Have you ever wondered how the Apostle Paul had such an effective ministry with so many during his lifetime? He gives his testimony about this in the Scriptures. It began with a genuine burden for lost souls. Paul tells us โThat I have great heaviness and continual sorrow in my heart. For I could wish that myself were accursed from Christ for my brethrenโฆโ (Rom. 9:2,3). Lost souls seem to be able to sense when one deeply cares for their spiritual welfare. Paul was ready to share the eternal life-giving gospel โin season, out of seasonโ (2 Tim. 4:2). No matter where he was, from prison to the palace, he was constantly giving out the message of salvation by grace alone. He sowed the seed of the gospel frequently enough that many were saved.
Paul said, โI made myself servant unto all, that I might gain the moreโ (1 Cor. 9:19). His attitude was one of surrendering as a willing bond slave to the Savior; then, he served others, in a spiritual sense, willingly and humbly attending to their needs. Paul approached the lost in a personable way, finding common ground with the lost so heโd have greater credibility when presenting the gospel. He says: โโฆunto the Jews I became as a Jew, that I might gain the JewsโฆTo them that are without law, as without lawโฆI am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save someโฆโ (1 Cor. 9:20-22). Paul was also tireless, working โnight and dayโ (Acts 20:31; 1 Thes. 2:9), in his care and prayer for those he led to Christ.
If youโd like to be more greatly used of the Lord, follow this pattern used by the Apostle Paul. source
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