his own destruction

(1. necessity of gratitude 2. trust of the gospel 3. Potential of a life 4. Power of grace)

5. The PATTERN of a changed life v16

-reason God saved Paul was to make an example -- pattern - sketch, form

-Paul wanted you to see – what converts the worst is the BEST God has done

*IL- take a minute & think of the two worst things you ever did in your past --- now turn to the person next to you and share those things with them --- JUST KIDDING – but the emotion you may have just felt…

1. EVIDENCE that you need to be GRATEFUL FOR THE GRACE OF GOD –

2. EVIDENCE that the grace it took to save you IS a PATTERN for others

-Paul said God saved me to show world a wonderful example of His grace

a. every saved person in this room is a trophy of God's grace

b. God wants ALL of us to be PATTERNS of the life-changing power of gospel

* For none of us liveth to himself, and no man dieth to himself. 8 For whether we live, we live unto the Lord; and whether we die, we die unto the Lord: whether we live therefore, or die, we are the Lord's.

-somebody is watching you – somebody NEEDS to see your life – a life of GRATITUDE / SERVICE / GOSPEL COMMUNICATION / GRACE ENRAPTURED

(1. necessity of gratitude 2. trust of gospel 3. Potential of a life 4. Power of grace 5. Pattern of a changed life)

6. The GLORY of God v17

-in the first few verses Paul was praising God for what he had done for him –

---God has chosen to glorify Himself through the conversion of lost souls

-all of nature SHOUTS glory to God

* The heavens declare the glory of God, the firmament sheweth his handiwork…

-BUT – God is MOST GLORIFIED when those made in HIS IMAGE REFLECT HIS GLORY – the conversion of a soul

v17- gives reason Paul gave this testimony -- not to make us look at Paul & think highly of him -- but ....TO GOD BE THE GLORY –

-GRACE produces DOXOLOGY = worship to God

-if you ask the avg Christian “what is the gospel? – “God loved ME enough to send His son to die for ME and save ME from my sins so I can escape hell and I can have a home in heaven…” ----

-NO – God is so passionate for HIS OWN GLORY that HE CHOSE to glorify Himself by bringing you into His family – by OFFERING you His grace / mercy

For by grace are ye saved through faith, and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God. Not of works, lest any man should boast.

-if you are saved by works you can brag – if it is by grace THERE WILL NOT BE ONE WORD SPOKEN that says… “look at me” – NO – it is LOOK AT JESUS

*IL – if you stood before God today and He asked “Why should I let you into my heaven?” – if you would deign to use the pronoun “I”, (I did my best to live a good life, be kind to my neighbors) --- then you are lost and you need to experience the grace of God

-I can see Paul – overcome with emotion – putting down his quill – raising his hands in the air – looking toward Heaven – NOW UNTO THE KING

-look where I was – look where I am --- ……NOW UNTO THE KING…

-King -- absolute ruler -- only King

-Eternal, Immortal -- does not grow old and waste - wear away like we do

-only wise God -- all other gods are deaf, dumb, no power to transform

v17b -- …AMEN ----- Aramiac word that mean’s “I believe”

-Jesus used this word often at beginning of a statement: “verily, verily”

*IL – when preacher says “Amen”, it means I believe this and when you echo back “Amen” it means “we believe it too” ------- if you don’t, security will come take you out of here

-you and I need to give him honor and glory

CONC

Do you have a testimony? Do you know the Lord? COME tonight!!Perhaps you need to bow before God and say “NOW UNTO THE KING…”When is last time you fell before Him in gratitude? …last time you thought about the reason He saved you – trust of the gospel? …last time you thought about POTENTIAL of your life – what GOD is bringing you to? – and PATTERN of your life for those who are YET to believe …last time you sang about His grace with tears running down face?

CLOSE with HOW GREAT THOU ART -- verses 1,3 & 4