I Was Made A Minister

 
“Of this gospel I was made a minister according to the gift of God's grace, which was given me by the working of his power.” 

Ephesians 3:7 ESV

There is not even a whiff of Paul taking credit for him becoming a minister for Christ. He states that “he was made a minister.” God’s work in Paul made him what he was to become, not the brilliance of Paul’s background as a Pharisee taught by Gamaliel the Elder according to Acts 22:3.  Gamaliel was himself a Pharisee in the tradition of the great Hillel.  A generation before Christ there were two great rabbis, Hillel and Shammai.  While this is a generalization, many of the rabbinic debates of the first century come down to the opinion of Hillel versus Shammai.  With respect to Hellenism, Hillel was more open to Hellenism than Shammai and was therefore more open to cooperation with the Romans.

Evidence for this more accommodating opinion is found in the book of Acts. Gamaliel is reported to have offered somewhat lenient advice concerning the early preaching of the apostles in Acts 5:34-39.  Basically, he said that if the movement is from God then it cannot be stopped, if it is not then it will not succeed. Gamaliel is reflecting the Hillel tradition of non-violence and allowing God to deal with parties that were against the Jews (Polhill, Paul and His Letters, 31).

Saul, or later called Paul after his conversion, met Christ on his way to Damascus. Scripture indicates that Paul was thrown from his horse and fell to the ground after a great light surround him, and a voice spoke out of the light “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” And he said, “Who are you, Lord?” And he said, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. But rise and enter the city, and you will be told what you are to do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, hearing the voice but seeing no one. Saul rose from the ground, and although his eyes were opened, he saw nothing. So they led him by the hand and brought him into Damascus. Acts 9:4-8

A follower named Ananias lived in Damascus, and the Lord spoke to him in a vision. Ananias answered, “Lord, here I am.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the house of Judas on Straight Street. When you get there, you will find a man named Saul from the city of Tarsus. Saul is praying, and he has seen a vision. He saw a man named Ananias coming to him and putting his hands on him, so he could see again.”  Acts 9:10-12 CEV

From the beginning of his service to the Lord, Saul was met with one supernatural encounter after another, thereby proving to Saul that Jesus was more than just a man, He was a divine being who had a mission for Saul to accomplish. “Ananias replied, “Lord, a lot of people have told me about the terrible things this man has done to your followers in Jerusalem. Now the chief priests have given him the power to come here and arrest anyone who worships in your name.”  The Lord said to Ananias, “Go! I have chosen him to tell foreigners, kings, and the people of Israel about me. I will show him how much he must suffer for worshiping in my name.” Acts 9:13-16 CEV

“Ananias left and went into the house where Saul was staying. Ananias placed his hands on him and said, “Saul, the Lord Jesus has sent me. He is the same one who appeared to you along the road. He wants you to be able to see and to be filled with the Holy Spirit.”  Suddenly something like fish scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see. He got up and was baptized”. Acts 9: 17-18 CEV

It is important to understand the significance of Paul's commissioning by Jesus. It was not an ordinary initiation into the Way, as it was called during Paul's time. Every aspect of his calling was designed to emphasize that Paul had no role in it other than to obey. Despite his extensive training in the law and the prophets under one of the most learned teachers in the Pharisaic tradition, it was not enough for his salvation, or anyone else's. Paul encountered Jesus, the very person he had been persecuting, and Jesus responded with mercy and grace, revealing His authority over the entire world and every individual within it.

As Paul was approaching Damascus, he experienced the mighty power of Jesus, which completely changed his life. His life's purpose was transformed into a beautiful mosaic of Christ's plan. Jesus had told Ananias that Paul would spread the word of Christ to foreigners and kings, which is exactly what he did. We are the beneficiaries of that mission today.

As a last thought, Jesus also told Ananias that Paul would suffer much in the name of Jesus. Paul did suffer greatly, but he considered it an honor to suffer for Christ. “Are they servants of Christ? I am a better one—I am talking like a madman—with far greater labors, far more imprisonments, with countless beatings, and often near death. Five times I received at the hands of the Jews the forty lashes less one. 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; 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; in toil and hardship, through many a sleepless night, in hunger and thirst, often without food, in cold and exposure. And, apart from other things, there is the daily pressure on me of my anxiety for all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? Who is made to fall, and I am not indignant?”

“If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.”       2 Corinthians 11:23-30 CEV

Stephen Barnett