Man on Fire: Wrap-Up

If we as Christians could use just 10 percent of the fire inside of us that Paul had for the people of his time, there would not be a single aborigine in the jungle or the ruler of any nation who would not know Jesus Christ. Plain and simple.

I wanted to highlight Paul's unwavering commitment to spreading the gospel on purpose. Paul had to see the light; literally, to be awakened. Most of us will not experience such a drastic circumstance, but should that not make us even more blessed?

God will come to you, and I, and all of us in different ways. What God desires for us to have is a belief in Christ and a personal relationship with Him. We are also then called to "Spread the Good News;" just as Paul did, with the gifts we have and those we can harness to glorify Him to reach others.

In Part I, I shared with you the complete one-hundred and eighty degree turn that Paul made in his thinking. His once self-proclaimed attitude and display as the "Chief of Sinners" then became a man that can easily and undoubtedly better be described as a "Man on Fire," for Christ.

Ananias went to him in Damascus as he was told, placed his hands on Paul's eyes and he could see. The Bible records that something resembling scales fell from Paul's eyes. But not unlike many passages in the Bible, we see time in prayer prior to God sending leaders out to the masses on their mission. For Paul it was 3 days.

In Part II, we witness Paul take immediate action. He begins to preach in the cities, squares and synagogues. To any group that would listen, Paul shares boldly that Jesus Christ is Lord.

We also see the initial disbelief, as they recognize Paul as Saul of Tarsus; a man who had taken hostage and promised to imprison any who believed in Jesus. Despite this view from the masses, he carried out his mission which the Lord had set forth.

I note what I believe are 5 crucial steps to an effective ministry:
1) Seek counsel
2) Take immediate action; do not delay
3) He adopted his new belief with conviction, and he took action
4) He did not waiver. Paul had a personal mission to fulfill
5) Paul received power. Be confident in the realization that God will take the lead and make you successful

Continuing in Part III, I point out that you will be persecuted for your faith. You may not die; as more than 100,000 Christians on the mission field do each year, but your personal persecution will come in a variety of forms.

Paul had to "run" many times to escape death. He knew it was better to be alive. Cheating death, time after time, was necessary for him to reach the masses. Paul explains the prize for "running the race for Christ. I shared with you about the "Imperishable Crown," 1 of the 5 that can become an offering when we meet Christ to lay at His feet, as a display of our belief, and the action taken thereof, to reach people in the name of Jesus Christ. It is our job, to run a good race.

The question I presented that relates directly to 1 Corinthians 9:24-25 is, "What can I sacrifice today and this week in my mission for the Lord?"

Each of our answers differ. The important thing is to do what we are called to do with the individual gifts that we possess. Opposition is a certainty. My challenge to you is to embrace opposition, define your audience, and take immediate action to begin and end your personal mission before your journey to meet the almighty God.

In Part IV, I begin that God uses ordinary people to do extraordinary things. This is undoubtedly and overarching thing throughout the Bible. Beginning in Genesis, we see God declare to Abraham, that a ninety-years old, that he will be the "Father of All Nations." He will even have to denounce Sarah as his wife, and lie that he is his sister, to pass by those who would harm her. Once again, we see God explain to Abraham what he is going to do. His message to Abraham is not known to others. Tis is an example of what Biblical scholars call "Theopology."

Many times God uses miracles performed by these ordinary disciples to validate that these actions or circumstance could only be valid as coming from the Lord. We still see disbelief and opposition, such as that described in Acts 14:8-11, (a miracle) and in Acts 14:15-20, disbelief, opposition and a "near death" experience for Paul. He is healed, and begins again on his journey.

Part V is about keeping a view of our vision, and taking long-term action as a display of our belief. Our personal mission for God cannot be completed in a day, two weeks, a month or even a year. It must be a process that is honed and refined and fulfilled. We must continue boldly on "our race."

God takes time in developing leaders. We see Paul return to Jerusalem, a place where he was fourteen years earlier at the beginning of his mission. For King David, his gestation period was nearly plus or minus a few; thirty years. Jesus's personal and the most important mission displayed in the Bible, took thirty-three ears; the totality of his existence on earth.

In Paul's case; his return to Jerusalem, pointed out to him in a vision, was to measure the "effectiveness" in his mission. He met with leaders to see how his early preaching's had impacted the Gentiles in Jerusalem. He had belief, commitment, conviction, desire, intestinal fortitude and took the necessary action; immediately, to reach God's people. He knew that those who came to believe would be eternally blessed.

Of particular note is my reference to Philippians 3:7-9. We should all be so lucky to be able to lay down our personal gains on earth, to obtain the gains in eternal form. Paul was willing to put it all on the line. Limb, body, wealth or no wealth, and life itself. All gains are worth losing, to gain Christ.

Finally in Part VI, we realize we have covered a lot of ground. Paul is a "Man on Fire" for God. I admit that I personally, and we as a body of Christians will struggle if we focus our aim on "winning the race" for God.

Acts 13:47 says that we are commanded to be disciples. We are not all called to be missionaries in the Congo, the Amazonian jungles, or even to the Eskimos in Antarctica. But we are all called.

Persecution is not an excuse for our mission to be derailed. Not opposition in any form; including death.

I used the "Prayer of Jabez" as only one of many that can help us to build our personal "missionary backbone." I finish by laying out a 7-step action plan.

1) Ask God to take your reigns; and be your light and your lead
2) Use the Bible as you "Guide-book" or "Workbook"
3) Pray! God will provide counsel, guidance and help you gain maturity to be effective on your mission
4) Have an "Accountability Partner"
5) Ask God to place the appropriate people as your path is defined and becomes more clear
6) Walk boldly as your path is defined over time and is revealed with clarity
7) Put in the work to mature

To sum up the parts that will make the whole would be the following:  Be on Fire for God, immediately act and change and grow, know that you will face opposition and embrace it, realize that God will use what you believe are an ordinary skill-set to do extraordinary things, hone and perfect your craft for reaching God's people and finally take the 7-step action plan as your guide.

We should all be able to fulfill our mission. And in the process, if we can see us winning the race, we will be blessed beyond imagination. That, I promise you!