Paul’s extraordinary life is an inspiration for us to evangelise and fulfil Jesus’ great commission.
1. God’s power in transforming the character of Paul.
Saul was totally transformed by Christ from being a fierce fanatical persecutor of Christians to a “fanatical” evangelist.
2. After conversion, Paul’s life mission was to spread the gospel, plant churches and disciple new converts.
He lived to evangelise and had an unquenchable burning passion for Christ. He spread the gospel locally and to about 50 places in western Asia and parts of Europe where he planted some churches. In all, he evangelised for nearly 30 years.
3. He died to self, risked his life for Christ and overcame all sufferings, dangers and difficulties encountered.
Paul risked his life in preaching the gospel daily and was fearless even when facing death. He had an invincible spirit and indomitable physical and mental endurance. He was unstoppable under all adverse situations. He endured and conquered all sorts of sufferings such as afflictions, hard-ships, calamities, imprisonment, persecution, kidnap, multiple flogging, stoning, arrests and shipwrecks. Paul’s survival through such shocking life experiences demonstrated the power of the Holy Spirit in him.
4. Paul’s exhortation.
His exhortation to Timothy is also for us — “preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.”; “endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, fulfil your ministry.” (2 Tim 4:2, 5)
Like Paul, we must always have a heart for lost sinners. We have been saved for good works – the most important of which is to spread the gospel. Just trust and obey, step forward and depend on the Holy Spirit of Jesus to enable us.
Glory to Jesus.
Richard Chng
