THE MAN OF GOD

It could be that the Apostle Paul wasn’t at all who we thought he was.  Our general impression of Paul may be based more on what he accomplished than by who he was at his core.  Many would perhaps think of him as a great orator, able to preach mighty sermons that would move his hearers to repentance and drive them to their knees.  We could assume Paul to have been super self-confident in his own abilities, accomplishments, and talents that he possessed.  Because of his ministry and the important call that God had on his life, we may think that the Lord would have kept Paul from trouble and from sickness, guarding and healing him just as he prayed for protection and healing over others. 

 

These things are based on assumptions that we have about Paul, and not on what the Apostle tells us about himself.  If we take a deeper look into Paul’s life and ministry, we will perhaps find some surprising facts about this mighty man of God.

 

PAUL’S EDUCATION

Paul gives us some details about his early life and training in the third chapter of his letter to the Philippian Church.  He begins by mentioning that he was circumcised when he was eight days old in accordance with Jewish Law.  He then establishes his pure lineage as a Jew, coming from the sturdy stock of Israeli parents, and born into the respected tribe of Benjamin.  He refers to himself as “…a Hebrew of the Hebrews” and says that regarding the Jewish Law, he was part of the sect called the Pharisees.  As far as the keeping of the Law was concerned, Paul considered himself blameless.

 

Speaking of his education, Paul tells us, “I am verily a man which am a Jew, born in Tarsus, a city in Cilicia, yet brought up in this city [Jerusalem] at the feet of Gamaliel, and taught according to the perfect manner of the Law of the fathers, and was zealous toward God, as ye all are this day.” (Acts 22:3).  Gamaliel was a well-respected teacher of the Law, and a prominent member of the Jewish Sanhedrin (the high court and governing body in Israel).

 

Despite all of Paul’s excellent credentials, the only thing that they motivated him to do before his conversion was to persecute the Christian Church.  “As for Saul [or Paul], he made havoc of the church, entering every house, and dragging off men and women, committing them to prison.” (Acts 8:3 NKJV).  It was Paul who held the cloaks for those who stoned the Christian martyr Stephen to death.  He did this to witness that he was in support of this cruelty.  As he testified to the Jews, “…when the blood of Thy martyr Stephen was shed, I also was standing by, and consenting unto his death, and kept the raiment of them that slew him.” (Acts 22:20).  Understandably, the Church was afraid of Paul and the violence and upheaval that he was capable of bringing down on them.

 

NOT CONFIDENT IN HIS OWN NATURAL ABILITIES

“Though I might also have confidence in the flesh.  If any other man thinketh that he hath whereof he might trust in the flesh, I more…”  (Philippians 3:4).  Before knowing Christ, Paul placed a lot of trust in his own natural abilities and advantages, but something happened to him that changed him forever.  During a trip to Damascus to round up Christians for imprisonment, the Lord revealed Himself to Paul in a bright light that blinded him and caused him to fall to the ground.  This encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus revealed to Paul that it was possible to feel completely right about a thing and be completely wrong.  “…the natural man receiveth not the things of the Spirit of God: for they are foolishness unto him: neither can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.” (1 Corinthians 2:14).  Lying in the dusty road with the light of heaven shining down on him and the brilliance of the Son of God blinding him, Paul could finally see the worthlessness of his life’s work.  His conclusion was this: “...what things were gain to me, those I counted loss for Christ…and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith.” (Philippians 3:7-9).

 

Writing to the Philippians, Paul wanted these new believers to understand that they could not rely on their own works for salvation.  If anyone could, it would have been Paul; but he renounced the things of the flesh in order to gain his relationship with Christ the Savior.  He considered it all dung if it bred pride in the things of the flesh.  Salvation was through Jesus Christ alone by the Spirit.  Like so many other Jews during Paul’s time, he had trusted in his own works to save him and had rejected the Messiah.  Now, he realized that all he had accomplished thus far in his life was worthless and that he needed, above everything, to learn to trust in his Savior.

 

Paul wrote to the Corinthians and described his ministry among them as “…in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.” (1 Corinthians 2:3).  Like all of God’s children discover sooner or later, Paul had to learn to lean on the Holy Spirit to help him accomplish the things that he was called to do rather than to trust in the flesh.  He told the Philippians, “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.” (Philippians 4:13). 

 

NOT A GREAT ORATOR

Paul was NOT a dynamic speaker.  In fact, he was a much better writer than he was a preacher.  “For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.” (2 Corinthians 10:10).  He freely acknowledged his weakness to the Corinthian believers when he wrote to them saying, “And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God...and my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man’s wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power.” (1 Corinthians 2:1, 4).  He later told them, “But though I be rude [unpolished] in speech, yet not in knowledge...” (2 Corinthians 11:6).

 

The core of Paul’s message to the Corinthians was “That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.” (1 Corinthians 2: 5).  He emphasized to them the fact that God wasn’t about choosing the wisest or the mightiest of people to serve Him, but He choses to use the foolish and the weak in order to confound the sensibilities of those who trust in the flesh and glory in men (see 1 Corinthians 1:26-29).  It was the power of the Cross of Christ that Paul wanted to present and demonstrate to those who chose to follow the Lord.  “For I determined not to know anything among you, save Jesus Christ, and Him crucified.” (1 Corinthians 2: 2).  The power of that message is that it doesn’t end at Calvary: it ends with an empty tomb and a mighty, resurrected Savior!  It teaches us that we must die to self and to the things that the world treasures and glorifies in order to obtain the resurrection life that is in Christ.  “For we which live are alway delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake, that the life also of Jesus might be made manifest in our mortal flesh.” (2 Corinthians 4:11).  The works of the flesh are dead works, but in Christ we find true Life!

 

We do not have to be the best preacher, writer, singer, musician, etc. in order for God to use us in mighty ways.  We merely need to be surrendered to the Lord and mindful of His leading. 

 

DID NOT AVOID SUFFERING 

Paul’s ministry was not an easy one.  After the Lord called him to service, Paul traveled between 10,000 and 15,000 miles during his four missionary journeys.  Most of that distance was on foot, but much was also by water.  Over the course of fourteen years he planted at least fourteen churches through Asia Minor and Europe. 

 

Paul was not sheltered from adversity during his ministry.  In the eleventh chapter of 2 Corinthians he catalogs a good many of the things that he suffered in order to deliver the Gospel message to the Gentiles.  He wrote, “…I have worked much harder, been in prison more frequently, been flogged more severely, and been exposed to death again and again.  Five times I received from the Jews the forty lashes minus one.  Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned, three times I was shipwrecked, I spent a night and a day in the open sea, I have been constantly on the move.  I have been in danger from rivers, in danger from bandits, in danger from my own countrymen, in danger from Gentiles; in danger in the city, in danger in the country, in danger at sea; and in danger from false brothers.  I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep; I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food; I have been cold and naked.  Besides everything else, I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches.  Who is weak, and I do not feel weak?  Who is led into sin, and I do not inwardly burn?” (2 Corinthians 11:23-30 NIV).

 

Just like his Lord before him, Paul discovered that the good news of the Gospel was not always good news to all.  Persecution always attends the preaching of the Cross, and the man or woman of God will not be a stranger to tribulation.  Paul learned that the path of the Cross is a path of suffering and that “…we must through much tribulation enter into the Kingdom of God.” (Acts 14:22).  The “comfortable cross” and the “painless path” are 21^st century doctrines.  The 1^st century Church understood that our outward man (our old, carnal nature) must perish bit by bit so that our inward man (our new, spiritual nature) can be renewed day by day.  We have been given a shield of faith, along with other armor, in order to quench the fiery arrows of the evil one.  The darts still come, though.        

 

PLAGUED BY INFIRMITY

Paul was very transparent about a “thorn in the flesh” that he suffered during the years of his ministry.  From what he wrote to the Corinthians, it’s evident that it wasn’t a temporary thing, but something more prolonged that would afflict him from time to time, working humility in him.  “And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations [which he had received from God], there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me, lest I should be exalted above measure.  For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.” (2 Corinthians 11:7, 8).  Three separate times Paul prayed for deliverance from this “messenger of Satan”, and twice there was no answer, or deliverance, from the Lord.  After asking the Father the third time for relief, though, the Lord answered Paul and said, “My grace is sufficient for thee: for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 11:9).

 

Many believe that Paul’s “thorn” was an affliction of the eyes and may have been associated with the three days of blindness that he suffered after his encounter with Christ on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:8, 9).  Evidence that Paul was dealing with some sort of eye disease can be found in his letter to the Galatians.  He wrote, “Ye know how through infirmity of the flesh I preached the gospel unto you at the first.  And my temptation which was in my flesh ye despised not, nor rejected; but received me as an angel of God, even as Christ Jesus.  Where is then the blessedness ye spake of? for I bear you record, that, if it had been possible, ye would have plucked out your own eyes, and have given them to me.” (Galatians 4:13-15).

 

This may explain why Paul had others actually write the things that he wanted to convey to the various churches (see Romans 16:21).  It also may explain why he had Luke, the physician, accompanying him on his later missionary trips.

 

I can imagine Paul being tempted to think, “How can I preach and pray for healing for others when I can’t find healing for myself?”  No wonder it was so humbling for him to bear.  As in every other facet of his life, Paul was called to reflect the glory and power of the Lord Jesus Christ in this area also.  “My strength is made perfect IN WEAKNESS.”

 

What was Paul’s response to this “thorn in the flesh” that he received from Satan?  What view did he adopt concerning this opportunity to work more of Christ’s character in him?  He said, “Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me.  Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.” (2 Corinthians 11:10).

 

OPPOSED BY OTHER APOSTLES AND CO-LABORERS

Contrary to what we might think about the cordial relationship that existed among the early leaders of the Church, there were times that even the Apostles had disagreements.  Paul especially locked horns a few times with some of the leaders in Jerusalem over Jewish ordinances and how they applied to new Gentile Christians.  In regards to the Gentiles, Paul had a remarkably clear understanding of grace.  We may attribute this to the three years that he spent in Arabia after his conversion.  Undoubtedly, he spent this time learning the truth from the Holy Spirit.  His understanding of grace was remarkable because of Paul’s rigid stand that he held earlier for the Law and for the righteousness that comes by works.  His zeal was fanatic in its violence against the early believers in Christ.  His was certainly a miraculous conversion to turn him around and transform his thinking so universally. 

 

When the Apostle Peter was acting hypocritically in his relationship with Gentile Christians, Paul called him out on it.  Of that encounter Paul wrote, “Now when Peter had come to Antioch, I withstood him to his face, because he was to be blamed; for before certain men came from James, he would eat with the Gentiles; but when they came, he withdrew and separated himself, fearing those who were of the circumcision.  And the rest of the Jews also played the hypocrite with him, so that even Barnabas was carried away with their hypocrisy.” (Galatians 2:11-13 NKJV).  Paul told Peter before all of the brethren that if he felt liberty to live like the Gentiles and not the Jews, why would he require the Gentiles to live like the Jews?  The faith that Peter had in Christ, Paul said, was what should teach him that a man is not justified by the works of the Law, but by the faith of Christ.  Paul said, “...we have believed in Jesus Christ, that we might be justified by the faith of Christ, and not by the works of the Law: for by the works of the Law shall no flesh be justified.” (Galatians 2:16).

 

Paul suffered many things at the hands of his own countrymen who had rejected Christ.  Several times they tried to take his life, but God delivered him repeatedly.  He did not fear to speak the truth, even when he knew that it would not be favorably received.  It often led to violence from those who heard it.

 

There was a controversy that erupted between Paul and his co-laborer in the mission work, Barnabas.  The disagreement became so sharp between them that the two of them had to part and go their separate ways (see Acts 15:36-40). 

 

LIKE YOU AND ME

At the end of the day, Paul was really more like you and me than like the supernatural hero of faith that we have made him to be.  Paul had natural strengths and natural weaknesses just like we do, but he learned that God could use his weaknesses in more powerful ways than He could any natural strengths that he had.  He suffered hardships – perhaps more than we ever will – and overcame them one after the other.  He trusted his Savior to bring him through each one and to work them all together for good according to God’s divine purpose.  Paul endured affliction in the flesh that made it more difficult to fulfill his ministry; but, again, he trusted in his Lord and learned obedience and dependence on Him.  The things that lesser men boasted in and trusted in, Paul rejected as base, counting them all as dung for the excellence of the knowledge of Christ Jesus his Lord.  

 

More than any of the other Apostles of Christ, Paul invites us into his life, to know him and to knowhow he applied the message of the Gospel and of the grace of God to his own life.  The things that he reveals to us about himself are honest, deeply intimate, and transparent.  There is a wealth of down-to-earth advice in Paul’s writings that fleshes out the Christian walk in very practical ways.

 

Do not be alarmed if you feel your natural talents and abilities do not match those of others who you look up to.  Remember that God uses our weaknesses to glorify His strength.    It is not by might, nor by natural power, nor by fleshly talent that God is glorified, but it is “…by My Spirit, saith the LORD.”  Allow Him to speak His Word to you, and then trust Him to make room to share what He has laid on your heart.  God will always make room for our ministries.    

 

Do not be alarmed if God has not chosen to heal you as you would wish.  Be assured that His plan for you is much better than what you can imagine for yourself, even if it comes through adversity.  God is indeed a God Who heals, and we should always place our faith in Him for healing; but we should also be able to accept His will when He chooses not to heal us miraculously.  We must learn to embrace what God has allowed in our path.  Jesus set the example for us to follow when He prayed in Gethsemane for the Father to take the cup of suffering away from Him.  He said, “If it be possible…” (Matthew 26:39).  In the end, however, He resigned Himself to God’s plan and said, “Nevertheless not My will, but Thine, be done.” (Luke 22:42).

 

Do not be alarmed if you encounter trouble and persecution as you spread the Gospel to those around you.  If the world hates us, we must understand that it hated Jesus first.  If they opposed our Master, they will also oppose His servants.  Remember that it is often the storms of life that give us the opportunity to learn to walk on the water, and it is often the earthquakes of life that loose, not only our fetters, but those of the prisoners around us.

 

Do not be alarmed if you sometimes encounter difficulties with brothers and sisters in Christ.  Learn to be a peacemaker.  Learn to strive for the unity of the Spirit.  Learn to champion harmony and brotherhood.  Remember Paul’s words to Timothy, “…the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves.” (2 Timothy 2:24, 25).

 

Paul placed no confidence at all in the flesh or in his own abilities, but leaned wholly on the Lord for his every need.  He told the Corinthians, and I trust that he taught it everywhere, that their faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God (1 Corinthians 2:5).  It was in the confidence that Paul placed in the wisdom and power of God that he was able to say, “Be ye followers of me, even as I also am of Christ.” (1 Corinthians 11:1).  We, too, must learn to follow in the footsteps of our Lord.  We must cast aside our confidence in the works of the flesh and allow the Spirit of God to work the character of Jesus in us.  Then, we too, can have boldness to invite others to follow our example as we follow our Lord.