Paul’s Apostolic Principles and Practices
Illustration:A one-legged school teacher from Scotland came to J. Hudson Taylor to offer himself for service in China. "With only one leg, why do you think of going as a missionary?" Asked Taylor.
"I do not see those with two legs going," replied George Scott. He was accepted.
Pillar of Fire, January First, 1983.
Introduction: You are fellow citizens with God’s people and member of God’s household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets." (Eph. 2:20) Paul formed apostolic bands in the same way Jesus founded the church upon the apostles. One cannot help but be struck by Jesus’ loyalty to the church, which he entrusted to an unlikely band of apostles, whom he defended, prayed for, and prepared to spread the gospel. To outsiders they (and we) must seem like incapable blunderers. But Jesus, the architect of the church, knows this structure is destined for greatness. Let us look at the some of the principles and practices of Paul’s apostolic model for our benefit.
1. Paul saw himself principally as an apostle (missionary).
He expected the Lord to help him reproduce himself through bands of apostlic people. Orange trees produce more oranges and apostles tend to produce more apostles. An apostle is one who is sent out by Christ to preach the gospel. God only had one Son and he sent Him as a missionary. The man who God has used more than any other as a missionary was the apostle Paul. Paul writes, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” (I Cor. 4:16) Paul’s ministry was more pro-active than reactive. “It was he who gave some to be apostles (gift of being sent out with Christ’s message), some to be prophets, some to be evangelists and some to be pastors and teachers.” (Eph. 4:11)
Why is there less than .01% of Americans who are involved as missionaries as it would seem obvious that God has gifted more people?
Illustration:Fritz Kreisler (1875-1962), the world-famous violinist, earned a fortune with his concerts and compositions, but he generously gave most of it away. So, when he discovered an exquisite violin on one of his trips, he wasn’t able to buy it. Later, having raised enough money to meet the asking price, he returned to the seller, hoping to purchase that beautiful instrument. But to his great dismay it had been sold to a collector. Kreisler made his way to the new owner’s home and offered to buy the violin. The collector said it had become his prized possession and he would not sell it. Keenly disappointed, Kreisler was about to leave when he had an idea. "Could I play the instrument once more before it is consigned to silence?" he asked. Permission was granted, and the great virtuoso filled the room with such heart-moving music that the collector’s emotions were deeply stirred. "I have no right to keep that to myself," he exclaimed. "It’s yours, Mr. Kreisler. Take it into the world, and let people hear it."
Our Daily Bread, February 4, 1994.
2. Paul preached a gospel of power unashamedly. (Rom. 1:16) The gospel of God was a message that contrasted with the wisdom of men that the Gentiles admired and the political-religious-social power that the Jews sought after. His was the dunamos of God that liberated, delivered and set the captives free from the chains of their fears, sin and eternal judgment.
Illustration:A missionary in Africa was once asked if he really liked what he was doing. His response was shocking. "Do I like this work?" he said. "No. My wife and I do not like dirt. We have reasonably refined sensibilities. We do not like crawling into vile huts through goat refuse...But is a man to do nothing for Christ he does not like? God pity him, if not. Liking or disliking has nothing to do with it. We have orders to ’Go," and we go. Love constrains us."
3. Paul put the planting and the growing of churches as his ministry priority. "I planted and Apollos watered but God made it grow." (I Cor. 3:6) Do not think that we are doing God’s will unless we are contributing to the planting and the growing of His church in communities that are still yet to have a healthy body of Christ. Paul planted and helped grow churches in Ephesus, Philippi, Corinth, Thessalonica and other important urban centers.
4. Paul worked through apostolic bands of men as we have seen God use this strategy through church history. Acts 2:41-47 – They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe and the apostles did many wonders and miraculous signs. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. And they broke bread in their homes. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.” That was Paul’s pattern for multiplying seed family fellowships.
5. Paul taught good stewardship of our money, resources and lives because He knew God owns everything. The Lord owns our talents, wealth and all the moments of our life. He has the power to make promote or demote. He alone possesses the power to give or to take away. He alone gives one the ability to succeed. (I Cor. 4:2) So then, men ought to regard us as servants (stewards) of Christ and as those who are entrusted with the secret things of God. Now it is required that those who have been given a trust must prove faithful.”
6. Paul’s ministry was Christ centered, empowered and directed. Paul wrote, “For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.” (Phil. 1:21) Paul wrote, “That I may know Him and the power of His resurrection and the fellowship of His sufferings being conformed to Him even to His death.” (Phil. 3:10) We should know Him and make Him known our goal in all things.
7. Paul’s ministry was strategically designed to take the gospel where it had not been preached. The 10/40 window contains 93% of the unreached peoples of the world. That is where Paul would concentrate His ministries if he were alive today. (Rom. 15:20,21) It has always been my ambition to preach the gospel where Christ was not known, so that I would not be building on someone’s else’s foundation. Those who were not told about him will see, and those who have not heard will understand.” Today about 90% of the missionaries are ministering in areas where nationals are able to reach their own people. (Pioneering, Parenting, Partnering, Participating)
8. Paul’s ministry affirmingly worked through insiders in the growth of each local church. Paul wrote, “I myself am convinced, my brothers, that you yourselves are full of goodness, complete in knowledge and competent to instruct one another.” (Rom. 15:14) Paul wrote, “Accept one another then, just as Christ has accepted you in order to bring praise to God.” (Rom. 15:7)
9. Paul’s ministry emphasized the positive benefits we have in Christ as a way of being unified in working toward mutual goals. Paul wrote, “If there is any encouragement in Christ, any consolation of love, any fellowship of the Spirit, any affection and compassion, make my joy complete, by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, united in spirit, intent on one purpose.” (Phil. 2:1,2)
10. Paul’s knew that love and trust bring out the best in people. Most problems that people have in the church are more social than theological. (I Thes. 2:7,8) “As apostles of Christ we could have been a burden to you. But we were gentle among you, like a mother caring for her little children. We loved you so much that we were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well, because you had become so dear to us.” He was a nurturer, a mentor and a disciple-maker.
11. Paul was an overcomer refusing to be overcome by anything or anyone. (Acts 20:19) “I served the Lord with great humility and with tears, although I was severely tested by the plots of the Jews.” We must expect opposition, but we do it without a critical attitude recognizing we are not to be overcome with evil but to overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:21) Overcome through praise and overlook, do not over exaggerate the negative and be overjoyed in the Lord and in His mighty power. The joy of the Lord is your strength (health)
12. Paul’s ministry overflowed with hope, joy and peace. Paul wrote, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.” (Rom. 15:13) Unless people have hope they cannot go on.
13. Paul knew that God’s grace was sufficient for any weakness. (2 Cor. 12:8-10) There was not a spirit of fear, but of power, love and self-discipline in every aspect of His ministry and relationships.
14. Paul ascended the ladder of ministry maturity by encouraging, enabling and empowering people to become comers, growers, developers of their spiritual gifts, disciple-makers, shepherds of the flock, reproducers, multipliers and Christ like people. (I Thes. 2:10,11) You are witnesses and so is God of how holy, righteous and blameless we were among you who believed. For you know that we dealt with each of you as a father deals with his own children. Encouraging, comforting and urging you to live lives worthy of God who calls you into his kingdom and glory.”
15. Paul was undaunted amidst opposition and misunderstanding. He wrote, “We are fools for Christ, but you are so wise in Christ, We are weak, but you are strong. You are honored we are dishonored. To this very hour we go hungry and thirsty, we are in rags, we are brutally treated, we are homeless. We work hard with our own hands. When we are cursed, we bless; when we are persecuted, we endure it; when we are slandered, we answer kindly. Up to this moment, we have become the scum of the earth, the refuse of the world.” (I Cor. 4:10-13) Not many people are willing to endure these hardships for Jesus Christ, but those who do are the ones who will experience great blessings, power and kingdom multiplication.
16. Paul fully utilized the power of the scripture. Paul wrote, “All scripture is inspired by God and is profitable for teaching, reproof, correction and training in righteousness so that the man of God may be equipped. Thoroughly furnished for all good works.” (2 Tim. 3:16,17)
17. Paul fled from lusts and pursued righteousness with the godly. (2 Tim. 2:22-24) Flee youthful lusts and pursue righteousness, godliness, faith, love and peace with those who call on the Lord from a pure heart. Find people who are godly that you fit with and God will help you escape the corruptions in the world by lust.
18. Paul’s ministry was contextual in the way he identified with people’s felt, perceived, real and spiritual needs. (I Cor. 9:19-23) Though I am free and belong to no man. I make myself a slave to everyone to win as many as possible. To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law. To the weak, I became weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some.” Paul was a facilitator, a mobilizer and a catalyzer by engaging in cross-cultural communication.
19. Paul was a wise builder of Christ’s kingdom in qualitative and quantitative measures. Paul wrote, “By the grace God has given me, I laid a foundation as an expert builder, and someone else is building upon on it. But each one should be careful how he builds.” (I Cor. 3:10) Build in a way that you can maximize the growth of Christ’s kingdom and righteousness in the greatest qualitative and quantitative measures.
20. Paul was an equipper of the lay people for maturity, (with His 24 spiritual gifts) in all aspects in Christ. Paul wrote, “To equip or prepare God’s people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God and become mature, attaining to the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.” (Eph. 4:12,13) He knew the alternative was to be unstable, infantile and darkened by the futility of our thinking.
21. Paul was sure of God’s deliverance. Paul wrote, “Join me in suffering for the gospel by the power of God, by his own purpose and grace. Christ Jesus who has destroyed death and has brought life and immortality to light through the gospel. And of this gospel I was appointed a herald and an apostle and a teacher, This is why I am suffering, because I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that he is able to guard what I have entrusted to him for that day.” (2 Tim. 1:12) Paul knew God was His deliverer, his rock and fortress
22. Paul walked by faith and not by sight. Most people do just the opposite and live by fear rather than by faith. (2 cor. 5:7)
23. Paul’s was a ministry of reconciliation so he was friendly. “We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. God made him who knew no sin to be sin on our behalf that we might become the righteousness of God. ” (2 Cor. 5:20,21)
24. Paul’s ministry was more transformational than informational. He taught as an effective change agent. (Rom. 12:1,2) He urged people to resist conforming to the world. He urged people to discover their gifts
25. Paul’s urged people to assume their responsibilities according to Rom. 12:9-21. "Let love be without hypocrisy, abhor what is evil and cling to what is good…Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction. Faithful in prayer. Share with God’s people who are in need, Practice hospitality. Bless those who persecute you, bless and do not curse. Rejoice with those who rejoice, mourn with those who mourn. Live in harmony with one another. Do not be proud, but be willing to associate with the people of low position."
26. Paul’s ministry was Spirit led. Paul wrote, "Be filled (controlled, led, and directed)with the Spirit."
In Acts 16 Paul was ready to move toward the east in Asia, but the Holy Spirit kept him from preaching the word in the province of Asia. During the night, Paul had a vision of a man of Macedonia standing and begging him. come over to Macedonia and help us. After Paul had seen the vision, they got ready at once to leave for Macedonia, concluding that God had called them to preach the gospel to them." (Acts 16:6-10)
When the Lord closes one door He always opens up a better door somewhere else. Follow the leading of His Spirit and be willing to reverse direction when the Spirit directs.
Conclusion:EVANGELISM
I was speaking at an open-air crusade in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Billy Graham was to speak the next night and had arrived a day early. He came incognito and sat on the grass at the rear of the crowd. Because he was wearing a hat and dark glasses, no one recognized him.
Directly in front of him sat an elderly gentleman who seemed to be listening intently to my presentation. When I invited people to come forward as an open sign of commitment, Billy decided to do a little personal evangelism. He tapped the man on the shoulder and asked, "Would you like to accept Christ? I’ll be glad to walk down with you if you want to." The old man looked him up and down, thought it over for a moment, and then said, "Naw, I think I’ll just wait till the big gun comes tomorrow night." Billy and I have had several good chuckles over that incident. Unfortunately, it underlines how, in the minds of many people, evangelism is the task of the "Big Guns," not the "little shots." Don’t wait for the big gun, but realize that God can use everyone as His missionaries.
Leighton Ford, Good News is for Sharing, 1977, David C. Cook Publishing Co., p. 67.
