Bruce Key – bruce.key@insightbb.com 1

Can We Be Just Like Paul? “Stock of Israel” Tribe of Benjamin “Hebrew of Hebrews” Well educated Never violated his conscience “Called to be an apostle” Guided by the Holy Spirit

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So, Can You And I Be Just Like Him?

No.

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“Duplicating Paul” Cannot be “just like” Paul No one else like him, or Peter, John…

others Cannot duplicate – brings discouragement Appears “less than genuine” Paul’s “status” is intimidating Our efforts are not adequate

Can we even begin to measure up in comparison to Paul?

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Flawed Thinking

Cannot be like Paul the apostle Cannot be like Paul the individual

BUT

We CAN learn to be a spiritual leader like Paul – the man.

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Proper Perspective

Not “larger than life” A life changed by exposure to the

Truth Stronger faith in our Lord Deeper appreciation for the Word Genuine love for our brethren Renewed determination to serve!

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In Other Words…

“I want to become a leader just like Paul –

The Christian.”

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Leadership…Proverbs 17 The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge,

But fools despise wisdom and instruction.

Psalm 119105 Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to

my path.

2 Peter 13 as His divine power has given to us all things that

pertain to life and godliness, through the knowledge of Him who called us by glory and virtue,

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Spiritual Leaders Who are spiritual leaders? Any disciple of Christ Christianity is influence. To have

influence, you must be a spiritual leader.

Galatians 327 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ

have put on Christ. 28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.

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Lessons about True Spiritual Leadership – from Paul

Spiritual leaders are “made,” not “born.” Spiritual leaders do not compromise the Truth Spiritual leaders focus on others Spiritual leaders grow other spiritual leaders Spiritual leaders have vision Spiritual leaders never stop

being “spiritual followers”

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Spiritual Leaders are “Made,” not “Born.”

Spiritual Leaders MUST be trained Saul was trained at the “feet of

Gamaliel” Trained to be a devout Pharisee This very training prompted him

to reject Christ In Damascus – he would be “told what

to do”

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Acts 919 So when he had received food, he was strengthened.

Then Saul spent some days with the disciples at Damascus. 20 Immediately he preached the Christ in the synagogues, that He is the Son of God.

Acts 928 So he was with them at Jerusalem, coming in and

going out.

2 Corinthians 127 And lest I should be exalted above measure by the

abundance of the revelations, a thorn in the flesh was given to me, a messenger of Satan to buffet me…

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What about us?

Have you been exposed to the gospel?

Do you love the Truth (like Paul did?)

Do you share it diligently (like Paul did?)

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Spiritual Leaders Do Not Compromise the Truth – even at Great Personal Cost

Prestigious life of a Pharisee Prominence in the Jewish community Great personal gain for Saul Respected by Jewish LeadershipAnd then, he was exposed to the Truth. After that, his previous life meant nothing

to him.

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Philippians 3:7But what things were gain to me,

these I have counted loss for Christ.

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Give up old life – Receive persecution!

Stoned at Lystra Left to preach in Derbe the next

day Went BACK to preach at Lystra!

Would we dare to preach to the same audience that had done such physical harm to us?

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Do NOT Compromise the Truth

Stood against Judaizing teachers (Acts 15, letter to the Galatians)

Identified the error Exposed the men who taught it Confronted them publicly and

privatelyWhat was the reward for his efforts?

Character assassination from among his own brethren!

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Galatians 4:16  Have I therefore become

your enemy because I tell you the truth?

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Truth at ALL Costs…• “For me, to live is Christ, and to die is gain.”• I have learned in whatever state I am,

therewith to be content.”• “For I am already being poured out as a

drink offering, and the time of my departure is at hand. I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Finally, there is laid up for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will give to me on that Day, and not to me only but also to all who have loved His appearing.”

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What about us?

Compromise the Truth? Be courageous (like Paul)

Zealous to teach it Ready to depend it Convicted enough to expose error Strong enough to endure persecution

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How do we do it?

Know the Truth (2 Timothy 2:15) Can you identify error? Are we convicted enough to

become uncomfortable in stating that something is wrong?

Have you been ridiculed lately?“Yes, and all who desire to live godly

in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution.” 2 Timothy 3:12

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Spiritual Leaders Focus on Others – Not Themselves• Paul was focused on others• Gave up rights and privileges to convert

others1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.

• Made sacrifices so others would not stumble1 Corinthians 10:33 just as I also please all men in all things, not seeking my own profit, but the profit of many, that they may be saved.

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Paul at Athens – Acts 17

City given to idolatry

“his spirit was stirred in him’

What does that mean?

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Paul's concern for the souls of

others prompted him to do

something!

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Focused on his brethren…

“Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.”

-2 Corinthians 11:28

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What about us?

Are we self-sufficient? When is the last time you were

stirred in your spirit by the sin around you?

It is not enough to say we have obeyed

Are you serious? Or are you selfish?

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Spiritual Leaders Grow Other Spiritual Leaders• Paul helped other leaders to grow (Silas,

Timothy, Titus and many others…)• “but Paul chose Silas and departed, being commended by

the brethren to the grace of God. And he went through Syria and Cilicia, strengthening the churches.” Acts 15:40-41

• Acts 16:1 Then he came to Derbe and Lystra. And behold, a certain disciple was there, named Timothy, the son of a certain Jewish woman who believed, but his father was Greek. 2 He was well spoken of by the brethren who were at Lystra and Iconium. 3 Paul wanted to have him go on with him. And he took him and circumcised him because of the Jews who were in that region, for they all knew that his father was Greek. 4 And as they went through the cities, they delivered to them the decrees to keep, which were determined by the apostles and elders at Jerusalem. 5 So the churches were strengthened in the faith, and increased in number daily.

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What about us? Do we encourage others in the

gospel? Bible studies? Discuss scriptures

around the dinner table? Offer to take someone to a gospel

meeting with you? Do you even go to meetings?

Our physical families need teaching, training, encouragement & admonition to grow!

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What about us?- continued

Do we encourage others who take a stand for Truth? Or do we shrink back?

ELDERS – do you provide a balanced spiritual diet? Or is the congregation, like our society, growing obese from too much “sugar” and not enough “vegetables and protein” (Heb 5:12)?

Are we teaching & training our young people, or are we just entertaining them? (Mark 4:19)

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“And the things that you have heard from me

among many witnesses, commit these to faithful men who will be able to

teach others also.”2 Timothy 2:2

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Spiritual Leaders Have Vision Paul’s vision for the gospel was

remarkable Worldwide domination of the

Kingdom of God The gospel should be taken to

every creature …Even the ones who do not want

to hear it!

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What about us?

Do we have the same vision for the gospel?

Where are those who will teach others?

Where is the emphasis on evangelism?

Where are those who still believe that the “gospel is for ALL?”

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“We need men who, while committed to walking

within the Divine Revelation, are looking for ways to reach the

lost – thus enabling the Kingdom to grow!”

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Spiritual Leaders Never Stop Being Spiritual FollowersActs 18:9

Now the Lord spoke to Paul in the night by a vision, “Do not be afraid, but speak, and do not keep silent;

1 Corinthians 2:3

I was with you in weakness, in fear, and in much trembling.

1 Corinthians 2:2

For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.

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Ephesians 618 praying always with all prayer and

supplication in the Spirit, being watchful to this end with all perseverance and supplication for all the saints— 19 and for me, that utterance may be given to me, that I may open my mouth boldly to make known the mystery of the gospel, 20 for which I am an ambassador in chains; that in it I may speak boldly, as I ought to speak.

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I Corinthians 9

24 Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it. 25 And everyone who competes for the prize is temperate in all things. Now they do it to obtain a perishable crown, but we for an imperishable crown. 26 Therefore I run thus: not with uncertainty. Thus I fight: not as one who beats the air. 27 But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection, lest, when I have preached to others, I myself should become disqualified.

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We Can Become Spiritual Leaders like Paul…if we:

Determine that we will never stop following the teachings of Jesus

Look to godly men for teaching and guidance in the Way of God

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Who Among Us Will…

Study, work and sacrifice time? NOT compromise the Truth – even

at personal cost? Encourage others to grow in their

spiritual leadership? Share in the vision that the gospel

STILL has the power to save?

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“Be ye followers of me, even as I

also am of Christ.”

- Paul in 1 Corinthians 11:1

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