The Power of Humble Service: the real work of God in the life of Paul

A plea to be unfeigned in our faith. God does a real work in human souls, as we humble ourselves before Him, and be real. As we see in the genuine, humble work of Paul.

Bro Jesse Trumble ministers on Acts 17 and 1 Thessalonians 2. It's a plea - to be genuine before God, and to please God. As God used Paul, to bring people to Christ, and to minister to them, so too, he can use every yielded vessel. You and me.

Acts 17:1-10 ...they came to Thessalonica, where was a synagogue of the Jews: 2 And Paul, as his manner was, went in unto them, and three sabbath days reasoned with them out of the scriptures, 3 Opening and alleging, that Christ must needs have suffered, and risen again from the dead; and that this Jesus, whom I preach unto you, is Christ. 4 And some of them believed, and consorted with Paul and Silas; and of the devout Greeks a great multitude, and of the chief women not a few. 5 But the Jews which believed not, moved with envy, took unto them certain lewd fellows of the baser sort, and gathered a company, and set all the city on an uproar, and assaulted the house of Jason, and sought to bring them out to the people. 6 And when they found them not, they drew Jason and certain brethren unto the rulers of the city, crying, These that have turned the world upside down are come hither also; 7 Whom Jason hath received: and these all do contrary to the decrees of Caesar, saying that there is another king, one Jesus. 8 And they troubled the people and the rulers of the city, when they heard these things...

Just before this, in chapter 16, Paul had been in Philippi where he had cast out the demon from a woman who was being used to predict the future. Her masters who had made money from her had gone to the the rulers and put Paul in jail. Yet Paul did not stay in jail - the walls came a' tumbling down, just like at Jericho. The the whole jail shook, the chains fell off, the prison bars were opened, and people fled. The jailer there was going to kill himself, but Paul brought to him Christ. Also he reached Lydia there. Paul was persecuted and imprisoned - yet we see God's miraculous intervention and the power of God, to deliver his people, not only from jail, but from sin.

God had prepared Paul - as he came to know Christ in his miraculous salvation on the road to Damascus. He tells of his ministry: 1 Thessalonians 2:1-20 For yourselves, brethren, know our entrance in unto you, that it was not in vain: 2 But even after that we had suffered before, and were shamefully entreated, as ye know, at Philippi, we were bold in our God to speak unto you the gospel of God with much contention. 3 For our exhortation was not of deceit, nor of uncleanness, nor in guile: 4 But as we were allowed of God to be put in trust with the gospel, even so we speak; not as pleasing men, but God, which trieth our hearts. 5 For neither at any time used we flattering words, as ye know, nor a cloke of covetousness; God is witness: 6 Nor of men sought we glory, neither of you, nor yet of others, when we might have been burdensome, as the apostles of Christ. 7 But we were gentle among you, even as a nurse cherisheth her children: 8 So being affectionately desirous of you, we were willing to have imparted unto you, not the gospel of God only, but also our own souls, because ye were dear unto us. 9 For ye remember, brethren, our labour and travail: for labouring night and day, because we would not be chargeable unto any of you, we preached unto you the gospel of God. 10 Ye are witnesses, and God also, how holily and justly and unblameably we behaved ourselves among you that believe: 11 As ye know how we exhorted and comforted and charged every one of you, as a father doth his children, 12 That ye would walk worthy of God, who hath called you unto his kingdom and glory. 13 For this cause also thank we God without ceasing, because, when ye received the word of God which ye heard of us, ye received it not as the word of men, but as it is in truth, the word of God, which effectually worketh also in you that believe... 19 For what is our hope, or joy, or crown of rejoicing? Are not even ye in the presence of our Lord Jesus Christ at his coming? 20 For ye are our glory and joy.

We see the genuine heart of Paul at work. He was real. He showed the fruit of an unfeigned life. He was humble, gentle. There was no guile.

We're all as broken vessels, and can be used of God. May we likewise humble ourselves and seek to glorify God in our daily walk. Be truthful before others. I am nothing without God.

The heart of Paul is the heart of someone who is given over to God - a heart of someone who is genuine. Don't be fake. God seeks The Humble Heart. The Humble man. Christ in you.

Be genuine. Yield yourself to God. As with Paul, God will use you to reach and minister to others.