Paul’s Passion for the Gospel

The Passion of Paul for the Gospel

In your own words, how would you describe the Apostle Paul? ______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

Php 3:7-11 NIV  But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ.  (8)  What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ  (9)  and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ—the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith.  (10)  I want to know Christ—yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death,  (11)  and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead.

Rom 9:1-4a NIV I speak the truth in Christ—I am not lying, my conscience confirms it through the Holy Spirit— (2) I have great sorrow and unceasing anguish in my heart. (3) For I could wish that I myself were cursed and cut off from Christ for the sake of my people, those of my own race, (4) the people of Israel.

2Co 11:24-27 ESV Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. (25) Three times I was beaten with rods. Once I was stoned. Three times I was shipwrecked; a night and a day I was adrift at sea; (26) on frequent journeys, in danger from rivers, danger from robbers, danger from my own people, danger from Gentiles, danger in the city, danger in the wilderness, danger at sea, danger from false brothers; (27) in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure.

1Co 9:16 NIV84 Yet when I preach the gospel, I cannot boast, for I am compelled to preach. Woe to me if I do not preach the gospel!

Eph 6:18-20 NIV84 And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the saints. (19) Pray also for me, that whenever I open my mouth, words may be given me so that I will fearlessly make known the mystery of the gospel, (20) for which I am an ambassador in chains. Pray that I may declare it fearlessly, as I should.

1Co 9:20-23 ESV To the Jews I became as a Jew, in order to win Jews. To those under the law I became as one under the law (though not being myself under the law) that I might win those under the law. (21) To those outside the law I became as one outside the law (not being outside the law of God but under the law of Christ) that I might win those outside the law. (22) To the weak I became weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all people, that by all means I might save some. (23) I do it all for the sake of the gospel, that I may share with them in its blessings.

Php 1:12-18a ESV  I want you to know, brothers, that what has happened to me has really served to advance the gospel,  (13)  so that it has become known throughout the whole imperial guard and to all the rest that my imprisonment is for Christ.  (14)  And most of the brothers, having become confident in the Lord by my imprisonment, are much more bold to speak the word without fear.  (15)  Some indeed preach Christ from envy and rivalry, but others from good will.  (16)  The latter do it out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel.  (17)  The former proclaim Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely but thinking to afflict me in my imprisonment.  (18)  What then? Only that in every way, whether in pretense or in truth, Christ is proclaimed, and in that I rejoice.

Php 1:18b-27 ESV Yes, and I will rejoice, (19) for I know that through your prayers and the help of the Spirit of Jesus Christ this will turn out for my deliverance, (20) as it is my eager expectation and hope that I will not be at all ashamed, but that with full courage now as always Christ will be honored in my body, whether by life or by death. (21) For to me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. (22) If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. (23) I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. (24) But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. (25) Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, (26) so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again. (27) Only let your manner of life be worthy of the gospel of Christ, so that whether I come and see you or am absent, I may hear of you that you are standing firm in one spirit, with one mind striving side by side for the faith of the gospel,

What kind of a man says these things?

What kind of a man lives these things?

How sold out to the Gospel, how sold out to Jesus do you think Paul was?

• 80%?
• 85%?
• 90%?
• 95%?

Now how about us?

• What level of risk are we willing to undertake for the Gospel?
• What Journey are we willing to take for the Gospel?
• What rejection are willing to endure for the Gospel?
• Is it a forethought, or an afterthought?

How sold out to the Gospel,… how sold out to Jesus are we?

• 5%?
• 10%?
• 15%?

Can we each ask God to give us a little more courage?

to give us a little more focus?

to give us a little more passion for the Gospel?

Can we ask God to move us from a 5% to a 15%?     Or from a10% to a 15%?

Can we ask God for maybe even a bit more?

Can we ask God to give us a new love and a new compassion for the lost?

Can we ask Him to give us a new desire to see the lost begin walking with Christ?