To blend means to mix, to unite, to go well together, to harmonize. A blend produces a desired quality. To make that wonderful Jesus personality, your personality must mix—blend—with the Holy Spirit. Paul came into that wonderful blend so perfectly that he wrote: I am ready not to be bound only, but also to die at Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus (Acts 21:13). More than once Paul wrote that he was ready.

Romans 1:15: I am ready to preach the gospel to you that are at Rome also. Again and again, Paul knew he was going into the lions’ den, into the fiery furnace heated hotter than it had ever been. He went just the same. In II Timothy 4:6, we find him saying, For I am now ready to be offered. This is the new Paul saying it.

The old Paul, then called Saul, was anything but ready to do the will of the Lord. He was deceived, thinking that putting Christians to death was the will of God according to the Law. Paul had held the coats of those who stoned Stephen, the first martyr. What a terrible life—having Christians put to death! He was vicious, cruel, devilish. Paul wrote, Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners; of whom I am chief. Howbeit for this cause I obtained mercy, that in me first Jesus Christ might show forth all longsuffering, for a pattern to them which should hereafter believe on him to life everlasting (I Timothy 1:15,16). Before he found Jesus, Paul had fought against Him with all his strength. If a man, once the chief of sinners, could make such a tremendous turnaround in his life, spreading the Gospel in a might way, know that there is hope for you also to be everything the Lord wants you to be. As long as you respond to the Lord, He will not give up on you. Don’t give up on yourself.

Before Paul’s conversion, he had been active as a Pharisee, a man who believed the Law to the letter. Paul wrote, My manner of life from my youth, which was at the first among mine own nation at Jerusalem, know all the Jews; Which knew me from the beginning, if they would testify, that after the most straitest sect of our religion I lived a Pharisee (Acts 26:4,5).

What were the Pharisees? They were a religious party or school among the Jews at the time of Christ that had great political influence even though they were about only six or seven thousand in number. Feeling they were better than anyone else, they called themselves the separate ones. They cared for the minutest formalities imposed by the traditions of the elders, but they did not have the love of God. Ambitious, arrogant, proudly self-righteous—their qualities were contrary to the teaching of Jesus. They hated Jesus, and caused chaos. Jesus denounced them for their hypocrisy. This explains, in part, their intense hostility toward Him. Their influence over the people who had come to believe as they did led to the demand for the crucifixion of Jesus.

Then spake Jesus to the multitude, and to his disciples, Saying, The scribes and the Pharisees sit in Moses’ seat: All therefore whatsoever they bid you observe, that observe and do; but do not ye after their works: for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy burdens and grievous to be borne, and lay them on men’s shoulders; but they themselves will not move them with one of their fingers. But all their works they do for to be seen of men: they make broad their phylacteries, and enlarge the borders of their garments, And love the uppermost rooms at feasts, and the chief seats in the synagogues, And greetings in the markets, and to be called of men, Rabbi, Rabbi. But woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye shut up the kingdom of heaven against men: for ye neither go in yourselves, neither suffer ye them that are entering to go in. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye devour widows’ houses, and for a pretence make long prayer: therefore ye shall receive the greater damnation (Matthew 23:1-7; 13,14). The Pharisees prayed, not for the purpose of seeking God, but so that men would think they were devout.

Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye compass sea and land to make one proselyte, and when he is made, ye make him twofold more the child of hell than yourselves (Matthew 23:15). Ye blind guides, which strain at a gnat, and swallow a camel (verse 24). Hypocrites were laying wait for him, and seeking to catch something out of his mouth, that they might accuse him (Luke 11:54). They would ask Jesus questions to draw Him out so they could trick Him.

Jesus continues His description of the Pharisees: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye make clean the outside of the cup and of the platter, but within they are full of extortion and excess. Thou blind Pharisee, cleanse first that which is within the cup and platter, that the outside of them may be clean also. Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are like unto whited sepulchres, which indeed appear beautiful outward, but are within full of dead men’s bones, and of all uncleanness. Even so ye also outwardly appear righteous unto men, but within ye are full of hypocrisy and iniquity (Matthew 23:25-28). Jesus called the scribes and Pharisees blind guides, fools, whited sepulchres, serpents, generations of vipers. I believe the Lord despised their ways more than He despised the ways of other groups.

And as he spake, a certain Pharisee besought him to dine with him: and he went in, and sat down to meat. And when the Pharisee saw it, he marvelled that he had not first washed before dinner (Luke 11:37,38). Jesus knew all men, knew He was being watched to be accused, and He deliberately did not wash in order to illustrate what was important to God and what was not. And the Lord said unto him, Now do ye Pharisees make clean the outside of the cup and the platter; but your inward part is full of ravening and wickedness. Ye fools, did not he that made that which is without make that which is within also? But woe unto you, Pharisees! for ye tithe mint and rue and all manner of herbs, and pass over judgment and the love of God: these ought ye to have done, and not to leave the other undone (Luke 11:39,40,42). Some people use this scripture to say one need not tithe. But this is not what Jesus was saying. He told the Pharisees that they should tithe, but not ignore the judgment and love of God.

Jesus went on: Woe unto you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! for ye are as graves which appear not, and the men that walk over them are not aware of them (Luke 11:44). Jesus warns others to beware ye of the leaven of the Pharisees, which is hypocrisy (Luke 12:1).

And he spake this parable unto certain which trusted in themselves that they were righteous, and despised others: Two men went up into the temple to pray; the one a Pharisee, and the other a publican. The Pharisee stood and prayed thus with himself, God, I thank thee, that I am not as other men are, extortioners, unjust, adulterers, or even as this publican. I fast twice in the week, I give tithes of all that I possess. And the publican, standing afar off, would not lift up so much as his eyes unto heaven, but smote upon his breast, saying, God be merciful to me a sinner. I tell you, this man went down to his house justified rather than the other: for every one that exalteth himself shall be abased; and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted (Luke 18:9-14). Jesus strongly rebuked the Pharisees, and they, in return, looked on Him as an enemy to be destroyed. Paul was one of this group.

In the seventh chapter of Acts we find that Paul is zealous in his persecutions of Christians. With the Pharisee’s spirit of self-righteousness, of being better than anyone else, Paul hated the name of Jesus. The fame of Jesus burned in the ears of the Pharisees. Jesus had been more condemning of them than even John the Baptist. In their eagerness to destroy all who stood for Jesus, certain ones of the synagogue set up false witnesses to testify against Stephen, a young man who had done great wonders and miracles among the people. As he stood accused before the high priest and others, Stephen preached a great sermon; and when he came to the part in which he called them betrayers and murderers of Jesus, they were cut to the heart and gnashed on him with their teeth. But Stephen rejoiced, for he saw Jesus standing at the right hand of the Lord and the glory of the Lord. They cast him out of the city, and stoned him: and the witnesses laid down their clothes at a young man’s feet, whose name was Saul (Acts 7:58). Paul, called Saul before his conversion, was worthless to God, a troublemaker. And they stoned Stephen, calling upon God, and saying, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. And he kneeled down, and cried with a loud voice, Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep (Acts 7:59,60).

Approvingly, Paul watched the murder of Stephen. And Saul was consenting unto his death. And at that time there was a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all scattered abroad throughout the regions of Judaea and Samaria, except the apostles. And devout men carried Stephen to his burial, and made great lamentation over him. As for Saul, he made havock of the church, entering into every house, and haling men and women committed them to prison. Therefore they that were scattered abroad went every where preaching the word (Acts 8:1-4).

Paul, that young Pharisee, didn’t know what was about to happen to him. He had thought he was untouchable. And Saul, yet breathing out threatenings and slaughter against the disciples of the Lord, went unto the high priest, And desired of him letters to Damascus to the synagogues, that if he found any of this way, whether they were men or women, he might bring them bound unto Jerusalem. And as he journeyed, he came near Damascus: and suddenly there shined round about him a light from heaven: And he fell to the earth, and heard a voice saying unto him, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou me (Acts 9:1-4)?

Imagine his astonishment! Suddenly he was on the ground, blind, hearing a voice accusing him. Paul heard the same voice that the Pharisees had heard calling them hypocrites, fools, whited sepulchres. And he said, Who art thou, Lord? And the Lord said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest: it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks. And he trembling and astonished said, Lord, what wilt thou have me to do? Paul was ready to listen. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the city, and it shall be told thee what thou must do. And the men which journeyed with him stood speechless, hearing a voice, but seeing no man. And Saul arose from the earth; and when his eyes were opened, he saw no man: but they led him by the hand, and brought him into Damascus. And he was three days without sight, and neither did eat nor drink (Acts 9:5-9). Paul the Pharisee, who had been persecuting Christians and having them put to death, met the Master. And there was a certain disciple at Damascus, named Ananias; and to him said the Lord in a vision, Ananias. And he said, Behold, I am here, Lord. And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and inquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight. Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem: And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on thy name. But the Lord said unto him, Go thy way: for he is a chosen vessel unto me, to bear my name before the Gentiles, and kings, and the children of Israel: For I will show him how great things he must suffer for my name’s sake (Acts 9:10-16). Saul, the murdering Pharisee, was chosen to be the great apostle Paul. God can do anything. He can perform any kind of miracle on a human being if he will yield to the Lord.

Ananias went his way, and entered into the house; and putting his hands on him said, Brother Saul, the Lord, even Jesus, that appeared unto thee in the way as thou camest, hath sent me, that thou mightest receive thy sight, and be filled with the Holy Ghost. And immediately there fell from his eyes as it had been scales: and he received sight forthwith, and arose, and was baptized (Acts 9:17,18). He was baptized in the Holy Ghost right away. Paul didn’t tarry for the Holy Ghost day and night, and he didn’t pray and pray to receive salvation. God’s great power came on him and he yielded to it and was immediately transformed. Just a few days earlier he would have delighted in putting Ananias in prison, but now he delighted in the Jesus that Ananias served. Now Paul was humble before the Lord.

And when he had received meat, he was strengthened. Then was Saul certain days with the disciples which were at Damascus. And straightway he preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God (Acts 9:19,20). I marvel at this young man who had been such a hypocrite, such a devilish person, and who then was taken over by the Lord in an instant. When a sinner will truly yield to God, the blood of Jesus cleanses that one. The blood of Jesus can make the vilest sinner free.

But all that heard him were amazed, and said; Is not this he that destroyed them which called on this name in Jerusalem, and came hither for that intent, that he might bring them bound unto the chief priests? But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ (Acts 9:21,22). The Jews wanted to kill Paul, but the disciples helped him escape at night by letting him down the wall of the city in a basket.

At some period in his early ministry, Paul spent three years in the desert in Arabia being taught by the Lord. When he went to Jerusalem to join the disciples, they were all afraid of him and didn’t believe he was a disciple. But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he had seen the Lord in the way, and that he had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him. Which when the brethren knew, they brought him down to Caesarea, and sent him forth to Tarsus (Acts 9:27-30). This man who had been a Pharisee, the chief of sinners who hated and despised everything that Jesus taught and brought, suddenly took center stage in the book of Acts.

Paul never saw Jesus in the flesh. The Lord wanted me to bring these things to you about Paul because He is going to use Paul, saith the Lord, to help the Bride in this final hour come into all His greatness. So many of God’s people have felt unworthy of God using them, deciding that they could not be anything special for God, that they could not really use the power of God. God wants you to think about Paul as Saul the Pharisee; look at the ungodliness in him, and then see how he gave himself to God so completely to be used in an amazing way. Suddenly it happened through the greatness of God.

This is the pouring-out hour of the Holy Spirit. Paul lived in the early pouring out of the Holy Spirit; we live in the last part of the pouring out of the latter rain. And it shall come to pass in the last days, saith God, I will pour out of my Spirit upon all flesh (Acts 2:17). The pouring out of the Holy Spirit transformed Paul into a mighty vessel for the Lord. Suddenly, Paul, taught by the Holy Spirit, was preaching Christ. The Holy Ghost is our great teacher, too. He has come to guide us, to teach us. When God chooses someone to do His work, I that one yields completely, he will be everything God wants him to be.

In the thirteenth chapter of Acts we read that Paul and Barnabas began their first missionary journey. As they ministered to the Lord, and fasted, the Holy Ghost said, Separate me Barnabas and Saul for the work whereunto I have called them (Acts 13:2). Just as everything in the Early Church was directed by the Holy Spirit, everything in this hour must also be directed by the Holy Spirit. And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away. So they, being sent forth by the Holy Ghost, departed (Acts 13:3,4).

Learn the place that God has planned for you to be in; learn to give the Holy Spirit His rightful place, and your life will be changed completely, your answers to prayers in abundance, and your strength in the Lord great, indeed.

At Paphos, Paul and Barnabas were ministering to a deputy, Sergius Paulus, who had called for them and desired to hear the Word of God. But Elymas the sorcerer withstood them, seeking to turn the deputy away from the faith. Then Saul, (who also is called Paul,) filled with the Holy Ghost, set his eyes on him, And said, O full of all subtlety and all mischief, thou child of the devil, thou enemy of all righteousness, wilt thou not cease to pervert the right ways of the Lord? And now, behold, the hand of the Lord is upon thee, and thou shalt be blind, not seeing the sun for a season. And immediately there fell on him a mist and a darkness; and he went about seeking some to lead him by the hand. Then the deputy, when he saw what was done, believed, being astonished at the doctrine of the Lord (Acts 13:9-12).

Paul described the sorcerer as a child of the devil; sorcerers today are still children of the devil. The deputy knew Paul was telling the truth when he saw the power of God move against the ungodly. Paul uncovered the devil, and the deputy was ready to surrender his heart to the Lord.

The Holy Spirit uncovers all spirits that are wrong. He is the Spirit of Truth, and nothing can be concealed in His presence. Because of the Spirit of Truth, the Bride will walk in step with Him in a perfection of love, grace and the greatness of the Lord. Because of the Holy Spirit, she will be a power for Him, doing His whole will just as Paul did. In obedience, love and yielding to the Holy Spirit, the Bride will listen to what the Spirit is saying. After his conversion, Paul did not fail the Holy Spirit in anything.

From Paphos, Paul and Barnabas journeyed to Antioch, where Paul stood up in the synagogue saying, Men of Israel, and ye that fear God, give audience (Acts 13:16). In the power of the Holy Ghost, Paul preached Christ. And the next sabbath day came almost the whole city together to hear the word of God (Acts 13:44). People come when the pure Word of God is preached. But when the Jews saw the multitudes, they were filled with envy, and spake against those things which were spoken by Paul, contradicting and blaspheming. Then Paul and Barnabas waxed bold (verses 45,46). Their boldness came through the Holy Ghost. The Early Church prayed for boldness in the Lord. You, too, can have that boldness if you dare pray for it. Paul said, It was necessary that the word of God should first have been spoken to you: but seeing ye put it from you, and judge yourselves unworthy of everlasting life, lo, we turn to the Gentiles (Acts 13:46).

The Jews were even more incensed to hear someone say they had judged themselves unworthy of eternal life. Anyone who rejects Jesus, the door to Heaven, the foundation of faith, is unworthy. There is no other way to everlasting life with God than through Jesus. If you reject Him, you will not see Heaven.

Paul’s sermon continued: For so hath the Lord commanded us, saying, I have set thee to be a light of the Gentiles, that thou shouldest be for salvation unto the ends of the earth (Acts 13:47). Paul had the light to shine upon multitudes of Gentiles. And when the Gentiles heard this, they were glad, and glorified the word of the Lord: and as many as were ordained to eternal life believed. And the word of the Lord was published throughout all the region. But the Jews stirred up the devout and honourable women, and the chief men of the city, and raised persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them out of their coasts. But they shook off the dust of their feet against them, and came unto Iconium. And the disciples were filled with joy, and with the Holy Ghost (Acts 13:48-52).

Some people think they can never let go of those who will not hear, but in Luke 9:5 Jesus told the disciples that whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them (Luke 9:5). When the Lord lets me know He has finished with a person, I shake the dust off; I let him alone. As long as the Holy Spirit is working with the person, I will work with that one; but when the Lord backs away, I shake the dust off in obedience to the direction we have from the Holy Scripture. You waste time working with a person on whom the Lord has given up. When the Lord gives up on a person, it’s time for you to give up on him also, but as long as God is dealing, keep praying for him.

God’s miracle power began to work through Paul when God gave him the Holy Ghost. In spite of all the persecutions and trials Paul endured, the Lord was able to pour through him the fourteen Pauline epistles. God gave us His Word; God used Paul more than He used all the other disciples combined. In studying the Pauline epistles, we find that Paul is the one who received the main direction for the Church. He had the revelation about the nine gifts of the Holy Spirit and the nine fruits of the Spirit. He is the one who gave definite directions on teaching and convincing people of the Resurrection. He told us much about the coming of the Lord and gave us the great love of God in the love chapter, I Corinthians 13. Through Paul, God gave the faith chapter, the eleventh chapter of Hebrews. Remember, Paul never saw Jesus in the flesh, never sat at his feet to be taught in that way. Paul’s teaching came through the Holy Ghost because Paul yielded so completely to Him.

In this day many translations of the Bible have been printed for the purpose of simplifying the Word of God. When people lack the Holy Ghost, the one who gives the understanding of the Word, they think a new translation is the answer. Some of the translations have omitted part of the Bible. Be careful. Take every translation to the King James Version. Walk close to the Lord so that the Holy Ghost can give you the understanding you must have. The enemy is doing everything he can to divert you from the pure truth of God. Know the Word thoroughly; be able to separate the truth from man’s opinions so often found in Bible commentaries. Many of man’s ideas are wrong about such things as the Holy Ghost baptism, the second and third comings of the Lord. The Holy Spirit is here to help you separate the true from the false. Study the Word with the teacher of all teachers, the Holy Ghost Himself. The Lord wants us to have this teacher from On High, wants every teacher and preacher in His Church to be filled and thrilled with the Holy Ghost.

At one time Paul was stoned and left for dead, but as the disciples stood round about him, he rose up, and came into the city: and the next day he departed with Barnabas to Derbe (Acts 14:20). The very next day after being stoned and left for dead, Paul continued his work for God. He let nothing stop him. Why let anything stop you? Why allow every little hurt to turn into a hindrance? Why sit by the wayside rubbing your bruises when you could be going down the road talking about Jesus and winning souls? The Lord is urging you ever onward to bring in the harvest. Decide once and for all that the Lord does love you. He is tired of people doubting His love, love that He proved to all when He sent His Son to die on Calvary for you.

Stand tall, put on the whole armor of God. Paul is the one who told us about wearing the whole armor of God. It’s time for us to use it daily.

Directed by the Holy Ghost, Paul was on the move. In some places the Lord settled him to teach for a period of time, for a year or two. Paul went to Jerusalem and there he found much disputing about the circumcision of believers. But when Paul and Barnabas declared what miracles and wonders God had wrought among the Gentiles, the apostles in Jerusalem wrote letters saying, Forasmuch as we have heard, that certain which went out from us have troubled you with words, subverting your souls, saying, Ye must be circumcised, and keep the law: to whom we gave no such commandment. For it seemed good to the Holy Ghost, and to us, to lay upon you no greater burden than these necessary things; That ye abstain from meats offered to idols, and from blood, and from things strangled, and from fornication: from which if ye keep yourselves, ye shall do well (Acts 15:24,28,29).

Paul depended on the Holy Ghost to teach him. He stayed with the Lord, fasted and prayed to give people what the Holy Ghost would have them know. Paul was much in fastings.

In Acts 15:40 we read that Paul and Silas began a second missionary journey. I preached my first sermon from Paul’s experiences on this journey. Only eighteen at the time, I was asked to read three verses in a cottage prayer service, and when I did a voice said, “Look up.” I looked up; my head went into the glory of God and I preached. I have been preaching ever since.

Paul had the power to cast out a fortunetelling devil. For it, Paul and Silas were beaten, thrown into prison. And at midnight Paul and Silas prayed, and sang praises unto God: and the prisoners heard them. And suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundations of the prison were shaken: and immediately all the doors were opened, and every one’s bands were loosed (Acts 16:25,26). Even in the desperate situation they found themselves, Paul and Silas had Holy Ghost victory and they sang and praised the Lord. Many people are depressed and feel unloved even when things are going well for them. They haven’t been beaten, they are not in prison; but they are moody and self-pitying. Where is their song of salvation? Where is their victory in Jesus?

Paul and Silas suffered, but God moved in a great way for them, and they won souls for the Lord that night. There is a price for soul winning. How much are you willing to pay for souls? The Bride will pay a great price in this final hour. It’s time to decide where you will stand, time to decide whether or not you will put your life on the line for the cause of Christ.

In the eighteenth chapter of Acts, we find Paul at Corinth. I have been to Corinth. The first time I was there, I was thrilled to death. I had read and re-read the books Paul wrote to the Corinthians, and now I was where Paul had once walked and talked. I thought of the opposition he found in Corinth. Then spake the Lord to Paul in the night by a vision, Be not afraid, but speak, and hold not thy peace: For I am with thee, and no man shall set on thee to hurt thee: for I have much people in this city. And he continued there a year and six months, teaching the word of God among them (Acts 18:9-11).

In all his journeys Paul faced sufferings. At Ephesus Paul met certain disciples. He said unto them, Have ye received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? And they said unto him, We have not so much as heard whether there be any Holy Ghost. And he said unto them, Unto what then were ye baptized? And they said, Unto John’s baptism. Then said Paul, John verily baptized with the baptism of repentance, saying unto the people, that they should believe on him which should come after him, that is, on Christ Jesus. When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands upon them, the Holy Ghost came on them; and they spake with tongues, and prophesied (Acts 19:2-6). Paul laid his hands on them and they received the Holy Ghost. The Lord taught Paul much about speaking in tongues, the regulation of tongues in the congregation and of the devotional tongue.

Those who don’t understand the Holy Ghost do not understand what God gave Paul. They have denied much of the Holy Ghost baptism, been confused about the rest; and that is the reason many churches are spiritually dead today, preaching a social gospel instead of the full Gospel of Jesus Christ. It takes the Holy Spirit to make people alive in the Lord.

From the time Paul appeared on the scene in Acts, most of the book is about him and how the Holy Ghost worked through him. Study the book of Acts and the greatness of the works of the Holy Ghost in the Early Church.

Paul went before rulers and people in high places telling them about Christ. Felix, a governor of Judea, sent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Christ. And as he [Paul] reasoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, Felix trembled, and answered, Go thy way for this time; when I have a convenient season, I will call for thee (Acts 24:24,25).

King Agrippa also was shaken, but neither would he surrender. Paul said, King Agrippa, believest thou the prophets? I know that thou believest. Then Agrippa said unto Paul, Almost thou persuadest me to be a Christian (Acts 26:27,28).

Paul did not back down from anyone. Just as God had a man then, God will have a Bride in this last hour. The Bride will stand, be a witness for Christ. She will pull down Heaven as well as stir up all hell. There is no need to pamper yourself; decide to put on the whole armor of God, and when you have done all to stand, then run no more, but stand. Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand. Stand therefore (Ephesians 6:13,14). What a soul winner the Bride will be! The Lord wanted Paul to go before Caesar, and so Paul appealed to Caesar. Then said Agrippa unto Festus, This man might have been set at liberty, if he had not appealed unto Caesar (Acts 26:32). Paul said, I was not disobedient unto the heavenly vision (Acts 26:19). You cannot afford to be disobedient to your heavenly calling. The Lord has called you for this final hour, called you to bring in the endtime harvest. He has called you and given you a heavenly vision of His great pouring out of the Holy Spirit. He has given you the endtime message, the endtime signs, letting you know that this is the final hour of the Gentiles. What are you going to do about it?

Paul was put on a ship to start his journey to Italy. Now when much time was spent, and when sailing was now dangerous, because the fast was now already past, Paul admonished them, And said unto them, Sirs, I perceive that this voyage will be with hurt and much damage, not only of the lading and ship, but also of our lives. Nevertheless the centurion believed the master and the owner of the ship, more than those things which were spoken by Paul (Acts 27:9-11). Two hundred seventy-six people were on board that ship and soon they ran into a tempestuous wind. And we being exceedingly tossed with a tempest, the next day they lightened the ship (Acts 27:18).

When the fourteenth night fell, they drew near land. Fearing they would crash on the rocks, they cast out four anchors and wished for the day. The shipmen were about to abandon ship but Paul said to the centurion and soldiers, Except these abide in the ship, ye cannot be saved. Then the soldiers cut off the ropes of the boat, and let her fall off. And while the day was coming on, Paul besought them all to take meat, saying, This day is the fourteenth day that ye have tarried and continued fasting, having taken nothing. Wherefore I pray you to take some meat: for this is for your health: for there shall not an hair fall from the head of any of you (Acts 27:31-34). In the light of day, they discovered a creek into which they tried to sail the ship. The ship ran aground in the place where the two waters met, the forepart stuck fast, and the back part was broken with the violence of the waves.

The soldiers wanted to kill the prisoners lest they escape, but the centurion, willing to save Paul, kept them from their purpose; and commanded that they which could swim should cast themselves first into the sea, and get to land: And the rest, some on boards, and some on broken pieces of the ship. And so it came to pass, that they escaped all safe to land (Acts 27:43,44).

On shore Paul gathered a bundle of sticks to build a fire and was bitten by a poisonous snake. The people thought he was a murderer who had escaped the vengeance of the sea only to be killed by a snake. Howbeit they looked when he should have swollen, or fallen down dead suddenly: but after they had looked a great while, and saw no harm come to him, they changed their minds, and said that he was a god (Acts 28:6). While on that island, Paul laid hands on a man and the Lord healed him. So when this was done, others also, which had diseases in the island, came, and were healed (Acts 28:9).

Finally Paul arrived in Rome. Many came to where he stayed, heard him testify about the Kingdom of God and were persuaded to accept Jesus. He spoke from morning to evening; some believed and some didn’t. And Paul dwelt two whole years in his own hired house, and received all that came in unto him, Preaching the kingdom of God, and teaching those things which concern the Lord Jesus Christ, with all confidence, no man forbidding him (Acts 28:30,31).

Carefully study Paul in the Acts of the Apostles. Put yourself in his place. I don’t imagine any of you have been as bad as Paul was when he was called Saul. Probably none of you had Christians put to death or were the chief of sinners. God used this man in a miraculous way. The blood of Jesus transformed him into a man pure and holy. He preached against all sin; he preached holy living, that the soul that sins will die. Paul taught Jews and Gentiles alike that salvation comes through none other than Jesus Christ.

For I am not ashamed of the gospel of Christ: for it is the power of God unto salvation to every one that believeth; to the Jew first, and also to the Greek. The Gospel was first for the Jews, but now it’s for everyone. For therein is the righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith (Romans 1:16,17).

In Romans chapter two, Paul deals with the righteous judgment of God and with the Jews and the Law. In chapter three, Paul writes that no one is righteous through the Law outside of the blood of Jesus. The righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe (Romans 3:22). Righteousness comes through faith in Jesus. All the promises of God are realized through faith.

Paul deals with justification: Being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ: By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand (Romans 5:1,2).

Paul writes about the first Adam and the second Adam: For as by one man’s disobedience [Adam’s] many were made sinners, so by the obedience of one [Jesus Christ] shall many be made righteous (Romans 5:19). Paul makes clear that we can live without sin. Shall we continue in sin, that grace may abound? God forbid. How shall we, that are dead to sin, live any longer therein (Romans 6:1,2)? Knowing this, that our old man is crucified with him, that the body of sin might be destroyed, that henceforth we should not serve sin. For he that is dead is freed from sin. Likewise reckon ye also yourselves to be dead indeed unto sin, but alive unto God through Jesus Christ our Lord. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, that ye should obey it in the lusts thereof (Romans 6:6,7,11,12).

How can you be free from sin and still be sinning? You are either free from sin or else you are in bondage. Paul teaches that we are servants of righteousness and not servants of sin. In the seventh chapter Paul teaches about the problem of indwelling sin.

Chapter eight begins telling us about life in the Holy Spirit. There is therefore now no condemnation to them which are in Christ Jesus, who walk not after the flesh, but after the Spirit (Romans 8:1). The Holy Ghost through Paul covered all the greatness of the salvation that Jesus brought. In preaching I use the characters that God put in His Holy Word as examples. If they failed, God wants us to take a lesson from it and not repeat their mistakes. If they were obedient to God, He wants their obedience to inspire us ever onward into His greatness. The truth is told in the Word of God.

And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose (Romans 8:28). Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him that loved us. For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:35-39). Jesus was counted as a sheep for the slaughter, and He opened not His mouth; but He conquered death, hell and the grave. We are more than conquerors when Christ controls our lives. Full of the Holy Ghost and yielded one hundred percent to Him, we cannot be separated from the love of God as we walk in the Spirit and live in the Spirit.

Many, many wonderful things are found in the book of Romans. In chapter eleven, Paul deals with the salvation of the Gentiles; in chapter twelve it’s Christian living. Chapter fourteen opens with instructions on how to handle those who are weak in faith. Paul loved the Romans, and God gave him much for them.

In I Corinthians the Holy Ghost through Paul dealt with every phase of life. He warned about idolatry, warned not to partake unworthily of the Lord’s supper. He taught about the spiritual gifts, about speaking in tongues, about the resurrection of the dead.

Although Paul had such great wisdom and insight into the things of God, he was humble. For I am the least of the apostles, that am not meet to be called an apostle, because I persecuted the church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am (I Corinthians 15:9,10).

Paul always gave God the glory. Remember, Child of God, all that you are and will ever be is through the grace of God. Always be humble. The only thing great about any of us is the Lord we serve. Greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world (I John 4:4).

Paul wrote that God’s grace which was bestowed upon me was not in vain (I Corinthians 15:10). The grace God has bestowed on many has been in vain. Many do not measure up to grace, do not walk in grace nor live in grace; and they are not going to Heaven. Without the grace of God, all are helpless.

Paul said, I laboured more abundantly than they all: yet not I, but the grace of God which was with me (I Corinthians 15:10). Paul, in speaking about himself, gave God the credit for his work. Paul was not divine; he was a human being with the Holy Ghost dwelling inside him. He was human just like we are.

You can measure up to God’s expectations if you measure through complete obedience to the Holy Spirit. If you walk in the Holy Spirit, you need not worry about fulfilling the lusts of the flesh; none of the seventeen works of the flesh will hinder you. You will be an overcomer.

For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles. But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge (II Corinthians 11:5,6). Paul talked to the people like John the Baptist, like Jesus. Some people might call him rude and dogmatic. I can understand that, for when the Holy Spirit comes on me, I become bold as a lion, saying things I never would have said had I not been under the greatness of God and taken over by the Holy Spirit Himself. I pour out whatever God gives me.

Paul gave people the complete picture: We have been thoroughly made manifest among you in all things (II Corinthians 11:6). He didn’t tickle their ears; he held back nothing.

Paul exposes hypocrites: For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ. And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works. These people Paul is talking about weren’t living holy; they were hypocritical preachers, using the power of the devil to make themselves appear to be apostles of Christ. The devil has many ministers, more in the world today than God has. I say again, Let no man think me a fool; if otherwise, yet as a fool receive me, that I may boast myself a little. That which I speak, I speak it not after the Lord, but as it were foolishly, in this confidence of boasting (II Corinthians 11:13-17).

Paul, seeing through the boasting of those who gloried in the flesh and considered him to be inferior, let them know some of the things he had been through for the sake of Christ. Seeing that many glory after the flesh, I will glory also. For ye suffer fools gladly, seeing ye yourselves are wise. For ye suffer, if a man bring you into bondage, if a man devour you, if a man take of you, if a man exalt himself, if a man smite you on the face. I speak as concerning reproach, as though we had been weak. Howbeit whereinsoever any is bold, (I speak foolishly,) I am bold also. Are they Hebrews? so am I. Are they Israelites? so am I. Are they the seed of Abraham? so am I. Are they ministers of Christ? (I speak as a fool) I am more; in labours more abundant, in stripes above measure, in prisons more frequent, in deaths oft. Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one (II Corinthians 11:18-24). Under the Law, the Jews could not give a prisoner more than forty stripes. Forty stripes he may give him, and not exceed (Deuteronomy 25:3). The Jews always stopped at thirty-nine for fear of a wrong count.

Paul continues, Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep; In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren; In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness. Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches. Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not? If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities. The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not (II Corinthians 11:25-31).

Paul told about being caught up into the third heaven. And lest I should be exalted above measure through the abundance of the revelations, there was given to me a thorn in the flesh, the messenger of Satan to buffet me (II Corinthians 12:7). Paul’s thorn in the flesh was not sickness or disease, but a demon from the devil that followed him everywhere to stir up trouble. With all the greatness given to Paul, the Lord had to let him be persecuted to keep him humble. Recognizing the weakness of the flesh and drawing on the power of God keeps us at the foot of the Cross. Paul said, For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me. And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong (II Corinthians 12:8-10).

Paul did not take pleasure in sicknesses and diseases, but in the strength of the Lord that came to him because he carried the Gospel of Christ. God takes no pleasure in sickness and disease; it is His good will for us to have good health.

In verse fifteen, Paul writes, I will very gladly spend and be spent for you. In the thirteenth chapter of II Corinthians, Paul writes his closing message to the Corinthians: Finally, brethren, farewell. Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you (II Corinthians 13:11).

Book after book Paul handed down to the Church. All the greatness of God for us, the holy living, everything we need is found in the Pauline epistles.

Salvation and Healing Are Offered to You

If you are sincere in following the Lord, let me pray with you now: Oh, God, I love you! I love your Son, Jesus, and if there is one sin, one disobedience in my life, please forgive me. Lord, forgive me for all my failures! Lord, make me what you want me to be. Help me to yield to your Spirit. I believe the blood of Jesus flows through me, cleansing me, making me a holy vessel to be used by the Lord. Use me, Jesus! Use me, Jesus! I am ready to do your will. I am ready to obey you in all things. I am ready to help take the Gospel to the world. I am ready.

You who need physical healing, the Bible gives you this promise: With his stripes we are healed (Isaiah 53:5). I am not a healer, but I believe in the power of God to heal, the power of prayer. The gifts of God work in my life. He is the one; the gifts are His gifts. That child of yours, that little deformed one can be made well the way others have been made whole. That little brain can be re-created and the child can be an intelligent being. It’s hard to tell how many children have been healed down through the years through this Jesus ministry, children who have grown up to be intelligent adults. It is all because of the grace of the Lord. Lord, I bring the sick and afflicted to you: those with cancer, with diabetes, heart trouble, the crippled, and the little ones who are disabled. In the name of Jesus the healing comes from your supernatural gift of miracles and your wonderful supernatural gifts of healing. Through the power of the Holy Ghost and the name of your Son Jesus, heal! Heal! The power of God is moving, going into bodies. Only believe and that power will linger and work night and day to get you or your child well. Healing is the promise of God to believers, and He keeps His promises. Remember what God has done for others He can do for you. Write and tell me if you dedicated your life to the Lord today for His service in this last hour. Let me know if you or your child received a healing, and I will rejoice with you.

Paul, a Glorious Servant

Yea, saith the Spirit of the Lord: I am moving for you, and I am seeking to bring you into my greatness. And I have brought my servant [Paul] to you tonight, but I made a servant, and I made him a glorious servant, and he carried my glorious Gospel. He made the sacrifice; he gave everything that he might win the lost. And I want you to yield to my Spirit. I want you to know that he learned the power of my resurrection. He learned to know me and my sufferings, and he learned it by suffering for my name’s sake. He learned to use my glory and the strength of my glory through suffering for my name’s sake. I was with him. I will be with you. Is used him; now I must use you. I will use you if you will yield as he yielded. He was an unclean vessel, a degraded vessel, but I took him into my hands of love and grace, and I made him into a vessel of love. I made him into a vessel of wisdom and knowledge. I made him into a vessel of holiness and righteousness. I made him into a vessel that I could pour all of my greatness into him, and he poured it to the people. I am seeking vessels that I might pour myself into, pour all of my greatness into in this last hour. The world must know; the world must see my greatness, and then they can choose if they want my greatness. But you, I call to you: Take my Gospel. Take my Gospel to the world in this your final hour, saith the Lord.