Learning From the Apostle Paul

 

I want to look at some take-aways from the life of Paul. Things we can learn. Of course we can read all the books of the Bible he wrote but I am not necessarily talking about what he taught. I want to look at Paul's life. His character and who he was.

Much of his life as a whole is covered in the book of Acts but we will look at other books, too. First of all, Paul didn't just preach the gospel. He wrote letters to different groups of people to teach and train them about how to live a Christian life. We should take a cue from Paul and do our best to train people after they are saved. I say, as I have before, that witnessing can change the population of heaven but discipleship can change the world!

Paul was bold and outspoken in teaching and correcting doctrine. He didn't care if it offended. He just stood for the truth. He even stood up to Peter and other Apostles when they were stepping back into Jewish traditions or acting ashamed of Christ. We, too, should stand on the truth of God's Word unapologetically. We can do this in a loving manner and not go out of our way to offend or be hateful.

Paul didn't beat down doors. He asked for people to pray with him for open doors so the Word of the Lord would have free course. (2 Thessalonians 3:1) He also didn't stay and keep preaching where he wasn't wanted. In Acts 13:51 he and Barnabas shook off the dust of their feet against the Jews who expelled them out of their coasts and went on to the next city. In Acts 18:6 Paul shook his raiment and told the Jews "Your blood be upon your own heads; I am clean. From henceforth I will go unto the Gentiles". Paul was of course speaking about that particular city because we know from further reading in Acts that Paul still preached the gospel to Jews in other places after that. I believe these facts about Paul should remind us that you can't make people hear what they are unwilling to hear. ---Really about anything in life even if it's truth. 

One of Paul's prayer requests was that his fellow Jews would be saved. (Romans 10:1) We, too, should pray for our loved ones to trust in Christ. We can pray that the right thing would be said by us or someone else they encounter to soften their hearts towards the saving knowledge of Jesus. We also need to tell them not just pray for them! Pray for the open door to speak to them. Pray for God's Word to penetrate their heart. Pray for boldness and courage to open your mouth to speak to them. 

See, we can learn more from Paul than just his teachings about how to live a Christian life!