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Paul - An Example to Us
Paul was a servant. 2 Tim 2:10 He endured all things for the sake of the elect.
Paul was prayerful.
• Eph 1:16 Therefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus and your love for all the saints, do not cease to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;
• Phil 1:9 And this I pray, that your love may abound still more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, … there is more, vs. 10-11.
• Col 1:9 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding.
• Philemon 4 I thank my God, making mention of you in my prayers,
Paul was not ashamed. 2 Tim 1:8 Therefore do not be ashamed of the testimony of our Lord, nor of me His prisoner.
Paul was a preacher. 2 Tim 1:11 … to which I was appointed a preacher, apostle, and a teacher of the Gentiles.
Paul fought the good fight. 2 Tim 4:7 I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.
Paul wrote 4 letters from Rome while in prison. In each he referred to his imprisonment. In each letter he is exhorting and helping Christians to be faithful. READ again his prayers given above in the 4 letters. Then read the verses below.
• Eph. 6:20 I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak. (Eph. 4:1 the prisoner of the Lord)
• Phil. 1:12-13 … that my chains are in Christ; and most of the brethren in the Lord, having become confident by my chains, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.
• Col. 4:18 Remember my chains. Grace be with you.
• Philemon 10 I appeal to you for my son Onesimus, whom I have begotten while in my chains.
Paul preached under very difficult situations so that Christians would know the Gospel and know Christ. He preached Jesus. He told Timothy in 2 Tim 4:2, Preach the Word. Simple and clear direction. We need to hear. We need to think about our own lives and OUR faith.
Consider his burdens. Read 2 Tim 4:7. He fought the good fight, He finished the race, He kept the faith.
Paul Encourages us to:
• Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. 2 Tim 1:13
• Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, to which you were also called and have confessed the good confession 1 Tim 6:12
• Walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work … Col. 1:10
• And always REMEMBER the words that Paul wrote to the Philippians: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil 4:13
Let us be thankful for little things, kind things. Be looking. Have our eyes and ears OPEN. Col. 3:12, Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.
Words we need to remember. Words we need to put to work in our lives every day.
He asked that we reached toward perfection. To be complete. To be right. To be right before our God.
Paul gave us a complete understanding of God’s love and the love we should have toward others.
We had better understand that it is LOVE that makes for Perfection, completeness. It is love and care for the churches that motivated Paul each and every day.
Phil 3:15 Therefore let us, as many as are mature, have this mind; and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal even this to you. Nevertheless, to the degree that we have already attained, let us walk by the same rule, let us be of the same mind. Brethren, join in the following my example, and note those who so walk, as you have us for a pattern.
Paul had chains and difficulties more they we, can we not be thankful for HIS example of HIS life and be faithful as he was. He was a HERO of faith. We need heroes. If Heb. 11 contained a list of New Testament people of faith, Paul would be on that list.
Be encouraged by Paul to Press On. Have FAITH. Have COURAGE. TRUST God.
