Journeying With The Apostle Paul

Want to discover how a fierce persecutor became one of the most influential figures of Christianity? Dive into the powerful story of the Apostle Paul in our latest episode! What lesson resonates with you?

#ApostlePaul #FromTheBible #ChristianPodcasts #CheerUpPodcast #CheriSwalwell #KaraRHunt

Transcript

Podcast

Speaker 1 0:00

butt . Hi and welcome to the Cheer Up Podcast . I am your host , kara Hunt , and with me is the sweet , as always , sherri Swalwell . Sherri Saintly , sweet , sweet and saintly I like that better . Sherri Sweet and Saintly Swalwell , how are you today ?

Speaker 2 0:39

Sherri , I have a lot of friends who would not agree with you on that one , but , thank you , I will take it .

Speaker 1 0:45

I will take it , I will take it , I am doing great and thank you , thank you , thank you , thank you , thank you everyone who has joined us again this week for the Cheer Up Podcast . We thank you so much for joining us every week , for tuning in every week , for downloading every week and for those of you who have not had the chance to download and subscribe , can we just ask that you do that ? If you're listening on one of the various podcasting platforms right now , can you just hit that like button really quick if there is one , or subscribe button or download button . Subscribe button or download button . All of that helps us in the algorithm for those who want to listen to positive Christian podcasting , so that would help us a lot .

Speaker 1 1:32

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Speaker 1 3:27

Okay , for those who have been listening for the past couple of weeks , you know we've been kind of we've been going through biblical figures . Not kind of we've been going through biblical figures , and this week we are going to do Paul . Am I right , sherry ? We are going to do Paul , am I right , sherry ? We are going to do Paul , and I can't wait to hear what Sherry is going to talk to us today about the I was going to say the Apostle Paul , that's correct , am I right , sherry ? For some reason I have a hard time relating him to an apostle , I don't know why , but yeah , so she's going to talk to us a little bit today about the Apostle Paul . So what do you want to share with us today , sherry ? About Paul .

Speaker 2 4:27

I am super excited . I asked Kara if I could talk about Paul because he is like the exact opposite of who I am as far as personality and things like that go , and I always in the past was really intimidated by Paul and , to be honest with you , I kind of still feel intimidated by Paul . So I'm not sure how I'm going to greet him up in heaven , Like I don't know if I'm going to stand back and people and be like don't yell at me , because he just seems like a very intense person . But the more you read about Paul and the more I've read about Paul , the more I actually one highly respect him , but two kind of have grown to love him a little bit like a , like an uncle in a way . So I don't know what you know about Paul or what you don't , but there's a couple of things that I want to highlight about him .

Speaker 2 5:07

Number one he was a Jew and he and if I say anything , if I get anything wrong , interrupt me , Kara , but I'm pretty sure that I've I've got , I'm pretty sure I've got it right . But if I , if I do , go off course , hit me . Well , not hit me , but interrupt me . You can't hit me . Well , not hit me but interrupt me . You can't hit me people , because we're not even in the same room , but but you can't interrupt with . I can throw tomatoes , no go ahead .

Speaker 2 5:33

Here we go . So paul was a jew and he was a very learned scholar . So he , like , knew what he was talking about . He knew the Bible up and down , he knew the Torah , he knew all of the biblical teachings . He um , you could liken him in that regard to Jesus as far as he studied the Bible religiously . He knew it in and out , upside down , all the way around . But he also was a very mean , mean person . I wouldn't say that he well , he did not have the Holy Spirit in him . He did not have . He had not accepted Jesus into his heart . He did not have a relationship with God . He was all about religion and he actually was .

Speaker 2 6:22

What is the word that I want ? He is responsible for the stoning of Stephen , and Stephen was the first believer who was martyred because of being stoned . And so , and it says in the Bible when it talks about the stoning of Stephen , in fact I have it right here , hold on , I have it right here . I had two different things that are two different passages that I want to talk about , but in the stoning of Stephen he talks about somebody with standing . Here we go . While they were stoning , stephen , stephen played . Sorry , let me back up just a minute . I'm so excited to talk about Paul that I'm like tripping over my own words .

Speaker 2 7:07

But anyway , stephen was stoned , saul . Okay , so Paul was named Saul when he was the Jewish leader and he did not have a relationship with God . It was all about religion for him . His name was Saul , and so it says the stoning of Stephen . It's really short . I'm just going to read it it's 54 . It's Acts 7 , 54 to 59 . God , look , he said . I see heaven open and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God . After they covered their ears this is the same he's saying he's in people and yelling at the top of their voices they all rushed at him , dragged him out of the city and began to stone him . Meanwhile , the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul . That is Paul , the Apostle Paul , and he was the one who instigated , coordinated , got Stephen martyred . While they were stoning him , stephen prayed Lord Jesus , receive my spirit . Then he fell on his knees and cried out Lord , do not hold this sin against them . When he had said this , he fell asleep and Saul approved of their killing him . That is the very first sentence of chapter eight , the very last sentence of the incident where he was stoned .

Speaker 2 8:32

Um , one thing that I want to point out . Even though we're talking about Saul turned to Paul . Today , I want to point out Stephen's story . Him being st is really an encouragement to me . I know you're going to be like well , that's like really weird , sherry . How is that an encouragement ? But it's an encouragement to me because the Bible tells us how Jesus was right there with him , how God was right there with him .

Speaker 2 8:58

There is no way that we should be afraid . I mean , there's the typical human fear . I get that of the unknown and , and you know , nobody I don't think wakes up in the morning and says , hey , I want to be a martyr today , I want to be tortured and killed , and um , that's how I want to die and go to heaven . So at the end of the day I'm going to be in heaven , but until then this is going to be fun . Nobody says that . But . But the thing that I just want to kind of have people tuck in the back of their head is that God is with us . If that happens to be our mission and that happens to be our assignment , and that's what God's plan is for our lives , we don't have to worry because God is going to be right there with us the whole entire time . He never loses or forsakes us . He will be right there with us the whole entire time . He never loses or forsakes us . He will be right there , and that is something that has really comforted me . I don't want to say encouraged me , because I don't really want to think about having to go through anything like that , but it has really comforted me . So I know we're talking about Paul today , but I really wanted to talk about that part . Well , anyway , chapter 9 . But I really wanted to talk about that part . Well , anyway , chapter 9 . So Stephen was martyred in chapter 7 , the end of chapter 7 . So there's only one more chapter in between .

Speaker 2 10:12

And then , in chapter 9 , saul is on the road to Damascus , and a lot of people have heard of his story , of his testimony . But he was on the way to Damascus . God strikes him blind and then he ends up being . I think he fasted for three days when he , when God blinded him , he said the Lord called him in a . You know ? Sorry , I gotta go up a little bit , because that's the part I want to talk about . So , as he neared Damascus on his journey , suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him . This is Saul . He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him Saul , saul , why do you persecute me ? Who are you , lord , saul asked . Saul knew right away who he was talking to . He knew that from the beginning , even though he didn't know more about him . But he knew who was doing the talking . I am Jesus , whom you are persecuting , he replied . Now get up and go into the city and you will be told that you must do so . He stayed in the city for three days , blind , and he didn't eat or drink anything . So he did fast in the city for three days .

Speaker 2 11:23

Well then , while he's in the city for those three days , fasting and praying and blind , god calls out to Ananias , and Ananias is a disciple . And it says in Damascus there was a disciple named Ananias . The Lord called to him in a vision . Ananias yes , lord . He answered . Now see the difference right there already . So Paul had to ask who are you , lord ? And Ananias , he knew who he was right away .

Speaker 2 11:47

So we're talking religion versus relationship . Ananias already had a relationship with God and he knew his voice . He says yes , lord . He answered . The Lord told him go to the house of Judas on Straight Street and ask for a man from Tarsus named Saul , for he is praying . In a vision , he has seen a man named Ananias come and place his hands on him to restore his sight . So this Ananias , he wants to obey God because that's what his whole . He's in a relationship with God and he wants to obey God because he's in this relationship with

The Incredible Faith of Paul

Speaker 2 12:20

God .

Speaker 2 12:20

But everybody , well , saul had a reputation and his reputation was I'm going to kill reputation ? Was I'm going to kill believers ? I'm going to kill christians , disciples , blah , blah , blah . So ananias was like um , really , god ? Like , are you sure this is what I have to do ? And he says lord , I have heard many reports about this man and all the harm he has done to your holy people in jerusalem . And he has come here with authority from the chief priest to arrest all who call on your name . But the Lord said to Ananias so this man is my chosen instrument to proclaim my name to the Gentiles and their kings and to the people of Israel . I will show him how much he must suffer for my name .

Speaker 2 12:59

And that is the part that I wanted to read to everybody . So God has a mission for all of us . God has a purpose and a plan for all of us . And I wanted to read to everybody so God has a mission for all of us . God has a purpose and a plan for all of us .

Speaker 2 13:08

And I used to think to myself and again , if I'm , if I'm wrong in this , kara , let me know and interrupt me , but I I've always . I don't think that God sits there and punishes people necessarily for their choices , but at the same token , I believe that God sits there and punishes people necessarily for their choices , but at the same token , I believe that God allows us to have consequences for our actions and for our choices . And so I've always wondered you know , paul had such a huge ministry after he became Paul , so he was Saul at first . He tortured , persecuted , was absolutely horrid to believers . His conversion was real and he was not afraid to speak the truth in love . And I always wondered , I'm like , so how is it that he just kind of like gets off scot-free ? Well , anybody who chooses to be a believer , anybody who chooses to cross that line from religion to relationship , to really truly have a relationship with God , doesn't get off scot-free .

Speaker 2 14:30

In fact , the study notes in my Bible talk about faith in Christ brings great blessings , which is so true . I mean , there is no other way that I would want to live than to be a believer , but often great suffering too , than to be a believer , but often great suffering too . Paul would suffer for his faith . And then it tells us to see 2 Corinthians 11 , 23 to 27 . So I switched over to 2 Corinthians 11 , and it says this it says are they servants of Christ ? So whatever anyone else dare to boast about , I am speaking as a fool . This is Paul talking . I also dare to boast about I am speaking as a fool . This is Paul talking I also dare to boast about . Are they Hebrews ? So am I . Are they Israelites ? So am I . Are they Abraham's descendants ? So am I . Are they servants of Christ ? I am out of my mind to talk like this . I am more .

Speaker 2 15:19

I have worked much harder , been in prison more frequently , been flogged more severely , been exposed to death again and again . Five times I received from the Jews the 40 lashes minus one . Three times I was beaten with rods once I was culpated with stones . Three times I was shipwrecked . I spent a night and a day in the open sea . I have been constantly on the move . I have been in danger from rivers , in danger from bandits , in danger from my fellow Jews , in danger from Gentiles , in danger in the city , in danger in the country , in danger at sea and in danger from false believers . I have labored and toiled and have often gone without sleep . I have known hunger and thirst and have often gone without food . I have been cold and naked . Besides everything else , I face daily the pressure of my concern for all the churches . So , basically , paul .

Speaker 2 16:13

So I always grew up knowing that the Apostle Paul . After his conversion , on the road to Damascus , he became this great , wonderful teacher . He made tents and then he preached also , so that he didn't have to have other people like support his ministry . He did all of these things and I always thought , okay . So it talks about him going to prison , but he writes all these books , these epistles from the New Testament , in prison . So he must have been in , like you know , the country club prison , not the real prison .

Speaker 2 16:47

But no , they direct me over to 2 Corinthians 11 . And it tells me what kind of stuff that he went through . And he suffered greatly for his faith . And you know what ? He never once stood down or he never once compromised or he never once changed his mind . And he also is famous I don't remember where in the Bible it says this but he's also famous for saying I am content to live in little , I'm content to live in much . I've been rich , I've been poor , I've been everything in between , I've been starving , I've had too much to eat , and yet still I'm content in whatever position or place that God places me in .

Speaker 2 17:28

So the apostle Paul is pretty amazing . He he hated God but yet kill people in the name of God quote unquote because he was this Jewish scholar , sadducee , or part of the Sanhedrin , so he was part of the upper upper people in the Jewish culture , but yet when he became a believer , he became a believer . There was like no going back . And that I want to have . I don't really want to live the life that Paul lived . To be honest with you , I don't want to be flogged and I don't want to go to jail and stuff like that . Would I , yes , if I had to ? But I just have so much respect for him .

Speaker 2 18:16

Whenever I think of Paul , I think of the phrase he spoke the truth in love . He loved people so much that he didn't care what culture said , he didn't care what the popular thing was , he didn't want people to go to hell . And so he spoke the truth in love , even if it hurt , even if it wasn't what people wanted to hear . And in that regard I like totally respect Paul and can't wait to meet him . But in the other token , like he spoke the truth in love , so like , what's he going to say to me up in heaven ? Um , sherry , dot , dot dot .

Speaker 2 18:54

I don't , I don't really want that . But then again , I'm half kidding because I know up in heaven it's not going to be like that , like we're gonna . We're going to all be perfect . Tears are washed away , like all of our reunions and so forth with people are going to be amazing . So I'm half kidding about that , but I , I don't know , he , like was a very intimidating person , but man , oh man , he was on fire for God and he you knew , when you had an encounter with him , who he loves , who he serves and who his master was . And so that's like my impression of Paul in a nutshell . So what do you want to say about Paul ?

Speaker 1 19:37

What is there not to say about Paul ? Because he , despite some things that I'm like , really Paul , you know , you know , at times , boy has he always been one of my top people , that I've always said I can't wait to meet when I get to heaven , because his ministry just speaks to me . I can't read the book of Philippians , for example , without having a renewed strength or renewed faith right , without having a renewed strength or renewed faith right . This was a man and Sherry you touched on this who had been so badly beaten , who had been so blocked , who had been so in prison . And we're not talking , like you said , country club prisons , we're talking like sewer-like prisons in chains . You know , you know , but yet OK , so I don't OK . Like , for example , my husband plays , plays guitar , and you know , when you play the guitar a lot , you get calluses on your fingers Right , but they actually help you play longer , I mean better , like in the long run .

Speaker 1 21:01

And I guess the same thing could be said about anything like people who use garden tools a lot , or you know , and things

Paul's Resilience and Faithfulness

Speaker 1 21:05

like that . Your skin becomes a little bit tougher and it seems like with everything the enemy threw at him , or in every prison he found himself in , or every time he found himself in change , he got changed . He got stronger , he got tougher , he got bolder . So it was almost as if every test and I don't even know if I can use the word test like everything that he went through that was almost meant to break him , made him stronger , and I think it's like that's gold . Excuse me , I forgot what gold is called , but it's like that's gold , the . Excuse me , the the . I forgot what gold is called , but it's like gold . Right , sherry isn't Sherry . The one isn't Sherry isn't gold , the one that's refined under fire .

Speaker 2 21:48

Oh no , that's a diamond . Oh yeah , yeah , but gold . I don't know what else gold does , but yeah , that is a diamond .

Speaker 1 21:51

You're right , yes , and it's like it's refined right Under fire and I'm just like boy . If there was ever anyone who was refined under fire , it was him . I mean , he grew thick skin , he had the scars to prove everything that he went through , and it didn't deter him , it didn't stop him . And , like you mentioned , sherry , I don't think any of us seek out and say you know what ? I'm going to be a martyr and I just want all these things to happen to me . No , of course not . We're human . We don't desire that at all , and I don't even think Paul ever desired that .

Speaker 1 22:38

He just went where he was led to go by God , by the Holy Spirit . He did what he was supposed to do and as a result of that , he found himself in some very dangerous and very precarious situations . But he persevered , he persevered and it was like every flocking . He got stronger Every time he was in prison . He just it just made him more determined and he just he did . And you know , when you think about him and I'm just going to use David for a quick example from the Old Testament David was a mighty warrior and I mean the things he'd done is beyond explanation , the way God was able to use him and his heart towards God . But David was kind of like he kind of whined about his situations a little bit . You know , you can go to the book of Psalms , you know , and he would just say , oh Lord , why have you closed your eyes to me or your ears to me and things like that ? Right , sherry , you correct me if I'm wrong . Paul doesn't do that , does he ?

Speaker 2 23:49

Well , that goes right back to the next point that I was thinking about about Paul is that he God ? God created him tough from day one . Yeah , he's tough before Paul even knew what his purpose was Like . God creates certain people in this world to be able to withstand stuff that would break the majority of people and in that regard , I have so much what is the word I want Respect . I have so much respect for Paul because he fulfilled the purpose that God created in him before he was even born .

Speaker 1 24:42

Mm-hmm , yeah , he was tough , he had thick skin and I'm not going to go as far to say that he didn't care that those things were happening to him Excuse me , that's not the word I'm looking for that he didn't . That he wasn't in pain that's the word I'm looking for that he wasn't in pain and that you know he physically suffered from that , but he wasn't a complainer , right , he just wasn't . And he may have felt those things . I mean , again , he's only human . We do not worship Paul . He's only human . So , but he just , I don't think it was in his nature so it goes .

Speaker 2 25:24

I don't think it was in his nature to complain , right , he was kind of like the modern day or the old fashioned day , rambo .

Speaker 1 25:33

Yes , exactly , he just kind of , you know , he kept on going . And not only did he keep going , he praised the Lord in a process , amen , he praised God in a process . And it is just , I don't know , because I , you know , you can't help but read through Paul's whole entire journey , the good , the bad , the ugly and the very ugly , and you ask yourself , hmm , my , oh goodness , lord , would I be able to sustain that Like , would I be able to just brush it all off and just keep my eyes focused on you , like Paul did ? It's something we have to ask ourselves . And only God knows the truth , right , only God knows the truth . I , for instance , could say , oh Lord , I would never do that , never , never , never . Kind of like Peter , right , when he was like , well , I would never deny you , you know . And then later he did . Or I could say , oh Lord , I'll never be able to do that , don't put me in a position like that . And he's like what are you talking about ? You pass with fine colors , you'll come through , you know .

Speaker 1 26:43

And so none of us really know except God , and I think all we , and I think all we can do is just ask you , excuse me . So just ask God Lord , whatever may come is just ask you , excuse me , to just ask God Lord , whatever may come , just give me the strength that I need to be able to get through whatever comes my way . Just give us the strength to just to get through it and for me to accomplish your will in a situation . And I think that's what I learned about Paul . You know , yeah , I just that's just one of the things , you know , I , I , I felt like I've I've learned about Paul . He's just , he's so resilient . You know , um , it's one of the words I just want to , I think , emphasize he was just , he was just resilient , he was one tough cookie , he was just resilient .

Speaker 1 27:34

He was one tough cookie , you know . Yeah , he was one tough cookie and he never lost focus . He just kept the path . He just kept going . He just kept going . I think that's the word . I just that's what I would like to leave readers with is just , no matter how down it looks , no matter how hopeless it looks , because while he's writing these epistles in prison , he didn't know if he was going to ever get out or not . Right know , you know , but it didn't matter . It didn't matter . He was going to still do what he felt like the Lord had called , that he had been called to do , and he just kept the faith and he just kept going . And I and again I just one of the things that really stood out , stands out to me is that he just did not complain . That to me and I keep emphasizing that , because I'm not sure I could have done the same thing I'm not sure .

Speaker 2 28:37

I think it's because he kept his focus on God and he kept his focus on the mission . Like he ? I honestly well not sometimes . I honestly believe that people who have either not grown up in a Christian environment , with Christian parents and a Christian upbringing , or people who have strayed and then come back , I honestly think that they have a deeper appreciation for their relationship with .

Speaker 2 29:04

God , because they know what it is to not have it , and I can't stop thinking about when he , paul , was shipwrecked and I believe you'd have to read the story yourself because I don't know if I have all the details right but I believe that , like God had told him ahead of time , this is what's going to happen . This is what I want you to do . This is , you know , kind of like those 007 movies or the like . Get smarter . The mission possible .

Speaker 2 29:40

This is what's going to

God's Guidance and Resilience

Speaker 2 29:41

happen to you , paul . These are the you know , because god well , I think we've learned from all of um the different uh bible stories that we have read about that god does not make you guess , like he doesn't . He doesn't keep you guessing , he tells you ahead of time what's going to happen . It's whether or not you want to listen to him or whether or not you want to obey , but anyway . So he told Paul during this one particular time you're going to get shipwrecked . This is what's going to happen . This is what I need you to do . You're going to land on this island . This is what I want to happen . Blah , blah , blah . Well , paul , you know , everything went the way that god said it was going to . Paul was not surprised . They get to the um , the island , and they start looking for wood , and so because they were going to build a fire , because they were cold and tired , and all that stuff , and so there he reached into this wood pile and he pulled out a viper and the viper bit him .

Speaker 2 30:36

And Paul was so focused on what God had told him he needed to do that Paul shook the viper off the snake . It was a poisonous snake . For those who don't know what a viper is , I didn't necessarily know that at first , a long time ago . So if you're reading and you are listening and you don't know what a viper is , it's a snake , a poisonous snake , and so all of the people are watching in wonder , waiting for him to heal over and die but let's go , we've got stuff to do people .

Speaker 2 31:02

He's like you're wasting time type of a thing . So like he knew his mission , he was on point and he didn't let anything distract him . I almost kind of feel and and I don't think it says this in the bible , maybe it does but I almost kind of feel , and I don't think it says this in the Bible , maybe it does , but I almost kind of feel like he was like I wasted so much time earlier in life chasing after the wrong thing that I've got a lot to make up for .

Speaker 2 31:27

So I don't have time for if you're not going to be part of the program or part of the solution , then you need to get out of the way , because I got stuff to do , places to go , I got . I got a God to take care of and a God to serve . Not that he had to take care of God , but I mean he has a God to serve , a mission that God wanted him to do , and so I just kind of I don't know . I have a lot of respect for Paul . Like I said , there's a little bit of me that is intimidated by Paul .

Speaker 2 31:52

But the more I read about him and the more that I study him and he just honestly goodness , we love people and he didn't want anyone else to go through what he went through of not having that relationship with God . 9 , god used him mightily to speak the truth , to speak God's truth to the Gentiles , and that is a key component . Even though he was a Jew himself , he was a key component for the gospel being spread to the Gentile people , being spread to the Gentile people . And if it wasn't for Paul , I would not necessarily be a believer , because I'm a Gentile and I would not have heard or had the opportunity to become a believer . So thank you , paul .

Speaker 1 32:48

And you know what I want to piggyback on something you said earlier . Piggyback on something you said earlier how he was bit by a snake and everyone was sitting there waiting for him to kill over and die . He lived , right , he lived , he did not die . But it just made me wonder in our Christian journeys , how many times have people thought we were down and out and we were about to kill over ? Right , not necessarily physically , but they didn't expect for us to rebound after that job loss or after the loss of a loved one . You know they just thought we were down and out . Or you know we lost our homes . Or you know cars were taken , or you know careers were shattered and or destroyed . You know things like that , when people just really counted you out and they were just waiting for you to kill over and be like I'm done , I'm giving up the faith .

Speaker 1 33:48

I thought God was going to see me through this . He didn't , you know , and or you know you just kind of just take to your bed and never get out , and they were just sitting there just waiting for him to kill over . But he was so focused on what he was doing that it didn't even bother him . It didn't even bother him . And to me , that's just another reason why I just admire his tenacity so much and his passion so much , because it teaches us that as long as we stay focused on God , we're going to be all right .

Speaker 1 34:21

We're going to survive even when the enemy fires fiery darts our way , even when we get bit by quote , unquoteunquote poisonous , toxic snakes , you know , and everyone else thinking well , they're done for , oh , that's it . They've been through a lot , but they're not going to come out of this one , you know , and God's just like oh yeah , you know . Kind of reminds me of Job , when Satan was like oh well , that's only because you bless him , you take away his blessings , and he's not going to be that way . Do you see what I'm saying ? They were just waiting him , his friends and everyone else was . His wife even said why don't you just curse God and die ?

Speaker 2 35:06

Right .

Speaker 1 35:06

Because there was just no everyone had counted him out but God . And somehow , intuitively , spiritually , I should say Paul knew that , he knew it , he knew , he just knew and he just stayed focused on what he knew . And I'm sorry , Cher , I just ran off on a rant .

Speaker 2 35:30

No , you didn't go off on a rant at all . I want to actually piggyback on that and say and God , okay . So God created Paul with the personality that he did Because he knew the mission that he had for him . He also knew that Paul would eventually become a believer . He knew that Paul would do the great things that he called Paul to do . He knew that Paul would do the great things that he called Paul to do . But he also used Paul's time .

Speaker 2 36:05

So I don't think that he chose for Saul pre-Paul days . I don't think he chose for Saul to be a Sanhedrin and to kill Stephen and to be a part of all of that . But he knew that Paul saw was going to and he used that time in his life for good . So it goes back to Romans 8 , 28 . All things work together for good . Those who love God are called according to his purpose . Paul was absolutely 100% called according to God's purpose and he used all that training that Paul got when he was Saul , before he became Paul and before the conversion . So again , I don't think that God , I don't think it was part of God's plan for him to not be a believer and I don't think it was part of God's plan for Stephen to die at the hands of Paul . But God used all of that , and he used that period of time , that training , in his life for good so that when he became a believer he already had all that knowledge . He didn't have to then spend 20 years learning the .

Speaker 2 37:16

Torah learning the books of the Bible . He knew it , so he was able to jumpstart his ministry right away , and so God is doing the same thing for us . So where are you in your life or let's say that you have lived a life far from God and all of a sudden you have become a believer . What in your past is God going to use , or has he used , to prepare you for the plan and the mission and the purpose and the destiny that he put in your heart when he formed you in your mother's womb ? God , that is the kind of God that we serve . That is the God that we serve , not just the kind , but that is the God we serve .

Speaker 1 38:02

He takes everything , every circumstance , every instance , every experience Everything that the enemy meant for bad , exactly .

Speaker 2 38:12

And he uses it for good , and that , I think , is a great way to end on our note today , because only God . So if you are Stephen and you are being martyred , whether physically or whether bullied or threatened or persecuted at work , remember God is right there with you . You are not dealing with it alone . Look up and ask God to show himself to you , ask him how he is going to rescue you . Sometimes the rescuing means you go to heaven , meaning he'll take you out of the situation . Sometimes it'll just provide comfort while you're in it . If you are a stall and you're running from god or you have , you want nothing to do with god , but you're wondering , after talking today or listening to the podcast today is god really real ? Does he do stuff like that in 2024 , like he did , you know , way back when ? Have a conversation with him . I'm challenging you to have a conversation and ask God to show himself to you . Show himself real to you .

Speaker 2 39:23

And if you are Paul and you have maybe you've grown up in the church your whole life . Maybe you've never had a conversion story , but you've just always had a heart for God One kudos to you , because God can use . God uses everybody . He uses the people who have gone astray and come back . He uses the people who have chosen to never go astray and to just stay on the straight and narrow and just develop their relationship with him .

Speaker 2 39:50

But ask God to say what is it that you want me to do and how do you want to use my life ? What in my past training are you going to use for your good ? And show me how you want me to do that , or how are you preparing me ? What do you have me in currently that you're going to use for your good and use for your service down the road , for your good and use for your service down the road ? So I mean Paul , I just I hope that we got you excited about him and that you're ready to read about him yourself , because Paul is so complex and there is so much about him . He has written so many books of the New Testament that it would take many , many , many episodes to cover all of Paul .

Speaker 1 40:36

And then we would even be touching on it . That's just the beginning .

Speaker 2 40:40

And so , like we've always said in the past , we just want to get you excited to learn about these biblical figures for yourself . So drop us a comment in an email cheeruppodcasts at gmailcom , if you want to let us know what your thoughts are about the podcast today . Or feel free to start a conversation in the Facebook group Cheer Up Podcast on Facebook . Um , also , we were talking at the beginning of the episode today that if you are interested and you would want one of us to be a part of the book club , um , email us at cheer up podcast at gmailcom . We would absolutely love to to join one of your um one of your group nights , whether it's the first one , the last one , one in the middle , whatever it is , we would love to do that . So if you want to feature one of our books , feel free to email us and we'll go from there .

Speaker 2 41:43

Check out Tara's website , tarahrhuntcom , and remember her books are all in audiobook as well . So if you like audiobooks versus reading the books yourself , um , paper dolls all of them are in audiobook , which is amazing , completely awesome . If you want to check out the membership to grow your relationship with god jesus in the everyday , that's over on my website . We both actually also have YouTube channels . If you want to check those out , those are on our website . So KaraRHuntcom and SherrySlowellcom . And yeah , john1633 says these things . I have spoken to you that in me you may have peace In the world . You will have tribulations , but be of good cheer , I have overcome the world . I think that Paul is a really great example of finding his peace in God , despite all of the trials and the tribulations that he faced in this world because he most certainly didn't start facing major trials and tribulations , it seems , until he became a believer .

Speaker 2 42:52

So from the outside worldly perspective , it looks as though he did worse in life once he chose to accept Jesus . But we all know that the suffering that happens on this earth is temporary compared to the eternal glory that we have up in heaven with God . And just like God was with Stephen when he was being martyred , god was with Paul when he was suffering as well . So don't think that just because Paul had martyred or had been a part of martyring Stephen , that God wasn't he was going to ignore him and not comfort him or be with him when he himself was being tortured and flogged and all those things that . 1 Corinthians 11 , 23 through 20 . Let me make sure I got that right for you . I wrote it down One second . Well , sorry , I lost my paper , but it was 2 Corinthians 11 , I think , 23 through 27 .

Speaker 2 43:56

Um , god was with Paul just as much as he was with Stephen , because God is with all of his children , and God was , was paying attention to and calling Saul , even when he was running from his purpose and his destiny that God had originally given him . So remember

Encouraging Believers

Speaker 2 44:17

that too . I want to give you that encouragement as well , that God loves us all so much that he doesn't want anyone to not be a believer , to not have a relationship with him . He wants all of us to have a relationship with him , a true godly relationship . So I hope that our talk about Paul today was very encouraging , and we would really love to hear your thoughts on Paul and also on what we talked about today . So drop us an email , start a conversation in the Facebook group , and next week we're going to talk about Barnabas , who is known as the encourager , and I'm excited to hear what Kara is going to tell us about Barnabas . So have a great rest of your day today , have a great week and we will talk to you next week . Thank you .