THREE THINGS PAUL KNEW?
There were three things Paul knew that helped him be faithful in the most difficult of circumstances. He knew who he was, he knew who he believed and he knew and was convinced that God is able. Let us read 2 Tim 1:1-18.
Things are pretty tough for Paul right now. He’s in Rome and in jail. Some of the brothers have deserted him. Phygelus and Hermogenes. He’s suffering and to top it all off, some of the brothers are ashamed of him. But Paul knew some things that helped him to be faithful even to the point of death.
HE KNEW WHO HE WAS
If someone asked you who are you? Beyond giving your name what would you say? Would you say a teacher, a salesman, a lawyer. Paul knew who he was and he let people know it.
I am a herald, an apostle, a teacher. A herald is someone that announces important news ( a trumpeter). Let’s look at some other scriptures.
Rom 1:1 Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus, called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God—
1 Cor 1:1 Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
(2 Cor 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, To the church of God in Corinth, together with all the saints throughout Achaia:
(Gal 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle--sent not from men nor by man, but by Jesus Christ and God the Father, who raised him from the dead--
(Eph 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, To the saints in Ephesus, the faithful in Christ Jesus:
Phil 1:1 Paul and Timothy, servants of Christ Jesus, To all the saints in Christ Jesus at Philippi, together with the overseers and deacons:
(Col 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and Timothy our brother,
(1 Tim 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,
(2 Tim 1:1 NIV) Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, according to the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus,
Titus 1:1 Paul, a servant of God and an apostle of Jesus Christ for the faith of God’s elect and the knowledge of the truth that leads to godliness—
Phile 1:1 Paul, a prisoner of Christ Jesus, and Timothy our brother, To Philemon our dear friend and fellow worker.
A lot of things could be taken away from Paul but they couldn’t take that away.
HE KNEW WHO HE BELIEVED
Paul believed in Jesus and he testified about him.
Acts 22:3 "I am a Jew, born in Tarsus of Cilicia, but brought up in this city. Under Gamaliel I was thoroughly trained in the law of our fathers and was just as zealous for God as any of you are today.
Acts 22:4 I persecuted the followers of this Way to their death, arresting both men and women and throwing them into prison,
Acts 22:5 as also the high priest and all the Council can testify. I even obtained letters from them to their brothers in Damascus, and went there to bring these people as prisoners to Jerusalem to be punished.
Acts 22:6 "About noon as I came near Damascus, suddenly a bright light from heaven flashed around me.
Acts 22:7 I fell to the ground and heard a voice say to me, ’Saul! Saul! Why do you persecute me?’
Acts 22:8 "’Who are you, Lord?’ I asked. "’I am Jesus of Nazareth, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied.
Acts 22:9 My companions saw the light, but they did not understand the voice of him who was speaking to me.
Acts 22:10 "’What shall I do, Lord?’ I asked. "’Get up,’ the Lord said, ’and go into Damascus. There you will be told all that you have been assigned to do.’
Acts 22:11 My companions led me by the hand into Damascus, because the brilliance of the light had blinded me.
Acts 22:12 "A man named Ananias came to see me. He was a devout observer of the law and highly respected by all the Jews living there.
Acts 22:13 He stood beside me and said, ’Brother Saul, receive your sight!’ And at that very moment I was able to see him.
Acts 22:14 "Then he said: ’The God of our fathers has chosen you to know his will and to see the Righteous One and to hear words from his mouth.
Acts 22:15 You will be his witness to all men of what you have seen and heard.
Acts 22:16 And now what are you waiting for? Get up, be baptized and wash your sins away, calling on his name.’
Acts 22:17 "When I returned to Jerusalem and was praying at the temple, I fell into a trance
Acts 22:18 and saw the Lord speaking. ’Quick!’ he said to me. ’Leave Jerusalem immediately, because they will not accept your testimony about me.’
Acts 22:19 "’Lord,’ I replied, ’these men know that I went from one synagogue to another to imprison and beat those who believe in you.
Acts 22:20 And when the blood of your martyr Stephen was shed, I stood there giving my approval and guarding the clothes of those who were killing him.’
Acts 22:21 "Then the Lord said to me, ’Go; I will send you far away to the Gentiles.’"
Paul knew whom he believed. He believed in Jesus Christ as Lord! He preached it. He risked his life for the gospel.
2 Tim 2:8 Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, 2 Tim 2:9 for which I am suffering even to the point of being chained like a criminal.
You have a gospel. Preach it. Share it. Be willing to suffer for it.
HE WAS CONVINCED THAT GOD IS ABLE
Whatever station you are in life you must be convinced that God is able to change the circumstances for your good.
Here’s an example of an individual that displays the type of conviction that we are talking about. Nelson Mandela was given a life sentence by the South African authorities for his protests against apartheid. This is what he shares.
Example of story:
I never considered the possibility that I would not emerge from prison one day. I never thought that a life sentence truly meant life and that I would die behind bars. Perhaps I was denying this prospect because it was too unpleasant to contemplate. But I always knew that someday I would once again feel the grass under my feet and walk in the sunshine as a free man.
What is so powerful about his mindset? He was convinced that he would one day be free.
Look at his language.
I never considered the possibility.
I never thought that a life sentence truly meant that.
I always knew that someday I would be a free man.
He denied the alternative, the negative because it was to unpleasant to contemplate.
Because he never entertained the negative he stayed positive and kept fighting. Because he never entertained the negative he never gave up. He kept giving. He kept serving.
You want to handle your circumstances. Know who you are. You want to handle your difficulties. Know who you believe and know and be convinced that God is able to change things for your good.
