“Paul: Grace, Grit, and Growth” Galatians 1:13-22;
II Cor. 4:7-9 9/28/08
One of the greatest preachers of all time, Chrysostom, said
reading Paul’s letters was like listening to a spiritual trumpet and roused him
as nothing else could. He went on to say that he was “grieved and in pain” that
more people didn’t know Paul better. Paul has written about one third of the
New Testament and traditionally is attributed the author of 14 books (though
some scholars dispute Paul’s authorship) and founded 20-30 churches. The Roman
Catholics have declared this the year of Paul’s 2000th birthday.
There have been a number of books coming out in the last couple of years about
Paul in recognition of his 2000th birthday- including books by Beth
Moore, Chuck Swindoll, feminist theologians, Roman Catholic theologians, and
many films have been made pointing to this 2nd millennium of the
Apostle Paul . Paul without doubt is the greatest Christian missionary of all
time. He was one of the first commissioned missionaries that brought the gospel
outside Palestine to the northern Mediterranean, to Asia Minor, and to Europe.
By most accounts he was the greatest Christian theologian after Christ himself.
I say all this to point out that on an intellectual level he
deserves our attention today. But even more importantly, on an emotional level
we need to look at Paul today. I believe that what he had we need today. We
can learn from him. He was a man that many would have considered stuck in sin,
but he found a way out. He points us to that way. There are many who say today
that there is no way out of our predicament- but Paul is an example that you
can’t count out God’s grace. He was a man who was put down, beaten down, put in
the worst kind of economic and physically despairing situations, yet he showed
an amazing amount of grit. We can learn from Paul’s grit (not grits- mind
you). I also think Paul was a person who grew a lot, and sought to grow. He
had (in Beth Moore’s term) a “Pried open mind.” Today, with so many so closed
minded, there is a need to listen and to grow.
I. PAUL WAS A SINNER IN NEED OF GRACE
It is important to see the transformation of Paul. Paul’s
conversion was sudden, but it also was for the long haul. Paul considered
himself the “chief of sinners” ( I Tim. 1:15). Why did this person who was the
chief of missionaries and theologians also consider himself the chief of
sinners? He persecuted the church and took part in the killing of Christians
before his conversion. He was a leader of those who went from house to house to
arrest Christians. He held the coats and gave his approval to the killing of
one of the deacons, Stephen. It was this martyrdom that led to the beginning of
persecution that scattered the Christians around the world. Now Paul, before he
started arresting and taking part in the killing of Christians, was a good man.
He was a legalistically, secularly, and religiously a good man. He obeyed the
law down to the letter. He tried very, very hard to do what was required of
him. He no doubt gave to the poor. He no doubt did religious things like read
the Bible, go to worship, pray. But he was never quite good enough. He thought
he was being good when he was doing wrong things- like murdering Stephen. He
was trying really hard to earn his way to heaven, and he knew he wasn’t getting
there. There are all kinds of people trying to earn their way to heaven today-
just like Paul did. There are people who think if they do all the right
Christian things- read the Bible, pray, go to church, help out a neighbor, don’t
cheat on the family or the government- that they will earn God’s favor even to
the point of heaven itself. Paul thought like that. But he was wrong.
There are others who think if they help the poor, recycle, take
care of their carbon footprint, seek peace within themselves that they will
somehow achieve ultimate peace and heaven. But they are wrong- you can never be
good enough. There is always one more thing you can do.
It is very important that we be kind, good, considerate,
generous people. But we should recognize the limitations of our efforts. You
can never be good enough. We need more than our ability. We need God’s power,
God’s grace, God’s help in our lives.
Paul was converted on the way to do something evil that he
thought was good- arrest more Christians. He was made blind in order that he
could see. He was made blind in order to help those gentiles in darkness begin
to see the light.
Listening to the debates and to the news about the economy I
believe the quote by Leo Tolstoy who said, “Everybody wants to change humanity,
but no one wants to change himself.” The way to change greed in America does
not begin, I think on Wall Street or even Main Street. It begins on your street
at your address. The old song says, “Let peace begin on earth and let it begin
with me.” We could say, Let excessive spending stop on earth and let it begin
with me.” Let there be no doubt about it- overspending and greed are not just
physical problems- they are spiritual problems. If God can change Paul, God can
change us. In the past Christians have listened to the scripture about
restraint- restraint in terms of excessive spending in order to help the needy;
restraint in terms of selfish use of time instead of using time for the glory of
God- who gives us time; the old Christian motto was to live simply that others
might live. Paul began his life as a wealthy man- part of his conversion was to
give up his power and wealth to help others.
II. PAUL WAS A PERSECUTED MAN IN NEED OF GRIT
In our day, we need to recognize Paul’s ideas about suffering,
grace, and help didn’t come in a vacuum. Paul experienced tremendous suffering,
and was able to endure it by God’s grace and help.
Maybe you feel that you are not popular enough. Have you ever
been run out of town? Paul was. In fact it happened time after time. They
tried to stone him in Thessalonika. He was doing great Christian work in
Damascus so they had to let him down over the wall at night in a basket to
escape the soldiers. He was almost torn apart in Jerusalem for going to
worship. Maybe you feel your life is the pits. But let me ask you, is it worse
than Paul’s? From the very beginning, Paul’s life by worldly standards was
horrible.
He describes his ministry in II Corinthians 11 as this- he was
imprisoned many times, he was beaten so many times he couldn’t count; he was
often in danger of death; five times he had received the 39 lashes; he was
beaten with rods three times; he was shipwrecked; robbed. He has been sleepless
many a night. He was left hungry, thirsty, and cold. But then he says that if
he has to boast he won’t boast in his grit- he boasts in his weakness. He says
that when he was weak God’s grace was strong. When we have no hope in our own
powers, and we turn to God- we see Him work. I think this is especially true
of today. If our hope is on our own ability to bail ourselves out, then our
hope is little. I would ask that we not be ashamed to pray, and that our
elected officials not be ashamed to call out for God’s help publicly and
privately. God’s grace, God’s help is there for us.
Paul was able to say that nothing can separate us from God’s
love- not powers, principalities, evil, sin, but we are more than conquerors
because Christ has conquered for us. How did Paul get such strength? He got it
from his faith. Don’t we want give the strength to endure tough decisions,
tough times to our children? I remember going to Rome and standing in the
coliseum- where hundreds of Christians were martyred. There is a cross there to
commemorate them. Thousands- similar to the football crowds of today- would
come and watch them die. Paul went to Rome- appealing to Caesar, facing the
danger freely that ultimately would kill him. I wondered if I would have his
grit?
Paul knew of God’s strength, even in the very hard times. We
need to learn this again. Paul said, I believe inspired by the Spirit, that God
told him, “My grace is sufficient for you for my power is made perfect in
weakness.”
III. PAUL WAS A SMALL MAN IN NEED OF GROWTH
He says he holds this treasure in jars of clay. In other words,
the treasure of the great news is held out by a humble man. There is an early,
second century description of Paul: He was described as bold legged, bald
headed, thick eye browed, and short. Not pleasing to the eyes. He had a
problem stuttering. Not pleasing to the ears. He had a physical problem that
he called a thorn in the flesh- he was not healthy.
Yet Paul was able to write some of the best passages in the
English language (inspired by the Spirit)- Love is patient, love is kind…all
things work together for good to those who love God…I can do all things through
Christ who strengthens me; My God shall supply all your need.
Maybe you feel like you are a drop in the ocean. Maybe you have
low expectations for yourself. Don’t seek fame or fortune- but also don’t avoid
that God might use you more than you realize.
At the Pan American Games, Greg Louganis was asked how he coped
with the stress of international diving competition. He replied that he climbs
to the board, takes a deep breath, and thinks, "Even if I blow this dive, my
mother will still love me." Then he goes for excellence. At the beginning of
each day, how good it would be for each of us to take a deep breath, say, "Even
if I blow this, my heavenly Father will still love me", and then, assured of
grace, go into the day seeking a perfect 10! Paul knew God loved him despite
his sin, despite his persecution, and despite his looks or speech. We need to
know of that love again.
Paul knew about God’s grace that forgave Him. He knew about
God’s grace to endure persecution. He knew of God’s grace to grow.
Paul was a sinful, persecuted, small man whom God used to change the world in a
big way. My challenge to you is to not think that just because you feel
burdened with your own failures, your own guilt; do not think that just because
you have run up against brick wall after brick wall; do not think that because
you maybe you aren’t as handsome, as beautiful, or as rich as you want to be
that God cannot use you for His purposes.
Paul once said, “Imitate me as I imitate Christ.” That is good
advice. Let us learn from Paul’s grace, grit, and growth! Amen.