Who Is Your Paul?

ILLUSTRATION- Pastor Menditto doing the rent a student fundraiser ad.

1 Corinthians 10:31–11:1 (NLT) — 31 So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God. 32 Don’t give offense to Jews or Gentiles or the church of God. 33 I, too, try to please everyone in everything I do. I don’t just do what is best for me; I do what is best for others so that many may be saved. 1 And you should imitate me, just as I imitate Christ.

MAIN POINT- As followers of Jesus we should always have Paul’s in our life. Those that will teach us and help us in our walk with God. Those that will help us develop our gifts and help us be who God has called us to be.

CHALLENGE- Do you have Paul’s in your life?

Who is a Paul?

1. A person who has had a genuine life changing encounter with Jesus.

Acts 8:1–3 (NLT) — 1 Saul was one of the witnesses, and he agreed completely with the killing of Stephen. A great wave of persecution began that day, sweeping over the church in Jerusalem; and all the believers except the apostles were scattered through the regions of Judea and Samaria. 2 (Some devout men came and buried Stephen with great mourning.) 3 But Saul was going everywhere to destroy the church. He went from house to house, dragging out both men and women to throw them into prison.

Acts 9:1–6 (NLT) — 1 Meanwhile, Saul was uttering threats with every breath and was eager to kill the Lord’s followers. So he went to the high priest. 2 He requested letters addressed to the synagogues in Damascus, asking for their cooperation in the arrest of any followers of the Way he found there. He wanted to bring them—both men and women—back to Jerusalem in chains. 3 As he was approaching Damascus on this mission, a light from heaven suddenly shone down around him. 4 He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul! Saul! Why are you persecuting me?” 5 “Who are you, lord?” Saul asked. And the voice replied, “I am Jesus, the one you are persecuting! 6 Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do.”

2. A person who demonstrates ongoing commitment to God.

Romans 1:1 (NLT) — 1 This letter is from Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus, chosen by God to be an apostle and sent out to preach his Good News.

DEFINE- The word slave is the greek word Doulos and means a someone owned by another with the purpose of serving.

See Paul was not messing around with this, this was not just a phase… His life was now fully committed to serving God!

POINT- I never said “Pauls” have to be perfect. Paul made mistakes, what I said was demonstrating an ongoing commitment to God.

3. A person who knows God’s word and uses it properly.

POINT- I’m taking time to break down what a Paul should look like because of how dangerous it can be when you let the wrong person into your life to mentor you and help teach you.

ILLUSTRATION- Josh falling for a false teacher.

POINT- You’ve got to know the word for yourself. If someone ever tries to discourage you from reading your Bible or tries to convince you of something that is not in your Bible get up and run!

Matthew 7:15 (NLT) — 15 “Beware of false prophets who come disguised as harmless sheep but are really vicious wolves.

Galatians 4:17 (NLT) — 17 Those false teachers are so eager to win your favor, but their intentions are not good. They are trying to shut you off from me so that you will pay attention only to them.

You’ve got to know the word of God, you have to hide it in your heart, you have to know what has the ring of truth to it. You have to know how to test the words of another person against the authority of the word of God.

POINT- We have identified the qualities that need to be in a Paul, but tonights message is not about “Who is a Paul?” it is about, “Who is YOUR Paul?”

Who is YOUR Paul?

1. Who is a person who can teach you AND you’ll listen?

If the answer is nobody perhaps the biggest thing stunting your spiritual growth is an unteachable spirit.

1 Corinthians 11:2 (NLT) — 2 I am so glad that you always keep me in your thoughts, and that you are following the teachings I passed on to you.

QUESTION- Why is it that we struggle to allow people in our lives to teach us?

Psalm 86:11 (NLT) — 11 Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you.

2. Who is a person who can correct you AND you’ll respond?

If the answer is nobody perhaps the biggest thing stunting your spiritual growth is a rebellious spirit.

2 Corinthians 13:7 (NLT) — 7 We pray to God that you will not do what is wrong by refusing our correction. I hope we won’t need to demonstrate our authority when we arrive. Do the right thing before we come—even if that makes it look like we have failed to demonstrate our authority.

KEY- I’ve told for years those that work closely with me, “Don’t be upset if I correct you, be upset when I stop correcting you.”

Conclusion…

Who is your Paul?

CHALLENGE- How do you respond to a Paul figure in your life?