Transformation - Four Lessons From Paul.

Tom – Your tea is on the table!!!!!

Yes, yes!!! I’m coming – be there in a minute.

Tom , I’ve been slaving over a hot stove you get here this minute young man!!!!

Yes – I have only one more nut to put on Mum then I’ll be there!!!

Tom – What are you doing?

Well I lost the nut – it must be here somewhere.

Tom – come and get your dinner.

Well – that nut must be somewhere!!!

Tom – you obviously aren’t coming!!!

yes in a minute. I’ve lost the nut. Oh – now I dropped the bolt.

Tom!!

Coming Mum – where’s my tea.?

Down there on the floor.

But the cats eating it – It’s omlet my favourite!!! You gave my omlet to the Cat!!!

Well you didn’t want it and it was cold.

Tom thought he was doing the right thing working on his bike – but the truth is he ignored his Mother and she got cross with him after calling him many times and in the end she feeds his meal to the cat!!!!

Many of us today believe we are doing the right thing doing this thing or that – but it could be that God is calling us and wants us to hear his voice.

MT 15:21 Leaving that place, Jesus withdrew to the region of Tyre and Sidon. 22 A Canaanite woman from that vicinity came to him, crying out, "Lord, Son of David, have mercy on me! My daughter is suffering terribly from demon-possession."

MT 15:23 Jesus did not answer a word. So his disciples came to him and urged him, "Send her away, for she keeps crying out after us."

MT 15:24 He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of Israel."

MT 15:25 The woman came and knelt before him. "Lord, help me!" she said.

MT 15:26 He replied, "It is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to their dogs."

MT 15:27 "Yes, Lord," she said, "but even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table."

You know God wants for us to avail ourselves of everything that he has to offer.

In the end, you would have to say that Israel refused the food that Jesus bought it and we are privledged to receive it.

But you know God looks for transformation in his people.

Without that transformation then we can find ourselves missing out on the food tht God has given us???

This morning I want to look at the complete transformation that we find in the life of Paul and discover together swome of the key things that bring about such a dramatic transformation in the life of Paul.

What Paul was. PAUL [G4263] (little).

Background and conversion: Also called Saul (Ac 8:1; 9:1; 13:9). Of the tribe of Benjamin (Ro 11:1; Php 3:5). Personal appearance of (2Co 10:1, 10; 11:6). Born in Tarsus (Ac 9:11; 21:39; 22:3). Educated at Jerusalem in the school of Gamaliel (Ac 22:3; 26:4). A zealous Pharisee (Ac 22:3; 23:6; 26:5; 2Co 11:22; Gal 1:14; Php 3:5). A Roman (Ac 16:37; 22:25-28). Persecutes the Christians; present at and gives consent to the stoning of Stephen (Ac 7:58; 8:1, 3; 9:1; 22:4). Sent to Damascus with letters for the arrest and return to Jerusalem of Christians (Ac 9:1-2). His vision and conversion (Ac 9:3-22; 22:4-19; 26:9-15; 1Co 9:11; 15:8; Gal 1:13; 1Ti 1:12-13). Is baptized (Ac 9:18; 22:16). Called to be an apostle (Ac 22:14-21; 26:14-21; 26:16-18; Ro 1:1; 1Co 1:1; 9:1-2; 15:9; Gal 1:1, 15-16; Eph 1:1; Col 1:1; 1Ti 1:1; 2:7; 2Ti 1:1, 11; Tit 1:1, 3). Preaches in Damascus (Ac 9:20, 22). Is persecuted by the Jews (Ac 9:23-24). Escapes by being let down from the wall in a basket; goes to Arabia (Gal 1:17), Jerusalem (Ac 9:25-26; Gal 1:18-19). Received by the disciples in Jerusalem (Ac 9:26-29). Goes to Caesarea and returns to Tarsus (Ac 9:30; 18:22). Brought to Antioch by Barnabas (Ac 11:25-26). Teaches at Antioch one year (Ac 11:26). Brings the contributions of the Christians in Antioch to the Christians in Jerusalem (Ac 11:27-30). Returns with John to Antioch (Ac 12:25).

What Paul becomes.

Character of: (2Co 10:1, 10; 11:6; Gal 4:13). Cheerful in adversity (Ac 10:25; Ro 8:35-37; 2Co 4:8-10; 12:10; 2Ti 2:10; 3:11-12; 4:16-17). Courageous (Ac 9:29; 20:22-24; 21:13; Eph 6:20; 1Th 2:2). Purposeful, even when the Holy Spirit warns him not to go to Jerusalem (Ac 20:22-23; 21:4, 10-14). Indomitable (Ro 8:35-37; 1Co 4:9-13; 2Co 4:8-12; 6:4-10; 11:23-33; 12:10; 1Th 2:2; 2Ti 1:12; 3:11; 4:17). Joyous in suffering (Ac 16:25; Php 2:17; Col 1:24; 2Ti 2:9). Meek (1Co 4:12-13; 2Ti 4:16). Self-forgetful (1Co 4:9, 11-13). Self-supporting (Ac 18:3; 20:33-35; 2Co 11:7, 9; 1Th 2:9; 2Th 3:8). Tactful (1Co 9:19-22; 10:33; Phm 8-21). Zealous (Ro 9:3; 2Co 5:11-14; 6:4-10; 11:22-33; 12:10, 14-15; Php 3:6-16; Col 1:29). Ready for death (2Ti 4:6-8).