In Philippians 3:20-21, Paul writes, "But our citizenship is in heaven. ". A time to recharge, eat some good food, and get those Black Friday sales (online of course) is just what we all need right about now. He knew that nothing else in this world even mattered. Our Present Endeavors Will Raise Up A Future Generation for Christ This is an important thing to learn from Paul, especially in our interactions with others about faith. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, ‘Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?’, ‘I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,’ he replied. Paul’s story is a fascinating one from which we can draw many lessons, one of which is that although man has a choice and is responsible for his decisions, God still somehow shapes His will through those decisions, and we don’t always have the full details. We are broken people that can be transformed by God's saving grace that He so lovingly gives to us, even though we don't deserve it. It's pretty clear that Paul had a very dark and wicked past, but he didn't let that define him. That’s why we view every news story through the lens of faith. 2. Apr 21, 2018 - Paul was an inspirational man of God and there are many things that we can learn from him. I want to go through this chapter and make seven suggestions for how to respond in times like this. How to be content in any situation In Philippians 4:11-13, Paul writes, "I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. This experience set Paul on an entirely new trajectory. Pauls says, "Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me." I still watch the Country Music Awards faithfully each year. He immediately started preaching the Word of the Lord. He ended up bringing many people to the Kingdom of the Lord and wrote nearly 2/3 of the New Testament. Know what you're getting yourself into first. All in all God used a man who was wicked and transformed him into an evangelistic dynamite. But then along comes Paul. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. And now here, the Lord came and spoke these words of encouragement to Paul in his difficult circumstance. It's so easy to put other things in that number one place in our lives: school, work, family, friends, relationships, anything that we find important. So why should we take the time to learn from a previously known murderer? ... 11 Lessons We Can Learn From The Apostle Paul. So since he isn't God, he cannot see what is in front of us, so that only leaves one weapon for him to use: our past. But Paul recognizes that he still has room for growth and doesn't let pride consume him. This adherence to the law and tradition caused him to passionately hate the new Christian movement springing up around Jerusalem. Good works is the product of faith in Jesus Christ, and salvation is about a relationship with God. They keep things interesting. He went on more than four missionary journeys and was greatly responsible for the spread of the gospel. Especially someone who tried to kill off the very thing he later promoted? Our own good works and merit isn't enough to get us into Heaven because we're not perfect, nor did Jesus die for us to be perfect. Don't get discouraged by your mistakes, but allow God to use them to transform and strengthen you so that you can be an encouragement those around you. In his zeal, he began persecuting Christians. God changed Paul's heart and used him for His glory. The fledgling church was probably praying hard for Paul, and for their persecutions to end. Paul is revered as one of the greatest men of the faith. Humility One thing that really sticks out to me about Paul is written in Philippians 3:12. However, I know that with God's strength, it is possible for me to accomplish this. These 8 shows will make your Quarantine-Friendly Thanksgiving break fun! So they led him by the hand into Damascus. 2. Help us continue to be a voice for truth in the media by supporting CBN News for as little as $1. Apr 21, 2018 - Paul was an inspirational man of God and there are many things that we can learn from him. In Philippians 3:10-11, Paul writes, I want to know Christ- yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead." Pixabay. 8. 40444 Pinterest Paul was an extraordinary man of God. For example, when your partner says, "Surprise! Godly Men.. Knowing Him is the goal. Brittany Morgan, National Writer's Society2. Not only could Paul work with his hands, but he was an educated and disciplined Pharisee. Paul was a great missionary who brought many to Christ. It can be tempting to think that if we mess up, that God won't love us anymore. I have learned the secret of being content in an and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. Lauren Hutchinson. You won't regret it. In Philippians 3:13, Paul writes, "...Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." These are just a few points that we can take away from Paul, but there is so much more that we can learn from him. Jennifer Kustanovich, SUNY Stony Brook5. Paul talks about how "to live is Christ and to die is gain" (Philippians 1:21).In Philippians 3:7-9, Paul talks about how everything else of this world is garbage compared to his relationship with Jesus Christ. This was a position that earned him a great deal of respect and influence. Surprises are great in a relationship. Paul killed tons of people in his past. By Gabriel Garnica 19 September AD 2016 One Comment We have all read the story of Saul’s conversion from murderous enemy of Christ’s people to legendary evangelist for God. But it takes a lot of hard work, time, and money to do what we do.