Do You Know the Calling of Paul?

Do You Know the Calling of Paul?

Samuel Machado

One has to admit without reserve, that Paul is a character hard to be missed out in the New testament read.

The Story of Paul occupies the major portion of the Book of Acts.

The reason for it is simple. The scriptures reveal it clearly and profoundly when you read it diligently.

It is Luke the Doctor, who wrote the book of Acts to Theophilus as the Holy Spirit guided him.

We can read it from the book of Acts chapter 1 and verse 1:

“In my former book, Theophilus, I wrote about all that Jesus began to do and to teach until the day he was taken up to.”

--The first book written by the Doctor was the Gospel of Luke. (One of the four Canonical Gospels)

--He had earlier sent it to Theophilus who was part of the Jewish council and was pondering about the Truth and the WAY.

Luke was also a close companion of Apostle Paul who was part of the mission team and who also documented Paul’s life.

We can see it in the epistle to Colosse written by Paul. Paul mentions about Luke in the following manner:

“Our dear friend Luke the physician and Demas greet you.”

1.        

I hope this introduction is sufficient to start with the Apostle Paul’s Credibility.

Let’s see the way the Web identify him:

“The Apostle Paul influenced Christianity second only to Jesus Christ.

Paul spread the gospel throughout the Roman Empire and wrote 13 books of the Bible. “

“Paul the Apostle, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was an apostle who taught the gospel of Christ to the first-century world.

He is generally considered one of the most important figures of the Apostolic Age.”

These declarations are true about the Apostle.

But did he pay a price for it? What did it cost Paul to be recognized as a close ally to Christ?

Everything.

Yes.

He lost everything for the sake of knowing Christ.

His life is one of the profound lessons in the scripture next to our Lord.

What made him accomplish the call of his life?

Who told him about his calling?

If you learn it yourself from the Lord, you will make a difference too.

Else you will surely miss out or fall short.

Paul had a direct revelation of his call from the Lord Himself and he acted on total submission to the unction of the Holy Ghost.

He had to face rejection among the Apostles initially in his ministry nor recognized as an Apostle. But he did what the Lord called him to do and our Lord did the rest.

If you know your calling like Peter and Paul, you will exactly do only what you have to do.

And it means you won’t do what you shouldn’t have to do. J

And everyone who wants to follow Christ has a call.

But it is one’s responsibility to know it.

Jeremiah 1:5,6

Let’s see the reference to the Church at Ephesus by Paul:

“This letter is from Paul, chosen by the will of God to be an apostle of Christ Jesus.

   I am writing to God's holy people in Ephesus,..”    Ephesians 1:1

Paul has given us a wise example to follow.

He knew his seat of authority and sat on it.

He didn’t ignorantly wander from his call like many Christians do.

Do you know your calling?

Esther knew it. Daniel Knew it. Timothy knew it. Rahab also knew it.

We all who long to follow the Lord should know it.

Sit at the Lord’s feet and ask the Lord to lead you and guide you.

Psalms 32:8, Psalms 143:10, Isaiah 48:17

Your calling need not be the same as the Apostle Paul, it can be different.

But a Christian has to know it. It’s a vital need before he can be equipped for the office.

There is an acceptance on five-fold ministries among the Churches today.

It includes the office of the Apostle, Prophet, Evangelist, Pastor and Teacher. Eph 4:11

We can extend it to administrators, deacons, bishops as well.

The nomenclature alone changes but the qualifications and the responsibility are the same.

We all have a part do.

In today’s Christendom, Church folks think of being a Musician, Composer or an Usher is also a call.

Actually not! It’s a part of the calling they are called with.

Also the Evangelists of 21^st century think they have to do Gospel drives alone.

They fail to understand that Philip the Evangelist had a Church gathering at his home. Acts 6:1-7

And finally, Paul had all the offices in His calling of an Apostle.

He was a Pastor, teacher, evangelist, prophet and an apostle.

And there are folks like Paul today too.

The Apostolic age didn’t end.

My call to you is: Do you know your call?

I personally was called an evangelist, a prophet by the folks. Many also call me with different titles.

But I don’t give an ear to them. It’s not what people call you, but what the Lord calls you.

For I heard the Lord say about my call from the day one on my calling.

I have no doubt about it.

If you know it from the Lord! You will not miss it.

Get Back to the Lord!

Shalom,

Samuel Machado

Called to Serve Christ and his Church

Judges 6:24