Friday, July 23, 2021
Paul’s Ministry and The Holy Spirits Leadership by Donnie O'Fallon
But I do not account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God. Acts 20:24
In Acts 20, we see Paul’s Ministry taking him to Macedonia, Greece, Troas, Miletus and Ephesus. Everywhere he went he taught and discipled in those churches he had helped to establish. We are told in scripture, Paul preached and taught well into the night at Troas, and at midnight, a young man named Eutychus went to sleep and fell out a third story window. They said, “he was taken up dead…”, but Paul gathered him into his arms and told them, “Don’t be alarmed, for his life is in him.” They broke bread together, conversed and took the youth away alive and the scripture says, “they were not a little comforted,” meaning, they were rejoicing.
The signs and miracles seen in Acts were an attestation of Gods hand and anointing being upon those performing the miracles to exaltation of Christ and to the glory of God. The third person of the Trinity, The Spirit of the Living God, had an integral part in the of the expansion of the First Century Church. He still desires to have the same powerful influence in NSBC if we will but believe and allow Him to do so through us.
It seemed that everywhere the Apostle Paul went, he either started a revival or a riot. In going to Ephesus next, he called the elders together there and shared with them (v. 17-21) of his ministry among them. But in verse 22 - 24 we read the compulsion and commitment of Christ’s calling upon Paul’s. “And now, behold, I am going up to Jerusalem, constrained by the Holy Spirit, not knowing what will happen to me there, …“ and in verse 24, he hears his hearts conviction… “But I don’t account my life of any value nor as precious to myself, if only I may finish my course and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify of the gospel of the grace of God.” We see in theses verses, not how much of the Holy Spirit Paul had, but how much Paul’s heart the Holy Spirit had. Friends, He had Paul lock, stock and barrel! A lot of things happened to the Great Apostle Paul. He would go to Rome in the bow of a ship in shackles, ultimately to be beheaded.
It was William Carry, the great missionary spokesman that said, “The world has yet to see what God can do through a man, or a woman, who is totally committed to Him.” What is your level of commitment to the Lord Jesus Christ and his calling up on your life? A calling to be a husband or wife, a teacher, a nurse, a doctor, or a student? Have others been able to see the supernatural working of God’s Holy Spirit in your life because of your level of commitment to Christ and His Kingdom and His calling in your life?
Wherever you are in your pilgrimage of life you can become, “that vessel unto honor.” Humble yourself before Him now and simply say, “Dear Lord please have all of me there is to your glory and to the exaltation of Jesus in my life, Amen.”
