For those who take pride in their own flesh, Paul says:

Jesus Ministries, Joan Boney  ... 

I Corinthians 4:7  For who maketh thee to differ from another? and what hast thou that thou didst not receive? now if thou didst receive it, why dost thou glory, as if thou hadst not received it?

If God created us with fleshly beauty or talents, how can we take pride in this for we did not create ourselves?

 

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God chose Paul in spite of all the drawbacks, for Paul persecuted the followers of Jesus and put some in prison and others were killed, and Paul consented to their being killed, yet Jesus called Paul from heaven and made him into an apostle because it was the will of God.

 

Acts 26  Paul says:  I verily thought with myself, that I ought to do many things contrary to the name of Jesus of Nazareth. 10 Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them. 11 And I punished them oft in every synagogue, and compelled them to blaspheme; and being exceedingly mad against them, I persecuted them even unto strange cities.

 

12 Whereupon as I went to Damascus with authority and commission from the chief priests,

 

13 At midday, O king, I saw in the way a light from heaven, above the brightness of the sun, shining round about me and them which journeyed with ME.

 

14 And when we were all fallen to the earth, I heard a voice speaking unto me, and saying in the Hebrew tongue, Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou ME? it is hard for thee to kick against the pricks.

 

15 And I said, Who art thou, Lord? And HE said, I am Jesus whom thou persecutest.

 

16 But rise, and stand upon thy feet: for I have appeared unto thee for this purpose, to make thee a minister and a witness both of these things which thou hast seen, and of those things in the which I will appear unto thee; 17 Delivering thee from the people, and from the Gentiles, unto whom now I send thee,

 

18 To open their eyes, and to turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan unto God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins, and inheritance among them which are sanctified by faith that is in ME.

 

How could Paul succeed in the ministry with this reputation?

 

God does as HE wills.

 

At first, God sent Ananias to Paul even though Ananias didn't want to go to Paul.

 

Acts 9:10-13  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. 11 And the Lord said unto him, Arise, and go into the street which is called Straight, and enquire in the house of Judas for one called Saul, of Tarsus: for, behold, he prayeth, 12 And hath seen in a vision a man named Ananias coming in, and putting his hand on him, that he might receive his sight.

 

13 Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to THY saints at Jerusalem: 14 And here he hath authority from the chief priests to bind all that call on THY name.

 

15 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: 16 For I will shew him how great things he must suffer for MY name's sake.

 

So Ananias did as the Lord said and went to Paul.

 

Acts 9:20-23  And straightway he (Paul) preached Christ in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God. 21 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?  22 But Saul increased the more in strength, and confounded the Jews which dwelt at Damascus, proving that this is very Christ. 23 And after that many days were fulfilled, the Jews took counsel to kill him:

 

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Acts 9:26-29  And when Saul was come to Jerusalem, he assayed to join himself to the disciples: but they were all afraid of him, and believed not that he was a disciple.

 

27 But Barnabas took him, and brought him to the apostles, and declared unto them how he (Paul) had seen the Lord in the way, and that HE (Jesus) had spoken to him, and how he had preached boldly at Damascus in the name of Jesus. 28 And he was with them coming in and going out at Jerusalem. 29 And he spake boldly in the name of the Lord Jesus, and disputed against the Grecians: but they went about to slay him.

 

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God gave the apostle Paul many revelations to share with the church.

Yet Paul described his speech as weak and contemptible.

 

2 Corinthians 10:10 For his letters, say they, are weighty and powerful; but his bodily presence is weak, and his speech contemptible.

 

2 Corinthians 11:6  But though I be rude in speech, yet not in knowledge; but we have been throughly made manifest among you in all things.

 

Some in Paul's lifetime didn't even consider that Paul could be an apostle.

 

I Corinthians 9:1-2  Am I not an apostle? am I not free? have I not seen Jesus Christ our Lord? are not ye my work in the Lord? 2 If I be not an apostle unto others, yet doubtless I am to you: for the seal of mine apostleship are ye in the Lord.

 

2 Corinthians 11:5  For I suppose I was not a whit behind the very chiefest apostles.

 

Paul did not come to the church with clever worldly sayings.

 

Paul explains:

 

1 Corinthians 2:1-5  And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not with excellency of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of God. 2 For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and HIM crucified.

 

3 And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling.

 

4 And my speech and my preaching was not with enticing words of man's wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power:

 

5 That your faith should not stand in the wisdom of men, but in the power of God.

 

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Paul had an infirmity in his flesh to make him less desirable.  He prayed 3 times that this be removed but God explained it to Paul:

 

2 Corinthians 12:6-9  Paul says: For though I would desire to glory, I shall not be a fool; for I will say the truth: but now I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth me to be, or that he heareth of me. 7 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, lest I should be exalted above measure.

 

8 For this thing I besought the Lord thrice, that it might depart from me.

 

9 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.

 

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A person might want to be an English teacher and he might go to college and major in a subject and teach. 

 

But that is not the way it is with spiritual things.  We are called by God and ordained by God and set into the body of Christ as God wills and given the Holy Spirit by God.

 

Many today have tried to put themselves into the body of Christ and into the ministry without having the Holy Spirit of God.

  

Jude vv. 17-19 But, beloved, remember ye the words which were spoken before of the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ; 18 How that they told you there should be mockers (copiers) in the last time, who should walk after their own ungodly lusts. 19 These be they who separate themselves, sensual, having not the Spirit.

 

These ministers who put themselves into the ministry by the will of men are antichrist, the apostate church.  They and their followers will be destroyed by Jesus when Jesus comes to judge the world.

 

2 Thessalonians 2:8-12  And then shall that Wicked be revealed, whom the Lord shall consume with the spirit of HIS mouth, and shall destroy with the brightness of HIS coming: 9 Even him, whose coming is after the working of Satan with all power and signs and lying wonders, 10 And with all deceivableness of unrighteousness in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved. 11 And for this cause God shall send them strong delusion, that they should believe a lie: 12 That they all might be damned who believed not the truth, but had pleasure in unrighteousness.

 

The real ministers of Jesus are those who are called by Jesus from heaven and set into the New Testament Church as HIS ministers to the body of Christ.  They are called by Jesus, ordained by Jesus, and taught by Jesus from heaven by the Holy Spirit of God.

 

Ephesians 4:8; 11-15  Wherefore HE saith, When HE (Jesus) ascended up on high, HE led captivity captive, and gave gifts unto men ... 11 And HE gave some, apostles; and some, prophets; and some, evangelists; and some, pastors and teachers; 12 For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ: 13 Till we all come in the unity of the faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the stature of the fulness of Christ:

 

14 That we henceforth be no more children, tossed to and fro, and carried about with every wind of doctrine, by the sleight of men, and cunning craftiness, whereby they lie in wait to deceive; 15 But speaking the truth in love, may grow up into HIM in all things, which is the head, even Christ:

 

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God calls whom HE wills and sets those persons into the body of Christ and ordains some to the ministry of Jesus.

 

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